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Thursday, May 13, 2004
Hamburg AMS Third Round
By Hamburg Masters Official Site
Press Conference with ROGER FEDERER
Federer – Gonzalez 7:5, 6:1
Q: It was a tight first set, but you got on top better and better. Is that the right picture that is emerging?
FEDERER: I thought I really played well all match long today and he
played a good game to come back. He takes a lot of risks. You have to
take it in you own hands and that’s what I did. I doublefaulted at 0:15
which is not the right move. But, he also played a great first set. I
had my chances earlier to close it out, but he hung in there. And in
the end I needed luck to win it. I still thought I was the better
player in the first set because I hit some great forehands and played
more aggressive than he did.
Q: Is he a disconcerting player or a player who puts you under pressure because he controls the outcome of the rallies?
FEDERER: If he wants he really can take it away from you so that you
have no control. But, I think that is also not his game plan because
that is too risky. Nobody in the world plays this way to take risk on
every shot. For me it’s a matter just to play balls where he cannot
finish the point, where I know I will always reach him and when he
comes to the net, I can pass him. It has a lot to do with tactics
against him. If you play good shots and you play them to the wrong
spot, he will hit a winner. So the way you play your balls is very
important.
Q: Over the last 2, 3 days all the old timing is coming back. Do you get that feel as well?
FEDERER: Yes, especially on the return. I think I am returning
better and better. My backhand up the line is slowly really coming. My
forehand is working and also my serve. Everything has moved up a gear
and that’s nice to see because I had many problems in the last few
weeks.
Q: You don’t seem at all to have any problems with the shots.
FEDERER: I’m o.k. for the moment (laughs). I had problems in the
past with the balls. I remember in 2002, I had a lot of problems to
spin to ball. I really had to almost change my game and try to play
flat. But that was two years ago. Over a year now, I haven’t had these
problems. Obviously the ball tends to fly differently. Hamburg and Rome
are totally different. I understand some players because I had a
problem too in the past. But I can work the ball well here. So, it
should be o.k. for everybody.
Q: Does the fact that you play so well now against established very
good clay court players help in the head in the way you play against
Lapentti and now Gonzalez?
FEDERER: Yes, I really beat three good clay court players. You have
to play well to beat them. They are not going to give it to you because
they make you hit a lot of balls. I’m happy that I showed some patience
and struck the ball well from the baseline. It’s not enough just to
serve well on clay.
Q: When you play well on clay court, is there a transfer to other surfaces?
FEDERER: Not really. I don’t look at it this way. I look at every
surface in a different way. For me it’s easier to come from fast to
slow than from slow to fast, because the return seems very difficult.
Your back swing is way bigger because the ball is supposed to come
slower. If you have a quick court, you can’t run around as much as you
want. All these kind of things totally mix up the tactic.
Q: You are one of the few players left speaking German. You are the favourite now here in Hamburg. Do you enjoy this role?
FEDERER: Yes, definitely. I enjoy to be the star, the magnet for the
audience. I think I have a couple of fans here in Hamburg since I won
the tournament two years ago. This year I’m playing very good tennis
again. Who knows what will happen.
Q: One possibility would be to win the tournament again.
FEDERER: Yes, a nice possibility. But we are far from that. The
opponents will get tougher. Especially if Moya wins, that will be a
real test, I will have to show how good I am on clay. But of course I
like to remember how nice it was in 2002.
Q: Is it especially challenging to compete with the specialists?
FEDERER: Yes, in the locker room nearly everybody speaks Spanish.
I’m not Spanish and I don’t speak it either (laughs). It’s a tough
tournament, but I’m good enough to beat all these people. I know that.
I showed that to myself after the last two matches. Therefore I’m
looking forward to every match. It doesn’t matter whom I will play on
clay. As long as my level is alright. I consider myself to be a clay
court specialist as well, otherwise I wouldn’t have won tournaments
like Munich and Hamburg and the finals in Rome and the Davis Cup
matches. I know how good I am.
Q: But this sort of confidence wasn’t always there.
FEDERER: Yes, it was missing. At the beginning of my career I lost
the first 11 matches. Something was missing. I had a lot to do with the
mental aspect, because you can’t hit a serve on clay and that’s it. You
have to play more from the baseline. My hand was shaking too much then.
I had to get used to it. But all of a sudden I managed the breakthrough.
Q: Would you say you cope with the court and the conditions?
FEDERER: I got used to it. Last week in Rome it was also really
slow. All the practice I was doing was under these conditions. I feel
pretty well. Also the coordination with sliding is easier now. I used
to be a bit scared, because I fell badly once during practice.
Q: Is the confidence also because you are number 1?
FEDERER: Yes, I built up a lot during the last year. Self confidence
is really important in tennis. You risk more, and if you risk more you
it’s better if you are full of confidence. I had to work on that, but
now I’m on the right track.
Q: Is 9 degrees Celsius an advantage for you?
FEDERER: Maybe. But I feel a bit Southern as well. I prefer the
beach and warm weather. So I don’t think it will make such a
difference.
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