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Roger Federer admits the Italian Open was always an “information” tournament for him after going down 7-6 6-3 to Dominic Thiem in the third round. The Swiss legend has endured injury worries of late, the latest being a back problem, and will now concentrate on getting himself fit for the French Open.
Federer took positives from his loss as he played far from the 100 per cent level of the past. He said on Wednesday that winning the competition for a first time was never his intention, but was pleased to come through two matches this week.
“I’m happy I was able to play and still feel about the same, like yesterday, not worse,” he said. “That was most important. I feel like now obviously time starts ticking more towards Paris. Next 10, 12 days are really going to be important for me to recover, and then, make a plan.
“It doesn’t matter how I played. It was important that I didn’t have any setbacks and I was able to step on the tennis court and that I tried what I could with what I had.
“I’m confident and hopeful at the same time. I believe that I’m going to recover and hopefully the next ten days are going to be easier and I can practice really well sort of starting next week.
” I’m going to have a meeting with the team this afternoon, just talk about the options we have: Do we stay in Rome, do we go to Paris, do we go back to Switzerland? You know, those are three options there. Should I rest, should I train, what can I do with physiotherapy? I’m just happy I’m through the tournament now and I can look ahead.
Now I can, how do you say, I can pace myself. In a match you cannot really pace yourself. That’s why I think it’s — yeah, I’m interested to see myself what exactly they suggest and then at the end what we’re going to do. I don’t know exactly.
“Clearly the way I’m playing right now is never going to be enough for any good run in Paris. This was an information tournament for me. Never a result tournament. I knew I wasn’t good enough for any result here.”
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