Roger Federer Is Looking Great

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 25th March 2014

Roger Federer Is Looking Great

epa04127231 Roger Federer from Switzerland celebrates after defeating Alexandr Dolgopolov from Ukraine during their semi final match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis in Indian Wells, California, USA, 15 March 2014. EPA/PAUL BUCK |

Roger Federer is undeniably in resurgent form again after winning the title in Dubai and reaching the final in Indian Wells. After an indifferent time in 2013, he now very much looks like a player who could this year add to his collection of a record 17 Grand Slam singles titles and potential reasons are numerous; a fit again body, the inclusion of Stefan Edberg in his coaching team and a bigger, potentially more powerful Wilson racket.

Federer, again looking very much a title contender at the Sony Open in Miami after only deciding to play the tournament at the last minute, does not discount any of these theories. But he believes the most important foundation was laid down at the end of last year.

“December was crucial,” said the 32 year-old. “I don’t want to say this in a cocky way but I believe I worked the hardest from the top eight in the off-season. Many guys went off to play exhibitions, or were in the Davis Cup. I had time, I put my head down and worked and I did it without any setbacks.

“I played three straight weeks without any problems, ending at the O2 Arena. I thought if I could handle that and then all the December work and emerge in good shape with no problems that would be a great platform.”

Many have pointed to a change in the Federer game style. He certainly has attacked more in 2014, putting more importance on finishing off points with the volley and using his supreme athleticism and freedom from back injuries that were hurting him last year, to close in on the net.

Although Federer’s previous coach Paul Annacone was a great advocate of serve and volley, most see this as a direct influence of Edberg who the Swiss idolized as a youngster and got to know better at last year’s ATP World Tour gala celebration of 40 years of no.1’s in New York.

“It’s inspiring working with him,” admitted Federer to Britain’s Daily Mail. “He is more like a mentor than a coach. He doesn’t do every week; I want it to be special with him whenever he is around because he is my childhood hero.

“But people go a bit far about his influence, every time I’m at the net they say, ‘That’s got to be Edberg’. It’s not like everything I do now is because of Stefan, it’s something deeper than that.”

Now Federer is looking to Wimbledon with replenished optimism and only a fool would rule out his chances of an eighth title on the All England Club’s grass. Last year’s early defeat against Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky was one of the most painful of his career and Federer admitted there was unfinished business at London SW19.

He recalled: “It was one of the season goals and when I fail I reassess: why did it happen? Is it training, mental, my team, is it just me? Do I need to change?

“For me it was hard in itself because I truly believe I could have done something there. I wasn’t in pain. I had won less than two weeks before on grass in Halle. I think I would have at least have made the semis, but Stakhovsky played well. Returning to Wimbledon this year I have much higher hopes.”

Content via Bob Larson tennis news

Topics: Edberg, Federer, Miami, Sony Open, Tennis News