Roger Federer: Of Course I’m Happy For Stan, He Was Tougher In The End And Deserved It

by Tom Gainey | April 20th, 2014, 2:04 pm
  • 38 Comments


Despite a tough loss in his bid to win a first Monte Carlo Masters title, Roger Federer was all praise for his friend Stanislas Wawrinka’s 46, 76, 62 win today in the final. Federer, who wasn’t even scheduled for the event, beat an injured Novak Djokovic yesterday but come up a little short and was outplayed in the final set by Wawrinka.

“Of course, I’m very happy for Stan,” said Federer. “It’s a huge win for him after winning his first Grand Slam this year, also to win his first Masters 1000. To take the opportunities when they’re there, that’s key in a tennis player’s career. So I’m very happy for him.”

Federer falls to 0-4 in Monte Carlo finals and 1-3 overall this season after the loss.


“I think it’s one of the those finals that I could have won,” said Federer. “But Stan was tougher at the end. I think he deserved it just a little bit more. Clearly it would have been nice to win that second set tie-break. I didn’t necessarily play a bad one, but also at the same time I didn’t quite ever get into the lead where things went my way.

“I would have loved to have won a second title [this season] because I’ve come close a few times. That’s my next objective, that I get to the very end more frequently. But clearly I’m happy that the clay court season started so well for me.”

Federer will have a two week break then decide on Madrid. But all points suggest he’ll be a factor the rest of the clay season.

“You must see the positive side. Try not to be disappointed or frustrated,” Federer said. “What I see is that if I’m in that position again, if I keep trying as I did, at a certain point it’s going to go my way. If you feel good mentally, then things are going to turn out good.”


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38 Comments for Roger Federer: Of Course I’m Happy For Stan, He Was Tougher In The End And Deserved It

Salleh Ahmed Says:

Dont know to feel happy or not

4 finals and only one tourney win


Josh Says:

If he is happy, as fans we should be happy too.


jatin Says:

And there is my champ. Such a wonderful attitude to have.

“You must see the positive side. Try not to be disappointed or frustrated,” Federer said. “What I see is that if I’m in that position again, if I keep trying as I did, at a certain point it’s going to go my way. If you feel good mentally, then things are going to turn out good.”

What can i say about this guy… Proud to be his fan…


Humble Rafa Says:

Now we know who the best player in Switzerland is.


Skorocel Says:

Trying to win your first MC crown by not having to play a guy whom you’ve lost 3 straight finals there – and then lose the final to someone whom you’ve beaten 13 times out of 14 – that’s what I call a delightful feeling…

Anyway, big congrats to Wawa! When this guy’s game is on, there’s only one player right now whose game is a bigger joy to watch. Too bad you can’t win tennis matches on beauty of your game… Or, in this particular case, too bad there’s always going to be only one winner…


Hippy Chic Says:

Roger is still putting himself into contention by making finals,and as long as you do that then theres always a chance,hes one of the best ever CC players and IMO could also be a dark horse for the FO providing he plays the way he has this week,nobody would have seen this at the begining of the week but ATM Stan and Roger are the two best CC players there is,ATM been the operative word,still early days though,but those two playing so well have made things interesting on clay,come on Rafa time to make a statement….


salleh ahmed Says:

The third time in a row that roger lost form being one set up

Why why why


TennisVagabond.com Says:

Beautiful picture and beautiful sentiments, evoking some of the essence of sport, done right.


amadeus Says:

too much drama on this final. If they are good friends, good for them, we dont need a tv drama about this.


skeezer Says:

Fed seemed truly happen for his swiss friend, who earned this well. What a great display of sportsmenship! No excuse mongering nor shoulder bumping here. Congrats Stan! What a year so far!


Michael Says:

Roger came to the tournament with very low expectations, but he has surprised himself with his performance. To reach the finals in a Clay court Masters is no ordinary feat at Roger’s age and importantly he beat Novak in the semi finals although it can be argued that he was injured. Yet beating someone like Novak even when he is not 100% fit require some extraordinary performance and Roger was up to it. If he had lost to any other player other than Stan, Roger would surely have been greatly disappointed. But he perhaps draws consolation from the fact that it is his dear friend, practice partner, own countryman and diligent follower who has won the title and he seeks comfort in it. But, ofcourse it is cruel that he has lost Monte Carlo finals a whopping four times just like Rafa’s sequence of losses at Miami. It seems it is a tournament he is not destined to win in his career.


