Saludos amigos/as.
Aquí os dejo la
rueda de prensa de Roger Federer tras vencer a Stanislas Wawrinka en los octavos de final de Roland Garros 2010, en inglés.
R.Federer: "Nunca he perdido contra Soderling, lo que obviamente es un buen récord. Pero dados los progresos que ha hecho, es un oponente al que no se debe subestimar, ya que en el pasado derrotó a jugadores increíbles como Nadal, y a mi mismo en Abu Dhabi 2010 a comienzos de año, aunque ese partido para mí fue una preparación ya que era una exhibición y mi primer partido de la temporada. Aquel día preferí probar cosas nuevas y es cierto que él estaba jugando muy bien al comienzo del año a pesar de su mal resultado en Australia. Por mi parte, estoy jugando muy bien por el momento. Nunca he perdido contra él, pero ha evolucionado mucho en este último año. Además, en la tierra batida se siente muy cómodo, veremos qué ocurre".
"Obviamente, con un punto de Suiza en el Mundial de fútbol, todos los suizos seríamos muy felices. España es la favorita, después de cómo jugaron la Eurocopa, que fue fantástico. No sé si han perdido desde entonces". (España perdió contra EEUU en la Copa Confederaciones).
ROGER FEDERER: "Now I played my first seed in the tournament, and a good friend, as well. I really knew the danger in this match. I could have lost definitely a couple sets on the way, against Falla, for instance, or today against Stan. I was able to hang in there and turn it around in the breaker, but that's the stuff you need to do. Last year I had to battle it out more over four or five sets. It has also its advantages to do that. As long as you come through, I always say it's a great tournament. I'm playing really well at the moment, so I'm very happy where my game is at right now."
Q. About this week, maybe you will meet Robin Soderling now. He has now two sets. If it will be him, what do you think about his kind of game, and what do you think about him as an opponent?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, obviously I think he's taken advantage of the better ranking he's had since the last year here. Obviously now I've played him a few occasions now in Grand Slam play. I think I played him in Wimbledon as well the following Grand Slam, and at the US Open, as well. So we have experience playing against each other. I've never lost against him, so obviously that's a good record to have. But because of the improvements he's made, he's an opponent not to underestimate. Obviously he beat incredible players on the way to make the finals here last year, so clay seems to also become really his surface of preference, as well.
Q. You met him in a training match in Abu Dhabi, and there he beat you. What do you remember of that game?
ROGER FEDERER: Exhibition play. I mean, I don't want to downplay or upplay exhibition matches, but they're there to try out a few things. It was the first match of the season. Obviously if you lose to a fellow top 10 players player, there's obviously going to be a lot of talk about it. You can't control that. It's always better to win. But at my stage of my career, I prefer to still try out a few things, because I'll have enough matches down the road where I can't try out too many things. He played well at the beginning of the year, but then he had the surprising exit I think first round in Australia, which was surprising. But, no, look, that match has nothing to do with here. Conditions are way too different. We both have to go back to the drawing board and come up with a good game plan.
Q. Out there today, is there any difficulty at all in thinking of Stan as just another opponent?
ROGER FEDERER: No, I mean, it changes a lot, playing a good friend like Stan. Like I said, I don't have that very often. Obviously we've spent a lot of time as well away from, you know, just the tennis courts and the practice courts, so it makes it a bit harder. But at the same time, you know, basically I think about playing him every point I play, but then I'm able still to play good tennis and put in a good performance.I'm happy that I'm able to, you know, not forget who he is, but at the same time really able to play great tennis.
Q. What's the key to beat a hard hitter like Soderling? You obviously know how to do it. You have 12 nil.
ROGER FEDERER: Well, any hard hitter, I want to try to get him to move. Sometimes that's not in your control. If they play aggressive off the return and they serve well, then you play more like a hardcourt match, which I don't mind doing. Maybe that's why I'm good on many surfaces, because I can adapt to any sort of an opponent. But, yeah, you want to try to get those guys moving, give them different types of balls, keep them low maybe with the slice, because they have to bend more than little guys. But then you don't want to give them too much time, either, because they can hit so hard. Usually we had big guys like Robin's size serve and volleying before. Today we had many guys playing from the baseline, such as Del Potro, Roddick, Robin himself. We have those guys that are Murray as well; he's tall; Djokovic, the same thing. They all decide to play from the baseline. Times have definitely changed in how big guys play tennis today.
