TENNIS US OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS: IT SEEMS hard to believe now but when Roger Federer first came to New York he wanted to go home immediately. The buzz, the noise and the crowded streets were a far cry from the relative quiet of Basel, the city where the current world number one grew up.
Fast forward to 2009 and the Swiss today begins his bid for a sixth successive US Open title, back on top of the rankings and fresh from winning two more grand-slam titles to set a record of 15. It is likely to take a man playing out of his skin to beat him.
“I used to struggle here a bit more just because conditions were really difficult,” Federer said.
“But then I started to embrace everything and I enjoyed the wild city, New York, the way crowds are and how loud it is and everything. Now I love everything about it, especially the city and the fans here.”
This time last year Federer arrived in something of a slump. For the first time since 2002, he had not won a grand slam event and his world number one ranking, together with the Wimbledon title, had been snatched from him by Rafael Nadal. He was losing to players he used to destroy, and his aura appeared to have gone.
His victory over Andy Murray in the final at Flushing Meadows wiped away the doubts, though, and with a first French Open title and a sixth Wimbledon crown to his name he is the strong favourite to win here again, especially with Nadal not 100 per cent fit after enduring chronic tendinitis in both knees.
“Last year I felt like I had to win,” Federer said.
“It would have been disappointing not to have won a slam. I guess everything fell into place and today I find myself number one in the world and defending champion, thanks to how great I played last year.
“I’m playing great, playing offensive tennis. I feel physically and mentally really fresh, which is great after so many matches played already this year.”
The 28-year-old became a father for the first time last month when his wife gave birth to twin girls. Any thoughts his tennis might suffer from the late nights and broken sleep evaporated when he beat Murray and Novak Djokovic to win the Masters Series title in Montreal eight days ago. The Scot and the Serb will be among the main challengers for the title at Flushing Meadows, together with Nadal and the Wimbledon runner-up Andy Roddick. Federer knows he may not have things all his own way.
“I think it’s one of the toughest tournaments to win because everybody is going for the last grand slam of the season,” he said.
“Everybody can play on hard courts. Nobody has excuses because the majority of tournaments are played on that surface. You rarely see surprises at the US Open. Everybody’s match-tough and fit to go, so it makes it difficult to win here.”
On paper, Federer looks to have an easy draw through to the semi-finals, where either Roddick or Djokovic are likely to await him. First up, though, he begins his title bid today against an American wildcard Devin Britton, who will be playing his first grand slam match at the senior level. It is a daunting prospect for him but Federer said he cannot afford to take anyone lightly.
“It’s a best-of-five-set match, maybe something Britton has never played before,” the Swiss said.
“But I think it’s a good thing that in tennis you always have a chance. It doesn’t matter who you play, where you play. If you think the guy’s not there to make a match, that’s absurd. That’s how tennis is. You have to be very careful. I have to make sure I put in a good performance.”
Guardian Service
