Federer has been ranked world number one since February 2, 2004, for a record 220 consecutive weeks, but is only 11-4 this year in
tournament play and has lost 4 of his last 10 matches.
The five time Wimbledon champion, fallen recently from his best tennis, has
agreed to work this week with coach Jose Higueras at the Estoril Open in Portugal.
"I am excited as I have asked Jose Higueras, one of the most respected and accomplished coaches in the world of tennis, to
join me," Federer said. "We are going to spend the week together to see if we could make a good team."
Higueras in the past has coached grand slam champions and Americans Jim Courier, Pete Sampras and Michael Chang.
"It is a test period, but it is not just something for the clay-court season," Federer's agent, Tony Godsick said. "Roger is
not looking to hire coaches just for specific surfaces. This is something he is testing out to replace the
arrangement he had with Tony Roche."
Federer has won 12 grand slam titles, but has never finished better than finalist at the upcoming clay court grand slam,
the French Open. In preparation for the French Open, Federer plays Oliver Rochus of Belgium in the first round Tuesday
on the Portugal clay.
