PACIFIC LIFE OPEN

March 20, 2004

Roger Federer

THE MODERATOR: This marks the third straight year the No. 1 player in the world has reached the finals here at Indian Wells. Roger is appearing in his fourth ATP Masters Series final tomorrow. Questions for Roger.

ROGER FEDERER: Well, now looking back, you know, it was an important point. But I'm not sure if it would have changed anything because 40-15, normally you win those games. But I had my chances, he had his before. It was a very even match. I really just hung in there, then he got a little, you know, maybe overaggressive and missed a few, which was good for me.

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I think in the end more so. The beginning, I was struggling with my timing, especially on the backhand side. So for me it was important to get into those long rallies as well, just for myself to get the rhythm, but at the same time also to win them and to show that I can go against those long rallies. I think that was the turnaround in the middle of the second.

ROGER FEDERER: Well, in the beginning of the third, I knew I will get my chances if I keep hanging in there. Obviously, it was a big disappointment because I missed a very easy forehand. That was for me the big disappointment. But, you know, I think I'm used to not get too down on myself after such moments because I thought, "I just won the second, no worry to panic in this situation."

ROGER FEDERER: I mean very, because he had his chances, which I missed, and then he had his chances (sic). You have to keep yourself alive. I was playing pretty good, but I knew I needed just a little bit something extra from him, a few easy errors from my side, I knew I will have to face breakpoints. The beginnings of the games on my service games, also on his, are always very important against each other. To get out of that game, obviously now looking back, was crucial.

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I think for me it was just important to be more aggressive on the return, you know, take some chances, not allow him just to hit the kick serve, then start rallying with me from the baseline. Obviously, it's a little bit of a different situation we were in because I was leading a break. I could, you know, relax even more. For me it wasn't the most important in the world to break him a second time, even though against him I still believe it's very important. But, you know, he plays well, makes you run a lot. At 30-Love or 40-Love, it's tough to come back against him.

ROGER FEDERER: No, no, didn't. Obviously, I sweat more against Andre than against other players this week because of the result. But, you know, again, I didn't have to change shirt. That for me shows that I'm okay in the heat this week.

ROGER FEDERER: You know, I come off the match, I called my condition trainer and told him, "That's the way to go." This was a tough match. I thought about him a few times during the match. We worked hard during wintertime in Switzerland. He came with me to Dubai, tried to get me back in shape after I was so tired in Rotterdam. I'm thankful for what we're doing together. I feel stronger mentally and physically. That's thanks to him.

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, always very special moment to beat such players, either with Pete or Andre or Rafter or Goran. These guys for me have lived through so much and brought so much joy for the tennis fans. Then to beat those guys in a nice crowd today, that's really one of those nice moments during the season.

ROGER FEDERER: He's been playing well since sometime now, not only since a few weeks, since he beat me in Rotterdam. I thought Canas played an unbelievable match to beat him in Australia. We all know the score there. I don't know when he really start to pick up his level. In Paris and everything... He's very dangerous. I think he figured out his own game now. He doesn't just run to the net, stay at the baseline. He knows what to do now, and the results show. So it's going to be a tough one.

ROGER FEDERER: Seemed?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I see it this way. Didn't he miss a few years during his career also when his ranking dropped?

ROGER FEDERER: He didn't play as much also. So I think those are the years he saved for now. That's how I look at it. You know, I am not surprised at all because what he's doing now, he's so dedicated, so professional. He's only playing 10 to 15 tournaments a year. Then obviously you can play longer. The same what Pete did, as well. So I think that is the secret when you want to play a few more years and stick around. Just play less tournaments, but the ones you really enjoy playing. For that reason, I'm not surprised he's still around.

ROGER FEDERER: I think it's a combination of everything. I've also decided a little bit in the past I'd rather win the points a little more from the baseline on surfaces like this because otherwise I just run to the net and feel like, you know, we need somebody else just serve-volleying on the tour. I think, this is not what I like doing, serve-volleying on second serve, breakpoint, risking everything. I'd rather play more consistent. This is why against players like Andre especially I'm not going to start serve-volleying. From the baseline I would have no rhythm any more. He would feel stronger from there. There's plenty of reasons to stay back.

ROGER FEDERER: Well, it's obviously a big satisfaction for me -- it's actually a little bit similar to the match I had with Lleyton in Australia, I thought. Quick first set. Never really found my rhythm. He played too good. Then in the middle of second, you know, I started to feel the way into the match and turn it around, which makes me feel really stronger and stronger now these days, similar to what happened in the finals of Dubai. I was down a set against Lopez. He played incredible tennis, I thought. Still I was able to turn these matches around. That's what I wasn't able to a few years ago, because I would panic, start serving and volleying.

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I'm not going to start changing too much about my game. I think if he wants to win the tournament, he's got to beat me playing my game. If he wants to win, he has to change something in his game. I think that is something we'll see tomorrow. But, you know, the surfaces in Rotterdam and Paris suit him better than me. In Rotterdam, I never found a rhythm. There were a lot of bad bounces. Also he played incredible tennis. Obviously, this surface is a little slower, which allows him to have a better look at the return, but also for me it's easier maybe to return his serve. For me, it's just important to stay aggressive against him, obviously, because otherwise he keeps on. To pass him over a long period of time is very difficult. For me, the best volleyer in the game.

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I just tell myself I know that if I find my rhythm, then it's good enough to beat anybody right now. So for me, there's just a hope there that I will pick up that rhythm and then the chances are good that I'm going to win. That's the situation.

ROGER FEDERER: At what time in the match?

ROGER FEDERER: Middle of the second, I thought.

ROGER FEDERER: Oh, yeah, definitely had to show my best this week. Because, I mean, the other matches, I played well, but they were too easy. What can I say? Nothing to do with cockiness or anything. This was the first really challenge I had. This is why I think, you know, I had to play my best. I thought, you know, I served better overall, even though I had one letdown in the first set. But in general I had to really, really push myself. This is when you also tend to overhit because you know how strong your opponent is. I mean, we saw how much separates us two. I was fortunate today.

ROGER FEDERER: "It's looking good." Hopefully I make that ace out wide, like I did, which is my favorite serve. The first point of the game was very important because I thought the serve hit the net. It was a net cord. It came back strong. Half volleyed up the line. That made me be in a more comfortable situation. But a great way to serve it out, definitely.