Federer plans to turn season around in Beijing
Roger Federer said he is anticipating a "dream Olympics" that will help turn around his disappointing season by winning one of the few titles to elude him.
Roger Federer said on Tuesday he is anticipating a "dream Olympics" that will help turn around his disappointing season by winning one of the few titles to elude him.
"For me it is really important over the next couple of weeks, starting here at the Olympics, going on to the US Open," he told AFP in an interview.
"I still have plenty of tournaments to do well in, and I hope I can start here at the Olympics and fulfill my dream to win gold."
After failing to overcome arch-rival Rafael Nadal at the French Open, he then fell to the Spaniard in an epic five-set Wimbledon final before going out in the early rounds in Toronto and Cincinnati.
But he is feeling lucky in China, where he will carry the flag for Switzerland at the Olympics opening ceremony.
"I've had a lot of luck in China," said the Swiss ace, whose 27th birthday coincides with Friday's opening ceremony on August 8.
"I know eight is the lucky number here, maybe because my birthday and everything that has also brought me luck here in China, who knows."
Eight is considered lucky because the Chinese character 'ba' sounds similar to the word for luck, or 'fa'.
Because of this the Games opening ceremony has been slated to start at 8pm on the eighth day of the eighth month of the year 2008.