LONDON: Roger Federer unique appeal showed no sign of waning as he gate-crashed what was supposed to be Andy Murray’s party in the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals.
Up against Britain’s first male grand slam champion for 76 years and an Olympic gold medallist for good measure, the 17,000 crowd at the O2 Arena should by rights have been roaring for Murray as he attempted to reach the final of the prestigious year-ending tournament for the first time.
As it turned out Federer charmed them with the kind of dazzling tennis that has captivated crowds around the globe for the best part of a decade in which he has won 17 grand slams.
“It’s something definitely that makes playing, well, easier to be quite honest,” the 31-year-old Swiss told reporters when asked if he was ever surprised by the goodwill that flows his way, whether it be in London, Paris or New York.
“I guess because I’ve been in the game for so long, I do have many people who just enjoy watching me play or feel like it’s a throwback maybe to the back-in-the-day times when they used to play with one-handed backhands, and they like me because of those things.
“I don’t know what it is, but I do get a lot of support and do it appreciate it.”
“We have played here twice before, and twice the crowds were amazing, electric, and sometimes even in my favor. So today was somewhat similar again,” he added after his semi-final win against Murray at 02 Arena in London. Reuters
