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Federer Wants More Challenging Masters: Do You Agree?As world No. 3 Roger Federer looks ahead to his upcoming journey on the Madrid clay courts, he also looks back at the more challenging format of past Masters 1000 events, suggesting that a return to best-of-five finals could be a worthwhile change.
“It was even tougher before when you had to win six matches and play a best-of-five final,” Federer said. “The day off between the two was a traveling day, it was almost impossible.”
“Now there is no more best of five and the top eight seeds get first-round byes,” he added. “In some ways, I’d like to see best of five coming back, maybe something will change.”
No. 3 seed Federer has a bye into the second round, where he will face the winner of today’s match between Canadian Milos Raonic and Spaniard Feliciano Lopez.
The best-of-five finals were eliminated in 2007, one year following the exhausting five-hour match between Federer and Rafael Nadal in the 2006 finals in Rome. Nadal was the eventual winner, edging out Federer in a fifth-set tiebreaker for a final score of 6-7 (0), 7-6 (5), 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (5). After that match, fatigue forced both players to withdraw from the Hamburg Masters, an event that was scheduled to begin only days after the grueling marathon.
Federer’s most recent Madrid title came in 2009, when he defeated Nadal in the finals, 6-4, 6-4. This year, Federer and world No. 1 Nadal are slated to meet in the semifinals, and coach Paul Annacone told CNN that he believes Federer would have a good chance of winning that match.
“Roger is the most versatile player in the game and can win any match against any player,” Annacone said. “I do hope they get to face each other during this clay court season—it is a terrific challenge and great opportunity—this is why great players play.”
Federer has claimed one title so far this year, defeating Russian Nikolay Davydenko in the Doha finals in January. This week, he will seek to bounce back from his recent quarterfinal loss in Monte Carlo to Austrian Jurgen Melzer, who is the No. 8 seed in Madrid.
Federer says that he is pleased with his season overall, despite the loss in Monte Carlo. “I had some wrong decisions against Melzer,” he said. “Other than that, I think I’ve had a pretty good season.”
Federer has spent the past two weeks away from competition, preparing for the remainder of the clay-court season, and he says that he is ready for the week ahead.
“I did a lot of work the past few weeks in the gym and on the court, plus fitness training. I’m getting set for a tough stretch. I have to be ready. Stefan (Koubek) came over and we had a good time. The weather was perfect, I have no complaints. I’m feeling pretty well.”
Federer certainly sounds confident and well rested, especially if his suggestion for a return to best-of-five finals is any indication.
Do you agree with Roger—do you want to see best-of-five finals again? Have the Masters events become too easy?
Everything about him is perfect...His career on and off court is an inspiration to all mankind....
Roger Federer is like a disease...ppl are obsessed with him..
LUCKY TO BE BORN in FEDERER'S ERA!!
”არ არსებობს ფინიშის ზღვარი. ჯერ კიდევ ბევრი რამ არის გასაკეთებელი”- როჯერ ფედერერი
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ROGER FEDERER-ის ფან კლუბი(Part 4), დასამახსოვრებელი 2011 წლის მოლოდინში
