AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 24, 2004

Roger Federer

THE MODERATOR: English questions for Roger.

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I had to react, you know, to come back in the match. But, you know, I'm never happy when I lose my serve.

ROGER FEDERER: That is nice. That doesn't happen every day in a best-of-three match, it's not possible, or is it? No, it was a good match. I'm happy. You know, it was difficult in the beginning. I felt like I was not serving well and not getting the power I wanted. But after that, you know, I kind of relaxed and it got better.

ROGER FEDERER: You know, it's difficult for him. He's coming off a long match. Suddenly he's playing a totally different style. You know, I kind of read the game well. I can see where he prefers to hit his shots after some time. After that, it was getting easier. And he was getting frustrated. I was maybe not letting him play the rallies he wanted to. It's difficult afterwards when you start being down a set, and double break.

ROGER FEDERER: Not really. I mean, maybe one time in the end. 5-1 in the third I thought maybe his leg is still hurting. But that's normal after such a match. I wouldn't say he paid the price today. But it definitely wasn't good preparation.

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I'm just more confident, you know, higher expectations. I'm not happy anymore with a fourth round or a quarters. You know, I want to get further now. So that's really what has changed. Nothing else really.

ROGER FEDERER: (Nodding head.)

ROGER FEDERER: Except the beginning, you know, was a little bit tough. But after that, you know, again, I felt good, hit freely. Nothing really to complain about, so...

ROGER FEDERER: It's the same. I hope they didn't change it, because I played well in Davis Cup, and also here now. I'm looking forward. It's a good match-up. We've got two totally different games. We always have good matches. He's got a much better record against me, so that's his advantage. But, you know, hopefully I can use something else.

ROGER FEDERER: If I knew, the record wouldn't be that way (smiling). But, you know, I say that every time. But we have always had very tight matches. You know, even though I've beat him twice, one time I beat him, I saved match point. Could be also 9-1. On the other side, it could also be 5-4, 5-All, whatever. We've always had tight matches and physically tough I always thought: Shanghai, Davis Cup, all the other matches. So looking forward to it.

ROGER FEDERER: It's very hard actually. You know, I always get a lot of muscle pain from playing on these courts, even though the matches have been easy. Even though I'm practicing back home in Switzerland on this surface, you know, when I come here, you know, I always have my difficulties. But that's how it is. Luckily it's only a few weeks.