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Saturday, May 15, 2004
Hamburg AMS Semifinal
By Hamburg Masters Official Site
Press Conference with ROGER FEDERER
Federer – Hewitt 6:0, 6:4
Q: You probably can’t play much better than during that first set?
FEDERER: Difficult, yes. It was a great start to the match. That’s
what I wanted, to have a good start. I can’t complain about anything in
the first set. The result was good because I thought Lleyton wasn’t
playing too bad. Maybe once in a while he gave me a point or two. But I
hit a lot of great winners today. I think that was the key.
Q: When you get such a good start do you think you are serving more freely?
FEDERER: For sure. But you know when you get to the second set,
basically everything starts from 0, just that you have one set
advantage. And you know how quickly things can turn, especially against
a player like Lleyton. I have had a tough experience with him at the
Davis Cup and you always have that in your mind. That’s also what made
him believe that he could turn it around, even though he was down 5:3.
Q: You were not happy with your game in Rome a week ago. What did you do this week to get to that level?
FEDERER: Rome wasn’t that bad. I played a good first set against
Costa. The second was alright too. Then, he started to change up his
game a little. He really started to work with his forehand. Normally,
that’s what I do with my forehand. But, he could turn it around, which
I give credit to him. I couldn’t get out of it. That was my problem.
Obviously that was only my second match on clay, o.k. apart from
Romania, but I don’t count that because it was indoors. So, maybe I was
a little worried but I tried to block that away because that if I can
find my rhythm, it shouldn’t be a problem. I really feel this week that
my serve is going better, my return is better and at the same time I
have a chance to swing freely. That’s what I couldn’t do in Rome
because the conditions were very quick. Maybe too fast for me getting
to the clay court season.
Q: The players often say they fear your forehand, but you create great openings from both sides.
FEDERER: Yes, I felt really good on the timing today on my backhand.
I could stay with him in the back and rally. And then I could even open
it up down the line and that’s what I usually always do against
Lleyton. Because against him I always tend to get the rhythm because he
hits the ball nice and flat. Obviously when he’s playing really well he
wears you out. But still I always have good matches against him because
I get the rhythm.
Q: Is there a risk of playing too well before the final?
FEDERER: No. I’m very happy to have these kind of matches which
don’t take too much out of me physically, because I need it for
tomorrow in a five-set final. Clay is tough, so I’m happy to have won
the last three matches rather easy.
Q: Do you think that you are better right now on clay than in Romania?
FEDERER: I was moving extremely well in Romania. I was struggling
much more at the beginning of Rome to find my grove on the clay, how to
slide with the balance and everything. Now, I feel like I have it, but
in Romania it came right away. Obviously it’s something to do with the
confidence.
Q: A possible final against Coria. You have never played him before. How do you see the match?
FEDERER: As I’ve never played him before I have to have a few more
thoughts about it than against other opponents. I’ve practiced with him
a few times. He is strong on both sides, and he moves very well with
his height on court, he slides cleverly. He plays very well. Therefore
it will be a difficult match. Plus he probably has the biggest
confidence on earth on clay. So I have to play well if it’s against him.
Q: Is your confidence bigger than ever on clay?
FEDERER: No, I’ve played a lot of good matches on clay and I don’t
think too much if it goes well. You think less if you know it works
well. You feel good with the surface and the balls. If it doesn’t work
well you start to ask too many questions. They are gone and I’m happy
about that. I can play more freely then.
Q: Will you watch the match now?
FEDERER: Probably not. I rather go to my room.
Q: South Africa got the Football World Cup for 2010. Does that make you happy because your mother is from there?
FEDERER: Yes, I’m happy for that. I’m happy that football takes
place in Africa, and even better that it’s in South Africa, I’ve been
there a lot as a child. I was also happy when Germany got the World
Cup, because then I can maybe come and watch.
Q: How would a final against Ljubicic be for you?
FEDERER: I haven’t seen him play here in Hamburg. But I beat him
twice in Switzerland, in Basel and Gstaad. I have to see as well how I
would play him and not only focus on Coria, because anything can
happen. Ljubicic is dangerous for anyone because of his serve. I think
I would have enough time during five sets to get into it.
Q: You are the favourite of the audience here now. Do you like that or does it add to the pressure?
FEDERER: No, I enjoy it more if the audience is behind me and into
it. Today there was a brilliant atmosphere on court. I hope it will be
the same tomorrow, because that motivates me of course and makes me
play better. When nobody in the audience says anything it can get a bit
boring.
Q: Most of the fans believe the only one who could beat Roger Federer is Roger Federer himself. Do you believe that as well?
FEDERER: No, I don’t. Because the Roger Federer who stops himself
doesn’t exist very much anymore, especially not in the finals (laughs).
Somebody else would have to do that (laughs).
Q: Would you consider yourself one of the favourites in Paris?
FEDERER: No, I really don’t want to consider myself as a favourite.
I’ll concentrate too much on my first round, because it didn’t work in
the past two years. I don’t waste any thoughts on possible semifinals
or quarterfinals or to win all of the Grand Slams. That is much too far
away. The first round is far too important. Everything I do here can
only help me for the French Open. Especially tomorrow, it’s great to
play five sets on clay.
Q: What came to mind when the rebreak came?
FEDERER: I’m nearly used to that against him. In the Davis Cup I
also had the chance to finish the match when I was serving at 5:3 in
the third set. I lost to five at the end. At the Australian Open I
served for the match in the fourth set at 5:4 and I had to fend off a
couple of breakpoints so it was tight again. Today it was similar.
Therefore I’m happy to break him back, because you never know what will
happen at 5:5, if he gets a run and the audience goes with him and you
are the one beginning to worry. So the respect is there of course. The
way he goes for it, not everyone does that. He always thinks he can
make it, to play a bit better and then he doesn’t make any more
mistakes.
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