Re: Roge on Letterman Late Show TONIGHT MONDAY 9/12
Clip of Roge on MatchPoint.
Thank you very much. Our next guest won his second consecutive US Open Grand Slam. Please welcome your 2005 tennis champion [show clip holding trophy] Roger Federer, ladies and gentlemen.
Welcome to the program. Congratulations you have an amazing career, you are 24 years old is that correct? and tennis we know you have to start very early how young were you when you start?
As soon as I could hold a rqcket since I could hold a racket, 2 -3 year old
Your folks play tennis?
Uhm, a little bit. You know on weekend, they would go grill sausages 
and i would run around on soccer fields and play tennis against
the wall.
You're from Switzerland, is that correct, so why did you not play soccer as game of choice instead of tennis?
I played everything you know, everything, table tennis, I liked racket sports, especially ball sports, I was always very coordinated Then at 12 years old I had to make a choice you know soccer or tennis.
And did it get to a point where you were knocking balls against the doors and drivig your folks crazy? Knocking tennis balls against the house or whatever you did?
Oh yes that happened too (audience laugh), against the grandmother's garage door, the cupboard of my parents and my sister's. My parents and sister were sometimes a little angry I think but I think they understood
Oh yeah, I'm sure they "get it" now huh?
(Laughs) Yeah they get it now (audience laughs).
Just a tremendous career and people of course are now falling all over themselves to say likely, nyou could likely become the greatest player of all time (BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE CUTS OFF DAVID; Roger makes "I dont know" face
). Now, now that would make me nervous if people were saying that about me, .. Why do they say this about you? . Lets see, you have accomplished, you have won 6 grand slams thats a great accomplishment, Pete Sampras won what was it 14? So you still have a great chance of surprassing that. What about this notion about being the greatest of all time, what doese this do to you ?
Well I was always considered I was one of the bigger talents, I was here you know for instance in USO Junior in 1998 in the final. So I was number 1 junior in the world and they always said could have great future. But never to this point did i think i could dominate the sport, you know, then now last 2-3 years I have been in the driver's seat winning 6 out of 10 GS, its been very dominant and all of a sudden they start saying greatest ever. Im still far away, I dont know, my career is only half way
John was here a few weeks ago before tournament and he said you could be the greatest ever, and he alluded to it and if you are getting praise from someone like John Macenroe there must be something going on here!!
(Audience laugh)
Roge laugh: Yeah.... John....
You also had some er, behavior problems no with your game early on no?
Yes, we were quite similar and. ... now we are suddenly so different!
What would you do when you were playing a match? You would lose your temper?
Yeah I was very bad. I wish you couldhave some footage because I was pretty good at throwing rackets, comments every point, I dont know, Iust couldn't help myself.
It ws anger was directed towards yourself?
Yes, towards my self never towards fans or umpires. But there was one time I played Marat Safin, he was also a winner here few years ago, about my age and has also had a very good career so far. He is also knows for his temper and breaking rackets. One time in Rome, we did all this crazy stuff, throwing rackets and after the match I go to the locker room and they show the highlights of the match and that was just basically showing you know who is throwing racket better (audience laugh). At that poit I thought this is not why I am on the court. It was close, 7-6 in the third and I won but at this moment I said I have to change.
When you saw your behavior that was a changing point?
Yeaah, it was embarrassing for me to be on center court. Sometimse you get booed you know, they dont like to see, sometimes they want to see. I can! (show temper) but I have to pay fines and I have no mood to do that. (laughter)
What was it like, playing agasinst Andre Agassi, because I think he was a sentimental favorite in the final certainly... did you sense that?
Ha, yes, a little bit (audience laugh) No, I thought the crowd would be behind him you know, but maybe not THAT much (laugh) but the way he made it to Finale, playing those incredible matches, beating Blake 76 in the fifth, it is an incredible accomplishment. For me this is the most memorbabl one, you know he is the one of the last living legends still playing in the game.
And do you see yourself playing 10 years from now?
It is causing us problems, you know!! We thought we could retire at 31 32 now, its 35, 35. We will see... (audience appreciate)
And in tennis there is no off season, is that right, you basicaly play 12 months. What are you doing now?
Yes, the season is from January-November, only one month off, you can have 2 weeks vacation, 2.5 weeks prepararation, or that is my schedule anyway.
Now I am going back to Switzerland we have some tourmanetes there, then Asia, then coming back for indoor championships, then we have world championship in Shanghai where I am also the defending champion so I hope I can do it again.
When you are in Switzerland, are people talking about me?
(Roge a bit unexpected question) Er, Yeah! [laughter]
Have you heard anything?
Er, we dont have CBS so not that much.
My name doenst really come up??
Dont worry... they know you!
Could you mention me when you're there?
Oh yeah, sure. Sports show, talk show?
Just you know, at dinner!
Sure! [laughter]
[David Lettermann pulls out Roge trophy]
This is the loveliest trophy in all of sports. The USO champion 2005. And you name goes right below... your name, from last year. So you win Wimbledon thee times, USO consecutive twice and Australian Open.
Yes, last year.
Congratulations, have a great career. Roger Federer, ladies and gentlemen.
Thankyou.
