Proof that Federer is not playing clay tune ups in 2018

BeatlesFan

Bionic Poster
Fed cannot play Monte Carlo, Madrid or Rome because he has standing obligations which clearly prove he's unavailable to play any of those clay events.

1. He will be in Malawi for his Foundation from April 11-April 16, which is when Monte Carlo is played. So Monte Carlo is out.

2. He will be in Zurich on May 7-8 for a Lindt chocolate commercial shoot. This is when Madrid is played, so Madrid is out.

3. He will be attending Prince Harry's wedding in England on May 19 which is when the Rome semis are played. So Rome is out.

Fed also said in Rotterdam, "It wouldn't be prudent to play RG without a proper tune up, possibly two."

Those who fantasize, suggest or even demand Federer play clay should address these "scheduling conflicts." ;)
 
Istanbul it is then.
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Mr Feeny

Hall of Fame
We'll have freaking Dimitrov, Cilic, and Zverev duking it out for the #2 seed.

And I ****ing hate the idea of the world#1 skipping Slam while fit to play

I doubt that he cares what some random fanboy online thinks. Federer isn't jeaprodizing his chances at Wimbledon by grinding his body down at this age, so soon before the biggest tournament in tennis.

Go cry about it somewhere else.
 

Slightly D1

Professional
I honestly wouldn't expect him to play any tune ups for RG, if he goes he will give it his best shot but he definitely is aware that he can't afford to grind it out on clay. Its hard to ignore that his body somewhat gave out on him around the US Open series after skipping all clay in 2017. My bet is that he will skip it again because if he had any intention of playing I feel like he would say that he wanted to and confirm it.
 

Red Rick

Bionic Poster
I doubt that he cares what some random fanboy online thinks. Federer isn't jeaprodizing his chances at Wimbledon by grinding his body down at this age, so soon before the biggest tournament in tennis.

Go cry about it somewhere else.
For me it's a principle thing. I know Federer doesn't give a ****.

So why do you get so winded up to defend him from something he won't care about?
 

Mr Feeny

Hall of Fame
For me it's a principle thing. I know Federer doesn't give a ****.

So why do you get so winded up to defend him from something he won't care about?

Oh, a principle thing is it?:p
Aren't you just adorrrrrableee.

Sounds like you're the one who's wound up, sulking and throwing a tantrum because Federer won't tire himself out on clay.

Good to, as always.
 
bad decision rogi if this analysis proven correct, RG is wide open with nadal injuries and all, wont be 100%, how awesome it would be to lift rg one more time
 

Mainad

Bionic Poster
Fed cannot play Monte Carlo, Madrid or Rome because he has standing obligations which clearly prove he's unavailable to play any of those clay events.

1. He will be in Malawi for his Foundation from April 11-April 16, which is when Monte Carlo is played. So Monte Carlo is out.

2. He will be in Zurich on May 7-8 for a Lindt chocolate commercial shoot. This is when Madrid is played, so Madrid is out.

3. He will be attending Prince Harry's wedding in England on May 19 which is when the Rome semis are played. So Rome is out.

Fed also said in Rotterdam, "It wouldn't be prudent to play RG without a proper tune up, possibly two."

Those who fantasize, suggest or even demand Federer play clay should address these "scheduling conflicts." ;)

Take your point about Rome (can't really see him passing up a royal wedding for it but...who knows?) but I'm sure he can arrange for those other events to be re-scheduled if he decides to play MC and/or Madrid.
 

Steve0904

Talk Tennis Guru
I just don't understand why Federer would fix something that wasn't broken last year. His schedule was perfect (even Montreal because he could've just as easily been injured in Cincy). Why would he do it? It's not worth the risk. If he doesn't win RG his clay season is a failure (yes I believe that), and then the only way he redeems that failure would be to win Wimbledon anyway, and/or the USO. Playing clay, in all reality will lessen his chances at the other 2 slams no matter how few clay events he plays.

Playing clay may also keep him free of rust, but it didn't seem to matter at all last year so I just don't see the point. The upside is extremely small and the downside carries huge risk. And IMHO the people that think he can beat decently healthy Nadal or even the rest of the field to get to Nadal are grossly underestimating how different HC and grass are compared to clay and are frankly living in la-la land.
 
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Badabing888

Hall of Fame
I just don't understand why Federer would fix something that wasn't broken last year. His schedule was perfect (even Montreal because he could've just as easily been injured in Cincy). Why would he do it? It's not worth the risk.

I think Fed could have done with another week of practise to get ready for the North American Hard Court post Wimbledon. He clearly hadn’t practised in the three weeks between Wimbledon and Montreal - he was on holiday with his family and tweeting pics of himself with the Wimbledon replica trophy. Montreal courts were slower and high bouncing compared to Wimbledon and took him the week to get used to as well. He never really played that well that week and then tweaked his back in the final. Yes he could have injured himself in Cinci and been out of the Open but Cinci he’s won 7 times, conditions are faster and lower bouncing And as he’s said better in terms for his family than Montreal, who I don’t think travelled with him there last year.

