US OPEN

August 30, 2004

Roger Federer

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Roger.

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I definitely wish it was different at the end, you know - obviously to win, but to close it out like I usually do, you know, just serve it out. I guess it seems like I was too dominant, you know, for a while. There was not enough rallies suddenly, and that worked against me because the game I lost, I was against the wind. Actually to get the 5-2 lead, I think if I get that lead, I'm not going to give it away. But I got broken, and then when I served for the match, you know, I just had a terrible service game. I went for too much. That's how quickly it goes.

ROGER FEDERER: I don't know. I don't see it so bad like you guys are. I feel like I've been playing well here in the past, consistent. I've never had a first-round loss here. I've been three times in the fourth round. So I've been actually winning my matches here. I've just been maybe losing the big ones. At the time I was not the favorite, you know, to beat Agassi. Nalbandian was a dark horse, a guy I didn't like to play too much. Once when I played Max, it was like midnight and he blew me off the court. Not much I could do in those matches. I feel like this surface suits my game. It's quicker than Australia. I don't know. To speak about Borg's record and compare it to mine, I don't think that is fair.

ROGER FEDERER: Well, in Miami, you know, I had match points. I should have closed it out actually. I think I served for the match at 5-4 last year and had two match points. In Rome I really started well. You know, kind of missed again many chances in the second set to run away with it. He really got the momentum going, played really well after. For me, it was important to play aggressive, make sure get a lot of first serves in. That's what I did. I think that made the difference in the end. I also started to figure out how to play him today, so I'm happy about that.

ROGER FEDERER: You always hope to get off to a good start against everybody. It's always good in a best-of-five match to win the first set, you know, because it kind of gives you time actually, you can analyze what has been happening. But you're right, against Costa, if you give him a set, his game changes and he knows he can rely on all his shots. And if you're on top of him, he starts thinking and maybe changing up his game plan. This is when you can take advantage of it. That's what happened today.

ROGER FEDERER: I feel good actually. I thought it was a really good match for me today. It's not just a match I came through. I felt I had some very good moments attacking, good moments defending, and I'm also serving well. There's been really good things all over the place. That is something I like obviously. It's something I can build on for the next match.

ROGER FEDERER: It's normal. I don't have to sign as many autographs in the States as in Europe. Here you have many other sports, you know, which are following. So for me it's very difficult to say how much time tennis gets on TV because I'm never here. But I don't know. I feel good here. Once you're on the tennis grounds, it seems like every other tennis tournament. Obviously, New York City, it's kind of a different city, you know, busy people around there. I'm happy not to be recognized so often so I can actually go to normal places to eat and stuff.

ROGER FEDERER: They're Americans. They're always here. I think it's easier definitely for an American, you know, to be a star here than a non-American. But that's the way it should be, so you're doing the right thing.

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah. Well, different personalities, you know.

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I've been asked many times after the Australian. I'm not going to do it this year (smiling).

ROGER FEDERER: I wish it's going to happen. But I know how tough it is. Yeah, I'm playing many matches. To always keep it up and always beat everybody, it's not the easiest thing to do. It's easier to lose than to win. So I don't know. It's not something I'm really aiming for now.

ROGER FEDERER: That would be something. That would be more than enough for me to win three out of four. You know, to be a second after Wilander to do it, it would be nice. We're not there yet. Let's just be patient (smiling).

ROGER FEDERER: I've been checking him out (laughter). I know how tough he is, especially on the American hard courts. I definitely think he's one of the, let's say, top four contenders for the title this year, next to me, Agassi and Roddick. I feel like once he gets going, he's very tough to stop. I hope for him he didn't play too much leading up to this. I think he hasn't been playing too much over the last say one and a half years, so he's got a lot of energy left in his tank.

ROGER FEDERER: Could be, yeah. Just takes the confidence with him the last three tournaments he won, and he carries it through the whole US Open. I wouldn't be surprised. Let's keep an eye on him.