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Monday, January 23, 2006
Australian Open Fourth Round
By Tennis-X.com Forum
R. FEDERER/T. Haas 6-4, 6-0, 3-6, 4-6, 6-2
Jim Courier's Post-Match Interview
Jim Courier: Roger, that was a close one. Tell us about, okay you were up two sets to love, you obviously saw Davydenko came back two sets to love. Did it cross your mind at all? Were you focused? What were you thinking man?
Roger Federer: Well I had the feeling. Everything turned around, really. I was playing fantastic for the first two and he was playing fantastic for the second- uh three and four that's the thing everything's going well so quickly it was the same way for him in the beginning, after that it's tough to break the momentum I missed my chance early in the third and I had a couple of break points and after that it was really hard. But this is for me a good match to win in 5 here on Rod Laver Arena I haven't done it yet I think in my career. I lost many heartbreakers so this is a good feeling right now.
JC: Well all credit to Tommy Haas. Tommy Haas took his game to another level tonight. Tommy Haas realized that he had to play outside of his comfort zone to just stay in the match with you. Did you think you had to play even better in the fifth set? Did you push your game to another level because the numbers sure indicate that it did. You had 18 winners in the fifth set alone against 6 unforced errors. What is it in your mind to do that or did it just happen naturally?
RF: Obviously like I said I was really trying to just break his momentum and I knew that all I needed was a break. I was serving pretty good, I was happy with my serving. It was just Tommy was making it difficult for me to sort of get on top of him I had a feeling that my forehand let me down through the match but it came back in the end and that's what made the difference.
JC: Yeah your forehand was pretty crappy for awhile. You were shankin' it. You were making us feel pretty good in the booth
RF: You had a good forehand too, so you know how it is.
JC: Had?!
RF: I haven't seen you play. You want to come back on tour like Martina. So, no problem.
JC: I'm not coming back on tour, man. Come to the senior tour. You've got time, it's okay.
RF: You're not playing any doubles?
JC: You asking?
RF: Yeah, I'll play.
JC: Okay, let me check my calendar, I'm free. Where we playin?
RF: What's that?
JC: I'll check my schedule. I'm open. Where do you want to play?
RF: Uh-
JC: Don't say Wimbledon. Don't say Wimbledon. I'm not good on grass.
RF: We're not going on grass. We'll go hardcourt somewhere in the states, it's good for you.
JC: Hardcourt, I appreciate that. Speaking of hardcourt and hard matches you do have Davydenko here in the next one. Do you like being pushed in a match like this, it's a question I want to know, because you've been winning so easily. Daydenko is a great player, Haas played beauitfullly today. Do you prefer to get pushed and tested like this? Or would you rather just cruise?
RF (laughs)
JC: Partner.
RF: Yeah, um...to be honest I like to be pushed like this you know because the media people they really get on my nerves 'Wouldn't it be good you lose a set? Wouldn't it be good if you had a more difficult match' All this- this crap. So, I'm happy that I had a tough one now and I'm in the tournament so it's all good.
JC: You're definitely in the tournament. Okay. What about your people. what about Mirka, Roche. You're putting them through tough times. Is that okay? Does she get mad at you when you get back tonight?
RF: I hope not. I just hope that she's not going to get gray hair earlier than she should but uh- Tony already has. So we don't have to worry about him.
JC: They have the Garnier booth we can get color for her if she has a problem. It's all good.
RF: Tony too. We can get him into black or something.
JC: Okay Roger I think we need to get to a commercial break and you need to get some rest. A great match of tennis, we all enjoyed it, I certainly did. Roger Federer, a true champion, he's into the quarterfinals.
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