Article

  • US Open final means it's time for Federer to relax and play his game

    9/7/08 12:26 AM | Johan Lindahl
    - Roger Federer booked his place in a fifth straight US Open final and said he can now relax. “The pressure is off,” said the 12-time Grand Slam champion after moving to a 7-2 record over Novak Djokovic following a four-set win.

    “Now you can look forward and just try to win. The pressure is always on in the early rounds, coming through and not getting upset early on.

    ”Once you get to the semis you can maybe play a little bit more freely again, because you're also playing opponents who you know most likely have a better chance to beat you“.

    Federer's popular victory was his 33rd straight in New York and marked his 160th win at a Grand Slam. ”I prefer the trophy, that's what I prefer,“ Federer said when asked which opponent he would wish to face for a possible 13th Grand Slam title.

    ”I'm so excited to be back in another final, I've worked hard all season to do well in the big ones. It would be great to get another one here“, he said after firing 20 aces for the afternoon.

    The second seed maintained his record of never having lost at the final four stage at Flushing Meadows; each time that he has reached the semis he's gone onto win the title.

    The Swiss was playing in his 18th successive Grand Slam semi-final and saved himself a possible drop to the number three ranking had Djokovic gone onto win the trophy.

    He faces the winner from Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray, held up overnight by rain with the Scot leading two sets to love and down a break in the third.

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Comments

Go FED!

BernieEliza , 9/8/08 5:47 AM



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