I’m still processing Roger Federer’s semi final loss to Novak Djokovic today at the Sony Ericsson Open! Still processing. . .still processing. . . I think Roger Federer is too. But at least his loss is bringing out his hidden talents – for racquet smashing and scathing sarcasm. Check out these zingers during his post match presser:
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. 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. 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.
God, I’m glad the hard court season is over too – and that Roger’s only playing two clay tournaments before Roland Garros. Maybe that will give him time to hire a psychiatrist and get an F’ING coach!
Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images
Tags: ATP, Djokovic, Federer, Miami Open, Sony Ericsson Open, tennis
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“hire a psychiatrist and get an F’ING coach! ”
Amen!!
Yikes, I’m still processing that too. It’s one thing to lose because your opponents played the lights out, it’s quite another to lose because …. because what? Nothing was there.
I know, Dootsiez! If I was a conspiracy theorist (which I am NOT) I would almost wonder if Roger was throwing the match under the orders of the tennis-betting Mafia. You know, the same guys who were always bugging Davydenkno (hmmm. . .and Davydenko hasn’t been around much lately, has he?)
Oh well, at least now I can watch the final and actually enjoy it, instead of wailing at the television.
What can I tell you, I’m SICK.
Wow, FF, I feel your pain. Maybe it’s a good thing I don’t have cable.(Here’s a hug!)
FF, those survival tips are really helpful and i may do some of those but first i’ll just binge on Junkfoods and watch a lot of DVD’s to take my mind off the SF match.Im sad…really sad….
OOOOOOH! Jenica, I’m sorry you are soooooo sad! I know how you feel. Being a fan is a really weird and emotional experience – sometimes I wonder why we put ourselves through it!
Just enjoy your ice cream and potato chips and your DVDs and remember that Roger lost in the quarterfinals of Miami last year – so at least he’s making up some points! He also did better this year at the Aussie than he did last year. So things aren’t quite so bad. . .
Plus, he can still outplay anyone – it’s his head that’s wrecked right now. That can be fixed.
I envy you Freakyfrites because you said you are gonna enjoy the finals….I on the other hand wont bother to watch cause i think its not exciting as its gonna be it if its not Roger playing.How biased can i be right?But wailing in front of the tv isn’t an option for you anyhow so enjoy….
Oh well, instead of watching t.v. like me, you can spend your weekend in fresh air and sunshine
Me, I can’t resist cheering against Nole!
FF,ill definitely cheer for A.M even if it’s against my better judgement.Let the “Masters of Masters Series”(LOL!) pommel each other!
I wish Roger would hire Boris Becker. Becker had the perfect emotional pitch for tennis. Not too obnoxious but able to bring fire into the belly when he needed it.
He also did not blabber nonsense at post match interviews. Maybe it’s a lost in translation situation. Whatever, I am beside myself with angst for him.
Hey Barbara! I’m with you on Boris. He’s a nut, but he knows his tennis and he knows what Roger is going through. And Roger would respect him (and they can speak German or English together!)
There was a hilarious spoof (in German) at the blog “Lorely” (it’s on my blog roll) that really got my hopes up. Basically Boris was saying how much he wanted to be Roger’s coach and that he had plenty of kids so changing diapers now and then wouldn’t be a problem for him. It didn’t sound too impossible to me.
Who knows. . .I wouldn’t be completely surprised if Boris really did give Federer a call. I think he’s looking for something to keep him out of trouble/occupied.
we saw boris in the same box with mirka at the sony… maybe just maybe
Really! in the same box! I saw him on t.v. but didn’t see Mirka nearby. I did notice he was video taping, though.
What do you the odds are at this point? 50-50 that Becker is his coach?
Hey everyone. I think I might’ve mentioned this here on GTT before, Freakyfrites, but speaking of Boris… You know who I think would be a perfect fit for Roger? Boris’ old coach, Bob Brett. I know Brett has been working with Cilic, but I just think he would be the perfect guy for Roger: He can come up with good game plans and is pretty even-keeled. Tony Godsick or someone should be trying to make that happen!
