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Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Roland Garros Quarterfinal
By Roland Garros Official Site
R. FEDERER/V. Hanescu 6-2, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
An interview with: ROGER FEDERER
Q. This is an obvious question. What do you think you doing against Rafa Nadal and against David Ferrer, all the time, and what do you think about the match in these conditions? ROGER FEDERER: Well, everybody's been looking forward a little bit to this one ‑ both of us, first time in the semifinals of a French Open.
So it's going to be really interesting to see. For me, it's a big
moment. It's one of those chances, you know, to maybe walk away with
the title here, you know. But still got two matches to go,
hopefully, and I'm really looking forward to this one, if it goes
according to like now, against Nadal. It will be interesting. I don't know the conditions in three days' time, because we got two days off now. We'll both be 100%. Q. This match, this next match, is going to remind you of the Miami match somewhere, somehow? ROGER
FEDERER: Well, somewhere, for sure. All the matches I've played against
him, also the one before, you know, where he beat me. You don't have to
forget that one either. But I think throughout five sets you
definitely get a feeling for what kind of and type of player is he. I
think I've learned very much, you know, how to play him. Because in the
beginning I didn't really play very well at all, and he took advantage
of that, you know, totally. So I had to fight my way back. Came
through, and in the end, I was I felt the fitter player. He looked
extremely tired in the fifth, and that kind of surprised me. But I don't know. Now we're on clay. Rallies can be even tougher. But I thought Miami
was a tough match. I think we can expect the same ‑ not that we're
going to play five sets again, but tough rallies and hard hitting. Q. It looked like it was going to be a pretty tough go with Gonzalez and then Moya and now Nalbandian. Now that it's done and over with, were you sort of worried about that? Then after Moya got hurt and you didn't have to play Nalbandian today, is that just the way Grand Slam
tournaments are, you just have to relax and let it unfold at its own,
or were you at one point worried about having to beat those three guys
in order to get to the semis? ROGER FEDERER: I said from the
start I don't think my draw is extremely tough. You know, I just
thought it's a regular draw. It's more to me who said, "Look, you got
this hell of a tough draw." And I looked at the draw and I thought,
"Where is this tough draw, you know, everybody's talking about?" Because I don't fear no players, but I respect them all. I said that very clearly. Of course if I would have played Moya at his best, you know, it would have been a totally different match, you know. Nalbandian or Hanescu, for me, it doesn't really matter either. I've beaten him, too, now, over the years. I don't fear him. Hanescu is the better player, he beat Nalbandian. I would have said it's better to play Nalbandian, because he lost. It's very simple. For me, it's important in the end is I haven't lost any energy. I'm through to my first semifinal here at the French Open. That is for me the big thrill of course. Q. Which is for you the biggest surprise yesterday, they lost Gaudio, Coria and Safin?
Which is for you the biggest surprise for you personally? Second, in
which way you are better compared to 12 months ago when you lost with Kuerten on clay? ROGER
FEDERER: Well, I think everybody was a little bit surprised, you know,
everybody lost at the same time, you know. Because I thought those were
also three big favorites to win the title here, you know, next to Nadal and myself. And to see them all go out, you know, it's definitely a surprise, even though we know all the qualities of Ferrer, Robredo and Davydenko, you know. They've showed also throughout the clay court season what tough players they are. But of course to then to pull off such a great win for each one of them is definitely great. So I was surprised. Q. Which one the more? ROGER FEDERER: They're all about the same. No, seriously. I mean (smiling)... I thought all three gonna win, you know? All three lost. But this is tennis. We've got the knockout system. So within three hours, we know who the winner is, basically. If you're not feeling great, you're out. We saw what happened with Kiefer; he couldn't even play, you know. So a Grand Slam,
it's a long time and you have to stay fit and healthy, you know. We see
what happens to players who not feel at 100%. Over five sets, it
doesn't forgive. Now I've got two days off. I have to make sure I stay all right and healthy so I am a 100% against Nadal. You have many hours where you can do stupid things or eat something, and suddenly you're not 100%. Q. What about yourself compared to 12 months ago on clay? What do you think you do better now? ROGER
FEDERER: I just think it's purely the experience, you know. The big
matches, the big occasions I've faced. It's just overall more believing
into my game ‑ not only my clay court game, my game in total. Q. If you do win here, how would this compare to the other Grand Slams that you've won? ROGER
FEDERER: Well, it's not quite there yet, are we? But that would be
definitely a dream come true, you know. Because like you all know, it
would mean that I won them all. At 23, 24, that would be quite
something. Not quite there yet, so just relax (smiling)... Q. Do you think it would have been better to play Nadal
in the final, I mean, instead of having one big semifinal for many
people counts as a final, and on the other side player which is not you
would say same kind of consideration? ROGER FEDERER: Well
that's, I think, dangerous for the one that will come through that
semis, you know, if you can back it up with a solid performance in the
finals, and be the big favorite in the finals, having already feeling
like he's done great, you know. But it's the finals, you don't want to
lose. You'd rather lose the semis than lose the finals really. It's
kind of I think a tricky situation for the two of us. But, seriously,
I've been in this situation many, many times, so I won't have a
problem. I don't think Rafael will have a problem, but he's much younger and not so experienced. But
I don't know, I don't think that will play a role. We'll play the match
like there's no tomorrow, basically, you know, and just make sure the
one who gets through is very fit and goes at the same again for the
finals. Q. What happened with the three double‑faults? Was it just one of those moments when you lose everything for the moment? ROGER
FEDERER: Well, it's an awkward moment. Serving for the match. Double
break. You're feeling everything's in control, and that's exactly how I
felt. So I really started to feel like I'm really hitting my shots
beautiful, you know. My forehand was working like I wanted it to work.
