Roger says why he couldn’t deliver at the Flushing Meadows
Roger Federer didn’t have his best run at this US Open edition. The Swiss legend won two awkward 5-setters in the first and second round against Tiafoe and Youzhny. He was pretty steady soon after against Feliciano Lopez and Philipp Kohlschreiber, but from the outset of his match against Del Potro, it was clear that Roger didn’t feel comfortable. Roger was hitting too many unforced errors also with his forehand, and he wasn’t biting much with his serve. That is already too much against a guy like Del Potro.
I didn’t have the right feeling. FEDERER
Soon after the match the Maestro explained
“It was one of those matches where if I ran into a good guy, I was going to lose, I felt.
I don’t want to say I was in a negative mindset, but I knew going in that I’m not in a safe place. Might have depended too much on my opponent, and I don’t like that feeling. I had it throughout the tournament, and I just felt that way every single match I went into.
I didn’t have that feeling at Wimbledon or at the Australian Open, and that’s why rightfully so I’m out of this tournament, because I wasn’t good enough, in my mind, in my body, and in my game to overcome these three pillars.
If you’re missing all three, it’s going to be tough. I’m okay with it, and I tried until the very end. And smashing certain stuff in the net that I normally wouldn’t, smashing forehand volleys into the back fence, I mean, that stuff sucked.
Honestly, it was terrible. Juan Martin did well. He served well, had some big shots when he needed to. That was the part that he did so much better tonight, and that’s why he deserves to win.”
I am still upbeat
Roger added
“It’s all a bonus at this stage. I’ve had a wonderful year. I can’t win them all. You run into guys who are better than you on the night. Juan Martin fought like a lion, so it’s fine there. I’m upbeat about what’s to come.”
Next stop the Rod Laver Cup.
