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What if Roger Federer summoned his inner beast… The Rogimal?
184 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Bios
We all know Roger Federer plays tennis like a gentleman wearing a top hat and tuxedo. Heck, maybe someday Nike will design such an outfit for the King.
Federer plays with grace, elegance, perfection. He is a work of art, or as Greg Norman told me, he is “like watching live art.”
But what if Roger Federer found another level? What if Roger Federer round his sixth gear turbo power?
You know, that extra intensity level of emotional adrenaline that Rafa Nadal, Lleyton Hewitt and Serena Williams summoned from deep within.
We rarely ever saw Federer utilize his “beast mode” of physical and emotional fury, vicious grunting and wild-eyed, crazed, obsessed, ferocity.
Federer always plays tennis as if he’s Baryshnikov or Oksana Baiul. Aesthetic beauty.
What if Federer got down and dirty, and found a new level, with the eye of the tiger and pit bull snarl? And used it on those rare occasion when he needed a boost?
Shoot, Fed might have won 30 majors by now.
If Federer added a Jimmy Connors, Hewitt, Serena, Rafa, McEnroe edge to his arsenal he might never lose a match.
No one could beat The Rogimal.
(Federer art by Karl Rosenstock)
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1 2 3 4 Next »mrzz · July 9, 2017 at 8:12 pm
Good idea, except for the nickname (Rogimal). But I admit it is hard to come up with something good in this regard (Roaring Federer?).
El Dude · July 9, 2017 at 9:36 pm
Federminator? Federbeast?
Anyhow, a worthy thought but I don't think it holds water. It isn't that different than asking, what if Rafa had played less ferociously to save his body so he wasn't injured so much? Well, he'd likely have far fewer Slams, even if healthier, because a lot of his greatness comes from the ferocity of his play.
Or what if Johnny Mac hadn't thrown tantrums? Yet weren't those tantrums the other side of the tempestuous nature that saw him storm the tour and supplant Borg as king?
So too with Roger: his greatness may be directly linked to his calm demeanor, his gentleman-like approach on the court.
Every great player has a unique nature that befits their style of play. To ask them to be something else, or to speculate how great they would have been if they were a bit different, misses this, in my opinion. We must all be what we are, no?
Duke Carnoustie · July 9, 2017 at 10:13 pm
Duke Carnoustie writes:
Yeah I disagree with the premise. I think its his cool, calm demeanor that is his biggest edge. Look at the Kygrios match this year, Rog stayed cool and survived and it has strengthened him. Kyrgios was an inferno of emotion and hasn't been the same since. It is this cool demeanor that allowed Rog to skip RG even though it costs him a better shot at the No. 1 ranking. Rog has plenty of fire; it's just that he doesn't want us to see it. His demeanor is also why he is guaranteed a pro-RF crowd at every match he plays – another big edge that he would concede by acting out. We have seen his opponents thrown off by the crowd rooting against them time and time again – and I guarantee Rog is 100 percent OK with that.
Andrew Miller · July 10, 2017 at 12:37 am
Andrew Miller writes:
Yeah he wears a tuxedo while decimating the hopes of younger generation alongside peer rivals haha. I watched a few interviews with the Roger Federer on the Wimbledon/you tube site and it's confirmed, Federer said he and the other big five members have locked out younger generations from the winners circle. He didn't seem to gloat about it, he was talking about reality. He said well they are going for us, and we are keeping them at bay, and despite a few single slam wins (Del Potro, Cilic) he said only Wawrinka has broken through to shake things up.
Andrew Miller · July 10, 2017 at 12:40 am
Andrew Miller writes:
Federer can do no wrong in his fans eyes. They are in love with him. To me, the guy is great. I don't think he wins by intimidation anymore, which may be why like Scoop has said he's playing as well as ever if not better. To me he plays more strategically these days and stays focused down the stretch with a lead. That's impressive.
Front242 · July 10, 2017 at 3:34 am
How about Roid Ragerer? That'd be pretty hilarious to see. Running around wearing a wife beater muscle top. Massive back, shoulders and biceps juiced to the gills on Mr. Olympia grade HGH and Sustanon 250 on a day-lee, baby please 😀 Fans of Lui Marco will get that last part.
