Federer sacrificing #1?

Skipping almost all the clay season is musuc to my ears, but I guess with him doing so well I'm kind of getting my hopes up for a resumption of the throne.

Then again, it was only ever going to be Madrid, and probably not 1000 points, so maybe this is the best for all aims.

Does anyone think Roger has his eyes on it now?

Fed is a very smart cookie.

He already has over 4000 points and not much to defend.

I am sure he has his eye on number one but not at all cost.

This stage of his career is all about one word: relax!

He has learnt stg new this year: how precious it is to be relaxed in matches, mentally fresh more than anything.


I think that newfound inner oeace is a great source of strength for him now.

He takes the ranking as it comes, it's no goal. Next big goal is Wimbledon, if he wins that too, the no.1 position will be close anyway.

I think Wimby is simply, as ever, his main priority. I think how he will feel at the FO first rounds will decide whether he'll give it 100%or not.

I think it's a shame he is going to miss all TMS cause I think this surface will suit him very well now.

This is what I wrote before Miami.  I am glad Fed is listening to my advice :

summerblues wrote:On a more serious note, how do you guys think Fed should schedule himself from here through RG?

My take:
1. He should play Miami and do his best there.
2. Play almost nothing on clay.  I would even go as far as to say that he should only play RG - and take that one easy too.

He is not likely to do too well on clay and it will drain him before Wimbledon, where he will otherwise have his best chance to potentially score another slam this year.  On the other hand, playing Miami should be ok as that can still leave him with a long gap to rest - especially if he were only to play RG on clay.

gallery play wrote:He takes the ranking as it comes, it's no goal. Next big goal is Wimbledon, if he wins that too, the no.1 position will be close anyway.

Exactly.  Trying to win Wimbledon (and/or USO) must be well ahead of any #1 ranking.  He would be kicking himself if he were to play a lot of matches before Wimbledon, then fail to win there and feel that maybe he was too fatigued.  With the current scheduling, he should be fresh for Wimbledon even if he somehow manages to go deep at RG - which is perfect.

And if he somehow manages to win Wimbledon, he will have a very good chance to reach #1 anyway.

Interesting thing is that Federer is playing only RG because the doctor has advosed him to as his knee was behaving/feeling odd on it last year.

So i's not even so much tiredness as it's guarding the knee.


http://www.b92.net/sport/tenis/vesti.php?yyyy=2017&mm=04&dd=03&nav_id=1246528

sorry, couldn't find this in english.

A mischievous thought.

Would a return to the throne cause poor Andy's tenure as #1 to get a big fat asterisk attached to it, as in "#1 while Federer was out of the game"?

A cruel judgement and not one that I would endorse, of course, but history judges transitional periods harshly, even when the transition is between the 2nd and 3rd movements of an individual player.

I doubt it. I'm sure Marcelo Rios and Thomas Muster are very proud of the top spot they once held. And rightfully so. No one cares what the opposition was at the time.
Would it devaluate your performance if you reach the top of the Mount Everest on a sunny day?

Ah but they do get asterisked by less charitable souls.

You know how fans can be. 

gallery play wrote:I doubt it. I'm sure Marcelo Rios and Thomas Muster are very proud of the top spot they once held. And rightfully so. No one cares what the opposition was at the time.
Would it devaluate your performance if you reach the top of the Mount Everest on a sunny day?

Hehe...
I am sure Murray and LTA are proud, plus he worked like a dog to scrape through by one last match of the year, but it's also perfectly fine to acknowledge he would have had no chance if the other three hadn't left the road empty for him to ride into the sunset.

summerblues wrote:This is what I wrote before Miami.  I am glad Fed is listening to my advice :

summerblues wrote:On a more serious note, how do you guys think Fed should schedule himself from here through RG?

My take:
1. He should play Miami and do his best there.
2. Play almost nothing on clay.  I would even go as far as to say that he should only play RG - and take that one easy too.

