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10/22/10 11:03 PM | Johan Lindahl
Roger Federer's status as a tennis treasure is being proved at the Stockholm Open as even the Swiss player's practise sessions are crowd-pulling affairs.
With the world No. 2 into the quarter-finals of the indoor event, the enthusiasm at the Kugligahallen will only grow into the weekend.
Federer trashed Taylor Dent in straight sets, taking less than an hour, but is wary of his upcoming date with compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka. The pair have a close bond, both as Davis Cup teammates and as Olympic doubles gold medal winners from two years ago in Beijing. And 21st-ranked Stan beat his compatriot a year and a half ago on clay in Monte Carlo.
"Playing Stan is always difficult," said Federer, who lost the Shanghai final at the weekend to Andy Murray. "He's beaten me in the past and he's beaten top guys like Murray at the US Open. We have a great friendship, it's never easy to play another Swiss guy. It will be a special occasion. I hope to have a good match."
Crowds for the Federer-Dent match were standing 5-6 deep around the several thousand filled seats of the aged tennis hall, built by a sports-keen Swedish king in the first third of last century. And more of the same can be expected for as long as Federer remains in title contention.
"I'm still hungry, it's very easy for me to stay hungry," said the Swiss. "I've never had a problem traveling or getting onto a place and going somewhere.
"And I have such amazing fans. I'm always playing on centre court with crowds. If you put me on a side court with no one, that's when I start to struggle. It's the support keeps you going."
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