Posted: 22.03.09 21:37. Post subject: Всё, что в прессе о Роджере-экспрессе

 Posted: 29.05.09 10:31. Post subject: Роджер Федерер: «Я н..

Роджер Федерер: «Я не пытаюсь покорять публику, я просто пытаюсь показывать красивый теннис»

Вторая ракетка мира швейцарец Роджер Федерер, обыгравший сегодня в матче второго круга «Ролан Гаррос» аргентинца Хосе Акасусо со счетом 7:6, 5:7, 7:6, 6:2, ответил на вопрос, почему его любят болельщики.

«Честно говоря, я ничего для этого не делаю. Может быть именно это людям и нравится. Я не пытаюсь покорять публику, я просто пытаюсь показывать красивый теннис. Если им нравится это – отлично. Если нет – ну что я могу поделать. Я также думаю, что очень важно быть честным игроком с уважением к оппоненту, к игре, к болельщикам. Это очень важно для меня, и я думаю, это нравится людям», – приводит слова теннисиста официальный сайт турнира.

 Posted: 30.05.09 22:48. Post subject: Три тренера и один Ф..

Три тренера и один Федерер

Матч Федерера против Акасусо, по его собственным словам, был наполнен взлетами и падениями. Грег Гарбер (ESPN.com) считает, что в каком-то смысле этот матч можно считать небольшой моделью последних 15 месяцев теннисной жизни швейцарца. Он пообщался с теннисными специалистами, чтобы узнать их мнение о происходящем с Федерером.


Полностью здесь.

 Posted: 31.05.09 00:01. Post subject: R. FEDERER/P. Mathie..

R. FEDERER/P. Mathieu
4‑6, 6‑1, 6‑4, 6‑4

An interview with:

ROGERFEDERER

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English, please.

Q. Seemed pretty tough conditions out there this afternoon andevening. Did it take you a little timeto get adjusted to the wind?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, you can never, I think, quiteget used to swirly winds. It was toughconditions. It was tough to see the ball,too, with the sun going down.

The stands were verybright, so it made it very difficult to see the ball and keep the ball inplay. I think that's why rallies wereshort and conditions were pretty quick in the beginning, because, you know, itwas a nice day all day. When the sunshines onto the court for 10 hours, that's what you get at the end of the day.

So it was kind of difficult, but I thinkonce sort of the shadow came in, you know, I think the level of play alsopicked up. So the end was a good one,and I was happy the way I played towards the end.

Q. Therewas just a pretty significant controversy in the women's draw. You're known for your sportsmanship. When a ball hits a player, is it the player'sresponsibility to report it, do you think, to the chair umpire that it's hithim or her, and the point is over?

ROGER FEDERER: Oh, you mean ‑‑ okay, so the player gothit won the point?

Q. Correct.

ROGER FEDERER: It's a tough call. I mean, it's one of those borderline calls,you know, where ‑‑ it's like if you get a double bounce when you run for adropshot. Yourself, you can't hardlyfeel it.

I mean, I guess whenyou touch it with part of your shirt, Imean ‑‑ I'm saying now that I would absolutely report it, you know. But then if Wimbledonis on the line, would you?

I would think I would, just because out offair play. So would I report it. But because it happens so little, that maybein the moment itself you don't know what to do, and then you realize it's suchan important point. You know, actually Iwant that point.

The umpire probably didn't see it,and next thing you're maybe doing something you shouldn't have done and youregret it later on. This is where it'smaybe a tough call sometimes.

Q. Nowyou sitting on the player council, and you're listening how Nadal is talkingabout the antidoping rules. You're aformer No. 1. You shared that table withhim on the player's council with him. How much a player of your influence can sway things the way playerswant?

ROGER FEDERER: We don't have much power when it comes toabout the doping issues, you know, just because rules are in place. They've ‑‑ how does it work? The international, you can avoid that, wellthen the Spanish would request it from him. So we have to do it anyway, you know.

Either from thenational or the international level, we'd be asked from someone to report forone hour a day. That's why it's a losingbattle. I haven't heard his commentsthat much lately. I heard it in thebeginning when he first came out. Ithink it was in Australiaor something. I mean, I heard that.

Sure, I understand him, you know, but whatare you going to do? It's not fun foranyone, you know. I think he knowsthat. We just try to get through it aswell as we can.

Q. Ingeneral, you get the feeling that as a former No. 1, or while you were No. 1,your goal was getting here, and you guys have no strength to shape this sportthe way you want, to solve the issues?

ROGER FEDERER: I think so, especially now that we're in thecouncil. Even though being in thecouncil that's not a very strong position. I think it is when you're ranked at the top and you want the best forthe game.

So I think having a lotof players now in the council is a good thing. That means we have to speak, even though, let's say we don't like eachother, which is not the case. But itmakes us sit down at the table and discuss issues that maybe we would never do,and I think that's a good thing.

He's being very good in the meetings. He's always listened a lot. We have ‑‑ when we agree, you know,things move very quickly. So far, we'veonly agreed on everything, which is a nice thing. I like doing business with Rafa, let's say. (laughter.)

Sounds so serious, but it's ‑‑the meetings are fun, too.

Q. Sodo you think the ATP has advanced significantly with the new head and the newchanges with the council?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, it's a process that takes its time, youknow, for Adam Helfant to get into the job, listening around, meeting thepeople. I think those times are kind ofover now. I think now he can starttaking decisions.

There was a transitionperiod, as well, which made it hard, you know, to change a few things. But honestly, we have better prize money, youknow. Etienne didn't do all bad, youknow, but definitely there were some tough decisions like with the Hamburg case and soforth.

So there was a few tough situations, alsowith communications. I think that'sunder control now. That's why it's justmore smooth now. I'm looking forward fora great future for the ATP.

Q. Ingolf there has been a lot of talk about the impact of the downturn in theeconomy. Has there been any talk ordiscussion about that in the ATP?

ROGER FEDERER: Sure, we talked about it, you know. We want to not destroy any tournaments, youknow. Tournaments and players have towork together, even though we want things, tournaments want things. I think that's at the end of the job, it's Adam's,sort of nice job to judge, you know, both parties and see what's best for thesport.

I think because we'rein the council, I think it's interesting for the tournaments that they see wedo care from our side, because we know they care. They try to put on a great event for us. We are thankful by showing up and trying toput on a good show.

So for this reason, I think it's workingactually really well at the moment, even though times are tough.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in French.

Q. It is always said that you shouldn't be happy of the loss of anopponent, but how do you react to Djokovic's loss? He was the toughest player in your part ofthe draw. How do you react to his loss?

ROGER FEDERER: If I can't reach the semifinal it won'tchange anything for me, so I should not lose focus. I've seen nothing from that match, so I can'ttalk about that match. I was playing atthe same time, more or less.

I was getting preparedwhen he started. But indeed it is asurprise, that's for sure. But I'm verypleased with my match today, and that's the most important thing.

Q. But aren't you relieved?

ROGER FEDERER: No, not at all. Winning the semifinal is not winning thetournament, so it doesn't change anything.

Q. A question about the conditions. You were talking about the light. From the press stands, we had the impression that the wind blew away allthe clay. Did this give you problems?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, there are always bad bounces on clay,whether it's windy or not. The mostdifficult thing, as you said, was that there was not much clay left.

So it was ‑‑ sometimesit was slippery and sometimes it was less slippery, so you needed to be morecautious when you tried to slide.

You need to be careful, and that made thingsmore difficult. You need to know exactlyhow far from the ball you were, because sometimes when you were trying to findyour rhythm and trying to put the ball in you still missed, and then you feltterrible.

It was difficult to see the ball,because everything was very bright behind the ball. So it was not easy, indeed. That's the reason why maybe the level of gamewas not so great in the beginning.

But then at the end we startedplaying better, and I think the match was great.

Q. Whatpleased you in this match and what disappointed you about your game? And also another question about the wholetournament. What is your impression?

ROGER FEDERER: I'm disappointed with nothing. I'm happy I won. I missed some opportunities in the first setand he played well. But as I said, wedidn't have much rhythm. I was trying toput the ball in, but in that case it's difficult to win all the points. That's why he stayed into the match.

After that, he startedplaying really well. He played verystrong, hard shots on the baseline. Itwas difficult for me. He had more rhythmin the beginning. It was more difficultfor me. I was not feeling my serve verywell. But as the match progressed, Ifelt better with my serve.

It's always dangerous to lose the first set.

Q. Andfor the whole tournament?

ROGER FEDERER: It's correct. I'm happy I'm still here. Othershave lost already. I'm still there. Of course, I hope I'll play better and bettermatch after match. But if the conditionschange, the opponents change, I'm hoping for the best in my next match. I hope I'll be able to show what I can do.

Q. About the difficulties you talked about, we had the impression you werein control. Was it true?

ROGER FEDERER: More or less. After losing the first set. I wasnot controlling the match then; he was. But after being up 2‑Love, things came my way again. I served better, and this is why I was ableto mix it up more.

It's been a while. I haven't played against Paul‑Henri, so itwas difficult for me to see where he was going to serve or hit his forehand orbackhand. Next time I'll play him Ibelieve I will be able to see where ‑‑ it will be easier to play againsthim. It's easier when you know theplayer better.

Q. It's the weekend. It's thebeginning of the evening. People have alot of fun. They enjoy it. Is it different from when you play during theweek? What do you think about theatmosphere?

ROGER FEDERER: The stadium was full from the beginning tothe end, which is not always the case, and that was really nice. To be able to have that in the first week isgreat, and the crowd was very fair play. I had a lot of pleasure. I reallyenjoyed that match. I saw the Hola, thewave. It was really nice, the Mexicanwave. I think it was a good match.

Both of us enjoyed it,even if I won, so I had maybe a bit more fun. It's a lot of fun playing those kind of matches.

 Posted: 01.06.09 20:32. Post subject: R. FEDERER/T. Haas ..

R. FEDERER/T. Haas

6‑7, 5‑7, 6‑4, 6‑0, 6‑2

An interview with:

ROGER FEDERER

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English, please.

Q. The question for the last month or maybe more has been, What does Rogerhave to do to beat Rafa? You don't haveto answer that anymore, I guess. Are yourelieved?

ROGER FEDERER: Um, he didn't retire, right? (Laughter) No, he'll bounce back strong. I'm convinced about that. Sure, it was a big upset, but I mean, thefocus wasn't really there, to be quite honest.

Of course, my dreamscenario is to beat Rafa here in the finals, but I gotta concentrate on my partof the draw and make sure I come through like today.

Tommy Haas was very good today, so this iswhere my focus was, and will be also in my next round.

Q. Beingtwo sets down is difficult for any player on a five‑setter, but especially whenDjokovic and Nadal had lost, did that put extra pressure on you? In the third set at 4‑4, he made a doublefault when he had an advantage. Didthat...

ROGER FEDERER: I don't remember. No, I mean, I thought actually I wasplaying ‑‑ serving all right, especially for a set and a half. You know, I was down a set but up in thesecond set. Unfortunately I got broken,I think it was 4‑3. That definitely mademe a little bit nervous, you know, just knowing that I still haven't reallyfound my range and my rhythm from the baseline.

Tommy was also servinghimself extremely well, you know, and mixing up his game very well. So I definitely felt under pressurethere. He played another pretty goodgame to break me and get the set and stuff, but I tried to remain calm.

In a situation like this, you don't reallythink about whoever is out of the draw or not. You just try to come through yourself, and it's hard enough, you know,to stay positive when you're down two sets to love and a break point.

It was a great battle for me, andI'm thrilled to be through and given another chance here.

