Sports - Roger Federer Appreciation #1 - Page 6

*Catherine* · 05-15-2008, 09:15 AM

The FEDexpress contines on, with a 6-3, 6-2 win today!!

Stats:

Quote:

Press Conference with ROGER FEDERER

Federer - Soderling 6:3, 6:2

Q: Must be very satisfying to play that well?

FEDERER: Yes, I was happy with the match today. I controlled things well from the baseline. I thought I served well today when I had to. It was hard playing against him. I knew the danger. He's got a big game and a particularly big serve when he wants. I think I returned his serve pretty well and scrambled well today which was important. All in all it was a great performance.

Q: How different are the conditions here to when you won it last year?

FEDERER: The same I would think.

Q: Not faster because it's drier?

FEDERER: Was it raining last year? I don't remember. The beginning was rough I remember. I played under the roof and after that conditions were pretty normal again. So, I would think the same.

Q: The most amazing hit, you hit after the match, 40 m up to a small fan club with a Swiss flag. Was it intentional?

FEDERER: Of course it was (laughs). I didn't try to hit it out of the stadium and all of a sudden it landed in somebody's hand. No, no, no. I wanted to hit it to the kids. I was happy too, it got there.

Q: What is it about this place that brings out your best year after year?

FEDERER: I feel comfortable with the surroundings here, the city, the centre court, the dimensions of the court, the atmosphere is always very nice here. Some people might think the structure above is disturbing, but actually it's not at all. I don't even think about it when I'm playing. For some reason I've always done well here since 2002. Before that I actually struggled and did not like the tournament so much. But once I got to spend some time here, play some more matches on centre court, I started to enjoy it really a lot. It's been my most successful Masters Series event. Again this week, I am playing well, so it's great.

Q: A lot of players complain about how the conditions are a lot different to Roland Garros. Are they?

FEDERER: It's clay after all. I don't know what is closest to Roland Garros if it's Monaco maybe. Because in Rome it varies so much with the court you play on. Practice courts, which barely have any clay on them, whereas centre court this year was rather soft. So, centre court in Monaco is maybe most close to the French Open. But it depends again on the day. The lines are different at the French Open, they are more like chalk than real plastic lines. It is a bit different. But all in all it remains the same, you slide and hit. It's not like on a hard court.

Q: Is the bounce lower too?

FEDERER: No, it depends. I thought the ball bounces here too pretty high. It depends on the conditions quite a lot.

Q: At what stage did you decide to continue longer with Jose Higueras?

FEDERER: First we said one week, just meet and greet. The second week I thought while he is here anyway, let's see and get some more time together through Monaco. Towards the end of Monaco I asked him to come along to Paris as well. Then I also spoke to him that I would like it to continue for the year. Now we haven't looked when and how. He still has to make up his mind but he seemed very positive. That's sort of the plan. He will come to Paris and we'll discuss everything there.

Q: When did you decide that you wanted it to go for a year?

FEDERER: Towards the end of Monaco.

Q: I read it was because you feel you communicate well. Is that the principal reason?

FEDERER: No, it was difficult at the beginning because I was only playing matches and not practice sessions. That made it hard on both of us. He would tell me some thing and the same day I had a match to play and you don't want to try out too many things in a match. That's why matches are also there sometimes to see whether things work. He was very careful in the beginning not to screw up my game in a way. That's why he needed more than a week to see how does he need to work with me, how is it with me, the communication got better and better. We had some misunderstandings in the beginning because he thought one thing, I thought the other thing. So it was just important to get through a good couple of weeks. And we did. Now I am looking forward to see him back in Paris.

Q: So, it had nothing to do with wanting to win the French? It had nothing to do with having been without a coach for so long?

FEDERER: More with that maybe. It's been almost a year without a coach. I've been waiting, looking around. The last thing I want to do is hurry in to a decision. So, I took my time. When I was in the States I was just thinking again. I had time where I just told myself, what's the situation after Australia, what's the situation after Dubai, after Wimbledon, if nothing were to happen. So I always thought again about it. I guess when I was in the States I thought about it a little bit more, looked at the possibilities and thought Jose would be a good coach for me at this stage of my career. So, now we'll see how it will go. So far it has been good and I'm happy about the choice.

Q: You play so effortlessly. Do the matches on clay do they take their toll on you?

