Interesting Federer/Davis Cup Article

I saw this article today on ESPN's Tennis page; it's certainly an interesting read.



Federer's Davis Cup futureby: James Martin, TENNIS.com

posted: Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Last weekend could have been a huge moment in tennis. No, I'm not talking about the Davis Cup round between the U.S. and the Czech Republic -- though props to P-Mac's team for finally winning an away tie on clay, something the U.S. hadn't done in a decade.

I'm talking about the DC between Spain and Switzerland. In theory, it promised the first matchup between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in the impassioned Davis Cup format. In reality, we got Spain's Fernando Verdasco against some dude named Marco Chiudinelli.

For the record, Nadal traveled to Geneva before pulling out with an injury. At least he made the effort. Federer announced in November that he had no intention of playing. He said that the first round didn't fit in with his goal of maintaining the No. 1 ranking. Never mind that the Mighty Fed could go on vacation for months to his favorite R&R retreat, Dubai, and still be watching the competition from the rear-view mirror.

Come to think of it, that's exactly where he was, Dubai. But Fed was there on business with his best new buddy, Tiger Woods, schilling for his latest endorsement, Gillette. Of course, there was the obligatory photo op -- Roger and Tiger, sitting in chairs, looking smugly self-contented, shaving their mugs. All that was missing from picture e-mailed out by the PR firm Alan Taylor Communications was the caption, "Damn, we're smooth."

Full disclosure: I'm a huge Federer fan. And I applaud the way he's become the ambassador for the sport. Which made this cheesy Dubai trip all the more disappointing. This is the reason Federer's skipping Davis Cup, and against Spain no less, I thought.

For someone who professes to love tennis tradition as much as Federer does, it's odd that he has such a dispassionate attitude toward the competition that's been around for over 100 years and helped make legends out of his idols -- Laver, Rosewall, et al.

It's interesting to note that Pete Sampras was in a similar situation at about the same stage of his career. Up until 1995, his Davis Cup record was less than stellar. But Sampras eventually understood that being on a winning Davis Cup team is part of allure of the game's all-timers. So that year, he fully committed to the competition, winning all six of his starts. The masterpiece was the final, in Moscow, where he beat Andrei Chesnokov in a classic five-set win before collapsing on court. He also won his doubles match, and clinched the Cup in the reverse singles.

Pete cared. Roger should.

In Federer's defense, he's played 41 Davis Cup singles and doubles matches. But he's not been on a winning team -- not even close. Perhaps he can't muster the enthusiasm when he knows he'll be playing alongside guys named Chiudinelli. But this is Davis Cup, and one great player can carry a country.

In the end, if Federer wants to retire with the most lustrous of records, he'll have to learn what Pete did. To be considered an all-time player, you must make a committed charge at the Cup, if not win it.

That might mean fewer photo ops, but in the long run Federer will be the richer for it.

Okay, I'm glad you posted this. The more I think about it, the more it bothers me that Fed is so uncommitted to Davis Cup.

It's not like it's that much of a commitment for him, especially at this time of year. He's so far ahead in points that he's not threatened by anyone until maybe after Wimbledon.

And it's NOT like it's just a one-man team argument anymore. Wawrinka has really come into his own this past year or so, and Switzerland could be a *real team* right now.

I just don't get it. It irks me to hear that he was doing these endorsements in lieu of playing this past weekend. For as much crap as Nadal and Roddick get on this website, you'd think some more folks would come out and criticize Fed for this (even if you are a fan).

If Federer just played doubles, I think Switzerland would have pulled it off. Heck if Wawrinka was healthy they probably would have won. Its amazing how low-ranked players play out of their mind when they are playing for their country.

R1 - M.CHIUDINELLI(ranked 137) (SUI) def. F.VERDASCO (ESP)
6-3 6-4 3-6 7-6(2)

R2 - D.FERRER (ESP) def. S.BOHLI (SUI)
6-3 6-2 6-2

R3 - F.LOPEZ / F.VERDASCO (ESP) def. Y.ALLEGRO / M.CHIUDINELLI (SUI)
7-6(5) 6-7(3) 6-7(2) 6-1 12-10 (match time 4:47)

R4 - F.VERDASCO (ESP) def. S.BOHLI (SUI)
6-3 6-3 6-2

R5 - M.CHIUDINELLI (SUI) def. D.FERRER (ESP)
3-6 6-3 6-3

I think every really great player of the last 30 years except Connors has been on a winning DC team.