Q. Itgoes without saying that you're a fabulous professional, and you're known foryour focus. But you're a human being,too. Can you share with us what yourthoughts were when your great rival lost? What went through your mind in terms of your opportunities and what youwould have to do just with the whole psychological situation and the realsituation of Rafa not being here?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, I watched ‑‑ I only sawthe last bit because I was practicing and in transportation. Soderling certainly played great when he hadto towards the end. He didn't getnervous. Didn't look like it,anyway. He came up with the right playsevery single time, especially in the breaker when it really mattered.

I mean, it just showsthat it's hard, you know, to win day in, day out at a particulartournament. His incredible run stretchesback to a few years ago. He won over 30matches in a row here.

It's a phenomenal achievement, but it justshows that we're all human. We all loseat some stage, and people always make it sound so simple since like five years,that it's normal that he wins on clay, I win on grass, and then we share thehardcourts. It's not just the way it is.

I speak firsthand, you know, knowingwhat it takes to dominate. You know, Ithink he knows that, too, already since quite a while. But it's I think the press that blow it up orhype it up a bit too much that you are invincible, unbeatable.

Tennis is not like this. You come out and you always have guys goingafter you, like Tommy Haas today, like Soderling yesterday. I think it only gives them extra motivationknowing that you're the guy to beat or ‑‑ they have nothing to lose, because ifthey lose, it's a normal result. If theywin, it's an incredible achievement.

That's what Soderling was able todo, and it definitely creates some mind plays, I think, in some of the players'minds. You know, knowing that now theirsection is open. Mine hasn't beenaffected in a big way because I'm on the other side of the draw.

But I think for a lot of playersover there, I think it must be quite a big opportunity, and their heads must bespinning right now.

Q. Howmuch of this newly‑opened scenario is an opportunity, and how much of thatopportunity is a burden?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, I'm used to any kind of asituation, so it doesn't affect me in a big way.

Sure, you're aware ofit. You try and stay in the draw, but,you know, at the end of the day you're focusing on your shots and your matchand on how you play and the game plan against that player.

Not a whole lot more. I think if you make it to the finals thenit's a different scenario. Becausewhoever I play in the finals I probably have a decent record against, you know,which wouldn't be the case with Rafa, knowing that he has all the experienceand the confidence, you know, of winning here.

Definitely changes it up if I wereto make the final. But we're not thereyet, so honestly it hasn't changed a whole lot for me.

Q. 3‑4in the fourth when you have break point against you and you hit the inside‑outforehand for a winner. I asked Tommyabout that. You know that much, maybe itgoes out and it lands in. I said, Longcareer. How do you feel about pointslike that? He says, That's just RogerFederer being Roger Federer. How doesRoger Federer explain a shot like that at a crucial moment?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, I was struggling throughout thefirst two‑and‑a‑half sets from the baseline. I was serving all right, and that was keeping me in the match. Again, swirly winds made it hard for both ofus to keep the ball under control, especially that we both play sooffensively. You know, the rallies werealways going to be short.

That thing can stretchthrough a longer period of time not having any rhythm. I thought almost that it was my first goodshot of the match. It came on a breakpoint on the third set. I knew thesignificance that have shot, because I knew if I come out of that game I cancreate some opportunities later on and in that set.

I knew I was going to look back on thatshot. That saved me on that day, youknow. That's exactly what happened, andI was able to turn around the whole match. It's a great feeling, because I was in quite some danger right there.

Q. Couldyou just take us through your level in the fifth? For some of us, it was as good as we've seenyou play on clay for some time. Were youvery satisfied with the way you finished off the match?

ROGER FEDERER: Yes, and, you know, like I said, I think Iplayed actually pretty well against Acasuso to come out of that one.

I think the conditionswere rough against ‑‑ with the daylight, the sun, the shadow and the windsagainst Mathieu. I came out of thatmatch not knowing exactly where I was. That's kind of how I felt also in the first couple sets against TommyHaas.

Now that I won the last three sets, youknow, that I just played, I feel much better. I think it would have been different having, let's say ‑‑ had Ibeen up two sets, lost two sets, and then winning the fifth.

But like this, you know, I reallyfelt like I was getting stronger as the match went on. Of course, he didn't put up maybe the ‑‑he didn't play his best set in the fourth set when I won 6‑Love.

But still, I was able to put himaway there. And when I really needed toplay well, I really found my A game in the fifth set. That was a great feeling to get, and I hopethat can inspire me to play actually really nice tennis in the next round.

Q. Onthe other side of the draw now, Andy Murray is now seeded to get through to thefinal. Do you see him getting there, anddo you see him as your biggest individual threat now?

ROGER FEDERER: Not really. I mean, sure, he has a good chance to make the finals, you know. But then at the same time, I think Davydenko hasit, you know. I mean, he's been writtenoff a little bit. I've been disappointedthat I haven't heard much about him, you know, because he's a great player.

He was in the top 4 fora long time. He was unfortunate withsome injuries. So he couldn't keep hisranking because of that, not because he was losing first rounds all the time. Ithink that's why he's actually got a great chance of going forward.

Then we have other players, too. But I think the draws are wide open on theother side right now.

Q. Foryounger players, how difficult is the pressure to deal with, the fact that whenplayers like Rafa have gone out, that maybe people are now expecting Andy to goall the way?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, I think it's the same for allthe players right there, you know, to be quite honest. It's like if you've just beaten a greatplayer, and then you have to back it. Like Kohlschreiber has to do or Soderling has to do.

It's not an easy task,because how often does it happen in your life? It happens just a few times, and it's hard to back them up. I went through it when I beat Sampras at Wimbledon and then lost to Tim. I didn't play that bad against Tim, but youjust realize that not only Sampras can play tennis, but Henman can and thereare so many other players that play so well.

Just because you beat this one particularplayer, it doesn't mean you're going to now beat everybody easily. That's where it's hard mentally to be ableto shift. Yourself you have tokeep on playing dream tennis, and that's a hard thing to do sometimes.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in French.

Q. I'd like to know about Mirka or Sйverin Luethi. How did they react to the fact that Nadal wasousted? What did they say? Did they say this was your year?

ROGER FEDERER: No, they didn't really say something likethis. You see, I watched the match withmy physiotherapist. Like any othermatch, he was down two sets to zero, and I watched the end of the match.

That's all, because I'ma fan of tennis. We were impressed bySoderling's game. But Sйverin, Mirka,and the others never came to me saying, Now you have to win this match,otherwise you will never do it, ever.

No. By the way, this is not what I wanted to hear, and this is not theirreaction. I'm really happy, because westayed calm. It's normal, because I havea very harmonious team, which is what we need.

Q. Todaythere was this first set when you didn't lose any points on your serve, excepttwo points when there was a tiebreak. Onthe contrary, there was the very important tiebreak during the third set. Would you say that mentally it was the mostimportant thing?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, mentally it is very important; that'strue. But it's a combination of manythings. You know, you can't learn how tohit the ball this way on a break point. It's because I've practiced; I've trained. It's also a bit of luck.

But I had to stay calmat the right moment and try and go for it. You know, you can be more of a defensive player, but then if you dothis, what's going to happen is that the opponent is going to have thechoice. He's going to choose his shots.

As, you know, I try and attack more. I want the luck to be on my side, and thegood thing is that I hit the ball really normally and well at that moment. I managed to remain more or less calm. I was very much relieved afterward, becausethen I served well and managed to gain the first game point.

But mentally, it's very important,you know, to be strong, to go through these moments, and then reuse thisexperience later on. That's what I wasthinking about. It's even more difficultthan winning any other points.

Q. Whatabout this break point, you know, this forehand that was really close to theline? A few millimeters from theline. What would you say aboutthis? Because sometimes it's a questionof millimeters.

ROGER FEDERER: Well, we know that, for instance, ongrass. But also on hardcourts,sometimes. It's a question of a fewpoints only, few centimeters to finish a match.

On clay, it's less thecase, you know, because we have more margin, more leeway, so things could havechanged. You know, there are more breakpoints on clay than on any other surfaces, so there's always this thing.

You always think that the match couldchange, even though the other one is leading the match. It's more difficult to break if it's 5‑4 andthe other one is going to serve for the match. It's more difficult to win the breakpoints.

Q. Haveyou got a cold, a runny nose?

ROGER FEDERER: Just a little. Not much.

Q. Is it because of Roland Garros?

ROGER FEDERER: I've always had a cold, you know. I've always ‑‑ caught cold in mylife. It goes and comes and goes andcomes very quickly. No, it's not veryserious.

Q. You said it would be a dream to play against Nadal during thefinals. Now, if you win today or if youwin Roland Garros, would you say that there would be less intensity comparedwith Nadal?

ROGER FEDERER: No, never mind who you're going to play inthe final, and as long as you win. Socan you ask me the question another time.

Q. I have another question that has nothing to do with this match. Mirka is very important in the life ofFederer. How important is it to havesuch a wife as a player?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, Mirka, you know, the first two years wewere together she didn't really travel that much with me because she had herown career. We met in Miami and the Grand Slam tournaments ormatches, and then unfortunately she was seriously injured. She had to wait.

You know, there was aperiod of rehabilitation. Then when shehad to go through the surgery or operation, it was not easy for her. But frankly, she decided very quickly todedicate or to give up her career to focus on mine, even though today she stillhurts.

I mean, her foot operation didn't go onreally nicely, so it was easy for her to give up and say, Okay, I'll stop mycareer and I'll have my husband.

Now I think she is supporting me atthe right moment, because, you know, I won Wimbledonin 2003, and that's when she didn't really know what to do with hercareer. She didn't know if she would tryit or not.

That's when she started helping mewith the hotels, the plane tickets. Ihad no managers at the time. That's whenshe started dealing with the press, as well. It was a lot for her, I know, but she would protect me from many things.

And now, afterwards, it wasbetter. It was easier and she was withme day in and day out, throughout the world, and she helped me considerably, asa person, you know. I developed faster,grew faster with her. Thanks to her Iwas very calm in the important moments in my career. She was always here, always supportive. I owe her a lot. It's normal.

Q. Youmight play against Gaлl Monfils who you defeated last year. Would you say this season he plays better andstronger? And how would you explainthis?

ROGER FEDERER: We'll see if he manages to defeat AndyRoddick, but I think he's fit. I've notseen or watched all of his matches, all of his sets, but I think he playsreally well.

He was injured, youknow, considering this. I know Gaлlnow. I've played several times againsthim. He's always got his ups and downs. You know, his attitude, as well, is up anddown. You never know what to expect withGaлl.

But his game is quite solid now. He's calmer than he was in the past when hewould play his first Roland Garros tournaments.

I think this is going to help him,because it's not five sets each time for him for the first two rounds. I think he's fit. But what I saw is that it's going to be toughfor Roddick today.

Q. Todaythe crowd was supporting you, whereas yesterday they were supportingSoderling. How come?

ROGER FEDERER: I was not here yesterday on the stadium, so Idon't know. It's difficult to explainthis. Well, maybe Soderling was verymuch into the game. He was dictating thegame, which is always something that people like. He would take the risks, so maybe that's oneof the reasons. I don't know.

And then, you know,unfortunately sometimes when someone is too much of a winner, then people arenot really against you but in favor of the other player. You know, I saw that in 2006 and 2007 when Iwas not really losing at any moment.

When I would lose a set, then it was like abig show for the crowd. This issomething that you have to experience one day or another. But this time I don't know why they weresupporting me, even though the other player was doing better.

