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Monday, June 20, 2005
Wimbledon First Round
By ASAP Sports
R. FEDERER/P. Mathieu
6-4, 6-2, 6-4
An interview with: ROGER FEDERER
THE MODERATOR: Roger Federer for you.
Q. Happy? That was the one you feared most.
ROGER FEDERER: Well, yeah, it's definitely a good start to the
tournament. I think there's always something special, you know, when
you come back and defend -- try to defend the Wimbledon championship.
So I'm definitely very happy to have done that. Very important first
step.
Q. Has the tension you said you'd feel gone now or will it come back at the start of your next match?
ROGER FEDERER: I definitely got more pressure off my back now.
Luckily I've played my next opponent, as well. I played him in Dubai
this year. Looking forward, you know, to play him again. But definitely
feel sort of relieved, you know, after this start. Looking forward to
the rest. Now it's sort of getting interesting. You're into the
tournament, you've seen the fans, you don't have to leave right away,
so that's nice (smiling).
Q. Was it nice coming on? You got a good cheer as you walked out. Gave them a little wave as you walked on.
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I thought it was a great applause I got,
you know, from the fans and from the crowd. That was definitely a nice
welcome. Also nice walking off, which I said yesterday was going to be
nicer, you know, especially in case I win.
Q. How did the court play? Was it slow-ish, soft-ish? Was it what you expected?
ROGER FEDERER: Uhm, yeah, I think it's very similar to the
outside courts. I didn't have to adjust that much. Obviously, in a
match situation -- matches are always different than practice. Right
away you feel different. But I really thought the grass was beautiful.
When I started to warm up, everything was just perfect. Once the match
went on, you saw little holes coming. But I thought it was a beautiful
court because -- honestly I don't quite remember my match too much
against Bogdanovic last year. I just remember being really focused and
trying to get the match over and done with. Didn't really maybe enjoy
the moment so much, where I thought this year I could do it much more.
Q. You played five minutes before anybody made a volley. I kept thinking, "Maybe they've forgotten they're on grass."
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, well, I didn't want to storm too much to
the net too quickly. I also wanted to definitely get my rhythm first.
Yeah, I think I came in on a return, wasn't it?
Q. Yes.
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, we didn't play much serve and volley -
especially him. I had the feeling on first serves he wasn't making many
returns, you know. When I was serve and volleying, I wasn't even
getting the volley. But you're right, I think we definitely could have
played more serve and volley, but I won the way playing from the back.
Who knows, maybe next match. It's a different opponent and I'll play
totally different.
Q. Do you sort of feel loved here now when you come? People give
you a good reception when you're wandering around? Anything unusual at
all?
ROGER FEDERER: I warmed up this morning at 11 on the outside
courts. Everybody just came into the gates, into the grounds. Everyone
you meet was, "Good luck, good luck, good luck." It was a lot of fun. I
was really surprised how many gave me -- you know, they cheered for me.
But I guess, you know, in England they are very friendly and very nice
to you. Really definitely enjoyed that.
Q. You used the word "relief" to win this match. I remember when
Arthur used to say he wondered when he went out there if he could hit
the ball over the net. He found out, of course.
ROGER FEDERER: Of course.
Q. Even you, do you have moments of uncertainty?
ROGER FEDERER: I always hope for a good start, you know. So I
always hope that I can make those serves. I don't get as nervous any
more like when I played Sampras, for instance, where I remember I came
on court and, like you said with Ashe, at least you hope you're going
to win a few points. You enter the match -- now I enter the matches
knowing hopefully my opponents are going to feel this way where I can
take advantage of that. I had a feeling at the beginning he was quite
nervous. He missed a few shots. He had trouble reading my serve in the
first game where I served four aces. That shows also maybe how nervous
he was. But I definitely get tense, too, especially here at Wimbledon.
Q. Any special plan of attack because it was a brand-new court?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, because of the rain this morning,
it definitely maybe played a little quicker than the last few days
where it was extremely hot and there was quite a high bounce, where I
even thought you could even kick serve, which I was quite surprised to
see the last few days. But I had the feeling this was playing like the
years before.
Q. Your serve, you seem to be right back on the Wimbledon
pattern, hitting the lines, hitting the corners - what you didn't do
against Nadal, did you? It just seemed that you're such a different
player here today.
ROGER FEDERER: Well, you know, I think you always serve
different on different surfaces, especially clay and grass are so
different. You use the slice serve much more than you use the kick,
where on clay you're not going to try to kick the ball up high or it's
going to be carried out of the court. On grass you have to use
different techniques. Maybe the technique with the slice favors my
serve more than the kicking serve. But definitely the serve let me down
in the Nadal match. I'm happy it's back for now.
Q. Does the Nadal loss stay with you at all or is it gone a day later?
ROGER FEDERER: No, I didn't think of the match at all today
during the match. I'm happy about that. I guess because I know how
different, you know, clay and grass is, it's not even worth it, you
know, thinking about that. But maybe when I come back on clay next year
or for Davis Cup against the Brits, then I'll maybe think about it
quickly. But not for now.
Q. How would you compare the burden of defending the title and
being the big favorite with the confidence that it gives you? Which is
stronger in your mind?
ROGER FEDERER: I think in the beginning it's the pressure which
you feel more. And then once you get underway, I think it's the
confidence which totally dominates. So I think that's how it goes.
Q. Did you watch a tape of the Nadal match from Roland Garros?
ROGER FEDERER: No time (smiling).
Q. Would you be able to at some point in the future?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, maybe I would, if I would have time. But,
I mean, Tony saw the match. We sort of analyzed it. It's definitely a
point to take things out of that match, too, because I haven't played
many, many matches where I thought I played all right the last few
matches, and normally if I play all right I've won them. But that day,
an okay performance wasn't good enough to beat Nadal. Maybe I would
have to look into it, even though right away I knew what went wrong,
what went right in that match. So don't feel the need to actually watch
it, that match.
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