Roger Federer hires Stefan Edberg to join coaching team
First, Andy Murray brought on Ivan Lendl. Then Maria Sharapova hired, and quickly fired, Jimmy Connors. Months later, Novak Djokovic surprised the tennis world by plucking Boris Becker out of the television booth and putting him in the coaching box. And now, in the latest instance of tennis's 1980s revival, Roger Federer announced Friday that six-time Grand Slam champion Stefan Edberg will temporarily join his coaching team at the Australian Open.
What's next, Rafael Nadal firing Uncle Toni and trying to scouring the family tree to find a link to Mats Wilander? Which American player is going to ring Michael Chang to get some pointers on how to play on clay? And you can't be serious that no one has hired John McEnroe!
Edberg practiced with Federer earlier this month and told reporters he was willing to coach the 16-time Grand Slam champion, who fell to No. 7 in 2013 and didn't make a Grand Slam final for the first time since 2002.
If it seems strange that one of the finest serve-and-volleyers in history could help Federer stay afloat in today's baseline power generation, that's a reasonable thought. It's sort of like an NFL team bringing in a coach who used to run the wishbone. But Edberg and his '80s brethren are still a part of the game and have seen it evolve. A new set of eyes and opinions is sometimes just what a player needs.
Federer and Edberg (Fedberg?) are wise to cap the trial period at 10 weeks. That way, if it doesn't work, no one comes out looking badly, like with Sharapova and Connors. If it works, that 10 weeks will likely be extended for as long as both parties are willing.
The 1980s are back. What's old is new again. But let's hope the old guard leaves the short shorts behind.
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