Q. Whendid you realize there was a turnaround in your favor?

ROGER FEDERER: After this big forehand, the inside‑outpoint. I said, That's a turnaround. That's a turnaround, the inside out. The forehand. Otherwise I was not thinking about this. I was not really playing well from the baseline and I didn't have enoughpace, but that's due to Tommy Haas.

His game was reallygood. I was in a very tricky position, Imust say this. But that's when I thoughtI have all the assets in my hands to change this match, and that was the case.

 Posted: 03.06.09 12:16. Post subject: Евгений Кафельников:..

Евгений Кафельников: «Монфис будет для Федерера очень опасен»
Бывшая первая ракетка мира россиянин Евгений Кафельников прокомментировал предстоящий четвертьфинальный матч «Ролан Гаррос» между второй ракеткой мира швейцарцем Роджером Федерером и французом Гаэлем Монфисом.

«Монфис будет для Федерера очень опасен. Этот эмоциональный парнишка играет дома и к тому же не комплексует, встречаясь с ведущими теннисистами. По идее, проблемы швейцарцу способен организовать и Дель Потро, но он, по-моему, органически не может играть с Федерером. В пяти встречах не взял у Роджера ни одного сета», – приводит слова Кафельникова «Спорт-Экспресс».

 Posted: 03.06.09 12:47. Post subject: Garry пишет: В пят..

Garry пишет:

quote:

В пяти встречах не взял у Роджера ни одного сета»,

Ага, Монфис много взял.
там, на пятерых, только Гонза один матч выиграл у Роджера

 Posted: 03.06.09 12:51. Post subject: Blackbird очень над..

Blackbird
очень надеюсь, что Родж это будет помнить, и это придаст ему уверенности)))

 Posted: 03.06.09 21:35. Post subject: R. FEDERER/G. Monfil..

R. FEDERER/G. Monfils

7‑6, 6‑2, 6‑4

An interview with:

ROGER FEDERER

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English, please.

Q. Simple question: How did you feel?
ROGER FEDERER: Sure, I was very happy to be back in the semis here, and having played a good match against Gaлl. I think it's been my most consistent match of the tournament so far, and of course it comes at the right time because I knew the danger of Gaлl.

Q. What was your impression of his game? Do you think he suffered a bit from the home crowd? Depression?
ROGER FEDERER: We're all nervous at this stage of the competition. I felt it. Yesterday I felt it, and I felt it again today in the warmup, when I warmed up before the match. I was tired, I was nervous, and I didn't feel really good.
Then once out on court, you know, I get my act together with the experience. You know, I think things will be all right. Sure, maybe he's put too much pressure on him. I doubt it, you know, because it's part of our job and we're used to it.
He definitely didn't play the best of matches in the second, but I think the first set was very high quality, and so was the third. So I still think he played a pretty good match.

Q. How was the crowd for you? I had the impression the French crowd is almost behind you.
ROGER FEDERER: I think it was fair, you know. Of course, I'm delighted to see to what extent they are supporting me. You know, I feel like they've almost adopted me, you know. I obviously, you know, thanked them for that, and I'll try to come up with some other good performances hopefully.

Q. Against Del Potro in the semis.
ROGER FEDERER: That's great. You are watching the matches. Yeah, it's a good matchup. I've had some success against him, especially in Australia. I played a great match.
That's not the kind of match I'm looking at. I'm looking more of in Madrid it was a closer match. I think clay suits his game even more, and he's really improved a lot in the last year or so. I'm sure it's going to be a difficult match.

Q. It looks as if Gaлl Monfils had some very warm words for you at the end of the match. Do you get the sense a lot of people are pulling for you this week, that they'd love to see you finally do it on Sunday?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, I feel it since a few years now, to be honest with you. But this year even more extreme. When I walk on the streets or drive in the transportation or I go for dinner, everybody is like, This is your year. You've got to do it.
They're screaming from their scooters and out of the car. They even get out at the red lights and want me to sign an autograph or take a picture. It's quite incredible this last couple of weeks.
It just shows me that everybody is watching the French Open here, and it's great to get the support. You know, once out in the stadium it's amazing. I mean, we don't have a grand Slam in Switzerland, but I definitely feel at home in the Grand Slams, and especially here.

Q. How do you deal with that yourself knowing that you're only two matches away from finally realizing your dream? It must be exciting, and clearly every now and again you have to let yourself think about that.
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, it's also one of the reasons why I was nervous going into this match, because, you know, the whole stories of, you know, Nadal losing, Murray losing, Djokovic losing, maybe opening up the draw a little bit.
Obviously they also play with my mind, even though it doesn't affect me yet. Now it does because I'm not playing Djokovic but I'm playing Del Potro. But even that would have been an okay draw as well playing Novak. I've also had some good success against him.
It's nice feeling the support. You know, it can only help a player, to be honest. I'm very thrilled and excited to be back in another semis and giving myself the opportunity. Doesn't mean because I have a great record against all the players left in the draw that, you know, I'm going to win this, but I'll definitely try everything I possibly can to do it.

Q. The game and even the attitude you showed in that first set, some of us think we haven't seen that from you in recent times. Did you feel that way too? Did you feel you're back on a track that hasn't been running as straight as it has in the past?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I thought I played great in Madrid, you know. I was mixing up my game really well. I think this last four matches I think have been rather on the difficult side, just because I had some tough starts to the matches. Instead of maybe going ahead a break I was down a break or down a set.
You know, being down a set is never really a comforting feeling. That's why for me it was important to get off to a better start today, and thank god I got the first set. For the first time I could play a bit more relaxed match.
I think I showed it today. I was able to hit through the ball more. Everything just started to click. That's something I haven't had a whole lot at this tournament yet.

Q. When you talk about the nervousness you felt, tension and stuff right before the match, was that something that maybe you needed actually to be able to respond the way you did?
ROGER FEDERER: I mean, I don't like it, but I know that once on center court for the match I'll be okay. That's where I think experience helps me in a big way. If I would have never been in a quarterfinals before, I think I would have maybe crumbled under the pressure or played a wrong game plan or mentally been fragile.
But knowing I've been in this position so many times, and it doesn't matter if I'm zero nervous or 100% nervous, I know I'll always play a decent match in the quarterfinals stage of a Grand Slam.

Q. That's 20 Grand Slam semis in a row for you now, but you talk about being nervous. Are the nerves much greater this time, because this is the one you so desperately want to win?
ROGER FEDERER: That's what you guys say. No, I mean, I get nervous from time to time, you know, on some matches. There's no reason behind it, you know. But when you maybe sometimes want to do maybe too well, that happens. Or just because you know it could be a tough crowd or maybe you're not 100%, you know, sure about your game yet.
That's how I felt before this match, for instance, you know. But I could go into the semifinal match feeling zero nerves, you know. That's not always a good sign, either. For me, it's good to be able to go through those moments where I still do feel nervous. That means I care for the game and I want to stay around for a long time.

Q. Earlier in the year when you weren't playing your best, kind of point out what you think was preventing you from doing that? And were you positive that your best stuff was just around the corner?
ROGER FEDERER: I mean, I thought I played great in Australia. For some reason, just because I lost in five, people think I played terrible at the Australian Open. It's not the case. I played great in Australia and ran into Rafa who played phenomenal tennis. Unfortunately I didn't play a great fifth set, but he took advantage and got it.
After that, I agree that many times I had the match on my racquet, like against Murray in Indian Wells, Djokovic in Miami, and so forth, and also in Rome.
But I didn't play that many tournaments yet, let's not forget. I had a back problem I had to deal with. You know, I just had to get back into the tournament swing.
That's why I was actually pretty happy the way I've always been playing. I think it would have been different if I would have lost first and second round all the time, but it wasn't the case. I always played semis or finals, basically.
For this reason, I always knew there was no need to panic. It was just important to keep on working extremely hard and do the right things, and I'm happy that the hard work is paying off, you know, more and more.
But still I have some more work to do, you know, to stay where I am right now and hopefully get the French Open title and then hopefully move on to the grass in a great spirit.

Q. You said that people were screaming at you at red lights and getting off their scooters. Have you ever had this kind of emotional, sort of raw emotional support? And secondly, do you think that's a little bit dangerous?
ROGER FEDERER: Not really. I enjoy it, to be honest. They're all very happy to see me, you know. I felt this way now for a couple of years now, and in New York as well where I got unbelievable, tremendous support. I think they really wanted to see me do well, you know, after maybe sort of a rocky season last year.
I think they really wanted me to win the US Open. I felt it a little bit in New York, to be honest.

Q. Your next match will be against Juan Martin Del Potro in semifinal. Could you please tell me something about this match, your feeling about this match, about Del Potro?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I think he's improved in incredible ways since, let's say one year ago. I think he was only ranked 50 in the world this time last year. Just shows how quickly things can change in tennis.
With a lot of confidence and a good game plan and good physique and good mental, you can go very far in tennis. But it takes a lot of hard work, and I think that's what he has put into. You know, at his young age to already achieve regular quarterfinals and semifinals of Slams is a great effort.
I expect a very difficult match against Juan Martin. I have a lot of respect for him. Yeah, I have a good record against him, but it doesn't mean a thing right now because it's too big of a match, too dangerous, and he's playing too well at this tournament to underestimate him.
THE MODERATOR: French questions, please.

Q. You were very consistent in your game right from the first rally, so how did you prepare for this match mentally to be in the match at all times?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I hoped I would start better than during the last matches when I put myself in difficult situation either because of my opponent or because of my game. But quite fortunately today the tiebreak was good. I played in a very aggressive way.
I managed to go by the tactic I had planned. When I can do that, I feel very confident, and I felt confident. And then my shape was getting better and better all along the match. I'm very happy with my performance today.

Q. Was experience important today?
ROGER FEDERER: Maybe. I didn't talk about the match with Gaлl afterwards. I didn't listen to what he said. But as far as I'm concerned, whether I'm nervous or not before such a match, I know that these are key moments, and these are the key moments when I play the best.
I have new opportunity to reach the semifinals here in Paris, and I can do better.

Q. You said it at least 10 times today that you were nervous. Were you nervous because he was a French guy, because people said it was the most difficult match for you on your way to the title? Was it "the" opponent you had to defeat to win the title?
ROGER FEDERER: No, those guys reaching semifinals deserve more than those who are not. Maybe it's a combination of everything, but it can also be a feeling you have, you know, deep within yourself.
You think, okay, I'm nervous. I don't know why. You can't sleep well, even though before it wasn't a problem. But you don't manage to eat well, you feel a bit dizzy, and you don't know exactly why. You know, there are days like that on the tour. That happens.
It's also true that there's a lot of pressure with all those who lost before, and I was facing a French guy. So quite normal I had a bit of pressure, but that made no difference once I was on the court.

Q. When did you understand that you actually won the match? Was it during the second set or during the third set when you had this forehand down the line?
ROGER FEDERER: No, that was when I had a break game at 5‑4. I knew I was in an optimal position, and yet you always have a huge respect for your opponent. You can't help but thinking, well, with his style, with the support of the crowd, he can still win the third set, and then we'll have to play a fourth set and it's going to be hard.
So it's 5‑4, 30‑Love, and you feel a bit more relaxed than if you have to play a tiebreak.

Q. In English you said it was your best match here in Paris. Maybe your best match on clay this year. Why would you say that? What in your game are you particularly happy about today?
ROGER FEDERER: A bit of everything. I managed to implement my tactics. I wanted to be aggressive, and I managed to be aggressive, even if I made mistakes at the beginning. But I went by my plan and it worked out, so I'm happy.
I had good coverage of the courts. I'm happy. I know that Gaлl is the kind of player, you know, when he wants, he can play incredible tennis. When he doesn't, he doesn't.
He has these ups and downs, so that makes it difficult to play him. But today it worked out well, so I'm extremely happy about it.

