ROGER FEDERER THROWS SUPPORT TO ERIC ” BOOTY ” BUTORAC NEW PRESIDENT OF ATP PLAYER COUNCIL

Written by: Staff on 4th September 2014

ROGER FEDERER THROWS SUPPORT TO ERIC " BOOTY " BUTORAC NEW PRESIDENT OF ATP PLAYER COUNCIL

epa04381540 Roger Federer of Switzerland reacts after defeating Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain on the ninth day of the 2014 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 02 September 2014. The US Open runs through 08 September, a 15-day schedule. EPA/JASON SZENES |

Roger Federer has thrown his considerable influence behind new ATP Player Council President Eric Butorac, a journeyman doubles player who is expected to bring more of a “common touch” to the body after his election recently.

The charismatic Federer served two terms and six years as head of the council, his massive influence in the sport paving the way for change by the mere power of suggestion from the greatest to ever play the game.

Now, with two sets of twins in the family and a career which is taking off again at age 33, the 17-time grand slam event champion Swiss felt it was time to step down.

Roger Federer of Switzerland hits a return to Samuel Groth of Australia during the fifth day of the 2014 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 29 August 2014. The US Open runs through 08 September, a 15-day schedule. EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT

But the iconic player gives his successor full support. “Eric is a great guy, he was a wonderful vice president.” Federer said after crushing Sam Groth to reach the third round of the US Open. “We never had a problem together. The president never had to tell the vice president to behave,” he joked.

“He’s been on the council for some time now and showed some interest in being the president. It was nice to see that actually a few guys wanted to become the president, which I was happy to see.

“It’s a nice feeling being able to serve the ATP, in my opinion. For me it was the same for so many years. I am convinced that Butorac and Gilles Simon, the vice president, and everybody on the council, including Stan (Wawrinka) and so forth, are going to do a wonderful job for the next few years.”

One of the minor niggles with the Federer presidency was the fact that in his world, he sometimes could not relate to the day-to-day financial struggles of those in the lower ranks.

One example: he just could not get excited about the loss of $40,000 first-round grand slam event prize money for a player who pulled out injured before a match and had to forfeit the check. At the $40 million level, 40 grand doesn’t count for much in the big scheme.

But on the other hands, some say that an unknown like Minnesota’s Butorac will hardly carry the weight and respect from tennis power figures which allowed the well-liked Federer to help negotiate massive prize money increases among other accomplishments during his reign.

Topics: 2014 US Open, ATP Player Council, Eric Butorac, Roger Federer, Tennis News

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10sBalls_com says:

September 4, 2014 at 12:30 pm

@rogerfederer THROWS SUPPORT TO ERIC ” BOOTY ” #BUTORAC NEW PRESIDENT OF #ATP PLAYER COUNCIL- http://t.co/DO2LVzxQpT #tennis #Federer
RD_Tennistalk says:

September 4, 2014 at 12:37 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: @rogerfederer THROWS SUPPORT TO ERIC ” BOOTY ” #BUTORAC NEW PRESIDENT OF #ATP PLAYER COUNCIL- http://t.co/DO2LVzxQpT #ten…