ROGER FEDERER
Historia ta ma swój początek 8.8.1981r. w Bazylei (godzina 8:40 rano), jednym z największych i najsłynniejszych miast Szwajcarii.
A koniec? Końca na razie nie widać i nie wiadomo czy kiedykolwiek nadejdzie.
Pewnego dnia Roger Federer rozstanie się z tenisem i będzie zapamiętany jako największy tenisista jaki żył na naszej Ziemi.
Ale póki co historia ta trwa osiągając status legendy, rozrastając się do wręcz mitycznych rozmiarów.
Roger to bezapelacyjnie mój ulubiony tenisista. Nie przesadzę jak napisze, że w wielu aspektach życiowych stanowi dla mnie wzór do naśladowania. Pomimo tylu lat, będących pasmem sukcesów, wciąż pozostaje tym samym zrównoważonym człowiekiem. To tym bardziej godne podkreślenia, że ten facet jest nieustannie poddawany niesamowitej presji mediów, sympatyków tenisa i w ogóle wszystkich obserwatorów dyscypliny.
Roger Federer urodził się 8 sierpnia 1981 roku w Bazylei. Jest młodszym dzieckiem Lynette i Roberta Federerów. Roger zaczął grać w wieku 8 lat. Jego kariera juniorska zaowocowała m.in. zwycięstwem w juniorskim Wimbledonie i turnieju Orange Bowl. Pierwszy zawodowy turniej Helwet wygrał w 2001 roku w Mediolanie. Przełomowy w karierze tego tenisisty okazał się rok 2003, kiedy to spełnił swoje największe marzenie z dzieciństwa, wygrywając Wimbledon. Kolejne lata to nieprzerwane pasmo sukcesów, które sprawiły, iż lata 2004-2007 (najlepszy czas w karierze tenisisty) wpisały się do tenisowych kronik jako okres największej dominacji jednego człowieka w historii męskiego tenisa. W tym czasie Federer wygrał 11 turniejów wielkoszlemowych na 16 startów w imprezach tej rangi. W 2005 roku przegrał zaledwie 4 spotkania, a w latach 2004-2006 ledwie 15 schodził z kortu pokonany. Federer był liderem męskiego cyklu przez 237 kolejnych tygodni, co jest absolutnym rekordem w statystyce nieprzerwanego prowadzenia w rankingu. Szwajcar jest pierwszym tenisistą, który 5 razy zhttp://www.mtenis.pun.pl/edit.php?id=14 rzędu wygrywał w 2 różnych turniejach wielkoszlemowych (Wimbledon 2003-2007, US Open 2004-2008).
Federer wygrał najwięcej turniejów wielkoszlemowych w historii - 16 (stan na koniec 2010 roku).
Federer jest uważany za jednego z najbardziej wszechstronnych graczy w historii tenisa. Jego urozmaicona technika, płynny styl gry oraz umiejętność wygrywania na każdej nawierzchni została najzwięźlej podsumowana przez Jimmiego Connorsa: "W erze specjalistów jesteś albo ekspertem od mączki albo od trawy albo od nawierzchni twardych... albo jesteś Rogerem Federerem". Federer opiera swoją grę na doskonałej pracy nóg, szybkości oraz silnych i precyzyjnych uderzeniach z głębi kortu, zwłaszcza z forehandu, który może zagrywać płasko, jak i również z dużą rotacją. John McEnroe uznał forehand Federera za "najlepsze uderzenie w historii dyscypliny", David Foster Wallace natomiast próbując opisać szybkość, niezwykłą siłę i naturalność tego uderzenia porównał go do "płynnego uderzenia biczem". Federer zazwyczaj atakuje piłkę wznoszącą, żeby skrócić czas reakcji przeciwnika i następnie wypycha go z kortu dzięki precyzyjnym zagraniom kątowym. Federer dysponuje również doskonałym, klasycznym, jednoręcznym backhandem, którym zagrywa piłkę topspinem bądź trudnym do odbioru slicem. Backhand uważany jest jednak za słabsze uderzenie w jego repertuarze. Federer zazwyczaj gra ofensywnie z tyłu kortu dążąc do jak najszybszego zakończenia wymiany, dysponuje jednak nieprzeciętnymi umiejętnościami wolejowymi i potrafi skutecznie grać przy siatce. Jego serwis nie jest zbyt silny (pierwsze zagranie oscyluje w granicach 190 – 204 km/h), ale Federer uczynił z niego groźną broń, gdyż brak szybkości nadrabia doskonałym plasowaniem.
http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Federer
Ze względu na osiągnięcia i przede wszystkim styl gry, Federer powszechnie uznawany jest za jednego z najwszechstronniejszych i najbardziej utalentowanych tenisistów w historii dyscypliny. Coraz większa rzesza sympatyków tenisa przyznaje mu miano zawodnika wszech czasów.
Profil na stronie ATP: http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Play … derer.aspx
Rekordy Rogera Federera: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ca … er_Federer
Tytuł Rogera - na tę chwilę ma ich:
singiel : 55
2001--Milan;
2002--Sydney, Hamburg TMS, Vienna;
2003--Marseille, Dubai, Munich, Halle, Wimbledon, Vienna, Tennis Masters Cup;
2004--Australian Open, Dubai, Indian Wells AMS, Hamburg AMS, Halle, Wimbledon, Gstaad, Canada AMS, US Open, Bangkok, Tennis Masters Cup;
2005--Doha, Rotterdam, Dubai, ATP Masters Series Indian Wells, ATP Masters Series Miami, ATP Masters Series Hamburg, Halle, Wimbledon, ATP Masters Series Cincinnati, US Open, Bangkok;
2006--Doha, Australian Open, ATP Masters Series Indian Wells, ATP Masters Series Miami, Halle, Wimbledon, ATP Masters Series Canada, US Open, Tokyo, ATP Masters Series Madrid, Basel, Tennis Masters Cup;
2007--Australian Open, Dubai, ATP Masters Series Hamburg, Wimbledon, ATP Masters Series Cincinnati, US Open, Basel, Tennis Masters Cup; 2008--Estoril, Halle
debel : 8
2001--Rotterdam, Gstaad;
2002--Rotterdam, Moscow;
2003--Vienna, Miami TMS;
2005--Halle;
2008--Beijing Olympics
Finały w singlu - 21, w deblu - 4
Brakuje niestety w tej kolekcji Olimpijskiego Złota w singlu oraz oczywiście Rolanda Garrosa, jednak po dłuższym przemyśleniu zgadzam się z opinią że jest to najwybitniejszy tenisista jaki się do tej pory urodził chociaż jego legenda na pewno otrzyma wezwanie do konfrontacji od Rafy Nadala.
Ja jako zupełny laik tenisowy, co zawsze powtarzam :], uważam Rogera za tego najwybitniejszego. Nie mam jak sie skonfrontować z dawniejszymi epokami w tenisie, bo ich albo nie mam prawa pamiętać, albo to te czasy były kiedy tenis jako coś głębszego był mi zupełnie obojętny.
Także panie Fed jesteś pan Mistrz :D
Fed-Expresso napisał:
Brakuje niestety w tej kolekcji Olimpijskiego Złota w singlu oraz oczywiście Rolanda Garrosa, jednak po dłuższym przemyśleniu zgadzam się z opinią że jest to najwybitniejszy tenisista jaki się do tej pory urodził chociaż jego legenda na pewno otrzyma wezwanie do konfrontacji od Rafy Nadala.
O ile brak złota w singlu na rzecz deblowego krążka można przeboleć to Puchar Muszkieterów jest chyba marzeniem nie tylko samego Rogera, ale i każdego Federasty.
Na Io złoto jest złotem, nie ma takiej różnicy jak Szlem w singlu, a Szlem w deblu.
Trudno jednoznacznie wyrokować czy to właśnie Roger jest tym najwybitniejszym w historii - z pewnością ma ku temu wszelkie atuty (o czym mówił Stefan Edberg). Natomiast wszelką racje można przyznać Patrickowi McEnroe ,który przez to, że wypowiada się ostrożnie mówi szczera prawdę: Federera już dziś , mimo wciąż trwającej kariery i relatywnie młodego wieku możemy zaliczyć do ścisłego grona najwszechstronniejszych i najbardziej utalentowanych tenisistów w historii.
Go Roger!
Roger jest także moim absolutnie ulubionym zawodnikiem, mogę właściwie całe dnie spędzać na oglądaniu jego najlepszych zagrań na youtube, od jakiegoś czasu czuję się nieswojo gdy nie mogę zobaczyć jakiegoś Jego występu w tv lub necie. Żadnym tenisowym znawcą nazwać się nie mogę, ale elegancja gry Szwajcara i jej harmonia robią na mnie ogromne wrażenie. Kiedy ostatnio przestał traktować tenis śmiertelnie poważnie i trochę się zapuścił w przygotowaniu fizycznym, co niestety odbiło się wyraźnie na wynikach, dodatkowo zyskał w moich oczach udowadniając, że nie jest maszyną zaprogramowaną na tenis a po prostu wyluzowanym człowiekiem, który ma w życiu także inne zajęcia oprócz trenowania i grania. :D
Dun, popełniłeś mały błąd przy prezentacji dorobku turniejowego Rogera, ponieważ przegranych finałów w deblu jest 4 a nie 8 :D
Juz poprawilem ;) Automatycznie reka poszla mi w kierunku cyfry "8" , analogicznie do zdobytych tytulow w grze pdowojnej.
Faktycznie, ostatnimi czasy widać wyrazną zmianę "maski" przez Rogera. O ile jeszcze rok temu, kiedy returnował bezbłędnie serwis Roddicka o szybkości 140 mph komentatorzy mówili "this is not human" - teraz to się zmieniło i po każdorazowej porażce czytamy teksty typu: "Roger stal się człowiekiem".
Taki czas musiał przyjść, teraz Helwet często meczy się sam ze sobą, czego dowodem są właśnie te głośne reakcje na zagrywane przez siebie piłki. Niemniej wierze ze Federer wróci do właściwej dyspozycji, bo Jego tenis jest po prostu galaktyczny ;) .
Ja właśnie cały czas drżę o Rogera, że już nie będzie się w stanie odbić od tego dołka który dopadł go w 2007 roku a pogłębił się na dobre w tym sezonie czego rezultatem jest utrata pozycji nr 1. Ostatnio cholernie przeraża mnie jego niepewność w grze, zagrania które dawniej zapierały dech w piersi i zmuszały do przecierania oczu ze zdumienia teraz lądują 3 cm niżej i efekty są jakie są. Rację ma Roddick który uważa, że zapewne jedno bardzo prestiżowe zwycięstwo tj. Masters lub WS przywróci Szwajcarowi dawną pewność i luz na korcie.
8.9.2008 - Roger Federer po raz 5 z rzędu wygrywa Us Open i odnotowuje tym samym swój 13 wielkoszlemowy tytuł. Szwajcarowi brakuje tym samym 1 zwycięstwa, by zrównać się z liderem klasyfikacji Wszechczasów, Petem Samprasem, który na przełomie XX i XXI wieku wygrał 14 największych imprez tenisowych świata.
Federer to jedyny tenisista w historii, któremu udało się wygrać 5 razy z rzędu Wimbledon i Us Open.
Brawo Roger!!
Myślę że Pete może już się trochę obawiać(zresztą sam otwarcie mówi o tym , że Roger go przegoni w tej klasyfikacji), ale i tak wyczyn Amerykanina jest absolutnie kosmiczny i to żaden dys-honor dla niego jeśli Szwajcarowi uda się pobić jego rekord.
Właśnie przeczytałem coś o "czasowym zawieszeniu kariery" :zdziwiony: Albo ktoś se jaja robi, albo... ktoś se jaja robi lol , tylko wtedy tym kimś jest RF. Licze jednak na wariant pierwszy ;]
Panie z "ciacha.net" maja w głowach głównie tipsy i solary, więc ich wiarygodność jest raczej mocno wątpliwa ; )
No to wyczytałem na pewnej dość idiotycznej stronie ; ) I też nie uznaje tego za wiarygodne informacje. Natomiast cytowana wypowiedz Rogera to jakiś dziwoląg, nie wie kiedy będzie gotowy, ma nadzieje...?? Oby to tylko gadka na użytek szwedzkich mediów była ; )
Robertinho napisał:
Właśnie przeczytałem coś o "czasowym zawieszeniu kariery" :zdziwiony: Albo ktoś se jaja robi, albo... ktoś se jaja robi lol , tylko wtedy tym kimś jest RF. Licze jednak na wariant pierwszy ;]
Panie z "ciacha.net" maja w głowach głównie tipsy i solary, więc ich wiarygodność jest raczej mocno wątpliwa ; )
Tak dla formalności (żeby wszystko tu było :D):
http://www.ciacha.net/ciacha/1,81833,57 … riere.html
Tak, tak - link do newsa dnia :D
http://www.rogerfederer.com/en/rogers/n … NewsID=815
OFF COURT - FAN CALENDAR 2009 AVAILABLE NOW!
The wait is over: Roger's official fan calendar 2009 is available in the webshop as from now!
The calendar features the most beautiful and exciting moments of the past year as well as exclusive impressions of Roger’s life off court. Thirteen high-quality images - some of published for the first time - bring back memories of the past season, give you a glimpse of Roger’s childhood and show private moments. A gem for true fans and the ideal present for anyone with a passion for tennis.
Orders can be placed in the official online shop, just follow the link below.
Zainteresowanych odsyłam pod adres:
http://www.mtenis.pun.pl/viewtopic.php?id=119
Pokój z Pucharami Rogera by Aś
#1) 2001 Milan
1st Federer def. Schuettler 6-3, 6-4
2nd Federer def. Saulnier 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
QF Federer def. Ivanisevic 6-4, 6-4
SF Federer def. Kafelnikov 6-2, 6-7(4), 6-3
F Federer def. Boutter 6-4, 6-7(7), 6-4
#2) 2002 Sydney
1st Federer def. Robredo 7-6(5), 7-6(5)
2nd Federer def. Malisse 6-2, 6-4
QF Federer def. Rios 6-7(2), 7-6(4), 6-3
SF Federer def. Roddick 7-6(3), 6-4
F Federer def. Chela 6-3, 6-3
#3) 2002 TMS Hamburg
1st Federer def. Lapentti 6-1, 6-4
2nd Federer def. Ulihrach 6-3, 6-0
3rd Federer def. Voinea 7-5, 6-4
QF Federer def. Kuerten 6-0, 1-6, 6-2
SF Federer def. Mirnyi 6-4, 6-4
F Federer def. Safin 6-1, 6-3, 6-4
#4) 2002 Vienna
1st Federer def. Krajan 7-5, 6-1
2nd Federer def. Robredo 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-4
QF Federer def. Ulihrach 6-3, 6-3
SF Federer def. Moya 6-2, 6-3
F Federer def. Novak 6-4, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4
#5) 2003 Marseille
1st Federer def. Ljubicic 7-6(3), Ret.
2nd Federer def. Nieminen 6-3, 6-3
QF Federer def. Sluiter 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
SF Federer def. Kucera 7-6(5), 6-3
F Federer def. Bjorkman 6-2, 7-6(6)
#6) 2003 Dubai
1st Federer def. Labadze 6-3, 6-3
2nd Federer def. Abel 6-4, 7-5
QF Federer def. Arazi 7-5, 6-3
SF Federer def. Ljubicic 6-3, 6-2
F Federer def. Novak 6-1, 7-6(2)
#7) 2003 Munich
1st Federer def. Krajan 6-4, 6-3
2nd Federer def. Sluiter 6-4, 6-3
QF Federer def. Youzhny 6-2, 6-3
SF Federer def. Koubek 6-2, 6-1
F Federer def. Nieminen 6-1, 6-4
#8 ) 2003 Halle
1st Federer def. Sargsian 7-5, 6-1
2nd Federer def. Vicente 4-6, 6-2, 6-1
QF Federer def. El Aynaoui 7-5, 7-6(3)
SF Federer def. Youzhny 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2
F Federer def. Kiefer 6-1, 6-3
Pierwszy tytuł Wielkoszlemowy :)
#9) 2003 Wimbledon
1st Federer def. Lee 6-3, 6-3, 7-6(2)
2nd Federer def. Koubek 7-5, 6-1, 6-1
3rd Federer def. Fish 6-3, 6-1, 4-6, 6-1
4th Federer def. Lopez 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-4
QF Federer def. Schalken 6-3, 6-4, 6-4
SF Federer def. Roddick 7-6(6), 6-3, 6-3
F Federer def. Philippoussis 7-6(5), 6-2, 7-6(3)
#10) 2003 Vienna
1st Federer def. Ferrer 6-2, 6-2
2nd Federer def. Beck 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
QF Federer def. Nieminen 6-3, 6-3
SF Federer def. Mirnyi 6-2, 7-6(2)
F Federer def. Moya 6-3, 6-3, 6-3
#11) 2003 TMC Houston
RR Federer def. Agassi 6-7(3), 6-3, 7-6(7)
RR Federer def. Nalbandian 6-3, 6-0
RR Federer def. Ferrero 6-3, 6-1
SF Federer def. Roddick 7-6(2), 6-2
F Federer def. Agassi 6-3, 6-0, 6-4
#12) 2004 Australian Open
1st Federer def. Bogomolov Jr. 6-3, 6-4, 6-0
2nd Federer def. Morrison 6-2, 6-3, 6-4
3rd Federer def. Reid 6-3, 6-0, 6-1
4th Federer def. Hewitt 4-6, 6-3, 6-0, 6-4
QF Federer def. Nalbandian 7-5, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3
SF Federer def. Ferrero 6-4, 6-1, 6-4
F Federer def. Safin 7-6(3), 6-4, 6-2
#13) 2004 Dubai
1st Federer def. Safin 7-6(2), 7-6(4)
2nd Federer def. Robredo 6-3, 6-4
QF Federer def. Pavel 6-3, 6-3
SF Federer def. Nieminen 7-6(7), 6-2
F Federer def. Lopez 4-6, 6-1, 6-2
#14) 2004 TMS Indian Wells
1st Bye
2nd Federer def. Pavel 6-1, 6-2
3rd Federer def. Gonzalez 6-3, 6-2
4th Federer def. Fish 6-4, 6-1
QF Federer def. Chela 6-2, 6-1
SF Federer def. Agassi 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
F Federer def. Henman 6-3, 6-3
#15) TMS Hamburg
1st Federer def. Gaudio 6-1, 5-7, 6-4
2nd Federer def. Lapentti 6-3, 6-3
3rd Federer def. Gonzalez 7-5, 6-1
QF Federer def. Moya 6-4, 6-3
SF Federer def. Hewitt 6-0, 6-4
F Federer def. Coria 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3
#16) 2004 Halle
1st Federer def. T. Johansson 6-3, 6-2
2nd Federer def. Youzhny 6-2, 6-1
QF Federer def. Clement 6-3, 7-5
SF Federer def. Novak 6-3, 6-4
F Federer def. Fish 6-0, 6-3
#17) 2004 Wimbledon
1st Federer def. Bogdanovic 6-3, 6-3, 6-0
2nd Federer def. Falla 6-1, 6-2, 6-0
3rd Federer def. T. Johansson 6-1, 6-4, 6-3
4th Federer def. Karlovic 6-3, 7-6(3), 7-6(5)
QF Federer def. Hewitt 6-1, 6-7(1), 6-0, 6-4
SF Federer def. Grosjean 6-2, 6-3, 7-6(6)
F Federer def. Roddick 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(3), 6-4
#18 ) 2004 Gstaad
1st Federer def. Behrend 6-1, 6-1
2nd Federer def. Karlovic 6-7(5), 6-3, 7-6(4)
QF Federer def. Stepanek 6-1, 5-7, 6-4
SF Federer def. Starace 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
F Federer def. Andreev 6-2, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3
#19) 2004 TMS Toronto
1st Federer def. Arazi 6-3, 7-5
2nd Federer def. Soderling 7-5, 6-1
3rd Federer def. Mirnyi 7-6(3), 7-6(4)
QF Federer def. Santoro 7-5, 6-4
SF Federer def. T. Johansson 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
F Federer def. Roddick 7-5, 6-3
#20) 2004 US Open
1st Federer def. Costa 7-5, 6-2, 6-4
2nd Federer def. Baghdatis 6-2, 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-1
3rd Federer def. Santoro 6-0, 6-4, 7-6(7)
4th Federer def. Pavel Walkover
QF Federer def. Agassi 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3
SF Federer def. Henman 6-3, 6-4, 6-4
F Federer def. Hewitt 6-0, 7-6(3), 6-0
#21) 2004 Bangkok
1st Federer def. Thomann 6-4, 7-6(4)
2nd Federer def. Heuberger 6-1, 6-3
QF Federer def. Soderling 7-6(3), 6-4
SF Federer def. Srichaphan 7-5, 2-6, 6-3
F Federer def. Roddick 6-4, 6-0
#22) 2004 TMC Houston
RR Federer def. Gaudio 6-1, 7-6(4)
RR Federer def. Hewitt 6-3, 6-4
RR Federer def. Moya 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
SF Federer def. Safin 6-3, 7-6(18)
F Federer def. Hewitt 6-3, 6-2
#23) 2005 Doha
1st Federer def. Ferrer 6-1, 6-1
2nd Federer def. Rusedski 6-3, 6-4
QF Federer def. Lopez 6-1, 6-2
SF Federer def. Davydenko 6-3, 6-4
F Federer def. Ljubicic 6-3, 6-1
#24) 2005 Rotterdam
1st Federer def. Ulihrach 6-3, 6-4
2nd Federer def. Wawrinka 6-1, 6-4
QF Federer def. Davydenko 7-5, 7-5
SF Federer def. Ancic 7-5, 6-3
F Federer def. Ljubicic 5-7, 7-5, 7-6(5)
#25) 2005 Dubaj
1st Federer def. Minar 6-7(5), 6-3, 7-6(5)
2nd Federer def. Ferrero 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(6)
QF Federer def. Youzhny 6-3, 7-5
SF Federer def. Agassi 6-3, 6-1
F Federer def. Ljubicic 6-1, 6-7(6), 6-3
#26) 2005 TMS Indian Wells
1st Federer def. Bye
2nd Federer def. Fish 6-3, 6-3
3rd Federer def. Muller 6-3, 6-2
4th Federer def. Ljubicic 7-6(3), 7-6(4)
QF Federer def. Kiefer 6-4, 6-1
SF Federer def. Canas 6-3, 6-1
F Federer def. Hewitt 6-2, 6-4, 6-4
#27) 2005 TMS Miami
1st Federer def. Bye
2nd Federer def. O. Rochus 6-3, 6-1
3rd Federer def. Zabaleta 6-2, 5-7, 6-3
4th Federer def. Ancic 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
QF Federer def. Henman 6-4, 6-2
SF Federer def. Agassi 6-4, 6-3
F Federer def. Nadal 2-6, 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-1
#28 ) 2005 TMS Hamburg
1st Federer def. Verdasco 6-4, 6-3
2nd Federer def. Berdych 6-2, 6-1
3rd Federer def. Robredo 6-2, 6-3
QF Federer def. Coria 6-4, 7-6(3)
SF Federer def. Davydenko 6-3, 6-4
F Federer def. Gasquet 6-3, 7-5, 7-6(4)
#29) 2005 Halle
1st Federer def. Söderling 6-7(5), 7-6(6), 6-4
2nd Federer def. Mayer 6-2, 6-4
QF Federer def. Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-4
SF Federer def. Haas 6-4, 7-6(9)
F Federer def. Safin 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-4
#30) 2005 Wimbledon
1st Federer def. Mathieu 6-4, 6-2, 6-4
2nd Federer def. Minar 6-4, 6-4, 6-1
3rd Federer def. Kiefer 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-1, 7-5
4th Federer def. Ferrero 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(6)
QF Federer def. Gonzalez 7-5, 6-2, 7-6(2)
SF Federer def. Hewitt 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4)
F Federer def. Roddick 6-2, 7-6(2), 6-4
#31) 2005 TMS Cincinnati
1st Federer def. Blake 7-6(3), 7-5
2nd Federer def. Kiefer 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
3rd Federer def. O. Rochus 6-3, 6-4
QF Federer def. Acasuso 6-4, 6-3
SF Federer def. Ginepri 4-6, 7-5, 6-4
F Federer def. Roddick 6-3, 7-5
#32) 2005 US Open
1st Federer def. Minar 6-1, 6-1, 6-1
2nd Federer def. Santoro 7-5, 7-5, 7-6(2)
3rd Federer def. O. Rochus 6-3, 7-6(6), 6-2
4th Federer def. Kiefer 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-4
QF Federer def. Nalbandian 6-2, 6-4, 6-1
SF Federer def. Hewitt 6-3, 7-6(0), 4-6, 6-3
F Federer def. Agassi 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(1), 6-1
#33) 2005 Bangkok
1st Federer def. Daniel 7-6(3), 6-4
2nd Federer def. Gremelmayr 6-3, 6-2
QF Federer def. Muller 6-4, 6-3
SF Federer def. Nieminen 6-3, 6-4
F Federer def. Murray 6-3, 7-5
#34) 2006 Doha
1st Federer def. Minar 6-1, 6-3
2nd Federer def. Santoro 7-6(2), 7-6(5)
QF Federer def. Baghdatis 6-4, 6-3
SF Federer def. Haas 6-3, 6-3
F Federer def. Monfils 6-3, 7-6(5)
#35) 2006 Australian Open
1st Federer def. Istomin 6-2, 6-3, 6-2
2nd Federer def. Mayer 6-1, 6-4, 6-0
3rd Federer def. Mirnyi 6-3, 6-4, 6-3
4th Federer def. Haas 6-4, 6-0, 3-6, 4-6, 6-2
QF Federer def. Davydenko 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(7), 7-6(5)
SF Federer def. Kiefer 3-7, 7-5, 6-0, 6-2
F Federer def. Baghdatis 5-7, 7-5, 6-0, 6-2
#36) 2006 TMS Indian Wells
1st Federer def. Bye
2nd Federer def. Massu 6-3, 7-6(4)
3rd Federer def. O. Rochus 3-6, 6-2, 7-5
4th Federer def. Gasquet 6-3, 6-4
QF Federer def. Ljubicic 6-2, 6-3
SF Federer def. Srichaphan 6-2, 6-3
F Federer def. Blake 7-5, 6-3, 6-0
#37) 2006 TMS Miami
1st Federer def. Bye
2nd Federer def. Clement 6-2, 6-7(4), 6-0
3rd Federer def. Haas 6-1, 6-3
4th Federer def. Tursunov 6-3, 6-3
QF Federer def. Blake 7-6(2), 6-4
SF Federer def. Ferrer 6-1, 6-4
F Federer def. Ljubicic 7-6(5), 7-6(4), 7-6(6)
#38 ) 2006 Halle
1st Federer def. Bopanna 7-6(4), 6-2
2nd Federer def. Gasquet 7-6(7), 6-7(7), 6-4
QF Federer def. O. Rochus 6-7(2), 7-6(9), 7-6(5)
SF Federer def. Haas 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-3
F Federer def. Berdych 6-0, 6-7(4), 6-2
#39) 2006 Wimbledon
1st Federer def. Gasquet 6-3, 6-2, 6-2
2nd Federer def. Henman 6-4, 6-0, 6-2
3rd Federer def. Mahut 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-4
4th Federer def. Berdych 6-3, 6-3, 6-4
QF Federer def. Ancic 6-4, 6-4, 6-4
SF Federer def. Bjorkman 6-2, 6-0, 6-2
F Federer def. Nadal 6-0, 7-6(5), 6-7(2), 6-3
#40) 2006 TMS Toronto
1st Federer def. Mathieu 6-3, 6-4
2nd Federer def. Grosjean 6-3, 6-3
3rd Federer def. Tursunov 6-3, 5-7, 6-0
QF Federer def. Malisse 7-6(4), 6-7(5), 6-3
SF Federer def. Gonzalez 6-1, 5-7, 6-3
F Federer def. Gasquet 2-6, 6-3, 6-2
#41) 2006 US Open
1st Federer def. Wang 6-4, 6-1, 6-0
2nd Federer def. Henman 6-3, 6-4, 7-5
3rd Federer def. Spadea 6-3, 6-3, 6-0
4th Federer def. Gicquel 6-3, 7-6(2), 6-3
QF Federer def. Blake 7-6(7), 6-0, 6-7(9), 6-4
SF Federer def. Davydenko 6-1, 7-5, 6-4
F Federer def. Roddick 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1
#42) 2006 Tokyo
1st Federer def. Troicki 7-6(2), 7-6(3)
2nd Federer def. Moodie 6-2, 6-1
QF Federer def. Suzuki 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(3)
SF Federer def. Becker 6-3, 6-4
F Federer def. Henman 6-3, 6-3
#43) 2006 TMS Madrid
1st Federer def. Bye
2nd Federer def. Massu 6-3, 6-2
3rd Federer def. Soderling 7-6(5), 7-6(8)
QF Federer def. Ginepri 6-3, 7-6(4)
SF Federer def. Nalbandian 6-4, 6-0
F Federer def. Gonzalez 7-5, 6-1, 6-0
#44) 2006 Basel
1st Federer def. Zib 6-1, 6-2
2nd Federer def. Garcia-Lopez 6-2, 6-0
QF Federer def. Ferrer 6-3, 7-6(14)
SF Federer def. Srichaphan 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(5)
F Federer def. Gonzalez 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(3)
#45) 2006 TMC Shanghai
RR Federer def. Nalbandian 3-6, 6-1, 6-1
RR Federer def. Roddick 4-6, 7-6(8), 6-4
RR Federer def. Ljubicic 7-6(2), 6-4
SF Federer def. Nadal 6-4, 7-5
F Federer def. Blake 6-0, 6-3, 6-4
#46) 2007 Australian Open
1st Federer def. Phau 7-5, 6-0, 6-4
2nd Federer def. Bjorkman 6-2, 6-3, 6-2
3rd Federer def. Youzhny 6-3, 6-3, 7-6(5)
4th Federer def. Djokovic 6-2, 7-5, 6-3
QF Federer def. Robredo 6-3, 7-6(2), 7-5
SF Federer def. Roddick 6-4, 6-0, 6-2
F Federer def. Gonzalez 7-6(2), 6-4, 6-4
#47) 2007 Dubai
1st Federer def. Pless 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-3
2nd Federer def. Bracciali 7-5, 6-3
QF Federer def. Djokovic 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3
SF Federer def. Haas 6-4, 7-5
F Federer def. Youzhny 6-4, 6-3
#48 ) 2007 TMS Hamburg
1st Federer def. Bye
2nd Federer def. Monaco 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
3rd Federer def. Ferrero 6-2, 6-3
QF Federer def. Ferrer 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
SF Federer def. Moya 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
F Federer def. Nadal 2-6, 6-2, 6-0
#49) 2007 Wimbledon
1st Federer def. Gabashvili 6:3 6:2 6:4
2nd Federer def. Del Potro 6:2 7:5 6:1
3rd Federer def. Safin 6:1 6:4 7:6(4)
4th Federer def. Haas w/o
OF Federer def. Ferrero 7:6(2) 3:6 6:1 6:3
SF Federer def. Gasquet 7:5 6:3 6:4
F Federer def. Nadal 7:6(7) 4:6 7:6(3) 2:6 6:2
#50) 2007 TMS Cincinnati
1st Federer def. Bye
2nd Federer def. Benneteau 6-3, 6-3
3rd Federer def. Baghdatis 7-6(5), 7-5
QF Federer def. Almagro 6-3, 3-6, 6-2
SF Federer def. Hewitt 6-3, 6-7(7), 7-6(1)
F Federer def. Blake 6-1, 6-4
#51) 2007 US Open
1st Federer def. Jenkins 6-3, 6-2, 6-4
2nd Federer def. Capdeville 6-1, 6-4, 6-4
3rd Federer def. Isner 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-4, 6-2
4th Federer def. Lopez 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-4
QF Federer def. Roddick 7-6(5), 7-6(4), 6-2
SF Federer def. Davydenko 7-5, 6-1, 7-5
F Federer def. Djokovic 7-6(4), 7-6(2), 6-4
#52) 2007 Basel
1st Federer def. Berrer 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
2nd Federer def. Del Potro 6-1, 6-4
QF Federer def. Kiefer 6-3, 6-2
SF Federer def. Karlovic 7-6(6), 7-6(5)
F Federer def. Nieminen 6-3, 6-4
#53) 2007 TMC Shanghai
RR Gonzalez def. Federer 3-6, 7-6(1), 7-5
RR Federer def. Davydenko 6-4, 6-3
RR Federer def. Roddick 6-4, 6-2
SF Federer def. Nadal 6-4, 6-1
F Federer def. Ferrer 6-2, 6-3, 6-2
#54) 2008 Estoril
1st Federer def. O. Rochus 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
2nd Federer def. Hanescu 6-3, 6-2
QF Federer def. Gil 6-4, 6-1
SF Federer def. Gremelmayr 2-6, 7-5, 6-1
F Federer def. Davydenko 7-6(5), 1-2 Ret.
