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Nadal is the benchmark, not Thiem. FEDERER in MADRID

Roger explains who is his measuring stick

10 May 2019

Roger Federer has just won an extremely tricky match against Gael Monfils in Madrid after recovering from a desperate scoreline (1-4 in the decider) and by saving 2 match points on the way.

The Swiss sensation will face Dominic Thiem in the quarters that is on a 7-matches winning streak after he won Barcelona and he reached the quarters in Madrid. The Austrian impressed in Barcelona for not dropping a single set on his way to the title and he also defeated Rafael Nadal 6-4 6-4 in the semifinal.

Nadal is still the measuring stick. FEDERER

During the press conference following Roger’s match against the Frenchman, a journalist reminded Federer that he said that Nadal is the benchmark on clay, but Roger’s next opponent, Dominic Thiem, defeated him in Barcelona. Therefore, the journalist asked Roger if that match between the Austrian and Nadal gave useful information to the Swiss and if he thinks that Thiem is the man to beat.

Roger commented:

“The match regardless [the outcome] gives me a lot of information. I think this Monfils match as well because these are guys you have to close out. Thiem is the same thing: he places a lot of topspin, a lot of kick, he’s not just gonna go through much on clay usually where he’s just not gonna hit a ball into the court.

That might happen sometimes on really fast court and you might struggle a little bit more if you’re able to press and put him under pressure all the time.

But on clay, you would think that’s not gonna happen. So I have to come up with the goods. So he’s definitely a great test. Like Monfils was early in the clay court season for me still knowing that Madrid plays very different to the French Open, but Thiem has been
playing great recently winning Barcelona and also Indian Wells.

I mean there I saw what he could do also on the slower hard court. Not that I needed him to prove his point but I think beating Rafa in Barcelona is definitely a feat in itself, but I still believe Rafa is the measuring stick and not Dominic, but we’ll see how it all plays out.”

Head to head Roger Federer vs. Dominic Thiem

Roger has a negative record against Thiem that leads 3-2 in head to head matches and 1-0 on clay. Dominic has recently defeated Federer in the final in Indian Wells. However, Federer seems to have the tennis and the variations to beat Dominic in Madrid in fast conditions.