Roger Federer claimed the first Masters 1000 title in Hamburg in May 2002 and cracked the top 10 the next day. Roger established himself at the top the following year, winning the most matches on Tour in the first three months and starting his clay tour in Munich at the end of April.
Roger dropped serve five times in ten sets and outclassed the rival in less than five hours to lift the trophy and make a quick trip to Rome ahead of the Masters 1000 event. The Swiss got off to a rock-solid start in the Italian capital, beating Paul-Henri Mathieu and Mariano Zabaleta to set up the clash against world no.19 Tommy Robredo, whom he beat 6-1, 6-1 in short order.
Federer claimed all 16 sets played in Munich and Rome, playing at a high level and hoping to go all the way at the Foro Italico, where he has not had good results in recent years. Roger suffered early losses at Roland Garros and Wimbledon a year ago.
He was eager to keep his form and turn that around in the next couple of months. Reaching the quarterfinals at Roland Garros and Wimbledon in 2001, Federer recalled that he likes to play more on the faster courts and has a better chance of winning Wimbledon than Roland Garros.
Roger admitted that it would be difficult for him to beat seven opponents over two weeks in the best-of-five matches in Paris. Federer liked his Wimbledon chances better and was hoping for a h*t run at the All England Club after a shock loss to Mario Ancic a year ago.
“We all get to play only a couple of tournaments on grass during the season. Still, it’s a better surface for me than clay because the opponents are a little less dangerous than those on the slower surface.”
King Roger is not worried
Speaking in a video for ATP, Roger Federer said that tennis has always created new superstars for every generation, and his retirement wasn’t cause for concern.
“The game always creates new superstars and greats, great stories. So for me, I never worried about the game,” he said. “You know me, I’ve always been a big support to of the future of the game and I really think that it’s been a wonderful tournament, the US Open and I think it’s been a great last few years, even though I wasn’t on tour and sometimes we have been missing some of the older guys, because of injuries and stuff,” he said.
