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Monday, July 4, 2005
Federer enjoys perfect homecoming
By Mark Ledsom, Reuters
BASEL, Switzerland - There was no loud music, no
fireworks and no drunken fans -- but for the world's top tennis
player it was the perfect homecoming party.
Triple
Wimbledon champion Roger Federer made a quietly
emotional return to his home city of Basel Monday -- 24 hours
after his almost flawless victory over America's Andy Roddick.
Wiping the occasional tear from his eyes, the 23-year-old
world number one was cheered on by around 3,000 fans after
arriving in the city's market square.
Making his way to the balcony of the local parliament
building, Federer then presented his Wimbledon trophy -- or at
least a miniature souvenir version of it.
"This is an absolute dream for me," Federer told the crowd.
"It's the first time ever that I've come directly home from
winning a Grand Slam tournament and to have so many people here
-- it's a gigantic feeling."
"Perhaps it's not quite as loud as somewhere like Italy or
South America," Federer told Reuters afterwards. "But with
individual sports like tennis it's always hard to know how many
people will turn out.
"I didn't know whether there would be two people or two
thousand so to have this many is really something special for
me -- something I'll always remember."
Earlier, Federer had been congratulated by Swiss president
Samuel Schmid, but his welcome in Basel was a local affair.
TRIBUTES PAID
Tributes were paid by regional government ministers, fan
club members, football players from FC Basel and multiple
Oscar-winning film producer Arthur Cohn.
"He's a great person, a great sportsman and a great
champion," FC Basel coach Christian Gross told Reuters as
Federer signed more autographs.
"He's also been a great supporter of our football team
which is part of the reason so many of us came along today. But
mainly we're here to congratulate Roger on another unbelievable
performance."
As easy-going off the court as he is relentless on it,
Federer seemed happy to soak up the applause but reluctant to
stay too long in the limelight.
Often described in his younger days as being "too nice" to
succeed in professional sport, Federer has emphatically proven
the critics wrong with a desire to win that has now seen him go
undefeated in 21 successive tournament finals.
Monday he served further notice that the hunger is still
strong.
"It's fantastic to be able to show this small version of
the trophy off to you all," Federer told his fans. "But of
course I want to have the big one in my hands again soon,
because it's a feeling that you just can't describe."
The U.S. Open, Switzerland's Davis Cup tie against Britain
in September and the season-ending Masters Cup will be the next
big targets in Federer's sights.
But having slept just two hours since Sunday's victory,
Federer said he was first looking forward to getting some rest,
starting with a two-week holiday "on a beach somewhere."
A quiet beach -- naturally.
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