He is not likely to do too well on clay and it will drain him before Wimbledon, where he will otherwise have his best chance to potentially score another slam this year.  On the other hand, playing Miami should be ok as that can still leave him with a long gap to rest - especially if he were only to play RG on clay.

I am still unsure this was the right decision actually. The only reason I would support his choice of playing Miami to its full instead of a clay TMS is that Miami was more spread with more rest days in between, including before the final. But I am not sure that was part of your reasoning.

To me a rested Fed would also do real damage on clay. And playing one clay TMS before RG would have been better. Considering there are now 3 weeks in between RG and Wimby.

Had he lost his MPs v Kyrgios then he would be nearly as tired as now and probably a need to play a tms on clay.

The problem I am with the clay TMS, like all TMS apart from the "sunny swing" (IW and MIami) is that teh schedule is actually extremely tough for him as he has to play 4 Matches in a row. That's something I can't see him do. But on the day I am pretty sure he can beat anyone on clay too.

... wrote:

gallery play wrote:I doubt it. I'm sure Marcelo Rios and Thomas Muster are very proud of the top spot they once held. And rightfully so. No one cares what the opposition was at the time.
Would it devaluate your performance if you reach the top of the Mount Everest on a sunny day?

Hehe...
I am sure Murray and LTA are proud, plus he worked like a dog to scrape through by one last match of the year, but it's also perfectly fine to acknowledge he would have had no chance if the other three hadn't left the road empty for him to ride into the sunset.

Bottom line is: Murray was tougher than the rest at that time.
It wasn't like Nole was being merciful on Murray, he just couldn't hold on to his top spot. Looking back: he only needed to win the USO final, but he couldn't do it.

Tenez wrote:

summerblues wrote:This is what I wrote before Miami.  I am glad Fed is listening to my advice :

summerblues wrote:On a more serious note, how do you guys think Fed should schedule himself from here through RG?

My take:
1. He should play Miami and do his best there.
2. Play almost nothing on clay.  I would even go as far as to say that he should only play RG - and take that one easy too.

He is not likely to do too well on clay and it will drain him before Wimbledon, where he will otherwise have his best chance to potentially score another slam this year.  On the other hand, playing Miami should be ok as that can still leave him with a long gap to rest - especially if he were only to play RG on clay.

I am still unsure this was the right decision actually. The only reason I would support his choice of playing Miami to its full instead of a clay TMS is that Miami was more spread with more rest days in between, including before the final. But I am not sure that was part of your reasoning.

To me a rested Fed would also do real damage on clay. And playing one clay TMS before RG would have been better. Considering there are now 3 weeks in between RG and Wimby.

Had he lost his MPs v Kyrgios then he would be nearly as tired as now and probably a need to play a tms on clay.

The problem I am with the clay TMS, like all TMS apart from the "sunny swing" (IW and MIami) is that teh schedule is actually extremely tough for him as he has to play 4 Matches in a row. That's something I can't see him do. But on the day I am pretty sure he can beat anyone on clay too.

From a physiological point of view he planned it perfectly well. As you know an athlete can't peak all year, at least without certain substances. So periodization is a must, especially for a 35 y/o.
The ATP tour scheme generally doesn't allow it but ideal for a tennis player the cycle would be something like: 4-6 weeks preparation (progressive intensity starting off with a walk in the park), 2-3 weeks competition, 1-2 weeks rest. Fortunately Fed is now in the position to plan it like that.

I'm quite happy with the way he planned it.

bogbrush wrote:A mischievous thought.

Would a return to the throne cause poor Andy's tenure as #1 to get a big fat asterisk attached to it, as in "#1 while Federer was out of the game"?

A cruel judgement and not one that I would endorse, of course, but history judges transitional periods harshly, even when the transition is between the 2nd and 3rd movements of an individual player.

That would be cruel given how many number one's have come and gone with much less conviction to their claim. However, having said that, I've never at any point considered him to be the best player in the world. Anytime the other three are remotely playing close to their best, they beat him. He is too reactionary and too boring and clearly a few levels below the top 3.

