Title: Federer Interview
Description: October 13, 2007
mightyjeditribble - October 15, 2007 08:13 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE |
On getting ready for the tournament
"I like to come early so as to try the courts and its surface. It's always nice to come as the defending champion and I like the crowd here, they are enthusiastic and they show it. I felt very tired after the Davis Cup tie against the Czechs, and had to pull out of Tokyo."
On the hunt for No 1
"Rafa is not worried about losing his No.2 spot. Both him and Djokovic are fighting to be the No. 1. To be honest, after Rafa's success on clay this year, I came into the second part of the season with pressure. I'm doing well at the moment. Of course the Wimbledon final was a key match. I wish we can renew our rivalry, our healthy rivalry, here in Madrid. We like to play each other, which didn't happen to me the first times we played."
"I don't want my opponents to lose. You only have to think about winning. If your opponent loses and you follow the same path, another one will come and take your spot. It's as simple as that."
On chasing Sampras' record of 14 Grand Slams
"It's still far off, but I'm confident and a positive thinker and it's something I want to achieve. I know I have a chance to win the Australian Open and the French Open and then we'll see. Honestly, it doesn't matter if I do it next year or in 2020, it doesn't matter to be honest as long as I get it."
On the opportunity to win the Golden Slam next year
"I think it's too difficult. Honestly I don't envision the Golden Slam... if it's there to take I'll try, but it's a tough schedule, with Roland Garros, Wimbledon, the Olympics, US Open – all within a few months. It's hard to do, almost impossible."
"The Beijing Olympics will be fantastic. I enjoyed Athens, coming out with the national flag was a special moment".
On his career plans
"Wimbledon[hosting] the Olympics in 2012, I just think it's an incredible combination for any tennis player. I'll still be 31 or so and feel I'll have more in me," he said. "For me this is something I would like to do."
"I'm methodical, I like to have a plan in my life. I'm not thinking about tomorrow, but a whole career. I said I would play 'at least' through 2012, but I think I'll have more in me. I want to play through different generations, just as [Andre] Agassi or [Jimmy] Connors did. Hopefully I'll be able to do that, maybe playing 10 or 15 tournaments instead of 20."
[bOn the match-fixing scares in tennis[/b]
"I'm surprised by all of these stories, shocked really that this might be happening. I haven't read what [Andy]Murray said, but I can say I've never been approached or heard of any player [being approached]. For me, this is new. I hadn't heard of this until this year, that the comments came out."
"If a player has been approached, he must make it public immediately. He can do it anonymously, of course. If someone wants to talk to me about this, I would like to listen to him. I haven't read into the whole circumstances surrounding these stories, but I will be these days. I hope that this isn't happening. I think I would have heard something sooner if it had been."
"The people who are in the dressing rooms, the people who are in the tournaments shouldn't be allowed to gamble. It's very disappointing if players would be involved in such a thing."
[In Miami, the ATP organized a presentation by ex-Mafia boss Michael Franzese to talk to the players about the dangers of becoming involved in gambling.] "When I went into that meeting, I was kind of, ´what the hell?' What he said was interesting and scary at the same time."
On when he might get a coach
"I thought about that when I had some days off after the Davis Cup. Of course, it's great to have another opinion, but I don't feel it's the moment and won't be until 2008, at least. I don't know what features I'm looking for in a coach, maybe that's the problem (smile)."
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Some interesting comments here (I highlighted a few); in particular on his plans to keep playing even beyond 2012, and saying he would like to play as long as Agassi, or even Connors! :o
T01 - October 15, 2007 09:46 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE (mightyjeditribble @ Oct 15 2007, 08:13 AM) |
Some interesting comments here (I highlighted a few); in particular on his plans to keep playing even beyond 2012, and saying he would like to play as long as Agassi, or even Connors! :o |
Poor Andy Roddick, no chance of him winning another slam then!!
greasepipe - October 15, 2007 10:15 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE |
On when he might get a coach
"I thought about that when I had some days off after the Davis Cup. Of course, it's great to have another opinion, but I don't feel it's the moment and won't be until 2008, at least. I don't know what features I'm looking for in a coach, maybe that's the problem (smile)."
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The whole new coach debate has totally fallen silent. Not so strange bearing in mind Rog lost only 2 matches and won 2 MC's and 2 slams after Tony was sent home
Still i believe he could use some extra company in the months april-june. It is in this part of the season Rog seems to be a different person He seems to be under more pressure -for obvious reasons- and doesn't seem to enjoy his presence on court like he usually does, Yep, RG smells like an obsession.
This spring Hewitt spent some time (some practice time aswell spare time, ) with a old rival of his; Agassi. Leyton came back emotionally and spiritually revived and had some good results. I'd say; Fed, ask Andre what he's planning to do next spring.
If there's one person in this world who Federer likes, respects, looks up to in a way (that's a key part for someone like Federer) and who's been there before (career slam) it has to be Andre.
Tenez - October 15, 2007 10:49 AM (GMT)
Well interesting. I still think that the FO is in Federer's deep soul and no former past champs can actually help him in this quest. It's him with or against the clay gods.
Big Al - October 15, 2007 02:26 PM (GMT)
How long has Federer left to win the French ?He'll be 27 next year, and it will get harder...but theres players like Djokovic and Ferrer who might remove Nadal for him ..
