Question for you old guys... did whats happenning to Fed happen to all the greats?

Question

Sampras, Borg, McEnroe, Agassi... did they all go thru almost exactly the same thing?? How did they get back?

Haha sorry for calling you old guys ;p

Answer 1

It's not uncommon for a great player to have a period of time when he struggles to just get anything right. I don't think Borg ever really went through a slump because he retired on top and pretty much never looked back until sometime later when he tried to come back. Sampras, Agassi, Mcenroe, Graf they all just had some time where nothing seemed to go their way for some it was injuries and others it was just personal stuff but they all worked back to where they belonged by taking the appropriate steps and time. Federer is still very solid and consistent as always, but by his own high standards it's a bad year with two small titles and no slams. But big applause for Blake, I'd really love to see him win a medal, he's always been the US's solid guy and it'd be so awesome if he won gold! I think maybe Federer is going through something personal, don't know what, but it's just kind of written on his face. He may very well not win the US Open and end up slamless, but I think it will be a good thing for him because he can come back next year and give us the best tennis we've ever seen from him. Federer isn't going anywhere anytime soon, he's still young and in such phenomenal shape, he's never been a quitter if he was he probably would've hung it up after the loss at Wimbledon. But Fed just keeps going and you can't fault him for still going out there and doing what he loves. I'm still rooting for him at the US Open, he's my fav player and I'll always root for him. GO FED!

Answer 2

don't be cruel to the man, he has been going through the most difficult times in his career and maybe himself doesn't know what to do.

James Blake played very well and he deserves to win....maybe Roger needs a very good coach to take him out of this ordeal and strengthen his mental factor and kill off his weakness points in his game.

I am sure he is gutted but this is what a sport all about....He used to beat his opponents so many times and maybe now it's their turn to do the same.

sometimes you can't change the fate, maybe he needs to improve his passing shots and his first service which caused him the match today.

Be with your star in good times and bad ones, this is how sincere and true fans are.

I am very angry and sad but I know it's out of his hand and he tried his best to win but sometimes when you find your opponent plays like a monster you can't do anything.

Good luck for your Roger in the upcoming matches and he needs our prayers in his worst ever year.

I am sure once he wins a big title he will restore his self-confidence and he will come back strong like before.

Answer 3

Yes it does...for those that stick around long enough to allow it to happen and not pull a Borg and bail early. Roger played well but Blake played one of the best matches of his life. Poor Roger is trying to get back on track but it just isn't happening like we and he would like.

Hey Rafa beat that misfit from Serbia so it looks like Rafa will be the Golden Boy this time around. French Open, Wimbledon, Canadian Open, Olympic Gold, all he needs now is the USO and the AO which I have a feeling he will accomplish the way he is playing.

Roger just needs a coach, a s**y younger girlfriend or friend with benefits, and a lot more practice with better players. He should give Rafa a call or just drop by Majorca and visit him ... I hear Rafa will hit with anyone.

You can tell when a guy is past it. He usually excels at doubles. Oh no! Roger is in the Finals of the Mens Doubles with Wawrinka vs the Swedes. Haha just kidding. At least he will get his Gold Medal one way or the other. Go Fed Go!

Answer 4

here's to hoping that Fed will not go the way of borg... retiring  when u can't cope just doesnt fit the profile of a possible GOAT... LOL

Answer 5

Sampras was in a slump at the end of his career when Federer beat him at Wimbledon.

Borg quit when he was ahead and very young, not long enough to hit a slump.

McEnroe also just kind of disspeared.  He may have had a slump, but he would never admit it.

The biggest slump was Agassi when married to Brooke Shields, he got so bad that he decided to start like a new player I believe he dropped down to the 160's I think but not sure, started going into qualifying events and built himself back up to #1 and grabbing records and a very fit and wise older player that other younger players had to deal with.

It is highly possible for Federer to come back, he just has to have the heart to want to do it and do it right.  He has all the goods, he just has to WANT it again and be hungry again.

Answer 6

Hey its me. Old guys tisk tisk......Well im just gonna answer ur question anyway even tho im a young thing :) lol I think Roger needs a full time coach, it doesnt matter that he`s ``Roger Federer`` and knows practically everything about the game it doesnt hurt to have two pairs of eyes even to give little hints or tips... Secondly i think theres two reasons for Rogers ``decline`` the fact that more and more players are believing they can beat him, its no longer they walk on court thinking there already beaten before they play lol! Im not sure why Rogers game on hard isnt at his best lets go back to hardcourt season 8months ago he had some awful losses to fish,stepanek,murray....etc So really it actually stems back to then. Because to me Rogers clay season and Grass was good he lost to major tournaments to Nadal and thats nothing to be embarrassed about. Perhaps this Wimbledon loss has really affected him badly and maybe he`s in denial about it all. Like Borg with Mcenroe as soon John beat him on Borgs favourite surface grass at Wimby (well one of his favourites) he couldnt cope and retired, will roger do the same ?! I very much doubt it. Being Roger Federer all that he has achieved ud expect him to get over a loss like Wimbledon and continue to try and play well win other tournaments. His loss to Blake at the Olympics is his worst one, (well i certainly think so) #1 because Roger wanted the Gold soooo badly, this was more important than a Grand Slam to him as he stated in an interview so i thought hed play his heart out against every single player to do his best and win a medal. I guess he`ll prepare for the US and try and do his best to defend his title there. I dont no where Roger goes from here i`ll just be honest, im not writing him off like everyone else but i duno its gonna be very tricky especially at the US Open. Players are improving and dont have he`s roger federer mentality going on, they believe they can beat him. At least ur not sad cause Blake won.... :) I just hope Rafa kicks Novak`s ***.

