Federer says easing of pressure can help him win

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Roger Federer, shorn of the favorite's tag for the first time in four years, said being a relative underdog could inspire him to victory at the U.S. Open.

He goes into Monday's tournament looking for a fifth successive U.S. Open crown but without a grand-slam title in his bag for the first time since 2002.

Federer was beaten by Rafael Nadal in the finals of the French Open and Wimbledon and also watched the Spaniard take the gold medal at this month's Beijing Olympics.

The Swiss player's record run of 237 consecutive weeks at the top of the rankings was ended by Nadal last Monday and Federer said he could prosper with the pressure of being the favorite now off his shoulders.

"I would think it does (reduce the pressure)," he told reporters at Flushing Meadows on Saturday. "Five years almost, I was expected to win every tournament I entered so maybe now it changes a little bit.

"Rafa will now feel what I had to feel for a very long time. It will be interesting to see how he handles it but so far he's been great and he's played so well on all surfaces.

"Maybe it's nice to go into a grand slam for a change not having number one next to me."

By most people's standards, reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open and the final at the French Open and Wimbledon would represent a good year.

HIGH STANDARDS

But having won three grand-slam crowns in both 2006 and 2007, Federer set himself the highest of standards and he said a bout of glandular fever at the beginning of the year had a bigger effect on him than he first thought.

"Maybe I've been playing a little bit of catch up all the way through the season," he said. "It took away maybe a (grand) slam, took away 20 days of practice. That is a lot for us.

"I have to take it a little bit more step by step. I've been very consistent even this year in grand slams.

"Rafa has played great so he deserves the number one position. He's in a way the favorite now all of a sudden, even on hard courts, because he's played so, so well."

Federer said he hoped that having fallen from top spot the crowd would be on his side this year.

"I've had some legendary matches here, from me playing Andre (Agassi) in the final (in 2005), or Andy (Roddick)," said the Swiss. "The night sessions, it's electrifying and the crowd have always been very good to me.

"So especially this year I hope, maybe not playing my best tennis, maybe this year they will come out and support me and carry me through to another U.S. Open win."

(Writing by Simon Cambers in New Haven, editing by Tony Jimenez)