How Did Roger Federer Stay at the Top of Tennis for So Long?

David Senra, reading Christopher Clarey's The Master, says Roger Federer stayed at the top for so long because Pierre Paganini trained him from the start for a career meant to last many decades, pairing tough, consistent work with rest and escape so the body could survive and thrive.

Paganini was a much older man who never played tennis competitively, and he still played a major role in Federer's long-running success, perhaps the decisive one. He was Federer's fitness coach, sounding board, occasional spiritual guide, and the final word on scheduling, a lobbyist for dedication and moderation. From the start he took a long-term view of Federer's health. Repetitive rhythms can wear a player down, so rest and escape sat beside the hard work. Fresh legs were vital, and feeling fresh in the head was no less vital. People asked to describe Paganini usually call him unusual.

The goal was to express potential across 70 matches a year and stay consistent in every match and every training session. The schedule assumed the career would last many decades.