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

Comment 25 - 44 of 84

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  1. To jump a big step forward we have to take a small step backwards, Don't be angry Roger you are a real champ all the heros crying, just thing when you played you were always laughing, we must learning from our fault, life will continue and lots of Grand slams will come and you will get your 14th.

    From saba_elias2, on Mon 2 Feb 7:10AM

  2. To jump a big step forward we have to take a small step backwards, Don't be angry Roger you are a real champ all the hero crying, just thing when you played you were always laughing, we must learning from our fault, life will continue and lots of Grand slams will come and you will get your 14th.

    From saba_elias2, on Mon 2 Feb 6:29AM

  3. To jump a big step forward we have to take a small step backwards, Don't be angry Roger you are a real champ all the heros crying, just thing when you played you were always laughing, we must learning from our fault, life will continue and lots of Grand slams will come and you will get your 14th...

    From saba_elias2, on Mon 2 Feb 6:24AM

  4. i felt really uncomfortable with him crying at the ceremonies... i have nothng against mourning or crying but he could've done it at his hotel room with his girlfriend... he jus ruined rafa's moment

    From coolkiko, on Mon 2 Feb 5:20AM

  5. What is wrong with Roger? I never liked him and now ... I hate him more! Why he is crying for, he's got beaten so beat it, now he needs to move on. Of course he's a great tennis player but come on he needs to accept that Rafa was better than him.
    Well done Rafa!

    From eric, on Mon 2 Feb 4:27AM

  6. Federer will win over Nadal then starting just play not he must win. His mind is overloaded to much. He is scare to play with him. He lost his game 60 per cent, Nadal won 40. Federer could win. He lost to his fear.

    From Natalia V, on Mon 2 Feb 4:15AM

  7. Fellas, come on, Roger is just human. He's too sad. I think most of us would be as tearful as he is when it comes to defeat. It's not that he's not accepting his defeat, he's just too sad that he couldn't do enough to win. Come on now, the deed is done. Rafa wins and that's that. Btw, I'm a Rafa fan :-) so, CONGRATS RAFA!

    From suhaila m, on Mon 2 Feb 1:27AM

  8. Bobito - why am I pathetic? Federer behaved appallingly today. He took the shine off Nadal's win and that is not on. It's not my fault he can't take defeat like a man. He's won 13 times and 13 times someone else has had to lose. You didn't see any of them crying during the ceremony. Perhaps if Federer wasn't so arrogant and disrespectful I would have felt a bit sorry for him today.

    Perhaps he should start showing a bit of class when he takes about his fellow players. His fans need a lesson or 2 as well.

    Well done to Rafa. Just a shame his moment was ruined.

    From lindy_211, on Mon 2 Feb 1:17AM

  9. Ah Federer...we can now officialy call it the "Nadal Curse" (7 GS finals vs Nadal - 5 losses, last win being Wimbledon '07). Federer has little chance of beating Nadal on a GS Final unless he discovers new tricks. Time is still on his side, to get that 14 (+) GS Record but history will remember that Fed could never master "The" Master Nadal. Sampras had many more rivals to cope with (Courier, Agassi, Edberg, Becker, Lendl, etc) than Federer did. Fed was left unchecked until Nadal came along,
    ..yeah the crying was a bit pitiful...

    From pvaldaz, on Mon 2 Feb 12:40AM

  10. You're a pretty pathetic lot on here. Maybe you should blame the Aussie crowd ... yelling out how much they loved him .. no wonder he was overcome with emotion ... only the hardest heart, at a time of great disappointment couldn't fail to be moved by the swell of sympathy and affection coming towards them. Guess some of you have got real hard hearts on this board ... thank heavens I'm not one of them.

    From plumpot77, on Mon 2 Feb 12:38AM

  11. Lindy_211 you are pathetic.

    From Bobito, on Mon 2 Feb 12:21AM

  12. jexbj - Here is a stat. H2H 13-6 to Rafa. Well done to the Australian Open Champion 2009 Rafael Nadal. Seeing Roger cry was the icing on the cake for me today. Just a shame he can't take defeat like a man.

    From lindy_211, on Mon 2 Feb 12:16AM

  13. rodger should take lesson from great justin

    From mozekakodane, on Mon 2 Feb 12:14AM

  14. jexbj - ouch that hurt. I might cry now. No, I'll leave that to your hero.

    From lindy_211, on Mon 2 Feb 12:12AM

  15. JJ you are so rigth HE WAS PATETHIC and he has the nerv to say that other player,s ,who call for medical time out, should not come on the court if they are not ready, well at least they don,t CRY THERE EYES OUT FOR LOOSING he is really a JOKE of double standar,s.Poor Nadal could not have the fun today of winnig the AO because of the cry baby.

    From mozekakodane, on Mon 2 Feb 12:03AM

  16. You stupid cow "Lindy_211"/"JJ"!!!!!!!!hihihi Jess X

    From Jeremy, on Sun 1 Feb 11:56PM

  17. this made my day.now nadal didnt your mama teach you to give toyes to the little boy,s when they cry shame on you, and he was crying so much that,s not nice not to give him.i never sow a player that is(so great) cry on the even his gerlfriend was imberesed but made my day for shure.THANK YOU had the smile of the day.GREAT RODGER hahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

    From mozekakodane, on Sun 1 Feb 11:54PM

  18. lindy_211 you are soooo right! Great champions are great in win and in defeat alike, while Fed is a pathetic @#$%.

    From JJ, on Sun 1 Feb 11:48PM

  19. Important stats: Comparisons.RAFA and ROGER at 22 yrs/7 months/28 days.MATCHES WON/LOST AT SAME AGE,Nad 344-78,Fed 259-112,TITLES Nad 32 Fed 14,TITLES HARD,Rafa 8 Fed 9,GC Nad 6 Fed 2,WKS at n°1, Nad 24 Fed 10,RECORD versus N°1, Nad 12-6 Fed 2-3.Those stats are quite amazing...Nadal can also be part of History...Despite evthg,I'll always be with you Roger!!!Jess X

    From Jeremy, on Sun 1 Feb 11:42PM

  20. i m sad because 35 000 kids dies from
    hunger, not because evil man cries

    From hobospring, on Sun 1 Feb 11:39PM
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