... wrote:Interesting thing is that Federer is playing only RG because the doctor has advosed him to as his knee was behaving/feeling odd on it last year.
So i's not even so much tiredness as it's guarding the knee.

http://www.b92.net/sport/tenis/vesti.php?yyyy=2017&mm=04&dd=03&nav_id=1246528
sorry, couldn't find this in english.

Listening to this interview:


Fed actually doesn't say he'll play RG for certain...he says he will and then adds "if that"

So the knee that underwent surgery seems not not react well to sliding and he doesn't want to risk anything.

We all remember how it buckled under him in Wimbledon vs Raonic.

TMF wrote:

bogbrush wrote:A mischievous thought.

Would a return to the throne cause poor Andy's tenure as #1 to get a big fat asterisk attached to it, as in "#1 while Federer was out of the game"?

A cruel judgement and not one that I would endorse, of course, but history judges transitional periods harshly, even when the transition is between the 2nd and 3rd movements of an individual player.

That would be cruel given how many number one's have come and gone with much less conviction to their claim. However, having said that, I've never at any point considered him to be the best player in the world. Anytime the other three are remotely playing close to their best, they beat him. He is too reactionary and too boring and clearly a few levels below the top 3.

yep....difficult to be called number one when you stand a 5/0 H2H with a 33+yo.

" I look at the numbers and sometimes when something goes up, something goes down. But Roger’s breaking five per cent more while still holding 90 per cent of the time. And he’s converting 50 per cent of break points." Interesting stats. What's bizarre is that even tired he is playing better than anybody.

Veejay wrote:http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/federer-has-a-shot-at-number-one

Ok Ljubo overdid it with that eye sore mega New Balance crap no one buys, but I guess a nice bonus for him from Fed for the titles and NB for showing off the Brand with a double Masters winner 

If he can keep this tempo for after clay, I vote now to skip all Clay.

Don't care for No1, would seem crazy for Fed to go to No1, but I'm sure W, USO and WTF titls would mean more to him then No1, but maybe thoe 3 titles would make him No1 anyway 

Jahu wrote:

Veejay wrote:http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/federer-has-a-shot-at-number-one

Ok Ljubo overdid it with that eye sore mega New Balance crap no one buys, but I guess a nice bonus for him from Fed for the titles and NB for showing off the Brand with a double Masters winner 

i was wondering the hell that was all about too..posing with federer in a new balance t-shirt 
dont think nike will be too happy about that
anacone was always dressed in nike from top to bottom

Hahahah yeah man, it looks shit, so over-sized.

Guess Ljubo kept NB, same as Becker Puma while he was with Djoko, kind of all life contracts for after these rich gits leave the sport.

Anacone was no one in tennis come on, no sponsors, best sponsor he ever had was Fed

I think this is smart, missing most of clay. With luck it'll be like the next new start. 

If clay is shared around - or even better, if some if the new guys get in on the act - them he could conceivably come to grass still at the head of the race all bets are off. 

A big factor could be Kyrgios, Zverev, Thiem or Dimi coming to the party. Then it really blows it all open.

Assuming Djoko and Andy return decently for clay (would be silly to  think these 2 will not be back in better form), then let Andy, DJoko, Nadal crash on Clays for a month, while Fed comes fresh for W.

Jahu wrote:Hahahah yeah man, it looks shit, so over-sized.

Guess Ljubo kept NB, same as Becker Puma while he was with Djoko, kind of all life contracts for after these rich gits leave the sport.

Anacone was no one in tennis come on, no sponsors, best sponsor he ever had was Fed

he should be wearing the RF logo not new balance 
thats a chav label 

Never seen anyone on NB.

Never seen a store that sells that.

Bit like than UnderPits Armour of Andy.

Jahu wrote:https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2017/apr/03/roger-federer-resurgence-miami-open-rafael-nadal

He is five years older than Nadal, who looks five years older then him as his hair disappears even faster than the revolutions on his top-spin. 

thats brutal 

So Foggy twitting Fed Undisputed King, thx god i lost the SF, hahahaha foot in the mouth to Nadal, nice.