FEDERER: Not so much anymore to be honest. It used to be rough when I used to play almost 12 matches in 13 days sometimes, when we did not have byes and best of 5 finals. I feel very good, my body feels good, I have no aches and pains. I don't feel, I've been on the road for a long time even though I have been. I'm playing a lot. I feel very fit, very match-tough again which was lacking maybe at the beginning of the year. I don't really think it takes its toll on me at the moment. Maybe after the French Open you feel it a little bit. Now, my mind and my body wants to get through this clay court season as good as I can and then look forward to Wimbledon. And then I know I will have a rest. So, you just go forward. And honestly I don't feel a thing, which is a good thing.

Q: …

FEDERER: I feel good here. I like the centre court and its dimensions. Some centre courts are completely different, but here there's always a good atmosphere. I also like the town. Germany is not that different from Switzerland, so everything is very normal for me, good restaurants. It is really really nice here, so I like coming back. And all the successes help of course to keep that up.

Q: What do you get to see of Hamburg? Do you go to town?

FEDERER: Sometimes. This time I arrived here late, so I had less time. But over the past years I always got to see a little and went to town. I always try and go out a little.

Q: Don't the people recognize and bother you?

FEDERER: They do, but so what. There are worse things.

Q: So, how do you have to look for Roger Federer, with a cap and sunglasses?

FEDERER: It depends on my daily form. I try not to do that because it stresses myself to go out in a cap and sunglasses. So I prefer going to the street like this and just mix with the crowd. That's no problem.

Q: How much do you miss Walter Knapper? He was more like a fatherly friend for you. Probably Charlie Steeb hasn't hugged you yet. Do you feel a difference?

FEDERER: Sure. Walter Knapper and I have had a good relationship for the past few years. So it's a shame he's not here this week. He ran the tournament well in the past years, but I often see him on tournaments. I saw him in Monaco and also in Indian Wells we talked. But also Charlie is tremendously happy that I am here. If I need something I know that Charlie would do everything for me, but as I'm not a difficult case I don't make life difficult for him.

Q: …

FEDERER: Yes, a bit surprised. Before the match, I would have favoured Ferrer a bit. He has a positive record against Verdasco. I practiced with Verdasco on the first day for two hours. He played very well. I know he has the game to be dangerous and beat the best. Tomorrow I have to be careful and make a little adjustment from righty to lefty. So hopefully my first match against a lefty will help me.

Q: Why didn't you go to the Players' night?

FEDERER: There is a Players' Night every week and I don't go there anymore. Maybe it was fun at the age of 20, if I wanted to go I would go, but now I rather go and have some dinner in peace.

Q: Two matches and two hours on the court. For outsiders this might seem as if you were underchallenged?

FEDERER: I thought the match today was quite dangerous the Soderling played. But I was able to control him more or less. He has a strong serve but I returned well. However, I had to work in the defensive so the feeling is a bit different from the first round where I could play aggressively and my opponent had a weaker second serve. So I knew I always had a chance with my return. That was different today. I am happy with the way things are going and I like such matches. You can never have enough of such matches.

Up next...

*Catherine* · 05-16-2008, 01:33 PM

The FEDexpress is rolling, with a 6-3 6-3 win today. I didnt get a chance to catch all of it, but I think it was a good match for him.

Quote:

Hamburg, 16 May 2008

Press Conference with ROGER FEDERER

Federer - Verdasco 6:3, 6:3

Q: Are you very pleased with that performance?

FEDERER: Yes. I think it was a tough match. He is a very talented player who has got the game to upset anybody on any surface. I think I did well. I had to work hard because I expected him coming out with a different tactic, instead of just trying to keep the serves and forehand in play, I thought he would go for much more aces and big forehands. But he was almost more aggressive with the backhand. So, it was quite a surprise. But I played well under the circumstances. In the end, it was unfortunate for him that his foot maybe hurt a little bit but I don't think that had very much to do with the end.

Q: Did you get to do all the things you yourself wanted to do?

FEDERER: I had to adapt in the very beginning but other than that, I served decently well. I could have played my backhand a little better. But it took me a little time to get used to the leftie again. I tried to play aggressive but it was not easy against him. But as the match went on, I got better which was a positive sign.

Q: You might play a leftie in the final if you both get there again this week and you might again in Paris. So, was it useful practice to play a leftie today?

FEDERER: In some ways I guess you can look at it that way that it's good to play lefties because of Rafa, but I don't think that is the issue here. It's just good playing lefthanders once in a while because you get to see different dimensions, and more looking ahead to Paris, you've played a leftie again not 5 months back but only a week back. It just helps. I practiced even with Fernando on Sunday here. So I got plenty of left-handed practice. It was just a good thing this week to play a few more lefthanders than usual.

Q: This is not a tennis question but one, that has to do with your humanitarian interests and causes. You did the Tsunami and also helped in the hurricane in America and there is a tennis centre for kids in South Africa. Will you continue to do this? Do you have time?

