The life of a tennis player does not begin or end in tournaments.
Training for hours each day is just one of the many tasks of a professional tennis player. They also work with various tools, such as a speed radar gun and a swing analyzer, that assess their abilities on the court, helping them set benchmarks for improvement.
But, there are aspects of tennis that even the most advanced equipment cannot measure; grace and sportsmanship, for example, both of which Swiss tennis pro Roger Federer has. Considered the greatest male tennis player of all time, Federer is the first man to win 20 Grand Slam singles titles: eight Wimbledon titles, six Australian Open titles, five US Open titles, and one French Open title.
If that isn’t legendary, we don’t know what is. Way past his prime, Federer is still swinging it.
Still at His Peak
Generally, tennis favors those who are younger, faster, and have more endurance like Greek tennis legend Pete Sampras who was already a pro at 16. Sports analysts say the peak age for a tennis player is 24 to 28 years old.
At 37, however, Federer has proven he’s not ready to retire yet, beating much younger opponents who are in their prime, including top seeds Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. At his age, Federer should be taking coaching jobs or watching by the bleachers by this time, but his titles speak for themselves.
Graceful Technique
Although perceived as a ‘luxury’ game, tennis can be brutal. For Federer, the sport doesn’t have to be. The Swiss maestro is a defensive tennis player who displays graceful forehand serves and returns.
His forehand strike is considered to be the finest in history, and, along with his Eastern grip, his forehand helps him pass shots and hit massive topspin. Unlike Djokovic, Federer can maintain his balance even when lunging for an out-of-reach ball, making him elegant to watch and less prone to injury. This style and his single-handed backhand are what help him endure long rallies against aggressive pros.
Game Attitude
Despite the psychological pressure of competing professionally even at his age, Federer is a calm and modest player on the court. But more than these, Federer is a patient player.
Otherwise, he would never have overcome his five year-Grand Slam title slump in 2012-2017, which could have pushed him to put the racket back in the bag. He was in the shadow of Djokovic and his archrival Nadal for quite some time, but the greatest of all time trained and learned in-between tournaments to get back in the game – and he did, when he beat Nadal at the 2017 Australian Open.
Many say Federer wins most of his titles at the locker room. His patience in training, his attitude in the court, and his physical-friendly techniques make him difficult to beat. It’s a long way to go before anyone else becomes the next Federer, but if you are serious about getting those Grand Slam titles, start putting in the hours in training sessions.
We have tennis training equipment, such as speed radar guns, that can help you improve your skills. Browse through our shop for more information.