TMS - ROME

May 9, 2001

Roger Federer

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, we have practiced already a couple of times and there, you know, we have a lot of funny rallies because we hit the ball very hard. And so, I don't know, today was fine to play each other in a match and see what happens, you know. So I had actually a lot of fun today playing against Marat, because of course he's not on his top form, but still great for me to come out with a win here today on clay especially, against him. He had some great results on clay. Of course it's -- we both are very young, so kind of prestige maybe. But, I mean, for me, I didn't see it like that. We're good friends, so...

ROGER FEDERER: I mean definitely, I think already in the first I wouldn't call myself lucky to make four games in the first, but I saved a lot of break points. I always had the feeling that I had to work hard on my service games. And I was playing poorly on his service games because in the beginning of the match, didn't make a lot of first serves. So I was disappointed the way I played in the first set, and he almost got away with the first set, and then a break in the second. So I was fighting hard today and, yeah, broke him at 5-4, and I felt in the middle of the second set my game really came together, and my backhand started to get better.

ROGER FEDERER: Of course, you never know what's going to come next. I think we are very similar. Me, too, also a little bit. So we get cross on the court if we're not happy with our games. We are disappointed when it's not going well; we are happy when it works well. I think we can both hit shots, like, you don't expect. So I think we have something similar. Of course Marat is, ranking-wise and result-wise, in a different league, but I hope I can catch up with him.

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I think I got a very -- we got a similar game: Good serve, good forehand, and everything is based on the forehand. So see -- he's playing better again, because he had a bad start of the year, so it's gonna be tough. I played him twice, and it's one-all, so...

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean of course not everything is similar because I play a one-handed backhand; he plays a two-handed. That changes a lot the game. I play much more slice, I try to mix up my game more. He's playing more flat from both sides, I try to use the slice, the spins. But I mean, I don't know, reaction-wise, if we play well or bad, it's pretty similar I mean.

ROGER FEDERER: Oh, yeah, I think so.

ROGER FEDERER: I don't go full blast. I don't know, I want to keep my racquets, you know. I better scream than smash the racquet. (Laughing.)

ROGER FEDERER: Well, the more matches I get, the more comfortable I feel. Obviously, now it's the first time I've beaten somebody like in the Top 10. I think on clay that gives a lot of confidence. I'm really looking forward now for the next few matches because I played well in Monte-Carlo, playing well here again, so I've been playing well.

ROGER FEDERER: What do I think about Paris coming up?

ROGER FEDERER: As I said now, the more matches I get under my belt, the better I will feel at the French Open. I don't really like the balls we are playing with here this week, but I heard that they're much faster than at the French Open. So I think that's gonna even help my game more, and, yeah, I'm looking forward for next few tournaments because clay is a good challenge for me and so far I'm playing well.