Halle 2006 - Tomas will face Roger Federer in final - Interview
Q: Congratulations. But I think we are all more interested in the final than the match you just played. Can you talk a little about playing Roger?
BERDYCH: I think every time you play Roger it is a very tough match. The chances to beat Roger are very low, but the chance is there. But especially on grass court it’s very tough. So, we’ll see. I played him in Roland Garros and it was a very tough match. I wasn’t playing well and he beat me easy score. We’ll see how it goes tomorrow.
Q: Does the win you had at the Olympics count for anything?
BERDYCH: I don’t know. If you beat one of the best players and then I already lost the next two matches with him. So, I don’t know what it counts.
Q: Did you watch some of yesterday’s game, Rochus – Federer?
BERDYCH: I saw some of the points at the end of the second set. I think Rochus was playing unbelievable tennis. He was so close to winning the match, but he didn’t make it.
Q: But can you do the same?
BERDYCH: I don’t know. I hope so. I would like to but you never know what happens on the court.
Q: He has this amazing sequence of wins. If he wins tomorrow he equals Borg’s record. Does that make it a little bit extra for you?
BERDYCH: No, it’s going to be the same match for me. It’s going to be tough and you just have to concentrate on your side and on your tennis whether he has a record or not.
Q: Were you at all surprised of how well you played today?
BERDYCH: If I go to the court I try to play my best tennis. If it goes like this, yes I’m happy but not surprised.
Q: A lot of players seem to lose to Roger before they start because they know he’s so good. Do you think that you have the additional belief because you have beaten him once already?
BERDYCH: Yes I think that is a little advantage that you have beaten the guy before. So you know and can believe that you can do it again. That’s true that a lot of players go to the court and they have already lost one set. But he is only a person, two hands, two legs, so nothing special.
Q: What do you think of the court? Some players said there are a lot of bad bounces?
BERDYCH: No, I think the court is the same for both of the players. Somebody likes it more, somebody doesn’t. I think it’s the same for both.
Q: What will you do today? Will you watch football?
BERDYCH: Of course, six o’clock we are starting. So I want to see the match.
Quote Press Conference ROGER FEDERER before the final
Q: Can you talk about Berdych?
FEDERER: I never played him on grass. So that will be a test. He’s got a great serve. I just played him recently at the French Open. There the serve always doesn’t come into play so much. But I see him as a possible future great player. I think he’s got great talent. So it will be a difficult match I think.