Federer fans, take note: Roger is not injured. Federer fans, explain: then why isn’t he playing Davis Cup? This is all so confusing. . .
Pierre Paganini, Roger Federer’s Swiss fitness coach, did an interview last weekend with Swiss newspaper Blick, answering questions regarding Federer’s recent back injury that caused him to pull out from the Dubai tournament and Davis Cup. Paganini is in Dubai with Fed right now, along with two sparring partners, for two weeks of training. What I find fascinating about this article is Paganini’s claims that much of Federer’s (non)injury is stressed induced. (I underlined here and there for emphasis)
Thanks to Down the Line and Tennis Times for this:
- Mr. Paganini, what’s going on with Federer? What is he doing?
Paganini: At the moment we give him some time to recover. We intensified the work with his physio therapist. But to make it clear once and for all: Federer is not injured. What we are doing is pure prophylaxis. We are working for the next two weeks in Dubai. Roger also flew in two sparring partners to be able two work on the court.
-Was Federer a 100% fit in Melbourne?
Paganini: Well we have to go further back for this. Roger got injured last November. His injury is cured. Everything was ok in Melbourne. But with so many matches it is not easy to recover 100%. He wasn’t impeded in his game. But it meant a lot of stress, the journey, the pressure, etc., so the body’s reaction in a stressful situation and during a normal training is not the same. He felt it, and that’s why we have decided to take a break in order to prevent other injuries from occurring.
-What did you learn from it? Do you have to change something?
Paganini: Well we understood that we have to spend even more time doing physical preparation. This is the priority between the tournaments. Roger wants to pay attention to his body in order to be able to manage those stressful situations.
- Does that mean that he is going to play fewer tournaments?
Paganini: No, it simply means to plan in a different way, manage the time differently. We have to organize ourselves even better in order to be able to do a proper physical education wherever Roger is.
- Roger is not going to play the Davis Cup. As a Swiss man it must hurt you, but as a fitness coach you must think that it is right.
Paganini: As a fitness coach I always should be against it whenever it concerns the body. You have to recognize that if he would be playing Davis Cup he’d be playing as the team leader. He’d play Friday, Saturday and Sunday non stop. That’s just a lot for your body. Roger is like a jewel. And he knows that it would just be too risky.
Ah, Roger is like a jewel! That’s a good one, Pierre – I’m gonna keep that in mind for further posts. Love the Fedophile speak!
Here’s hoping our man Mr. Federer’s (non)injury clears up soon. I’d love to see him win a Masters (can I still call them that?) this year at either Indian Wells or Miami. Perhaps that’s his goal, too?
Photo: Jon Hargest
Tags: Dubai Tennis Championships, Federer, Fedophile, Pierre Paganini, tennis
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So FF – what’s your call on the hiatus now that Pierre confirmed the non-injury?
Do you think he’s solely working on preventative practices, taking a mental va-ca, OR is it a combo platter #3??
In any case, I’d like a mental vacation where he’s at right now (looks bright and sunshiney, unlike NYC) though I’m poo-pooing Dubai at the moment.
Hola, Rich! Thanks for the story, by the way!
I’m a little confused about all these non-injuries. Rafa has one, too, doesn’t he? Maybe this is a new trend – the big guys don’t want to show any weaknesses, so now they take “non-injury” withdrawals? Just like Novak takes non-injury retirements? Interesting. . .
I’m guessing it’s an order of stressed out, Rafa-side-up, with a side of stiff back – at least if we take Paganini seriously.
I feel Roger’s pain – I could definitely use a five week yoga retreat on Maui, with cocktails. . .
Well i sort of assumed this. I highly doubted that Roger had any serious injuries to begin with. Must be the “neutral swiss” mentality to not take a political stance on issues.
That Paganini sounds like one of the most amazing trainers out there. I believe he works with Ivanovic too. But Roger’s fitness always has been rock-solid. You almost never hear of Roger having an injury.
This sounds more like mental-vaca like Rich mentioned. A much needed one at that. Hopefully Roger adds a top-notch psychologist to join Team RF. That mental-break-down-under was just sad.
Come on ROGER. WTFU!! (“WAKE THE F*CK UP”)
I want my own Paganini to keep me in shape and call me a “jewel” to the press!
Not a Roger fan but I’m sure he’s just doing the whole mental rest, get ready again thing. I *guess* I’d like to see him win a Masters [i still call it that], even if there are other players I’d like to see more. He’s still the best, despite everything.
Hey Izzie! You are so funny! I appreciate your willingness to wish my guy well. . .I feel the same way when Nadal wins! Grudging admiration, I think describes it best.
How about going old school and calling them “Super 9′s”?
Let me ask you all this, though: Do you think Paganini will be Federer’s fitness coach much longer? That’s a lot of loose-lipness for a fitness coach. Tiger Woods would have had a guy fired for thinking about contradicting him in public!
haha..what’s the old expression they used in WWII subs?
“Loose lips sink ships”
Yah that definitely is strange that he publicly said all that.
The original interview was in Swiss German i believe.
