WIMBLEDON

June 23, 2003

Roger Federer

MODERATOR: First question for Roger.

ROGER FEDERER: You know, difficult first round, but I felt good today. You know, basically I'm happy to have made it in three because it got quite tight in the end. You know, a few extra gray ones earlier (smiling). But that's okay. Felt like I was playing well, so...

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I saw it before I walked on court, you know. How I felt last year, so...

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, well, maybe it does for you guys, yes. But I've got five matches to go till there. I think there is enough guys, you know, who can beat anyone right here, right now. So I'm not really worrying about not playing Lleyton in the semis, you know.

ROGER FEDERER: I think it was important that I felt my way into a tournament. It was very difficult to serve and volley on the second serve, I had the feeling. Because, you know, the guys, they return well today. I don't know. I mean, I'm trying to hit my second serve harder than usual, and still they're returning well. I hope it's just him, you know (smiling). But it was good, you know, to also play from the baseline a little bit, get used to the harder courts, you know, the higher bounce. So it's good.

ROGER FEDERER: Well, you know, I don't know. I have an outside chance - maybe now bigger. But I can't really focus about winning the tournament yet. The road is too long to go. But, you know, the favorites stay the same, except Lleyton is not the big favorite any more. Next, to Agassi, you know, I don't know, other good players from the grass court.