Move with Age

At the US Open players are older than ten years ago

Much after all is a question of age. Roger Federer is a good example. On the edge of the US Open, he and his family visited the Broadway. It was the musical "Finding Neverland" - that overwhelmed Roger by the emotions. "I really cried like a baby," revealed the 34-year-old. But on the Court the world No 2 currently has no reason to feel old.
The oldies are "in vogue" in New York. Including Federer four of the eight quarter-finalists were at least 30 years or older - among the women the last eight were at least 32 years or older. The Italian Roberta Vinci (32) reached the semifinals of a Grand Slam in the Big Apple for the first time. "30 is just the new 20," Serena Williams (33) claimed some time ago. And for Tommy Haas (37) age is anyway "just a number".
Because tennis has become physically so demanding, professionals pay more attention to their bodies than previously, believes Victoria Azarenka (26): "Athletes eat healthy and work hard on their fitness since these aspects may simply prolong the career."

Longterm quality with good planning
The former professional player and psychologist Eva Pfaff claims mental freshness as one of the reasons for the success of Williams & Co. "Some of the players had breaks and lengthy injuries that extend their time on the tour. They are happy to play again and fresh, because they were forced to rest, "said the former world number-17 to SID. Serena Williams had to take a long break because of a life-threatening pulmonary embolism.
Young and fearless
Pfaff also believes that long-term quality needs good planning, not quantity - i.e. a high number of tournaments. "An individual pacing is important with age," said Pfaff: "Smart people pull out, come back fresh and compete with pleasure." Like Federer, who omitted the Masters in Montreal, to prepare for the US Open.
Boris Becker's estimation, years as a professional tennis player are like dog years, has long expired. Martina Hingis (Switzerland), who 1997 with 16 years climbed the tennis throne as youngest player in history, appears to come from another time.
The young guns seem outbraked. A trend towards a mature and successful professional can be proven with numbers. In the ATP rankings in 1995 no one was older than 31 years among the first 123 players. Currently, only nine players in the top 25 are 30 years or older - including the Croatian Ivo Karlovic (35) as No 21.
According to a survey of the USA Today, the average age of the top ten  men in 1992 was 23.2 years - currently it is 28.6 years. The last teenager winning a Grand Slam tournament, was Rafael Nadal at the French Open in 2005. Coach Nick Bollettieri does not believe that a young player will climb a major summit in the near future. "Experience now plays a great role", said the 84-year-old.
Good cards for Federer, who always reinvents himself with an advanced age, most recently with a return half-volley from the service-line". The young players are coming up, so I had adjust my game accordingly" said Federer - with an almost boyish grin.

Eurosport, SID Ulrike Weinrich, 09.09.2015

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