NEW YORK—The sight of Novak Djokovic in Roger Federer's quarter of the US Open draw may have hit some Fed fans like a punch to the gut.
The second-ranked Swiss is taking it on the chin.
US Open: Five Thoughts on Draw
"In terms of the draw, I mean, we have so many draws that happened throughout my career that you just take it on your chin and you're, like, Okay, fine, that's what it is," Federer told reporters at US Open media day. "We can't control it. I'm not in a quarterfinal match yet. I'm not in a second-round match yet. Just the next few days are important. How am I feeling by my first-round match? That's what the focus needs to be, and then the draw is what it is."
Five days ago, Djokovic swept Federer in straight sets seizing the Cincinnati title and taking a 24-22 lead in their head-tohead series.
Five-time US Open champion Federer, who beat Djokovic in the 2007 US Open final, says elite players are pleased by the former No. 1's ranking rise because it minimizes their chances of facing him early in events.
"Sure, you sometimes wonder, like, is it easier to play guys with not such a résumé like a Novak so early in the tournament?" Federer said. "But because he won Cincinnati, I could have also played Novak in the fourth round if he wouldn't have made a move in the rankings. So I think we are all happier that he's higher ranked so we don't have to face him already in the first round, like Stan is playing Dimitrov back to back."
The 37-year-old Swiss said he and Djokovic are driven by the same pursuit: to be the best.
"From that standpoint, the quarterfinals is already quite deep in a tournament," Federer said. "I know, in terms of points compared to the winner, it's a bit of a joke, 360 to 2,000 points, but I don't think Novak and myself are playing for ATP points, per se. Either it's No. 1 or nothing. So the draw, it is what it is, and I've got enough stuff to worry about anyway in the earlier rounds. My focus is the first round. Nothing else."
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