Federer selfish with his country?

BERDI4

Semi-Pro
Fed didn't play the davis cup against the US. All the rest played: Nadal, Roddick, Djokovic (Nalb was sick but they didnt need him really). Don't you think he's rather selfish with his country? He would make a good team with Wawrinka and Switzerand could have a good oportunity.
 

klementine

Hall of Fame
They really need to make Davis cup a bi-yearly event.

The tour is long and arduous. Have the davis cup matches sporadically played over a course of two years-- every two years-- the final.

I think this would add a level of attention being paid to davis cup.

It just gets lost in the tour schedule and the general sporting or even tennis consumer could not care less.

Having the final every two or four years (with more countries participating) would hold Davis Cup in the echelon of the world cup or olympics. Just my two cents.
 
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bladepdb

Professional
Federer has in a previous interview noted that he feels his career would be more satisfactory if he were able to win Roland Garros title and Davis Cup for Switzerland. I don't think at all that he is being selfish by not playing; he had a legitimate reason for dropping out of the Davis Cup and he even dropped out of Dubai. Whether he really had an injury or not is pure speculation. What is fact is he has withdrawn from Dubai, a fairly popular event, and from Davis Cup both.
 

edmondsm

Legend
Fed didn't play the davis cup against the US. All the rest played: Nadal, Roddick, Djokovic (Nalb was sick but they didnt need him really). Don't you think he's rather selfish with his country? He would make a good team with Wawrinka and Switzerand could have a good oportunity.

Uh, how long have you been watching tennis? Federer has been carrying the Swiss team by himself for a decade. Now he's old and needs a break and ou call him selfish? Ridiculous IMO.
 

klementine

Hall of Fame
Uh, how long have you been watching tennis? Federer has been carrying the Swiss team by himself for a decade. Now he's old and needs a break and ou call him selfish? Ridiculous IMO.

Completely agree. I think he just did not want to see Warwinka again.:cry:
 

thalivest

Banned
The Swiss were virtually certain to win if Federer played. Wawrinka beat Blake and if Federer played that is already enough barring a miracle. He definitely hurt his country by not playing, and unless he was seriously injured I dont see any excuse for it.
 

tudwell

Legend
He won an Olympic gold medal for his country. I think he's allowed to take a break once in a while.

And klementine, I think you're spot on about the changes they should make to Davis Cup. But they never will.
 

Nadal_Freak

Banned
The Swiss were virtually certain to win if Federer played. Wawrinka beat Blake and if Federer played that is already enough barring a miracle. He definitely hurt his country by not playing, and unless he was seriously injured I dont see any excuse for it.
Yeah the one thing that he could play for a team for he blows off. He just wants to play for his own glory.
 

thalivest

Banned
He won an Olympic gold medal for his country. I think he's allowed to take a break once in a while.

He takes a break EVERY year. I dont think he has played anything except the relegation round since 2003. The U.S should be thankful as they would already have been bounced if Federer played, but he is extremely disloyal when it comes to Davis Cup.
 

klementine

Hall of Fame
He won an Olympic gold medal for his country. I think he's allowed to take a break once in a while.

And klementine, I think you're spot on about the changes they should make to Davis Cup. But they never will.

It kills me. Davis cup could be so more prestigious. Every year the cup swaps countries. It's world tennis musical chairs... Holding it every two or four years would bring it more gravitas, a once in a lifetime or career opportunity... the moment.. everything that makes competition grand. The way they have it set-up just cheapens it.
 

thalivest

Banned
Yeah the one thing that he could play for a team for he blows off. He just wants to play for his own glory.

Definitely agreed. I feel badly for Wawrinka who is a good #2 guy who can be part of a serious Davis Cup contending team as a #2 singles and doubles player, but obviously isnt good enough to carry a team over the top countries as the #1. He is being denied a chance to shine and play a great role in something special in his career by Federer's selfish attitude too. Even with his own selfish way of thinking though, if Fed were smart he would realize his own likelihood to never win the French Open, or perhaps even an Olympic gold in singles given that he will be 31 in 2012, means that the lack of a Davis Cup title gives him an even more incomplete resume as it is.
 

edmondsm

Legend
The Swiss were virtually certain to win if Federer played. Wawrinka beat Blake and if Federer played that is already enough barring a miracle. He definitely hurt his country by not playing, and unless he was seriously injured I dont see any excuse for it.

