Roger Federer hit all the right notes in his 6-3, 7-5 win over world No.1 Novak Djokovic in the ATP 500 Dubai Final. The Tennis Review looks back at the five factors that worked in Federer’s favor as he took his 84th career title.
The Serve:
Federer’s serve had to be at its best against the game’s best returner, and it did not let him down when it mattered most. Federer hit 11 aces, striking the 9000th in his career in the match
, and won 80 percent of his first serves.
Djokovic earned seven break points on the Federer serve in the match, but could convert none of them, Federer’s aces and service winners foiling him. And when Djokovic worked his way into the Federer service games and got to 0-30, Federer’s variety, slices, spins, speed and accuracy on the serve came up trumps as it left the best reader of the serve unable to anticipate the direction of the Federer serve as the Swiss’ delivery struck every corner and line of the service box.
Federer’s serve has rarely been more clutch at crucial moments, see the two set points he saved in the second set, in recent history. And for a 33 year old, Federer’s serve and the free points it earns him, are nothing less that invaluable.
The conditions:
The Dubai hard courts are among the fastest on the tour and Federer now has seven titles at the event. Thirteen of Federer’s seventeen slams have come on the faster tour surfaces in London and New York, and his serve and all court play thrive on them.
Playing the final at 7 at night made the conditions even better for Federer. The weather is colder and the ball bounces lower allowing the Federer serve to bite through the court and skid low and for his volleys to die quicker, an invaluable edge against the game’s best defender and returner.
The Attacking strategy:
Federer committed to an attacking game plan against Djokovic and never relented. History told us all that Federer had to get the win in straights, and he came out refusing to play the waiting game from the back of the court that Djokovic has so successfully employed in the past.
From the get-go, Federer took on the net, and won 9 of 21 attempts up there, a statistic that shows how successful Djokovic is at passing the Swiss, and how committed Federer was to taking the match to him anyway.
Federer’s attacking strategy denied Djokovic any rhythm from the back of the court, and when the Serbian did keep Federer back and tried to impose his game, his lack of rhythm resulted a few costly errors, and his confidence suffered.
Federer stuck to his attacking strategy and it paid off- he avoided a dangerous third set, closing out the match in two.
The single handed backhand:
It is no secret that Federer’s forehand is his strength in baseline rallies and that his single handed backhanded is his downfall against the game’s aggressive baseliners.
Not in the Dubai 2015 final, though. Federer struck his single handed backhand with ruthless intent, two of the most remarkable instances when returning the Djokovic serve at 3-3 in the second set.
Those shots told Djokovic that the Swiss’ weaknesses were as strong as his strengths, leaving a floundering Djokovic with even less of an idea where to go in the match.
Watch the video below to see how good Federer was striking his single handed backhand in the final.
Hunger:
Federer lost two big finals to Djokovic in 2014, at Indian Wells and Wimbledon, finals he had chances to win. Each time he won the opening set only to lose out to Djokovic’s steadier game and stamina.
From the get-go in this year’s Dubai final, Federer played with a hunger for victory that showed he was not going to lose his one set lead and be runner up to Djokovic again.
An early loss to Seppi in Melbourne also meant Federer had even greater motivation. In 2015, in which he won five titles, Federer was a few matches away from taking the ATP No.1 spot from Djokovic, but the early Melbourne loss set him back and also cast some doubts as to his chances of winning another big title anytime soon.
Federer proved the critics wrong in his very next event. And while it is not an ATP 1000 or a slam event -Dubai only has ATP 500 status- the way Federer’s serve and attack proved so effective against Djokovic is even more valuable than those points. It shows Federer is on top of his game, and that there is still a chance he can make it back to No.1, and perhaps even the Grand Slam winner’s circle.
Federer looked hungry in his Dubai win, and the victory no doubt tasted good. The Swiss and his fans will be hoping that the win will merely serve to whet his appetite and he will be even hungrier come the upcoming ATP 1000 tournaments and Slams.
Commentary by Christian Deverille
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