1 Response to madrid06federer_gonzalez

1. Voo de Mar says:

   October 25, 2023 at 6:55 pm

   Points won by each set: [ 43-36, 26-10, 29-16 ]
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   38 % Federer – 31 of 81
   18 % Gonzalez – 15 of 79

   # They both were playing the best tennis of their lives in the years 2006-07, but the main difference meant that Federer [1] was trying (unsuccessfully) to win four majors in a row while Gonzalez [10] became a solid Top 10er who could have been expected to reach the quarterfinals (at least) of all biggest events. # That difference was reflected in Gonzalez’s two out of three big finals he played at the time, and another final they co-created in the meantime (Basel) – the Chilean couldn’t have taken a set on three occasions in the ‘best of five’ format, playing very good tennis in one set on each occasion (his third big final came in Rome ’07 when he quickly lost to Nadal). In Madrid, Federer won the final grabbing the last eleven games, Gonzalez indicated problem with his right shoulder after the 2nd set but it wasn’t anything serious, the following week he played good tennis again reaching the Basel final. “I played well, I didn’t drop a set all week and I really turned it on from the semis on,” said Federer. “I am the best right now but I don’t know about the best in history. We will never know unless I break all the records before I finish. I’m five years away from that though. There’s a long way to go but I’m in the fast lane.”

   Federer’s route to his 43rd title:
   2 Nicolas Massu 6-3, 6-2
   3 Robin Soderling 7-6(5), 7-6(8)
   Q Robby Ginepri 6-3, 7-6(4)
   S David Nalbandian 6-4, 6-0
   W Fernando Gonzalez 7-5, 6-1, 6-0

   # Comparison of their three finals within three months:
   Madrid ’06: Federer d. Gonzalez 7-5, 6-1, 6-0… 1 hours 48 minutes… Total points: 98-62 (aces: 11-4)
   Basel ’06: Federer d. Gonzalez 6-3, 6-2, 7-6… 1 hours 59 minutes… Total points: 120-87 (aces: 14-6)
   Aus Open ’07: Federer d. Gonzalez 7-6, 6-4, 6-4… 2 hours 20 minutes… Total points: 120-93 (aces: 5-6)

   Log in to Reply