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May 10, 2002
Rome TMS 2002: Questions for Roger Federer
By Rome TMS Official Site
Richard: How close do you feel you are to reaching your maximum potential as a player? RF: I still feel like I can improve in a lot of areas. I'm working hard every day, so I hope that in two or three years I will be able to reach my potential.
Sean: With your increasingly potent game, do you feel like you can be a legitimate threat on all surfaces? RF: Last year I played really well on the clay, this year I'm struggling a little bit. Okay, this year I beat Kafelnikov and Safin in Russia on clay, which is not bad, but still I haven't got my game together on clay. But on grass, outdoor hard courts and indoors I really feel comfortable. I guess it's just a matter of time on the clay. I don't play a lot of events, and when I do play it's at the bigger tournaments, where you get diffucult draws right from the start, so it's tough. But I really see myself playing well on all surfaces.
Arlinda: What is your favorite city and tournament, and why? RF: I like Sydney, the city is very nice. I also like Rome because of the history. Miami because of the weather and the life over there is like three cities in one - you've' got down town in the city and South Beach. The organization is always nice, but you can't always ask for too much. As for the tournament, I guess Basel, my home tournament, and Wimbledon.
Vishal: Among the current players, who do you respect the most? RF: I still respect Pete Sampras the most, as he was always one of my favorite players. Even though he's not winning that many tournaments any more, I still think he was the best for so long. Okay, maybe not now because there are so many players around that it's tough. But for me he is still the man to respect the most.
Helena: Not many top singles players play doubles. How do you feel doubles has helped your serve and volley game over the years and do you plan to carry on playing doubles? RF: I don't know if it's helped my serve and volley game, but I've been playing a lot of doubles lately from Rotterdam to Miami, then in Monte Carlo with Max Mirnyi and here in Rome I've played with Tim Henman, and had some very good results. I was struggling a little bit with my confidence for a while in singles and got it back in doubles. I really enjoy playing doubles, I'm probably one of the highest ranked singles players playing doubles next to Yevgeny Kafelnikov so, I just enjoy having a partner, chat with him on the court and see what he thinks of the game of tennis and see what strategies he uses in different situations and I prefer playing doubles than practice. It's good fun.
Samantha: I know the Swiss are famous for many things. What is your favorite thing about Switzerland? RF: I like the fact that everything is very clean, it's very organized, the mountains are beautiful. The weather's pretty good actually - in the winter you have the snow, in summer you have the sun quite often, so I just love going back there and I hope to stay there for the rest of my life. I get to spend a lot of time there and I go back quite often. It's easier if you're European than if you're American or Australian to get home.
Catt: If you were stuck on a desert island, what's the one thing you would take with you and why? RF: I would take more than one thing. My friends, my family, my girlfriend. People that I really like.
Lourdes: What is your favorite music? RF: I like to listen to rock and techno trance. I'm kind of all over a little bit. I like AC/DC, but on the techno side, there's so much.
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