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March 12, 2003
Indian Wells TMS Second Round
By ASAP Sports
R. FEDERER/G. Kuerten 5-7, 6-7 (3-7)
An interview with: ROGER FEDERER
MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. How would you characterize the match today? ROGER
FEDERER: Well, he definitely played really aggressive in the
beginning of the match. Especially he surprised me a little
bit. But, you know, I didn't feel well in the beginning. I
had to look for my rhythm. I was short, and he could dominate the
point. I mean, we were both in the better position when we could
dominate the point. But even though, you know, it was close. I didn't feel
like I was serving too well today. That didn't give me any free
points. In the second set, you know, missed too many chances.
It's obvious. It's disappointing to lose a match like this
because, I mean, I could have also won this match with no problem.
Q.
In the second set you were gaining your momentum, crushing your
forehand, keeping the ball deep. Must have been pretty confident
to win three sets. ROGER
FEDERER: Yeah. That's the real opportunity I missed, you
know, in the match, to not have gone to the third. Then I think I
would have been the favorite because I was really starting to play
well. You know, but he just sneaked out on me. It's a pity.
Q.
Can you talk about your first set point. You hit an overhead
instead of coming in, go back, he ends up winning the point. ROGER
FEDERER: You know, I'm really good in overheads, but I should
have maybe taken more risk. You have so much space behind the
baseline on this big center court. You have to hit a good smash
to put it away. Indoors it's easier because it's more closed in
and easier to put them away. What can I say? I didn't do much wrong. I maybe should have taken more chances on my overhead. The
tactic was good, it's just a pity I missed the point. Could have
been that he missed or he ran the wrong direction and the point would
have been mine. I don't think we should talk about this one
overhead.
Q.
Can you talk about the tiebreaker. He didn't make an unforced
error in the tiebreak. Do you feel he played it very well? ROGER FEDERER: I
was up a mini break, I think, if I'm correct, then I lose both points
on my serve. It's not allowed to happen. So I give him the
chance to be in the lead, change sides at 4-2, then I play against the
wind. Instead of being up 4-2, I'm down 4-2. As I
said, I missed too many chances and opportunities. I let it slip
away, this whole match. It's a pity because I would have liked to
beat Guga today. I was starting to play better in the second
set. It's too late.
Q.
In your previous meeting you beat him in three sets. It looked
like it was fairly easy. Was he different today? ROGER
FEDERER: I definitely didn't play as well as I was playing in
Hamburg. But maybe I also remember in Hamburg, he was missing a
lot of shots like a couple of centimeters, you know. There I
played really aggressive, played unbelievable defense. Today I
just couldn't give myself a chance of playing defense because he was
putting them away, you know, the easy shots. I definitely think
he played better today. I didn't play as good as in
Hamburg. The result changes. That can happen.
Q. Considering how hot you've been the first part of this year, how big a disappointment is this? ROGER
FEDERER: Well, I mean, it's almost like a different time of year
since two weeks. We're here in America now. Everything has
changed. Two big events coming up now. Things are
different, you know. It's just good for your confidence that you
know you won a lot of matches. Now
that I lost today doesn't really matter to me. I mean, I'm just
disappointed in today's match. There was a lot of matches where I
didn't play well also the last month or so and I still won them.
Today I just played against a guy, you know, who sneaked out, as I
said. I was not playing well, he was playing better than me, in
the end he deserves to win because he put his balls away. Other
guys would have maybe given me one more chance, but he didn't.
Q. Will you be able to recover mentally for Miami, not a problem? ROGER
FEDERER: I mean, what am I going to recover from here? I've
lost a tennis match. I'm maybe not as used to it as I am maybe
usually because I've won so much. What can I do? I've got
some doubles left here. Hopefully I can win a few matches here
and keep the rhythm going. I
mean, it's good for me now to have a few days off also between here and
Miami. I've been playing much. If I can rest, it's
nice. Here, Miami, are two beautiful places to rest a little
bit. It's nice. I can lie at the pool, do what I like.
Q.
A question about the grass. Last year when Lleyton and Nalbandian
played the Wimbledon final, two baseliners. Do you think maybe
things have changed a bit on the grass now after these guys played a
Wimbledon final, things are moving away from the serve-and-volleyers? ROGER
FEDERER: Well, we don't have as much serve and volley players
around any more than a few years ago, you know, 10 years ago.
Definitely the courts and the balls are slower now. I mean,
Lleyton, we know he can play on any surface. Same with
Nalbandian. He has proved also in the past that he can play
really well on hard court. Actually, that's his favorite surface. The
grass courts are getting slower. If you can move well on the
grass, return well, it's also a huge advantage than just having a big
serve and a good volley. Anything is possible in today's tennis.
Q. Does that give you even more of a chance in your own game? ROGER
FEDERER: I have no idea really. I mean, I like to play from
the baseline, not at the net. I don't know if it's good or
bad. Last year was bad. Hopefully this year is better.
Q. How good was the tennis out there today? ROGER FEDERER: Today's match?
Q. Yes. ROGER FEDERER: For me disappointing in the first set.
Q. As far as the quality. ROGER FEDERER: I don't know. It was all right. It was not bad, it was not good, it was okay.
Q. Looked pretty good. ROGER FEDERER: You thought so?
Q. Yes. ROGER FEDERER: I'm happy. Be happy for Guga.
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