Roger's Post Match Press Conference

by Savannah


In it's entirety.

April 3, 2009

R Federer - 04 03 09 (2).doc 1
N. DJOKOVIC/R. Federer

3-6, 6-2, 6-3

An interview with:

ROGER FEDERER

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Obviously quite frustrated. It was
2-3 in the second seat set, about five
breakpoints. You held at 4-2, and then after
that it seemed like the wheels came off.
Couldn't keep the forehand on the court? Any
explanation? Wind? Focus?
ROGER FEDERER: No, I mean, I
definitely struggled with my timing after that, so it
was a tough finish for me, you know. I thought I
was playing okay in the first set, but it was always
going to be tough in the wind.
I already felt it in the warm up. It was
coming across the court. Yeah, I struggled heavily
today. It was tough.

Q. When fired your racquet into the
court, did that feel good?
ROGER FEDERER: Not really. Not
really.

Q. Do you remember the last time you
broke a racquet, Roger?
ROGER FEDERER: Could have been
here against Rafa.

Q. It was here?
ROGER FEDERER: Maybe. I don't know.

Q. It's obviously very tough for you to
come in so soon after a defeat like that. The
emotions are obviously very strained. Is it
getting tough to just appreciate the matches
like this sort of drifting away? We watch them
and we can't believe sometimes. I suppose it's
even more difficult for you.
ROGER FEDERER: You kind of try hard
and then it's just not working. Today it is different
just because there's so much wind, as well. Once
you start feeling bad, it's kind of tough to regroup,
you know.
On top of that, it made it more difficult as
well from the one end because you had the sun in
your eyes. It was really tough on the ball toss, you
know. Between 1:30 and 2:30 it's really tough.
But, I mean, it's the same thing for both
players. Once one guy gets the upper hand, the
other guy is a bit uncertain. It's tough, but he
struggled bigtime in the first set.
So, you know, I finished worse than him.
He played so bad in the first set, I had a great
effort by finishing even worse than him. It was
good.

Q. Do you feel like he managed the win(d)
better than you did?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I guess so.
The result shows it, yeah.

Q. Did you find yourself sort of
pressing because of that and going for shots
that you might have waited a little bit longer
on?
ROGER FEDERER: Not really. Just
trying to keep the ball in the court. So it's not like I
was chasing the lines too much.

Q. How much pressure are you feeling
out there?
ROGER FEDERER: Not a whole a lot. I
haven't been winning twenty tournaments in a row,
so nobody expects me to win really.
No, look, it's been a tough last year or so,
especially in the hardcourts. My game never really
clicked, you know, except for the Open where I
thought I played great.
I think when I was finding my form again,
you know, it hit me with the back problem. It was
unfortunate, you know, but thank God the
hardcourt season is over.

Q. How do you evaluate your play in
the first part of the hardcourt season?
ROGER FEDERER: It's the end. It's the
end of the hard court season. I don't care
anymore. I'm moving over to clay, a new chapter.

Q. On the clay, you are only entered
into two events prior to Roland Garros?
ROGER FEDERER: Yes, it's going to stay
that way.

Q. Sorry?
ROGER FEDERER: What's the question?

Q. Is that set in stone, or might you
change that?
ROGER FEDERER: Nothing is set in
stone. You never know. I don't know.

Q. Did you feel like he almost let you
back in at 4-Love where he double faulted
twice? Did you feel there was a little opening
there?
ROGER FEDERER: It was tough to hold
serve, and, you know, the wind was swirling. From
the one end when you didn't have the sun in your
eye, you were playing against the wind, so you
always actually had sort of a chance to break.
So I knew I wasn't out of it, but I should
have held to go 3-1, I think. Maybe. In the third
set, I had a game point there. I think I could have
actually almost smashed it, but didn't read it quick
enough and ended up losing the point there.
I think that was my biggest opportunity I
had.

Q. You've had other matches where
things aren't going as well and you don't get as
upset about that particular moment. What was
different about today that you just lost it there
for that moment?
ROGER FEDERER: I didn't lose it. I was
just frustrated. Just because I smashed the
racquet doesn't mean I lose it. Didn't feel great.
Didn't feel -- it's just a natural thing I did.

Q. Do you feel you can overcome the
problems you have at the moment, or you feel
that you may need some help from a coach or
from somebody else?
ROGER FEDERER: I've had like five
coaches in the last two years.

Q. Did you feel like the crowd got
behind you after you smashed the racquet?
ROGER FEDERER: That was great.
Great, they got behind me after smashing the
racquet.

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R Federer - 04 03 09 (2).doc 2

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