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Friday, May 27, 2005
Roland Garros Third Round
By Roland Garros Official Site
R. FEDERER/F. Gonzalez 7-6 (11-9), 7-5, 6-2
An interview with: ROGER FEDERER
Q. Did you like this test
today? It was hot and it was two tough first sets against a really good
opponent. Did you like this test for future matches to come here? ROGER
FEDERER: I don't need no more tests, you know. I don't know what tests
you want me to do. One five‑setter, one quick one, one quick set, one
long set, you know. One tiebreak. It's not going to make any difference
as long as you win, you know. Today was dangerous; I knew that.
It was all about handling his pace, you know, and his forehand. So I
got close, you know, being a way tougher match. I'm happy to be through ‑ in three sets especially. Q. You seem more comfortable on clay than in previous years. Are you doing things differently? ROGER FEDERER: No. I think Guga was stronger than Gonzalez. That was the difference. But
I definitely improve every year. And with the experience as well, you
know, you know better where you're good at, where maybe you're not as
good at, how you get around maybe your weaknesses and the way, you
know, maybe you move also. You always got more time to improve. Those
things definitely make a difference. I'm not the only one improving, you know. Everyone always is moving. Q.
Almost at the end of the first‑set tiebreak you had a couple of really
bad miss‑hits. Was that funny bounces? Do you remember those? ROGER
FEDERER: Well, sort of. I know I always shank a little bit, you know. I
was struggling with his spins, to be honest, with his forehand.
Unbelievable zip on the ball. So it was tough for me to really get the
rhythm going, and that was all the way through the set, you know. He
always kept me guessing on his forehand. So sometimes when I was on it,
you know, just didn't have the timing yet. Q. How do you get
used to the fact that he can hit these unbelievable shots out of
nowhere, and then of course he can miss some, too. ROGER
FEDERER: Well, you gotta find his backhand, huh? But he sets it up well
with his serve, you know. He's moving well, so he always gets around
his backhand most of the time. I don't have that double‑handed
backhand, you know, where I can always find his backhand. And if you do
find, you know, just he's off of it. It's a dangerous match.
Like I said, you have to weather the storm against this guy. Once
you're through it, you know, it gets easier. That's how it was in the
third set. Q. The other day you were talking about instant
replay when the press conference ended. I'd like to follow up by
asking, what are your thoughts on the argument that instant replay
gives tennis a human element and that somehow it's another thing that
the fans can become involved with, adds in some way to the drama? ROGER FEDERER: I don't know which human element ‑‑ it's an electronic, isn't it? Q. The current system with the linespeople out there as opposed to machines. ROGER
FEDERER: No, that's why I'm saying we shouldn't change anything, keep
the people out there and make the calls, you know. You can argue with
them a little bit. I like this idea. So I just don't see reasons to change that. Hope that answers your question (smiling). Q. Just on a different topic, I don't know if you were asked about this in Australia, Scott Draper
is sort of struggling two careers, golf and tennis. I don't know if you
golf, but what are your thoughts on sort of trying to juggle those two
very different sports? They both involve a ball but they're quite
different. ROGER FEDERER: Well, I admire that, absolutely.
