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July 4, 2005
Fed: I need feet of clay
By Charlie Wyett, The Sun
ROGER FEDERER had a perfect start to yesterday — breakfast with a copy of The Sun and the men’s singles trophy.
The Swiss world No 1 managed just two hours sleep following another visit to the Wimbledon champions’ dinner.
But Federer, 23, could not wipe the grin off his face at the
home he has been renting just 100 metres from the All England Club. Yet with his third straight Wimbledon title and a fifth Grand Slam in the bag, Federer wanted to look forward.
The boy from Basel reckons he must become the sixth man to win
all four Grand Slams to be considered the greatest player of all time. He needs to succeed where Pete Sampras failed — and that means winning on the French Open clay.
Federer, who destroyed Andy Roddick in straight sets in Sunday’s
Wimbledon final, said: “I have enjoyed another fantastic two weeks but
I’m looking forward. “My next goal is the French Open. That’s what really motivates me now.
“I have shown I can win the other Grand Slams so the French is naturally the the big goal.
“It will be for the rest of my career and, hopefully, I can achieve the dream.
“I was awfully close this year even though I did not play my
best. I lost in the last four to Rafael Nadal and that gives me hope. “It gives me belief I can do it. I didn’t lose a set at the French Open until the semis so I have a chance.
“You do not have to win all four Grand Slams to be a great. Look at Sampras.
“In my eyes, Sampras’ career was way above many others because of the amount of titles, prize money and Masters Cups.
“Look at Ivan Lendl. He won everywhere except Wimbledon but was still a great player.
“However, four Grand Slams are very special. If you get those, that is the key to real greatness.”
Federer is ready to follow in the footsteps of Andre Agassi, Rod
Laver, Roy Emerson, Don Budge and Fred Perry by winning in London,
Paris, Melbourne and New York. And there can be little doubt he has hit his peak.
Federer added: “If this is not the peak, I don’t know where I’m going!
“Over the years you gain in experience, you grow as a man. You
get more power, you have more time to work on your shots and fitness.” Federer also paid tribute to his father Robert, who broke down
at Wimbledon on Sunday after seeing his son in a Grand Slam final for
the first time. Robert missed Federer’s two previous Wimbledon victories in
2003 and 2004 because he was looking after the family cat back home in
Switzerland. And Federer said: “It was nice to have dad there. He is very enthusiastic and hyper when he watches me.
“He still gets mad at me when I miss a forehand or backhand, but I accept it.
“I now realise he doesn’t know as much about tennis as I thought he did.”
Federer also revealed that Roddick asked him to team up as a doubles pairing.
He said: “I turned him down — I said let’s wait and see. I
prefer not to play doubles but he asked me, which was a nice gesture. “I was smiling inside, thinking of the prospect. It would be interesting.
“Maybe I will one day. Hopefully, I have many more years in tennis.”
On Federer’s current form, many more years of winning Wimbledon.
My balls up
ROGER FEDERER could have landed a job at a circus — had he not become Wimbledon tennis champion.
The Swiss star yesterday revealed he is a brilliant JUGGLER.
He said: “Juggling was something we learned at school. I’ve always been fascinated by any balls — squash balls, tennis balls.
“To learn how to juggle with three is very easy. I wish I could do it with four or five but that’s still quite difficult.”
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