Adler's Insights: Time for Federer to find a coach
by Doug Adler, Special to FOXSports.com
What we do know is his ability to intimidate opponents — as he's done for so long — is starting to diminish. Many of Federer's matches over the past four years have been decided before he actually had to hit a ball. Most opponents have rarely produced their best against him and have been psyched out from the word "play." That's understandable when you're up against greatness. Everyone else becomes very average.
Not this year, though. It's got to be so difficult to stay motivated and keep your edge when you've dominated the sport as long as Roger. Trust me, these are scary times regardless of how he spins it to the media. The fact is he's struggling, even slumping. If he continues to play poorly and lose matches going into Roland Garros, the pressure will be especially brutal on him to defend at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. And then it becomes increasingly difficult for him to break Sampras' record.
With this in mind, it's time for Federer to stop the bleeding. He needs a fresh pair of eyes who can command his attention and respect — not an easy task. That's one of the main reasons why he and former coach Peter Lundgren parted ways. Roger's new "coach" must be someone who's been there and back, someone who understands his mindset, his work ethic, his talent, someone who can help motivate him, but most importantly, someone whom he respects for their advice, feedback and understanding of the game. Ultimately, Tony Roche fell short of Federer's expectations.
So let's examine some choices:
Darren Cahill is a well-respected friend of Roger's and would seem like the perfect candidate, but he has recently been named Australian Davis Cup captain and has returned part-time to the Lleyton Hewitt camp because of that duty.
Brad Gilbert would be another potential name thrown into the Federer coaching pool, but he too is committed and under contract with the British LTA since parting ways with Andy Murray.
Roger Rasheed, a former Hewitt coach and confidant, believes he can also help Federer. However, his strengths lie mostly in the fitness arena and probably wouldn't garner much excitement from Federer's camp.
Outside of a select few, you can almost forget about it when it comes to coaching Fed. Champions like Federer rarely change their style or approach unless they believe "it's broken."
There is one man with the complete tool belt that could help Federer like no one else. He would command Roger's respect, as he is a genius both on and off the court. He is an avid admirer of Federer's talent and would require nothing less than excellence from the world number one — Andre Agassi.
It may sound unrealistic, but I believe it's doable if the Federer camp showed an interest in Double A. Andre's by far the best possibility out there and he's always been up for a good challenge. How about the extra motivation for him in helping Roger to break Pete's record?
And one other plus: Federer seems to really enjoy hanging out in Los Angeles these days. Over the past year, he has developed some solid friendships with the likes of Pete Sampras and Gavin Rossdale while relaxing in L.A. between events in America and overseas. Federer could hook up with Agassi in Las Vegas, or even the UCLA Tennis Center in Los Angeles (where Agassi and Sampras have practiced regularly throughout their careers). If Federer decides he wants to keep coming to L.A., he and Andre could meet just about anytime — they both have their own private jets.
Remember, Federer found a way to make the long distance relationship work with Roche on a part-time basis for a couple years. I'm sure selected events and weeks with Agassi, even part-time, would certainly be worth the return on investment at this critical stage of Federer's career...and the solidifying of his legacy.
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