• No 1 Milan (2001) Federer's first tournament triumph came in Italy at the age of 19. He beat Goran Ivanisevic and Yvegeny Kafelnikov on his way to the final in Italy where he overcame Frenchman Julien Boutter in a tense three-set match 6-4, 6-7, 6-4. AP Photo
    No 1 Milan (2001) Federer's first tournament triumph came in Italy at the age of 19. He beat Goran Ivanisevic and Yvegeny Kafelnikov on his way to the final in Italy where he overcame Frenchman Julien Boutter in a tense three-set match 6-4, 6-7, 6-4. AP Photo
  • No 3 Hamburg (2002) This success in May 2002 was significant for a couple of reasons. It was a Masters title but also the first time he had prevailed on clay. Marat Safin was beaten in the final on this occasion, the score 6-1, 6-3, 6-4. Getty
    No 3 Hamburg (2002) This success in May 2002 was significant for a couple of reasons. It was a Masters title but also the first time he had prevailed on clay. Marat Safin was beaten in the final on this occasion, the score 6-1, 6-3, 6-4. Getty
  • No 6 Dubai (2003) Federer had not exactly covered himself in glory in Dubai the year before by being accused of tanking by organisers in his defeat to Rainer Schuttler. But that was all forgotten this time around as he won a tournament he would go on to win a further seven times. He did not drop a set in five matches as he beat Jiri Novak in the final to lift the trophy. AFP
    No 6 Dubai (2003) Federer had not exactly covered himself in glory in Dubai the year before by being accused of tanking by organisers in his defeat to Rainer Schuttler. But that was all forgotten this time around as he won a tournament he would go on to win a further seven times. He did not drop a set in five matches as he beat Jiri Novak in the final to lift the trophy. AFP
  • No 9 Wimbledon (2003) Federer's first grand slam title came on the grass of Wimbledon. Federer only lost one set on his way to becoming champion, and his demolition of pre-tournament favourite Andy Roddick in the semi-finals remains one of his best performances at the venue. Getty
    No 9 Wimbledon (2003) Federer's first grand slam title came on the grass of Wimbledon. Federer only lost one set on his way to becoming champion, and his demolition of pre-tournament favourite Andy Roddick in the semi-finals remains one of his best performances at the venue. Getty
  • No 12 Australian Open (2004) A first major in Melbourne and Federer's first as world No 1. He had not been beyond the fourth round previously but he cruised to the title here, defeating Safin in the final. Getty
    No 12 Australian Open (2004) A first major in Melbourne and Federer's first as world No 1. He had not been beyond the fourth round previously but he cruised to the title here, defeating Safin in the final. Getty
  • No 20 US Open (2004) The start of five years of domination in New York as the Swiss picked up his first title at Flushing Meadows. He suffered a scare in the quarter-finals as he was taken to five sets by Andre Agassi, but otherwise he was impervious as he beat Lleyton Hewitt 6-0, 7-6, 6-0 in the final. NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)
    No 20 US Open (2004) The start of five years of domination in New York as the Swiss picked up his first title at Flushing Meadows. He suffered a scare in the quarter-finals as he was taken to five sets by Andre Agassi, but otherwise he was impervious as he beat Lleyton Hewitt 6-0, 7-6, 6-0 in the final. NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)
  • No 50 Cincinnati (2007) The half-century of titles came in August 2007 at the Cincinnati Masters. American James Blake was the man beaten in the final this time, 6-1, 6-4. Getty
    No 50 Cincinnati (2007) The half-century of titles came in August 2007 at the Cincinnati Masters. American James Blake was the man beaten in the final this time, 6-1, 6-4. Getty
  • No 59 French Open (2009) Federer finally completed his career grand slam as he won in Paris. The Roland Garros title had long eluded Federer, largely because of Rafael Nadal who three times had beaten him in the final. But Federer was the victor in 2009 as Robin Soderling was beaten in straight sets in the final. Getty
    No 59 French Open (2009) Federer finally completed his career grand slam as he won in Paris. The Roland Garros title had long eluded Federer, largely because of Rafael Nadal who three times had beaten him in the final. But Federer was the victor in 2009 as Robin Soderling was beaten in straight sets in the final. Getty
  • No 87 Cincinnati (2015) Major titles had proven somewhat tougher to win since 2010 with the rise of Novak Djokovic. But Federer proved he could be a match for the Serbian on his day as he claimed an emphatic 6-1, 7-5 triumph at the Masters event. Getty
    No 87 Cincinnati (2015) Major titles had proven somewhat tougher to win since 2010 with the rise of Novak Djokovic. But Federer proved he could be a match for the Serbian on his day as he claimed an emphatic 6-1, 7-5 triumph at the Masters event. Getty
  • No 89 Australian Open (2017) Federer had not won a major since 2012 and there had been many doubters that he would add to his 17. But he proved them wrong with a stunning display in Melbourne. In his first tournament since time out after knee surgery he beat Nadal in a five-setter thriller in the final to claim that elusive 18th major. Getty
    No 89 Australian Open (2017) Federer had not won a major since 2012 and there had been many doubters that he would add to his 17. But he proved them wrong with a stunning display in Melbourne. In his first tournament since time out after knee surgery he beat Nadal in a five-setter thriller in the final to claim that elusive 18th major. Getty
  • No 97 Rotterdam (2018) On the surface of it this success here, by his standards, was largely unremarkable as he cruised past Grigor Dimitrov for the loss of just four games in the final. But competing in the Netherlands allowed him to become world No 1 again at the age of 36. Reuters
    No 97 Rotterdam (2018) On the surface of it this success here, by his standards, was largely unremarkable as he cruised past Grigor Dimitrov for the loss of just four games in the final. But competing in the Netherlands allowed him to become world No 1 again at the age of 36. Reuters
  • No 100 Dubai (2019) The milestone title came at one of his happiest hunting grounds as he picked up his eighth crown at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium. After a slow start to the week he was superb in beating Borna Coric and Stefanos Tsitsipas respectively in the semi-finals and final. Getty
    No 100 Dubai (2019) The milestone title came at one of his happiest hunting grounds as he picked up his eighth crown at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium. After a slow start to the week he was superb in beating Borna Coric and Stefanos Tsitsipas respectively in the semi-finals and final. Getty

