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Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Kooyong Classic Quarterfinal
By Kooyong Classic Official Site
R. FEDERER/G. Gaudio 5-7, 6-1, 6-4
ROGER FEDERER Transcript of press conference
Q: You had a little bit of a slipup in the first set, Roger, second set was very lopsided. Was it the sort of awakening you needed, do you think?
A: I think it's more getting used to the surface and the conditions here in Australia, they are much quicker than they were in Qatar so I lost my opening first serve which hasn't happened since last year basically because I never lost my serve in Qatar and I had to rally back from that. I had a set point but still thought actually my timing was all right, I could have definitely served better but all in all I'm happy with the match and I ended up winning it so it was good a sign and it was three sets, it was good, I get a day off and hopefully play better at the next match.
Q: Do you feel December was enough of a break for you?
A: I had my two weeks off, which I usually get, and preparation was a little different than the previous years when I was in Australia and that makes it hard not being home for quite some time now but it was a very professional choice, I think it was worth it and it already paid off by winning in Qatar, and I hope I can carry it through here also.
Q: When you're having such a good winning streak and you come to a tournament like this, is it important for you still to win the matches or are you looking maybe to try some things and experiment?
A: It gives you a little bit of an option to try out some things, that's very clear, because for me it's important not to really play well from the start, I hope I really play well the last match of this tournament, hopefully that's the finals, you know, but it's always much nicer to win the matches than to lose them. Looking ahead to the Australian Open, it's important that the confidence stays high, not that I play some poor matches here, and I am not quite sure how my game is because, like I said, the conditions are different and I also want to play good matches here on this surface.
Q: How do you control that, when you say you don't want to play too well early? You want to hit a couple out?
A: I haven't had much of a hit yet on these courts. I arrived on Monday, had a 45 minute hit then, had a one hour hit yesterday, and now I'm playing a match so it's clear that I'm not used to the conditions yet, it takes me usually longer but, like I said, I'm happy with today's match after such a little hit on those courts.
Q: What is the process in terms of getting your form to peak, how do you actually do that?
A: I'm mostly trying out some things so I might lose some points by just taking some chances, or taking more chances on my return so I don't get the ball into play so often like I would if it would be on a break point situation in a tournament, so those are little things that make the match maybe become closer or you end up losing it but for me in the end it's still important that I end up winning the matches so again I stick to my game plan which I set myself for all the regular matches, to keep the ball in play and try to play aggressive when it counts, also in this tournament because in the end I want the victory and I don't want to lose too many matches here.
Q: You spent time in Sydney, what date did you arrive in Sydney and briefly what were the circumstances of your coming out? Was it two weeks you spent?
A: Yes, it was about two weeks. I arrived in the middle of December and left just before Christmas so that was the time I spent in Sydney. Perfect weather, perfect preparation, I thought.
Q: Was it specifically to work on some aspect or just generally?
A: Well, no, it's general because I think if you just work on one thing you shouldn't forget maybe your strong points of your game, if you don't work those they don't work as well and usually it's that that you make the difference in the match. A few years ago it was important to get my weaknesses better but now that they have improved and I don't have that many any more, I think it's important to also work on your strengths in your game so we did work on everything, I think that was the right thing to do.
Q: What were those weaknesses?
A: Before?
Q: Yes.
A: Well, I've always been practicing on my serve and return and my backhand.
Q: Nalbandian or Henman in the next game, could you assess those two opponents, please?
A: Well, very different but used to be very tough opponents for me so I expect a tough match. They are great players, especially on this surface, and either one of them is fine. You have to accept that next opponent and it will be interesting who wins that match because it's quite a contrast the way they play.
Q: Tim is one of the few players in the world that actually did win a match against you last year. Last year was the best of his career and coming into the new year with a lot of confidence.
A: I had the feeling he played a very consistent season, I don't think he won a title but still his Grand Slam results speak for themselves and he is a very tough opponent, he showed that he can do it on all surfaces. I always knew it but it's another thing to do it and I think he has improved, especially from the baseline which before was his weakness and he had to rely too much on his attacking game and that put him under pressure to get to the net first so now he can also play from the baseline with the guys and if he plays correct tactics then he has great results against clay courters especially.
Q: Do you feel he is a genuine candidate to win a Grand Slam this year? Do you feel the way he has developed as a player, do you feel he is ready for the next step?
A: My main objective for the season is also to win Wimbledon so that doesn't help him but that's his biggest chance there so I guess if he wants to win that one he needs to beat me but I think he's definitely got the game to win one, all the players have a lot of respect the way he is playing, the way he is, so I believe that there is a Grand Slam in him.
Q: Andre Agassi was in here before and he was asked a couple of questions about you and your game. This seems to happen quite a lot. Do you find the amount of talking that other players do about you, do you find that flattering or a little bit embarrassing?
A: I guess that's just the way it is, you can't change it. It's always quite normal that you're being asked about the number one player in the world because he sets the standard in tennis right now, and right now it's me so it's normal that other players are being asked what they think about him and sometimes he goes over in compliments, some other players are very quiet, they don't like to give many compliments, and then like if Agassi starts going of course they are higher rated than other compliments from other players and it's nice to hear them but I think in the end when we walk on the court all those compliments are forgotten and all he wants to do is beat me so I expect always a tough match against him. In a way I enjoy it, to get so many compliments because I haven't heard much negative talk up until now.
Q: What about off the court, is there a difference when you came here last year, same tournament, and no doubt you have been spending time in Melbourne Park, is there a different feeling when you walk into the place and you are the guy to beat, last year it was Agassi and more focus was on him. Is there a different relation you have with the players than the other top players that are seen around the place and how they relate to you?
A: I get along well with many of the players, almost with all of them, not that I have a problem with some of them, we just don't talk because we don't know each other but we have a good feeling with all of them, I speak three languages which helps, and no problem. I don't feel there is like a big change. Some of them have more respect if I win a tournament, maybe not losing a service game like in Qatar, they would think it's much more impressive than if I win a tournament maybe two years ago by not losing my serve so it's different relations now.
Q: Other players don't just talk about you as the current number one, they talk about what you can be as well and they always talk as one of the absolute greats that you could be up there with Pete Sampras. Do you find that a little bit embarrassing or do you just let that flow through?
A: Well, I had such a great season last year and I guess I had such a good season like nobody had in 15 or 20 years so it's normal that right away everybody compares me to the all-time greats, now it's up to me to prove it and to be up there for a long time. I know how tough it is because to wake up every morning and to again do it all over again it's hard at times and you always arrive at tournaments, you are the huge favourite, and that's not such an easy thing to handle on a daily basis. There is much going on, much press, much attention, you're always being followed, and you have to get used to it like I did, I can handle it well, luckily, so this actually gives me a good feeling for the future.
Q: Lleyton and Andy have said you are the man to beat next week. Is there one player in particular that you think poses a threat to your title defence?
A: Well, there is many guys. I think the top four have the best chance, including Andre, I think then it's just a few dark horses here and there but I think the top 10 are quite consistent now, especially in Grand Slams, and they have the best chance to win with the favourites being the players I just named.
Q: First round Davis Cup ..., are you making any significant changes to your schedule. Are you playing a little bit less than last year, tournament wise?
A: No, not really. I'm playing Australian Open, Rotterdam, Dubai, Indian Wells, Key Biscayne, Monte Carlo, Rome, Hamburg, Paris, Wimbledon so basically the same schedule except that Davis Cup is out and Monte Carlo is in so that's the difference.
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