It seems like an odd time for a parting of the ways after the rebirth that Roger Federer in 2014.
And it again raises the question of how much tennis the 17-time Grand Slam champion has left.
Lack of killer instinct standing between Roger Federer and more Grand Slam titles?
The 33-year-old Federer, who climbed back from the No. 8 world ranking to No. 3 this season, announced on his website that he and physiotherapist, Stephane Vivier, "have decided to stop working together."
Tennis.com also reported that Vivier, who is called a "physio" in tennis vernacular, has reached an agreement to join Grigor Dimitrov. Tennis commentator and coach Darren Cahill lauded the move on Twitter.
Roger Federer's long time physio Stephane Vivier now a part of Team Dimitrov. Great appointment by Grigor. pic.twitter.com/xMvtY8CDOT
— Darren Cahill (@darren_cahill) September 29, 2014
Novak Djokovic coach Boris Becker calls Roger Federer greatest of all time.
Federer hired Vivier, a former trainer for the ATP, in 2009 after Andy Roddick hired away another ATP trainer for his personal use. Thehindu.com reported at the time that Federer was angling to play into his 30s, and Vivier was to be the catalyst to make that happen.
Federer won two Grand Slams with Vivier in his corner.
In 2013, Federer was slowed by a bad back, which led to his tumble out of the top five for the first time in 10 years.
Federer, however, regained his stride in 2014. He appeared in eight finals, winning three titles in 2014 - the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, the Gerry Weber Open and the Western & Southern Open. He was a finalist at Wimbledon, losing a five-set cliffhanger to Novak Djokovic, and a semifinalist at the Australian Open and the U.S. Open.
Federer said during his struggles last year that he still enjoyed competing and had thoughts about retirement.
But during the spring, Federer and his wife, Mirka, welcomed the family's second set of twins, boys, to their family that includes twin girls.
During the summer, Federer said he thought he was a better player in many respects than he was when he was No. 1 in the world from 2004-08, that his confidence wasn't nearly as strong as it was when he was the world's most dominant player.
It could be that five years was simply enough time between Federer and Vivier and that he needed a new voice in his corner.
But until he divulges his next move, speculation is natural that Federer's age and family additions could be testing his continued commitment to the game.
Do you think Roger Federer's parting with his personal trainer has implications beyond a simple parting of the ways? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.
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