You know, you miss the first matchpoint. I would say crowd gets more
into it. He moved on the one breakpoint, double‑fault again. Suddenly
you serve two doubles and you don't feel so good anymore. Hasn't
happened to me in a long, long time, to serve so bad, you know, closing
out the match. It just happens, I guess. I was too much in my zone, you
know. I was ‑‑ just wanted to get it over and done with too quick. I
was so happy the way I was playing, and making my first semifinals
appearance, and got a little overexcited there, I guess, just for a
couple minutes. Q. Do you remember the last time you did something like that? ROGER
FEDERER: I remember one time in a satellite I served three
double‑faults from the start. So that, I guess, is eight years ago in Switzerland (smiling). THE MODERATOR: Questions in French, please. Q.
Are you really surprised to find yourself in the semifinal having lost
no sets and having played less than 10 hours all together? Are you
really surprised? ROGER FEDERER: Well, I'm surprised to find
myself in a semifinal. I know that I could, I had this potential. But
when you find yourself in a semifinal, I still have two matches to go
if I want to win the tournament. I have the feeling everything is
going fast, a bit too fast, and I'm not used to that in a way. I have
now two days ahead of me to ponder over things and see what can happen
for the future, and I hope to be in great shape for that match against Nadal. Q. Precisely, let's talk about those two days. What are you going to do during those two days? ROGER FEDERER: Well, I'm taking a vacation (smiling). Many possibilities in two days. I'll see what I'll do. Q. Don't you think there is a risk that you would lose the momentum of this tournament, having a break of two days? ROGER FEDERER: Well, I had the same case in the US Open, and it was three or four days' interruption in that case. So I'm not worried about losing the momentum, losing the rhythm. No,
it gives me more time to get prepared to play a lefty. I haven't played
a lefty. Here, this time, I haven't played a lefty. I think last time
was Hamburg first round. So you have to get used to that. So two days are perfect for that. Q. You said that you were talking a lot with Tony. Can you say a bit more? Is he somebody who is pushing you or giving you some more calm? ROGER
FEDERER: Well, he relaxes me. During a match he will push me, but when
we train he's extremely calm, extremely collected and quiet. He just
gives me advice, that's all. But it's all very calm. It's quite normal
that we talk to each other. This is exactly the reason why he's here.
If he's made such a long trip, this is the reason why, that we can
discuss. Otherwise, we could do it over the phone. We can discuss
before the matches, we can discuss after the matches. We talk about all
sorts of things. Sometimes it's even about tennis. There is no specific
reasons why we discuss or no specific point in tennis that we
systematically discuss. Q. You said that Nadal was a very different player from anybody else. What do you mean exactly? ROGER
FEDERER: Well, we have very few very good lefties. In a way, it's
something that we have missed in the last years since we lost Rios and Ivanisevic on the circuit. We have to get used to play against Nadal because we have very, very few players playing like he does. Q. A player here never went further than a semifinal, but he won 14 Slams. Does that ring a bell? ROGER FEDERER: Well, I don't think I'm stupid (laughter). I think I know slightly the history of tennis ‑ a little bit. Q. So can you say something about you and Sampras, because you've been compared quite a lot. ROGER
FEDERER: Well, we've been compared quite a lot, but I play very
differently. I'm much more a baseliner than he was. I think the only
thing that we have in common is that we have a very aggressive style.
We are not staying five meters behind the baseline like the Argentines or the Spaniards. But I think my game is very different from Sampras. But I would love to have the same results, even without Roland Garros (smiling). Q. Do you think that you have improved your game match after match here in Roland Garros?
You said for the first round that you were not very happy with your
serve and your forehand. Have you done something in order to improve
your game? ROGER FEDERER: Well, yes. You have various stages
in the tournament like this. The first round you're a bit nervous, it's
a difficult hurdle, you haven't played on those courts for a year and
you have to get adjusted. Everything depends on your game, so you play
safe. You don't send your shots too close to the lines, for instance. And
then the second round you are more adjusted, but you're meeting people
that are more difficult to play, and, therefore, your level of game has
to go up. I think that today I can be pleased. It was one of my
best matches ever. This is why I can say that I'm quite pleased with my
level of tennis. It's very important to keep that level, and I'm going
to use these two days as best as possible. Q. Tonight you have the Champions Dinner. Can you tell us, what were the very important moments last year. ROGER FEDERER: Well, there were many of those. Do you have time, because that will take us quite a lot of time (smiling). Well,
let's be serious. For instance, '99. '99, I had the junior prize. I was
playing a challenger, and I came during the tournament. I can't
remember who was the Player‑of‑the‑Year; I think it was Sampras. I think he had left already because he had lost, but it was a fantastic evening. It was the very first time in my life. So 2004 was a very nice memory as well. This year I intend to go. It's always good to be with the ex‑champions. Q. You played Nadal in the final in Miami
and you told us what sort of lessons you could draw from that. How
different is it to play against him on clay or on hard surface? ROGER FEDERER: I cannot answer that question. I haven't played him on clay yet. We will see. I think the match here is going to be very different from Miami, maybe a bit more sliding, more dropshots. I don't know. I don't know. We'll see. I can give you the answer after the match. Q. Do you think he's getting tired? ROGER FEDERER: No, not at all. He has enough time to recover anyway.
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