Federer yearns for Wimbledon gold
Giovanna
glaring omission in your impressive resume is the Olympic singles
gold. How much of a priority is it to win it in 2012, especially since
it's being held at Wimbledon?
FEDERER: "The beauty of it being at Wimbledon is huge for the world of
tennis. At the Olympics, the focus is on swimming and athletics and
tennis has been forgotten a little bit.
"At the last couple of Olympics, we've seen the best players are
always playing. Rafa (Nadal) winning the singles in Beijing, me
winning the doubles over there, that was great news for tennis in an
Olympic spirit.
"I've now carried the flag twice, in Beijing and Athens, and it's
always been a dream for me to play for my country and to win an
Olympic gold. I already have one but still, the special part of having
it at Wimbledon will be amazing."
REUTERS: Do you think that will be your last chance to win the Olympic
singles title or do you plan to stick around for 2016 in Brazil?
FEDERER: "I will be 35 in 2016. I haven't thought that far yet and I
don't even know what surface they'll play it on, whether it's going to
be clay or hard court. I hope in some ways, it's (2012) not my last
just because I like to play for so long. For an Olympics, I definitely
could get up for that, no problem."
REUTERS: For you personally, what is the main attraction of the London
Games? The fact that it's at Wimbledon or that after playing three
Olympics on hardcourts, this one will be on grass?
FEDERER: "The grass is one part, it being at the Holy Grail of tennis
is the second one. London, if you see how successful this World Tour
Finals is, how successful Wimbledon is, how much tennis is liked in
this country -- all these things make this a very very special place
to play tennis."
REUTERS: At the last two Olympics, you were favourite to win the
singles gold. How much does it hurt that you were unable to fulfil
this?
FEDERER: "It's somewhat surprising. In 2000 I had no expectations and
I played the semis and missed out on a potential gold. Then missed out
on the bronze by losing the bronze medal match too. I couldn't believe
how close I was all of a sudden from a medal at the Olympics.
"Athens was disappointing because in '04 I won three majors, I played
great. I didn't really play a bad match. It was just really quick
conditions, I played (Tomas) Berdych who also loves quick (conditions)
and who I didn't know back then yet.
"I was caught by surprise by a good, young player who had nothing to
lose. It was a tough loss for me... more than maybe Beijing because
there I felt my game was not 100 percent on. I ended up losing to
James Blake, who I had never lost to before.
"It was a disappointment as well. Especially as expectations grew more
and more from Switzerland because we don't win 50 medals at an
Olympics, so they were hoping that I would definitely get a medal.
"But then I was so happy to have won the doubles there (in Beijing)
because that came completely as a surprise and that was why the joy
was so big."
REUTERS: Which is your most memorable Olympic memory -- meeting your
wife Mirka during the 2000 Games or winning the doubles gold in
Beijing?
FEDERER: "Ha ha. That's why I've had very emotional Olympics. Meeting
Mirka in Sydney, carrying the flag in Athens for the first time, then
carrying the flag in Beijing on my birthday on the 8th of August and
then winning the gold.
"I've always had something special happening at all the Olympics. It's
changed how other athletes look at me today at the Olympics. I can
barely do the opening ceremonies as they (other athletes) eat me up as
I wait inside. I'm happy to go through with it because for me it's a
dream to be a part of the Olympic spirit and everything it stands for.
I like being there.
"I couldn't choose (which one was more memorable) but obviously Mirka
is long-lasting, I've had 10 incredible years with her, I've two
beautiful kids with her so I guess that's my number one pick."
REUTERS: A lot of top players often tend to skip the Olympics, will
holding it at Wimbledon change that?
FEDERER: "It being in London will help the cause. We don't have to
travel an extra thousands of miles to get to the venue as we travel
enough. Before you had some guys who did not like playing on grass at
all so they would just skip it. But now it's different. Everybody
today plays on grass. For raising awareness for tennis at the Olympic
Games, I think London is going to be the perfect place."
REUTERS: A lot of people have questioned the inclusion of tennis in
the Olympics and usually it is not as high profile as say athletics or
swimming. Do you think staging it at Wimbledon will give it more
prominence in 2012?
FEDERER: "I'm sure it will. I think this is going to be the biggest
focus on tennis at an Olympics. Because swimming is huge in Australia,
in Athens it was more on the athletics and (in tennis) many of the top
guys lost early so it never really caught fire.
"In Beijing, everything was huge as they were waiting for that for
years and years. In London, with the heritage we have for tennis
through Wimbledon, it's probably going to be the biggest tennis
Olympics we're going to have."
REUTERS: Do you think the atmosphere will be different than playing
during the Wimbledon fortnight?
FEDERER: "Possibly. I'm looking forward to it and I hope it's going to
be somewhat different. Different is good because changes are nice. I
heard we might even be playing in colour (clothes) at Wimbledon which
is going to be so unusual.
"For me it's going to be extra special as hopefully my kids can come
and see a match for the first time at an Olympics. My parents will be
able to show up for the first time at an Olympics because they didn't
do the trip to Sydney, Athens or Beijing and that's going to be a huge
difference for me. I like having my family around, especially for
something so emotional."
REUTERS: What are you plans for the summer of 2012? Will you stay in
England from Wimbledon through to the Olympics since there is only a
three-week gap between the two?
FEDERER: "I haven't planned that far ahead but I might go back and
come back just because I can as Switzerland is so close. It's a good
schedule for most of the players. I doubt I will play a tournament in
between.
"I don't even know if I'm going to stay at the Olympic Village yet or
even Wimbledon Village. I stayed twice in the (athlete's) village, in
Sydney and Athens, but I tried the hotel in Beijing just because
that's what I'm used to most and it kind of worked. So we'll see what
I'll do."
