Roger Federer "fresh and eager" for rest of season

[El Dude]

I know, believe when I see it, but this sounds encouraging. Its certainly better than hearing him say "I'm exhausted, old and distraught."

Actually, reading what he says in that linked article something occurred to me. He seems to really appreciate Halle's natural and non-urban setting, which he said was good for the family. I'm wondering if some of his "lost edge" is due to the fact of him focusing more on family life, less prone to "go out with the guys" and be part of what is largely a 20-something tour crowd. It might also be part and parcel of fatherhood. I know for myself, with two young children and in the last year of my 30s (the big 4-0 is later this year), I feel less inclined to prove myself, to one-up other males. I'm content with my wife and children. I still have ambitions - in some ways more strongly than ever - but I feel less inclined to "strut my stuff." I'm wondering if there is a quality of this for Roger.

Just a thought. Its too easy to forget the human element of what goes on off the court. Unless you're Cali, there's no denying that Roger doesn't move as quickly as he once did, isn't as aggressive and sure of himself. But it may be - as Cali himself said - that this has more to do with declined drive than it does declined talent...coupled with the simple physiological fact that while one can be in great shape in their 30s and 40s, it becomes more and more difficult to get there.

 

[shawnbm]

We all should feel happy about this, as he is still a joy to watch play. If he is playing well, it is still sublime tennis.

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I know, believe when I see it, but this sounds encouraging. Its certainly better than hearing him say "I'm exhausted, old and distraught."

Actually, reading what he says in that linked article something occurred to me. He seems to really appreciate Halle's natural and non-urban setting, which he said was good for the family. I'm wondering if some of his "lost edge" is due to the fact of him focusing more on family life, less prone to "go out with the guys" and be part of what is largely a 20-something tour crowd. It might also be part and parcel of fatherhood. I know for myself, with two young children and in the last year of my 30s (the big 4-0 is later this year), I feel less inclined to prove myself, to one-up other males. I'm content with my wife and children. I still have ambitions - in some ways more strongly than ever - but I feel less inclined to "strut my stuff." I'm wondering if there is a quality of this for Roger.

Just a thought. Its too easy to forget the human element of what goes on off the court. Unless you're Cali, there's no denying that Roger doesn't move as quickly as he once did, isn't as aggressive and sure of himself. But it may be - as Cali himself said - that this has more to do with declined drive than it does declined talent...coupled with the simple physiological fact that while one can be in great shape in their 30s and 40s, it becomes more and more difficult to get there.

As I recently wrote elsewhere, I tend to agree with the loss of drive/more family time analysis of a lot of this with Roger. He wants to be there for special moments with his kids. Boy, I loved teaching my kids to climb trees and read up there, ride a bicycle, read to them at bedtime, learn the game of tennis, etc. Roger wants those things too, most assuredly.

 

[herios]

I know, believe when I see it, but this sounds encouraging. Its certainly better than hearing him say "I'm exhausted, old and distraught."

We'll see how that pans out
First he may take a visit outside of the top 4 ranked players, to see how it feels like, as he hasn't been there in a decade!

 

[DarthFed]

As you said, believe it when I see it. He has to say things like this especially given his struggles. Moreover, he has to believe it and that's the question.

 

[Johnsteinbeck]

i guess this could be part of the "changes for Federer" thread; there's definitely a disproportion between his number of titles this year and the number of threads

anyway, nice little quote, but what else do you expect at the start of the grass season and at the start of a tournament? he's got to be optimistic, in part simply for PR reasons. the other thing is that afa i remember, he's always given rather positive outlooks - he may criticize past performances or talk about trouble in past matches/tournaments; but i can't recall him saying "my back hurts like a m**********, not sure if i can play tomorrow". it's usually "my back hurt a lot yesterday, but i'm much better now, i think i'll be fine tomorrow, and if i play well, i can beat anyone". it's just his way of going about things; i assume he doesn't like to show weakness to his opponent. once again, the classic ying/yang thing with Rafa, who can't stop insisting on how he's the underdog even if he's armwrestling his niece. it's just two different strategies to cope with it all, i think.

 

[Kieran]

Yeah, I think players naturally lose their motivation after they've achieved what they set out to. Agassi played longer than Pete because Pete had sated his desire. I think Roger only adds to what he has, but he has no real burning goals left. So motivation is an issue. Plus, he's getting older. This is a factor, and he has to work harder in training to stay the same as he was. It takes longer to recover between matches. All the usual stuff for a guy his age.

By dropping events from his schedule, he may actually have sharpened his appetite. He's not quite ready for the knackers yard. But as I said elsewhere, players no longer fear him as they used to: this is worse than losing a yard of pace. But he's still a favourite in every slam he enters and I'm glad he's feeling good. It won't be a good day for tennis when he retires...

 

[isabelle]

Fresh and eager ??? Not really

 

[El Dude]

Yeah, so much for that. If this isn't a wake-up call for Roger I don't know what is. He hasn't beaten a good player in a long time - I think since Tsonga in the Australian Open. If he doesn't come into the American season truly "fresh and eager" and at least make it to the SF at the US Open then I think he's done. Kaput. Game over.

 

[DarthFed]

Yep, that's the difference between saying it and meaning it. Roger has achieved so much that motivation is going to be a big question until the day he retires. Everyone else asks "what next?" or "how can he still care about winning as much as before?" Now we have to wonder if he is asking himself those same questions. He is no longer good enough to win a big title with just pure talent. He needs the intensity and focus he showed for good parts of 2012. When matches started to get away from him last year he dug deep and turned many of them around. We are seeing the opposite this year. Once anyone gets the momentum like yesterday they are storming through the match.