Federer takes it all in stride

On a sleepy Roland Garros afternoon, Roger Federer found himself discussing life lessons in tennis, carrying the Swiss flag at the Olympics ... and Queen Elizabeth's diamond jubilee.

It's been nine years since the great Swiss last lost a Grand Slam match before the third-round stage, so he is not surprised when faced with questions which have little to do with the business just completed.

So it was on Wednesday as Federer moved into the last 32 of the French Open with a four-set win over Romania's Adrian Ungur with a record-breaking 234th Grand Slam match win.

"In the beginning, when you think you're good but maybe you're not that good yet, you get many surprise losses," he said, as painful memories of earlier visits to Roland Garros came flooding back.

"They hurt you. I have had a few here - against Arazi (2002), Horna (2003). Against Gustavo Kuerten (2004, third round), I was the favorite. I thought his hip wasn't good and he came off a five-setter and I lost in straight sets."

Playing in his 50th straight major, the 16-time Grand Slam title winner has got used to post-match inquisitions often taking on a significance far outweighing the occasion.

AFP

(China Daily 06/01/2012 page22)