RF Tennis News 2019

Federer to be back to wow Dubai next year

It takes those weak five seconds to ponder retirement, the ace says after 100th title win


Published:  March 03, 2019 13:30  
Alaric Gomes, Chief Reporter - Gulf News  

   Roger Federer and Stefanos Tsitsipas pose with their trophies.
Image Credit: Atiq Ur Rehman /Gulf News


Dubai: Dubai champion Roger Federer admitted that he has had the temptation to step away from his sport at times.

Moments after claiming his eighth crown at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and the 100th title of his career, Federer admitted that he has been tempted in the past to stop playing.

“I think every player has those weak five seconds where you’re like, Really? This could be after losing an epic five-setter. It could be after playing a shocker. It could be sometimes after winning something. You’re like, ‘How much more do I want to do?’” Federer told media after being asked if he ever thought about retirement.

“I think everybody goes through that. It would be lying if they said, I never doubt it. I think everybody goes through these phases. It’s logical. We have too much downtime, too much time on the road, too much rain delays, you name it, that makes you go through with your head sometimes,” he added.

Federer has been a legend not just when it comes to tennis, but also in the way he has conserved his body at 37 years. He sustained a freak knee injury in 2016 that forced him to undergo surgery and miss out tournaments in Rotterdam, Dubai, Indian Wells and Miami.

Ultimately, he made his comeback at the Monte Carlo event and lost to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarter-finals. But the break from sport helped him put things in perspective.

“I think definitely the surgery was for me a sort of a major reality check in the sense that maybe I will come back, I knew that, but maybe never quite the same,” he recalled.

“I’m happy I can look back now and play with absolutely no pain, no painkillers this week. It’s a big week for me, to be quite honest, to go through a week like that. I’m very, very pleased,” Federer smiled.

Later in 2016, he had to also skip the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games. Asked about the possibility of him making it to the 2020 Tokyo Games? “I don’t know how I’m going to qualify, to be honest. And if I do, I don’t know if I’m still playing. It’s still too far away for me,” he said.

“I don’t know. I just don’t want my mind to go there. I think if it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t. I think it’s not like my first Olympics where obviously I always wanted to be part of it. So we’ll really see how it’s going to play out,” Federer added.

For the die-hard tennis fans of Dubai, the good news is that Federer will be back next year to defend his title at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

Scheduled to be held at its normal time in the second week of February, tournament director Salah Tahlak announced late on Saturday that Federer has already committed to playing in Dubai in 2020.

“We have plans to make next year’s tournament very special considering that fact that Dubai will be hosting the 2020 Expo starting later in October. Ours will be one of the events leading up to the Expo. So having Federer back to defend his title makes perfect sense, not just for the tournament but for Dubai as well,” Tahlak told Gulf News.

When asked later about his plans for next year, the eight-time Dubai champion said: “I think that was the answer. The idea was for the people to know that I am coming back next year. That is the plan. I have a deal for next year. I thought about it this week because I know they said they were interested to have me again next year, if it was okay to announce it during the week. I said, Absolutely, we can do that.”

“I don’t see myself playing anywhere else but Dubai this week. I’m happy to come here again next year. I’ve enjoyed too much success. I like the tournament too much. So I will be here next year,” the Swiss ace promised.

Federer’s success in Dubai started off with three back-to-back titles from 2003 to 2005, and now, another five — 2007, 2012, 2014, 2015 and now 2019.

Federer: 'Being Perfect Doesn't Exist'

Swiss star takes low-key approach in quest to sixth Indian Wells title

ATP Staff | March 7, 2019

There’s a crowd wherever Roger Federer plays and the BNP Paribas Open is no exception.

From his practises to simply walking around the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, he’s surrounded by fans offering well-wishes or asking for autographs. Having won this event five times (2004-2006, 2012, 2017) and in position to snatch the record he shares with Novak Djokovic by adding a sixth crown, it’s easy to understand why.

But while the 100-time ATP Tour singles champion has a celebrity status at this event, he doesn’t see himself that way.

“People always elevate superstar athletes to a status like we're superhuman, but you get to meet them and realise he's just another normal guy. It just happens that he does great in what he does,” said Federer. “Being perfect doesn't exist. Everybody has their flaws and so do I. But if I can make the game more popular, be good for fans or have them enjoy the sport more through me, then that's great.”




Federer is the fourth seed this year and is making his 18th main draw appearance at this event. Apart from undergoing knee surgery in 2016, he has remained free of major injuries for more than 20 years. Smart scheduling has played a crucial role in prolonging his career, but Federer has also made recovery efforts as much of a priority as his on-court practise sessions.

