ATP Tour - Federer expects big things in 2009

Eurosport - Tue, 06 Jan 08:08:00 2009

Roger Federer has been experimenting with new tactics that he hopes will enable him to fulfil his 2009 goals of regaining the world number one ranking and equalling Pete Sampras's record of 14 Grand Slam titles.

TENNIS Roger Federer Doha 2009 - 0

The Swiss was ousted from the top of the rankings by Rafael Nadal last August and his aura of invincibility was broken by defeat in the Wimbledon final before he silenced his doubters with victory in the US Open - his 13th Grand Slam crown.

The 27-year-old said he was feeling much fitter at the start of this season compared to last year where he was recovering from a bout of glandular fever.

"I expect 2009 to be a good year and for various reasons I am under less pressure too," Federer said in Doha, where he opens this season's campaign at this week's Qatar Open.

"I have been dominating for several years and obviously I think I can do it again. I have a very strong technique ... I am mentally and tactically also quite strong," he added. "I have that ability to decide to how much should I attack and defend.

Hopefully I can win more titles this year.

"This time last year, I was sick. But now I am fully fit."

He said playing in last week's exhibition event in Abu Dhabi, where he lost in the semi-finals to Britain's Andy Murray, had given him the chance to try out some new tactics.

"I practised a lot recently. I tried out many new things in Abu Dhabi - in volleying, charging to the net and playing defensive. Since it was an exhibition event I could do it. But it helped me know where I stood and make those small adjustments," he said.

This month's Australian Open offers Federer his next chance to match Sampras's Grand Slam record and he is relishing the opportunity after losing in the semi-finals last year in the start of a string of setbacks he suffered in 2008.

"I have many goals for 2009. One of them is to regain my top ranking and another is to win at least one more Grand Slam," said Federer.

"Every Grand Slam I win will be more meaningful to me. When I win the first one in 2009 it could equal Pete Sampras's record. Everything is going to be special.

"I have been dominating the field for the past several years. 2008 has been a good and bad year, but that has not changed my perspective."

Federer said he faced more challengers than in recent years with world numbers three and four Novak Djokovic and Murray joining him and Nadal as the dominant forces.

"I think four of us have moved far ahead of the rest of the Top 10. The top four rankings can keep changing often, there are lot of possibilities to this in 2009," said the Swiss, who is just 20 points ahead of Djokovic in the ATP standings.

Depending on their performances this week, Djokovic could overtake Federer in the rankings but the Swiss said he was not unduly concerned.

"I'm not worried about it. Anyway it's not the number one spot," he said with a laugh.

On the court, American fourth seed Andy Roddick and fifth seeded Gael Monfils of France both reached the second round of the event in Doha with easy wins.

Roddick beat Spaniard Ivan Navarro 6-1 6-3 in a little over an hour while Monfils outplayed Czech Republic's Jan Hernych in a 6-2 6-2 victory.

"I didn't do anything stupid," said Roddick. "I was pretty happy with the way I played."

Monfils, who lost to Federer in the 2006 final in Doha, was too good for Hernych.

The Frenchman won the first set in quick time, breaking his opponent in the fourth and eighth games, and took a 5-1 lead in the second before seeing off a short-lived fightback from Hernych and clinching the win in 55 minutes.

"It was a good match to start the season," said Monfils. "If I win one more match, then I should run into Rafa (Nadal).

"I have been practising hard and did everything perfectly today."

The tournament's top three seeds - Nadal, Federer and Murray - were not in action on the opening day.

Reuters

Comment 6 - 25 of 25

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  1. This is Nadal's year, and if Murray sticks in he­ could do well and could get well ahead of Djokovic,­ federer as well. But we've seen Nadal beat Federer­ on his favourite surface, and take the oz open, indian­ wells, monte carlo, barcelona and today most likely­ rome also. federer has not been playing as well as­ expected recently. i think both Federer and Murray have­ a slight arrogance about them and its not how it should­ be. Nadal i dont think knows how good he is, he only­ expected to be the best number 2, and he made number 1.­ time is catching up on federer and Nadal has got lots­ of titles ahead of him yet to come. Nadal will still be­ number 1 this time next year i think. and this may be­ surprising, im scottish, and not a huge murray fan.­ lol.

    From emmalockerbie, on Sun 3 May 2:58PM

  2. Humble fellow, huh? :s

    From jason_gulisux, on Tue 6 Jan 10:39AM

  3. re: comment 23
    yeah, when he lost it I also thougt that­ he will not regain the top spot, but until the US open­ there are 4 masters series events on hard where he has­ only few points to defend. and most probably he will go­ deep into each tournament, including grand slams.
    so by­ autumn he might be the no.1 again.

    From Zoltán, on Tue 6 Jan 9:26AM

  4. deecoco.1939: well, Feder arrogant - this is a joke,­ isn't it?

    From ya, on Tue 6 Jan 9:22AM

  5. This man´s talent is only surpassed by his sickening­ arrogance. I will stick MY neck out and say he will NOT­ regain his No.1. spot. He will be lucky to equal­ Sampras´s record.

    From deecoco.1939, on Tue 6 Jan 9:02AM

  6. There is no doubt that Federer is able to win a­ grandslam event this year, maybe even more then one.­ But his dominance is over and he is vulnerable to many­ players not just Murray or Nadal. I think AO will go to­ Murray coz he is on the good wave now. FO goes to Nadal­ and Wimby will come back to Federer with Nadal loosing­ earlier then final. US may also go to someone like­ Murray or Potro...

