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Tuesday, 25 January, 2005
Australian Open Quarterfinal I
By Tennis-X.com Forum
R. FEDERER/A. Agassi 6-3, 6-4, 6-4
Jim Courier's Post-Match Interview
Jim Courier: Roger talk about playing Andre Agassi, one of the great champions in the game of tennis. He has been so dominant here on this court. What did you feel like you had to do to take him out of his game tonight?
Roger Federer: Well, first of all, a good start to the match always helps especially against Andre and I think I really served well the whole match and you know, he never broke me. (applause) And I think from the baseline it was very clear who was the better man. So I had to serve better to stay in the match and took my chances. I always stayed ahead so it was fantastic.
JC: Are you saying that he was the better man at the baseline?
RF: I think so, yeah.
JC: I wonder what Andre would say, you were mighty impressive today. The numbers don't reflect that. The thing that impressed us the most watching this match was your clutch serving. Whenever he got up love-30, you just seem to come up time and time again the right serve. Is there a mindset that you use when you get to that moment? Or is just natural?
RF: I just hope that I make my first serve. Um. (laughter) I have no secrets you know. I just walk up to the line and say, where is my safest serve, where is he going to guess where I'm going. You know, it's like roulette, you know. I have no idea. I just pick the right numbers (laughs).
JC: No, no, I'm not buying that. Just because the players are home listening, you can tell us, no one's listening. What's the secret? No secret?
RF: Well, love-30 always wide and 15-30 wide as well. (laughter) Next time you play me you know where I'm going (laughs).
JC: Okay, let me pull my book out. I'll remember that. Roger you're on a ridiculous streak right now-- you haven't lost to a player ranked in the top 10 in 24 occasions (wild cheering). It's absurd.
RF: I didn't even think of that actually today, so.
JC: Sorry. It will happen again you'll play Marat Safin next round. So you might-
RF: It can be broken. The streak can be broken though, so we'll see.
JC: But another streak was broken today as well. You won your 26th consecutive match on tour and let me tell you why this is one of the greatest days of your life because you were tied with the great champion at 25 for a streak. Do you know who that was?
RF: (smiling, looks to crowd. A few people yell out "Courier!". Laughs). Was it you or what?
JC: Correct, sir! You are correct. (cheering and applause)
RF: When was that?
JC: That was in uh 1992. You were about 3 years old. (laughter)
RF: That's why I don't remember. (laughs)
JC: Shocking. Well talk about Safin in the next round. You're obviously playing very, very well. You stepped up your game tonight. Uh, he played very well today. Did you get to see him play at all?
RF: I was warming up, driving from the hotel here. So I just got some pieces of the match but uh I think they were playing indoors. I saw the shadows on the court in my hotel when I was watching the match on TV. I thought it was raining, so then I figured out the heat factor actually played a role here. It's fantastic to play him again here Rod laver arena after last year's final where I was a little tired. Anyways it was a great match and I'm really looking forward to playing him again.
JC: Okay. Well, let's prognosticate a bit for tomorrow here, that means you pick the winners. So, Lleyton Hewitt versus David Nalbandian. Who do you think is gonna win that one?
RF: Why are you putting me on the spot?
JC: Because I can.
RF: You can, alright. (laughs) Uh, I pick uh.....I pick (brief, dramatic pause) Lleyton. (cheering)
JC: A very, very wise man. (laughter)
RF: I want to live tonight, so.
JC: And how about Roddick and Davydenko in the other quarterfinal?
RF: Well I think the favorite's more obvious there. So, I would have to go with Roddick. (applause)
JC: And your match against Safin?
RF: Well that's in two days. So you talked about tomorrow? So we're not playing tomorrow, so (laughs).
JC: Well, always a clutch player. Roger Federer through to the semi-finals. Once again here.
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