Federer's Schedule for 2017

[GameSetAndMath]

In this interview given to second graders , Roger says he wants to play for 5 more years (until he is 40).

 

[El Dude]

Man, I hope he plays five more years. But I also wonder if, after this year - especially if he wins Wimbeldon - he might think, "It isn't going to get better than this and will only get worse - maybe I should go out on top."

On the other hand, if he won #18, and if he wins #19, why not go for #20 next year? I think it is always hard for great players to know when to call it quits, and as long as the joy and competitive spirit is there, hopefully he'll just continue to play.

 

[Shivashish Sarkar]

Man, I hope he plays five more years. But I also wonder if, after this year - especially if he wins Wimbeldon - he might think, "It isn't going to get better than this and will only get worse - maybe I should go out on top."

On the other hand, if he won #18, and if he wins #19, why not go for #20 next year? I think it is always hard for great players to know when to call it quits, and as long as the joy and competitive spirit is there, hopefully he'll just continue to play.

It's going to be really difficult. AO was a fairtytale. But, certainly, there are no reasons suggesting to us he necessarily cannot do it.

 

[mightyjeditribble]

In the post-match presser Roger says "Also part of the situation was that my knee was really strange on the clay last year, so maybe being away from the clay as much as possible maybe is a good thing as well." He also says "then I'll get on the clay probably two weeks before the French. That's the plan for now."

Basically, this means he does not want to get on the clay anytime before that (two weeks before RG).
This means Madrid is also eliminated with a high degree of confidence. The only Masters in the period two weeks before RG is Rome. Hence, there is a good chance that we may see him there. I really doubt that he would want to walk into RG without at least one warm=up tourney. Of course, there is always the possibility of Roger deciding just to be on the practice court for two weeks before RG.
But, I do think after six weeks of R&R, he would wan to compete in Rome.

I like this as he has already won Madrid multiple times whereas he has never won Rome before.
I also like this because Rome is more useful as a prep for RG in comparison to Madrid which is at high altitude.

Here is the full transcript of the post Miami Final presser

He also said that he would "hopefully" or "probably" play RG. (Think it was on court after the final.) So in his mind there is also still the possibility of skipping clay altogether. But i think he'd like to play, as you never know what might happen if he goes on a run ...

We'll see. But he did pay Australia without a true warmup tournament so may feel coming in fresh and without expectations is the way to go due the French as well!

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[mightyjeditribble]

Man, I hope he plays five more years. But I also wonder if, after this year - especially if he wins Wimbeldon - he might think, "It isn't going to get better than this and will only get worse - maybe I should go out on top."

On the other hand, if he won #18, and if he wins #19, why not go for #20 next year? I think it is always hard for great players to know when to call it quits, and as long as the joy and competitive spirit is there, hopefully he'll just continue to play.

It's going to be really difficult. AO was a fairtytale. But, certainly, there are no reasons suggesting to us he necessarily cannot do it.

In the past three years, he's made two Wimbledon finals and one semifinal. You keep putting yourself in these positions, there's a good chance something will go your way eventually. Happened at AO this year. Could happen at Wimbledon again, let's see ...

As long as Fed feels that if he's playing well he will continue to reach GS semis, he will rightly feel that he still has a chance at winning another title.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[isabelle]

he'll play an exh vs Isner on april 29th (charity match)

 

[Frode789]

I still have a hope that he will play either Rome or Madrid (he is signed up for both), though I'll probably give it a 30% probability that he will attend either.

As for RG, I'd be shocked if the decided to skip RG. I think it is highly unlikely. I think he would only skip RG if he felt really tired, which would be unlikely if he skips the rest of the clay season.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I still have a hope that he will play either Rome or Madrid (he is signed up for both), though I'll probably give it a 30% probability that he will attend either.

There is nothing like signing up for mandatory events. The names of all eligible players are automatically included. If a player is not playing they need to inform them. But, they can do that
anytime.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

In the post-match presser Roger says "Also part of the situation was that my knee was really strange on the clay last year, so maybe being away from the clay as much as possible maybe is a good thing as well." He also says "then I'll get on the clay probably two weeks before the French. That's the plan for now."

