Trainer confident on renewed Federer fitness

DPA/Zurich

Pagannini, who has split his time over the last month with training Federer in Dubai and Stanislas Wawrinka in Switzerland, told Zurich’s Tages Anzeiger yesterday that if Federer’s fitness holds up in 2014, he can again be a major threat on the ATP.

“Right now - touch wood - it looks very good. When we discuss the training with each other or with (Federer coach) Seve (Luthi), we are happy,” said Paganini. “Federer again shows things on the court and in the gym, where we say: ‘Wow, the sparks are back.’

“This does not mean that he previously had no spark. But if you have a back injury as in 2013, it has consequences: you step consciously or unconsciously on the brakes. That can move you away from your established goal. It’s nice now to see him back with a smile and his spontaneity.”

Paganini said that Federer’s solid finish to 2013 (a Basel final and semi-finals in Paris and London) gives confidence for the season to come.

“The good moments were perhaps shorter than before, but for the player it’s nice to feel those again. You also saw how his trust in the autumn rose. That’s what he needs for the next step, and now we hope that this continues.

“This is an exceptional athlete and fantastic player, and if he is fit and healthy and can find his rhythm, he will be again in a position to play major titles. He is so much passion in the matter - his passion is the only thing that he has no control.

“That’s why I cannot stand it when someone says he should stop, or he do not train more fully, because he had a family. This is nonsense.”

Federer and Wawrinka worked out a rota system for the use of Paganini, who has long trained Federer. The French-Swiss trainer has been commuting between the Gulf and Lake Geneva to get both of his charges in top-fit for their 2014 starts within days.

Wawrinka will play the Abu Dhabi exhibition from next Thursday while Federer makes his first showing next weekend in Brisbane as he prepares for the Australian Open.