The world number 1 ranking was only ever in the head of his more deluded fans. Anyone using an ounce of logic could see that it was unlikely.  He's explained that he is prioritizing his long term health this year. His goal is to win Slams (probably Wimbledon most of all). Not to reach WN1. He says it himself.... he is not in his 20s anymore.

I think it would be awesome if Fed ends up as number one and Stan number two.

Daniel wrote:The world number 1 ranking was only ever in the head of his more deluded fans. Anyone using an ounce of logic could see that it was unlikely.  He's explained that he is prioritizing his long term health this year. His goal is to win Slams (probably Wimbledon most of all). Not to reach WN1. He says it himself.... he is not in his 20s anymore.

If he wins Wimbledon, he will be No 1. Simple; ithat's 6000 points already without all the rest, and with that capability you can easily find another 2500++ points elsewhere. It's also another big drop for Murray.

Looks like you fancy his chances for #1 even if you think you don't.

There's a pound of logic for you.

I don't fancy it at all. I don't think he will do it - nor do I think he will win Wimbledon. Both are highly unlikely, despite his recent success. You cannot use short term success as any kind of indication, especially with someone who is 35. You don't hide your actual opinion half as well as you believe. You use mealy mouth doubletalk. Clearly you do think he will regain #1. I'll say it again:  It's very unlikely. 

Not content with that, you now think you are omnipotent and can tell me my opinion.  I said it before: Get your head out of your arse

Daniel wrote:I don't fancy it at all. I don't think he will do it - nor do I think he will win Wimbledon.

But be honest. You would have given him more chance to win Wimbledon than to win AO, IW and Miami in succession! So in fact Wimbledon is very possible considering what he has achieved so far.

It's not about he will win or not. It's about it seems very well within his reach.

Daniel wrote:I don't fancy it at all. I don't think he will do it - nor do I think he will win Wimbledon. Both are highly unlikely, despite his recent success. You cannot use short term success as any kind of indication, especially with someone who is 35. You don't hide your actual opinion half as well as you believe. You use mealy mouth doubletalk. Clearly you do think he will regain #1. I'll say it again:  It's very unlikely. 

Not content with that, you now think you are omnipotent and can tell me my opinion.  I said it before: Get your head out of your arse

Of course I know what you're thinking. You are convinced he's just a few key rounds at the latter stages of Wimbledon away from being #1, and you might well be right. You said as much.

Myself, I'm a bit more balanced on this than you and think we'll know much more clearly after Wimbledon how the ranking will work out.

I can assure you 100% that I don't think that.  I am genuinely telling you... in plain English.  I don't. I don't believe Federer will reclaim #1 and I don't believe he will win Wimbledon. I also didn't think he'd win another Slam after he failed in 2016 (I was wrong, but reclaiming #1 and winning Wimbledon again is even longer odds). I did think he'd reach a Slam final.  That's as far as it goes. 

It really is the height of arrogance to believe you know what someone is thinking - and it's even worse when you are wrong. I don't play games - I state my mind.

Daniel, why so cranky?  I think it is just good humored trolling from BB, no need to take it so seriously.

Let's face it, the odds of Fed making #1 are miles better than they would have been in early January.  I say still well below 50%, but certainly very plausible.

Fed is playing an extra grass tournament this year. Stutgart. and then Halle before wimbledon. So he is clear with his priorities. 

Not playing Clay is the right decision. He has his goals set clear. Wimbledon and then perhaps USopn, then indoor hard which has always been his strength.

Shot at #1? He will have his chance, but it will be a close race. But who is going to be competing? Its difficult to say coz the usual contenders Djoko/Murray are completely off the boil.

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:Shot at #1? He will have his chance, but it will be a close race. But who is going to be competing? Its difficult to say coz the usual contenders Djoko/Murray are completely off the boil.

That's why I believe weird, if not a bit stubborn the way Daniel is thinking. To me saying Murray or Djoko will be number 1 in a few months is as risky if not more than saying federer will.

