Dr Ed Coughlan: We can never create another Roger Federer

There is so much to admire about Roger Federer, almost too much, only for the fact that he appears genuine in everything we see through his media commitments and conduct on court, writes Dr Ed Coughlan.

It is from those times we get to hear him speak and watch him play that we get insights into his philosophy as an athlete. The fear when someone so imperious graces our time is that we look to identify what made him who he is so that we can copy it in some vain attempt to reproduce another in his image.

That futile exercise has seduced much of what sport science research has invested in over recent decades. To try to unlock the paths and processes of experts to inform the next generation can seem pointless at times. Some valuable insights have been identified, such as the importance of deliberate practice for the development of expertise.