SEVERIN LUTHI SWISS DAVIS CUP CAPTAIN RUNS THE SHIP – FEDERER ON HIS TEAM, AHEAD OF THE CINCY MASTERS SEMI-FINAL BY ROS SATAR

Written by: Staff on 22nd August 2015

SEVERIN LUTHI SWISS DAVIS CUP CAPTAIN RUNS THE SHIP – FEDERER ON HIS TEAM, AHEAD OF THE CINCY MASTERS SEMI-FINAL BY ROS SATAR

epa04654258 Swiss Davis Cup Team captain Severin Luethi speaks during a press conference after the fifth and last match of the Davis Cup World Group - First Round, 1/8 final tennis match Belgium against Switzerland, at the Country Hall, in Liege, Belgium, Sunday, March 8, 2015. Switzerland lost 2-3 against Belgium in its first tie as a reigning Davis Cup champion. EPA/LAURENT GILLIERON |

Swiss Davis Cup Team captain Severin Luethi speaks during a press conference after the fifth and last match of the Davis Cup World Group – First Round, 1/8 final tennis match Belgium against Switzerland, at the Country Hall, in Liege, Belgium, Sunday, March 8, 2015. Switzerland lost 2-3 against Belgium in its first tie as a reigning Davis Cup champion. EPA/LAURENT GILLIERON

With all the sledging controversy still swirling in the air like an acrid summer BBQ in Australia gone wrong, the great and the good of tennis have offered their opinions in varying degrees.

But with the more important matter of the last Slam of the year around the corner, it is time to get back to the things that matter – in terms of how vital teams are in that interim.

It probably did not come as much of a surprise when Stefan Edberg became the latest in the ‘super-coach’ brigade after results had been seen for Andy Murray under the tutelage of Ivan Lendl, and the decision by current World No. 1 Novak Djokovic to hire Boris Becker.

But when the announcement was made, with Federer referring to the six-time Grand Slam champion as one of his idols, he was not the only one in the thrall of the quiet Swede.

Swiss Davis Cup captain Severin Luthi has been an integral part of Team Federer for several years now, and like Federer, looked up to Edberg as an idol. And while all the accolades tend to go towards the ‘name,’ is it Luthi that is a consistent presence alongside Federer, as well as Edberg at the key points in the year.

Luthi said: “Like Roger, I have a tremendous amount of respect for Stefan and I am sure he will bring a lot to our team as Roger continues to chase titles in 2014,” at the time of the announcement at the end of 2013.

Fast forward a year and a half, and the team is still going strong, with Federer still challenging for the sport’s most glittering prizes. Twice now he has been edged in the Wimbledon final by Novak Djokovic, and as we approach the US Open, his form at the Cincinnati Masters has been all the more impressive after his decision to skip the Montreal Masters the week before.

Roger Federer of Switzerland serves to Feliciano Lopez of Spain during their quarterfinal round match in the Western & Southern Open at the Linder Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio, USA, 21 August 2015. EPA/TANNEN MAURY

Looking back on the collaboration, Federer said: “I thought obviously first six months were very interesting for me just to spend time and just speak to him, listen to him, what he had to say, what he thought about my game, you know, how to play on which surface, how to play when and what and how much to play in terms of scheduling and so forth.

“I think he’s been really good for the team. You know, he gets along very well with Severin, and he of course also looks up to Stefan like I do. He was a hero of ours growing up, so to be spending time together all three of us really injected a lot of energy into the team, which was nice. Also with my fitness coach, my physio, you name it. My wife, my agent. Everybody is really excited he’s on the team.

“He hasn’t done this buildup block. Just after Wimbledon he was home with his family, so I did everything with Severin. Usually the hard work and hard yards I’ve always done with Severin for the last seven years. That’s where I built up the base.

“Then it’s really Stefan that’s given me some specific things to try out during the match and practice and so forth, but it’s really Severin running the ship.”

His counsel will no doubt be sought on Saturday afternoon, when he will face Murray for the first time since the Wimbledon semi-final where he dominated the proceedings from start to finish, with a textbook display of serving.

He said: “Looking at the draw I knew how tough it was going to be, so I am really happy to be in the semis and getting a chance to play one more really good match here against Andy.

“Honestly at this point it’s not about preparing for the Open. It’s about trying to defend my title here. I know I got my work cut out tomorrow against Andy who has had a wonderful run.

“Every since he played at Wimbledon, he brought his country home in Davis Cup, and played well in Montréal, won that, and now he’s obviously very confident. He might be tired, but still, I always pick confidence over being a little bit tired. So it’s clearly going to be a tough match against him.”

It certainly is our pick of the men’s semi-finals today and is the Western and Southern Open’s pick of the match of the day.

Murray and Federer are scheduled to play their semi-final on Centre Court, not before 2:30pm.

Topics: Atp, Davis Cup, Roger Federer, Ros Satar, Severin Luthi, Stefan Edberg, tennis update

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10sBalls_com says:

August 22, 2015 at 10:02 am

SEVERIN LUTHI SWISS @DavisCup CAPTAIN RUNS THE SHIP – FEDERER ON HIS TEAM, AHEAD OF THE CINCY MASTERS SEMI-FINAL… http://t.co/Xx1UpLHFWu
HIGHTECHTENNIS says:

August 22, 2015 at 10:20 am

RT @10sBalls_com: SEVERIN LUTHI SWISS @DavisCup CAPTAIN RUNS THE SHIP – FEDERER ON HIS TEAM, AHEAD OF THE CINCY MASTERS SEMI-FINAL… http:…