When Roger Federer last won the US Open, arch rivals Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray were yet to top the world rankings.
The Swiss maestro was at one point the king of Flushing Meadows with a 35-match winning streak seeing him win the grand slam five consecutive times between 2004-2008. Something that has only previously been achieved twice prior to the Open Era. William Larned triumphed between 1907-1911 and Bill Tilden dominated New York during the 1920s with six straight titles (1920-1925) and a further one in 1929.
However, since Federer’s last triumph back in 2008, success in New York has evaded him. With his last final appearance taking place back in 2015. However, the world No.3 remains undeterred ahead of his latest US Open campaign.
“We were saying on the practice court two days ago that this is probably the best I’ve felt in years coming into the US Open again, which is encouraging.” Federer told reporters on Friday.
“I’ve been playing well, and playing well in the slams recently, which has been great. I think also the win over Rafael in the Wimbledon semis was big for me. Also the final, the way I played that, is going to give me some extra confidence.”
Stating emphatically that he isn’t placing any pressure on himself, the 20-time grand slam champion will be eager for redemption following his recent Wimbledon misfortune. At The All England Club he had two championship points against Djokovic, but failed to convert as he lost the five-hour clash.
Whilst the loss hurt, Federer said a spot caravanning helped him mentally recover. Switching the focus of that match to his family life. Although flashbacks did haunt him for some time.
“I struggled a little bit the first couple days. At the same time I was caravanning with my kids. I didn’t have that much time thinking about all the missed opportunities,” he explained.
“I was setting up tables and organising my life for my four children, driving around the beautiful countryside in Switzerland.
“Sometimes you have flashbacks, things like ‘oh, I could have done that, should have done that’.
“The next day you’re having a glass of wine with your wife thinking ‘the semis was pretty good, even the finals was pretty good’. You go in phases.”
Not the favourite
Federer is under no illusion of the potentially difficult task he faces if he wishes to add to his grand slam tally in the coming weeks. World No.1 Djokovic has won four out of the past five major titles. The only exception was the French Open, which Nadal won. Meanwhile, Nadal is the only member of the Big Three to have won a title during the build up to the event. Defending his title at the Rogers Cup.
“I know it’s going to be tough. I’m not coming in as the overwhelming favourite like maybe I did back in 2006 or 2007.” Federer admits.
“I’m very much aware of how I need to approach this tournament mentally.”
Ulike Nadal’s success, Federer hasn’t been so fortunate. Since Wimbledon he has contested only one tournament at the Cincinnati Masters. Where he was stunned in the third round by Russia’s Andrey Rublev, who prevailed in straight sets. Rublev is a former US Open quarter-finalist himself.
“I’m happy where my game is at,” Federer concludes. “Cincinnati might be a good thing that I lost early, who knows?
“It’s maybe one of those things that sometimes needs to happen, like when I won at the Australian Open, went to Dubai, lost first round in 2017, then went on to win Indian Wells and Miami.
“Maybe it’s the same thing, I played a great Wimbledon, I needed to get knocked down in Cincy, to get my act together, train hard.
“That’s what I did. I’m ready for the US Open. It’s going to be a tough tournament to win, no doubt about it. I feel like I’m part of that group who can do it.”
Indian qualifier Sumit Nagal will be Federer’s first round test at Flushing Meadows. Nagdal will be making his grand slam main draw debut at the age of 22. Federer has only failed to reach the fourth round of the tournament once in his 18 previous appearances, which was back in 2000.
Federer will take to the court on Tuesday.