Of course he hurt his country by not playing, but if he was hurt at all then he has no responsibility. Federer has played in 17 Davis Cup ties, and that's on a crappy team. He doesn't owe his country anything. Let some other Swiss player shoulder the burden.
 

tudwell

Legend
He takes a break EVERY year. I dont think he has played anything except the relegation round since 2003. The U.S should be thankful as they would already have been bounced if Federer played, but he is extremely disloyal when it comes to Davis Cup.
So he's not very patriotic. Big deal.

Don't get me wrong. I would love for him to play Davis Cup and I was disappointed that he pulled out this year (though I think this year he actually had a good excuse). However, I don't think it's a flaw in his personality - like some people try to make it - that he doesn't play much Davis Cup. He doesn't owe his country anything. He just happened to be born there.
 

thalivest

Banned
Of course he hurt his country by not playing, but if he was hurt at all then he has no responsibility. Federer has played in 17 Davis Cup ties, and that's on a crappy team. He doesn't owe his country anything. Let some other Swiss player shoulder the burden.

Like I said he hasnt played anything except the relegation rounds (correct me if I am wrong) since 2003. So it is not like this is a one off thing. He does this every year, and now that they are have a legitimite #2 singles player along with a couple possible good doubles pairings, he still continues to blow it off. They are not a crappy team with Federer, like I said Wawrinka as a #2 and doubles partner now gives them a strong team. Every team would suffer without their big gun, without Nadal and Roddick wouldnt even be that good, especialy the U.S.

If Basel was this week do you think Federer would even skip that? You can give him the benefit of doubt if you wish but given his history I see no reason to.
 

edmondsm

Legend
The ignorance in this thread is astounding. Nadal_Freak leading the way of course. There have been multiple times where Federer has won his rubber, even all of them, but the Swiss still lost. If Nadal was 27 and Spain sucked as bad as the Swiss have he would be doing the exact same thing.
 

klementine

Hall of Fame
So he's not very patriotic. Big deal.

Don't get me wrong. I would love for him to play Davis Cup and I was disappointed that he pulled out this year (though I think this year he actually had a good excuse). However, I don't think it's a flaw in his personality - like some people try to make it - that he doesn't play much Davis Cup. He doesn't owe his country anything. He just happened to be born there.

Deep. Deep. Down. I think he feels more South African than Swiss.:)
 

BERDI4

Semi-Pro
Uh, how long have you been watching tennis? Federer has been carrying the Swiss team by himself for a decade. Now he's old and needs a break and ou call him selfish? Ridiculous IMO.

Shure he's getting older. But that's not an excuse. Nalbandian has the same age and he represent's his country. Now the Swiss needed him. He has the right not to play but they could've beat the US if he'd played now that he has a fairly good partner.
I do understand if he was injured but it's not the first time he doesn't play.
 

thalivest

Banned
If Nadal was 27 and Spain sucked as bad as the Swiss have he would be doing the exact same thing.

Spain has much more depth than Switzerland but under Davis Cup format Spain is not much if any stronger than Switzerland. Ferrer or Verdasco are not much better player than Wawrinka right now. Switzerland is as good or better in doubles probably.
 

edmondsm

Legend
Like I said he hasnt played anything except the relegation rounds (correct me if I am wrong) since 2003. So it is not like this is a one off thing. He does this every year, and now that they are have a legitimite #2 singles player along with a couple possible good doubles pairings, he still continues to blow it off. They are not a crappy team with Federer, like I said Wawrinka as a #2 and doubles partner now gives them a strong team. Every team would suffer without their big gun, without Nadal and Roddick wouldnt even be that good, especialy the U.S.

If Basel was this week do you think Federer would even skip that? You can give him the benefit of doubt if you wish but given his history I see no reason to.

