Federer seeking Olympic atonement

Roger Federer is desperate to add Olympic gold to his 16 Grand Slam singles titles in London this summer to fill the one gaping hole in his career achievements. The Swiss legend won a gold in doubles in Beijing in 2008, but has never been on the top of the medals podium in singles despite lingering frustration at knowing he should have been involved at least once.

“It's different pressure because the form is best of three so you feel like you have a bad five minutes and that could be it. That's kind of what cost me against (Tomas) Berdych in Athens, against (James) Blake in Beijing,” said Federer. “And then next thing, you know, you're out of both tournaments, and I think I was seeded 1 or 2 in either one of them.” Federer finished fourth in Sydney in 2000, was knocked out in the second round by Berdych in 2004 and lost a 2008 quarter-final to Blake.

“Obviously I'm very happy to represent Switzerland. I did way too good back in 2000 (where he finished fourth), didn't do so well in Athens. “In Beijing, I was really close to a medal in the singles and then in doubles I got the gold,” added Federer, who took the title with Stanislas Wawrinka. “So I feel very relaxed going into the Olympics. I don't feel like this is a must win for me or anything like that. I probably would feel a bit more pressure if I wouldn't have won Olympic gold in doubles in Beijing.”

AFP