|
Thursday, July 29, 2004
Toronto AMS Second and Third Round
By Tennis Masters Canada Official Site
An interview with: ROGER FEDERER
2nd Round - R. FEDERER/R. Soderling 7-5, 6-1
3rd Round - R. FEDERER/M. Mirnyi 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-4)
(partial transcript)
Roger moves to 54-4 on the season with his 20th match win in a row. Questions for Roger.
Q. Roger, was that a good day at the office or was it a very long day at the office?
A.
The day is not too long, you know, but it's tough. It's tough to play
two matches the same day and, you know, and I'm happy to be through
because obviously I would have liked to play my second round match, you
know, after my finishing set again Arazi because then I would have been
again on schedule if I would have won, but like I knew I would have to
play twice but that's okay now that I'm through and didn't lose too
much energy I would say. So, I'm ready for tomorrow.
Q. Do you feel relieved about getting through it without too much mishap?
A.
Yeah, definitely. You wake up in the morning and you know that you just
focus on the one match but then the one match is over you have a second
one coming your way. So, it is -- it's a different situation which I'm
not quite used to, but I think I handled it well. I was happy I played
Max, you know, in the second match because I knew there was not going
to be any rallies. It was really about, you know, focusing on the serve
and trying to use the chances and had to go to the tie-breaker twice.
It was close. It could have gone either way but I think, again, like in
the first match I won the big points.
Q. Do you think it in any way altered your approach knowing that you were going to have to play twice?
A. Say that again.
Q. Did it in any way alter your approach to the match consciously or unconsciously knowing that you had to play twice?
A.
Well, I went to bed a little bit earlier than usually. I mean, first of
all, I had to get up early but still, you know, it was even more
important to eat properly the day before, to sleep properly, all those
kind of things. I guess I payed a little bit more attention to
everything.
Q. Roger, you're
still without a coach. You're having, really, you're having a horrible
year, two Grand Slams, 54-4. So, the question is, one, are you looking
to get a coach? Is that something you see that you would like to fill
in? Two, I guess you have to answer that first. Are you looking to get
a coach?
A. Yeah, slowly but
surely, you know, but not a hurry because it is going so well
especially since the Australian Open. I have told this many times but
it's nothing new but for you. You know, it gave me a lot of confidence
knowing that I could travel on my own, not to try to hurry into a
coach. I guess if I would have lost early at the Australian Open, you
know, I would have put the accelerator on to look for a coach but now
I'm really taking my time. We'll see what happens.
Q.
So, that's the thing that's interesting. You've actually thought about
it. You did well without. So, what criteria do you have at the top of
the game for a coach? What does somebody have to be able to bring you
to be your coach and what benefit do you think having a coach is going
to give you, given the success you've had on your own?
A.
Well, first of all, you know, I got to be able to get along with him
because I will spend a lot of time with him, I guess. So, better be
okay, you know, going out for dinner with him, otherwise, I don't think
he will be my coach. Other than that, what was the next?
Q. What do you think a coach can bring to your game?
A.
It's going to be difficult for the coach no matter what because he will
be in a tough situation because let's say if I start losing suddenly,
he will be the man to blame. So, this is also why I don't want to start
having a coach and then saying this is not the right guy and I'm going
to start jumping around. I hope when I find one, they will be for a
longer time, you know, because I'm, anyway, this type of person, you
know, who prefers to have a long term than just, you know, one month
here, two months there. And, you know, just have new ideas really. If I
like the ideas, you know, I try to do it. If I don't like it, I discuss
it with the coach but so far that's not the case though.
Q.
Roger, why do you need a coach? I mean, have you thought about you're
having the greatest year maybe of your career, I mean, why?
A.
Why? Why not. Really, like I said, this could last another year, two
years like this but, you know, I hope within the next year or so I will
find somebody because I think it will be better for my game again to
have new advice. Then I can judge again if I need a coach or not. But I
think I'm still young enough and there is potential left in my game
which I can explore and for this I think I need a coach because myself
I see things the way I see them and a coach sees them differently. So,
really just nice to talk to somebody.
Q.
Is it part of a chase almost at history then because you're right now
operating at some of the highest levels that people have operated at in
this game an awful long time? Is this looking just at a longer term
over your career and ever increasing goals?
A. Translation.
Q. Are you looking at history? You're looking at a longer view obviously.
A. With a coach or what are you talking about?
Q. Because you're looking to improve your game and get better. How high do you want to go?
A.
Right now I'm very happy right now. You know, I'm No. 1 in the world. I
am winning every second tournament or so. So, it's working well for me
and obviously my goal is to stay No. 1 in the world, you know, until
the end of this year. But I'm not setting myself goals for the next 10
years, you know. I go year by year and at the end of this year I'll set
myself new goals for next season and so on, and I'm not going to start
I want to chase those Grand Slams or those titles or those records
because we'll see what the career is at the end.
Q.
Roger, a chance at Hewitt tomorrow in the quarters. Is he always like a
measuring stick for you because he's such a tenacious player?
A.
To me it seems like him and Agassi, when you beat those kind of guys
you know you're playing because to beat them, if you're not playing
well, it's going to be tough, especially in this surface which is a
little slower, will be longer rallies. So, it's a physical and mental
test I would say. I look forward to actually play either one of them
because also against Santoro it's very strategic, you know, play
against him so it would be nice to play him as well.
Q.
Are you preparing strategy for the game by yourself or is somebody
around you who helps you to like in case of Hewitt to prepare the
strategy?
A. There is only me and
my girl friend here this week. So, there is nobody I'm going to go
speak to how to play Hewitt. I've beaten him the last three times and I
think I just go from there. There is nothing to change and playing so
well at the moment, the confidence so high, so I can really rely on my
strengths very often and I don't have to think too much about the
opponent like it used to be like a year or two ago. So, these are the
things that have changed for me and I'm using them well.
|
