Roger Federer: 'I had cool hands before facing Pete Sampras in Wimbledon'
Roger Federer recalled his 2001 Wimbledon fourth-round win over Pete Sampras. The Swiss said: "Defining moment in my career. It was my first time on Centre Court at Wimbledon, the court I ever wanted to play on against Sampras who was my idol growing up. I remember I was so nervous, I had cool hands, the pace going fast, I was warming up with him and could not believe Sampras was playing the ball against me. How lucky and nervous I was. It was a very strong moment because I went from talented junior to maybe number one in the future. Life is not that easy, the pressure went up, people thought I would win Wimbledon that year and I lost to Tim Henman in the quarter-finals, then I thought I was gonna win Wimbledon next year and I lost first round. So it was not simple for me."
Asked if he is sometimes scared of losing, Federer replied: "Really scared of losing, not really. I am more scared about not playing well. So that can also an uncomfortable feeling sometimes. There is no panic. You have panic when you are young. You are like, It's not going well, everything is bad, don't know what to do and then you start completely making wrong decisions. With my experience I can stay calm, I know what the problem is, I know why maybe the score is against me and I need to know where is the finish line. How much time I have to change my match around and what I need to do, is it a problem the intensity, my footwork, forehand, opponent, wind or I have been unlucky. With age, I can really know it well and this is an important secret for any athlete to know your strengths and weaknesses."
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2QM39FK
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