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Here is the 1st part of Roger's press conference
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Rogers Cup: Roger Federer Pre-Tournament Press Conference
August 9, 2010 ·
ROGER FEDERER
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. You’ve been quoted of saying in the past that you’ve created a bit of a monster when it comes to expectations that fans and the media have. After Wimbledon, losing in the quarters, you seemed obviously frustrated. Do you feel that sometimes you’ve created this monster in yourself, or do you think the expectations of fans and the media might be a little much?
ROGER FEDERER: No, I don’t think I was frustrated after my loss from Wimbledon. I was disappointed that my body wasn’t holding up and that Berdych played such a good match and that I couldn’t defend my Wimbledon dream again.
So that was the point for Wimbledon. Obviously with all the success, you know, I got spoiled. Everybody around me got spoiled. So it’s obvious when I don’t make ?? when I don’t win the tournament basically or to the finals also not sometimes good enough for people and myself that it’s normal that everybody talks a different way all of a sudden. That’s something I have to deal with, and I’m looking forward to hopefully change that again and play well again here in the States, for instance, and in Canada.
Q. Could you just talk a little bit about the situation of actually hooking up with Paul Annacone and how it’s going and what your expectations might be?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, Paul came to Switzerland after Wimbledon at some stage. I had vacation first, which is obviously key for me to just get back on my feet and feel normal again. It took me about 10 days to get over the aches and pains I have had over the three?week period from Halle until the end of Wimbledon.
I’ve always gotten along very well with Paul, him being obviously the coach of Sampras and Henman who were sort of friends to me and I know very well.
So I thought it was a good time to do a test, and this is our first test tournament we’re doing. We’re taking it slow, and we’ll see what happens next week. We don’t even know yet. He’s got still some commitments with the LTA, and I respect that, obviously, and I want him to fulfill that, as well. He wants to do that, too.
We’ll see how it goes, and we will take a decision maybe after the US Open and see what I’ll do.
Q. Severin still…
ROGER FEDERER: Severin’s coming to Cincinnati, yeah.
Q. Obviously you’ve been working with Paul. What else have you been doing with your time off?
ROGER FEDERER: Like I said, I had a great vacation after Wimbledon. Beautiful weather obviously in Europe, and we enjoyed that, and then it was nice to be home for like three weeks which is, for us, a very long time. I know it’s not that long, but three weeks for us is a big deal.
So that was nice, you know, just get away from it all. Did a couple of sponsor things. Didn’t do any media whatsoever. So it was nice to get away from it all, you know, also, just the people, like the whole scene I know throughout the whole year, and then, you know, you get very excited again to go back on tour and pack your bags and go on a trip again. So very happy to be back on tour obviously again.
Q. It’s a big change for you to hire someone like Paul. What do you hope to get out of him? How do you hope to tweak your game to get back to the No. 1 ranking again?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, the goal has always been for me to improve as a player, and, you know, I won’t just be happy of playing the same way for years and years and years. I’ve always questioned myself in the best of times and in, you know, in the worst of times, even though there were not many worst moments, bad moments, the last seven years or so. But I always look at new ways I can improve on. Paul, I think, with his experience can bring something to our team, and that’s what we’re exploring right now.
Q. Could you just maybe assess your season in general? You obviously got the Australian Open win off the top, but it’s been a few struggles throughout the year. Can you just talk a little bit about what you want to do to move forward, and have you done anything to your game, any changes, any major things you need to work on?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah. I mean, I think it would be great to have more time off to work on my game, but it’s the same dilemma for all the players. You know, the season is long. It’s the way it is. That’s why it, for me, was important to take a rest and really work on my game again.
I think, by doing that, I’m confident that the results will come back eventually. I’m doing all the right things with the last years and stuff. I was definitely disappointed, as well, that I couldn’t play better right after the Australian Open, which I thought was some of my best tennis I ever played in my life, you know.
But I think the lung infection threw back a bit, lost a bit confidence, only played two tournaments in a three?month period and I got to clay and had a couple tough losses early on. I started to play better only when Rome came around, and I actually played okay in Paris and ran into, you know, Soderling who played great, and also at Wimbledon I ran into Berdych who played great.
It was a bit of a disappointing obviously Grand Slam run there as well for me. I thought the guys played great, and I have to make some adjustments just to make sure I stay ahead of the pack, and that’s what I’ve been trying to do in the practice. I haven’t played that many tournaments, after all. It’s hard to judge.
Q. Can you tell us why you’re not entered into the doubles here in Toronto this year? What’s your take on the pairing of Nadal and Djokovic, the world’s No. 1 and 2 players together?
ROGER FEDERER: Um, yeah, I think it’s always fun when singles guys enter the doubles at tournaments. You know, I do it occasionally. Now having, you know, Paul around, I didn’t want to spend extra time on, you know, warming up for doubles or thinking about it. I just wanted to focus on singles and getting back onto the tour, even though usually after six weeks’ break or so I do come back and like to have that extra doubles match maybe.
But I didn’t choose to, but I think it’s great Nadal is playing with Novak. They know each other. We all know each other. We’ve been on the council, and they have the same guy who handles the press. So I’m sure they’re very friendly and it’s great for the fans, good for the game, so I’m for it.
