Federer Feels Better; Will Play Cincinnati

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 12th August 2013

Federer Feels Better; Will Play Cincinnati

epa03801094 Roger Federer of Switzerland reacts against Daniel Brands of Germany during a second round match at the Suisse Open tennis tournament in Gstaad, Switzerland, 25 July 2013. EPA/PETER SCHNEIDER |

Roger Federer says his recent back pain is under control and he’s ready to roll at the Cincinnati Masters as he bids for a fifth title at the flatland Midwest venue. The Swiss turned 32 last week on the practice court and will get in as much time as possible before his second-round start this week.

He’s put behind the memories of injury-interrupted play last month on clay in Hamburg and Gstaad which eventually forced him to withdraw before the Montreal event. “My passion is sky high. If the passion doesn’t overweigh all the rest, the end is extremely near,” said the 17-time grand slam champion. “You might be doing it for the wrong reasons. But I love what I’m doing.”

The fifth seed who starts with a bye in an event which is headed by Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, pronounced himself “fit and mentally motivated”

and keen to “get back into playing well and getting deep into tournaments.

“I wanted to get over Wimbledon as quickly as possible. I was ready to go in Hamburg and tried to enjoy playing. But I had too many problems in the back and the body, they came up gradually. Ïn Gstaad I was not prepared. I played OK, it was not like I couldn’t play at all.”

He added: “It was frustrating not to be able to play proper tennis. I really didn’t want to pull out of Montreal, but it gives me more time to prepare here.”