FEDERER: I'm not there myself a whole lot but I've been there a couple of years ago. I'm planning again a trip next year. So, that's definitely on my schedule. What I'm doing is supporting kids to have a chance to have an education. Usually the kids are between 8 and 15 years old. It started with a project in South Africa. By now, we expanded and have few more projects we support, one in Mali, one in Tanzania, one in Ethiopia. We go a little bit more in South Africa maybe, but Africa as a whole because there are more poor countries up north. I'm just looking into how my plan and my trip will be next year. At the moment, I'm just trying to generate a lot of money for the kids. We're doing a good job, we raised a few million dollars already, which is very positive. I enjoy doing it.

Q: Is that closest to your heart, doing things with kids?

FEDERER: Yes, kids are the obvious future and I think it's always nice when you give them a chance. And Africa, there's an obvious connection through my mum who is born in South Africa.

Q: How do you raise the money?

FEDERER: I don't do charity events actually. I attend some of them but not a whole lot anymore. When I get guarantees from certain tournaments I make sure some part of the money goes to the foundation, I give away a lot of shirts; not very often do we get the money out of sales because it's a goodwill to have a charity. But some charities, like in Switzerland, they want to give a way money to foundations, they chose mine for instance. But only a select few. Then you have private people, who support my foundation which are very important people. That creates a lot of money already itself.

Q: …

FEDERER: I didn't know it would work for No. 2. Logically, this might be more important for Rafael than for me. But both have to win their match first. It looks like Novak is winning, and Rafa first has to win against Moya. But, sure, it looks as if it will happen. It's interesting for the tennis, for sure. It's a good story. And Rafa is surely the favourite because of all his successes on clay. He always has an incredible run on clay. So he is definitely the favourite against all, also against Djokovic. But it's surely interesting for the media.

Q: …

FEDERER: I haven't thought about the fact, that it might influence the seeding in Paris. But honestly, it doesn't matter. The number 3 can be on my side or the other side. It's not like it used to be, maybe like it still should be, that no.1 plays no. 4 and no. 2 plays no. 3. That's being drawn now, unfortunately.

Q: It's possible that you will play the semis against Nicolas Kiefer. What do you think about that?

FEDERER: Good, he played a great tournament up to now, no matter if he wins today or not. If he wins today it will be a even better tournament for him. I played a couple of times against him, lost a few times, but also won. So I know where his strength is. He is a very good player with a lot of talent. Unfortunately he was injured a bit. So I'm happy for him to have found his old form again. Once I had an important match against him in the semis of the Australian Open, so I know him quite well.

Q: Where do you see his strength?

FEDERER: The aggressive game, he can play drop shots, back hand, forehand, he can play them both aggressively. He is also very fit, very fast. He brings a lot of good things with him on court.

Q: Until now you always were the favourite of the audience. How will it be for you if you play the local hero?

FEDERER: I think the audience will be behind him, right? But I hope it will be fair. But I don't have a problem, I play the local hero across the world, it wouldn't be the first time, and it can't get worse than playing Agassi at the US Open. So I'm confident.

Q: Would you prefer to play against Seppi or Kiefer?

FEDERER: Rather against Kiefer.

Q: How much hope is there for the audience that you will be challenged at least once? Of course you like to win, but they would probably like to watch a tight match with you.

FEDERER: There are other players for that, who play exciting matches. I don't feel like it (laughs). I prefer to finish in 2 sets. I like it that way. But suddenly there will be a tough match and then you have to be ready. I always prepare myself for a tough match. That's why I always take enough shirts and shoes with me in my bag that I won't get into a situation without having enough rackets for example. I only used 3 rackets of the 7 I had today, but I would have been prepared for a long 3-set match. Maybe we will have one tomorrow, who knows.

Q: You said that Switzerland might win the Euro title. Were you serious? And why?

FEDERER: The home field advantage (laughs). You are also talking about Nicolas Kiefer being able to win here. We, Swiss are the same, no? I believe that all, who play at home have a chance, also the Austrians, but maybe we are to be favoured a bit more than the Austrians. I don't see a reason to be pessimistic. I just hope the first matches will go well so we get through the group stage.

Q: If the Swiss team were to be European Champions you would suddenly have to share your glory.

FEDERER: No problem. I would be more than happy to. No, it would be excellent and it would be during Wimbledon. The whole of Switzerland would be satisfied, not only me.

Semi-final match up with Seppi, who played a hard match with Kiefer today, and fought back in the 3rd set to win it from the German. Should be a good match tomorrow! 7am EST I believe, if anyone wants to watch.

