If Federer never conquered his anger/emotions where would he be right now?

[Razoredge]

Where do you think he'd be?

I say he'd have won maybe 2 or 3 slams but still gone down as a talented underachiever ala Safin.

[Sabratha]

Career High: 2 or 3.
Current Rank: 20-30.

Titles: 15-20.

Highest level in a slam: One or two finals.

[kalyan4fedever]

>20 slams , his controlling of anger only earned him more fans.

[kOaMaster]

playing golf.

[Phoenix1983]

Banned from tennis for life for beating up an umpire.

[Goosehead]

hair peace

bed peace

with bouncy mirka,

together they will end all WAR.

[President]

Look at Haas and Nalbandian....although Federer is more talented than either they give a good barometer of where a very talented player with no mental strength can end up.

[BauerAlmeida]

A Safin-like career would be right, but a bit better since he was never constantly injured as Safin was. A career like Agassi before the fall and the comeback maybe.

[Sabratha]

It's a good thing he did get his head together, or men's tennis would have been dominated by the likes of Roddick and Hewitt until Nadal showed up.

[smoledman]

Federer learned to control his anger and not give in to the Dark Side. He became a Jedi Tennis Master.

[smoledman]

Roger not such a good sport!

[Sabratha]

Originally Posted by smoledman

Roger not such a good sport!

It just looks like he's talking to someone else.

[TonyB]

I'm shocked that more people aren't supportive of his ability to conquer his emotions. Quite frankly, that's the #1 goal of just about every tennis pro out there.

Emotions are what keeps a top-20 player from being #1. The mental game is at the absolute TOP of the list for everyone competing for the top spot. Federer was a bit uncontrolled in his youth, but he managed to beat that handicap and he triumphed. Most people can't do that.

Even in lower level adult leagues, it's easy to differentiate between the people who have it together (mentally) and those who don't. Personally, I used to be extremely inconsistent (3.5 one day, 5.0+ the next) because of my poor mental state. Once I figured it out, I'm playing 5.0 level tennis consistently, day in and day out. I haven't changed my strokes and I haven't hired a coach. It's just PURE emotional control.

So, in brief, I LOVE this thread. I believe that the conquering of the mental game is what made Federer who he is today. He still has lapses where he seems to "go away" during matches, but all in all, he's a rock (fortunately for him). Without the solid mental game, I'd put him at 2 or 3 majors, at most. Maybe 1 or 2 Aussie Opens, and 1 or 2 US Opens. That's it.

He definitely benefited by getting his mental game under control.

[Sabratha]

Originally Posted by TonyB

I'm shocked that more people aren't supportive of his ability to conquer his emotions. Quite frankly, that's the #1 goal of just about every tennis pro out there.

Emotions are what keeps a top-20 player from being #1. The mental game is at the absolute TOP of the list for everyone competing for the top spot. Federer was a bit uncontrolled in his youth, but he managed to beat that handicap and he triumphed. Most people can't do that.

Even in lower level adult leagues, it's easy to differentiate between the people who have it together (mentally) and those who don't. Personally, I used to be extremely inconsistent (3.5 one day, 5.0+ the next) because of my poor mental state. Once I figured it out, I'm playing 5.0 level tennis consistently, day in and day out. I haven't changed my strokes and I haven't hired a coach. It's just PURE emotional control.

So, in brief, I LOVE this thread. I believe that the conquering of the mental game is what made Federer who he is today. He still has lapses where he seems to "go away" during matches, but all in all, he's a rock (fortunately for him). Without the solid mental game, I'd put him at 2 or 3 majors, at most. Maybe 1 or 2 Aussie Opens, and 1 or 2 US Opens. That's it.

He definitely benefited by getting his mental game under control.

He was only making 4th rounds or QFs when he was inconsistent, what makes you think he can win the entire thing twice based on that?

[winstonplum]

When was his mental game poor? That's always the mythical narrative on Federer--that he used to get angry, etc. But where's the proof of this? According to whom? Are there any clips of him as a 18, 19, 20 year old smashing his racquets or acting like a fool out on the court? I'd like to see them.

[smoledman]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgDncDs2h5o

Here is baby Fed making Goran smash a racquet.

[abmk]

Originally Posted by Sabratha

He was only making 4th rounds or QFs when he was inconsistent, what makes you think he can win the entire thing twice based on that?

umm, heard of a certain marat safin ?

[Xizel]

Originally Posted by winstonplum

When was his mental game poor? That's always the mythical narrative on Federer--that he used to get angry, etc. But where's the proof of this? According to whom? Are there any clips of him as a 18, 19, 20 year old smashing his racquets or acting like a fool out on the court? I'd like to see them.

You seem to have only followed Federer recently.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp3ZM3tFdpQ

5:34, 7:46, and throughout this match.

[Sabratha]

Originally Posted by winstonplum

When was his mental game poor? That's always the mythical narrative on Federer--that he used to get angry, etc. But where's the proof of this? According to whom? Are there any clips of him as a 18, 19, 20 year old smashing his racquets or acting like a fool out on the court? I'd like to see them.

I think the "anger" is mistaken for irritation.

[Sabratha]

Originally Posted by abmk

umm, heard of a certain marat safin ?

Marat Safin was consistent for an entire tournament, Federer wasn't. Both Federer and Safin were headcases, but Safin pulled through more often than not due to his physical strength and power, which isn't something Federer lacks, but he surely doesn't have as much of as Safin.

Federer would beat a bewildered Sampras and then lose in the next round, that's what happened at Wimbledon in 2001. If he were consistent while being a headcase, don't you think he would have progressed further than that?