Hopefully I can just have another terrible year with only just the one grand slam and that will be just fine.
- Roger Federer after his 6-4, 2-6, 6-7(6) defeat to Andy Murray in Abu Dhabi, his third straight loss to the Brit baller
Sarcastic much? I'm sensing a little bitterness underneath those words. Is it because there are now two top ballers who definitely have Fed's number? He may be lucky to squeak out one major this year with that 'tude.
UPDATE: Straight from the horse's mouth...and it sounds even more bitter. WTF?!
(image via AP)
- Roger Federer after his 6-4, 2-6, 6-7(6) defeat to Andy Murray in Abu Dhabi, his third straight loss to the Brit baller
Sarcastic much? I'm sensing a little bitterness underneath those words. Is it because there are now two top ballers who definitely have Fed's number? He may be lucky to squeak out one major this year with that 'tude.
UPDATE: Straight from the horse's mouth...and it sounds even more bitter. WTF?!
(image via AP)
Fed lost to Murray again .. yeah yeah yeah, what else is new? What's important is Rafa. Did you see the new duds? He looks great in the sleeves and he won his match. I was wondering if I'd like it on him, but it fits him incredibly well. I love it.
ReplyDelete*yawn* his bitterness is so 2008.
ReplyDeleteYeah his usual cool demeanor is being replaced by an aging bitterness or something. Not pretty.
ReplyDeleteYikes. Fed needs to chill.
ReplyDeletejohanne: yeah talk about not being in the present and letting go of the past. he's still fixated on the press-bashing he got last year for his sub-par (by his own standards) season.
ReplyDeletethat can't bode well for 2009 if he's still reeling from last season
I guess I feel some sympathy for RFed in this. There he is at the first "match" of the year, which is not even a tournament but an exhibition, and the announcer is already asking a new version of the same-old "what's wrong with you?" question--and in addition to that, he also invites Fed to explain how this defeat, again in an exhibition, will affect his entire year! I wouldn't answer that kind of question seriously, either!
ReplyDeleteI have a lot of respect for Roger Federer and he has every right to be sarcastic about his "terrible year."
ReplyDeleteAnd I could care less about Rafael Nadal's new look. :yawn: The whole polo and short combination is not original.
I get the feeling that Fed doesn't actually yet know how he wants to handle the final stretch of his career, and that shows in the different answers he gives to the question. Does he want to regain no.1? Or break the slams record? Or play until 2012? He's said all of those things. I think it's this confusion (and frustration maybe?) that results in him coming out with comments like this.
ReplyDeleteI'm probably over-thinking this, but I do think he's not over his wilderness moment yet, and 2009 will be difficult for him.
Jess: I have tons of respect for Fed - no question. But it does feel like there's an edge there now which he never revealed before, at least not publicly. I actually think it will help him on-court but sometimes it won't come off well in the media. Oh well - he's human.
ReplyDeleteRafa's new look? Def to each his own.
Belle: Good point - I also think there's a lot coming at him at the moment: he knows he's moving into the latter part of his amazing career and the younger ballers are starting to beat him regularly. It's a new position and I'm sure it's an adjustment.
Rafa will be adjusting too - being the top baller starting the year off of an incredible '08. How the hell do you top that? Tons of points to defend also - it'll be an interesting year.
not to take anything away from fed's greatness but during the time that he was at his peak, no one was either talented or healthy enough to challenge him and guys like safin, roddick, hewitt, blake and nalbandian, while extremely talented, we're not able to realize their full potential. the atp has a much talented pool of players who don't seem to be headcases nowadays and they've all caught up roger making the tour much more exciting and less predictable.
ReplyDeleteI love the comment!! Funny... and delivered deadpan. Don't see any bitterness at all. Sarcastic, yes (Pete Sampras said federer had a sarcastic sense of humour). Good riposte to the never-ending idiotic questions to federer from some press. Asking him about the end of the year?? Please... Good for him!!!! Love it..
ReplyDeleteLol, that was a good one, I flove sarcastic Fed :)
ReplyDelete- Kathleen
No doubt. Federer has a saracastic sense of humour. It's typical for swiss persons.
ReplyDeleteI think the comment was great! i am of course biased, have been a fan of his for ages. and i do think people question him too much and it is hurtful because this guy has proven that he is possibly the best ever. as far as some people saying that his stellar career is due to the fact that there wasn't strong competition out there, i disagree, when fed was at his best, everyone looked like they weren't qualified enough. and we will still have to see how rafa and andy withstand so many years at the top, when they get older, the pressure starts building, records have to be chased, and the press becomes more and more negative.
ReplyDeleteYou know, we're a little disappointed in his comment.... we have always thought of him as portraying the "perfect gentleman" and now our image is ruined. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteHowever, we shall have to send our readers your way for this as well as the Rafa fashion updates. You *know* we are all about the important things over at the Princess. (Heh-heh.)
Grins and giggles and Happy, Happy New Year to you!
tp
Definitely didnt sound like his usual self. Probably didnt enjoy that lose to Murray, Exo or not. Fed hates being number 2 even at best, so maybe he'll bring more competitive fire this year.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion the commentator just got what he deserved for such a creative question, with Roger being his usual gracious self. This year will be certainly very interesting and Rogers goals is certainly to get more Grand Slams and not being number one, thats kind been there done that (longer than anyone).
ReplyDeleteMy only comment to Rafas pick of new attire, its not his choice that much as of his managment in order to improve his image as number one, they have already cought up the teenagers with the sleevles shirts, now they are moving on to the usually Rogers fanbase of more sophisticated and older fans. I am afraid it might not work as they wanted judging by their choice worn by Rafa yeasterday, miles off from Roger.
Oy, Roger. That's all I'm sayin'.
ReplyDelete