SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER!
 
 
Facebook Social Button Twitter Social Button Follow Us on InstagramYouTube Social Button
NewsScoresRankingsLucky Letcord PodcastShopPro GearPickleballGear Sale


By Blair Henley | Sunday, June 1, 2014

 
Roger Federer loss Roland Garros

Though his losses come more frequently now, Roger Federer still handles them with class. Find out what he had to say following his five-set loss to Ernests Gulbis. 

(Photo Credit: Peter Staples)

PARIS – We’ve heard players say that they can learn more from losses than victories. And with the impending arrival of the quarterfinal round at the 2014 French Open, we can only assume there has been a lot of learning going on around the grounds of Roland Garros.
 
While most of us get to move on with our lives following a career disappointment, professional athletes get to rehash it with the media immediately afterward. Some handle it gracefully – others, not so much. Here are some of our favorite quotes from the players who got an early start on grass court season. 
 
Roger Federer (lost to Ernests Gulbis 6‑7, 7‑6, 6‑2, 4‑6, 6‑3)
We’ve been talking about your disappointment, but after all this, you can spend some quality time with your family and with your children.  Could they give you some kind of comfort?
RF: Yeah, I mean, not just my kids, everybody, you know. Mentally I have already switched to the grass, to be quite honest. For me, it's like, “Okay, clay court season was fun, but we are moving on.” Clay doesn't need me anymore, I got flushed out here (laughter).
 
Serena Williams (lost to Garbine Muguruza 6-2, 6-2)
Did things just sort of fall apart when you got to Paris?  Because obviously in Rome you weren't at your complete best, but you did win the title there.
SW: Yeah, maybe. I don't know. I don't know exactly.  I just ‑‑ again, I think she played really well, and she played really smart.  You know, it's great, because I'm going to go home and work five times as hard to make sure I never lose again.
 
Stanislas Wawrinka (lost to Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6‑4, 5‑7, 6‑2, 6‑0)
I know it's difficult, but for an outsider seeing you making so many mistakes, what's going on in your head for everything to go wrong?
SW: Good question.  I have no answer.  If I had the answer, I would have found solutions.  But it's one of the very few times, maybe the first time I felt so bad on the court.
 
Flavia Pennetta (lost to Johanna Larsson 5-7, 6-4, 6-2)
Are you disappointed to lose so early in the tournament?
FP: No, I'm very happy.  What do you think?
 
Richard Gasquet (lost to Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 6-2, 6-3)
You were saying you were not strong enough.  Is it because you didn't practice or hit enough balls?
RG: It's the level of the game.  It's so high, and I stopped for so long.  It's incredible to reach the third round.  This is something I couldn't have hoped for, given the level I had reached four days before playing.  You know, I didn't even think I would reach this third round.
 
Agnieszka Radwanska (lost to Ajla Tomljanovic 6-4, 6-4)
Did you think you had an opportunity to go far this year, considering the other upsets?
AG: Well, you know, of course, but it's ‑‑ I was saying yesterday that it doesn't mean if first and second seed lost, doesn't mean the third one is going to win.  It's stupid to say that. So, you know, of course it's always opportunity.  Doesn't matter who is in the draw, you know.
 
Gilles Simon (lost to Milos Raonic 4‑6, 6‑3, 2‑6, 6‑2, 7‑5)
After Wawrinka, Federer, Raonic in five sets, now are you cursed here on the courts?
GS: I love your questions so much.  Are we talking about the five sets I won? No? Yeah? I don't think I have lost more matches in five sets than I have won here.  But that's true, three times I have lost in five‑set matches against three good players, Wawrinka, Federer, and Raonic. So this is a bitter loss, a tough loss, a five‑set defeat.  You know, it was easier to be defeated, what was it, in 2010 against Soderling in three sets?  It's easier to swallow. But now, you know, I like this thing, you know, being cursed. A five‑setter match is a curse. No, I have won several five‑set matches.  I don't feel I'm cursed here.
 
Li Na (lost to Kristina Mladenovic 7-5, 3-6, 6-1)
Obviously you have lots of experience of those moments.  How do you deal with a loss like this?  How do you forget about it? 
Of course, you cannot forget on this moment, because story is there, but, you know, lose the match is lose.  Is nothing ‑‑ nothing I can do anymore, because is already done.  So just looking forward.
Can you maybe talk a little bit of tension maybe?  Because it's the first round.  You're a favorite.  Did it play in your part?
No, I mean, this is the match.  I really don't want to find another reason to say because of that I lose the match. Lose is lose.
 
Fabio Fognini (lost to Gael Monfils 5-7, 6-2, 6-4, 0-6, 6-2)
After observing your pattern of behavior in a lot of your matches, it might seem like you like the fact that maybe some fans don't like you as much as other players.  Do you enjoy that or...
FF: I always try to enjoy.  It's difficult.
But when we hear those boos, I think maybe some players would go home and cry.  You clearly aren't affected.
FF: I'm not like that. I just understand how the situation is now. Of course, I feel bad because I lost. But when you lose, then you give everything on court, it's okay.  I mean, it's not okay, but it's okay when you finish and you say, “Okay, I went on court, I do 100% today.” I played well in same situation. And after with my coach, we would like to see the video and try to change what today was not working.
 
Nicolas Mahut (lost to Mikhail Kukushkin 6-3, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4)

 

Latest News