He makes it sound so simple. Roger Federer was heading home to prepare for his 11th (yes, you did read that right: 11th) Wimbledon final in the hope that on Sunday afternoon he could beat Marin Cilic and become the first man in history to win an eighth Gentlemen’s Singles title.
What would he do? Would he be nervous? Would he be able to sleep? How would he spend the next couple of days? As it turns out, Federer would do what Federer usually does – and when he does that, he usually wins (not that he would be so forward as to suggest that it was a given he was going to beat Cilic).
“I guess you do the routine you've been doing here during this fortnight,” he said simply. “That's what you're probably going to be looking forward to do.
“I just got to try to rest the maximum now. Just make sure I sleep well, even just tonight and tomorrow, really take it easy, so when I do come out on court on Sunday, I have all the energy and all the resources in my mind to play inspired and creative tennis. That's what I've got to do.”
Ah, the simple business of being creative and inspired at the same time while dealing with the weight of history leaning on your shoulders. What could possibly go wrong? But the man with 18 Grand Slam trophies sitting on his mantelpiece has no other formula to follow: he has been doing this since his first title here in 2003 and it seems to have served him well so far.
There was one word of caution for any Cilic fans in the room, though. The mighty Swiss may be a matter of weeks away from his 36th birthday, but he is feeling fitter than he has in years thanks to skipping the whole of the clay court season. Free of injury and full of running, he is eager to get started on the final but he knows how to keep himself calm and unflustered between now and the first ball.
It's a big deal. I love this tournament. All my dreams came true here as a player. To have another chance to go for number eight now, be kind of so close now at this stage, is a great feeling
“But I think in the past Grand Slam finals, the semi to final days helps me, is just to stay calm throughout the process,” he said. “The good thing is that I'm not carrying an injury like I did a little bit in Australia, where I had a hamstring problem, or in other years, I don't know what I was having. But this year I'm feeling good, so that really relaxes you in a major way.”
That must make Cilic feel confident: Federer is fit, he is calm and he has been here so many times before that nothing can faze him. That will make Cilic sleep easy, then.
But the very fact that the history is there to be made makes Federer happy. Other players may be crushed by the moment – the dreaded “don’t-muck-this-up-it-is-your-only-chance” jitters – but Federer revels in it.
One inquisitive soul asked him how it felt to be going into his 11th final.
“It's nice,” Federer said, beaming with that Cheshire cat smile that suggested his interrogator might want to check back with him on Sunday night. There might be another record to discuss then.
“It makes me really happy, marking history here at Wimbledon,” he said. “It's a big deal. I love this tournament. All my dreams came true here as a player. To have another chance to go for number eight now, be kind of so close now at this stage, is a great feeling.
“Yeah, unbelievably excited. I hope I can play one more good match. Eleven finals here, all these records, it's great. But it doesn't give me the title quite yet. That's why I came here this year. I'm so close now, so I just got to stay focused.”
Happy, relaxed and playing out of his skin – the mighty Federer makes it all look so easy.
