Australian Open - Federer rues lost chances

Eurosport - Sun, 01 Feb 17:58:00 2009

World number two Roger Federer lamented what could have been after he lost a thrilling five-set final to Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open.

TENNIS 2009 Australian Open Roger Federer / Foto EFE - 0

Federer was seeking a record-equalling 14th Grand Slam title at Melbourne Park but ran into a tenacious Nadal who pipped him to the title 7-5 3-6 7-6 3-6 6-2.

"This is one of the matches in my career where I feel like I could have or should have won," a glum-looking Federer, who also lost a classic five-set final at Wimbledon to Nadal last July, said.

"But you can't go through your whole life as a tennis player taking every victory that's out there.

"You've got to live with those (defeats) but they hurt even more so like if you're that close, like at Wimbledon or like here at the Australian Open.

"So that's what's tough about it. But I have no regrets so it's all right."

Federer, who had hoped to equal Pete Sampras's record of 14 Grand Slam titles, converted just six of 19 break opportunities.

"I had, I guess, many chances," he said. "I mean, I was up a break in the first (set) twice.

"Yeah I had many chances. I missed them and they cost me dearly."

Federer also produced a poor service game, making just 52 percent of his first serves, and admitted it was a key factor in the game.

"I won a set against Rafa serving, what, 30 percent first serves?" he said.

"I got a great second serve (which is) very reliable normally (and) I hit some stupid double faults, but that's going to happen in a five set match usually.

"I tried to kind of get the grip on my serve but never really found the rhythm, which was a pity.

"It was a tough match. I don't think I served particularly well and I think that was the key to the match in the end."

Reuters

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  1. This was a brilliant finish , fantastic game for the­ ones on the fence

    From www.prosoccer.co.za, on Sat 4 Jul 12:24AM

  2. i nggfghhhhhhhhhhh

    From pisgahfarm, on Sat 20 Jun 11:59AM

  3. eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee­ eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee­ eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu­ uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuaaaaaaaaaaa­ aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn­ nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm­ muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrr­ rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa­ aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayy­ yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy­ yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy­ yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy­ yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy­ yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy­ yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy­ yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy­ yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy­ yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

    From pisgahfarm, on Sat 20 Jun 11:58AM

  4. some of u guys started watching tennis just few years­ ago so just shutup and allow others who know the game­ to compare and contract.Roger its true u lost but u did­ that gallantly,u still have time to achieve ur dream of­ 14 grand slams,i wish u all the goodluck u need.always­ ur fan.shantee

    From ify4iwu, on Fri 6 Feb 4:48PM

  5. some of u guys started watching tennis just few years­ ago so just shutup and allow others who know the game­ to compare and contract.Roger its true u lost but u did­ that gallantly,u still have time to achieve ur dream of­ 14 grand slams,i wish u all the goodluck u need.always­ ur fan.shantee

    From ify4iwu, on Fri 6 Feb 4:43PM

  6. He'll only win another GS if Nadal is injured or is­ beaten in the semi-final by someone like Murray -­ otherwise he would not have managed 13!

    From joeblogs, on Wed 4 Feb 9:00PM

  7. The crying wouldn't have been so bad if when he won­ he had a good word for his opponents (Roddick, Murray)­ or more to the point, looked as if he ENJOYED playing­ and the challenge of tough, close matches (like­ Verdasco-Nadal) but he doesn't - tries to look cool­ - and now tears!
    Yes, he needs a coach too - to work on­ fitness, running (too proud to chase?) forehand, and­ serve. And non-defensive backhand slicings. And above­ all, mentality.

    From joeblogs, on Wed 4 Feb 8:58PM

  8. Roger Federer will win two 2 more slams, and then­ concentrate on winning doubles titles, and retire when­ he is 32, I do not have a crystal ball but I have a­ funny feeling that he will win doubles titles at­ Wimbledon.

    Stevehaw78.

    From Steven, on Wed 4 Feb 5:07PM

  9. It's LOSER not LOOSER. Not a Federer fan but­ 'loser' seems a bit harsh.

    From lindy_211, on Tue 3 Feb 9:21PM

  10. Search "looser" up in a dictionary­ sagupaan43, a looser wouldnt make it to the final...

    From aus11123, on Tue 3 Feb 1:02PM

  11. To "Lindy" "mozekakodane"etc .Those­ stupid cows do not know anything abt tennis.You're­ part of the few dafts incapable to understd what it­ takes to be a champion,all the sacrifices and the­ entire devotion required to do well in the sport you­ love.Not gonna waste my time any longer with 2 idiots­ having such pitiful comments.Your existence must be so­ meaningless to kill time that way.Shame on U.THE END­ Jess X

    Listen it's not my fault you can't bear­ to listen to negative comments about your hero. He­ behaved appallingly at the ceremony and should be­ ashamed. It's was Nadal's moment and he should­ have had enough respect to allow Nadal to enjoy his­ victory. Are you suggesting that Federer is the only­ player that has devoted his life to becoming a better­ player? Plenty have - Nadal included. You talk­ nonsense. You're just in a huff because Roger­ couldn't beat Rafa - I'm surprised it's­ still a shock to you. Nadal will beat him on clay,­ grass and hard courts. Deal with it. I have no problem­ with Federer crying but there is a time and a place.­ Congratulations to Rafa.

