Federer's Phenominal Fitness

Who is the fittest player on the tour? Most of the speculation IMO centers on the wrong players. There is one player who as far as I know never missed a slam since he started on the tour and I'm struggling to think of an occasion when he's been forced to pull out of any tournament because of physical problems. During his long career has he been forced to retire more than once due to injury? This player never looks tired and never even looks out of breath. Only rarely does he sweat! This player is known for his quick play and has been quite vocal about wanting other players to be penalized if they take a little time to get their breath back after a long rally. At 33 years of age he can outlast his younger opponents with the most recent example being yesterday's quarter final against Monfils.  

Whatever may be said about Federer perhaps the most remarkable thing about him is hardly noticed. It is his phenomenal fitness

Agree. He has obviously been fortunate with injury aided by his elegant style. However, for all the glitz and glamour of his game, he has also worked extremely hard on the physical side. That's what it takes to be as great as Fed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/29073197
It's no wonder he can last longer - he runs less.
How he looks never betrays how he is feeling - he has developed a great poker-face.
However his overall 5-set record indicates a lack of endurance compared to some other players.

I'm sure he trains just as hard, but some people could train harder than Usain Bolt, but never be as quick. Fed just doesn't quite have the same 'stamina potential' as, say, Djoko, no matter how hard he tries.

I would say his 'fitness' is one of the least most remarkable things about Roger Federer. Probably why it never gets noticed.

I would also say he is not fitter in the conventional sense than Monfils. But he better at tennis. Which is why it might appear he is fitter and can therefore 'out last' Monfils.

I would suggest it's not his fitness than won him the match last night - but his tennis skills which enable him to run far less per point than most, if not all of his peers.

What are you talking about Johny, his fitness has helped him on to the Semi finals streak, 17 slams, numerous other titles, hasn't had to quit in the slamsor pull out of one even with twins and mono. Yes he is clearly better at tennis than gael, and gael was getting tired coming on the 5th.

Being physically fit in terms of endurance and remaining injury free are seperate entities for me.

If you take a battery of equal power outtage and put them into two appliances, one of which uses up more power, does the appliance that uses the least power make its battery a better battery on the basis its appliance out lasted the other one? Of course not.

So when I say its not his fitness than won him the game, its how he plays the game that allows him to use up less energy than his opponents because he has greater skill. He makes his fitness level go much further.

I grant you both are required in some element for what Federer has acheived but my point is that they are not remarkable or commented on because his ability to play tennis supersedes this attribute.

Hence my comment...his fitness is the least remarkable attribute about Roger Federer.

Born Slippy wrote:Agree. He has obviously been fortunate with injury aided by his elegant style. However, for all the glitz and glamour of his game, he has also worked extremely hard on the physical side. That's what it takes to be as great as Fed.

+1

Josiah Maiestas wrote:What are you talking about Johny, his fitness has helped him on to the Semi finals streak, 17 slams, numerous other titles, hasn't had to quit in the slamsor pull out of one even with twins and mono. Yes he is clearly better at tennis than gael, and gael was getting tired coming on the 5th.

Rather than tired I would say Gael was more nervous coming into 5th that he could hardly focus on a point, Gael need experience and he is finally starting to realize his potential.

Yes I have slated Gael in the past, but in this tournament and in the USO series to be very honest he stopped all his clown gimmicks and focus on playing proper tennis.

This is true IC except he contradicted this in a Sky Sports interview where he stated he lives to entertain on court. Nonetheless, of course it's a step in the right direction. A big issue in slams though is his fitness...he's like a sprinter that can't run 1500m. Plus he loves to scramble about and do excessive jumps, playing to the gallery no doubt, that wastes valuable energy. But hey.,.the tour is all the better having him around say vs. Seed Plough Granollers.

lydian wrote:But hey.,.the tour is all the better having him around say vs. Seed Plough Granollers.

The Seeding machine had one-of-the-GOATs at his mercy for a set (like La Monf) and a rain-break had to come to the rescue.

If you cannot farm the soil, masses will die because of famine.

lydian wrote:This is true IC except he contradicted this in a Sky Sports interview where he stated he lives to entertain on court. Nonetheless, of course it's a step in the right direction. A big issue in slams though is his fitness...he's like a sprinter that can't run 1500m. Plus he loves to scramble about and do excessive jumps, playing to the gallery no doubt, that wastes valuable energy. But hey.,.the tour is all the better having him around say vs. Seed Plough Granollers.

Agreed with you here , I never liked Monfils for all his stupid clown acts in the past, but this guy trying to overcome his addictions and I saw that improvement in the past few months, he is certainly on the right track and yes he needs a proper coach and we will get a quality product.

He has he ability...that's my beef...but not the brain. I don't mean mental strength, I just mean the ability to focus on what's best for his career. On the right track? The guy is 29 soon...it will need to start to happen soon!

But what's the rush, lydian ......?? Loadsa time still for Gael.

Let's not forget that in the Brave New Tennis World, we'll soon be seeing guys win Slams well into their mid-thirties, late thirties  (maybe even forties ......??) 

Only teasing .....

He only just turned 28 a few days ago, still time.
But yes I can't see him making waves anytime soon.