Basically, this means he does not want to get on the clay anytime before that (two weeks before RG).
This means Madrid is also eliminated with a high degree of confidence. The only Masters in the period two weeks before RG is Rome. Hence, there is a good chance that we may see him there. I really doubt that he would want to walk into RG without at least one warm=up tourney. Of course, there is always the possibility of Roger deciding just to be on the practice court for two weeks before RG.
But, I do think after six weeks of R&R, he would wan to compete in Rome.

I like this as he has already won Madrid multiple times whereas he has never won Rome before.
I also like this because Rome is more useful as a prep for RG in comparison to Madrid which is at high altitude.

Here is the full transcript of the post Miami Final presser

He also said that he would "hopefully" or "probably" play RG. (Think it was on court after the final.) So in his mind there is also still the possibility of skipping clay altogether. But i think he'd like to play, as you never know what might happen if he goes on a run ...

We'll see. But he did pay Australia without a true warmup tournament so may feel coming in fresh and without expectations is the way to go due the French as well!

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Yes, it was in the on court interview. But, that is not to be taken seriously at all. He is definitely playing in RG (but, he may not push himself in matches at RG). This is because he had earlier said explicitly that he will play RG, simply because "if you are not in it, you cannot possibly win it".

However, whether he will play in Rome is an open question. Not withstanding what he says now (when he is tired), he may change his mind after six weeks of R&R and decide to play Rome (at least I hope so).

 

[El Dude]

I think he will definitely start Roland Garros, but the concern is how playing on clay impacts his knees (as he has said). If he starts feeling twingy, or whatever it is he feels, then I could see him withdrawing. He won't risk Wimbledon. But I think he A) wants to get the points that an easy run to the QF would bring, and, more importantly, B) be in a position to try to win it in case Rafa/Novak are upset by a Thiem or Kyrgios. If Rafa and Novak goes out, Roger will be all in and play his heart out, thinking he can skip Stuttgart or even Halle if necessary to heal up before Wimbledon.

 

[Frode789]

I think he will definitely start Roland Garros, but the concern is how playing on clay impacts his knees (as he has said). If he starts feeling twingy, or whatever it is he feels, then I could see him withdrawing. He won't risk Wimbledon. But I think he A) wants to get the points that an easy run to the QF would bring, and, more importantly, B) be in a position to try to win it in case Rafa/Novak are upset by a Thiem or Kyrgios. If Rafa and Novak goes out, Roger will be all in and play his heart out, thinking he can skip Stuttgart or even Halle if necessary to heal up before Wimbledon.

Definitely. If Roger sees a real opportunity to get another RG title, he will give everything 110%.

 

[Front242]

With his massively improved backhand there's really no reason to think Roger will feel the need to not face Novak or Rafa...the only issue will be potential and probably likely rust from 2 months off.

 

[Kieran]

With his massively improved backhand there's really no reason to think Roger will feel the need to not face Novak or Rafa...the only issue will be potential and probably likely rust from 2 months off.

:laydownlaughing

He might be better to take 7 months off instead and feel the joy! :snicker

 

[GameSetAndMath]

This is what Jon Wirthiem of SI says (at the end of IW).

"There are murmurs that Federer will not play in the sandbox and will skip the 2017 French Open. Why? Clay has always been—and is always going to be—the surface that demands the most from him. He’s only won once in Paris. He tweaks his back on a cold Parisian day and there goes his campaign to win Wimbledon.

But I’ll happily play avocat du diable here: “Look at it this way, Roger: the defending champ is in a tailspin, his game and his head clearly elsewhere. Murray has never won at Roland Garros and his form is off as well. As of today, anyway, you have a three-match win streak against Nadal. Okay, none of those wins came on clay, but you’ve flipped the script and taken up residence in HIS head lately. The only other RG winner since 2004: Stan Wawrinka, and there’s an emotional component to that match-up. And, oh yeah, you won the previous major, beating four top 10 players with some of the best tennis of your career. You should (and do) design your schedule to peak at Wimbledon. But don’t count yourself out on clay; and—I know this sounds crazy—don’t eliminate your chances of a Grand Slam.”

