Game, Federer

In the final installment (for now??) of Game Federer, Brian and Vik relive and revisit Roger's 20th grand slam title where he defeated Marin Cilic in five memorable sets to hold up the trophy in front of Rod Laver one more (perhaps final) time. Thank you to all the listeners and supporters who took this ride with us. Until next time... Topics discussed: -US Open draw & tournament favorites -House money? -Rafa & Novak's injuries: Roger's opportunity -Novak's turnaround -Shaq: playing your way into shape -Roger's last "shot": a Jordan analogy -Victory "speeches" -Re-naming arenas -Roger's farewell tour -The Federer experience -Best-of-the-pod -& more Game, Federer is an Alternate Thursdays production.

In the penultimate (for now) episode of this podcast series, Brian and Vik relive and revisit Roger's 19th grand slam title where he hoisted his record-breaking eighth Wimbledon trophy. Topics discussed: -US Open preview -Lessons learned from NBA bubble -The Hamptons Five -Some US Open mechanics -Roger's body and schedule management -Does Roger train like Drago or Rocky? -How outlier is not dropping a set during an entire tournament? -& more Game, Federer is an Alternate Thursdays production.

Brian and Vik relive and revisit Roger's 18th grand slam title where he collected his fifth Australian Open trophy against Rafa Nadal, in one of sports GOAT rivalries Topics discussed: -Restringing racquets mid match -Roger's 24 hour rule -Federer NOT on center court? -SABR -Brian's work calling matches for the US Open -Roger's best Nike look? -Roger's Swiss-German shout outs -Hawkeye deciding match points? -Pat Cash -& more Game, Federer is an Alternate Thursdays production.

Brian and Vik relive and revisit Roger's 17th grand slam title where he hoisted up his 7th Wimbledon trophy. Topics discussed: -Brian's inadvertent GOT reference -Maxime Teixeira -2011 US Open vs. Novak Djokovic -Unsportsmanlike conduct? -Mechanics of a wild card -Ice open? -Andy Murray's journey to eventual Wimbledon champion -& more Game, Federer is an Alternate Thursdays production.

Brian and Vik relive and revisit Roger's 16th grand slam title, where he defeated Andy Murray, who would quickly slot himself into the "Big 4" of Men's tennis. Topics discussed: -Brian's elegant segways -Roger's Wilderness (Part 1) -Gettysburg and The Neverending Story references -Sidebar respect for writer Robert Caro -Andy Murray in context -Juan Martin del Potro -Roger pressers (especially post-loss pressers) -& more Game, Federer is an Alternate Thursdays production.

Brian and Vik relive and revisit Roger's 15th grand slam title -- where Roger eclipses the Pete Sampras record on the hallowed ground of Wimbledon. This Wimbledon, as we'll explore, was also one of Andy Roddick's best string of performances on court. Topics discussed: -Eclipsing Pete -Did Pete want to be there? -Current tennis news (Citi Open canceled) -Roddick's last great match? -Roger won the match but Andy won hearts and minds -Nadal and Richard Mille watches -& more Game, Federer is an Alternate Thursdays production.

Brian and Vik relive and revisit Roger's 14th grand slam title -- his first and only title at Roland Garros and, among many other things, the one that put him on the same footing, legacy wise, as Pete Sampras. Topics discussed: -Roger's new shoe -What other players could or should have shoes -US Open 2020 update -Nadal on 60 Minutes -How Robin Soderling beat Rafa on clay -Roger's most clutch tournament performance ever? -Roland Garros trivia -& more Game, Federer is an Alternate Thursdays production.

Brian and Vik relive and revisit Roger's 13th grand slam title, his fifth consecutive US Open victory against the ascending Andy Murray. Topics discussed: -Novak gets Covid-19 & the fallout -Should exhibition matches be played right now? -Roger's rough patches -Situational baseball -Roddick-Djokovic showdown -"The back nine" Game, Federer is an Alternate Thursdays production.

Brian and Vik relive and revisit Roger's 12th grand slam title, his first and only Grand Slam final victory against Novak Djokovic: US Open 2007 Topics discussed: -Citi Open in Washington, DC -The business of tournaments -The business of exhibition matches and other appearances -John Isner, the greatest server of all time -Innovations in the game -Records, records, and more records -Novak's sponsor carousel =Robert De Niro in Novak's box -Kanye West & Tiger Woods comparisons -Coach Vik -Roger's post-peak consistency Game, Federer is an Alternate Thursdays production.

