New York, Aug 26 (DPA) Roger Federer is ready to give a shout-out to his US Open fans in New York, whom he credits for helping him win the 2008 title.
As he bids to make it six trophies in a row starting Monday at Flushing Meadows, the world number one is counting on the punters in their thousands to show their support again after cheering him through in last year's final over Andy Murray.
'I was lucky enough that when I got to New York that the fans were, I think, really there trying to push me back to number one right away,' he recalled after losing the top ranking to Rafael Nadal in August 2008.
'All the cab drivers and everybody was stopping to wish me luck. It was something that I've never really experienced before in New York. I think that really helped turn it around for me.'
Federer cited repeated disappointments last summer coming into New York: Wimbledon, where he lost the 2008 finals to Nadal, and Beijing, where he suffered an early loss in singles.
'The fans, for me, really turned it around, and that's why this year I'm so excited going back there,' he said. 'I've had even better results, so I hope I can again show them what I can do on a tennis court.'
Federer was planning a few quiet days with the family in Manhattan, with the new father dreaming of wheeling his twins, Charlene and Myla, around in a pram through Central Park before returning to his Open preparations.