TENNIS WIMBLEDON 2014 – 26th of June. R. Federer d. G. Muller 6-3, 7-5, 6-3. An interview with Roger Federer
Q. Three times you have played Gilles before now and — you’ve gone on to win the tournament.
ROGER FEDERER: Oh, really? Ohh. Are you sure? (Laughter.)
I’ll go check it out.
Q. Some sort of good-luck charm?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, we’ll see about that. Yeah. I don’t know. I’m speechless. Such a good first question. You know, normally don’t start so nice. These press conferences are always more serious.
No, I’m happy to hear that. I’m very happy with the match today, because I knew it could have been difficult, you know. And we saw signs of it I think midway through the second set when I think for four straight games I didn’t see, you know, much on his serve.
Then actually the rain delay kind of changed things around. I came out and I was a bit more clear of how I was going to return him.
It makes life difficult out there. It keeps the points short and serves nice and well. Swings the serve nice. I actually thought he was playing pretty quick.
I’m very happy to be through and happy to hear the news.
Q. What adjustments do you have to make with the roof closed as opposed to open?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, against a player like this you’re more dependent on the serve and return and first couple of shots, so it doesn’t change much against a player like him.
But it might change more against a baseliner. Of course if there was a lot of wind with the roof open. That changes things in a big way.
Today I thought it was cooler with the roof open, and then footing and tactics, I didn’t change anything from before and after.
Q. I think it was Muller who wanted to stop play. Looked like he was the one…
ROGER FEDERER: No, no, no. I just asked him if he wanted to continue playing or have a sit down basically just wait it out a few minutes rather than just leave the court and have the roof being shut. Because it was an outdoor event. I’m aware of that.
They started us with the roof open. They expected a big rain at 6:30, which never really came.
I think they did the right thing. I just don’t think it’s worth it to play for an extra few points here or there or for a few extra games here that somebody slips and gets injured. I’m sorry, it’s just not worth it.
He was happy sitting down. That was it. Then they called it.
Q. When you came off court, the interview you gave, you offered up fairly unsolicited some comments on speed of play. I wonder if you’d like to expand on your comments and wonder if they were inspired by watching a match on Centre Court earlier today.
ROGER FEDERER: No, I just think it’s important that we, as players, play up to speed, you know, and don’t exceed the speed — the time limit, because what I don’t want is that we lose viewers because we play too slow.
I was talking in particular if the points are short. You cannot take 25 seconds. I mean, I know you need to focus. That you can do in 10 seconds. Just can’t be that we only see two points per minute. I just feel like we need to keep up the pace and obviously play according to the rules.
The rules are there not to be broken, but of course you need to give leeway to tough rallies and somebody who’s got — needs a bit more time. I’m fine with that.
I just think overall — because I just realize it happened to me. I did watch some matches. I don’t remember who it was. But they were playing so slow I was like, Okay, I really — I can’t watch it. It’s like going too slow for me. That’s why I said that.
Q. Did you catch the first match on Centre Court today? Any of it?
ROGER FEDERER: Not much, no. Why? Was it going slow?
Q. Comments afterwards by Rosol about it.
ROGER FEDERER: Well, it’s the umpire’s call at the end of the day.
Q. Average time was 25 seconds.
ROGER FEDERER: Well, then he’s doing the right thing. Just. I guess. Is the rule 25 or 20?
Q. It’s 20.
ROGER FEDERER: It’s 20. Okay. So that’s not so cool, then. That’s an umpire’s call, I mean, you know, really…
Q. Just to go back to the time between points, you were obviously on the player council for a long time. Is that something that came up? Seems like it’s a rule that’s not really enforced.
ROGER FEDERER: I think we did speak about it on the council. Was it last year, maybe at the beginning of last year? Is that when they enforced the rules again? Or this year?
Q. I think it was last year.
ROGER FEDERER: Beginning of last year. Right. And they were very firm on — firmer. Basically we just said we needed to just enforce the rule, is that it? It wasn’t a rule change. It was about enforcing the rule and tell the umpires to basically do what they are supposed to be doing — and not just let it run its course every single time.
What you’re going to see next is all of a sudden a shot clock. We discussed that as well. We said we didn’t need to go that far. That the next council can decide. If that happens — I wouldn’t be surprised if that were to happen all of a sudden. Because you only just need a couple of guys always doing it, and that’s when it happens.
We have seen it in so many other sports, people who push it too much, and then you have to go the other extreme to counter that.
Yeah, they have gotten a little less aggressive, the umpires, again, which is understandable sometimes. But I don’t think all of last year I got a warning. Did I always play under 20, 25 seconds? I’m not sure, but maybe I do get the benefit for playing quick most of the time.
Q. The council, they had the new council get elected, but I don’t think they have made a head.
ROGER FEDERER: That’s going to be at the US Open, I think.
Q. With your experience with a lot of the same group of people, have you thought of someone who you think might be leading it or would be the best?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, there is a few names out there. I have a feeling who it should be, which I maybe gave. But I don’t think that changes anything, because I think it’s the council deciding at the end of the day who it’s going to be.
We will find out at the US Open, but I won’t tell you who I think it should be.