Slovakia made the final in '05 with Hrbaty & Beck, I certainly think Switzerland with Fed is better than they were. Ljubicic basically singlehandedly won the cup in '05(I think Ancic won only one live singles match the entire year, Chiundinelli already equaled that. the other swiss players are holding their own)

I could see Fed passing if it was on clay in Spain, but this tie was at home, how taxing a situation would it have been? at least when agassi was semi-committed to dc he would play the home ties.

pete never cared for his fans and was BORING. he played a few dc matches and incidentally he acted like he was sick to make people think he was great. dont believe that nonsense

tennis is an individual sport i dont get this over excitement over davis cup ..i see no beef with an athlete managing his career and feeling that davis cup does not fit..if he feels that taking a month off for holiday and doing some filming for an endorsement which takes like nothing away from his vacation is best for him ...so who are we ...to questions that ....so far it seems to work for him .
so we get it you guys if you were number one , you ll go out there and show up for all davis cup matches ,wonderful then go out there start sweating get yourself to a high enough level that your respective countries would want you on their team but please do not impose your views of what one should or shouldnt do on others ...i ve lost respect in a guy because he chose to not play for his country ...gosh the guy is number one from switzerland everytime he plays hes putting his country on the Map. that should suffice .

i just found out that usually davis cup preparation involve at least a week of together team practice before the meets..wow a whole week vs a one day casual photo shoot lol ...you folks are making me laugh ..

It's funny that so many people compliment Federer on keeping his life well-scheduled...until he does something like this, of course. And never mind the fact that he had to practically beg the Swiss public to buy tickets to the last Davis Cup match Switzerland hosted.

I can understand being a bit irked about it, in all honesty. I'd have loved a Federer-Nadal Davis Cup match, or really any Federer- Davis Cup match. But that's my own selfish stuff. I can't fault the guy for skipping it.

what if he rationalized the DC absence on the fact that he didn't want to take up a spot that could otherwise have gone to a guy struggling to get tournaments under their belts? (i.e. M.CHIUDINELLI )

darkdreaming said:

tennis is an individual sport i dont get this over excitement over davis cup ..i see no beef with an athlete managing his career and feeling that davis cup does not fit..if he feels that taking a month off for holiday and doing some filming for an endorsement which takes like nothing away from his vacation is best for him ...so who are we ...to questions that ....so far it seems to work for him .
so we get it you guys if you were number one , you ll go out there and show up for all davis cup matches ,wonderful then go out there start sweating get yourself to a high enough level that your respective countries would want you on their team but please do not impose your views of what one should or shouldnt do on others ...i ve lost respect in a guy because he chose to not play for his country ...gosh the guy is number one from switzerland everytime he plays hes putting his country on the Map. that should suffice .

i just found out that usually davis cup preparation involve at least a week of together team practice before the meets..wow a whole week vs a one day casual photo shoot lol ...you folks are making me laugh ..

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DC is a commitment to country, and a commitment to the history of the sport. It's the one time (other than the Olympics) where you get over yourself and play for a different cause.

Fed deserves criticism for this, just as much as he deserves praise for the 3000 other wonderful things he does for the sport. Let's be fair here.

darkdreaming said:

so who are we ...to questions that ....so far it seems to work for him.

i just found out that usually davis cup preparation involve at least a week of together team practice before the meets..wow a whole week vs a one day casual photo shoot lol ...you folks are making me laugh ..

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Who are we to question it? Tennis fans for one.

Roger should absolutely play for his country. Do you think he plays well to put his country on the map? He plays for himself, not his country, otherwise he would play DC. Davis Cup is an essential part of tennis, but because it's less about individual glory, Roger skips it. I love him, but this is a serious mistake.

redsoxjad said:

Last weekend could have been a huge moment in tennis. No, I'm not talking about the Davis Cup round between the U.S. and the Czech Republic -- though props to P-Mac's team for finally winning an away tie on clay, something the U.S. hadn't done in a decade.

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i read this also... but USA won against belgium in 2005 and against slovakia in 2003, both times on clay.
i guess they meant "in the world group main draw", but they should have precised it...

I am a Federer fan and I'm deeply disappointed. I think the only big achievments he is yet to receive is the French, Davis Cup and Olympics. And I don't see by how playing the Davis cup would harm his chances at French.