#55) 2008 Halle
1st Federer def. Berrer 6-4, 6-2
2nd Federer def. Vacek 7-5, 6-3
QF Federer def. Baghdatis 6-4, 6-4
SF Federer def. Kiefer 6-1, 6-4
F Federer def. Kohlshreiber 6-3, 6-4
#56) 2008 US Open
1st Federer def. M. Gonzalez 6-3, 6-0, 6-3
2nd Federer def. Alves 6-3, 7-5, 6-4
3rd Federer def. Stepanek 6-3, 6-3, 6-2
4th Federer def. Andreev 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
QF Federer def. Muller 7-6(5), 6-4, 7-6(5)
SF Federer def. Djokovic 6-3, 5-7, 7-5, 6-2
F Federer def. Murray 6-2, 7-5, 6-2
#57) 2008 Basel
1st Federer def. Reynolds 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3
2nd Federer def. Nieminen 7-6(6), 7-6(1)
QF Federer def. Bolelli 6-2, 6-3
SF Federer def. Lopez 6-3, 6-2
F Federer def. Nalbandian 6-3, 6-4
Warto dodać, że tym samym Roger zrównał się w klasyfikacji wszech czasów z Illie Nastase, jeżeli chodzi o liczbę wygranych turniejów w karierze. Szwajcar jest 8 w tego typu zestawieniu.
1. Jimmy Connors - 109
2. Ivan Lendl - 94
3. John McEnroe - 77
4. Pete Sampras - 64
5. Guillermo Vilas - 62
5. Björn Borg - 62
7. Andre Agassi - 60
8. Ilie Năstase - 57
8. Roger Federer - 57
10. Boris Becker - 49
Oczywiście szczere gratulacje za dzisiejszy sukces :)
31.10.2008
- Od kilku dni bolą mnie plecy. Po przebudzeniu rano okazało się, że czwartkowa terapia nie przyniosła skutków. W obawie przed pogorszeniem stanu zdrowia musiałem wycofać się z zawodów. Poza tym nie zagrałbym na maksimum możliwości - napisał Federer na stronie internetowej.
rp.pl
W ćwierćfinale Mastersa w paryskiej hali Bercy Roger po raz pierwszy w karierze poddał mecz mecz singlowy w rozgrywkach ATP a nastąpiło to dopiero w 193 takiej imprezie, w której uczestniczył. Szkoda pięknej statystyki, ale zdrowie najważniejsze i oby jak najwięcej go było w Szanghaju.
Powodzenia Roger :)
Modle się tylko by był gotowy na Szanghaj bo reszta stawki również się sypie toteż szanse na kolejną obronę tytułu wydają się bardzo duże.
Jejku, aż mi się wierzyć nie chciało. :(
No ale najwyraźniej to jest poważne, skoro się wycofał.
Zdrowiej Roger, i powodzenia w Szanghaju ;)
aś napisał:
Jejku, aż mi się wierzyć nie chciało. :(
No ale najwyraźniej to jest poważne, skoro się wycofał.
Zdrowiej Roger, i powodzenia w Szanghaju ;)
Coś tam być musiało, jednak ja wierzę, że to po prostu powrót do starej i jedynej słusznej strategii. Nigdzie nie pchać się na "chama", grać tylko wtedy, kiedy jest się w pełni sprawnym i w największych imprezach - jeżeli tam będzie wygrywał to i ranking będzie miał się jak najlepiej :)
Nie było sensu ryzykować, decyzja słuszna. Teraz tylko trzeba czekać na opinię medyków.
Dun, a miał być historyczny wynik, nie ? ;)
Poważne to to na pewno nie jest, skoro do tej pory grał bardzo dobrze. Teraz dużo masażu i masażystek (xD), i dobry start w Szanghaju zapewniony.
A tam panie Rogier wypada obronić tytuł.
Ano właśnie Aś - Roger miał szansę zostać pierwszym graczem w historii, który zaliczy finały każdej imprezy z serii mistrzowskiej, nie wyszło. Można powiedzieć, że uda się za rok, ale wtedy może już nie być tym pierwszym tudzież jedynym. Wcześniej, bo w Cincy szansę będzie miał Rafa, który tylko tam nie grał w meczu bezpośrednio decydującym o końcowym sukcesie.
Ja czekam na 58 tytuł, nie wiem jak długo, ale jestem bardzo cierpliwy :)
C'mon Roger !!
http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/news_digest … 6000&ty=nd
Federer buys holiday home in ski resort
Swiss tennis star Roger Federer has bought a holiday home in the eastern canton of Graubünden, a local official confirmed on Thursday.
"It's true. Federer bought a house with grounds in Valbella," said Urs Häusermann, a local politician.
Häusermann was pleased with the 27-year-old athlete's choice though, saying it spoke highly of the region as a holiday destination.
The house is located near the village of Lenzerheide, south of Chur. The tennis star also has a condominium in Dubai and in March moved to the town of Wollerau, where taxes are low.
No trochę drobnych poszło :D
OFF COURT - WITH THE BEST IN ABU DHABI
Roger will start the 2009 season by bringing in the New Year in Abu Dhabi where he plays the new Capitala World Tennis Championship.
The event, which is being held at the Abu Dhabi International Tennis Complex at Zayed Sports City from Jan 1-3, will have a “winner takes all” prize of $250,000. Roger will be joined by Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Nikolay Davydenko, Andy Roddick and James Blake.
Roger, who will clearly aim at reclaiming his position as the world’s leading player next year, said: “I am really looking forward to playing in Abu Dhabi. The player field is very strong and the location is beautiful. It is always exciting to play in new facilities and I am sure Abu Dhabi will be up there with the best of them. We all hope that this event will return year after year and set the standard for tennis lovers in the region.”
(rogerfederer.com)
Nie wiem, po kiego mu to, no ale skoro i Rafa ma tam być, to chyba zwyczajnie wypadało się pojawic.
Roger Federer scraped past James Blake in a one-set exhibition game in Kuala Lumpur, showing no signs of the back strain or stomach bug that hampered him at last week's season-ending Masters Cup.
More StoriesTop players back Federer to recover
McEnroe: Men outclass women
Blake broke first for a 3-1 lead with some powerful groundstrokes and pinpoint serving, before Federer clawed a game back for 3-2 and served out to level the match at 3-3.
It went to a tiebreak where Federer showed his mettle to emerge a 7-6 winner in a hard-fought match-up interspersed with some lighthearted moments.
"There was some fantastic tennis tonight. I was very confident coming into the match today and I played pretty well so I'm happy," said Federer.
"James is a great friend of mine on tour and I love playing him."
The pair play another exhibition in Macau on Thursday before Federer takes a well-earned break before the 2009 season which he gets underway in the Middle East ahead of the Australian Open in Melbourne in January.
"I couldn't quite get him today but he proved why he is a true champion," said Blake, who beat Federer at the Beijing Olympics.
"There were some exciting points tonight but in the end he got the better of me."
On the same bill, John McEnroe won the battle of the old timers when he beat former arch-rival Bjorn Borg 7-6.
For Borg and McEnroe, both sporting grey hair, it was a walk down memory lane, revisiting the highs and lows of their bitter rivalry, typified by the 1980 Wimbledon final won by Borg in five gruelling sets.
McEnroe played to the crowd, making fun of himself, only occasionally glaring at the linesman or umpire and throwing his racquet just twice.
Despite being 52, Borg showed he had not lost his touch, still exhibiting some sublime passing shots that left 49-year-old McEnroe grudgingly nodding his approval.
"He was my great rival and I knew it would be close," said McEnroe.
Borg added: "Playing John is always special for me. It was a great rivalry and playing him again brings back some great memories."
Federer then teamed up with Borg for the first time ever to play a set against McEnroe and Blake in an event that featured players who have won 31 Grand Slam titles between them.
AFP
Federer wygrał dziś seta z Blakiem 7-6 w 1 części pokazówki.
A tu Jego wypowiedź na temat rankingu:
Federer nie dba o miejsce w rankingach ATP
Roger Federer powiedział we wtorek, że nie przejmuje się tym, iż Serb Novak Djokovic, zwycięzca Masters Cup w Szanghaju, zbliżył się do niego w rankingach ATP.
W rankingu "Champions Race": Federer (2 m - 1061 pkt, Djokovic (3 m - 1059 pkt); w rankingu "Entry system" Szwajcar zajmuje 2 m (5305 pkt), a Serb 3 m (5295 pkt). Pierwsze miejsca w obu rankingach zajmuje, z dużą przewagą punktów, Hiszpan Rafael Nadal.
- Zamierzam spać spokojnie przez miesiąc. A tak uczciwie mówiąc, dla mnie drugie, trzecie, czwarte, piąte, czy 25 miejsce w rankingu naprawdę nie ma wielkiego znaczenia. Podobnie jak bycie numerem jeden lub pierwszym rozstawionym - powiedział we wtorek Szwajcar podczas konferencji prasowej w Kuala Lumpur.
Federer przybył do stolicy Malezji, by grać w pokazowym turnieju, z udziałem numeru 10 w rankingach ATP, Jamesa Blake'a z USA oraz byłych gwiazd światowego tenisa Amerykanina Johna McEnroe i Szweda Bjoerna Borga.
Federer, który wygrał w swej karierze 13 turniejów wielkoszlemowych powiedział dziennikarzom, że w wieku 27 lat jest nadal przekonany, iż przed nim jeszcze wiele lat gry na kortach tenisowych.
Dobra Roger wracaj z tej Malezji, wypocznij w rodzinnym gronie i pokaż w 2009 roku jak się gra w tenisa. Głęboko wierzę że zdrowy Fed może powtórzyć fenomenalny sezon jak chociażby 2006 jeszcze co najmniej raz, ale priorytet to odbicie Wimbledonu. ROGER DO BOJU!
Fed-Expresso napisał:
priorytet to odbicie Wimbledonu. ROGER DO BOJU!
http://www.thetimes.co.za/Sport/Article.aspx?id=886708
Sam Roger powiedział, że Jego clee na rok 2009 rok to odzyskanie pozycji nr1 i pobicie rekordu Pete'a Samprasa, ale absolutnym priorytetem jest 6 tytuł w Wimbledonie.
C'mon!
OFF COURT - VENETIAN MACAO TENNIS SHOWDOWN
Roger has now definitely finished the 2008 season with a last exhibition in Macao. He showed another entertaining match, beating James Blake 6-4, 6-4 in the Venetian Macao Tennis Showdown. Roger said he was fit again but will nevertheless take an extended break before the new season begins in January.
"I've been feeling better and better even though I felt sick again at the start of the week. I have felt like my body has been recovering since my last match against Murray," said our World No. 2. "I was feeling well, which is a positive sign. It think it was the first time I really didn't think about my back and that is a good thing."
Roger broke Blake in the fifth game of the second set and retained the lead in sealing the win against Blake, who had knocked Roger out of the Olympic Games in Beijing. "I think people remember that I lost here last year (to Pete Sampras) so they figured they needed to support me to come through against James," Roger said of the crowd support he received in Macao.
McEnroe and Blake beat Roger and Björn Borg, 10-7 in the doubles finale.
(rogerfederer.com)
Takie pytanie mam :D
Federer jest znany z efektownego stylu gry, za najlepszych czasów pykał (pyka?) po 10 perełek na seta.
A które z Jego zagrań określili byście mianem tego najpiękniejszego ? Oczywiście chodzi mi tu o subiektywne opinie. W natłoku tylu pięknych piłek łatwo się pogubić, tudzież stwierdzić, że nie ma tego jednego wyjątkowego zagrania.
Ja bym też tak stwierdził, gdyby nie moje automatyczne skojarzenie. Ilekroć mówi się o fenomenie i mistrzostwie technicznym Federera mi przed oczyma staje piłka z meczu 1/2 AO 2007 z Roddickiem.
Mam tu na mysli moment przy stanie 2-0 dla Rogera w 2 secie i początek 3 gema. Roddick zagrywa wyrzucający serwis na fh Rogera, Fed nieczysto odgrywa, piłka spada w okolice siatki, rozpędzony Roddick wbija gwoździa. Wydaje się, że jest po punkcie ale Roger odczytuje bezbłędnie zamiar Amerykanina i odbija bh stroną rakiety tę potężną piłkę, a ta trafia w odkryty kort.
Gdyby stał tam inny zawodnik, pewnie Andy miałby punkt, ale nie w tym przypadku, Do tej pory nie mogę sobie wytłumaczyć jak można mieć kontrolę nad takim zagraniem, reagować w taki sposób w ułamkach sekundy, bo tempo fh Roddicka było zabójcze.
Znowu zadziałały nadzwyczajne umiejętności Szwajcara i Jego żelazna ręka.
Lech Sidor powiedział wtedy, że to jest jedna z tych piłek, które będziemy pamiętać bardzo długo - i mi to w pamięci chyba dozgonnie się zapisało, geniusz.
A jak to się ma u reszty Federastów (tudzież nie-Federastów :P) ?
Po przeczytaniu Twojego posta aż włączyłam sobie to jeszcze raz, żeby sobie przypomnieć ; )
Pan Sidor miał chyba rację.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRJNeFeoBTU - jakoś 30 sekunda, dla przypomnienie
Dla mnie zawsze jego najlepszym i najpiękniejszym zagraniem będzie bh po lini, moze nie jestem oryginalna ale po prostu z tym uderzeniem głównie kojarzy mi sie Roger. Zawsze ten jego bh, to jego mijanie podziwiałam.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNCxExzHg2g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhaxKLMDW7s
DUN I LOVE napisał:
tudzież stwierdzić, że nie ma tego jednego wyjątkowego zagrania.
Stwierdzam że w tym momencie nie jestem w stanie wyróżnić takiego jednego jedynego zagrania, jak wiadomo pełno takowych jest. Pomyślę, i jak coś takiego znajdę to sie podzielę oczywiscie.
Najpiękniejszy jest zawsze as w środek T, zresztą Roger lubi skończyć tak seta, albo zaciętego gema. Zbyt wiele było zagrań z kosmosu, by wybrać jakieś jedno "naj".
OFF COURT - SECOND MOST ELEGANT MAN ON THE PLANET
Roger has been voted the second most elegant man on the planet by Spanish "El Mundo Magazine". Only fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld reached a higher score than Roger.
Passionate about fashion, Roger shows his very own elegance, especially during ‘his’ tournament, Wimbledon. Fans from all over the world love his appearances in sneakers and a white suit bearing his initials.
In the ranking, Roger is thus ahead of personalities such as Barack Obama, Brad Pitt, Prince Haakon of Norway, José Socrates (Portuguese Premier Minister), Jude Law, Prince Charles, Nicolas Sarkozy and Prince Cyril of Bulgaria.
(rogerfederer.com)
:D
No Roguś, babciny sweterk to jednak było to :good:
(xDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD)
Babciny sweterek :D
Federer ogłosił swój kalendarz gier na 2009 rok
http://www.rogerfederer.com/de/rogers/s … /index.cfm
Styczeń:
Abu Dhabi
Doha (Katar)
Kooyong
Australian Open Melbourne
Luty/Marzec (przełom):
Dubai
Marzec:
Davis Cup USA - Szwajcaria
Indian Wells (USA)
Miami (USA).
Kwiecień/Maj (przełom):
Rzym
Maj:
Madrid
French Open Paris
Czerwiec:
Halle
Wimbledon
Sierpień:
Montreal
Cincinnati
US Open New York
Październik:
Tokio
Szanghaj
Listopad:
Basel. 9
Paryż
Londyn (Masters)
Nie ma Estoril i Monte Carlo. Jest za to intensywny jesień i wolny niemal cały lipiec.
Nie sądziłem, że to napisze, ale znowu rozsądny kalendarz :)
Jak to jest teraz z tym Monte Carlo ? Dalej pozostanie Mastersem, ale nie bedzie teraz obowiazkowo wliczany do rankingu, tylko do 5 pozostalych turniejow ? Punktacja zostaje ta sama ?
Bizon napisał:
Jak to jest teraz z tym Monte Carlo ? Dalej pozostanie Mastersem, ale nie bedzie teraz obowiazkowo wliczany do rankingu, tylko do 5 pozostalych turniejow ? Punktacja zostaje ta sama ?
Jest Mastersem, wlicza się jak Masters, nie ma tylko statusu "Mandatory Event". To oznacza, że nie będzie żadnej kary dla tego, kto opuści ten turniej. Podejrzewam, że dzięki temu Fed się nie pcha do Monte Carlo, a chce zrobić sobie po Miami 3 tygodnie przerwy przed clay court swing.
ATP Tour - Federer to trim clay court schedule
Roger Federer has said he will trim his clay court schedule for 2009 despite the French Open, played on clay at Roland Garros, being the only major title missing from his collection.
More StoriesJankovic a doubt for Sydney
The world number two, who has lost the last three French Open finals to Rafael Nadal, will skip the Monte Carlo event and intends to play just the warm-up tournaments in Rome and Madrid.
Federer, whose prime objective in 2009 is to win back the Wimbledon crown he sensationally lost to Nadal, played four claycourt events in 2008 at Estoril, Monte Carlo, Rome and Hamburg before heading to Paris.
"I am really pleased with the season the way we have planned it and I am looking forward to an exciting year," said Federer, who currently has 13 Grand Slam titles to his name.
Federer, who also lost his Australian Open title in 2008 to Novak Djokovic, will start the new year in Doha before exhibition events in Abu Dhabi and Kooyong in Melbourne.
He also intends to play for Switzerland in the Davis Cup first round against the United States in March.
AFP
Ciekawostka ze strony ATP (sam byłem tego kiedyś ciekaw :P ):
I'm a Federer fan, we know how many titles he has won so far, but I'll like to know how many cars has he won so far? And from which tournaments?
- Chua Ya Wen, Singapore
With the assistance from ATP staffer Martin Dagahs, Federer has won four Mercedes-Benz cars from 2003-04, '06-07 Tennis Masters Cup; four Lexus cars from the 2005-06-07-08 US Open and one BMW from the 2003 BMW Open in Munich.
Ma czym jeździć :D Ciekawe ile z tych fur faktycznie jest w Jego posiadaniu :)
Federer preparing for assault on 14th Slam
It may still be more than a month away, but the thoughts of world No.2 Roger Federer have already turned to one of his happiest tennis hunting grounds, Rod Laver Arena.
“The Australian Open 2009 takes on a major significance for me, even more so after my illness last year,” Federer said.
The Swiss star is chasing a world record equalling 14th Grand Slam title and has been buoyed by his success in New York earlier this year.
“I am very keen to continue my Grand Slam form from the US Open and add another ‘Happy Slam’ to my collection,” he said.
“There is no better way to start the year than with a win in the men’s final on Rod Laver Arena. I am very comfortable there and have had some of my best tennis memories in that building.”
Indeed, one of the most memorable moments in Australian Open history was the tearful presentation ceremony, when the then world No.1 became emotional as he was presented with the Norman Brookes Trophy by his tennis idol, the legendary Rod Laver.
Laver will again be in Australia in 2009 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of his 1969 Grand Slam effort in which he won all four Slams: the French, Wimbledon, US and Australian Open.
“We know Roger Federer is a supreme athlete with great respect for the game and its tradition. He has the dual motivation of wanting to regain the world No.1 ranking and also create some history of his own.” Australian Open Tournament Director Craig Tiley said.
“His preparation for our event is normally immaculate, so expect nothing less than a finely-tuned, incredibly-motivated world-class tennis player when he arrives in Melbourne in January.”
Whether Laver and Federer will again be on the podium on 1 February remains to be seen. For now, the Swiss champion’s focus is on getting into top condition for the new season
“I look forward to getting to Melbourne early in the New Year in top form and injury free,” Federer said.
Skoro on tak mówi, to może faktycznie ma zamiar wygrać. Ale on miał 'zamiar' wiele rzeczy wygrywać, a jak to się kończyło to wiemy, ja tam wolę poczekać na pierwszy mecz, albo chociaż na te pokazówkę, i zobaczyć w jakiej jest formie. Gorzej niż rok temu nie powinno być, przynajmniej mam taka nadzieję.
Faktycznie przydałoby się dorzucić jakiegoś 'Happy Slam'a' do kolekcji, Roger. A AO to w końcu najlepsze miejsce.
"Forbes" - Federer piąty wśród najbogatszych
Roger Federer zajmuje piąte miejsce w rankingu najlepiej zarabiających gwiazd świata sportu i rozrywki poniżej 30. roku życia, opublikowanym przez magazyn "Forbes". Przychody szwajcarskiego tenisisty z kortów oraz kontraktów reklamowych w 2007 roku wyceniono na sumę 35 milionów dolarów. Przed nim uplasowali się m.in. koszykarze NBA Kobe Bryant i Lebron James.
W ubiegłym roku Szwajcar zarobił na grze w tenisa 10,1 miliona dolarów, głownie dzięki triumfom w trzech wielkoszlemowych imprezach: Australian Open, Wimbledonie i US Open, oraz występie w czwartej z nich - Roland Garros.
Jego rachunek bankowy zasiliła też kwota 25 milionów dolarów z tytułu kontraktów reklamowych z firmami Nike, Gillette, Mercedes- Benz, Wilson oraz szwedzkiej firmy Emmi and Jura.
Oprócz Federera w czołowej dziesiątce rankingu tenis reprezentowała jedynie Maria Szarapowa, zdecydowanie najbogatsza ze sportsmenek. Z dorobkiem 26 mln dol. zajęła siódmą pozycję. Tuż za czołową dziesiątką znalazły się natomiast amerykańskie siostry Serena i Venus Williams, odpowiednio na 11. i 12. miejscu.
Bezsprzecznie pierwsza lokata przypadła piosenkarce Beyonce Knowles - 80 mln dol., która wyprzedziła "kolegę po fachu" Justina Timberlake'a - 44 mln. Trzecie i czwarte miejsce zajęły gwiazdy ligi NBA Kobe Bryant z Los Angeles Lakers - 39 mln i Lebron James z Cleveland Cavaliers - 38 mln.
Wcześniej "Forbes" opublikował ranking najbogatszych "celebrities" świata, w którym zwyciężyła gwiazda amerykańskiej telewizji Oprah Winfrey, wyprzedzając golfistę Tigera Woodsa, aktorkę Angelinę Jolie, Beyonce Knowles i piłkarza Davida Beckhama. Na 23. miejscu został sklasyfikowany Federer.
W tym roku Szwajcar powiększył swój dorobek do sumy 44,5 mln dol. i zdetronizował dotychczasowego lidera listy najlepiej zarabiających tenisistów - Amerykanina Pete'a Samprasa (43,28 mln dol.).
z http://www.sport.pl/tenis/1,64987,60390 … szych.html
OFF COURT - MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Dear Fans
After a wonderful and very relaxing seaside holiday I am now in the final stage of preparation for the new season which, as you know, will be beginning very soon. Never before have I started a tennis-year as early as the one ahead: I will be back in action on January 1st. I am very much looking forward to the tournament in Abu Dhabi, which is taking place for the first time, as well as the entire season of 2009! There is such a large number of challenges lying ahead - facing them, working hard and giving my best to succeed is precisely why I love my job so much.
Looking back at the past 365 days a lot of unforgettable experiences come to mind. But there are, of course, also the tough moments I had to go through. I faced an unexpectedly difficult training period and exhausting start of the season due to illness precisely 12 months ago. I spent a great deal of the year battling with the lack of practice and hours of training that I faced at the time.
So having played another three Grand Slam finals and having brought home the US Open trophy as well as reaching Olympic heights together with Stan Wawrinka makes me just the more proud. I was honoured to receive the Laureus title as Athlete of the Year again and also lift the trophy at my home-tournament in Basel once more. These are some of the truly wonderful, emotional moments I had the privilege to experience. And it was special to be able to share them together with Stan in Beijing.
Something I will always want to stress is the fact that all these experiences would not have been the same if I hadn't been able to share them with all of you. You gave me your full support during the entire season and showed me your enthusiasm for this wonderful sport. Your thoughtful gifts, words and actions are always a fabulous reward. I would like to thank you for that with all my heart. Let's keep up the great work and head into a successful 2009 together!
I'd like to wish all of you and your families a Merry Christmas, a wonderful end of this year and all the best for the one lying ahead.
See you very soon,
kind regards from Dubai,
Roger
http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=-oBcTxPd9yw
http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=y2Lfyr07u … re=related
Dla Pań:
http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=SY34ewAsi … re=related
------------------
Something I will always want to stress is the fact that all these experiences would not have been the same if I hadn't been able to share them with all of you. You gave me your full support during the entire season and showed me your enthusiasm for this wonderful sport. Your thoughtful gifts, words and actions are always a fabulous reward. I would like to thank you for that with all my heart. Let's keep up the great work and head into a successful 2009 together!
Roger, my wierzymy :]
ATP Tour - Federer expects big things in 2009
Roger Federer has been experimenting with new tactics that he hopes will enable him to fulfil his 2009 goals of regaining the world number one ranking and equalling Pete Sampras's record of 14 Grand Slam titles.
More StoriesATP Doha drawsheet
The Swiss was ousted from the top of the rankings by Rafael Nadal last August and his aura of invincibility was broken by defeat in the Wimbledon final before he silenced his doubters with victory in the US Open - his 13th Grand Slam crown.
The 27-year-old said he was feeling much fitter at the start of this season compared to last year where he was recovering from a bout of glandular fever.
"I expect 2009 to be a good year and for various reasons I am under less pressure too," Federer said in Doha, where he opens this season's campaign at this week's Qatar Open.
"I have been dominating for several years and obviously I think I can do it again. I have a very strong technique ... I am mentally and tactically also quite strong," he added. "I have that ability to decide to how much should I attack and defend.
Hopefully I can win more titles this year.
"This time last year, I was sick. But now I am fully fit."
He said playing in last week's exhibition event in Abu Dhabi, where he lost in the semi-finals to Britain's Andy Murray, had given him the chance to try out some new tactics.
"I practised a lot recently. I tried out many new things in Abu Dhabi - in volleying, charging to the net and playing defensive. Since it was an exhibition event I could do it. But it helped me know where I stood and make those small adjustments," he said.
This month's Australian Open offers Federer his next chance to match Sampras's Grand Slam record and he is relishing the opportunity after losing in the semi-finals last year in the start of a string of setbacks he suffered in 2008.
"I have many goals for 2009. One of them is to regain my top ranking and another is to win at least one more Grand Slam," said Federer.
"Every Grand Slam I win will be more meaningful to me. When I win the first one in 2009 it could equal Pete Sampras's record. Everything is going to be special.
"I have been dominating the field for the past several years. 2008 has been a good and bad year, but that has not changed my perspective."
Federer said he faced more challengers than in recent years with world numbers three and four Novak Djokovic and Murray joining him and Nadal as the dominant forces.
"I think four of us have moved far ahead of the rest of the Top 10. The top four rankings can keep changing often, there are lot of possibilities to this in 2009," said the Swiss, who is just 20 points ahead of Djokovic in the ATP standings.
Depending on their performances this week, Djokovic could overtake Federer in the rankings but the Swiss said he was not unduly concerned.
"I'm not worried about it. Anyway it's not the number one spot," he said with a laugh.
(eurosport.com)
:]
Przestań gadać, zacznij grać.
Oj Roger, Roger. Jak nic przypomina mi się wywiad z M. Wilanderem przed finałem RG. Czas się do siebie zdystansowac. Mimo wszystko, powodzenia w nowym sezonie.
Ja powiem tak, to ze on mysli stara się pozytywnie nastroić do sezonu to jedno i na powiedzmy sobie jasno, bez takiego właśnie nastwienia(wciągnę ich nosem) nikt nie może liczyć na sukcesy w sporcie na tym poziomie, pozostali z TOP 4 rozumują podobnie. Tylko, że w kontekście ostatnich wydarzeń, Roger powien zachować daleko idącą wstrzemiezliwość w werbalnych deklaracjach. Choć z drugiej strony, ciężko żeby deklarował, że planuje przegrywać w pierwszych rundach. :P
Dokładnie, Rogera nie usprawiedliwiam, ale to takie gadania raczej do samego siebie w stylu: "dam radę, przecież nie zapomniałem jak się gra w tenisa" - oczywiscie mówi to mediom, bo chce wysłać sygnał rywalom i opinii publicznej, która coraz częściej pomija go wymieniając grono liderów ATp w przyszłym roku.
Pewnie na jego miejscu gadałbym podobnie, nikt nie lubi się ot tak godzić z przemijającym czasem. Pewnie, najlepiej to potwierdzi gra, ale jakiś fundament dla pewności siebie musi zostać wylany, bo bez tego nie ma sensu na kort wycodzić. A że ta pewność siebie (niezbędna by wygyrwać w sporcie) nakłada się na arogancję ? Mysle, że to w przypadku Rogera jest naturalne. Zdarzały mu się fajne wypowiedzi, często i gęsto popełnia też podobne gafy, taki już jest :) .
Zgadzam się też z tym co napisał Robertinho - przecież Roger sam się do prasy nie pcha, to oni go proszą często o wypowiedzi. Facet mówi często, nie ma osoby, która w takim nasyceniu udzielanych wywiadów nie palnęła czegoś głupiego - niestety :/ .
Robertinho napisał:
... I am mentally and tactically also quite strong," he added. "
Kali by powiedzial: ja zobaczyc - ja uwierzyć :D
DUN I LOVE napisał:
Dokładnie, Rogera nie usprawiedliwiam
Aha :D
Lena napisał:
Kali by powiedzial: ja zobaczyc - ja uwiierzyc :D
Ojjj... Bo zadzwonie do ATP i załatwie Maratowi miejsce blisko Feda w drabince AO. :D
DUN I LOVE napisał:
Dokładnie, Rogera nie usprawiedliwiam, ale to takie gadania raczej do samego siebie w stylu: "dam radę, przecież nie zapomniałem jak się gra w tenisa" - oczywiscie mówi to mediom, bo chce wysłać sygnał rywalom i opinii publicznej, która coraz częściej pomija go wymieniając grono liderów ATp w przyszłym roku.
