Federer: "I'm Still Improving"

© Getty ImagesRoger Federer feels he is still improving as a tennis player as he chases down more records at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.

Even at the age of 30, sixteen-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer believes he is still improving as a tennis player. The Swiss, whose current 16-match winning streak is his biggest since going on a 21-match winning run in 2009, said, "I just think it's normal to improve as a player. I have been amazed myself how long I've been able to keep it up. But I'm happy my level is still very high and my body's holding up."

Improvement as a player does not always signify greater results, though, as Federer has found out this year. 2011 marked the first season since 2002 that the Swiss did not win a major championship, being eclipsed by Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. Because as much as Federer is adding to his game, so are his closest rivals.

"I think as time goes by, as much as you practice, actually the matches make you a better player," explained Federer, who finished runner-up to Nadal in the Roland Garros final in June. "I used to have a weak backhand. But then everybody played to my backhand. So obviously I was always going to improve my backhand eventually."

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"I think the same thing kind of happened to many different players. I don't think Novak's forehand used to be a strength. Today it's a weapon. [With] Rafa, [it’s] the same thing. He used to struggle if you hit hard into his forehand. Today it's no problem for him anymore.

"Why should you move backwards?" asked the Swiss. "Confidence is one thing, but that can be temporary and that can fade as quickly as it came really."
 
Federer will contest his 100th tour-level final against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals on Sunday, becoming only the fifth player in the Open Era to do so. The Basel native explained it takes a special mentality to maintain the intensity and motivation required to keep competing at the highest level.

"It's interesting how you evolve as a tennis player," commented Federer, who is chasing a record-breaking sixth title at the season finale. "For me it's only logical to improve. But you have to have the work ethic, the professional side of things, to sleep, drink, live healthy as a tennis player, because no one else is running but ourselves. 

"We have no substitute. That makes it extremely difficult mentally. I think the top guys have done actually really well trying to maintain that high level of play."