I hope that he takes Davis cup passionately and vows to win it for his country. After all, his idol Boris Becker had done it almost single handedly for Germany.

As a big Federer fan, I am also disppointed that Federer skipped the Davis Cup.

I think him and Wawrinka would have made a very formidable team that could have won the whole Davis Cup for Switzerland this year. And when was the last time that Switzerland was in serious contention to win the Davis Cup?

roysid said:

I am a Federer fan and I'm deeply disappointed. I think the only big achievments he is yet to receive is the French, Davis Cup and Olympics. And I don't see by how playing the Davis cup would harm his chances at French.

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The second round of the Davis Cup is after Miami, 1 week before Monte Carlo starts. This would absolutely harm Federer's preparation for the clay season. Federer has 3 weeks to prepare for Monte Carlo by skipping Davis Cup. A good start in the clay season is crucial. The courts at Monte Carlo have about the same speed as the Roland Garros courts, excellent as preparation for the French.
My conclusion: Federer has made an excellent choice.

BreakPoint said:

As a big Federer fan, I am also disppointed that Federer skipped the Davis Cup.

I think him and Wawrinka would have made a very formidable team that could have won the whole Davis Cup for Switzerland this year. And when was the last time that Switzerland was in serious contention to win the Davis Cup?

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2003, lost in SF to AUS. last time Fed lost to Hewitt.

Hops said:

2003, lost in SF to AUS. last time Fed lost to Hewitt.

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Didn't realize that match was in the semis. Who was the other singles player for Switzerland in 2003 and did Federer also play the doubles matches?

The ATP should give ranking points for DC matches, as it was done sometimes in the 70s and 80s. Federer should play more, no doubt. I don't understand his participation only in degradation ties. Lendl, Becker, Stich all won the DC, with the support of a mediocre second player, who rose to the occasion. And with Wawrinka getting stronger, the Swiss have a good chance to do deep.

The diamond that is Roger is losing some of its luster, in my opinion. This whole Nike P.R. stunt of Roger and Tiger becoming fast friends (I believe they met for the first time when Nike put Tiger in Fed's box for the USO final) seems condescending. Why is he coddling Dubai? Mirka should be pleased; more diamonds are laundered in Dubai than anywhere else. Expect a huge diamond wedding ring, Mirka. Incidentally, should you marry in Dubai be careful not to invite any of your Israeli friends. They will probably not be allowed in the country.

My, my, but there's some seriously holier than thou stuff going on here and on all the other message boards around. So... he decides to miss the first round of the DC in order to concentrate on his personal career, to maintain his superiority, and many are up in arms about it.

This man has a once in a lifetime opportunity - and it really is just the one chance - to re-write the record books, set virtually unattainable goals for everybody else, and go down in history as someone extra-special. And he's expected to screw all his schedules, plans and training for the sake of one DC tie. It's not like he can say ok, I'll do a bit of Davis Cup and then go back to re-writing history in 2 years' time. It doesn't work like that - it's all about continuity and consistency and singlemindedness. The Davis Cup will always be there - his window of opportunity won't.

So he's selfish - aren't we all? None of us knows what it's like to be in his shoes, and we shouldn't assume that his decisions should anywhere near coincide with our own. We also shouldn't assume that we would behave in the way we think we would behave if we were plucked away from our computer screens and suddenly found ourselves facing the possibility of all-time greatness.

And we are just talking about tennis here - anyone would think he was dodging the draft.

I think he'll play it once *he* thinks in his mind that he's the GOAT.

That should give Wawrinka a bit more time to mature and get better.

Federer will win the DC for Switzerland I think, just later in his career

BreakPoint said:

As a big Federer fan, I am also disppointed that Federer skipped the Davis Cup.

I think him and Wawrinka would have made a very formidable team that could have won the whole Davis Cup for Switzerland this year. And when was the last time that Switzerland was in serious contention to win the Davis Cup?

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Me too. I think he should play.

However, hasn't he said he will miss all first rounds of DC. Also, you can't expect him to play every tournament.

alienhamster said:

Okay, I'm glad you posted this. The more I think about it, the more it bothers me that Fed is so uncommitted to Davis Cup.

It's not like it's that much of a commitment for him, especially at this time of year. He's so far ahead in points that he's not threatened by anyone until maybe after Wimbledon.

