Federer's Schedule 2019

[The_Grand_Slam]

I'm going to let you Fed fans game what he really should do if he's going to play clay this year, but I HIGHLY doubt he's going to be making a big push on clay, to the extent of testing his knee at 250's, etc. I'm sure a lot will have to do with how much he plays prior to clay, but I don't see him, personally, playing more than a few big tourneys, then RG. Madrid and see how he feels/does, then Rome, if all goes well, for some push at RG. Maybe he feels that time has to run out on Rafa at RG, eventually, but he's not going to blow his wad playing a lot of clay before RG. Am I wrong? He'll still be saving something for grass and Wimbledon. No?

Yeah I don't think he will have much expectations result-wise if he ends up playing and he will play 2-3 tournaments tops. Wimbledon as usual will be his biggest priorities so he will try to avoid long slugfests

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Munich/Budapest/Estoril are also good options.
IMO he wants some matchplay during that 2-3 month long clay season or maybe it could be him just bluffing(about playing clay) like last two years.

Roger has previously won Estoril and Munich. Budapest, on the other hand is a recent tournament, which Federer has not won or for tha matter even participated. More importantly, I believe that Federer has not only not played in Budapest, but also anywhere in Hungary. That kind of a situation is ideal to generate huge app fee, assuming the Hungarians have money.

But, I am very sure that Fed will not play an ATP 250 or ATP 500 event without a sizable app fee.

 

[Moxie]

Roger has previously won Estoril and Munich. Budapest, on the other hand is a recent tournament, which Federer has not won or for tha matter even participated. More importantly, I believe that Federer has not only not played in Budapest, but also anywhere in Hungary. That kind of a situation is ideal to generate huge app fee, assuming the Hungarians have money.

But, I am very sure that Fed will not play an ATP 250 or ATP 500 event without a sizable app fee.

Why would he even play it with a big fee? Don't you think that would be foolish? Personally, I have no problem with him overplaying and blowing his grass season and etc., but his fans do complain when he makes these kinds of poor choices, so I thought you'd be against him playing somewhere like Hungary. Just my impression.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Why would he even play it with a big fee? Don't you think that would be foolish? Personally, I have no problem with him overplaying and blowing his grass season and etc., but his fans do complain when he makes these kinds of poor choices, so I thought you'd be against him playing somewhere like Hungary. Just my impression.

After not playing for three years on clay, it is not a foolish idea to get restarted on the surface by first playing in an itsy-bitsy tourney and hopefully win it to get some confidence rather than immediately heading to a big event such as RG or ATP 1000 event where everyone would be trying to get him.

Fed would not play in a tourney just to get the appearance fee. However, once he decides to play some, he is Master at milking them.
A few years ago, Istanbul started running a ATP 250 clay tourney. In the inaugural edition Fed played and milked them. The tourney must have gone bankrupt. They no longer hold one there.

 

[isabelle]

after his loss vs Stefano in Australia, he said he 'ld play RG, wait and see if he really shows up

 

[atttomole]

After not playing for three years on clay, it is not a foolish idea to get restarted on the surface by first playing in an itsy-bitsy tourney and hopefully win it to get some confidence rather than immediately heading to a big event such as RG or ATP 1000 event where everyone would be trying to get him.

Fed would not play in a tourney just to get the appearance fee. However, once he decides to play some, he is Master at milking them.
A few years ago, Istanbul started running a ATP 250 clay tourney. In the inaugural edition Fed played and milked them. The tourney must have gone bankrupt. They no longer hold one there.

Are you saying that most of the tournament money was deposited into Federer's bank account?

 

[The_Grand_Slam]

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I am strongly for Fed playing some clay. At the same time, I am strongly against Fed playing RG. At this stage points and rankings are immaterial for Roger. But, he should have sight on titles. There is no way that he is going to win RG. So, it does not seem worth trying. On the other hand in some regular clay tourneys he has some chance of winning. Further, even if he does not win, it will make sure that he does not become rusty due to long period of inactivity.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Are you saying that most of the tournament money was deposited into Federer's bank account?

