Federer radio interview

[Virtuous]

ZDF radio Interview
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mbfivelive/F2148567?thread=3040944
INTERVIEWER Do you think Nadal has a hold over you now?

ROGER FEDERER - I’m playing against one of the best clay players, and I’m getting closer to him on his favourite surface. I read one article before the (Rome) final which predicted I would lose 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 they thought it would be a walk for nadal. The number of unforced errors was ridiculous on my part and my serve was weak. But I know nadal is the kind of player who takes his opportunity and punishes you when you make mistakes, that’s to his credit.

INTERVIEWER -You made the point about nadal’s uncle Toni coaching him during play, is you pointing it out a mental game?

ROGER FEDERER - Mental game?

INTERVIEWER- A psychological tactic?

ROGER FEDERER - No I said what I saw. I wasn’t the only person who noticed it a linesman and physio noticed it to. I looked up three times from my chair and saw toni talking and making hand gestures towards nadal. Whether or not nadal was paying attention is besides the point. I wasn’t accusing nadal of cheating. My frustration was directed more at toni. I don’t know if the camera’s picked it up.

INTERVIEWER- nadal said you are closer to winning the French open than he is to winning Wimbledon do you agree?

ROGER FEDERER - I don’t know how much preparation he’s done for the grass and hard court season. But it’s not about me and him there are so many guys out.

INTERVIEWER – do you regret saying his game is one-dimensional?

ROGER FEDERER - No, I was analysing the depth not effectiveness of his style. It’s effective it gets the job done but not layered if you know what I mean.

INTERVIEWER – who has a layered game?

ROGER FEDERER - Agassi, Safin, Haas they’re the sort of guys they’re have an even distribution of strength in parts of the game, they also happen to be the most entertaining to watch, even when they don’t win. I don’t think you can call Sampras three dimensional, but he’s great at what he did.

INTERVIEWER – what do you think of the people who say your victories in the slams are down to weak competition?

ROGER FEDERER - Well to those people I say pick up a racquet and play against Nalbandian, Ljubici, Safin or Moya. Domination isn’t down to poor competition, it’s about making the difficult look easy, that’s why people say the competition is not fierce enough.

INTERVIEWER – so you think the argument that Sampras had stronger competition is wrong?

ROGER FEDERER - I think there were so many people saying the same about Sampras when he was playing. That he’s beatable but the competition is weak.

INTERVIEWER – you now against Sampras at his prime at the Wimbledon final who would win?

ROGER FEDERER-Well that wouldn’t be fair

INTERVIEWER – why?

ROGER FEDERER-Because I haven’t hit my prime, yes I’m winning but there is room for improvement.

INTERVIEWER – so this isn’t your prime?

ROGER FEDERER - No your prime is when you have reached the best of your ability. This is not the best of my ability; I’ve not reached my personal perfection, if you like.

INTERVIEWER – do you get tired of being compared to Sampras, or laver?
It’s an irrational human nature to compare. Tennis is a sport that changes annually so it’s bizarre when you compare someone from the 1990s to someone now.

INTERVIEWER – who is the greatest player of all time?

ROGER FEDERER - (Laughing) You want me to contradict my last answer don’t you! MY favourite was Rod Laver. He’s my idol.

INTERVIEWER –is that why you cried at the Laver arena when he handed you the cup?

ROGER FEDERER - Well- yes and no, I felt relief because I had to fight for it, but yes him being there was important. I actually met him two days before, the first thing I said was ‘oh my god rod laver, you’re rod laver’’, then I felt really stupid because of course he knew who he was.

(this bit is funny c’ause you can see the interviewer was trying to get him to talk about martina hingis)

INTERVIEWER -Your compatriot Martina won the Rome Open do you think she can win the French Open?

ROGER FEDERER - “If you asked me a few months ago if thought she would win it I would have said no. but she continues to surprise me and everybody else with her comeback. She incredibly strong willed, when we were younger playing doubles she would have 3 or 4 strategies for us to win.”

INTERVIEWER –how long have you known her?