And it's NOT like it's just a one-man team argument anymore. Wawrinka has really come into his own this past year or so, and Switzerland could be a *real team* right now.

I just don't get it. It irks me to hear that he was doing these endorsements in lieu of playing this past weekend. For as much crap as Nadal and Roddick get on this website, you'd think some more folks would come out and criticize Fed for this (even if you are a fan).

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Actually, Federer has said he is committed to winning the Davis Cup, just not right at this moment. Boy, people are so impatient for him to do everything now, today. He has another 6 years, possibly more, to achieve this feat. Few if any players have committed to playing every Davis Cup tie throughout their careers. Federer will probably win it at some point, but all in good time. He carrys a greater load in terms of the pressure on him to achieve it all. It's good he is trying to spread everything out and create some balance. He is very single minded, he will not be swayed by short-sighted public opinion, which will probably see the wisdom of his method by the time his career is over. Personally, Davis Cup does not interest me.

Ted Ghost Shackley said:

The diamond that is Roger is losing some of its luster, in my opinion. This whole Nike P.R. stunt of Roger and Tiger becoming fast friends (I believe they met for the first time when Nike put Tiger in Fed's box for the USO final) seems condescending. Why is he coddling Dubai? Mirka should be pleased; more diamonds are laundered in Dubai than anywhere else. Expect a huge diamond wedding ring, Mirka. Incidentally, should you marry in Dubai be careful not to invite any of your Israeli friends. They will probably not be allowed in the country.

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Where did you get this info from? Laundary is happening everywhere.

I live in UAE (Abu dhabi) and life here, compared to Europe, US or Canada, is way too cheaper. Very safe country, one of the safest. There is no income tax, no sales tax. Many europeans come here at this time of the year to enjoy the weather and do shopping at the shopping festival. And even some of them bought houses here and are living and working here.

And stick to the subject of the thread, it is not meant to trash Dubai and show israel as a victim. There are other threads for these issues.

caulcano said:

Me too. I think he should play.

However, hasn't he said he will miss all first rounds of DC. Also, you can't expect him to play every tournament.

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I think he should have some timeout every now and then. Look at Tiger wood, he usually plays terrible when he plays golf for USA against Europe in the Ryder Cup.

This is an individual game and the guy said it many times that his only worry was his fitness. And this is why, I believe he shouldn't play.

mohmoh said:

Where did you get this info from? Laundary is happening everywhere.

I live in UAE (Abu dhabi) and life here, compared to Europe, US or Canada, is way too cheaper. Very safe country, one of the safest. There is no income tax, no sales tax. Many europeans come here at this time of the year to enjoy the weather and do shopping at the shopping festival. And even some of them bought houses here and are living and working here.

And stick to the subject of the thread, it is not meant to trash Dubai and show israel as a victim. There are other threads for these issues.

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It is well known that the UAE free market of Dubai has been a center of money laundering for many years by the Russian mafiya. Do the appropriate Google searches and find many references in well-respected newspapers. It is a safe and comfortable country for most Westerners; the lack of income tax and sales tax reinforces what I said. Freedom reigns, even for the Russian mafiya. It is also well-known that an Israeli passport or even an Israeli stamp on entry will bar entry to the Dubai Kingdom.

The truth is, no one thinks DC is important. In the U.S., even ESPN2 didn't carry the last US DC tie.

For people think DC is imporatant, can it bump a GS or even a Master event? Tennis players have played too much.

I think that Federer at this point in his career is concentrating on breaking records and winning a The Grand Slam. I think that if he wins The Slam this year, he'll have a go at Davis Cup, or maybe the year after, when he has 15 Grand Slam titles.

Federer's so good that he has so many fish to fry and not enough pans.

Let him do his thing, win the French Open or whatever. I'm sure Davis cup will be his next goal after that. And then the Olympics.

Let the guy have a break. And maybe the guy wants the other Swiss players to share some of the spotlight because I have never heard of Stephen Bohli before last week. If Federer plays, every other Swiss player is pretty much overshadowed.

There are so many reasons. Let time tell how Federer handles the Davis Cup. Don't be impatient.

Maybe people would think Davis Cup was important if the top player in the world played in it. He's not contributing to the popularity of DC. That's for sure.

