Roger Federer: "My hand problems destabilized my forehand"

After a bad 2013, Roger Federer began the following season by changing rackets for the first time in his career, from his longtime frame of 90 square inches to one measured at 97 square inches. He had long been at a comparative disadvantage in equipment as almost the entire tour, including his top rivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, used more powerful frames of between 95 and 100 square inches.

During a recent interview with Tages Anzeiger, the 20-time Grand Slam Champion explained his decision: "I see two explanations. First, my move to a larger racket on the backhand helped me a lot. This is most obvious because I frame fewer balls. But I was also aware that this change would affect the forehand. My hand problems from summer 2018 destabilized my forehand. They troubled me for a long time.

Fortunately, things are much better now and I hardly have any pain in my hands.” On the next season, the Swiss Maestro added: “Beating Novak at the ATP Finals, beating Rafa at Wimbledon, playing good tennis all round but just missing out on the big one, I would like to change.

Obviously after the year that I have had where I played really good, felt good physically, didn’t have many issues [apart from]a little something at the US Open and little things here and there that are not worth mentioning. So I think the goal has to be to win as many titles as possible and if I can take home a big one, preferably a Wimbledon, US Open, Australian Open, Olympics whatever it may be, that would be amazing.”

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3584o5J