27 giugno 2013

Dopo la tempesta


In quello che è già stato definito il giorno più strano nella storia di Wimbledon, ieri Roger Federer ha perso al secondo turno contro l'ucraino Sergiy Stakhovsky (numero 116 al mondo). Il giorno prima era uscito Rafa Nadal. Come ricorda Ubaldo Scanagatta, sono sette gli ex-numeri uno del mondo usciti dal torneo in questo pazzo mercoledì: "Roger Federer, Maria Sharapova, Lleyton Hewitt (da Brown n.189!), Jelena Jankovic (dalla Dolonc n.97), Victoria Azarenka, Ana Ivanovic, Caroline Wozniacki! Otto con Nadal".

Federer ha annullato un primo match point con uno splendido passante di dritto, ma sul secondo non c'è stato niente da fare; il rovescio è finito in corridoio e tanti saluti al Re. Stakhovsky ha vinto 6-7, 7-6, 7-5, 7-6. In conferenza stampa l'ucraino era particolarmente allegro. Federer, ovviamente, era molto triste. Ma ha detto comunque alcune cose interessanti (qui la trascrizione integrale):
Nessuna scusa. Didn't feel any different today, like I felt something coming. It's not how it goes. Even though sometimes you might feel a bit off and you crush your opponent and vice versa, you know, you feel too good and you don't play so well. Today was a normal day. Normal warmup, normal match really. Clearly I was hoping to win the match today, but I couldn't do it. So it's clearly disappointing. 
Cosa fare adesso. You don't panic at this point, that's clear. Just go back to work and come back stronger really. Somewhat simple. Hard to do sometimes. But usually I do turnarounds pretty good. I'm looking forward to what's to come, you know. I hope I can play a good summer, a good end to the season. This is clearly not what I was hoping for here today at this tournament. Unfortunately it does happen. Looking forward to next year, that I can do better next year. 
Non è la fine di un'era.  I still have plans to play for many more years to come. It's normal that after all of a sudden losing early after being in the quarters 36 times, people feel it's different. You guys hyped it up so much, me playing Rafa, and we're both out. So there's a letdown clearly. Maybe it's also somewhat a bit disrespectful to the other opponents who are in the draw still. I think it sends a message to you guys as well that maybe you shouldn't do that so often next time around. 
I campi non hanno alcun problema. I didn't slip once today, so for me there was no problem whatsoever. Sergiy slipped maybe once or twice. I remember Murray slipping last year, too. I mean, it is grass after all.