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I think he will definitely start Roland Garros, but the concern is how playing on clay impacts his knees (as he has said). If he starts feeling twingy, or whatever it is he feels, then I could see him withdrawing. He won't risk Wimbledon. But I think he A) wants to get the points that an easy run to the QF would bring, and, more importantly, B) be in a position to try to win it in case Rafa/Novak are upset by a Thiem or Kyrgios. If Rafa and Novak goes out, Roger will be all in and play his heart out, thinking he can skip Stuttgart or even Halle if necessary to heal up before Wimbledon.

Yep, I think that is exactly what he will do. He will start. If anybody gives him a tough fight in the first four rounds, he will probably not fight back and just yield and go home. However, if he reaches QF, from then on he may show a real fight (especially if other contenders were upset by then).

 

[El Dude]

It may also depend upon how Rafa and Novak are doing, in terms of whether he plays RG or not. If one or both are killing it during clay season, he may gracefully bow out. Not because he lacks the confidence to beat them on clay, but because he realizes it would take monumental effort and focus, and is a longshot - and he wouldn't want to imperil Wimbledon.

On the other hand, if one or both are still struggling and he bows out before the tournament begins, and then they are both upset earlyish, he's going to be kicking himself as he sees a Wawrinka-Thiem final.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I just checked. As of today, Roger's name is there in the entry list for Madrid as well as that of Rome.
Of course, this does not mean anything as players who are eligible are automatically entered in. Actually, Roger needs to take action to remove his name from the list. But, there is no hurry to do so. He can do it much later. He will of course do so before the draw is made so that there is no chaos, if he is withdrawing.

 

[Fiero425]

I think he will definitely start Roland Garros, but the concern is how playing on clay impacts his knees (as he has said). If he starts feeling twingy, or whatever it is he feels, then I could see him withdrawing. He won't risk Wimbledon. But I think he A) wants to get the points that an easy run to the QF would bring, and, more importantly, B) be in a position to try to win it in case Rafa/Novak are upset by a Thiem or Kyrgios. If Rafa and Novak goes out, Roger will be all in and play his heart out, thinking he can skip Stuttgart or even Halle if necessary to heal up before Wimbledon.

Yep, I think that is exactly what he will do. He will start. If anybody gives him a tough fight in the first four rounds, he will probably not fight back and just yield and go home. However, if he reaches QF, from then on he may show a real fight (esp. if other contenders were upset by then).

I just think of Edberg back in '89! That was his only real chance to win the FO and he had to go 5 long sets in the semis against his nemesis Boris Becker! He had a chance to win in 4 against Chang, but finally ran out of gas in the champ.! It affected his Wimbledon effort; actually losing in straights to Becker in the final, dropping the 1st set at luv! Oh the humanity!

The following season, both Edberg and Becker went out in the 1st round on Bloody Monday in Paris giving them time to hone their grass skills; taking it easy at Queens allowing Lendl to get a false sense of security beating both in straights to take the title! Stefan and Boris were destined to have a runoff final for the 3rd year in a row! Edberg had the energy to overcome Becker in 5 to take his 2nd Wimbledon title! Granted there's more time to recover with more weeks added between RG & SW19; Roger should just skip the clay season! Hit Rome if he wants, but not much else! :angel: :dodgy: - - - - - - http://fiero4251.blogspot.com/2016/08/fan-page-novak-nole-djokovic.html - - - - - - -

 

[Kieran]

Buddy, I never thought that edberg should have been able to beat Becker in any of them finals. I admired Edberg, especially his volleys, backhand and his total honesty in making an effort. In this regard, he made Becker look like a fat boozehound.But if Boris wasn't so in love with himself, he'd have taken the title in 88 and 90, I think. I know Edberg deserved them and was also a great player.

I agree with you on the extra week this year. I don't think it benefited or harmed anyone last year, except maybe Murray, but definitely its benefits are due to be felt, and most especially by one of the veterans...

 

[Kieran]

I just checked. As of today, Roger's name is there in the entry list for Madrid as well as that of Rome.
Of course, this does not mean anything as players who are eligible are automatically entered in. Actually, Roger needs to take action to remove his name from the list. But, there is no hurry to do so. He can do it much later. He will of course do so before the draw is made so that there is no chaos, if he is withdrawing.

I think he may play Rome. Madrid probably suits his game more, but there's no point in playing Paris without a warm up, and Rome is perfect for this. I doubt he'll take such a long time off from competition...