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March 3, 2008
Federer's big break to keep him in top form
By The Globe and Mail
The last time Roger Federer was at a tennis tournament, he startled the assembled news media members by uttering the words, "I've created a monster." He had just lost to Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals of the Australian Open in January and was referring to the expectations that come with having been such a dominant player the past four years.
"Now I always need to win every tournament," the downcast world No. 1 said. "[By] winning every other week, lose a set and people say I'm playing bad."
Those were revealing comments from a man who has few peers among the world's elite athletes when it comes to handling the pressure and demands that are part of being a superstar.
But he is human and his words must be taken in the context of a tough 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (5) loss to Djokovic that came after a struggle to recover from food poisoning and a virus the week before the event and that ended his streak of reaching 10 Grand Slam finals in a row.
Two weeks ago, Federer travelled to St. Petersburg, Russia, to receive the Laureus world sportsman of the year award. While there, he talked to the Swiss publication Sonntagsblick about his ill-health in Australia.
"During the first two matches [one-sided wins over Diego Hartfield and Fabrice Santoro], I felt well and was convinced I was fit. But later, I felt an effect. I wasn't as quick as usual in the semi-final, a stage of a tournament where I normally play my best tennis."
The Laureus awards have come, in just nine years, to be regarded as the ultimate accolade for an athlete.
At a time when golfer Tiger Woods is playing exceptionally well and being touted as being among the historic greats in sports, it is worth noting that Federer has won the past four Laureus awards, with Woods winning twice, in 2000 and 2001.
Federer, 26, attended the awards ceremony after stopping off for a visit at Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Ore., and going to the Super Bowl in Arizona on his way back from Australia. He also had some time at home in Switzerland and did some skiing.
His current five-week break from tennis is as long as he took off between exhibitions with Pete Sampras last November and the start of the 2008 season.
He told Sonntagsblick: "I will play around 15 tournaments until the U.S. Open and will never be off for more than two weeks in a row. I wanted to take a break now in order to manage this schedule."
Federer has been in Dubai, where he has a residence, for 10 days preparing for his return to action at this week's Dubai Tennis Championships. As he has done in the past, he invited a young player, arranged through his agent, IMG, to practise with him. Michael McClune, 18, of the United States went to Dubai accompanied by his coach, Nick Fustar.
On a blog last week about McClune's sessions with Federer, Fustar wrote: "What impressed me the most is that he [Federer] was having a blast practising. He genuinely enjoyed every minute of practice. I was impressed at the amount of fun that this guy, who happens to have won 12 Grand Slams, had during a two-hour practice session. Think about that for a second ... 12 Slams [and] enjoying practice with an 18-year-old."
Speaking yesterday in Dubai about the 2008 Australian Open, Federer said: "It must have taken me a maximum of two hours to get over the loss. Considering the virus that I had before the tournament and how it hampered my preparation, I wasn't too disappointed.
"I am feeling much better now than I was ever feeling at the Australian Open. So, after struggling a bit there, I am just happy and excited to be back on the court healthy."
His respite from the tour ends today when he faces a tough first-round opponent.
He has drawn the second highest ranked (No. 12) player in the draw who is not seeded - Andy Murray. The 20-year-old Scot is a two-time winner on the tour this year and has a win (in Cincinnati) over Federer, albeit when the Swiss was worn out after winning the 2006 Rogers Cup a few days earlier in Toronto.
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