Good to know that Federer still believes. From tennis.com:
Federer: No. 1 realistic if he’s playing ‘absolutely great’
World No. 2 Roger Federer says he still has a chance to reclaim the No. 1 ranking, but it will take an extraordinary year to so do. The 31-year-old Swiss is playing a more limited schedule in 2013, including skipping the Miami Masters. After Indian Wells, where Federer is defending his title and 1,000 points, he will take seven weeks off until Madrid, which begins on May 5. Federer is currently 3,105 points behind No. 1 Novak Djokovic.
“It’s definitely realistic if I’m playing great, but I need to play absolutely great,” Federer told reporters in Dubai, where he is also defending his title and 500 points. “I can play great, but will I be allowed to? Time will tell. My big focus is on making sure that every tournament I enter I am perfectly prepared. I am hopeful I will get enough matches, but if not my schedule can be changed. I need to make sure I have enough time off, so that when 2014 comes I am in a position with options, which I almost wasn’t this year to a degree.”
Federer, who won his record 17th Grand Slam singles title at Wimbledon last summer, added that he is capable of winning more majors. He has not won a major off grass since the 2010 Australian Open.
“I strongly believe I have more Slams in me,” Federer said. “Which Slam do I favor -- does Wimbledon over-weigh the rest? Maybe, but looking back there have been amazing moments with each Slam. It depends how long I play. But I don’t want to be depending on that. I am trying to be smart with my schedule. I am practicing more. Your prime is 23 to 27 or 28 so for me it’s very challenging -- and exciting. I need to make the right decisions. I have family and not many guys have that.”
Skipping Miami, MC and having to defend IW and Madrid, I don't think #1 is very realistic, he will have enough trouble staying at #2. More Slams is much more possible.
That is more serious because it's concrete, and so far what have we seen ?
- Rotterdam : only started practising on sunday before the tournament
- Dubai : went to southAfrica and also started practising very late
and after Dubai, he only has one tournament left before holidays and, let's hope, "real practising" then.
I am hopeful I will get enough matches, but if not my schedule can be changed.
"Realistic" here means "it's not impossible" imo :lol:
anyway, in the context of the question, it may sound different.
That is more serious because it's concrete, and so far what have we seen ?
- Rotterdam : only started practising on sunday before the tournament
- Dubai : went to southAfrica and also started practising very late
and after Dubai, he only has one tournament left before holidays and, let's hope, "real practising" then.
He's working on his post-retirement charity profession. Nothing wrong with that. He knows the time is near and needs to start doing business else where to maintain his lifestyle. duhhh
It's great that he's doing this, taking time off, because he's clearly sucking since the start of this season.
When 'great' Federer shows up, we all know what he can do to Djokovic and Murray. Let's hope he does show up again!
I will be very surprised if he doesn't win at least 3 more slams in the next 4 years, because he is so good on all surfaces. All he needs is a good day and a favorable draw, one where he doesnt need to beat BOTH Murray and Djokovic, let them kick eachother out for once.
It's funny to see Federer as the underdog of the top 3 right now, but this will put more pressure on the other 2.
It's great that he's doing this, taking time off, because he's clearly sucking since the start of this season.
When 'great' Federer shows up, we all know what he can do to Djokovic and Murray. Let's hope he does show up again!
I will be very surprised if he doesn't win at least 3 more slams in the next 4 years, because he is so good on all surfaces. All he needs is a good day and a favorable draw, one where he doesnt need to beat BOTH Murray and Djokovic, let them kick eachother out for once.
It's funny to see Federer as the underdog of the top 3 right now, but this will put more pressure on the other 2.
Federer, who won his record 17th Grand Slam singles title at Wimbledon last summer, added that he is capable of winning more majors. He has not won a major off grass since the 2010 Australian Open.
Roger can absolutely get back to no.1. All it takes is a few early exits from Nole at masters/slams and those 3000+ points are gone. I highly doubt it, but nothing is impossible.
For Roger to regain no.1 he needs to remain solid, reaching at least semis of masters/slams, and Nole needs a few early exits at masters/slams. Short of that scenario, I don't see it happening for Roger this year.
Very unlikely that Federer will ever be number one again but not impossible. If the GOAT gets lucky draws in a couple of majors and Djokovic and/or Murray have off days it could happen. Federer will always be my favorite player but I no longer get nervous watching his matches because he has already surpassed every athlete who ever lived. GOAT of all sports.
