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Federer’s confidence soaring before US Open

FILE - In this July 6, 2014, file photo, Roger Federer of Switzerland leaps in an attempt to play a return to Novak Djokovic of Serbia during their men's singles final match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London. Heading into the U.S. Open, Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray have won 36 of the past 38 Grand Slam titles, a stretch dating to the 2005 French Open. Nowadays, there seems to be a growing sense _ or hope, maybe _ among the best of the rest on the men's tennis tour that the quartet might be more vulnerable than ever. (AP Photo/Sang Tan, Pool, File) FILE - In this July 6, 2014, file photo, Roger Federer of Switzerland leaps in an attempt to play a return to Novak Djokovic of Serbia during their men's singles final match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London. Heading into the U.S. Open, Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray have won 36 of the past 38 Grand Slam titles, a stretch dating to the 2005 French Open. Nowadays, there seems to be a growing sense _ or hope, maybe _ among the best of the rest on the men's tennis tour that the quartet might be more vulnerable than ever. (AP Photo/Sang Tan, Pool, File)

By Associated Press August 23, 2014 4 min read

NEW YORK (AP) – The question made Roger Federer smile.

Nothing particularly amusing about asking how he adjusts from playing mostly night matches in the U.S. Open’s early rounds to the daytime starts at the end. But the assumption behind the query was cause for delight.

“It’s perfect that we’re talking semis and finals already,” Federer said. “It wasn’t like that last year.”

No, last year at this time the questions were about whether a remarkable career was sputtering to a halt. He had lost in the second round at Wimbledon and arrived at the U.S. Open wary of a balky back and seeded seventh.

“Last year I was trying to convince myself I did have an opportunity,” he conceded Saturday.