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May 20, 2007
Hamburg AMS Final
By Hamburg Masters Official Site
Press Conference with ROGER FEDERER
Federer - Nadal 2:6, 6:2, 6:0
Q: Roger, you were a set down and a breakpoint down in the second set. That was one of the most remarkable turnarounds. Was that one of the most remarkable turnarounds you made?
FEDERER: I don't know, I played so many matches, and so many important Grand Slam matches too which I turned around as well. Of course against Nadal you would expect it to be more difficult, especially on clay, so it's an incredible good performance from my side.
Q: What contributed to it happening?
FEDERER: Well, fought, played well and played right against him. Before I always thought he played very dictating on clay, and today I was. You see the results, it's so important to get on top of him early. I started to play better. Even though I lost the first set, I didn't think I was playing too bad. I was playing the right way, but I was just maybe missing a bit too much, going for my shots a bit too early. But that's okay. I wasn't really worried going to the second set, because I knew the first set was a good set.
Q: Did you sense that it created a feeling of unease in him, that he started to make one or two unforced errors?
FEDERER: Well, he was missing once in a while, but I don't think that he was playing bad. I think we played with so much pressure that you kind of have to make an error once in a while. We know why we miss against each other. We cover the court so well that it's very hard to hit winners. That's why you have to go for your shots. On clay you have to go for it at some stage. He's the best on clay, but today I had a great day, so to win at the end was just fantastic.
Q: Going to the French, do you think this will make the difference?
FEDERER: For me it's nice to play well again after last week's disappointment. I don't think I played bad in the last months, just because I haven't won a title. I was in the finals in Monaco and now I won a clay court tornament again after a couple of years. For me, that's very good. I played excellent tennis today. I had a bit of a struggle throughout the week, because I had tough opponents. For my side I'm going to the French Open very good. I have a few days off, and then I'm excited that the French Open are coming around now.
Q: You never beat him on clay before. Was that a bit of a breakthrough?
FEDERER: Yes, absolutely. He just had 81 wins in a row on clay, that's phenomenal. He gets the highest respect for that. If you know how physical it is you could think that once you got the upper hand over the guys on clay you never lose again and that's how it looked like. But eventually it's going to get you. Today, which is great for myself and the rest of the guys, I got him. Now it will be interesting going into the French Open to see both reaction.
Q: You played 6:0 against good players before, like Roddick, now Nadal. How do you make that happen?
FEDERER: Well, I get into the groove and I play well. Basically, I'm breakable, and I was going for each and every service game of the opponenent. It happens very quickly, that's why you have to be very concentrated on each point. If you give away a few points here and there, you will always have 6:3, 6:4 sets. But I always tell myself, each and every point counts. It's the fighting spirit. You put an incredible amount of pressure on your opponent if you can beat him convincingly and easy, so against Nadal on clay, I think that's an incredible achievement.
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