Q. You might be playing a final against a Swedish guy. What can you tell us about Soderling's game?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, wonderful. He's defeated Ferrer, Nadal, and Davydenko, one after the other, not even playing five sets. I think it was four sets, four sets, and three sets. I just played him in Madrid. It was an easy match, two sets. But he's in pretty good shape, so he's got lots of chances in semifinals.

Q. A week ago, would you have imagined you'd be the super favorite of the tournament? If we told you that like 10 days ago, would you have believed us?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, at this stage, you know, I expected I would be in semifinals, but I was not expecting Rafa to be out before the semifinals.
But once you've reached the semifinals, those four guys have an opportunity to win the tournament.

Q. That's a huge performance. That's your 20th semifinal in a Grand Slam tournament. That sounds crazy. What do you think about it?
ROGER FEDERER: It's the "in a row" that seems incredible to me. Twenty semifinals is incredible, but twenty semifinals in a row? It's even more incredible, even to me. Sometimes I lose sight of it because of all the tournaments and matches I play all along the year. You lose sights of these records, but that's probably the one I'm most proud of.
I still hold it. So, yes, that's big. That's huge. I'm really proud of it.

 Posted: 04.06.09 12:14. Post subject: Статья на sport.ru. ..

Статья на sport.ru.
Битва с историей
Очень не хотелось нагнетать ажиотаж в преддверии сегодняшнего матча, но все же позволю себе предложить вам вольный пересказ статьи С.Л.Прайса из Sports Illustrated.

Сейчас самым сложным соперником Роджера Федерера является история. То, что нельзя увидеть и потрогать, но что при этом полностью заполняет умы, станет оппонентом Федерера на всю оставшуюся часть «Ролан Гаррос»-2009. И если вы серьезно восприняли то, что он сказал после пятисетовой битвы с Томми Хаасом, тогда вы ничего не знаете ни об истории тенниса, ни об этом чемпионе.

История – самый трудный соперник Федерера в погоне за титулом «Ролан Гаррос»
Не то чтобы Федерер лгал – даже самому себе ,– когда он сказал, что шок от поражения Надаля на «Ролан Гаррос» «не сильно повлиял на него». Даже поклонники Федерера усмехнулись, когда услышали это. Не повлияла перспектива завоевать недостающий турнир «Большого шлема», не встретившись при этом лицом к лицу с человеком, который способен действовать ему на нервы и сокрушать его волю? Ради Бога. Матс Виландер предсказал, что в этот день в лагере Федерера будет пиво, ну по крайней мере фигурально. Во всяком случае, можно быть уверенным, что это был веселый вечер.

Но дело в том, что, рассуждая об этой теме, Федерер говорил по-английски, а это усложняет дело. Его владение четырьмя языками – это не просто средство общения. Однажды он сказал, что он даже думает по-разному на английском, немецком и французском, а в отношении последнего это особенно заметно. И эта разница может сказать о многом.

Те, кто за ним наблюдают, заметили, что он позволяет себе быть гораздо более открытым и экспрессивным, когда говорит на la belle langue, чем тогда, когда пользуется своим беглым, но бесстрастным английским. Первый пример, который можно привести, – это его французская фраза после прошлогоднего поражения в финале «Ролан Гаррос» от Надаля, по-французски он тогда сказал «C’est un desastre» («Это катастрофа»). И это при том, что пресс-конференция, которую он до этого давал на английском, была совершенно другой. Почему так происходит, можно только гадать, но у меня есть предположения на этот счет. Те годы, когда он был наиболее эмоционален, Федерер провел в теннисном центре, в самом сердце франкоговорящей части Швейцарии. Давайте вспомним, что тогда это был темпераментный и скучающий по дому подросток, которому однажды пришлось целую неделю мыть туалеты за порванный брошенной ракеткой брезент.

Потом он научился сдерживать себя на корте, скрывать эмоции за маской спокойствия, но эти эмоции по-прежнему выливаются слезами практически после каждого финала турнира «Большого шлема». Возможно, когда он говорит по-французски, к нему возвращается тот молодой темпераментный Федерер, и даже против воли он выдает больше, чем ему хотелось бы.

В понедельник 27-летний Федерер чуть-чуть приоткрыл занавес, когда начал отвечать на вопросы на французском. Его спросили, как его жена Мирка и остальные члены его команды отреагировали на крушение Надаля. И Федерер вновь озвучил то же, что говорил целый день, но одной фразой выдал белого слона, который теперь стоит рядом с ним на корте «Ролан Гаррос». Вот эта фраза: «Никто из них не подошел ко мне и не сказал: «Вуаля! Теперь ты должен сделать это. Если не сейчас, ты никогда не выиграешь».

Федерер знает, что ему осталось три победы до рекорда Пита Сампраса
Итак, чем больше Федерер хочет, чтобы весь мир считал, что он по-прежнему думает только о предстоящем матче, чем больше ему надо сконцентрироваться на его четвертьфинальной встрече с опасным Гаэлем Монфисом, тем больше эта мысль о белом слоне поселяется в его голове. Пусть он очень хочет, чтобы мы поверили, что поражение Надаля поменяло бы его мир, «если бы он уже был в финале, но поскольку он еще не там, это ничего не меняет», но сам-то он знает, что это меняет абсолютно все.

Сейчас уже на турнире нет ни еще одного опасного конкурента Джоковича, ни Мюррея, который обыграл его четыре последних раза, когда они играли между собой. И это значит, что белый слон встал на задние ноги.

Федерер знает, ему осталось всего три победы, а с теми игроками, которые сейчас есть в Париже, у него соотношение побед/поражений 38/1. Это его главный шанс выиграть «Ролан Гаррос», повторить рекорд Пита Сампраса и закончить, наконец, дебаты о том, кто является величайшим на все времена. Конечно, те, кто видел, как Надаль доминировал во встречах с Федерером последние несколько лет, как он научился обыгрывать его на траве и на харде, поставит маленькую звездочку около этой победы, потому что для нее не будет обыгран Надаль. Федерер и сам обмолвился об этом по-английски: «Конечно, сценарием мечты было бы обыграть Рафу здесь в финале».

Но когда его по-французски спросили об этом финале мечты против Рафы, Федерер ответил: «Не важно, кого обыграть. Важно победить».

Если Федерер возьмет этот титул, его послужной список будет лучшим в истории
Десятилетие назад Андре Агасси победил в Париже, дополнив свой карьерный «Большой шлем» и навсегда утвердив свою репутацию. Что будет, если Федерер сможет завоевать этот титул? Его резюме будет лучше, чем у Сампраса, лучше, чем у Лейвера, лучше, чем у Борга. Историю не волнует, кого и как он обыгрывает – до тех пор, пока он побеждает. Или, как мог бы сказать Федерер, по-французски, конечно: «Du moment que je gagne».

PS. Очень хочу, чтобы мы все попытались понять, каково сейчас Федереру и не судили его в любом случае. А теперь ждем.

 Posted: 04.06.09 12:59. Post subject: Если все так желают ..

Если все так желают Роджеру этого титула, понимают его состояние, то оставили бы его в покое, как сделало близкое окружение и не копались бы в его голове. Он не хуже всех всё понимает сам.

 Posted: 04.06.09 16:49. Post subject: Татьяна Сейчас толь..

Татьяна
Сейчас только ленивый не будет писать на эту тему. Самое главное, чтобы Роджер ничего не читал, Мирка должна за этим проследить.

 Posted: 04.06.09 23:10. Post subject: А вот Тим) Тим Хенм..

А вот Тим)

Тим Хенмэн не сомневается в величии Роджера Федерера

Известный в прошлом теннисист Тим Хенмэн заявил, что бывшая первая ракетка мира Роджер Федерер станет величайшим игроком в истории тенниса, если победит на Открытом чемпионате Франции. Англичанин является одним из немногих спортсменов, обыгравшим швейцарца на "Уимблдоне". На нынешнем Roland Garros Федерер может войти в историю, как шестой мужчины, побеждавший на всех четырех турнирах "Большого шлема".

В полуфинале в пятницу второй номер мирового рейтинга сыграет с аргентинцем Хуаном Мартином дель Петро. И если швейцарец возьмет "Мушкетерский кубок", то сравняется с Питом Сампрасом по числу "Больших шлемов". У американца пока единоличный лучший результат в истории - 14 побед.

"Думаю, успех в Париже сделает его лучшим из лучших. На самом деле надеюсь, что он сможет выиграть. Это станет вишенкой на пироге, - сказал Хенмэн, завершивший карьеру в 2007 году, в интервью Reuters. - Если вы спросите меня, кто лучший игрок из тех, кого я видел, а также лучший из тех, с кем я встречался, он выиграет в обеих номинациях. При этом Федерер скромный и уравновешенный человек".

"Кстати, не думаю, что карьера Федерера близка к завершению. Он ставит на технику и психологию. Куда больше вопросов относительно того, как долго сможет продержаться Рафаэль Надаль. Ведь его игра завязана на "физике", - добавил англичанин. - Федерер же не насилует свое тело. Так что он может продолжать еще лет пять. И он определенно выиграет много титулов, в том числе на Открытом чемпионате Франции. Не забывайте, ему всего 27 лет".

 Posted: 05.06.09 23:41. Post subject: R. FEDERER/J. Del Po..

R. FEDERER/J. Del Potro

3‑6, 7‑6, 2‑6, 6‑1, 6‑4

An interview with:

ROGERFEDERER

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English, please.

Q. How tense was it?

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, it was a tough match, no doubt. I thought he came out of the blocks reallystrong with his serve and the way he was setting up his shots, especially withhis forehand, which can, you know, miss sometimes.

It wasn't the casetoday, so it was quite a bit of pressure. I also thought he had the upper hand from the baseline. He was serving better, so he obviouslydeserved the lead.

It was important for me to stay with himthrough the second set and save myself into the breaker, because I wasn'tgetting many break opportunities. Thankgod my serve started to get better as the match went on.

I think once I got that second set,you know, I knew I was always going to be in a shot. The longer the match went, I was alwaysconfident with my, you know, with my physical abilities and my mental abilitiesthat I was going to be able to turn it around in a tough situation.

So I'm very happy to have made it,once again.

Q. Twothings: In years past you've kind ofdisdained the dropshot. Today it playedvery well for you. You maybe hit 20, 25winners off that side. In the final twosets, it seemed in the more athletic, physical points that it played in yourfavorite, also.

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I thought the conditions definitelyslowed down midway through the fourth set or so when the clouds came in, thecooler weather came in.

I also think that mighthave helped me, you know, as well as getting more into his service games andinto his rallies. I knew if I were ableto break him that things could definitely fall my way, and that's exactly whathappened.

I think I definitely started to play a bitbetter. I was able to play moreconsistent and also mix it up well. Thenalways, again, use the dropshot. It'sdefinitely been an important shot for me this tournament so far.

Q. Youhad a huge match in the second round against Acasuso and another one againstHaas and another one today. Is it evengreater satisfaction for you to be in the French final this time given thehardships you've had to endure along the way?

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, absolutely. It feels great coming through tough matcheslike this, you know. It's moreemotional. It's more satisfaction, eventhough I'm ‑‑ I love matches when I can really dominate an opponent.