I don't see what's up with all of the apologizing for this. It's unpatriotic not to play Davis Cup. It's that simple.

Of course, I expect no less of Swiss. It's not exactly the proudest, most identity-strong nation. They speak three languages and don't exactly have a specific culture to speak of.

Everyone here talks of Roger writing history. Well did you think that his skipping of Davis Cup wouldn't be written down? Davis Cup is a huge part of tennis. All the great players gave DC their all--save for maybe Connors, but he tried later on after he realized it was a mistake.

My view is that while Davis Cup is less valued now than in the past, Federer's participation would help raise the level of prestige. I hope he does not fall into the Sampras trap, measuring himself only by staying number one and winning the most major titles. If Federer really put some effort in Davis Cup, as well as his overall record and performance in doubles, it could bring these "side attractions" back to the forefront of the sport. Davis Cup has a long and proud history; in the 1920s and '30s it was perhaps the most valued event in tennis, even above Wimbledon and the US Open, and its status remained high through the period of Australian dominance. McEnroe certainly did his part to keep Davis Cup in the spotlight, Sampras and Agassi less so, but Federer's refusal to participate is a much more serious hole in his resume. He probably won't be too criticized for his absence at present, because it is understood that Sampras is the immediate benchmark, and Federer's priorities are clearly in that direction. As history moves on, however, it will look at both Sampras's and Federer's careers more objectively, and if Federer doesn't start committing himself to Davis Cup play it will reflect poorly on him. It is a shame, with Davis Cup and doubles tennis both struggling for attention globally, that the top players don't do their part. Audiences would be much more inclined to watch these events if Federer and other big stars were involved.

here is what steve flink says:

"The opening round of the 2007 Davis Cup this past weekend was intriguing across the board. Andy Roddick and the Bryan brothers led the U.S. past the Czech Republic and the imposing Tomas Berdych on clay, which was no mean feat. Russia held back Chile. Germany toppled Croatia. France and Sweden advanced. It was fun to follow it all on the Davis Cup web site as the results unfolded.

But there was one major clash between nations that did not live up to expectations, and did not even come close to what many anticipated. That, of course, was the battle between Spain and Switzerland. When those two countries were drawn to play each other, everyone relished the thought of a Sunday afternoon collision featuring the game’s two best players. What could possibly surpass Roger Federer facing Rafael Nadal in the opening round of the Davis Cup?

It was not to be. Federer chose not to represent his nation and Nadal was injured and did not compete. Spain stopped Switzerland 3-2. And now the critics will blame Federer for not making the journey to Palexpo, Switzerland. They will say he should have been there for his country. They will contend that he owed it to Switzerland to give them the benefit of his talent and big match temperament. They will claim that it is up to every leading player to make himself available any time his nation calls.

I will not join the critics. Federer had every right to not play Davis Cup. Why? Because the scheduling of the event is ludicrous. How can you ask the world No. 1 to be ready to perform at peak level less than two weeks after capturing the season’s first Grand Slam event in Melbourne? Federer has a serious chance this year at the height of his powers to become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to win the Grand Slam. The key to his 2006 campaign--- when he made it to all four major finals and won three of the premier prizes--- was pacing himself superbly."

more at:

http://steveflink.blogspot.com/

ATXtennisaddict said:

Federer's so good that he has so many fish to fry and not enough pans.

Let him do his thing, win the French Open or whatever. I'm sure Davis cup will be his next goal after that. And then the Olympics.

Let the guy have a break. And maybe the guy wants the other Swiss players to share some of the spotlight because I have never heard of Stephen Bohli before last week. If Federer plays, every other Swiss player is pretty much overshadowed.

There are so many reasons. Let time tell how Federer handles the Davis Cup. Don't be impatient.

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Well said! Let's give him time. He's going to around for a while and he has himself noted that he will play Davis cup when he can give it his all- so it does remain a goal for him. As for Dubai- hey, this is a capitalist world. A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do. I'm sure Roddick and Sharapova make a lot more money than Roger from all their endorsements. He's gotta make up for the gap somewhere too...

My bet is that Roger would like to devote the entire year to the Davis Cup rounds. With the next DC so close to the start of the clay season he probably don't want to risk injury (like Wawrinka who injured he knee and had to have surgery) and hamper his chances to win the Slam this year. He would be criticized no matter what he did. If he played this time and skipped the next round he'd be criticized for helping his country go further in the DC. This is a matter of we've built you up now let's find something to tear you down.

