Roger Federer was in fine form in the main interview room at Wimbledon. Photo / Getty Images.
Roger Federer was in fine form in the main interview room at Wimbledon. Photo / Getty Images.
Matteo Berrettini wasn't Roger Federer's only victim today.
After thrashing the Italian 6-1 6-2 on Centre Court at Wimbledon, the World No. 3 carried his form into the main interview room at the All England Club as he engaged in some playful banter with veteran tennis reporter Ubaldo Scanagatta.
Scanagatta, who has covered more than 100 grand slams and whose distinct Italian accent is heard at press conferences around the world, became easy prey for Federer when the scribe questioned the Swiss maestro about Berrettini.
Here's how the exchange when down.
Ubaldo Scanagatta: I need your help this time because I saw Berrettini winning a tournament, semi-final in Halle.
Scanagatta: Correct, but still I saw it. This morning I wrote, I don't believe that Berrettini can beat Federer, but he will not lose 6-1 6-2 6-2, which is exactly the score that came out. So I'd like to know …
Federer: If you should change your job or not, is that question? Think about it.
Cue fits of laughter from Federer and the rest of the reporters in the room.
Go to 5:24 in the video below to check out the amusing exchange.
But the banter didn't end there, and at least Scanagatta was able to get a score on the board by unwittingly translating something for the 37-year-old.
Scanagatta: I'm trying to think what you told him before going on court. You were his idol. Did you say something to him that he was shocked? How do you explain, honestly?
Federer: Honestly, I just said hi to him walking to the court. I didn't do any games or all that stuff.
Scanagatta: I think he told you thanks for the lesson at the end.
Federer: Is that what he said? My Italian is not good enough.
More laughter erupted from Federer and the press before he struck a serious note by complaining about the speed of the court.
"What was I going to say? The guy is serving on average 130 miles (an hour) and second serve 105 or 110 at least and he gets three aces," he said.
"It's just slow. Especially tonight, conditions are a bit cooler. I just felt like, you know, it's not really going through.
"If you're almost clocking 140 (mph) serves, you should be rewarded a little bit more probably. There is definitely an issue with the speed of the balls or the speed of the courts.
"Maybe he was nervous in the beginning. You still hit aces. I mean, if you're serving that kind of speed, how tall he is, all that..."
Scanagatta signed off for the night with one final question to the embodiment of tennis royalty. "Should I resign," he asked.
"Not just yet. Give it another couple of days, then we'll speak again," Federer said for his final wisecrack.
The Fed Express has plenty of reason to be feeling relaxed just one win away from his 100th victory at Wimbledon.
The eight-time champion, who will play a record 17th quarter-final on Wednesday night, moved into the last-eight on Monday with embarrassing ease.
It was his 99th win at the All England Club and at 37, he is the oldest man to reach the last eight at the majors since 39-year-old Jimmy Connors at the 1991 US Open.
Despite Berrettini being 15 years his junior, the Italian carved out a meagre 11 points on the Federer serve in a brutal Centre Court demolition.
However, Federer told his bewildered opponent not to lose heart, recalling some desperate defeats that he suffered in his own early career.
"One day at the US Open, I played Max Mirnyi, I waited 10 hours to play, it was raining all day," said Federer of his 2002 visit to New York.
