 |
Roger Federer - Playing style  Roger Federer biography - back to index
|
|
|
Federer employs a versatile, all-court playing style and can hit all of the fundamental shots very well. He is an adept volleyer and an excellent baseliner who can dictate play with precise groundstrokes.
 Federer winning at Wimbledon 2005
Like many modern players, he uses a semi-western grip for his forehand. Federer hits through his forehand on a straighter plane than nearly any other player and has been clocked at speeds as high as 192 km/h (120 mph). He can generate extreme top-spin with the shot as well, allowing him to open up cross court angles while still hitting the ball with pace. Federer plays with a one-handed backhand, which has improved over the last few years. Although critics and coaches consider his backhand to be his weaker side, players have conceded that it is getting tougher and tougher to attack. Federer tends to hit his groundstrokes early after the bounce, while the ball is still on the rise, much like Agassi did. While this requires excellent reactions and footwork, it means that Federer hits his groundstrokes closer to the net than most of his opponents. This reduces the reaction time of his opponents and allows him to hit the sharply angled winners that are a trademark of his game.
|
His serve is difficult to read because he tosses the ball consistently in the same spot regardless of where he intends to serve it, and because he turns his back to his opponents during his motion. His first serve is typically around 200 km/h (125 mph), with his second serve usually being a heavily kicked delivery. Federer generally serves with placement and precision, but on occasion he will hit a powerful serve to keep his opponents off balance.
His footwork, balance, and court coverage are exceptional, and he is considered to be one of the fastest movers in the game. He can hit a strong shot on the run or while backpedaling, allowing him to switch from playing defense to playing offense as well as any player on tour.
While Federer's playing style appears relaxed and smooth, this belies an aggressive and opportunistic game plan. Federer constructs points to get in a position from where he can make outright winners with his groundstrokes. Federer has mentioned that he has been able to "read" his opponents' moves, which helps him to construct these plays.
One overlooked aspect of his game is his stamina. This is compounded by the fact that opponents will often run and serve much more than him during a game - Nadal is one player that can cope with this, while other players cannot. For example, Andy Roddick was visibly tiring in the 4th set of the 2006 US Open Final.
Note:
This article is based on the article Roger Federer from the free encyclopedia Wikipedia und is under the GNU-Licence for free documentation. In the Wikipedia, there is a List of authors available.
|
|
