Roger Federer took part in a roundtable with journalists on Saturday ahead of the Mutua Madrilena Masters Madrid. It will be his first ATP event since winning the US Open in September.
MADRID—On getting ready for the tournament
"I like to come early so as to try the courts and its surface. It's always nice to come as the defending champion and I like the crowd here, they are enthusiastic and they show it. I felt very tired after the Davis Cup tie against the Czechs, and had to pull out of Tokyo."
On the hunt for No 1
"Rafa is not worried about losing his No.2 spot. Both him and Djokovic are fighting to be the No. 1. To be honest, after Rafa's success on clay this year, I came into the second part of the season with pressure. I'm doing well at the moment. Of course the Wimbledon final was a key match. I wish we can renew our rivalry, our healthy rivalry, here in Madrid. We like to play each other, which didn't happen to me the first times we played."
"I don't want my opponents to lose. You only have to think about winning. If your opponent loses and you follow the same path, another one will come and take your spot. It's as simple as that."
On chasing Sampras' record of 14 Grand Slams
"It's still far off, but I'm confident and a positive thinker and it's something I want to achieve. I know I have a chance to win the Australian Open and the French Open and then we'll see. Honestly, it doesn't matter if I do it next year or in 2020, it doesn't matter to be honest as long as I get it."
On the opportunity to win the Golden Slam next year
"I think it's too difficult. Honestly I don't envision the Golden Slam... if it's there to take I'll try, but it's a tough schedule, with Roland Garros, Wimbledon, the Olympics, US Open – all within a few months. It's hard to do, almost impossible."
"The Beijing Olympics will be fantastic. I enjoyed Athens, coming out with the national flag was a special moment".
On his career plans
"Wimbledon [hosting] the Olympics in 2012, I just think it's an incredible combination for any tennis player. I'll still be 31 or so and feel I'll have more in me," he said. "For me this is something I would like to do."
"I'm methodical, I like to have a plan in my life. I'm not thinking about tomorrow, but a whole career. I said I would play 'at least' through 2012, but I think I'll have more in me. I want to play through different generations, just as [Andre] Agassi or [Jimmy] Connors did. Hopefully I'll be able to do that, maybe playing 10 or 15 tournaments instead of 20."
On the match-fixing scares in tennis
"I'm surprised by all of these stories, shocked really that this might be happening. I haven't read what [Andy]Murray said, but I can say I've never been approached or heard of any player [being approached]. For me, this is new. I hadn't heard of this until this year, that the comments came out."
"If a player has been approached, he must make it public immediately. He can do it anonymously, of course. If someone wants to talk to me about this, I would like to listen to him. I haven't read into the whole circumstances surrounding these stories, but I will be these days. I hope that this isn't happening. I think I would have heard something sooner if it had been."
"The people who are in the dressing rooms, the people who are in the tournaments shouldn't be allowed to gamble. It's very disappointing if players would be involved in such a thing."
[In Miami, the ATP organized a presentation by ex-Mafia boss Michael Franzese to talk to the players about the dangers of becoming involved in gambling.] "When I went into that meeting, I was kind of, ´what the hell?' What he said was interesting and scary at the same time."
On when he might get a coach
"I thought about that when I had some days off after the Davis Cup. Of course, it's great to have another opinion, but I don't feel it's the moment and won't be until 2008, at least. I don't know what features I'm looking for in a coach, maybe that's the problem (smile)."