REUTERS: What's your programme like at the Olympics? Do you have time
to watch other sports and socialise with other athletes?
FEDERER: "I tried to. I went to watch swimming and badminton in
Australia with Mirka even though we weren't together yet but we just
went. That's been the disappointing part for me really because I don't
remember going in Athens and Beijing to see any other sports because
we didn't have any time.
"Hours are very cramped because we play singles and doubles. I think
there's even mixed (doubles) now in 2012. I don't know who finds time
to do it.
"Now it could be slightly different because if we are there three
weeks earlier, we just stay there. Usually we come in early enough but
just not early enough to go see the other sports. That something that
could change for 2012 and I'm looking forward to it."
REUTERS: It will be your first Olympics as a father. How do you think
that having your twin daughters, who will be three by then, impact
things?
FEDERER: "It's going to inspire me more. Then they will understand
more and more about tennis. They have no clue obviously at the moment
but they understand when daddy goes and plays and has the headband on
on TV, they recognise me and that's great.
"I can only imagine in two years how different that's going to be. If
they can join me and even sit on the stands for one of the games
that's going to be great."
REUTERS: One of your most memorable celebrations was when you won the
gold in Beijing with your doubles partner Stanislas Wawrinka. He was
lying on his back while you were comically hovering your hands over
him. What kind of celebration can we expect if you win singles gold on
the most famous Centre Court?
FEDERER: "Oh God, I'll be alone on the court so nothing crazy. I hope
it happens, I'll be ready to do anything then. I think it was funny
thing to do back in Beijing… but there's nothing in the plans as it's
so far away."
REUTERS: Now that you are friends with Queen Elizabeth after meeting
her at Wimbledon this year, have you dreamt about her putting that
gold around your neck in 2012?
FEDERER: "Ha ha, no, no, I haven't. It was nice going through a medal
ceremony (in Beijing) with the national anthem. It was beautiful and
one of the more emotional moments of my career. Sure, I'd love to go
through it again. At that point I almost don't care who gives me the
medal as long as I would get it.
"Because it's so unusual for us to hear our national anthem, when you
win (and you do hear it), I think it's a moment of calm. A moment
where you can have pictures go through your mind again, what just all
happened -- the last couple of days, hours, weeks and all the effort
you put into it. It's a great feeling and I hope it happens again."
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/26112010/2/reuters-q-amp-tennis-federer-yearns-wimbledon-gold.html
felangey
lose the Olympics, huh?....Your kids will see you at the Olympics,
yeah?....It's all about the Olympics now kiddo, right?...Man, you met your
wife at the Olympics - but you never played well at the Olympics did,
ya?....Wimbledon Olympics, not like other Olympics are they?...." etc
= Fed *yearns* for Wimbledon gold.
Patrick Kehoe
All the top guys will want that one... Rafa's looking good for the
first tennis 'dude' to win back to back men's singles Olympic gold
medals...
P
felangey
first tennis 'dude' to win back to back men's singles Olympic gold
medals...<
It's a bit early for anyone to be looking good for it. A lot of tennis
between now and then Stanley!
My point is...they will 'want' it for patriotic and novetly reasons, but it
was an interview all about the Olympics...the derivative of which was this
very strong term 'yearn'.
Iceberg
you Fedfans plus esp Joe Ramirez kept hollering on and on not so long
ago that the Olympics was hardly worth anything.
Patrick Kehoe
It's important in that it's a HUGE opportunity and unique event in
ones career... but it's not a criteria for all time greatness... right
Mr. Laver, Mr. Borg, Mr. Sampras, Miss Williams (she hasn't won it has
she?)...
P
felangey
Disagree. It's a 'nice to have'. That's all anyone, apart from the media and
Nadal fans, have said.
Ali Asoag
Still the case.
Fed "yearns" (if at all) because he wants to win a medal for his
country,not because it's important for his tennis career. Olympic Games
are there for 1,000,000 sports, not only for tennis so a gold medal in
tennis has same importance as a gold medal in - say - Synchronized Swimming.
Also, single or double win at Olympics counts the same: It's "just" a
medal for the country in the whole medal table. Or did Nadal's gold
medal count twice as much as Fed's gold medal?
Patrick Kehoe
An Olympic medal is an incredible achievement for an athlete able to
compete at that level/in that particular environment: an Olympic
Games... Federer loves being "an Olympic champion" I am sure... so
does Rafa and Agassi and Graf, etc... winning a golf medal is unique,
but not a defining part of tennis greatness for a professional...
P
felangey
compete at that level/in that particular environment: an Olympic
Games... Federer loves being "an Olympic champion" I am sure... so
does Rafa and Agassi and Graf, etc... winning a golf medal is unique,
but not a defining part of tennis greatness for a professional...<
Like I said, it's a nice to have. It transcends into 'incredible
achievement' if you are an athlete, and this is the pinnacle event of your
sporting career.
John P
"I can barely do the opening ceremonies as they (other athletes) eat me
up as I wait inside."
Assuming that "eat" wasn't a typo for "beat," I guess he is saying that
the other athletes ask him for autographs and stuff?
John P
Constant craving."
--- George Costanza
Fan
Is he trying to win Olympic Gold by talking his opponents to death? :)
GOYLE
>
> - Show quoted text -
It's a defense mechanism to show he still has what it takes to defeat
the younger players, a way to deminish the age gap, but, not all
players buy into the psych game.
Whisper
lol - this little post amazingly minimizes Rafa's Olmpics achievement &
overvalues Fed's in 1 breath.
If singles & doubles medals are 'the same', then why not singles &
doubles slams...?
I have a hunch if Fed had the singles gold medal & Rafa the doubles
you'd be whistling a different load of crock.
lol what a dork.