But this is also agreat feeling of coming through this way, you know, not the easy way, showingdifferent qualities. It's not alwayssomething I've actually had a chance to show, because matches were over tooquickly sometimes. It's good for me, somy career hopefully is going to be longer because of those matches, in the longrun.

I still feel fine, you know. Going to rest up tomorrow, practice a littlebit, and get ready for the tough final.

Q. Thefact is, picking up on that, almost all your matches, apart from Monfils, youhave played better and better the longer the match has gone on. Is that experience? Is that finding it more difficult to get intoa rhythm early? It's happened about fivetimes now.

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah. Look, I don't know. I think I'vedefinitely had a tough draw. Lookingback, I've played against quality players who play well on clay. It's maybe their best surface. They always got out of the blocks prettygood, you know, which made it hard for me.

Against Monfils it wasobviously key to win that first set, so it was again today. It's in every match the same thing, but it'simportant that, you know, I canreact now. There was a time when I waslosing quite a bit of three‑set matches. You know, obviously they're not physical or anything, but for somereason I wasn't able to come back in those.

Here we are in the best‑of‑five setscenario. Maybe I'm just more relaxedknowing that, you know, as time goes by I'm only going to get stronger, and thehard work is paying off.

It's nice, because I practice forhours and hours and hours and I don't get tired, you know. So then to be able to show it also on a matchcourt in a big opportunity like this, it's fantastic.

Q. Yourlast hit make you win the match and you go to the final on Sunday. Your last hit hit my camera really hardly.

ROGER FEDERER: I hit what?

Q. My camera. I was taking photo ofyou. I was in the hole behind thebaseline.

ROGER FEDERER: I hope you're okay (laughter.) Risky job.

Q. On Sunday you will play with Soderling, so your opponent is not RafaNadal anymore. What do you feel aboutthe match on Sunday? Will that be mucheasier for you, or what do you think?

ROGER FEDERER: Um, look, there's no easy Grand Slamfinals. It's very simple, because theone who is on the other side of the net has also won six matches and isdefinitely in the shape of his life.

I cannot obviouslyunderestimate Robin, even though I've beaten him I think in the five matcheswe've played against each other. Butobviously it's nice to see someone else for a change in the French Openfinals. I've been there before. I don't know if it's an advantage or not,because I've never been able to win.

I'm sure, you know, pressure is big for bothplayers, you know. Not only for me, butalso for him. It's his first big step ina Grand Slam. I'm sure we're going toplay some good tennis, because I thought he played we will really well todayagainst Gonzбlez.

Q. Howdangerous is Soderling? In what way ishe dangerous for you?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, he was pretty famous for beingdangerous on indoor court, you know, just because he had a big serve. He has big shots off both sides, forehand andbackhand. I always knew also he hadcapabilities on clay, you know.

But maybe because hewas so dangerous on indoors you never really give him maybe the respect on aslower courts. But he's beaten suchquality players here during his last couple of weeks that you've got to givehim credit for coming through those. They were not easy matches, especially mentally for him, and alsophysically.

The way he came through today was impressiveafter being down a set and being able to just to turn around like this. He is definitely ‑‑ he's playing the tennisof his life. I'm sure it's going to be ahard final, but I'm ready for the challenge.

Q. Youtalked to us in Romebefore that tournament started about the physical work that you've beendoing. You're a little bit secretive,but you said you had been doing a little bit of physical work. Could you just perhaps give us an impressionof what you were doing there and how important that has been in this clay courtrun?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean I've always been workinghard. It's not like it's the first timein my life I've started to work hard. People sometimes overreact. Butat the same time, it's also I think important to let the people know what youare actually doing, you know, when you're not at a tournament, you know.

I work extremely hardwhen I'm away from the tournaments. WhenI'm at the tournament I pace myself, because most importantly is that I'mrested in those events. That's you whenyou se me warmup. I'm more laid backbecause I've already put in the hard work once I get there.

It was a lot of getting used to the sliding,the longer rallies, the four‑hours‑in‑a‑row practice sessions. Those kind of things. Just getting ‑‑ serving for a long time,running around for a long time and just making it really a match situation in afive setter of a French Open.

That's what I'm trying to do, andit's nice obviously that's been able to pay off. It's been a good clay court preparation I'vehad, and I thought I should play well in Romealready. Unfortunately I didn't beatDjokovic in the semis, which I think I should have.

But ever since, I haven't beenlooking back at the defeats. Also I'mvery confident right now.

Q. Whenyou get into a five setter against Del Potro who has been firing the ball well,very promising, doesn't have the experience, do you go out in the fifth say,Show me what you got; I've been here; let me see what you have?

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I definitely feel more confidentagainst a younger player. I rememberwhen I was younger going to a fifth set is always a bit uneasy, you know, justbecause you haven't been there that much. You're hoping so much to play well, and I think in a fifth set there'snot, how you say ‑‑ you can't just start hitting crazy shots. There is much more mental and physical thingsthat come into a match like this.

Obviously at this age Ido feel better going into a fifth set than I did before.

Q. You have a good relationship with Laver. I wonder in you've talked to him lately before the tournament?

ROGER FEDERER: Rod Laver?

Q. Yeah.

ROGER FEDERER: Don't have his phone number. I didn't see him here, but, I mean, we getalong well when we see each other. It isso rare, and it's usually once a year. Ijust guess it's common sense that, you know, when you've been at the top of thegame, for him and for me, that you relate and you like each other.

I'm very respectfultowards the older generation, you know, everything that they were able toachieve. You know, when people reach astatus like he did, you know, who get massive stadiums named after him and therespect that he gets from his other players. You only hear good things about him. A legend like he is, it's understood that I have the biggest respect forhim.

Q. He admires you greatly. I talkedto him the other day.

ROGER FEDERER: That's nice. Well, you have a connection. That's nice. I wish I had it.

THE MODERATOR: French questions, please.
Q. Isit one of the most moving and difficult semis that you've ever played?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, yes. I can't remember a five‑set match that I've played that was somoving. Well, maybe. I've played several five‑set matches. You know, Safin was one of those, but thisone I won. So it's important to me tostay calm, yet it's all about emotions that tend to overwhelm you.

It's this feeling, thisincredible feeling to win this match. You know, I was down one set and then down two sets to one. It's incredible to get into the match andthen end this way.

Even though I was sad for him, because, youknow, he's a young player. You alwaysthink that there aren't that many opportunities, that many chances for youngerplayers, you know. So I was a bit sadfor him when I won.

I respect him awfully because hemade considerable progress, and I'm certain he's going to be a great player inthe future.

Q. Whatabout the support of the French crowd? Do you feel something special this year? I have the impression that everybody is for you.

ROGER FEDERER: Yes, of course. They were really great with me, and theyprobably waited for this moment. They wantedme to do something magical. It took me acertain while before I did it. It wasprobably due to Del Potro's game. It wasan incredible match, I can tell you.

I had to wait longbefore I could do this, because when I needed the support of the French crowdthey were here with me supporting me. AsI said before, the crowd was very emotional.

Q. Several days ago you talked about 2006 and 2007 when you were totallycontrolling the game. You weredominating the game. This time I had theimpression it's a fight for you. Haveyou learned something from this match?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, yes. As I said in 2006 or 2007 when I had to play five‑set matches I said, Ican't remember when the last or latest five‑set match was. You know, when you go from practicing tomatches, it's difficult to know where you stand.

I always knew I wouldbe strong physically and mentally, as well. But, you know, it's a test. Afive‑set match is a test. When there aretough moments, quarterfinals, semifinals, finals, when it's a five‑set match,that's when you can find the answers you need to find.

So I've never really tried to play a five‑setmatch on purpose to know where I would stand. But today with experience, I'm older, I've got more information, I knowwhat I can do physically and mentally. So it's simpler for me today than in the past, even though of course itis a fight.

I like it, because there weremoments when I thought it was quite easy.

Q. Now,you've said you know where you stand today. So is this more reassuring?

ROGER FEDERER: Yes, of course. You know, to end a match or rather to endthis, you know ‑‑ when you are playing a Grand Slam match, what happenedbefore no longer counts. It's thefeelings that count.

When you reach thefinal, all questions have been answered. You know where you stand. Thereare no pending issues. I know thatphysically I have zero problems on Sunday, and this is what counts. This is what's going to reassure me I feelgood.

Q. Soderling is totally fit here today in Roland Garros. Is that something that would worry you herefor the finals? Soderling is reallytraining and practicing. He's fit. Is this something that's bothers you?

ROGER FEDERER: No, I totally respect what he's done sofar. What he's done is that he's playedgreat matches. I watched some of those,you know, the big matches he played. Well, of course, it is a surprise.

You know, it's not justa quick win and then you reach the finals in a Grand Slam. It's an incredible tournament he's had sofar.

But it's still open for both of us. It's not ended yet. So I'm really happy for him, because he'smanaged to come through, to stand out. SoI hope I'm going to stop him now.

Q. Now,today you've played against a very big server, and what about this? What about the break points?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I had two break points at the beginningof the match. I thought that's a goodstart, and then no more break points during two sets. Usually it happens on grass or hardcourts,but on clay this was a bit frustrating.

So that's true. I've gone through difficult moments today,but I had to remain calm because I knew the public was waiting for aturnaround, a moment for me. But Icouldn't do it, because as I said before, you know, Juan Martin was playingreally well.

Q. It was 3‑All in the fifth set, and then he didn't serve very well. He couldn't serve his first balls. Do you think that physically something wentwrong with him, or mentally?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, this might happen, you see. You can't practice on this. Well, of course it is surprising. I think he couldn't play eight first servesduring this game. Well, maybe I couldhave broken. It wouldn't have been eightpoints but four points.

But anyway, it issurprising; that's true. But this mighthappen. The conditions were slower. Perhaps he felt pressure. Perhaps he was tired. These things happen. I don't think he should worry about this.

Q. Will you not miss Rafa Nadal on Sunday?

ROGER FEDERER: No, not really. Not really. Maybe for you you're going to miss him, but not me.

Q. Well, this was like a meeting, a special appointment. It had been the case for three years.

ROGER FEDERER: Four years. Four years.

But I've played againsthim 20 times, so it's always nice to play against somebody else. You know, I'll still play against Nadalseveral times in the future, so that's okay. I'm happy to play against someone else.

Q. You've said that Sunday's match is going to be very open, but could wesay that you are the favorite for the finals?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, it's up to you. Well, yes, it's up to you. I've never lost ‑‑ I was never defeatedby him, and I was there during other Roland Garros finals but I never won.

Well, yes, of course Ithink that clearly I'm the favorite, but this doesn't mean much. You know, such a final with pressure on bothsides, you see. He doesn't know what aGrand Slam final is, but I know, and I've played so many times that this couldbe good for us.

But also, you see, he's got nothing tolose. This is a very open match.

Q. Duringthe tournament, there were very tough moments. You've played against Monfils, against others. Do you have the impression that this year isyour year? There are signs outthere. Don't you think so?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, ask me the same question again Sundayevening, because for the time being ‑‑ well, yes, it's okay for me. I've gone through very hard moments duringthe tournament. I've overcome them, yetthere is a leap forward to consider.

I was very happy toplay all these matches on the central court this year. This is something which is not really usualor normal. But, you know, it's also dueto the opponents I was playing against. I was playing on central court. So this is good for me, because I could practice. I was prepared for each match.

I knew that this was the central court I wasplaying on. This is something I liked, Ienjoyed, and I hope I'll play a good match on Sunday. But as I said before, please ask me the samequestion Sunday evening.

