Jose Higueras, Roger’s most recent high-profile coach (not counting Darren Cahill, of course) spoke to Spanish newspaper, Publico, recently about Roger Federer’s slump. His conclusion: change or die.
I’ve translated some excerpts, but please click here for the whole thing (in Spanish).
On what it’s like to coach Roger Federer:
“He’s exceptional, he feels the game like nobody else, it’s instinct and that’s why working with him is very different. In spite of everything, he would benefit by having a person to help open his eyes at certain moments.”
On deciding to leave Federer to join the USTA:
“I would have stayed with him longer, even passed on the job offer that I have at present, but Roger only offered me 10 or 12 weeks a year to work with him, which wasn’t enough time to make any changes that would be evident on the court.” (Higueras is now Director of the USTA’s Elite Player Development program.)
On Roger’s current problems:
“When you stop improving, you deteriorate; in tennis it’s always like this” says the coach, who was prohibited by contract to speak about the Swiss last year. “But Federer continues just as before. His backhand, which today seems weak, is good, but the players have grown accustomed to it and that’s why it’s less effective, now it seems to play worse.”
Roger’s immobility contrasts with Nadal’s aptitude for reinvention. “In two years, (Nadal) is a completely new player, he has improved and changed his style. Federer keeps on being the same: now others can attack him. He has stagnated.”
On changes that need to happen:
It’s not only a problem of competition, but also of philosophy. “Tactics always work better if they win – it’s a question of confidence. Federer can improve his style of play, he doesn’t always use the most appropriate style. When I was with him, he played two brilliant matches, the semifinals and final of the US Open.”
“He was aggressive, he approached the net well, he was very fast, that’s why he won, this is the way he always has to be.” Higueras says on Federer’s current game, which has problems of strategy when he doesn’t cover the backhand, his worst shot, to optimize his resources. “The backhand has always served him well, it is a big shot, but the players know it. His forehand is more devastating and more difficult to defend,” says Higueras
Couple things: 1. In Google translate, Higueras turns into “fig trees” which adds a pastoral feel to all this tennis talk. 2. Mr. Fig Trees’ statements make me sad. It pains me to think of Roger as some kind of obsolete electronic device, surpassed by newer, smarter models. 3. I wonder if we’ll hear more, now that the Federer camp’s “gag order” has expired.
Is it too late for an upgrade, Roger?
Photo: Paulo Maria/ProTENIS, Portugal via Tennis.com
Tags: Federer, Jose Higueras, Nadal, tennis
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Things seem decidedly more gloomy now than this time last year. I’m not sure that this year is going to be Roger’s. It will be hard to make adjustments when he has so much else going on in his life. But on the positive side, he still reached the finals of the only Slam this year. And both Agassi and Sampras had down years and came back to win Slams. Tennis is pretty uncertain for the young ones, too. Who knows how Roger’s rivals will be doing in a year? I’m just not sure we will ever have Roger the Invincible again.
I am absolutely appalled by these comments from Higueras. There was a reason that confidentiality clause was in place. It was to protect whatever weaknesses were evident in Roger’s game from the masses. This is a man who was put in a position of trust. His job was to work on whatever defiencies that there were in Roger’s game and improve it. Roger is a professional athlete and the last time I looked he was still competing on the ATP Tour. Why then would Mr. Higueras, someone who was a part of the Federer camp less than a year ago decide that now is an appropriate time to come out and speak ill of one of his employees. Is it that Mr. Higueras is holding a grudge that he was not considered for a more permanent post. If so, get over it. I am absolutely incensed by this.
I don’t think Higueras said anything that would be news to any tennis professional who has seen Roger play in the last few months. I agree with you that it was tacky of him to make the comments after working with Roger, but he didn’t seem to disclose any secret weaknesses. Besides, I think he’s right that Roger has to alter his game going forward. And Roger won’t do that until his personal experiences on the court convince him that change is needed. He’ll try to get his serve and forehand working again, and to cut down on UEs. But, he’ll use the same game plan. If he fails to win tournaments then, he might consider changing something, but not before. Like Liz, I think this will not be his year. But I’m still hopeful that, like Sampras and Agassi, he will be able to reinvent himself in the future and give us more great moments on the court.
sure there was a confidentiality agreement but as said, that expired.
i didn’t read anything nasty from higueras and certainly nothing that is so confidential that no other tennis pro/coach wouldn’t already know/have considered when they know they have to face federer on court.
federer being the way he is, highlighted by the ridiculous comments in recent past against his opponents, culminating in particular, the behaviour in miami, that fell nothing short of tarnishing the image he has projected to the world of his gentlemanly, sportsmanlike qualities, does need a little nip in the arse to get him off his throne of denial.
the way i see it, higueras is an honourable professional who obviously cares about roger and hopes that he has continued success. you can’t have a relationship with someone for that long and not build some kind of rapport. federer wanted higueras to work with him for longer periods but the man could not commit and hence the end of the coach/player relationship. to me, these statements are more of a message for fed, vented in a way that is both strong yet encouraging to the champ…remember folks, even though higueras would be happy to get a good paycheck by working as fed’d coach, he is not a desperate man, begging to feed himself. so lets try to look at the positives rather than the negative.
the only positive is that hopefully with guys like higueras and macenroe making statements and possibly talking to fed, the champ will finally heed to true humility and come down with desire and a thirst for change in his game so that he’ll be back to winning ways and try to build upon his legacy, as nadal will surely be in for the running to break many records over the span of his career.