    From risimko, on Tue 6 Jan 8:46AM

  7. Zoltan,
    I respect your comment, but I still see Tsonga­ in the top 10 by the end of 2009

    From Durandinho, on Tue 6 Jan 8:14AM

  8. sure he can make it to 14 soon.

    simon, tsonga and­ blake will be out of top ten by the end of the­ year.
    rising stars are gulbis, del potro, (+ cilic).

    From Zoltán, on Tue 6 Jan 7:36AM

  9. Am a true fan of Federer Its fun just watching him­ play. He's got the drive and mental control. I wish­ he wins more grand plans this year and come back to the­ top no. 1 spot. Roger, am with ya all the way

    From Minini, on Tue 6 Jan 3:41AM

  10. Nice to see so many fans of Fedex sticking around, nice­ to see he feels up to it. On fast surfaces now the­ obstacle is Murray not Nadal. Wimbledon does not count­ as it has been slowed down ridiculeously.

    From Morituri, on Mon 5 Jan 11:27PM

  11. Fed's definitely one of the players in with a­ chance of winning in Melbourne. Tsonga was probably­ right when he said this was gonna be a war (in a­ sporting sense, thankfully). I think the last man­ standing is gonna be one of the top four (or just maybe­ Tsonga himself?) but all of them are vulnerable to some­ of the other extraterrestrials wandering around in the­ draw. Nalbandian is my dark horse (again!), maybe not­ to win the title, but none of the big guns will want to­ see him in their part of the draw. If Hewitt has really­ recovered from injury, he's gonna be the least­ desired floater of them all, tho' the fruits of his­ recovery may be seen later rather than­ sooner.Interesting to hear that Fed has been working on­ strategy. Nadal and Murray have really upped the ante­ in that respect and maybe the great man now feels that­ he has to rely on a bit more than his incredible talent­ if he wants to put one over on these guys. Cheers

    From rhymes450, on Mon 5 Jan 10:12PM

  12. I am a big Federer fan . I would like to see him win a­ few more grand slams then retire . It is not going to­ be easy but he can do it !!

    From Tim, on Mon 5 Jan 8:56PM

  13. federer is the greatest thee ever is. but he is at the­ end of dominency really, i wouldnt put him as clear cut­ a favourite for any grand slams tbh. if he wins one­ this year it will be the us. but he'll make the­ wimbledon final. heres my favourites.
    aussie-­ murray
    french-nadal
    wimbledon-nadal
    US-murray
    this is­ gonna be murrays year. honestly, i know he's an­ arrogant git but some of his tennis is simply awesome.­ hes has got the best technique and trick shots in the­ game by a mile. Hes almost guarenteed a grand slam if­ he plays like hes been doing.

    a scot

    From Angus, on Mon 5 Jan 8:34PM

  14. federer - the man who is not only a legend but also a­ true gent

    he will be back at the top and his critics­ can eat their words

    From Annamarie G, on Mon 5 Jan 8:29PM

  15. re taff(comment 10) you said no chance over 30,i dont­ agree. Sampras won his last slam at the US at the age­ of 32 i think,everyone had written him off by­ then.Roger is only 27,so he has 5 years to win only 2­ more slams to break the record.Time really is on his­ side to do this.Although i do agree with you that his­ level will decline by some measure over the years.Go­ for it Roger,you can do it.

    From carlos480bc, on Mon 5 Jan 8:25PM

  16. Roger had to learn the style of the new players. Leave­ Nadal who is using more energy than tactics and style.­ He knows their game and he will prove to them that he­ is the master of tennis. Keep it up Roger and do not­ think back to the lose just focus for the present and­ future you are still the true champion.

    From lulu, on Mon 5 Jan 7:52PM

  17. This man is a legend and a nice man as well. Time may­ be catching up at 27! Makes you smile a bit doesn't­ it but that is how it goes. No chance now over 30. One­ more good year for Roger I would hope, then we might­ have Murray UGH!

    From taff, on Mon 5 Jan 7:44PM

  18. Good luck Roger! We love you and believe so much in­ what you can yet achieve. History reserves a place for­ you not as one of the greatest players ever, but as THE­ greatest player ever. I always recall how you and Rafa­ have kept me on tenterhooks for hours on end with­ tennis that defies the limits of humanity itself. You­ are such a fine gentleman - on and off the court -­ please keep your cool even when things don't go as­ expected. Your place in history is inviolable!

    From chuma m, on Mon 5 Jan 7:30PM

  19. I think the true measure of Federer is yet to be­ seen.If you think of all he achieved last year,Us open­ winner,french and Wimbledon Final(the latter he was­ only a couple of points from winning) the Australian­ Open semi and an Olyimpic doubles gold.ALL of this­ whilst having the debilitating glandular fever.The guy­ did VERY VERY well considering.
    He will almost­ definatley equal Petes record this season,if not­ surpass it.

    From carlos480bc, on Mon 5 Jan 7:15PM

  20. roger to become the greatest ever.

    the world to see­ nadal has great power and athleticism but no real­ skill.

    From AkA, on Mon 5 Jan 6:57PM
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