Q. Sundayyou can go down in the books if you win the only title that you've not yet wonfor a Grand Slam. You can go down in therecord books. What do you feel aboutthis? Is it fear? Is it that you're excited?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, not fear. Excited, yes, of course I'm excited, becauseI know that these moments will not happen every single day. Yet I'm quite relaxed. I've played so many finals, you see, GrandSlam finals, major tournaments, major finals. I've seen that several times already, so I'm not going to get tooexcited over this.

You know, I'm not goingto say, Okay, if I don't win this year I'm never going to win. You know, I've always done my best here atRoland Garros. I have all my chances inthe future, as well. So what I'll tryand do is focus on the match. I'll do mybest, play my best tennis on clay, and I hope that I can win the cup.

 Posted: 07.06.09 21:57. Post subject: Пит Сампрас: «Уверен..

Пит Сампрас: «Уверен, что Федерер выиграет еще много турниров»

14-кратный победитель турниров «Большого шлема» американец Пит Сампрас прокомментировал сегодняшнюю победу Роджера Федерера на «Ролан Гаррос», благодаря которой Федерер сравнялся с рекордом американца по количеству выигранных турниров «Большого шлема».

«Я уверен, что он будет продолжать выступать и выиграет еще много турниров. По-моему, эта победа в Париже только упрочила статус Федерера, как величайшего теннисиста в истории игры», – приводит слова американца TENNIS.com.

 Posted: 07.06.09 21:59. Post subject: Робин Содерлинг: «Се..

Робин Содерлинг: «Сегодня я понял, что это не я плохо играл, а Роджер делал так, что я играл плохо»

Швед Робин Содерлинг, проигравший в финальнм матче «Ролан Гаррос» швейцарцу Роджеру Федереру со счетом 1:6, 6:7, 4:6, рассказал, что итог матча не стал для него неожиданностью и сравнил стили игры Роджера Федерера и Рафаэля Надаля.

«Матч сложился примерно так, как я и ожидал. Я играл с Роджером столько раз, что успел изучить его игру. Но, думаю, что сегодня я играл недостаточно агрессивно. Но каждый раз после игры с Роджером я говорил, что плохо играл в этом матче. Сегодня я понял, что это не я плохо играл, а Роджер делал так, что я играл плохо. В этом главная трудность в матчах с ним.

Если сравнивать Рафу и Роджера, то они оба великолепные игроки, безусловно, но у них разные игровые стили. Например для меня Роджер самый неудобный игрок. Он не позволяет мне играть агрессивно. Он заставляет меня постоянно находиться в движении. С Рафой по-другому: с ним я могу играть агрессивно. Во всех своих матчах против Рафы я диктовал игру. Но с Роджером это сделать невозможно. Я никогда не играл ни с кем, кто был бы столь быстр. Он великий игрок, у него нет слабых мест. Он абсолютно заслуживает звания величайшего игрока всех времен», – цитирует Содерлинга официальный сайт турнира.

 Posted: 07.06.09 22:02. Post subject: Федерер играл в фина..

Федерер играл в финале "Ролан Гаррос" феноменально - Андрей Чесноков

МОСКВА, 7 июн - РИА Новости. Швейцарец Роджер Федерер на высоком уровне провел финальный матч Открытого чемпионата Франции по теннису и заслуженно победил шведа Робина Содерлинга, высказал свое мнение в интервью Радио "Зенит" известный советский и российский теннисист Андрей Чесноков.

"Федерер играл феноменально сегодня и заслуженно победил. Роджер такой марафон преодолел! Он шел к этому несколько лет, проиграл три финала (испанцу Рафаэлю Надалю) и в этот раз все же победил", - отметил первый российский теннисист, выигравший турниры серии "Мастерс".

"Конечно, в финале был уже не тот Седерлинг, - признал Чесноков. - То, что он добрался до этой стадии, для него уже просто-напросто героизм. Тем более, он обыграл таких отличных грунтовых игроков, как (Давид) Феррер, (Рафаэль) Надаль, (Николай) Давыденко и (Фернандо) Гонсалес. Для него этот турнир - просто лучшее, что могло быть. Чтобы обыграть Федерера, ему нужно было выдать лучший матч в жизни. Не могу сказать, что он в финале выглядел плохо. Он делал все, что мог".

После воскресной победы в Париже Федерер имеет в своем активе титулы с Australian Open, "Ролан Гаррос", Уимблдона и US Open. Всего же он 14 раз выигрывал соревнования Большого Шлема

 Posted: 07.06.09 22:05. Post subject: Федерер: Это самая в..

Федерер: Это самая важная для меня победа

Швейцарец Роджер Федерер – новоиспеченный 14-кратный чемпион турниров «Большого Шлема» - считает свою победу на «Ролан Гаррос»-2009 – самой важной в жизни. Об этом он завил на церемонии награждения.
«Наконец-то я выиграл здесь, - начал свое выступление Роджер. – Я до сих пор не могу поверить в то, что совершил, в то, к чему шел долгие-долгие года. Наверное, это самая моя важная победа в жизни, я буду вспоминать ее с особым чувством. Хочу особо поблагодарить своих болельщиков: я играю уже давно, и в течение всей моей карьеры вы меня поддерживаете. В частности, сегодня поддержка была фантастической, я такой уже давно не ощущал. И, конечно, отдельное спасибо Робину за его теплые слова».
Также Федерер поблагодарил и Андре Агасси, который вручил ему главный трофей. «Мы довольно много играли в течение нескольких лет. Спасибо за то, что пришел меня поздравить. Честно говоря, я скучаю по тебе в Туре», - признался Роджер.

 Posted: 07.06.09 22:15. Post subject: Sampras: Federer is ..

Sampras: Federer is the greatest tennis player ever

PARIS (AP)—Pete Sampras already figured Roger Federer would go down as the greatest tennis player in history.

That Federer tied Sampras’ record of 14 Grand Slam titles by winning the French Open on Sunday only reinforced that opinion.

“What he’s done over the past five years has never, ever been done—and probably will never, ever happen again,” Sampras said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. “Regardless if he won there or not, he goes down as the greatest ever. This just confirms it.”

Federer added his first French Open championship to five titles at Wimbledon, five at the U.S. Open and three at the Australian Open. He’s the sixth man with a career Grand Slam; Sampras won three of the majors but not the French Open.

Sampras was home in Los Angeles on Sunday watching Federer’s 6-1, 7-6 (1), 6-4 victory over Robin Soderling in the final at Roland Garros. Federer lost three previous three French Open finals to Rafael Nadal.

“I’m obviously happy for Roger,” Sampras said. “If there’s anyone that deserves it, it’s Roger. He’s come so close.”

In what turned out to be Sampras’ last match, he beat Andre Agassi in the 2002 U.S. Open final at age 31 in his 52nd career Grand Slam tournament. Federer is 27 and has collected his 14 major championships in 40 Grand Slam tournaments.

“He just is a great, great player that is a credit to the sport and is a positive influence for young kids and just tennis in general,” Sampras said. “It looks pretty tough to beat now with 14 majors, and I’m sure he’s going to go on and win a lot more.”

Federer will get his first chance to break Sampras’ mark at Wimbledon, which starts June 22. Sampras isn’t sure whether he’ll go to the All England Club.

“We’ll sort of see what happens,” Sampras said.

Agassi completed his career Grand Slam at the French Open in 1999, and he was on hand a decade later to present Federer with the champion’s trophy Sunday.

“How do you sort of argue with his numbers? It’s pretty incredible,” Agassi said. “A lot of people say it’s better to be lucky than good. I’d rather be Roger than lucky.”

As for the debate about tennis’ greatest player, Sampras long has pointed to Rod Laver as his idol.

Laver won a true Grand Slam—all four major titles in one season—in both 1962 and 1969, the last man to do it. Laver finished with 11 Grand Slam titles, although he was barred from competing in those tournaments from the time he turned pro in 1963 to the start of the Open era in 1968.

Sampras’ choice at this point is Federer.

“Now that he’s won in Paris, I think it just more solidifies his place in history as the greatest player that played the game, in my opinion,” Sampras said. “I’m a huge Laver fan, and he had a few years in there where he didn’t have an opportunity to win majors. But you can’t compare the eras. And in this era, the competition is much more fierce than Rod’s.”

 Posted: 07.06.09 22:22. Post subject: ROGER FEDERER THE M..

R. FEDERER/R.Soderling

6‑1, 7‑6, 6‑4

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. We would like to know if you felt more suspense than we felt? You won the first set, second set in the tiebreaker, third, set break immediately. So for you it was easier than you expected,or...

ROGER FEDERER: I mean, sure, I expected a tough match todayobviously because Robin's been playing well and it's a final of Paris, one thatI've never been able to win yet.
So I knew the difficulty of thismatch. I was hoping for a good start; I got it, which then obviously relaxed me. I think second set was key to stay with him and not give him too manyopportunities on my serve, which I was, again, able to do.
I played one of greatest tiebreakers in my career with the four aces obviously. But it was very hard mentally for me to stay within the match during the match, because my mind was always wondering, what if? What if I win this tournament? What does that mean? What will I possibly say? I don't know.
You can't help it but to tell yourself, you know, once you win you'll get all the time to think about all these things, but they keep on coming back.
I was very nervous at the beginning of the third set because I realized how close I was. The last game, obviously you can imagine how difficult that game was. It was almost unplayable for me because I was just hoping to serve some good serves and hoping that he was going to make four errors. It was that bad.
So, yeah, it was an emotional roller coaster for me.

Q. It's against our rules to applaud at a press conference, but you deserved it.

ROGER FEDERER: Thank you. Thanks a lot.

Q. Do you consider this, looking back to Australia and then coming forward, a rejuvenation in your career mentally and physically and in every other way?

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I just think it's an unbelievable achievement, you know. You know, I mean,I'm very proud of my career, obviously. You know, I achieved more than I ever thought I would. My dream as boy was to win Wimbledon one day. I won that five times, you know, like one wasn't enough.
But it's just ‑‑ I think the French Open, like for instance this victory, sort of came up over the last few years when I realized what a great player I could actually become.
After starting to actually getting to love this city and the people and the center court, where as in the beginning I had such a hard time getting used to the conditions here and just not feeling right for some reason. I had a lot of difficulties playing well on center court because the court was so big.
I've come along way. To get it at the end as thelast remaining Grand Slam, it's an incredible feeling. I'm, of course, very proud at this very moment.

Q. You won Wimbledon at 21 and Australiaat 22 and the US at 23. Is there a value in life, a greater depth of feeling in having waited for something?

ROGER FEDERER: Absolutely, especially being so close for the last few years. You know, maybe close, maybe far. It depends how you look at it. I think it was very hard, you know, accepting the first defeat in 2006 I think was my first final here.
I lost in the finals and I was like,Oh, my God. I got to wait one entire year, and then I don't even know if I'll make the finals again. The last few years have been easier for me approaching the French Open just because I've been more relaxed and more aware of what's happening around me.
So I think, yes, the waiting and the age definitely has a big impact on how important and how nice this victory actually is. It's been a long time coming, and I'm happy I got it today. I'm very proud.

Q. Looking back on spring season this year, I think you struggled with your play I think against Djokovic and Murray, but now you came back strong. So are you believing you could complete career Grand Slam?

