May

14

Just weeks before 'that' tournament, with Federer having conquered all but the French (before Roche joined), it's hard to imagine that the Aussie was not in the camp to get that title on the mantelpiece. How difficult it must be for a player of Federer's standing to put his faith in a coach, even one with such an exemplary history, in order to achieve what still eludes him.

It must be difficult to listen and trust someone else to help make you better when you are already going so good. Tiger Woods did exactly that several years ago when he was already the most dominant golfer ever seen, changing his swing to ensure he would have longevity, and in the process taking the risk that his rhythm would desert him. I wonder what game plan Roger will bring to Roland Garros this year.


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  1. Gregg Rainone on May 17, 2007 12:23 pm

    I dunno about Roger, coming into the FAMOUS French Open.

    imho, and barely being able to get the FBI (First Ball In) if asked to stand and deliver at the service line…I think YOU HAVE TO WIN THE FRENCH if you’re a fast court all-time superstar. Laver did it, but Connors didn’t, and neither did Johnnie Mac or Pistol Pete. And great slow court players have either missed the US Open or Wimbledon, most notably in the cases of Borg and Lendl.

    Agassi’s otherwise so-so record by superstar standards is enhanced almost IMMEASURABLY by his having won all four majors.

    Federer has the best chance since Agassi to get all four tennis “major” tournaments in his trophy case, and is perhaps the best poised now since Laver to do it.

    However, there is the stubborn problem of Rafael Nadal, who just set an all time record for consecutive victories on one type of surface (clay), passing McEnroe’s same mark set on carpet courts. Men’s pro tennis is in excellent form just now with two historic superstars essentially at the top of their games simultanously.

    http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070512/ap_on_sp_te_ga_su/ten_rome_masters

    However, according to this month’s Men’s VOGUE, Roger has a new place in Dubai. I’m in the process of moving 40 miles to a new condo myself, and boy, can moving ever mess with your mind…and life.

    Coaches come and go, spouses come and go, residences come and go, and some players somehow remain steadfastly great amidst the changes moreso than do others. This seems to be the first “pullback” in Federer’s career since becoming #1, and it will be interesting to see if it’s just a “consolidation”, a pullback “buy”, or the start of a nasty bear market in his career.

  2. vic on May 18, 2007 5:00 pm

    one reiterates that I believe roger is one step slow with a foot or ankle problem and this is causing all the losses. it is terrible to watch someone like nadal play as his strokes are so poor and the minute he slows a step he will descend below the top 100. vic

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