Daniel wrote:I can assure you 100% that I don't think that.  I am genuinely telling you... in plain English.  I don't. I don't believe Federer will reclaim #1 and I don't believe he will win Wimbledon. I also didn't think he'd win another Slam after he failed in 2016 (I was wrong, but reclaiming #1 and winning Wimbledon again is even longer odds). I did think he'd reach a Slam final.  That's as far as it goes. 

It really is the height of arrogance to believe you know what someone is thinking - and it's even worse when you are wrong. I don't play games - I state my mind.

That must be why you write such short posts.

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:Fed is playing an extra grass tournament this year. Stutgart. and then Halle before wimbledon. So he is clear with his priorities. 

Not playing Clay is the right decision. He has his goals set clear. Wimbledon and then perhaps USopn, then indoor hard which has always been his strength.

Shot at #1? He will have his chance, but it will be a close race. But who is going to be competing? Its difficult to say coz the usual contenders Djoko/Murray are completely off the boil.

what happens during the clay season will be very telling with regards to fededers chances of becoming no1 again
if murray and djokovic return to more or less dominate his chances will significantly diminish and everything will depend on what happens during the grass season
i actually think that not playing madrid is a missed opportunity cause his chances of winning there are easier then winning any other clay tournament including RG
thats a possible 1000 points clear for only best of 3 sets which will take what a semi final a RG ( best of 5 ) to collect?
of course he isnt chasing the ranking and he has had some great success at RG,we could see him possibly making the final again

As far as I can see it, Murray and Djokovic won't be dominating again.

It's hard to tell what's going on with either of them, are the injuries legitimate?

I have more reason to believe Murray's elbow injury as he really flogged himself to death last year.

With Nole...God knows.

We'll have to wait and see where he's at, maybe get a glimpse this weekend Davis Cup match vs Spain's C team...

Personally, I don't see him coming back to his old form this year.
Back to back losses to Kyrgios say a lot.

Veejay wrote:

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:Fed is playing an extra grass tournament this year. Stutgart. and then Halle before wimbledon. So he is clear with his priorities. 

Not playing Clay is the right decision. He has his goals set clear. Wimbledon and then perhaps USopn, then indoor hard which has always been his strength.

Shot at #1? He will have his chance, but it will be a close race. But who is going to be competing? Its difficult to say coz the usual contenders Djoko/Murray are completely off the boil.

what happens during the clay season will be very telling with regards to fededers chances of becoming no1 again
if murray and djokovic return to more or less dominate his chances will significantly diminish and everything will depend on what happens during the grass season
i actually think that not playing madrid is a missed opportunity cause his chances of winning there are easier then winning any other clay tournament including RG
thats a possible 1000 points clear for only best of 3 sets which will take what a semi final a RG ( best of 5 ) to collect?
of course he isnt chasing the ranking and he has had some great success at RG,we could see him possibly making the final again

Interesting thought. But would he have played Madrid and skipped RG?? I'm not sure Fed would completely rule out his own chance of an RG title so as to skip it altogether. Draws can open up, players get injured during play.. some upsets are looming large with chasing pack making most of their chances.. many things can happen. Right now he is the most inform player on tour. So he may not be very hopeful at the start of the RG, but I'm certain he hasn't given it up completely either.

Fed wouldn't want to be kicking himself for skipping a slam unless injured. I'm certain he doesn't see Slam just with No. of points they bring. Its more than that. 

No player would exchange his lone slam ( 2000  pts) even for 5 masters( 5000 pts)

I am also disappointed to see Fed miss clay and I think it's a big mistake....though according to his interview it is down to the fact that a doubt persists on whether clay fragilises his knee or not. Which I personally doubt but last year his knee went worse on clay apparently. Very bizarre knowing the injury happened during AO.

The reason I think it is a big mistake cause to me Fed has proven everything outside clay and I consider this surface his biggest challenge. He was close to be the king of clay for years if it was not for Nadal killing him physically and stealing all those titles whihc would have been his otherwise. Now would be a chance to really slay his last dragon left in tennis: the FO.

