At Federer vs Djokovic match, Federer did something he almost never does, except when he is certain he is going to lose and cannot believe it. He did the same before losing to Delpo in the US Open finals. What was it?
If any of you freaks can answer that, you will not only get on the Wall Of Fame listing, I will post a letter that you can print for your records that will certify you as one of the greatest tennis fans. If you wish I will even e-mail it to you so you can post it wherever. You never know it may be worth something some day.
Are you getting the drift? This is something you cannot answer without being super attentive at most of Federer's matches. The act is unmistakable and is a clear sign that Federer is stunned and cannot freaking believe it.
bitch to the umpire ?
Posted by: Stella | 01/29/2011 at 05:04 PM
say a naughty word.
Posted by: Stella | 01/29/2011 at 05:05 PM
A letter TP. Oh BOY.
Before we get started, I want to know if this is a legitimate tennis-related quirk, or is it something dumb like he doesn't hit the balls to the ballboys to help them out?
Posted by: Bettyjane | 01/29/2011 at 05:05 PM
Bettyjane, I'm sure it's exactly something like that -- in addition to b*tching to the umpire and saying a naughty word. :-)
Posted by: M | 01/29/2011 at 05:28 PM
He was irritated and frustrated by the slowness of the opponent in between serves.
Posted by: chieko | 01/29/2011 at 06:38 PM
Bathroom break?
Posted by: banti | 01/29/2011 at 06:50 PM
I'm with banti.
Posted by: Jenny | 01/29/2011 at 07:04 PM
If I'm right. You can give the prize to someone else! I don't want it.
Posted by: banti | 01/29/2011 at 07:14 PM
:)
Posted by: banti | 01/29/2011 at 07:16 PM
Oh ... I'll bet Banti's right.
But - didn't Roger take a BB in the 3rd or 4th round of the '09 US Open too ...?
*is somewhat abashed she can almost remember this*
Posted by: M | 01/29/2011 at 07:26 PM
Is a legitimate tennis-related quirk.
Posted by: TP | 01/29/2011 at 07:32 PM
Asks for Extra towels? Plays without undies?
Posted by: banti | 01/29/2011 at 07:50 PM
Lol banti good one ;)
Federer sweats profusely..for me that's the sign he is going to lose.
Posted by: Xeres | 01/29/2011 at 08:49 PM
No correct answer yet.
Posted by: TP | 01/29/2011 at 09:12 PM
He challenged a call ?
Posted by: Xeres | 01/29/2011 at 09:16 PM
Looks to his box.
Posted by: banti | 01/29/2011 at 09:25 PM
banti Rog once said that he looks to his box atleast 5 times during a match.
Posted by: Xeres | 01/29/2011 at 09:28 PM
Ahha!This is worth having a guess.
Posted by: Dee | 01/29/2011 at 09:46 PM
During match point-(It was not just a match point-both cases it was "Ad")Federer Looked up to his box before playing the point.
(Too sad why do you have to aske questions like this?)
Posted by: Dee | 01/29/2011 at 10:15 PM
Sadism Dee, Sadism.:)
Posted by: banti | 01/29/2011 at 10:22 PM
Play squash shots?
Posted by: Kitty | 01/29/2011 at 10:55 PM
Federer was irritated with the hawk-eye
Posted by: Barbara | 01/30/2011 at 12:43 AM
and line judges
Posted by: Barbara | 01/30/2011 at 01:08 AM
Ana must be his lucky charm or her earrings!!!!
Posted by: Dee | 01/30/2011 at 02:24 AM
Sorry, I don't know how I got here.supposed to be live chat.
Posted by: Dee | 01/30/2011 at 02:27 AM
Stare at the opponent after the opponent hit a clean winner under pressure?
Posted by: Rock | 01/30/2011 at 04:03 AM
Didn't grab a second set that he should have won?
Posted by: Bettyjane | 01/30/2011 at 04:21 AM
Scowl so intensely that he gave himself a uni-brow?
Posted by: Ricke | 01/30/2011 at 06:19 AM
Plays more drop shots than he should to try and win a long rally.
Posted by: Ricke | 01/30/2011 at 06:25 AM
shouts allez.
Gets upset with hiis opponents box ( supporters)
Posted by: Stella | 01/30/2011 at 07:56 AM
The answer anytime soon? You have us all intrigued and guessing on this one.
