ATP Finals: Roger Federer takes a break for now

Roger Federer is relaxed because he is already in the semi-finals. And because he can take a break at his age – and knows that it doesn’t hurt.

By Florian Goosmann from London

Roger Federer was announced for the press conference at 11.05 pm, Alexander Zverev came in the door – with Federer in tow. He trotted to the TV and radio station while his beaten colleague sat on the podium. Five minutes later, Zverev was through and Federer gave twenty more minutes of answers in English, German, Swiss-German and French. Relaxed, of course. And with the calmness and contentment of a man who has achieved everything and wants to enjoy more.

In important moments, Federer explained, he meanwhile tries to laugh inwardly and to think:”Everything is fine. It is sometimes important to remember that. Even if he hadn’t really managed to play freely that night. Therefore, a lot of defensive, which he didn’t have to do so often this season. But, according to optimist Federer,”It was a good thing to show that I can win such matches, play these points over and over again and stay mentally alert.”

Why didn’t he cut through the forehand when there was a chance?”Haaaaach”, Federer moaned,”I didn’t feel well.” The rhythm is still missing, there are still many mistakes.

And what to do if the rhythm is missing? Federer tries to take a break for a day.”In Shanghai in 2005, I wouldn’t have done anything like that. I would have trained somewhere, because that’s what you had to do. But now I know that my game won’t just go away if I take a day off. It’s actually quite nice to be able to do that. Having the confidence in your game, knowing you’re holding your level.”

Less work, quality instead of quantity, the great secret of the aging guard. But sometimes the wiser trainers have the best ideas. Because he hadn’t even thought of taking a break, his coaches Severin Lüthi and Ivan Ljubicic had come around the corner with it.

According to Federer, everything was different from before:”I might have gone to play squash on my days off. And then he would have asked me in the semi-final:”Why am I so tired? Why do I have a groin problem? Maybe he played too much football on grass,”said Federer, laughing,”It doesn’t happen to me any more,” especially since 2008, when he fell ill with glandular fever, he had completely cut back on other sports, even skiing.

The kids keep me on my toes,”Federer continued,” I don’t have one or two, I have four. I’m not gonna be on the couch all the time.”