Roger Federer nears the top, erases doubts of 2013

Corrections and clarifications: An earlier version of this story reported incorrectly the size of Federer's new larger racket. It is 98 inches.

LONDON — When you've won like Roger Federer has, which is pretty much everywhere and often during a record-setting 16-year career, belief dies hard.

But during a lackluster 2013 — the first season in a decade where he failed to reach a Grand Slam final — and beset by back problems, Federer says he lost the feeling he could prevail over the seven best-of-five set matches required of a major championship.

"I kind of felt I probably can't win, but let me give it a try with my experience," Federer told USA TODAY Sports on the eve of the ATP World Tour Finals in London, where he is seeking an unprecedented seventh title. "Over five sets, over two weeks, it's just too much to ask for."

Such transparent admissions of doubt rarely flow from champions of Federer's caliber.

That honest introspection is part of the reason why, a year later, the 33-year-old Swiss came one set from winning his 18th Grand Slam crown at Wimbledon and still has a chance to seize the year-end No. 1 ranking from Novak Djokovic.

Federer kept those slim hopes alive Sunday night at the O2 Arena by beating No. 8 Milos Raonic of Canada 6-1, 7-6 (7-0) in his opening round-robin match.

There have been other factors, too: The hiring of his boyhood idol, Stefan Edberg, who has encouraged Federer to play a more attacking style; the acumen of his longtime trainer, Pierre Paganini, for keeping his body injury-free despite a heavy work load; a new, larger racket; and Federer's ability to think long-term.

"Eighty-five percent of guys react to that moment, that week," said Paul Annacone, who coached Federer for three years before parting with him in October last year. "He really looks at the big picture."

How did he earn back his confidence? With health, match wins and the joy-de-process that has always infused his prodigious talent.

An internal chip on the shoulder? That helped as well.

"This year it was important for me to prove myself again," said second-ranked Federer. "The belief to win seven matches, five sets and all of that, has come back."

Changes at home

Federer felt his game start to click in February when he captured the title in Dubai with back-to-back three-set wins against Djokovic and No. 7 Tomas Berdych.

Despite some close losses in the months that followed, "there was never a time I felt my game was disappearing," he said.

His troublesome back has held strong, notwithstanding some doubles play at the start of the season and the added grind of Davis Cup, one of the few titles absent from his sparkling resume. He leads Switzerland against France in the final later this month.

Not even an expanding family has distracted from his winning ways.

In May, he and wife Mirka welcomed two new members, twins Lenny and Leo, who joined 5-year-old identical twin sisters Myla and Charlene.

"It's pretty amazing to still play at such a high level as he does with four kids," said 27-year-old Djokovic on Friday, who became a father last month. "I understand what an effort it is with one."

"It's been a busy year, no doubt about it," Federer said.

While Federer has gone more than two years since his last Grand Slam win at Wimbledon in 2012, he came within a game or two at the All-England Club in July when Djokovic held him off 6-4 in the fifth set. He also gave himself looks with semifinal showings at the Australian Open and U.S. Open.

Although it won't rank among his greatest seasons, 2014 bears the stamp of his consistently high level, with five titles and a tour-leading 69 wins (69-11) after Sunday.

But perhaps the most compelling evidence of his confidence re-boot is how he has fared against his closest rivals.

A year ago, Federer entered the ATP Finals 2-8 against the top 10. He arrived this week with a 13-5 mark, second only to Djokovic's 15-5.

"His tennis was week after week at the top," said U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic of Croatia on Friday, who gave Federer a straight-set shellacking in the New York semifinals. "It just shows he is close to wining another Grand Slam. He is giving himself many opportunities to do that."

History says those opportunities are precious for anyone past 30.

The last man to win a major at Federer's age was Australian Ken Rosewall at the 1968 French Open. He was 33 years, 7 months.

The small but brawny Rosewall went on to win several more majors in his mid-30s, and even contested two Grand Slam finals in 1974 at 39. But such feats of success are rare.

A chance at No. 1

It is likewise outside the norm to finish the season No. 1 without winning a Grand Slam title. The last man to do so was John McEnroe in 1982. Federer's tape-to-tape excellence has earned him another chance.

