Article

  • Federer confidence has never wavered during tough season

    9/16/08 12:15 AM | Johan Lindahl
     - Roger Federer says that his belief in himself never wavered during 2008 even as he lost heartbreak finals at the French Open and Wimbledon to rival Rafael Nadal.

    Now, with his 13th Grand Slam title secured, the world No. 2 is set to bear down on the autumn close of the ATP season while laying the groundwork for an attack in 2009.

    “I never really had any moment where I was like, 'Things are just not working out for me'”, Federer said after lifting a fifth straight US Open a week ago with a win over Andy Murray.

    “Actually, at the big tournaments, I did play very well”.

    What for Federer has been a “down” year with an Australian Open semi-final, runner-up places in Paris and Wimbledon and the New York trophy would seem like a dream to most of his rivals.

    A bout of glandular fever put him off the scent for months at the start of the season, but Federer says that his persistence is now set to pay off even further.

    “The season was difficult and tough for me, but I have energy left at the end of the trip. I definitely came out here fresh”, he said in New York. “I'm very happy with my decision-making (on scheduling)”.

    The Swiss player's next goal, besides seizing No. 1 back from Nadal, will be to level with Pete Sampras on the all-time record of 14 Grand Slam singles titles, a goal which he could achieve at January's Australian Open.

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Comments

grandslams won't elude players of federer's caliber

brdsathish , 9/16/08 9:08 PM


I'm sorry, you used to be the best player but not anymore, Nadal is much better than you, it's time to go in legend, you'll never be the world number one, it's simply like that, please, go as Justine Henan went.

gordana , 9/17/08 9:21 AM


A Player He was umstoppable for last 4 and 1/2 years...That is roger federer...Before 2008 US Open E'one Said he is not going to take any grand slam any more..But He Showed every one What he is,,Still He is the best player in the world...Nadal Playing well in lst few months ..but we can't compare him with federer..Because if tennis is a 100 floor building ,federer is on 99 th floor ,but nadal is only on 25th floor.."Gordana.....He is only 27 .....he will play atleast 4 years more...and he is going to break almost all records and he will regain his wimbledon next year.I feel that u r a big fan of nadal.....but ...dnt say foolishness.....

ris1212 , 9/18/08 12:20 AM


nadi, do you have any problem with my comment, if yes, that's your problem.
ris 1212, 'He's only 27' do you know, what you're talking about, in your point of view, he's supposed to play till 40, don't be silly, secondly, it's my wright to have opinion about him, it's not forbidden, about Wimbledon, you made me laughing, ha, ha, ha,thirdly, I like Nadal very much, he's the best player right now, you see I don't have complex to recognize the other players, but I'm big fan of Novak Djokovic, naturally, I'm from Serbia, and our Nole will show all of you tennis experts, who's among the best players at the world, regards from Serbia

gordana , 9/18/08 11:11 AM


gordana you are entitled to your opinion but what you say makes absolutely no sense...i agree nadal is the better player this year..and that nole has tremendous power to be the top dog but what you are doing is disredarding federer's achievements and talent and hard work in order to glorify other players..that makes you look ignorant actually....if you dont like federer its fine with everyone...but there is a fine line between not liking someone and showing absolute disrespect and loathing for someone...you cannot loathe someone you dont know..and come to think of it- have YOU achieved what federer has to speak such things??? you're not even close dear..we are here to enjoy and celebrate tennis..not to throw dirt on players' professionality and draw character-sketches without knowing what goes on behind the scenes.

janhavi , 9/18/08 3:54 PM


"i agree nadal is the better player this year....but what you are doing is disredarding federer's achievements and talent and hard work in order to glorify other players..that makes you look ignorant actually" - didn't gordana say fed used to be good and now you are saying you agree nadal is the 'better player now' - you are saying the same thing as gordana but calling gordana ignorant. than you must be ignorant too. do you even understand what you write?? read peoples posts properly before typing, not the other way round! it makes you look ignorant.

remi , 9/19/08 4:06 AM


Remi YOU need to read the posts ..Gordana comments are highly biased...she /he makes it appear as though what Federer has done is by pure luck...and mind you I said nadal is the better player now..but Gordana says Federer WAS good...yeah i geddit..thats why he won USO.. and what is all this" you'll never be no 1 nonsense" .besides I said she shows 'disregard' for his achievements.she dosent appreciate them just coz her fav players have not achieved what he has...i never denied that nadal has put up a better performance this yeah,...but tht dosent mean Federer isnt good anymore..

