Do you think Federer made scheduling mistakes last years?

[jg153040]

Wouldn't it be better if he shortened the clay season and focused on other 3 slams?

I mean, he can't compete with Nadal and Djokovic on caly and clay is a physical surface, not for older guys.

I think he made a mistake here. Isn't it better to be 100% at 3 majors than 90% at all four?

I mean he won't win RG anyway, so why not put all efforts to where he has a chance?

Serena, Nadal, Sampras they are all doing that. Murray skipped FO and won W.

Also nr.1 ranking is not important for Federer, since doesn't need to prove anything there.

So, if Federer did that, he would be more fresh for other slams and in better physical and mental shape too.

Why isn't he doing that?

 

[torpantennis]

Federer should always skip IW/Miami. They do not build up into a slam, and no reason for the family man to get traveling so far away from home, just for some no-value events. After Dubai, he should always concentrate on practices, and strengthening/rehab of the back.

 

[Deleted member 688153]

Federer should always skip IW/Miami. They do not build up into a slam, and no reason for the family man to get traveling so far away from home, just for some no-value events. After Dubai, he should always concentrate on practices, and strengthening/rehab of the back.

This exactly.

Good to have IW and Miami on the resume at least 1-2 times, but he has that, so why bother with what is essentially worthless for a man in Federer's position?

 

[torpantennis]

This exactly.

Good to have IW and Miami on the resume at least 1-2 times, but he has that, so why bother with what is essentially worthless for a man in Federer's position?

Maybe Nadal fan Ellison offers him so much money? He wants Fedal & Djokodal @ IW?

 

[jg153040]

This exactly.

Good to have IW and Miami on the resume at least 1-2 times, but he has that, so why bother with what is essentially worthless for a man in Federer's position?

Yeah. Also, why is he bothering with clay season? He is not in his prime, he should focus on majors.

With that extra time he would be a lot fresher for other majors. Mentally, physically. Not only that, he would use that extra time to train more for grass for example. That could give him just enough extra edge to pull of a W win.

 

[furryballs]

he needs to stay in the top 4,top 2 preferably.

 

[TheBigFourRules]

if he skips to much his ranking gets worse, so he gets at grand slams
harder oponents in early rounds

 

[Deleted member 688153]

Maybe Nadal fan Ellison offers him so much money? He wants Fedal & Djokodal @ IW?

Ellison is a Nadal fan?
Bet he started in 2013. :lol:

It seems to be the hip thing these days.

 

[Steve0904]

Ellison is a Nadal fan?
Bet he started in 2013. :lol:

It seems to be the hip thing these days.

Ellison is a fan of all the top players. It comes with being a TD. That said, he seems to have a real soft spot for Nadal.

 

[chjtennis]

He needs to play at least 1 tournament a month otherwise his rhythm can become really bad as he is getting older. For that reason, playing 1 of IW or Miami will be good. He needs to stay match ready and sharp. Taking February off after hectic January is also a good move.

 

[Federer20042006]

1. Federer needs points for seeding.

2. Federer needs another weak era/a lot of luck to win another Grand Slam, anyway. Schedule-wise, he needs to be match tough.

3. Federer's best surface is clay. People forget, no Nadal there and he has 6 FO titles, tied with Borg.

 

[chjtennis]

1. Federer needs points for seeding.

2. Federer needs another weak era/a lot of luck to win another Grand Slam, anyway. Schedule-wise, he needs to be match tough.

3. Federer's best surface is clay. People forget, no Nadal there and he has 6 FO titles, tied with Borg.

First point is absolutely on the money, but Federer can still win a slam by his own merit. It just has become extremely hard for him to be consistent, but you never know what kind of Federer will turn up every time and he may still be able to produce 2 weeks of tennis of his life. Also, Federer's best surface is grass and it is not even debatable, more so now after his change in style to use more of S&V. His serving skills(he not only has great 1st serves but also great 2nd serves and excellent return) will always make him dangerous on grass. He just is very good on clay as well.

 

[beast of mallorca]

Ellison is a fan of all the top players. It comes with being a TD. That said, he seems to have a real soft spot for Nadal.

I don't think Ellison was ever a TD. He's the owner I know. The TD is different. Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[spinovic]

This exactly.

Good to have IW and Miami on the resume at least 1-2 times, but he has that, so why bother with what is essentially worthless for a man in Federer's position?

Because he probably doesn't want to go two months without playing an event...and that leaves a ton of points on the table. Staying in the top 4 is big for assuring better draws in the slams.

I don't get this obsession with skipping the clay court season. Roland Garros is no different than any other slam for him...avoid Nadal and he has a shot. Granted, avoiding Nadal has longer odds than other slams. But, aside from that, he won't face Nadal until late in those events, so skipping them would assure that his ranking, and thus, his seeding would drop to a point where he would get tougher draws. He needs to accumulate points if for no other reason than to keep his seeding high.

According to the geniuses on here, his schedule should look like this...

Brisbane
Australian Open
Halle
Wimbledon
Toronto/Montreal
Cincinnati
US Open
Basel*
Paris*
WTF*
*Playing these tournaments would be based on whether he qualifies for the year-end event

 

[spinovic]

First point is absolutely on the money, but Federer can still win a slam by his own merit. It just has become extremely hard for him to be consistent, but you never know what kind of Federer will turn up every time and he may still be able to produce 2 weeks of tennis of his life. Also, Federer's best surface is grass and it is not even debatable, more so now after his change in style to use more of S&V. His serving skills(he not only has great 1st serves but also great 2nd serves and excellent return) will always make him dangerous on grass. He just is very good on clay as well.

Grass is definitely his best surface.

I don't think there's a huge difference between clay and HC for him, to be honest. Obviously, he's more accomplished on hard thanks to Rafa.

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

Wouldn't it be better if he shortened the clay season and focused on other 3 slams?

That has been my opinion about Federer for two+ years. He was never going to threaten Nadal at the French Open, so in his twilight years, it is rational to spare his body for the one major most favorable to his body--Wimbledon. I have maintained he has one more major to win, and from the results of the last two HC majors (USO 2014, AO 2015) and his general failure at the FO, he should see his career as being separate from anyone else--meaning he can afford to be a "Wimbledon specialist" while the rest of the tour beats themselves up everywhere else.