PERSONAL TRAINING | QUEENS

Just finished watching Roger Federrer dismantle Andy Roddick in the US Open quarterfinals …

Roddick threw everything he had at Roger, and got wiped out in three sets. The first two went to a tie breaker, but Roger didn’t seem to have been challenged at all during them. The last set was business as usual for this amazing athlete.

Not since Michael Jordan have I seen an athlete so far head and shoulders above his competition. Even the legends Andre Agassi and John Macenroe, who were commentating the match, were gushing. You could have put two teenage fans in there for a similar call of the game, but those guy obviously know great tennis and had to give credit where it was due.

Funny enough, Federer’s training regimen was brought up in the post-match interview. Roger credited lots of running, hitting the weights, and luckily staying injury free as the keys to his success. However, all elite level athletes train very hard; Roger seems to have discovered a secret regimen that’s giving him an edge. It was mentioned several times in the match that he doesn’t seem to sweat, nor does he ever seem out of breath.

Tennis is an interesting sport, requiring speed, power, and endurance, all in almost equal measure. Unlike Roddick, who’s legs are huge and his fast twitch fibers are plentiful, as apparent in his powerful serve, Roger has a very slight frame, even by tennis standards. I can only guess, but keeping that light body-weight may be a strategy for him, because although slight, he is by no means weak; he has a lot of power in his strokes, and is very fast. His weight training regimen must be focused on building the power of his strokes, but not building his body. He doesn’t look like he’s touched a weight in his life, but his power shows that this obviously isn’t the case.

I tried to find information on Roger’s Personal Trainer or Fitness Coach and could find none. I don’t think he even has a Tennis Coach right now, which adds more to his mystique.

Federer’s a unique and amazing athlete; truly one of kind. He’s 25 now, which is nearing old age by tennis standards, so everyone should drop whatever they’re doing the nights he’s playing. There probably won’t be another like him ever again; effortless, artistic, powerful, and skillful all at the same time.