Tennis Update Today: Roger Federer spoke to Jonathan Heaf of GQ Magazine after his quarter-final defeat at Wimbledon this year on a variety of issues, including his Wimbledon campaign and how he has changed his training regimen as he has gotten older.
Hubert Hurkacz beat the Swiss in straight sets in the Wimbledon quarterfinals. Federer seemed to be troubled by an injury and suffered one of his most heinous defeats. The extent of his injuries was unknown at the time of the interview.
Federer discussed the match and the love and support he received from the audience at SW19, as shown in live tennis news reports.
"The standing ovation I received there this year was certainly a special one. When I left the court, I could feel the crowd-s love and their support," Federer said.
The Swiss master has appeared in 31 Grand Slam finals, including 12 at Wimbledon. He has lost four finals at the All England Club, but the Swiss believes that this year's early exit was much more devastating than a final defeat.
"Obviously, it's always hard leaving a court after losing at Wimbledon earlier than a final- When you reach a final, there's a trophy ceremony, there's more to it, but when you lose earlier, well, you pack your stuff and you go and, at that point, the stage is your winning opponent-s, in my mind, not yours. So that was important for me to give that one to Hubert [Hurkacz], obviously, as quickly as possible," Federer said.
It wasn't simply his early defeat that was unusual, but also how it occurred. Federer was bagelled for the first time at Wimbledon, and he looked off the pace from the start.
The Swiss, who had just recently returned to the sport after double knee surgery, said he wished he could have been in better form to participate.
"I'm actually very grateful, very happy I was just able to play. I mean, my last year and a half, it's been really difficult. It's been hard with the double knee surgery I had last year and rehab was really slow. And, look, in some ways I wish I would have been in better shape for Wimbledon this year," Federer lamented.
Despite this, the Swiss expressed happiness with his 18th appearance in the Wimbledon quarterfinals. Federer was keen to remind out that several players have never advanced past the second round at SW19, and that no result could be taken for granted.