Pewnie na jego miejscu gadałbym podobnie, nikt nie lubi się ot tak godzić z przemijającym czasem. Pewnie, najlepiej to potwierdzi gra, ale jakiś fundament dla pewności siebie musi zostać wylany, bo bez tego nie ma sensu na kort wycodzić. A że ta pewność siebie (niezbędna by wygyrwać w sporcie) nakłada się na arogancję ? Mysle, że to w przypadku Rogera jest naturalne. Zdarzały mu się fajne wypowiedzi, często i gęsto popełnia też podobne gafy, taki już jest :) .
Zgadzam się też z tym co napisał Robertinho - przecież Roger sam się do prasy nie pcha, to oni go proszą często o wypowiedzi. Facet mówi często, nie ma osoby, która w takim nasyceniu udzielanych wywiadów nie palnęła czegoś głupiego - niestety :/ .
Masz rację Dawidzie, ale w kwestii przemijania czasu, łatwo jest przekroczyc granicę między wielkością a śmiesznością. Przykładów na to, chocby w filmowym światku ogromnie dużo, a tego dla Rogera bym nie chciała.
Robertinho napisał:
Ojjj... Bo zadzwonie do ATP i załatwie Maratowi miejsce blisko Feda w drabince AO. :De]
3 runda to juz nie takie poczatki a poza tym zawsze lepszy hinduski kwalifikant niz Roger :P
AAMI CLASSIC 2009
Federer (Sui) d Moya (Esp) 6/2, 6/3
Federer (Sui) d Verdasco (Esp) 6/3, 3/6, 7/6 (7-5)
Final : Federer (Sui) d Wawrinka (Sui) 6/1, 6/3
To 2 sukces Rogera w tej pokazówce, wcześniej wygrywał tu w 2005 roku.
Gdyby Roger trafił w Finale na Verdasco to prawdopodobnie by przegrał... Taka moje ocena :)
Najważniejsze, że z turnieju tenisowego (fakt, że z pokazowego) wyjeżdża z pucharem.
Co myślę, wierzę, a przynajmniej chcę wierzyć, że może mu tylko pomóc przed AO. Wiecie, zmotywowanie, humor itd. :D
Wiedziałam, że mój pierwszy post tutaj, będzie akurat w tym temacie. :lol:
Federer w styczniowym magazynie DEUCE:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/5/en/deuce/ … ederer.asp
http://www.eurosport.yahoo.com/25012009 … ience.html
Hm, cykoria ? xDDDD
Federer poprawia własny rekord
Roger Federer, pokonując Juana Martina Del Potro w 1/4 Ao, odnotował swój 19 z rzędu wielkoszlemowy półfinał, co jest absolutnym rekordem. Kolejny na liście wielki gracz (nie pamiętam który xD) swego czasu osiągnał tę fazę 10 razy z rzędu.
Gratulacje Roger :)
Przydałoby dodać w jakim stylu odnotował ten półfinał :)
Gratulacje, i jeszcze nie wiadomo, ale może w najbliższych dniach odnotuje swój kolejny, ważniejszy rekord?
Federer, po dzisiejszej wygranej nad Andym Roddickiem awansował po raz 4 do finału Australian Open, odnotowując przy tym swój 18 wielkoszlemowy finał. Jest to wyrównanie wyniku Pete'a Samprasa.
Najwięcej finałów Wielkoszlemowych:
19 - Ivan Lendl
18 - Pete Sampras
Roger Federer
17 - Rod Laver
16 - Bjorn Borg
Ken Rosewall
15 - Roy Emerson
Bill Tilden
Andre Agassi
Jimmy Connors
Gratulacje :)
Rekord za rekordem, gratulacje :P
Kolejny też do pobica.
Na konferencji po 1/2 AO:
Q. Do you have any of those sort of things in your mind when you came into the start of year?
ROGER FEDERER: No. More maybe kind of the thing starting the year well at Australian Open, winning maybe potentially your first French, getting Wimbledon back after the epic I had with Rafa there, and then winning my sixth at the US Open.
That's kind of what's in my mind. And then with good play at the ATP events, at the Masters Series, which I didn't play great last year in, I hope to pick up few of those to get my No. 1 ranking back. That's my mindset going into a new season.
---------
Jak chociaż połowa z tych planów się spełni to będzie dobrze. Ja chcę 6 USO, jak już o tym mówimy.
Come on, ten rok na pewno będzie lepszy ! :P
... bo swoją drogą, gorszy być nie może.
OFF COURT - THANK YOU
Dear Fans
I would like to thank you for the overwhelming amount of messages and letters you sent me this past week. Losing the Australian Open final certainly hurt, but it is important to move on and focus on the challenges lying ahead. I feel fine and fit and am eager to get back on court. I have enjoyed a few days off, which was great, and will soon be training again.
Thank you once again for supporting me and giving me such a lot of positive input! A lot of you have noticed that my website was slow after the final Down Under. The reason for that was the enormous amount of traffic – more than we had ever experienced before. New hardware for the server has been ordered and will be installed as soon as possible so that you can enjoy rogerfederer.com without hassles in the future!
Kind regards
Roger
rogerfederer.com
My też dziekujemy !
Swoją drogą tuż po finale AO nie szło wejść na stronke Feda, ponad 7 tysiecy gości w jednej chwili odwiedzało tę witrynę! Od 1 lutego prawie 6 tys ludzie się zarejestrowało na rf.com .
No ja to dość wyraźnie odczułam, tzn że strona wolniej, a raczej - wolno, działała. Dobrze ze juz wszystko gra, i mam tylko nadzieje że mimo tej przegranej wszystko z nim (z nami?) będzie okej.
A kibicowanie Rogerowi to czysta przyjemność :)
Simon Reed: All over for Federer?
Will Roger Federer ever win another Grand Slam? Eurosport commentator Simon Reed kicks off his new blog by asking if it's all over for the Swiss star.
It's been over a week since Roger Federer lost the final of the Australian Open, and still all anybody wants to talk about is if it's the beginning of the end for him.
His trouble started with a mysterious illness at the beginning of last year, leaving him weak and allowing him to get picked off not just by the likes of Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray, but also by Mardy Fish and several others.
Doubt crept in - subconsciously, perhaps, but doubt nonetheless, and it seems like he's still struggling to get past it, despite playing some incredible tennis in Melbourne.
Before the tournament I had Federer as a distant third favourite - with Nadal and Murray neck-and-neck - but it was Roger who showed that at his best he is still the best in the world.
He can make Nadal look silly, Murray look silly, anyone look silly... but for all his brilliance, and his ability to be ruthless against lesser players, he alternated great performances with poor ones.
More worrying than that, though, is that there's now no doubt that he has real problems pulling the trigger against Nadal - and Andy Murray too for that matter.
Why? Well, I think that sometimes it just feels like there's no plan B with Roger - other than to play still more amazing shots. But under fifth-set pressure, with a stiff arm and against the very best in the world, those shots just don't come off like they do in the first set or two.
What's the answer? Maybe he should start looking for a good mental game coach, because building his confidence by playing the same events as Nadal and looking to beat him on a regular basis won't work for him: only the Grand Slams matter to Roger these days.
Such is his focus on the Slams that I saw him at Abu Dhabi - an event which Murray and Nadal were both taking very seriously - and he was actually playing around and practising shots during matches.
Breaking Pete Sampras's record is everything to him now.
But unless something changes soon, and with the possible exception of Wimbledon, he's simply not going to win another Grand Slam.
(eurosport)
OFF COURT - DUBAI AND DAVIS CUP
Dear Fans,
Today I am disappointed to announce that I am withdrawing from both Dubai and the Davis Cup tie in the United States. This was a hard decision to make as I am missing not only one of my favorite events on tour in Dubai but I am also missing out on an opportunity to help my country try and move on to the next round of Davis Cup. After injuring my back last fall, I did not have enough time to strengthen it completely. As a precautionary measure, I will use the next few weeks to make sure the back injury is fully rehabilitated and I am ready for the rest of the 2009 season.
As always, thanks for your continued support.
Roger
(rogerfederer.com)
To jesteśmy w dupie :D
Ja tu liczyłem na 1 tytuł w sezonie, a tak to trzeba czekać do Halle :D
Wydaje mi się, że Federer wie co robi - trzeba solidnie wypocząć przed resztą sezonu i co tu dużo mówić - pozbierać się po Ao :] Swoją drogą nie sądziłem, że zrezygnuje z Dubaju, turnieju, który sporo dla Niego znaczy :)
Jeszcze przed Halle w Estoril chyba będzie szansa, Denko bez formy.
COA napisał:
Jeszcze przed Halle w Estoril chyba będzie szansa, Denko bez formy.
Roger nie gra w tym roku w Estoril. Po marcowych Mastersach pojawi się dopiero w Rzymie (opuszcza też Monte Carlo).
Jak nie patrzeć i nie liczyć, przed Rg zagra tylko w 4 imprezach.
Taka dluga przerwa w grze moze nie zrobic mu najlepiej przed amerykanskimi Mastersami. Trafi sie gorsza drabinka, Canas badz Fish i nieszczescie gotowe :P
Podobno przyczyna absencji sa klopoty z plecami. Szwajcar mial z nimi problemy rowniez w koncowce poprzedniego sezonu, gdzie musial sie wycofac w trakcie Mastersa w Paryżu.
Nie ma żadnego misternego planu, Fed ma 27 lat i już najwyższa pora zacząć się sypać. Nie zdziwie się, jeśli w IW pojawi się w wakacyjnej formie(wielki powrót oponki), co ostatecznie pogrzebie szanse by cokolwiek w tym sezonie ugrać.
Robertinho napisał:
Nie ma żadnego misternego planu, Fed ma 27 lat i już najwyższa pora zacząć się sypać. Nie zdziwie się, jeśli w IW pojawi się w wakacyjnej formie(wielki powrót oponki), co ostatecznie pogrzebie szanse by cokolwiek w tym sezonie ugrać.
Przyznam, że jak to napisałeś to mi się włos zjeżył na karku.. Nie dociera do mnie, że Roger nagle zacznie wszystko przegrywać.. ehh sad ( nie żeby wszystko wygrywał ale to co powiedziałeś jest strasznie okrutne i prawdziwe (?))
Ale on już od roku prawie wszystko przegrywa. Nie chcę zarazić nikogo defetyzmem, ale fakty są brutalne. Ostatnim wygranym turniejem ciągle pozostaje USO, przedtem było Halle i Estoril. I tyle! Owszem, finały czy pófinały są, ale przegrywane. I fakt, że dla innych graczy takie wyniki to szczyt marzeń, nie ma tu nic do rzeczy.
Od stycznia zeszłego roku z Nadalem bilans 0-5, z Murrayem 1-4(plus Abu Dabi), przegrane z niektórymi graczami lepiej przemilczeć. Taka jest rzeczywistość.
no niestety.. wystarczy teraz kibicowanie żeby nie wypadł z 8 :D
To samo chciałem napisać (co do postu Robertinho) :)
Oczywiście wyniki osiąga wciąż znakomite, ale czy można mówić o finaliście imprezy, że wygrał finał turnieju WS ?
Myślałem, że USO zwiastuje lepsze czasy, ale chyba tak nie jest niestety - a z racji wieku przerwy w grze będą częstsze, bo po prostu dłużej będzie się regenerował.
No ale jest tyle wspaniałych filmików na YouTube, że jest co oglądać :)
Robertinho, po USO było jeszcze Basel :)
Zupełnie wyleciało mi z głowy Basel, zapewne ze względu na poziom gry, jaki tam, poza finałem, Fed prezentował; zwłaszcza "woleje". :D
Blue, spokojnie, w amerykańskich Mastersach(żadnych "turniejów 1000" nie uznaje :] ) ma do obrony chyba 1/2 i 1/4, jeśli zaprezentuje w miarę solidny tenis, nie powinien osiągnąć gorszych wyników. A na cegle... się zobaczy ;)
Mnie chodziło o to, że ciężko będzie o wygrane w Szlamech, bo to są cele Szwajcara.
No kto jak kto, ale żeby Ty, Robertinho ? :P :D
Szukałem jakiegoś pozytywnego słowa od kogoś, bo tu prawie w depresję znikąd popadłem :D W życiu bym się nie spodziewał, że to Ty coś takiego napiszesz :)
Aha, ja z ostatniego Basel pamiętam właśnie tylko ten wspaniały finał :)
DUN I LOVE napisał:
No kto jak kto, ale żeby Ty, Robertinho ? :P :D
Szukałem jakiegoś pozytywnego słowa od kogoś, bo tu prawie w depresję znikąd popadłem :D W życiu bym się nie spodziewał, że to Ty coś takiego napiszesz :)
Chyba Cię rozczarowałem :( (xDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD)
Przepraszam, do której dokładnie części mojej wypowiedzi się odnosisz? :P
Do tej:
Robertinho napisał:
Blue, spokojnie, w amerykańskich Mastersach(żadnych "turniejów 1000" nie uznaje :] ) ma do obrony chyba 1/2 i 1/4, jeśli zaprezentuje w miarę solidny tenis, nie powinien osiągnąć gorszych wyników. A na cegle... się zobaczy ;)
Mnie chodziło o to, że ciężko będzie o wygrane w Szlamech, bo to są cele Szwajcara.
Co do szlemów to wciąż uważam, że jak jakimś trafem ominie Nadala to powinno być ok :)
Your view: Federer still has the magic
Eurosport-Yahoo! readers have spoken, and an overwhelming majority is convinced there is plenty more to come from Roger Federer.
After the Swiss legend lost the Australian Open final to Rafael Nadal, some began to suggest he might have a mental block when facing the pretender to his throne - and that this might prevent him winning any more Grand Slam titles.
But you voted in your droves to say otherwise: a massive 82 per cent of the 23,000 who voted think Fed will win at least two more Grand Slam titles, and in so doing beat Pete Sampras's all-time record of 14.
Some 42 per cent of you went even further, claiming that Federer will win at least another four of the game's top prizes.
Conversely, a significant minority of you believe that Federer will win just one more Grand Slam, if that.
Last week's poll results: Will Roger Federer ever win another Grand Slam tournament?
No, he's all washed up: 7% (1699 votes)
Yes, but only one: 10% (2322 votes)
Two or three more, but that's it: 40% (9429 votes)
At least four, he's got years left: 42% (9873 votes)
eurosport.yahoo.com/tennis
I tak w to nie wierze :D
http://sports.theglobeandmail.com/servl … Other/home
Nareszcie Roger z nowym trenerem. Kiedy Darren Cahill trenował Agassiego był obiektem lekkich kpin kto kogo trenuje, na mnie zawsze robił wrażenie człowieka mądrego i spokojnego i bardzo mnie ta informacja ucieszyła :D
Globesports.com has learned that Federer is currently in Dubai training with Cahill.
Piszcie mi tak jeszcze :D Darren :D Oby coś z tego było :)
Popłuczyny po Hewittcie, tego właśnie było nam trzeba. Zresztą na te problemy, jakie ma Szwajcar, to żaden trener nie pomoże, więc cokolwiek się stanie, ja już Australijczyka z góry rozgrzeszam.
Widać Fed postawił znaleść kogoś, kogo będzie można wylać po kolejnej serii klęsk. :D Fani też będą mieli na na kogo zwalać winę, więc dla mnie bomba. :P
No i jeszcze słowa Godsicka, opublikowane przez Rene Stauffera:
Ready for Indian Wells
Federer has trained hard in the last 2 weeks with Pierre Paganini at his back and is now totally in shape to play without any problems. He will come to California at the beginning of the next week to play Indian Wells and Miami. If Cahill will be at his side is not sure yet, said Godsick. The possibility to work together came up in the last weeks, and in his will to always get better, Roger did not want to let this chance pass him by. "The test is important for both of them. Although they know and respecht each other, it could be that their personalities do not match together", said Godsick.
by RENE STAUFFER
Nic nie jest oficjalnie potwierdzone.
Roger ostatnie 2 tygodnie spędził na czasochłonnej rehabilitacji u swojego trenera od przygotowania fizycznego, słynnego Pierre'a Paganiniego. Skutkiem tych zabiegów jest ponoć całkowite wyleczenie kontuzji pleców, która dopadła Szwajcara jesienią.
Jeszcze podobne spekulacje na jednej ze szwajcarskich witryn informacyjnych:
http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/news_digest … 2000&ty=nd
Federer Still Without a Full-Time Coach
Despite a lengthy test session with Darren Cahill in Dubai, Roger Federer is still without a full-time coach.
Federer, the 13-time Grand Slam singles champion from Switzerland, and Cahill, one of the most successful coaches in tennis, have long been considered a likely match. Each is understated and analytical, and Federer has a strong connection to Australia, Cahill’s home country.
But Cahill and Federer’s agent, Tony Godsick, confirmed on Wednesday that Cahill and Federer would not be working together, in large part because Cahill was not prepared to travel as extensively as Federer would have required.
Cahill, originally from Adelaide, Australia, has children ages 7 and 4 and is based in Las Vegas, where he moved in 2002 when he was coaching Andre Agassi.
“With Roger being European and all those away weeks and the kids entrenched in school here in Las Vegas, the reality really hit in Dubai,” Cahill said in a telephone interview. “It was 100 percent that. We couldn’t get past that practical hurdle.”
Federer, now ranked second in the world, is preparing to return to action at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif. He has not played since losing on Feb. 1 to Rafael Nadal in the final of the Australian Open in Melbourne.
“It never really got to the point where I had to think too far and make a decision on my own,” Federer said of Cahill at a news conference in Indian Wells in comments reported by the Associated Press. “I never really had to go there. He took the decision for me."
Federer withdrew from an event in Dubai and the first round of Davis Cup against the United States, citing concerns about a lingering, if unspecified, lower-back problem. According to Godsick, Federer’s back had bothered him in Australia. Meanwhile, Cahill resigned in February as coach of the Australian Davis Cup team, which, in theory, provided him with an opening to work with Federer after years of speculation.
Cahill said he now intended to pursue discussions with Adidas, to formalize his relationship with the sporting goods company. Cahill also intends to continue his television commentary work for ESPN.
Federer has not had a full-time coach since 2003, when he split with Peter Lundgren, a former Swedish touring pro who was as much a companion as a mentor. Federer did maintain Pierre Paganini as his full-time trainer. Federer spent 2004, the year he rose to the top of the men’s game, without a coach, then hired the Australian Tony Roche in 2005 to work with him on a limited basis.
Federer ended that relationship in May 2007, shortly before the French Open, citing a communication gap. Since then, he has relied on Severin Luthi, Switzerland’s Davis Cup captain, for part-time coaching. Last year, he worked occasionally with José Higueras while Higueras was also coaching Robby Ginepri.
(The New York Times)
Wygląda na to, że Roger i Mirka zostaną rodzicami. Podobno latem. Gratulacje!.
Dla potwierdzenia :
Dear Fans
I arrived in Indian Wells earlier this week and I am eager to get back out on court. My back is feeling much better and I am ready to go.
I also have some really awesome news to share with all of you: Mirka and I are excited to let you know that we will be parents this summer! Mirka is pregnant and we are so happy to be starting a family together. This is a dream come true for us. We love children and we are looking forward to being parents for the first time. Mirka is feeling great and everything is going well.
Speak soon and thanks for all your continued support!
Roger
Gratulacje ! Chciałoby się rzecz - w końcu :P
:D
Kolejne lwiątko w rodzinie się szykuje :D
omg brak słów !!! :D tak się cieszę - w końcu :D
Hura, wreszcie :D :D :D.
Rozumiem że to jedyna reakcja dopuszczalna w tej jakże cudownej chwili -.-
Ja nie wiem doprawdy, skąd ta radość, no ale... cieszcie się kochani.
I mylisz się Janie, to nie jest sam-dobrze-wiesz-jakie forum, tu nie ma żadnego przymusu zachwycanie się kimkolwiek i czymkolwiek, ani wzajemnego dopieszczania się.
Blue napisał:
tak się cieszę - w końcu :D
Mówisz, jakby było twoje... :whistle:
Robertinho napisał:
Ja nie wiem doprawdy, skąd ta radość, no ale... cieszcie się kochani.
Wiem, co masz na myśli - też mam podobne obawy, ale chyba nie pora o nich pisać :)
Nie, nie wiesz co mam na myśli. :] Ja po prostu nie przepadam z dziećmi, więc to dla mnie, a nie tylko w tym partykularnym przypadku, żaden powód do świętowania.
Aha, to chyba nawet mi ulżyło xDDD
A Roger na korcie też nie rezygnuje, przynajmniej przy mikrofonie :P
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-dwy … &track=rss
"I don't have a problem on clay," he says. "I have a Rafa problem on clay."
Słuszna uwaga :P
Gratulacje drodzy mili, dobre wieści serio serio :D
Tennis-Federer says fatherhood will not hinder playing career
INDIAN WELLS, California, March 14 (Reuters) - Expectant father Roger Federer believes impending parenthood will not affect his chances of breaking Pete Sampras's record of 14 grand slam titles.
The Swiss world number two revealed earlier this week that his girlfriend Mirka Vavrinec was in the early stages of pregnancy with their first child.
"I think it's not going to really disturb my mindset on tennis a whole lot," said Federer, who has won 13 grand slams to stand one behind American Sampras on the all-time list.
"I've always made sure that my schedule is (to) get away from tennis a little bit and then come back when I'm ready to play again. That's why I didn't play for the last five to six weeks.
"I think it's going to be pretty much the same. I don't really have to adjust a whole lot. If it does something to me, I think it's going to motivate me to play for a long time."
Federer would not be drawn on when exactly the baby was due, other than to say it would be sometime in the (northern hemisphere) summer.
"I'm completely excited. I've been thinking about something like this happening for the last two or three years," he added.
"So for me, this is not a massive shock. But when it does happen (that) your girlfriend (or) wife is pregnant, it definitely changes your mindset.
"All of a sudden you're hoping everything goes well, whereas before you're just joking about it. From this respect, I'm excited that the baby comes out healthy and everything goes OK.
"Other than that, it's just happiness. And everybody around me, all the people I talk to, everybody is like, 'Wow, it's such great news.' It's a nice time."
ATP - ANOTHER DEFEAT BY MURRAY
Roger lost his semifinal against Andy Murray 3-6, 6-4, 1-6 in Indian Wells on Saturday.
Both players agreed that it was one of their toughest matches so far. For a few minutes shy of two hours, Roger had been outplayed. He had to face a strong performance by the Scotsman but also a large number of errors on his own side: 32 unforced errors in total, 17 in the first set alone. In the middle of the third set, after Murray took a spill at the baseline, Roger seemed to make a charge. Unfortunately he then lost three straight points off of his backhand giving Murray a 4-1 lead and again committing an unusual amount of errors.
"I played a shocking third set," Roger said. "It was one of those matches where it was very up and down from both ends and today the better player won."
Roger will be back on court very soon, with the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami starting on Monday.
from www.rogerfederer.com
ATP Tour - Federer: Aggression is key to success
World number two Roger Federer said he was not going to analyse his recent defeats by Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray and believes an aggressive approach will bring him back to winning form.
Federer has not won a Masters title since 2007 and has lost his last five matches against Nadal, including the five-set thriller in the Australian Open last month.
After that disappointment, the Swiss player lost out to Britain's Murray in the semi-finals at Indian Wells last week.
"You could analyse in a big way but at the same time, it just happens sometimes. Of course I was disappointed at the way the match ended in Australia and also in Indian Wells but it is not the end of the world," he said in Miami at the Sony Ericsson Open.
"It doesn't really play on my mind a whole lot because I go out there and try to play every point as tough as I can."
Federer, who begins his campaign in Miami against American journeyman Kevin Kim, says he has only one route to beating Nadal.
"I've tried many different things against Rafa. Usually it is the aggressive playing style that makes me beat Rafa, especially on the hard courts. I haven't had many chances on hard courts against him, I've had so many more on clay," he added.
"On hard court I have to play aggressively against him. There is no way around that. I know how I have to play him. I've beaten him enough to know," said the 27-year-old.
Federer, who has 13 grand slam titles, rejected the suggestion that a back problem is seriously hampering him.
"The back is okay, I wish it was better but it's not really handicapping me when I am playing. It's not that bad," he said.
(eurosport)
Jak tyś robaczku po czterech latach na to wpadł? :zdziwiony: Byłem przekonany, że dopiero po 20 z rzędu wtopie dojdzie do jakże odkrywczego wniosku, że z Nadalem trzeba grać agresywnie. :lol:
Coś jednak czuje, że w ich następnym meczu, po wywaleniu paru piłek i tak okopie się za linią i zacznie liftować, a Nadal go ze spokojem wykończy. :D
Lata świetności minęły, nie pozostało nic innego jak tak gadać, żeby podtrzymać na duchu siebie, kibiców i ATP, które musi jakoś podgrzewać atmosferę :P
Napisał rzecznik prasowy lidera rankingu ATP. :D
Robertinho napisał:
Napisał rzecznik prasowy lidera rankingu ATP. :D
:D
Roger Federer po raz 6 z rzędu został uznany najbardziej lubianym przez fanów zawodnikiem w tourze. W Głosowaniu fanów otrzymał 26,6% głosów, wyprzedzając Rafaela Nadala (22.8%), Novaka Djokovicia (7.8%) i Fernando Gonzaleza (6.2%).
OFF COURT - ROGER LAUDED BY PEERS & FANS
Roger continues to shine as the fairest and most popular player on the ATP World Tour after the 2008 ATP World Tour Awards were announced in Miami today. Fellow players voted Roger the winner of the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award for a record fifth consecutive year. Only Edberg himself won the award five times (over eight years). And in a poll of fans, Roger for the sixth consecutive year was voted ATPWorldTour.com Fans’ Favourite.
Of his dual honours, Roger said: “It is great to receive two more awards. It is always important for me to be a good sportsman on the court and give the right example for others to follow and hopefully inspire the next generation. It also means the world to me to be the fans’ favorite player for the sixth year in a row. The support I receive from the fans around the world is so motivating and it is humbling to receive this award once again."
Roger naprawdę jest czasami śmieszny, po co on gada, że musi grać agresywnie itp, jak nigdy tego nie robi ? :/
Żałosne Fedku :) W nast meczu z Nadalem również wtopi, i znowu powie, że miał złą taktykę..
OFF COURT - Thank you
Today I am going to announce that I have finally found someone who will perfectly fit to the role of my child's godfather. Of course, I am speaking about Rafa Nadal, my good friend on and off court. We know each other well, we have got many common interests and also our world turns around the same things. Mirka and I have decided together that it will be the best way for us, Rafa and for our child's future also. I know that she will not be in labour until July, but I think that it is fair towards You and that's why I've informed my fans at first. I would personally like to thank all of You for Your understanding. I give an account that not everyone likes Rafa.
Finally I must calm your nerves down, Mirka is feeling great at the moment and everything is going well.
As always thanks for your support.
Roger
To jest chyba jakieś nieporozumienie :|
Bardzo fajnie, nie powiem.
Buahahahahahahahhahahahahah xDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
Biedni fani Łogera, jak to przeżyją :(
hahahaha, to żart ? :D
Dla mnie świetne info :D Vamos Rafa ! :D
Bardzo śmieszne, bardzo.
Eee, z Rogerem jest coś chyba nie tak.
Rafa to idealny kandydat. Swoją drogą ale ten dzieciak będzie miał obstawę - 2 najlepsi tenisiści świata (być może historii) w roli tatusiów :P
Fajnie :) Roger jeszcze powinien go Novak nazwać i trójeczka w komplecie :D
Nie no nie kopmy pod dzieciakiem dołków od początku :] a może to będzie dziewczynka :D
asiek napisał:
Fajnie :) Roger jeszcze powinien go Novak nazwać i trójeczka w komplecie :D
No może jednak bez przesady. To już by było za wiele dla fanów Feda. :P
aś dlaczego tego nie ma na stronie Rogera napisane ? Oj podejrzane, podejrzane :D
Wow, potrzebowałeś tylko 5 godzin na rozwikłanie zagadki, gratulujemy!
O ja Dejw, jestem dumna z tego 'napisane', zresztą wiesz ;-)
A czemu nie ma? Nie wiem, moze Roger usunął, czy coś.
Co do Mirki, to dzisiaj Mireczka ma urodziny kończy 31 latek...:)
Mam nadzieje ze Fed nie próbował świętować , przed meczem z Andym...:D
Kurcze,myślałem ze Mirosława jest troszkę młodsza!
No dobra, nie ma co przeciągać. Ogłaszam więc oficjalnie, informacja o Nadalu-ojcu chrzestnym, jest całkowicie i od początku do końca lipna. Widzę, że wbrew wcześniejszym obawom, wyszło nam całkiem wiarygodnie, do tego stopnia, że pewna osoba poleciała z tymi rewalacjami na sąsiednie forum. :D
xDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
Robertinho napisał:
poleciała z tymi rewalacjami na sąsiednie forum. :D
kto ??? :D :D
Love xDDD
Nie śmiej się COA, chodzi o Twojego szefa. xDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
No dobrze że mi powiedziałeś, bo nie wiedziałem xDDDDDDD
Oficjalnie przyjmijmy, że chciałem sprawdzić reakcję ludzi na tamtym forum :D
O nieoficjalną wersję nie pytajcie :P
Nieoficjalnie chciałeś pozyskać tym żartem V. do znajomych na nk xDDDDDDDDDDD
COA napisał:
Nieoficjalnie chciałeś pozyskać tym żartem V. do znajomych na nk xDDDDDDDDDDD
Eee, stare już, jeszcze z marca :P No ale refleks kosmiczny Janie :D
A co do Mirki to tak, 3 lata starsza jest od Rogera ;)
No wiesz, rzadko odwiedzam Twój profil, tylko jak dodasz jakieś kosmiczne zdjęcie :P xDDDDDD
Żeby nie było offtopa, wszystkiego dobrego dla Mirki xDDDDD
DUN I LOVE napisał:
Oficjalnie przyjmijmy, że chciałem sprawdzić reakcję ludzi na tamtym forum :D
O nieoficjalną wersję nie pytajcie :P
Chyba nie trzeba pytać. :D
COA napisał:
Nieoficjalnie chciałeś pozyskać tym żartem V. do znajomych na nk xDDDDDDDDDDD
xDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
Wszystkiego najlepszego dla Mirki. :)
Baby may disturb Federer dreams
If Roger Federer thinks becoming a father will have little impact on his goal of equaling and then breaking Pete Sampras's record of 14 grand slam titles he might be in for a rude awakening.
Federer excitedly announced his news last month, declaring: "It's not going to really disturb my mindset on tennis a whole lot," but any parent who has had to deal with sleepless nights may think the Swiss is deluding himself.
While Federer and his girlfriend Mirka Vavrinec eagerly await the arrival of their first child, his fellow professional Ivan Ljubicic had a word of warning.
"I'm sure it's going to be a shock for him. There's no question about that," said the Croatian, who is still trying to come to grips with the demands of his five-month-old son.
"It's just that your life changes completely. Priorities are different. You're not the one in the family who's the most important. You kind of lose your wife for a while."
In case Federer thinks grand slam champions like him can easily buck the trend, he would do well to flick through the record books.
The last time a mother won a singles grand slam crown was in 1980 when Australian Evonne Goolagong triumphed at Wimbledon. Since then, only eight men have captured a major after embracing the joys of fatherhood.
While four -- Pat Cash, Andres Gomez, Petr Korda and Albert Costa -- were one-slam wonders, multiple champions Boris Becker, Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Andre Agassi managed to add just one further slam to their haul after becoming parents.
Jimmy Connors was the only singles player to successfully combine family life with playing on the tour in that time, winning three of his eight majors after the birth of his son Brett in August 1979.
For the likes of John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl and Stefan Edberg, the titles dried up as soon as they gingerly cradled the new additions to their families.