Scoop Malinowski · July 10, 2017 at 7:38 am
Scoop Malinowski writes:
Fed does not have to be a brat about it, just good clean fire. Like Anginimal which suddenly came out in her last match down a set and 3-4 30-all to Rogers. Now Angie Kerber is a beast and she just won first set vs Muguruza who she had lost four matches in a row to. Kerber is now at a new level since she became Anginimal. She is not a brat about it just super intense. Fed could be more super intense and I believe it would take him to a new level. He has a calm and cool exterior but deep down Federer is crazy. Michael Llodra told me this for Facing Federer. He told me five times in a row “Federer is crazy, I know him since junior, he is crazy. But he has you all fooled.” If Federer taps into his crazy Rogimal (for lack of a better nickname) he would go to a new level. Kerber is proving it right now.
Scoop Malinowski · July 10, 2017 at 7:39 am
Scoop Malinowski writes:
Front; How about Roidger Ragerer? 🙂
Scoop Malinowski · July 10, 2017 at 7:42 am
Scoop Malinowski writes:
Duk; Borg's cool was legendary but eventually it failed him and quickly Borg exited stage left and retired at 26. If Borg became Bjornimal he would have possibly lasted another decade on the ATP Tour. If Todd Martin can summon his inner beast so too could Fed and Borg could have too 🙂 It comes down to do they really REALLY want it?
Duke Carnoustie · July 10, 2017 at 11:36 am
Duke Carnoustie writes:
Scoop the question is why would Fed want it? He is 31-2 heading into today this year. Why change? Also at this age, he is riding it out on his own terms. He will do it the way he wants to. I say llodra is full of it. Meanwhile horrible 4th-set TB loss for Querrey who had several match points, with one n his serve.
Duke Carnoustie · July 10, 2017 at 12:04 pm
Duke Carnoustie writes:
Great job by Querrey to close this out. I give him a chance to knock out the defending champ.
Scoop Malinowski · July 10, 2017 at 12:16 pm
Scoop Malinowski writes:
Duke; For Fed to win this title he may need a lil extra juice. He's looking superb so far but a long way to go and a lot of warriors to slay. Q Ball is a different guy now. New girlfriend giving nice sincere animated support, helps a lot and can be difference maker. USA chants were also great.
Chazz · July 10, 2017 at 12:55 pm
Chazz writes:
Scoop, did you catch QBall's emphatic "COME ON!!!" after winning match point? Thought you'd like that one. Man I want him to take out Murray. Don't know if he can do it though, especially after two 5 setters in a row.
Duke Carnoustie · July 10, 2017 at 1:15 pm
Duke Carnoustie writes:
Don't think Fed needs much juice the way he is rolling through poor Grigor.
Duke Carnoustie · July 10, 2017 at 1:17 pm
Duke Carnoustie writes:
I like what I see from Berdych. Is this finally his time to get a major? I can easily see him beating Novak and losing to Fed, though.
Andrew Miller · July 10, 2017 at 1:17 pm
Sam Querrey, USA best player. Second QF for a USA men’s player since 2011, both QF by Querrey, last year and this year at Wimbledon.
Andrew Miller · July 10, 2017 at 1:19 pm
Andrew Miller writes:
Wow, women's event has become exciting. Coco to the QF, Rybarikova (?), Muguruza, Venus, Ostapenko???
Duke Carnoustie · July 10, 2017 at 1:25 pm
Duke Carnoustie writes:
If Berdych gets through Thiem, Novak, Fed and then Andy or Rafa, it will rank as possibly the greatest run ever.
Duke Carnoustie · July 10, 2017 at 1:31 pm
Duke Carnoustie writes:
Grigor going down easily. Not much of a fight. This lends evidence to Tomic's frustration. These guys are Slam contenders and Fed – who apparently doesn't even have any juice – is just brushing these guys aside like the flying ants.
Andrew Miller · July 10, 2017 at 1:35 pm
Andrew Miller writes:
Nadal and Muller in fifth set huh.
Andrew Miller · July 10, 2017 at 1:36 pm
Andrew Miller writes:
Alex Zverev so far up on Raonic? Milos wake up!!!
Duke Carnoustie · July 10, 2017 at 1:44 pm
Duke Carnoustie writes:
Andrew – And quietly Kuznetsova is hanging around. Why do I feel like Ostapenko is somehow going to win this?
Duke Carnoustie · July 10, 2017 at 1:44 pm
Grigor fights back! Amazing.