He's injured!!! He's not a young guy anymore. He's got to watch out for #1, because there aren't many more slam winning years left. This guy has had his countrymen let him down in Davis Cup so many times and you act like he's supposed to go out there now with an ailing back and sacrifice himself. Unbelievable. He doesn't skip the latter rounds every year, do some research. He's been with the team till the end on many many occasions.
 

klementine

Hall of Fame
Federer's Davis cup record--

Total
won 35
lost 11

Nadal's Davis Cup record--

Total
won 13
lost 5
 
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edmondsm

Legend
Shure he's getting older. But that's not an excuse. Nalbandian has the same age and he represent's his country. Now the Swiss needed him. He has the right not to play but they could've beat the US if he'd played now that he has a fairly good partner.
I do understand if he was injured but it's not the first time he doesn't play.

Again, he's injured!!! You guys think he's lying about having to rehab his back? Alright, if you think he's lying then I can't help you. But otherwise you guys are totally out of line for questioning the loyalty of a guy who has been in 17 Davis Cup ties in his life.
 

BERDI4

Semi-Pro
They really need to make Davis cup a bi-yearly event.

The tour is long and arduous. Have the davis cup matches sporadically played over a course of two years-- every two years-- the final.

I think this would add a level of attention being paid to davis cup.

It just gets lost in the tour schedule and the general sporting or even tennis consumer could not care less.

Having the final every two or four years (with more countries participating) would hold Davis Cup in the echelon of the world cup or olympics. Just my two cents.

Davis cup should be like the world cup in football. Maybe they should do in a different city and surface every year, in 2 or 3 weeks.
 

edmondsm

Legend
Not since 2003 though. Ever since he became #1 he brushed the team off except for the relegation round.

Wrong.

In 2004 he won both his singles rubbers against France and they still lost 3-2 in the World-Group quarters. In 2007 in the world group play-off he won both his singles rubbers and they still lost 3-2 to the Czech Rep.

You would be less then thrilled about playing as well if you got this kind of support from your countrymen.

Edit: Why didn't I see anyone around here questioning Nadal's patriotism when he skipped the DAVIS CUP FINAL last year. I guess when Federer is injured it's fake and when Nadal is injured it's real.
 
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egn

Hall of Fame
He is definitely selfish. He should be more proud of his country and play for them. He keeps blowing them off.

Weird Federer played Davis CUp in 2001 and went 3-1 they got bounced early for lack of teammates with ability to play competently.
2002- 4-0 they got bounced first round but he helped them win the playoffs so they could stay in the main draw.
2003- 5-1..lead them to the semifinals
2004- 4-0..no teammates
2005- 1-0 wins his play off misses 1R match .
2006- 2-0 believe they were out of main draw not sure but wins play off matches
2007 - 2-0
2008 - 1-0 wins play off to get them back into main draw

So singles wise he is 22-2 in davis cup play since 2001..

Doubles performances
2006- 1-0
2007- 0-1
2008- 1-0 wins play off to get them back in

In Feds 4 years as number 1 Yves Allgero was way down on the decline and their was nobody else in Swiss pool that could help. Fed played in 2004 and 07 but in 05 and 06 his two peak years not much could be said. Fed was going to deep and playing 90+ matches a year flying to god knows where to play a davis cup match where he would win his 2 and lose 2-3 was rough. He does not blow Switzerland off and hell he played all those playoffs to get them back into it, but the first round is so early in the year.

Oh Nadal_Freak tell me about Nadal's davis cup activity prior to 2008. Please share me it.

Outside of 3-1 in 2004 where he played semis and finals from 05-07 He played less Davis CUp than Federer and Spain actually had good players. All they needed was that great player and they could have won more. So where was he than? Oh right focusing on his career...kind of like Fed was doing? Fed played prior to be ranked number 1 and during it there was nobody to help him. So now that he is sick we are supposed to go he is selfish when he has a 25-6 record in singles overall and a 10-5 record in doubles. He is combined 35-11 in Davis Cup play..He is better than the quote unquote Andy Roddick who thrives for the Davis cup who is 30-11. 30/41<25/31 Fed has less appearances because his team was not strong enough to make good runs. He missed this year, but lets see next year before you call him selfish. Nadal completely skipped 2007 when the struggling Spanish could have used him the most.
 

edmondsm

Legend
Why weren't people questioning Nadal's patriotism last year when he skipped THE DAVIS CUP FINAL? Really pathetic from you Nadal fanboys. I guess the saying holds true: "When an elephant is down, even an ant will try to kick him."
 

edmondsm

Legend
Weird Federer played Davis CUp in 2001 and went 3-1 they got bounced early for lack of teammates with ability to play competently.
2002- 4-0 they got bounced first round but he helped them win the playoffs so they could stay in the main draw.
2003- 5-1..lead them to the semifinals
2004- 4-0..no teammates
2005- 1-0 wins his play off misses 1R match .
2006- 2-0 believe they were out of main draw not sure but wins play off matches
2007 - 2-0
2008 - 1-0 wins play off to get them back into main draw

So singles wise he is 22-2 in davis cup play since 2001..