Q. Are you talking Swedish in the locker room?
ROGER FEDERER: With him?
Q. Yeah.
ROGER FEDERER: Ah, not so much. With other guys, but I just spoke a little bit of Swedish with Nyström. He told me a few things.
Q. We've just passed the halfway mark in the tournament. Looking at your scoreboards, everything couldn't be better. Straight sets, straight sets, straight sets. What would be your halftime report?
ROGER FEDERER: Very happy, you know, because seeing the draw, what was it a week ago or more, 10 days ago? Got my nerves going already thinking of who I was going to play maybe the first round, and then see who my first few seeds with. Now I played my first seed in the tournament, and a good friend, as well. I really knew the danger in this match. I could have lost definitely a couple sets on the way, against Falla, for instance, or today against Stan.I was able to hang in there and turn it around in the breaker, but that's the stuff you need to do. Last year I had to battle it out more over four or five sets. It has also its advantages to do that. As long as you come through, I always say it's a great tournament. I'm playing really well at the moment, so I'm very happy where my game is at right now.
Q. Looking out the window now, the wind is really blowing. How hard was it when you were on court?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, it was not constantly the same breeze. You know, it changed directions at times. I couldn't pick which side was better to play from, actually, especially when the wind comes from the side. You know, you have maybe one side, the slice serve works better, and the other you have to work through the wind. You always have to adjust. I think first serves were really key, and making little adjustment steps, was that key today. Then obviously the second set for him kind of killed it. He maybe didn't believe as much in beating me anymore. I was able to play steady and better as the match went on.
Q. If Rafa wins tomorrow and I'm not mistaken, he will have 200 victories on clay. Which of the matches you guys have played on this surface is the best on clay level from your side?
ROGER FEDERER: On clay?
Q. Yeah.
ROGER FEDERER: I think maybe once in Monaco in the finals, four sets; and the one in Rome maybe when I lost in five sets. I think those were really good matches. I had chances. He played well. It was good tennis from both sides. We both played aggressive, and it's a match I look back on and think that was a good match. There's other ones, too, but you make me choose. Not that the other ones were (mouth noise), just to make things clear.
Q. A while ago, you spoke how pleased you were that the World Cup was going to South Africa where you and your foundation have so many connections. Last night Rafa was pretty upbeat and confident about Spain's chances in the opener.
ROGER FEDERER: Where are they playing?
Q. They're playing a team from Central Europe called Switzerland.
ROGER FEDERER: There you go.
Q. Despite losing their Basel star. Anyway, what do you think? Do you think you guys have a chance? Give us a score and so forth.
ROGER FEDERER: Well, yeah, I mean, it's unbelievable how much excitement there is about the World Cup. It's normal, too. But then you're in it for, what, two matches, and you hope still you have a chance in the last match. You don't have too much time for players to get into good shape really. It could be an advantage or a disadvantage for us playing the best team of the group right off the bat. Obviously they're the huge favorites after the way they played at the European Championships was fantastic. I don't think they've lost since. Obviously with a point we will be very happy. I don't know if they can play outright aggressive, because you also want to kind of get into the tournament, and that could be our chance. On that, we hope to get through the knockout stages and into the last 16 or quarters, I'm not sure. Yeah, we'll see. We're excited. We're at the World Cup, and everybody's got a chance once you're there.
Q. In the match you used the dropshot a few times. How important is that as a weapon to you? Do you consider this a trend for tennis on clay the past few years?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, competence. If guys stand back 10 meters behind the baseline, it's normal that players will have to use a dropshot. It's incredible how far back some players stand, you know, especially on the returns. You want to keep them closer to you sometimes and keep them guessing. I missed a few today but made a few. In the long run, I hope by playing them it helps me also in other areas of my game. I was able to, you know, use the dropshot much more the last couple of years now. It's been something that's worked for me. But it doesn't work against every player the same way. Today against Stan I thought it was not the best choice of shot. He reads it well. He defends well, and you can't really play that much. That's why then you have to find other ways to beat him. THE MODERATOR: French questions, please.
