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 was struggling in the beginning, ... The start of the match was crucial, and I couldn't get on top of him there. Still, in the end, to turn it around and not play my best is always a good feeling.
When I would lose matches, I would feel, I think, three times worse than when the guy was losing. I just realized that's not the point, either, ... I wanted to enjoy it, win or lose, out on the court. It's not some kind of war or anything. We're having fun out there in the end. I like the challenge. When the match is over, life goes on.
That match taught me what some things about how I should play against him. But I've still got to go out there and beat him.
It's always a pleasure to play against him because it's so different. It was because of him, not because of me, that the match was so great.
This year I guess I decided in the bigger matches to take it more to my opponent instead of waiting a bit more for the mistakes. Yeah, this is I guess how you want to win Wimbledon, is by going after your shots, believing you can do it, and that's what I was able to do today.
This is how it will be in every match at the Open. I'm ready for the pressure, ... It's a good feeling that I have. The players, I know them all, I've beaten them all.
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.
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.
Being down match point, it's just not fun.
I've really proved that on all surfaces, everywhere in the world, I can win the title. It's been incredible for me from beginning to end.
Rafael played a great match, it was tough to lose.
I was playing so well that it was hard to keep it up. I did not finish off some points I should have.
I was very focussed on this match, very concentrated.