Roger Federer has seen too many recent disappointments in Flushing to proclaim himself ready to break an 11-year U.S. Open title drought.
But in spite of being invisible since his heartbreaking, 13-12 fifth-set Wimbledon finals loss to Novak Djokovic in July, the Swiss Maestro believes he’s in the hunt to add a sixth Open crown.
“I know it’s going to be tough,’’ Federer said Friday at Media Day, staged at Louis Armstrong Stadium before more than 1,000 fans. “I’m not coming in as the overwhelming favorite like maybe back in 2006 or 2007. I’m very much aware how I need to approach this tournament mentally. It’s going to be a tough tournament to win, no doubt. I feel like I’m part of that group who can do it.’’
At age 38, it’s amazing Federer still is in the mix, still the crowd favorite. The fans cheered loudly as he walked to the podium for his pre-tournament press conference. Federer is the oldest of the Big 3 by almost five years. Rafael Nadal is 33, Djokovic is 32.
“What I’m very proud of is I’ve had a very consistent last year and a half since my back locked up on me in Montreal [in 2017],’’ said Federer, who still holds the record for most Grand Slam titles at 20, adding three in the past two years. “I think also the win over Rafa in the [Wimbledon] semis was big for me. Also the finals, the way I played that, is going to give me some extra confidence.’’
Indeed, Federer is over the Wimbledon crusher in which he blew two match points. Andy Roddick told The Post epic losses like the one Federer suffered on July 14 are tough to overcome.
Federer admitted he suffered a few “flashbacks’’ in the days following the crusher, even when “caravanning” in the countryside with his kids on vacation in Switzerland. But he doesn’t foresee any aftereffects.
“You go in phases,’’ Federer said. “Sometimes you have flashbacks, like, ‘Oh, I could have, should have done that.’ The next day you’re having a glass of wine with your wife thinking the semis [versus Nadal] was pretty good, even the finals was pretty good.
“It took a couple of days to get those things out of the system. Then the first couple days back playing tennis, you have a few flashbacks. Ultimately I look back and I’m very happy I was part of such an entertaining match. I hope obviously it’s going to help me here.’’
Federer, who will face a qualifier in the first round, didn’t do much entertaining in the Western & Southern Open last week. That’s after he withdrew from the Canadian Open.
In Cincinnati, Federer was defeated early by qualifier Andrey Rublev in 62 minutes. Federer said that ouster could be “a good thing to get my act together and train hard after a great Wimbledon.’’
The third seed in the Open, Federer could face Djokovic in the semifinals. After five straight Open titles from 2004 to 2008, followed by 11 years without a Flushing crown, Federer is not taking anything for granted. He attributes some of the Queens drought to being part “unlucky,’’ part injury-ridden.
Federer added, however, he would be surprised if one of the Big 3 didn’t own the Open again.
“Yeah, it seems like the same guys are the favorites again this time around,’’ Federer said. “It will be a surprise if anybody else won other than the guys I said.’’