|
November 10, 2005
Federer unsure of winning crown
By Zhou Zuyi, Shanghai Daily
ROGER Federer played down his chances of
winning the upcoming Tennis Masters Cup although his die-hard local
supporters crowned him in their own way even before the first ball was
hit.
"To be honest, I don't know my chances of winning the tournament
here because of my foot," the world No. 1 said during a get-together
with his local fan club members yesterday.
The 24-year-old Swiss tore a ligament in his right ankle four weeks ago and hasn't played in any competitive matches since.
Surrounded by self-made fancy posters featuring catch phrases like
"Tennis Masters Cup trophy: Roger's Last Title in 2005,", Federer
apparently kept a cool head amid the euphoria.
"Definitely, I am here trying to defend my title but health comes
before success. So now I just hope that I can play the opening game
without any pain."
The 24-year-old has won the last two Masters Cup title, the
season-ending honor on the ATP tour. But his bid to claim it for an
unprecedented third time in a row began a bit differently.
Federer arrived in town last Sunday, a week before the actual
kick-off of the November 13-20 tournament, to get used to the
conditions of the newly-built Qizhong International Tennis Center, or
to be specific, a surface that he isn't particularly fond of.
ATP has adopted Taraflex for the US$4.55 million year-end championship, an indoor hard surface not often used on the tour.
"I haven't experienced it a lot except at a few events toward the
end of the season in Europe, like the Paris Masters and the Lyon Open,"
said Federer. "I am not a huge fan of the surface, to be honest. It
makes me feel strange and it just doesn't take my spin the way I would
like it to be...anyway, hopefully I can get used to it after quite a
few practice sessions over the week."
Federer will also enter the tournament with a coach on standby for
only the second time in the past two years. Australian Tony Roche, who
signed a contract to take care of Federer's game on a part-time basis,
will give advice before and during the tournament.
"Being on my own actually has given me an opportunity to know
myself more, like what do I need to win the majors," said Federer,
whose first liaison with Roche, a former Grand Slam winner himself, was
at the 2005 Wimbledon which he won.
Last night Federer just had a good time with dozens of supporters
at a television studio on Nanjing Road. He received a whole bunch of
gifts from fans, ranging from clippings collection to eulogizing
Chinese poems. "I really appreciate the passion from my fans in this
part of the world but it might take a bit longer for me to understand
some of the presents," he stated.
|
