Go Roger! - Press Interviews: 2001 ATP

Full Name : Roger Federer

Nickname : Rog

Height : 1.86m

Weight : 81kg

Date of Birth : 08/08/81

Plays : Right-handed

Home Town : Basel, Switzerland

Current Residence : Munchenstein, Switzerland

Languages Spoken : German, English, French

My most inspirational player is Michael Jordan. He broke so many records. Apart from that I like (Boris) Becker, (Stefan) Edberg and (Pete) Sampras.

I first became interested in tennis when I was four years old. My parents both played, which made it easier for me to start.

The atmosphere during the Davis Cup against Italy was unforgettable. Also when I played the second round in Belgium it was very special.

I really had a hard time leaving home at 14 years old to go the tennis center. I was homesick at first, but it got better after three or four months.

For me, I was getting to the point where I thought that I wouldn’t get to play Pete Sampras because he my favourite player for quite some time. Before that it was Becker and Edberg. But to play Pete, I needed to play well to get to some tournaments, then suddenly I’m facing him in Centre Court at Wimbledon and I beat him. That was my best moment in tennis. In my young career, it was something that I never dreamed of - beating him on Centre court there.

I got a lot of press. Everybody wanted to know who was this new kid coming up. At home, everyone loved it, I think it was one of the sports moments in my country. A very nice moment to look back on.

But even though it was great finishing the year ranked 13, it was actually a bit unfortunate. I got an injury in Wimbledon and couldn’t play till the US Open. I could’ve made the Masters maybe if I played well and weren’t injured, but that’s in the past now.

None, I do the same every time: prepare the grips, strings, warm-up. Usually I spend some time alone with my coach.

I cry sometimes, but fortunately I forget fast. I always try to learn from my defeats!

The defining point for me was entering the top 100. It also gave me a lot of confidence becoming the junior No.1 in 1998. When I won my first few international junior tournaments, I knew that I was going to be a professional tennis player.

I really like playing golf and when I have time I like playing hockey with my friends in the national center in Biel.

People recognised me a little bit before that match. But now people know me internationally. So far it’s OK, people have not been aggressive about it. I enjoy the popularity, it’s nice. As long as the people are nice to you, polite to you. I haven’t had a bad experience with anyone in the streets. I get a lot of compliments. I also try not to block myself totally away from the outside world. I’m very outgoing and I go to a lot of places where a lot of people are.

To reach the Top 10, and the Masters (Cup) is another goal I’m focussing on. I started this year well - I didn’t expect anything like it. I was very happy to win a second title (Sydney), that was something special and along the way winning against some very good players, Rios, Roddick, also Tommy Robredo, Chela. So hopefully I will stay in the Top 10 (ATP Champions Race) throughout the whole year this time. Otherwise, I’ll try and get as many titles or also get one step further in a Grand Slam or a Masters Series. I made two quarterfinals in the Masters Series and two quarterfinals in Grand Slams. So I would really like to step up a level and play in the semifinals or a finals or even have a chance to win.

Now during a Grand Slam I practice one hour a day and warm up before for about half an hour before the game. During the tournament you can’t do much, you just have to try to recover well, stretch.

It’s hard to explain I just love the game. I love the challenge. It’s a one-on-one game with a lot of competition. I really find it a challenge to become the best player in the world.

I follow the NHL because I can check it over the internet, also I can follow my home soccer team FC Basel, the built the new stadium, it’s right next to the tennis courts, I know all the players and I get a long well. I also follow hockey.

If somebody is not honest. I can get very disappointed in the person and I lose faith a little bit, because I give people chance and if they don’t take them I get very disappointed. Then it takes a long time for me to recover from that because I get disappointed badly.

Having a nice dinner with friends is something I really enjoy. Also happiness comes to me on the tennis court when I win matches obviously, time with my friends, girlfriend and family.

You always go though tough times in tennis. It’s something I’ve always dreamed of being a tennis pro and for me the dream came true and still I have dreams left, like winning Grand Slams and becoming No.1 in the world.

For me Wimbledon was always the special one because Becker, Edberg and Sampras were always my idols. The motivation is there to do better and have a good time on the tour and get along with the guys because I can speak three languages. Also I think it’s good to get along well otherwise you get a little bored on the tour. And I’m an outgoing-going, funny guy.

Music, a lot of CD,s. I just bought a new house for my family and the whole family moved there - my parents and sister. That is something I dreamed of - a nice house, so we got one finally. The other one we were living on top of each other so now we have a lot space.

My Dad paid half and I paid half. I still like to live with my parents, I don’t know when I’ll take an apartment of my own. If I had to do my laundry myself and clean up the place, it will be impossible, when I’m at home I want to relax.

The toughest thing is to stay healthy, not to get sick too often. I’m actually lucky because I hardly get sick, even though I travel to all the different countries. I’ve been pretty lucky so far in my career, of course I had a little injury to overcome and after I managed it, it was quite an experience for me. To go through this and be home and not be able to do anything. It was a nice experience also for a change, because I was pretty tired after Wimbledon. I played a lot and yeah.

Obviously everyone misses their friends, family, girlfriend. I do too. Sometimes it gets tough, travelling the whole time, but at the end of the year you get a break.

I’m a funny guy, I’m outgoing, you can have a lot of fun with me. I can hang out. On the bad side, I don’t always listen to people because I’m dreaming too much and I have to ask them to repeat what they say.

I like to play cards with my friends. Jass is a Swiss classic card game I like to play with my friends sometimes. Also I go for a drink sometimes. I think I’m very good to hang around with and for everything, I can do anything, sports I’m good at.

Miroslava Vavrinec is a tennis player from Switzerland. At the beginning I thought I’m never going to see her (with both of us travelling) and then I see her quite often actually, I was surprised. But we are having a good time together, we see each other a lot and have holidays together.

It’s important in a girlfriend to understand what I’m doing, that she likes me. I don’t ask for too much, I want to get along well. I don’t like to fight.

I had two weeks in the Maldives with my girlfriend and we had a great time together. I could imagine going back there because it was a small island, only 2000m around the island and people are really nice there, the weather is nice, the water is warm.

I’d also like to go to South Africa because my mum’s from South Africa. My parents met in South Africa and I was born in Switzerland. My mum has been in Switzerland like for 25 years.

ATP Player Profile: Roger Federer