It has been another memorable season for Roger Federer. By his high standards, it might not be up
there with 2006 when he posted a 92-5 match record, winning 12 titles in the
process, but it is a remarkable effort from someone who is supposed to be reaching
the twilight of his career.
It was just a few weeks ago after being defeated in the
final of his hometown tournament, the Swiss Indoors in Basel, by Juan Martin
Del Potro that some rather hastily wondered once again if we were witnessing
the beginning of the end for the great champion.
Federer provided the perfect response with his performances
at the ATP World Tour Finals in London.
He followed up his impressive win over Andy Murray in the semi-finals by
playing his part in a match against Novak Djokovic which produced some of the
best tennis seen this year. Federer may
have lost but showed he can still compete at the highest level.
As much as players maintain they don’t take any notice of
what is in the newspapers, the doubts from some about Federer’s capability to
win the biggest titles will not have gone unnoticed within his camp. After his win over Murray in the Wimbledon
final this year, you couldn’t help feel that he was just as, if not more
satisfied about proving so many wrong people wrong as he was about the records
he was breaking in the process.
“I reflect in a nice way,” Federer said as he looked back on
2012. “I think it’s been a fantastic
season to be part of. Four different
Grand Slam champs. Then having the
Olympics, as well, was obviously very unique. I’m very happy I stayed injury-free
throughout. That allowed me to basically
play a full schedule almost.
“I’m very pleased that I was able to pick up my performance
at the end of the season, like I played now this week [in London]. So [it] obviously gives me confidence for next
year.”
Ranked No.2, Federer is still right up there and in the mix
at any tournament. His astounding record
of reaching 34 consecutive grand slam quarter-finals – which is still ongoing –
is a testament to his consistency and longevity.
Some still feel to this day that if Federer plays his best
tennis, he will win any match against any opponent. That may or may not be the case, but the fact
is that these days he does not play his best tennis as regularly as he may once
have done.
Having achieved just about everything in the sport and with
a wife and two young children to look after, what fuels the motivation to
continue playing?
“I think it’s the love for the game, the appreciation I get
from the crowds, I guess playing for records from time to time, playing against
different types of generations and playing styles,” he said. “The game has evolved sort of over the last,
what has it been, 13 years I’ve been on tour, 14 maybe. It’s changed quite a bit ever since.
“I think you need inspiration, motivation from different
angles to keep you going because it ain’t that simple just to wake up every
morning and go for another travel around the world, another practice, all these
other things, another fitness workout, another stretch.
“It’s always nice, but you need to have some success and you
need to have the right reasons why you’re doing it. I think I’ve always been able to do that and
I really enjoy myself out on the court.”
Competing against Djokovic, Murray and Nadal in what is
generally regarded as the strongest ever era in men’s tennis also helps to keep
the fire burning. “It’s part of the
puzzle that makes me motivated, trying to play against them,” said Federer. “But Novak, Andy and Rafa are not the only
guys out there. I’m trying to play
against many other guys.
“I love playing against particularly young guys as well just
because too many sometimes I’m an idol, which is very strange to me, to be
honest. But it is nice seeing them grow,
see what the next generation comes up with, what kind of playing style.”
Federer has seen quite a contrast in the playing style from
his early days on tour in the late 1990s to now. With fast courts now as rare as an ice cube
in the Sahara, serve and volley is near extinction, something which Federer is
clearly saddened about.
“It’s only on this type of slow courts that you can defend
the way we are all doing right now,” he said.
“I think it’s exciting, but no doubt about it, it’s tough. What you don’t want is that you hit 15 great
shots and at the end, it ends up in an error.
“So I think sometimes quicker courts do help the cause. I think it would help from time to time to
move to something a bit faster. That
would help to learn, as well, for many different players, different playing
styles, to realize that coming to the net is a good thing, it’s not a bad
thing.
“Then again, the tour has to decide, the tournament
directors have a big say in it.
“I’ve played on all different speeds. But I think some variety would be nice, some
really slow stuff and then some really fast stuff, instead of trying to make
everything sort of the same. You sort of
protect the top guys really by doing that because you have the best possible chance
to have them in the semis at this point, I think.
“But that should be the goal? I’m not sure.”
As the president of the ATP Players Council, Federer has a
key role as the elder statesman off the court representing his fellow
professionals. He was one of the leading
voices in the calls for a longer off-season, which was granted with an extra
two weeks from this year onwards.
But with an increasing amount of exhibitions popping up over
the next two months, some now question the real motives of the players in
wanting more time off. Over the course
of the next month, Djokovic plays in Slovakia and Brazil, Murray in Miami and
Federer himself will play a four-date South American tour.
“That’s the beauty of an off-season, you’re allowed to do
whatever the hell you want,” he countered. “I think that’s what’s nice, instead of having
such a congested space where you can just barely take enough rest.
“Now if players want to play some matches, wherever it may
be, that’s their choice. If you want to
rest for six weeks, just don’t do anything, you can do that as well, which was not
possible in the past. I think it’s
definitely good.
“Now obviously it’s the responsibility of the players to not
make errors and keep on playing, never to rest, all those things. But at least it’s their choice, I find, which
is a good thing
“I know I’m playing exhibitions, but I think my situation is
pretty unique. I’ve never been to South
America as a professional tennis player. Couldn’t be more excited now for that trip. But I made sure I have a two-week vacation
before that.
“So for me that is even the beginning of the build-up and
the workouts. And on top of it, it’s a
lot of fun. Plus I’m not playing any
exhibitions after that, like I have in the past. I’m not playing the first week of the year
either.
“Basically I’ve given myself enough space. It’s about just making sure you manage your
schedule correctly.”
Federer has still to confirm his tournament schedule for
next year. Having turned 31 this year,
played 600 matches and served 12 years on the tour, he will have the luxury of
being able to play as many or as few Masters 1000 events as he wants. It will be interesting to see how he works
that into his schedule.
There is the possibility that he may not play a tournament
before the Australian Open, having opted out of Doha where he traditionally
warms up for the first grand slam of the year.
It shall also be intriguing to see if he commits to Switzerland’s Davis
Cup World Group tie against the Czech Republic which takes place in Geneva just
five days after the conclusion of the Australian Open.
“I first have to make sure I create my schedule so it makes
sense for my practice schedule,” said Federer.
“I need to practice a whole lot more next year, because this year, I hardly
did have an opportunity to do. I have
some catching up to do in that standpoint.”
No comments:
Post a Comment