Roger Federer and Paul Annacone formerly ended their coaching relationship today, as posted on Federer’s official website. The Swiss maestro has had an uncharacteristic season in 2013.
At this time, the Swiss maestro has made no plans for announcing future coaching relationships. He is scheduled to participate at the Swiss Indoors in Basel and Paris masters, aiming to qualify for the London World Tour Finals.
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From RogerFederer.com.
After a terrific 3 ½ years working together, Paul and I have decided to move on to the next chapter in our professional lives. When we started together we had a vision of a 3 year plan to win another Grand Slam title and get back to the number #1 ranking. Along with many other goals and great memories, these 2 main goals were achieved. After numerous conversations culminating at the end of our most recent training block, we felt like this was the best time and path for both of us. Paul remains a dear friend, and we both look forward to continuing our friendship. I want to thank Paul for his help and the value he has added to me and my team.
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Roger Federer and Paul Annacone End Coaching Relationship
Paul Annacone took time for a brief but thorough interview Monday for USA Today.
“Greatness doesn’t stop,” Annacone told USA TODAY Sports in a phone interview Sunday following the announcement the day before that he and Federer had parted ways after a 3½-year association. “It doesn’t just go away. He’s not all of a sudden now not that good anymore. The problem is that the expectations and the bar are so high.”
Annacone said he would be “surprised” if Federer finished his career without nabbing another major.
“Whenever you start to doubt people like this you kind of set yourself up to get your own foot stuck in your mouth,” he said. “They’re atypical. They’re phenoms. As much as Roger still loves to play, the exuberance he still shows in every practice, his desire to continue to enjoy the game — I can’t imagine anything other than success coming his way. For me, it’s not a matter of if. It’s a matter of when.”
Speaking by phone from his home in Los Angeles, Annacone, an articulate and analytical American, protected the intimate details behind the decision to part ways with the 17-time Grand Slam winner from Switzerland. Those discussions began in earnest during a two-week training session in Dubai following Federer’s fourth-round loss to Spain’s Tommy Robredo at the U.S. Open.
“After a number of very good, heartfelt and really thoughtful conversations about what’s best in timing for Roger and also for me” they concluded it was best to move on, Annacone said. “I think we both feel good about it. I know I do.”
He laughed at the idea it had anything to do with the recent third-round loss to Gael Monfils at last week’s Shanghai Masters.
“It’s just ironic timing,” he chuckled.
Annacone acknowledged that 2013 had been “a bumpy road” and a “little bit of a slip” for seventh-ranked Federer, who at 32 has endured his poorest season in a decade.
“Roger is smart,” he said. “He is a very objective, thoughtful person. He’ll figure out what he needs.”
“He’s at an interesting time in his career where there is plenty of greatness left,” Annacone added. “He just has to put the pieces of the puzzle together.”
He and Federer remain on “fantastic” terms and remains in contact with him, including a couple of calls from Shanghai last week.
Source: RogerFederer.com, USA Today
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