19-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer’s coach, Paul Annacone has asserted that the Swiss star’s stranglehold of the men’s game will continue until at least 2019.
Annacone, who coached Federer from 2010 to 2014, believes Federer has already proven his critics wrong by winning two Majors in 2017 – the Australian Open title over World No. 1 Rafael Nadal and a record breaking 8th Wimbledon crown against Marin Cilic of Croatia.
Annacone, who was also the mentor of American great Pete Sampras throughout his illustrious career, thinks the 36-year-old is capable of maintaining his imperious form for the next two years.
“After watching Pete and what he went through and then win the US Open in 2002, I kind of held up my hands and decided never to predict what a great athlete can do,” Annacone told Express Sport.
“Because those guys are the more exception than the rule.
“With Roger he is so different and such a freak of nature in a good way that I don’t know what to predict anymore.
“When you look at his skills sets and how well Roger played in big moments this year, I don’t know why he can’t sustain that for another, let’s say, 12 to 24 months.”
But Annacone feels the 2018 season could prove to be the most challenging for the Basel native.
“Again so much of it at this stage of his career is about staying healthy,” he added.
“And making sure he plays his best tennis at the big moments, which he is very good at scheduling wise.
“But now we have a great time for tennis where we hope we have a healthy Andy Murray on the stage for 2018, a healthy Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka.
“If we get that again, plus Rafael Nadal, plus Grigor Dimitrov and Alexander Zverev using up, it’s going to be a great 2018.”
