Roger Federer: "Wanted to break Sampras' record, everything else was a bonus"
After his opening success in Halle, Roger Federer spoke about the French Open final and the race for most of the Grand Slam titles.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Jun 16, 2021, 06:15 am
Roger Federer apparently followed the final spurt of the French Open with eagle eyes. After his opening success at the ATP 500 event in Halle, the Swiss declared: "Even in the semifinals against Nadal there were incredible rallies and great tennis." In the final, Stefanos Tsitsipas also played well, "but the way Djokovic saved himself over the finish line was great. All the more so after he won the tournament in Belgrade the week before Paris," emphasized the Swiss.
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This means that the Serb has caught up with the leaders Federer and Nadal in the race for the most Grand Slam titles. The 39-year-old doesn't really see the fact that almost everything in tennis revolves around this title as a good development: "When I came on the tour, it wasn't just about the Grand Slams. It was Pete Sampras who triggered this development and suddenly said that now he would only be interested in the slams, " the daily newspaper quoted the Swiss.
Federer squinted at Wimbledon
It was Sampras whose record was initially supposed to be the main incentive for Federer: "After my 15th title I didn't really care whether I had 15, 16, 17 or 18. I just wanted to break Sampras' record, everything others were a bonus, "said Federer, who nonetheless squinted at title number 21 in the Grand Slam at Wimbledon, which will start on June 28th.
The preparation for this has now started well, the Swiss won his opening match in Halle against Ilya Ivashka. "I don't feel very much under pressure here. But every match I can play is positive for Wimbledon," emphasized the record winner at the ATP 500 event. The old master seldom found his best tennis against Ivashka, but was still positive: "In the second set I had more options, and overall it was a good opening match."
Djokovic catches up
The fact that Djokovic - the youngest of the big three - was now able to catch up so close to him and Federer is not a concern for Federer at the moment. He himself could of course look back on great moments with the majors: "The Grand Slams have certainly given me a lot, and they offer tennis a big stage."
Roger Federer will face the young Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime in the second round in Halle, who defeated this year's Miami winner Hubert Hurkacz in the first round. Auger-Aliassime comes to Westphalia well-rehearsed, as he only played the final in Stuttgart on Sunday. The Canadian Marin Cilic was defeated there - and is still waiting for the first title at ATP level.