Former world No. 1 Roger Federer, who has won only one title this year and lost in the fourth round of the U.S. Open, says it’s not always easy to be known as a natural touch player, especially when he has off-days.
“It’s always been a fine line, especially in the beginning of my career when I didn’t have the results to back me up,” he said. “People thought, ‘Did he even try? Does he care much? Like, he can play so well. Is it so terrible?’ Now, with the results, I know you don’t believe that so much. That’s the good thing. The story of my life: When I lose, people are shell-shocked to see me play this way. If I win, it’s the best thing. But there’s no doubt about it, I’m trying hard out there trying to make it work. Sometimes it just doesn’t happen.”