Roger Federer's Body and Mind Turn 30
They say “age is a state of mind” and they talk about “mind over matter”. Roger Federer will focus on both of those adages in the coming weeks and months as he is asked repeatedly about his future tennis prospects given that he just turned 30. There seem to
be more and more “thirty-somethings” playing pro tennis, especially on the men’s Tour, as players take care of their bodies and extend their limited playing/earning years.
There is no question that players lose a step as they get older and also that they are more prone to injuries and recovering more slowly after long, grueling matches. However, in many instances, it’s the mind that shows a player’s age. In a good way, a player’s experience from many years on Tour can help him/her win matches. On the flip side, it’s often seemed that Federer’s “mental strength” may have dropped a notch in the past year or two as he has faltered a few times in the big moments where in the past he had always produced his best tennis. Once “doubt” creeps in, it’s mighty hard to push it away. Nonetheless, Federer still seems to be very fit, eager and capable of challenging and beating every player on Tour. Federer was 10-1 in his first eleven Grand Slam finals, but 6-6 in the next twelve Slam finals. Therefore, the only question that remains will be whether he can string together seven solid wins in a row and capture Grand Slam title number seventeen.
There is no question that players lose a step as they get older and also that they are more prone to injuries and recovering more slowly after long, grueling matches. However, in many instances, it’s the mind that shows a player’s age. In a good way, a player’s experience from many years on Tour can help him/her win matches. On the flip side, it’s often seemed that Federer’s “mental strength” may have dropped a notch in the past year or two as he has faltered a few times in the big moments where in the past he had always produced his best tennis. Once “doubt” creeps in, it’s mighty hard to push it away. Nonetheless, Federer still seems to be very fit, eager and capable of challenging and beating every player on Tour. Federer was 10-1 in his first eleven Grand Slam finals, but 6-6 in the next twelve Slam finals. Therefore, the only question that remains will be whether he can string together seven solid wins in a row and capture Grand Slam title number seventeen.
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