Neil Harman on Federer in today's Times

Interesting article for four points:

A. Harman reckons Nadal's win in Rome has all but closed the door to Fed regaining No. 1, but thought he had a good chance before then

B. Fed's children speak English as their main language because it's so much easier

C. Fed is furious with the ITF increasing the DC committment for players to be eligible for the next Olympics

D. In his dealings with the slams he is "not a diva", he does not go in with demands, but says he negotiates and respects and believes he gets more that way.

He's obviously not seeing eye to eye with Djoko and Nadal about the future and/or how to get there.

Wow the times actually reported on someone other than Murray??

Wait till HE reads this!

A. Harman reckons Nadal's win in Rome has all but closed the door to Fed regaining No. 1, but thought he had a good chance before then

I agree with the sentiment but from pure number crunching point of view I still think he's got a chance. Bill's article shows he is 2000 point ahead of his competitors and can from Wimbledon and Cincy.

C. Fed is furious with the ITF increasing the DC committment for players to be eligible for the next Olympics

Quite understandable as he is cutting down and managing his schedule to the T and surely DC is not on his priority list.

D. In his dealings with the slams he is "not a diva", he does not go in with demands, but says he negotiates and respects and believes he gets more that way.

Exactly as some here have mentioned in recent past in cases of Blue-clay gate and player council saga.

barrystar wrote:Interesting article for four points:
A. Harman reckons Nadal's win in Rome has all but closed the door to Fed regaining No. 1, but thought he had a good chance before then

Till Federer hangs his racquet, he will have chance to get to #1.

barrystar wrote:B. Fed's children speak English as their main language because it's so much easier

Both Mirka and he should try and teach them as many languages as possible, French, German (Swiss or not), Spanish, Italian. If they both join WTA, it would be great.

barrystar wrote:C. Fed is furious with the ITF increasing the DC committment for players to be eligible for the next Olympics

ITF also runs the slams, so why this hangup about DC?

barrystar wrote:D. In his dealings with the slams he is "not a diva", he does not go in with demands, but says he negotiates and respects and believes he gets more that way.

He's obviously not seeing eye to eye with Djoko and Nadal about the future and/or how to get there.

Like winning Madrid on Blue clay, despite not practicing on it.

Nice video of Federer practicing at RG12...
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xr0e2a_federer-s-1st-practice-at-roland-garros-in-2012_sport

Cilic got a work out too.

Can't get to the article, but the logic of the Rome result hurting him is weird. Had Djokovic won he'd be 400 points further ahead.

I agree it hurt him for RG, but otherwise I don't get that. Federer needs to get a Win at a Slam, and if he did it at Wimbledon I think he'd be nearly.

bogbrush wrote:Federer needs to get a Win at a Slam

Therein lies the problem since AO 2010...

lydian wrote:

bogbrush wrote:Federer needs to get a Win at a Slam

Therein lies the problem since AO 2010...

Not really the point, we're talking about the question of whether the articles premise is right.

I was commenting on your point. I presume thats a valid thing to do.