Roger Federer was interviewed by Tim Henman and Bjorn Borg in a Zoom call on the ATP Tour Website to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the ATP Finals. Federer spoke of how important the ATP Finals tournament has been during his career.
The Swiss legend qualified for the elite event 14 times in a row from 2002 to 2015 and won the tournament six times. He reached the final ten times setting a tournament record. He scored an impressive record of 59 wins to 17 defeats in all his appearances at the ATP Finals in three different cities (Houston, Shanghai and London). Turin could become the fourth city, if Federer quaiifies for this tournament next year.
Federer is aiming to play at great level for another season in 2021 with the goal to qualify for the ATP Finals for the 18th time in his career, when this tournament will be held in Turin, The current world number 5 player will also pursue the elusive Olympic singles gold medal in Tokyo next summer and his ninth title at Wimbledon.
“Honestly, it does not matter where the event moves, any player will go where it moves. I would go to the moon if I could”, said Federer to the ATP Tour website.
He won his first title in 2003 beating André Agassi 9-7 in the tie-break of the third set in the final of this event, which was called the Masters Cup at that time. Earlier that year Federer clinched his first Grand Slam at his favourite Wimbledon.
“Qualifying for the Tennis Masters Cup that year was a huge deal. It opened my belief that I could beat the best baseline players from the baseline. 2003 was a true breakthrough tournament for me at the time. I don’t know if I have the potential to improve, but I am satisfied if I can maintain this level”.
Federer went on to win the following edition of the ATP Masters Cup in Houston in 2004, a very successful year, when he won three Grand Slam titles (Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open) and produced a score of 74 wins to 6 defeats (the best season for anyone on the ATP Tour since 1984, when John McEnroe scored 82 wins to just 3 defeats). Federer lost to David Nalbandian in five sets in 2005 and won two editions of the ATP Finals in Shanghai beating James Blake in 2007 and David Ferrer in 2008.
The Swiss Maestro won the fifth ATP Finals title of his career and the first edition held at the London O2 Arena in 2010 beating his Spanish rival Rafael Nadal in three sets.
“There is always pressure when I play Rafa indoors because I am the favourite. That changes depending on how things are going, but he has always been a tough player for me to play against. The win against Rafa was a big one. After winning in Houston and Shanghai, it was very special to win in London, the third different city after Shanghai and Houston”.
He won his sixth title in the second edition held in London in 2011 beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. That year he was not able to win a Grand Slam title for the first time since 2002.
“It was a great way to finish the 2011 season. I was extremely relieved”.
Federer has always loved playing at the O2 Arena in London.
“It’s nightclub dark, the fans are incredible”.
Novak Djokovic beat Federer in 2012, 2014 and 2015. Djokovic could tie Federer’s record of six wins, if he wins the ATP Finals in London next Sunday.
