'Tired' Federer loses Swiss final
From correspondents in Gstaad, Switzerland
July 14, 2003
WIMBLEDON champion Roger Federer missed out on a sixth title this
season when he lost the final of the Swiss Open to Jiri Novak today
and then admitted he needs a holiday.
A week after his Grand Slam triumph at the All England Club, the
final of his home event proved a match too far as he went down to a
5-7 6-3 6-3 1-6, 6-3 defeat to the experienced Czech.
Now Federer, the world No.3, will head off on a vacation to Sardinia
for a week before he returns to action on the American hardcourt circuit.
"I really need a rest," said Federer, who won 15 matches in a row on
the way to grass titles in Halle and Wimbledon.
"We'll see how things look after some rest. I haven't had any time
for a little glass of champagne to celebrate Wimbledon – that might
be nice to do now."
After winning the opening set with a fight-back in the final
game form 0-40 down, top-seeded Federer's form went into decline
as the third seed grabbed a two-sets-to-one lead.
Federer rallied to take the fourth but couldn't convert on break
points early in the fifth, crashing down 2-4 on a break and taking
defeat in 2hrs 48mins.
"I had my problems but was happy to get the fourth," said the
21-year-old who has now lost Swiss finals in Basel and Gstaad
for a total of three home defeats in three years.
The last Swiss to win the Gstaad event was Heinz Gunthardt in 1980,
but Federer is sure to be back for another go.
Despite the defeat, he is not putting any pressure on himself ahead
of the US Open, the final Grand Slam tournament of the season.
"I've never done well in the States, I don't know why. I may have
a chance at the No.1 ranking, but I'm not going to push it.
"If it happens, it happens. I'll work more on fitness after my
break and hope to be ready to play again. I need to maintain
momentum, I've been hitting the ball well. I want to relax in
the buildup to the rest of the summer."
Novak earned his second straight title here after winning in 2001.
"I'm the happiest man in the world right now," said the Czech father of two.
"I've won two singles and two doubles titles here. It was a tough
match, Roger played well, but I was just a bit better and a bit
luckier today."
Agence France-Presse
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