Federer confesses to past mistakes
World number seven vows to continue playing despite tough six months.
“Playing at the 2016 Rio Olympics is something I’d like to achieve. That doesn’t mean I’m going to end my career there, or earlier or later.” PHOTO: AFP/FILE
BASEL:
Roger Federer admitted that he made serious errors in his planning which have contributed to a disastrous 2013 campaign, but insisted that retirement is not on his agenda.
Federer has slumped to number seven in the world and eight in the race for the World Tour Finals, and failed to make a final at any of the four majors, a run of disappointments that has led many in the sport to predict the end of the road for the 32-year-old.
The Swiss, who split last week with coach Paul Annacone after more than three years, confessed that he could have done things differently.
“I played matches that I should never have played,” said Federer, ahead of his participation in his home Swiss Indoors event which started yesterday.
“I should have left in Indian Wells [last March, with back pain] before the quarter-finals against [Rafael Nadal]. This summer, I should not have tried to play on clay in Hamburg and in Gstaad.
“But things always look better in hindsight. I wasn’t able to train as I wanted during my seven-week break, I fell into a negative spiral.”
Despite his wretched year and seeing rivals Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray carve up the majors, Federer insists that he will keep playing.
“As long as my body and mind is ready to go to travel, I’m happy to be doing what I’m doing, I’m successful. I’ll be playing for some time. That hasn’t changed due to a tough six months.
“Playing at the 2016 Rio Olympics is something I’d like to achieve. That doesn’t mean I’m going to end my career there, or earlier or later.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 22nd, 2013.
Roger Federer admitted that he made serious errors in his planning which have contributed to a disastrous 2013 campaign, but insisted that retirement is not on his agenda.
Federer has slumped to number seven in the world and eight in the race for the World Tour Finals, and failed to make a final at any of the four majors, a run of disappointments that has led many in the sport to predict the end of the road for the 32-year-old.
The Swiss, who split last week with coach Paul Annacone after more than three years, confessed that he could have done things differently.
“I played matches that I should never have played,” said Federer, ahead of his participation in his home Swiss Indoors event which started yesterday.
“I should have left in Indian Wells [last March, with back pain] before the quarter-finals against [Rafael Nadal]. This summer, I should not have tried to play on clay in Hamburg and in Gstaad.
“But things always look better in hindsight. I wasn’t able to train as I wanted during my seven-week break, I fell into a negative spiral.”
Despite his wretched year and seeing rivals Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray carve up the majors, Federer insists that he will keep playing.
“As long as my body and mind is ready to go to travel, I’m happy to be doing what I’m doing, I’m successful. I’ll be playing for some time. That hasn’t changed due to a tough six months.
“Playing at the 2016 Rio Olympics is something I’d like to achieve. That doesn’t mean I’m going to end my career there, or earlier or later.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 22nd, 2013.