*Catherine* · 05-17-2008, 12:56 PM

Roger has reached the final of the Hamburg Masters Series tournament after finishing off Andreas Seppi today: 6-3, 6-2!

Quote:

Hamburg, 17 May 2008

Press Conference with ROGER FEDERER

Federer - Seppi 6:3, 6:1

Q: That was a long first set, but it was a pretty good performance. Could you have improved on that?

FEDERER: Yes, it was a long first set. I created myself many opportunities. All the games went over deuce on his own service games, maybe worn out a little bit on the first set. So, I set it up for the second set, played well. Maybe I did not serve my best today but from the baseline I was very consistent, very solid. I played a very good match today.

Q: You used the drop shot a lot too.

FEDERER: Yes, the ball doesn't bounce very high on this particular wet surface. He also played some nice ones. So, I thought it was a good tactics today.

Q: How different is it playing under the roof?

FEDERER: It does change. Obviously no win, so that's one thing. I struggled a little on my serve maybe because of that. The ball toss goes into the roof and it was such a different look at the ball than I had in the previous matches. Obviously the clay is pretty wet and humid because of many people being in a room like this, but still it is nice to play. The atmosphere is great because the roof is closed. It was enjoyable to play today.

Q: You were the best sportsman in the last 3, 4 years. Could you achieve this again this year?

FEDERER: I guess when I win many of the Grand Slams coming up and the Olympic Games. But during the Olympic Games it's always very hard to win. That's why I'm very proud I was voted for the last four years, as well as during the Olympic Games to win it. Because the easiest one was the one last year. Of course you have to have great years. But during the Olympic year, you need something quite special to get it again. So, I guess an Olympic gold would help a lot.

Q: What memories do you keep from last year's final here?

FEDERER: It was a quite interesting match up. Going into the match and into the tournament was very interesting. Me just having split up with Tony and coming from Rome, where I was very unhappy with my sort of mental approach. And also the match in Monaco didn't go the way I was hoping it to go. So, I had a lot expectations coming into this match here last year. I tried to play really aggressive. I tried to use my forehand as much as I could, also the backhand and not try to hold back too much, not just keep the ball in play but go for my backhand as well. In the first set maybe I beat myself a little but at the same time, Rafa played an excellent first set. I got a little lucky at the beginning of the second set. But once I was ahead he maybe let his head hang a little, he maybe felt his fatigue a little more and I started to play some of the most amazing clay court tennis. For me it was a great win, especially going into the French Open. That's why I am very happy to be again in another Hamburg final because it always helps with the confidence right before Paris.

Q: Do you expect the same tomorrow or do you expect Djokovic?

FEDERER: I think Rafa is the obvious favourite just because of his unbelievable clay results in the last few years. He has all the respect from all the players. What he has achieved is quite unique. But maybe with the clay court conditions being a little different today, under the roof and with the wet clay, maybe the ball not being so bouncy, maybe Novak has got a chance. He's got the game. It's a big match for both of them for the ranking. It's very interesting. I'm looking forward to anybody tomorrow.

Q: Djokovic's second position in a few weeks maybe, is that something new for you because after a few years he will be right behind you as a challenger or would it be the same for you?

FEDERER: The thing that changes is that I could reach Rafa in the semis at times which hasn't happened in three years, except at the Masters Cup when I played him twice in the semis. The rankings are there to be played for. Whoever reaches No. 3, 2, or 1 in the world has deserved it. He's not No. 2 yet. So, let's wait and see. It's not so easy.

Q: You mentioned being unhappy with your mental approach last year. Does the fact that you have acquired a coach have any effect on your mental approach this year?

FEDERER: It was just the Rome and Monaco approach that were quite unique last year. I didn't have that very often that the focus on my coach situation was so big right before a Masters Series and a Grand Slam. I was cool about it, but still it's a big fuss for maybe nothing. This year things are calm. As long as they're calm, I'm relaxed as well. For me it's important to feel well physically, mentally I'm always fine going into a Grand Slam. So, I'm not going to make those mistakes again by underestimating opponents or thinking it's too easy to win Grand Slams. I know how difficult it is. I've done it so many times. It's a great challenge for me, and Paris even more so because I haven't been able to win it yet.

Q: Are you thinking sometimes about your closeness to Pete Sampras, to his records?

FEDERER: Sure, absolutely. I'm still young, I still have time, but it's a record I would like to achieve and break. There's no hiding from that. I'm already so happy to be part of such an elite group in terms of Grand Slams won and weeks as No. 1. I'm right at the top with the best ever. It makes me very happy and proud. I hope I can achieve it maybe this year and otherwise next year.