Doubles performances
2006- 1-0
2007- 0-1
2008- 1-0 wins play off to get them back in

In Feds 4 years as number 1 Yves Allgero was way down on the decline and their was nobody else in Swiss pool that could help. Fed played in 2004 and 07 but in 05 and 06 his two peak years not much could be said. Fed was going to deep and playing 90+ matches a year flying to god knows where to play a davis cup match where he would win his 2 and lose 2-3 was rough. He does not blow Switzerland off and hell he played all those playoffs to get them back into it, but the first round is so early in the year.

Oh Nadal_Freak tell me about Nadal's davis cup activity prior to 2008. Please share me it.

Outside of 3-1 in 2004 where he played semis and finals from 05-07 He played less Davis CUp than Federer and Spain actually had good players. All they needed was that great player and they could have won more. So where was he than? Oh right focusing on his career...kind of like Fed was doing? Fed played prior to be ranked number 1 and during it there was nobody to help him. So now that he is sick we are supposed to go he is selfish when he has a 25-6 record in singles overall and a 10-5 record in doubles. He is combined 35-11 in Davis Cup play..He is better than the quote unquote Andy Roddick who thrives for the Davis cup who is 30-11. 30/41<25/31 Fed has less appearances because his team was not strong enough to make good runs. He missed this year, but lets see next year before you call him selfish. Nadal completely skipped 2007 when the struggling Spanish could have used him the most.

This is some ownage right here.
 

msc886

Professional
He does play as much as he can but its just that the Swiss team is not as strong as the others and his team gets beaten early.
Other than that just by winning all the matches, slams tiles, he as already made his country very proud.
 

icedevil0289

G.O.A.T.
I don't understand why people are making such a big deal of this. Yeah, he doesn't seem to be patriotic, but who cares? Its not a bad thing and I don't get why it makes him selfish. Like others have said before, he doesn't owe his country anything.
 
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theChosen

Guest
I think Fed. sold his soul. That said, if was a huge chance to reach the next round with W. and maybe even win the event this year. He is ego and money minded.
Wait, maybe his management has no love for the home country but only for the Bejamins ;)

Vamos Rafa, you still have you soul and pride!
 

Zaragoza

Banned
They really need to make Davis cup a bi-yearly event.

The tour is long and arduous. Have the davis cup matches sporadically played over a course of two years-- every two years-- the final.

I think this would add a level of attention being paid to davis cup.

It just gets lost in the tour schedule and the general sporting or even tennis consumer could not care less.

Having the final every two or four years (with more countries participating) would hold Davis Cup in the echelon of the world cup or olympics. Just my two cents.

The solution to the long schedule is less ATP events, not a bi-yearly Davis Cup. Maybe they could try a different format but National Tennis Federations make a lot of money by organizing these Davis Cup ties and Federations need money to develop the sport in their country.
The yearly Davis Cup is still one of the most prestigious tennis events, only players and countries that can't achieve it think different.

We'll see how many Davis cup matches Nadal plays in 6 or so years... if his knees hold up.

Nadal peaked much earlier than Federer so comparisons between them at 27 don´t make sense. The truth is Federer has only played play-off ties since 2004. Federer only took Davis Cup seriously until 23.

http://www.daviscup.com/teams/player.asp?player=10019424
 
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theChosen

Guest
I don't understand why people are making such a big deal of this. Yeah, he doesn't seem to be patriotic, but who cares? Its not a bad thing and I don't get why it makes him selfish. Like others have said before, he doesn't owe his country anything.
Open your mind and realize that you are nothing without the people around you and would have zero opportunities without your country and history, never mind if it is Swiss or the US. There is more that you!
 