Andrew Miller · July 10, 2017 at 1:49 pm
Andrew Miller writes:
Radwanska gone! Halep wins? Wta has life in it yet. Ostapenko?????? I guess she employs the Serena model: Only play slams. And win them.
Duke Carnoustie · July 10, 2017 at 1:51 pm
Duke Carnoustie writes:
So much for that.
Andrew Miller · July 10, 2017 at 2:15 pm
Andrew Miller writes:
Muller Nadal an epic match. Raonic and Alex Zverev on serve in set #5! Dimitrov was never Baby Federer. Nor was Gasquet. Time to drop these nicknames.
Busted · July 10, 2017 at 2:44 pm
:lol6: OK…that made me laugh. Roger's Hallmark is his niceness, ie, his Swissness. He has 18 majors, so he is proof that nice guys DON"T finish last.
Busted · July 10, 2017 at 2:53 pm
Roger didn't say the "big five" – he said 4: himself, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray. Stan did get a mention but he wasn't included in the "big" anything. Roger also pointed out that the problem the younger generation has is that they'll have to beat 3 of them to win a Slam – and since they all play differently, that's probably NOT going to happen unless someone plays lights out for 2 weeks.
Chazz · July 10, 2017 at 3:01 pm
Chazz writes:
Muller looked so jittery on those match points. Hate seeing that after being so steady. This is an instant classic.
Busted · July 10, 2017 at 3:02 pm
ROTFLMAO. Michael Llodra said Roger is crazy and he has everybody fooled? There was an article I read way back in the height of Roger's dominance – maybe 2006 or so – where some tennis writer was saying the same thing – that it was all an act and manufactured and nobody could possibly be as nice as Federer was pretending to me – all the time. So that's 2 guys out of THOUSANDS who've interacted with Fed on a personal level who claim he's not the all-around great guy the world – and his fellow players – say he is. Jealousy is an ugly beast.
Busted · July 10, 2017 at 3:24 pm
TP Blog Guest said:
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Which is why Berdych won't win. Beat Djokovic…then possibly Fed…then possibly Murray or Nadal? When was the last time he beat any of those guys in a regular tournament – let alone a Slam? And all 3 of them in a Slam? Sorry, but Tomas hasn't got the game or the gonads.
Chazz · July 10, 2017 at 3:36 pm
Chazz writes:
Muller does it! Biggest win of his life at age 34. Unbelievable.
Andrew Miller · July 10, 2017 at 4:02 pm
Andrew Miller writes:
Muller!!! Scoop called it. Raonic!!! Beats Zverev. Sheesh, Nadal must feel bad. But no shame losing 15-13 in fifth. It would be worse of it were 70-68 in the fifth. Mahut, we're looking at you.
Hartt · July 10, 2017 at 4:31 pm
Hartt writes:
The thing about Federer and his "niceness" are the stories people tell about instances of things he does in private. Like the volunteer driver at a tourney who, when Fed asked him if he was attending the match, said he did not have tickets. Fed arranged tickets for him. And he is a genuinely sociable sort, curious about other people.
Andrew Miller · July 10, 2017 at 4:36 pm
Andrew Miller writes:
Federer isn't nice on the court. As I used to see, passing shots aren't "nice". Not any I've seen!!!
Hartt · July 10, 2017 at 6:19 pm
Hartt writes:
True, Federer is very mean on the court. After the Halle match Sascha asked if he couldn't have let him win more than 4 games. But of course that meanie Fed did not.
Andrew Miller · July 10, 2017 at 7:02 pm
Andrew Miller writes:
Duke, Ostapenko has great courage. When the chips are down she plays as if she's going to win.that's tough…for her opponents, who may think they seek the clear!
Dan Markowitz · July 10, 2017 at 8:00 pm
Scoop,
You are prescient. I didn’t think Sam I Am could do it, but he beat KevAnd.
And could Venus win Wimby at 37!? Amazing, Coco clips Caroline, could Coco win Wimby when she fell short at the Aussie O!? And Coco has the easiest draw to win it. Wonder what Craig Kardon is thinking now.
And it is amazing! I am writing about women’s tennis!
Does Gilles win today mean he’ll drop out of Newport? Unfortunately, probably yes.
Scoop Malinowski · July 10, 2017 at 8:56 pm
Scoop Malinowski writes:
Roger Federer is an axe murderer on the court .He has no mercy about destroying careers of people like Dimitrov Spadea Blake Berdych etc etc. Federer has axe murdered a lot of tennis careers. To put it bluntly.
