Roger Federer
Roger Federer
Roger Federeris a Swiss professional tennis player who is currently ranked world No. 3 by the Association of Tennis Professionals. His accomplishments in professional tennis have led to him being regarded by many as the greatest tennis player of all time. Federer turned professional in 1998 and has been continuously ranked in the top 10 since October 2002...
NationalitySwiss
ProfessionTennis Player
Date of Birth8 August 1981
CityBasel, Switzerland
CountrySwitzerland
I really feel I've got my confidence back. My footwork is back, the eye is back -- watching the ball, reading the game. Definitely I'm feeling really good right now.
I play my best in the finals, in the important matches. That's why I'm No. 1.
I'm satisfied to have won and relieved it's over. It was not easy. I didn't play great but you need time to adapt to the surface.
I never really felt very good throughout the match. I hope that's going to come along in the next match.
I'm trying to figure out what's the best way for me to play, and try to get as many matches as possible on clay. The more I do that, the more sure I get about sliding on clay, the points, how they're being played and everything.
I had a blast out there today, ... Rarely the crowd gets into a match like they did tonight. The way he plays, the way I play, I knew it could be a great one...it was quite windy and it was tough to get it past him, particularly when he was coming to the net.
He sizzled me up with his slice and spins. It was a pleasure to play against him.
He's quite one-dimensional with his game. After Dubai, I thought I actually saw the way I should play against him. The more I play him, the better it is for me.
I don't play much in the morning any more, ... Mostly play the prime time hours, which means three, five, seven o'clock. Coming out early today was different. Also when I practice, it's usually always afternoon. So, again, you have to change your plans. But it was a great start.
I didn't know whether there would be two people or two thousand so to have this many is really something special for me -- something I'll always remember.
I decided not to play the first tie this year because I wanted to focus on the tour. The big focus of the year was holding onto the No. 1 position.
I'm not over-confident, just very confident, ... I just know what I have to do. I know my game's in place now. Once I win a certain number of matches, I know what I can do, what I can't do...I play the percentages I think extremely well in finals, and on big points usually I'm, well, I've been unbeatable.
I hope to have a physical advantage, but I don't think it will matter.
I never underestimate my opponent, that's not the way I play. It is never easy when you are playing your first match (of the season) on clay. I had a few sloppy points here and there. He made me doubt.