Hey Van, I think you have mentioned this before, but thanks for reminding me. I do think that someone like Brett would be a great match. I have this feeling that Roger’s actively looking for a coach right now – mirka’s going to have to stop travelling sometime soon and he’s going to be totally out of sorts if he doesn’t have a substitute travel companion (maybe the coach won’t be able to substitute for everything, but you get what I mean.) So who knows, if he really has been chatting with Boris, maybe Brett’s name came up. I would think Federer would be a more exciting prospect than Cilic, even though Marin is obviously an up and comer.
Van, I really admire your perspective on the game, btw – you really know your stuff!
[reposting from the other thread]
I’m depressed and somewhat angry, though it’s understandable that such an uber-dominant superstar had to come back to the level of the mortals at some point. I dont mind the losses. but not in THIS manner – that too it happens very frequently these days.
I think the Fedster would do well by taking a break from the game for sometime (even if it means he has to miss a slam or two). I know the rankings will drop, he will get tougher opponents very early in the tournaments. Still, he has to do something to counter the problems posed by the top players. Plus, seems like the back is still bothering him and that adds to his confidence crisis right now. And he has the real ‘Baby Federer’ coming out shortly. so…
a break + recharge + play pressure free + and actually dont be too stubborn.
Hey Arun – I had the same reaction re: Federer taking a break. Let Rafa and the rest run themselves ragged while he recharges his batteries, right? But then the tyranny of the rankings is probably too strong for Roger to take as much time off as he’d want to. I think he’s feeling the pressure from all sides – winning majors, winning Masters, maintaining the ranking, dealing with the back injury, coach, baby, etc. He’s a young guy, and maybe all this stuff is really weighing on his mind. Somethings gotta give, and I agree that the healthiest option is his schedule. He’s gotta get that hunger and joy back into his game. We’ll see – at some point he’s not going to have a choice. . .
Hey Freakyfrites and others.
Love all your insightful comments.
I think Boris suffered the same scenario with Sampras, as Fedsie does with Nadal. He (boris) quit tennis because he did not think he could beat Sampras at Wimbledon. I think he realizes that reasoning was a mistake and their intense rivalry was good for tennis, but caused a mental anguish that stifled Boris’ tennis. He could help Federer discern between respect for that rivalry, but maintaining the intense desire to beat his “bottom off” during a match. They are not mutually exclusive.
Boris was sitting behind me at the Sony and Mirka was in the same box. They were not chatty, but do I think that is a coincidence…….NADA…
Take care tennis fans, and try not to eat or drink too much before the French Open.
Hi Barbara!
Thank YOU for your insights – I really like what you have to say about Boris, and how his regrets may be motivating him to reach out to Roger. They both share such a deep, enduring love for Wimbledon and Boris will understand just how much Roger wants to regain his title. And I agree that Boris could do wonders in terms of fine tuning Roger’s mental approach.
Could you imagine, both Becker and JMac coaching Fed? Now that would be something to see!
Something to see is an understatement! I would love it! Becker and Mac have a long history of mutual respect. Unfortunately I can’t see them sharing the same stage.
I just want someone to explain my anxiety when Federer plays and my melancholy when he loses. I felt exactly the same a while back when Becker played. I think some of it has to do with the slow deliberate nature of their games. I didn’t have time to feel angst with Agassi.
Take care tennis fans
Interesting point, Barbara. I remember feeling similarly about Pete Sampras’s losses, although even then, it seemed like we held Pete up to slightly lower standards than Roger. These Masters or “Super 9s” or whatever, didn’t hold the same mental weight as the majors. Plus, we never even gave him a chance of winning the French. . .
We have to toughen up a bit as Fed fans – he made it so easy for us in the past! Time to work on that Cubs fan mentality – knowing that disappointment may be inevitable. (ouch!)