Becker Thinks Federer Has Plenty Left

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 17th October 2013

Becker Thinks Federer Has Plenty Left

epa03848601 Roger Federer of Switzerland waves to the crowd as he leaves after losing to Tommy Robredo of Spain during their match on the eighth day of the 2013 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 02 September 2013. The US Open runs through Monday 09 September, a 15-day schedule for the first time. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO |

Roger Federer’s first ever sporting hero was Boris Becker and the Swiss remembers being six years-old and crying when his idol lost in the 1988 Wimbledon final against Stefan Edberg. Throughout the last decade and a bit, the feelings have been reciprocated and Becker believes last weekend’s decision to part company with coach Paul Annacone is a positive indication Federer is determined for more glory.

Becker maintains he will closely be monitoring Federer’s performances in the upcoming Swiss Indoors event at Basel and the BNP Paribas Masters at Paris’ Palais d’Omnisports Bercy as the 17-time Grand Slam winner finds himself in the unaccustomed position of struggling for qualification at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.

The 45 year-old German has not enjoyed watching Federer’s disappointing results of late but said: “I am one of Roger’s biggest fans and I don’t like seeing him lose in the second or third round of the Slams, but as long as he wants to play it is up to him, he deserves that respect.

“He could have walked off into the sunset with Paul but this move (of splitting the partnership) tells me that Roger still has the fire and the motivation.

“Roger will know better than anyone that he was a better tennis player at 25 than now. I don’t see him as a contender for the no.1 spot but he is still very good on faster surfaces. I would not rule out him winning at the London O2.”

Becker will be part of the Sky Sports commentary team at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals and thought back to the end of his own career when he quit Grand Slams in 1997 but then played one final Wimbledon in 1999 before abruptly walking away from the game after losing to Pat Rafter.

“The idea for me was not to go cold turkey,” he recalled. “I wanted to get it out of my system gradually. This way worked very well for me but I am not recommending anything to Roger. He still has fun playing and travelling and let’s not forget, he is still a great asset to tennis.”

Becker also said he believed Andy Murray has done the right thing by effectively ending his season to have a back operation and resisting the urge to contest the World Tour Finals just because they are staged in London. “The timing of it is as perfect as it could be,’ said Becker. ‘Let us hope he recovers physically and, assuming he does, I don’t see any reason why he won’t be competitive at the Australian Open.”

Topics: 10sballs.com, 1988 Wimbledon, Andy Murray, ATP World Tour Finals, Australian Open, Bnp Paribas, Boris Becker, Pat Rafter, Paul Annacone, Roger Federer, Stefan Edberg, Tennis, Tennis News