Scoop Malinowski · July 10, 2017 at 8:59 pm
Scoop Malinowski writes:
Chazz; imagine if Querrey yelled and roared after every big point? I saw a Spanish badminton OLY medalist yell come on before and after every single point of the match. Yes she won silver in Rio. Querrey needs to do it more.
Scoop Malinowski · July 10, 2017 at 9:02 pm
Scoop Malinowski writes:
Duke; Because Ostapenko looked incredible today in fending off the fierce challenge of Svitolina who is the best fighter in WTA. I saw Svitolina fight back from 16 15 down to Larcher De Brito at US Open qualies. That was the match De Brito was crying all over the court. Heartbreaking loss because she just could not finish the amazing Svitolina. Svitolina did it again today but Ostapenko managed to finish her barely. Incredible tennis by Ostapenko.
Scoop Malinowski · July 10, 2017 at 9:06 pm
Scoop Malinowski writes:
I thought Muller vs Nadal was going to go to 128-126 🙂 Incredible win by Gillou who is a giant killer in GS stadium courts. That's when he plays his best tennis – on the biggest stages. Another heartbreaker for Rafa. Moya should have been there – I would guess Toni kept him out. Ego BS. Biggest tourney of the year and Moya has to stay home? BS
Andrew Miller · July 10, 2017 at 10:33 pm
Moya stayed home? Wow. Well, this has to hurt. Nadal has been playing his”good tennis” (translation: Invincible) and Muller knocks him off! Scoop had said Muller’s best was yet to come. And Scoop was right. This was an enormous win. Probably also makes other big four guys breathe a little easier knowing the guy playing either the best or just about the best out there is heading home to Spain.
Andrew Miller · July 10, 2017 at 10:36 pm
Yes, Federer knows he and his peers have been shutting out the next generations. Greedy! Haha. Well when you are that good and live for the gladiator aspect of tennis I think it only gets better for these guys. Federer’s wins feel better and his losses sting more.
Speaking of next Gen, how about Raonic? This was a huge effort to fend off Alex Zverev, who was aiming to slice through for the right to go after the big guys. Tremendous win from Raonoc, who has to like his chances for another deep run here.
Andrew Miller · July 10, 2017 at 10:37 pm
Svitolina must be shattered. Two slams in a row stopped by Ostapenko. Ostapenko has another gear in her. Rare.
Andrew Miller · July 10, 2017 at 10:42 pm
Querrey, how does this make his USA peers look? I had thought Querrey would inspire Sock, Johnson, Fritz, Harrison, Donaldson,Tiafoe, DY, etc and I think he has. But here we are, a year after his breakthrough qf here at Wimbledon and he’s done it again!!! I’m surprised the other guys haven’t broken through, they needed a higher ranking to get a better draw. Don’t get me wrong, the USA men are the best they’ve been since 2011 or so, since Fish and Isner got QF at the us open. But at the slams they fall very short except Querrey!!!
Andrew Miller · July 10, 2017 at 10:43 pm
That said Harrison and Venus are doing well in dubs. Harrison has really kept his level up. Great to see.
Andrew Miller · July 10, 2017 at 10:46 pm
Ostapenko may have the champion thirst for slams. We’ll see how the rest of the week goes!!!
Andrew Miller · July 10, 2017 at 10:48 pm
I’m excited. Just don’t know Rybarikova. Everyone else is pretty solid here, Coco Konta Venus Ostapenko Muguruza, Rybarikova Kuznetsova Halep. Not a bad lineup at all.
Kerber looked like she folded from the pressure. She kept getting shoved into the corners. Last year I don’t think she was pushed around so much.
Duke Carnoustie · July 10, 2017 at 10:53 pm
Scoop, throw in Andy Roddick who would easily have three or four Slams if not for Fed’s bloodthirsty greed for success. You are right. And here’s another thing: he gets stronger with each destruction and opponents get weaker. That’s what happened to Kyrgios and now Grigor. Sascha Zverev should count his lucky stars he lost to Raonic because he would get drubbed worse than the four games he mustered in Halle.
Fed is a machine as a front-runner. I really think only someone like Berdych has the stones to take him out, like he should have in Miami. The problem is I see Berdych defeating Novakagassi and then succumbing in five tight ones to Fed. I see him just falling short.