Roger Federer Says He’s Not In A Slump; Admits Back, Racquet Are Issues Right Now
Roger Federer is back in Switzerland this week for his home Gstaad event. Federer hasn’t played the tournament since 2004 when he took the title. This weekend, after losing to the 114th-ranked Federico Delbonis in the Hamburg semifinals, the pressure is mounting for the former No. 1 and his new racquet to come through.
“I feel okay,” Federer said. “It’s been a tricky season, to say the least.
“Clearly I’ve been asking myself questions of how can I get out of, I wouldn’t call it a slump because I did win Halle in between, and I know that the game’s just around the corner,” Federer added. “It’s just important that I take the right decisions, how to move forward from here and then how I bounce back, because usually when things don’t go so well I find a way, and that’s what I’m looking for right now.”
Federer is ranked No. 5 this week but with 1,000 Cincinnati championship points to defend next month, he could slide further down the list.
“Right now it’s important for me to maintain my ranking, and eventually hopefully when I win big tournaments again or more tournaments, then I can move up again. Right now, I just need to first make sure that I’m healthy, that I do all the right things in practice and then that I can attack again in the matches.”
Federer also said that his back wasn’t in perfect shape in Hamburg and he’s still uncertain about his recent switch to the new, 98 square inch racquet which he’ll use for a second time this week. The 31-year-old made it clear that based on results he may even go back to the old frame for the US Open hardcourts.
“So far, I’m happy with this change, but I need many hours on the court to see if this is a good decision,” Federer told ESPN. “I haven’t yet taken the decision on whether to use it in the US. I still need to think it over.”
Today is also the birthday of Federer’s twin girls, Charlene Riva and Myla Rose, who turned four on Tuesday.
Federer will play the winner of the Daniel Brands-Marco Chiudinelli in the second round at Gtaad on Thursday.
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