Federer Decides To Stay With Headband

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 14th June 2013

Federer Decides To Stay With Headband

epa03744411 Switzerland's Roger Federer returns the ball to Germany's Mischa Zverev during their quarter final match at the ATP tennis tournament in Halle, Westphalia, Germany, 14 June 2013. Federer won 6-0 and 6-0. EPA/OLIVER KRATO |

After the drastic May haircut which seemed to temporarily dull some of his tennis powers, the lack of a headband in one losing doubles match at Halle, Germany, has quickly been put right by Roger Federer.

The five-time Halle champion who is using the German week to tune up for a run at an eighth Wimbledon title from June 24, has gone straight back to his trademark headgear and says he feels better about life on court as a result.

The world No. 3 told the ATP website that his decision to go on without his traditional headband for doubles with Tommy Haas was a spur of the moment decision – and one which will not be repeated.

“(There’s) not so much sweating going on in the doubles so I figured I’m going to leave the headband in the bag,” said the Swiss. “I have been practicing tons without it.”

Federer added that he had wanted to go without the headband in Rome but changed his mind after “my team sort of backtracked at the last moment. They said, ‘You should do what you feel most comfortable with.’ So I was like, ‘Oh, really okay.’ So, I put the headband back on. Now I said for the doubles I keep it off. It was fun. (I felt) a bit naked, but (it) felt good for a change.”

The Swiss said that his headband will remain firmly in place at Wimbledon after his relatively short haircut keeps on growing back to its more “normal” length. “At Wimbledon it’s (no headband) not going to happen. Here it’s super-humid actually. When I came back on tour in Madrid I think I was playing a lot of night sessions; it was fresh throughout Europe. This is the first time it was actually humid. So I need the headband right now.”

Federer’s decision is evidently paying off, with the 31-year-old into the Halle semi-finals after crushing Misha Zverev 6-0, 6-0.