Q. Another question concerning the dropshot. I have the impression you use dropshots more than before. My question is: Is it a choice you make match after match, or is it a game plan you have for the end of the tournament when the points are more and more important, therefore a dropshot could be a good weapon?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, not really, because as I said before, each player plays differently. Stan plays heavy balls, deep balls, long balls, and it's difficult to have a dropshot against him. The best thing is to move around and then use your forehand. Sometimes it's backhand, as well. But the balls reach you differently, and today I used the dropshots quite a lot. But then you can sometimes try it three times and it doesn't work. It depends. Mentally, then, you're not in a good position to start the match. So throughout the match I try and feel if it's the right time to do it. I have to choose the right time. Not for the very first points of the game or the match. You can decide to have a dropshot at that moment, but to me it's mainly about tactics. I use my dropshots only when I'm convinced. You shouldn't do it for the sake of it. Today it's a lot clearer to me. This is it. It works well, and I'm going to use this against these players. I think it's good.
Q. Well, twice when Stan broke you during the second set, he was up 40 15 and then 40 Love, and then he made four faults in a row. You know him. Would you say that it's mentally that there was a change?
ROGER FEDERER: Yes and no. The conditions were tough, as well. When he broke me during the second set, I hit the frame of my racquet four times. Was I nervous? No. I had won this set. I served well. I was well positioned. I was doing everything well. But then it was on the frame of my racquet, and then it was Love 15. He played a good game, and it happens, you know. That's why I thought I have to be very close to him, even though he was up 40 15. Then two silly errors and then it's love and the other one gets nervous, and that's how it happened. It was difficult today, you see. Because I think the first set during the first set he was, how can I say well, the first set was quite well open and balanced, and I made the first break. I didn't want him to break back. I wanted to lead. And then the second break was due to the fact that he was perhaps a bit disappointed, because I played well when I was 5 3. But then I felt he was already into the match, and that's why he deserved this break during the second set.I had to stay in the game, so the first one and a half hours were very difficult. During the tiebreak I made the right decisions, I think, and that's how I won the second set, and then the third set was easier.
Q. Is it a disadvantage to reach quarterfinals without having played any difficult match?
ROGER FEDERER: I don't think it's a disadvantage or drawback, because I've gone through difficult moments. But if each match were to be 6 1, 6 1, 6 1, it would be different. I've played many sets so far. The conditions were difficult, and there was rain, it was sunny, sometimes so so, and today windy, so I've had everything.So for me, the tournament's been really excellent so far.
Q. We don't know who the opponent will be. It could be Robin Soderling.
ROGER FEDERER: We know each other.
Q. That was my question. Will it be a revenge finally? What do you think about this match? Will you say it's a normal match or very special match because it's going to be here?
ROGER FEDERER: I think it's going to be a bit more normal than last year, because last year it was a final. So it makes a big difference, I can tell you. I've played with Soderling several times during Grand Slam matches. We usually meet one another at these levels in the tournaments. He's got a better ranking this year, so I don't meet him very quickly in the tournament. He's going to be fitter than in the past when I played him during the third round or second round, I can't remember. But I'm really looking forward to this match, because he hits very strongly, forehand, backhand, and serves. So it's going to be up to me to do my best to vary the game. This is what I like. This is why I have a good record against him.
Q. Will you have any fears, or will it be a match like any other match?
ROGER FEDERER: To me, yes, unfortunately for you.
Q. Once again the crowd on center court was supporting you. How did you feel about the match? It was a match between Swiss players. Would you say it was different from usual?
ROGER FEDERER: Oh, yes, very different from usual, because I've never played well, I'm not certain I've ever played against a Swiss player during a Grand Slam. I don't think so. So that's why it was quite pleasant to experience this. The crowd, in any case, is always friendly with me, so each time I thank the crowd because that's what I have to do, I know. I'm also happy with my tennis today, my level, because playing against Stan, he's a good friend. It doesn't happen every single day, so when it happens, you're a bit nervous. That's why I'm happy to have played such a good match.
(SUE)
(SUE)