“The most important thing for any athlete is understanding your own body. Knowing what is pain and what is injury pain, what could result in an injury, being able to play through that many times…but then also knowing when to step off the gas and give yourself a break,” said Federer. “Then there’s having enough sleep, eating the right food, recovery, knowing the schedule…it all helps. At the end of the day, you need to have smart people around you who are educated in that way and you have to buy into that idea. Some of it is genetics, too, and then you still need luck.”

The Swiss star hasn’t had much chance to celebrate capturing his 100th ATP Tour title last week at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships (d. Tsitsipas). Although Federer has always been one to look ahead and will be eager to add to his ATP Tour title collection in the desert, he allowed himself the chance to assess the historic moment on the long-haul trip from Dubai to Indian Wells.

“What I like about [the 100th title] is that it gives some time to reflect on these great moments and great titles that are all important to me,” said Federer. “It’s an achievement I never thought I’d make and something I only started thinking about in the past nine months. When you get to No. 98, No. 99, you start to think it’d be a pity to retire without hitting 100. It was nice to get there on the first attempt in a final.”

ATP politics heats up as Federer, Nadal slam Djokovic-led council

Federer and Nadal have both been on the ATP Player Council in previous years, but are not among the 10 current council members.

BY Kamakshi Tandon - Tennis Channel

March 10, 2019

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have both said they have received no explanation for why ATP CEO Chris Kermode is being ousted, but want to help decide where the tour goes next.

Federer and Nadal have both been on the ATP Player Council in previous years, but are not among the 10 current council members of whom No. 1 Novak Djokovic is president.

"It's hard for me to express a detailed opinion because I am no longer politically involved. Actually, I want the people who are in control to do that," Federer told press from Switzerland following his opening victory at the BNP Paribas Open. "For me, it's just important to know why it happened, and what happens now. I want to know what the motivation was, what Kermode has not done. I would have more of a tendency to be for him."

The comment follows Djokovic's refusal this week to say whether or not he had been in favor of the move.

There have been previous complaints from Federer and Nadal about not being consulted, to which Djokovic countered, They could also approach me." But Federer said the Serb turned down a request to meet before the ATP meetings at Indian Wells, where the ATP Board voted not to extend Kermode's tenure.

"I tried to meet Novak before the decision," he said. "Unfortunately, he had no time. That's hard for me... to understand. But that is okay. He definitely had a lot to do with the whole story.

"I asked if he had time to meet me.... He suggested we meet the next day, but then everything had been decided. We have not met yet, and in the meantime, the tournament has started."
 

Nadal, who before the tournament had expressed opposition to changing CEOs, also said he had still not had a conversation with any members of the player council, who elect the player reps on the ATP Board.

"Nobody came to me to explain why this stuff happened," Nadal told press at Indian Wells. "I have my phone with me. So nobody text me to speak about or to ask me about what's my thoughts about that decision."

"Being the same time I can say nothing, because was my decision to [stop being involved] of the politics. But at the same time, of course, I am disappointed that nobody came and explained why, what's the real reason of we don't have Chris continuing running our sport.

"Probably somebody have a different plans for our sport, but is true that the guys who are in the council represent the rest of the players. They don't represent their opinions only."

Several other players who are not on the council, including Stanislas Wawrinka, have this week have also said they have not received explanations.

"So probably the guys who are running the council, they didn't make the right job, because when they are there is they are there representing us, so normally they have to ask what's our opinion," said Nadal. "Not in every small decision, but in big decisions, probably, yes. In my opinion, this one was a big decision."



While not commenting on the  decision, Djokovic said this week that the structure of the ATP Board, which consists of three tournament reps, three player reps and the CEO, was "a bit flawed" and required change. He also suggested that tennis "could learn from other sports" in terms of the way it is organized.

Federer and Nadal also indicated that they would like a say in where the sport goes next, with Federer having told Tennis Channel that the two had a coffee-meeting at Indian Wells.

"I have to think about whether to get engaged again, for the good of the tour, or whether I should just get involved a little bit not within the politics," said Federer. "I cannot just look away and say I'm not interested. I have to inform myself, and I've done that these few days. I also talked to Rafa. We are on a similar viewpoint, and that is important to him and me."

Nadal agreed that he would still like to be consulted about such issues.
"Of course  I will be happy to know where the sport is going," he said. Not... for personal interest, but yes, because I really believe that after 18 years, 17 years around this sport probably I have a good perspective of the things that can work well, other things that don't work that well.

"I will be happy to heard why that happened, and of course what's going on now."

Both players won their opening round at Indian Wells.