ROGER FEDERER - A long time she’s a good friend

INTERVIEWER –she’s like a sister

ROGER FEDERER - No I have sister

INTERVIEWER – just a friend?

ROGER FEDERER - Yes! (Giggling) stop it I have a girlfriend

INTERVIEWER –do players gossip about each other?

ROGER FEDERER - we actually don’t hang around each other that much, but once in a while we talk about each others game, we don’t talk about personal life.

INTERVIEWER –should women get paid the same as men in Wimbledon?

ROGER FEDERER - Other major tournament organisers are saying yes

 

[shawn1122]

Quite the revealing interview.

LOL @ the interviewer trying to make Federer accept Hingis as a sister or something more than a friend.

"Well to those people I say pick up a racquet and play against Nalbandian, Ljubici, Safin or Moya. Domination isn’t down to poor competition, it’s about making the difficult look easy, that’s why people say the competition is not fierce enough."

Don't call this arrogance, it's the truth.

I'm not so sure about the hitting his prime comment though, he used to play amazing in 2004 and now he seems to have somewhat deteriorated.

 

[ACE of Hearts]

Deteriorated is a bad word to use.His game has goned down somewhat.I think he can still work on his serve.He has come to the net more on clay which is good.

 

[Virtuous]

pt 2 aka the superficial stuff

INTERVIEWER- Who’s your favourite designer?
FEDERER - Prada
INTERVIEWER- Your favourite colour?
FEDERER - You mean in clothes
INTERVIEWER- Yes
FEDERER - I don’t know it depends on the mood.
INTERVIEWER- How was your childhood like?
FEDERER - It was fun.
INTERVIEWER- did you have pushy parents
FEDERER – no because I was a pushy child, I was self-critical enough for the three of us
INTERVIEWER- What language do you speak at home?
FEDERER - I speak Swiss German to my dad, English to my Mum and French to my physio and some of my friends. My first words were in English though.
INTERVIEWER- Where you ever bullied?
FEDERER - Bullied?
INTERVIEWER- Did other children pick on you?
FEDERER - Only when I moved to the French part of Switzerland to go to tennis school, I spoke only German, I was quite because I didn’t want to make mistakes and children ignore you when you don’t talk. And I was so emotional when I played that I became the volcano nobody came near. I was a bit of a loner. Once I learned French it was easy.
INTERVIEWER- You met the pope in Rome how was that like?
FEDERER - It was great an honour
INTERVIEWER- What did you talk about?
FEDERER - He said he was happy to see me
INTERVIEWER- How did that feel like?
FEDERER - Surreal
INTERVIEWER- You’re catholic?
FEDERER - Yes
INTERVIEWER- Are you religious?
FEDERER - I guess I am in the spiritual way not in practising way, but I use to go to mass when I was younger.
INTERVIEWER- Do people stop you in the street back home a lot?
FEDERER - Well Switzerland isn’t a celebrity obsessed place, they get on with life, but because I’m getting global fame, they pay more attention to me. We don’t have the papprazi hiding in the bush thank god.
INTERVIEWER- What do you spend a lot of money on?
FEDERER - Hair products, not that you can tell
INTERVIEWER- What’s your worst haircut then?
FEDERER - When I dyed my hair blonde, I wanted a change I think
INTERVIEWER- So it didn’t get the girls?
FEDERER - No, (sarcastically) I don’t know why
INTERVIEWER- What music wouldn’t you want to be stuck in a lift listening to?
FEDERER - Céline Dion,
INTERVIEWER- Who wouldn’t you want to be stuck in the lift with?
FEDERER - Well after that answer, Céline Dion. (Interviewer laugh)
INTERVIEWER- what’s in your MP3 player?
FEDERER - Just a second I’ll take it out,
INTERVIEWER goes through it and reads some of it AC/DC, Bocelli, Chopin, Jimi Hendrix, Mozart, Pink Floyd and The Who,
INTERVIEWER- So its rock and classical
FEDERER - Laughing Yes I like to give myself a headache then sooth my head.
INTERVIEWER- you’re now a UNICEF amabassador and you have your own charity and visit so many countries to raise poverty awareness, what wouldn’t you do for charity?
FEDERER - What wouldn’t I do?
INTERVIEWER- like would you pose nude?
FEDERER –I think people would pay for me to keep my clothes on
INTERVIEWER- but you were featured in People’s magazine sexist list
FEDERER – I don’t now how I got in there, they people mixed my name with someone else.
INTERVIEWER-did you have a crush on anyone growing up?
FEDERER –I’m not saying
INTERVIEWER – why
FEDERER – because it’d be embarrassing when I meet them.
INTERVIEWER –c’mon one name
FEDERER – Gabriella Sabatini
INTERVIEWER –I liked her too, our producer is shaking he head, he liked her too
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mbfivelive/F2148567?thread=3042229

