Federer through to second-round meeting with Benoit Paire at Flushing Meadows
Wednesday 29 August 2018 11:58, UK
Roger Federer was forced to clarify a joke about retiring after winning his US Open first-round match on Tuesday night.
Federer won 6-2 6-2 6-4 against 117th-ranked Yoshihito Nishioka at Arthur Ashe Stadium, stretching his record to 18-0 in the first match of US Opens.
"I'm happy I never stumbled at the first hurdle," Federer said during his on-court interview. "Almost time to retire but not yet."
The 37-year-old was questioned about that comment post-match and replied: "That was meaning, like, I never lost a first-round match here at the Open. I won all my 18.
"You don't want that (loss) to happen next year. I said: 'Maybe I could retire now, because I protect my 18 first-round wins here.'
"That's what I meant with it. It's a total joke, yes.
"So please don't read into it. Don't even write that word."
No 2 seed Federer has won five US Open titles but none since 2008.
"There's pressure. But, no, never gets old," he added. "I love coming to play here. It's been so many years now."
Federer takes on France's Benoit Paire next. He could face No 30 seed Nick Kyrgios in the third round and 13-time major champion Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals.
We have every major tennis event covered from all angles via our website skysports.com/tennis. On the move? Head to our app for mobile devices and iPad, or follow our Twitter account @SkySportsTennis to join in the conversation.
Tennis is back on Sky Sports screens with the Laver Cup in September while we will also have coverage of the ATP Finals in November with every match live on Sky Sports. But first, we will be across the final major of the year in New York as the US Open right through to the final with live blogs, reports, features and reaction.
