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Thursday, March 18, 2004
Indian Wells AMS Quarterfinal
By ASAP Sports
R. FEDERER/J. I. Chela 6-2, 6-1
An interview with: ROGER FEDERER
THE MODERATOR: Roger advances to his first semifinal here.
He's dropped 15 games in his four matches. He's improved his match
record to 20-1 on the season. Questions for Roger.
Q. Was it easier than you expected? If so, why?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, it was -- I had to -- I know I needed a
few games to figure out how the match will go. I feel like he's got two
options in his game: either he plays aggressive or he plays more on
defense. I thought he was playing quite aggressive in the beginning,
and I have to get used to that. Even though I was up a break, he came
back, and I got broken for the first time in this tournament, I think.
Then I had to save breakpoint after that, I think, which was tough. At
that point I didn't think, you know, it was going to be 6-2, 6-1. But I
think I changed a few things, hung in there, and I broke him at the
right time. Then I could hit much more easier, freely, started hitting
winners. This is when the first set suddenly went very fast.
Q. Did getting broken get you more focused on the match?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I just knew the danger, no, because it was
a little more windy today than the other few days. He's a totally
different player, again. I have the feeling I got to move him not only
sideways but also, you know, back and forth because he's very good
running on the baseline. That, you know, changes my game a little bit.
I feel also at the same time I have to come in more against him than
against other players. So it was a dangerous match today, but I handled
it well.
Q. Can you tell us how you developed your style of play in
Switzerland? It's a little bit different than some of the coaches
there.
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I don't know. I guess -- I know, I've
always had very good coaching. I think that is definitely one of the
things where I'm lucky at, you know, in my career. Where I'm also happy
is that my parent had a lot of faith in all my coaches and they let
them do the work, you know, and just looked at the things which were
happening just from far away. You know, everybody always taught me a
one-handed backhand. I couldn't hit a drive backhand until I was 12 or
14 years old. I was only slicing the backhand. I think that was a big
improvement. Over the last few years on tours, I hit so many backhands
because everybody was going to my weakness. Now that also has become a
strength.
Q. Are you feeling like you're near invincible out there every time you walk on the court?
ROGER FEDERER: No, because I know there's very dangerous
players out there. Just because I have -- you know, I won a lot of
matches this year and I only lost one, you know, that doesn't make me
feel like I'm unbeatable. I go out there every match with the same
attitude. That this will be a difficult match, try your best, fight
hard, and hopefully you can win. Handle yourself correctly out there,
kind of enjoy it. That's what I'm doing. When I can play like I did
today, you know, that is a lot of pleasure for me.
Q. How much confidence are you playing with right now?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, a lot. I can, you know, even sometimes try
a few things which, you know, I don't know, that's what I explained on
TV with ESPN. I said that I changed a few things with my game today
against Chela because the way he was playing. But at the same time that
can be also a factor which could work against me if I'm not playing
well. But right now I'm so confident that I have no problem switching,
you know, from defense to offense, to play, you know, serve and volley
or just, you know, wait for a mistake of the opponents. Right now I'm
so confident, I can do that. But I know that in bad times, this might
not work anymore.
Q. Looking ahead, you have Agassi or Coria. You never played Coria. What do you know about his game?
ROGER FEDERER: I played Juniors with him. I beat him in the
finals of the Orange Bowl in '98. That was the only time I think we
played. He's a very tough player. He doesn't miss hardly any shots.
Good backhand, good forehand. So if you want to beat him, you got to
play aggressive. You got a chance on this surface. So I think first he
has to pass the test with Agassi, which is very difficult. But he has
beaten Agassi in the past, at the French Open. But it will be nice to
play Coria because I never played him.
Q. Sort of young players coming up, where does he fit into the mix? Is he right there?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I think, you know, he missed his chance at
the French Open obviously in the semifinal. But for me, him and
Nalbandian are very good and dangerous players in the future. I think
both had a big chance to do well at Slams last year. I think it's just
a matter of time until they will also break through.
Q. You played the Spanish Davis Cup team of Nadal and Robredo
the other day. What do you think of their abilities on court? What do
you think of Nadal in particular?
ROGER FEDERER: I thought it was an entertaining doubles, first
of all. I really enjoyed it because I don't play doubles very often. I
played with my Davis Cup and friend Yves, I've shared apartments with
him for two years. It's fun to help him on the tour and at the same
time try to do as well as we can. What concerns Nadal and Robredo, I
think they're good players. I was a little surprised how well they
played. But you saw they played more often together than me and my
partner. You know, we had many, many chances. But, you know, I wouldn't
say they were lucky, but they were just more consistent on the day.
It's great for Spain that they have so many good new players. I think
Nadal, especially, he's got a lot of energy. It's tough to see in a
doubles match what he can do. But already at his age to play such good
doubles, and he's a singles player actually, it's good to see.
