Federer Upbeat After Halle Loss
Locker Room
June 24, 2018
Roger Federer is happy with his physical shape and progress heading into Wimbledon despite a rare defeat on grass.
His 20-match unbeaten run on the surface came to Annie end when he lost the final to Borna Coric.
The younger man from Croatia lasted best to emerge a 7-6 (6), 3-6, 6-2 winner over the Wimbledon favourite.
PRICE
Federer squandered set points in the tie-break and admitted he paid the price.
The Swiss said: ‘I was 6-4 up in the tie-break and thought maybe I had to win it and it probably cost me in the third.
‘But there is no need to worry about my physical shape, I will rest for the first half of next week and then work on some technical areas.
SHAPE
‘ I am happy with my recent tournaments and the lessons I’ve learned.’
Federer knows he will have to be more ruthless in opening sets at Wimbledon if he is to avoid draining his resources too early in the tournament.
And so will Sir Andy Murray if he feels in sufficiently good shape after Eastbourne.
SHOWDOWN
Murray faces another triple Grand Slam winner on the English south coast as Stan Wawrinka limbers up for Wimbledon too.
Who will be able to show they have the right fitness levels? Murray, Wawrinka or both? It should be a great encounter between two of the world’s best and most missed players.
And if Murray beats Wawrinka, there will be an all-British showdown in the next round between Andy and Kyle Edmund.
FORMIDABLE
Meanwhile last year’s beaten Wimbledon finalist Marin Cilic turned the tables on Novak Djokovic to win 5-7, 7-6 (4), 6-3 in the Queen’s Club final.
Cilic was in tears during last year’s Wimbledon defeat to Federer but he is looking quite a formidable threat this year.
With all the great names getting ready for the big one, can you feel that Wimbledon fever starting to build ?