What's wrong with Roger Federer? This is the question bouncing around the tennis world these days with just as many theories being put forward to answer that $64,000 question.I think everyone would agree that Federer's confidence is shot. But, how exactly does that effect his play?
I had the opportunity to watch Federer on the practice courts the day after his loss last week to Gilles Simon in the Rogers Cup in Toronto. He was hitting with a hitting partner who was just there to keep the ball in play.
What struck me was how erratic Federer was, especially off the forehand.
It made me think about the construction of Federer's tactical game.
Roger has never been a player who is content to hit 15-20 balls every point and outwork his opponent. At his essence, he's a shotmaker, unlike his main adversary Rafael Nadal, who is essentially a defensive player content to outwork his opponents and tire them physically.
And, when your confidence goes it is hard to attack well.
So Federer really has 2 choices as far as I can see. He can reaffirm that he's an attack player and improve his approach shots and his volleys. Or, he can say that he needs more tactical margin and gets into the mindset of grinding out some points at certain important times in matches.
Personally, I think Federer is better off attacking because there are too many young, quick guys with 2 handed backhands who can rally and run all day long.
Plus, Federer is not getting any younger and the grinding style is very hard on the body.
So, I say let Fed attack and let the chips fall where they may.
Until next time,
Glenn Sheiner M.D. - author of Insider Tennis Strategies Top Tennis Tactics AND Coaching Lessons guaranteed to make you a smarter tennis player and take your tennis to the next level. Also, check out the world's top tennis humor screensaver
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3 comments:
roger federer's performance is truly mind-boggling. it's just a matter of days before rafa nadal grabs the top spot from him. what's wrong with him? i seriously think he needs to see a psychologist/psychiatrist. it's a mental game now. he's losing to just about everybody. how weird is that. it's roger federer we're talking about here. the great one. he's not supposed to go down at this point. not yet, anyway. not this year. he's bound for more greatness. i hope he solves his problems soon. find somebody, please, who will restore the roger federer of old. the guy who's losing out there is NOT roger federer. somebody's making a poor imitation of him. there's still beijing, flushing meadows and shanghai to restore his confidence. goold luck roger. show 'em what you really got. --Manila girl 08/01/08
I also saw him practice at the Rogers Cup and agree with your observations. He was missing quite badly from the back - forehand and backhand. Personally, I think he is going for too much too early from the back of the court. At times, he is setting himself up well at the net but not able to close at the key points. He seems to get alot of break points but not converting effectively - this is where I feel is hurting him the most. Not converting all those breakpoints I feel is now costing him matches not only against Nadal but lesser players.
I wonder if his new coach Higeureus(?) is making him to take more chances and taking the big shots and forget rallying against Nadal and others and just go the winners.
Roger Federer became the dominant player in tennis in a sudden, prolonged streak of virtuoso tennis. He mastered tennis skills to a degree that no one else had done previously and kept them at an almost unbelievable high level for years. Did you ever ask yourself ...how did Roger blaze into glory so quickly and so completely? My theory ... he sold his soul to the devil in exchange for tennis greatness. His current problem stems from his reconsidering the value of his soul ... wanting his soul back ...somehow breaking his pact with the devil ...the result ...the sudden deterioration of his superlative tennis skills. It's the only explanation that makes sense. Just my humble opinion.
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