Tennis fathers have won only 10 of the last 115 grand slam titles.
"(Fatherhood) changes (your) life dramatically," explained Becker, who won the 1996 Australian Open after the birth of his first son Noah.
"It would be more difficult to focus on one thing alone because your main focus is for your child and your wife, and tennis becomes secondary. That's a fact."
If the tennis annals are to be believed, the arrival of Federer junior could end the world number two's chances of adding to his collection of 13 grand slam titles.
The Swiss has remained cagey about exactly when his baby is due, with his only comment being: "The baby is due in summer. I'm not going to say any more."
His reluctance to be more specific has sparked theories that the arrival of baby Federer could coincide with any of the three remaining majors -- the French Open in May, Wimbledon in June or the U.S. Open, where he is the defending champion, in August.
Should that occur, it will be interesting to see where his loyalties lie. Will he choose personal glory over family commitments?
While Federer is ready to embrace the next stage of his life, it is hard to imagine the 27-year-old swapping his racket for regular nappy-changing duties.
"I always had the dream that once I became number one in the world that if I have a child I hope I have it early enough so he can see me playing," said Federer. "So this is very exciting."
Apart from the Sampras record, Federer still yearns to get his hands on an elusive title at the French Open, where his great rival Rafael Nadal has ruled since 2005.
Already struggling to find a way to beat players such as world number one Nadal and Andy Murray -- against whom he has 6-13 and 2-6 losing records respectively -- the prospect of turning up bleary eyed for a major final could cost him dearly.
With his record of achievement and his strong mental outlook, Federer could perhaps succeed where many of his predecessors failed.
"Roger always handles the pressure and I'm sure he's going to do the same with this," said Ljubicic.
"He enjoys this sport so much that he doesn't really need to be focused 24 hours a day to play well."
Federer, who has already committed himself to play on until at least the 2012 London Olympics, added: "If it does something to me, I think it's going to motivate me to play for a long time."
(eurosport)
E tam takie dywagacje, może być naprawdę różnie. To tak jak rozwodzić się nad tym, który student będzie miał lepsze oceny : ten, który dodatkowo pracuje czy ten który tylko studiuje.
Wszystko zależy od konkretnego człowieka, jego podejścia, reguły nie ma. Nikt tu nie pisze o 10 szlemach, a o 1, max.2.
Former great John McEnroe has offered to help Roger Federer rediscover his form after the Swiss suffered a series of uncharacteristic defeats this year.
Since the start of the season, Federer has failed to win a tournament or beat any of his rivals ranked in the world's top four.
After the world number two's latest loss to Serbia's Novak Djokovic, when he was knocked out of the Miami Masters in the semi-finals, McEnroe said he was willing to lend a helping hand.
"I would really like to help Roger. Especially as he needs to change his strategy if he wants to beat (Rafael) Nadal. And I have an idea about that," the American was quoted as saying in the French weekly Le Journal du Dimanche.
"I can't see myself accompanying a player all year long but it could be really interesting to help out from time to time."
Federer has failed to beat his greatest rival Nadal for almost 18 months and has emerged second best in their last five meetings, including five-set final thrillers at last July's Wimbledon and at the Australian Open in February.
McEnroe said the Spaniard could cause Federer, who is one shy of Pete Sampras's all time Grand Slam title record of 14, even more problems in the future.
"I think (Federer) will beat Pete Sampras's record of 14 Grand Slam wins. But it will not be easy at all for him to become world number one again," said McEnroe, a former world number one himself.
"Even though Roger is a fantastic player, I think that Nadal will play at a higher level this year than last year provided he stays in a good shape. It could be hard for Roger to keep up."
eurosport.yahoo.com
Chłopie daj se siana, w jego głowie jest już tak poprzestawiane, że nie da się tego wyleczyć.. :D
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis … id=4041111
KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. -- There has been a general assumption in the tennis world that, after battling mononucleosis and back problems last year, Roger Federer would return to something approaching championship form in 2009.
Based on an uncharacteristic flash of fury Friday afternoon at the balmy Sony Ericsson Open, that might no longer be a given.
Federer, in the process of playing some of the most wretched tennis he has ever produced, was trailing Novak Djokovic 0-2 when the winner of five consecutive Stefan Edberg sportsmanship awards suddenly snapped. He had kicked a ball across the court a few games earlier, but this was another level. Federer, after sending a forehand into the net, slammed his red Wilson KSix-One Tour 90 with such force that the head crumpled horribly when it hit the court.
It was, scribes noted drily, his best forehand of the day.
When Federer was a junior, in angry, Marat Safin-mode, he often trashed rackets when he didn't like the course the match was taking. But in a dozen years as a professional, he always has been the picture of aplomb. The last verifiable time he tossed a racket was the 2005 final right here in Miami. Federer was losing the second set to Nadal when he lost control -- and his racket -- but back then it energized him and he won the match in five sets.
Not this time.
Federer fell 6-3, 2-6, 3-6 in the semifinal match. Incredibly, Federer lost seven straight games at the end of the second set and the beginning of the third, and 24 of 28 points. Federer committed 35 unforced errors and his serve, broken only once in four previous matches, failed him an extraordinary six times.
"Look, if you make him work -- if you make anybody work on the court -- it's normal that, if he's not on the top of his level, he starts making mistakes," Djokovic said. "That's where you need to step it up and use the opportunity. That's what I did today."
When the subject of his smashed racket -- people who witnessed both tantrums said that this outburst caused far more damage to the weapon -- came up in his postmatch news conference, Federer did not seem pleased. He answered three consecutive questions with a total of only 14 words. The best exchange:
Question: When you fired your racket into the court, did that feel good?
Federer: Not really. Not really.
Later, he expanded on his thoughts after a brave reporter suggested that he "lost it" on the court.
"I didn't lose it," Federer said, coolly. "I was just frustrated. Just because I smashed the racket doesn't mean I lose it. Didn't feel great. Didn't feel -- it's just a natural thing I did."
The forensic experts among the media spent a great deal of time scrutinizing Federer's face in that brief session. Was he crying? He was undeniably red-eyed, but the sweat from exertion was still running down his face. Maybe that was the explanation. Maybe not. Courtside eyewitnesses insist he was crying, and it was reminiscent of his wildly out-of-character sob session during the trophy presentation at the Australian Open after losing to Rafael Nadal.
Maybe this is Federer's new character.
We are not accustomed to seeing this kind of vulnerability in the Swiss champion but, of course, neither is he. Afterward, he mentioned the wind (thrice) and the sun.
"It was a tough finish for me," Federer admitted. "I thought I played OK in the first set, but it was always going to be tough in the wind. I already felt it in the warm-up. It was coming across the court.
[+] EnlargeRoger Federer
Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesFederer's futility in Masters 1000 events dates back to his 2007 title in Cincinnati.
"Yeah, I struggled heavily today. It was tough."
Federer's powerful racket has such a small sweet spot that he occasionally shanks the ball, particularly the forehand. But on Friday he was missing badly, sometimes by several feet, and his awkward footwork and extreme lack of timing couldn't be attributed to the conditions.
So, heading into the clay-court season, where is Federer now? After winning 13 Grand Slam titles and, surprisingly, coming back to the field, it is a question that is now considered after nearly every tournament he plays.
Federer has played four tournaments this year and has failed to win one; he lost in the final of the Australian Open to Nadal and in three semifinals, twice to Andy Murray and now once to Djokovic. This, alone, is not fatal. Last year, Federer won only two minor tournaments, in Portugal and Germany, before winning the U.S. Open.
Going forward, the thing that is more troubling is the loss of control over his emotions -- the very control, he has said, that helped him vault to the top of tennis. Although the one-day media cycle will focus entirely on the racket-smashing moment, the minute that followed was just as fascinating.
The boisterous Miami crowd jeered and whistled when Federer broke his racket and walked to his changeover seat for another one. But after perhaps 30 seconds, when Federer returned to the court, the fans responded with thunderous applause and deep, roaring cheers.
It was as if the crowd, upon reflection, realized it had seen something exceedingly rare. The question that will be debated until Federer reaches another major final: Was it a fleeting flash of temper, or something larger and more sinister? Was this the beginning of the unraveling of Roger?
"That was great," Federer said, his voice rich with sarcasm. "Great, they got behind me after smashing the racket."
And that was the last word of his news conference, at least in English.
Blue napisał:
polecam :D
chyba masochistom albo kibicom Roddicka :]
Dawno mam to w ulubionych, tak jak i sam rzut.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BDoKm6y … -fresh+div
To jest bardzo fajny filmik, tak a propo wspominek.
Dear Fans
Earlier today, in my hometown of Basel, surrounded by a small group of close friends and family, Mirka and I got married. It was a beautiful spring day and an incredibly joyous occasion.
Mr. and Mrs. Roger Federer wish all of you a Happy Easter weekend.
Love,
Roger
___________________________________________________
:D:D:D
no to co Gratulejszyn Mr. and Mrs. Federer !!
Że tak powiem: 'kuzwa'. Myślałam że mnie drań zaprosi, a tu takie coś .
No nic, kiedyś mu wybaczę, póki co gratulacje. No i znowu chciałoby się rzecz - w końcu ! :D
Gratuluję !!!!!! :D :D :D Wreszcie.. :)
Nowina cudowna, z ludzkiego punktu widzenia mu gratuluje :D
Z kibicowskiego z kolei się dziwie, że gra w tym Monaco. Chyba mało pije, skoro będzie trzeźwy we wtorek :P
Fajnie, fajnie, dzidzia ślubna będzie :)
Przyłączam się do gratulacji i najserdeczniejszych życzeń w związku z tą radosną informacją. :D:D:D
Biedny Roger, w co on się pakuje.
Ojej, gratulacje :) Naprawdę radosna nowina! Z każdej perspektywy :D
Gratuluję, rzecz jasna, choć nie jestem pewny, czy aby na pewno jest czego. :P
Ciekawe czy świadkiem na ślubie też był Nadal? :D
Gratuluję Rogerowi. Jak się nabombał na weselu to wygra w Monaco. xDDDDD
asiek napisał:
Ciekawe czy świadkiem na ślubie też był Nadal? :D
Jejku, Asiek, to żart, błagam żeby nie okazał się prawdą. ; (
Ale tak mnie wystraszyłeś, że sprawdziłam coś, i okazało się że Rafa już wczoraj był w MC więc zrobiłam wielkie ufff, przynajmniej tyle .
Ja tam się bardzo cieszę, i nie rozumiem coniektórych oburzenia. W końcu sobie chłopak życie poukładał, po 9 latach bycia ze sobą najwyższa pora. Może nie do końca odpowiedni moment, zwłaszcza z punktu patrzenia kibica, ale cóż, niektórych miłość uskrzydla . Zresztą, while there's life there's hope, you know. :P
To była aluzja do prima aprilisowego żartu :)
Gratulacje dla Mirki i Rogera ! > Dużo, dużo szczęścia, miłości i przyjaźni.
Żeby troszeczkę z życia prywatnego wrócić do tego które powinno nas najbardziej interesować, taki krótki artykuł pt: 'ATP Tour - Federer not finished say rivals', z wypowiedziami innych tenisistów na temat choćby ostatniego 'wybryku' w Miami.
Several top players have come out and said that Roger Federer is still a formidable opponent despite the Swiss master having lost the tag of world number one.
The usually-composed Federer, who has yet to win a tournament in 2009, broke down in tears after losing the Australian Open final to the top-ranked Rafael Nadal in January and smashed one of his rackets in this month's Miami Masters.
"I found it strange he broke his racket in Miami, he who always keeps calm," world number three Novak Djokovic said at the Monte Carlo Masters. "But these things happen when you are frustrated on the court.
"Federer won everything for four years and now he starts losing against some players but you cannot say he is in crisis."
Nadal said the Swiss, who starts his Monte Carlo campaign with a second-round match against Italian Andreas Seppi on Wednesday, had performed well this year.
"He has played a Grand Slam final and two Masters Series semi-finals, these are very good results," said the Spaniard.
"Everybody talks about the racket he smashed in Miami but that's nothing. It happens to everyone.
"He just needs a title to confirm his good start to the season."
Frenchman Gilles Simon, who beat the former world number one twice last year and has yet to lose to the Swiss, said Federer was still a class act.
"Why does he lose his temper on the court? Because he did not need to before as he used to slaughter everyone," said world number seven Simon.
"To me, on a good day, he still is the best player in the world. He had already broken rackets before, now he is frustrated so he does it again.
"In a way it makes him more human."
Spaniard Fernando Verdasco said world number two Federer was finding it difficult to cope with more regular defeats.
"Two years ago he was winning everything. Now, since the beginning of the year, he has been beaten by Nadal, Djokovic and (Andy) Murray," said the eighth-ranked Verdasco.
"I think mentally it is not easy to handle."
Gael Monfils, who lost to Federer in the French Open semi-finals last year, said the Swiss would be looking to avenge his defeats.
"We must not forget who he is," said the 10th-ranked Frenchman. "He will be out for revenge."
Oj, ja już mam powoli tego dosyć, wszyscy w kółko gadają o jakimś nieistniejącym kryzysie i zapaściach, jeżeli ktoś dochodzi choćby do finału AO i 1/2 innych ważnych wydarzeń w tenisowym świecie, to nie może być od razu uznawanym za kogoś bez formy. Okej, nie wygrywa tak jak kiedyś, ale nikt nam tego nie obiecywał. Po prostu większość z nas za bardzo przyzwyczaiła się że Roger wygrywa wszystko, obojętnie z kim gra. Już swoją drogą, że przegrywa mimo przewagi, a dokładnie przegrywa tylko przez głowę. Nie zapomniał jak się gra, zapomniał chyba jak się myśli. Tak czy siak, powinien w końcu zdobyć jakiś tytuł żeby udowodnić że jednak potrafi, i żeby wszyscy w końcu przestali w kółko, bez większego sensu gadać o tym samym. Zaczęło się od zeszłego AO, i chyba nie skończy, a przynajmniej nie skończy w najbliższym czasie ;-)
Musialby wygrac Wimbla. Po RG bedziemy znac jego forme.
Clay na nic nie odpowie, niezależnie od formy te finały będzie robił i obrywał baty z Nadalem, bo czy Roger grał znakomicie czy też do bani , to schodził jako przegrany przeciwko Hiszpanowi. Jedyną wskazówką może być skala owych porażek, z pewnością da się zauważyć różnicę między 2:6,2:6 a 4:6,6:4,6:7.
Fed-Expresso napisał:
Jedyną wskazówką może być skala owych porażek, z pewnością da się zauważyć różnicę między 2:6,2:6 a 4:6,6:4,6:7.
Już lepiej umoczyć 2-6 2-6 niż przegrać kolejną dramatyczną końcówkę 3 seta :P
Racja. Ale bedzie mozna wywnioskowac chociaz troche te forme po RG. Bo wiadomo, ze jesli dojdzie do finalu i tam zagra wyrowanny pojedynek z Rafa to bedzie w dobrej formie. A jesli odpadnie w 1/2 z np Djoko czy (o zgrozo!) Murrayem, to juz gorzej. A wiec poczekamy zobaczymy.
Federer on wedding: 'A few tears here and there'
MONACO (AP) - The tears streaming down Roger Federer's face came not from anguish but from happiness, and the person standing opposite the Swiss star was his new wife.
The 13-time Grand Slam champion, who is playing this week at the Monte Carlo Masters, spoke about his marriage to longtime girlfriend Mirka Vavrinec for the first time Tuesday.
"A few tears here and there," Federer said about Saturday's wedding in his hometown of Basel, Switzerland. "It was nice."
Federer also broke into tears after losing to rival Rafael Nadal in five sets in the Australian Open final. As he was being awarded the runner-up plate in Melbourne, Federer said, "God, it's killing me."
Last weekend, it was a more joyous feeling that led to the weeping.
"I got very emotional, you know, yet again," Federer said. "It was just nice to know that she loves me so much, I love her so much. It was just a very nice day. We had perfect sky, perfect weather."
Ahead of his second-round match against Andreas Seppi of Italy on Wednesday, Federer spoke only briefly about tennis, saying he still hopes to finally win the French Open — the only major he has not won.
"I hope I can win the big one," Federer said. "That's what the focus is here."
Off the court, Federer said he is surprised how different he feels now that he has a wife.
"It's a very special moment. I thought it to be a bit more relaxed, because we've been together for so, so long," Federer said. "It definitely does change your mind-set, your life."
The pair married in a private ceremony, and they did a good job of keeping it secret.
"If you want to get married in private, you have to go to Switzerland," Federer said. "They don't actually care over there. They actually want to give you peace and privacy. That's why I love being a Swiss and living in Switzerland."
Along with chasing a record-tying 14th Grand Slam title at the only major he has never won and reclaiming his No. 1 ranking, Federer is looking for a name for his son.
"We'll see. There's quite a few books around that are that thick, so we'll see where it takes us," Federer said. "But, no, we haven't decided anything yet."
Myślę, że Federer powinien rozważyć zwinięcie żagielka. W tym roku 5 oficjalnych występów i 5 kompromitacji, co kolejna, to gorsza; a warto pamiątać, że na AO mógł i powinien polecieć z Berdychem. Skoro zaczynają się kłopoty ze średniakami, to widomy znak, że pora dać w długą.
Pamiętam, jak Sampras zbierał baty z ludzmi, którzy kiedyś ugraliby po 3 gemy w secie. Roger chyba nie chciałby tego przerabiać. Teraz będzie miał na głowie powiększoną rodzinę, więc jeszcze mniej będzie chęci do gry w tenisa.
Niegłupio byłoby postarać się zgarnąć jakiegoś Szlema, może USO(choć ten sezon raczej stracony), może przyszłoroczny Wimbledon. I pięknie zejść ze sceny. :)
Facetowi się po prostu nie chce ciężko pracować. Z Samprasem było podobnie. Od Wimbla 00 do USo 02 nie wygrał żadnego turnieju. Wtedy wszyscy ogłosili schyłek mistrza, a Paul Annacone stwierdził, żę Pete po prostu musi wrócić do ciężkich treningów i przypomnieć sobie ile one mu dały. Z Fedem jest podobnie. Czy gdyby się porządnie przygotował do danego turnieju, zrzucił zbędne kilogramy to przegrywałby z Wawrinkami, Djokoviciami czy Murrayami? Moim zdaniem nie. Młody nie jest, ale 27 lat to też nie wiek emerytalny. Moim zdaniem wciąż ma papiery na wygrywanie wielkich imprez, kwestia chęci i priorytetów. Te siłą rzeczy uległy zmianie. Jak słusznie zauważyłeś Roger rozpoczął nowy rozdział w życiu i nie ma teraz głowy do tenisa, stąd faktycznie dziwi mnie, że gra w jakichś Monte Carlach.
Powinien olać ranking, jak i wszystkie konsekwencje związane z niestartowaniem w Mastersach i układać kalendarz pod Szlemy. Dla mnie to On już powinien myśleć o trawie. Do czerwca i nacieszy się obrączką i żoną i zdąży się solidnie przygotować do tej Lewy WS, którą ponoć bardzo kocha - Wimbledonu.
Nie zgadzam się tak całkiem. Sampras był po pierwsze wtedy starszy, po drugie miał masę kontuzji i nie mówiąc o delikatnej formie anemii, a trzecie jego przegrane w ważncyh turniejach nieco inaczej wyglądały, nie było żadnego mitowisizmu, po prostu był słabszy, a rywale grali genialnie. Porównaj finały USO 2000 i 2001 z tym co wyprawia Federer.
Sampras był przykładem dobrego zakończenia kariery, zobaczymy, czy Szwajcar da radę zrobić to w podobnym stylu.
Tak, masz rację (co do stylu w jakim oboje przegrywają mecze).
Nie zmienia to jednak faktu, że wypowiedź Annacone też była autentyczna. :)
http://www.rogerfederer.com/en/rogers/n … NewsID=891
:]
Dałem to już w temacie MC. Kpina, ale każdy robi co chce i ponosi konsekwencje.
Oj bez przesady, nie osiąga znowu takich tragicznych wyników żeby od razu myśleć o jakimś końcu, o końcu kariery już nie mówiąć. Gra słabiej, to chyba każdy może zauważyć, ale na to wpływa dużo różnych rzeczy. Według mnie pierwszym krokiem żeby cokolwiek zrobić w strone dawnej dyspozycji, albo chociaż jakiejś części tej dyspozycji, jest wycofanie się z Rzymu. Grać tam, w jego przypadku, nie ma większego sensu, ale zrobi jak będzie uważał, a jak go znamy pewnie tam wystartuje i tym razem nie dojdzie nawet do tego miejsca gdzie w MC, bo poleci z Seppim już na początku.
DUN I LOVE napisał:
Powinien olać ranking, jak i wszystkie konsekwencje związane z niestartowaniem w Mastersach i układać kalendarz pod Szlemy. Dla mnie to On już powinien myśleć o trawie. Do czerwca i nacieszy się obrączką i żoną i zdąży się solidnie przygotować do tej Lewy WS, którą ponoć bardzo kocha - Wimbledonu.
O, to to właśnie . Ja, tak czy siak liczę na dobry występ i obronę tytułu na USO, dla mnie zawsze ten turniej miał największe znaczenie.
Federer od dobrych dwóch lat gra jedynie siłą rozpędu. Wielkie cele to tylko puste werbalne deklaracje, za którymi nie idą żadne realne działania w celu ich osiągnięcią.
Albo skończy teraz, albo będzie się stopniowo staczać coraz niżej. Na razie przegrywa z zawodnikani mającymi pewną sportową klasę, ale już niebawem zaczną się wtopy z zupełnymi przeciętniakami. Żeby coś osiągnąć w sporcie, trzeba mieć cel, wiedzieć po co się rywalizuje, co się chce osiągnąć.
Nadal miał marzenie by wygrać Wimbledon i konsekrentnie do to tego dążył, łącznie z graniem tych krytykowanych debli, potem chciał wygrać turniej WS na hard i wszystko temu podporzadkował, teraz wiemy dobrze, co ma w planach.
Federer nie żadnego relanego celu sportowego( nie mówię w żadnym razie, że to źle, kiedyś trzeba było postawić na rodzinę) na tę chwilę, nic go nie napędza i to ma swoje przełożenie na treningi, grę i wyniki. Nie ma sensu dalej oszukiwać siebie i innych.
E tam od razu nie ma, rekord Samprasa na wyciagniecie reki. Jego problemem jest to ze mlodziez sie rozkrecila i co wazne nie boja sie gry z Federerem, jak bali sie Roddick czy Hewitt pare lat temu.
Nie jest to tak do końca Bizon. :) Moim zdaniem normalnie przygotowany Fed z Nole czy Murrayem robiłby mniej więcej to co z nimi zrobił podczas ostatniego USO.
Roger jest w takim momencie swojego życia, że wiele spraw się nawarstwiło. Małżeństwo, dziecko w drodze to są spore przeżycia, zwłaszcza dla tak wrażliwego mężczyzny. Dodatkowo problemy zdrowotne i przede wszystkim bolesne porażki z Nadalem (2x 5 -setów w finale WS) musiały odcisnąć piętno.
Moim zdaniem powinien zrobić jakąś przerwę, poukładać wszystko na nowo i wrócić. Tak jak kiedyś Agassi :D No albo jak nie ma motywacji to zrobić tak jak napisał to Robertinho.
Jaka znowu młodzież się rozkręciła? Roddick, Gilles Simon,Fish, Karlovic, Blake, Staś Wawrinka, czy może Berdych? Jeden Murray leje go równo i to na razie poza WS, Djoko jednak większość ważnych spotkań przegrał ze Szwajcarem( a jak wyglądał mecz w Miami, dobrze wiemy ;) ), a Nadal rywalizuje z nim piąty rok, więc ciężko uznać go za przeboją nowość. Teraz wszyscy trzej zrobiliby go na szaro na każdej nawierzchni, bo jest słaby, a nie z powodu braku respektu. Na obecnego Federera wystarczy solidnie przebić kilka piłek, resztę zrobi sam.
Z taką grą zbierałby baty z młodym Hewittem, Safinem, Agassim czy dobrze łupiącym Rodem(takim z finału Wimbla 2004, bo przecież obecny to cień dawnego, a i tak powinien go zlać ostatnio).
Gdzie on ma tego Szlema wygrać? Cegłe może pomińmy :P , na wolnej trawie Nadal pojedzie go bez mydła, a może i Murray go wyręczy, na hard nawet jeśli Rafa padnie ze zmęczenia, to są Murray i Djoko, w tej chwili za mocni. To i tak wersa optymistyczna, bo wyloty we wczesnych rundach WS już nadchodzą wielkimi krokami.
Sampras czekał na 14 Szlema dość długo, przetrzymał dwie straszliwe klęski w ukochanym Nowym Yorku, nie wiem, czy Federa stać na coś podobnego.
Myślę, że jak przegra USO, przyjdzie czas poważnych i dla wielu bolesnych decyzji.
Ja cały czas będę powtarzał, że jeśli Fed marzy o próbie odbicia Wimbla, to powinien olać kompletnie clay. Przez jego pasję ogrania Nadala jego stylem gry, kompletnie zatracił walory ofensywne. Według mnie nie ma po prostu innego wyjścia, jak powrót chociażby do Feda 2003, czyli serwis poparty doskonałym wolejem. Trudno, żeby Roger wygrał Wmbledon grając z głębi kortu, jedynie agresywne gra może mu przynieść sukces, bo to jest jego naturalny tenis, wg mnie Federer poprzez kompleks Nadala ewoluował w gorszą wersję i zaprzepaścił ogromny potencjał przy sieci.
Po pierwsze trzeba by teleportować 21 letniego Federera, po drugie przyśpieszyć trawę; o ile to dugie jest możliwe i nie wykluczam, że Brytole podziałają coś pod Maryja, to na to pierwsze nie ma żadnych szans. A że jeszcze być może termin będzie na lipiec, to lepiej nie robić sobie nadziei.
Ten argument z Murrayem do mnie przemawia, ale pytanie czy Szkotowi pomoże klasyczny grass, jeśli presja Brytów byłaby przeogromna. Odnośnie Feda problem tkwi w aspekcie czysto tenisowym, i nawet stara dobra trawa nie pomogłaby Federerowi w odbiciu tego turnieju. Zresztą, jak on ma tego nie wygrać, to niech dokona tego Ryży, chociaż będą mieli wyspiarze nieziemską radochę.
Jeszcze trochę fedowego gadania (dla absolutnych konsererów :D) :
Federer: to słaba wymówka
Sensacyjnie zakończyło się wczorajsze spotkanie pomiędzy byłym liderem rankingu ATP Rogerem Federerem ze swoim rodakiem, Stanislasem Wawrinką w meczu III rundy turnieju ATP rozgrywanego na kortach ziemnych w Monte Carlo (z pulą nagród 2 mln 750 tysięcy euro).
To pierwsze zwycięstwo rozstawionego z numerem 13. Wawrinki nad Federerem.
- To nie był łatwy mecz, ale jestem bardzo zadowolony, że wyszedłem z niego zwycięsko - powiedział Wawrinka po zakończonym meczu, który ze względu na nieustannie padający deszcz opóźnił się o pięć godzin.
Federer, który 11 kwietnia poślubił swoją długoletnią dziewczynę Miroslavę Vavrinec, na udział w turnieju zdecydował się w ostatniej chwili. Pomimo tego rozstawiony z numerem 2. Szwajcar powodów swojej porażki nie doszukiwał się w braku przygotowań.
- Ten problem dotyczy wszystkich. Nikt nie miał czasu na przygotowania. Słaba wymówka, ponieważ dla wszystkich warunki są podobne - powiedział.
Federer przyznał, iż jego gra na kortach ziemnych wymaga poprawy. - Postanowiłem przyjechać do Monte Carlo, ponieważ udział w tym turnieju pomoże mi odpowiedzieć na pytanie nad czym powinienem jeszcze popracować - stwierdził.
- Dziś zdecydowanie mój serwis nie funkcjonował odpowiednio. Nie serwuję dobrze od początku sezonu, więc muszę być pewien, że poprawię ten element gry - ocenił Federer.
onet.pl
Roger Federer napisał:
- Postanowiłem przyjechać do Monte Carlo, ponieważ udział w tym turnieju pomoże mi odpowiedzieć na pytanie nad czym powinienem jeszcze popracować -
hahaha
A to jest coś, nad czym nie trzeba popracować? :zdziwiony:
Pan Bohdan dobrze to podsumował :
"Roger Federer jest 2 rakietą nie świata, a 2 rakietą Szwajcarii" :D
Jak się teraz zastanowiłem, to faktycznie brak celów może być jedną z wielu przyczyn pasma niepowodzeń. Nadal cel ma jasny: po prostu wygrywać, oraz oczywiście poszczególne turnieje które chce mieć w swojej kolekcji. Przyglądając się Helwetowi dochodzę, do wniosku, że , ani ja, ani tym bardziej On, nie wie po co jest na tym korcie, nie wie co chce osiągnąć odbijając piłkę z jakimś człowiekiem po drugiej stronie siatki. Te półfinały robi, bo nawet jeśli nie przyświeca mu żadna idea grania, to większość oponentów mających takie założenia nie ma argumentów tenisowych , by wyeliminować Federera.
DUN I LOVE napisał:
Nie jest to tak do końca Bizon. :) Moim zdaniem normalnie przygotowany Fed z Nole czy Murrayem robiłby mniej więcej to co z nimi zrobił podczas ostatniego USO.
Według mnie jest troche inaczej. Latka leca przez co coraz trudniej Fedkowi byc caly rok w dobrej formie. Apogeum swojej gry w ostatnich 2 latach osiaga w turniejach Wielkoszlemowych srubujac stale rekord zrobionych przynajmniej polfinalow z rzedu. Szwajcar widzac ze mu nie idzie i ze jego forma nie jest taka jak podczas WS traci dawna pewnosc siebie, przez co seryjnie dostaje baty od Murraya w meczach best of three. Porazki z Doha, czy Indian Wells sa tego swietnym przykladem.
Federer odpuszcza Mastersy kosztem swietnego przygotowania do GS, stad tez pojawiaja sie przykre porazki jak z Fishem, Roddickiem, Karlovicem, itd.
I mimo waszych lamentow uwazam ze Federer raczej zrobi na cegle final RG, bo o finale Wimbledonu to jestem przekonany (no chyba ze po wielu stratach punktowych na clayu spadnie na 3 pozycje w rankingu i zagra w 1/2 z Nadalem :P)
Rekord, albo chociaz wyrownanie rekordu Samprasa jest na wyciagniecie reki i jestem pewny ze Szwajcar znajdzie jeszcze w tym i przyszlym sezonie motywacje do gry. Mysli o zawieszeniu kariery mogly by wystapic ewentualnie po kolejnych porazkach z Nadalem w finale Wielkiego Szlema, oraz po porazkach w WS z zawodnikami jak Djokovic czy Murray, badz kimkolwiek innym przed 1/2. Federer Mastersów juz tyle na wygrywal ze nie sa one dla niego priorytem stad takie mizerne wystepy, jak uda mu sie wygrac jakis Szlem to dorzuci jeszcze tytul w Bazylei, czy innym Estoril i bedzie mogl uznac sezon za w miare udany :P
Niestety, będę chyba musiał zrewidować opinię o przyszłości Fedka, to co pisałem wcześniej pokrywa się mniej więcej ze zdaniem Jakuba Ciastoniahttp://tenisowy.blox.pl/2009/04/Porazki … iecej.html; a jeśli ma się na jakiś temat podobne zdanie jak Jakub Ciastoń, należy się poważnie zaniepokoić. :P
Wg mnie Fed potrzebuje przerwy. RG powinien odpuscic. Bo co z tego jak nawet zrobi ten swoj final skoro wiekszego celu w tym nie ma i nic z tego finalu nie wyniknie, bo dostanie baty od Rafy. A to by znowu podlamalo. Sezon na clayu jest troche juz stracony. A jest to idealny moment na zrobienie sobie przerwy i trenowaniu w zaciszu oraz jakis tam powrot na Wimblu.