He's not getting in drunken brawls, siring kids with everything that walks, or displaying any other undesirable trait. So what does he do, he skips DC. The horror! The shock! Talk about blowing something out of proportion.

stormholloway said:

Maybe people would think Davis Cup was important if the top player in the world played in it. He's not contributing to the popularity of DC. That's for sure.

I don't see what's up with all of the apologizing for this. It's unpatriotic not to play Davis Cup. It's that simple.

Of course, I expect no less of Swiss. It's not exactly the proudest, most identity-strong nation. They speak three languages and don't exactly have a specific culture to speak of.

Everyone here talks of Roger writing history. Well did you think that his skipping of Davis Cup wouldn't be written down? Davis Cup is a huge part of tennis. All the great players gave DC their all--save for maybe Connors, but he tried later on after he realized it was a mistake.

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Defending your country against foreign attack or contributing to the sustenance of the people is one thing, but other than this, who cares about patriotism? Just another means of dividing humanity. Patriotism, schmatriotism, pfffff. This is only tennis.

It is reason that he gives for that is real pathetic. He would rather play Dubai than for his own country. That really gotta make one wonder what on earth is he thinking and saying. And also how credible his words are.

I respect Roger and have great admiration for him. But this year with wawrinka playing good, he atleast should have attempted it. He hasn't won any fans with his decision for sure !

whistleway said:

It is reason that he gives for that is real pathetic. He would rather play Dubai than for his own country. That really gotta make one wonder what on earth is he thinking and saying. And also how credible his words are.

I respect Roger and have great admiration for him. But this year with wawrinka playing good, he atleast should have attempted it. He hasn't won any fans with his decision for sure !

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What reason was that then? And I don't think he expressed a preference for Dubai. Timing was his primary concern. Not trying to do everything at once i.e. The Grand Slam and Davis Cup in addition to being competitive at Masters Series tournaments. These events require appropriate rest and preparation. It is not just about turning up on the day. If he ends up winning the Davis Cup in 2008 or 2009 or 2010, would you still believe his decision not to play the first round in 2007 was ill-advised? He has already expressed the Davis Cup is one of his major goals, just not right now. Other plans are afoot. No point in risking injury or fatigue when he's on a roll.

I think the reason Federer doesn't play Davis Cup is because it throws off his whole season. Imagine if they won the tie against spain, he'd probably have to play sometime in April/May which will disrupt his preparation for the French Open, then you have the possibility of playing a DC Tie straight after the US Open! Also you have the challenge of playing a different surface compared to the rest of the season. It really does seem tough.
To me, Federer is smart. This is how he increases his longevity of playing the game so well. Perfect time management will surely help him achieve the G.O.A.T title. IMO, when Federer starts to lose matches he shouldn't, then he will start to play Davis Cup. But for the moment No.1 and Grandslams are his priority.

whistleway said:

It is reason that he gives for that is real pathetic. He would rather play Dubai than for his own country. That really gotta make one wonder what on earth is he thinking and saying. And also how credible his words are.

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One thing is certain: your words aren't credible at all. He never said he would rather play Dubai than for his own country.
Oh, and stop pretending you're a Federer fan.

rwn said:

One thing is certain: your words aren't credible at all. He never said he would rather play Dubai than for his own country.
Oh, and stop pretending you're a Federer fan.

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Huh? He never said. But, that's what he did last year and he's playing dubai this year as well.

I have been a Federer fan for long long time and that doesn't mean I have to agree with everything that he does.

I couldn't care less about the Davis Cup. I hope they abandon it soon. Tennis is an individualistic sport, not one that pits nations (an antiquated 19th century idea) against each other.

David L said:

Actually, Federer has said he is committed to winning the Davis Cup, just not right at this moment. Boy, people are so impatient for him to do everything now, today. He has another 6 years, possibly more, to achieve this feat. Few if any players have committed to playing every Davis Cup tie throughout their careers. Federer will probably win it at some point, but all in good time. He carrys a greater load in terms of the pressure on him to achieve it all. It's good he is trying to spread everything out and create some balance. He is very single minded, he will not be swayed by short-sighted public opinion, which will probably see the wisdom of his method by the time his career is over. Personally, Davis Cup does not interest me.

