The rebirth of Roger Federer

Roger Federer has won four of his five past tournaments, including the World Tour Final in November last year.
Source: Herald Sun


















Roger Federer training at Melbourne Park ahead of his Australian Open defence. Picture: George Salpigtidis
Source: Herald Sun












SIX months after losing his way, Roger Federer is back with a new coach, renewed self-belief and a hunger for more slams.







SOMETHING odd happened to Roger Federer at Wimbledon last year.
He lost. And to somebody other than Rafael Nadal.

Tomas
Berdych, the richly talented Czech who Andre Agassi says is the ideal
prototype for modern tennis, put Federer to the sword in the
quarter-finals.

Federer's fabulous sequence of seven consecutive All England Club finals, winning six, was over.

Most of Federer's peers would give their eye-teeth for a quarter-final berth at Wimbledon just once.

Federer, of course, is in another sphere.

Yet, here he was, walking off in defeat.

His mojo apparently had slipped, despite his participation in eight of the previous 10 major finals.
If ever a man has fallen victim to his own high standards, it was Federer - after 16 major titles.

By losing twice in the last eight at successive grand slams, Federer was in decline. Allegedly.

But change was required.

In September, he formally hired American coach and former player Paul Annacone.

Annacone, among other things, had worked with Pete Sampras.

He preaches subtle, occasionally simple, messages. And he understands
Federer, his thirst for improvement and the enduring value of attacking
tennis.

"He's obviously told me to play more aggressive because I did have a
tendency to just starting chipping the ball back into play and just
getting the rallies started," Federer admitted.

"I'm very good at that, I can do that all night, but it's just a bit predictable for the opponent.

"I've just been working on a few little key areas. Things have been going well."

So well, Federer has won four of his past five tournaments, and 26 of his past 28 matches.

Achievement aside, the most remarkable thing about Federer is the scale of his unsatisfied ambition.

At 29, Federer has snared almost double the number of grand slams to any of his active rivals. Nadal has nine.

For as long as anybody can remember, Federer tentatively outlined next
year's London Olympics - the tennis will be played at Wimbledon - as a
possible exit point. Landing a singles gold medal at the sport's
ancestral home appeals to Federer.

But now, on the crest of a remarkable renaissance, Federer hinted the
2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics might be a preferable swansong.

The defending Australian Open champion still loves going to work.

"As long as I'm healthy, eager, motivated ... which I clearly am," Federer said of his plans to continue for as long as he can.

"I've played 10 full seasons in my career really.

"Nine of them I made the World Tour finals. So I've had obviously always long and exhausting seasons.

"But I seem to enjoy it and take pleasure out of travelling the world,
playing against the best, challenging myself in practice and so forth.

"Yeah, at the moment I have no plans at all stopping, quitting, whatever you want to call it.

"Hope I can play for many more years to come. It's a goal anyway. I think it's possible."

And why not? Federer's self-belief has been restored.

He says there were times after an unavailing claycourt season and
defeats to Lleyton Hewitt at Halle in Germany and Berdych at Wimbledon
when doubts gnawed.

"Well, first of all, I had to regain some confidence," he said. "That only comes through winning matches.

"After having somewhat of a disappointing clay (season), Halle,
Wimbledon stretch, where I wasn't able to win any tournaments, maybe
didn't play some of my best tennis, played a bit passive, it was
important once the hardcourt season came around that I was able to pick
up my game, start moving better, start feeling well physically and
mentally.

"I'm sure Paul has helped in this regard.

"So has (Swiss Davis Cup captain) Severin (Luthi). He's helped, as well,
over the last few years. That's why I'm very happy with my team at this
stage of the season."

It is a enduring measure of Federer's standing that, even after winning
the Australian Open, finishing the season at No.2 and collecting five
more titles, he is judged negatively. It is water off a duck's back.

"Look, I've had a good season. I don't see how someone can say it's been a bad season," he said.

"I had some tough losses, sure. You're not going to win every tournament you play.

"Obviously I can't play every season, make 16 out of 17 finals like I
did back in 2005. It's just not realistic. I won five titles, won a
slam. Everything was there.

"I think physically, I was better than the last two seasons I've had.

"That obviously makes me be very positive, that I believe I can have another great season in 2011, which is important to feel."

Federer no longer plays for fame or fortune. He plays for his own gratification.

"Time is money these days. It's nice to get money. Sure helps," he said.
"But this is not why I'm here. Look, the memories I take away from this
are much greater than all the money I won."

And, if things go to plan, Federer intends to correct the Wimbledon
aberration - and win several more majors before he heads off into the
sunset. Starting with the Australian Open.