Fedowi brakuje tenisa, dawnej swiezosci gry i komfortu psychicznego. Meczy sie na korcie. Serwis siedzi, gra przy siatce siedzi, bekhend w porownaniu do tego sprzed 3-4 lat jest beznadziejny. Trzeba mu motywacji i sil do tego, aby zaczac to poprawiac. A na razie checi ku temu nie zauwazam, bo Roger jezdzi sobie z turnieju na turniej, gra i gra i gra bez wiekszego celu. Kazdy jego wystep konczy sie ostatnio na 1/2, w Monte- Carlo przegral ze swoim rodakiem. Czas pomyslec po co to wszystko. Teraz te dwa tygodnie do Rzymu tez niczego nie zmienia. Wystep we Wloszech jest mu niepotrzebny.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kczi7QV5-Q
Roger wraca do formy.
A no, już wcześniej ją widziałam tylko nie wiedziałam czy powinnam ją tu wrzucić. Tak czy siak, Roger jak zwykle dostał najgorszą rolę i jakoś nie potrafię się póki co z tego śmiać, bo słyszałam że powinnam. Generalnie reklama jest tragiczna, mam nadzieję że jej nie puszczą w tv, bo to równoważy się z kolejnymi głupimi docinkami, typu: Roger woli udawać idiotę niż przyłozyć się do tego do czego tak naprawdę został stworzony. Poniekąd racja, ale wolałabym tego nie słyszeć. Dobrze że Nike wymyśla przynajmniej jakieś bardziej hm, konstruktywne? reklamy .
Eh, tylko pan Tiger jakoś się prezentuje :P
Reklama super. Roger rewelacyjny, wolę go zdecydowanie bardziej w takim wydaniu, niż przedmeczowych wywiadach ................................ .:P Muzyka braci Gibb, cudo. Ach, gdzie te stare, dobre czasy :D
Ja uważam , że taka reklama to świetny pomysł. Roger pokazuje, że ma dystans do własnej osoby(nawet jeśli jest on wart miliony dolców). Reklama z Nole również fajna, jeszcze inna Nadal and Gasol ale nic nie rozumiem bo jest po hiszpańsku :D.
OFF COURT - IT'S A BOY!
Today's Swiss weekly magazine "Schweizer Illustrierte" features a 12 page article on Roger and Mirka's wedding with exclusive images and reports.
Mirka wore a wonderful Empire-dress by Oscar de la Renta and Roger was dressed in a classic suit by Tom Ford. After the ceremony at the civil registry office in Basel the 39 invited guests followed the newly-weds to a villa in an old park in the surroundings of town. Roger also gave away a little secret in the interview: the baby is a boy!
Tadam, mamy chłopczyka, tak jak ja przynajmniej chciałam :P
Jednak dał radę. :P Brawo. ;)
Hehe :P Za jakieś 28 lat rekord Samprasa (Nadala) w ilości wygranych Szlemów zostanie pobity :D
Graty ;)
I dlatego Federer się tak pewnie nie martwi o ten rekord :P
He’s one of a kind: Bud Collins talks about Roger Federer and the story behind those pants
NEWPORT — Roger Federer has won his last Grand Slam title. That’s the opinion of tennis aficionado Bud Collins, who was at the International Tennis Hall of Fame last week filming some material for the Tennis Channel.
In between shooting 24, 52-second “vignettes,” which will air during the Tennis Channel’s coverage of the French Open and Wimbledon, Collins took some time out to talk about tennis — and his colorful pants.
“He’s still one of the great players, but some other people have surfaced — (Rafael) Nadal, (Andy) Murray, (Novak) Djokovic, (Juan Martin) Del Potro — and, all of a sudden, there are guys who can beat him,” Collins said of Federer. “We went about five years when nobody could beat him. It’s nice to see competition, frankly.
“Five straight Wimbledons ought to be enough for any man.”
Not long ago, it was a foregone conclusion that Federer someday would overtake Pete Sampras’ record of 14 career Grand Slam titles. Now, it wouldn’t be farfetched to opine that Federer will remain stuck at 13.
“I think he’s probably got chasing Sampras on his mind,” Collins said. “He could win Wimbledon again. He’s a great champion, no matter what happens.”
Tennis trivia: Which player had won the most Grand Slam singles championships, and how many, before Sampras broke the record? Roy Emerson won 12 in the 1960s.
“We never used to think about this stuff when Emerson was playing. He didn’t even know he held the record,” Collins said. “When Pete got to about nine, or maybe eight, I started writing that he was stalking Emerson.
“Emerson said, ‘Gee, I suddenly see my name in the paper being chased. When I was doing the thing, nobody gave a damn.’”
Collins isn’t exactly writing off Federer. And even though the torch clearly has been passed, anointing Nadal as the next challenger to Sampras’ majors record is premature.
“It’s a long way off yet. To win eight more majors is a pretty hefty load,” Collins said. “The way he plays, I’m concerned about his knees. He has had problems with them.”
In choosing a locale for the Tennis Channel’s short takes on players, matches, etc., in Grand Slams, Collins said the Hall of Fame made perfect sense.
“The place stands alone. The ghosts of all the greats are here,” he said. “Anytime you can come to this place, maybe I’m prejudiced, but to me, it’s one of the great tennis locations in the world.”
And it’s one of the places Collins can wear his trademark wacky pants and no one will bat an eye.
Anyone who’s attended the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships or Hall of Fame induction ceremony should be familiar with Collins’ affinity for one-of-a-kind pants. He runs the gamut of styles and colors, ranging from solid tangerine — with matching shoes — to purple with giant strawberries.
He even had a pair made, after covering the “Rumble in the Jungle” — the George Foreman-Muhammad Ali heavyweight title fight — with Foreman’s head on one leg and Ali’s on the other.
The story behind Collins’ pants begins in 1966 during his tenure at a local Boston TV station.
“A guy in Cambridge named Charlie Davidson had a store there called The Andover Shop, and one day he said to me, ‘You look awfully dull on television,’” Collins said. “I was usually wearing white trousers and a blue blazer, and he said I looked like some jerk at a yacht club.”
With some material from India, Davidson offered to make Collins a pair of unique trousers. Collins, begrudgingly, wore them to the Davis Cup in Cleveland.
“I wished I’d had a raincoat on. You wouldn’t give them a second look today. They were just red and white madras plaid,” Collins recalled. “I started to climb the stairs to the press box and started to hear whistles and, ‘Ooh! Look at those!’ and things like that. I wanted to disappear.
“But after I got to the top, I thought, ‘That was kind of fun.’”
The fun hasn’t stopped. Davidson still makes pants for Collins, and Collins isn’t shy about wearing them.
“Now, if I’m dressed nicely, not in pants like this, people say, ‘Where are your pants?’” he said. “Davidson is still going. He’s about 83 or so.
“It’s been fun.”
Ameryki koleś nie odkrył, a sama wypowiedź mało konstruktywna.
A i panie Collins, nie wiem jak Fed musiałby się stoczyć, by paść z rakiety Del Potro.
Fed-Expresso napisał:
A i panie Collins, nie wiem jak Fed musiałby się stoczyć, by paść z rakiety Del Potro.
Max 12 miesięcy i się dowiesz, niestety. :) Kiedyś to się będzie musiało stać, 7 lat różnicy zrobi swoje prędzej czy później. :)
Chodzi mi o bardziej o to, że wymienił Argentyńca w grupie potencjalnych pogromców, co dla mnie jest trochę zbyt pochopne biorąc pod uwagę ich bilans,a także jak wielka różnica w umiejenosciach dzieli Del Potro od graczy ponad nim. Jakoś mam wrażenie że nawet 40-letni Roger by sobie z tą niesłychanie wyrafinowaną i trudną do przejrzenia grą Juana poradził.
FEDERER RECEIVES DOUBLE HONOUR
Roger Federer continues to shine as the fairest and most popular player on the ATP World Tour after the 2008 ATP World Tour Awards were announced in Miami today. Fellow players voted Federer the winner of the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award for a record fifth consecutive year. Only Edberg himself won the award five times (over eight years). And in a poll of fans, Federer for the sixth consecutive year was voted ATPWorldTour.com Fans’ Favourite.
Of his dual honours, Federer said: “It is great to receive two more awards. It is always important for me to be a good sportsman on the court and give the right example for others to follow and hopefully inspire the next generation. It also means the world to me to be the fans’ favourite player for the sixth year in a row. The support I receive from the fans around the world is so motivating and it is humbling to receive this award once again."
ATP World Tour Champion Rafael Nadal and ATP World Tour Doubles Team Champions Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic were announced as the Player of the Year and Doubles Team of the Year respectively.
James Blake won the prestigious Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year award for his many charitable efforts, including several fundraising initiatives for cancer research.
Robertinho napisał:
Straszna choroba Federera nazywa się leń, a zaatakowała w sezonie 2007, kiedy uznał, że może wygrywać bez wysiłku; a tu nieprzyjemność nieboraka spotkała, wałek tłuszczu jednak nie pomaga w grze. :D
Widziałem mecz z Djoko, żałosny popis luzerstwa i nieudacznictwa, o tenisowej formie nie mówie, bo tej nie ma i już nie będzie; być może jak Federer będzie miał z głównymi rywalami 0-20 z rzędu, to oleje kontrakty sponsorskie które trzymają go w rozgrywkach i przestanie robić z siebie pośmiewisko.
Finału nie widziałem, uboższy się przez to nie czuje.
No to co ma Fed teraz zrobić? Mi się wydaje , że odejście od sportu to cholernie trudna decyzja. Ci ludzie poświecili całe swoje życie dla tej dyscypliny, nie łatwo jest się z czymś takim rozstać. Ja uważam, że życie byłego sportowca jest trudne, nawet jeśli posida kupę forsy, bo tak naprawdę nie wie co ma ze sobą zrobić. Roger trenerem raczej nie zostanie, a już na pewno nie od treningu mentalnego. Być może ta adrenalina meczowa nadaje sens jego życiu, nawet jeśli daje ciała z najlepszymi.
Może dawniej tak było, teraz już moim zdaniem nie. Nie wiem co on tam sobie myśli, ale widzę, co wyprawia na korcie. Ostatnio radość z gry zaobserwowano 1,5 roku temu, ten człowiek jest na korcie za karę i potwornie się męczy. Jeśli chce, żeby ludziom w głowie pozostał obraz zniechęcenie i luzerstwa, niech dalej idzie tą drogą.
Mi się wydaje, że Roger ma w tej chwili podobne podejście do swojego zawodu jak większość studentów :D
Co się robi, kiedy trzeba gdzieś dobrze wypaść na egzaminie, a jest relatywnie mało czasu, albo w natłoku zajęć nie ma kiedy się właściwie przygotować? Odpuszczasz część zajęć, siadasz na dupie i zakuwasz. Tak by zrobiła ta część, której naprawdę ma motywację i najszczersze chęci. Druga część, która niby też pragnie dobrych ocen, odpowie, że zamiast się uczyć w domu to pójdzie na 3 wykłady, każdy po 1,5 godziny i więcej. Wiadomo, że tam aż tyle co w zaciszu domowym się nie nauczysz, ale: spotkasz znajomych, autobusem się w 2 strony przejdziesz :D i co najważniejsze - będziesz sprawiał wrażenie kogoś, kto sumiennie podchodzi do swoich obowiązków.
Talent talentem, ale postawiłbym wszystkie pieniądze, że ta pierwsza grupa osób dostałaby lepszą ocenę z egzaminu. Oczywiście przy założeniu, że w obu przypadkach braki są potężne.
Roger sprawia bardzo podobne wrażenie. Niby trenuje, gra, pokazuje się ludziom jako ktoś kto bardzo chce, tylko jakimś cudem nie zaszyje się jak dawniej na 3-4 tygodnie w swojej rezydencji kosztem kilku turniejów, by porządnie popracować nad swoją formą. Mało tego, nawet głodu gry w tenisa nie ma kiedy nabrać. Ten chwilowy zapał jest słomiany. Dziś mi się chce grać, pogram pół godziny i się na korcie męczę. Oczywiście oddawanie gemów rywalowi w ważnych meczach chyba jeszcze bardziej zniechęca. Moim zdaniem on chętnie zgarnąłby te wszystkie najważniejsze puchary, ale takiej szczerej (naprawdę szczerej) chęci do katorżniczej pracy po prostu nie ma.
Na jego nieszczęście Ci wyżej opisani studenci mogą skończyć studia grubo po 40-stce, a rekord Samprasa jest do pobicia jeszcze przez 3-4 sezony. Im szybciej to do niego dotrze, tym lepiej. Nie trafiają do mnie argumenty typu, że trzeba wszędzie startować. Roddick położył lachę na Rzym, wypocznie, potrenuje i prędzej czy później to zaprocentuje. Roger też kiedyś miał w nosie to co ATP mu każe, grał jak uważał siebie za zdrowego w 100 %, w pełni formy.
Fed-Expresso napisał:
No to co ma Fed teraz zrobić? Mi się wydaje , że odejście od sportu to cholernie trudna decyzja. Ci ludzie poświecili całe swoje życie dla tej dyscypliny, nie łatwo jest się z czymś takim rozstać.
Moim zdaniem przez 2-3 lata taki wariant nie wchodzi w grę. Jakbym ja miał 13 szlemów w wieku 27 lat i dołek formy to siła nadziei bym grał, licząc, że przydarzy się taki turniej, gdzie ktoś nie zagra, inny szybko odpadnie, inny wyczyści mi drogę do finału, a jeszcze inny wyjdzie na kort po swój najgorszy mecz w karierze. Młody jestem, ale maratończyk mający rezerwy fizyczne i schodzący z trasy 300 metrów przed finiszem to obrazek rzadki, z którym się nigdy nie spotkałem.
DUN I LOVE napisał:
Mi się wydaje, że Roger ma w tej chwili podobne podejście do swojego zawodu jak większość studentów :D
Z całą pewnością tak właśnie jest xDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
DUN I LOVE napisał:
Co się robi, kiedy trzeba gdzieś dobrze wypaść na egzaminie, a jest relatywnie mało czasu, albo w natłoku zajęć nie ma kiedy się właściwie przygotować? Odpuszczasz część zajęć, siadasz na dupie i zakuwasz. Tak by zrobiła ta część, której naprawdę ma motywację i najszczersze chęci. Druga część, która niby też pragnie dobrych ocen, odpowie, że zamiast się uczyć w domu to pójdzie na 3 wykłady, każdy po 1,5 godziny i więcej. Wiadomo, że tam aż tyle co w zaciszu domowym się nie nauczysz, ale: spotkasz znajomych, autobusem się w 2 strony przejdziesz :D i co najważniejsze - będziesz sprawiał wrażenie kogoś, kto sumiennie podchodzi do swoich obowiązków.
Talent talentem, ale postawiłbym wszystkie pieniądze, że ta pierwsza grupa osób dostałaby lepszą ocenę z egzaminu. Oczywiście przy założeniu, że w obu przypadkach braki są potężne.
Rozumiem, że oba warianty masz przećwiczone, stąd te głębokie przemyślenia? :P Ja miałem małą przygodę z wariantem dwa, na szczęście to był pierwszy rok i udało się uniknąć poważniejszych komplikacji. Niestety, najlepszy wariant to nauka od początku semestru i rycie po nocach przed egzaminem w przypadku studenta i regularne mocne trenowanie w przypadku tenisisty. Subtelna różnica miedzy tymi zajęciami jest taka, że to drugie jest płatne. :P
DUN I LOVE napisał:
Roger sprawia bardzo podobne wrażenie. Niby trenuje, gra, pokazuje się ludziom jako ktoś kto bardzo chce, tylko jakimś cudem nie zaszyje się jak dawniej na 3-4 tygodnie w swojej rezydencji kosztem kilku turniejów, by porządnie popracować nad swoją formą. Mało tego, nawet głodu gry w tenisa nie ma kiedy nabrać. Ten chwilowy zapał jest słomiany. Dziś mi się chce grać, pogram pół godziny i się na korcie męczę. Oczywiście oddawanie gemów rywalowi w ważnych meczach chyba jeszcze bardziej zniechęca. Moim zdaniem on chętnie zgarnąłby te wszystkie najważniejsze puchary, ale takiej szczerej (naprawdę szczerej) chęci do katorżniczej pracy po prostu nie ma.
Na jego nieszczęście Ci wyżej opisani studenci mogą skończyć studia grubo po 40-stce, a rekord Samprasa jest do pobicia jeszcze przez 3-4 sezony. Im szybciej to do niego dotrze, tym lepiej. Nie trafiają do mnie argumenty typu, że trzeba wszędzie startować. Roddick położył lachę na Rzym, wypocznie, potrenuje i prędzej czy później to zaprocentuje. Roger też kiedyś miał w nosie to co ATP mu każe, grał jak uważał siebie za zdrowego w 100 %, w pełni formy.
A mnie się zdaje, że uznał, że już nie ma większych szans na sukcesy i to zabija motywacje. W każdym kolejnym turnieju czeka pewspektywa spotkania z dwoma z trzech rywali, którzy regularnie go leją, co gorsza zazwyczaj potyka się już na pierwszej poważnej przeszkodzie. W tych meczch wyraźnie widać, jak bardzo obawia się swoich konkurentów; we wczesnych i środkowych fazach setów, kiedy jeszcze nie ma presji, gra dobrze, jak zaczynają się naprawdę ważne piłki, zaczyna heblować i potem boi się mocniej uderzyć piłkę.
O braku jakiegokolwiek całościowego pomysłu na grę nie wspomnę, brak szkoleniowca spowodował, że on już kompletnie nie wie, co ma grać, zwłaszcza kompletny brak wariantu B(nie licząc bh w płot) jest wręcz niebywały u zawodnika tej klasy; kiedy jest troszkę słabszy okres, to albo jest smętne klepanie przez środek i rywal zaczyna gonić po rogach, albo walenie po trybunach, a gemy uciekają. Obawiam się, że bez pomocy trenera nie ma szans na poprawę gry, problem w tym, że nie wiedać nikogo z kim Szwajcar chciałby współpracować.
DUN I LOVE napisał:
Moim zdaniem przez 2-3 lata taki wariant nie wchodzi w grę. Jakbym ja miał 13 szlemów w wieku 27 lat i dołek formy to siła nadziei bym grał, licząc, że przydarzy się taki turniej, gdzie ktoś nie zagra, inny szybko odpadnie, inny wyczyści mi drogę do finału, a jeszcze inny wyjdzie na kort po swój najgorszy mecz w karierze. Młody jestem, ale maratończyk mający rezerwy fizyczne i schodzący z trasy 300 metrów przed finiszem to obrazek rzadki, z którym się nigdy nie spotkałem.
Borg miał bodaj 26 lat jak zakończył kariere. :P A poważne, to ja też myślę, że nie skończy w najbliższym czasie. Zadomowi się pewnie na pozycji 4-5 i tam będzie sobie siedział, przegrywając kolejne ważne mecze w dużych turniejach. :P
Reed: Federer can shine in the twilight
Eurosport blogger Simon Reed rues the fact that Roger Federer is in the twilight years of his career - but believes he can still shine bright enough to win more Grand Slams.
I can't help but feel slightly nostalgic already for the career of Roger Federer.
Last week's tournament in Rome saw Novak Djokovic beat him decisively - not comfortably, but as if he were just another fellow top-10 player.
"Just another player". It seems unbelievable that you could use the words about Federer, but sadly that's what he is now - at least to men like Djokovic and Andy Murray.
A lot of people seem incredibly upset by the thought, even to the point of being reluctant to accept it. I understand that, and I share their sadness that Federer is going in the wrong direction now, simply because he has been a wonderful champion.
Whenever there's a dominant figure in a particular sport, there invariably follows a period of excitement as he or she climbs to the top, followed by boredom and even irritation at the predictability of their constant victories.
It has happened with everyone from Stephen Hendry to Tiger Woods but it never happened with Federer.
And that's because he has always been so beautiful to watch, so sublime, and so gracious in both triumph and disappointment that even when he was winning with monotonous regularity, he never once became monotonous.
The days of his domination, though, are behind him, and though I'd dearly love to see him win a couple more Grand Slams, it's becoming harder to see that happening outside of Wimbledon.
He still has the same game as he always did, but what he doesn't have is the same fear factor. Players like Djokovic and Murray walk on to court expecting to beat him; and lesser players line up knowing that the everlasting stream of winners will surely come to an end.
Nadal, meanwhile, destroyed him at last year's French Open in a way that he can never forget. Federer, brilliant in the run-up events, brilliant in the early rounds, truly felt that he had a chance to complete his career Grand Slam, but ended up being taken to pieces in the final - and then saw even his dominance at Wimbledon overturned just a few weeks later.
Once, players just saw no way past his brilliance, and capitulated. Now, they feel that they can grab their chance to bag the scalp of a legend.
So what can Federer do about it? Well, he probably could do with a new coach, even though he's spent the lion's share of his career without one. And he also needs to play a more tactical game, now that he can't always rely on his shotmaking to pull himself out of trouble.
And his serve needs brushing up: it used to be so good, so consistent, that seeing him drop serve was a significant event. It's not like that any more, and he needs to be pragmatic to get the most out of what he has left in the tank. If he faces up to these problems he can still break the Grand Slam record which it's long seemed his destiny to take.
Can he do that? Will he? I don't know, but I can't help feeling that the stubbornness that champions are born with - and which he had in spades - might make it that much harder for him to admit to, and deal with, the fact that he is no longer the best.
Simon Reed is one of Britain's top tennis commentators - his exclusive blog appears here every Tuesday and Friday.
Simon Reed / Eurosport
Wałkowanie w kółko tego samego, staje się powoli monotonne. Zaznaczyłam fragment, który bardzo, bardzo mi się spodobał. No i ta końcowa rada pana Simon'a nie wydaje się taka głupia, zresztą - wszyscy to piszą, czy też mówią. W tym wypadku trener jest jak najbardziej wskazany. Zresztą, znamy go, zrobi jak będzie uważał.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/8030695.stm
Wywiad Rogera udzielony dla BBC.
World number two Roger Federer talks about his 10 years in professional tennis and how he still believes he can win the elusive French Open title.
Rafa pewnie leży :D
To jeszcze nic. :D
http://www.rogerfederer.com/en/rogers/n … NewsID=901
hahaha
Pomarańczowa koszulka zapewne w ramach przygotowań do RG :cool:
Ja tam nie wiem ale nie posuwacie się w krytyce Federera zbyt daleko? Gość ma prawo być fizycznie zmęczony i psychicznie wypalony po tylu latach gry, wszyscy jego tenisowi rówieśnicy w rodzaju Safina, Hewitta czy nawet dobrze się trzymającego Roddicka zamienili się już dawno w tenisowe zombie, jego główni rywale są nie tylko o 5-6 lat młodsi ale naprawdę mają fantastyczne umiętności i potrafią grać wspaniale, finał Monte Carlo jest tego dobitnym przykładem. Prześledźcie sobie na stronie ATP wyniki Samprasa czy Agassiego z czasu, gdy byli w obecnym wieku Szwajcara i zobaczycie, że Federer jest w zasadzie skuteczniejszy i regularniejszy, natomiast nie było wówczas z niczyjej strony tak silnej presji jak ze strony trójki głównych rywali Rogera. Nie uważam zresztą aby funkcjonowanie jako 3 czy nawet 4 tenisista świata było jakimś upokorzeniem nawet dla kogoś takiego jak Fed i powinien podjąć jeszcze próbę pobicia rekordu Samprasa, jakieś okazje powinny się jeszcze trafić. Nie zapominajmy, że Fed jest zawodnikiem takiego kalibru, że jest w stanie złapać natchnioną grę w bardzo krótkim czasie, przykładem są jego katastrofalne występy przed US Open 2008 oraz to czego następnie dokonał w tej imprezie, czy Hamburg 2007 po wtopie z Volandrim.
World number two Roger Federer believes his form is improving all the time and that he still has what it takes to rattle number one Rafael Nadal and steal the Spaniard's French Open crown.
The Swiss 13-times grand slam winner has yet to win a title this year and has lost in semi-finals twice to Novak Djokovic and twice to Andy Murray as well as falling to Nadal in the Australian Open final.
"I'm happy how I am playing now and it's getting better every week," Federer said ahead of the Madrid Open clay event.
"It's been rather a tough start to the season considering I haven't won a tournament yet but I think I am very close to turning it all around.
"I have struggled a little bit against my main rivals. I was always very close to beating them. So I just hope I can turn the corner and win those matches.
"I feel the game's right there and that's why I'm aiming high this week."
Federer, 27, said it would not necessarily be a bad thing if he went into the French Open, the only grand slam to elude him, not having played Nadal on the Spaniard's favoured clay this season.
Nadal has beaten his predecessor as number one nine times out of 10 on the surface stretching back to the semi-finals at Roland Garros in 2005, his only defeat coming in the final of the Hamburg Masters in 2007.
"I think he's playing the tennis of his life right now," said Federer.
"But still I'm a great believer I can rattle him. I was so close at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
"Every match has to be played and I know that I have the game to beat him, even if he has beaten me on clay so many times and he knows how to beat me."
Federer is currently without a regular coach and said he was not considering hiring one anytime soon despite his lack of success this year.
"At the moment I am very content with the situation. Things are calm in my team and I'm doing the right things and practising extremely hard to get my game back," he said.
"Of course the main goal for me is the French Open and Wimbledon, trying to regain the Wimbledon crown and trying to win the French Open for the first time.
"But I'm an open person and I'm always looking for ways to improve my game. So if that's talking to somebody else or somebody else giving me advice that's not a problem but at the moment it's not happening."
eurosport.yahoo.com
Jedna wielka kpina ;]
Powiem tak- jak on wygra w tym sezonie Halle i Basel to będę wniebowzięty. Reszta będzie giga zaskoczeniem dla plus ze strony Feda.
Spokojnie spokojnie Roger wie co mówi, na pewno pokona Rafę w Paryżu hahaha
Nie no jak Roger tak powiedział to tak będzie. Przecież wyraźnie stwierdził przed finałem RG 2008, że nie ma kompleksu Rafy. I co? Grał na luzie, z wiarą w zwycięstwo, ale po prostu przeciwnik był lepszy. To samo się tyczy Wimbledonu i AO, po prostu przegrał tenisowo, w Melbourne miał przecież na przeciwko wypoczętego Nadala po spacerku 5,5 godzinnym z Verdasco. Oj biedny ten Federer.....
A ja myślę, że on naprawdę ostatnio trenował i bardzo by chciał, tylko jest już z późno niestety. Przypomina się rywalizacja Ullricha z Armstrongiem na TDF. Lance już marcu i kwietniu trenował w Alpach, potem spokojnie sprawdzaj się paru wyścigach. Natomiast w tym czasie głównymi newsami z obozu Niemca były dywagacje, kiedy wreszcie zrzuci złapane zimą kilogramy, poważne przygotowania do wyścigu zaczynał w maju i nie było mowy o wyrobienu się z formą.
Fed trzeci rok z rzędu zawala przerwę po AO(przyczyny sa bez znaczenia, chodzi o fakty obiektywne) i na cegle pojawia się nieprzygotowany do gry, wszystkie kolejne wydarzenia są logicznym następstwem niestety.
Nie ma żadnego znaczenia, czy w Madrycie odpadnie w pierwszym meczu, czy dojdzie do finału. Bez solidnych podstaw nie ma szans na uniknięcie lania w Paryżu i odzyskanie Wimbledonu.
16.05.2009 - Roger Federer awansował do finału turnieju Masters-1000 i odnotował tym samym swój 24 finał w tej randzie turniejach.
Nikt w historii nie grywał w tego typu meczach częściej.
Najwięcej finałów Masters-1000 w historii:
24: Federer (14-9)
23: Agassi (17-6)
20: Nadal (15-4)
19: Sampras (11-8)
#58) ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Madrid
R64 Bye
R32 R.Soederling 6/1 7/5
R16 J.Blake(14) 6/2 6/4
QF A.Roddick(6) 7/5 6/7 6/1
SF J.Del Potro(5) 6/3 6/4
W R.Nadal 6/4 6/4
C'MON!
To 15 tytuł masters Rogera, czym zrównał się w tej klasyfikacji z Nadalem.
Obaj tracą 2 tytuły do Agassiego.
17-Agassi
15-Nadal,Federer.
Brawo!
Wydaje mi się, że Nadal spokojnie przełamie barierę 17 Mastersów, nawet jeśli w tym roku już żadnego nie wygra, to bez problemu zgarnie 2-3 skalpy na wiosnę przyszłego roku.
Federer może mieć z tym problem, jednak sądzę, że Szwajcar nie jest pozbawiony szans na zajęcie 2 miejsca w historii po Rafie.
Warto dodać, że to 1 od prawie 2 (!) lat wygrany Masters Rogera. Wcześniej odniósł triumf w tego typu imprezie w Cincinatti 2007 i do wczoraj był to jego ostatni wygrany Turniej Masters. Jest to także 1 w tym sezonie wygrany turniej przez Szwajcara. Wcześniej Roger po raz ostatni był najlepszy w Bazylei, jesienią zeszłego roku. OD tamtego czasu nie wygrał 8 kolejnych eventów, w których startował. Tak "słabej" passy nie miał w okresie swojego pobytu na absolutnym topie w męskim tenisie.
Gratulacje :)
Niegłupio byłoby jakoś wykręcić się z tej debilnej pokazówki w Paryżu, bo cosik czuje, że Nadal potraktuje ich mecz(czy raczej seta) zupełnie poważnie, a dobrze wiemy jak wątłe podstawy ma w tej chwili pewność gry Fedka, ewentualne lanie znowu rozwali ten domek z kart.
No bez przesady, gdyby Fed miał aż tak wątłą psychę to by w życiu turnieju ATP nie wygrał. Przecież ta pokazówka to zwykły trening, u mnie nawet nie zasieje obaw porazka 0-6 i brak zdobytych jakichkolwiek punktów.
Spoko luz, Fed zagra tylko ze Stasiem się okazuje, Nadal z Clementem.
No to znowu baty od Stasia xD
Ze Stanisławem to akurat naprawdę może piłki nie wygrać, a wcale się nie zmartwię.
Powroty Federera ze stanu 0:2 >>
Us Open 2000 - Peter Wessels 4:6 4:6 6:3 7:5 3:4 ret.
Roland Garros 2001 - Sargis Sargsian 4:6 3:6 6:2 6:4 9:7
TMS Miami 2005 - Rafael Nadal 2:6 6:7 7:6 6:3 6:1
Australian Open 2009 - Tomas Berdych 4:6 6:7 6:4 6:4 6:2
Roland Garros 2009 - Tommy Haas 6:7 5:7 6:4 6:0 6:2
------------
W dzisiejszym "przeglądzie" wyczytalem tez że Roger po raz piąty z rzędu został wyrozniony "Prix Orange" tj. nagrodą dla najsympatyczniejszego uczestnika turnieju , dysponuje może ktoś obszerniejszym tekstem na ten temat ? ;)
Tak ;)
OFF COURT - PRIX ORANGE
Roger was awarded the Prix Orange as voted by the French public and press online for a record fifth consecutive time.
