Roger Federer would like to face Rafael Nadal on sand again
After his opening win over Richard Gasquet in Madrid, Roger Federer was satisfied.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: May 08, 2019, 01:21 pm
Even if Gasquet was not in top form, as Federer knew, "it was a good match on my part," he said afterwards.
While Federer played his first match on clay since 2016, Gasquet played his first tournament in Madrid in six months after groin problems put him out of action.
He missed playing on sand "not sooo much", Federer admitted, but not doing it again "would not have felt like the right decision to me" because the knee problem had been gone long enough. "It feels good to be back now - and to be honest, I'm enjoying it," Federer continued.
Whether there will be a duel with Federers two sand appearances with the ultimate challenge on ashes, with Rafael Nadal, and whether Federer would enjoy that too? Is questionable. Too clear the balance for "Rafa" on sand: 13: 2.
But, says Federer, whose glass always seems to be half full: "It means that I'm in the final," said the 37-year-old about a possible duel between the two in Madrid. "And I haven't had many chances in the last three years to hit him on the sand," he added with a laugh.
Federer: "Nadal is the benchmark for all of us"
One of Federer's two victories over Nadal on ashes even comes from Madrid, in the 2009 final it was, "That was one of my good matches on clay, but he was also pretty tired, I think."
However, Federer also has the big picture in mind. "It would be nice to have played him on clay at the beginning of his career and at the very end. To see how it all turns out." Especially since avoidance tactics have never been Federer's approach. "If I said I didn't want to play on sand against him, it would be a mistake to compete on sand at all," said the Maestro. "Because it is the standard for all of us."