    From lindy_211, on Mon 2 Feb 11:05PM

  12. Roga, I love you but, why should you have won? You­ didn't. You don't against Rafa. That is the­ truth, Ruth.

    From guzman r, on Mon 2 Feb 7:13PM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Only one simple word "LOOSER"

    From sagupaan43, on Mon 2 Feb 4:13PM

  14. Roger Federer - Age:27; Rafa Nadal - Age:22. Please do­ tell with an age difference of five, Roger would be old­ enough to baby sit Nadal. His fans are just like him­ and very disrespectful. Nadal has nothing to prove, he­ is the king of all surfaces. No longer the Tiger Woods­ of tennis. Tiger Woods is the Rafa Nadal of golf.

    From Wen, on Mon 2 Feb 4:11PM

  15. Well said "therealchegevara". My heart­ really goes out to Roger, and I say "Real Men Do­ Cry" and are not afraid to show their emotions.

    From mymytung, on Mon 2 Feb 2:36PM

  16. Chegevara - I don't know but I think it all started­ in Wimbledon last year. Even though Federer was not­ showing such signs of loss in London it cost him a lot­ more then Aussie Open. Just look at it: in the spring­ of 2008 he has been extensively training for Rolland­ Garros wanting to take it and thus become the king. He­ lost it big time in Paris. Nadal did his job as­ expected and then it was Federer's turn to pay it­ back in Wimbledon. It didn't happened he played­ excellently there but to be honest Nadal was slightly­ better. There he lost his confidence. He wasn't­ able to protect "his yard" just as Nadal did­ in Paris. He broke down, been just a shadow of his form­ in the summer of 2008, struggling with himself. Even­ the US Open has been part of a luck, dare I say so.­ Both Djokovic and Murray lost the mental battle a gave­ him the victory.

    From risimko, on Mon 2 Feb 2:11PM

  17. FOR ANDY MURRAY HE CAN NEVER BEAT FEDERER IN A SLAM­ FINAL, ACCORDING TO DJOKOVIC''MURRAY IS NOT­ READY YET TO WIN A SLAM''HE STILL HAS A LOT TO­ DO TO GET THERE,HE WILL BE IN NUMBER 4 FOR D NEXT 2YRS­ EXCEPT HE WINS 2-3 SLAMS THEN HE CAN THINK OF NUMBER 3­ POSITION.

    From UGO N, on Mon 2 Feb 1:51PM

  18. TO BE HONEST FRM MY OWN POINT OF VIEW AS A TENNIS­ PLAYER,FEDERER HAS GOT A PERSONAL ISSUE BUGGING HIM­ INSIDE,COS ITS NOT THAT THOSE PLAYERS HAS KNOWN OR USED­ TO HIS GAME,COS IF HE STILL HITS HIS BEST STOKES AND­ LOOSE,THEN U CAN SAY THEY VE CAUGHT HIM,BUT NW THOSE­ STROKES ARE NOT COMING IN ANYMORE HE HAS MORE UNFORCED­ ERRORS,AGAINST RODDICK HE SERVED GREAT,EVEN RODDICK­ SAID IF HE SERVED LIKE DAT IN D FINAL DAT HE WOULD­ WIN,REMEMBER WEN HE WAS NUMBER ONE,HIS STOKES WERE­ GREAT CONSISTENT AND COMFIDENT.

    From UGO N, on Mon 2 Feb 1:47PM

  19. CONGRATS TO RAFA, ON BEHALF OF FEDERER I JUST THINK HE­ NEEDS TO FIND THAT BELIEF AGAIN THAT HE IS THE BEST AND­ HE CAN BEAT RAFA.

    From Dilwar, on Mon 2 Feb 1:34PM

  20. WHEN I WAS STILL PLAYING ATP TOURS,THE GUYS THAT­ STARTED B4 ME AND WERE BETTER THAN ME,AT A POINT I FAST­ IMPROVED AND STARTED BEATING THEM IN TOURNAMENTS,BUT­ THAT DIDNT STOP ME FROM GIVING THEM THE RESPECT THEY­ DESERVE,I WAS STILL LOYAL TO THEM,SO ITS KINDER D SAME­ SITUATION WITH RAFA AND ROGER,I DNT THINK RAFA COULD­ COME OUT AND SAY HE IS BETTER THAN ROGER.

    From UGO N, on Mon 2 Feb 1:32PM
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