When Roger Federer announced he was splitting with childhood idol Stefan Edberg to pair up with Ivan Ljubicic as his new coach, many eyebrows were raised in the tennis community. It was made clear right away that the decision wasn’t taken in a rush and that Stefan and Roger hadn’t left in bad terms. Watching the game of the Swiss move forward to embrace aggression at the net since having Edberg in his box made many wonder what else can Roger do to win another Grand Slam title that hasn’t been done yet. What can Ivan bring to Roger’s game that Stefan wasn’t able to bring?
Rafael Nadal answered the same question when asked just the other day. Here is what the 14-time Grand Slam champion said about his rival’s choice:
“Roger will not change many things in his game with coach Ivan Ljubicic”
As simple as that sounds, some started to interpret the words of the Spaniard in some sort of twisted way. Rafael isn’t trying to undermine Roger’s choice, nor he is underestimating the work the Swiss can do with Ljubicic. Nothing of that sort.
Nadal is just simply speaking the truth. At 34 years of age, with 17 Grand Slam titles, 302 weeks at World No.1 and 88 titles overall on the ATP tour, Roger Federer hardly needs someone to tell him how to play tennis. At this stage of his career, the Swiss will not be changing the way his game is played, that is for sure. The aggression brought in by Edberg is meant to stay and the registry of the Swiss will hardly change. We will see more SABR returns probably, many more volley winners and charges at the net. All of that is just the way Federer knows how to play tennis.
So what can Ivan really bring?
Having played against almost all players Roger is dealing with in the circuit, Ljubicic can provide insider tips on how to face each and every opponent. Having played against Federer on the tour many times, Ivan will be able to provide Roger on what it feels like to play against him and what other opponents find particularly hard to deal with in the Swiss’ game. Also, in the latter stages of his career, Ljubicic worked on developing an attacking game based on a powerful first serve and initial shots that granted him the top positions in the men’s rankings. As a contemporary of the Swiss, Ljubicic will be able to implement Roger’s tactics and further suggest the need for aggression.
Maybe Brad Gilbert was wrong when saying Roger has hired Ljubicic with the main purpose of beating Djokovic in 5-set matches. Sure the Swiss knows his competition, but he hardly had just Djokovic in mind when summoning Ljubicic to sit in his corner. Knowing the Croat, Ivan had already a plan in place he presented Federer on how to possibly improve a machine that is worth 2 Grand Slam finals in the 2015 season despite the age. Roger accepted it and was then convinced to work with his former rival and now friend.
Therefore Nadal was right. Something will hardly change in Roger’s game with the introduction of Ivan Ljubicic in his corner. The choice however seems right to develop new strategies and implement the aggression. After all at his level isn’t what tennis is mostly about?
