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nikdom
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Roger and Me
I knew Federer would win the Australian Open. Even before you see the board, even before you guess the conditions of Nole, Stan and Rafa. Even before knowing where Dimitrov and Del Potro, Kyrgios and Goffin had ended up. Before we even cross Sascha Zverev and think that the boiserie is beautiful, for heaven's sake. But that Roger is Roger. And the others ... okay. I knew Federer would conquer his twentieth Slam in Melbourne. But I took a moment to understand why. Indeed, to see why. The truth revealed it rained between head and neck two weeks before that match against Cilic who photographed once and for all his role among the immortals. And not just for this sport. It was Sunday, January 14, at noon and surroundings. While on the secondary courts my former teammates rowed in the sun for a spot in the main draw - which I had won early with a good 2017 - we were on the Rod Laver Arena.
Me and Federer. Roger and me, to put it to Michael Moore . An empty stage all for us. The green seats. The huge out. The open roof. The soles squeak on the surface. Fabio next to me. Next to him are Luthi, Ljubicic and Paganini. A handful of photographers and journalists allowed to peek into action for about ten minutes and then away. Again alone on the plexicushion. In that system of 14 thousand places where he was at home and at home he felt. Master of space, physically in shooting, technically relaxed, with a thousand concentration. Yet amused. Here, at that precise moment I thought:
"Roger is walking on clouds because he feels too superior to others. I do not see who can stop it ".
And indeed nobody stopped him. Neither the reverse of Gasquet , nor the set point of Berdych , nor the fourth set of Cilic . Neither the identity card. Nor is the fear of not having opponents outside of himself. I knew that Federer would win.
(Photo by Quinn Rooney / Getty Images)
DATING IN DUBAI
The road to success in Australia actually started in Dubai in December. And there I was there too. When I landed in the Emirates I had informed of my presence Ljubicic , letting him know that I was in the area and that if he needed me for a workout I would be available. In an excess of sincerity I think I wrote to him that I would be happy to train with Roger. Ivan's answer came to me on the afternoon of Saturday 16th.
The Federer coach had asked me if I would be enlisted the next day. I was. But even if I had not been, I would have found a solution to divide the field with what for many is a mysterious object, for others a cult object, for almost all GOAT . A unique opportunity. Which then became two. Three. Four. One better than the other. Only if they had asked me at that moment I would not have been so sure that the Norman Brookes cup would have been hers for the sixth time.
I do not know why Ljubo contacted me. I like to think that I have understood that in training I do everything I need to prepare myself better but at the same time I work hard to make sure that my neighbor too gets the most out of it. I do not know if he has chosen me for my ranking, for my technical characteristics, for my dedication to work or the way I'm on the field - giving everything in every single shot.
But maybe the truth is another. I only know that that early afternoon in Dubai I arrived well in advance and that I was tense as on the first date. But certainly after that early afternoon in Dubai he and his team must have thought that they can count on me with their eyes closed. To my credit, Federer had been inactive for a month and a half, and that engine in the running- in phase helped me break the ice. One thing is to deal with a demigod, another is to dribble with a mortal good or bad to your height. Palleggiare, then.
We actually played at least 11 sets . And almost always it was a long set decided at the tie-break. In short, in Dubai with Roger I played it on equal terms for four times. Because after that first training session on Sunday, December 17th, Ljubo contacted me on the 19th, asking for availability for the following day. That time I had an appointment with Marius Copil, but I asked him to turn a blind eye and he understood. Before I made sure that Ivan wanted me to play with Federer and not with Auger-Aliassime, who in those days trained with them. The confirmation came immediately: on December 20th I would have trained again with the winner of 19 Majors. And also on 21 and 22.
RUGGERO ITALIAN
Four days on a tennis court is enough to understand a player, not a man. Yet what I saw was enough for me to form an opinion on Roger , as he called himself every time he made a mistake not from him. "Ruggero! Ruggero! But why did you miss this shot! "He said in Italian. And it was not the only Italianata I attended. He and Ivan often speak in our language and I had the distinct feeling that Federer knew enough to support a whole conversation in Italian.
When the dampener flew from the stringbed and we had to stop to pick it up, he first asked me how to say it in Italian and then he had a big laugh when he found out that we call it anti-vibration. Who had baptized frigidaire has changed his mind since that day, because Federer is not only willing to laugh. He is one with a contagious laugh.
During the field changes he asked me how much I knew Dubai and if I had some favorite Italian restaurants.
He asked me about the personal and professional reasons that led me to train there in winter, looking for easy fields and a better temperature than Foligno . Federer explained to me that Dubai adores the anonymous and stress-free lifestyle beyond - of course - the climate, the geographical location and the fast surfaces that make it an ideal bridgehead in view of the summer down under. For this reason, for some years he has chosen it as a destination for himself and his family. Between a chat and the other, Ruggero also gave me some advice on how to manage back problems that he suffered in the past.
I can not say that in Dubai , in those four afternoons together on a tennis court, a friendship was born or something comparable to a knowledge. I kept my distance, I took what Federer gave me without demanding forms of intimacy or asking for anything else.
I know that he already has many commitments, which in addition to tennis has a very intense family life and is divided into a thousand other activities, so I have not gone further. I have not even taken a selfie. And I had a lot of hesitation in sharing this experience with the world. Hardly I made public a couple of photos taken with Djokovic after that triptych of training at Christmas, always in Dubai. Then, when in Melbourne it happened again, I felt it was time to empty the bag.
CONTINUED...
http://thomasfabbiano.it/roger-and-me/

