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February 1, 2010
Father Federer savours 'exceptional' Melbourne victory
By Ian Ransom, Reuters
MELBOURNE - Roger Federer supped champagne
and partied until dawn in Melbourne on Monday, savouring his
first grand slam victory as a father but already looking
forward to the defence of his French Open crown.
The 28-year-old Swiss defeated Andy Murray in the
Australian Open final to extend his record to 16 major titles
and dash British hopes of a first men's grand slam champion in
74 years.
Looking fresh after only a few hours' sleep, the father of
six-month old twin girls said he had no plans to slow down and
that he still had plenty to prove on the tour.
"I think I played some of my best tennis these last two
weeks, especially the final yesterday against Murray," Federer
told a small group of reporters, with the Norman Brookes
Challenge Cup perched on a table next to him.
"The win was exceptional and the performance from my side,
so it makes me very happy and eager to await what's to come
this year."
"As you grow older you enjoy the victories even more, you
try to savour them as long as possible.
"Because you never know when it could be your last, even
though I'm sure I have much more left in me."
After celebrating with a few dozen friends at his hotel
until sunrise, Federer was delighted to return to his room to
find one of his daughters awake.
"I quickly was able to see (Myla). Even though she has got
obviously no clue what has happened and couldn't care less, but
I still felt it was a special moment to hold her in my hands,
and in my arms after what happened."
Federer's brilliant win at Melbourne Park quashed doubts
about the world number one's hunger for success and the Swiss
scotched any notion he might take a break from the game, like
Belgians Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin.
"That's not realistic or feasible for me," he said.
"Maybe (I could) take a few months off, but that doesn't
mean half a season off. I just think it's too tough to come
back after that. I don't know, the men's game's different, I
think. It's brutal, the margins are so small."
NO GOALS
Federer has enjoyed a blissfully injury-free career and
brushed aside any concerns about his fitness as a player
entering his twilight years, saying that he understood his body
"more and more" as time goes by.
"I remember in the beginning here in 2004 when I won the
first time, I couldn't move the next day, (I was) so tired, the
whole pressure."
"Now I'm like 'it's over, perfect, what's next?'"
"Obviously now with the family now and everything there is
no time to be tired... I'm not allowed to show any fatigue (to
wife Mirka)!" he joked.
Although his triumph at Melbourne Park has set up the
tempting possibility of a calendar grand slam, the world number
one has no new goals.
He just wants to prove that he can "still beat the guys at
the top".
"I hope I can defend my French Open crown obviously, but
first things first, vacation, practice and Dubai again," said
Federer, referring to the Dubai Championships later this month.
He has enjoyed having his family follow him around the
world on tour and said he had not spent a day apart from his
children since they were born.
"I know eventually times will be tougher because if (the
kids) are good now, at one stage they will scream or not be as
easy you know."
"Whatever comes, comes really... It's not enough to be a
tennis player, you need to also be a person.
"You don't want to feel like you have to play tennis. Now
that I have it, I want to savour it as long as I can and for
the fire to burn you need to be smart about how you do it."
(Editing by John O'Brien)
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