Status Updates From Strokes of Genius: Federer,...

(cont’d)

Toni Nadal, rafael’s coach + uncle:
“I must read the papers tmr to find out what was going on in his head.

I never sensed any determination.
He never put himself in that state.
I was watching his face. Closed. He wasn’t sending any messages to Rafa.
He didn’t have a winner’s mentality.

It wasn’t the real Roger.”

What is the real Kelly?
The Kelly at her best, God has made?
Am I her now/no?

Federer was going downhill after career highs - 11 of 16 Majors in 4 years
But winter 2007, 20 weeks off due to some health condition

After losing in AO 2008 semifinals to Djokovic… (his parents sound q loud and funny)

In June French Open final vs Nadal…
The third set, he had lost hope and barely made efforts. 6-0 result. (cont’d)

Federer’s vs Nadal’s response to pre-match interview…

“I feel good [but] it might be a tough day with the rain and everything and a tough opponent so it should be interesting,” betraying what sports shrinks call “negative mental hygiene”.

vs

Shrugged, “The rain is for both [of us]… I just accept the weather conditions and I just play.”

Do you focus on what’s not going for you, or what is?

“Federer is a delicate, brush-stroking impressionist, and Nadal is a dogged, free-wheeling abstract expressionist.”

Speaking my language haha!


The heightening of rivalries in individual sports: Ali vs Frazier just hits different from Magic vs Bird