Unfortunately I was injured in the first tournament of the year but I’m feeling a bit better now "If my body holds up I will definitely have a chance,"
Jim C: How tough is it to play someone like IK? RF: Obviously very tough yea, knew it was going to be tough. Played him 5,6, no 10 times, played some breakers (laughs), it comes down to luck comes to pressure, got fortunate at the end of the tie break and got through I can't really say I got a read on his serve not really but go but I got the % right when he had second serves and took opportunities
RF: So tall the degree of angle is so unusual, really don't face it that often, and I have only played him 10 out of like 999 matches, like John Isner, Roddick with such a sensational second serve, faced Pete, I have been around the block face many good servers
Jim C: I asked Rafa which shot of yours he would steal if he could and Rafa said he would steal the forehand, what would you take? RF: the forehand his is different from mine so I would take that. They both seem to work for us which is good
JimC: Rafa just changed his racket have you changed your racket? RF: I think it is important to stay aware of what is out there, talk things through whit your sponsor strings have evolved as well most players now play with half synthetic half gut. You can play with weight and balance more fibers on the inside of the frame depending on the surface you are playing on depends on what racket you maybe had at your break through time so it is very personal
JimC: So that is a long way to say you haven't changed your racket- RF: I have changed things here and there, use to play with a smaller frame, changed the racket size changed strings, made adjustments here and there over the years
JimC:Next match two players with different tennis from the match you just played and each other, will you be watching, what do you think of their styles and who would you prefer to play? I know I just asked like 6 questions in one sentence! RF: Hmmmm, I think I have only played them once each, I will be watching, don't know who to put my money on and obviously can't do that because I am a player (laughter) It would be fun for an aussie to get through though. I played him last at Davis Cup and had a good match
He says: "I had to work really hard and it was indeed a very tough match. I also had to focus extremely well. This had to do not only with the pressure that I put on myself but also with the pressure from the crowd. I am aware that he can be a future champion and that's why I'm happy that I played well and played cleverly. It was also a physical match with a lot of long rallies but I tried to show him that they weren't a problem for me even though in fact they were tough for me as well. I managed to break several times and was the better player in the most important moments.
How important is for him to show the new generation that "he is still there."
"In fact it's not so important for me since I'm not the type of person who wants to show how stronger he is because I've already been on the top for such a long time. That's why I'm just happy to be in the quarters, to have the chance to progress in the tournament and who knows maybe also to win the title. The QF streak was in the back of my mind and also put me under pressure. I'm aware of all this and that's why I just want to enjoy this moment because it will be normal for the streak to end one day. I enjoy playing in Australia even though it's not easy to play against a home favourite but I won and am happy and hope that the Australian fans are not angry with me." (smiles)
In the QF he'll play with the tall Del Potro who used to play excellently a couple of years ago before having a bad injury. Does he think that Del Potro is back to the form that he had when they played the USO final in 2009?
Roger says that it's tough to say. Del Potro could explode and play an incredible match. This is surely possible and he thinks that Delpo has already managed to get himself in good shape. "I think that last year he wasn't in his best form. He lost to Djokovic in Paris, to Nadal at Wimby and to me in Cincy. I had the feeling that he didn't play that well against me at Cincy whereas I played very well and won. I saw even back then that he wasn't that far from his best form. But this was 6 months ago so now I expect him to be stronger. Besides the surface suits him well and that's why I need to be careful. It's not an easy draw. He hasn't been among the top 8 seeds for a long time so for him that's a breakthrough and a step to top 10 and then who knows maybe to top 5."
What's the key to beat him?
"You have to play aggressively. There's no other way because he plays very aggressively mainly with his forehand. He also serves very well and that's why it's important that I am alert. I need to move him, to vary with the slice, to make him come forward; not only to play to him left and right but also short and deep. This is not always easy to do because of the pressure that he puts on you."