Roger Federer Reveals Why He Is Playing On Clay In 2019
Roger Federer has not competed on clay since the 2016 Internazionali BNL d’Italia. But on Sunday in Dubai, the World No. 7 revealed why he is returning to the surface this season.
“I think after not playing for two years, also missing the French [Open] three years ago because of injury, I think the team understood that I was in the mood to do it again. I did grow up on clay, after all. I felt like my body is strong enough now again to do the surface changes from hard to clay to grass to hard. In the past I felt different,” said Federer, who has committed to the Mutua Madrid Open thus far. “It was purely based on [the fact that] I would just like to play. We can always readjust the schedule accordingly depending how I play the clay.”
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Federer also put to rest any chatter regarding any other reasons he might be competing on clay in 2019. To the 37-year-old, it’s simple.
“This doesn't mean this is my last clay-court season, or I had to play one more time before I retired. That was not the thinking,” Federer said. “My body was ready, I was ready, my schedule with the family, my schedule with the team was ready to do it again. This is when I opted to say, ‘It will be nice. Instead of taking a big chunk off, I'd rather stay in the rhythm and actually enjoy myself on the clay.’ It's going to be challenging, no doubt about it. I have to take baby steps in the beginning to some extent, but that's okay.”
For now, Federer is remaining focused on the task at hand: the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, an ATP 500 event he has won seven times. This week, Federer will make his fourth attempt to win his 100th tour-level title. He’s not getting too far ahead of himself, though.
“I think that's got to be the mindset, that you try your best every match, every week, anyway. Things fall into place or they don't. It's not because of lack of effort,” Federer said. “We've been talking about 99 titles ever since Basel, every tournament I've played. There's nothing new. Of course, coming to Dubai where I've enjoyed a lot of success sort of makes you believe maybe it could happen here. Then again, the draw is tough. I haven't played in a few weeks so you reset everything, get ready for your first round, hope everything is going to click again here in Dubai.”
Federer will face Philipp Kohlschreiber on Monday evening for the 14th time in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series. While the Swiss has won each of their previous 13 meetings, he is not taking the German veteran lightly. They played two tight practice sets a couple of days ago.
“7-6 in the first. I think it was for me. I wonder if he was a break up in the second, something like that. It was close. I remember it was very close,” Federer said.
“Everybody can play tennis. We can feel [that] in practice every single day. The moment you're not 100 per cent on, margins are so slim, you could easily lose. I think that's why it always keeps us very humble and on the ground,” Federer said. “That's why this first round is a true test. I think when you come through it, it also fuels you with a lot of confidence. I'm looking forward to it.”
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Federer is competing for the first time since a surprising quarter-final loss at the Australian Open against reigning Next Gen ATP Finals champion Stefanos Tsitsipas. But he says he is not carrying any of that disappointment into Dubai.
“I still felt like I played okay. It wasn't a horrible tournament for me,” Federer said. “I played good actually [in all the] matches. I just messed up on some big, big points. I'm not going to change my game because I missed out on some opportunities. So it's actually been a nice break away from it all.
“I'm feeling good now. Fitness has been going well, tennis has been going well. I've been here a few days. I feel really well prepared. I'm excited that the ATP Tour is moving on and I'm here. I'm happy to be back.”