The Prix Orange goes to the ambassador of sportsmanship, 2009 marked the 29th edition of the award. “It is a pleasure to receive this award again, it is maybe because I spend so much time with the press,” said Roger.
03.06.2009 - Roger Federer pokonał Gaela Monfilsa i awansował do 1/2 finału Roland Garros 2009. Szwajcar poprawił tym samym własny rekord, albowiem dzisiejszy wynik to już 20 kolejny półfinał Federera w turnieju wielkoszlemowym. Ostatni raz Roger przegrał w turnieju WS przed 1/2 aż 5 lat temu, na RG 2004. Wówczas w 3 rundzie lepszy okazał się Brazylijczyk Gustavo Kuerten ( :*), który zwyciężył Federera 64 64 64.
Swoją drogą to jest to genialny wynik. Przez pół dekady utrzymywać ten poziom w turniejach najwyższej tenisowej rangi, gratulacje ;)
Coś pięknego. Czasami nic kompletnie nie wychodzi, ale jeżeli ktoś przez taki długi okres dochodzi do półfinałów największych imprez tenisowych, to znaczy to tylko tyle, że taką osobę śmiało można nazwać jedną z najlepszych tenisowych postaci w historii, tak myślę. Takie momenty jak ten uwiebiam, dla takich momentów ryczę jak głupia przed telewizorem, ze stresu nie mogę nic jeść, żeby ostatecznie świętować kolejny, pewnego rodzaju 'rekord'. Mam nadzieję że nie ostatni w tym tygodniu .
Jeszcze wracając do tej nagrody. Nie ma się co dziwić, nie znam tego Pana osobiście, ale po samym zachowaniu tenisistów mogę śmiało stwierdzić, że zasłużył na tą nagrodę jak nikt inny. W ogóle, to podziękowanie po meczu było przekochane.
I w ogóle, jak tu go nie kochać. Jest dobrze, i mam nadzieję że będzie lepiej ;)
http://www.goroger.net/
Polecam. Bardzo fajna stronka dla fanów Rogera Federera. Ktoś wykonuje świetną robotę na nasz uzytek :)
A propo Rogera i jutrzejszego półfinału...
http://pasjonatkasportu.blox.pl/2009/06 … okoju.html
No właśnie, dajmy mu żyć. Wygra, to pięknie, nie wygra, trudno, taki jest sport.
05.06.2009 - Roger Federer wyrównał osiągnięcie Ivana Lendla.
Roger Federer, pokonując Juana Martina Del Potro, awansował do finału Roland Garros 2009.
Szwajcar zagra w tego typu meczu po raz 19, czym wyrówna wynik Ivana Lendla.
Najwięcej wielkoszlemowych finałów w historii tenisa:
19 - Ivan Lendl, Roger Federer
18 - Pete Sampras
Gratulacje :)
DUN I LOVE napisał:
05.06.2009 - Roger Federer wyrównał osiągnięcie Ivana Lendla.
Roger Federer, pokonując Juana Martina Del Potro, awansował do finału Roland Garros 2009.
Szwajcar zagra w tego typu meczu po raz 19, czym wyrówna wynik Ivana Lendla.
http://d.yimg.com/bg/p/090528/afp/iphot … 6-0jpg.jpg
Najwięcej wielkoszlemowych finałów w historii tenisa:
19 - Ivan Lendl, Roger Federer
18 - Pete Sampras
Gratulacje :)
Jeśli zaliczy jeszcze finał w Londynie i Nowym Jorku, co jest bardzo prawdopodobne z wiadomych względów, to jeszcze w tym roku, może samotnie tej klasyfikacji przewodzic.
Niebywałe :o
#59) Roland Garros 2009 
R128 Martin,Alberto 6/4 6/3 6/2
R64 Acasuso,Jose 7/6 5/7 7/6 6/2
R32 Mathieu,Paul-Henri 4/6 6/1 6/4 6/4
R16 Haas,Tommy 6/7 5/7 6/4 6/0 6/2
QF Monfils,Gael(11) 7/6 6/2 6/4
SF Del Potro,Juan Martin(5) 3/6 7/6 2/6 6/1 6/4
W Soderling,Robin(23) 6/1 7/6 6/4
ROGER!!!!!!
Wreszcie to się stało. Czy te tegoroczne porażki były warte dzisiejszego sukcesu? Zdecydowanie tak !
Strasznie mi wstyd za to co napisałem po Indian Wells. Dobrze, że Roger sam siebie nie skreślił.
RG to 14 wielkoszlemowy tytuł, rekord Pete'a wyrównany!
Najwięcej WS w historii:
14 - Pete Sampras, Roger Federer
12 - Roy Emerson
11 - Bjorn Borg, Rod Laver
10 - Bill Tilden
8 - kilku zawodników
Brawo!
Aaaaaaaaa ! Tak bardzo, bardzo się cieszę, że sama się zastanawiam jakim prawem udaje mi się cokolwiek napisać i opanować drżenie rąk. Po prostu dalej nie mogę uwierzyć w to co się stało, czekaliśmy tak długo na ten sukces, a jak przyszedł, tak dość łatwo, to nie jestem w stanie zrobić niczego konkretnego . Roger, ja Cię po prostu kocham, za to jakim jesteś człowiekiem, za to co robisz, za wszystko, za to że tak dużo razy dajesz mi powód żebym ryczała przez Ciebie jak kompletna idiotka. Wiem, pewnie piszę głupoty, za jakiś czas przeczytam to sobie na spokojnie i sama z siebie będę się śmiać. Cóż, emocje i tyle.
Come on ! ! ! !
Tak jeszcze apropo tej 14:
no, no graty panie Federer :)
Gratulacje Roger, gratulacje Federaści :)
Ciekaw jestem, czy Federer odnajdzie motywację do walki o powrót na prowadzenie w rankingu.
Kochani, to był turniej i mecz o całą karierę Rogera. Gdy się nie udało tu wygrać, lepiej nie myśleć. Teraz będzie inaczej. Nie trudniej, nie łatwiej, inaczej. Teraz może wreszcie odpocząć, odetchnąć od presji, która go zewsząd otoczała. Pokazał w tym turnieju potężną determinację i wreszcie radość gry; po prostu widać, że ciągle go to kręci, rotacje, kierunki, kąty...
Jest największy, a co zrobi dalej, to jego, oby jeszcze trochę powygrywał, ale nic już nie musi.
Wielki Roger:
http://pasjonatkasportu.blox.pl/2009/06 … szkle.html
Wielkie brawa dla Rogera. :applause: Brak mi słów... :cry:
W końcu to zrobił. Strasznie się czułem po tych porażkach w zeszłym roku w Paryżu i na Wimblu oraz tegorocznej na AO. Teraz cieszę się razem z nim. :P
Helwet nie grał w tym turnieju nadzwyczajnie, a mimo to wygrał. To charakteryzuje wielkich mistrzów. Umieć wygrywać w takich sytuacjach to wielka sztuka. Mam nadzieję, że to nie koniec i że, jeszcze nieraz Roger dostarczy nam powodów do radości i dumy. :dumny:
Brawo królu:)!
aś napisał:
Fajny banner.
Ciekawa statystyka:
SAMPRAS PAYS TRIBUTE TO FEDERER
ATPWorldTour.com talks to Pete Sampras about Roger Federer's record-tying 14th Grand Slam title.
Q. How does it feel to share your record and once you retired with 14, did you think it would be less than seven years before your record would be matched?
A. I didn't think it would only take seven years to tie it. It feels like I'm in good company with Roger. If there was someone I would want to be tied with and maybe one day my record to be broken, I hoped it would be someone like Roger.
Q. Now that he's reached 14, how many do you think Roger will end up with before he retires?
A. It's hard to put a number on it. But now, I know it's a different sport, he might have his eyes on (Jack) Nicklaus' 18 Grand Slam record.
Q. You had Andre and Roger has had Nadal as main rivals, what do you think it would have been like if both of you were out there playing in the same era?
A. I think when you have two great players, playing at the same time. I think I would have had my fair share of wins, and he would have had his fair share of wins. We have similar temperament and contrasting styles of play which would have made for a great rivalry. Our rivalry potentially would have transcended the sport.
Q. Could you talk about Roger's amazing stretch of reaching 15 of the past 16 Grand Slam finals?
A. It's incredible. I never would have thought that someone would be as consistent as Lendl's eight US Open consecutive finals. But this surpasses it and to do it on all surfaces, it's a reflection of his game and his career.
Q. What about Roger's performance in Paris to complete a career Grand Slam, to pull out two five-setters and win a couple of other tight matches. Did you follow his matches throughout the tournament?
A. I followed his results and saw some highlights. People were saying that he was struggling, but as great players normally do, they find a way to win. I believe in destiny and it was Roger's time to win in Paris.
Q. Will you come to Wimbledon if he's in the final?
A. TBD...
Nie mogę się powstrzymać żeby nie wkleić tutaj paru mądrości z onet.pl po wygraniu przez Federera RG. :P
http://sport.onet.pl/1,16,11,57518788,1 … AT=1248732
http://sport.onet.pl/1,16,11,57518414,1 … AT=1248732
Boże, przestańcie zaniżać poziom, zwłaszcza czymś o czym nigdy nie będziemy mieli okazji się przekonać :)
http://sport.onet.pl/0,1248732,125942,0 … ortaz.html
Tu godna polecenia galeria z finału :)
Federer najlepiej serwującym tenisistą Roland Garros 2009
http://sport.onet.pl/74445,1248732,1985 … omosc.html
Robertinho napisał:
Kochani, to był turniej i mecz o całą karierę Rogera. Gdy się nie udało tu wygrać, lepiej nie myśleć. Teraz będzie inaczej. Nie trudniej, nie łatwiej, inaczej. Teraz może wreszcie odpocząć, odetchnąć od presji, która go zewsząd otoczała. Pokazał w tym turnieju potężną determinację i wreszcie radość gry; po prostu widać, że ciągle go to kręci, rotacje, kierunki, kąty...
Jest największy, a co zrobi dalej, to jego, oby jeszcze trochę powygrywał, ale nic już nie musi.
Zgadzam się z Tobą w 100%.W przypadku porażki Roger mógłby się załamać,byłby pod stałym naciskiem mediów,dzięki triumfie w RG może skupić się na przygotowaniach do Wimbla,w którym prawie na 100% zabraknie Rafy Nadala.
Jeśli faktycznie zabraknie na Wimblu Rafy Nadala to nie sądzę by ktokolwiek mógłby przeszkodzić od dziś 14-krotnemu triumfatorowi turniejów wielkoszlemowych w odniesieniu 6 triumfu na kortach Wimbledonu.Nawet jeśli Rafa wystąpi to raczej nie obroni tytułu sprzed roku.
ATP - ROGER 1-14 BY THE NUMBERS
1 - Roland Garros title (2009) and Rafael Nadal (only player he's lost to in a Grand Slam final)
2 - Ranking at time of Roland Garros title (also '08 US Open and '04 Australian Open)
3 - Australian Open titles won (2004, '06-07)
4 - Times reached final (minimum) in each of the Grand Slam tournaments (only man to accomplish that feat)
5 - Wimbledon (2003-2007) and US Open (2004-2008) titles won and number of times he's lost to Nadal in Slam finals
6 - Sets lost during his title run at Roland Garros, the most of his Grand Slam titles, and how many different players to complete a career Grand Slam
7 - Consecutive years of winning at least one Grand Slam title
8 - Hard court titles between US Open (5) and Australian Open (3); Losses in his streak of 20 consecutive semi-final or better Grand Slam appearances
9 - Countries of opponents he's beaten in Grand Slam finals (Australia, Chile, Cyprus, Great Britain, Russia, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, and U.S.)
10 - Record consecutive Grand Slam finals reached between 2005 Wimbledon and 2007 US Open
11 - Appearances at Roland Garros before winning first title (same as Andre Agassi) and number of different opponents he's beaten in Grand Slam finals
12 -Titles won in his streak of 20 consecutive semi-final or better Grand Slam appearances
13 - Last year's US Open where Federer won his previous Grand Slam title; 2000 Wimbledon where Sampras won his
14- Ties Pete Sampras for the most Grand Slam singles titles in the history of men's tennis
rf.com
Takie cyferkowe podsumowanie znalazłam, szczerze mówiąc ta ostatnia - 14 - prezentuje się póki co najlepiej ;-)
Niesamowity facet, może być i pewnie jest inspiracją do życia i postępowania w nim dla niejednego swojego fana.
Często zawodził w ważnych mometach, zwłaszcza w grach z Nadalem, ale na dłuższą metę to jest cholernie mocny psychicznie facet.
Po takich dotkliwych wtopach, jak na Wimblu i AO, utracie pozycji nr1, notorycznych porażkach z Djoko, Rafą i Murrayem wydawało się, że to równia pochyła, skreślany był po kolei przez wiele osób. Sam się jednak nie poddał, ekstremalnie ciężko pracował (chociaż nie musiał nikomu nic udowadniać) i opłaciło się.
Mimo iż forma tenisowa nie była najwyższa to przez ostatnie 2 tygodnie walczył z demonami i po katorżniczej gonitwie ku niesmiertelności złapał ją tak mocno, że już jej nie wypuści.
Można narzekać na Jego chimeryczność mentalną, ale ostatnimi tygodniami pokazał charakter. Ten palec ostrzegawczy wysłany po ostatniej piłce finału Madrytu to chyba do tych, co smieli powątpiewać w Feda :P
Szacunek.
http://www.facebook.com/Federer?sid=543 … ref=search
Dobrze, że wygrał. Teraz przynajmniej wie jak nazywa się trofeum; pewnie Andre mu szepnął nazwę podczas dekoracji :P
DUN I LOVE napisał:
Niesamowity facet, może być i pewnie jest inspiracją do życia i postępowania w nim dla niejednego swojego fana.
Często zawodził w ważnych mometach, zwłaszcza w grach z Nadalem, ale na dłuższą metę to jest cholernie mocny psychicznie facet.
Po takich dotkliwych wtopach, jak na Wimblu i AO, utracie pozycji nr1, notorycznych porażkach z Djoko, Rafą i Murrayem wydawało się, że to równia pochyła, skreślany był po kolei przez wiele osób. Sam się jednak nie poddał, ekstremalnie ciężko pracował (chociaż nie musiał nikomu nic udowadniać) i opłaciło się.
Mimo iż forma tenisowa nie była najwyższa to przez ostatnie 2 tygodnie walczył z demonami i po katorżniczej gonitwie ku niesmiertelności złapał ją tak mocno, że już jej nie wypuści.
Można narzekać na Jego chimeryczność mentalną, ale ostatnimi tygodniami pokazał charakter. Ten palec ostrzegawczy wysłany po ostatniej piłce finału Madrytu to chyba do tych, co smieli powątpiewać w Feda :P
Szacunek.
Nie odmówię sobie tej przyjemności i zacytuję własne słowa z wątku o AO :
"patrzę na Rogera z dużym dystansem, "chłodnym okiem" bo w przeciwieństwie do ogromnej większości ludzi na tym forum, nie jestem związana z tym zawodnikiem emocjonalnie. Patrzę więc na niego z trochę innej perspektywy. Dla mnie, jest przykładem jednego z najbardziej odpornych psychicznie zawodników, jakich miałam okazję oglądac nie tylko w tenisie, ale w całym sportowym światku. Cała jego kariera jest tego przykładem, zwłaszcza kilka ostatnich sezonów, nawet ten 2008. Bez żelaznej psychiki nie osiągnąłby 13 tytułów WS, kilkudziesięciu innych i nie przewodziłby rankingowi przez tyle lat, będąc nieustannie gonionym. Do tego, oprócz znakomitych umiejętności czysto tenisowych, potrzeba, jak wcześniej wspomniałam, żelaznej psychiki." :P
Podoba mi się ostatnie zdanie w Twoim poście ! :D
Świetny turniej, wydaje mi sie, że nawet jezeli Rafa wystapi w Wimbledonie to i tek faworytem bedzie Roger, Rafa poprawil gre na trawie ale rok temu wygral w wiekszej czesci dlatego, że Roger miał kryzys formy przypomnijcie sobie np. French Open 2008 kiedy Roger wygrał z Rafą tylko 4 gemy a w Wimbledonie byla emocjonujaca 5-setowka. Podsumowujac moim zdaniem jezeli Roger bedzie gral w Wimbledonie tek jak we French Open wygra bez wiekszych problemow swoj 15 wielki szlem.
Federer pulls out of Halle
French Open champion Roger Federer has pulled out of the Halle grass tournament in Germany.
World number two Federer said he emotionally drained after finally winning at Roland Garros last weekend.
"I am sorry to announce that I have decided to withdraw from this week's Gerry Weber Open in Halle, Germany," Federer said.
"I sincerely apologise to the tournament organisers, my competitors, and my fans in Germany.
"I only hope they will understand that I still feel emotionally overwhelmed and exhausted by the incredible events of the past few days."
A five-times winner on Halle's grass courts in the past six years, Federer was the biggest name in a draw which includes world number four Novak Djokovic and world number nine Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France.
The Swiss became only the sixth man to complete a career Grand Slam when he beat Sweden's Robin Soderling on the clay.
(eurosport)
ATP - GERRY WEBER OPEN, HALLE
Dear fans
I am sorry to announce that I have decided to withdraw from this week's Gerry Weber Open in Halle, Germany.
I sincerely apologize to the tournament organizers, my competitors, and my fans in Germany. I only hope they will understand that I still feel emotionally overwhelmed and exhausted by the incredible events of the past few days. It is hard for me to admit, but I simply cannot imagine giving my best effort in another tournament right away and I don't want to risk injury if I am not 100% prepared. I need to rest and recuperate.
I look forward to returning to Halle in 2010 to go for my sixth title. It is one of my favorite events on the ATP World Tour.
I also want to thank all of you for your unbelievable support these past two weeks. You are the best, and you helped me make a dream come true.
Roger
(rogerfederer.com)
Karol Stopa: Wrócił król, niech żyje król
Tytuł z Roland Garros, jedyny, jakiego mu brakowało w kolekcji, Roger Federer zdobył właściwie przez aklamację.
Gdziekolwiek spojrzeć, gdziekolwiek ucha nadstawić, wszyscy deklarowali, że są za takim akurat scenariuszem. Życzyli mu tego triumfu dawni mistrzowie, eksperci, dziennikarze, zwykli kibice, najwięksi rywale, również Rafa Nadal, gdy już odpadł z turnieju. Paryskie trybuny, wymagające i bezwzględne dla wielu gwiazd, nawet w trakcie pojedynków z Francuzami nie skrywały sympatii do Szwajcara. Od lat jest on człowiekiem sukcesu i ulubieńcem fortuny ze statusem multimilionera.
A tu wielonarodowy tłum, zamiast jak nad Wisłą ściągać za nogi w dół, śni i marzy o jeszcze jednym jego zwycięstwie.
Skąd ta najnowsza fala sympatii dla chłopaka z Bazylei? Na pewno zaczęła wzbierać, gdy płakał z rozpaczy po ostatnich porażkach z Nadalem w Wimbledonie i w Melbourne. To były łzy króla, który nie tylko został strącony z tronu, ale też zaczął tracić nadzieję, że kiedykolwiek tam wróci. Że kiedyś wygra w Paryżu, że zdobędzie 14. tytuł, który zrówna go z Petem Samprasem. Takich upadłych mistrzów często łatwiej lubić niż wtedy, gdy byli na szczycie. Ale samymi łzami sympatii się nie zdobywa. Roger ją sobie wywalczył przede wszystkim rakietą.
On, tenisista kompletny, uosabia styl gry, za jakim się tęskni. Bliski podręcznikowym ideałom, oklaskiwany w każdym zakątku kuli ziemskiej. Powrotu takiego tenisa międzynarodowa publika była spragniona.
Dziś, gdy na ustach wszystkich jest Federer, nie wolno żadną miarą przekreślać albo lekceważyć Nadala. Mimo porażki w Paryżu pozostał wielkim bohaterem. Zwłaszcza dla młodego pokolenia kibiców, które traktuje go trochę jak herosów z gier komputerowych. A oni przecież nigdy nie giną.
Rafa zrobił niewyobrażalne tenisowe postępy, psychicznie jest niesamowicie mocny, tylko ciało na chwilę odmówiło posłuszeństwa. Od początku było jasne, że tenis Nadala - jak kiedyś Lleytona Hewitta - jest energochłonny i na najwyższych obrotach bez przerwy funkcjonować się nie da. Chłopak z Majorki i tak kilka razy zdążył przekroczyć barierę wytrzymałości dobrze wytrenowanego sportowca, zadrwił z określających normy katedr biomechaniki. Teraz się przekonał, że od czasu do czasu i on musi się zatrzymać.
Za czasów Wojtka Fibaka tenisiści omijali szerokim łukiem sale do ćwiczeń ogólnorozwojowych, wielu wybitnych graczy z zasady nie brało sztangi do ręki. Dziś tenisowe przygotowania zaczynają się w siłowniach, a techniki uderzeń uczy się po drodze albo wcale. Co z tego wynika, właśnie widzieliśmy w Paryżu. U pań: monotonne, bezmyślne uderzanie w piłkę, katastrofalne półfinały i bardzo wystudzone emocje w rosyjskim finale. U panów: szwedzki drwal Robin Soderling w finale. Sympatyczny, z pomysłowymi czasem zagraniami, ale budowanymi tylko i wyłącznie na sile. Trudno się dziwić, że triumf Federera przyjęto z entuzjazmem i westchnieniem ulgi. Niech nam Roger gra jak najdłużej.
http://blog.rp.pl/blog/2009/06/09/karol … zyje-krol/
Brawo Panie Karolu :D
Ma ktoś gdzieś linka z You Tube, jak Fed stoi z Pucharem, z hymnem szwajcarskim w tle?
Nie mogę znaleźć :P
Dzięki Blue ;)
Jun 16, 2009 from Wimbledon:
The lovely thing about Aorangi Park in the week before the main tournament is the laid back atmosphere. Players and coaches are relaxed, jokes are exchanged, everyone has a smile on their face and the competitive edge is put to one side.
In fact, there is a distinct 'local tennis club air' about the place. That is until you witness the sheer precision and speed of the balls that are struck, oh, and when Roger Federer ambles in… as just happened.
The Swiss master wandered into the practice area and was greeted with congratulatory words by tour professionals, including racket stringers, for winning his first French Open title in Paris just a couple of weeks ago.
As ever, Roger was cool as a cucumber and very gracious thanking everyone for their kind words. He then strolled down to Court Three to practice and out of nowhere a small crowd had formed to witness Fed-Express in action.
Roger w magazynie DEUCE ---> http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/DEUCE- … derer.aspx
Apropo filmików, znalazłam jeden bardzo fajny, podusmowujący 14 WS Rogera:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe7iIlcP … re=related
I jeszcze nowa, genialna reklama Rolex'a:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4kczB1D … r_embedded
Federer focuses on title, not records
Five-time champion Roger Federer was relaxed and confident ahead of what could be an historic tournament for him, although any talk of taking Pete Sampras' Grand Slam record was relegated to a mere afterthought – the Swiss 2nd seed wants his Wimbledon title back, with any records that come with it mere icing on the cake.
"The focus is on the first round and the first point," said the genial Swiss, whose match against Yen-Hsun Lu is first on Centre Court on Monday, "but also trying to regain my Wimbledon crown, so that stands over trying to beat Pete's record right now. Once I come down to the semi-finals or finals, hopefully, then that's also going to start creeping into my mind, but right now, just trying to regain my Wimbledon crown would be a dream come true."
Realising this dream is an even more viable prospect with Rafael Nadal, the top seed and defending champion, having withdrawn due to a knee injury. "It didn't come as such a big surprise to me, but it's obviously very disappointing for the tournament, and also for myself. It's a little bit similar to Paris — we played the last four years against each other in Paris, the last three years here at Wimbledon, so we won't see the same finals again.
"It's disappointing for me because I'd love to play him. He's my main rival and we've had some wonderful matches over the years, and especially the one here last year that obviously stands out. It just shows me how lucky I've been that I haven't been injured over all those years."
When pressed later in the interview by the Swiss media, Federer elaborated on this "luck". "I'm a little bit lucky, but getting to all the finals that I have is not normal, not being injured is not normal, and you realise that now. It's luck but it's also planning and preparation," said the 27-year-old in reference both to his training regimen and also his style of play, which is much less intensive than Nadal's, yet no less effective.
Local hero Andy Murray was also high on the agenda throughout the press conference, as can be expected for the Briton's home tournament, but again Federer refused to speculate. "He's a very gifted player. He has wonderful feel, he's a great tactician — I always said that, and he's finally proved it. It took him some time, and that was the disappointing part. I expected him to do better a few years ago, but everything is coming together for him now and he's been rock solid for almost two years now.
"The [British] media seems be making something of our recent matches," Federer ventured to the French-speaking press. "When I lost to him in Shanghai [at the Masters Cup in November 2008], for example, I was ill and suffering with my back, and I still almost beat him, so I'm not about to say that he's the best player in the world all of a sudden."
One person who could claim to be the best player in the world however is Federer himself, particularly having claimed the one Grand Slam crown that had eluded him with victory at the French Open two weeks ago. "It was a great feeling, it really inspired me,” smiled the Swiss. "I was mentally drained because I felt like I had to play four finals at the end of Paris because of the pressure. There was such a relief and happiness once it was all over that for me it was almost impossible to change it all around again and start a tournament from scratch again.
"I spent a week in Switzerland doing nothing except working on fitness a little. I saw my family and friends then I came here on Tuesday. I practised with [Mikhail] Youzhny on Tuesday, Stan [Wawrinka] on Wednesday, [Marat] Safin yesterday [Friday] and [Stefan] Koubek today [Saturday]. I've been practising two or three hours a day and the change from clay to grass has gone really well," said a serene Federer, despite being a mere 15 days away from a potential 15th major.
http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/news/art … 59546.html
Tytuł, a nie rekordy - tak trzymać, to jest właściwe podejście.
Powodzenia Roger ;)
"It's disappointing for me because I'd love to play him. He's my main rival and we've had some wonderful matches over the years, and especially the one here last year that obviously stands out. It just shows me how lucky I've been that I haven't been injured over all those years."
lol
Taki fragment dzisiejszej konferencji;
Q. You and Tiger Woods both have 14 major titles. What are the other similarities that you see between the two of you?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, success, I guess. I mean, I don't know what else to say. I mean, like we've been at the top for a very long time. We've been when you talk about golf, you talk about Tiger; when you talk about tennis, you talk about me.
Ehm, no tak. Przynajmniej szczerze :P
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eANX0ioR … re=related
Jeszcze wracając do stycznia, a raczej początku lutego 09.
Ten film mnie tak jakoś 'natchnął', chyba znowu zacznę swoje produkować ^^
ATP - ROGER BREEZES THROUGH OPENER
Roger began his campaign to regain his Wimbledon crown with a solid victory in the opening match today, defeating Lu Yen-hsun of Chinese Taipei 7-5, 6-3, 6-2.
Our champ once again entered the court in a stylish outfit. This year, he went for a military-style jacket, which he stripped off to reveal a silk waistcoat worn over his more conventional tennis clothes.
Roger said: "It might look easy, but it is not. The first round is a lot different to say rounds two, three and four. You want to get off to a good start, get it out of the way and find your way into a tournament. Once you're in it, things seem a lot easier because your mind is in the tournament. But it is not easy, and Lu showed that today. It was a tough first set, and he remained tough throughout the game and that was good for me."
His first serve percentage was good, he kept unforced errors almost to a bare minimum when compared with his winners. All in all, Roger gave an allround performance today, which could in fact be taken as just a practice match for the next few days to come and which should get even better in the next set of matches to follow.
Roger will meet Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ATP 50) in the next round.
(rogerfederer.com)
OFF COURT - WHO'S YOUR GREATEST WIMBLEDON CHAMPION?
Dear fans,
An expert panel was asked to vote for their greatest Wimbledon Champion of all time. Chaired by Britain's most successful performer at Wimbledon since Fred Perry and HSBC ambassador Tim Henman, the expert panel of tennis journalists and former players voted for their Top 5 Men's and 5 Women's Wimbledon Singles Champions, to produce "The Experts Top 10", the best men are:
Björn Borg
Roger Federer
Rod Laver
John McEnroe
Pete Sampras
Take part in the online voting now (see link below) and help Roger take home this title!
(rogerfederer.com)
Chyba trzeba się spiąć i mu pomóc :P Ja już zagłosowałem. Aby to uczynić trzeba wejść w poniższy link:
http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/fanzone/hsbc.html
Z konferencji:
Q. When you watch Roger Federer, what do you appreciate most?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, his dedication to the sport, I think. It's amazing just to see the person who has been so successful. I think after five years of dominance, it's just amazing to see him again motivated to play well and win more Grand Slams.
I think this is really something unique with him.
----
Q. What do you think of the significance of Federer for you? What's so special about Federer for you?
JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA: Maybe how he's relaxed on the court.
----
Q. Which part do you admire the most about Federer?
FERNANDO VERDASCO: I don't know. That's tough. I don't know if I need to say something about his game because his game is unbelievable. He's so complete about everything, serve, forehand, volley, touch, whatever, slice, and also all the Grand Slam titles that he has already, like Sampras, 14, but also winning the four Grand Slams. So it's tough to say one thing only about Federer.
----
Q.What are your thoughts about Federer going for the major's record?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Oh, I mean, that is amazing. Fifteen, you know, it's incredible.
Q. What do you like most when you watch him play?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I mean, what is there not to like about Roger? I mean, he's so smooth. And, you know, what I like about him even more now is, like, he has so much passion and so much, you know, desire to win. I love to see that in him.
Q. Do you consider him the greatest male player that you've seen?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I definitely think when you speak of the greatest, you have to include Roger Federer. I mean, he's tied Pete Sampras' record right now, and he's going for ‑‑ he's extremely active. He has a lot of years left. He's going for, you know, a record that hasn't been done in men's tennis ever.
----
Q. What do you appreciate most about Roger Federer?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Uhm, I think the passion with which he plays the game. It's certainly not easy to play at such a high level for such a long period of time. Uhm, and, you know, I feel like he had such a long run of winning so many Grand Slams.
At the end of the day, people sometimes maybe forget that in a way he's really human and he was able to, you know, have a few letdowns and not win as many matches as everyone thought he should win. But then he comes out and he proves everybody wrong. You know, he's a tremendous athlete and plays the game so well. Uhm, I mean, you know.
----
Miłe są te słowa ; )
Preview: Karlovic v Federer
It’s not the elephant in the corner of the room that no one wants to talk about, it’s the 6ft 10in tennis player.
If Ivo Karlovic beats Roger Federer in their quarter-final then, for some people, it ruins the chance of a dream final between Federer and Andy Murray and for many others it denies them their dream finish to this year’s Championships, with Federer claming a sixth Wimbledon title.
There is a precedent. The last time one player had such a hold over the men’s title, it was Pete Sampras. Yet he had one fallow year in 1996, when he was beaten by Dutchman Richard Krajicek, a player who relied heavily on a massive serve. It was the only defeat Sampras suffered at Wimbledon in eight years.
Krajicek thinks that Karlovic could do the same thing to Federer. “It will be very difficult for Federer to break but Karlovic does not have the greatest of return games so maybe he’ll only break Federer once or twice. But that’ll be enough if he’s serving well,” the Dutchman said.
“I think they will play a few tiebreakers. Federer wants to avoid that because Karlovic has played a lot of tiebreakers this tournament and won a lot.”
Karlovic has won all of his 79 service games at Wimbledon 2009 and has faced just four break points, all against first-round opponent Lukas Lasko.
