[訪談]Postgame Transcribed Interview
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. Congratulations.
ROGER FEDERER: Thank you (smiling).
Q. Out on the court, if I heard you correctly, you said it was the
most pleasurable Grand Slam final in your career. If you could elaborate a
bit on that and sort of your emotions after the win.
ROGER FEDERER: Well, what I meant with it is maybe the most well, I think
depending on how you look at it, but the most special one for me, you know,
to play Andre in the final of the US Open. Still maybe one of the only living
legends in tennis we still have, you know, next to Martina Navratilova on the
women's side, and him. To play him, you know, in this situation, you know, him
being towards the end of his career, me being on the top of my game, and
getting the chance to play him on such an occasion, that's what I meant with
it being really special today. I mean, I couldn't speak too much yesterday,
you know, looking into it, because, you know, I still had to focus on the
match. But I knew that this was going to be very special.
Q. That living legend just said you were the best tennis player he ever played
and reiterated it at least two times in his press conference. How does that
make you feel?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, nice. He's given me many nice compliments over the years,
so I really appreciate that. Yeah, I'm amazed I could hang with him throughout
the last few years with him. You know, he got me a few times early in my career
where he made me look like a little schoolboy. Now that I could turn it around,
it's for me fantastic. So sort of we can have an even battle, you know. It's
really nice. I look up to him, you know, because he's been around for so long,
and for his results. So a lot of respect from my side.
Q. Talking about legends, in 2003 you beat Pete Sampras in Wimbledon. He was an
icon at that time.
ROGER FEDERER: 2001.
Q. 2001, okay. He was kind of untouchable there. Now you beat another icon. How
do you rate these two matches? Does it mean the same for you?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I was much more nervous going into the Sampras match,
obviously. Not only was that the first time I ever played Sampras, it was the
only time as well, but also my first time on Centre Court at Wimbledon.
Obviously, that is very special. So it's very different, you know, Wimbledon,
US Open, finals, you know, fourth round. So it's hard to compare those two.
But for me, I've always looked much more up to Sampras than to Agassi. Didn't
pay that much attention to Agassi, but thank God he was around longer so I got
to know him better for his results, for him as a person. Now I enjoy playing
as much against him like when I did against Pete.
Q. You've got six Grand Slam titles now, so you join with Stefan Edberg and
Boris Becker. They're your idols.
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, they're my idols.
Q. How do you feel?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, that's fantastic. When I heard that today, that
was for me something very special because, yeah, tying your idols, isn't that
great? You know, I think it's every little boy's dream. I made it come true
today in a memorable final for me, and I still got something left I think in
my career. So hopefully I can beat those records. That will be even better
(smiling).
Q. It seems like you are always unbeatable. What do you think it takes to beat
you besides luck?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, well, the three matches I lost, and two of them I had
matchpoint, you know, so they got a little lucky. But, no, I don't know really.
I amaze myself that I can back it up one tournament after another, keep on
playing so well, and especially on hard court and grass court. Clay obviously
is a little bit of a different story. But still also there I gave myself a
chance to win the French. But, yeah, I wonder why I always play so well, and
especially on the big occasions, like I said on center court. It just seems
to click for me. It's really through, I think when I was down 4 2 in the third,
I really started to feel like my serve's coming back, you know. That's the
first time I felt that throughout the whole tournament. That it happened then,
I was quite pleased about that.
Q. It seems like you didn't go to the net as much as you usually do. At the end
of the second set, you didn't have one point at the net.
ROGER FEDERER: Did I win it?
Q. No, no, you didn't have any the second set.
ROGER FEDERER: Not any, okay, okay.
Q. Was Andre forcing you to do that?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, obviously it's hard to attack on his shots because
it's so flat and deep. So obviously that's not a shot where you can approach
on. He's very good on defense. You know, he plays the angles very well, so it
makes it hard to come to the net. I wasn't in the mood to serve and volley too
much, so I wanted to stick with him from the baseline and try to come through
this way. In the end, it's the result in the end that matters. So I'm very
pleased. Obviously, I wish I could be serve and volleying, too, but right now
I don't think I would.
