Quotable Federer @ The Rogers Cup By Dave Seminara

Quotable Federer @ The Rogers Cup

By Dave Seminara

After beating Novak Djokovic:

• On his losing career record against Andy Murray (5-6): “Not to take anything away from Andy, but  there was a time when I think I was coming back from mono…..Then I played him many times when he had the momentum, really.” COMMENT: So, not to take anything away from him, but allow me to subtly take something away from him…..

• On his relationship with Paul Annacone: “It’s very romantic. Look, it’s going OK. I mean, we don’t go to candlelight dinner every night. I have a wife you know? We don’t know if he’s coming to Cincy yet. We’re debating that. Severin (Luthi) has just arrived in Cincinnati today, so we’re you know looking at the schedule now…..He’s a nice guy. So far it’s been going well, so we will see how it goes tomorrow.” COMMENT: Ah, the “nice guy” kiss of death. Next thing we know, Fed will be telling him, ‘it’s not you, it’s me seriously, but I’d really like to be friends!’ This is not exactly a vote of confidence here, is it? So if he beats Andy Murray, Paul gets an immunity idol and moves on to Cincinnati, but if he loses, then Paul’s torch is extinguished and he’s voted off Isle Fed?
  

• On what he wants to achieve next in the sport: “There’s a ton of stuff I’d like to achieve, but I don’t have one of these boards, where I need to tick off everything I’ve done…..Now what would I take if I only had one more victory that kind of stuff? I don’t have to answer, you know, because I’ll get many, many chances throughout the season to prove my point, and it’s at the end of the career where you kind of look, what did I achieve and what did I not achieve?” COMMENT: Huh? So it’s basically, I don’t feel like telling?

After beating Tomas Berdych:

• On where he ranks the victory for his career: “It ranks definitely top 100. (laughter) I don’t know if it’s top 50 or not, but don’t forget I’ve played some amazing matches throughout my career.” COMMENT: Granted, it may have been a silly question, but Fed’s response if revealing. Give him points for honesty- I mean, seriously, beating Berdych in a QF in Toronto? Only a complete knuckle-head would rank that as a career highlight for a man many consider to be the GOAT- but did he really have to remind us that he’d played some “amazing matches?”

• On Berdych: “I thought he was going to make a move earlier on in his career when he beat me in 2004 at the Athens Olympics. But after that he just became a steady top 30, top 40 player, which was a bit of a surprise to me.” COMMENT: Yet another sly dig at Berdych. Fed’s made this comment before as well. What’s the point? Yeah, he’s really been underachieving for years now. Very surprising. Must be like nails on a chalkboard for Berdych to have to listen to these kinds of statements.

After beating Llodra:

• On Llodra serving under-handed and asking for Fed’s shirt after the match: “It’s the first time I got an underarm serve; third time somebody asked me for my shirt. He said there was no chance to get a round, that he needed one for his kids. So it’s like okay, no problem.” COMMENT: Fed lost the under-hand serve point, which reminded everyone of Michael Chang’s famous under-hand masterpiece against Lendl at the French in ’89. Tennis needs more under-hand serving, and players should follow soccer etiquette and ALWAYS exchange shirts after matches. Especially female players. Named Anna Ivanovic.

• On whether Nike decided make both Roger and Rafa Pretty in Pink this week: “I think it was a coincidence that we’re both in pink. I didn’t even know he was going to be playing in pink, because we kind of decide the colors we are going to play in probably over a year ahead. I don’t know where my head was when I chose pink, but I like it, you know. Honestly, I’ve gotten a lot of praise for it.” COMMENT: Fed’s pink was different than Rafa’s pink, though. Fed’s was a pale, muted, classic, J-Crew-like pink; whereas Rafa’s pink was the kind of bold, audacious pink that Snooky from Jersey Shore might wear. But Rafa pulled it off. Fed went on to state that he’s going to be wearing something different at the Open this year.