It’s all speculation of course, but i think it would be better if this year he did prepare better for the Open by skipping Toronto and play Cinci this year just to give him that extra week to prepare post Wimbledon, especially if he does have a summer holiday with his family post Wimbledon.
 

tennisaddict

Bionic Poster
I doubt that he cares what some random fanboy online thinks. Federer isn't jeaprodizing his chances at Wimbledon by grinding his body down at this age, so soon before the biggest tournament in tennis.

Go cry about it somewhere else.

Exactly . Fed is going to be 37 and is the face of the circuit now . ATP and ITF are glad he is on tour in the absence of a new star on the horizon

It is as though these guys want Fed to play , so that they can have fun when he loses
 

Steve0904

Talk Tennis Guru
I think Fed could have done with another week of practise to get ready for the North American Hard Court post Wimbledon. He clearly hadn’t practised in the three weeks between Wimbledon and Montreal - he was on holiday with his family and tweeting pics of himself with the Wimbledon replica trophy. Montreal courts were slower and high bouncing compared to Wimbledon and took him the week to get used to as well. He never really played that well that week and then tweaked his back in the final. Yes he could have injured himself in Cinci and been out of the Open but Cinci he’s won 7 times, conditions are faster and lower bouncing And as he’s said better in terms for his family than Montreal, who I don’t think travelled with him there last year.

It’s all speculation of course, but i think it would be better if this year he did prepare better for the Open by skipping Toronto and play Cinci this year just to give him that extra week to prepare post Wimbledon, especially if he does have a summer holiday with his family post Wimbledon.

I also agree he made the wrong tournament choice, but if you've seen the way people have talked about it here (and incessantly at that) it's like they think he injured himself because he played Montreal and that can never be proven. He had a fair amount of time off after Wimbledon, I'm really not sure an extra week would've made any difference, and in all likelihood he was ready to play Montreal (and subsequently skip Cincy). The only problem I had was that he chose his less successful tournament. I don't blame the Montreal tournament for him getting injured though.
 

Red Rick

Bionic Poster
wait, on principle you think Federer should play all slams?

my feeling is the opposite: let each player make his own schedule, play whatever you want
I think every active pro player should play a Grand Slam when able to play and eligible for direct entry. And I also think the Grand Slams and the WTF should be the only mandatory tournaments.
 

donquijote

G.O.A.T.
Is he getting an appearance fee for Prince Harry's wedding? Then he will definitely go.
Ditto for Lindt shootout. We know he plays tennis for money but it's not guaranteed. So he can't take the risk.
 

Sysyphus

Talk Tennis Guru
And I ****ing hate the idea of the world#1 skipping Slam while fit to play

I could care less, this is completely normal and even encouraged in several other individual sports. XC skiers have no problem ditching certain championship distances if they feel it improves their overall chances in their marquee events. An individual athlete's obligation is first and foremost to make the choices that are the most pragmatic for themselves from a sporting perspective.

Me thinks tennis has a lot of weird prudish notions that don't exist in many other places.

(I also don't think slams should be mandatory – that's the very heart of their prestige: that they get [basically] everyone to play them without them being mandatory.)
 
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Proof that GPPD all stars ain't got nothing else better to do than to keep track of players' schedule (when they don't even know how real it is, just speculating bs)
 
N

nikdom

Guest
I think every active pro player should play a Grand Slam when able to play and eligible for direct entry. And I also think the Grand Slams and the WTF should be the only mandatory tournaments.

Even if that was the case, it's easy to pull out last minute citing injury (real or imaginary).

One mug of a pro even did so after the draw of a slam came out.
 

Badabing888

Hall of Fame
I also agree he made the wrong tournament choice, but if you've seen the way people have talked about it here (and incessantly at that) it's like they think he injured himself because he played Montreal and that can never be proven. He had a fair amount of time off after Wimbledon, I'm really not sure an extra week would've made any difference, and in all likelihood he was ready to play Montreal (and subsequently skip Cincy). The only problem I had was that he chose his less successful tournament. I don't blame the Montreal tournament for him getting injured though.

Yeah I think preparation is key. We saw how Fed got it wrong before the USO and was never in any shape to give himself a chance to win it. He said himself after losing to Del Po he felt his body was so beat up because his prep was badly interrupted getting his back in shape in that two week period between Montreal.

Same with Rafa pre AO this year. He never had the same preparation he had going into AO ‘17 because he spent December 2017 recovering from his knee injury it interrupted his pre season for 2018. So it was no surprise he also only got to the quarters of that slam.

A lot is made how good Federer and Nadal at the Slams are but even they are only as good as their preparation beforehand. Neither can cheat or as we have seen they will be found out.
 

zagor

Bionic Poster
Fed cannot play Monte Carlo, Madrid or Rome because he has standing obligations which clearly prove he's unavailable to play any of those clay events.

1. He will be in Malawi for his Foundation from April 11-April 16, which is when Monte Carlo is played. So Monte Carlo is out.

2. He will be in Zurich on May 7-8 for a Lindt chocolate commercial shoot. This is when Madrid is played, so Madrid is out.

3. He will be attending Prince Harry's wedding in England on May 19 which is when the Rome semis are played. So Rome is out.

Fed also said in Rotterdam, "It wouldn't be prudent to play RG without a proper tune up, possibly two."

Those who fantasize, suggest or even demand Federer play clay should address these "scheduling conflicts." ;)

How do you know all this stuff?
 
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