Tennis enthusiasts recently revisited Roger Federer’s comments labeled as “arrogant,” which he made before his fourth-round match against Novak Djokovic at the 2007 Australian Open.
Following his victory over Mikhail Youzhny in the third round, Federer was set to face Djokovic, then seeded 14th, in the next round.
During a press conference ahead of the match, Federer acknowledged the challenge Djokovic posed but expressed confidence in his ability to prevail, citing their previous encounters.
“It’s Djokovic, yeah? I played him twice last year: the Davis Cup and Monaco. Beat him both times. He’s improved since, you know. Times go by, and youngsters always improve quickly.
He’s getting through his rounds fairly comfortably. It seems like it’s playing pretty good, and it’s a dangerous match for me, that’s for sure,” Federer stated.
Federer also asserted his status as the favorite, citing his past successes against Djokovic and his familiarity with the Serb’s playing style.
“Of course, I’m the big favorite. This is maybe his big moment where he can make a name for himself, no doubt. But he already missed that opportunity twice. Usually, when I beat a guy twice, I know how to play him. So I’ll take advantage of that,” he added.
Ultimately, Federer backed up his confidence with a straight-sets victory over Djokovic, winning 6-2, 7-5, 6-3. Despite the triumph, Federer’s comments were met with disappointment from some tennis fans, who criticized his perceived arrogance and contrasted it with his commonly portrayed image as humble and respectful.