Q: Are you better placed this time this year compared with last year?

FEDERER: Maybe a touch better, maybe just because I thought I was closer to Rafa in Monaco. I played better in Rome. I'm playing very well here again. I won Estoril as well. So, I just have a little bit more clay court tennis in me. So, I feel maybe a bit more ready for Paris. But I guess in the end, it's pretty similar still because I came into Paris very confident with the win here over Rafa last year. The day before the finals I feel fine. So, let's see how I feel tomorrow.

Q: …

FEDERER: Regarding the ranking. No. I started the year badly, so he made more points. That is his advantage. He did very well. He played on the highest level at practically all tournaments, maybe except Miami and Marseille. He lost a few times surprisingly, people tend to forget that because of his successes like in Australia or Rome or Indian Wells. So Rafa and me have to see that we keep in there. The big tournaments are coming up now, where you can gain a lot of points. So now this weekend is important and then the other tournaments. We will see then.

Q: How significant would your 5th title here in Hamburg be for you and your career?

FEDERER: Quite high up, because already now it's the Masters Series I have won the most, which might be a surprise for some people. Everybody thinks I'm better on grass or hard court. So I am very proud of my success here in Hamburg. I only lost one of the last 35 matches, and this on clay at a place which is quite difficult because of its slow conditions. So it helped me a lot in the past, with Paris coming up. So I am very satisfied. It would mean quite a lot for me to win tomorrow.

Q: …

FEDERER: I don't think fitness plays an important role in a best of 3 match. So they could continue for another 5 hours. We won't play for 5 hours tomorrow. 3 at the most. 3 hours isn't much for us members of this elite club, with best of 3 we will play 3 hours at the most. So I think it's rather tactics which is important tomorrow.

Q: Did you reflect that Justine Henin ended her career as the no 1 and said that she had problems motivating herself? Are you afraid that could happen to you as well?

FEDERER: No, not really. I get asked quite a lot if I can still motivate myself, which I don't understand at all, because I live my dream and I really love tennis. Sometimes I find travelling hard, but it's still something I enjoy very much. For sure, some day I will consider retirement, but not at 25, 26. If you get a bit tired at 30, 35 years of 15, 20 years of travelling, I can understand that. But this is not supposed to mean that I don't agree with her decision, she has to know what the right thing is for her and I'm sure she took the right step. You can't make a decision like that in a hurry. It wouldn't occur to me at all at this stage, because I intend to play tennis for another 10 years. So ask me again in 8 years or so (laughs).

Q: They have this gallery of ancestral portraits. They have a new picture of yours, the long hair, no beard. Do you like the new one better?

FEDERER: Yes, I like it. I looked a bit fat on the other one, didn't I? So I am happy to look a bit thinner again (laughs). The beard make you look a bit fat, unfortunately. But these times are a bit over.

Q: Did you do something the night before your victory last year, which you absolutely have to repeat tonight?

FEDERER: No, I am not at all superstitious. I am not like going to the same restaurant or doing the same this or that. Let's see what will happen today, and then I will just need enough sleep. For, I did not get that much sleep this week. I was always here at 10 for warm-up and I like going to bed late. I just have to see that I will get enough sleep, then everything will be great.

The final tomorrow will be against Nadal. Should be very competitive, and ofcourse, I want Roger to win his 5th title in Hamburg !

*Catherine* · 05-18-2008, 12:06 PM

Well, the Fedexpress had a meltdown today. I dont remember ever watching a match like this before. He lost 5-7, 7-6, 6-3

It sounds like it was close, but in the first set Roger at one point was serving for the set, up 5-1. Nadal takes a medical time out, and Roger just melts down and the first set is over. Everything changed after that medical time out.

In the second set, Roger was broken early, but got it back, and actually, a similar scenario to the first set occured, where Roger was serving for the set, up a break, and lost it and was forced to a TB.

He was broke once in the third set, but at a crucial time. And thats how it ended.

Its fustrating and disappointing! I dont know if anyone else watched the match live, but Watching the match unfold was terrible!

The one positive I can see is that Fed didnt give up. Federer had lost all his momentum. and to come back and win the second is an achievement in itself, especially after what he had just experienced.

I STILL think Roger has the game to beat Nadal. I'm more convinced its totally mental on Roger's part. Nadal won the match today, but Roger had it and let it go..arrg! On the the FO I suppose.

