What Federer can & can't do any more

First topic message reminder :

I was inspired by a comment by kingraf complimenting Feds 2007 y/e Masters win to check out a video.

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=hImDde3_KOI

It's a bit of a Fed-worshippers effort but don't let that put you off.

At 5:26 we see a wonderful point that he can still do now. Great fun.

But the following point, at 6:18, is something you never see from him now.

It's quite instructive of where it's gone for him, I thought.

But JHM I don't think he went all out from a gymwise/fitness effort. Mental effort-wise yes because he knew he had a great opportunity.
That said, he could have gone out early to Benneteau and we wouldn't be saying he went all out at all, and Nadal wasn't around either at Wimb/OG (not Fed's fault of course).
I'm not trying to be divisive saying that, just that he did amazingly well from being in much less shape than he used to be. Speaks to his talent.

So yes he did brilliantly from USO11 to Cincy12 but for me he was having to absolutely red-line his talent without relying on the same physical backup. Boy did it work but maybe its left him more burnout now than he would have been had he been physically stronger and fitter? Look at what happened from that long Delpo OG match. That match was about the same length Nadal had against Djokovic on Friday. Like Nadal he then had a day off, but on the Sunday he was a spent force being flat from the word 'go'. This wouldn't have happened to him pre-2009 I reckon. Fed is extremely naturally fit...its a blessing along with his tennis skills...but I think he's relied on it too much these past few years without really nurturing it. As TSJ says it comes down to what he wants...if he wants to push for more slams then he'll have to dive into the gym. Just has to. Maybe Nadal getting to 12 slams might spur him on again?

JuliusHMarx wrote:TSJ, I think he already did the 'go all out for one last hurrah' bit, culminating in the Wimby victory.

Perhaps you're right. If that was it in his eyes though, what's he still doing hanging around when Sampras retired after his swansong?

Federer loves the sport, which is what keeps him going.

I recall he is building a home in Valbella. Post-Tennis planning is already in progress.

http://www.blick.ch/people-tv/schweiz/hier-bauen-sie-federers-ferienvilla-id1657621.html

laverfan - I looked at the pics but don't understand the German language report.

So, just to clarify ...... this is definitely to be a private residence (as opposed to some sort of tennis camp facility ...) ?? It is positively huge, looks to be about five times larger than any other properties in the immediate surrounding area.

I'm assuming he won't need to fill in any mortgage applications......

lydian wrote:BB, when it is first documented that Federer had issues with his back?

I'm not aware of it being an issue before he pulled out of Paris Masters in Nov. 2008.

Extract from Wiki;

Like all male Swiss citizens, Federer was subject to compulsory military service in the Swiss Armed Forces. However, in 2003 he was deemed unfit because of a long-standing back problem and was subsequently not required to fulfill his military obligation

That's right BB,

and if I remember correctly that same year he almost withdrew part way through W with the back problem. Very similar to 2012.

lydian wrote:BB, when it is first documented that Federer had issues with his back?

I'm not aware of it being an issue before he pulled out of Paris Masters in Nov. 2008.

lopez 2003 wimbledon?

Thanks, didn't realise it had been an issue back then too.
Wonder if the back problems are the same, related, etc.
It seems to be ok 04-07? Then flares again in 2008?

Dunno, but I suspect it's a weakness that hangs around in the background and gets worse with abuse. Doubtless it came in handy to get out of National service, but there's corroboration in (a) the '03 problem, and (b) how it's got worse over the last 5 years.

Fed was injured between Wimby and USO way back in 2001, but I don't what the injury was.

BTW if he wins a tourny this year he equals Connors in winning a tourny in 13 consecutive years (Connors then had a 3 year gap before winning another one). Lendl won in 14 consecutive years, which I think is the Open era record.

Fed's just going through a bad patch.

13 years would be impressive.
I think the bad patch is motivation...its not surprising really. The movement, etc, is all linked to it. Ok he'll never be quite as quick as 2004 but he doesn't have to be.
If he can re-find that (perhaps seeing Nadal come back to win might do something there) he may commit himself again.
There's no reason why with his talent, and increased conditioning, he cant be a force for another 2-3 years at selected events. Haas is a good barometer for him.
Let's face it, he's a long time retired and there's only so much time you can spend with the kids before your driven to succeed behaviour starts to eat at you again...

I bet he and Haas as a doubles team would win all the slams for the next 5 or so years...

Yes he loves tennis, but I would say 60% of what keeps him going is long term contractual obligation/money with his sponsors. He even signed last year a 5 year contract with Moët, so he better keep fit and chase those finals.

Some contracts will obviously be dependent on his on-court activity. But I think it's safe to say that the desire by various premium brand names to be associated with him will continue for some considerable time after he has stopped playing the main tour. That's certainly been the case with Agassi, to name but one example.

Yep, and Switzerland isn't awash with celebrities, sporting or otherwise.
He'll move into senior ambassador status post-career...infact he may become even more of a brand icon than before. Representing all that Switzerland, and its leading brands, stands for.