""I'm very happy to have the opportunity to win a Grand Slam.""

[spiderman123]

An old article that I came across while searching for something.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tenn...03/3045736.stm

[kOaMaster]

can't find something under this link, it seems dead.
can you quote it?

[BullDogTennis]

how dare he be so arrogant to mention the opportunity to win a slam

[Mustard]

Federer was actually considered the underdog going into that match, which seems ludicrous now. This was the match where Federer truly played at his peak level in a major for the first time. Roddick had no answer to Federer's game once Federer won that close first set.

[spiderman123]

Originally Posted by Mustard

Federer was actually considered the underdog going into that match, which seems ludicrous now. This was the match where Federer truly played at his peak level in a major for the first time. Roddick had no answer to Federer's game once Federer won that close first set.

I remember watching Roddick's interview before this match. He was asked how he has been preparing for matches (or something like that) and Roddick mentioned he and his coach (BG?) try to eat something from his next opponent's country's cuisine on the night before, distinctly remember he then followed it with "my next opponent is from Switzerland, we will eat Swiss chocolates or something". He seemed very confident of a semifinal victory during that interview.

The rest, as they say, is history.

[Swissv2]

For those that are unable to view the page

Federer destroys Roddick

Switzerland's Roger Federer produced a sublime display to defeat fifth seed Andy Roddick 7-6 6-3 6-3 in the Wimbledon semi-finals on Centre Court.
The fourth seed barely put a foot wrong as a succession of clean winners and perfectly-placed volleys left Roddick floundering.

Roddick, who had dropped just one set in an impressive journey to the semi-finals, had no answer to Federer's fluency around the court in a disappointing performance.

Watch day 11 highlights
Federer hit 17 aces and fired his way out of trouble on the only two break points he faced in a totally dominant performance.
The match lasted just one hour and 43 minutes - even quicker than Mark Philippoussis' defeat of Sebastien Grosjean in the other semi.

Roddick's one real chance at establishing himself in the match was wasted when he hit a feeble forehand volley into the net on set point in the first set tie-break.

Federer seized the initiative to take the tie-break 8-6 and went from strength to strength.

Saving two break points in the opening game of the second set, Federer produced a majestic cross-court forehand to break Roddick for 2-0 and continued to hold serve to take the set.
A poor Roddick backhand into the net presented Federer with the break he needed in the fifth game of the third set.

And a succession of superb passing shots brought up his first match points on Roddick's serve at 5-3.

Roddick saved the first two but a wide forehand sealed Federer's well-deserved victory.

"It's incredible right now," Federer told BBC Sport.

"It is my favourite tournament so it is a dream.

"This was just outstanding - I hope I can keep this up for the final.
"I'm not thinking about the final at the moment - I'm just celebrating this victory.

"I'm very happy to have the opportunity to win a Grand Slam."

The 21-year-old will become the first Swiss player to play in the Wimbledon final when he faces Australia's Mark Philippoussis on Sunday.

Story from BBC SPORT:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/spo...03/3045736.stm

Published: 2003/07/04 15:10:54 GMT

© BBC 2012

[Mustard]

Originally Posted by kOaMaster

can't find something under this link, it seems dead.
can you quote it?

Edit: Swissv2 beat me to it.

[Towser83]

Originally Posted by Mustard

Federer was actually considered the underdog going into that match, which seems ludicrous now. This was the match where Federer truly played at his peak level in a major for the first time. Roddick had no answer to Federer's game once Federer won that close first set.

I liked both Federer and Roddick at that point, though I rated Federer for his win over Sampras in 2001. That semi final made me a big Federer fan though, haven't seen it in a long time but I remember him hitting such beautiful shots and didn't see anyone else capable of doing that at that point. Kind of a shame you don't see the serve and volley tennis put on in the final that year anymore.

[Mustard]

Originally Posted by spiderman123

I remember watching Roddick's interview before this match. He was asked how he has been preparing for matches (or something like that) and Roddick mentioned he and his coach (BG?) try to eat something from his next opponent's country's cuisine on the night before, distinctly remember he then followed it with "my next opponent is from Switzerland, we will eat Swiss chocolates or something". He seemed very confident of a semifinal victory during that interview.

The rest, as they say, is history.

And I remember that Brad Gilbert went on for ages about Roddick's missed set point chance in the first set tiebreak and how everything would have been different had Roddick had won that first set. Perhaps Gilbert was right. The second and third sets saw Federer at his very best.