Skafi wrote:Dirče, slažeš li se sa mnom da kada se vrate svi rekovalescenti i budu manje-više na optimalnom nivou, neki maksimum koji će moći da izvuče do kraja karijere od ovih najvećih turnira je još jedan gren slem (najveće šanse Vimbldon) i do tri mastersa.
“I think it was a tough game to get broken at 1-0 for him in the second [set]. I had I think multiple game chances to get out of the game and go 1-1, keep the pressure up,” said Federer. “I think things really turned around for him at that moment. He started to feel better from the return, from the baseline. He wasn't missing as much anymore. He was returning also much better off the second serve after that.
“I just think the better returner won over the better server today.”
“It’s been an amazing year for me. I’ve been so happy that I was playing at this level from the beginning till basically the end, till today. So it's been great. Really enjoyed myself in the process,” said the Swiss.
“Looking ahead, look, clearly the buildup is not going to be six months like it was last time around,” added the 36 year old. “It's not going to be six weeks of tennis. It's just going to be two, three weeks. It's going to be short. But I did that 15 years previously, so I know how to handle the buildup.”
“I'm actually very relieved that I was able to finish strong ... It shows that things are in the past now. It's good to know that I can bounce back, you know, and get my confidence back.
“So considering how last year went, this year was perfect.”
“We all had to take time off. I didn't choose to take the time off last year. You make me look like a genius sometimes. You take time off, you come back, you're good again. That's not how it goes.
“I expect obviously from the likes who have been extremely high up in the rankings, who have won slams, like Stan, Andy and Novak, of course I expect greatness from them,” added Federer. “I wouldn't be surprised if it worked out for them as well like it worked out for me and Rafa.”
“I hope also Kei [Nishikori], Tomas [Berdych] and Milos [Raonic] all find their way back on tour and prefer to be in Australia because that would make it a quite epic comeback for all the guys. Then you mix them together with the new guys from the [Nitto ATP Finals] here who have just come off a great year... I think it could be a very cool start to the year, which I'm really looking forward to.”
Federer Safin
18 Service winners 25
32 Winners: 16
11 Forehand 3
12 Backhand 9
6 Volley 3
3 Smash 1
22 Unforced errors: 32
7 Forehand 10
14 Backhand 19
1 Volley 2
Smash 1
22 Forced errors: 27
8 Forehand 8
10 Backhand 15
4 Volley 4
Smash
2 Double faults 2
Federer Safin
46 1-4 (104) 58
49 5-8 (64) 15
11 9-12 (19) 8
5 13-20 (10) 5
/ 21+ (1) 1
“This year I feel much more in a rhythm,” Federer said. “You get to break point or the moment where you have to serve the first time of the year, and it’s a normal thing.
“Whereas last year, I was like, ‘Ooh, I hope I’m going to be able to hit my first serves, and I hope it’s going to work out as much as it did in the practice’.
“I think all those question marks aren’t really there this time around, which is a nice thing.”
Federer said his body was feeling great, and he was pleased with his first outing.
“I’m just very happy I was able to have a good level today, and stay calm under pressure,” added Federer. “I had some good moments moving forward (to the net) and playing up in the court.That’s how I want to play for the year. I think it was a great start.”
“I thought the intensity was great, the level was very high too,” claimed a delighted Federer. “Karen got off to a great start, me too actually. He put me under pressure early on and then we caught a great spell, an exhibition of serving for 45 minutes or so.
“The tiebreak was close, it was good to play that early on in the season, to play those nervy situations with the pulse up high, you’re sweating loads. The match had a bit of everything, so I’m very happy with the performance.”
“It was nice to see him free swinging the entire match, which isn’t easy to do,” added the reigning Australian Open champion. “I remember those days, match point down, you go for it, you don’t care. That is what you have to remind yourselves sometimes when you’re older, to go for it. He mixed up the play well, so it was a tough match for me.”
Federer was thrilled to have beaten his own record for the highest attendance at Perth Arena. “It’s not normal because you have to work extremely hard for it to happen and people come out to watch you practice, which is what I actually found so weird when I came world No.1 back in 2004.
“I really don’t take it for granted,” added the grateful Swiss as he thanked the ardent crowd. “I think it’s what keeps me on Tour if I’m honest. If I had to play on outside courts, or in empty stadiums, I think the passion would go away a bit.”
After all these years I can’t believe I’m here again,” pointed out Federer. “It’s absolutely amazing. I’ve lost count of the years, I’m thrilled to win the Hopman Cup again with Belinda, it’s been a pleasure to partner you this week, well done.”
“It’s kind of surreal. When you first play Hopman Cup you think you’ll be back every year, then all of a sudden, your plans change, your life changes and you have different preparations,” reflected Roger Federer.
“It was already amazing to be back last year (falling to eventual champions France). We had a great time. This year round, getting it done is an incredible feeling.”
“Every trip has been very memorable for me,” recalled the world No.2. “It’s a totally different feeling to when I won with Martina because I was the apprentice and she was the Master. Maybe this time it’s the other way round.
“It’s been a perfect week, I can’t thank Belinda enough. She made the difference in the final, with those three winners late on. In my mind, she’s been the ‘MVP’ in the doubles. “
“There is just a lot of positivity. It was a great week as a team, but also personally in singles I played great. I just have to pace myself in the lead up to Melbourne and I’ll be ready,” claimed the reigning Australian Open champion.
“I’m just excited to go back to Melbourne, where I had my fairytale 2017 run.
“It’s great to be the defending champion, but I will go about it the right way, I won’t be putting any extra pressure on myself.”
“I’m hoping for it to go well again; I’m just not sure if it can go this well.” he said. “Last year was just so good that I’m just worried. I kind of know it won’t be [as good]: I’m a year older, guys are coming back again – Rafa’s in tip-top shape. I can’t control it all.
“And last year was a fairytale. And last year was last year. That’s the problem, but that’s the beauty of it. [Last year], it’s always going to be there, it’s the favourite year of my career. So this year I’m just hoping to stay healthy, stay out there, give myself chances and hopefully be in those big matches like last year so that I can play my very best and enjoy myself out there in front of a big crowd, keep working hard and see what happens at the end.”
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