Category Archives: Roger Federer

Federer speaks about injury & ranking drop

Switzerland’s Roger Federer reacts during a break in the Swiss Open second round tennis match against Germany’s Daniel Brands in Gstaad yesterday. – Reuters pic, July 25, 2013.

Its been a long and dry summer for Federer fans who watch on as Roger struggles with back injury and uncharacteristic losses.  Just one year ago Roger Federer raised his game to defy critics who called for his retirement and end throughout 2009 & 2010.  First the back issues:

“I’ve had serious problems with the back, I had to get some anti-inflammatories last week in Hamburg due to the pain,” he said after yesterday’s loss, his third of the summer against an opponent ranked outside the top 50.

“I will have to do a lot of exercises and see how it all feels. My main priority now is to fix my back. I would love to be able to train at 100%,” said the former world number one.

“I’ll have to see if the rehab is enough to let me play in Montreal. If it is, I’ll go; if not, then it gives me another week.”

Second his drop in ranking and desire to win?

“I don’t think my ego would suffer if one day I was no longer in the top 10,” Federer told Le Matin. “There’s a moment when the rankings aren’t that important anymore. Honestly, I don’t even know what my current ranking is.  Today, my ranking isn’t that important to me anymore.”

“I don’t think my ego would suffer if one day I was no longer in the top 10,” Federer told Le Matin. “There’s a moment when the rankings aren’t that important anymore. Honestly, I don’t even know what my current ranking is.  Today, my ranking isn’t that important to me anymore.”

“In terms of rankings at least. Lleyton Hewitt is a great example in my mind. Whether he’s 170th, 20th or fifth, his ranking isn’t important to him. He just takes a lot of pleasure in playing.”

“I don’t have any problem with critics,” Federer said. “But I expect people to be honest. This situation is not new for me. In 2009 and 2010, people were already saying, ‘He’s won everything, now he’s done.’ The more people comment, the greater the probability that someone will say something stupid.”

I admire the positive attitude Roger Federer has about the sport.  Though he has played more matches than almost everyone current on the ATP tour, his love for playing Tennis still shines through.  Tennis is a tough sport on the body.  He has done a masterful job managing the pain and balance it takes to continue to play and continue to win.  I believe we are far from over for Federer. Even though the reality of wear and tear is hard to deny we are still talking about the most talented and majestic tennis player who ever picked up a racquet.  As long as Roger Federer is content to play, I am very content to watch and learn.

 

Related articles

Federer not to play in Gstaad for back problems?

The internet is going crazy over a rumour that has spread in the last few minutes.

The twitter account @letstalktennis1, a Swiss tennis blog, reported:

According to “Berner Zeitung” there were rumors yesterday that Roger won’t be able to play today because of his back.

All we can do is just wait and see what happens, knowing that Roger would play even on one leg, today. (He withdrew before a match only TWICE in his career -and NEVER during a match- and I don’t think he will do it again in Switzerland for his highly anticipated first round match).
But it’s not what happens today that worries me.
What worries me is Roger’s health and his serenity. I don’t think all this tension around his conditions helps him.

Let’s hope for the best,
Allez!

Roger Federer deserves better fans.

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The last couple of months have taught me one thing: Federer deserves better fans.

Or better, many so called “Federer fans” are just pathetic hypocrites that jump on the bandwagon and get off as soon as he doesn’t win everything THEY think he should win.

Exactly. If you have recently spent just  five minutes on a social network of your choice , you must know what I am talking about.

Of course, everyone has their personal opinion and everyone wants to give advices to their favourite player, as we’d all do towards someone we love, a close friend, a relative. Especially if we are afraid for them, if we think they’re not doing the right choices.

But everything has a limit. In so many occasions lately I’ve been struck by the incredible amount of “Roger must do this/mustn’t do that”, “it’s impossible for Federer to.. “, “he has to…”, “he can’t even think about doing…” and the harshness in which these comments were written.

I’m also puzzled by the variety of topics in which Roger apparently needs our assistance: which tournaments he has to play and what results he has to achieve at least, which racquet he has to play with, what kind of injury he has/has not, how he has to live his family life… and the evergreen: the retirement issue.

Needless to say, some losses are painful. More than I could ever express in any language, let alone in my poor English. It hurts seeing him struggle and not being able to express his genius in the way we are used to.

BUT.

It’s just a matter of respect towards the player and the person. Even if he wasn’t to win another single title, even if he went down to number 358404843 in the world rankings, I just feel we have to respect his choice to do what he loves doing. It’s too easy to celebrate every win and stand beside him when he breaks record or climbs the ranking and then criticize him every time he “disappoints” our expectations.

Are you guys kidding?

We are talking about a man that has nothing else to prove to anyone -save maybe himself alone- and whose legacy will be forever written in golden capital letters in every tennis book, no matter what happens next! And, what probably means the most to me, a man that gives us so many emotions every single time he steps on a tennis court. A man that loves what he’s doing so much, that he refuses to give up. A man that puts himself to the test day in day out. Who else at his age, having won all he’s won, would have decided to try out a new racquet in two minor events? (By the way, this should tell a lot about those who say that Federer is just a talented spoiled Swiss guy that doesn’t work as hard as others and doesn’t care as much as others.)