But he would need Djokovic to falter.

The Serb's 1,310-point ranking lead means he can lock up the top spot by winning his three round-robin matches in London. There are other scenarios as well, which puts the pressure on Federer. A loss at any stage will likely end his quest.

Either way, he'll finish as the oldest No. 2 player in ATP rankings history. A strong result in London and the possibility of more ranking points in the Davis Cup final means he will have more opportunities to become the oldest No. 1 in tour history during the first part of 2015.

"I never even expected myself to be in the chase for world No. 1," he said. "I got a mini-chance. If it's not this year, I'm going to be somewhat close at the beginning of next year for the first few months. I think that's extra exciting and extra motivating."

Balancing pro tennis with a larger family — Federer said he sometimes resorts to playing with his young sons while on the massage table — has coincided with other changes.

Many have noted that Federer's switch to a larger racket head (from 90 to 98 inches) has added pop to his one-handed backhand. But the bigger boost might have been to his already potent serve.

Several of his delivery statistics — first serve percentage (64%), first-serve points won (79%), second-serve points won (60%), and service games won (92%) — equal or exceed his career-best numbers, according to the ATP Tour.

Under Edberg's tutelage, Federer has stayed truer to his first-strike mentality and rediscovered the net with more serve-and-volleying and added forays beyond the service line, tactics that characterized his rise to prominence early in his career.

That may also be a fact of life for a 30-something player who needs to keep points shorter to preserve energy. Either way, it has paid off.

"I think it's made things more difficult for his opponents," Raonic said on Friday. "It's made them think more. The one thing you see with the top three guys is they stay at the top because they're always getting better and re-inventing themselves. If they do their same old thing they get stagnant and they're not going to stay there. There's too many guys hungry to improve."

TENNIS CHANNEL COURT REPORT FROM THE ATP FINALS

Keeping a balance

Like fellow 33-year-old Serena Williams, the No. 1-ranked female, Federer's durable excellence is bolstering to his legacy.

Despite all his deep runs at majors, he holds the record for the most consecutive Grand Slam appearances at 60.

Naturally light footwork, coupled with smart scheduling and timed intervals for both training and rest, have been key to preserving his body through 1,218 matches and 992 wins.

But much credit should also go to his Swiss trainer Paganini, a former track and field athlete, who has been a constant at Federer's side since 2000.

In an era of traveling physical trainers and massage therapists, extensive off-court training and pre-match routines, Federer's formula is simple: Don't overdo it.

"Back in the day, you would jump up and down for two minutes and play," he told reporters. "Next thing you know you're doing all these warm-ups and stretching and eating and sleeping the right way to play a little bit. It's not supposed to be that way in my opinion. I've always tried to keep the right balance to keep the mind hungry to play."

Federer's enduring enthusiasm for the sport might be his biggest asset.

"I'm a big believer that everything is driven by his joy to play tennis," said Annacone. "He really enjoys hitting a tennis ball. It's not laborious for him to practice. He has a good time in his process."

How much longer can pleasure trump Father Time?

"I keep looking for the signs and wondering when it's going to hit him," added Annacone. "Maybe he'll wake up one day and say, 'This is it,' but I don't know when. It's been a long year, and he's fine."

New generation of contenders

Indeed, Federer has presided over a decade of remarkable stability, especially at the top of the men's game. He has seen most of his early rivals, from Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick to Marat Safin and Juan Carlos Ferrero, retire.

He says he misses those players, but is encouraged by the constant the influx of new faces such as Cilic and Japan's Kei Nishikori, who beat Andy Murray 6-4, 6-4 in his ATP Finals debut Sunday afternoon.

"I miss the guys," Federer says. "But there is always someone new on the block that is exciting."

He also marvels how he has racked up 17 majors while his main rival, Rafael Nadal, has won 14, including nine French Open crowns.

"Look at me and Rafa," he said of Spain's Nadal, 28, who is missing the year-end finale following a diagnosis for appendicitis. "We both have unreal careers side by side. Usually it's not possible like that in sports, but in tennis we do."

Or simply look at Federer — past his peak, but still not far from the top.