Dilettante

Hall of Fame
But that's not an excuse. Nalbandian has the same age and he represent's his country.

Argentina has had a much better shot to win DC than Switzerland by far. IE Nalbandian knows if he skipped the DC final, he would be accused by his countrymen of harming Argentina possibilities. Argentinean press can be terrible, but the fact was Argentina COULD have won.

Switzerland has to be in a DC final first, and that will hardly happen even with Federer on the team.

Spain has much more depth than Switzerland but under Davis Cup format Spain is not much if any stronger than Switzerland. Ferrer or Verdasco are not much better player than Wawrinka right now. Switzerland is as good or better in doubles probably.

One question is: could Switzerland win a tier against Spain? Yes, they could, in 5 matches anything can happen specially with Federer out there. They could beat any big team with Roger. Once.

But another question is: could Switzerland win all the ties necessary to be DC champions? Spain can do it, Argentina, USA, Russia, France, they all can but Switzerland? They didn't do it with a prime Federer and as Federer goes down, their small chances will just fade away.
 

icedevil0289

G.O.A.T.
Open your mind and realize that you are nothing without the people around you and would have zero opportunities without your country and history, never mind if it is Swiss or the US. There is more that you!

I realize there is more to life than me and to a certain extent I am greatful to my country as well as the country my parents came from, but I don't see anything wrong with my statement. Just because someone is not that patriotic doesn't mean they are automatically selfish.
 

devila

Banned
Dang. He's old and injured. I wish my aching back was as injured as this old man's. I'm sure all the lucky Slams he won were deserved and difficult
to win. With the week long vacation and practice after the 2007 Wimbledon 3rd round. Added to that were walkovers at the 2004 US Open, Djokovic's withdrawal and collapse in the finals and Australian Opens. Don't forget the unathletic toad Roddick's worship for him. No surprise to see Federer's ego grow into
an insult to unbiased tennis fans' senses.
 

veroniquem

Bionic Poster
From 1999 to 2004, Federer played 2 rounds for Davis cup every year with the regularity of a Swiss clock! In 2003 he even played 3 rounds (only time in his career.) Things changed after he became a big star. From 2005 onwards, he has played only one round every year. I guess this year will be his first year of not playing at all!
Nadal has played it even less than Federer. He hasn't played it at all in 2007, has played just one round in 2005 and 2006, 2 rounds in 2008 and 3 rounds only in 2004.
I don't think it has anything to do with selfishness, it's just that the schedule is already very packed for players who systematically go far in tournaments.
 

veroniquem

Bionic Poster
Again, he's injured!!! You guys think he's lying about having to rehab his back? Alright, if you think he's lying then I can't help you. But otherwise you guys are totally out of line for questioning the loyalty of a guy who has been in 17 Davis Cup ties in his life.
What I don't understand is how he's been training hard with Cahill (according to rumors) when he is supposedly injured...
 
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theChosen

Guest
What I don't understand is how he's been training hard with Cahill (according to rumors) when he is supposedly injured...

You know the X-File Poster: "I want to believe"? If you ever had a serious back problem, you won't even think about touching a racket like he does in Dubai.
His priorities have shifted, he is so close to history that the sparkle took his eyes, it's immortality, dawkings, the selfish gene. it happens with men.

Btw. if you need proof, remember his tears, the force is strong.
 
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theChosen

Guest
He's a liar. Not a big surprise.

Hey Nadal Freak, you hit the spot, just one question, some month ago you weren't so smart and your sense of language was different, did tw swap you or is it me?:shock:
 

devila

Banned
How did Federer work so hard?
He lost easily against Canas, he lost in 2 sets and had a walkover in Indian Wells last year.
He had the illness excuse in Miami and Olympics. He barely won a match on summer hardcourts and almost lost to Ginepri, who was sick in their match.
Ramirez-Hidalgo gave him a free ride
after losing 2 chances to win their 1st round clay match.

Funny enough, Nadal beat him without any excuse. That's because
he never lost to Federer on 3 surfaces, since 2007.
 

Nadal_Freak

Banned
Hey Nadal Freak, you hit the spot, just one question, some month ago you weren't so smart and your sense of language was different, did tw swap you or is it me?:shock:
I've always talked this way. Must've been someone else you were thinking about.
 
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