Former coach gives his verdict on Roger Federer’s mentality ahead of Wimbledon after shock Geneva loss

Wimbledon
Roger Federer in action

His confidence no doubt took a knock during his surprise defeat at the Geneva Open, but Roger Federer will still have high hopes of winning Wimbledon if he can “maintain good health” and get a few good results under his belt, according to his former coach Paul Annacone.

Playing in only his second tournament and third match in more than 15 months, Federer suffered a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 defeat at the hands of Pablo Andujar from Spain in the first round of the ATP 250 event on home soil.

Although disappointed to lose, the 20-time Grand Slam winner insisted that he still has time ahead of Wimbledon, saying: “Roland Garros is not the goal. The goal is the grass so I still have time.”

Federer found himself in a similar situation a few years ago as he missed the latter half of the 2016 season after undergoing knee surgery, but then returned in 2017 to win the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

“I think this is way different from four years ago, and 35 is way different than closing in on 40,” Annacone, who coached the Swiss from 2010 to 2013, is quoted as saying by the New York Times.

He added: “I think Paris is going to be really challenging for him. But if the body sustains itself and maintains good health and he gets enough reps, Roger’s not going to go into the grass season not thinking he can win Wimbledon.

“He’ll say all the right stuff, but in his heart of hearts, he knows he can win that tournament. But the less dominant you are, the more that aura of invincibility starts to dissipate just a tad, and it only needs to dissipate a tad to make a difference. The locker room antenna is up.”

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Paul Annacone Roger Federer

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