Murray should feel the pressure because he is playing me, says Federer

Published>Sat, Jan 30 10 01:49 PM

London, Jan. 30 (ANI): A not-so-modest world number one Roger Federer has told Andy Murray that the Brit's biggest problem is that he is playing him, "who has won so many Slams."

"It's Andy's second Grand Slam final - the fact he didn't win the first one, when he played me at the US Open, doesn't help. Plus, he's playing, you know, me, who's won many Slams," The Sun quoted a 'tongue in cheek' Federer, as saying.

"I don't feel the pressure as I have done it before. He really needs to do it more than me. So, the pressure's big on him. We will see how he handles it. It's not going to be easy, that's for sure," he added.

Earlier, Federer took a pot-shot at Murray's ambition to become Britain's first men's Grand Slam winner since Fred Perry 74 years ago.

"I know Andy would like to win his first title for Britain in what is it? 150,000 years? This is probably the question Andy gets the most and he is probably a little bit fed up," he said.

However, the Swiss star did admit that Murray is a class player.

"Andy was an excellent player at the US Open. But now, he has played more matches, he knows what to expect from crowds, opponents, conditions and everything," he said.

"That is a big step, playing a lot of tough matches on big courts. If I play well I can win, if I play badly, I can lose. But now, I don't usually play badly. If I do, maybe it's just a few games," he added.

Federer also came out in defence of his six losses out of 10 clashes he had with Murray.

"Without taking anything away from him, he has beaten me when I was not at my very, very best. We played in Dubai and I'd just come back from glandular fever. I know some people don't like to believe it - for some reason - but that is the truth," he said.

We've played close matches when I was in control and I gave the match away. But that was also because of the way he plays," he added. (ANI)

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