Federer leads Karlovic 8-1 in head-to-head encounters. The interesting match in that list is Karlovic’s solitary win - at on the hard courts at the Cincinnati Masters in 2008 where Karlovic won 7-6 (8-6), 4-6, 7-6 (7-5). But he didn’t break the Federer serve once on that occasion and it is telling that in their nine matches there have been 12 tiebreaks in 22 sets.
Krajicek said: “I think Roger wants to get the breaks. If anyone can break a serve Roger can and he has neutralised the Andy Roddick serve over the last couple of years. Anyone would think that Andy has a bad serve the way Federer returns. It’s so tough to ace him.
Federer holds the advantage over Karlovic on almost every objective measure – except one crucial statistics for grass court tennis. Karlovic is the leading ace server at this tournament, as he is on the ATP tour, as he has been for the last two years.
Critics attack Karlovic as one-dimensional but when that one dimension can end a game in four swings of the racket, it is hard to dispute its success.
Federer is not a fan. During the press conference after his victory over Philipp Kohlschreiber in the third round, Federer was informed that Karlovic had just taken the fourth set to defeat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. “In a tiebreak?” he asked. “It’s not that I don’t have any respect for him, but that’s not tennis. I lost to him in Cincinnati – I broke him once, he didn’t break me and I had three chances in the tiebreaks. I got one right and made two mistakes and that was that. It’s good for people who are lower in the rankings and bad for those who are higher as he tends to raise his game.”
Ciekawy jest. I jeszcze:
After 11 straight losses to Federer, Soderling was asked if there was any game outside of tennis in which he could beat the man.
“I think I will beat him in marathon easy,” he said. “I’m pretty good at marathon. I’m a strong guy. I think I’m stronger than him.”
Federer wasn’t ready to concede.
“‘I never ran a marathon and I don’t like to run too long,” he said. “I’ll stay behind him and pass him at the end.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3VBK4xD … re=related
No, to jest to ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BJr4Xvt … re=related
Świetny skrót z 14 szlemów
Fajne te wimbledońskie zapowiedzi spotkań. ;)
01.07.2009 - Roger Federer pokonał Ivo Karlovica i awansował do 1/2 finału Wimbledonu 2009. Szwajcar zatem ciągle śrubuje swój rekord kolejnych półfinałów w turniejach Wielkiego Szlema, zwycięstwo nad Chorwatem sprawia, że Federer wystąpi w takim meczu już po raz 21 z rzędu!
Brawo!
Właśnie o tym pomyślałam, uprzedziłeś mnie Art ;-D
Wielkie gratulacje Roger, na naszym następnym WS proszę o 22 ;)
03.07.2009 : PADŁ REKORD WSZECH CZASÓW
Roger Federer pokonał Tommy'ego Haasa i zagra w niedzielnym finale Wimbledonu 2009.
To już 7 z rzędu finał Rogera w tym najsłynniejszym turnieju tenisowym świata i 20 ogółem.
Tym samym Szwajcar wyprzedził Czecha z amerykańskim paszportem, Ivana Lendla w ilości ogólnej osiągniętych finałów WS.
Najwięcej finałów wielkoszlemowych w historii tenisa:
20 - Roger Federer [SUI]
19 - Ivan Lendl [USA]
18 - Pete Sampras [USA]
Gratulacje ;)
Ślicznie + uwielbiam to zdjęcie.
G r a t u l a c j e ! ; )
ATP - RECORD SEVENTH STRAIGHT WIMBLEDON FINAL!
Roger is just one more win away from making tennis history! He advanced to his record seventh straight Wimbledon final today, defeating Tommy Haas 7-6(3), 7-5, 6-3.
"I'm very happy with my performance and it's unbelievable to back into another Wimbledon final," Roger said. "I've had a lot of pressure over all the years, so this is just another great match, great opportunity for me to get into the history books."
Tommy Haas held the pace during the two-plus hour match, but Roger was simply superior. A victory in Sunday's final would give our champ his unprecedented 15th Grand Slam title, which would break a tie with Hall of Famer Pete Sampras. Roger said he would be happy if Pete came to Wimbledon to watch him try to break his record. "He might come around, he might not. It's his choice. I'd love to see him because he's a good friend of mine. Very honored of course that I share the record of 14 with him."
If Roger wins, he will be the third player to win six or more Wimbledon titles. William Renshaw and Sampras both won seven. He will face Andy Roddick on Sunday.
Dzisiejszy wywiad, przed jutrzejszym finałem :
R Federer
Saturday, 4 July 2009
Q. You've said several times since you won in Paris, you've been feeling very relaxed. Now that the possibly 15th title is very close, does some of that relaxation go away?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, tension always comes back for any Grand Slam final, or final for that matter. Knowing I only have one match to go, it definitely changes your mindset, you know.
You don't have to think of maybe a possible match coming after that. I'll have a few weeks off, so I'll just try to give my very best.
Records are part of this great match right now, so it's obviously even more of an incentive to try really hard.
Q. In addition to the serve, what do you find most challenging about facing Andy Roddick?
ROGER FEDERER: You know, just his dangerous play, his fighting spirit, his belief. He's also been one of the most consistent players in the last five years. He's basically always been in the top 10, I think. It's nice to see that he's back in a Grand Slam final again. I like to play those classic matches with him.
We've played so many times against each other. We're almost the same age. He's improved his game again, I think, which was important for him, and necessary too. So it's going to be a good test for me.
Q. Did you watch much of his game with Andy Murray yesterday? Were you surprised or impressed how well he played?
ROGER FEDERER: I saw not everything, just parts of the match, because I was in press and then I was in transport. So I just saw maybe one set in all. But it seems it was, you know, very close towards the end. You know, a few points here and there.
But I thought Andy Roddick was really able to put the pressure on Murray. It was good to see that Roddick could really like, you know, push Andy on the back foot time and time after again. That's what I said yesterday: the better player will come to the finals and challenge me.
For that matter I was very happy I was already there. My match went really smooth. I'm really excited about being in the final again.
Q. How much of the pleasure you take from playing Andy comes from your record against Andy?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, it's just that I played him for the first time nine years ago maybe. We've played each other almost in every Grand Slam, except the French. We've had some big matches against each other.
I always said that serve makes him so dangerous, you know. No matter what surface you play him on, no matter where you play him, how bad the record is for him, he'll always have that shot just because he can serve so great.
It's hard to get a read on it. You know, I've had times where I read it incredibly well. I couldn't believe how well I did read it. And then I had days I didn't read it. That's the strength of a great serve. He not only has a great first serve, but probably has the best second serve in the game. That's what makes it hard to break him.
He's good enough off the baseline that he can always make it really a tough match every single time.
Q. If you win tomorrow, you've now won the French Open, you're going to become a parent. Is there a possibility when you get to the 15th Grand Slam title you'll just start to feel your appetite wane a little bit? When are you going to feel you've done enough in the game?
ROGER FEDERER: Look, I mean, it might be a completely different situation, you know, at the US Open when it comes to answering those sort of questions, you know, like how does it feel. But right now I don't know.
I mean, I'm just excited that Mirka is feeling great. Awaiting our first child, it's quite something on a personal note. That's great.
Also I'm playing wonderful tennis at the moment. Everything seems like, you know, everything's just great. I'm not really worried about my motivation in any way, because I love this game too much. I'd like to stick around for a long time.
I don't know if you heard, but Mirka's dream was always that our child can see me play as well. So there you go. I have to play a few more years just because of Mirka.
And, anyway, the 2012 Olympics here at Wimbledon is something I'm going to be a part of. I don't think it's going to change a whole lot in the next year or so.
Q. Winning 14 slams is such an incredible accomplishment. They sort of all blend together in a certain way. If students of the game wanted to sit down and say what are your top four or five, they might point to your first win here or the French this year, Wimbledon tying Borg, your first US Open over Hewitt. Which would you say were the top four or five?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, obviously, you know, every Grand Slam or every victory has its special feeling about it, depending also on how you played coming into the final, how you felt beforehand, maybe what happened in your personal life. There's a lot of things that come into play about your reaction and feeling after match point winning a Grand Slam.
Of course, there's milestone wins that you'll never forget, you know. One of them was obviously my first Wimbledon victory here in 2003. That really opened up all possibilities to me that I knew I can be a wonderful player and I can actually have incredible success on the men's tour, after having it already on the junior tour, proving my point by beating some of the greatest players already in the game, like Sampras.
That just gave me belief. But then winning the big one really gave me the edge I think. Then becoming No. 1 in the world when I beat Ferrero in Australia I think was a milestone victory as well, because it was always a dream for me to become No. 1 in the world. When I achieved that in 2004 it was a wonderful feeling, like feeling on top of the world. It was great.
And then, you know, obviously all those US Open victories against maybe Roddick in the final, especially the one against Agassi in the final. Those are particularly special just because, you know, they played at home. The Agassi one, you know, people were wondering if González he might retire that day if he beats me, for instance, like Sampras basically did a few years earlier.
Sort of the atmosphere in the stadium was amazing to be part of. So to come through that one was probably one of my biggest accomplishments as a player, filled me with the most pride. Obviously going for my fifth one here, beating Rafa in five was amazing. There you go.
So I guess those are some of them. But I have many more, thank God. I probably even forget a few sometimes now.
Q. The whole of this country wanted a Federer/Murray final tomorrow. Is there a part of you that's perhaps a little disappointed that won't happen for the sense of occasion?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, maybe a little bit, you know. But then again, whoever won that semifinals deserved it more. It's just the way it goes in tennis. Tennis is tough, you know.
Of course, I would have liked to play Murray here. But then again, I like playing Roddick, too. I'm just excited I'm in the finals. I always said, Whoever's in the finals against me doesn't matter to me because I'm playing for victory, not trying to beat somebody in the final.
Q. Murray got close. Can you see him winning a Grand Slam in the near future?
ROGER FEDERER: Sure. I mean, he's put himself in a good position with all his wins in Masters, being consistent, you know, having a good record against top players. So things look good for him.
But a Grand Slam is not something that comes very easily. It takes a lot of hard work. There's many young and hungry players out there. Rafa's gonna come back for the US Open and so forth. So, you know, it's not an easy thing to do, but he's definitely gonna have his shot.
Q. What do you think that you and the event have missed by not having Nadal here?
ROGER FEDERER: Look, I mean, sort of the tournament goes on. You know, if I or Rafa doesn't win the tournament, somebody will, and there will always be a story. I think the story definitely was Murray in this tournament, you know, because of where he comes from, because of how good his game's gotten, you know, that he had a real chance of winning here.
I think that's why Rafa got forgotten quite quickly, to be honest. There was a good semifinal match, that was Roddick, and there you go. It's unfair to a degree. But at the same time you have to move on, you know. I'm sure Rafa will be coming back next year and playing great tennis here. So that's the way this sport works really.
Q. You mentioned the win to put you to No. 1 the first time as being one of your milestone wins. Is there a point of pride in that you can return to No. 1 by winning tomorrow?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, well, probably not as much as becoming No. 1 for the first time. I think that's a very special moment, because it doesn't matter if I'm No. 1 for a week or for 50 years, you know, you've been No. 1 in the world. That's what counts to sort of have it on your résumé, being the most consistent player for 365 days. It doesn't matter whether you have it for a week or for a long time.
Of course, it's nice to hang on to it, going through life being the best, being called the best by everybody, by fans. When they see you, It's so nice to meet you; you're the best. You're not just really a champion, you're the best at something. That's a nice feeling to have.
That's why I hope I can become No. 1 in the world again, hopefully from Monday on again. So for this reason I have to play well on Sunday and focus on Roddick.
Q. I heard you were in the tube the other day, the underground; is that true?
ROGER FEDERER: Not true.
Q. A few weeks ago the story was about Nadal winning everything, you struggling a little bit. Then you won Madrid, you won Paris. Now you're about to regain maybe the No. 1. Tennis seems to change fast. What's your reflection on this?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, there's a good side and a bad side, because it's kind of a very important period in tennis, the French Open and Wimbledon stretch.
So if you get injured ‑‑ I think like what Murray got injured as well with his wrist a couple of years ago, and Rafa now a little bit. I don't quite remember now who else got injured ‑‑ but you can lose so many points. Especially him being back‑to‑back champions, Paris and Wimbledon last year, you can't play, you lose four thousand points. It goes like in a hurry. From being invincible, you're all of a sudden No. 2, No. 3 in the world, having to prove yourself.
Other tournaments are looming around the corner which you have to defend again. Does that just mean that he's only the second best, you know, or third best just because he couldn't play? Probably not. He deserves to be all the way up there in the rankings, but somebody has to win the tournament.
All you can do is put yourself in that position, and I did. Of course, I'm very happy. Shouldn't be forgotten what a great player, what a great champion he is. Stories come about very, very quickly in tennis.
At the same time, because they go so quickly, some fade quickly as well. Sometimes it's not fair towards certain players, if you achieved a lot like I did for so many years and then you don't win some tournaments, people say you're already on the decline very quickly.
So that's the way this business works, unfortunately. But I hope it just opens some eyes at least these last few months, because they have been very different maybe to what people expected.
# 60) Wimbledon 2009
1r Lu 7-5 6-3 6-2
2r Garcia-Lopez 6-2 6-2 6-4
3r Kohlschreiber (27) 6-3 6-2 6-7 (5) 6-1
4r Soderling (13) 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (5)
QF Karlovic (22) 6-3, 7-5, 7-6 (3)
SF Haas (24) 7-6 (3), 7-5, 6-3
F Roddick (5) 5-7 7-6(6) 7-6(5) 3-6 16-14! 
Przepraszam, że zabieram komuś tego posta, ale po ubiegłorocznej porażce nawet nie wiecie jak to jest dla mnie ważne.
15 szlem :D
Roger Federer - The making of a Legend.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oM8oni4O … re=related
Roger powrócił na tron.
Dobrze, że byłem sam w domu, kiedy to się stało:P
Jules napisał:
Roger powrócił na tron.
Tak, można to oficjalnie ogłosić, że od jutra Roger Federer ponownie zawita na szczyt rankingu światowego.
Ilość tygodni jako nr1:
1. Pete Sampras 286
2. Ivan Lendl 270
3. Jimmy Connors 268
4. Roger Federer 238
5. John McEnroe 170
6. Björn Borg 109
7. Andre Agassi 101
8. Lleyton Hewitt 80
9. Stefan Edberg 72
10. Jim Courier 58
11. Rafael Nadal 46
12. Gustavo Kuerten 43
13. Ilie Năstase 40
14. Mats Wilander 20
15. Andy Roddick 13
16. Boris Becker 12
17. Marat Safin 9
18. John Newcombe 8
18. Juan Carlos Ferrero 8
20. Marcelo Ríos 6
20. Yevgeny Kafelnikov 6
20. Thomas Muster 6
23. Carlos Moya 2
24. Patrick Rafter 1
Stan na 7.7.2009.
Wimbledon 2009 to naturalnie to już 15 wielkoszlemowy tytuł Federera i samodzielne prowadzenie w klasyfikacji wszech czasów:
Najwięcej Szlemów w historii:
15 - Roger Federer
14 - Pete Sampras
12 - Roy Emerson
11 - Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg
10 - Bill Tilden
8 - kilku zawodników.
Znowu pewnie napiszę coś głupiego, podobnie jak po finale RG 09, i pewnie za kilka dni będę się sama z siebie śmiać, albo ze swoich szczerych słów. No więc, jak ma być szczerze to będzie. Po pierwszym secie nie miałam ochoty na to patrzeć, po czwartym i każdym gemie piątego również. Nie wiem co trzymało mnie przy tym meczu, straciłam nadzieję gdzieś tam w połowie, aczkolwiek ciągle ciągle wierzyłam, bo o to w tym chyba chodzi. Były okresy że wyłączałam i nie patrzyłam, albo wchodziłam na ls.
No ale udało się. Ryczałam okropnie, wrzeszczałam, skakałam, piszczałam i zachowywałam się co najmniej idiotycznie. Uwielbiam takie dni, czuję że dziś nie zasnę. Jak to kiedyś powiedziałam: niedługo właściwa osoba będzie na właściwym miejscu. I tak też się stało, wracamy na tron Mistrzu. Jeszcze raz dziękuję, uwielbiam, kocham i podziwiam .
Aś, musisz zmienić sobie sygnaturkę na 15/60 ;-)
Tak sobie dziś rano o tym myślałam, czy będę miała powód żeby zmienić, a teraz z tego wszystkiego zapomniałam.
Dzięki za przypomnienie, teraz prezentuje się znacznie lepiej ^ ^
Mam nadzieję, że podczas Montrealu i Cinci Roger potwierdzi kto tu rządzi.
Jules napisał:
Mam nadzieję, że podczas Montrealu i Cinci Roger potwierdzi kto tu rządzi.
Nie bylbym tego taki pewien, z tego wzgledu ze od ponad 2 lat starty w Mastersach Federer traktuje jako przetarcie i trening, a sam szczyt formy jest szykowany na 4 turnieje w roku.
Bizon napisał:
Jules napisał:
Mam nadzieję, że podczas Montrealu i Cinci Roger potwierdzi kto tu rządzi.
Nie bylbym tego taki pewien, z tego wzgledu ze od ponad 2 lat starty w Mastersach Federer traktuje jako przetarcie i trening, a sam szczyt formy jest szykowany na 4 turnieje w roku.
A i dzidzia w drodze, przy czym termin rozwiązania datuje się na czas trwania turnieju w Kanadzie ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNtVX63J3eE
Ostatni gem w meczu. Szczerze mówiąc mi przydało się powtórne zobaczenie tego, bo niewiele pamiętam ;-D
http://www.atpworldtour.com/Splash/Splash-Page.aspx
Kapitalna czołówka na stronie ATP.
Jakby ktoś mógł to proszę o screena i wrzucenie go tutaj. Ja się guzdram z rankingiem Entry :P
Ależ proszę, mam nadzieję że jest ok ;-D
W końcu dorwałam wywiad. To czytamy ^^
R Federer - 05 July 2009
Sunday, 5 July 2009
Q. How hard was that compared to other finals you've played here?
ROGER FEDERER: It was difficult, because I thought Andy played great. You know, I mean, I'm obviously ‑‑ I know how it is to play a Wimbledon final. I know how it is to play a fifth set in the final, in a Wimbledon final.
But it felt different. It was so different to what I experienced the last few years with Rafa, you know, where it was a baseline game. Today it was a serve and return game, which is more classical for grass.
You know, I mean, it's frustrating at times because I couldn't break Andy till the very, very end. So satisfaction is maybe bigger this time around to come through, because I couldn't control the match at all.
Q. What went through your head when you finally won the second set?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, I thought the second set was obviously key to what came after. Maybe being down two sets to love, the way Andy was serving, would have always been a very difficult situation to be in, you know.
Even then down two sets to love it's still possible, but it definitely increased my chances of winning.
Q. What are your feelings for Andy now?
ROGER FEDERER: It's hard. Sports or tennis is cruel sometimes. We know it. I went through some five‑setters in Grand Slam finals, too and ended up losing. It's hard, you know.
But I think he did great, you know. He's not going to let his head hang down. I think he's gonna come back strong and play great in the States. I think it's one of the best matches we played against each other. Of course, conditions were very quick today.
But he played well. You know, I really thought I had to play my very, very best to come through.
Q. You said that as a boy you couldn't have dreamed of this. Was there a point as a boy where the game captured you, inspired you, and you said, That's what I want to be?
ROGER FEDERER: Sure. I mean, I wanted to be a tennis player or a soccer player from a very young age.
Q. Was there a final or something?
ROGER FEDERER: I think the Becker/Edberg final. I don't remember which year because they played a few times. Sitting at home in the living room, watching them play, thinking hopefully one day I can be like them, you know.
That's I guess where idols and inspirations are good. They push you forward. Then along the way you joke around and say it's coming closer. You know, when you win a practice match, you know, you just fake like you've just won Wimbledon, you know. All of a sudden it's really happening, you know.
But it's so surreal to think that far ahead, that it's amazing coming through in the end like this today.
Q. A lot of players go through their entire career never winning one Grand Slam. What's it like to win 15?
ROGER FEDERER: That's a good question. I like it. Makes me happy (smiling).
I don't know. I mean, it's staggering, you know, that I've been able to play so well for, you know, so many years now and stay injury‑free. Happy what I'm doing.
You know, I mean, of course there is a certain routine that's started to happen the last few years since I sort of became No. 1 in the world. I knew what it took to win the big ones. That's obviously, you know, a lot of experience that comes with it, you know, being there and giving myself chances.
Yeah, you know, so it's ‑‑ yeah, it's crazy that I've been able to win so many in such a short period of time, I think.
Q. Your first Grand Slam title was Wimbledon. Now your 15th is Wimbledon. Both titles are memorable. Do you feel destiny or anything?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, I'm happy I broke the record here in some ways, you know, because this is always the tournament that's meant the most to me because of what we spoke about with my heroes and idols being so successful here.
So it definitely feels like it's come full circle for me, you know, starting it here and ending it here. Of course, my career is far from over. But it's also nice to think especially so many legends were sitting there today. You know, especially Pete, you know, who I had a great time with in Asia a short while ago.
I know how much the record meant to him and he knows how much the record means to me. In a way, I still feel like we share it, you know, just because he was such a wonderful champion. He still has one up against me here at Wimbledon. It's nice, you know, that he shows appreciation for what I'm doing, and it's just great seeing so many, you know, legends coming out and enjoying my tennis or our tennis today.
I don't know how to say. I used to get nervous when a friend would come watch me play as a kid, and then it was my parents, and then it was legends and people I really ‑‑ who meant something. Today it's okay. Today anybody can come and watch me play. I don't get nervous anymore. Today with Pete it was a bit special, you know. When he walked in and I saw him for the first time, I did get more nervous actually.
Q. He got here late actually.
ROGER FEDERER: I said hello to him, too, which is unusual. But I thought, I don't want to be rude, you know (laughter).
Q. When did you actually find out he was coming? It was a will he, won't he, will he, won't he for the last couple of days. Were you given notice he was going to be there?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, confirmation I only got it yesterday during the day, but he promised me long time ago that he would. So I always knew he would keep his word, you know.
Yeah, he hoped it was maybe going to be in New York so it's closest to him. He said maybe not Australia, if possible. But I think this works for everyone.
Q. You've reclaimed the tennis throne, winning the French, here, No. 1 spot, without facing Rafael Nadal. Does that take anything out of it in any way?
ROGER FEDERER: No, I don't think it should. Just because tennis, that's the way it goes, you know. Everybody expected Murray to be in the finals. He wasn't there. It's not the mistake of the one who wins at the end.
Of course, I would have loved to play him again. But, then again, I've also played Andy now in three great Wimbledon finals, you know, and I think he deserves the credit, too, for playing so well.
You never know how he would have played, but it's sad he couldn't even give it a fair chance, Rafa. He had the injury. Tennis moves very quickly, you know.
I'm happy at least that I became No. 1 in the world by winning the tournament, not just by him not playing at all, or me playing decent or someone else playing decent and getting to No. 1. That's not the way it's supposed to be.
It's supposed to be that you win big matches, big tournaments. That's how you get back to it.
Q. What is going to be your next priorities?
ROGER FEDERER: The next priorities?
Q. From here.
ROGER FEDERER: What do you think? Not tennis.
Q. Do you feel like you're the happiest person right now?
ROGER FEDERER: I don't know. I mean, I'm very happy. I don't know if I'm the happiest person in the world. I don't think so. I think there's many happy people out there. Tennis doesn't make you ‑‑ tennis doesn't do it all for me. There's more to life than just tennis. But I feel great.
Q. Up till this point of your career, do you still have some regrets in your personal life and professional life?
ROGER FEDERER: No. I mean, I think in my tennis life I think I tried as hard as I could. Maybe some regrets when I was a junior. But I think it's important to go through that period of time where you don't know what it takes, so you try all sort of different things. And then you're not professional at times because you're not supposed to be because you're young, you're a junior, you're enjoying tennis.
On a personal level, I'm very happy. I'm together with a lovely wife for almost 10 years. It's great, you know. I'm happy it's the way it is really.
Q. 15 slams is such an incredible accomplishment over a long period of time. What qualities are you most proud of that you brought to this achievement?
ROGER FEDERER: To the sport?
Q. No, that you brought to achieving the record of 15 slams.
ROGER FEDERER: Uhm, just the fight, you know, because I'm famous for, you know, being all casual and relaxed out there, not showing much. But, you know, we all know how different it was, you know.
So for me to come get the player I am today, I mean, I'm surprised, you know. Just because I didn't expect it first of all. I never thought I could be this consistent, that great of a player with so many qualities, you know. Because I know I have qualities everywhere in the game. I know I have also some deficit, you know, which is normal, too.
Unfortunately, you can't practice everything in tennis. We play too many tournaments. So we don't have the chance, you know, to work on our games enough. That would be interesting to see if we had six months off, you know, how could you evolve as a player.
But there is a certain calendar, and we got to work with it, you know, trying to play well for the short period of time we can, and then also try to work on the game but also have enough breaks.
So it's quite interesting how a career goes. But I think I've handled many things the right way, you know, including the media, my personal life. I'm happy where my life has sort of improved, I would say, because it's so much fun on the tour right now.
I love traveling. I always kept things happy. I think that's key, you know, to a long career.
Q. What does it say on your T‑shirt?
ROGER FEDERER: "There is no finish line. Far from done."
Q. How do you feel about being a legend, except feeling good?
ROGER FEDERER: I don't know if you're a legend as long as you're still playing the sport. So let's wait and see.
http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/DEUCE- … Slams.aspx
Droga Federera od 1 do 15 szlema. Wszystkiego tutaj wrzucać nie będę bo strasznie rozciągnie wątek. Link powinien wystarczyć.
Oj będę do tego wracał :P
Aha, taka jedna ciekawostka mi się przypomniała :)
Federer wygrał swój 30 tytuł w karierze po sukcesie w Wimbledonie 2005. Była to wówczas Jego 3 korona londyńska.
Teraz podwoił dorobek w obu tych kategoriach - 60 tytuł na Wimblu, który zgarnął po raz 6.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZo1kOeHB40
Nowe reklama Nike dla Rogera . Aaj ;-)
To jest najlepsze:
ATP - ROGER MAKES HISTORY!
In a dramatic encounter that lasted over four hours Roger made history today! He defeated Andy Roddick to land a record-breaking 15th Grand Slam title in a thrilling final in Wimbledon, winning 5-7 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (7-5) 3-6 and 16-14.
His words after the amazing success were: "It's not one of those goals you set as a young boy. It feels amazing. I don't play tennis to break records, but this is a great one to have." Roger is the first tennis professional ever to have reached the mark of 15 Grand-Slam titles as he broke Pete Sampras' record. Pete followed the epic match in the
stadium today.
It was a hard piece of work for Roger as Andy Roddick pressured him with his strong serve. The two stretched the match all the way and played the longest set in tennis history! Roger was the happy winner today, with Andy surrendering a good loser.
And now Roger regains the world number 1 spot after his glorious victory - way to go!
Federer Beats Roddick at Wimbledon for Record 15th Major Title
July 5 (Bloomberg) -- Roger Federer became the first man to win 15 major tennis titles, beating Andy Roddick in the Wimbledon final that lasted more than four hours and finished on the winner’s only service break.
Federer defeated Roddick 5-7, 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 16-14 on Centre Court at the All England Club to pass Pete Sampras in the Grand Slam record books. Federer will replace the injured Rafael Nadal of Spain at the top of the rankings on the ATP World Tour tomorrow.
Sampras watched the match from the stands, seated beside other former champions including Bjorn Borg. Federer acknowledged Sampras when the American arrived during a first- set changeover.
Federer threw his racket in the air as Roddick’s forehand flew out on the first match point. He had squandered six previous break points.
The 30-game final set marked the longest in tournament history. The previous record was 24 games in 1954.
The record-breaking win, following a difficult season in 2008 during which he lost his top ranking and Wimbledon crown to Nadal, leaves him as one of the world’s greatest athletes. The Swiss won his first French Open last month after losing three straight finals to Nadal, a Spaniard who was ousted in the fourth round in Paris this year and skipped Wimbledon because of knee injuries.
“His achievement is more difficult than what Tiger Woods has pulled off,” seven-time Grand Slam champion John McEnroe said, comparing Federer with the world’s top-ranked golfer. “He’s running, he’s playing on different surfaces. Doesn’t Tiger just have to play on grass?”
The 27-year-old’s accomplishments brought praise from sportsmen across the world.
Worldwide Acclaim
“What he’s doing over there and what he’s done throughout his entire career has been pretty phenomenal, just his consistency in the slams, the biggest events, he’s always there,” said Woods, who regularly exchanges text messages with his Swiss friend.
Federer cemented his place in the history one month after he won his sole Roland Garros championship to tie Sampras’s 14 major victories. The American, a seven-time Wimbledon champion, hailed the Swiss as “the greatest ever” after that match, which made Federer only the sixth man to win each Grand Slam tournament -- Wimbledon and the Australian, French and U.S. opens.
“It’s an unbelievable effort to have 15 Grand Slam titles,” Rod Laver, who won all four majors in one year in 1962 and 1969, told reporters at the All England Club before the final. “And, of course, Pete Sampras has got 14, which was an unbelievable effort right there.”
‘Best of Era’
Breaking the record makes Federer “the best of his era,” said Laver, who doesn’t like to compare different times because of equipment changes and different playing styles. “It’s amazing what sort of shots he can come with from impossible positions.”
Federer’s victory in Paris lifted the weight of expectation off his shoulders, nine-time Wimbledon champion Martina Navratilova said.
“The monkey is off his back,” she told a press conference in London. “From now on, everything is a bonus. It’s going to be fun to see him play the way he wants to play.”
“He’s an all-time great,” Bud Collins, a broadcaster and tennis historian for more than 40 years, said in an interview at Wimbledon the day before the men’s final. Like Laver, Collins won’t compare players from different eras.
At Roland Garros, Federer took advantage of Nadal’s early exit against Robin Soderling of Sweden. The Spaniard had stopped Federer in Paris in the previous four years, while he also took his Wimbledon crown last year in a five-set final that took 4 hours, 48 minutes and was called by McEnroe the greatest he’d ever seen.
Tears Fall
In August, Nadal ended Federer’s record 237-week run at the top of the rankings and again beat the Swiss in a five-set final at the Australian Open at the beginning of this season. That defeat left Federer in tears during the award ceremony.
Federer still needs to get the upper hand over his nemesis, Nadal, to be considered the greatest of all time, Collins said. The Spaniard has won 13 of their 20 matches.
Federer’s run to 15 major titles started six years ago at Wimbledon.
“There are milestone wins that you’ll never forget,” Federer told reporters at Wimbledon the day before the final. “One of them was obviously my first Wimbledon victory here in 2003.”
Another milestone was becoming No. 1 in the world in 2004 after winning the Australian Open.
“It was a wonderful feeling, like feeling on top of the world,” he said.
Slam Streaks
Federer played in a record 20th Grand Slam final, breaking the record he shared with Ivan Lendl. He’s also made 21 consecutive major semifinals. That record probably never will be broken, other players say.
“The consistency in the big tournaments is ridiculous,” said Andy Murray of Britain, who lost in the semifinals to Roddick. “No one will ever match that.”
Federer’s victory robbed Roddick of a chance to end America’s longest Grand Slam drought in the men’s game since tennis admitted professionals in 1968. Wimbledon is the 23rd major since Roddick triumphed at the 2003 U.S. Open and no American man has won one since. Andre Agassi had been the only other American male to reach a major final since then, losing to Federer at the 2005 U.S. Open.
