"Federer will wake up and hit the ball better than everyone else"
Former US finalist Todd Martin believes Roger Federer will have an explosive start when professional tennis starts up again.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: May 11, 2020, 01:48 pm
All options are currently available - from a clay court tour in the fall to a relocation of the US Open from New York to Indian Wells. If this happens, ex-professional Todd Martin sees a golden chance for Roger Federer.
"I think Federer would like to play the US Open right after quarantine. Because his game is so simple, so instinctive and natural, " Martin told tennis365.com . "I could imagine that he is able to wake up and immediately hit the ball better than everyone else. Because he is a natural."
And Martin shared a Federer experience right away. When he coached his compatriot Mardy Fish in the mid-2000s, the two traveled to London and arranged a training session with Federer there. "I was at the training ground and Roger couldn't have been more relaxed. No footwork, he just kicked the ball over."
Federer's hand? Since Leconte looks like a beginner
Martin has been remembered for a moment. In the warm-up, after five minutes, Federer hit a backhand slice three times in a row, "and all three in different ways. Probably none was technically correct, but his hand and upper body were in the right position." Federer is usually in the right position, "Henri Leconte's hand looks like that of a beginner against him," said the 49-year-old about the legendary Frenchman with a great feeling for the ball.
Martin, currently CEO of the Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, also believes that the corona-related tennis break may have caused Federer to hang on for another year. Actually, the Laver Cup could have been a logical conclusion in the past year. Then maybe the 2020 Olympic Games. "The postponement of the Olympics could have motivated him to play for another year. Especially since it is not currently a way to stop. I can imagine that it is very important to Roger that his career with a self-chosen one To culminate. "