"Mentally difficult" - Roger Federer doesn't like forest runs
Roger Federer is considered a tennis genius, but he is still fit like a sneaker. Although he is not really drawn to the weight room - and certainly not to the forest.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Jul 16, 2020, 10:09 am
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are generally considered to be the endurance miracle in the current professional tennis, also from Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev you can sometimes see videos from the beach, during the tough condi training.
Roger Federer rarely provides such insights. Which of course does not mean that the Swiss only rely on their golden hands. On the contrary, at just under 39, Federer must do more than others to keep up with the younger generation.
Federer: "Tennis player - and not a fitness person"
However, Federer is not a real fan of the fitness world, as he admitted in a question and answer game during a shoe presentation. "There are more things I don't like," said the 20-time major champ when he considered what he liked and what he didn't like during fitness training. "In the end, I'm a tennis player and not a fitness person." But he knows that "physical fitness helps him to play tennis." You have to be fit to be fit after four or five hours in order to to stay injury free.
Forest runs? "Then I have to go all the way back"
In particular, he did not like the treadmill and exercises for the back, Federer continued; He did the latter because he had back problems. "But these are the two things that cause me to stumble mentally to motivate myself to do so." What he likes again are the agility exercises with which he plays tennis exercises and weight training. Also because he ended up in the same place. “When I walk through the forest, I have to go all the way back in the end. It's mentally difficult for me, ”said Federer with a laugh.
Federer's perfect day: "It's simple"
It is therefore hardly surprising that "fitness training" does not occur in Federer's perfect day. According to his own statement, there are two options: to win Wimbledon - or another important match. Or to have family time without any plans. “Waking up in the morning and drinking coffee, meeting friends and my parents or family - and having a beautiful sunset at the end of the day. It's the simple things. "