Posted by: banti | 01/30/2011 at 08:08 AM
Obsessively checking the strings of his racket over and over again.
Posted by: Bjornino | 01/30/2011 at 08:22 AM
Usually changes his racquet while receiving new balls (unless there is a broken string etc.) But I saw him doing this serving new balls or other time
Posted by: Kitty | 01/30/2011 at 09:04 AM
Make little or no effort to return a serve or return a ball.
Posted by: MyLove | 01/30/2011 at 11:20 AM
Then casually walks over to receive the next point or casually walks over to his seat after game is over. Maybe this could be a sign that he's befuddled or he is slowly accepting potential defeat.
Posted by: MyLove | 01/30/2011 at 11:26 AM
Tending to frown & look downward, with a downward turn of his mouth. Does the same against Nadal mosttimes, rather than the usual confident & relaxed facial expression...
...or could just be constipation.
Posted by: TheHumbleOne | 01/30/2011 at 11:29 AM
Takes an untimely bathroom break, to sit & cry for awhile?
Posted by: TheHumbleOne | 01/30/2011 at 11:31 AM
Changes his head band for a fresh one
Posted by: AVTP73 | 01/30/2011 at 11:58 AM
Yells "Come on!" to pump himself up after winning a seemingly irrelevant and easy point, like a forehand winner from the middle of the court to close a service game, when he's already been broken in that set.
Posted by: Serran | 01/30/2011 at 12:06 PM
Directly talk to the other player?
Posted by: Nelson Goodman | 01/30/2011 at 02:21 PM
Oh, Nelson, you may have it. Did he talk directly to Polito at the 09 Open? I don't remember.
Posted by: M | 01/30/2011 at 02:29 PM
"Directly talk to the other player?"
Good one! But pretty sure it didn't happen in the 09 Open.
Posted by: banti | 01/30/2011 at 02:44 PM
Spray his forehands?
Posted by: O | 01/30/2011 at 03:46 PM
Spray his forehand on set point.
Spray his forehand on key points.
Spray his forehand on match point.
Posted by: O | 01/30/2011 at 03:48 PM
*winces*
Ouch, O.
Posted by: M | 01/30/2011 at 03:57 PM
Yeah I'm with M. Can we just stop this already. It's quite painful.
Posted by: Bettyjane | 01/30/2011 at 03:59 PM
Just guessing, never had a chance.
Posted by: O | 01/30/2011 at 04:04 PM
Start to miss him already. It is not the same without him.
Posted by: chieko | 01/30/2011 at 04:59 PM
Yeah, no idea M, Banti, if he did talk to Delpo or not. Might just have to cue up the match. Would solve the missing him problem that I'm already having as well Chieko. But then again, do I wanna watch again him blow a match he had in hand? Rafa put it best "my opinion, Federer that year, last year, had to win that final because he was winning playing unbelievable in the beginning. Have break in the second, so it was yeah, he had the match under control, and something happened in the end of second and everything change."
Posted by: Nelson Goodman | 01/30/2011 at 06:06 PM
Casually bit his upper lip.
Posted by: bryan_b | 01/30/2011 at 06:13 PM
Chieko san, there are some nice AO semis and finals of Roger's in the 'Wanna Post' thread. I put them there with some other choices; I had a hunch some other people as well as me could use a spot of cheer.
Posted by: M | 01/30/2011 at 06:36 PM
Looks down to the ground longer than he is supposed to when waiting for his opponent to serve?
Posted by: flip | 01/30/2011 at 08:03 PM
i am a big fan of fedex and ..
I know that.. simply fed he just accept defeat.
throughout his career has always been a bad loser, bad gestures and perhaps excuses. but do not blame him, many great champions took that attitude in defeat even nadal..
Posted by: alek | 01/30/2011 at 08:20 PM
When Federer critics the opponents game behavior, i.e. excessive ball bouncing, time between points >20s etc.
Posted by: RafaFan | 01/30/2011 at 09:12 PM
...oh sorry, I meant when Federer criticizes
Posted by: RafaFan | 01/30/2011 at 09:22 PM
tried to clean the court with his racquet.
