Does Roger Federer Have a Lack of Motivation?

Does Roger Federer Have a Lack of Motivation?

There comes a point in every great champion’s life, when he or she hits a new kind of road block. This one isn`t physical, and it`s not really mental. Instead it`s one of the intangibles, it’s the fire that drove them there, that made them champion and pushed them to their own and others limits.

It`s motivation.

Roger Federer has it all. He`s one sixteen grand slam single titles – the most of all time – and has been number one in the world for over two-hundred and fifty weeks. At one point he held the number one spot for two hundred and thirty seven consecutive weeks, something that is unparalleled in any other sport. As many people put it: he is simply the best there ever was.

Lately, however, the sheer dominance and brilliance of Roger`s game has been lacking. After winning the Australian Open in January he has lost before the quarter finals in four consecutive tournaments. His most recent loss came in the first round of the Rome Masters, and it came to player below the top forty. During the match his timing was off, his deadly forehand spraying on many occasions. For Roger that almost never happens, especially in a first round of a tournament.

Many people can analyze his game and say that his recent slide is that he`s just not physically up to the challenge anymore to compete like once did; or that the new players in the game are becoming more skilled and that his once dominant strokes don`t have the same impact. In reality, it comes down to one thing, and that`s motivation. Rogers has it all; he`s won it all. He is the best and everyone knows that. For a champion like that the little tournaments don`t mean anything to more; he has nothing to prove, so why bother trying.

The hardest part for Mr. Federer over the next couple years will not trying to stay physically fit, or how to hit more aces. The hardest part will be finding the motivation that made him that good in the first place, and finding a new kind of fuel to keep that fire burning a little longer.

On that note, who is the greatest tennis player of all time?