Roger Federer: “I Asked WTA to Change Rules”

20-time grand slam champion, Roger Federer urged the WTA to change their rules about young players competing at professional tournaments. The Swiss’ statements came following the success of the 15-year-old Cori Gauff at the Wimbledon Championships 2019.

Coco Gauff announced her arrival at the Championships 2019 after defeating Venus Williams and Magdalena Rybarikovain straight sets. She also edged past Polona Hercog after saving a match point to reach the fourth round of the Wimbledon Championships 2019.

However, the 15-year-old American can only play five more pro tournaments before she turns 16, next year. The WTA rules restrict a player to compete in more than 10 professional tournaments in their 15th year. However, Coco’s extraordinary performance earned her an additional two pro events to participate in.

Coco Gauff’s father and coach, Corey, however, feels that the rule puts extra pressure on the youngsters to perform well in the limited tournaments in which they participate. Roger Federer, whose agency, Team8 represents Coco also agreed with her father.

In a post-match press conference at the SW19, Roger Federer said, “I understand the rule completely that they want the young players not to play too much. I’ve told the WTA they should loosen up the rules. I loved seeing Hingis doing what she did at a young age. This is not me being involved in any shape or form as Team8 through Coco. I try to give her as much advice as I can through Team8.”

Roger Federer also suggested that it would be nice if the young players get more chance to participate in the pro level tournaments. “I think it would be nice, you know if they could play more. I feel like it puts in some ways extra pressure on them every tournament they play. It’s like their week, this is now where I finally am allowed to play, I have to do well, right? I’m not sure if it’s maybe to some extent counterproductive,” the Swiss said.

Roger Federer also recommended providing some legend mentors for these young players to guide them in the early stages of their career.

“They could maybe do a mentoring system that there is maybe still a rule about how many tournaments they’re allowed to play, but maybe it should be more, in my opinion. Then the mentors should come in, the legends like Billie Jean or Chris Evert, Navratilova, others, maybe speak to the parents, the coaches, the player for that matter, and really, like, educate them so they don’t fizzle out.”

The 37-year-old further added, “Maybe your best time is from 14 to 20 for some reason – it’s not like for everybody else from 20 to 30. So in a way you take away that opportunity, you know. Some want to have kids maybe at 24. At least you had a strong career for 10 years, from 14 to 24. I don’t know.”

Roger Federer concluded that he does not have a perfect solution to this problem. The world no. 3 continued, “It’s up to debate. I don’t have the perfect solution. I see why they did it because we’ve had the history of some tough parents out there. But at the same time, you’re also increasing the pressure for that player each week to produce.”