Maybe he/they didn’t think it would leak out internationally like it has?
Highly doubt he would get fired though, maybe reprimanded by Roger’s PR guy.
Paganini has done such amazing work with Roger all this time.’
Look @ how much Roger has won and lasted. How many injuries can you truly recall from the past 5-6 years of dominance?
Only thing I can truly recall is Roger’s mono and his strange lumpy growth he had on his face during the 1st half of the year.
Now look at Rafa. His knees are practically falling off his legs. He has to tape them on so tight every match! I really don’t know how long he can last at this level. If Rafa’s knees/health gets worse during the next few months, there could be a window open for Roger at the French,IMHO.
I’d say for Roger, who cares about Wimbledon. You already have 5 wimby’s. Work reeally hard on winning French. Go for the GOAT title. More important
Freaky Fritters! Roger will NEVER say “Who cares about Wimbledon.” That’s almost ALL he cares about.
Van you do make an interesting point – not sure why Pierre said that Roger wasn’t injured. It seems that would just make public sentiment worse, especially with the Davis Cup pull out (although rumor has it that he could still decide to play in Alabama. . .)
Perhaps the interview was supposed to be about something else, and the reporters sneaked in a few questions that the PR-unsavvy Paganini wasn’t expecting? Don’t know, but it’s definitely good stuff!
I don’t know what point you are making and where Paganini is saying anything different from what Federer said. Federer never said his back was injured. He said it had not regained enough strength. Rest and rehabilitation were needed. He would have damaged it even more if he continued playing.
http://www.rogerfederer.com/en/rogers/news/newsdetail.cfm?uNewsID=868
Hey bop,
Sometimes I’m not sure what point I’m trying to make, either
The main thing that Pierre stressed, that Roger didn’t in his own statement, was that the emotional stress and pressure that Roger felt in Melbourne had a negative negative effect on his back. I find this mind-body explanation for the injury pretty interesting, considering how much Roger (and his fans) want him to beat Pete’s record.
I also thought people would like to hear what Paganini had to say – it’s rare to get such unbridled explanations from anyone in a player’s camp, especially when the player is Roger Federer.
But I agree that Pierre’s statements did jive pretty well with Roger’s, and that this kind of stuff is only interesting if you’re semi obsessed with Roger Federer in the first place.
Federer is a phony. He’s staged the whole back thing going back to Paris. in Paris he played for the appearance fee, then pulled out to prepare for the TMC, and when Murray was really socking it to him, he asked or an injury timeout to save face.
Federer a jewel? Laughable. the guy’s a perfect con artist. He didn’t want to play Davis Cup so he faked the injury. He has been playing a game with the DC committe for Switzerland for years and always dangling them on a rope. It would have been suspicious and too obvious if he played Dubai then pulled from Davis Cup. He had no choice but to pull out of both. Why would he care anyway, he got the appearance money from Dubai, enjoyed the party. Pulling out didn’t hurt him since he didn’t have any points to defend. Good job Federer, you’re now on my list of the top ten con artists in tenns and without tennis balls too.
Hi Amina – so you’re not a Fed fan, I’m guessing
Just wondering – do you know for a fact that Roger got the appearance money just for showing up to a party? Not sure if that is true, but it would be interesting to know. Considering he was training in Dubai, I assume someone just asked him if he’d come and show his support.
In terms of cooking up some big injury scheme since Paris – that seems a little far fetched to me. I’m a big believer in the simplest explanation is usually the right one – so Roger got a back injury, pulled out of Paris and then lost early in TMC either because he was injured or because he was outplayed (or both). Seems kind of crazy to fake an injury in November just because you don’t want to play Davis cup in March.
I do agree with you that the DC withdrawal was really disappointing. (Andy Roddick is really looking great right now – he takes a stand on Dubai and makes DC a priority – you can’t get more stand-up than that.) I think Peter Bodo was right in his recent article – Roger’s only looking to win Majors now and is doing everything he can to make sure that he’s in shape for them. He doesn’t care about DC or the smaller tournaments, which is a real shame for the fans. At the same time, most of his fans really want him to beat Pete’s record, so they’re willing to forgive him almost anything. But I can see how non-Fed fans could see some of his actions as being pretty selfish.
Who else is on your con artist list? Justine Henin? Jimmy Connors?
freakyfrites – yeah, you’re right, and sorry not a big Fed fan. I’m not 100% positive he did get the appearance fee, but from all I’ve read the indications are that he did. I apologize if I’m wrong. One big reason I don’t like Fed is due to the credibility issue. I never know when he’s telling the truth. I don’t understand how Melbourne could have a negative effect on his back. I would think it would be his mind.
I’m not saying the Paris injury was faked because of Davis Cup. I thought he faked it to have more time to prepare for the TMC. Maybe he didn’t fake the Paris injury, but he didn’t show any kind of physical distress before the pull out, and considering he’s never before talked about his back causing him any problems, is the reason I’m thinking he faked it. I think he lost in the TMC because he was outplayed by Murray and the back was a very good excuse and a believable one, due to the recent Paris pullout. That sounds credible to me. Of course it will, because I’m saying it, and I like to think I’m right. right?