Tennis

US Open: Roger Federer has 'confidence' he can win New York title to claim 21st grand slam title

The World No 3 looking to build on strong Wimbledon showing at Flushing Meadows

The National

August 24, 2019

  • English
  • Arabic

It may be over a decade since Roger Federer last won the US Open but the Swiss master feels he has his best chance in years to land a sixth title.

Federer, who won five titles in a row between 2004 and 2008, heads to Flushing Meadows having narrowly lost an epic Wimbledon final to Novak Djokovic less than six weeks ago.

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Roger Federer's 102 titles

Federer reached 100 ATP titles at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in March and is now on 102. Check out the gallery of his best wins above, with the 2004 US Open crown being among them. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows, or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.

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Now 38, Federer knows he is running out of time to add to his tally of 20 grand slams but the world number three is not feeling the strain.

"I'm not putting extra pressure on myself. I know it's going to be tough," he said.

"I'm not coming in as the overwhelming favourite like maybe I did back in 2006 or 2007. I'm very much aware of how I need to approach this tournament mentally.

"Two years ago I came in with a back issue a little bit, I had a struggle early on with five-setters. Last year I struggled with the heat against (John) Millman. Obviously in 2016 I missed it entirely.

"We were saying on the practice court two days ago that this is probably the best I've felt in years coming into the US Open again, which is encouraging.

"I've been playing well, and playing well in the slams recently, which has been great. I think also the win over Rafael (Nadal) in the Wimbledon semis was big for me. Also the final, the way I played that, is going to give me some extra confidence."

Federer, who said he went caravanning with his four children to get over his Wimbledon defeat, crashed to a shock 6-3 6-4 loss by Russian qualifier Andrey Rublev in Cincinnati earlier this month, a result which he insists might help in the long run.

Roger Federer signs autographs as he prepares for his tilt at winning the US Open for a sixth time. AFP
Roger Federer signs autographs as he prepares for his tilt at winning the US Open for a sixth time. AFP

"I'm happy where my game is at," he added. "Cincinnati might be a good thing that I lost early, who knows?

"It's maybe one of those things that sometimes needs to happen, like when I won at the Australian Open, went to Dubai, lost first round in 2017, then went on to win Indian Wells and Miami.

"Maybe it's the same thing, I played a great Wimbledon, I needed to get knocked down in Cincy, to get my act together, train hard.

"That's what I did. I'm ready for the US Open. It's going to be a tough tournament to win, no doubt about it. I feel like I'm part of that group who can do it."

Nadal, the second seed, is also a man in form and will be a threat as long as his knee problems do not flare up again.

The Spaniard said: "To arrive to the big events with good feelings helps. My last events have been; win Rome, win at Roland Garros, semi-finals at Wimbledon and winning in Montreal.

"That's a positive feeling, positive memory on my mind. That helps for the confidence, helps for the positive feelings.

"But the main thing is to arrive here and adapt to the conditions. For the moment I am feeling well."

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