Federer Trainer Says Federer Is Fit

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 20th December 2013

Federer Trainer Says Federer Is Fit

epa03942760 Roger Federer from Switzerland celebrates winning two sets to one against Juan Martin del Potro from Argentina during their group B singles match in the round robin stage at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in the O2 Arena in London, Britain, 09 November 2013. EPA/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA |

Veteran Swiss trainer Pierre Paganini likes the current look of Roger Federer as his 32-year-old client regains his classic form after a 2013 marred by injuries and setbacks. Pagannini, who has split his time over the last month with training Federer in Dubai and Stan Wawrinka in Switzerland, told Zurich’s Tages Anzeiger that if Federer’s fitness holds up in 2014, he can again be a major threat on the ATP.

“Right now – touch wood – it looks very good. When we discuss the training with each other or with (Federer coach) Seve (Luthi), we are happy,” said Paganini. “Federer again shows things on the court and in the gym, where we say: ‘Wow, the sparks are back.’

“This does not mean that it would have previously had no spark. But if you have a back injury as in 2013, it has consequences: you step consciously or unconsciously on the brakes. That can move you away from your established goal. It’s nice now to see him back with a smile and his spontaneity.”

Federer and Wawrinka worked out a rota system for the use of Paganini, who has long trained Federer. The French-Swiss has been commuting between the Gulf and Lake Geneva to get both of his charges in top-fit for their 2014 starts within days. Wawrinka will play the Abu Dhabi exhibition from next Thursday while Federer makes his first showing next weekend in Brisbane as he prepares for the Australian Open.

Paganini told Tages that working on Federer’s fitness during 2013 was difficult due to the player’s back injury. “It broke up the rhythm, the time after Indian Wells, when he was not playing a tournament for seven weeks was frustrating.

“In strength training, we had to omit some parts completely leave the explosive movement exercises to 25 percent and adjust the rest so that it was not too complex for the back. We know the problems can come back. But there can also be long periods where it’s going great. This is what Federer fights for and of which he remains very confident.”

Paganini said that Federer’s solid finish to 2013 (a Basel final and semi-finals in Paris and London) gives confidence for the season to come. “The good moments were perhaps shorter than before, but for the player it’s nice to feel those again. You also saw how his trust in the autumn rose. That’s what he needs for the next step, and now we hope that this continues.

“This is an exceptional athlete and fantastic player, and if he is fit and healthy and can find his rhythm, he will be again in a position to play major titles. That’s why I cannot stand it when someone says he should stop, or he do not train more fully, because he had a family. This is nonsense.”

Topics: 10sballs.com, Abu Dhabi, Atp, Pierre Paganini, Roger Federer, Stanislas Wawrinka, Tages Anzeiger, Tennis, Tennis News