Q. It’s only been a short period, but have there been one or two things Paul has said that you’ve found insightful?
ROGER FEDERER: Sure. We’ve been spending two or almost three weeks together. It’s been interesting, you know, with all the experience he’s had with all the top players, and just hearing someone else for a change is good, too, you know.
It’s also been interesting with the combination with Severin in Switzerland, you know, my coach who has been with me the last three years who has been looking at ways to adjust and play differently or play more aggressive or more defensive, use the right shots and also just handled the tour, you know, the daily routine that I’m doing. It’s interesting that we’re going through all the different things. It’s been a long break.
It also gave me a lot of time to think about how I now want to approach and attack the end of the year and the next following years after that.
Q. You have had probably the most extended dominant run that any athlete has ever had, and you’ve been doing it for an awfully long time. You’re 29 now. I think Pete Sampras only ever won one Slam after 29. You have talked during this kind of struggle that you still believe you can do this. Has there ever been a moment during this last year, year and a half where you don’t think you can be No. 1 again and don’t believe you can be the best player in the world for an extended period again?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, the last one?and?a?half years I’ve won like three or four Slams, and I got to No. 1, so I felt I could get to No. 1 because I was No. 1. So it’s a funny question.
But no, I mean, obviously Rafa came back very strong. They wrote him off, too, which was to me surprising, especially because he couldn’t play Wimbledon last year. There was a bit of negativity hype around him being awfully injured and stuff, but he also only missed six weeks. I missed about the same at the beginning of the year, too, but I only missed Dubai but he missed Wimbledon.
Sometimes, you know, the press gets too carried away too quickly. It’s understandable with our success we’ve had, Rafa, myself, you know, but I think, you know, the last couple years I’ve been a bit ?? especially when I wanted to practice, you know, I had mono, the lung infection, I had back issues a couple of times. So I just had to ?? I was maybe lacking some practice and maybe all of that, then, you know, came together. Seems that I was not playing so well when I really wanted to, but at the same time I still had a great run I think in the last two or three years.
I did pick up a handful of Grand Slam titles I got back to No. 1 and had an amazing streak in Paris, to win that last year, and Wimbledon, as well. It was unbelievable what I was able to experience, you know. Now it’s, you know, coming from behind again, you know.
Being ranked No. 3 in the world is something I haven’t been in a very long time, so also gives me motivation and a drive to come forward again, and I’m doing all the right things and it’s, to me, just a matter of time. But guys are getting good and it’s inspiring for me also to get better.
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Rogers Cup: Roger Federer Pre-Tournament Press Conference
August 9, 2010 ·
ROGER FEDERER
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. You’ve been quoted of saying in the past that you’ve created a bit of a monster when it comes to expectations that fans and the media have. After Wimbledon, losing in the quarters, you seemed obviously frustrated. Do you feel that sometimes you’ve created this monster in yourself, or do you think the expectations of fans and the media might be a little much?
ROGER FEDERER: No, I don’t think I was frustrated after my loss from Wimbledon. I was disappointed that my body wasn’t holding up and that Berdych played such a good match and that I couldn’t defend my Wimbledon dream again.
So that was the point for Wimbledon. Obviously with all the success, you know, I got spoiled. Everybody around me got spoiled. So it’s obvious when I don’t make ?? when I don’t win the tournament basically or to the finals also not sometimes good enough for people and myself that it’s normal that everybody talks a different way all of a sudden. That’s something I have to deal with, and I’m looking forward to hopefully change that again and play well again here in the States, for instance, and in Canada.
Q. Could you just talk a little bit about the situation of actually hooking up with Paul Annacone and how it’s going and what your expectations might be?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, Paul came to Switzerland after Wimbledon at some stage. I had vacation first, which is obviously key for me to just get back on my feet and feel normal again. It took me about 10 days to get over the aches and pains I have had over the three?week period from Halle until the end of Wimbledon.
I’ve always gotten along very well with Paul, him being obviously the coach of Sampras and Henman who were sort of friends to me and I know very well.
So I thought it was a good time to do a test, and this is our first test tournament we’re doing. We’re taking it slow, and we’ll see what happens next week. We don’t even know yet. He’s got still some commitments with the LTA, and I respect that, obviously, and I want him to fulfill that, as well. He wants to do that, too.
We’ll see how it goes, and we will take a decision maybe after the US Open and see what I’ll do.
Q. Severin still…
ROGER FEDERER: Severin’s coming to Cincinnati, yeah.
Q. Obviously you’ve been working with Paul. What else have you been doing with your time off?
ROGER FEDERER: Like I said, I had a great vacation after Wimbledon. Beautiful weather obviously in Europe, and we enjoyed that, and then it was nice to be home for like three weeks which is, for us, a very long time. I know it’s not that long, but three weeks for us is a big deal.
So that was nice, you know, just get away from it all. Did a couple of sponsor things. Didn’t do any media whatsoever. So it was nice to get away from it all, you know, also, just the people, like the whole scene I know throughout the whole year, and then, you know, you get very excited again to go back on tour and pack your bags and go on a trip again. So very happy to be back on tour obviously again.