Quote:

Hamburg, 18 May 2008

Press Conference with ROGER FEDERER

Nadal - Federer 7:5, 6:7 (3), 6:3

Q: Roger, wonderful match. It could have gone either way. Is there a little thing you could have done to change the outcome?

FEDERER: I could have maybe served a little bit better. When I served for the set, the second time where he broke me at 5:1, but I thought, all in all it was allright. It wasn't my best performance, if you get broken so many times there is always something you are a little bit unhappy about. But I think I am finding the right type of play from the baseline. It's up to me to serve maybe a bit better at important stages. And attack maybe a bit more solidly. But it was a fun match playing.

Q: Why do you think there were so much momentum swings. He had seven games in a row and then I think you four games in a row.

FEDERER: I know. We had a similar thing in Monaco. I entered this match thinking it won't be anything like it, because we'll hold serve. It would be much harder to break serve. But then the same thing happened again. It's the way it is, we put a lot of balls into play, and it seems hard to stop both of us.

Q: Considering Roland Garros, are you at the level you want to be?

FEDERER: Yes, I wish I could have won today, then I would have an even better feeling. But I think there is not much of a change. The way the match went today I can also say I feel well, the 3 hours wasn't a problem whatsoever. From a physical standpoint that is a good thing for me. Maybe Rafael struggles a little bit more, because of the stress level of the last few weeks. I just take two days off and I will be in Paris practicing. It's going to be fun next week and then I will hopefully be ready for the tournament.

Q: You attacked in lots of different ways. Do you feel the variety of what you use is increasing?

FEDERER: Yes, I think today particularly. I tried to be aggressive from the backhand side. Before he started to open up much more from the forehand to my forehand. He could do that very much at the beginning. You always have to keep adapting to Rafa. I tried to do that as good as I could. The serve would have helped for sure.

Q: What was the problem with the serve?

FEDERER: Not much. You hope they go. I have to go for big serves. But he is a good return player.

Q: --

FEDERER: First, the problem is to play him on clay. He will break one's serve more than other players. But I don't go into my service games with the feeling that I'm going to be broken. He makes it difficult because he practically doesn't do any return mistakes. He plays with a lot of spin. Since I am the one, who plays aggressive, I usually have the risk on my side. When a game starts badly, it can go really fast sometimes. That is okay. As long as I break his serve enough times, that's okay. I managed to that today, so I'm happy with that. Still, I think that the victory hangs on my racket, because I play aggressively. If I had served better today, who knows what would have happened.

Q: --

FEDERER: I think it's two feelings. For sure, it is a shame that I lost here. At the beginning I had the feeling that it could go fast. If I had won 6:1, I would have played up strongly. But you get over it and honestly, now the focus is already on Paris. It was a nice match and it wasn't funny to lose. Nevertheless, the focus is in Paris now.

Q: He really ran a lot. Is that phenomenal for you?

FEDERER: He did not play more than I did. He lost first round in Rome. So, he had a break there not to be forgotten. Of course, he is still a bit injured but he will get over that. I don't think the match was specially tough for the body. The rallies weren't that long, so it wasn't a problem for me. I don't know how it was for him. He also takes his time between the points in order to recover. That's why his matches are 1 hour and 40 minutes instead of an hour and 20. That's why sometimes it's overestimated.

Q: --

FEDERER: Yes, I watched a bit of the Djokovic an Nadal match. It was interesting. It was good how Djokovic played on clay. I don't play that way, that's why I could not take so much out of it for myself. But you can see that against most of the top players on clay Rafa is mostly the defensive player who needs to run a lot. But he doesn't do a lot of mistakes and can sometimes turn things around and play aggressively. That's why he is so strong. He moves as good as nobody else. That's why he is just the best at the moment.

Q: …

FEDERER: No, he just plays his thing and it is sufficient, good, if not, it's a shame. He always plays with a big margin, always 2 m above the net. That's why he doesn't do a lot of unforced errors. That's why it is easy for him to play that way. But you need incredible legs for that and need to be defensive. And he knows how to do that.

That's why it is a bit difficult. It is an advantage, but if you are down, then it isn't an advantage because he let's the opponent back. That is his problem on hard court. Maybe not as much on grass, because he plays aggressively himself.

Q: --

FEDERER: If somebody starts running on clay, it is difficult to suppress him with winners. That's why he is so successful on that surface.

Q: The impression you had from this week is that it was an ideal tournament. What can the players do to influence the ATP?

FEDERER: No, the times are over. It's in court. A lot of money is involved. We tried as good as possible. Now, it's crunch time and we are quite curios ourselves. The result will come in August. Who knows maybe it will be delayed and then the schedule for next year cannot be done as the ATP is intending. So, I am really curios what will happen during the next couple of months?

