Roger Federer: It's nice to be an outsider
Roger Federer admitted he does not feel the favorite heading into the French Open. The Swiss said: "It's nice to be an outsider. That's how I feel, anyhow. Just see how it goes, you know. I know when Wimbledon comes around, sure, I'll be probably a higher favorite. That's okay, too. You know, I'm happy that I'm there where I am. But, you know, like you said, for many years it was either if I don't win, it's a disappointment, and you explain yourself in the press room."
He continued, "People, like, don't understand why you lost. And, you know, so I feel like if I lost first round or in the finals or wherever it is, people would be, like, Okay, that could have happened. I like that approach for me also once in a while. It relaxes you on the bigger points maybe or it relaxes you subconsciously as you walk through the grounds and go to practice and go to the press room. This is not a show I'm putting on. This is the truth. I really don't know how far I can go to this event, and I am very happy with my first round. It was a really good performance, I thought, from my side for not having played here for as long as I did."
Federer added: "It always is helpful to know the patterns and especially if you've played, may be practised with somebody, you know the weight of shot or you know their preferences, you know. That's why it's hard sometimes to know is it lucky? Is it normal for him to hit certain shots, you know? And the amount of risk-taking, you know, it's important to know these things what is normal and whatnot. I felt like for the first round for me, playing against somebody who I don't know and I have seen very little play, maybe, I'd say, 10 points. Then, of course, I watched some highlights yesterday of his matches, so I saw much more and gave me a good idea of how to play him. I was very happy with how I played. I thought he's fast on his feet, has a nice forehand, good first serve, so I see why he can be very dangerous for a lot of guys on the court, regardless of clay or other surfaces. I thought he was strong today, you know, under the circumstances of the first round of a major like this with a full crowd. I think he did very well."
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2WtHfdF
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