 

[Dilettante]

INTERVIEWER- what’s in your MP3 player?
FEDERER - Just a second I’ll take it out,
INTERVIEWER goes through it and reads some of it AC/DC, Bocelli, Chopin, Jimi Hendrix, Mozart, Pink Floyd and The Who,

INTERVIEWER- What music wouldn’t you want to be stuck in a lift listening to?
FEDERER - Céline Dion

The guy shows a good taste.

 

[Tennis_Goodness]

Federer is a very honest and open player and calls it like it is. I don't see how anybody can dislike the guy, he's fair, gives props to his oppenents, and acts like a champion!

 

[Sennin]

INTERVIEWER –should women get paid the same as men in Wimbledon?

ROGER FEDERER - Other major tournament organisers are saying yes

lol nice save. Perhaps Federer has a future in politics when he finishes with tennis

 

[fastdunn]

Very interesting interview. I like Federer's answer and I agree
with him.

If I were the interviewer, however, I would have ask some of
questions differently and more agressively....

"No one can compare today's competition to past's. However
if someone says current competition is lack of variety of styles
compared to past, would you agree ?"

"Who has layered game in today's competition ? Everybody
plays one dimensional baseline game, even in Wimbledon, isn't it ?"

Well maybe a bit too agressive but I just wish to have Federer
comment on current baseliner style games of the ATP tour....

 

[whistleway]

Awesome interview. Thanks for posting

 

[Polaris]

INTERVIEWER – do you regret saying his game is one-dimensional?

ROGER FEDERER - No, I was analysing the depth not effectiveness of his style. It’s effective it gets the job done but not layered if you know what I mean.

INTERVIEWER – who has a layered game?

ROGER FEDERER - Agassi, Safin, Haas they’re the sort of guys they’re have an even distribution of strength in parts of the game, they also happen to be the most entertaining to watch, even when they don’t win. I don’t think you can call Sampras three dimensional, but he’s great at what he did.

For some reason, I am glad that Federer got a chance to explain himself regarding the "one-dimensional" assessment. He has done a nice job at it, speaking the truth while not disparaging any player. I can't see much to disagree with in both those answers.

That said, I don't agree about him saying that he is not at his prime. It is perhaps alright for him to say it for all sorts of ego reasons, but I have a hard time believing that.

 

[a guy]

INTERVIEWER goes through it and reads some of it AC/DC, Bocelli, Chopin, Jimi Hendrix, Mozart, Pink Floyd and The Who,

 

[HollerOne5]

Gabriela Sabatini - safe answer there too....let's name a girl that would laugh about it if he ever ran into her, seeing how she is more into the ladies then the guys anyways

 

[araghava]

It's interesting that he basically called Sampras 1 dimensional. I've always thought Sampras had the entire package.

 

[Defcon]

Yeah, I can see why people call Federer boring

Did he just imply that Agassi has a more 'layered' game than Sampras ?!

 

[VolklVenom]

i wonder if he's been misinterpreted again. sounds odd.

 

[Ken B.]

I like how he left out Roddick and Hewitt in the list of people who aren't "weak competition." When you own a player like Federer owns those two they arent a challenge.

