Federer's serve got much better than this. The aces he serves up here, Nadal and Djoko would have returned 75% of those...and a few for outright winners. That was the future of tennis then, and I doubt anyone had any idea of what we were in for. It has been a pleasure Big Three....and Pete was one hell of a competitor himself.
Because the rest of his game was so good and so beautiful to watch, Fed's serve was overlooked. While it didn't hit 140, like Roddick, it was regularly in the 120's. That's fast enough. Plus he had pinpoint accuracy (natch) and could hit all four corners at any time. First point or match point down. The secret is that his ball toss was the same so you couldn't know where it was going. It's definitely an underappreciated part of his game. I saw Rog in person six times. Five at the Open and once in an exhibition at the Felt Forum with Pete. He "won" that day. Trump was there. You could pick him out of a crowd all the way across the arena because of his hair.
2 things. 1. That kid got to bat around with Fed using Sampras'es racquet. Just incredible. 2. I don't think this comment section realizes this is a fun exhibition match lol
Ah, thanks for that. Now I see why Pete looked like an old man here - the way he walks back on the field after the ball kid played, head a little low, balding patch.. sure not _just_ past his hey days.
The commentators are talking about cricket... the camera view changes at the worst possible moment during Federer's serve... Just a very annoying shambles of a coverage.
