10 Ways Roger Federer Can Salvage The 2008 Season

10) Win The Roger’s Cup in Toronto. Win the Gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Federer sounds very enthusiastic about the Beijing games. That’s great because it’s played on a surface that favors Federer’s game and it’s a great message to send to win a tournament that is only played once every four years.

9) Get a coach who may reactivate Federer’s all court game.

I don’t really, truly believe this but I had to fill the spot. But while we’re at it, would it be the worst thing in the world for Federer to have a temporary voice in his ear to perhaps get out of his own head.

He’s obviously got the game to be more of an attacker. Camp out at the net more and take some time away from Nadal next time.

Rest his mind and allow for the last couple of months to run it’s mental course.

No doubt based on this week’s performance at Toronto, Federer still hasn’t fully exorcised the demons of the past two months. Though the hard court season is officially in full flight and this year is particularly unique with the addition of the Beijing Olympics tournament, it can’t be easy to shut off what’s happened to Federer in this abysmal summer so far. I mean I don’t think I’m fully over breaking up with my girlfriend yet and that shit happened like six months ago!

7) Beat Rafael Nadal once on any surface, preferably in one of those events mentioned above.

Yeah. Kick that Spanish almost-mullet head giant killer out of any tournament just to reestablish Federer’s place in the rivalry (which, by the way is pretty one sided by now).

6) Perhaps up the strength training a little to develop a stronger base for the 2009 season. Especially on the European clay season.

Now he doesn’t need to have the guns that Nadal packs in his biceps but I think that clearly he has been overpowered in their last two matches (especially on the red clay of Roland Garros). And with Nadal’s game continually improving, Federer may need to pull a “late Agassi” and up his conditioning and strength training to at least give Nadal something more to think about.

5) Don’t get discouraged.

Despite all the craze over Nadal’s recent surge on the global tennis stage coupled with all the questions over the end of the Federer era, the fact of the matter is that this was just a crazy but relatively short time in the grand line of Federer’s career. Only two short months ago Federer was still considered the undisputed world’s number one player despite his grand slam free season. The fact that he only made the semis at Melbourne was later deemed to be due to mono.

Furthermore, even on an off year such as 2008, he made the semis at the Aussie Open and the finals in the other two where he just lost to a better player who’s been playing in “the zone”. Things change quickly in this fast paced sport and this is more of a hiccup than a screeching stop to Federer’s legendary career.

4) Come in first in the US Open series championships which would also double his US Open prize money.

Having just finished Pete Sampras’ incredible autobiography, it stands to be noted that the media only care and write about the here and now, something Sampras speaks heavily about. Here and now Rafael Nadal is the man. That may change next week causing the writers and reporters to change their tune.

To paraphrase an old proverb: “The long journey back to greatness begins with the first step.”

3) Win The 2008 US Open making it his fifth consecutive title at Flushing Meadows.

They only remember your last results. Win the last grand slam of the season and shut down the naysayers.

2) Win the year end Masters Cup Championships in China.

The cherry on top.

1) Do NOT get all “maybe I should pay more attention to other aspects of my personal life more” and take his eye off the ball.

I don’t have to spell out what this means I’m sure. It’s still much too soon. (Thanks goodness Federer isn’t from the States. He would’ve had a brain fart, pulled a “McEnroe” and marry some vacuous celebrity chick. Those vacuous celebrity chicks will always be there. No need to rush.)

Uh… no that just about covers it.

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