Australian Open: Roger Federer and his promise to fitness coach Paganini
Roger Federer looks as fit as ever at 37. One reason for this: a conversation with fitness coach Pierre Paganini 15 years ago.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Jan 17, 2019, 08:45 am
The maestro is valued for many things, from spectacular tennis to a gentleman's performance off the court. A topic that flares up again and again: Federer's appointment planning - the breaks from tournament tennis, with fitness blocks that made his long career possible for him.
After his second-round victory at the Australian Open, Federer vividly remembered a conversation with Paganini that he had after the Melbourne tournament in 2004 when he became number 1. Back in Switzerland, Paganini said: "Do me a favor: just don't run after entry fees and play every tournament." In contrast to Grand Slam tournaments and 1000 events, top stars are often paid "Appearance Fees" for appearances at 500 or 250 events, preferably in the high six-digit or sometimes seven-digit range.
He had promised Paganini: "No, I won't," Federer recalled. "I will try to play the best possible program." With the back door: "I'll tell you if I get a nice entry fee or if I want to play in a nice place. And if it turns out, we can plan it in advance."
Federer: "You don't know how long you have been successful"
However, Federer knows the tricky situation in which many youngsters are today. "I was 23 at the time ... and at that age you still don't know how long you've been at the top, how long you've got entry fees, how long you've been successful." In tennis, a lot can only be planned at short notice. He was happy to have been free of injuries, to stick to the plan and to take time out.
But Federer also knows: "Of course it is difficult to do a five or six week fitness training while the other boys win tournaments."