ROGER FEDERER: Yes, I did. You know, people talked a lot about me having lost the grip and stuff. To some degree I guess it's true, because I lost my No. 1 ranking. But I didn't fall out of the top 10 or the top 1000. I still played very consistent, especially at the Grand Slam level. My record shows it there.
But important for me was to continue working hard, you know. I had issues last year. We all know what they were. People sometimes don't give you time to actually let them heal or let ‑‑ you figure them out, you know.
I'm not the type of guy who's scared of going into sometimes matches not feeling great at all. I don't care if I lose three times first round, I want to see where I'm at in a tournament situation.
I can also, of course, decide not to play for three months and then come back very strong again. That's not the road I chose. I'm the guy who likes to face it and see ifI'm good enough or not. I actually played pretty good.
I was happy with the level of play. I thought I played great in Australia. It was also a good tournament in Indian Wells and Miami until I played Murray and Djokovic and all those guys where all of a sudden my game completely left me for some reason. I didn't know why. Maybe it was because my serve wasn't helping me out, the back was still hurting me. I don't know what the problem was.
So I always believed in my chances to win Paris or any Grand Slam. It's really for those that I tried to keep myself most fit. That was also sone of the reason why I took six weeks off after the Australian Open. Let everything heal andlet everything settle, and then I came back very strong.
I'm very, very happy right now.

Q. How much is important in this belief or in this win the fact that Mirka is pregnantand you're awaiting a baby? How much important is in your mind to think about this?

ROGER FEDERER: I feel like it's two different issues, different things. You know, my private life is one part of my life. The professional one on the court is another one. Thank God Mirka's involved in both of them.
I'm, of course, very happy with the pregnancy. Mirka is feeling great, and we're looking forward to this upcoming summer and hope things go well for her.
But I don't know how much this victory has to do with it. It's definitely nice to get it at this stage of my career. I think it couldn't have come at a better time. So obviously the timing is very special with getting married and Mirka being pregnant.
Maybe it's more emotional, but maybe not. I don't know how much it has to do with it, to be quite honest. I'm just happy that my life is in great shape right now.

Q. McEnroe never won here, and Edberg never won here and Pete never won here. Are you aware there were a lot people thinking you sort of fit into that category and it would have been shame if you didn't do it?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I always tended to disagree with those. I had the feeling I gave myself too many opportunity over the years at the French Open. I think Pete was maybe once in the semis. Other players were maybe once in the finals. I was in the final threetimes, one semis before, and I was able to win Hamburg four times and be in the finals of Monaco and Rome, ofall those tournaments.
I knew the day Rafa won't be in the finals, I will be there and I will win. I always knew and that I believed in it. That's exactly what happened. It's funny. I didn't hope for it, but I believed in it.

Q. Sorry to bring you on to not quite such a nice event. You were confronted today by some guy coming onto the court. It could have been a very nasty incident. Could you just talk us through how you felt when you saw him? The security seemed to take an age to getthere as well and stop him.

ROGER FEDERER: First, I didn't know exactly what happened. All of a sudden I heard the crowd, and I looked over and he jumped over the fence or something. That gave me a fright, just like seeing him so close right away.
The good thing is like it happened before, you know, so that's why I guess I didn't panic. It happened in Wimbledon before when two guys ran out on the court, and once I think it was in Montreal when I lost to Roddick when I was playing for my No. 1 ranking in the third set.
Som it wasn't the first time. Normally they always kind of lookat me and go, I'm so sorry I have to do this, because they have some sort of a reason for it, you know. (Laughter.)
I remember the English guy was actually quite funny. He looked at me and goes, I'm so sorry I have to do this. I was like, Okay, just don't touch me, you know.
This guy, I don't know, he looked at me and I was not sure what he wanted. It seemed like he wanted to give me something. So I was actually okay,because I saw he wasn't pulling for anything stupid.
It definitely felt uncomfortable once he came close to me. Looking back, it definitely threw me out of my rhythm a little bit. One game later I thought that maybe I should have sat down and taken a minute or two to kind of reflect on what just happened. Was that real or what?
But I don't know. I mean, I wanted to play on and whatever, get over it. But it was a touch scary, yes.

Q. Svetlana Kuznetsova, who won this tournament yesterday cheers for you. Do you know about it? And what do you think about Russian women and men's tennis?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I was very happy for Svetlana that she was able to win. Russian tennis has been incredibly strong over the last few years. I always said I liked her game, so I was very happy for her, to see her succeed here.
Yeah, they have phenomenal players on both sides. I'm sure we'll see moreof that in the future.

Q. I know isn't your plan, but if you had to retire tomorrow, would you retire happy?

ROGER FEDERER: Yes, I would, yeah, because I feel like I've put everything out there, you know. I fought for this moment and stayed positive and calm when things maybe weren't going so well, even though they were still going great.
So, yeah, I would ‑‑ I always said it doesn't matter when I retire, I'll be at peace. I can walk away from this game tomorrow, butI don't choose to because I love this game too much.
It hasn't appeared in my mind once yet that I want to retire. Tennis is not forever; I know that. But I'll try to definitely enjoy it as long as I can.

Q. Roger,with the rain and the history in your mind and the rain and this crazy guy, was this as mentally challenging a final as you've had to deal with? Obviously physically playing you weren't having a problem, but mentally.

ROGER FEDERER: I think it was difficult conditions, like you say. I was hoping for ‑‑ I said it inthe press the other day I think when I spoke Swiss German. I said I hope for little ‑‑ no rain, because that would not be nice for anybody: me, the opponent, for the spectators. The rain interruptions are tough to deal with especially in a Grand Slam final.
Now, I do feel like it's ‑‑ it was meant to be this kind of weather for me. Looking back, you know, especially I think I drew inspiration the way Andre won here ten years ago.
I remember ‑‑ I don't want to say how lucky he got, but how things turned into his favor when he needed it the most. That's exactly what happened to me the last couple weeks. We're not talking about the Haas house forehand I had to hit on that breakpoint down in the third set or other things.
But I was in desperate situations during this tournament. This was just part of this tournament, this terrible rain today and this tough conditions, the swirly winds and the dangerous opponent. I think I was able to handle all of it for two weeks.
I also said it many times that if you want to be a good clay courter, you have to be able to play in these kind of conditions and in nice conditions, too. That's where I've had my success in clay before, on bad ‑‑ in storms and in nice weather. I was able to show it these last couple weeks. It's been very nice.

Q. What significance, if any, for you is there to winning your 14th Grand Slam title and matching that record?

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I don't know. It almost gets forgotten a little bit, but it's really what ‑‑ I don't want to say it means the most to me, but it's an incredible feeling already having reached 14 and not having been sort of derailedby maybe losing a couple Grand Slam finals against Rafa.
That sort of I took my time and was able to regroup and come up to equal Pete's record, you know, here, in Paris is unbelievable.
Andre giving me the trophy,who was the last man to win all four majors, it seems just very fitting in away. I played against both players as well, and have the most respect for both of them.
I'm sure they're happy for me. I know it. It's a good feeling to have.

Q. Do you think the most important point of the tournament was the breakpoint when you are serving in the third set with Haas?

ROGER FEDERER: I mean, it seems like it to me. But, sure, if you want to put it down to onepoint, let's put it down to that one. I had to play many tough shots during this tournament. Maybe one was also the break point at 5‑4against Soderling when he shanks the forehand. Who knows if he makes it and gets to 5‑All. We don't know.
You have to go through many situations like this. I'm happy I was able to handle all of them. Like I said,I had tough moments against Acasuso, Haas, Mathieu, Monfils as well when he had set point, and against Del Potro, and again today, as well.
So I always had to come up with the goods, and I did great. I really did.

Q. Many people said that you are in the history and compare you and Rod Laver and Pete Sampras and say that you are the best in the history. What do you think about that?

ROGER FEDERER: I always thought it's nice to be part of the best. I feel very privileged and proud of my accomplishments in this sport. That's also why I thought I had to mention them on the court. I don't know if we'll ever know who was the greatest of all‑time, but I'm definitely happy to be right up there, that's for sure.

Q. You are probably not yet the best in history,but could this be a goal for you in the next years to come before the end ofyour career?

ROGER FEDERER: Look, I just tried to have the best possible career I can, and then I think it should be judged at the very end, you know. How well did I do? Good? Great? Very good? Or medium? (Laughter.) I don't know. It's for other people to decide.
Right now, I'm still playing. I haven't retired yet, and I think I still have many more tournaments to go and many more Grand Slams. I'll give it my best shot to have the best possible career. I am not addicted by beating all possible records, but I'm very proud of them.
I hope I can maintain records I have going at the moment, and I hope to break some other ones along the way. I hope to stay healthy, of course. That's most important. Because motivation and drive is not a problem for me it seems like.
Then I think with the change coming in my life with the wife and baby, it's gonna be very exciting next few years.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in French, please.

Q. Could you please tell us two things: This last game you were saying in English how nervous you were. Can you tell us that again? Second question, what did you do yesterday evening, and how did you manage the day before the match?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, the last game ‑‑ I'm never afraid to serve for the match. It's probably something difficult to do, but I always felt that the best was to serve for the match in the end.
When you a break or a double break, you to expect you'll be serving for the match, so this is why I've never been afraid of that moment.
But it was so emotional to play this first serve in the first game. I tried to serve four aces. He would make four errors, and that was done. So that's the ideal scenario.
But I also know that this is not likely to happen, so I tried to remain aggressive. I tried to remain smart with regards to my choices. Maybe I was not strong enough on my shots, on my forehand at 15‑Love or at 30‑All.
But these are things which are so difficult to achieve in those precise moments, and this is why sometimes you see that the score is turned around. Well, I don't know. You know, mentally, I was else where. I was not seeing my self winning, but I was so happy I was in that situation. I had to remain so calm, and at the same time I had to try and do my best. So it was such a magic moment. It's difficult to describe why and how.
But as for yesterday night, I was watching the two matches I played against Soderling in Madrid and in Paris, Bercy, here last year. I had the CDs to see what he does well and not that well to prepare. Then we talked about the match, and then I had dinner in my room with Mirka.
You know, I didn't want to have a big group of people around me. I wanted to stay in my zone, in my comfort zone, and it worked out and I'm happy.

Q. What's the best for you, is it winning the four in one year or winning 14 Grand Slam trophies?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, the four are incredible. I mean, I don't want to comment myself, but if you've won 14 Grand Slam trophies, it means you've won the three others many times, which is difficult to achieve over many years.
Or if you win the four, you can do that quicker because you're in good shape and it's the right time for you. Both are very difficult to achieve. Maybe it's easier to today to win the four in one year than it was 30 years ago when grass was much faster, when hard surfaces were much faster, when clay was what it was.
In the past, you had clay specialists and hard surfaces specialists. Now it's more mixed maybe to make it easier. But at the same time, it makes it more difficult. I don't know.

Q. So you waited 27 years to win in Paris. You won the US Open, Wimbledon, and the Australian Open much earlier. Does to give a special flavor to this trophy?

ROGER FEDERER: First, I never waited 27 years, because 27 years ago I was just born. My parents never told me, If you don't win Roland Garros we take you to the orphanage. They never said I had to win Roland Garros. It never came from them. They just hoped. They just wished I could achieve that.
But, having to wait gives you more pleasure, because a first victory, Wimbledon in 2003, that was a shock. Later on, you know what it's like winning, managing pressure, walking on the central courts, with the press, having sponsors, being rich and famous. Your life changes.
Mine changed as from the first Grand Slam tournament I won in 2003. So today, yes, satisfaction is huge winning here in Paris after I was soclose many times in a row. So it was the optimal moment for me to win Roland Garros.