Hi everyone! I agree that Higueras is not saying anything that is out of line. He may like to talk, but as a fan, I like it when people “in the know” share a little bit of their perspective.
For me, the most interesting thing is the 10 vs. 20 weeks controversy. Fed offered Higueras a short-term arrangement, but then reportedly wanted Darren Cahill for 20 weeks. So perhaps he’s changed his mind due to a desire to improve and/or a desire to replace Mirka’s constant companionship on tour – at least in one or two respects
Or maybe he just likes Darren more than Higueras.
It will be so interesting to see what Roger finally decides to do! Everyone and her mother’s been speculating (hi, mom!)
How about Dr. Phil for 52 weeks?
LOL! Dr. Phil is a tennis fan! And I could sooo see him sitting next to Mirka in the players box.
The Federer camp needs to get out of this mentality that Roger is too good for a coach. Before his virtuoso got the job done. Not anymore. He needs a master strategist, like Stefanki or McEnroe. And while he delays hiring a coach, tick tock, time is running out.
Yeah, I think Higueras was right when he said that Roger needs to be ready to change a la Nadal. Right now, I think he’s having a hard time just holding on to what he’s got (his movement, serve and forehand are all failing him!)
You know something strikes me as odd about all this: mainly that one of Roger’s greatest strengths – and one that he mentioned learning from Martina Hingis – was in always having a “Plan B” on the court; in other words, the ability to out-think his opponents. Why should that be deserting him now even in practice? I remember reading that Tiger changed his game early on when he was still winning and everyone thought he was crazy but he was right. So is Roger really stagnating? Or is he for some reason just distracted? My vote goes for the latter…though I am not saying he couldn’t use a coach – maybe he really needs a veteran, though, not someone only a few years older than himself.
Hi Rosemary! I think it’s a matter of renewed focus with Roger. And having someone do some of the thinking for him – right now he has too much to think about! And lately – especially during the Australian Open final, it looks almost like he’s thinking too much against Rafa. He’s gotta get back to that instinctive style of play that Higueras describes with the added help of a “veteran” to steer that instinct and game style.
Hmmm interesting thoughts from the Fig Tree. I don’t think it’s as dire as it sounds though. But what do I know? Im just a fangirl blinded by her own prejudices. I see Fed’s problem as being that he still feels like he’s fine for the best-of-3 matches, so he’s not rethinking his strategy sometimes when he gets into a fight in the third set. I also get the sense that it doesn’t really get him that much if he doesn’t do well at the ATP1000 level, it’s becoming too focused on slams and on history. And history will backfire and kick him in the ass if he doesn’t watch it.
I think he needs a break to refocus, particularly just on the non-slam ATP tour, because that generates a lot of momentum for players going into slams anyway. And yes, he does need a coach or a veteran to bounce ideas off, though I think he has commitment issues when the person asking for commitment isn’t named Mirka.
Hey fangirl! I think I need a break, too! All this Roger angst is very stressful. . .too bad I have a blog and have to keep writing about it
Maybe that’s why I got so excited about the wedding photos. His personal life is definitely less gloomy than the oncourt stuff.
I think he needs a season to recuperate from all the excitement and to get used to his new status as challenger instead of the challenged (I guess he’s a challenged challenger right now.)
Perhaps he’ll regroup by the US Open and tie Sampras there? I’m not sure how he’ll react to Wimbledon.
Fedex needs a coach badly.
Most of us want him to have a coach…
Seeing him coach-less makes me stressed. I am taking a break.
fantastic one and its mind blowing
i think rafa , murray too play really same kind of game everytime-from back of the court.
so sir federer is no different……..
i guess pete samprass won 7 wimby by just a great serve and volley game……
so there no need for sir federer to upgrade…….
WHY FED IS LOSING TO THE TOP PLAYERS:
1. Nadal-It is a mental issue when someone keeps attacking the backhand. Also, does not go for the winners on Nadal second servers. Why not??!!! Because he’s not aggressive enough. He’s at his best when he is dominating. He’s only like that against lower ranked players. Early on, he was like that with Nadal too. Then Nadal go better and Fed just started playing it safe (less aggressive). That’s why in the 5th set, he tights up.
2. Andy Murray-Its a stamina issue with Murray. Fed seem to lose his legs in the third set. Murray game is to get the ball back in play. Wear him out. Which he does.
HOW I THINK ROGER CAN BEAT NADAL:
1. He need to SLICE more to the Nadal two handed BACKHAND. Nadal natural backhand motion is to hit cross court to Fed’s forehand. But, Fed natural one hand slice is to Nadal forehand. So he has to mentally change where he is slicing the ball to. As much as Nadal focus on hitting ALL his shots to Fed’s backhand, Fed should focus hitting his SLICE to the Nadal backhand. It has to be the slice shot because it will be low and it will give him a greater error percentage. Because it is low, it become that much more difficult to generate extra topspin. Plus, a low slice will give him trouble in hitting it down the line to the Fed’s backhand. A regular topspin
forehand or backhand plays into Nadal’s strength, which is generating crazy amount of topspins from these type of returns.
2. Improve his serve and volleying. He leaves way too many second chance for Nadal to hit passing winners. Also, serving and volleying will save his energy to attach Nadal’s service games. It will also make him fresher going into the 5th sets, where Nadal has a greater advantage.
3. Practice attacking the Nadal serve to his backhand. Have practice partners serve all day to his backhand so that he can get use to attacking it in real matches. Practice builds confident.