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You're not paying attention to my argument. I never said Federer should be criticized for not committing to every single Davis Cup tie this year. I focused *specifically* on his committment to this last tie.

What in the world did he have to do other than play this first round tie? It's just a week of his time and, heck, HE could probably manage a win with only half a week of prep. He has no major tournaments coming up, absolutely no threat to his top world ranking. And his time-off turns out to be for some NIKE BS?

I can't argue with the libertarian argument of "It's his life, he can do what he wants." But I can judge it and defend that judgement on a tennis forum.

Lastly, why are you so sure he can just win this whole thing whenever he wants within the next six years? It's a team effort, and it should be a team consideration. Wawrinka is starting to peak now it seems, but who knows what he'll be like next year or thereafter?

And maybe you don't care about DC, but a lot of folks do, including peeps in Switzerland. While it's ultimately his decision, the country *ought* to come into that consideration. I don't get a sense from him that it really is, though.

David L said:

Defending your country against foreign attack or contributing to the sustenance of the people is one thing, but other than this, who cares about patriotism? Just another means of dividing humanity. Patriotism, schmatriotism, pfffff. This is only tennis.

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That's an incredibly short-sighted view of national identity. Love for (or commitment to) country isn't necessarily chauvanism.

This line of thinking is parallel to assuming racial identity "causes" racism.

alienhamster said:

You're not paying attention to my argument. I never said Federer should be criticized for not committing to every single Davis Cup tie this year. I focused *specifically* on his committment to this last tie.

What in the world did he have to do other than play this first round tie? It's just a week of his time and, heck, HE could probably manage a win with only half a week of prep. He has no major tournaments coming up, absolutely no threat to his top world ranking. And his time-off turns out to be for some NIKE BS?

I can't argue with the libertarian argument of "It's his life, he can do what he wants." But I can judge it and defend that judgement on a tennis forum.

Lastly, why are you so sure he can just win this whole thing whenever he wants within the next six years? It's a team effort, and it should be a team consideration. Wawrinka is starting to peak now it seems, but who knows what he'll be like next year or thereafter?

And maybe you don't care about DC, but a lot of folks do, including peeps in Switzerland. While it's ultimately his decision, the country *ought* to come into that consideration. I don't get a sense from him that it really is, though.

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What was so important about the last tie?

What did he have to do other than play? Well, it was a good opportunity to take a physical and mental rest before what could be a very long season. It is possible to burnout physically and mentally if one commits to too many things you know. Federer achieving victory after victory may look easy from the comfort of your couch, but it takes enormous effort. Now that he has had a little break from competition, he is less likely to be lacking in the motivation required for the long haul ahead. For someone who has hit as many balls as he has and had his success, the novelty has worn off by now. Motivation has to be nurtured, not squandered. Competitive play has to be frequent, but also sparing. Federer said he did'nt play any preliminaries before the Aussie Open, because of his long season last year and the need not to feel like coming to the Open would be a pain. Mcenroe took an extended break in 86 after his success in previous years and was never the same. Borg quit at 26. Sometimes it is important to save yourself, before trying to satisfy everyone.

There is no guarantee he will win the Davis Cup within the next 6 years, but there is no guarantee he could do it this year either, besides it could compromise his run at the Grand Slams. The point was, why the rush for him to achieve everything this year? You say your complaint was about this tie, but had he played this tie and not the next, people would be complaining about that or any of the other ones he did not play. To win the Davis Cup, Federer knows he is probably going to have to play every tie. So if that was an additional goal for this year, he could risk overextending himself.

You say you don't get a sense of his consideration for his country's people. That may be because you are basing your opinion on him not playing the last Davis Cup tie. Try to be less myopic. He still potentially has a long career to commit to Davis Cup at a later date. Also, consider the fact he has played a lot of Davis Cup matches in the past and counts Basle as one of his favourite tournaments. Lastly, consider the fact he has stated that Davis Cup is one of his major goals, but he is not prepared to be half-hearted about it. You'll have to look up the exact quote, but paraphrasing...Something about it being too important a goal not to give it his full attention at the appropriate time. Federer comes across as less of a sheep than some of the other players who sometimes seem browbeaten by public pressure into representing their country at every tie, however it effects their preparation and health for other events.

alienhamster said:

That's an incredibly short-sighted view of national identity. Love for (or commitment to) country isn't necessarily chauvanism.

