Victory Would Compare To Wimbledon: Federer

Sydney Morning Herald

Friday August 8, 2008

Linda Pearce in Beijing

ROGER FEDERER is used to a big audience but surely he has never experienced anything like this. More than 40 TV cameras and hundreds of reporters - indeed, far more than sat through his finals post-mortem at Wimbledon last month - gathered for a 21-minute audience with the 12-time grand slam champion who will celebrate his 27th birthday carrying the Swiss flag at the opening ceremony tonight.

If tennis is not the biggest game in town, then Federer is undoubtedly still one of the most famous names and victory here or at the US Open next month would help to salvage his no-slam season.

Rafael Nadal will dethrone the world No.1 when the next rankings list is released, but the winner of five of the past six Wimbledon titles is still the nominal top dog eyeing a title that ranks with the French Open as the only two important tournaments he is yet to win.

"It would mean as much as maybe a Wimbledon victory, I don't know, but it's definitely right up there with the greatest victories," said Federer, who will play Russian Dimitry Tursunov in the first round.

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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