Federer refuses to panic after shock Wimbledon exit

 

Originally published on: 26/06/13 00:00

The world No.3, who was bidding to win a record eighth title at the All England Club, crashed out at the second round stage with a 6-7(5) 7-6(5) 7-5 7-6(5) defeat to the world No.116.

It is the first time in over a decade that the Swiss has failed to reach the third round of a major – he fell in the opening round at Roland Garros in 2003, a month before he went on to win his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon.

“I still have plans to play for many more years to come,” Federer said.  “It's normal that after all of a sudden losing early after being in the quarters 36 times, people feel it's different.”

Having claimed his first title of the season at the Gerry Weber Open in Halle, Federer insists he happy with his game and has vowed to work harder on the training court in order to bounce back. 

“Right now, you know, this is a setback, a disappointment, whatever you want to call it,” Federer said. “But overall I don’t think I've been playing so bad.  The season's not over here, we’re only just in the middle.  [We] still have a lot of tennis left [so] that's what I try to use for a good end to the season.

He added: “What do you do after something like this?  You don't panic at this point, that's clear.  [You] just go back to work and come back stronger really.”

Playing the seven-time champion on Centre Court, Stakhovsky said it felt like he was playing two people; Federer and the legend.

“When you come here, on the cover of the Wimbledon book, is Roger Federer,” he said. “You're playing the guy and then you're playing his legend, which is following him because he won it seven times. He's holding all possible career records here, I think, winning matches and everything. You're playing two of them.”

However, the Ukrainian insisted he would not get carried away and vowed to back it up with victory in the third round, where he will play Austria’s Jurgen Melzer.

“I hope I can come out with a great performance the next round,” he said. “That's what you have to do in order to win. Beating today was great, but I didn't win the tournament. I just won the second round. There's another five rounds.”

 

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