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Wednesday, 9 June, 2004
Halle Second Round
By Gerry Weber Open Official Site
R. FEDERER/M. Youzhny 6-2, 6-1
An interview with: ROGER FEDERER
That was probably a perfect work out there, wasn’t it? Yes,
but it’s always easy when you’re up. Today it was especially tough for
Youzhny, because you inevitably get mentally stressed, when you lose a
few tough games and big points. Obviously he lost belief, but this is
comprehensibly. Anyway, I’m very happy with the match I played and I’m
looking forward to the upcoming ones. Compared with yesterday I didn’t
lose my first service game, I was ready from the beginning instead.
Besides I returned really well up from the start.
Does it force you, when you win so clearly? Of
course, but nevertheless I tried to play more aggressive. But it just
needs some matches until that folds sovereign and as automatically.
Then I have to serve and volley also after the second serve. Today I
didn’t come to the net as much as I gladly like to. I have to put more
pressure on my opponents and have to bring the rallies to a faster end.
Anyway, I feel very good from the baseline, too. The better the court
the more you can stay back. There’ll be more bad bounces the next days,
therefore I will be forced to play more serve and volley.
Is it possible to become more confident than you already are? Does this topform come too early? No,
for sure not too early. To win the first two matches so comfortable on
grass shows that I’m feeling very good. It’s always nice for me to have
great matches, also at the start of a tournament. I enjoy it playing
well from the start. That gives me more confidence. The way I’m playing
is very good.
Did you also have the impression, that Youzhny was a little bit frustrated in the end? It
was really hard for him, he had to fight for every single point he
wanted to win, but in most cases I won. I can reconstruct that he was
worried about it and got frustrated. But next time it may go the other
way round.
How do you rate your next opponent Arnaud Clement? For
sure it will be a tough match. He played very well the last years on
grass, he has a great return and really good movement on the court. But
I’m looking forward to it. He’s also a baseliner, and obviously they
are appropriate for me.
Do you think there is more than respect, perhaps some kind of fear by other players to play against number one Roger Federer? Perhaps
a little bit. I already try to play my best tennis and when I’m up, my
opponent will badly able to beat me. On the other hand: In former times
I always say to myself: “I’ll tell my grand children, when I would beat
the number one.” This is obviously impossible for me now, but not for
my opponents. So I have to stay full-concentrated otherwise I will
immediately lose my matches.
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