World No.2 Roger Federer believes that it is ‘kind of wrong’ for people to predict who will be a potential successor to him and others in the future.
The 37-year-old has described predictions about the future stars of the men’s tour as counter productive during a press conference on Wednesday. At present there are only three players under the age of 21 ranked in the world’s top 20. Alexander Zverev (5), Stefanos Tsitsipas (15) and Borna Coric (19). The trio belong to the ATP’s Next Generation contingent. A group of players aged under 21 who are ranked in the world’s top 200.
“For the time being, just to always talk about what is the potential of such-and-such player, I find it’s kind of wrong, because it’s just too easy to say it,” Federer told reporters following his second round win at the Shanghai Masters.
Federer knows all too well what it is like growing up with huge expectations placed upon his shoulders. A successful junior career saw him win the Wimbledon boys’ title in 1998. Later that year he scored his first win on the ATP World Tour at the age of 17 in Toulouse. Federer won his first ATP title at the age of 19, but didn’t triumph at a major until the age of 22.
“People said I was going to be world No. 1 at 16, 17, or I was going to be like Pete (Sampras). And I was, like, well, I have zero titles. The guy has got, like, bloody 70. How do you compare me to him?” He said.
“You don’t know what I have in me. You don’t know how I’m going to handle the travels. You don’t know if you’re going to have children. You don’t know if I’m going to have a surgery at 22. You know, you just don’t know these things. So from that standpoint, I think time will tell.”
In Shanghai, the Swiss player got first hand experience of the calibre there currently is among the young players in men’s tennis. Taking on 22-year-old Daniil Medvedev, he required almost two hours to win 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. Medvedev is currently at a ranking best of 22 in the world after winning last week’s Japan Open.
“In the third set I really started to figure it out,” Federer analysed.
“How aggressive or how tactical I wanted to make the match, and by trying everything, I found a solution at the end.”
Federer, who is the defending champion in Shanghai, will play Roberto Bautista Agut in the third round.