The DC pullout is so very suspicious. How could he be training so much with a back problem? Doesn’t that make you wonder just a tiny bit that something’s not too kosher? He flew in two sparring partners, which says he means business and big-time training. So what about the back is it now OK?
I don’t see the big deal in beating Pete’s record. If he does that, then what next. His pleasure will be gone, and his tennis will suffer. I don’t think it’s fair to his fans also, they deserve to support a player who is 100% committed to playing full-time, not part-time in the slams. That’s what the Williams sisters do and look what has happened to the women’s field.
Right now because he’s focusing only on the slams and forsaking the smaller tournaments, his tennis, as well as the sport is suffering. That’s not the way someone of his caliber should be thinking and acting. We all talk of consistency, but with Fed’s shift in focus, his consistency will suffer. He’s focusing on beating Nadal alone, and due to his one-tracked focus, Nadal, Murray and Simon are beating him. What is going to happen very soon if he doesn’t stop focusing on Nadal, is that other players will beat him before he gets to meet Nadal and then he won’t be crying only when beaten by Nadal, but when the others do it too.
Nadal is on my list of con artists too with his never-ending knee problems. Jimmy Connors was one of the biggest actors around. Henin was guilty of some con stunts herself, but Serena and the Djoker takes the prize.
Hey Amina!
Well. . .let’s just say that whatever the extent of Roger’s back injury (or non-injury), he’ll have a lot to prove when he returns for Indian Wells and Miami! As a big Fed fan, I’m really hoping he wins one or the other, preferably beating Murray and/or Nadal on the way to a title. But maybe that’s too much to ask – don’t want all the pressure getting to his back again
I like this idea of tennis con men/women. (But do you really think Rafa is a conning us with his knees? To me it seems very legitimate, especially considering the way he plays!)
You seem to be a pretty tough judge of character – so who do you think are some of tennis’s straight shooters? Or is everyone a conman at heart? I think Andy Roddick’s been pretty faultless so far this season.
freakyfrites: Yes, Fed will have to prove a lot at the upcoming tournaments. We certainly don’t want too much mental pressure getting to his back now, but Nadal will ensure he does that. Becker says Fed shouldn’t be too friendly with Rafa. I guess Fed feels if he’s friendly then Nadal won’t pummel him too much.
So you like the idea of con artists in the tennis field? Well, in my work, we see everyone as some sort of con artist and we’re all inclined to stretch or shrink the truth as we see convenient, whether we intend to or not.
I don’t feel Nadal is lying about his knee. He definitely has some issues, but I feel that his camp is using it for everything that happens to him. It’s a universal excuse and a bit overworked, imo. For instance, in Rotterdam he had an injury timeout and it was assumed by everyone, including the writers, that it was tendinitis, however, it was eventually stated that he pulled a muscle in his leg. It seems to me that the knee thing is a very convenient excuse now and I don’t feel it’s fair to his opponents. He has so many injury timeouts — too many, imo. I mean how could someone be in so much pain, as his camp leads us to believe, and the guy sprints around like Usain Bolt. It’s not possible. I hurt my toe and it stings for hours or days.
Yes, there are some straight shooters. I believe Murray and Roddick are pretty truthful. We don’t hear much from the players outside of the top 10 so it’s kinda difficult to judge who’s upfront and who’s not.
Yeah, I picture Rafa and Roger selling selling Florida swampland door-to-door or playing three card monte on a Basel street corner. . .
Ahh this news of a coach is good. I am soooo sick of watching Nadal dictate points by whipping loopy-loo forehands to RF’s backhand all match long. C’mon, if Fed is greatest of all time, he HAS to cut that rubbish out. He has to serve better and not miss stupid volleys; he did this in Semi’s of Masters Cup ’07 against Nadal and whipped him – 6/4, 6/1!!
To do ANY of this though, he’s gotta get his noggin’ working. Gotta me more aggresive on court against Nadal, be more assertive; take charge of points; play with the same instinct and flare as he does against everyone else.
Quote Boris Becker,
“Federer is motivated, he radiates joy when playing. This was seen in Melbourne. He was superior to his opponents, played freely. And then came Nadal. I can see it, he visibly cramps up. This is due to Roger’s lack of experience playing against players who can meet him eye-to-eye.”
So true Boris. So, so true.
Go for it Roger! Go for it Cahill! Roll on Roland Garros!!
Hey RR! Love the screen name by the way, it’s like Roger gone Russian!
Totally agree that it’s time for a fresh approach to Roger’s match-up against Nadal. I’m really hoping Cahill takes some of the weight off Rog’s shoulders so he can actually enjoy playing Nadal again! I think having Roland Garros as the next major is a good thing for Rog – assuming he makes it to the final against Rafa, he can’t play him much worse that he did last year, can he? Of course, we shouldn’t assume that he’s waltzing into the final with guys like Murray, Simon, Tsonga and Djokovic all playing well.