“Why I can’t help them”: Roger Federer discloses top secrets of rivals “Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic”
Mardy Fish poked fun at Roger Federer’s statement where the Swiss said he would be there for his rivals – Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray if they ever needed his help. The American questioned if he was included in that esteemed company.
Federer is currently busy with promotions of his documentary “Federer: Twelve Final Days” and recently sat down for an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport where he opened up about his dynamic with the Big 4. ‘The Big 4’ was a term given to the Swiss, Nadal, Djokovic, and Murray when they dominated tennis for a decade.
The 20-time Major champion was asked if he envied any of his rivals, to which he responded that he had a lot of respect for them. Federer also acknowledged that he wouldn’t have been successful had it not been for the other three men. The Swiss also said that he would be there for them if they ever needed his help.
Trending“I have ended up accepting my decision. I follow current tennis with pleasure and look at the results and try to watch and play tennis as much as I can. I have a lot of respect for Andy, Nole or Rafa. Without them I would not have been the person I am. I will always be grateful to them for what they have done for me. If they ever need my help, I will give it to them there.”
Former American professional tennis player Mardy Fish took to X (formerly Twitter) and jokingly asked whether he was also included in the list of people the Swiss would be there for.
“What about me? Will he be there for me?,” Fish tweeted.
“I thought I was going to suffer a lot when I announced my retirement” – Roger Federer opens up about his final dance
Roger Federer bid adieu to the sport after the 2022 Laver Cup where he teamed up with his long-time rival Rafael Nadal. Joining him were Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, and others.
On being asked about his thoughts on retirement, the 42-year-old said that he felt he would suffer a lot but the night eventually turned into a party, which he found beautiful.
“At first, I thought I was going to suffer a lot when I announced my retirement. That everything was going to be sad, but in the end everything was a party. I didn’t imagine everything would be this beautiful. You’ll see.”
‘Federer: Twelve Final Days’ is set to release on 20th June worldwide and will document the Swiss’ final days leading up to his final match and retirement.
Carlos Alcaraz hits out at tennis chiefs over ‘crazy’ rule change
The 21-year-old French Open champion says the new shot clock is ‘bad for the players’ after feeling rushed during his defeat to Jack Draper
QUEEN’S CLUB – Carlos Alcaraz says he will complain to the professional tennis tour (ATP) over a “crazy” rule change that is being trialled at Queen’s this week.
Alcaraz, 21, was handed his first defeat on grass in nearly two years on Tuesday, beaten in straight sets by British No 1 Jack Draper.
As well as being outplayed by Drpaer, reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion Alcaraz tangled with umpire Mohamed Lahyani in the first set over the time he was being given between points.
The ATP has been running a rules trial for the last 10 days where the 25-second “shot clock” starts automatically three seconds after the previous point. Players can be warned and eventually docked a point if they do not start serving before the clock expires.
Ask if he felt rushed during the match, Alcaraz said: “Yeah, absolutely.
“I think for the player it is something bad. I finish the point at the net, and I had no time to ask for the balls. I have time just to ask for two balls and no bounces.
“I have never seen something like that in tennis. If you play a long point or finish at the net, you [should] have time just to go for a towel or [do] your routine: ask for, in my case, four balls, I’m concentrating for the next point, just bouncing my bounces, and serve as best as I can.
“Today I felt like I was in a rush all the time. I had no time to bounce and do my routine. Of course it’s something bad for the players.”
i understands a meeting took place at the Queen’s Club this week with players to discuss the trial, but they were informed of the trial by email two weeks ago, before tournaments in s-Hertogenbosch and Stuttgart, and Alcaraz confirmed he would be submitting a complaint to the ATP after the match.
An even more stringent set of timing rules is being trialled in the doubles tournament, where the shot clock is down to just 15 seconds instead of the 25 afforded to singles players. Once a set, players are allowed to call for a 10-second extension.
“There’s no time to talk tactics,” one player in the Queen’s draw, who asked to remain anonymous, told i.
“You need that time between points to talk in doubles and instead there’s barely time to say ‘well done’, never mind decide what to do.”
At change of ends, teams are only allowed 40 seconds before “time” is called, creating problems for stewards trying to to get spectators into seats between games.
Another player added: “I don’t know anyone that likes it, even the fans on court were complaining about it.”
Before Queen’s, tournament director and professional doubles player Jamie Murray said: “I’m excited to see the ATP continue to try to test ways to figure out things to try to improve the doubles product and unlock more value for all the different stakeholders: players, fans, tournaments, streaming, TV and broadcasters.
“We were excited to be a part of that and hopefully, it’s a positive experience for the players and fans that are coming to watch it at Queen’s this week.”
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