Your time will come, champ tells Brit
NEWLY-CROWNED Australian Open champion Roger Federer told Andy Murray that his first Grand Slam title is only a matter of time away after ensuring the Scot’s latest bid ended in failure.
Murray dropped only one set on his way to the final, but once there was soundly beaten by a man who knows more than most about what it takes to win the biggest prizes.
“Andy, well done for your incredible tournament. You’re too good a player not to win a Grand Slam so don’t worry about it,” Federer told Murray, who will move back up to No3 in the world rankings today.
“I’m over the moon winning this again. I played some of the best tennis again of my life these last two weeks.
“Guys like Murray have made me a better player. I think this has been one of my finest performances in a long time, maybe forever.”
Federer’s success opens up the possibility that he could win all four Grand Slams in a calendar year – one of the few feats to elude the 28-year-old, and all the more attainable with injury doubts surrounding his main rival Rafael Nadal. But the world No1 (left) insists he will not plan his schedule around that goal.
“That’s not something I’ve ever put in my mind, that this is something I want to achieve,” he said.
“I will still go and play the smaller tournaments, the Masters 1000s, the ones we’re supposed to play. I try to give my best everywhere I go to because I think there’s not only the Grand Slams. Of course they are important, but I try to respect every tournament that invites me.
“I won’t just put the entire calendar just around trying to win the calendar Grand Slam. If it happens, it does, it’s great; but it’s not something that’s No1 goal. Just like I haven’t put a number on how many Grand Slams I want to try to win. Whatever happens happens.”