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Friday, 29 June, 2007
Wimbledon Third Round
By Wimbledon Official Site
R. FEDERER/M. Safin 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4)
An interview with: ROGER FEDERER
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. Roger, that was quite straightforward? ROGER
FEDERER: Yeah, it was great. I was very pleased with the performance
because I knew the danger against Marat, like I said in my previous
press conference. It was really tricky conditions, swirling
winds and a tough opponent. I was doing a good job of keeping the ball
in play, keeping the ball low to his forehand with my slice and took my
chances. So I expected him to serve well in one of the three
sets at least, so I think that's why he got close in the third set and
the wind stopped and it was easier to play. Q. You played
really well. How much credit do you give the fact that you're playing a
guy like Marat who is such a high quality player? ROGER
FEDERER: Yeah, I don't know if I played phenomenal, I just think I
played the right way against Marat today. Really kept the balls in
play. Served well when I had to. You know, moved well, returned pretty
good, so I just did what I really had to, and that's what I was hoping
to do. I could kind of just neutralize him from the baseline,
and it was hard for him. I had a quick first set obviously, so he was
right away under pressure, and a pretty good start to the second set,
too. So he was down two sets to love, and from then on it was too late
and I played a great tiebreaker. Q. When someone plays you on
grass or wherever, they know it's going to be tough, but it's equally
as tough just to get a set off you. It must be quite intimidating for
players; are you aware of that, that you rarely even lose a set here? ROGER
FEDERER: Well, I guess that's what happens with streaks, when you're on
such a big streak like I am now. Rafa was on clay. You wonder who's
going to win a set. I still believe grass is kind of easier to win a
set because if you serve well and it kind of falls your way, you're
going to win a set. Whereas on clay, Rafa has got so much room, and it seems like it's just different, you know? Anyway,
for me it's definitely good to keep on winning, keep on winning in
straight sets. Maybe the intimidating factor is there, but I don't
really care too much about that, I just want to play good tennis. Q.
Did you feel really, really confident on your serve? You seemed to
serve well throughout, but right at the end of the first set and the
first couple points in the tiebreak did you have a really good feel on
your serve? ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, you know, you go through
different serves throughout the whole match, and when it comes to the
crunch you want to pick the best one and you have to take into
consideration where is his best return, where is your best serve, are
you going to stay back, are you going to stay in, are you going to mix
it up. So you have to really take the right decision at the
right time. I thought my serves down the T were working well on both
sides. They paid off. He couldn't get the returns back, and it only
took one minute to win the last tiebreaker, and it was crucial I served
well because anything else I think would have been not good enough in
the tiebreaker. Q. I remember reading a quote when you were
saying that a long time ago you had to choose between two ways, which
way to approach your career, a talented way, kind of laid back and
easygoing and enjoying life, and the second one is hard working way,
you know, total commitment, and you chose the second one. Do you think
in Marat's case, for example, he's obviously a very talented guy and he
won two Grand Slams, of course, but he would be the one who would
choose probably not the way you've chosen? ROGER FEDERER:
Well, I mean, I can't talk about his career because I don't know what
he does when he's not at tournaments, and I don't eat dinner with him
every night. So I don't know. But I'm sure Marat worked very hard also
in his career. You must work hard to get to the point where we are, to
play all year long on a solid base. He's won plenty of big
matches, you know, especially five setters. He's got a phenomenal
record, so he must be fit, especially match tough. You can put it down
to talent to one degree, but I think he also chose the way of hard
working, but just he never changed on the court. He was always very
emotional. You saw it again today. I changed that. That's why I
look maybe much, much more professional now. I don't know if I am, but
I'm trying my best and work extremely hard off the court, and I would
expect Marat to do the same thing. Q. Do you think everyone can change that? You said, "I changed that." It's like, easy? ROGER
FEDERER: It wasn't easy for me. It took me many years to understand why
am I working hard? What am I working on? For what specific goal?
There's many different we're very confusing in tennis, and then you
change surfaces, you play opponents who are always going to play into
your weakness, try and make you play bad. So it's hard in the
big jump from juniors. But thank God I made the step pretty quickly and
I learned very quickly, like some of the juniors these days, as well.
So it's a big advantage when you have talent on your side, as well. Q.
Did you talk to Pete at all about that exact subject when you had those
hitting sessions with him in March, about making that commitment from
earlier in your career when you were not doing so well? ROGER FEDERER: I didn't talk about that, no. Q.
With all the success that you've had, can you still get a kick in a way
that do you feel a normal player would out of playing a great match and
the adulation of the crowd and so on, or does it just wash over you now
because you're so used to it? ROGER FEDERER: Today, for
instance? I get very nervous before a match like this because this is
like a real big match for me. I mean, Marat is a former No. 1, former
Grand Slam champion. He's won Davis Cup, something I've never done. So
he's a hell of a player. I mean, I admire his talent, his
backhand, his serve, the power he gets on his shots. I've had some
incredible battles with him over the years, almost came through juniors
with him. He was one year older, so then it's always surreal when then
later on you find yourself on the bigger stage and now you're one of
the best in the game. It's such a big occasion for both of us,
because for me it's to prove I'm the real No. 1 and for him it's
proving he can still be No. 1. So it's a big match and a very
prestigious match, so I do get very excited for matches like this. Q. How far in the match do you begin to calm down? Does it take you the first game, the first minute? ROGER
FEDERER: Probably the first three or four games because it was hard,
you know, it was so gusty that I really struggled to get my rhythm.
You're trying to get a look at his serve. The sun was shining
from the one end so it was really hard to play from the baseline or
just to pick up the serve because you had the sun in your eye. Then
you always wonder how is he going to be playing in the beginning,
hopefully he misses a few shots, hopefully you serve decent. So
I had an opening service win that went overdue, so I think that was a
bit tricky so right away. You have to come up with some good serving
and good baselining, and thank God I did. I think I calmed down after
the third or fourth game. Q. We've seen some wear sunglasses. Any chance Nike might add a pair to your outfit? ROGER FEDERER: I doubt I'm going to do that. As much as they want it, I'm not going to do that. Q.
When you're asking yourself all those questions, you know, tough
questions, what I'm here for, I mean, how hard can I push myself or
whatever, what am I striving for, what would you look to help you find
the right answers? It can't be just you and yourself. You have to have ROGER
FEDERER: I think it's a work in progress kind of. I mean, first, you
have to have passion for the game, otherwise there's no point traveling
the world and going through jet lag from one to the next, you know? I
love traveling, but sometimes it's also a bit much, so you've got to
have the passion for the game. But then I think you go through
different stages where you have different coaches early on. They always
feed you with a lot of information, they motivate you, they tell you
how it used to be in the past maybe, they motivate you of what you can
all achieve. So you start to dream a little bit, and you chase
those dreams as far as you can, and then eventually you start to
realize yourself you also have capabilities, possibilities, a lot of
talent. You want to get the best out of you, so eventually when
you retire, you feel like I'm very happy with my career and I didn't
leave maybe I don't know, three Grand Slams out there which I should
have won. So I want to feel good when I go to bed at night, so
I think it's got a lot to do. And parents, of course, they always
motivate me. I've had great parents, and then of course my girlfriend,
as well, especially these last seven years.
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