Roger Federer stopped by the ESPN set after his practice on Sunday to talk about his upcoming match with John Isner and his chances at the US Open this year. Federer, who turned 34 on August 8, is bidding to become the fifth man in the Open Era to win two or more Grand Slams after turning 30 (Laver/Rosewall, 4, Agassi, 2, Connors, 2) at this year’s U.S. Open (so is his compatriot Stan Wawrinka). When asked how he has managed to play so well into his mid-thirties, Federer said that his US Open final ten years ago with Andre Agassi was a motivating factor.
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“I think it was a very important match in my career, playing against Andre,” he said in an interview with Patrick McEnroe and Chris McKendry of ESPN. “That gave me hope that maybe one day I could still be there as well because I could still see, number one, how it was for a young player coming up to still play the older guy, the guy you sort of know from TV.”
Federer noted how great it was that Agassi stayed around until he was 36, and noted that he paid attention to how much Agassi gave back to the sport over the years. He noticed “how great it is for the sport if a person like Andre hung around the tour and was successful and how much he gave back to tennis was great.”
Federer, who won his second of five US Open titles with that 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(1), 6-1 victory over Agassi, could experience what Agassi experienced that year if he reaches the final. He’d surely be the sentimental favorite, no matter who he ended up facing for the title.
“I think I was very inspired by that match, because it was one of the toughest matches I ever had to face with the New York crowd, people thought he was going to retire,” Federer said. “He didn’t, he played one more year and we know the following year he had the back [injury]. It was a fascinating run and I think it was a very inspiring run by him that inspired me, really, in the process as well.”
Federer has not won the title in New York since 2008, but his recent trip to the Wimbledon final and his high level of play this summer has him believing that he’s got a good chance. But first, he says, he’s got to get back into the final for the first time since 2009.
“It was also important to remind myself and the people that I haven’t been to the final since 2009,” he said. “’10 and ’11 I had match points to go to the final, but still I didn’t make it so I want to get back to that final stage of this competition and give myself the chance to win, because once you’re in the finals, I don’t want to say anything can happen, but you’re right there. In the semis and the quarters you’re still a fair share away. So that’s why the focus is there [on making the final].
He added: “Australian Open was a big disappointment, losing third round. That was the biggest disappointment of the season. Because otherwise I’ve played quite well. Coming into this US Open I know my game’s been going really well. I haven’t dropped serve very often. I’ve played well on the grass, I’ve played well in Cincinnati, so I feel like being the second seed it’s a realistic goal to make the finals.”