Federer to cut exhibitions, focus on Slams in 2009

[NGM]

Roger Federer will cut exhibition matches from his 2009 schedule as he pursues Pete Sampras' record of 14 Grand Slam singles titles, his agent said Sunday.

Federer and Sampras played three exhibition matches across Asia last November and again in New York City last March.

Such commitments won't be repeated in 2009, agent Tony Godsick told The Associated Press.

"Roger will only play a schedule that works for him physically," Godsick said after Federer won his hometown tournament at the Swiss Indoors on Sunday.

"The next couple years you will see him put his seatbelt on and focus for the big ones, the Grand Slams and the big tournaments," Godsick said.

Full article here.

Thank God. I'm sick with those exhibition matches. I dont understand why he played so many meaningless matches which really hurt his important goals. Finally he realizes what is good for him.

 

[Chopin]

Good news for him. As to why he did it before, well it was working out pretty well for him until this year? When you win 3 slams a year and the year end Masters Series, you probably feel like you can do anything.

 

[drakulie]

thank goodness.

 

[DoubleDeuce]

yeah.. thanks for the good news. I was hoping he will do that.

 

[PCXL-Fan]

IMO he should but he won't cut Dubai and an additional master series event or 2.

 

[Murray_Maniac]

Aww man, I was hoping for the Borg-Federer vs. Nadal-Mcenroe exhibition, which was a rumor. Wouldve been interesting.

 

[Deleted member 25923]

any news on a coach?

 

[Deleted member 25923]

Aww man, I was hoping for the Borg-Federer vs. Nadal-Mcenroe exhibition, which was a rumor. Wouldve been interesting.

supposedly it's this year, so it still should go on, but w/ blake taking nadal's spot.

 

[grafrules]

If he is also going to give Davis Cup a go this year he cant bother playing these silly exhibitions. He has more then enough on his plate as it is.

 

[DoubleDeuce]

He should skip paris also. Focus on shanghai. Better come fresh form basil victory. Decides Monday:

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/238647,federer-leaves-his-paris-bercy-decision-on-hold.html

 

[dysonlu]

I dont understand why he played so many meaningless matches which really hurt his important goals. Finally he realizes what is good for him.

Well, he's generous for the sport he loves. A great ambassador for tennis. But it's a smart decision to cut the exos. He can play those "exo of legends" when he retires.

 

[Magix]

IMO he should but he won't cut Dubai and an additional master series event or 2.

That wouldn't be the best decision.

After the Australian Open, Fed has plenty of time to rest (4 weeks) before competing in his next tournament, which is Dubai.

There's no need to cut any of the clay court MS events, either. If anything should be cut, it should be Estoril.

Coming into the hard court part of the season, Fed only plays in Toronto and Cincinatti (the Olympics this year was an exception, of course), so cutting a Masters Series event there would be down right silly.

The only Masters Series that should be considered for the cut would be the Paris Masters.

I'm unsure about Rog skipping it, but some folks say he should, so he can focus on the TMC. But he can gain plenty in Paris, and if he did win it, I don't think he'd be too taxed going into the Tennis Masters Cup, as there's a week's rest after Paris AMS.