Google News In Roger Federer's words: 'I have had a great season so far, improving my game a lot'
by JOVICA ILIC
Speaking after the fourth-round loss at the US Open 2001, the 20-year-old Roger Federer was happy with the season so far, gaining positions on the list and moving closer to the place in the top-10. Roger kicked off the season in Sydney as the 30th best player in the world, winning four matches in Australia before claiming the first ATP title in Milan in February.
With his game perfectly tailored for fast indoor surfaces, Federer grabbed three Davis Cup victories over the USA and advanced into the semi-final in Marseille and the final in Rotterdam, earning a player of the month award and playing in the quarter-final in Miami as well.
On clay, the Swiss was the quarter-finalist in Monte Carlo and Roland Garros, delivering his first notable result at Majors as a teenager and repeating that at Wimbledon a couple of weeks later. At the All England Club, the junior champion from three years ago toppled the seven-time winner Pete Sampras in the fourth round, moving into the last eight where he lost to Tim Henman after a great battle.
Struggling with a groin injury in the last couple of matches at Wimbledon, Roger decided to go home to Gstaad and compete on clay next week, taking only three games against Ivan Ljubicic and staying away from the court for six weeks before making a return at the US Open where he stood no chance against world no.
2 Andre Agassi in the last 16. The American saved all nine break points and stole five return games to control the pace all the time, leaving Roger behind and staying on the title course. After the US Open, Federer was ranked just outside the top-10, staying there for the rest of the season before cracking the elite group after winning Hamburg nest spring.
"Overall, this year has been excellent for me, without bad weeks in a row and too many early exits. I have made great improvements and returned strongly after an injury; I hope I will keep this momentum into the indoor events."
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