June 19, 2004

Relaxed Federer prepared to make case for defence

By Neil Harman, The Times

It is of Roger Federer skidding to the Centre Court turf at the moment of a champion's deliverance.

"It is a flash I have in the back of my head all the time," Federer said. "Of me on the knees. It was the relief. I was like a wet bag, I was so tired. It was hard to believe during the match how I was playing and what was going on. I was close, and then I did it. I couldn't control the tears, it was way, way too much emotion for me."

The defending men's champion, all eager intent, was spotted at the All England Club on Friday in unprepossessing pose, leaning against a railing, clad in jeans, flowing locks tied beneath a cap as if he had not a care. Tonight (AEST), it starts over again, though. When he walks back out on to Centre Court to play the first match of the tournament, he will be saddled with the burden of being indisputably the best tennis player in the world.

That apart, nothing has changed about the young Swiss at all. Polite, approachable and composed, he remains a credit to himself, his parents and his country. The pot-shots at him start in a couple of days, and someone has to hope they strike it lucky because, for most of the year, Federer has dodged almost every one with effortless balance and grace.

Since July last year, he has played 80 singles matches, losing 12. He has won seven titles, including the Masters Cup in Houston, the Australian Open and in Halle, Germany, on grass last week.

"At the beginning of 2003, my goal was to start winning the small titles to get the feel for playing important matches, semi-finals, finals, to know what it was like," he said. "Coming into Wimbledon, I had won four tournaments but I had the pressure of failing in the first round of the French Open and it was important to make a statement because I had never had the chance to show how good I was, except for the win over (Pete) Sampras in 2001. Then it was important after winning Wimbledon to keep going, not just say 'okay, I've achieved my dream, I can relax and play out the year'.

"I wanted to show I had really deserved this title. When I got to Houston (for the season-ending Masters Cup), someone texted the group I was in and for me it was a nightmare: (Andre) Agassi, (Juan Carlos) Ferrero, (David) Nalbandian, all those I had struggled against. But I had one tough match against Agassi in the round-robin and set them all aside.

"Now, if you ask me is there a player I fear, I say I don't fear anyone as much as before, because I have beaten them all."

Federer has been back to the All England Club once since his coronation, in December for lunch with chairman Tim Phillips. "It was good to catch up with the place, because I left in such a hurry," Federer said. "I kept winning and winning, the days I was not playing were spent recovering from the last win and preparing for the next one. It was an unbelievable experience for me. I never knew I would have so many obligations. It was a life change.

"To win was such a big satisfaction. I am back now and fit. This is another milestone, to defend my title. The pressure comes from inside, to want to do well, not to lose in the first round, those kind of things. That is why I have come here early, to get the work done and to prepare mentally. My game is very good, I'm fit, practice has gone well. Things are really okay."

Federer still eschews a coach. Since parting company with Peter Lundgren at the end of last year, he has been flying solo on and around the courts. "If I wasn't happy with the situation, I would change it," he said. "I think about it a lot, but then I stress myself out and think I'm forcing myself into something I don't need to do. It will happen when the time is right."

©2003 - 2008 Shinanat Mahamaytakit