Because not only is he doing it, he's playing both at the professional
level. That's kind of quite unbelievable. I don't play golf, you know,
myself, but I could imagine especially how many hours you have to spend
on a golf course, you know, to improve. If you don't go there, you'll
drastically be a worse player. I admire that very much. But I
think it must be very nice for him, you know. If he's not in the mood
to play tennis, he can go play golf. The other way around, too. He's
having a good life, I guess. Q. You are using more and more your backhand slice, slice backhand. Do you feel that is a weapon now on your game? ROGER FEDERER: Well, today I had to (smiling). Q. Not today. But usually you are hitting a lot of... ROGER FEDERER: Slice more. Q. Today I understand because the guy was hitting very hard. ROGER
FEDERER: Yeah, that was today. But I've always mixed it up, so I don't
feel a big difference of me playing more slice, you know. It's maybe
become more efficient, but I've always been slicing on the returns, you
know, and also in the game to mix it up. So I don't feel that I've done
anything very different. Q. You feel you are the best player in history? ROGER FEDERER: No (laughing). I'm too young. Q. Because I feel that. ROGER FEDERER: I'm too young, I'm too young. Q. You're on the way to be, no? ROGER FEDERER: Well, if I keep on playing like last year, yeah. But not every year will be this way; I know that. Q. Is Gonzalez' spin more difficult than Nadal, but Nadal is a little more consistent? ROGER FEDERER: No. It's ‑‑ Q. You said you had trouble with Gonzales' spin. ROGER
FEDERER: Well, it's totally different. I cannot compare. One is coming
from a left‑hand, the other from a right hand. I guess you find Nadal's backhand easier, you know, than Gonzalez's. But that's just the way. It's impossible to compare those players. Q. Which is more difficult to handle or you can't compare? ROGER FEDERER: Haven't played Nadal
enough yet, you know. But I've seen five sets' long, but didn't have
the feeling he was going for too much. He goes for placement on his
forehand. Q. How do you feel at the end of the first week? How confident, how good do you feel here in Roland Garros on clay? ROGER
FEDERER: Good. I think it's a job well done so far. I haven't lost a
set. Through to the fourth round. That's obviously what you hope for
when you start the tournament. Now I'm where I want to be, you know ‑
fit, through to the second week basically. But, you know, the opponents are not getting any easier, so I'm looking forward to the next match. THE MODERATOR: French questions, please. Q. Roger, did the heat pose a problem for you? Can you adapt quickly to the heat, or is it a problem for you? ROGER FEDERER: Well, you've got to adapt. I mean, it's much warmer in Australia or in America. Once in a while it goes over 30 degrees in Europe,
but that doesn't mean you can't play anymore. It's not a problem for
me. It wasn't a problem today. I think maybe it was a bit difficult for
him, but that could be surprising. Q. In terms of your last match in Monte‑Carlo, did you try to apply a different tactic? It seems you were in better control of the match today than in Monte‑Carlo. Is that just an impression? ROGER FEDERER: No, I think it's pretty similar between today and Monte‑Carlo.
I was always in control. I could have won in two sets. I served for the
match, and he broke my serve and we went to the third set. But even in
the third set, I got the feeling that I was better. Today, the
only moment was in the first set when I felt that I was having slight
difficulties. But he couldn't always move around to get on to his
forehand. So as I was saying a moment ago in English,
you try to stay in the match. In the third set, he was tired. He wasn't
moving as well as the beginning of the match, and it was an entirely
different match. Q. For some months you've been working with Tony Roche. You said that you started working on a more aggressive game. What are you working on with Tony Roche, today on clay in particular? ROGER FEDERER: Well, he joined me a few days before Hamburg and I've been playing matches, obviously. After Hamburg, we came here. I
played a lot of points with a number of players to get used to the
balls, to get used to the central court and so on. So what we've been
doing is mostly talking rather than training, as we did in Australia. Because for that, you need to take some time off, to work two, four, five hours during the day on some details of the game. So we've been talking. Q. What have you been talking about? ROGER
FEDERER: Well, about the game on clay, his vision of my game on clay,
my vision. I don't think I'm playing any different than last year. Even
last year I was playing quite well. Q. Could you tell us more about the importance of your serve on clay. This is a weapon that is sometimes underestimated. ROGER
FEDERER: Well, it's true that it's not the fastest serve on tour, but
it's an important weapon for me and I've got a good second serve and I
can count on that, which is why I can take risks on my first serve. We've seen Gonzalez. If you serve well, it's more difficult to break, particularly when the weather is dry and the balls are fast. So
if you take a risk on your serve and you've served well, you take the
advantage, which is why you need to be concentrated at the beginning of
the point. Q. Next round: Moya. What's the key to the match? ROGER
FEDERER: It will be interesting. He's a great champion. I appreciate
him very much. I don't think he'll be in much fitness trouble, even
after his five sets today. He has too much experience with that type of
match. I was surprised that he went to five sets. He had some
difficulty in his recent matches. This might show that he isn't feeling
as fit as the previous years. But that doesn't mean anything. He's won this tournament before; he knows how to do it. Obviously, it's going to be tough. Q.
To feel that you're truly in control of your game on clay, what is
missing, to feel that you're as in control as on other surfaces? ROGER FEDERER: Well, I never said I didn't feel at ease on clay. Q. Yeah, but as at ease as other surfaces? ROGER
FEDERER: Well, I haven't lost a set yet. What's the problem? There is a
possibility for me here. I don't see why I should be at all worried by
anything. I've played less on clay than Coria or Nadal, but that doesn't mean anything. Q. Who's the player you fear the most here? ROGER FEDERER: No one. I'm No. 1. I've beaten everyone. Why should I fear anyone? I respect everyone, that's for sure.
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