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March 11, 2005
Indian Wells AMS Pre-Event
By ASAP Sports
An interview with: ROGER FEDERER
THE MODERATOR: Questions for Roger Federer .
Q. Can you explain how you started this program with the ATP this evening, speaking with UNICEF, too.
ROGER FEDERER: I've been asked at the Australian Open , prior to the Australian Open ,
what I'll be doing more for tsunami or in general. I said, well, I was
ready to basically play any match, any exhibition match. So I thought I
had kind of an idea, and I saw, many of the players did many things
themselves with the tournaments, auction, racquets, shirts, everything.
I thought maybe we should do something, you know, together.
I spoke to I think one of the ATP
guys, and I told him, you know, we should maybe do that and consider
that in the future. They right away thought that was a brilliant idea,
and they started to work extremely hard.
So definitely thanks a lot to the ATP and Charlie Pasarell
already being able to do it here, because I thought this was too close
of a date to do it, you know, because you've got to call all the
individuals, you know. To come together is maybe not the easiest thing
in tennis. To get the Top 10 all committed to tonight is for me
fantastic, so I'm very happy.
Q. Do you think if you are together, there is more synergy, it's more important because you are together?
ROGER
FEDERER: Uh-huh, yes, because how often do you see the top, you know,
play within an hour or two? I thought, of course, you cannot make it
five-setters or anything, you know. You have to keep it short but
intense. That is something I sometimes miss in tennis.
You
always have to wait so long into the draw until you really see the top
players, except if you go and look at the practice courts. But there
it's not the same. Now having the fans involved and being able to see,
you know, all the best, just in a short time, you know, I think it's
very nice. And this for a good cause, I think this should go beyond
this just tonight. I hope we can keep a good thing going.
Q. You played with Andre on the top of the hotel in Dubai . How was the feeling?
ROGER
FEDERER: It was very nice. It was one of the most incredible
experiences I've ever lived through as a tennis player. It was
definitely a thrill. I was nervous in the beginning, you know, even
though I knew it was a thousand percent safe. We had a good time up
there. With Andre , first time in Dubai . I've been there many times, defending champ. I thought the chemistry was right. It was really a lot of fun.
Many
people saw it. I've been asked many, many times, you know, how it was
up there. I even heard that, you know, some guests or some people went
up to there and said, "Well, I'd like to go and play tennis."
They said, "We don't have a court."
They said, "We know you have a court."
They said, "It's gone. It's a heli pad."
It's funny, you know.
Q. You were in South Africa . Can you speak about your South African side in your heart?
ROGER
FEDERER: Well, my mom's from there. I've been going there many times as
a kid for vacation. So last time I was there was four years ago, and
now last week.
We don't have much family left in South Africa ,
but I also went down there, you know, for vacation as well, but also
for my project that I support with my foundation. You know, maybe
people saw the pictures on the website and all this. It was very
interesting to see how those people live to get just a point of view of
what they are going through. That actually may help where I really want
it to get, to the kids for a better education, being able to eat
properly.
I support 30 kids down there. It was
very emotional, I have to say. This gives me a lot of, I don't know,
motivation to do more for such people.
Q. After
the success of 2004, how have you really approached 2005? Do you think
there's a little more pressure on you this year to try and reproduce
what you did in 2004? Do you also think that the start of this year,
with the Australian Open loss and some very close matches at
other tournaments, made the rest of the pack catch up a little bit or
is it too early to say that?
ROGER FEDERER: If I want to repeat what I did last year, I've already messed it up. Got to win the French or the next three. So we'll see, you know (smiling).
You
know, I want to stay No. 1 in the world. I'm No. 1 in the
race again, so that's exactly the position I wanted before the American
hard courts. One point away from being in the final. So it was very
close. It's not like I lost in straight sets and had no chance against Safin .
Then, you know, you could wonder. But the way the match turned out, you
know, for me it was quickly forgotten. The reaction was good. You know,
I agree, there were some close matches.
But the finals against Ljubicic in Rotterdam , he played a great match. I was really struggling with my rhythm in the beginning of Dubai . But that's how it is. Still, you know, hang in the tournament. I'm very happy that I won back-to-back titles again.
So I'm feeling good. Everybody expected me to win the Australian ,
I know that. But it's not as easy to do, you know. Had one little foot
injury, and that cost me the title. That's how quick it can go. This is
why going for four is just not something I'm aiming for.
Q. You mentioned Ljubicic .
Imagine that you're that tall, and you played with him recently a
couple of times in some tournaments, how would your game be if you were
that tall?
ROGER FEDERER: How?
Q. He's a tall guy.
ROGER FEDERER: He's a tall guy, yes.
Q. Imagine that you're tall like he is. What would be your game? How is it for you playing somebody that tall?
ROGER
FEDERER: Well, I would probably play different, you know. I'm as big as
I am. I've got to live with that. I'm happy, you know (smiling). Not
much I can change there.
I think, you know, the
tall guys, they definitely have the advantage on the serve, maybe less
on the movement. It's very simple. So I would be a different player.
Same if I would be small guy. You know, I would have to be extremely
quick, you know, maybe very tough mentally. I don't know. I
don't -- actually never ask myself that question.
Q. Do you prepare differently for the heat in this environment?
ROGER
FEDERER: To be honest, not really, no. Just get used to it, you know,
during practice. We play enough times in the heat, some smaller events
that we don't play any more, challengers and satellites, they've been
played at 55 degrees. You know, we're lucky actually we're playing in a
period of time at the places where actually you can handle it.
I mean, I had a sunstroke after Indian Wells
last year, but that was after the final, so it came at the right time.
No, I don't really prepare. You just have to get used to it. Make sure
you drink enough, all those things. But those are simple.
Q. Ivan Ljubicic is playing very good. How do you see his chances to win the big tournaments like this one or maybe the Grand Slam ?
ROGER
FEDERER: Well, I mean, the way he's playing right now, you know, he's
on the right track. But you got to win titles, you know, and he didn't
do that so far this year. I mean, I was in the way three times.
You
know, as soon as he's going to start winning them, we will see what
he's made of. So far he hasn't, so... He's a good player. He's
definitely a threat to all the big guys, we know that. But it's
consistency we need to see now.
Q. What is your coaching situation? Are you still working with Roche at all?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, still the same. Haven't seen him since Australia . Probably will see him after Miami .
Q. How did you suffer a heat stroke after the tournament? You said you had a sunstroke after Indian Wells last year.
ROGER FEDERER: Hmm-hmm.
Q. The tournament was over.
ROGER
FEDERER: How should I explain? I think the pressure was off, you know.
Maybe my immune system shut down and it got to me. I don't know.
Anyway, the following Monday I was not feeling good, and for four or five days after that. My preparation for Miami
wasn't the best. But I'm happy it came after the tournament and not
during a semifinals or anything because that would have been impossible
to play with the sunstroke.
Q. Use sunscreen.
ROGER FEDERER: We'll see. Does that help? I'm not sure.
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