During the 2025 edition of the Laver Cup – which was staged at the Chase Center in San Francisco last month – Swiss legend Roger Federer made some very interesting thoughts about surfaces. In particular – the 20-time Grand Slam champion – who retired from professional tennis in 2022 – said that tournament organizers tend to make the courts all the same with the aim of favoring Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, who are the two current dominators of the men's tour and have created a fantastic rivalry in recent years.
The Spaniard and the Italian can express a level that is unattainable for their opponents at the moment and it is no coincidence that they have equally divided the last eight Grand Slam titles. While fans and insiders are wondering what will be the alternative to their dominance among young emerging talents, the 'Swiss Maestro' would like to see more variety and it is for this reason that he has launched those digs at the tournament organizers.
Federer's theory is disproved
Federer's words were also reiterated by current world number 3 Alexander Zverev at the start of the Shanghai Masters 1000, but the German champion was accused of just wanting to justify himself because of his results below expectations this season.
Right now, the star from Hamburg is closer to world number 50 than number 2 in the ATP rankings and has not shone even during tournaments in China, as well as having felt a back discomfort that is affecting him.
In a long interview with 'BBC', Bob Moran – director of the Cincinnati Masters 1000 – wanted to express his opinion on this topic: “Trying to create something that benefits certain players never goes through our head – not even close. We were fast, and we had Sinner and Alcaraz in the final. For the three years I’ve been doing this in Cincinnati, the players have come back to me that they feel fast – to every player.
We all decided that we wanted to be in that medium-fast to fast range. Our goal – consistent speeds, consistent ball – and that’s what we are being told by the players they want.”