If we truly love and support Roger, we should at least respect his decisions and stand by him, no matter what. We owe him that. We owe him.

Roger Federer talks of Hamburg Defeat

“I think he was a bit better than me today,” said Federer, a four-time former winner of the bet-at-home Open – German Tennis Championships.  “Both sets could have gone either way. So, it’s clearly a pity I couldn’t win either of the sets because I was starting to feel better towards the end of the match. But unfortunately I couldn’t push him further and create more chances today.

“I think the conditions were totally different to last night. It was wet and heavy last night, under the lights,” said Federer, who had battled past Florian Mayer on Friday evening. “It’s a quick turnaround to quick conditions today and a totally different opponent. But that’s no excuse.”

“I don’t think it had much to do with the racket today,” said Federer. “I tried everything I could at this tournament. It’s been a difficult week throughout. But I’m happy I fought through many matches. It gives me the matches I was looking for.

“I was clearly hoping, after winning a tough one yesterday, to somehow get through today and then give myself an opportunity to win the title tomorrow. It’s disappointing, but defeats like that happen sometimes.

“I had a great time. I really enjoyed playing in front of the people here in Hamburg on the Centre Court where I’ve had so many nice moments in my career. Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it to the finals, but nevertheless, I did have four good matches and these are the kind of matches I need.”

This tweet caught my eye:

.@rogerfederer loss No 114 @FedeDelbonis 1st time lost in back-to-back tournament outside Top 100 since ’02 @Wimbledon (Ancic),Gstaad (Stepanek).

1
R. Federer
67
64
Semifinals
F. Delbonis
79
77
Jul 20, Completed

VIDEO Roger Federer discusses new racquet

After his first match against Daniel Brands where he beat the hometown hero on his 26th birthday, Federer talked about his new racquet and the process in which it came about.

“I’m pleased how it’s playing. I kind of knew it from practice, so it wasn’t like just jumping into the water, but I’m very happy that under match conditions I was feeling comfortable with it. I’m satisfied.” said Roger

“I’ve been very close on numerous occasions to change racquets in a bigger way. But then very often, time was the issue. Maybe also just the records of Grand Slams – I was always keeping on playing quarters and semis – so then it was also a bit more difficult to change it because of the time.

“This time around, all of a sudden I just had the extra 10 days, two weeks I was looking for, and I really was very serious about it. Wilson flew to Switzerland and we went through the whole process and I was very happy how things went over there.” said Federer.

to add humor to this big change – a twitter account has been set up called @FedsNewRacquet which has posted fun comments like

Once you 98″ you never go back 😉 #exciting #Team98

iamkringlozano  posted “I am now being followed by @FedsNewRacquet. Can’t wait to be smashed, served, and volleyed by a big head. I like it rough.”

witty banter indeed! Would be genius if it was set up by Wilson themselves?? Perhaps another @PseudoFed account?  Let us know what your guess is in the comments below!

 

UPDATE PseudoFed has released this picture of “himself” playing with the new racquet

Roger Federer Changing Tennis Racquets. What It Means and Why We Should Care.

Last week, reports surfaced that 17-Time Grand Slam Champion Roger Federer is experimenting with a new racquet and will test it out at the ATP Tour event in Hamburg. These reports grew into a buzz, which grew into fervor, which grew into a Cronut™ pastry-esque hysteria. In fact, Federer’s new racquet has sprung several twitter accounts. Although satirical, the accounts did take a little bit of effort and thought, which clearly counts for something. Numerous Youtube videos exist with him practicing with his new tool of the trade as well. With Roger Federer changing racquets, this is a pivotal moment in our sport. A moment that few people are willing to understand or believe. His old model, a Wilson Pro Staff 90 with a dense 16 x 19 control oriented string pattern has been replaced by a larger, “player friendlier” 98 square inch racquet with a more open and powerful 16×19 pattern. Although the string pattern is the same, the latter racquet, with more space between strings, will have more force and spring into the ball.

Fed-Blade-93[1]

Professional tennis players are notorious for being creatures of habit, especially with their equipment. Few of them change brands of racquets in their career, even fewer do it multiple times in a career. Although if anyone has followed Fernando Verdasco’s racquet relationships, you realize he may be the exception, having changed multiple racquet manufacturers in just the past year. That is the extreme exception. It will be more likely that you find a unicorn in your backyard than see that type of blatant racquet promiscuity ever again. It’s also no secret on tour and in the tennis savvy public that some players have been using the same model racquet for years. They just with a new shiny paint job of a current more updated model to appease their racquet manufactuer so they can sell a shiny “The brand new edition”.

On occassion, players will switch brands for the almighty dollar. But when they switch, even to a different manufacturer, the racquet specifications are nearly the same. If a player is usuing a racquet with a head size of 98 sq. in., you can rest assured he will not deviate more than 5lbs +/- from that size. Roger Federer, with his 90 sq. in. surgeon’s scalpel Wilson frame was not just the last of a dying breed, he was the last of an already dead breed. The Swiss Maestro admits to ramping up the head size to a big jump of 8 extra square inches. so much for the 5lbs +/- variance.

