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Sunday, May 15, 2005
Hamburg AMS Final
By Hamburg Masters Official Site
Press Conference with ROGER FEDERER
Federer vs. Gasquet 6:3, 7:5, 7:6 (4)
Q: Straight sets, but not an easy match, was it?
A: No, as expected, he won the last one, so you can’t expect an easy match. But in the end straight sets is always convincing in my eyes. So I played a good match, I had to. He moves well and therefore I’m very happy about the way I played today.
Q: When you look back at the tournament, were there any real challenges for you?
A: I thought, the toughest moment was almost when I looked at the draw. I was really worried, because I didn’t play Rome. Then came into here and saw Verdasco to play, Ferrero and Kuerten, Berdych, many tough opponents in my section. In the end to come through without losing a set is very nice. It gives me great belief that I can also do better at the French. But at the end I came here to win the tournament, no matter what. So I’m very happy I achieved that.
Q: As so often, you served the big points well.
A: Yes, big points are always important, especially in a final like this. For this reason I call the second set the key moment for sure. I was always down in the second and in the third set, so it was tough. It was tough to break him, he is very confident. He has a fantastic backhand, which makes it hard to go into too many duels into that backhand side. But the game plan I had today was good.
Q: You came to the net a lot, certainly in the first part of the match, and you played a lot of short angles. Was that your intention, to bring him out of his comfort area?
A: Well, I didn’t feel like I did much wrong in Monte Carlo. The conditions were a little different, a little quicker. Today I definitely played more angles and used my kick serve more, maybe that is a thing I have to do more on clay, I don’t know. A match like this always helps you to look ahead. After a match like today I feel I have more options on clay. I used the drop shot more than I used to.
Q: He was taking up some quite exaggerated positions to return your serve. Is that disconcerting?
A: I saw what he did to my serve in Monte Carlo, so of course I was worried that the same thing will happen again. But I had the feeling today that it was much tougher for him to attack my serve. He was winning an unbelievable percentage on my second serve in Monte Carlo, which really surprised me, because normally I also win a lot of points on my second serve. But he took it like it was nothing. Today I think I made him think a little bit more. I see when he is moving, but I think today I got my serving right, because he didn’t break me.
Q: Do your feet still trouble you?
A: It was today the same thing that happened to me in Miami, today I also took the tape off because the tape started moving and I didn’t want it moving in the wrong place. It looked worse than it actually is. I just wanted to take it off and not take any risk.
Q: The sequence goes on with Championship wins. How difficult is it to keep it going?
A: You mean the final streak? I didn’t actually think about it too much until yesterday, when he said in the presentation, now you have 18 finals in a row. Then it reminded me. Now it’s 19. Of course I go into finals feeling well, feeling comfortable. Somehow you always know the streaks will end. You always hope it’s not gonna be today.
Q: In three weeks time it will be 20.
A: I don’t know, that is still many matches away. I have a good feeling, but good feelings don’t matter much once it starts to be over five sets for two weeks. I cannot think about aiming for the title. The last few years have been too disappointing for me at the French, so I really have to focus on the early rounds. I think once I get on the way, this is when I really start to be really dangerous at Roland Garros.
Q: Looking back on the matches this week, was the Coria match the one you took the most satisfaction from?
A: This week? Well, Berdych was nice, to get him back. I think especially also today. I mean, Coria was good, but I had the feeling today I was almost more … You see, Coria, without wanting to take anything away from what I did, but he played five sets in Rome, and he was tired, so that was maybe one of the reasons why he changed up his game. I think today was a tough match for me, just looking ahead mentally. It was a hard break, that loss in Monte Carlo against him. He gave me a sniff, and I still ended up losing, that was disappointing. I haven’t lost to too many guys lately. You always want to beat the guys who beat you back. I’m happy I got the chance after already a few weeks to get him back.
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