TENNIS – Roger Federer has enjoyed an impressive 2014 season in which he clinched four titles compared to just one win in 2013. Although he has not won any Grand Slam titles Federer has moved up to World Number 2 in the ATP Ranking overtaking Rafa Nadal. The year is far from over for Federer who has still a chance to end the 2014 season in first place. Diego Sampaolo
What a year for Roger Federer! The Swiss Maestro ended 2013 in eighth place after a difficult year ruined by a back injury in which he won just one trophy in his favourite venue of Halle and he secured his spot for the ATP Finals only in the last qualifying tournament. After the 2014 Australian Open he fell to World Number 8, his lowest ranking since 2002. This year he won four tournaments in Dubai, Halle and two consecutive Master 1000 titles in Cincinnati and Shanghai. He lost an epic Wimbledon final against Novak Djokovic with 7-6, 4-6, 6-7, 7-5, 4-6 in the fifth set in the best match of 2014. He also reached the semifinal at the Australian Open (where he lost to Rafa Nadal after beating Jo Wilfred Tsonga and Andy Murray) and the at the US Open (where he lost to eventual winner Marin Cilic) and played three Master 1000 finals finals at Indian Wells (losing to Novak Djokovic), Monte-Carlo (where he was defeated by his compatriot Novak Djokovic) and in Toronto (losing to Jo Wilfred Tsonga). Federer also contributed to the historic achievement of the Swiss team who has reached the Davis Cup final for the first time since 1992. Switzerland will meet France in the much-awaited Davis Cup final on Indoor clay under the roof of the football stadium Pierre Mauroy in Lille from 21st to 23rd November. Federer is the player who has more match wins than anybody else on the circuit (61 victories), has more wins against top-10 players (13) and more finals (9).
“I am playing a solid, consistent season. It was about winning titles this season because last year I only got one, which was disappointing. The biggest concern this year was to remain healthy. That’s something I am so pleased about, to see how the hard work I put in last year is paying off. I am waking up normally. I am not half-broken like I was last year. I am playing the way I was hoping I could play again”, said Federer.
His Swedish coach Stefan Edberg has played a key role in Federer’s great season by contributing to his aggressive and attacking game. He showed the benefits of this tactic in the Shanghai semifinal last Saturday where he beat Novak Djokovic with a double 6-4 putting an end to Djokovic’s winning streak of match wins on Chinese soil. In the re-match of the Wimbledon final Federer approached the net 35 times and won 20 points at the net.
Although Federer has not won any Grand Slam tournaments this year, he has still some chances to end the year in first place in the ATP Ranking as can add points to his ranking. Djokovic is leading in the ATP Ranking by 2430 points over Federer with 9080 points.
Federer has three tournaments in his home city Basel, Paris Bercy and the ATP Finals in London plus the Davis Cup Final. He will defend 300 finalist points in Basel, 360 semifinalist points in Paris and 400 points in London where he lost in 2013 in the semifinal against Nadal. There is a question mark on Paris Bercy as Federer may the last Master 1000 Tournament of the year to have a week of rest to prepare the Davis Cup final in Lille where he will be looking to win one of the few trophies missing from his cabinet. The Davis Cup could add extra 225 points to Federer’s ranking.
On the contrary Novak Djokovic will have to defend his 2013 titles in Paris and London. However, Djokovic and his wife Jelena are expecting their first child in November and this could change Novak’s schedule in the final part of the year. The Serbian player, winner in Indian Wells, Miami, Rome, Wimbledon and Beijing this year, is currently leading the ATP Race to London by 990 points (9010 to 8020 points). Federer has always performed brilliantly on the fast European Indoor courts and has a good chance to make up further ground.
Federer could become the oldest Number 1 player since André Agassi. He could also become the third player to end the year in Number 1 position without winning a Grand Slam title after Jimmy Connors in 1975 and 1977 and John McEnroe in 1982.
“I think this year everything is going really well. I have still many highlights to lool forward to for the end of the year. Usually everything slows down at the end of the season. Not for me this time. What does it need for Number 1 ? I am not quite sure that I need to look into that, how realistic it is or not. It is in Novak’s racquet. Nevertheless I am still going to be playing well again”, said Federer