Q. Being that you have no coach, will you go out and watch Coria-Agassi tonight?
ROGER FEDERER: If it's on TV, I'll watch it on TV. Otherwise, no.
Q. Is the difference between your game in 2001 and today better shots, better ability, or is it confidence?
ROGER FEDERER: No, it's not only confidence. Just more
knowledge about the game. I think more power physically and mentally
stronger. It's a lot of things which I've changed. I think overall just
more consistent in every aspect of the game. And I think that -- if I'm
winning, it makes me even more confident than it could have -- gave me
confidence, like after the match against Sampras. I was mentally much
more weak because if I was playing bad, why I was not playing like I
was against Sampras. That's not how it works in tennis. I think now
I've learned that lesson, and now I'm just enjoying it, playing well.
Q. Do you ever think there will be a pure serve-and-volley player again, because people are passing so well from the baseline?
ROGER FEDERER: It's tough. It's tough. That player, you know,
you almost got to have a serve like, let's say, Roddick, and have
volleys of Henman. It's tough to get (smiling).
Q. Could you compare the first and second serves of Andy and of Sampras.
ROGER FEDERER: Different serve. I think Pete was serving the
lines much more. Andy, he's got just much more power. His second serve
is more of a kick serve. Pete, the power and the confidence on that
serve which, you know, goes to the line. You doubt one second, and the
point is over. Totally different serves, but similar effect.
Q. On a medium hard court, which would you fear more?
ROGER FEDERER: It's a totally different game, also. Andy
doesn't come in behind his serve. Pete did all the time. That already
makes you hit different returns. I think if Pete would have stayed
back, you know, people would have returned him totally different, as
well. But I think the conditions were faster before than they are now.
So I don't know.
Q. Sounds like Pete has a more effective package ultimately. Am I right?
ROGER FEDERER: I don't know. Andy's only 22. I don't know.
Maybe he'll serve 160 in a year, 170 in two years. I don't know. You've
got to give him time (smiling).
Q. Presumably, in view of the success you had last year, you'll be doing the same buildup to Wimbledon that you did?
ROGER FEDERER: No, I'm going to play Halle, then come early to London, to Wimbledon, and prepare.
Q. Do you have overtures from Queen's Club?
ROGER FEDERER: They were interested, yes. But I prefer to keep it the same way.
Q. Can you talk about the prospects of playing Andre, if he wins tonight?
ROGER FEDERER: That would be a great match again. Especially
now, these last two years, I enjoy playing Agassi because I thought,
you know, I can finally compete with him. Because before he was just,
you know, too good. Gave me a hiding at the US Open one time, and also
before when I just came on tour. So now that I also beat him, you know,
I think also he would like to have that rematch, you know, get a chance
for revenge. So it will be a nice match for the fans and for everybody
- also for us especially.
Q. Aside from tennis, what is your one favorite thing about the desert?
ROGER FEDERER: It's just waking up in the morning and seeing
the blue skies every time. It's really, really nice here. Like I've
said many times, the heat doesn't affect me here. I've got a
convertible, I'm driving around in that all day long. That's for me
unbelievable. I really enjoy it. We've been shopping a little bit, you
know, nice dinners. Just spending time with my girlfriend. It's nice.
Q. Have you been recognized a lot when you've been out on the town?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I feel like, you know, here the people who
are here, they come to the tennis. A lot of people recognize me here.
It's different here than somehow in Switzerland, the reactions. So much
louder.
Q. Shopping on El Paseo or the mall?
ROGER FEDERER: At the outlet, at the mall. Just where my
girlfriend wants to go really. She's also got some words to say because
she has to wait for me all the time while I'm sitting here with you
guys. No, I'm enjoying it, going shopping, don't worry.
Q. Yesterday you signed autographs for 40 minutes instead of 20 minutes.
ROGER FEDERER: Was I?
Q. You were supposed to sign for 20 minutes and you stayed double the time. That's unusual for a No. 1 player.
ROGER FEDERER: Is it? I don't know. I told them I'm ready to do
half an hour. I saw how long the line was. I said, "I'll do it 10
minutes more if not everybody has their autograph," because I think
those things are very important for tennis. Here they almost prefer to
do photos than take the autograph. But I have to say it was nice, nice
because people are nice here. They're patient. I like to do it,
especially when it's well-organized. If it's hectic, then I cannot sign
properly.
Q. Did you ask for autographs when you were younger?
ROGER FEDERER: As a ball boy at the Swiss Indoors, yeah. I was
chasing them. Then, somehow I stopped. It was only for like two years.
I have the book at home. Rosset was tough to get at the time, but I got
it (smiling).
Q. Is he still?
ROGER FEDERER: Tough to get for autographs? I don't know. He's better now. I'm surprised how many he signs now.
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