And to end on a slightly positive note..."The one who wins Hamburg doesn't win RG"... let's hope this is true, we'll see.

*Catherine* · 05-22-2008, 11:08 AM

RG is very soon...the draw will be coming out tomorrow

Quote:

The draw for the men's and women's singles will take place on Friday 23 May at 11.30 am in the VIP area of Roland Garros (alongside Suzanne Lenglen court). As part of the Roland Garros stadium 80th anniversary celebrations, Rafael Nadal and Ana Ivanovic, who will be carrying out the draw, will be driven from their respective hotels to the stadium in two 1920s Hispano Suisa vehicles which date back to the founding of the complex.
For the women's singles, the non-seeded players will be draw first electronically before defending men's singles champion Nadal pulls the 32 seeds out of the hat. The men's draw will then be carried out in the same way, with Ivanovic, the 2007 women's singles finalist, picking out the 32 seeds.
A reminder that for the first time, the draw will be broadcast live on Eurosport France between 11:30 am – 12:30 pm. The whole draw will also be shown on Roland Garros - The 2008 French Open - Official Site by IBM, meaning that Internet users from around the world can follow the action.

Some practice pics!!

*Catherine* · 05-23-2008, 03:54 AM

The draw is up!

Fed has Sam Querrey up first!

wingster · 05-25-2008, 08:21 AM

thanks for all the news

i really think this will be the year for him

*Catherine* · 05-25-2008, 09:19 AM

Oh I'm hoping it will be! But its going to be tough..

He is playing tomorrow!

*Catherine* · 05-26-2008, 06:38 AM

Congrats to Roger for winning over Sam Querrey 6-4, 6-4, 6-3

I think it was a good first match to get into the GS...

Roger On-court interview

Roger wont be playing again until Thursday, I believe!

wingster · 05-26-2008, 07:31 AM

good for him..easy victory

thanks for the vid

*Catherine* · 05-26-2008, 09:23 AM

It was..on the court for less than 2hrs I believe. Nice and short

Roger's presser

Quote:

Q. Obviously the first round is always tough. Glad to get through. You didn't have too many difficulties, did you?

ROGER FEDERER: No, but it's hard, you know. The first round of the Slams, there's always a lot of pressure. He's an up‑and‑coming player who's got good a serve and big shots. Not going to win the French Open right away, but on the day you don't know what's going to happen.

That's why it's sort of a nerve‑wracking first set. Once I got settled I played a little bit more better. I was able to create myself a few opportunities against his serve, which was sort of good, and I thought the match was fine, you know.

Gives me a few days now again to practice, and hopefully I can play a bit better the next match.

Q. On the Suzanne Lenglen Court, was that a bit of a change and maybe you weren't expecting it?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I didn't know till sort of while I was practicing yesterday if I was going to play next day or not, which I thought was quite late to find out when to start a first round of a Slam.

That's what happened when you want to play your first round over three days, especially starting on Sunday. But I was happy to be able to play today, to be honest. Langlen or Chatrier for me, it's not much of a difference.

I actually practiced on Suzanne Lenglen the first day when I got here, so I knew how it felt. The match was good, so I'm happy.

Q. If you include your pretournament preparations, the events you've played and now your first match, would you say you're where you want to be?

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah. I mean, I would think so. I mean, I got through with my first round, which is sometimes a difficult match in a tournament. So that's out of the way.

I've played well all clay court season long. Didn't have many hiccups really, and I have plenty of matches. That was my goal as well, you know. By playing Estoril, I was hoping to get that before Paris.

Now it's just a matter of sort of getting used to the conditions. Practice is one thing, but getting through the matches is the other thing. I felt that today the atmosphere is different, the court is full, the pressure is there. It's just not sometimes as easy to play this way like in practice, you know.

That's why I'm sort of relieved getting through the first one, and I think from now on it should get a little bit easy.

THE MODERATOR: French questions, please?

Q. Happy with your win and happy to be back in Paris?

ROGER FEDERER: Of course. I always enjoy playing in Paris. It's a superb city, and I had good successes in Paris, except at Paris' Bercy tournament. But at Roland Garros, the crowd is very nice, so it's good pleasure for me to be here in Paris.

Q. There's an Italian player, Bolelli. You know him. Do you think that he's a talented player? Do you think he's skillful player? Is he any different of a player or...

ROGER FEDERER: He has ‑‑ he's very relaxed, and ‑‑ but he has a one‑handed backhand. He's a skillful player, a talented player, he moves well, and I think he's has grown up on this surface.

