Coronavirus: Roger Federer gives his followers tips on how to improve their tennis game
Roger Federer is ensuring he is staying connected with his fans while in coronavirus lockdown by offering up some tips to improve your tennis game.
Tennis
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Roger Federer is offering stuck-at-home amateurs the ultimate on-line fantasy camp of sorts - a chance to get tennis tips from a guy many consider the greatest of all time.
While people all over the world are cooped up because of the new coronavirus - social distancing while trying to stay healthy and help others do the same - a bunch of athletes have been posting workouts and drills on social media with suggestions for staying in shape.
Federer did that sort of thing, too, with what he called “a helpful solo drill,” but he also took it a step further Tuesday: He encouraged folks to tweet to him their own videos mimicking the volleying exercise he displayed. And then he replied to some, even dispensing a little advice. Not a bad instructor, eh?
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Here’s a helpful solo drill. Let’s see what you got! Reply back with a video and I’ll provide some tips. Choose your hat wisely 🎩😉👊 #tennisathome pic.twitter.com/05lliIqh1h
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) April 7, 2020
The owner of a men’s-record 20 grand slam singles titles previously posted clips of himself hitting against a wall in the snow, including around-the-back or through-the-leg-’tweener trick shots.
This time, the 38-year-old Federer donned an all-white outfit in perhaps a nod for Wimbledon - the tournament he’s won eight times which was cancelled for 2020 last week - replete with a white panama hat with black band, stood near the green wall and volleyed against it.
He tapped the ball more than 200 times during the test of reflex and form in the 59-second video.
Within six hours, Federer’s clip garnered more than one million views, and his post drew more than 1,300 replies.
True to his word, he answered some.
“Don’t lean back, strong in the wrist,” Federer wrote to one person. “Keep up the great work.”
To another, in which a man hit a tennis ball against an indoor wall while a dog appeared to nap underneath, Federer answered: “Love the confidence not to drop the (tennis ball emoji) on the (dog emoji).” To others, he sent verbal pats on the back, such as, “Good job” or “Nice work” or “Love the effort.”
Federer, who had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in February, is waiting along with everyone else for competitive tennis to return.
The men’s and women’s professional tours are suspended until at least mid-July because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) announced last week that it was impossible for the grass court Grand Slam, scheduled for June 29-July 12, to take place.
The All England Club said in a statement: “It is with great regret that the AELTC has today decided that The Championships 2020 will be cancelled due to public health concerns linked to the coronavirus epidemic.
“The 134th Championships will instead be staged from 28 June to 11 July 2021.”
The news was ‘tough to take’ for both former and current players. Here’s a cross section of views.
ROGER FEDERER: “Devastated,” the Swiss wrote on Twitter, adding that “health and family” came first.
SERENA WILLIAMS: Seven-times women’s singles champion: “I’m shocked,” the American wrote on Twitter.
BORIS BECKER: “The problem is the surface, you only have the summer months to prepare and ultimately play on the best grass courts which is usually the case at Queen’s and Wimbledon. But in order to do so the grass courts need much more preparation time than any other surface. You can play the French Open or the US Open later... even in October maybe. But on grass you can only play in the (northern) summer months.”
BILLIE JEAN KING: “I fully understand and support the decision of the committee and it is vital we keep our focus on those most impacted by this pandemic,” she wrote on Twitter. “I’ve been fortunate to go to Wimbledon every year since 1961 and I am certainly going to miss this year.”
SIMONA HALEP: “So sad to hear Wimbledon won’t take place this year. Last year’s final will forever be one of the happiest days of my life! “But we’re going through something bigger than tennis and Wimbledon will be back! And it means I have even longer to look forward to defending my title.”
PETRA KVITOVA: “Definitely a tough one to take... Not only is it a special tournament to me, but it’s a tournament that has been part of history for so long that it will leave a big hole in the calendar.”
ANGELIQUE KERBER: “It goes without saying that I’m heavy hearted that the cancellation of the grass court season also means that I won’t be able to play in front of my home crowd in Bad Homburg and Berlin. It’s disappointing for me but also for all those who put their heart and soul into these events and for the fans who love our sport and support us players all year round.”
MARION BARTOLI: Former women’s champion (2013): “It does hurt deeply to hear that Wimbledon is cancelled this year,” she wrote on Twitter. “I know that Wimbledon will be back next year even stronger and we will appreciate it even more!”
KEVIN ANDERSON: “I’ve always had so many great memories at Wimbledon. The grass season will definitely be missed but the most important thing right now for us to focus on is that we’re all staying healthy and safe at home.”
COCO GAUFF: “I’m going to miss playing in Wimbledon this year. Stay safe everyone, love you guys,” she wrote on Twitter.
Wimbledon first was held in 1877 and has been contested every year since, with the exception of two periods: from 1915-18 because of World War I, and from 1940-45 because of World War II.
“It has weighed heavily on our minds that the staging of The Championships has only been interrupted previously by World Wars,” club chairman Ian Hewitt said.
“But, following thorough and extensive consideration of all scenarios, we believe that it is a measure of this global crisis that it is ultimately the right decision to cancel this year’s Championships, and instead concentrate on how we can use the breadth of Wimbledon’s resources to help those in our local communities and beyond.”
The men’s ATP Tour and women’s WTA Tour are already suspended until at least June 7 but it looks extremely unlikely that any professional tennis will be possible throughout the northern hemisphere summer as the pandemic worsens in Europe and the US.
The French Open, originally due to be held from May 24-June 7 has been postponed and controversially rescheduled by the French tennis federation for September 20-October 4, shortly after the end of the US Open.
Originally published as Coronavirus: Roger Federer gives his followers tips on how to improve their tennis game