2017 Tournament Interviews

avasbar wrote:Thanks vrazkar!
But I Cant see the ESPN one

Roger Federer about what he did during his break

After Miami I would have liked to go on holidays. In fact, I had only five days of holidays because I was commited to the “Match for Africa” in Zürich against Andy Murray. After that, I improved my condition – that was my first practice block. At the end of April, there was the second “Match for Africa”, this time against John Isner. Amongst others, I also met Bill Gates there. That was a terrific experience. Then it was off to practicing again. Now I’m refreshed and injury free and hopefully will get a good start into the grass court season. I had some good sparring partners and no problems with my body. Of course, that’s always a relief. Training blocks can be more dangerous than actual matches.

Roger Federer about the change to grass court

The grass court season is short and very intensive. I won’t change too much of my game. The biggest change would be to just rely on Serve & Volley now. I think, I’m more dangerous, when I mix my game with good services, volleys and strong play from the base line. It’ll feel a bit different in Wimbledon. Just because of the size of the courts and the grass there. Grass court tennis mostly means reacting. I like to think of myself as being pretty good at anticipating. After my break, I have to work on those things becoming naturally for me again. How do you fend off a break ball? How do you get a break ball? I’ll have to adapt to that again. I have high hopes, though, that I’ll play well in Stuttgart already.

“The history I have here, having come and played well so often, definitely should help me to play good tennis this week,” Federer said Sunday. “I love playing here. Yes, I think I can come in here with good confidence.”

“It’s important for me, especially after the Stuttgart week, to come here and make sure I win my first-round match and get going. I want to take the right decisions on the tennis court. I don’t want to question myself too much. I’ll have the right focus and mindset, that point-by-point mentality. That was a little bit off in Stuttgart, understandably so. I have to learn from that week and move forward in a better way.”  

“It could have been better in Stuttgart, but then again I had match point,” Federer said. “It wasn’t like I lost 6-2, 6-2 and everything was terrible. A comeback is never simple, especially on grass where margins are so slim. It’s a serve or a passing shot or a return that determines the outcome of the match. That’s what it ended up being against Tommy, even though I felt I should have found a way home, having been a set and a break up.

“Considering how well I felt going into Paris, it was surprisingly easy to take the decision and after making it I never had any regrets watching it or following the results. I never thought ‘If only I was part of the tournament.’ I was looking ahead to the grass season and enjoyed the time with my friends and family at home.

“It was a decision that was taken within a couple of days. It wasn’t something I saw myself doing weeks and months ahead of the tournament. For a long time the schedule was to play Paris but all of a sudden I just felt that I wouldn’t be comfortable doing it. I didn’t want to compromise the goal of the grass-court season, Wimbledon, the US Open and beyond.

"I felt that the French Open may potentially have a negative effect on what’s to come. It may have been helpful, but I felt there was more risk that it would go the other way. Based on health, that’s why I decided to skip.

"But it’s not a trend that I might follow in the future. I don’t know what the future holds. This was just a one-off decision."

"It's like coming home."... "I feel good, am relaxed. I can't wait to serve in Halle"

"The draw is okay. If you look ahead, there will most probably be more cracks.“

"Training has gone wonderfully. Everything is going well."...
"I am hopeful to play much more successfully than in Stuttgart."...
his aim was to "be 100 percent fit and competible for the lawn season.": "That gives me self confidence for Wimledon."

"It was always a place where I felt extremely good. Halle is an ideal date, with its tournament character, between the Grand Slams in Paris and London. You can get down to earth here", the Swiss said, "it's a tournament with short, easy walks. And everything that was changed in the last couple of years made sence. This was also good for the players." The upgrading to an ATP500 event, Federer stated, "Halle has really deserved."

"They were always very glad to go for walks in the forest", Federer said, "when I went away to the tournament this time, they couldn't come. So they said to me: can't you stay here - and we will go to Halle."