I practiced with him two or three years ago and I noticed that he was very skillful, but at that time I wondered whether he would do it mentally.

But I think that he can play against very good players. Clay is his best surface, so I'm not surprised. I don't know which ranking he will get in the top 10, top 20, top 30. I don't know exactly, but he plays well. I don't know how old is he, but he plays well.

Q. We've just learned that Richard Gasquet will withdraw from the tournament. A knee injury. Roddick has withdrawn. Tsonga, Tommy Haas, they have all withdrawn. Nadal criticized the schedule, and they are disturbed that maybe some players are injured because of a busy schedule. What do you think of the schedule? What do you think of his busy schedule? Any criticism?

ROGER FEDERER: I don't know why he injured himself. I mean, I don't know. Maybe he fell. It has nothing to do with the schedule. Nothing to do with the schedule.

Tsonga got injured a little bit earlier. It's not good for the clay court season, but it is true that ‑‑ it's not a topic for me. It is true a lot of tournaments on clay, but that's not the issue here at Roland Garros.

I know that before coming to Roland Garros, I mean, there are some tournaments, and this is the schedule. This is the calendar. There are some players who are injured, but it is not a contact sport.

I think that if we were to do away with contact sport, I can tell you there would be many players who would be injured. Anyway, we know how many tournaments we have to play. It's important to play the Grand Slam tournaments, the most important tournaments, and the Davis Cup. So if you're injured, you don't play. I mean, that's the way it is.

It is true that from time to time you are not lucky. I can tell you that Tsonga and Gasquet were unlucky. And Gasquet and Tsonga, maybe they wouldn't be able to play at Wimbledon. Andy Murray was injured last year and he couldn't play Wimbledon.

So you have to take care about that.

Q. Are you going to play against Montanes or Kristof Vliegen. Vliegen is one of your friends. I mean, you played against him in 2004 in the first round and you defeated him.

ROGER FEDERER: He's a nice guy, and we hit it off. I will play against him as part of a Davis Cup, and I think Vliegen had a good match against Gasquet. I played against him a few years ago and it was a very good match for me, but he was very nervous.

It was on center court, so I made the most of it. It is true that we have fun together when talking about this match, because he felt uncomfortable.

Q. What about this win? I mean, is this win up to your expectations? Basically, you want to play only three sets because you don't want to play much time on the court, do you?

ROGER FEDERER: I started playing today, but if I were to play five sets, I mean, that's not a problem, because I've been practicing very hard. I'm not afraid of playing five sets. And if you're afraid of playing five sets you rush things away, especially in the first set.

So I try to deliver good matches, and I knew that I had to play today against a dangerous player. He's a different player. I'll bet Montanes is a very difficult opponent, in fact. I'm very happy to have won the match today against Mr. Querrey.

Q. What can you tell us about Stanislas Wawrinka? He's now among the top 10 players. Are you surprised about it? Is it normal to you? Is it logical development?

ROGER FEDERER: I mean, when you're in the top 10 ranking, I mean, there is no such thing as logic. I mean, you can say that you want to be in the top 10, but making it into the top 10 is very difficult.

There are many tennis players on the ballot, so it's not easy to be among the top ten players, as people say.

And we know that Stanislas Wawrinka has worked very hard. I can tell you that he's also skillful, but he has lived up to his expectations. Last year it was unfortunate and he was injured. Last year, he stagnated, so to speak. He didn't make progress.

For him, it was just a matter of time, and now at Roland Garros this year he will be able to play well. I can tell you that in the past he had a difficult draw here at Roland Garros, so I hope that he will produce a good performance.

So at the end of the day, I'm not surprised. I mean, basically, if you get two good results, you can be in the top ten, because I, Rafa, and Djokovic are head of the pack.

But I can tell you that Stan has seized this opportunity, but he will have to confirm he's a different player in different tournaments. But I can tell you it will be more easier for him because he is serene. It's a very good period for Stan, and I am very happy for him.

..and if you want to watch the presser

*Catherine* · 05-27-2008, 04:23 AM

A couple of fun moments from yesterday's match...

Roger and his football skills...

wingster · 05-27-2008, 06:44 AM

funny stuff

Rinniee · 05-27-2008, 09:14 PM

Imagine what he can do with a bigger ball. He'd make a great futbol player

*Catherine* · 05-28-2008, 11:58 AM

Rinniee!

He would make a great player

Roger's second round match is Albert Montanes...Tomorrow Roger plays 3rd in PC after Venus and Mauresmo

Some Nadal/Federer pics...

Roger and Safin...

And Roger with the fans...I dont know how he does it sometimes