Federer is Keeping His Age and Health in Perspective

Written by: Staff on 3rd January 2012

Qatar ExxonMobil ATP Open Tennis tournament 2012

Federer is Keeping His Age and Health in Perspective

Roger Federer of Switzerland in action against Nikolay Davydenko of Russia during their tennis match in the second round at the Qatar ExxonMobil ATP Open Tennis tournament at Khalifa Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha, Qatar, 03 January 2012 EPA/STRINGER |

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Time waits for nobody and Roger Federer knows he is facing as much of a battle against age as the likes of Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal as he bids to reclaim top spot in one of the most illustrious eras of male tennis. However on the day he started his 2012 ATP World Tour schedule by beginning the defense of his title at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha, the 30 year-old insisted he is built to last.

Certainly Federer’s career has not been punctuated with injuries in the same way as his rivals like Nadal, Djokovic in the last part of 2011 and Andy Murray who was forced to pull out of the season end Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London after one match.

Federer has always believed in giving his body sufficient periods of rest and he maintains he is now reaping the benefits. “I’m holding up well and definitely think that’s a key to success,” said the Swiss who is pretty much unperturbed at losing both his matches in straight sets at last week’s Mubadala Tennis World Championships along the Arabian Gulf in Abu Dhabi.

“You look at the big picture and longevity, rather than just thinking in the very moment. Confidence is a huge part of our life sometimes as a tennis player and I’m ready for a good season.”

Rather the highly paid but largely irrelevant results in Abu Dhabi, Federer prefers to reflect on his run at the end of 2011 on the ATP World Tour that saw him register 17 wins and collect three titles, culminating in the big prize in London.

The run provided reassurance after Federer went an entire calendar year for the first time since 2002 without winning a Grand Slam title. There were some spectacular defeats, like falling from two sets leads at both Wimbledon to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and the U.S .Open against Tsonga. But he insisted: “I didn’t panic after some really tough losses through the summer.

“I never worry at moments like now that I won’t hold up for the entire season, because I do, I think, plan decently and well, so I manage all the expectations for myself.”

Of course Federer has plenty of experience around to reassure him. Paul Annacone was a similar aid to Pete Sampras late in the great American’s career, Severin Luthi as Switzerland’s Davis Cup player has been beside the current world no.3 for most of his career and wife Mirka is of course a veteran of the WTA circuit.

“Sometimes you just go through tougher moments,” said Federer. “It’s also part of a good player, being able to put that aside and still play good tennis. I promise you I had a lot of pain throughout my career, and I’ve managed to play with it.”

“What happened at the end of the year showed a lot of things. I was able to actually not only just maintain a good level of play but I almost increased it towards the end of the season.”

Federer settled on his early season schedule a long time ago. This week he is attempting to win a fourth Doha title after previously winning the event in 2005, 2006 and last year. Then he will fly to Australia and perhaps play at match or two at Melbourne’s AAMI Classic at Kooyong before the Australian Open.

It will be two years since Federer won the last of his four Australian Open titles but he is confident. “It takes a little bit of adjustment, but you can definitely take confidence from the end of the year and just carry it over because you’re in a good mindset,” said the Swiss. You just believe you’re doing the right things in the court. You’re not second guessing yourself.”

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