Roger Federer goes against the grain

I was pretty shocked when Federer sacked his coach Tony Roche. After all, this guy has been with him through six Grand Slam victories and kept him at number one in tennis for an obscenely long-time. Most people feel Federer is unstoppable and not many come close to touching his skill, ability, and focus.

So why dump Tony now when things are going so well? Admittedly, he had a bit of a slump since the Australian open in January, but nothing that was really affecting his form. Surely it was better to keep Tony as he had been so good for him?

Federer explains that the ‘communication was just not there’. It takes a brave man to dump his coach a few weeks out from the French Open, the one tournament he has not yet been able to win despite his talent on every other tennis surface. Surely he would need his coach more than ever?

What Federer did took a huge leap of faith. He trusted his gut instinct that the relationship was no longer serving his needs, in spite of the huge surprise and doubts from almost everyone else in the tennis world. Everyone thought he was crazy. Go it alone, now, and ditch Roche who has had such a huge great track record not just with Fed, but also with past heroes such as Ivan Lendl and Pat Rafter?! He’s crazy.

But Roger’s not crazy. He trusted himself. And he’s got the wins to prove it too. He beat his nemesis Rafael Nadal on Rafa’s favourite surface – clay at the recent Hamburg Masters. Rafa had been unbeaten on clay for 81 consecutive games. Whoa. And Fed beat him. Without a coach.

As a professional coach I know that getting sacked always hurts a little. We like to think that we are a very significant part of someone’s success. That’s the ego talking. The truth is, when the job’s done or is no longer working, it’s over. The real success is in how the person being coached feels. Are they stronger? Are they happier? Are they their own best friend?

So what to learn from all this?

• Tony Roche did the best job he could. Ultimately the wins are Roger’s, not Tony’s.
• Like Roger, trust your gut instinct, even when logic tells you something different.
• Trust yourself that you will be ok, no matter what the critics say.
• The real power is within – no one can give that to you.
• A coach works well when the communication is there, when the connection is there, and it feels right.
• A good relationship with a coach is about how you feel, not how good the coach is.
• Roger Federer is a genius tennis player, a model of personal confidence, focus, and powerful intention, and all-round good guy.

Personally, my money is on Roger in the finals at the French Open this Sunday. Even if he drops a set or even the game to Rafa, he’ll still be The Man.

Go Fed!