I knew Federer would win the Australian Open. Even before you see the board, even before you guess the conditions of Nole, Stan and Rafa. Even before knowing where Dimitrov and Del Potro, Kyrgios and Goffin had ended up. Before we even cross Sascha Zverev and think that the boiserie is beautiful, for heaven's sake. But that Roger is Roger. And the others ... okay. I knew Federer would conquer his twentieth Slam in Melbourne. But I took a moment to understand why. Indeed, to see why. The truth revealed it rained between head and neck two weeks before that match against Cilic who photographed once and for all his role among the immortals. And not just for this sport. It was Sunday, January 14, at noon and surroundings. While on the secondary courts my former teammates rowed in the sun for a spot in the main draw - which I had won early with a good 2017 - we were on the Rod Laver Arena.
Me and Federer. Roger and me, to put it to Michael Moore . An empty stage all for us. The green seats. The huge out. The open roof. The soles squeak on the surface. Fabio next to me. Next to him are Luthi, Ljubicic and Paganini. A handful of photographers and journalists allowed to peek into action for about ten minutes and then away. Again alone on the plexicushion. In that system of 14 thousand places where he was at home and at home he felt. Master of space, physically in shooting, technically relaxed, with a thousand concentration. Yet amused. Here, at that precise moment I thought:
"Roger is walking on clouds because he feels too superior to others. I do not see who can stop it ".
And indeed nobody stopped him. Neither the reverse of Gasquet , nor the set point of Berdych , nor the fourth set of Cilic . Neither the identity card. Nor is the fear of not having opponents outside of himself. I knew that Federer would win.

(Photo by Quinn Rooney / Getty Images)
DATING IN DUBAI
The road to success in Australia actually started in Dubai in December. And there I was there too. When I landed in the Emirates I had informed of my presence Ljubicic , letting him know that I was in the area and that if he needed me for a workout I would be available. In an excess of sincerity I think I wrote to him that I would be happy to train with Roger. Ivan's answer came to me on the afternoon of Saturday 16th.
The Federer coach had asked me if I would be enlisted the next day. I was. But even if I had not been, I would have found a solution to divide the field with what for many is a mysterious object, for others a cult object, for almost all GOAT . A unique opportunity. Which then became two. Three. Four. One better than the other. Only if they had asked me at that moment I would not have been so sure that the Norman Brookes cup would have been hers for the sixth time.
I do not know why Ljubo contacted me. I like to think that I have understood that in training I do everything I need to prepare myself better but at the same time I work hard to make sure that my neighbor too gets the most out of it. I do not know if he has chosen me for my ranking, for my technical characteristics, for my dedication to work or the way I'm on the field - giving everything in every single shot.

But maybe the truth is another. I only know that that early afternoon in Dubai I arrived well in advance and that I was tense as on the first date. But certainly after that early afternoon in Dubai he and his team must have thought that they can count on me with their eyes closed. To my credit, Federer had been inactive for a month and a half, and that engine in the running- in phase helped me break the ice. One thing is to deal with a demigod, another is to dribble with a mortal good or bad to your height. Palleggiare, then.
We actually played at least 11 sets . And almost always it was a long set decided at the tie-break. In short, in Dubai with Roger I played it on equal terms for four times. Because after that first training session on Sunday, December 17th, Ljubo contacted me on the 19th, asking for availability for the following day. That time I had an appointment with Marius Copil, but I asked him to turn a blind eye and he understood. Before I made sure that Ivan wanted me to play with Federer and not with Auger-Aliassime, who in those days trained with them. The confirmation came immediately: on December 20th I would have trained again with the winner of 19 Majors. And also on 21 and 22.

RUGGERO ITALIAN
Four days on a tennis court is enough to understand a player, not a man. Yet what I saw was enough for me to form an opinion on Roger , as he called himself every time he made a mistake not from him. "Ruggero! Ruggero! But why did you miss this shot! "He said in Italian. And it was not the only Italianata I attended. He and Ivan often speak in our language and I had the distinct feeling that Federer knew enough to support a whole conversation in Italian.
When the dampener flew from the stringbed and we had to stop to pick it up, he first asked me how to say it in Italian and then he had a big laugh when he found out that we call it anti-vibration. Who had baptized frigidaire has changed his mind since that day, because Federer is not only willing to laugh. He is one with a contagious laugh.
During the field changes he asked me how much I knew Dubai and if I had some favorite Italian restaurants.

He asked me about the personal and professional reasons that led me to train there in winter, looking for easy fields and a better temperature than Foligno . Federer explained to me that Dubai adores the anonymous and stress-free lifestyle beyond - of course - the climate, the geographical location and the fast surfaces that make it an ideal bridgehead in view of the summer down under. For this reason, for some years he has chosen it as a destination for himself and his family. Between a chat and the other, Ruggero also gave me some advice on how to manage back problems that he suffered in the past.
I can not say that in Dubai , in those four afternoons together on a tennis court, a friendship was born or something comparable to a knowledge. I kept my distance, I took what Federer gave me without demanding forms of intimacy or asking for anything else.
I know that he already has many commitments, which in addition to tennis has a very intense family life and is divided into a thousand other activities, so I have not gone further. I have not even taken a selfie. And I had a lot of hesitation in sharing this experience with the world. Hardly I made public a couple of photos taken with Djokovic after that triptych of training at Christmas, always in Dubai. Then, when in Melbourne it happened again, I felt it was time to empty the bag.
CONTINUED...
http://thomasfabbiano.it/roger-and-me/