Answer 7

I'm not old, but I do know that the best players go through slumps. It's normal. That's what happens when you win all the time , then you start losing.  Sampras, yes, McEnroe, yes..Agassi..yes and he had a great comeback,..but Borg not so much. After he lost his #1 ranking to McEnroe he couldn't handle it and he retired shortly after. Let's hope Roger doesn't follow in the footsteps of Borg. He just needs a full time coach who will build him up and help him restore him confidence. Then he can play better again.  

Answer 8

Yep. It's not unheard of. Sampras went into the US Open in 1996 still in search of his first Slam of the year. And, when he won he won his last US Open in 02, it ended a nearly two year title drought.

Agassi probably had the most dramatic slump in recent years. His form was so bad in 1997 that he finished that year ranked about 140 in the world. The good news? He managed to rebound in 1998 and won Roland Garros a year later. Infact, he won the majority of his Majors (5 of his 8) after his comeback.

So no, slumps aren't rare for top stars but thankfully some do make a return to greatness. Hopefully Federer will fall into that category. At 26, he certainly has more than enough time to mount a comeback. We'll just have to wait and see.  

Answer 9

I would like to suggest that Federer isn't actually in a slump.  Despite not being in his "top form", his record this season is one that rivals  or beats everyone but Rafa.  Is Roddick in a slump because he slipped from #5 to #9 over the last year?

Federer's win percentage is down to 80% from 88% last year.. is that a slump?

Now Agassi... that was a slump.  He went from top 10 to 100's at record pace, but then fought his way back to the top, better than ever.

Federer has been almost unbeatable for over 4 years, so when he steps on the court and doesn't win every time we call it a slump.  

We know he won A.O. in 07, semi's in 08.  Finals at the French both years, and Wimbledon is cemented in everyone's mind for years to come.  In these three slams he was a grand total of 3 matches away from equalling 2007.  When anyone else in the top 10 doesn't make it past the semis (usually because they played Roger or Rafa), they played a great tournament (no mention of slump)

I took a moment to review his record from this year to last.

He improved at Indian Wells, Miami, and Rome.

Made the finals at Hamburg (won against Rafa on clay in 07).

Dubai was a tough loss early, but he was still dealing with the effects of mono, so that one really can't be counted.  It put Cilic out for 6 months, so we've got to give the great Roger Federer at least a few weeks to recover.

Since the demoralizing losees at the French and Wimbledon, I would say Federer does have some rebounding to do.  I think he has lost confidence in his forehand, and is having a few extra issues with his backhand.  Mostly, I think he feels he is no longer invincible and although he's still the presumptive favorite in our eyes, he's not the favorite in his own.  

He is having a tough year against tougher opponents.  He needs to regain some confidence lost because Rafa is having a year to remember.  He might even need to take a break.

I had mono when I had 3 toddlers to take care of... It was months before I was feeling close to normal again.  Federer had mono, and didn't take enough time to recouperate before forcing himself back onto the court.  Body and mind get worn out when rest is required.

If he returns to a serve and volley style, or at least approaches the net more, I think he can shorten points, conserve energy and get back to the top of his game (he's at the top of everyone else's already since his ok is most other players great).

I don't see him retiring before he's 30 simply because he really wants to break Pistol Pete's record.  He also wants a Career Slam under his belt (which requires that ellusive French Open win).  He may even want one more go at the Olympics in 2012.. who knows?  I personally want to see him play for many more years.  With his style of play I think he can be in his 30's and still playing at a top 10 level.  

Answer 10

That happens to all sportsmen and women. Each of the greats responded differently.

Borg quit when McEnroe was starting to beat him a little too regularly in grandslam finals. I think McEnroe was to Borg what Nadal is to Federer. McEnroe on numerous occasions prevented Borg from winning the US, then proceeded to dethrone him at Wimbledon.

Agassi never quit, but he did on occasion allow himself to get fat and drop to 145 in the ranking. But he stuck with it, and later in his career developed the maturity to really achieve good success.

Sampras had a similar slump to Federer in 1996. In fact the first significant title Sampras won in 96 was the US Open. He lost everything else prior to that. But Sampras and Federer are different. For one, Sampras had that big serve and he always felt he could win Wimbledon. So Sampras never really felt he needed to change his game, but rather just get his serve going.

McEnroe had difficulties in the middle of his career especially against Lendl. He sought some advice on it and someone told him to hit approach shots down the middle to cut out any angle for the passing shot. The result was that he beat Lendl 3 times in a row.

I think Federer needs to get a coach who can give him good solid advice. He needs to find a strategy for beating Nadal ... not just on clay anymore, but everywhere. A good coach would tell him to come to the net more. Let's face it, right now his baseline game is misfiring. Lots of unforced errors and loss of confidence. He needs to start winning points at the net, get his confidence back, and then his baseline game will kick in once again. Federer has so much game, yet he only uses a fraction of it.

That's my opinion.