Q. You talked about how some of the players you faced and beaten are your
idols. Andre is in that category. Was there any point today when you looked
across the net and thought, "Maybe I should just let the old man have one"?
ROGER FEDERER: No (smiling). No, that really only happened this one time when
I played Sampras. I was warming up and, you know, I looked across the net and
I couldn't believe it was Sampras, you know. That's the only time it really
happened. I had some when the draw came out in Basel back in '99, you know, I
couldn't believe I was going to play Agassi. I thought, "Okay," he was on his
way back, but still he was a superstar. For me to play him then, that was very
special. Once you play more than I don't know how many times, it's still
special. But it's not you don't fear anybody anymore. You still have the
respect, but it's a match like another one as well. Circumstances are very
different. 24,000 people are behind him. It's the finals, you know. So, no, I
didn't have that feeling.
Q. I am from Russia and I think that Marat Safin is the single rival for you.
Is that correct?
ROGER FEDERER: (Smiling). I wish I could say yes for you, but... (laughter).
I feel like there's a whole group of guys chasing me right now. He's one of
them, let's put it that way.
Q. We love you in Russia.
ROGER FEDERER: Okay. I didn't understand, but all right (laughter).
Q. We love you in Russia.
ROGER FEDERER: Oh, is that what it is? All right. Thank you (smiling).
Q. Could you just take a moment and talk about the one or two qualities you
most respected in Pete and the one or two qualities that you most respect in
Andre.
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I can only go as far as players, you know. I don't know
them good enough personally, so that would be something strange for me to do,
you know, to tell them how they are, their character is. I can only tell you
how they are on the court. They both seem very respectful, you know, to the
game and to their opponents. Obviously, they have a very different game. I
think we see both games, they're very dominant in what they do: Agassi from the
baseline, and Pete at the net and with his serve, you know. So they have
totally different qualities, but they had similar careers. For me, Sampras'
career is quite extraordinary, you know. So it's hard to compare, you know, one
to the other. I think that would be also wrong to do, but I think it's great
they had such a fantastic rivalry throughout the years, you know. Obviously, as
soon as Andre goes for me, also it's a pity that he goes because I wish I could
play more of him.
Q. Did you learn anything about yourself these past two weeks, and did you
learn anything about your game during this tournament?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I was playing to win, basically, so it wasn't how should
I say? I wasn't trying out things, you know. I'm saying it's just too important
to actually change up your game. In the beginning of the tournament I wish I
could play a little bit more aggressive, but that somehow didn't really work
for me, so I had to really be careful. I played a few tricky matches, you know,
with Santoro and Rochus and Kiefer. I lost maybe my game a little bit
throughout those matches. But bounced back well with Nalbandian. It was a tough
one against Hewitt. So I really played to win. I'm happy that worked out.
Especially today, I really started to feel like I can play more aggressive
return, play a more defensive return. Today is really the first time I felt
like I can actually use all my shots, and that wasn't the case up until this
match today.
Q. How are you going to celebrate this title? Will you go back to Switzerland?
What are your plans?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, well, that's the plan, you know. I've got Davis Cup back
in Geneva coming in a little bit, ten days' time or so. Yeah, I'm not making
any detour. I'm going straight to Switzerland from here.
Q. New Yorkers are usually a generous crowd. Today did Andre's fan club bother
you?
ROGER FEDERER: They were very generous for him, yeah (smiling).
Q. That's what I mean. Did it bother you?
ROGER FEDERER: No, it was all right. It was little bit more than I expected on
his side, but, you know, that's I guess how it is. But no problems. I still
enjoyed every second.
Q. Do you feel yourself as the best player in the world?
ROGER FEDERER: Excuse me?
Q. Do you feel like the best player in the world?
ROGER FEDERER: Right now, yeah (smiling). But the best player of this
generation, yes. But not nowhere close to ever, because, yeah, just look at the
records that some guys have. I'm a little kooky (smiling).