Well, I am just exaggerating. The tourney ran for few more years before shutting down. But, the rumor is that Roger gets around a million bucks app fee for playing in 250s.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Yep, it is official. Fed will play on clay this year . How many tourneys and what tourneys are yet to be decided though.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Today, the entry list for Rome Tourney is released. Fed's name is in there.

Remember that in ATP 1000 tourneys, all eligible players are automatically entered unless they inform them that they won't be
playing there. The fact that Fed has not bothered to inform them means Fed has not ruled out playing in Rome.

If Fed loses early in Madrid (but feels comfortable playing on clay), I am sure Fed will be playing in Rome.

Of course, after trying out Madrid, if he does not feel comfortable on clay, he would drop all the rest of the clay events including
RG.

But, it is not clear as to what he will do if he feels comfortable and goes deep in Madrid (say, SF or better). Will he venture into Rome also?

 

[Chris Koziarz]

But, it is not clear as to what he will do if he feels comfortable and goes deep in Madrid (say, SF or better). Will he venture into Rome also?

I predict in this case Fed will skip Rome and play RG. I assume he already decided not to play Stuttgart after RG, otherwise it would be a case of silly overplay.

 

[Federberg]

I predict in this case Fed will skip Rome and play RG. I assume he already decided not to play Stuttgart after RG, otherwise it would be a case of silly overplay.

I agree. As much as he likes Rome, I highly doubt he'll risk expending to much energy before RG. Not to talk about Wimbledon! Rather it's more plausible that he'll move from Madrid to Paris and begin preparations to acclimatise to the RG surface

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Fed announced that he will not be playing at Stuttgart Grass 250 this year. This means independent of his results at RG, he won't be playing in Stuttgart. However, Stuttgart TD announced that he will be reserving a WC for Roger, just in case he changes his mind at the last minute.

 

[10isfan]

I’m at a loss to understand Fed’s rationale. He should skip clay. What’s the point of wearing himself out when he has no chance at a title? Why pass up a small grass tournament where he’s got a solid chance of winning?

 

[The_Grand_Slam]

 

[isabelle]

I agree. As much as he likes Rome, I highly doubt he'll risk expending to much energy before RG. Not to talk about Wimbledon! Rather it's more plausible that he'll move from Madrid to Paris and begin preparations to acclimatise to the RG surface

he didn't listen to your wise advice...I don't think he can do well at RG, especially if he has a 5 setters in first week, he should save his energy for grass, the only surface where an old body can do some good things

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Many were wondering about the reasoning behind the decision by Fed to play on clay this year.

Some suggested reasons were.

1. He wanted to make sure that his game does not become rusty.

-------No, Fed is not a "confidence player" like Ralph who needs multiple tourneys to get his game up
from F to A+ to get ready.

2. He sensed Rafa was vulnerable and wanted to give himself a chance at winning RG second time.

------- No, Fed is very realistic and knows that his chances of lifting the trophy are next to nil.

3. He is trying to accumulate points to become #1.

------- No, while Fed will go for #1 when it becomes a low hanging fruit (like he did in Rotterdam last year),
he is not interested anymore in making that as his primary aim.

In order to give himself a good chance at Wimbledon this year, Fed perhaps wanted to stay as a top four seed in
Wimbledon this year. Given that he sucked there big time last year, he is not going to be able to get lot of help from
grass point formula. So, he has to shore up his regular ranking points (and in time) so that he gets seeded in
top four for Wimby' 19. There is no better way of doing that than playing some clay this year. That is the
primary motive. The abovementioned three points are at best peripheral added reasons.

Here is an NY times article
on it and I think they nailed it.

 

[El Dude]

I don't think the reason has to be singular. It could be a bit of all of the above and other reasons. I mean, maybe he just felt like playing Roland Garros again (one more time?). Maybe the point situation tipped him over the edge.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I don't think the reason has to be singular. It could be a bit of all of the above and other reasons. I mean, maybe he just felt like playing Roland Garros again (one more time?). Maybe the point situation tipped him over the edge.

Yes, but I was talking about the primary reason.