Brian and Vik relive and revisit Roger's 11th grand slam title: Wimbledon 2007, the second of three consecutive years of Wimbledon Finals against Rafa Nadal. Topics discussed: -Pandemic insurance -What tournaments are scheduled for 2020 -Fans or no fans? -Rafa on clay -Revisiting the GOAT checklist -The evolution of Roger's Nike regalia -& more Game, Federer is an Alternate Thursdays production.

Brian and Vik relive and revisit Roger's 10th grand slam title: Australian Open 2007 Topics discussed: -Roger's 2020 earnings -What happened with the Nike deal? -Lance Armstrong -Does Nick Kyrgios win a Grand Slam? -Tommy Robredo: The Professional -Roger's *best* match? -The ascendancy of Novak Djokovic -Greatness is hard! -& more Game, Federer is an Alternate Thursdays production.

Brian and Vik relive and revisit Roger's ninth grand slam title: US Open 2006. Topics discussed: -Vik's personal experience at this tournament -Agassi tribute -Listener mailbag -Best Tennis films -Tennis video games -Where will Roger play his last tournament? -Strategy behind Jimmy Connors as coach -Tiger Woods in box -& more Game, Federer is an Alternate Thursdays production.

Brian and Vik relive and revisit Roger's eighth grand slam title: Wimbledon 2006. Topics discussed: -Who is the GOAT? We made a checklist. -Federer-Nadal rivalry origin story -The book: "Strokes of Genius" -Clay vs. other surfaces -The importance of confidence -Tony Roche's hat -& more Game, Federer is an Alternate Thursdays production.

Brian and Vik relive and revisit Roger's seventh grand slam title: AO 2006. Topics discussed: -Marcos Baghdatis' ascendancy -Why did Davydenko have such a hard time in semi-finals? -Whether Jordan would have won 7 rings if he came back for another year -"Weaknesses" of the Big Three (Roger, Rafa, Novak) -Rod Laver's impact -The book: Strokes of Genius -Best unorthodox players -& more Game, Federer is an Alternate Thursdays production.

Brian and Vik relive and revisit Roger's sixth grand slam title: US 2005. Topics discussed: -Fabrice Santoro's game -Tennis news during COVID-19 -Andre Agassi v. James Blake (one of the best matches of all time) -excerpts from Agassi's incredible book, Open (GOAT autobiography) -Federer's ascension -Weaknesses in the games of the "big three" -shocking/surprising stats, including the record holder for aces -More arguments by Vik that Nalbandian should be in the HOF Game, Federer is an Alternate Thursdays production.

Brian and Vik relive and revisit Roger's fifth grand slam title: Wimbledon 2005. Topics discussed: -Fernando Gonzalez -Camera angles for different tournaments -Multimedia podcasting -Andy Murray & Novak Djokovic's first Wimbledon -AO 2005 Semifinal against Marat Safin -MJ's gold chains vs. Safin's -the advantages and disadvantages of familiarity -The Phil Jackson of tennis coaches(?) Game, Federer is an Alternate Thursdays production.

Brian and Vik relive and revisit Roger's fourth grand slam title: US Open 2004. Topics discussed: -Davis Cup -Marcos Baghdatis -Andre Agassi -2004 Athens Olympics -Tomas Berdych -Jimmy Conners' 109 Titles record -the magic of Fabrice Santoro -Kevin Garnett, Anna Wintour and other high profile regulars Game, Federer is an Alternate Thursdays production.

Brian and Vik relive and revisit Roger's third grand slam title: Wimbledon 2004. Topics discussed: -Favorite statistics -The Maria Sharapova Wimbledon -Hewitt vs. Roddick -Roddick's serve -Mike Tyson's Punch Out -Rafa Nadal's first win against Roger -Dominance ratio -Why tennis isn't bigger in the US Game, Federer is an Alternate Thursdays production.

Brian and Vik relive and revisit Roger's second grand slam title: AO 2004. Topics discussed: -The importance of the #1 ranking -Andre Agassi being able to go toe to toe with anyone, anytime -Marat Safin vs Juan Martin del Potro what ifs... -Nalbandian's jumping two-handed cross court back hand -What level of chess Grandmaster Roger is -Rocky -Court composition -Nadal's footsteps -Hall of Fame mechanics and who's likely to get in coming up Game, Federer is an Alternate Thursdays production.

Brian Clark and Vik Singh relive and recount Roger's first grand slam title: Wimbledon 2003. Topics discussed: -Pete Sampras -Andre Agassi -Backhand styles -Federer's pre-grand slam career -Andy Roddick -Tennis fashion -Bloodsport -Court composition -Rafa Nadal -David Nalbandian Game, Federer is an Alternate Thursdays production.