Roger Federer Showing Leadership and Maturity

Written by: Staff on 25th November 2011

Roger Federer Showing Leadership and Maturity

Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates after beating Mardy Fish of the USA in their group B match of the ATP World Tour tennis finals at O2 Arena in London, Britain, 24 November 2011. Federer won 6-1, 3-6 and 6-3. EPA/KERIM OKTEN |

Roger Federer, at 30 and like tennis great Andre Agassi before him, has become something of an elder statesman of the game. He is older and wiser, and his long experience grinding out year after year on tour has taught him how to handle things in the best possible way.

It is something he believes some of the younger players could still learn, even though they might be at the top of the game alongside him in the rankings. Some have been very outspoken about the length of the season while, as he so often does, Federer has offered the voice of moderation. Sure, he says, the season is too long, but things are being done to change that.

“Next year’s season is going to be shortened by two weeks,” he said. “That’s as much as we can squeeze it, otherwise a lot of tournaments would have to go – or we would have four tournaments the same week, which I don’t think is a very smart idea.”

And, anyway, Federer considers that it is up to the players to decide whether to play or not – despite the financial penalties involved if they fail to meet the demands placed upon them by the ATP World Tour as it seeks to present to tournaments the top players as often as possible.

Federer decided to miss the recent Asian swing, stating simply that his body was tired. Now he is reaping the benefit of his decision, sweeping into the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals and increasingly looking as if he is the one that will hold up the trophy on Sunday.

“The season’s always been long, tough and grueling. Maybe it’s more physical,” he said. “But I’ve played 10 years straight, 60-plus matches, if not 90 at times. It’s about how you manage your schedule.”

“DAILY TENNIS NEWS WIRE”

Topics: Andre Agassi, Roger Federer