Giles Says:

This is Fed’s 4th attempt at winning MC. He got trounced by Rafa how many times here? This was his best and only chance to lift this trophy, even took a WC. Don’t think he will be trying again! Poor fed!


Giles Says:

PS. And then loses from a set up to a man who was his bunny!


Hippy Chic Says:

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL TENNIX-X POSTERS :))….


Hippy Chic Says:

Michael have to ask,do you think that the dynamics have changed now in the CC season with Stan winning this title?


madmax Says:

Michael,

There is always next year, you just never know. I think last year, Roger put to bed many concerns about his motivation and ambition to continue to succeed. He took all the criticism thrown at him and said in many interviews how time and again, he was being written off. He believed in himself. He went back to the drawing board and continued to work hard because his drive for tennis is more than his drive to give it up. He has proven that by having a fantastic year so far. Who would have thought last year that Roger would be in the running at any competition. Remember he had not done this well so early in the year, until some time last July – meaning he has already had more successes at this time of year, then he did the first 6 months of the year last year!

Way to go Roger!

I think the davis cup with these two, when Stan was a little wobbly on his feet, (may be it was the pressure of winning a slam?), has solidified these twos camaraderie. They certainly respect each other enormously.

That said, of course am disappointed the Roger could not be more aggressive towards the end. Seemed that Stan really was able to put aside friendship, davis cup, older brother, mentor, to one side. Magnus Norman has worked really hard at working on this psychology with Stan.

Hoping that Roger is able to work at that aggression a bit more.

Seems that he lost his focus in the match. He should be well used to playing Stan and well used to his game.

Stan has just grown, and will continue to grow in confidence over the next few months I think.

A great feeling it must be to win his first masters 1000 though, so soon after the AO.

He has to be in contention for the FO, surely? He has beaten all of the top guys. Can someone remind though if he has beaten Murray?


Josh Says:

madmax: Stan and Murray have not faced off this year, but Stan won both their meetings last year at the US Open and in Monte Carlo


Hippy Chic Says:

Madmax i dont know if you meant clay?but Stan has beaten Murray a couple of times at the USO he did it in 2010 and also last year,sorry unless you meant more recently like this year?


Hippy Chic Says:

Josh lol seems we were typing together….


Josh Says:

Hippy Chic yep haha. Oh well


Gordon Says:

Giles – it has to be noted that Federer lost to a guy who in the semis crushed Ferrer. And we all know what Ferrer did to get to the semis, no?

No shame to lose in the finals of a Masters 1000 tournament.

It’s going to happen more and more to these guys.

It’s also no shame to win 269,160 Euros for being the runner up. That happens to be over two hundred thousand more than what you get for not winning a set in the quarter-finals.

Being as Nadal is not even mentioned once in the post perhaps you trolls can hold off until he becomes a topic for discussion?

Or better yet, wait until the site administrators bait you with a Fedal wars post.

Until then, ‘man’ give it a rest why don’t you?


Giles Says:

Oops! Looks like I hit a nerve reading 9.34am post. Chillax man. Fed is an ole man now, can’t be expected to win much, if anything.


madmax Says:

Giles Says:
Oops! Looks like I hit a nerve reading 9.34am post. Chillax man. Fed is an ole man now, can’t be expected to win much, if anything.

April 21st, 2014 at 10:45 am

Giles, what is it with you? Gordon is absolutely right. Not even a hint of rafa in these posts, great discussion and you just want to spoil the party. Why? Oh yes, we all know. Rafa got knocked out and you are as sore as anything he didn’t win the MC. Get over it Giles. There will be many more loses I feel sure. Not just for Fed but for Rafa too.

Stop with this childishness.


Giles Says:

madmax. Just answer my question. When did your man last lose to his second fiddle? Was it 2009, same venue? That’s a long time ago.


Giles Says:

madmax. There was gloating aplenty when Rafa lost to Ferrer from you types. I can gloat too you know.


contador Says:

Lol, That was such a low level almost benign provocateur post. Gilles, how did that manage to annoy anyone?

The thing is. Age does not matter anymore. The sky is the limit. We are in the era of anything goes and you never know.

