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August 16, 2004
Olympic Athens First Round
By ASAP Sports
R. FEDERER/N. Davydenko 6-3, 5-7, 6-1
An interview with: ROGER FEDERER
THE MODERATOR: Questions for Roger.
Q. Could you just talk about your performance generally and could you perhaps also talk about what maybe you found difficult in the second set especially.
ROGER FEDERER: Well, first of all, you know, obviously the
positive side, I'm happy to be through because that's what counts in
the end and not really how. Obviously, you know, I would have liked to
win in straight sets, but, you know, didn't happen. So that's a little
bit -- you know, the one negative side about this match today. But
other than that, you know, I think there was quite a bit of positive
out there anyway. I started off well, you know, won the first set, came
back from 3-Love down in the second, and actually then played really
well in the third. You know, the only problem was at the end of the
second set, you know, which is unfortunate. But that happens
occasionally, and unfortunately today. But didn't hurt me too much
because I won.
Q. That was the most frustrated and angry I think I've seen you
in a match. Did it have to do with the wind or anything else? I had
never seen you smash the racquet on a court before.
ROGER FEDERER: I don't know how many times you've seen me play,
you know. It happens quite often still. Come by in practice sometimes.
It happens even more often (smiling). Yeah, it's a long time since I
got, you know, my last warning. But for me that was more a sign to
actually, you know, just show a reaction because I was unhappy the way
I played in the second set, you know. The problem was actually that I
didn't make my first breakpoint, which I had at 0-0 in the second.
That's when everything started to happen, you know. I got frustrated,
threw my racquet once, you know, the ball went once. For me, these are
not issues to talk about really. It's important how I played and that I
won in the end, and not how I really acted on court.
Q. One thing, there's plenty more to come from your form earlier
this summer, earlier this year. We've seen you play a lot better than
this. There's still a lot left to bring out in the coming rounds.
ROGER FEDERER: Well, it's how I feel, too. I know the
conditions weren't easy today. It was a lot of wind. You know,
everybody saw that. It's actually the best. I've beaten Davydenko.
After two times I've played him, I beat him 7-5 in the third. This is a
hell of an improvement. I'm happy about it. I know I can definitely
play better than I did today. But it's important always in the end is
not to play well and lose, it's important to go through. That's what I
expect from myself tomorrow. I'm the big favorite and I want to take
advantage of it.
Q. Has there been an adjustment that you had to make after
Friday, the opening ceremony, to actually get back into competitive
sport?
ROGER FEDERER: No. You know, it's not like you won something. I
don't know. When you're emotional and you have won something, then
sometimes it's tough to bounce back. But that was such a different
situation which was, you know, beyond tennis really. So for me it was
not a problem to go back on the practice court, you know, and start
thinking about tennis. I've been dreaming quite a long time to again be
part of the Olympics. Now it's the case. And I feel good to be here and
to have won my first round. At the same time, I'm very proud to have --
to have been able to carry the flag for Switzerland. It hasn't been a
dream for me in my career to actually carry the flag. But once some of
the people were starting to talk about it, I said, "That would be
really, really nice." I'm very happy it was me.
Q. I remember from Sydney you were very disappointed when you lost the bronze medal match. Is that still a motivating factor?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, the disappointment was the semifinals. For
me there it was tough to bounce back after a loss. Because usually you
lose and leave. But there I had to lose and stay, and lost again. So
that was extremely tough for me. But, you know, puts even more pressure
on me this year because that was kind of a breakthrough in a way for
me, as well, you know, to reach actually the semis in Sydney already,
so obviously which means I want to go further this year. It's difficult
because it's a long way to go.
Q. I kept track, you changed your tactics a little bit, probably
because of the wind. You actually won 20 of 29 points when you were
serving and volleying, coming in. Is that a tactic we're going to see
more of?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, you know, I got the option. So I'll keep
it on the side. You know, I'd rather stay back. You know, the game I
lost serving for the match was because I missed a couple of volleys,
you know, and took too many chances on my serve because I was a little
bit afraid to volley. So I should have maybe stayed back on those. But,
you know, at least I realized it quickly enough to actually start well
in the third, and that's what counts. But it's definitely something
still I want to improve on, you know, in my career, my volley game,
because I know I can play great volleys and I should take advantage of
it more often.
Q. Some of the players complained about the surface that has been used in this tournament. How do you find it?
ROGER FEDERER: I find it okay. You know, I find it fair. It's
medium speed for me. Took me also one or two days to get used to the
conditions. But you come to certain tournaments, you feel good right
away. Like for me in Toronto, I arrived, my practice was great, my
first round. Here, just took me a little bit longer. So that's all I
can say. You know, the wind was tricky today. But about the surface and
balls, nothing to say.
Q. Do you think it's faster than the one that's going to be used in Flushing Meadows?
ROGER FEDERER: US Open is a similar speed. Like Indian Wells
and Toronto are slower definitely. You know, people are sometimes also
hoping for quicker surfaces, so this is nice, nice change.
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