The super talented Swiss Roger Federer scored his first significant results in 2001, reaching the quarter-finals at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. At the All England Club, the youngster defeated seven-time champion Pete Sampras in five sets en route to the last eight, becoming one of the players to watch and the top 20 contender.
A year later, Roger played in the Miami final and claimed the first Masters 1000 trophy in Hamburg after beating Marat Safin, entering the elite top-10 group the next day and heading to Roland Garros and Wimbledon with high expectations.
Roger Federer was eager to improve his Major results in 2003.
Instead, last year’s quarter-finalist had to leave both Majors much earlier than expected, losing in the first round in both Paris and London and struggling to find their desired level in the coming months.
Nonetheless, the Vienna title and a couple of other good results on a covered surface brought Federer back into the top 10 as he earned a spot in his first Masters Cup. After a slow start to the 2003 campaign due to injury, Federer returned to his best level since February, winning titles in Marseille and Dubai and taking the most victories in the entire Tour ahead of Indian Wells.
Following the victory over Felix Mantilla in the second round, Roger said he wants to return to the Masters Cup, eager to level up at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, where he had no points to defend. “Australia was a disappointment; it could have done better there.
I made a scary start with a little groin problem, not sure if everything would be okay at the Australian Open. Fortunately, it was. I must say that I was able to get off to a good start to the season over the last few years; I won the Hopman Cup, it was Sydney last year and now Marseille and Dubai.
I think it’s essential and it always helps me get through it; It gives me confidence and takes the pressure off my back to do well and stay on top of the ATP Race. My goal is to get back to the Masters Cup and I’m off to a good start.
I have to play better than last year at Roland Garros and Wimbledon; those were my major failures in 2002. I will go there without the pressure of defending points; that also helps sometimes, “said Roger Federer.
–