janhavi , 9/19/08 7:19 AM


The problem with fans is that never seem to be satisfied..no matter what a player does they will find small things..small loopholes and make them into a big issue.. incase of federer what some people(especially the underdog lovers) cannot stand actually is his dominance of the game...thats why they will come up with things like 'federer is arrogant' , 'federer is lucky' as excuses to not appreciate him.

janhavi , 9/19/08 7:35 AM


remi, thank you very much for supporting me, you're the only one who understood me properly, the fact is, English language is not my mother tongue, but I'm trying to do my best to express myself in a best way.
janhavi, first of all, Gordana is feminine name, secondly, as I said, I do have a right to put my comments, I don't have to love Federer, but admit he was the best, thirdly, I'm not biased, I just don't lilke him cause Federer don't like Novak at all, that's why, I put on my emotions, finally, my comments are not relevant, and all of you who disagree with me, don't have to be affected by my commets, cheers to everyone who's supporting all the well-mannered tennis players...

gordana , 9/19/08 11:27 AM


gordana i have no problems with you not liking Federer...did i ever say you should love him? the thing is - you dont have to like someone to appreciate them....and who told you Federer dosent like novak anyway?

janhavi , 9/19/08 1:59 PM


when you say ''you're never going to be no 1 '' amd all tht don't you think you practically imply he's useless now just coz your fav player have finally managed to come up?

janhavi , 9/19/08 2:06 PM


Peace to all of you, don't want commenting anymore, preparing myself watching Davis cup, Nole is going to play...

gordana , 9/19/08 2:38 PM


nobody said federer is lucky or a crap player - it's only you who are saying it because you're crazy enough to put words into peoples' mouth. being a lucky crap player doesn't keep you at no. 1 for 4.5 years and 13 grand slams to your name. you need to read what people write or get someone to translate it for you! people are not stupid enough to look for excuses that he's arrogant in order to dislike him. and you don't need to know a player to dislike them. it's human nateure to judge people as they see, hear and read about them. but YOU seem to think you're perfect. Do you know all the players personally than because you are also commenting on them whether good or bad? It's peoples' right to loathe a player if they so chose, you are not god, you don't get to dictate what other people should feel or think. Do you know all the fans here personally? If you don't, you shouldn't make accusations or get angry!
gordana didn't say fed WAS good, gordana said 'fed used to be the best' and you seem to agree - so look above and read it PROPERLY or get some kind of dravidian interpreter to help you out at a minimum.

remi , 9/20/08 7:56 AM


remi, you're the king, I'm simply delighted with your comments, the only fact I have to mentioned is, that I most probably, make mistakes in writing cause my English is not perfect, but you're the only one who understand that, thank you very much indeed, for the rest of them, I feel sorry, they're full of cynism, irony and all the time they imputed me a wrong thoughts, it's connected with their intelligence, I can't do anything regarding that matter, finally, I simply adore our national icon, but recognize the other players, such as Nadal, Ferer, even Murray who's very talented player but personally I don' like him, he's attitude is very strange...

gordana , 9/20/08 9:57 AM


gordana's comments do indiciate that Remi..and i dont know the players so i dont go calling them arrogant remi..ive repeated a thousand times i have no problems with anyone not liking a player..but i do have problems with those being biased or being too rigid and fixed as if they've done ph.ds over players' personalities...ive not launched any personal attacks..im not callin gordana biased..but her comments are biased..and thats true..after gordana said Federer USED to be the best..she said he was never going to be no 1 and all that nonsense...why is she a tennis pundit? even if she had said sometyhing like that about any other player perhaps i wouldve reacted the same way..who gave us the right to throw dirt on players' professional grace?. if you must know remi i dont go talking crap about other players..i'm here as a tennis fan..an this site is about tennis..and not players.i dont go drawing character-sketches of players...its human nature to judge people you dont even know??????? thats the most ridiculous thing i've ever heard.
'dravidian interpreter'...hmmmmmmm..that puts a lot things into perspective.......

janhavi , 9/20/08 1:08 PM


i didnt say gordana thinks federer is lucky..i said she makes it appear that way...understand what im saying first and then make accusations...her comments are bised thats it..end of story..when you label someone as something and glorify someone else you're being nothing but biased...im not saying in her life she's biased by nature..but in this matter she is being biased with her comments

janhavi , 9/20/08 1:17 PM


A person who is not biase by nature but makes biased comments.

Interesting thought process. Who is call who ridiculous?

jean , 9/21/08 6:45 AM


i said comments regarding this topic jean..learn to read...geez...

janhavi , 9/21/08 9:03 AM



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