Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal at Odds Over Choice for ATP Chief

Written by: Staff on 4th December 2011

Davis Cup final between Spain and Argentina

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal at Odds Over Choice for ATP Chief

Spanishs tennis player Rafael Nadal celebrates a point against Argentinian Juan Martin del Potro during their match of the Davis Cup final between Spain and Argentina at Seville's olympic stadium in Seville, southern Spain, on 04 December 2011. EPA/JULIO MUNOZ |

As long term rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal regularly appeared the best of friends but the pair are reportedly at odds over the appointment of a new chief executive of the ATP World Tour. Nadal is in favor of Richard Krajicek being given the job but Federer is not.

Federer remains to be convinced fellow Wimbledon champion Krajicek, tournament director of the ABN/AMRO Championships in Rotterdam for several years, has another experience of tennis business and politics to handle the post soon to be vacated by Adam Helfant.

The pair are also believed to be at odds over the benefits of a ranking system based on two years of results rather than the current one and sat down to air their differences last week in London.

“We did have a meeting together before Rafa left for Davis Cup, so we’re on the same page in terms of we spoke about everything,” revealed Federer who as president of the ATP of Players’ Council believes any talk of a two year ranking system would not be beneficial to the overall membership.

“It was just a matter of just hearing it from him and him hearing it from my side what we all think, and we’ll now have probably a chat either before Davis Cup next year or after Davis Cup, just letting time go by a little bit after our conversation and see where we want to go from here and just be helpful to the tour so that we can take the right decisions.

“Because, in the end, it’s not us that take the decisions but the board. But we would like to maybe give the board some direction, so we’ll see how it goes in the next week or so.”

Federer also revealed he has extended his 15 months long coaching relationship with Paul Annacone. The American who guided Pete Sampras to numerous major titles and also worked with Tim Henman has yet to mentor Federer to making any additions to his record haul of 16 major titles.

Nevertheless the pair have now enjoyed back to back titles at the calendar ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals and Federer said: ““I know when someone is doing a good job and when someone is not.”

Federer revealed he told Annacone: “Just because Novak smashed a forehand past me, and I missed match point, has no effect on my decision in working with you.”