Federer’s coach complains of ‘harmful speech’ as followers accused of filling void
Roger Federer’s ex-coach Ivan Ljubicic has warned towards evaluating different gamers to the Swiss stars, branding it “dangerous speech”. The Croatian player-turned-coach claimed that comparable feedback had broken Grigor Dimitrov. And Ljubicic thought that followers made the comparisons to fill the void left when Federer retired.
Ljubicic has urged tennis followers to cease evaluating different gamers to his previous cost Federer after current feedback about younger Italian star Lorenzo Musetti. The 21-year-old isn’t the one one to obtain the comparisons, as former world No 3 Dimitrov spent the early a part of his profession being nicknamed ‘baby Fed’.
And the previous coach of Federer defined why he thought the analogies may very well be detrimental to Musetti’s profession. Using Dimitrov as a reference level, the 44-year-old additionally admitted that the Bulgarian was extra like Federer than Musetti was.
“It’s a dangerous speech,” Ljubicic advised Gazzetta. “Just look at what happened to Dimitrov, who really was a photocopy of Roger. Heavy comparisons that create expectations that can hurt a player.”
While Musetti boasts a one-handed backhand, Ljubicic additionally stated that the world No 19 had his personal sport that wasn’t too akin to that of the 20-time Major champion. “I don’t think Lorenzo looks that much like Federer,” he added.
And the previous world No 3 additionally believed that the similarities may very well be coming as much as fill the hole left behind since Federer ended his 24-year taking part in profession on the 2022 Laver Cup. Ljubicic continued: “He has great technique, makes you dream, but maybe we want to use his talent to fill the void of beauty that Roger has left. That can be risky for a guy who’s looking for his style and still shaping it.”
Meanwhile, Musetti himself didn’t appear too fussed in regards to the comparisons. After seven-time Grand Slam champion Mats Wilander claimed that the Italian reminded him of each Federer and Gustavo Kuerten, he stated: “Federer was my idol, Kuerten is one of my coach’s idols.
“They are two one-handed backhand legends and I’m really happy to be matched with them.” However, Dimitrov didn’t really feel the identical in regards to the feedback he had been receiving since bursting onto the scene.
Speaking to We Are Tennis in February of this yr, he claimed the ‘baby Fed’ nickname weighed heavy on him. The 32-year-old stated: “That should be a lesson for every young player who comes into the game.
“No one should carry such a burden upon his name, I’ll tell you that much. That was, I think one of the most, I would say, irrelevant comparisons in my eyes, in my view and I think in everybody’s. And what I am the most happy with is that I made a name for myself.”