This line of thinking is parallel to assuming racial identity "causes" racism.

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I find it hard to distinguish the current conception of patriotism from chauvinism. The current popular conception of patriotism clouds judgement in its encouragement of blind loyalty to something that masquerades as the country but is'nt, the government. Most of the time governments don't even represent most of the people, only the powerful interests, but will use the illusion of patriotism as a virtue to manipulate them. i.e The Patriot Act, war etc. Indoctrination begins young and is pervasive (Pledge of Allegiance, sport etc.), heretics are ostracised.

Your racial analogy makes an interesting observation, but does'nt support your case. Pride in racial identity is a more accurate analogy than mere racial identity, so I will use the first. Making a point of proclaiming ones pride in being white carries different connotations than proclaiming ones pride in being black or some other minority, and with good reason. In the case of the latter, it is a mechanism to hearten those who have been oppressed, marginalized or generally considered less than. This has never really been the case for the former, so quite rightly such declarations cause suspicion. Thus, pride in racial identity can suggest racism i.e white power, but not necessarily so i.e black power.

I can understand if one appreciates the opportunities provided by their country, but the notion of country as an identifiable thing is a bit of a figment. What or who is the country? Who provided the opportunity? Was it conscious or merely accidental? Ulterior or altruistic? If accidental or ulterior, should they get credit or do they deserve thanks? Should appreciation entail pride? One can understand feeling a certain level of comfort or appreciation if their environment has been good to them, but the overly zealous flag waving some engage in, strikes me as a bit daffy. I prefer a more substantive and sober demonstration of ones appreciation, such as charitable work or grass roots help of some sort to give back. Davis Cup is cosmetic.

Didn't Federer carry the Swiss flag during the Olympics?

FFS....just because somebody loves going to these Davis Cup events and they wave a flag around, that doesn't make them fascists, racists, blind chauvinists.

Humans are sheep. Look at the way a group of people who are a fan of the same player defend their player against all others, sometimes by attacking other players and his fans for the most stupid reasons. That's just as dumb as carrying around a flag during Davis Cup and scream and shout abuse at people who are supporting the other side.

Davis Cup is a fun event for some. It's silly to try and diminish it just to defend the decision of one player.
It's his decision and his career but don't drag the entire event down with a thesis on patriotism, racism, chauvinism. With all due respect for the opinion of some on this but you're taking things a bit too far IMHO.

Who cares about Davis cup.....

Rataplan said:

Didn't Federer carry the Swiss flag during the Olympics?

FFS....just because somebody loves going to these Davis Cup events and they wave a flag around, that doesn't make them fascists, racists, blind chauvinists.

Humans are sheep. Look at the way a group of people who are a fan of the same player defend their player against all others, sometimes by attacking other players and his fans for the most stupid reasons. That's just as dumb as carrying around a flag during Davis Cup and scream and shout abuse at people who are supporting the other side.

Davis Cup is a fun event for some. It's silly to try and diminish it just to defend the decision of one player.
It's his decision and his career but don't drag the entire event down with a thesis on patriotism, racism, chauvinism. With all due respect for the opinion of some on this but you're taking things a bit too far IMHO.

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Carrying a national flag as part of an Olympic ceremony is hardly the same as being one of those muppets who wave one at every opportunity.

Of course waving flags at Davis Cup events does not in itself make one fascist, racist or a blind chauvinist. Did someone say it did?

Yes unfortunately, so many humans are sheep. I don't know that I would call them dumb, just impressionable. There are many smart and educated people who are great at learning what they have been taught, but struggle to think beyond and outside of their immediate environment. I don't know what it is they lack. Perspective, vision, sagacity, wisdom, most certainly. Who knows what else?

No question, some people enjoy Davis Cup, others don't, and some are indifferent. To diminish it just to defend one player would be silly. In fact, to diminish it for any other purpose than the belief it was deserving of diminution would be a recipe for a weak argument. I often take the opportunity to segue from one topic to another and give the latter greater emphasis if I find it more interesting and worthy of discussion. My post was less about defending my position(and it is my position, not Federer's) on Davis Cup, and more about expressing views on the other topics that were raised by another poster. More than anything, I'm led by valid and good argument. Even if someone is using a bad argument to defend a position I actually agree with, it will probably grate me sufficiently for me to call them on it, remnants of having studied philosophy probably.