Q. Why? Determination? Aggressiveness? Serve, didn't work in the other matches? Is it because of Soderling, or what?

ROGER FEDERER: I don't serve at 280 kilometers per hour. Each player is different. This is what makes tennis difficult. The conditions are different every day, and the opponent is different every day. Del Potro, Soderling, and Monfils have a similar style, but they're different at the end of day. They return differently and they have different favorite shots. They serve differently at important key moments. So you can't always serve or move in the sameway.
In tennis, you can lose although you've played well; you can win although you've not played great tennis. Everything is possible. You need to make the good choices at the right time, and this is what I managed to do here. I'm very proud.

Q. What came to your mind when Soderling's last ball went to the net?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I hoped it wouldn't come on myside. Then I had to play a backhand, and I hoped I would surprise him. But he played on the frame of his racquet. The moment the ball hit the net you know it's over. You don't know what's going to happen, if you want to run around the court or fall on the court or just do nothing.
I had those same reactions. I just kneeled on the court. This is what I did when I won against Sampras in 2001. This was almost the same thing, because that was something that I dreamt. That's the best way for me to express myself, to really feel that I won.

Q. When Nadal lost, you didn't make many comments about it because you had to remain focused on your next opponents. You had to be focused on that rather than on Nadal that was no longer there. But now it's over, so can you tell us if you thought, okay, this is gonna be a good year for me? Did it come to your mind?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I knew I had bigger opportunities than the years before, because, you know, records against Nadal are tough for me. Even I had defeated him in Madrid, I knew that if he was no longer in the draw, things would be easier for me. I was not happy he lost. That's not the type of guy I am.
This is also why I had to keep my feelings to myself. The press wanted to hear me and listen to what I had to say. When the time came for the press conference, they wanted me to say something about it. But to me, it's important to have respect for Rafa for everything he's accomplished over the last four years. He never lost here. That's an exceptional record, and it shows how difficult it is to win a tournament five times in a row.
That's something. I know. I've done it in Wimbledon and US Open. He tried to achieve it here, and it shows it's not easy to achieve. Of course, I was disappointed for him, but I also knew that it was a big opportunity for me. But it also increased pressure on me.
Didn't make much difference right at that time, but for the final it did because I was not playing Nadal but Soderling.

Q. What do you foresee for Soderling? Do you think he can win a Grand Slam?

ROGER FEDERER: I think he should be better on faster surfaces. This is where he had the biggest successes, on indoor tournaments. The US Open and Wimbledon are courts that should be better suited to his tennis.
I think that it's important that he continues to work hard and take what's positive from this tournament and move on.
It's difficult, but I guess it's something he can do.

Q. Two short questions: One, after you had been defeated four years in a row, have you ever had any doubts you would make it here in Paris? Second question, when you dreamt you would win here, did you dream these conditions with this light, the rain?

ROGER FEDERER: No, I always had faith in my chance here. Even if I had very tight rounds at the end of tournament, I knew that I had the chance here in Roland Garros, because I'm too good a player not to have a chance at the end. That's one thing.
Second thing, I don't know if I had seen the day would be like this. I wanted to ‑‑ my dream when I was a kid was to win in Wimbledon on grass. I was not dreaming I would win here. This is something I hoped, but I can't tell you I had any image in my head of how I would win.
Then I was so close and I saw Rafa winning, and so I hoped I will achieve that one day. I was almost sure I would be kneeling on the court if I was to win here.

Q. Since last Sunday and the elimination of Nadal, there were great expectations on you. Was it the longest week of your life?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, these were two long weeks, but especially the last one, because it was as if I had to play four finals against Haas, Del Potro, Monfils, and Soderling. The pressure is so big. People really wanted my to win.
It was very difficult to manage all this. This is why I'm very tired rightnow. I think it's going to take me a bit of time to sort of accept this victory. It came as a surprise in the end because I've never won here, but the feelings were great, absolutely great.
This is why I think it might take me a bit more time to realize that I made it.

Q. Soderling played beautiful matches all along the tournament. Today he was almost absent during the first set. What happened? Was it the pressure of the final? How do you analyze this?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, no, I don't think so. He probably didn't have the beginning of the match he was expecting, because I was playing well. But when I analyze the matches he played and when I saw how he won, I said, yes, he won against guys who were playing very far from the baseline.
So this gave him time to organizeand he used his big shots. I never had many problems returning his shots. I knew that there would be rallies, and it was important for me to be close tohim, to play hard against him, and use the advantages I have on clay.
This is exactly what I wanted to do, and it worked out. This is how Ibeat him the last nine times. I have the feeling that the other opponents let him play too much. This is what I tried not to let him do.

Q. I asked you the question on Friday, and you said, Ask me the question on Sunday. I can't remember what it was, though. Well, it was about did you have signs that it really was your year.

ROGER FEDERER: Yes. Well, the way I won the match against Acasuso and Tommy Haas gave me that feeling that this could be a good year. Then Rafa lost, and Djokovic had lost before that, so it didn't make much difference. But it allowed me to have greater hopes.
But there were moments when I was so close to losing. I feel it's just like Agassi when he won in his days. It's not that we're lucky, but we need to use luck when it's there. When I look at how I practice so hard, thinking I'm doing all this for Paris, for Roland Garros, everything came in atthe right time.
Maybe in some matches I would have liked to have them earlier, but I managed to make the good decisions in difficult situations. Winning tight matches showed me that, yes, maybe this is the good year.
This is why I didn't want to answer your question. You never have any guarantees. If I break my leg on the court, maybe it's not the good year. So I had to wait and see what would come out.

 Posted: 30.07.12 15:04. Post subject: ПК после матча с Фал..

ПК после матча с Фальей

R. FEDERER/A. Falla 6-3, 5-7, 6-3
An interview with:
ROGER FEDERER

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Roger, please.

Q. How do you feel about the grass? Is it similar than a few weeks ago or different?

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, it looked different from the finals. Looked closer to the beginning of a tournament, obviously, because there was more grass again at the back behind the baseline. It looked a bit different in terms of color. So I feel maybe it's a bit of a different grass than the rest of it. It's maybe a touch slippery.
But that was the case, too, in the early rounds at Wimbledon, you know, weeks ago. So I think it's just getting used to understanding it's actually harder to move again on the new grass than no grass like at the end of the tournament. So I think that's also what made things difficult for Falla and myself for some time.
But overall I thought it was a good match with some good points, so I enjoyed myself out there.

Q. What is it about his game that gives you trouble on that court? Did you have any flashbacks to a couple of years ago?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, obviously it was pretty much up-and-down, rollercoaster match like it was a few years ago. But I did beat him very convincingly here in Halle, 6-1, 6-2. Here, as well, I think 6-1, 6-2, 6-1, so I know I can also run through him.
But things were looking great today. I got all the match points I want. I'm serving for the match. He got tough and I got nervous. So, you know, it was a tough set to lose for me, particularly in the situation I was in, feeling good and confident about me serving it out. The beauty of this game. Sometimes you're one point away, the next thing again you're 25 points away. That made things difficult on my mind.
But I never stopped believing. Kept on pushing. Even though he got back a break in the third set, that obviously also got my nerves going because the margins are very small at that point. I'm happy I found a way to tough it out really.

Q. In the bigger picture, in your bucket list, is the Olympic gold one of the things you have left to do? You won one, but what other bucket list things do you have?

ROGER FEDERER: None really. People think I have to gobble up everything to make my résumé as great-looking as possible. It's not the case. I just play a full schedule from January to November, try to play as well as I can, and enjoy myself really.
It's true since 2000, when I was part of the Olympics back then, it's been 12 years ago now, that definitely lit the fire for me inside of myself, hopefully doing really well at the Olympics. I did, actually, excellent, 12 years ago, finishing fourth, having chances for the medal, which was completely surprising. I've always had decent Olympics except maybe Athens. But I always learn something in life I think every time I attended the Olympic Games.
There's no doubt about it, I would love to get a medal here this time in singles and in doubles again.

Q. You finally played this Olympic match on grass in Wimbledon. What is the difference between this Wimbledon and the other one? The atmosphere, what you see on the court, the crowd? What impressed you more? The colors?

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, there's many differences. I mean, you can only be ready for certain things, you know. They have the Mexican wave going basically after one set is unusual. That took me an entire tournament and four sets against Murray in the finals to get the first Mexican wave. Not that I need it. But it was nice to see.
That, to me, summed it up, that it's a different atmosphere out there. You walk on court, there's music. That's not something that's ever happened here at Wimbledon, I don't think. Things are clearly a big change from a few weeks ago. They've rented out this site to the Olympic Committee, and they've done it the way they do their games.
So it's something we have to get used to, but I'm happy I've had a taste of it now.

Q. How different was it for you to be wearing your national colors out there on Centre Court? Was that a different feeling? Give you different emotions than usual?

ROGER FEDERER: I think similar to what I just mentioned with the music, the way the fans are, the way it's set up, it even looks different. I think the media at the top, that's only the case during Wimbledon. Then you have the colors as well we play with and so forth. We don't walk on together. You know, one walks on before.
Just many, many, little slight changes. It all adds to a different feel, which I'm happy it is the case actually.

Q. You've met the Queen before. Now she had her first role in this Bond role. What do you think about that?

ROGER FEDERER: I thought it was very funny. Like I think many of us. It was completely unexpected. There were some very good moments during the opening ceremony. I really enjoyed it, to finally see it from start to finish, everything, whereas the last three times, I didn't see one thing except once I was in the stadium and the lighting of the flame. This was nice for me personally.
But then, like you said, I thought the sequence with the Queen and James Bond was excellent. I was actually happy she did play the role herself and that it wasn't a double. At least that's what I thought. Maybe it was a double, but I don't think it was.
Double when she jumped the helicopter - I hope, at least (laughter).

Q. What else did you like from the ceremony, that you didn't expect? The music?

ROGER FEDERER: I didn't really know what to expect. I thought maybe Elton John would play, Rolling Stones. So, I don't know. I really just let it happen. I had a really good time watching it. Obviously it's great seeing Stan with the flag coming into the stadium. Got late, you know, for me watching, but also particularly the athletes in the stadium.
It was a wonderful opening. I thought it was really enjoyable to watch.

Q. Benneteau next. You've seen him recently.

ROGER FEDERER: Did he win?

Q. Yes. What thoughts does that bring? You've owned him pretty much until the last meeting.

ROGER FEDERER: Don't quite agree. I lost to him in Paris. He's been a tough customer for me. Yeah, I mean, look, I'm happy to be playing him again. Obviously he came in as an alternate for Monfils. I saw him coming in and thought, Hmm, is that good or not?
We had a good match a few weeks ago when I did lose the first two sets. I can't let that happen this time around or I'm packing my suitcases.
I'm looking forward to that match. He's a good grass court player. He's got a very sound, you know, game overall, serving, volleying, returning, moving. So it's going to be a tough match and one I'm looking forward to, to be honest.

Q. Are you staying out at the house you normally stay at during Wimbledon or did you consider going to the Olympic Village?

ROGER FEDERER: I did not even consider. It wasn't even a debate. It's that far. It's two hours. I don't know how you do it.
I understand if it's your first Olympics, potentially your second, you want to soak it all up, be at the village, do it all. Maybe do a compromise, stay a few days, then come over to the house.
I think if you really want to have the best chance of doing well, it's tough to stay at the village.
Maybe for some it works, and it inspires them in some way like it did for me in 2000 when I stayed at the village and finished fourth.
It is possible. But it is nice to finish and right away be relaxed, not having to sit on a bus for two hours. That makes it four during the day sometimes. It's not so healthy for your back if you're a professional athlete.
But I understand those who want to do the experience. I mean, I do regret not staying at the village just because it's a great atmosphere with the team, seeing all the other athletes. It's really an eye-opener for me the last Olympics.