 

[habib]

With regards to the Sampras comment - I think he was referring to Sampras' variety rather than his ability in different areas of the game. When it came down to it, Sampras was first and foremost an offensive player. He hit his forehand and his backhand and his serve as hard as he could, almost every time. He didn't change it up much, didn't change the pace of rallies much, he was very good at what he did but he didn't do all that much. He just attacked relentlessly.

 

[galain]

Gabriela Sabatini - safe answer there too....let's name a girl that would laugh about it if he ever ran into her, seeing how she is more into the ladies then the guys anyways

*covers ears and closes eyes*

LALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALACAN"THEARYOU!

 

[fastdunn]

It's interesting that he basically called Sampras 1 dimensional. I've always thought Sampras had the entire package.

Where did Federer say Sampras was 1-dimensional ?
I thought he used Sampras as an example of being NOT 1 dimensional
and asked if he can say "3 dimensional" which is the highest dimension
in real world.....

 

[fastdunn]

With regards to the Sampras comment - I think he was referring to Sampras' variety rather than his ability in different areas of the game. When it came down to it, Sampras was first and foremost an offensive player. He hit his forehand and his backhand and his serve as hard as he could, almost every time. He didn't change it up much, didn't change the pace of rallies much, he was very good at what he did but he didn't do all that much. He just attacked relentlessly.

Well people forget things easily. People used to say to Sampras
exactly same thing as what people say to Federer right now:
he has all the shots. I remember ESPN announcers screamed
"Is there any shot Sampras doesn't have?" when Sampras pulled off
1 handed topspin backhand lob from impossible situation...

Sampras even got same comments that his competition was
weak, as Federer said in this radio interview.
In fact, as it turns out Sampras had pretty good competition.

Fact is that Sampras had great efficient return game
as well. Without it, you can not win Wimbledon...

 

[quest01]

I dont really know if there was better competition when Sampras was on tour or not. I dont know if women should be paid the same as men seeing that men play best of 5 in majors, and women dont. Federer is a good interviewer, but not as good as Agassi. Agassi was very smooth and methodical during interviews.

 

[superman1]

Good stuff. About Sampras, I think he basically called him 2-dimensional. Not one dimensional, but not three-dimensional. Anyway, back then Sampras got the same "three-dimensional" praise that Federer gets now - "This guy can do anything!"

Also, about the competition, he only listed 2 names that have any truth to them. Nalbandian and Ljubicic. The others don't even play him anymore.

 

[Tennis_Goodness]

For some reason, I am glad that Federer got a chance to explain himself regarding the "one-dimensional" assessment. He has done a nice job at it, speaking the truth while not disparaging any player. I can't see much to disagree with in both those answers.

That said, I don't agree about him saying that he is not at his prime. It is perhaps alright for him to say it for all sorts of ego reasons, but I have a hard time believing that.

Yeah he might have passed his prime but I can say Federer is one of the most confident atheletes i've ever seen, much like Micheal Jordan!

 

[arosen]

AC/DC and Mozart, now that's eclectic. You can tell he is no dummy, even though plenty on this board call him that. Surprisingly sincere, esp. the Sabbatini bit and the hair products part, means he feels very secure with his self. Good for Mirka.

 

[lucky leprechaun]

INTERVIEWER – just a friend?

ROGER FEDERER - Yes! (Giggling) stop it I have a girlfriend

ick, did roger giggle? He just lost a few points in my book on that one.

 

[FEDEXP]

Pete Sampras brought me to tennis, though as much as I still love the guy I wouldn't say he had the complete package. Federer moves better....and I have to laugh about the "deterioration" of Federer's game, during which he won two Grand Slams. The truth us there is no possible way to know whether he is in his prime, past it, or whether it is yet to come. Time will tell....

 

[superman1]

If Sampras was one-dimensional, then there hasn't been a serve/volleyer in history who was three-dimensional. That's all he was, just with a bigger serve, better athleticism, and a better ground game. That's the complete package. Federer also has a complete package, just with the emphasis on the baseline game.