Roger said:

“I think 90% of the players on the ATP Tour have club head sizes between 95 and 100. Since Wimbledon we have now tested this, and so far it’s going great. I can easily develop with the new racquet power. The racquet change is in my opinion one of the largest for a tennis player.”

It may be easy for one of the most gifted tennis players of all time to switch, but go out and try it yourself as a recreational player and your feelings may be quite different. The change may be equivalent from going to a single egg skillet to a paella pan you’d find at a San Fermín festival. Maybe a bit of hyperbole to that, but to the well tuned feel and dexterity of a tennis player’s wrist and hand, the difference is clearly noticable. Federer will have more surface to hit with, but the feel and power and ability to balance that will be unlike anything he’s dealt with in the past decade. Few people remember that Federer began his career with what is a ludicrous, “Don’t try this at home” 85 square inch Wilson Pro Staff.

I’m very confident that one reason for fans reactions (maybe sub-consciously) to Federer changing racquets is that it signifies the end of an era. Roger is that perfect bridge from classic to modern. Classic in his style, his equiptment, his demeanor and his respect for the game’s history. Modern for his explosiveness, shot-making and leadership of tennis into this new era of elite athletes. Federer’s racquet was the sole physical speciman of a bygone era. An era that is quickly becoming a distant memory. The fact that he was able the world’s best tennis players armed with bazooka’s while he simply held a sling shot makes Federer’s accomplishments and records that much more gloriously perverse for a tennis aficionado.

Personally, my hat is off to “The King” of the modern/classical tennis link. He held on to the things that are dear to him…like those great ones before him. A classic style of racquet. unforgiving in its execution. Hit it perfectly and you are handsomely rewarded. Mistime the shot, and you look like a mere amateur. He has carried on the tradition and shown great respect for the game in holding out. Perhaps he was standing up to the machine just like Borg, Connors and Sampras did. Holding on to the last vestiges of realism…as we plunge headlong into not only virtual reality…but also virtual tennis morality.

The modern game has officially won out. Even a player of Federer’s ability, the player some journalists and fans label the Greatest of All Time (not by this author however) has succumbed to the new age of bigger, more powerful racquets to handle the longer and more powerful rallies from the baseline. But this should not be viewed as a sad moment or a eulogy for the last remaining artifact of a historic time. Rather a moment of clarity and evidence that Roger Federer, despite the criticisms and factually misguided opinions of those willing to give them, is evolved enough to improve by making this change. Many players before him and inevitably many players after him will simply mention their significant number of grand slams and say “that amount of grand slams! Why should I change? This racquet has gotten me to the top and I’m not changing. No need.”

Tennis players are a stubborn bunch. The beauty of Roger, He’s not happy with 17 Grand slams. He’s certainly not happy with a #5 ranking. He knows he needs to make a change and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen. Changing racquets is not a plea, a panic or a retirement PR stunt. It’s about commitment to a new idea, a new wrinkle, an attitude of constant improvement. Should anyone be surprised? After all, that’s what champions do isn’t it? Constant improvement. if you are not improving you are getting worse. Every great tennis player knows that. This is not a Federer swan song but instead it is a Federer rebirth. Only the athlete knows what he has got left in the tank, and this is the latest sign from Roger that he he’s in it for the long haul.

Thanks for reading.

Kyle LaCroix
You can follow me on Twitter @TennisTycoon

VIDEO Federer testing a new #tennis racquet?

These pics recently turned up on the internet showing Roger Federer hitting with a black painted mysterious racquet.  There is quite a lot of speculation as to what Roger might choose in order to change his game and adopt a new more modern style.  As Roger currently plays with the smallest head size raquet of all top 10 players (and probably top 100) it would possibly benefit him to move to a larger 95 sq. in or even 95 square in size racquet head.

Tennis Technology: Racquets of the Big 4 Federer Nadal Djokovic Murray

Just read this really great article called “Tennis Racquet Technology: How The Big 4 Differ” which outlines the racquets of Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Andy Murray.  This article gives you great insight into how the technology of each racquet suits the players style and form.  It also addresses tennis string tensions and string types as well.

Roger Federer

The Wilson BLX Pro Staff 90

Novak Djokovic

Head YOUTEK Graphene Speed Pro

Rafael Nadal

Babolat AeroPro Drive

Andy Murray

Head YOUTEK IG Radical Pro

 

Key Points

  • Roger uses the smallest racquet on tour
  • He also strings at the lowest tension of the top 4 to offset the loss off power caused by the frame he uses
  • Federer’s racquet has the thinnest beam and is the most “traditional” compared to the others making it harder to play with
  • Nadal strings at 55 lbs on both crosses and mains whatever the court surface or conditions
  • Djokovic has the densest string pattern to suit his flat hitting style
  • Federer, Murray and Djokovic all use a gut and synthetic set up on their strings, Nadal uses full poly

Read the full indepth article here