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June 24, 2007
Last laugh for Federer if he emulates Borg
By Ronald Atkin, Independent
As if the
sight of Roger Federer aiming for a fifth straight Wimbledon title was
not enough to unhinge the knees of the other 127 men gathered on the
starting line, the news that the world No 1 has been taking advice from
Pete Sampras, winner of seven Wimbledons in his time, will serve to
make his odds of 4-9 to do the job again seem generous.
They met in the spring at Sampras's California home, Pete with his
record 14 Grand Slams and Roger with his 10 and counting. "We had a
conversation about how it is for me and how it used to be for him,"
said Federer.
"We had a lot of time to talk about it because we had a couple of
days together. It was very interesting for me just to see him because
he didn't retire that long ago, and things haven't changed so much.
"We found many similarities in how we approached a Grand Slam. He
has a lot of admiration for how I handle things, on and off court. I
also feel I am doing the right things, but just to hear it from him,
backing me up and being happy for me when I play well, maybe even
beating his record some time, was nice to hear."
All this, says Federer, gave him "a better sense of security",
whatever that may be for someone so dominantly installed at the peak of
his profession. Federer confides that he would love to overtake the
Sampras Slam total, and since he is still only 25 and just five short
of the all-time record, he would seem to have every chance.
Until he got his seventh Slam, halfway to Sampras, Federer avoided
even talking about it. "Now it crosses my mind much more regularly, but
when you lose a final, like I just did in Paris, it shows how difficult
it is to win Slams. Let's see how my records are at the end of my
career, then see who is the greatest."
No doubt who is the greatest of the current crop, with Federer
chasing Bjorn Borg's 1976-80 run of five straight Wimbledons. He admits
he can hardly bear to think about that one. "My God, I was so happy
with my fourth last year, and to put myself in position for a fifth is
great. I'm happy to be back here, happy to be healthy. To equal Bjorn
would be incredible because he was one of the greatest, and he has said
if anyone was to share it with him he would be happy for it to be me.
That is very kind."
Federer's point about being healthy is well made. In the past four
years he has gone straight from the clay of Roland Garros to the grass
tournament in Halle, winning that one every time but arriving at
Wimbledon, in his own words, "exhausted".
This summer he gave the German event a miss, and says he feels much
better for having decided to spend time at home in Switzerland before
arriving in London a couple of days earlier than normal.
He is, of course, without a coach since parting company with Tony
Roche six weeks ago, but professes unconcern. "The plan for Wimbledon
was that [Roche] was not going to come anyway, so nothing has changed
in this respect." And, as he pointed out, the majors continued to come
his way after he sacked his previous coach, Peter Lundgren, in December
2003 and before teaming up with Roche in 2005.
"I am well organised and have been that way for the last three or
four years. My team is very settled and when I come to a tournament I
have friends who occasionally travel with me." Will that team include a
new coach soon? "I don't know. I am going through in my mind what I
want, and when and how. I am not that far advanced yet."
Just now, the thoughts are focused on the immediate task, conquering
Wimbledon once more. I reminded him that Boris Becker used to refer to
Wimbledon's Centre Court as "my living room".
"I could say that too, couldn't I?" he smiled. "I have got the keys to it at the moment, that's for sure."
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