I don't panic, says five-set man Federer

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New York: September 1: A bad back prevented Roger Federer from getting ready for the US Open the way he prefers to prepare for a Grand Slam tournament. And it's showed so far.

Federer blamed a lack of proper practice after making an uncharacteristic 68 unforced errors and being forced to go five sets again before coming back to edge a cramping Mikhail Youzhny 1-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 on Thursday (August 31) in Arthur Ashe Stadium.

"I knew I was going to maybe struggle early on. Maybe I struggled more than I would have liked to. But I'm still in the draw, which gives me a chance. I still believe I'm going to pick up my game and become just more consistent because I'm not playing all that bad," Federer said.

"It's just that I'm going a bit up and down in waves throughout the match."

"He's also a real man who plays tennis," Youzhny noted. "He's not a god." Federer did not drop a single set en route to his record eighth Wimbledon championship in July.

"I'm pretty confident that I'm only going to get better from here. That's a good thing," Federer said.

"Because I've played a lot, I definitely found some rhythm now. I find my way. I don't panic."