Federer and Nadal could still be collecting titles when they are 35.


contador Says:

For Federer 35 is only two more years. Better raise that to 40.

Federer was all class as runner-up at MC. He can’t help but be happy for his protege – like a big bro, was Feddy.


skeezer Says:

Giles quit with the nonsense. Your act just comes across as the usual Jealousy of the GOAt.


Giles Says:

look in the mirror skeezer and track back on your comments.


John Says:

“madmax. There was gloating aplenty when Rafa lost to Ferrer from you types. I can gloat too you know”

Lol Giles when Ferrer beats Nadal and Joker in a slam, or has ever beaten Fed we can talk. You can gloat all you want but it sounds rather batty.


Michael Says:

Alison,

As to your contention whether the dynamics seem to have changed ahead of the Clay season with this fabulous win by Stan is difficult to quantify ? For sure, this win must have tremendously boosted the confidence of Stan who is already on a high winning the Australian Open and is on a roller coaster. But the point is if he could take forward this form into the clay season and pose a formidable challenge to Rafa ? That is still a big “IF”. Remember Stan’s performance after his much heralded Australian Open success was pretty dismal considering his own lofty standards and he has been given a new lease of life in this Monte carlo Masters. I still think Stan doesn’t have it in him to beat Rafa in a clay court, although I might be proved wrong. You cannot write off Rafa with this loss at Monte Carlo in the clay season. He can bounce back strongly which he has done many times in the past. After a streak of 9 finals, there is bound to be a set back at some point of time by law of averages and Rafa paid for it and proved that he was human even on Clay. Even with the danger of being accused of repeating the tired old cliche, let me state it once again. The results of this edition of clay court season will depend upon the fitness of Novak and Rafa’s success or failure hinges on it. Ofcourse, Stan can still pose formidable challenge to the supremacy of Rafa on Clay. But it remains to be seen considering his disastrous H2H against Rafa on every court.


Michael Says:

Madmax,

Every thing that is done in this World is done by hope. Hope is tomorrow’s veneer towards today’s disappointment. As you said there is always a tomorrow. Hope is the only universal liar who never loses his reputation for veracity. I hope Roger has another finale at Monte Carlo where he hopefully lifts the trophy atlast. If anybody deserves this trophy more, it is only Roger and it is a pity that so far he has fallen short at the finishing point. If it was Rafa from 2006-2008, now it is Wawarinka against whom he has a favourable H2H. Especially this year, Roger is back to his near best but still he is not able to win many tournaments as he would like and perhaps that would have left him a trifle disappointed where he has not been rewarded inspite of all the sweat and hard work that he has managed to impart.


Hippy Chic Says:

Michael excellent post as ever,you always understand perspective,many have said that Rafas only beaten 1 top 10 player this year which is true,although i turn that argument right around and say well making finals which he has 4 times is still putting yourself into contention,and if you loose then its only to one other player,also the matches he has lost have been to the worlds ranked 2,3,5 and another in the top 20 so they are not exactly nobodies….


madmax Says:

Giles Says:
madmax. Just answer my question. When did your man last lose to his second fiddle? Was it 2009, same venue? That’s a long time ago.

April 21st, 2014 at 12:01 pm

Giles Says:
madmax. There was gloating aplenty when Rafa lost to Ferrer from you types. I can gloat too you know.

Sorry Giles, rude of me not to answer. It isn’t gloating at all. Whatever battles you have with individual posters is your battle, yet you bring everyone into this.

For my part, Ican tell you it was complete shock. I never for a second thought that Rafa would lose. To be fair. Who did?

Rafa, is the King of Clay Giles. No one denies that, but he was beaten fair and Square this time around. You just have to deal with it.


madmax Says:

Hippy agreed.

Also, the fact that Ferrer won – finally – over Rafa on clay, should be applauded. What an achievement!

Same for Stan. – finally – after so many times of trying to beat Fed, he did it.

Both guys need to be congratulated. I am sure that both Rafa’s and Fed’s tears have long dried by now. They will move on to the next tournament.


Hippy Chic Says:

Madmax thanks….


RZ Says:

I noticed that Fed has won one set in each of his runner-up showings this year (and in his Miami QF loss), so it seems to me that he needs to work on closing out the win in the 2nd set rather than going to three. But considering his results this time last year, Fed is in a much better place and I’m sure more titles will come.

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