Wimbledon - Federer: French Open forgotten

Eurosport - Sun, 22 Jun 15:31:00 2008

Five-times Wimbledon champion Roger Federer has said that he had banished thoughts of his French Open mauling at the hands of Rafael Nadal.

TENNIS Roger Federer Training at Wimbledon 2008 - 0

"It's almost easier to forget a loss like that," the world number one said on the eve of his bid for a modern-era record sixth consecutive singles title.

"The French Open was over in such a hurry...so it's easy just to look forward and concentrate on grass. I won't be on clay for 10 months so it really hasn't been a problem. I'm happy I haven't been affected by it," he said.

"I'm still pretty proud of achieving my third French Open final but for some I guess that's still not good enough," he added.

The Swiss top seed said he did not read newspapers and so had taken no notice of comments from former players that he was more vulnerable now at Wimbledon, especially as Nadal had also won his first grasscourt title at Queen's last week.

"What other people and players say I cannot control. But you'll always hear good and bad things. It's maybe a time where some people talk a little bit too much sometimes," he said.

"I just like to be favourite and like to come and try to dominate other players," the Swiss added.

More players had all-round games these days, with Spaniards such as Nadal and David Ferrer winning on grass, so there was danger throughout the draw, Federer said.

"Guys that are at the top I feel that they can play on all surfaces."

Aside from Nadal and third seed Novak Djokovic, who won the Australian Open, Federer mentioned American Andy Roddick, runner-up in 2004 and 2005, British 12th seed Andy Murray, 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt, Argentine David Nalbandian and Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis as dangerous opponents over the next fortnight.

Federer suffered glandular fever at the start of the year, which affected his results, but said he was back on form, feeling as fit as last year when he equalled Bjorn Borg's feat of five in a row.

"I'm physically in good shape again, so things are looking good but there's never any guarantee," he said.

If he wins the title, Federer will become only the second player to win six in a row after William Renshaw in the 1880s, when the competition was much smaller.

After winning his first title, Renshaw had only to win one match in the Challenge round to defend the crown.

Federer begins his defence -- the first of seven matches if he goes all the way -- on Centre Court on Monday against Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia.

Reuters

Comment 1 - 15 of 15

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  1. Rodger will win he is teh supreme grass court player rafa may be rule on clay but clay is clay and grass and grass is grass and rodger is class.

    From herdski, on Mon 23 Jun 12:09PM

  2. Nadal is a great champion but hopefully Federer will be able to defend his crown and silence his critics! Sampras never won at RG and was widely considered one of the best ever and managed a haul of 14 slams, pretty impressive if you ask me! Federer is just 2 short of that record and still only 26, people seem to be forgetting that! Best Wimbledon final ever and most worthy champion was Goran Ivanisevic in 2001!

    From ioanniskarayiannis, on Mon 23 Jun 11:52AM

  3. RF is the greatest player of all time, we dont have to criticize Dokovish though for trying to affect RF psychologically , he does have a good chance so as Nadal of winning this year as they almost did last year, RF is human after all but also the best.

    From tb60750, on Mon 23 Jun 10:27AM

  4. Roger Federer, i always support u. try ur best and i believe u can win Wimbledon.^^

    From jidd_tan, on Mon 23 Jun 9:53AM

  5. Baghdatis all the way...!!!

    From Basil, on Mon 23 Jun 7:08AM

  6. Djokovic is just a silly kid, Roger used to be the King but now it is the time of Rafa

    From Tran hien Trung, on Mon 23 Jun 2:13AM

  7. Just like Roddick in 2004/2005, Nadal's also had his double chance of going against the master. This year is someone else's turn to have a go... And oh, it cant be Djokovic either because he's not even going to get to the semi-final to face the best. Just as Nadal's dominated RG, so is Roger at home at Wimbledon. All that matters is winning and losing in tennis; whether it be in 2,3,4 or 5 sets. Stop talking of Rafa coming close, he lost and he wont make the final this year...

    From Yaw B, on Sun 22 Jun 11:21PM

  8. Please destroy Federer in the final Rafa!!

    Rafa must put all his efforts in actually reaching the final...then the fun can begin.

    From james.bob89, on Sun 22 Jun 10:54PM

  9. I think Novak Djokovic is getting too big headed. He,s not a champion and can never be a champion. just because he won the Australia open doesn,t place him in the same class as Federer. He,s arrogant and silly. I used to look at Nadal as arrogant, but he shows respect to great champion like Federer, thats what great champions does. Djokovic would soon fade into the thin air. Look how many years Federer has been on top, i give him alot of credit for that and he,s a humble guy. we all have to thank God for Federer, cos he makes tennis exciting. We don,t need pretenders like Novak in tennis. GO ON FEDERER.

    From Brian Taylor, on Sun 22 Jun 10:52PM

  10. Loco-Djoko is going to win... When he beats Fed in an epic four-setter in semi-finals, Rafa is going to be easy one to beat... :)
    Trust me...

    From giolle, on Sun 22 Jun 10:34PM

  11. Federer said he was as prepared as ever when he met Nadal in the finals at RG and looked what happened to him. Psychologically I think Federer is scared of Nadal and this might work against him.
    Federer's sense of invincibility has been punctured this year and many players feel they can actually beat him which was not the case in previous years. If anybody can do it, it is NadaL who has reached the wimbledon finals in the past two years and came very close last year despite having a very difficult tournament because of the bad wheather. Federer has to beat Djokovik first who is a very dangerous player before he can start thinking of beating Nadal if he meets Nadal in the finals,
    Something tells me this is Nadal's year at Wimbledon. COME ON RAFA. YOU CAN DO IT.

    JULIUS NDIKUM IN LONDON.

    From ndiks2, on Sun 22 Jun 9:46PM

  12. Roger: Do whatever you have to do to win the 6th wimbledon championship. This will be a blow to big mouths like the serbian and borg (i can't believe borg will go down to this level)

    From world_tek_inc, on Sun 22 Jun 8:52PM

  13. I Hope this: RAFAEL NADAL 2008 WIMBLEDON CHAMPION

    From rnbc.nisa, on Sun 22 Jun 8:48PM

  14. I hope you'll win. Go Roger!

    From masaivkovic, on Sun 22 Jun 4:45PM

  15. Although I think that Nadal is a very big threat,Roger will win for sure!
    GO RAFA !!!

    From tanja_rjk, on Sun 22 Jun 3:55PM
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