Federer in His Dotage is Growing on Me

[Riotbeard]

Does anybody else like Fed a bit more as he struggles with his game over the last few years (having ups and downs, etc.)? I find him a more endearing figure. I also enjoyed these last two photos: http://www.tennis.com/photos-video/2014/03/indian-wells-photos-march-10/50869/#.Ux9kgF6V8dA

 

[nehmeth]

Does anybody else like Fed a bit more as he struggles with his game over the last few years (having ups and downs, etc.)? I find him a more endearing figure. I also enjoyed these last two photos: http://www.tennis.com/photos-video/2014/03/indian-wells-photos-march-10/50869/#.Ux9kgF6V8dA

mmmm.... Agassi I warmed up to as he got older. Haven't found that with Roger.

(When Nadal defeated Agassi in third round of Wimbledon 2006, Rafa stood aside and allowed the crowd to cheer Andre. It was one of those stand-up things you remember for a long time. I had tears in my eyes for Agassi as he said goodbye, and for Rafa who understood the moment and stepped back.)

 

[Tennis Miller]

Does anybody else like Fed a bit more as he struggles with his game over the last few years (having ups and downs, etc.)? I find him a more endearing figure. I also enjoyed these last two photos: http://www.tennis.com/photos-video/2014/03/indian-wells-photos-march-10/50869/#.Ux9kgF6V8dA

That happened to me with Jimbo and JMac. I was huge Borg fan, but came to appreciate his two rivals more and more each year.

Chee4s
TM

 

[shawnbm]

It was a magical time when Connors-Borg-McEnroe were butting heads. They were like heavyweight championship boxing bouts--you had to tune in.

 

[Kieran]

I also came to like Mac and Connors, but Agassi has never grew on me. In fact, with his pseud angry creepiness, he reminds me of his own description of his daddy in his excellent book, so I'm further away from Dre now than ever.

Federer is a guy I like, but I think of him as a narcissist and he isn't really someone I warm to. I admire him, and I think he does a great job as an ambassador for the sport, but I can't escape the suspicion that if he was made of chocolate, he'd commit involuntary suicide by self-consumption...

 

[brokenshoelace]

Obviously it's easy to gain sympathy if a once mighty figure has looked mortal for a while. You might relish it at first (in case you're not a fan of said mighty figure) but in time he'd gain an underdog status that makes you root for him.

A simple explanation though, would be that most people who are warming up to Fed weren't big on the guy when he was dominating. In fact, they probably resented his domination. They find it easier to root for him when he's not winning as much. I'm not saying this as a form of criticism mind you. After all, it is human nature.

It helps that Federer is actually pretty likable once you get past fans trying to analyze everything he says/does.

 

[El Dude]

I certainly enjoy his victories more now, because they can't be taken for granted.

I'd probably like Rafa a helluva lot more if he lost to Roger every once in awhile.

I'd probably like Novak a lot more if he didn't do that silly shirt thing, but I do like him more now than in 2011 (perhaps because there are less shirts being torn off these days).

 

[Riotbeard]

Obviously it's easy to gain sympathy if a once mighty figure has looked mortal for a while. You might relish it at first (in case you're not a fan of said mighty figure) but in time he'd gain an underdog status that makes you root for him.

A simple explanation though, would be that most people who are warming up to Fed weren't big on the guy when he was dominating. In fact, they probably resented his domination. They find it easier to root for him when he's not winning as much. I'm not saying this as a form of criticism mind you. After all, it is human nature.

It helps that Federer is actually pretty likable once you get past fans trying to analyze everything he says/does.

I also enjoy watching the struggle, which is a more compelling narrative than wins coming easy like when he dominated.

Kieran: I agree about the narcissism, but don't find it as glaring, now that he has gotten some good shots to his ego.

 

[DarthFed]

It's normal to kind of warm up to hated players that start to drastically slide. That was the case with Agassi who I did not like in the mid 90's (though I wouldn't say I hated him). Then after all the lows in his career to come back and do well into his 30's was great to see.

 

[nehmeth]

It's normal to kind of warm up to hated players that start to drastically slide. That was the case with Agassi who I did not like in the mid 90's (though I wouldn't say I hated him). Then after all the lows in his career to come back and do well into his 30's was great to see.

The only reason why I've softened my stance toward Fed is because of you, Front, britbox and a few other of the guys here who like him so much... his aging had nothing to do with it.

 

[Moxie]

It's normal to kind of warm up to hated players that start to drastically slide. That was the case with Agassi who I did not like in the mid 90's (though I wouldn't say I hated him). Then after all the lows in his career to come back and do well into his 30's was great to see.

