Speculation is starting to surface that the move of Roger Federer’s physio from the Swiss over to Grigor Dimitrov was merely a sideways swap engineered by Team 8, which is owned by Federer and his agent Tony Godsick and which manages the up-and-coming Dimitrov.
Federer’s physio of five years, former ATP employee Stephane Vivier, has gone over to the Dimitrov squad, which is headed by Australian coach Roger Rasheed.
World No. 3 Federer made the announcement in a matter-of-fact, businesslike way, suggesting that the decision had already been well thought-out:
“After five great years, Stéphane Vivier and I have decided to stop working together. He was a great member of my team and we will always remain close friends. I wish him all the best in the future.”
Similarities between the 33-year-old Federer and junior client Dimitrov are becoming more and more apparent, with the 23-year-old now a new member of Team Rolex – a blue-chip sponsor which has long worked with Federer. Under his reported five-year, multi-million-dollar deal, he doesn’t have to wear one of the pricey and elite watches on court during matches, much in the way it works for Federer.
But the similarities go past money. In addition, there is the one-handed backhand shared by both players and a Dimitrov racquet deal with Wilson, which also has a lifetime contract with Federer.
Dimitrov has for years been trying to shake the title of “Baby Federer” bestowed on him by the media.
For now, Federer seems to be without a personal physio as he plays at next week’s Shanghai Masters.
Topics: Atp, GRIGOR DIMITROV, Roger Federer, Roger Rasheed, Stephane Vivier, Tennis, Wilson
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