Federer's new look team for 2016

[britbox]

Edberg not travelling with Fed in 2016.Ljubicic joins team.

Statement from Fed camp:

After 2 very successful years, I would like to thank Stefan Edberg, my childhood idol, for agreeing to join my team. It was a dream come true. Although it was supposed to only be for 2014, Stefan was great and agreed to extend the partnership through this year which I really appreciated. He taught me so much and his influence on my game will remain. He will always be a part of my team. Severin Luthi, who I have been working with since 2008, will continue to be my main coach and he will be joined by Ivan Ljubicic. Both Daniel Troxler, my physiotherapist<wbr /> and Pierre Paganini, my longtime fitness trainer, will remain part of my technical team.

 

[Moxie]

I suppose it makes sense that Edberg isn't interested in going further, after 2 years.  Like Lendl, he seems more like a person not so interested in being back in the fray, whereas Becker seems to enjoy being at the center of the action.  Do you see a good reason for Ljubicic, though, other than that he seems like a genial presence and would be a new voice?

 

[Federberg]

They've always been good friends. But to be honest, I'm not really sure what he adds. Will be interesting to see

 

[isabelle]

Will Ljubo continue with Raonic too ?

 

[Federberg]

Apparently Ljubo is dumping Milos. He'll focus on a the player he thinks can actually win the big titles I guess..

 

[mrzz]

It is a bit strange to see a guy who is actually his conteporary coaching him, but maybe that is exactly the idea. Contrary to Edberg (and Luhti, by the way), Ljubicic knows what is like exchanging shots with Djokovic, Nadal and the rest. Course Federer knows that too, but some (more) new ideas might be good. We cannot deny that the guy is still trying...

 

[Moxie]

Certainly this is better than the arrogant years when he didn't think he needed a coach, at all.  But I think it's a stretch to say that Ljubicic has experience with the other of the top 4, and so that would make him valuable.  I think he's just a friend and an ear, and that may be enough, if you're Roger Federer.  But I think we'd be kidding ourselves to think that Ljubicic will effect any changes.

 

[mrzz]

But I think we’d be kidding ourselves to think that Ljubicic will effect any changes.

I have to agree, but... we've seen stranger things happen.

 

[britbox]

All I can think is that Fed has seen something in Ljubicic from their years on the tour together.  Maybe Ivan breaks down the match well, maybe he reads players well... I can only assume Fed has seen something in Ivan that he believes will add to the team.

 

[Federberg]

Certainly this is better than the arrogant years when he didn’t think he needed a coach, at all. But I think it’s a stretch to say that Ljubicic has experience with the other of the top 4, and so that would make him valuable. I think he’s just a friend and an ear, and that may be enough, if you’re Roger Federer. But I think we’d be kidding ourselves to think that Ljubicic will effect any changes.

Lol! "Arrogant" implies presumption. In those years he won things. It was not arrogant Moxie. The facts proved he didn't need anyone. Better to call them the "confident" years

 

[brokenshoelace]

In fairness to Fed about him not thinking he needed a coach, he really didn't need one.

 

[isabelle]

Ljubo is a very clever guy, he knows a lot about  tennis's psychologic side  maybe he can help Mr Vavrinec to hold his nerves or something like that. I guess it's more about mental than tennis

 

[DarthFed]

"Arrogant years" sounds a bit bitter to me considering he was winning pretty much everything in sight without a coach.  Some argue that when he got a coach to help break through at RG is when his results everywhere else started to suffer.

As for bringing on Ivan it's not necessarily what he adds to his game, I'd say it's more having another set of eyes and someone he just enjoys having around.  One of the most amazing things about Federer is that he still enjoys being out there week after week, all the traveling, practicing, playing, etc.  I think one of the big factors in that is his team.  He clearly enjoyed having his idol as his coach for a couple years and this move might be along the same lines where Ivan is a friend and contemporary of his that he will like having around.  Roger's problem isn't his tennis game, I'd say the natural loss in endurance and also his mind in the big pressure moments have kept him from big things the past couple years.