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When does an athlete peak?

Across all sports, it appears peak ages are changing and evolving - perhaps towards the elder statesmen end of the scale.

http://richard-mills-sports.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/when-is-your-sporting-peak.html

Thoughts?

posted on 14/7/15

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comment by T-BAD (U11806)

posted on 14/7/15

Depends on the person too. I probably peaked when I was 15 before I discovered drink, drugs and girls

posted on 14/7/15

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posted on 14/7/15

Haha! Love them comments.

In terms of tennis, do you think Feds is at his best still like Stan is?

posted on 15/7/15

Federer started declining as early as 2007.

The difference between his performance in the 2006 and 2007 Wimbledon Finals was significant even though he won both event.

He has got his game back together in 2009, 2011-2012 and 2014 This has been enough to either win slams or be a serious contender in a big tournaments (Grand Slams, Olympics and WTF), but he has never got back to the level of early 2004-early 2007.

His mental barrier against Nadal has further hindered him.

In conclusion, he is nowhere near his peak at the moment.

posted on 15/7/15

So you dont recognise the improvement of Nadal and co?
Rafa was improving each year to the next and was leading the head to head vs Feds.
What do you make of his win vs Murray which he said was one of his best ever.

posted on 15/7/15

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posted on 16/7/15

I think one of Feds' best ever wins was vs Djoko in '11 at the FO, snapping his 43 match winning streak - aged 29 going on 30.

I would argue and he has said it as well, his serve is better now, his bh is better and he volleys better.

However he is a step slower, he makes more errors, less consistent, not as fit, doesn't recover as well and his fh isn't as devastating.
Not bad for a 33yo ranked no2.

Disagree his peak was in '03. Look at his win%. Every year bar 2008 and 2013, his win % was lower than ever season after it. His slam results. r4, r1, W, r4. Deffo not peak Feds.
His trajectory was about to sky rocket but no way was that peak feds aged 21-22.

posted on 16/7/15

Firstly, Nadal, Murray and Djokovic have all improved and would've always troubled Federer, but I just feel since 2007, his standard has slightly dropped. Even matches that he has won.

Wimbledon Final 2007 Vs Nadal - Needed 2 Tie Breaks to beat Nadal in 5 sets. Nadal had improved a little, but Fed didn't look as crisp as in the 2006 final.

US Open Final 2007 - Needed 2 tie breaks to beat an inexperienced Novak

US Open Final 2008 vs Murray - First set Fed was absolutely unplayable, but his standard significantly dropped in the 2nd and 3rd set, yes he won in straight sets and it looked comfortable on paper, but it was a drop in performance.

French Open Final 2009 vs Soderling - Just like the US Open Final 2008, unplayable in the first set, 2nd and 3rd sets nowhere near as good.

Wimbledon 2009 Vs Roddick - Was 2nd best for most of the match and got through in the end

He was a very good player between 2007-2009, but he couldn't sustain such high standards even when he won tournaments.

2010-2015. He has had some great performances in these years:
WTF 2010 Vs Nadal
French Open SF 2011 Vs Djokovic
Wimbledon SF 2012 Vs Djokovic
Wimbledon QF 2014 Vs Wawrinka
Wimbledon SF 2015 Vs Murray

But he hasn't been able to sustain anywhere these kind of levels for a whole tournament.

Federer of 2004 to 2007, seemed to be able to sustain a high level for the whole match.

posted on 16/7/15

I think we agree, just putting it in different ways.

I just think if it clicks for feds (ala vs Murray) he could be better than ever in one off performances.

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