Roger Federer – Strategy, Dominance, and Decline

Written by: Staff on 4th April 2012

Roger Federer - Strategy, Dominance, and Decline

epa03157775 Roger Federer of Switzerland serves to Ryan Harrison of the US at the Sony Ericsson Open on Key Biscayne, Florida, USA, 24 March 2012. EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT |

By: Anonymous

It seems that over the past two years Federer has begun his decline from the pinnacle of the tennis world. Federer no longer dominates the calendar like he used to. In his heyday, Federer would lose maybe half a dozen times a year, and most of them to Nadal on clay. At the end of 2010, everyone felt it was Federer and Nadal who would dominate 2011, and order was restored again to the tennis universe.

Apparently, no one told Novak Djokovic that. Djokovic would go on to claim the first Slam of the year, beating Roger Federer in the semis for the second Slam in a row, and making short work of Andy Murray in the finals. Then, Djokovic would go on a tear losing only one match in months, a semifinal loss to Roger Federer at the French Open. But, in the process, he would win four Masters 1000 titles beating Nadal in the finals of all four, and having a four match winning streak against the top player. He would then win his first Wimbledon and beat Nadal in the finals in four sets making it his fifth straight defeat of Nadal. In the meanwhile, Federer, who had pretty much only lost to Murray after Wimbledon (and Monfils), has not had nearly the successful season he had hoped for.

Every time Roger takes a break, he claims his practices have gone well, that he’s really close to a breakthrough, and every time he comes back, he looks about the same. In the last two years or so, Roger gets very impatient playing tennis. He refuses to let rallies go ten shots or more in non-Slams. Watch his match with Tsonga, and find any point lasting 15 or more shots. Federer simply goes for a big shot and either he wins the point, or more likely, he makes an error. Djokovic is willing to engage in these long rallies. Federer is not.

Federer’s strategy seems to be to preserve his body. He doesn’t want to play long rallies because he’s concerned of the wear and tear. Better to occasionally lose to someone, rather than play long rallies. The other reason, I believe, he chooses to play shorter points is that he doesn’t want to fall into the trap of playing too defensively. To play offensively is to commit to a strategy that you need a lot of confidence. Thus, like they say to basketball players that shoot well “shooters gotta shoot”, meaning even if you miss a lot, you can’t be afraid to miss.

Editor’s Note: 10sBalls.com received this Roger Federer themed article from a college student that would like to remain anonymous. let 10sBalls.com know if you agree with this tennis fan and write. Share your thoughts about the legendary Federer.

Topics: Andy Murray, Gael Monfils, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, tennis blogger, Tennis Fan, Wimbledon