Newly-anointed world number two Roger Federer has no plans to slow down following his title-run at the Shanghai Masters on Sunday. The Swiss superstar defeated Gilles Simon 7-6, 7-6 to win the Shanghai Masters title for the first time and secured his 23rd career ATP Masters 1000 crown.
“I think this year everything is going really well. I still have so many highlights to look forward to for the end of the season, which is very nice. Usually everything slows down at the end of the season. Not for me this time.”
“The biggest concern was to be healthy this year. That’s something I’m just so pleased about, to see that the hard work I put in last year is paying off. Not only is it paying off, but I’m feeling good, I’m waking up normal. I’m not half broken like I was last year. I’m enjoying myself on the tennis court. I’m playing the way I was hoping I could play again. Everything fell into place. I’m playing a very consistent, solid season.”
“I haven’t had a cramp since ‘99. That was my only time, in Davis Cup, when I was panicky. I was young. I’m very proud of that. Never pulled out. Never had cramps. Never lost very much because of fitness, especially later on in my career where I knew I’ve put in the hard work. I’ve done that. I’ve been very fortunate and clever as well to understand how I need to work, when I need to work. So I’m very happy to have stayed injury free for so long. I hope I can still maintain a few good years on the tour. I really hope so.”
Federer will be taking part in three more significant events to close the season – at the Swiss Indoors Basel, Paris Masters and the ATP World Tour Finals in London. A strong finish at these three events will give him a chance to end the season as world number one.
“I feel unbelievable prestige to win this event (Shanghai Masters). Especially putting my hands on the trophy for the first time is a good feeling, I must say.”
“I think the site, number one, makes this a very attractive tournament. Number two, the city I think is incredible. But then that alone is just not enough. The players need to feel very welcome. They need to feel special. I feel the tournament tries unbelievably hard for us. Just the hard work they put in to show that they care about us…It has all the ingredients for a world class tournament. I think the organisers deserve a big, big thank you and applause really, in my opinion.”
