2012 Tennis Olympic medals

OLYMPICS 2012

London, England

World No. 1 Roger Federer, a winner of 17 Grand Slam championship titles and a doubles gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, was asked on Saturday whether he had anything left to tick off his ‘bucket list’.

“People think I have to gobble up everything to make my resume as great-looking as possible. It’s not the case. I just play a full schedule from January to November, try to play as well as I can and enjoy myself really.”

Federer is competing at his fourth Olympic Games. Twelve years ago he made his debut at the Sydney Olympics.

“It’s true since 2000, when I was part of the Olympics back then, that [winning a singles medal] definitely lit the fire for me inside of myself. I did, actually, excellent, 12 years ago, finishing fourth, having chances for [a] medal, which was completely surprising.

“There no doubt about it, I would love to get a medal here this time in singles and in doubles again.” Federer will be bidding to win a second straight doubles gold medal with Stanislas Wawrinka, Switzerland’s flag-bearer.

“You can only be ready for certain things, ” said Federer. “They have the Mexican wave going basically after one set. [It] is unusual. That took me an entire tournament and four sets against Murray in the final to get the first Mexican wave. Not that I need it, but it was nice to see.

“That, to me, summed it up, that it’s a different atmosphere out there. You walk on court, there’s music. That’s not something that’s ever happened here at Wimbledon, I don’t think. [Players] don’t walk on together. One walks on before. It all adds to a different feel, which I’m happy it is the case actually.”

Watching from his private house in Wimbledon village, Federer welcomed the acting debut of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II during Friday night’s Opening Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium in east London.

“I thought it was very funny, ” he said. “It was completely unexpected. There were some very good moments during the Opening Ceremony. I really enjoyed it, to finally see it from start to finish – everything.

“I thought the sequence with The Queen and James Bond was excellent. I was actually happy that she did play the role herself and that it wasn’t a double. [It was a] double when she jumped [out of] the helicopter – I hope, at least (laughing).”