Former Davis Cup captain Jim Courier has said the allegation that Roger Federer receives special treatment on the tour has been blown out of proportion by the media.
Earlier this month Julien Benneteau suggested that the Swiss No.1 receives favourable scheduling at the Australian Open due to his ties with tournament director Craig Tiley. Tiley is also involved in the Laver Cup and allegedly receives payment from Federer’s agent for his work. In an interview with RMC Sport, the former top 30 player said there was a conflict of interest.
“He’s the Australian Open tournament director,” Benneteau told RMC Sport.
“And the man is paid by Roger Federer’s agent for the Laver Cup.
“Over the last two Australian Opens, (Federer) played 14 matches, because he was champion and finalist. And he played 12 or 13 of his 14 matches in the night session.”
In the wake of the comments made by Benneteau, who also praised Federer during the same interview, the world No.3 has hit back. Arguing that the words from the Frenchman has been ‘taken out of context.’ At the ATP Finals, Federer sidestepped one question concerning a claim that his agent, Tony Godsick, requested that he didn’t play on the Louis Armstrong Court during the US Open.
Weighing in on the debate, four-time grand slam champion Courier has jumped to the defence of Federer. Saying that he receives adequate treatment in relation to his status in the sport. The 37-year-old has won 99 ATP titles so far in his career. The second highest of all-time after Jimmy Connors (109).
“I think Roger Federer gets an appropriate treatment for who is in the game, what he means to the fans, what he means to the broadcasters.” Courier told The Tennis Channel.
“I don’t think there is any set of scandal the USTA, Tennis Australia are doing anything different than they would normally do because they invested in the Laver Cup.
“I think that’s a little bit misguided from Julien Benneteau, he did say a lot of nice things about Roger Federer in that radio interview as well.
“This is obviously the one grab, media obviously love to go negative and make a story out of it, otherwise we wouldn’t be talking about it.”
‘They all ask for it’
Paul Annacone is another figure to hit back at the claims. The American is a former top 20 player in both singles and doubles, who coached Federer between 2010-2013. Since then, he has had stints working alongside Sloane Stephens, Stan Wawrinka and Taylor Fritz.
“When the issue came out I said, Yes? And So?” Annacone said.
“This happens in every tournament. I took part in many meetings where I walked in and they said, Pete Sampras would like to play this day, Roger Federer would like to play this day, Tim Henman…
“You do it at every single tournament.
“And I can guarantee you, I have been there with the coaches of Nadal, Djokovic. They all ask for It.
“They don’t always get it, but these guys hold the mantle up for everybody right now and they should get a preferential treatment.”
Tennis Australia has released a statement concerning Benneteau’s claim. In it, they said Federer’s scheduling on the premier courts of the Australian Open is due to the demands of both fans and broadcasters.
Federer will return to action at the start of January at the Hopman Cup in Perth.