 

[Viper]

I sigged him, lol. It just didnt show up

 

[David L]

I can improve from one week to the next, let alone over months and years. Everyone on the tour is trying to improve constantly. No one is content with the level they are at. If you stay still, you get passed. These guys are perfectionists. Federer is a better player today, than he was in past years, but so is the competition. The goal posts are constantly moving and the competition are always trying to catch up. Federer can definitely still improve, and he will. We have not seen his best yet. The fact that Federer may not be winning some of his matches as easily as he has in past years, is not necessarily a sign of deterioration, but of growing competition. Federer's win over Hewitt at the US Open last year was not the demolition it was in their 2004 encounter. That's because Hewitt had improved and was playing better. Only someone who is already perfect cannot improve. Federer is good, but not perfect. He is still young enough to make improvements. At this level, improvements only start to become difficult after the age of 30 when the body starts to let you down(unless you are Agassi, in which case it's 35), but for recreational players, improvements can go on into your 50s.

Brad Gilbert makes the point that Roddick may be playing better now than he did in the past, but that is not enough anymore:

Tennis Week: Allen Fox, your former coach, wrote a good analysis of Andy's game for Tennis Week earlier this year. He basically suggested that it's a good idea for Andy to continue to develop his volley, but pointed out it's not just practicing volleys, it's the other elements — the transition game, intuitively sensing the direction of the pass to cut it off, positioning at net and understanding how and when to hit volleys with depth and pace — that can sometimes take years to really learn. I thought Andy did a good job against Hewitt of mixing baseline play with selective trips to the net, but if course Roger is a different story. Where would you have tried to take Andy's game if you were still coaching him and how do you see Andy's game evolving from this point forward?

Brad Gilbert: The guy you talked to, Foxy, he's got what I call a "swollen brain" — he's one of the smartest guys I've ever met in my life; he's a tremendous coach. Obviously, I felt like in coaching Andy for 18 months there's a lot more we could have done. He decided he wanted to go in a different direction. So now, I'm not in the situation anymore. I'd be the first to tell you and I'm sure he'd be the first to tell you: he's 22-years-old and he's got to get a lot better because Roger Federer's gotten a lot better. Now Nadal's come on the scene and he's gotten better so Andy's got to get better — that's the bottom line. Almost any athlete at 22 will tell you if they were totally secure at 22, then people will pass them. Andy will tell you he can serve better.

Tennis Week: Andy said he feels he's better now than when he won the Open and finished 2003 at No. 1. Do you feel that way? I believe his game is more complete than it was then, but do you think he is better?

Brad Gilbert: Well, he might be more complete, but unfortunately the guy he beat for No. 1 in 2003 (Federer) is way more complete. Just because in 2003 you hit .333 to win the batting title and now you're hitting .335 in 2005, but now the batting title takes .380 to win.

http://www.sportsmediainc.com/tennisweek/index.cfm?func=showarticle&newsid=13672&bannerregion=

 

[Tennis_Goodness]

I agree to a point, but everyplayer is different. I don't think you can say when or at what time people will not be able to do something. It does look like Federer can improve though!

 

[superman1]

You can improve little things in the game - volley better, hit the down-the-line backhand better, etc. But once you get to the level of these guys, the overall level of your game does not improve that much. Roddick has been improving a lot of little things, but his overall level has probably dropped because his focus is off. He's thinking about getting closer to the baseline or finding an opening to get up at net. He used to think about just hitting the ball as hard as he could to win the damn point. That seemed to work better for him.

 

[Tennis_Goodness]

Yeah, your not going to become a different player after some training. What you see right now is pretty much what you will expect throughout there careers. I think the learning curve is with the younger guys though. The younger you are, the more time you can improve and learn new things.

HOWEVER, I don't think this applies to Nadal. Nadal's style is so dynamic and a central part of his game, although it is very effective right now, I really don't think he will translate that to other surfaces. He could become something really special and win some slams on other surfaces, but besides clay, I don't see him dominating anything!

 

[illkhiboy]

Great Interview. I am impressed by his wit and also his musical taste. He sounds like a really cool guy. It will be interesting to see if he can improve more. If he can keep up this sort of domination for a couple more years he will go down as the GOAT in my book.