Federer želi igrati do 35. rođendana

ŠANGAJ - Dane do početka Masters Cupa sudionici ispunjavaju na različite načine. Roger Federer je promovirao vibrirajući brijaći aparat pa je okupljenim mladim Kinezima pokazivao kako ga ispravno treba koristiti. Usput je odgovorio i na nekoliko zanimljivih pitanja.

- Želim još dugo nastupati. Definitivno bih želio igrati do 35. godine, jer se osjećam spreman i zdrav - rekao je Švicarac, usput dijeleći savjete Kinezima kako se treba brijati.

Kad je na izbor dobio glumačka imena za biografski film, u konkurenciji Brada Pitta, Johnnyja Deppa, Matta Damona, pa čak i Denzela Washingtona te Jet Leeja (!), Federer je izabrao partnera Angeline Jolie.

- Brad Pitt je glumio u nekim opakim filmovima, a želio bih da takav bude i o meni. Nemam ništa ni protiv komedije, ali sam više tip za žestoke filmove - priznao je Federer. (gg)

Rafa iskreno o svemu, a najviše o svojim ozljedama. Tek je sad  ispričao koje je sve probleme imao.

 Nadal hurtin' the last two years?

 "I never (talked about my injuries) because it sounds like an excuse. I don't like talking about injuries. I train physically every day, but I cannot run. Now, in the off-season, I will try. Since my foot problem in 2005, I've been really careful to avoid running. It has been noticed. I have to take stock of my physical situation every time I play, and it has cost me, because I don't have a base.

I swim, row, cycle, do the elliptical trainer. But it's not the same thing. it doesn't give you the same confidence. It's hard.

Q: Is that why you can no longer counterattack on the run, what you're famous for?

I always hit a very high, deep ball. Unconsiously, my game adapted itself to those problems. Now, I don't do it as aggressively, but with shorter steps, trying not to force so much. Sometimes it is an obstacle. You say to yourself, "What a shame. If only I could be as healthy as I was in 2005, with the better tennis I'm playing today."

Nada said he kept it together during the Wimbledon awards ceremony, so as not to act like a child, But once in the locker room, he cried, out of anger, and sadness - normal after losing such a close match to the No. 1 player, after having so many opportunities. Probably about 20-25 minutes. People came to comfort me, but I told htem I prefered to be alone. I didn't want them to see me cry.

A question about Uncle Toni offering to stop being his coach was answered this way.

"This year, when things weren't going well, he said it. I said no, that wasn't the problem. Tony is and will always be my coach. 

Q: What did he learn?

To have a little patience. I have more experience. That's important when things aren't going that well. When things are bad, I get nervous, but I know that logically, I'll start to play well again. If it's not tomorrow, it'll be in two weeks, a month, three or five. You don't go from the top to down here. I hadn't won in eight months and I was worried. But when I won Indian Wells, I started playing at a high level. Sometimes all you need is a little "click." 

 Q: What has he changed in his game?

On the clay, I have changed my style a little, always with the base of fighting hard and being very intense. Now I can slice the ball, serve and volley with  more success. I have also improved my serve. I needed a little more speed, and the confidence that those extra 10-12 km/hour give me.

Q: You also have to be a little more aggressive?

I often forget. it's something I have to work on because it's not easy for me. Until I hot bottom, until I see that I'm playing too much defence, I don't realize that I have to be more aggressive.  

Q: You're asked about doping more than anyone?

I don't feel more persecuted, but a little mistreated. A lot of things seem ridiculous to me. When I finished the match with Ferrer, I was there until midnight because I couldn't pee. I ate on the floor.

 Q: A positive test is a four-year suspension now.

"Frenadol, Vick Vaporub, it's all doping. We have to be conscious of even the smallest thing being doping. I don't know if Martina Hingis took cocaine. Do you think it can help her? For me, nothing. Neverthless, my image is being destoyed. Drugs disgust me, but there are things that cannot be known. The players have to be in solidarity and when there is a problem, to protest. We need unity. I go away all of December and I must account every day for where I'm going to be. It's ridiculous. You say to yourself, "Who am I that they treat me like a delinquent?"
 

 Q: Why does it seem as though Federer is injured less?

"Because of the schedule and because he plays in a way that makes it more difficult to get injured. Smaller moves. Federer was born with impressive (physical condition) but I'm sure I could have it too, but with a lot more work. I don't believe that I get injured more than others. I think that the smallest problem becomes a big deal. This year, the only tournament I missed was Marseille.

Q: Were you injured in the French Open Final?

I played Roland Garros with my foot numb, injected with anasthetic. I didn't want to go to the hospital, because I didn't want to have any small doubts in my mind. I knew it was nothing serious. It hurt. I went to the hospital after the final and had a small contusion.

Q: In 2005, you were affected greatly by the foot injury. This year you missed more than a month because of the knees. Did it affect you to the same extent?

They were different.  I knew what I had. I played because it was the U.S. Open, but mentally I wasn't fresh. I wasn't seeing clearly. I felt terrible. I had tests in Majorca and everything came out badly: the "defenses", iron. The doctor said to rest for a week and I went to Ibiza. It was one of the best weeks of my life.

Q: What did you think when Federer lost against (Fernando) Gonzalez?

That it was a miracle.

Q: It is a problem that the clay-court season is so condensed?

It's a big disadvantage. I spend two month playing a thousand games with the pressure o me to win. Federer is different; he goes many weeks without playing. For me, without the clay-court points, I would not be in Shanghai. I had a very good clay-court season, but if something happens to me during that period, I'll have trouble all year.

Q: Did you feel burned out?

In Hamburg, I was a little overcome. I had a moment where my head exploded, mainly against Federer. It was four or five weeks playing in the final every week, with very tough matches and a lot of pressure. Every day, all day, thinking about the same thing. There comes a moment when you get tired.