http://www.atptennis.com/en/newsandscores/news/2004/federer_question.asp AUSTRALIAN OPEN JANUARY 22, 2004 Australian Open 2004: Roger Answers Your Emails Wimbledon champion Roger Federer answers your questions from the Australian Open! Are you planning on playing more doubles matches this year? Who would you team with, besides Max Mirnyi? - Graziana Palazzo I doubt I'll play more doubles this year than last year, but when I do it will likely be with Yves Allegro, looking ahead to Davis Cup and the Olympics. He's a good friend and I have a lot of fun with him. Do you have the game to win all four Grand Slam titles? I feel that every surface is natural for me, although not the hard courts so much because they are hard on your body. My game is there but there is so much competition, which would make it difficult to win them all. You've already won titles at Wimbledon, the Tennis Masters Cup and the Tennis Masters Hamburg. Which tournament championship that has eluded you in the past would you most like to win this year? Also, it's widely known that you are fan of professional wrestling. Who is your favorite wrestler? -Joshua Rey, Miami, FL There's plenty left! One that stands out is Basel, my home tournament where I've been in the finals twice. Gstaad is another Swiss tournament that I've been in the final of (once) which I haven't won. And the other Grand Slams. My favorite wrestler used to be The Rock, but he's acting now. I met The Big Show in Houston and he's a nice guy. But I don't find the time to follow it much anymore. Who looks after your cow, Juliette? I assume that she doesn't travel with you. - B. Nelson, Storrs, Connecticut, USA A farmer in Gstaad, where I got her. She's staying there because that's where she gets the best treatment. Whom do you most look forward to playing on the ATP circuit? Sveta V., Cleveland, Ohio I enjoy playing Marat Safin and Andy Roddick. I know going into the match that both are very fair players and I can expect a good contest. Roger, the "Nike bandana" has really become one of your trademarks over the past few years. I was wondering with you never wearing a hat during a very bright day, does the sun affect your service toss or overheads? - Tony Siciliano, Lawrenceville,Georgia.(USA) No, I've never had trouble with the sun. If you wear a hat you have to look into the sun when you serve anyway as you follow the ball. The only thing is you maybe get a little more sun in the face ?that's the dangerous part. I just put on some sun block so I don't get a red head. Do you read a lot during your travels and free time, and, if you do, what are your favorite books and/or authors? - Christina Velasquez I'm not too much into reading, although once I start I can't stop. That's how it goes with the books. For me time seems to be so limited. I just like to spend time with friends and go out for dinner. You have demonstrated such a great all-court game, but is there any play or strategy that you fall back on when things get tight? - Frank Schaefer My game is very much on instinct. I rely on my strengths and play the match as it comes. In a tight situation I may try to play the percentages or go to something that has worked well during that particular match and use it at the important moments. How have you prepared for the Australian Open without your former coach Peter Lundgren? Did you do anything differently to past years? - Sandra I played different tournaments ?two exhibitions before the Grand Slam. I've always played either Sydney, Doha or Adelaide. That was a change but I felt that's what I needed after such a long season last year. There hasn't been a big change at the tournament itself ?except perhaps when preparing for a match where he could give advice ?but in December when I was practicing alone in Switzerland. But my conditioning trainer was there and I had a lot of people help me organize those practice sessions. How would you rate your serve in comparison to other Top 10 players on tour? - Hiran Raichura It's difficult to say. Each serve has its own strengths. Either placement, consistency or power. Like my game, I feel my serve is all-round. It's not the best serve but it's not the worst. I feel I have a really good second serve that I can rely on. That helps me through a lot of matches. With a good second serve I feel I can take more chances on the first. You've enjoyed great success throughout your career against big servers such as Roddick and Philippoussis, but you've struggled against baseline technicians such as Nalbandian and Agassi. Can you explain that? - Danny K Not anymore after the Masters Cup! I beat both Agassi (twice) and Nalbandian. That was a big relief, also to beat Ferrero. Before that it was true that I had struggled against those baseline players but I feel it's a matter of mental approach when playing them. Hopefully in the future it will go better. The big servers are dangerous and even on a good day you may lose because they take chances and they can win a set with just one break. I wanted to know what tension you string your racquets at? - Scott Goodman Around 26 kgs., depending on the heat, the balls, the surface. The warmer it gets the tighter I string. The harder the server the tighter I string to get more control. I probably string five to eight racquets a match just to make sure I have enough. You never know how many you may need. You could break a racquet, break a string, and if you're unlucky hit a ball on the knot of the strings. It has happened where I've been down to my last racquet in a match but then I give my racquets back in and they do it within half an hour. When you were an early teen (say 13 or 14) were you very good for your age then ? If so how good? If not when did people start to notice your great talent emerging? From a young age people said that I had a lot of talent and they enjoyed my game. By the under 14s I was already traveling a lot but I never had a breakthrough result internationally because I was too inconsistent. I'd win two or three matches at most and my best result was probably a quarterfinal. My backhand wasn't good enough. I didn't have enough strength in my arm. It all started to come together when I was 16. --

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