Posted by: Abdullah Wiqar | 01/30/2011 at 09:58 PM
Thank you sooooooooo much M san. You are truly so sweet and considerate. Just that already cheered me up !! And I am sure Goodman san too. Yes let us move forward, he did well at the Ao last year and poorly later. May be this year it is the reversal of fortune. I hope so. But at least he is healthy ( may be back problem came and goes and he is not telling anyone about it). The way this so call hard hitting game is going, I do not think there will be longevity in any player like that for sure. The surgeons will be so happy standing by, and the knee and hip replacement companies will sure make a fortune just like in other contack sports even there is no real contack in history. I did not watch the final. But my classmates and my colleagues told me that it was really close to boring. Yes I miss Federer san, he may sulk but at least he did not continuously swear and makes it pain for everyone else to watch. Oh wow I am brave today.
Posted by: chieko | 01/30/2011 at 10:41 PM
So TP, you must be a huge Federer fan since you are so super observant at his matches :-)
I go with trying to clean the court with the racquet that someone has already said above.
Give us the correct answer already.
Posted by: P | 01/31/2011 at 05:07 AM
"Give us the correct answer already."
It better be a good one.
Posted by: banti | 01/31/2011 at 05:16 AM
TP did say it was a tennis related quirk so Teeps it better be a freaking tennis related thing or else all hell shall break loose :P
What's with the freaking suspense drama ? You know we're all ignorant toddlers..so out with it I say ! Hmpf
Posted by: Xeres | 01/31/2011 at 05:31 AM
Fed rejoined grunting!!!! Geeeez! LOL. Wall Of Fame, no?
Posted by: RafaFan | 01/31/2011 at 08:17 AM
Oh! I want this soooo badly.
I got it! He shook the umpires hand after Djokovic did, thus implying that Djokovic had lost.
I feel really good about this.
Posted by: DSG | 01/31/2011 at 09:42 AM
"He shook the umpires hand after Djokovic did, thus implying that Djokovic had lost."
Interesting, but if we're to believe TP's criteria, can't be it since it happened once Fed already lost, while this is "something he almost never does, except when he is certain he is *going to lose* and cannot believe it."
I'm with others: out with it already, TP, and it better be a "legitimate tennis-related quirk"!!
Posted by: nelson goodman | 01/31/2011 at 09:51 AM
sheer desperation here----does it have to do with how many balls he puts in his pocket and/or throws back to the ballboys when he gets ready to serve
Posted by: Bettyjane | 01/31/2011 at 09:56 AM
He would remove the sweat with wrist band before he serves?
Posted by: O | 01/31/2011 at 10:04 AM
He would stick his tongue out to moisture the lips?
Posted by: O | 01/31/2011 at 10:11 AM
Teep, can't you see we're hurting here.
Come on
We might have to get Sol to represent us in a class action lawsuit if you don't ceaae and desist such flagrant abuse of the Wall of Fame."
Posted by: DSG | 01/31/2011 at 10:15 AM
He would be very careless with his shots, and send the balls to Cairo?
Posted by: O | 01/31/2011 at 10:33 AM
Pray for rain?
Fight back the tears?
Hid underneath his towel?
Posted by: Sarah | 01/31/2011 at 10:34 AM
lol DSG, I would prefer TP go slow and easy on this one by giving hints etc. if no one answered it yet. This walloffame has become very interesting.
Posted by: Kitty | 01/31/2011 at 10:51 AM
Good idea, Kitty. I didn't think of that. Hints would be great.
Pleeze, Teep, donnez-nous des hints. SVP.
Posted by: DSG | 01/31/2011 at 10:58 AM
I lost TP for a long time (November 2). I finally had time today to do an extensive search. It seems current, but still not sure I am able to post.
Have no idea if it's tennis related, but I have observed when he loses, he starts to gripe about the other player. In this case, ball bouncing by Djokovic. Notice none of the other players' quirks bother him when he's winning.
Posted by: Growltiger | 01/31/2011 at 12:53 PM
"We might have to get Sol to represent us in a class action lawsuit"
Bonjour mon amie!
Lol. Not sure we can make big bucks with a guy living in his parents' basement.
Posted by: Sol | 01/31/2011 at 01:46 PM
He started to jump up and down for no reason.