Q. It’s a big change for you to hire someone like Paul. What do you hope to get out of him? How do you hope to tweak your game to get back to the No. 1 ranking again?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, the goal has always been for me to improve as a player, and, you know, I won’t just be happy of playing the same way for years and years and years. I’ve always questioned myself in the best of times and in, you know, in the worst of times, even though there were not many worst moments, bad moments, the last seven years or so. But I always look at new ways I can improve on. Paul, I think, with his experience can bring something to our team, and that’s what we’re exploring right now.
Q. Could you just maybe assess your season in general? You obviously got the Australian Open win off the top, but it’s been a few struggles throughout the year. Can you just talk a little bit about what you want to do to move forward, and have you done anything to your game, any changes, any major things you need to work on?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah. I mean, I think it would be great to have more time off to work on my game, but it’s the same dilemma for all the players. You know, the season is long. It’s the way it is. That’s why it, for me, was important to take a rest and really work on my game again.
I think, by doing that, I’m confident that the results will come back eventually. I’m doing all the right things with the last years and stuff. I was definitely disappointed, as well, that I couldn’t play better right after the Australian Open, which I thought was some of my best tennis I ever played in my life, you know.
But I think the lung infection threw back a bit, lost a bit confidence, only played two tournaments in a three?month period and I got to clay and had a couple tough losses early on. I started to play better only when Rome came around, and I actually played okay in Paris and ran into, you know, Soderling who played great, and also at Wimbledon I ran into Berdych who played great.
It was a bit of a disappointing obviously Grand Slam run there as well for me. I thought the guys played great, and I have to make some adjustments just to make sure I stay ahead of the pack, and that’s what I’ve been trying to do in the practice. I haven’t played that many tournaments, after all. It’s hard to judge.
Q. Can you tell us why you’re not entered into the doubles here in Toronto this year? What’s your take on the pairing of Nadal and Djokovic, the world’s No. 1 and 2 players together?
ROGER FEDERER: Um, yeah, I think it’s always fun when singles guys enter the doubles at tournaments. You know, I do it occasionally. Now having, you know, Paul around, I didn’t want to spend extra time on, you know, warming up for doubles or thinking about it. I just wanted to focus on singles and getting back onto the tour, even though usually after six weeks’ break or so I do come back and like to have that extra doubles match maybe.
But I didn’t choose to, but I think it’s great Nadal is playing with Novak. They know each other. We all know each other. We’ve been on the council, and they have the same guy who handles the press. So I’m sure they’re very friendly and it’s great for the fans, good for the game, so I’m for it.
Q. It’s only been a short period, but have there been one or two things Paul has said that you’ve found insightful?
ROGER FEDERER: Sure. We’ve been spending two or almost three weeks together. It’s been interesting, you know, with all the experience he’s had with all the top players, and just hearing someone else for a change is good, too, you know.
It’s also been interesting with the combination with Severin in Switzerland, you know, my coach who has been with me the last three years who has been looking at ways to adjust and play differently or play more aggressive or more defensive, use the right shots and also just handled the tour, you know, the daily routine that I’m doing. It’s interesting that we’re going through all the different things. It’s been a long break.
It also gave me a lot of time to think about how I now want to approach and attack the end of the year and the next following years after that.
Q. You have had probably the most extended dominant run that any athlete has ever had, and you’ve been doing it for an awfully long time. You’re 29 now. I think Pete Sampras only ever won one Slam after 29. You have talked during this kind of struggle that you still believe you can do this. Has there ever been a moment during this last year, year and a half where you don’t think you can be No. 1 again and don’t believe you can be the best player in the world for an extended period again?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, the last one?and?a?half years I’ve won like three or four Slams, and I got to No. 1, so I felt I could get to No. 1 because I was No. 1. So it’s a funny question.
But no, I mean, obviously Rafa came back very strong. They wrote him off, too, which was to me surprising, especially because he couldn’t play Wimbledon last year. There was a bit of negativity hype around him being awfully injured and stuff, but he also only missed six weeks. I missed about the same at the beginning of the year, too, but I only missed Dubai but he missed Wimbledon.
Sometimes, you know, the press gets too carried away too quickly. It’s understandable with our success we’ve had, Rafa, myself, you know, but I think, you know, the last couple years I’ve been a bit ?? especially when I wanted to practice, you know, I had mono, the lung infection, I had back issues a couple of times. So I just had to ?? I was maybe lacking some practice and maybe all of that, then, you know, came together. Seems that I was not playing so well when I really wanted to, but at the same time I still had a great run I think in the last two or three years.
I did pick up a handful of Grand Slam titles I got back to No. 1 and had an amazing streak in Paris, to win that last year, and Wimbledon, as well. It was unbelievable what I was able to experience, you know. Now it’s, you know, coming from behind again, you know.
Being ranked No. 3 in the world is something I haven’t been in a very long time, so also gives me motivation and a drive to come forward again, and I’m doing all the right things and it’s, to me, just a matter of time. But guys are getting good and it’s inspiring for me also to get better.
