FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — Five-time U.S. Open champion Roger Federer moved into the fourth round on Saturday with an impressive 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 decision over Croat Marin Cilic. Afterward, the Swiss star, who will face Argentine Juan Monaco for a shot at the quarterfinals, spoke with reporters. Here are some highlights:
ON BEING TRILINGUAL: I grew up speaking English and Swiss German, and then…I don’t want to say my English got lost a bit, but obviously I was speaking only Swiss German at some point. For some reason I started speaking more English again with my mom, and then with my coach, Peter Carter, when he came to the tennis club. That’s kind of how I got my English back a bit. And then obviously touring at 14, I already had a solid base, and I think I was able to improve from there. French I learned only when I was 14 years old for two years at school. I was never really afraid to make mistakes, I guess. That’s why my French is decent today. Makes my workdays a bit longer, at the press. I was just speaking to [Juan Carlos] Ferrero about the press, and he couldn’t believe that I’m doing almost one hour of press after matches every time. And he is a former world No. 1. It got me into some problems I guess, too, to speak so many languages. But honestly it’s very nice to be able to communicate with everybody almost at all times. Swiss German is my No. 1 language, and then English follows right after that. French is a bit trickier for me, but I guess when I do speak with a lot of French guys I start maybe thinking in French. I’m not sure. It’s just natural. I’m able to bounce around from language to language pretty easily.
ON WHAT LANGUAGE HE DREAMS IN: I don’t dream much. Honestly, I’m kind of happy about that, actually.
ON DONALD YOUNG: I think he’s been real good at a very young age. I think his coming into the tour was rather complicated. Getting a lot of wildcards and getting a lot of help creates a lot of pressure, right? So that’s hard to live up to. I really feel that, because I had expectations, too. But I had them when I was 17, 18, 19. He maybe had them when he was 15, 16, 17. It’s a big difference. Seems like he’s making his move now, and he’s had some good wins…guess the goal for him after that is start doing better almost away from America. That’s the key for most Americans.
ON WHAT RAFA DOES BETTER THAN HIM: Our head to heads speak for themselves when clay comes around, even though I’ve beaten him twice there. I think this is where his strengths come into play the most with his movement on clay and instinct better than anyone on that surface. His margins…are better than anyone’s. I play very flat. I have more risk in my game, but at least I feel the match is usually in my control, where Rafa maybe doesn’t always feel that way. He has to dig extremely deep sometimes. But when he’s on a roll, he’s almost unstoppable. I think he’s an incredible player. He’s improved a lot over the years. He’ll keep on improving and be one of the greats.
ON WHETHER ANY OTHER PLAYERS CAN BE AS DOMINANT AS HE’S BEEN WITH THE SINGLE-HANDED BACKHAND: Hope not, because I wouldn’t be as dominant with the double-handed backhand. My double-hander is terrible. [Laughs.] I like seeing one-handed backhands. You have to vary your game when you have the one-hander, because it’s totally different when you’re moving to your backhand side than with a double hander. These guys today, even when they play double-handed, they go open stance, almost sliding on hard courts, which was unheard of 10 years ago. So things have changed a lot. But I wish we would see more one-handed backhands. But the double hands we see today are very nice, very beautiful and very efficient. I don’t know what I would teach my kid.
ON TIGER WOODS AND HIS RECENT TRAVAILS: It’s hard to follow, because you know what an athlete wants to do. He wants to be out there and compete, and that’s what he’s not able to do right now with his injuries right now. It’s very unfortunate. I spoke to him actually yesterday and I asked him how he was doing. He’s not very happy, but he hopes to be back. I wish the same, because I follow golf much more when he’s around than when he’s not. I think many fans too hope he’s back, because it is more interesting. He’s done so much in such a short period of time and for such a long time, actually, which is where I also draw inspiration out of, is to see those great athletes do it for a very long time. I’ve been able to do something similar to him in that regard. So we have similarities and can talk about that very comfortably. But it’s been tough for him the last years. He knows that. It’s been hard to watch. I only wish him the best.
ON WOODS’ CHANCES OF BREAKING GOLF’S RECORD FOR MAJORS: I think before he can attack that goal, he needs to be healthy again. Once he’s healthy again, he needs to win some tournaments. Sure, he can go in and win a Grand Slam. That’s not an issue. He’s good enough for that. He’s proven it so many times in clutch situations. But I think it’s a work in progress, and he has more time left than maybe tennis players have. That’s why I think it’s still absolutely possible.
ON HOW MUCH TENNIS HE WATCHES WHEN HE’S NOT PLAYING: When I’m on vacation, none. When I’m at home, none. When I’m at tournaments, I watch a lot. That’s kind of how it is.
ON WHAT’S IT LIKE TO SEE HIS DAUGHTERS PICK UP A RACKET AND IMITATE HIM: They’re not quite there yet. And they don’t try to imitate me either, or it doesn’t look like it. They try hard, but they get discouraged after 30 seconds. They just pick up the doll that’s in the room instead. I’m happy about that. But who knows? Maybe in the next six months there’s going to be a lot of changes, they’re going to get much more into activities. They love their swimming and so forth. I’m happy to seeing them enjoying the sports.
ON WHETHER OR NOT HIS GIRLS WILL PLAY TENNIS: I won’t say no. We’ll see how it’s going to go. I have no idea. At the moment, they’re not going to be, but who knows?
ON WHETHER HIS GAME IS ON TRACK AT THE OPEN: Yeah, I’m on track because I’m in the tournament. That’s the most important at the end of the day. I seriously don’t care how I’m playing. I wish I play my best every single time and feel amazing. That’s not reality. Anybody who goes to work knows it’s not as great as he wishes to be, and we go through the same thing. But you find a way to win when maybe someone is not playing so well or when your opponent is playing well, and that’s what the beauty is of this game, I think, is trying to find a way when you’re not feeling great…As long as I’m in the tournament, I know I have a shot, and that’s what it’s about right now.
ON THE SUDDENLY-FASHIONABLE GLUTEN-FREE DIET: I don’t even know what that all means. I eat healthy, and I think that’s what people should do, too, if they have the options. It’s sure important the right diet for an athlete. Is it everything? I don’t think so. It can help you. I think every athlete should be in good shape. I don’t think we should have any fat athletes, to be honest. We do too much sports and we should be too professional to let that happen to ourselves. If it happens, well, we should wake up. You don’t have the right entourage. They’re not telling you that you’re a bit fat. Players try different things, and whatever works for them. I do my thing. It’s been very easy and natural and healthy, and it’s worked. I’m happy about that.
