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January 27, 2008
Federer: I'm not panicking
By Karen Lyon, The Age
ROGER Federer's surprise semi-final defeat could be the catalyst
for the French Open victory that so far has eluded him, according
to respected Australian coach Darren Cahill.
Cahill believes the winner of 12 grand slam tournaments has
little to worry about despite failing to reach the Australian Open
final — his first absence from a grand slam decider since the
2005 French Open.
Cahill, often mentioned as a future coach for Federer, believes
Friday night's loss to No. 3 seed Novak Djokovic could release the
pressure on Federer as he looks towards the French Open, where he
has lost in the final to Rafael Nadal in the past two years.
"This might take a little bit of pressure of him going into the
French Open," Cahill said. "Now he (doesn't have to) worry about
(winning the grand slam) and have a good hardcourt season, which he
did not have last year.
"Before the French Open, he lost early in Indian Wells and Miami
— now he can go into the clay with not so much grand slam
pressure."
Federer was refusing to hit the panic button.
"I will definitely reflect on what happened. I mean, considering
my illness, I'm sort of happy with the result here.
"Of course, I've created a monster, so I need to always win
every tournament. But semis is still, you know, pretty good. I'll
analyse and see if I have to make some changes next year. But
honestly, I think I did play pretty good.
"I didn't play my best throughout the championships, but it was
pretty solid, so it was OK."
Cahill, who coached Andre Agassi to grand slam tournament
success, believes Federer will continue to win majors.
"There is no question that every time you see Roger, he keeps on
improving every year. But there is also a bunch of guys now in
Nadal, Djokovic, even a guy like (Jo-Wilfried) Tsonga, that keep
improving their games and I think Roger, by setting such a high
standard for himself, as done everyone in tennis a huge favour
because everybody now is working harder …
"We have bigger, stronger, faster athletes playing the game and
there is no room for anyone who is not prepared to work hard."
Roger Rasheed, Lleyton Hewitt's former coach, also believes
Federer will continue to dominate.
"I think we just see one result, then decide to paint a certain
picture, but I still think that Roger is the best player I have
ever seen and he will go down as the all-time greatest," Rasheed
said.
"It's a blip here but all credit goes to some other young guys
who are putting their hands up and wanting to join Roger Federer
and Rafa Nadal at the dinner table."
While Federer was ill before the start of the Australian Open
and might not have looked his best over the past fortnight, Rasheed
also believes the experience of this Open will have a positive
long-term effect on the world No. 1.
"To come out every day and play at your best is virtually
impossibly and Roger has been able to do that to a degree — he
is a victim of his own success," he said. "I think it is going to
be great for him; he will go back, he will reassess and it won't
knock him around too much. It is going to make him hungry."
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