Federer to earn more by playing less
December 3rd 2008 22:46
Roger Federer plans to skip tournaments during 2009 in order to reclaim his place as world no.1 currently held by nemesis Rafael Nadal.
Federer is willing to sacrifice some Masters tournaments during the clay court season in order to be in peak condition for the French Open - the only Grand Slam he is yet to win.
This means Federer will only participate in the Master series of Rome and Madrid before heading to Roland Garros.
The 2008 season has been a tough one for Federer by his high standards.
Prior to the French Open this year, the Swiss maestro found himself playing tournaments in Estoril, Rome, Madrid, Montecarlo and Hamburg.
But for all his match practice on clay, Federer was still unable to defeat Nadal in the French Open final this year.
With his new schedule, Federer is optimistic that 2009 will yield big rewards.
"I am very happy with the way I have planned my season and I am expecting an emotionally charged year," Federer said.
In a year that saw him lose his no.1 ranking for the first time in four years, Federer was plagued with back injuries, which ultimately cost him dearly against Nadal in Wimbledon, with the Spaniard taking charge in an epic five set match.
That loss for Federer was the final nail in the coffin in terms of losing his status as the premier player in Men's Tennis.
Although he came back well to win the US Open (his 13th Grand Slam), Federer remains no.2 in the world, with the rest of the players behind him now closing the gap.
It will be a significant season next year for Federer. He begins his campaign for world no.1 supremacy with an invitational tournament in Abud Dhabi before heading off to Doha and Kooyong in preparation for the Australian Open on January 19.
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