Q. Twenty three wins in the final. Breaking the record of Borg and McEnroe. You
are the best player ever.
ROGER FEDERER: Well, in this in this particular stats, yes. Also maybe final
appearances and final wins, you know, the winning percentage, in Grand Slam
finals. There's records I'm proud of. I'm happy I have some records because it
makes it more fun for me, you know, not only to play against the other guys,
sometimes to play against history occasionally. I still cannot believe how well
I've been playing over the last few years and that it just keeps on going, you
know. It's incredible because last year was fantastic with the three Grand
Slams and the Masters Cup and all the other titles. Now to back it up with an
almost same fantastic season, you know, even have chance to maybe improve it.
But after the two first semifinals, you know, in Grand Slams this year, to come
back and win the next two, it's for me quite a surprise no matter what.
Q. Are you going back to Thailand to play the Thailand Open?
ROGER FEDERER: Yes, I am.
Q. What do you expect for this?
ROGER FEDERER: Oh, it was a great tournament they had last year. I really
enjoyed it. It was a tough field. We had a great semifinals with Paradorn and
Marat and Andy in the semis, and myself. I think I really like Thai people, you
know, so I guess that's also one of the reasons why I'm going back there.
Q. A lot of people, when they first look at your game, just say, "Fantastic,
this guy is the ultimate shot maker," and just put you way at the top. Now
you're winning title after title, the weeks at No. 1, three Wimbledons, back to
back, etc. and now Andre comes in and says you're the best he's ever played. At
what point will you just say, "Okay, I'm the best"?
ROGER FEDERER: Hmm... well, he just played me, you know, so I don't know. If it
changes if you ask him in five years' time, you know. Him saying that I'm,
let's say, better than Sampras, you know, I'm little surprised, you know. But,
you know, he says what he thinks is right, you know. I don't think he would be
lying in here. Yeah, I appreciate it very much. It's fantastic to be compared
to all the players he's played, you know, throughout his career. We're talking
about the best, you know, some are the best in the world or of all time. To be
compared to those is great, you know. And it's still going, so I still have
chances to get there and to improve.
Q. Was there ever a point where you didn't want to play tennis, or you had
other interests in life and now when you reflect back on that are you glad that
you stuck with it?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, there's always times I think in a player's career where he
just wants to do something else or walk away from the game because too many
losses, too much traveling, whatever, you know. So I was joking around quite
serious at one stage I thought, you know, just hang up my racquet and go away
and just not be so frustrated. That was back in maybe '99, when I almost
cracked the Top 100 and was stuck at 120 in the world for about six months and
was just not good enough, basically, to make the next step. That was for me
very hard. I really thought I tried to work extra hard on it. The work didn't
pay off straight away. But then, you know, when the wins come back and also the
pleasure obviously comes. Everything is much easier. So for me then to have
cracked the Top 10 and win Wimbledon, that really gave me a boost. Now I look
back and go, "What the hell did I do before? Why didn't I enjoy tennis before?"
It's crazy that it needs a Wimbledon championships sometimes for me to realize
that.
Q. Which of the younger players do you foresee can give you trouble in the near
future, if any?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, we have quite a few around. I think the two guys who beat
me this year, Gasquet and Nadal.
Q. The fact that this hasn't been asked 9/11, playing on the 11th of September,
playing against an American legend, I mean, you could feel quite a bit of
palpable patriotism out on the court today. Any special reflections?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, the date, obviously, is hard. Not only for Americans, I
think for the whole world to see that. But I think, you know, people came to
see tennis, you know, and for me, I saw the greater matchup with Andre in the
US Open finals more than the date. That is left for those who are very sad, you
know. I didn't lose any close friends, so for me it's different. But everybody
was shocked, you know, obviously. I think once we were out there, it was a
normal sort of thing, you know, just that they were backing him up like crazy,
which I totally understand, because they wanted him to win so badly. That's the
usual thing that happens.
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