Has Roger Federer Lost A Step? His Trainer Pierre Paganini Is Convinced That “He Has Not”

True. There are better nuts and bolts to screw your knee in tightly than ever before.

May 31st, 2012 at 1:24 pm

No, Roger Federer has not lost a step. He has lost TWO!!

May 31st, 2012 at 3:55 pm

The fundamental reason there are 37 players aged 30+ compared to 10 years ago is the depth and quality of the Federer generation compared to the Sampras-Agassi generation. The reason given – better technology for taking better care of their body – also applies to and benefits players in their 20s as well as players in each succeeding generation. Every generation learns new and better ways to take better care of their bodies and to extract more from their bodies. However, the physical peak of most athletes is in their mid 20s, for various reasons, so players in their 30s tend to have less potential to extract more from their bodies than players in their mid 20s (every individual has a slightly different physical span of course). As well, each generation of players plays a more grueling level of tennis compared to past generations, so whatever benefits such players get from taking better care of their bodies is impacted by the more grueling level of tennis played by each succeeding generation.

May 31st, 2012 at 5:11 pm

Mark,

I am glad Fed has lost 2 steps and is a very old man (according to the world of Mark), but has beaten Rafa twice this past year, once on a very slow HC? Hehe….keep posting those wonderful tributes about Fed with rick and roy…the all time GS title holder.

May 31st, 2012 at 5:41 pm

Has Federer lost a step? Some casual, ignorant anti-fans presume he has lost two steps. Roger is even more judicious about running nowadays so he seems to be running less than he used to do 6 or 7 years ago. But if you watch Federer’s matches nowadays carefully, whenever he wants to chase a ball – e.g., on breakpoint or drop short – Roger still has incredible footspeed to catch up to balls. I can’t remember the exact match in Rome – the TV picture showed the ball flying away into Fed’s forehand corner (Fed nowhere to be seen), the commentator presumed Roger’s opponent hit a clean winner, then out of the blue Fed appeared in the picture and retrieved the ball. Whether Paganini told the truth or not, he knows exactly how fast Roger is today compared to 2005/2006 as he said before he has been timing Federer in sprint-type workouts for many years.

May 31st, 2012 at 6:15 pm

I think others have become faster. It’s a natural evolution. Roger does not belong to this generation in any sense. Naturally others have trained to be better than him and had more time to do so and are younger.

What is amazing is, at times still Roger can match them with his will power. Great example is the FO 2011 Semis. He beat Novak at both defense and offense. He outran him at many points. That’s amazing.

May 31st, 2012 at 9:45 pm

Yes Dave absolutely. For years and years you see the player from rogers age dominating the latter stages of slams. That is a big counter argu,emt for the weakera theorist. That is only put forward by Rafatards hwo are trying to bring Roger down.

June 1st, 2012 at 2:10 am

I have never seen a graceful and elegant player as Roger who is a Mozzart in action. He has a game which is not too complicated. The only strain in his game is the way he serves where he slightly bends before delivering it. In all other departments, he just plays flamboyant Tennis. His achieves pace in his shots without much effort and quite naturally. As his trainer rightly said, he anticipates shots and plays intelligently reserving his stamina. There is nothing more pleasing in Tennis than to watch a Federer on song. That is the reason he has been able to demolish even Great players like Rafa, Novak and Murray with ease.

June 1st, 2012 at 4:40 am

This thread is getting quite musical, what with Paganini and Mozart (who’s this guy Mozzart, Michael?).
Mozart makes quite a good comparison for Federer. How about Rafa? I think one of the minimalists – not too many surprises and it gradually wears you down. Any suggestions for Nole?

June 1st, 2012 at 6:12 am

Interesting questions, Colin. I have the soundtrack to Amelie and that does wear me down and drive me nuts after awhile. I like the his usage of the accordian, bells, ect. but wouldn’t exactly think of watching Rafa to it….but maybe. thinking….

June 1st, 2012 at 7:03 am

Colin,

One of the best known and most admired figures in European music was Wolfgang Amade Mozart. I am sorry I added one more Z by mistake. It was a typographical error. Thanks for pointing it out.

Rafa, what fits him nicely than a raging bull.

As regards Novak, he is a virtual thunderbolt.

June 1st, 2012 at 7:13 am

I put my ipod on and listening to Amelie, thinking of Rafa’s routine, repetitive, predictable, goes on and on, varies a little as to tempo and instrumentation but it does fit, lol… i like it. It’s bottle straightening, pants plucking, hair swiping music, repeat.

June 1st, 2012 at 7:21 am

Colin,

Rafa,

http://www.mobfd.biz/2011/09/29/characters-i-hate-in-movies-i-love-beauty-and-the-beast/

Novak,

http://drawception.com/viewgame/t4CnMYsqHr/a-heated-tennis-match-with-gumby/

June 1st, 2012 at 5:55 pm

Dave: “The fundamental reason there are 37 players aged 30+ compared to 10 years ago is the depth and quality of the Federer generation compared to the Sampras-Agassi generation.”

Or lack of it…

June 3rd, 2012 at 7:01 am

I ‘ m sorry but what roger need to focus on that stage of his career is the speed . I disagree with who see him with the some speed as 3 or 4 years ago ..if you watch the movements in his approach to the ball is completely different and it’ s extraordinary talent if is not supported from an intense preparation in training will not be enoght facing top player ten years younger ..one example for all the roland garros 2012 .. The question is what does roger want to achieve ..? If He want to win a slam again or playing just to show is extraordinary class but be stopped in semifinal …

June 21st, 2012 at 9:59 am