Sure an 8th Wimbledon is also a must. But to me not as important as a 2nd FO at 35 maybe.

I actually think he'll skip the whole clay season. During the on-court interview he literally said:
"I think i will only play the French open...i will probably take 10 weeks off"

The last part was a slip of the tongue -i guess- because with that he kinda revealed he won't be back before Halle.

Tenez wrote:
Sure an 8th Wimbledon is also a must. But to me not as important as a 2nd FO at 35 maybe.

It's a matter of probabilty. Playing RG could decrease his chances at Wimbledon. It's not worth it.

Tenez wrote:I am also disappointed to see Fed miss clay and I think it's a big mistake....though according to his interview it is down to the fact that a doubt persists on whether clay fragilises his knee or not. Which I personally doubt but last year his knee went worse on clay apparently. Very bizarre knowing the injury happened during AO.

The reason I think it is a big mistake cause to me Fed has proven everything outside clay and I consider this surface his biggest challenge. He was close to be the king of clay for years if it was not for Nadal killing him physically and stealing all those titles whihc would have been his otherwise. Now would be a chance to really slay his last dragon left in tennis: the FO.

Sure an 8th Wimbledon is also a must. But to me not as important as a 2nd FO at 35 maybe.

i also think that a second RG title would be worth more then an 8th wimbledon,especially if he were to beat Nadal somewhere along the way
it would also mean that he has won every major at least twice

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:

Veejay wrote:

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:Fed is playing an extra grass tournament this year. Stutgart. and then Halle before wimbledon. So he is clear with his priorities. 

Not playing Clay is the right decision. He has his goals set clear. Wimbledon and then perhaps USopn, then indoor hard which has always been his strength.

Shot at #1? He will have his chance, but it will be a close race. But who is going to be competing? Its difficult to say coz the usual contenders Djoko/Murray are completely off the boil.

what happens during the clay season will be very telling with regards to fededers chances of becoming no1 again
if murray and djokovic return to more or less dominate his chances will significantly diminish and everything will depend on what happens during the grass season
i actually think that not playing madrid is a missed opportunity cause his chances of winning there are easier then winning any other clay tournament including RG
thats a possible 1000 points clear for only best of 3 sets which will take what a semi final a RG ( best of 5 ) to collect?
of course he isnt chasing the ranking and he has had some great success at RG,we could see him possibly making the final again

Interesting thought. But would he have played Madrid and skipped RG?? I'm not sure Fed would completely rule out his own chance of an RG title so as to skip it altogether. Draws can open up, players get injured during play.. some upsets are looming large with chasing pack making most of their chances.. many things can happen. Right now he is the most inform player on tour. So he may not be very hopeful at the start of the RG, but I'm certain he hasn't given it up completely either.

Fed wouldn't want to be kicking himself for skipping a slam unless injured. I'm certain he doesn't see Slam just with No. of points they bring. Its more than that. 

No player would exchange his lone slam ( 2000  pts) even for 5 masters( 5000 pts)

of course no player looks at a major that way,its the prestige of the event not the points
i was just pointing out that it would theoretically be a much easier 1000 points to collect in madrid playing less sets then at a major
i guess youd only ever look at it that way if you were chasing the ranking and looking to gain points 
it would be lovely to see roger become world no1 again,but i wouldnt want it to come at the expense of burning him out or injuring him to the extent that he ends up having to retire at the end of the year

I think with Federer, the main thing for him now is ability to play on his own terms.

What he makes look effortless requires supreme fitness, footspeed, explosove strength.
On the other hand his game is instinctive so he must be relaxed and supple in order to execute it.

So it's all quite delicate and complex. It reaches the highest highs and demands a lot (read: everything)

And for him to play like that is to be fresh and pressure free. So no points chasing.

It can never be compare to the simplicity and dulness of percentage tennis Murray is producing, for example.

For that, all you need is to be fit, no mental pressure, just run and retrieve.

Only one gear - like a tractor.

Maestro needs silence, inspiration and evening light to paint masterpieces.