Posted by: chieko | 01/31/2011 at 05:45 PM
Hi Everyone please remember Jett in your prayers and rest of Cairns community.It's scary.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/in-depth/cyclone-yasi/evacuations-begin-ahead-of-the-arrival-of-the-powerful-cyclone-yasi/story-fn7rj0ye-1225997968847
Posted by: Dee | 01/31/2011 at 11:21 PM
Dee thanks for letting us know,sure will pray for Jett .
Posted by: Xeres | 01/31/2011 at 11:36 PM
Oh Dee. Thank you for letting us know.
Please let it be low tide.
Posted by: M | 01/31/2011 at 11:41 PM
he rubbed his nose
Posted by: ricky | 02/01/2011 at 12:53 AM
He gets agitated very fast and begins to argue the umpire AND HIMSELF. he shakes his head. also, when a dead ball comes his way (the point is over but the ball is coming to him), he either doesnt bother or hits it to the ball kids. when federer is playing well, he will still play the dead ball and hit a shot to the other side of the net.
Posted by: nipurn rastogi | 02/01/2011 at 02:21 AM
He didn't raise his hand in apology for a net cord that resulted in him winning the point?
Posted by: Bluechyll | 02/01/2011 at 03:06 AM
Engage in prolonged backhand crosscourt duels, despite being overpowered.
Posted by: Lobbo | 02/01/2011 at 05:27 AM
Is too much bothered by things like feather or other particles on the court. Also I think takes a lot of time to serve (usually is fast between points)
Posted by: Kitty | 02/01/2011 at 06:33 AM
TP is this your way of getting Fed's attention? Are we all just victims of this futile attempt ? New poll: Would Fed himself know this answer?
Posted by: banti | 02/01/2011 at 07:06 AM
Ball bounces more than 5 times before serving
Posted by: Kitty | 02/01/2011 at 07:41 AM
He called a friend???
Posted by: O | 02/01/2011 at 07:55 AM
"He called a friend???"
lol
Posted by: banti | 02/01/2011 at 08:15 AM
He impersonated Rafa out of desperation. Lining up of water bottles, picking of underwear. I've given up on what I know of Fed, moving on to Rafa.
Posted by: banti | 02/01/2011 at 08:19 AM
OK TP, give us the answer!
Posted by: Growltiger | 02/01/2011 at 08:21 AM
I remember then and now that he argued with the umpire - a clear sign that he was rattled.
Posted by: Sir Vibhudi Aatmapudi sr. the 3rd | 02/01/2011 at 08:28 AM
Sends a text to TP that it's time for a Wall of Fame contest??
Posted by: ScotsLady | 02/01/2011 at 11:17 AM
@banti: "Would Fed himself know the answer?" Hahahahahahahaha.
@Sol-Bonjour.The bucks might not be big but we could get him for everything he has...
TEEP- Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze a hint or two. Forget what I said to Sol.
Posted by: DSG | 02/01/2011 at 11:30 AM
Yelled "cum on" with a winning point.
Posted by: Murph | 02/01/2011 at 02:28 PM
I will throw in the following thought: Federer usually plays at his opponents pace - i.e. even when he is ready, he ends up having to wait for his opponent to be ready. Rafa is the best exponent; Gilles Simon tested him in the second round at the AO by making Roger wait for him; and Nole does a great job by taking extra ball bounces.
Roger adapted his game, at times against Nole and even Simon, he shifted this and made them wait for him to be ready. Cannot confirm if he did this against Delpo at the 2009 USO as I have not seen that match.
Posted by: Jef Costello | 02/01/2011 at 02:40 PM
Ok, here goes for a second try...Fed bounced the ball prior to serving. Usually, he just lines it up to the triangle in the middle of his racket right before serving.
Posted by: AVTF73 | 02/01/2011 at 03:13 PM
He looked up to the sky.
Posted by: chieko | 02/01/2011 at 08:12 PM
lol chieko, the winner is already declared!
Posted by: Kitty | 02/01/2011 at 08:35 PM
OMG Kitty san, now you where I am!! Cloud nine.
Gezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Rock san did it. GOod for him. I did not notice that. I shall go back to find that now.
Posted by: chieko | 02/02/2011 at 02:47 AM
Winner: Rock.
Posted by: TP | 02/06/2011 at 04:28 PM
he tries to peel the gum of the floor with the raquette
Posted by: wasim | 02/06/2011 at 11:25 PM