Federer and Higueras split

[Virtuous]

...Amicably because he's got himself a new job.
http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008809170312

Higueras named to coaching job with USTA

By Leighton Ginn
The Desert Sun
September 17, 2008

World-renown tennis coach Jose Higueras of Palm Springs has been named the director of coaching for the USTA Elite Player Development on Tuesday, which will essentially end his working relationship with U.S. Open champion Roger Federer.

It was with Federer's blessing that Higueras took the job.

“From the beginning, Roger said he only wanted someone for eight to 10 weeks per year,” Higueras said. “When this came about, he didn't discourage me because he thought it was a great opportunity and he would respect that.

“It's a full-time job, obviously and there's a lot of work to do, and I won't have time to do both, but I have a great relationship with him. He's a great champion and he's always been fair with me.”

Higueras will have a tough challenge, particularly on the women's side. No American female who has turned pro since Serena Williams in 1994 has reached the top-10 on the WTA Tour.

On the men's side, no male has won a Grand Slam title since Andy Roddick's U.S. Open title in 2003.

But if there's anyone who can return the U.S. to its former luster, it's Higueras, according to his former coach.

“If he has control and calls the shots, the program will be back on track,” said Tommy Tucker, the tennis pro emeritus at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage. “If he can get in the coaches he wants and if he's able to regulate the players, he will do great.”

Among the Hall of Fame and/or former No. 1 ranked Higueras has worked with are: Michael Chang, Jim Courier, Pete Sampras, Carlos Moya, Jennifer Capriati and Federer.

Higueras' new gig will have him working with players at the USTA training centers in Carson and Boca Raton, Fla.

He will also bring in top kids to work with him at Smoketree Ranch in Palm Springs.

It was only a part time thing but I wonder now if Roger will seek out someone else or go it alone again ? Less than a year and back to being coachless :-?

 

[veritech]

i'm gonna apply

need a new job

 

[wangs78]

Not sure what Higueras means when he says that Roger "was fair" with him. Just an interesting choice of words.

 

[rommil]

Hell yeah TW would be the perfect place for Roger to get his new coach. I could picture Drak sayin" Ok now Roger, you might want to try this bigger racket".

 

[rommil]

Not sure what Higueras means when he says that Roger "was fair" with him. Just an interesting choice of words.

Ask TheTruth, Nadal Freak, The Natural and Mungohead....them guys should be able to put the proper perspective on that.

 

[malakas]

lol @ rommil.

Well..Higueras found a better job and Rog let him go.Now he's coachless again,and I think he will remain.:/

 

[zagor]

Ask TheTruth, Nadal Freak, The Natural and Mungohead....them guys should be able to put the proper perspective on that.

I'm sure there's some hidden devious meaning there.From what I've heard in this forum it seems that this Fed guy is a master manipulator and schemer.Even though his fellow players,coaches,past greats(you know the guys who actually MET him personally)say that he's a great guy,don't be fooled,they're all deceived,tricked and manipulated by Fed,the evil genious mastermind.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Thats crazy what the said about WTA american players in that article!!

 

[2nd_Serve]

Not sure what Higueras means when he says that Roger "was fair" with him. Just an interesting choice of words.

Those are some interesting choice or words...

 

[Mungo73]

Wise move from Higueras to leave Federer.

 

[mrDamien]

Is it Fed very hard to deal with till so many coach and partner left him alone excpet Mirka :neutral:.

 

[tennis-hero]

how do you coach someone who has a perfect game and only loses a match in his own mind

theres no shot fed doesn't hit awesomely well (yes his backhand is awesome when its firing)

 

[roundiesee]

I'm sure there's some hidden devious meaning there.From what I've heard in this forum it seems that this Fed guy is a master manipulator and schemer.Even though his fellow players,coaches,past greats(you know the guys who actually MET him personally)say that he's a great guy,don't be fooled,they're all deceived,tricked and manipulated by Fed,the evil genious mastermind.

LOL!
But seriously, Roger should really consider getting someone full time. Perhaps Lundgren should come back to coach him; after all, it was Lundgren who took over when Peter Carter died. Let's see what happens.

 

[zacinnc78]

if federer would just log on to TT every evening he could clearly see all the things he needs to work on to fix his game from the smartest people in tennis.....for free too !

 

[RF007]

Did Federer have a coach last year or in 2006, full-time or part-time?

 

[wyutani]

he got fired cos fed didnt win the french. all the coaches fault.

 

[FedererISBetter]

if federer would just log on to TT every evening he could clearly see all the things he needs to work on to fix his game from the smartest people in tennis.....for free too !

More of tennis comedy you read on lunch break.

 

[sureshs]

No coach can help him beat Nadal

 

[veroniquem]

I don't think their partnership worked very well. That was the right decision. Federer will be better off with somebody else. It was just a not very fruitful match.

 

[janipyt05]

What a surprise!

 

[Nadal_Freak]

Not a surprise here. Hard for anyone to coach Fed's ego.

 

[joeri888]

Not a surprise here. Hard for anyone to coach Fed's ego.

Tony Roche did a good job imo, and how would you know how hard it is? Can you give some inside info?

 

[dh003i]

Not a surprise here. Hard for anyone to coach Fed's ego.

Is there ever an opportunity to bash him that you don't take?

I don't think Higueras brought much to the table. Maybe the drop-shot, encouraged Federer to use it more, that was it. He used it to good effect quite frequently during the clay-court season, and I think more-often the rest of the year than in years past...but honestly, it isn't as useful a shot outside of clay.

I think Federer's already doing what he needs to start doing: being more aggressive, coming to the net more.

 

[Nadal_Freak]

Is there ever an opportunity to bash him that you don't take?

I don't think Higueras brought much to the table. Maybe the drop-shot, encouraged Federer to use it more, that was it. He used it to good effect quite frequently during the clay-court season, and I think more-often the rest of the year than in years past...but honestly, it isn't as useful a shot outside of clay.

I think Federer's already doing what he needs to start doing: being more aggressive, coming to the net more.

He never changes strategies. Even when he is losing. I don't think Roche was telling him to ralley with Nadal with his backhand. That is a stupid strategy. I would think it would frustrating for Roche to not be listened to but he got money out of the deal.

 

[ThugNasty]

He never changes strategies. Even when he is losing. I don't think Roche was telling him to ralley with Nadal with his backhand. That is a stupid strategy. I would think it would frustrating for Roche to not be listened to but he got money out of the deal.

I think federer knows better on what he is doing then you :?

 

[Deleted member 3771]

Interpretation: Fed wasn't paying Higueras enough.

...Amicably because he's got himself a new job.
http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008809170312



It was only a part time thing but I wonder now if Roger will seek out someone else or go it alone again ? Less than a year and back to being coachless :-?

 

[norbac]

Not a surprise here. Hard for anyone to coach Fed's ego.

Yeah, cause we didn't know before this that you don't like Fed. You can stop hating and start loving man, talk about the things you love not what you hate(in other words, please mature a bit).

 

[Shaolin]

Tony Roche did a good job imo, and how would you know how hard it is? Can you give some inside info?

The only inside info he has is the smell of Nadals jockstrap.