Andy Murray may be disappointed to have lost to Novak Djokovic 6-3, 3-6, 6-7(4), 6-1, 7-5 in Friday's Australian Open semifinal, but he has to be quite happy with his performance, as he played much better than ever before against a top player in a major event. Andy has always been extremely quick on defense, but he was rarely as aggressive as he needed to be. Against Novak, he hit much harder than in his past, especially on the forehand, and created incredible angles that made Novak use all of his also extraordinary quickness.
Roger Federer has fewer reasons to be happy about his performance in the other semifinal, but he does have at least one. Rafael Nadal increased his edge over Roger in majors, taking him out 6-7(5), 6-2, 7-6(5), 6-4, but as it had in the final at Roland Garros last year, Roger's backhand held up against Rafa's immense topspin much better than in earlier encounters. It was Roger's forehand that let him down. Under pressure, he tends to aim it too low and hit it into the net; that's what cost him the US Open semifinal last year against Djokovic. Roger may be aiming low so that he can hit with more pace and put the ball out of reach of the amazingly speedy Rafa (or Novak), but he'd do better to use more topspin so that he can hit with the same pace, but with safer clearance--as do Rafa and Novak. Given how much Roger has improved his backhand in the last year, he should be able to improve the topspin on his forehand too.
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So you’re suggesting that Federer should use more topspin on his forehand? This would slow his strokes down, he would would make less mistakes and I believe take any advantage he might still have, away. He would lose slower but he would certainly lose. He would be going from a possible win to a definite lose situation. There is no way that he can outlast Nadal and Djokovich.
Thank you for your comment, Rod. You may have missed the “so that he can hit with the same pace” part of my suggestion, or perhaps I should have elaborated. If he swings faster overall, he can maintain the same pace he’s currently getting on his most aggressive shots, but use greater topspin to gain safer clearance. He needn’t do this all the time, as flatter shots have their own tactical benefits, but he should do it often enough that he can call upon it when things get tight.