Fit Roger Federer takes the long view – By Matt Cronin

Written by: Staff on 12th January 2013

Fit Roger Federer takes the long view - By Matt Cronin

epa03512145 Swiss Tennis Player Roger Federer speaks during the 'Credit Suisse Sports Award in Zurich, Switzerland, 16 December 2012. Federer was named Swiss Sportsman of the Year. EPA/ALEXANDRA WEY |

MELBOURNE – Roger Federer recently decided to change things up and took a nice long pause in the offseason and during the start of 2013. Like many other stars who go deep in nearly every tournament they play, he had a very long 2012 with the Olympics tossed into an already crowded summer schedule.

But the 17-time Grand Slam champion is 31 years old now, which means he has a good five years more of wear and tear on his body compared to the two other men who are favored to be around until at least the semifinals of the Australian Open, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.

One of the reasons why Federer is arguably the greatest payer ever is because he has been remarkably injury free over his career. Some call it luck, but he and his team have to be given credit for doing all the right things when it comes to resting properly, performing the right exercises and installing the proper recovery program that keeps him so fit.

After he took an exhibition tour of South America during early December, Federer went on vacation with his wife Mirka and their twin daughters. Once he felt right again physically and mentally, he began to train again. Years ago, he was the opposite of a guy who wanted to hit gym rat or hit thousands of groundstrokes until the sun went down. Now working out is one of his favorite parts of being a high level athlete.

“I think it’s always a bit of a test for me going into the practice season,” Federer said. “Am I hungry and motivated to wake up, go on the practice courts for hours? There was not one problem. For me, that was good news. I was eager to improve my game, change it up a bit from all the tournaments I played this last few years now, to go on the practice court and try to improve. I also go into the gym and get stronger again. I enjoyed it. I think as long as that’s the case, that means I love it very much so. Today I take much more pleasure out of doing the gym work than I ever have. I used to honestly not really like it at all until I was maybe 22, 24 Today things for me make sense. I know why I’m doing them. I know they’re necessary. Sometimes it’s not the thing you want to do every day of the year, but I know it’s only a handful of weeks, then obviously you give everything you have.”

Because he glides across the court so smoothly, Federer is never thought of as an iron man. But the 2013 Australian Open will be his 53rd straight Grand Slam, only three short of the record held by South African Wayne Ferreira, who played one of his last Wimbledon’s with a torn up ankle and could barely complete his first round loss.

Federer holds so many records that trying to pass Ferreira might appears small in comparison to some of them, such as being ranked the world No. 1 longer than anyone else at more than 300 weeks.

But to the Swiss, it means a great deal.

“I used to ball boy [Ferreira], then I played doubles with him,” Federer said. “ Obviously he’s a good friend of mine. Something I’d like to share with him. Then again, if I’m ready to play, I hope I can make it. I was thinking back how many times I’ve played already in the main draw of a Slam. It’s been a lot. For many years I also came [to Melbourne] for qualifying, back in ’99, for the juniors ’98. I go back 15, 16 years. Longevity has always been something that’s been important to me. I’ve planned the season accordingly this year again, that I will not miss the majors because of injury. But then again sometimes you get hit with an unlucky injury just shortly before a Slam. There’s obviously nothing you can do about it. The best‑of‑five, what it takes to get deep in a tournament, there’s no easy ways. I’m excited that I’ve played so many in a row and I hope I can keep the streak alive and see where it stops.”

Federer is currently ranked No. 2, but many analysts are picking reigning US Open champion Andy Murray to go further than him at the Australian Open. Djokovic, who has won the title the past two years and is the current No. 1, is slightly bigger favorite than both of them.

But that doesn’t mean that Federer will not contend for the title. He does have a difficult draw, opening against the streaky Frenchman Benoit Paire, possibly having to face former top five player Nikolay Davydenko in the second round and maybe having to confront the red hot young Aussie Bernard Tomic in the third round. All that could come before a potential fourth round clash with the powerful Canadian Milos Raonic, a quarterfinal against former Australian Open finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and a semifinal against Murray.

But as Federer showed in winning Wimbledon last year, once gets his teeth in to a tournament, begins to roll and feels his confidence rise, he can still play with anyone and on great days, beat anyone.

But he’s way to savvy to project himself deep into the tournament before it begins.

“I play to win every match right now,” he said. “Obviously you still hope that the better the opponents become, obviously your game automatically raises to the occasion as well. I’m not thinking too far ahead right now. I’m just focusing on my first round.”

By:” Matt Cronin

Topics: Andy MurrayMirka Federer, Australian Open, Australian tennis news, Mathew Cronin, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Sports, Swiss tennis news, Tennis News