Fans will be flocking to Dubai’s Aviation Club Tennis Centre this week to watch Roger Federer in action as he continues to prove that age is nothing but a number.
The 37-year-old will be gunning for a record eighth title at the Dubai Tennis Championships. An ATP 500 event that has been a regular fixture on the men’s tennis calendar since 1993. Should the Swiss No.1 prevail he would become only the second man in history to win an 100th ATP title. Following in the footsteps of the formidable Jimmy Connors, who didn’t retire from tennis until the age of 43.
“We’ve been talking about 99 titles ever since Basel, every tournament I’ve played. There’s nothing new. Of course, coming to Dubai where I’ve enjoyed a lot of success sort of makes you believe maybe it could happen here. Then again, the draw is tough.” The National quoted Federer as saying on Sunday during a press conference.
“I haven’t played in a few weeks so you reset everything, get ready for your first round, hope everything is going to click again here in Dubai. It’s going to be tough. Look, I hope we can have this conversation in a few days’ time and see what happens.”
Federer hasn’t played since suffering a surprise defeat to Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Australian Open. Making it the third consecutive grand slam where he has failed to reach the semi-final stage. To put that into perspective, the last time it happened was in 2013. Despite bowing out of Melbourne to the Greek rising star, a defiant Federer is refusing to be too harsh on himself.
“I still felt like I played OK,” he reflected. “It wasn’t like a horrible tournament for me. Played great at the Hopman Cup. I played good actually all matches; I just messed up on some big, big points. I’m not going to change my game because I missed out on some opportunities.”
The start of the end?
In recent times, Federer has been bombarded with an all too familiar question. When will he retire? He is currently the fourth oldest player to have an ATP ranking and the second oldest in the top 100 after Ivo Karlovic (39). In a recent interview with Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger, Federer’s agent Tony Godsick said even he was in the cold about when the former world No.1 will call it quits.
One theory surrounding Federer’s future concerned his return to clay later this year. For the first time since 2016, Federer will play on the surface after confirming his participation at the Madrid Open and Roland Garros. Could this return be part of a farewell tour?
“No, it’s not. I thought of it, in isolation, do I want to play the clay or not? The answer was yes,” Federer stated.
“This doesn’t mean this is my last clay-court season, whatever, or I had to play one more time before I retired. That was not the thinking.
“All I knew is after missing it for two to three years basically, my body was ready, I was ready, my schedule with the family, my schedule with the team was ready to do it again. This is when I opted to say, ‘It will be nice’.
“Instead of taking a big chunk off, I’d rather stay in the rhythm and actually enjoy myself on the clay.”
Federer withdrew the 2016 French Open due to injury and then opted to skip the tournament the next two years in order to rest his body. The last tournament he played on the clay was at the Italian Open in 2016, where he lost in the third round to Dominic Thiem.
“I did grow up on clay, after all. I felt like my body is strong enough now again to do the surface changes from hard to clay to grass to hard again. In the past I felt different. I felt like it would be nice to go from hard to grass to hard, stay on faster surfaces.”
Far from straightforward in Dubai
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In the immediate future, Federer’s focus is on this week in the United Arab emirates. Seeded second in the draw behind Kei Nishikori, he opens up against Philipp Kohlschreiber. A player who he has a perfect 13-0 head-to-head record against and practice with two days ago.
“I’m trying to think,” Federer replied when asked about his practice with the German. “I think it was 7-6 for me in the first. I wonder if he was a break up in the second, something like that. It was close. I remember it was very close. We really both know what we’re getting into. He looks good, so it’s going to be tough.”
Lurking in Federer’s section is Thomas Fabbiano or Fernando Verdasco in round two followed potentially by Milos Raonic. Then should everything goes according to the seeds, he could play either Borna Coric or Karen Khachanov.
“I’m feeling good now. Fitness has been going well, tennis has been going well. I’ve been here a few days. I feel really well prepared. I’m excited that the ATP Tour is moving on and I’m here. I’m happy to be back.” The 20-time grand slam champion concluded.
Federer’s record in Dubai
2017 – R2
2015 – Champion
2014 – Champion
2013 – Semi-finalist
2012 – Champion
2011 – Finalist
2008 – R1
2007 – Champion
2006 – Finalist
2005 – Champion
2004 – Champion
2003 – Champion
2002 – Round 2