Dark_Necrofear™ - October 15, 2007 02:32 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Big Al @ Oct 15 2007, 04:26 PM) |
| How long has Federer left to win the French ?He'll be 27 next year, and it will get harder...but theres players like Djokovic and Ferrer who might remove Nadal for him .. |
Djokovic is for life injured in slams or tired from playing epics or well as we saw just gets man handled by Nadal on clay! Also bud I draw belief from Agassi, at what age did he win it......EVENTUALLY!
:rolleyes:
Big Al - October 15, 2007 02:35 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Dark_Necrofear™ @ Oct 15 2007, 03:32 PM) |
| QUOTE (Big Al @ Oct 15 2007, 04:26 PM) | | How long has Federer left to win the French ?He'll be 27 next year, and it will get harder...but theres players like Djokovic and Ferrer who might remove Nadal for him .. |
Djokovic is for life injured in slams or tired from playing epics or well as we saw just gets man handled by Nadal on clay!
:rolleyes:
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Well, Tenez picked him to win the French next year , not sure how serious he was . :rolleyes:
Big Al - October 15, 2007 02:36 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Dark_Necrofear™ @ Oct 15 2007, 03:32 PM) |
| QUOTE (Big Al @ Oct 15 2007, 04:26 PM) | | How long has Federer left to win the French ?He'll be 27 next year, and it will get harder...but theres players like Djokovic and Ferrer who might remove Nadal for him .. |
Djokovic is for life injured in slams or tired from playing epics or well as we saw just gets man handled by Nadal on clay! Also bud I draw belief from Agassi, at what age did he win it......EVENTUALLY!
:rolleyes:
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Im thinking that as well. And it would be great for Agassi to become his coach ... my two favourite players working together ... :)
Dark_Necrofear™ - October 15, 2007 02:37 PM (GMT)
I think he may win all 4.Its a stretch but he just may do it!
Big Al - October 15, 2007 02:40 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Dark_Necrofear™ @ Oct 15 2007, 03:37 PM) |
| I think he may win all 4.Its a stretch but he just may do it! |
He had so many break points at the French.. could easily have been two sets to nil up on Nadal ..in fact the previous year was the same. Thats how close he was to winning all four .
Dark_Necrofear™ - October 15, 2007 02:45 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Big Al @ Oct 15 2007, 04:40 PM) |
| QUOTE (Dark_Necrofear™ @ Oct 15 2007, 03:37 PM) | | I think he may win all 4.Its a stretch but he just may do it! |
He had so many break points at the French.. could easily have been two sets to nil up on Nadal ..in fact the previous year was the same. Thats how close he was to winning all four .
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Well theers something about the Olympic Year that seems to be talking to him so I wouldnt be surprised if he did.
greasepipe - October 15, 2007 03:21 PM (GMT)
It looks like Fed will meet Nadal in semies again in the near future, maybe that will change things. After all; the FO final seems to be played at hot and Nadal favoring conditions for years by now... :shrug:
mightyjeditribble - October 16, 2007 07:15 AM (GMT)
I have always said that I would love Fed to win the Golden Slam in 2008, and - who knows - he might just do it.
But, while it's true that he was close to winning all 4 again this year, he was also not that far away from "only" winning 2 --- or maybe even just 1.
So it would take a tremendous standard of play in 2008, and probably a good portion of luck as well, if he was going to achieve this. Realistically, it is just a dream.
If Roger wins fewer than two GS next year, I will be disappointed, but anything beyond that really is a bonus (although of course I am hoping for much more!). I really would like to see him winning Olympic Gold; I think it means a lot to him.
Tenez - October 16, 2007 07:34 AM (GMT)
For some reasons I can't take Olympic tennis seriously. It's a nice to have but in the record book it does not weigh much in tennis. I would be very surprsed if Federer were to travel there if he had a chance to win the real slam after Wimbledon, even though I know he d love to.
If the grand slam is not at stake, then surely he 'll fight for it and will be his second highest priority.
mightyjeditribble - October 16, 2007 08:49 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Tenez @ Oct 16 2007, 08:34 AM) |
For some reasons I can't take Olympic tennis seriously. It's a nice to have but in the record book it does not weigh much in tennis. I would be very surprsed if Federer were to travel there if he had a chance to win the real slam after Wimbledon, even though I know he d love to.
If the grand slam is not at stake, then surely he 'll fight for it and will be his second highest priority. |
I agree that it doesn't count for a whole lot in the record books - but I'm also pretty sure that Roger wants it.
If he feels that it will jeopardize his health, and hence his chances for the US Open, then I am sure he would not play it. But otherwise, I am fairly sure that he would give it a good go, even - or perhaps particularly - if he holds all four slams at the time. The chance to attempt a Golden Slam does not come around all that often ...
Dark_Necrofear™ - October 16, 2007 09:07 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE |
| The chance to attempt a Golden Slam does not come around all that often ... |
Which is why I think its important to him. He is in a situation that rather weird.And very very rare.He has the chance to hold all for slams at once which will be the Federer Slam then he has a chance to hold all 4 in a calender year with a golden cherry on top in form of an olympic medal.
Surely if he is to attain this he will then secure the GOAT title and be the rarest kind ever! Though pressure can also do some strange things.But if he were to win Oz and Rg then he wouldnt have that much pressure in holding all four in the calender year it would be the same thing just different
:blink: Weird
:ok:
dl04 - October 17, 2007 08:21 PM (GMT)
I hope he doesnt do the Golden Slam- i want it to be Steffi's unique achievment :P