The only reason why I've softened my stance toward Fed is because of you, Front, britbox and a few other of the guys here who like him so much... his aging had nothing to do with it.

I agree with you, nehmeth, that my softening towards him has to do with my friends on these boards who are such fans. However, I would say it also has to do with his struggles of the last years, as he gets older. What I didn't like about him, when he was younger, was that it all came easily and he won everything. However, when we'd all counted him out of ever winning another Slam, or beating that "most weeks at #1" by Sampras…he did it. Since then, I've been admiring of his game. I've stopped being blinkered by the idea that I don't like him, and just admire his game for what it is.

 

[rafanoy1992]

Wow! We all have the same minds. I have never hated Federer but I did not like his domination of the game. I just felt that he was "boring" because he was winning a lot and winning so easily. Now that he is struggling a little bit I started to appreciate his game a lot more. Also, I love when a great player proves his doubters wrong about not able to play at a high level anymore. It shows you that their inner desire to be the best at their business is out of this world.

 

[DarthFed]

It's normal to kind of warm up to hated players that start to drastically slide. That was the case with Agassi who I did not like in the mid 90's (though I wouldn't say I hated him). Then after all the lows in his career to come back and do well into his 30's was great to see.

The only reason why I've softened my stance toward Fed is because of you, Front, britbox and a few other of the guys here who like him so much... his aging had nothing to do with it.

But would your stance have softened if he was still dominating and winning darn near everything? Not saying it wouldn't have but I'm just curious as it is easier now that he is a much lesser player than he was in his prime. Having been on this board and others at the time of Wimbledon 08 the difference between what non-fans said of him before and after the final kind of proves the point.

 

[nehmeth]

It's normal to kind of warm up to hated players that start to drastically slide. That was the case with Agassi who I did not like in the mid 90's (though I wouldn't say I hated him). Then after all the lows in his career to come back and do well into his 30's was great to see.

The only reason why I've softened my stance toward Fed is because of you, Front, britbox and a few other of the guys here who like him so much... his aging had nothing to do with it.

But would your stance have softened if he was still dominating and winning darn near everything? Not saying it wouldn't have but I'm just curious as it is easier now that he is a much lesser player than he was in his prime. Having been on this board and others at the time of Wimbledon 08 the difference between what non-fans said of him before and after the final kind of proves the point.

It was funny how this thread made me revisit how I feel about the guy.

He made his way back to #1 in 2012 at the expense of my favorite player, and I don't think I was posting wild vitriol. That I did not had nothing to do with softened feelings due to his age and decline and everything to do with you guys who were so chuffed to see your man make his way back to the top.

 

[ftan]

It's normal to kind of warm up to hated players that start to drastically slide. That was the case with Agassi who I did not like in the mid 90's (though I wouldn't say I hated him). Then after all the lows in his career to come back and do well into his 30's was great to see.

The only reason why I've softened my stance toward Fed is because of you, Front, britbox and a few other of the guys here who like him so much... his aging had nothing to do with it.

But would your stance have softened if he was still dominating and winning darn near everything? Not saying it wouldn't have but I'm just curious as it is easier now that he is a much lesser player than he was in his prime. Having been on this board and others at the time of Wimbledon 08 the difference between what non-fans said of him before and after the final kind of proves the point.

It was funny how this thread made me revisit how I feel about the guy.

He made his way back to #1 in 2012 at the expense of my favorite player, and I don't think I was posting wild vitriol. That I did not had nothing to do with softened feelings due to his age and decline and everything to do with you guys who were so chuffed to see your man make his way back to the top.

Nehmeth .. why did you leave me out...cry kidding

 

[nehmeth]

Nehmeth .. why did you leave me out...cry kidding

Please forgive me Counting in my head, I failed to mention close to a dozen feddies that I enjoy on these boards.

 

[ftan]

Nehmeth .. why did you leave me out...cry kidding

Please forgive me Counting in my head, I failed to mention close to a dozen feddies that I enjoy on these boards.

Its ok buddy.. I have just been on these forums for about couple of years ..and all that you hav mentioned hav been here for years..I was just pulling your leg

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

Does anybody else like Fed a bit more as he struggles with his game over the last few years (having ups and downs, etc.)? I find him a more endearing figure. I also enjoyed these last two photos: http://www.tennis.com/photos-video/2014/03/indian-wells-photos-march-10/50869/#.Ux9kgF6V8dA

no, I was always a fan.

 

[jhar26]

Mirka is expecting twins AGAIN. Let's face it, the guy REALLY is the GOAT. :clap

 

[isabelle]

Mirka is expecting twins AGAIN. Let's face it, the guy REALLY is the GOAT. :clap

Source ? Is it true or a wild rumour ?