Very unlikely that Federer will ever be number one again but not impossible. If the GOAT gets lucky draws in a couple of majors and Djokovic and/or Murray have off days it could happen. Federer will always be my favorite player but I no longer get nervous watching his matches because he has already surpassed every athlete who ever lived. GOAT of all sports.
How many points will he gain when he wins RG, Wimbledon, USO and WTF? Cause those 4 tourneys are a lock. He just needs to motivate himself to win a few more masters and that's it.
he's supposed to be honest, and he probably is here but it would be nice to know how the question was, like "do you believe it's realistic or just a dream ?" in that case it's understandable that he would not answer "it's only a dream" :lol:
but anyway, imo it's more "realistic" for the year to come that he goes out of top-4 than to get to number 1, even though both are unlikely in the next months (for Fed, the danger to go out of top-4 seeds will start with the seeds for the US Open)
Personally that's the main thing I look at for him in the rankings : stay in the top-4 to have a less difficult path to go far in slams and have an opportunity to win one.
He doesn't care about #1 anymore, and I'm surprised there are still people who think he does.
He got what he wanted last year, which is Sampras' record. I can guarantee that the 300 weeks weren't even on his mind, just a bonus.
It's the media - of course he says he cares. How can people buy it when he is skipping Masters events left and right?
Besides, it's totally understandable. What would even happen if he gets #1? Those 302 weeks would turn into 315, 320, 330, or anything like that. Bottom line is, it's not really gonna do anything for his legacy. The only thing that would be remembered about it is me and my pals here trolling the life out of the miserable Djokotards.
He wants more glory, REAL glory. For someone like him it's only more Slams.
Anyway, however one looks at it (personally I think like you that he answered that because he needs to say something or maybe for marketting purposes, but even for the ones who believe that he really has the number 1 somewhere left in his mind, he needs to win one or more likely several slams to get there anyway),
yes his first goal is winning one or several slams ... and that one we can all be 100% certain he still has it in mind.
But as for the rankings, I will be more reasonable and rather look at the top-4 at the moment :lol:
federer can become #1. he just needs to follow Ferrer. Each smaller tournament that Ferrer enters, Ferrer wins, so if Feds on the othr side evrytime, he will win everytime.
his 2012 happened due to nadal being injured and old man lying about the weather to get the roof closed + winning small tournaments that no one cares about
Good to know that Federer still believes. From tennis.com:
Federer: No. 1 realistic if he’s playing ‘absolutely great’
World No. 2 Roger Federer says he still has a chance to reclaim the No. 1 ranking, but it will take an extraordinary year to so do. The 31-year-old Swiss is playing a more limited schedule in 2013, including skipping the Miami Masters. After Indian Wells, where Federer is defending his title and 1,000 points, he will take seven weeks off until Madrid, which begins on May 5. Federer is currently 3,105 points behind No. 1 Novak Djokovic.
“It’s definitely realistic if I’m playing great, but I need to play absolutely great,” Federer told reporters in Dubai, where he is also defending his title and 500 points. “I can play great, but will I be allowed to? Time will tell. My big focus is on making sure that every tournament I enter I am perfectly prepared. I am hopeful I will get enough matches, but if not my schedule can be changed. I need to make sure I have enough time off, so that when 2014 comes I am in a position with options, which I almost wasn’t this year to a degree.”
Federer, who won his record 17th Grand Slam singles title at Wimbledon last summer, added that he is capable of winning more majors. He has not won a major off grass since the 2010 Australian Open.
“I strongly believe I have more Slams in me,” Federer said. “Which Slam do I favor -- does Wimbledon over-weigh the rest? Maybe, but looking back there have been amazing moments with each Slam. It depends how long I play. But I don’t want to be depending on that. I am trying to be smart with my schedule. I am practicing more. Your prime is 23 to 27 or 28 so for me it’s very challenging -- and exciting. I need to make the right decisions. I have family and not many guys have that.”
Anyone else annoyed by this sentence? Who the hell writes stuff like that? It is pretty pathetic what writers do these days in order to pain a bad picture about athletes.
It is amusing/depressing how much poor sports journalism there is. Someone got paid to write that sentence
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Mens Tennis Forums
18.5M posts
88K members
Since 2002
A forum community dedicated to male tennis players and enthusiasts. Talk about everything from the ATP, NSMTA, to college Tennis and even everything about equipment. It's all here!