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Friday, february 20, 2004
Federer: "I am in the limelight - more than ever before"
By ABN AMBRO WTT Official Site
He won Wimbledon in 2003 and the Australian Open in January of this year. John McEnroe believes the 22-year-old Swiss is capable of winning the official Grand Slam – including all Grand Slam tournaments - in a single season, while Goran Ivanisevic referred to him as a genius. See him play, and you may be deluded into thinking that tennis is an easy sport.
Wim Buitendijk gave you a wild card in 1999. Is that why you keep coming back to Rotterdam? "It’s an important consideration. I tend to return to places that I have fond memories of. I like the playing conditions here, and it’s not too far from home."
Does it feel different to start a tournament as the world No 1? "This is actually my first tournament since becoming the world No 1. The eyes of the world are focussed on me at the moment. More so than ever before. People expect me to win every match now, which puts me under greater pressure. But there are also advantages: my good shots are considered fantastic while my bad shots are never considered all that bad."
When was the last time someone criticised your game? "Although I’ve had plenty of criticism in the past, people tend to be very complimentary as of late, which is nice. Particularly if the compliments are paid by world-class players like Goran Ivanisevic and Patrick Rafter. In the end, being compared to Pete Sampras is not hugely important to me – my aim is to make the most of my career."
People have predicted that you would be the world No 1 since you were a child. Did you feel a weight fall off your shoulders when you won Wimbledon in 2003? "It was an enormous relief. So many people had talked about me, conceding that I was highly talented, but wondering why I had never won a Grand Slam tournament. I started to ask myself the same question. Luckily I no longer feel the need to prove myself, and I think that’s the key to my current success."
Did you have a chance to celebrate your second Grand Slam title yet? "I plan to celebrate it with a few friends when I return to Switzerland. Because of the Davis Cup match against Romania I only spent six hours at home after Melbourne."
After you had won Wimbledon, you were given a cow called Juliette when you returned to Switzerland. Is there another Juliette waiting for you? "I hope not. By the way Juliette is expecting a calf."
Congratulations! "Thanks, but I’m not the father."
You parted company with your coach Peter Lundgren towards the end of last year. Have you found another coach yet? "I have no clear ideas about it yet. I’ll be travelling without a coach for the time being. I need to figure out what works best for me. But I expect to have a new coach within six months."
Are you toying with the idea of asking someone who is currently coaching another player? "No, that’s simply not my style. It’s a bit like going up to a friend and telling him that you want to date his girlfriend."
Have many people offered their services? "I have never even heard of some of the people who want to coach me. Although it’s nice to see that so many people are interested, it will need to click between me and my future coach."
What could a coach possible teach you? "A coach could help me to make adjustments to my game and improve my technique. But a coach can also provide mental support, allowing you to retain your form without becoming careless."
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