When Ron Burgundy himself comes on the court, even an experienced professional like Roger Federer has to concentrate all his concentration.
As Roger Federer, you don’t have to do everything on one working day at the Australian Open. It is by no means enough to simply win his first match, in this case confidently and safely 6:3,6:4 and 6:3 against the good Slovenian Aljaz Bedene. No, after that the unavoidable John McEnroe is the first questioner in the Rod Laver Arena, a man who likes to set himself in the limelight and immediately bombs Federer with all possible and impossible questions. Who challenges the Maestro to be quick-witted and eloquent.
So Federer has to face a seeming topic like this:”How do you move and how do you actually play at your age, Roger” The 60-year-old gets to hear this from the 36-year-old:”I’ve always worked hard in the gym…” Even before you can recognize the insidiousness, the suggestion that McEnroe might not have worked so much, McEnroe also leaves the stage. And fortunately I got to know a lot of people who have been playing for a long time. That was an inspiration.”
Federer is allowed to look back on 2017 and will have to look back once more – and he is also coining a memorable phrase, namely that one “needs two for a tango”. He means, to the delight of last year’s finalist McEnroe for entertainment, the fight with Rafael Nadal. Federer also writes on record that he does not necessarily believe that the fairy tale of last season will be repeated:”I know that the competition is even tougher today. I want to exploit opportunities.”
It’s the actor and comedian Will Ferrell who will be on the pitch in the first few minutes after the win. A surprise guest for Federer, who has to face the next joke sweaty. Whether he’s more of a vampire or a sorcerer, Farrell wants to know something meaningless. Next question from Farrell, next joke:”Would you describe your game as a silk gazelle?” Federer ironically doubts:”Will they not be eaten at the end?” On what comedian replicates:”Not if they’re fast enough.”
So that’s the way it is when you call yourself Roger Federer and are asked by God and the world not only for a good game, but also for funny, witty conversation. And if you don’t allow big questions with your opening game because you were absolutely superior. Later, by the way, the question and answer game goes on in the next dimension, so to speak, with the professional enquirers in the press room. And what do they want to know: Of course, how it was out there on the Centre Court with Mr McEnroe and Mr Farrell,”I tried hard to find good answers,”says Federer, who will meet the long-grown German Jan-Lennard Struff on Thursday. He is again a very high favourite and will be able to adapt to this or that foreign question.
And Stan Wawrinka? There was just two good news about him. First, after six and a half months of forced absence, he won his first match against the Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis with 6-3,6-4,2-6 and 7-6. And, secondly, the problem knee of the Romand held – against all doubt and self-doubt “It was difficult, even painful. But I bite my way through,”said Wawrinka, who will now be challenged in round two against the American Tennys Sandgren, number 97 in the world rankings.