Article

  • Federer becoming a New York fan favourite

    8/28/08 11:09 AM | Johan Lindahl
    - Roger Federer finds that his American fan base may be growing as he picks up the “sympathy vote” after losing his long-held No. 1 ranking.

    The Swiss has won the last four US Open editions and could do with a fifth to help lift a season where his lone major bright spot consists of the Olympic doubles gold medal from Beijing.

    “They're supposed to scream for the Americans here”, said the Swiss who has become a cult hero among night crowds in raucous New York. “I guess I'm very close to their hearts by now”.

    Federer added: “It took me a while to win over the American crowds, but I had an incredible amount of success over here. Winning the Masters Cup (Houston) a couple of times, the US Open four times in a row... every other American tournament I entered I was able to win in the past.

    ”I think people saw how much I loved playing the game and how much I love playing here“.

    Federer is playing as a second seed at a major for the first time since the 2004 Australian Open, the four-language Swiss said he senses Gotham fans ”want me to do well again and win the big ones“.

    ”I think they really try to push me forward, which is really helpful“. The Open is his first event since losing his top ATP ranking to Rafael Nadal.

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