Is it too late for Federer to put on some muscle?
Posted by tennisplanet on July 23, 2007
As Federer gets further away from his 26th birthday, after next month, the widest gap between him and the upcoming usurpers will be purely physical. Science says we peak at 25.
Maybe his shots that rely heavily on swift movement and speed, might take a slight hit, but what will take the brunt of it, will be the endurance and the ability to stay at the top notch, for a longer period of time.
It is inevitable. All of YOU have experienced it, haven’t you.
So his physical regimen will need some tinkering, specially when you are dealing with 21 year olds. That’s a five year difference.
I have seen some photos of Federer’s abdomen recently, which has prompted calls for more emphasis on physical conditioning. The three hours 45 minutes five-setter at Wimbledon would have given Federer a good idea of where he is. FO final preceding that was another indication.
In retrospect, the skipping of tune-up events for Wimbledon may have clinched the Wimbledon deal. But it appears, Federer is more likely to go through a more rigorous test in the months to come.
It is better to err on the side of caution and brace yourself with targeted training and exercise. You don’t have to put on a lot of weight to get strength. That is not the kind of endurance I am referring to.
It is the endurance and stamina of a marathon runner that is more in demand here. If you have noticed, they all have clearly defined and toned bodies, without extra weight.
Nadal’s weight is what forces him to heave at every shot, in turn making it very demanding physically. He cannot move as fast with that weight, specially on his butt. He is still able to cover a lot of ground, but that effort takes the toll on his joints etc because of that weight.
But he has strong muscles, so even if he is not able to get completely under the shot, he can still pull off an incredible shot because of his strength. Perfect example is his two-handed back hand. If he is not able to get the ball at the sweet spot on his racket when fully stretched, he still can deliver an awesome punch because of sheer power.
The freaking point is this: Federer needs to not only improve his stamina and endurance in the coming months, he needs more power in his hand and legs to keep up with these young guns.
Maybe he needs to call Arnold Swarznegger and Louis Ferrigno (knock yourself out on the spelling – some of you freaks really enjoy that).
In a nutshell, Federer needs a more defined abdomen, quads and arm. Let Mirka take care of the other important muscles.
Tennis Planet 
Jenny said
Oh! come on TP, have you seen the size and definition of Federer’s legs and right arm? In fact our Andy Murray aspires to have Federer’s body, particularly his legs. I agree he may benefit from more abdo definition, but that’s it. He’ll be aware of stamina issues and work on that as necessary. Whats this with the hands? – he’s got ‘piano’ hands [lucky boy], which won’t be heaving truck tyres over tall buildings, although he will need to prevent any future wrist injuries. He’s not competing for Strongest Man or auditioning for The Incredible Hulk! Isn’t it Schwarzenegger by the way.LoL
Fiona said
Absolutely right about the need for conditioning. Federer relies on the economical use of energy but the FO showed be how inferior he is to Nadal in terms of strength and endurance. Now, clay IS the most demanding surface physically which is one of the main reasons Federer hasn’t triumphed on this surface (high ball bounces, movement and timing being some others). Federer is much more suited to grass as the bounce suits him and more importantly he can end the points far earlier than on clay. If he doesn’t get fitter/stronger then he doesn’t want to stay on top badly enough – simple as that.
chieko said
HA HA HA HA you are so naughty TP san!! But you do care about our Federer , including all his muscles !!
Jason said
Peak at 25? Uhh, Lance Armstrong? Mark Allen Ironman winner late into his 30’s? Maybe the average peak at 25, when you throw in the million and a half couch potatoes.
hako said
Sorry, too many generalizations for me. Male strength and bone density, according to science, peaks between 35 and 45 years of age. Most endurance athletes reach peak performance in their late 20’s to early 30’s. Roger gets his power from the leverage of his long arms, shoulder rotation and racket head speed. He could work on his core, if anything, but he doesnt need bigger “guns”. Also, Nadal’s round butt is not an anchor, it’s probably largely muscle, which he can use for acceleration while sprinting. It’s no coincidence that sprinter typically have massive thighs and glutes…..and they dont slow anybody down.