Roger Federer may looking to a new coach in a bid to break out of his 2008 funk.
Jose Higueras, who used to coach Jim Courier and Sergio Bruguera and also worked with Pete Sampras and Jennifer Capriati, is expected to join the top-ranked Swiss star at this week's Estoril Open tournament in Portugal, Spanish news agency Efe reported Saturday.
Higueras, who won 16 ATP titles and represented Spain in the Davis Cup as a player, coached Michael Chang to his 1989 French Open trophy. The 55-year-old Higueras is reportedly accredited with Federer's entourage.
Federer split with coach Tony Roche last May, but a poor start coming into the clay-court season may have swayed the Swiss player to look for help.
Federer, who is only two Grand Slam titles shy of tying Sampras' record of 14, needs a French Open title to complete a career Grand Slam.
The 26-year-old Federer is off to his worst start since 2000 _ the last time he went four tournaments without a victory. It is the first time Federer has failed to reached a tournament final in four consecutive tournaments since reaching No. 1 four years ago..
Ill health hasn't helped. He battled a stomach virus at the Australian Open and mononucleosis.
An employee at Higueras' tennis academy in Palm Springs, Florida, could not confirm Higueras' presence at Estoril to the AP, but did say that Higueras was travelling in Spain this week.
No comments:
Post a Comment