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September 23, 2006
Interview with Roger Federer
The elusive French Open and an Olympic dream
By Tetsuo Gunji, Yomiuri Shimbun
At the U.S. Open in New York earlier this month, world No. 1
Roger Federer won for the third year in a row, giving him nine Grand
Slam titles for his career. How does Federer view his own success and
what does he see in his future? Yomiuri Shimbun sportswriter Tetsuo
Gunji spoke with Federer during the U.S. Open. The following are
excerpts from the interview:
--On what he does on his off days.
It depends a little bit of course. If I'm on total vacation, usually
I don't do anything, I'm on vacation! Usually I'm in a place that's
warm. I go to the beach, having a nice dinner with my girlfriend, and
maybe just spend some time with her. Sometimes when I'm in Switzerland,
I just get to see everybody I can in the smallest time possible because
I miss all the people when I'm traveling so much. That's usually what I
do. Of course we have hobbies, like going to the movies, go shopping
and do other stuff. But mostly it's just trying to relax a bit from the
hectic time on the tour.
--On the French Open, the only Grand Slam title to have still eluded him.
It's a lot of hard work before the French Open. There's no way
around the hard work to try to win the French Open, because points are
long, matches are long, it's a tough tournament to win. Many players
have not achieved that, to win all four, so I'll try everything I can.
The last few years have been very positive for me. First I made it to
the semis last year, for the first time this year I made the final. So
I'm always taking a step forward now. I've gotten very, very close to
[Rafael] Nadal on clay and that definitely gives me confidence looking
forward to next year also.
--On making the rare jump from top-ranked junior to ATP No. 1.
It's a very tricky transition. I remember the moment I became No. 1
in the world in juniors, it was after the Orange Bowl in 1998, I was
very proud and happy because the year was very long. I ended up winning
the Orange Bowl against [Guillermo] Coria in the final, Nalbandian in
the semis and it was, for me, a great moment. I remember the moment it
happened, I thought, "And now if I could do the same on the men's tour,
try to win Wimbledon and then also become No.1, and my life would be
perfect." I was able to do it.
The key, I think, is learning experience--lose a lot of matches; get
used to losing, too; get used to playing against older guys, guys with
experience; getting used to playing in front of big [crowds] like a lot
of big stadiums. I think also, traveling around, forgetting about being
homesick, trying just to be independent.
--On his future goals and plans after tennis.
I'm really in the middle of my career. I think I've had a fantastic
career so far. I'll try of course to do this for a few more years to
come. My long-term goal is to play at the Olympics at Wimbledon in
London in 2012. That's for me an objective that I think is reachable.
I'll be 30, 31 years old then. Now for the short time being, trying to
stay healthy, try to get around injuries if possible. Play a schedule
that makes sense, [one] I can handle. That's it.
For after the career, I also have the work I am doing with UNICEF
with the Roger Federer Foundation, which is very important for me also
now, getting more and more important. Because I have the focus so much
on me, I have the opportunity to speak to media and to help people.
That is for me also a key element I would like to use until I retire
and then also beyond my retirement. And maybe who knows, maybe one day
I'll have a family and have a great time back in Switzerland.
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