Roger Federer: Pressure is high for me

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• Roger Federer

In a press conference in Halle, Roger Federer commented on the high expectations around himself. The world no. 3 said: "The pressure is high for me too. The grass-court season is extremely short. There is not that much I can do to get into it as well, other than have that point-for-point mentality.

[My] focus needs to be crystal clear and that is what I need to have from the get-go here as I play John Millman in the first round, who has been a tough one for me in the past." On the history he has in Halle, Federer added: "I think I look back [down] memory lane a little bit [here].

I see how many good moments I've had here, I see how much success I've had... The fan interaction [is special]. I feel like we know each other, they know what they get from me and I know what to expect from them. It makes me feel really good and makes me play good tennis.

"I feel great, to be honest. I am happy to be on the grass, regardless of if I played good or bad on the clay, or if I didn't play at all. I always feel happy coming to this surface and this part of the season. I have always loved playing here in Halle for so many years.

This is my 17th time playing this event." Federer is the top seed at the Noventi Open this year. The Swiss lost in the final of the 2018 edition of the tournament, which was known as the Gerry Weber Open, to Borna Coric.