You never exactly know when your chance will arrive, if at all, to beat Roger Federer in an ATP Tour final.
John Isner’s opportunity came only six minutes into the 2012 Indian Wells final when he held three break points in Federer’s second service game.
Isner went 0/3, and he would not see another break point for the entire match, losing 7-6 (7), 6-3 in cool, blustery conditions.
Isner worked his way to a 15-40 lead in Federer’s second service game when the Swiss netted a drop shot and then sprayed regulation forehand and backhand groundstrokes.
At 15-40, Federer bombed a first serve down the T, and Isner blocked it deep back to Federer’s backhand corner. Federer ran all the way outside the alley in the Ad court to upgrade his backhand to a forehand and went cross court deep back to Isner’s backhand.
Federer had recovered back to the singles line, and Isner saw an open court down the line and pulled the trigger with his backhand – but it found the net.
On Isner’s second break point at 30-40, Federer made his first serve down the T and then hit five straight forehands standing in the Ad court to force another backhand error from Isner.
Isner’s third break at Ad Out again saw Federer making a first serve and then dominate with an Ad court forehand. He quickly made his way to the net to finish with an overhead winner.
Three break points were gone in a flash.
IMPROVE YOUR SERVE – HOLD MORE SERVICE GAMES
Webinar 3: Serve Strategy & Patterns
Webinar 11: Break Points & Tie-Breaks
Webinar 21: Serve & Volley / Return & Volley
Webinar 34: The 8 Serve Locations
A close analysis of the three break points reveals the brilliance of Federer and how he plays the big points on his terms.
On the three break points combined, he hit seven forehands and an overhead. He didn’t hit a single backhand.
Isner, on the other hand, hit six backhands and four forehands (including returns), and all were from deep in the court and under pressure.
Federer’s determination to turn backhands into forehands is a hidden strength of his game and enables him to essentially only play half the court (Ad court). At the same time, his opponent has to respect and play the entire court.
The main reason for this is that Federer’s forehand is so dominant in the Ad court, the quality of the shot makes it virtually impossible for an opponent to go down the line with their backhand to hurt him because they are pushed too far back behind the baseline.
If the backhand down the line is not hit perfectly, they leave cross court wide open for Federer’s forehand on the next shot. It’s a no-win situation that very per players know how to diffuse.
Federer’s forehand was the most dominant shot in the match with 14 winners (Isner had five) and helped him win around two out of three of all baseline rallies.
Federer made 15 forehand errors (Isner had 16) but his forehand got better as the match developed – only making 5 errors in the second set.
The tie breaker in the opening set provided mini breaks for both players but Isner would not see a set point.
Isner’s main opportunity to win the breaker slipped through his hands serving at 7-7 when he got the short ball he wanted from Federer’s backhand slice return of serve.
It barely made it over the net and Isner was quick to jump on the short ball and hit a solid approach deep to Federer’s backhand in the Ad court.
Federer stretched for his backhand passing shot and did not hit it cleanly as it floated high up to Isner’s backhand volley.
Isner could have hit it but decided to let the knuckleball go, hoping it would sail long with the wind.
It landed dead in the middle of the baseline.
Federer would convert his fourth set point when Isner missed his backhand return long off a tough wide serve in the Ad court.
Federer’s first serve was almost perfect for the match as he won 33/35 (94%), including 13/13 (100%) in the second set. In fact, Federer only dropped one point total on serve for the entire second set.
Isner will take heart making his first Masters final and is also adding the confidence being ranked in top 10 in the world for the first time.
He missed his opportunities yesterday but it’s not going to take long before a whole lot more come floating along.