The Arthur Ashe Stadium once again burst into cheers. In the fierce confrontation between the two players, Gao Wen successfully squeezed Federer with a baseline shot and won the initiative for himself, and then used a side shot to
A straight-line forehand winner ended the round neatly.
Not only strong, but also straightforward.
The game had just begun, and wonderful goals came one after another. The fans inside and outside the TV screen went crazy, and their enthusiasm was fully ignited.
"...In the opening stage, at least one thing can be seen: Gawain's tactics are not conservative."
"Like Wimbledon, he still controls the pace as much as possible."
"When playing against Federer, rhythm control and pulling is always an important focus. Look at Djokovic or Nadal. When they play against Federer, no matter whether Federer speeds up or slows down, they will look for ways to break Federer's rhythm and avoid Federer.
Get into an offensive rhythm."
"Now, Gawain is doing the same."
"After experiencing the regrettable defeat at Wimbledon, Gawain did not shrink or be timid. He still insisted on his own tactics. This is a good start."
Two consecutive Grand Slams met in the semi-finals, only two months apart.
Moreover, the epic semi-final at Wimbledon is still vivid in our minds, second only to this year’s Australian Open final, and is considered a strong candidate for the best match of the year. Even when we come to New York, it is still talked about.
Every detail of each event has been studied thoroughly.
Naturally, when fans watched the long-awaited peak showdown before them, familiar scenes quickly appeared in front of their eyes, and they couldn't control one or two:
Could it be that...the classic will be staged again?
That would be perfect.
Similarly, this time, Federer also stood firm and quickly launched a counterattack.
This year's US Open, Federer's biggest change is the improvement of comprehensive pressure. The difference can be clearly reflected in one data from the bottom line position——
In the service game, after completing the serve, Federer hits the ball within one meter of the baseline 3% of the time.
In the return game, Federer also attempted to hit the ball within two meters or even one and a half meters of the baseline 9% of the time.
The entire pressure is very obvious. Through the connection of the shots, the improvement of the rhythm and the change of the line, Federer's full-court coverage and comprehensive pressure have reached a new level, and regular access to the Internet further enhances the pressure. Federer can be felt from the spatial level.
impact.
The most representative and eye-catching thing is that Federer came up with a brand-new technology during the North American season——
SABR (Sneak-Attack-By-Roger), a sneak attack from Roger.
It sounds very mysterious, but in fact, when receiving the serve, you choose to attack the net sneakily and use a half-volley to complete the return of serve, creating pressure.
Later, Federer revealed in his biography that this tactic originated from Cincinnati in 2015. He trained with the "socialite" Parre. When both of them were exhausted, they decided to find a way to play games.
Looking for a feeling, they both started to play with each other.
This is how the half-volley cutting method was used to receive the serve, and then it was further used in the game and achieved good results.
Of course, this tactic is similar to a circus performance and has caused widespread controversy on the tour. Like the underhand serve, it is not a conventional weapon.
The focus is still on sneak attacks and catching the opponent off guard.
McEnroe expressed this bluntly.
"It's a humiliation."
"He almost used a half-volley to respond to the men's serve. If it were me, I would wonder, is my serve so bad that he can use the way an amateur player responds to the ball?"
Many professionals believe that this tactic lacks respect for the opponent.
But for Federer, the real focus is to apply pressure across the board, using different hitting techniques and different tactical combinations to continuously apply pressure.
From Cincinnati to New York, Federer faced opponents including Djokovic, Murray, Wawrinka, etc. Not only was he able to win them all, but he also kept a set without losing a set. His full-court pressing style undoubtedly defeated his opponents.
His talents and abilities are vividly displayed and he is indeed aggressive.
Any player facing such a brand-new squeeze and impact will need some time to adapt.
Gawain is naturally no exception.
Before the game, Gao Wen had been mentally prepared. Because of this, from the beginning, Gao Wen started the confrontation at his own pace and took the initiative.
However, as the game progressed, Federer gained a firm foothold and could easily regain his rhythm whether serving or attacking with a forehand. At this time, the difference in the feeling of the ball throughout the round was slowly revealed. Even if he was mentally prepared,
Gawain was still a little surprised.
Compared with Wimbledon's smooth and sharp attack, it actually goes to a higher level——
The pressure of hitting the wall head-on and the airtight impact fully demonstrate Federer's talents in touch, rhythm, ball control, etc., a mixed style between the baseline type and the serve and net type, in fast and hard.
The ground is filled with new vitality.
If you think about it seriously, there should be no such style in the current ATP Tour. After all, there is only one Federer.
Facing Gawain's impact, Federer didn't panic at all.
After "0:30", Federer gained a firm foothold, and his entire layout and control became more precise and precise. With full firepower, he scored four points in a row to resolve the predicament and secure serve.
The hot touch continues from Cincinnati all the way to tonight.
"1:0".
In the previous quarter-finals, which was a highly anticipated duel, Federer swept Wawrinka in straight sets, once again falling short of everyone's expectations.
After the game, media reporters said that the scene in front of them was reminiscent of Wimbledon——
At that time, Federer was also feeling amazing and had a smooth journey. He didn't lose serve for the first time until facing Simon in the quarter-finals. In the semi-finals, he encountered a sniper attack from Gawain. His condition was obviously difficult, and he was unable to recover in the finals.
Does this mean that Federer's condition has reached its peak prematurely?
In this regard, Federer said.
He did not think that the Wimbledon final was poor, but that Djokovic played too well. Coming to North America was a completely new journey. From the games at Wimbledon and Cincinnati, he saw more positive things.
Things, and he has more confidence in his game. He believes that he is on the right path.
He will face Gawain again in the New York semifinals. Federer also emphasized that he is looking forward to meeting Gawain and a beautiful game.
Judging from tonight, Federer is indeed fully prepared.
Including the temperature, the strong winds, the on-site conditions, and the impact from Gawain, compared with Wimbledon, Federer is also growing.
Immediately afterwards, in Gao Wen's serve game, Federer also showed his determination——
He is not trying to copy Wimbledon, he knows this is a new game, but there is no doubt that he needs to be firm in his winning tactics.