Friday, July 30, 2004

Toronto AMS Quarterfinal

By Tennis Masters Canada Official Site

An interview with: ROGER FEDERER

R. FEDERER/F. Santoro 7-5, 6-4

(partial transcript)

ATP: Okay, Roger advances to the semifinals here for the second year in a row. He has a 6-0 lifetime record against Thomas Johansson and he has never played Joachim Johansson. Also his 21-match win streak is the longest on the ATP circuit since Pete Sampras won 24 in a row back in ‘99. All right. Questions for Roger.

Q. Roger, for a tired man you are doing rather well, aren't you?

A. Yeah, well everybody wins today, you know, is a little bit tired, so... I felt it especially mentally, you know, I was a little bit frustrated especially after losing—not making those break points, you know. And plus with his game, you know, obviously, you know, it's different, you know. So you have to get used to it and it was a pity I couldn't take advantage of it earlier. But, you know, in the end I am just happy I won because that is what counts.

Q. He is very unorthodox. Can you describe a bit more what it is like playing against all that stuff?

A. It's, it's different because, you know, he is a righty, but he plays his forehand like a lefty, you know, so the ball comes to you like, I would say, as backhand, you know, slice. But then from if he plays a close court, you know, it is tough to actually take chances off the line and he will always cover the cross court. And, you know, his backhand passes is extremely well. When you come to the net you know you will have to play a low volley or otherwise you will have to hit an overhead, but he won't give you the easy, easy volley, you know, and if you get it you have to make it otherwise you lose confidence. So it is a very different game than, game plan especially also too, than against other players. My advantage against him is just that I am serving better than he does, that always gives me more time to actually relax.

Q. Some players have lost their temper against him, did you ever feel like that at all?

A. Not today, no. Umm, no, the first time I've play him, you know, he was about to give me, you know, a lesson and somehow I came back and I am losing 6-1 7-6 instead of one and two. So there, you know, I was close to just walking off the court. But since I have always actually had a chance against him and, it is actually now I enjoy playing him because we play with a lot of touch with a lot of, you know, I don't know—the whole tactic, you know, is nice and play with a lot of feel, so it is nice.

Q. Do you lose the confidence to really hit your volley a bit at the beginning? I notice he hits you the slow passing shot and, you know, you can't really hit it hard—

A. Yeah, well, because he hits it slow, you know, you have to create your own pace and then if you don't punch it enough, you know, he will always get a chance to pass it. Maybe sometimes it is better to do a dropshot, but I am not a big fan of dropshotting, you know, so. Just make sure you don't miss those.

Q. Roger, obviously the key here is to try to win the matches. But do you start thinking about the streak that you are on and the fact that you are close to Pete's, tying Pete, the last guy to go this long—

A. I didn't know. I didn't know Pete's record.

Q. Yeah, is this something you think about, the streak at all?

A. Well there is more and more talk about it, you know, obviously, three tournaments in a row plus now the semis again. So obviously, you know, I start to wonder also, you know, how many is that now all together. But I really actually thought about it last night and said I am not here to just keep that streak going. I am here to actually concentrate on each and every match and hopefully try to win the tournament. And if the streak continues that is fine, you know. But don't want to start going, well now I am at 21, now I am at 22. I am not here to break Pete's record or anything. I am here to play well and try to win a tournament, especially now I am in the semis.

Q. Roger, what has this year been like for you as number one? As the year has gone on have you felt more pressure? Do you see people gunning for you? What has it been like for you this year?

A. Well I didn't start as number one but, you know, right away I became number one after the Australian Open. I didn't have the feeling too much changed really except people respect me more as being number one in world instead of seeing me as, you know, being World champion or Wimbledon champion or those kind of things. Or as Australian Open champion. You know having number one in the world, you know, on your side it is good to have and I find a lot of respect coming my way. But from people and a little bit from the players but, you know, I get along well with a lot of the players so that was never a problem. But it has been nice.

Q. Roger, with playing two pretty tough matches yesterday and tremendous humidity out there and really for the first time this week, how would you have felt about a third set today?

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