Betting Favorite
Federer was the 1-8 favorite to win his sixth Wimbledon title at British bookmakers Ladbrokes, with Roddick at 9-2. Federer’s odds mean a winning 8 pound bet returns 1 pound and the original wager.
His historic run isn’t over just yet.
The Swiss, who is expecting his first child with his wife, Mirka Vavrinec, this summer, wants to compete in the 2012 London Olympics.
“Mirka’s dream was always that our child can see me play as well,” Federer said. “I have to play a few more years just because of Mirka. The 2012 Olympics here at Wimbledon is something I’m going to be a part of.”
I trochę polskiej prasy:
Prasa: Roger największy, Federer bije Samprasa
"Przegląd Sportowy": "Roger przeszedł do historii"
Po dramatycznym meczu z Andym Roddickiem Federer zdobył upragniony piętnasty tytuł wielkoszlemowy.
"Sport": "Roger legenda"
28-letni Roger Federer, jako pierwszy tenisista w historii odniósł 15. zwycięstwo w Wielkim Szlemie, poprawiając w ten sposób rekordowe osiągnięcie Pete'a Samprasa. W wimbledońskim finale pokonał Andy'ego Roddicka. Piąty set decydującego meczu trwał 95 minut i zakończył się wynikiem 16:14!
"Gazeta Wyborcza": "Federer bije Samprasa"
Roger Federer pokonał w niesamowitym finale Wimbledonu Andy'ego Roddicka i zdobył szósty tytuł w Londynie. - Jest najlepszym tenisistą w historii - stwierdził Pete Sampras.
"Rzeczpospolita": "Historyczne zwycięstwo Federera"
To był jeden z najbardziej emocjonujących finałów Wimbledonu. Szwajcar po pokonaniu Andy'ego Roddicka poprawił rekord Pete'a Samprasa, co oznacza, że jest najbardziej utytułowanym tenisistą w historii i jednym z najwybitniejszych współczesnych sportowców.
"Dziennik": "Federer stał się największy"
Roger Federer po dramatycznej, prawie czteroipółgodzinnej walce pokonał Amerykanina Andy'ego Roddicka i został największym tenisistą wszech czasów. Jako pierwszy odniósł 15. zwycięstwo w Wielkim Szlemie.
onet.pl
Uwaga, Nadal wraca w sierpniu:P Koniec sielanki:D
Dopiero jak zobacze go na korcie to uwierze, że jest zdrowy.
To jest temat Rogera.
O Rafaelu piszemy tutaj:
http://www.mtenis.pun.pl/viewtopic.php?id=9
Jeszcze daleko do końca
Wcale nie kontrolowałem tego meczu, czasami frustrowała mnie własna bezradność w gemach serwisowych Andy’ego - mówi po fantastycznym finale Wimbledonu jego zwycięzca, Roger Federer.
Jak porównałby pan ten finał z innymi?
Roger Federer: Był trudny, bo Roddick zagrał świetnie. Wiem, jak radzić sobie w piątych setach, jak grać w finale Wimbledonu, ale czułem się inaczej niż poprzednio. Przed rokiem walczyliśmy z Rafaelem Nadalem z głębi kortu, teraz była to rywalizacja serwisów i returnów. Klasyczna gra na trawie. Wcale nie kontrolowałem tego meczu, czasami frustrowała mnie własna bezradność w gemach serwisowych Andy’ego. Może dlatego satysfakcja jest większa.
Jaki wpływ na sukces miał wygrany tie-break drugiego seta?
Był kluczem do dalszych zdarzeń. Zdecydowanie zwiększył moje szanse. Czasem się wygrywa przy stanie 0-2 w setach, ale ten wynik postawiłby mnie w bardzo trudnej sytuacji.
Wie pan, jakie są myśli rywala po takiej porażce?
Tenis jest czasami okrutny. Wszyscy to wiemy. Ja też znam to uczucie. Ale myślę, że Andy był wielki, nie może po tym meczu spuścić głowy. Będzie jeszcze mocniejszy.
A jak smakuje piętnaste zwycięstwo wielkoszlemowe?
Lubię to uczucie, jestem szczęśliwy. Złożyło się na to wiele pracy, lata doświadczeń, ale dziś sądzę, że jest to także coś niezwykłego, wręcz szalonego, że mogłem tak wiele osiągnąć w tak krótkim czasie.
Pierwszy tytuł zdobył pan w Wimbledonie, piętnasty też. Odczuwa pan w Londynie jakiś rodzaj sportowego przeznaczenia?
Ten turniej na pewno znaczy dla mnie najwięcej. Moich pierwszych sportowych idoli zobaczyłem właśnie tutaj. Czuję także, że historia mojej kariery zatoczyła pełne wimbledońskie koło. Widziałem na trybunach tak wiele sław, które przyjechały zobaczyć mój rekord. Szczególnie miło mi się zrobiło, gdy dostrzegłem Pete’a Samprasa. Ten rekord przecież dla niego także wiele znaczył. Cieszę się, że oni wszyscy tak mnie docenili. Moja kariera jednak się tu nie kończy, daleko jeszcze do tego.
Zdobył pan tytuły w Paryżu i Londynie oraz odzyskał nr 1 w rankingu bez gry przeciwko Nadalowi. To nie zmniejsza pańskiego sukcesu?
Nie sądzę. Tenis taki właśnie jest. Wszyscy spodziewali się Murraya w finale, a nie było go. Ale to nie jest wina tego, który ostatecznie wygrał. Oczywiście to smutne, że Rafa miał kontuzję i nie grał w Wimbledonie, lecz jeszcze ją dostanie tu i gdzie indziej. W tenisie sprawy biegną szybko.
Rzeczpospolita
To ja jeszcze dorzucę :D
Coś do poczytania:
http://www.sport.pl/sport/1,65025,67948 … orii_.html
I do posłuchania:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUs0q609Xmk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvktOf9RP4o
;)
I nieoceniony Pan Karol :D
Można stawiać pomnik
Po ostatniej piłce wimbledońskiego finału pomyślałem sobie o przeznaczeniu, które musi wpływać na nasze życie.
Rok temu Roger Federer, lider męskiego tenisa, przegrał na londyńskim trawniku mecz stulecia z Rafaelem Nadalem i w konsekwencji zaraz potem stracił pozycję nr 1. Reputację uratował na krótko, w Nowym Jorku. Cztery miesiące później w Melbourne płakał na korcie jak bóbr po kolejnej bolesnej porażce z chłopakiem z Majorki i cokół pod pomnik najlepszego tenisisty wszech czasów wciąż stał pusty. Ale wiosną tego roku wszystko się odwróciło. Na pewno znaczenie miały kontuzje rywali albo ich słabsza forma, ale tak naprawdę Federerowi pomógł przede wszystkim własny geniusz. W Paryżu odwrócił losy trzech przegranych już właściwie pojedynków: z Jose Acasuso, Tommym Haasem i Juanem Martinem Del Potro. W Londynie przez cały turniej szedł jak burza, ale w finale poczuł presję i zagrał mniej agresywnie. Mimo to wyszedł w tie-breaku drugiego seta z opresji, z której na dobrą sprawę nie ma wyjścia, a w piątej partii, dłuższej od kobiecego finału, przypominał szachowego arcymistrza zręcznie omijającego wszystkie pułapki.
Federer definitywnie przeskoczył wszystkich sławnych kolegów zgromadzonych w niedzielę w loży królewskiej, a ponieważ zapowiedział, że nie odkłada rakiety, to w przyszłości będzie się mierzył już tylko z własnymi rekordami. Znany z sentymentalnych reakcji Szwajcar przyjął wszelkie hołdy bez emocji. Za to – o paradoksie – łez nie potrafił powstrzymać pokonany Andy Roddick. Chłopak z Teksasu zagrał w Londynie turniej życia. Nie dość, że popsuł Brytyjczykom święto z Andym Murrayem w roli głównej, to jeszcze prawie skradł finałowy spektakl samemu Federerowi i omal go nie pokonał.
Jeszcze Apropo Wimbledonu to Roger ma doskonały bilans 11-1( w tym 5-1 z Nadalem) tie-breaków rozgrywanych w meczu finałowym.
To między innymi pozwoliło mu odnieść zwyciestwo w 2007 i 2009 roku oraz przedłużyć dramatyczne spotkanie z Rafą w zeszłym roku.
OFF COURT - ROGER HONORED IN BASEL
Yesterday, Roger was named "Ehrespalebaerglemer", an award given to his hometown Basel's outstanding citizens. Our champion unveiled a honor plate with his name in the historic city center of Basel. 200 to 300 fans attended the ceremony.
rf.com
http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis … onour.aspx
Więcej o powyższej ceremonii ;)
Dwie baby, hahaha
COA napisał:
Dwie baby, hahaha
Ale przerąbane ma facet :/
OFF COURT - ROGER PROUD FATHER OF TWIN GIRLS!
15 Time Grand Slam Champion and #1 Ranked Player In The World, Roger Federer Becomes Proud Father Of Twin Girls
Roger Federer and his wife Mirka, proudly announce the birth of twin daughters, Charlene Riva and Myla Rose, who were born Thursday night, July 23rd in Switzerland. "This is the greatest day of our lives. Mirka, Myla and Charlene are all healthy and doing very well."
Rf.com
-----------------------------
Tak na poważnie to graty :D
Jednak tamte plotki o synu i porodzie w sierpniu były nieprawdziwe. Występ w Kanadzie raczej pewny :good:
Trzy kobity w domu. hahaha Coś czuje, że Fedek będzie teraz sobie wynajdywać duuuuużo czasu na treningi. :lol: No graty panie Federere, dobra skuteczność. :good:
Robertinho napisał:
No graty panie Federere, dobra skuteczność. :good:
Fantastyczna wręcz - 1 strzał i od razu 2 bramki :D
Roger i Mirka - foty:
http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/07/2 … nging-out/
A są jednojajowe czy dwu? :D
To juz wiadomo, ze beda nowe siostry Williams:P Charlene i Myla.
DUN I LOVE napisał:
Fantastyczna wręcz - 1 strzał i od razu 2 bramki :D
Można inaczej- jeden serwis, dwa punkty :D
Jules napisał:
To juz wiadomo, ze beda nowe siostry Williams:P Charlene i Myla.
Tylko nie siotry Williams! Kobiecy tenis potrzebuje finezji! Bliźniaczki Federera mogłyby grac ofensywnie, pięknie uderzac z forhendu i bakhendu jak tatuś :D
sport.pl napisał:
Bukmacherzy już przyjmują zakłady na córki Federera
Bliźniacze córeczki szwajcarskiego mistrza tenisa Rogera Federera urodziły się zaledwie dwie doby temu, a bukmacherzy przyjmują już zakłady 1 do 100 na to, że któraś z nich wygra turniej w Wimbledonie przed ukończeniem 25 lat .
Brytyjska firma bukmacherska Ladbrokes zaoferowała zakład 1-100, że Charlene Riva lub Myla Rose, córeczki 31-letniej Mirki, wygrają w przyszłości wielkoszlemowy turniej na trawiastych kortach Wimbledonu. Ich ojciec wygrał rekordowo dużo turniejów wielkoszlemowych - 15.
Dziewczynki, które urodziły się w prywatnej klinice w Szwajcarii, są oceniane przez bukmacherów w stosunku 1-50, że wygrają razem turniej wimbledoński w deblu, a 1-200, że zrobią to w grze pojedynczej i w podwójnej.
- Bliźniaczki pochodzą z dobrego, tenisowego rodu. Jeśli będą w połowie tak dobre, jak ich tata, będą skuteczną siłą na korcie - powiedział rzecznik firmy Ladbrokes, Nick Weinberg.
Pokonany przez Federera w finale Wimbledonu 2009 Amerykanin Andy Roddick napisał w swym mikroblogu: - Mistrzynie Wimbledonu w l. 2029-2040... dziewczęta Federer: gratulacje dla rodziców.
Warto poczekac do tego 2029.
I tak na bank Fedek jeszcze bedzie dazyl do tego, aby Mirka mu syna urodzila.
sport.pl napisał:
Bukmacherzy już przyjmują zakłady na córki Federera
Bliźniacze córeczki szwajcarskiego mistrza tenisa Rogera Federera urodziły się zaledwie dwie doby temu, a bukmacherzy przyjmują już zakłady 1 do 100 na to, że któraś z nich wygra turniej w Wimbledonie przed ukończeniem 25 lat .
Ehh, nie zdążyły oczu otworzyć, a już im przyszłość wybrali :P
Modlę się za te dziewczyny, by za wszelką cenę nie wybrały sportowej drogi Ojca. Gra z takim nazwiskiem to potworne obciążenie i nieustanne porównania, nie wiem, czy wiele osób jest w stanie uprawiać daną dyscyplinę w cieniu własnego rodzica, a tak byłoby bez wątpienia w tym przypadku.
Borg, Sampras Pay Tribute To 'Greatest Ever' Federer:
http://www.atpchampionstour.com/news23.html
Federer chce zagrać we wrześniu w Pucharze Davisa
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadi … DIyrQT8vcw
Filippo napisał:
Federer chce zagrać we wrześniu w Pucharze Davisa
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadi … DIyrQT8vcw
Roger Federer wants to play in Switzerland's Davis Cup playoff against Italy in September, team captain Severin Luethi said Wednesday.
"Wants to play" - widzę bardzo pozytywne rączki córeczek w owej chęci :D
Dobra Roger nie świruj, całą karierę odpuszczasz Davisa to teraz się nie wyłamuj.
Bez przesady. We wrześniu grał prawie zawsze, aby pomóc drużynie się utrzymać w grupie światowej. :)
Querrey o Fedzie:
Jul 26, 2009 from Los Angeles Daily News:
Sam Querrey'll often go to North Ranch Country Club in Thousand Oaks, where he grew up playing, and hit with some of the younger players. Querrey believes in doing this. After all, when he was 12, he used to hit with Roger Federer sometimes. He's still learning from Federer, although he hopes to emulate Federer more off the court for his professionalism and charity work among other things.
Jeszcze odnośnie dziewczynek, bo nie miałam okazji pogratulować. Bardzo, bardzo się cieszę, i do dzisiaj nie wierzę. Sama też mam nadzieję, że będą grały tylko rekreacyjnie, bo gdyby wybrały drogę zawodową, byłoby im bardzo ciężko. Siostry Federer, ślicznie to brzmi.
Z facebook'a :
Mirka, Myla and Charlene are all doing really well. The baby girls are doing new things every day and are a lot of fun. Hopefully, before the end of this week, I will charge my camera and have my Dad or someone take some pictures so I can share one with you. Thanks for the support and warm wishes.
To w takim razie czekamy na zdjęcia ;)
A propo dziewczynek to już stwarzają małe problemy :D :P
Federer's NY hotel home needs to update its honourary plaque
Federer's NY hotel home needs to update its honourary plaque With new-born infant twins possibly in tow for the upcoming US Open, Roger Federer may need an upgrade from the New York hotel suite he has used for the past few seasons on his way to five straight titles at the last major of the season.
New York's Observer newspaper says the Federer suite a the midtown Hotel Carlyle runs at just over $3,000 per night and has been home to Federer and now-wife Mirka Vavrinec since 2007 during their time at the Open.
Federer may have just grown used to sleeping on pillowcases monogrammed with his "RF" initials. There is also a small kitchen with an espresso machine and small fridge - presumably cleared of the minibar items.
But with such an honoured annual guest, hotel officials told the newspaper that future upgrades are on the way. The most urgent would be a plaque on the front door of the suite recalls Federer's "13" Grand Slams, a total now two short of reality.
There's plenty of closet space inside and a choice of bathrooms (tub or shower). Federer is said to prefer one room over the other, possibly due to feng shui, according to a guess from the housekeeping staff.
MONTREAL — Roger Federer will indeed compete in the Rogers Cup as planned.
After weeks of suspense, especially after the birth of his twin daughters Charlene and Myla on July 23, it certainly appeared the 15-time Grand Slam champion would skip Montreal to spend more time with his new family.
But the good news came down Friday morning.
Federer is on his way to Montreal from Switzerland, and should arrive in time to hit the practice courts around dinnertime Friday.
Federer is the two-time champion at the Rogers Cup — but both wins came in Toronto. He missed the Montreal event in 2001 and 2005.
His best result before the Montreal fans came the last time the men's tournament was held there in 2007, when he reached the final. He lost to Novak Djokovic of Serbia in a dramatic third-set tiebreak on a blustery day.
Montreal also was the scene of one of Federer's great early-career disappointments. In the 2003 semifinal, Federer needed a win against Andy Roddick to reach No. 1 in the world for the very first time. He lost in straight sets — one of only two losses to the American in 21 career matches between the two.
More to come.
OFF COURT - ROGERS CUP, MONTREAL
Dear Fans
After the wonderful experiences over the past days it is my pleasure to inform you that I will be participating in the Rogers Cup in Montreal which starts on Monday. As I was able to find enough time to practice these past weeks I must say that I feel fit and full of energy. It is always a bit strange not to have played for a longer period – five weeks in total this time – so I am happy to be back competing and sharing my passion with all of you! Thank you so much for all your support.
Take care
Roger
8.8.2009 - Roger Federer kończy dziś 28 lat.
Roger przyszedł na świat o godzinie 8:40 8 sierpnia 1981 roku w szpitalu w Bazylei. Dużo się działo od ostatnich urodzin, póki co z happy-endem. Oby tak dalej :)
Zmieniło się w zasadzie wszystko, zarówno w statusie Rogera jako tenisisty, jak i w życiu prywatnym.
Osiągnięcia w dniu 28 urodzin:
Ranking: 1
Ilość tygodni na 1 miejscu: 242
Wygrane turnieje: 60
Przegrane Finały: 22
Turnieje WS: 15/5
Mastersy: 15/9
Zarobki: $49,475,219
Wszystkiego Najlepszego, Roger :)
The world No. 1 was more than two hours late for his scheduled practice session on the Centre Court. We'd say it was diaper duty, but he's probably got people for that.
It was (tentatively), at 6 p.m. Fed finally left his hotel about 7:30, and took to the court – to the applause of people who had gathered – about 8:15 p.m.
He was accompanied by friend and Swiss Davis Cup captain Severin Luthi. With him was countryman Marco Chiudinelli and his coach, who had been in Vancouver earlier in the week.
Chiudinelli, a handsome fellow, will play his first-round qualifying match Saturday. He looks younger, but he's actually a contemporary of Fed's; he's a month younger, and they went all through the juniors together. He's also from Basel.
Chiudinelli is currently ranked No. 169, and never made it higher than No. 129. He finished 2008 at No. 779, (we're suspecting that had something to do with a wrapped knee that had him practically limping on the court Friday night). So he's made a nice comeback.
The two were non-stop yapping through about the first 20 minutes of their hit. Impressive that they can actually hit the ball that well while their gums are flapping incessantly.
Federer seemed in extremely high spirits. He was tanned - no telltale bags of late nights with the newborns under his eyes.
He looked scary fit, too. And, as always, impeccably turned out. The bright blue bandanna and wristbands likely are (as a very enamoured fan sitting next to me pointed out) probably a precursor of what he's going to wear during the U.S. summer hard-court season.
It took him about five swipes of the ball to hit his groove - in stark contrast to the rusty Rafa the previous day. His agent told tournament director Eugene Lapierre that Fed had been training a lot, and that he'd never seen him look sharper.
That can be agent talk, of course. You wouldn't want his rivals to think they had gained any kind of an edge, with Fed being a new father and all. But certainly that's what it looked like tonight.
The big thing is that he's in the house.
We're told the entire FedFamily travelled with him - newborns on a plane, at altitude. Must have been quite the trip.
http://communities.canada.com/montrealg … -here.aspx
_ _ _
No i naturalnie Wszystkiego Najlepszego Roger :)
Net game: Federer's twins make Facebook debut
ZURICH -- Roger Federer is showing off his new doubles team.
The Swiss tennis great has posted the first public photo of his twin girls on the Internet. Federer wrote below the photo on his Facebook account Friday that the girls and mother are "doing great." He thanked friends and fans for their wishes.
Federer and his wife, Mirka, are each holding a baby in the picture. Federer said the photo was taken by his father. Charlene Riva and Myla Rose were born July 23 on what Federer called the best day of his life.
Federer Twins
AP - This undated photo taken by Robert Federer and posted on the Facebook fan site of his son, tennis' top-ranked player Roger Federer Friday, Aug. 7, 2009 shows Roger Federer, right, and his wife Mirka Vavrinec holding their twin daughters Charlene Riva and Myla Rose. The twins were born July 23. (AP Photo/Federer family) NO SALES
The top-ranked Federer is not scheduled to return to the tour until Aug. 10 in Montreal. Last month, he beat Andy Roddick in the Wimbledon final for his 15th Grand Slam title, breaking Pete Sampras' record.
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/236/story/990940.html
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I Mirka jakoś nieźle wyszła, chudsza jakby trochę :D
Najlepszego Roger :) Sukcesów w tenisie, jak i w życiu prywatnym, kto wie może teraz chłopczyk ? :D
Blue napisał:
kto wie może teraz chłopczyk ? :D
Najpierw USO :D
Najlepszego Roger,
chociaż zastanawiam się czy może Cie coś jeszcze lepszego w życiu spotkać, niż to co teraz przeżywasz .
DUN I LOVE napisał:
Blue napisał:
kto wie może teraz chłopczyk ? :D
Najpierw USO :D
O to to właśnie. Nasze USO.
http://www.rogerfederer.com/en/rogers/n … NewsID=941
OFF COURT - BIRTHDAY WISHES
Dear Fans
The lucky numbers are here again: 8.8.! It’s great to be celebrating my birthday, especially now as my family has grown and there are so many precious moments we can share. There’s quite some celebrating to be done over these weeks of the year!
I must admit that I am quite simply overwhelmed by all the letters, postcards, presents and personal greetings that I have received from all of you. I would like to thank you so much for your support. It is fantastic to be given so much from all the corners of the world and being able to see what a close community we have become over these years. Wonderful!
Kind regards,
Roger
Strzeżcie się! Tatuś Federer nadchodzi
- Zmiana pieluch mi niestraszna. Jestem podekscytowany rolą ojca, ale myślę, że uda mi się ją pogodzić z grą na najwyższym poziomie - mówi Roger Federer
Najlepszy tenisista świata został ojcem 23 lipca. Jego żona Mirka Vavrinec urodziła bliźniaczki - Charelene i Mylę. Koledzy przestrzegali Federera, że jego życie się zmieni. - Nie będziesz miał na nic czasu, tenis przestanie być najważniejszy, nie dasz rady z treningiem i grą w turniejach - mówił Ivan Ljubicić, który po narodzinach dziecka znacznie spadł w rankingu. Szwajcara przestrzegano, że tylko Jimmy Connors potrafił regularnie wygrywać w Wielkim Szlemie jako tatuś. Rodzicielstwo zazwyczaj działało na tenisistów jako bodziec do szybszego zakończenia kariery. Tak było z McEnroe, Lendlem czy Edbergiem.
Co na to Federer? - Nic z tych rzeczy! Zamiast dziewięciu godzin śpię teraz pięć-sześć, ale nie przeszkadza mi to. Czuję się świetnie - odpowiadał rozluźniony w piątek na specjalnie zwołanej konferencji prasowej poświęconej wyłącznie... jego dzieciom.
Na dowód tego, że będzie w stanie godzić opiekę nad córkami z kontynuowaniem kariery, ogłosił na początek, że wznawia starty już w tym tygodniu w Montrealu (choć wcześniej miał pauzować aż do końca sierpnia). Szwajcar wynajął odrzutowiec i zamiast rozstawać się z rodziną na pięć tygodni, zabrał wszystkich ze sobą. - Lekarze zrobili badania, czy możemy tak zrobić. Zabieramy niańkę, damy radę - tryskał optymizmem Federer.
Opowiadał, że rodzicie od początku wiedzieli, że będą bliźniaczki, ale postanowili tego nie rozgłaszać. Federer przyznał, że na kilku konferencjach prasowych zapytany o dziecko powiedział niechcący w liczbie mnogiej "babies" (dzieci), ale... nikt nie zauważył.
Bliźniaczki nie są wcale identyczne. - Myślałem, że od początku będziemy mieli problemy z odróżnianiem ich, ale okazało się, że nie. Jedna z nich ma na razie nieco jaśniejszy odcień skóry - śmiał się Szwajcar. Charelene i Myla urodziły się przez cesarskie cięcie. Federer przez ponad dwa tygodnie mieszkał w szpitalu, by być razem z Mirką i dziećmi, ale znalazł czas na treningi. Grał z Austriakiem Stefanem Koubkiem na kortach niedaleko szpitala.
Rafael Nadal, największy rywal Federera, przysłał SMS-a z gratulacjami. - Odpisałem, że życzę mu powrotu do zdrowia - mówił Federer. Hiszpan od Rolanda Garrosa leczył kontuzję kolan.
Na razie wydaje się, że rola ojca pasuje mu idealnie. Wrzuca zdjęcia dzieci do internetu, na prawo i lewo opowiada, jak jest szczęśliwy. Internauci piszą, że to, jak teraz zachowuje się Federer, imponuje im jeszcze bardziej niż jego 15 tytułów w Wielkim Szlemie. - Po prostu jestem ojcem - podkreśla Szwajcar, ale dodaje, że 31 sierpnia zaczyna walkę o szósty z rzędu tytuł w US Open.
sport.pl
MONTREAL (AFP) – World number one Roger Federer fought off a surprise showing from Canadian outsider Frederic Niemeyer to advance 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 at the ATP Montreal Masters.
In his first match since winning his record 15th Grand Slam title last month at Wimbledon, Federer on Tuesday outlasted the 487th-ranked Niemeyer, who is retiring at the end of the season.
"I'm very happy with my game. I reacted well in my first match back," said Federer. "I played the big points well. I'm very pleased.
Niemeyer, 33, saved three match points on his own serve, benefitting from a service winner and a pair of Swiss errors to hold for 4-5 and give his home Quebec crowd a thrill.
But top seed Federer, a new father of twin daughters born July 23, put an end to the dream a game later as he served it out, concluding with his 12th ace of the evening.
Federer, who skipped ther past five tour weeks, saved the only break point he faced in the 86-minute contest.
"There was a stadium full of Canadians cheering for Frederic but there were also a few for me," Federer said.
"I'm happy to be back after the long break. We played at a very high level. Frederic has a big serve and is tough."
14.08.2009
Roger Federer przegrywa z Jo Wilfredem Tsongą 6:7(5) 6:1 6:7(3).
Szwajcar prowadził 5:1 w decydującym secie z kontuzjowanym przeciwnikiem.
Dzięki tej porażce, wyczyn z Montrealu przesuwa się na 1 miejsce w hierarchii najbardziej sfrajerzonych meczów przez Rogera.
Mój ranking
1.Tsonga Montreal 2009
2.Nadal Hamburg 2008
3.Nadal AO 2009
Tylko się nie popłacz. hahaha
http://www.rogerfederer.com/en/rogers/n … NewsID=945
OFF COURT - WANTED: TRIBUTE VIDEOS!
Dear Fans,
Now is your chance to show off your skills: pay tribute to our Great Champion by making your own Roger Federer Tribute Video!
Create an original and unique video to show your love for Roger. The winner will receive a Roger Federer Autographed Wilson [K]Six-One Tour Racket!
For more information and official rules go to: www.wilson.com. To register your video: www.youtube.com
A winner will be announced on Aug. 31st 2009.
Good luck!
Aś, coś dla Ciebie :P
Widziałam xDDDDD
Zastanawiam się nad poskładaniem do kupy filmików, z moimi reakcjami, tylko nie wiem do końca czy się na to zdecyduję, bo chwilami to jest naprawdę śmieszne. Z drugiej strony kiedyś te filmy lubiłam robić, odkąd szanowny Youtube usunął mi konto ( pozdrawiam ) bardzo , za bardzo się zniechęciłam. Także tego, pomyślimy, ale fajna sprawa, trzeba przyznać ;)
Notki z ostatnich dni ze strony fanów Rogera Federera: www.goroger.net
Aug 18, 2009 from Cincinnati Enquirer:
Although it perhaps doesn’t rank with mid-court seats for Sunday’s men’s final, the areas around the thin slits in the green wind-control netting surrounding one of the complex’s practice courts were the place to be Tuesday for those wanting to get as close to the world’s best tennis player as most are ever likely to be.
With fans hoping to get a glimpse of Roger Federer outnumbering by hundreds the available seats, people contorted their bodies and craned their necks to peer through the roughly six-inch wide openings, creating a tennis equivalent of baseball’s stereotypical vintage images of kids peeking through knotholes in ballpark fences.
People crawled through bushes, stood on their toes and tried to squeeze five bodies into spaces where two normally would feel crowded to get an unobstructed, if brief, look at Federer as he zipped groundstrokes while tuning up for his opening match today. Some held their cameras and cell phones high above their heads, hoping to angle them just right to get a photo through the narrow slots. Others had to content themselves with the shadowy images visible through the mesh netting.
Even with those obstacles, though, everyone seemed thrilled to be so close to tennis greatness.
“Where are you?” one woman shouted to her husband as they navigated through some large bushes about 25 feet from Federer.
“Back in the wilderness,” came the chuckling reply.
At the Masters, that’s often where the best memories are made.
Aug 17, 2009 from Globe and Mail:
David Feherty noted Roger Federer’s comment that the only fault with Tiger Woods is that his pants are too big.
Aug 16, 2009 from Cincinnati Enquirer:
TENNISVILLE – The world’s best arrived just before 4 Sunday afternoon, a couple of tennis courts apart. As Roger Federer practiced on Court 5, Dinara Safina was on Center Court, playing for a title.
Aug 20, 2009 from DPA:
CINCINNATI – Roger Federer dropped only his second career set to David Ferrer before fighting back for a 3-6, 6- 3, 6-4 victory into the quarter-finals of the Cincinnati Masters Thursday.
The pair took to the hardcourt in hot, windy conditions after morning rainstorms, with Ferrer getting the early jump on the world number one.
Federer's 8-0 record in the series counted for little in the first set, with Ferrer recovering from an opening-set break and re-breaking the Swiss for 5-3.
The Spaniard closed out the set as Federer produced 16 unforced errors, a display which was quickly corrected as the top seed won the second set to level and recovered from a break down with an immediate break-back in the third before finally advancing on the first of three match points.
"I'm happy with how I played," said Federer. "It was tough, conditions were tricky.
"David didn't make many mistakes. This was one of those matches I had to win.
"I played well at the end to come through. I'm happy to get an opportunity to return tomorrow."
Federer's win took the record of the double Cincinnati champion to 44-7 on the season.
ATP - ROGER CRUISES INTO SEMIS
Roger clearly defeated Lleyton Hewitt 6-3, 6-4 in the quarter final in Cincinnati today. Our champ was never troubled by the Australian, breaking once in each set.
Roger will now meet second-ranked Andy Murray. The two players have met eight times before, the Scot registering six wins. "He has been more or less the best player in the world on hard courts this year," Roger said. "I know it's going to be a very tough match. I just have to come out with my game plan and hope it works."
rf.com
Ton wypowiedzi wskazuje, że Roger nie ma zamiaru walczyć do upadłego o poprawienie H2H, wygląda bardziej na to, że jak będzie dobrze szło to może się spręży, natomiast jeśli szybko straci podanie to podejrzewam, że nie podejmie wyzwania.
#61) Cincinatti 2009
R64 Bye
R32 J.Acasuso 6/3 7/5
R16 D.Ferrer 3/6 6/3 6/4
QF L.Hewitt 6/3 6/4
SF A.Murray(3) 6/2 7/6
W N.Djokovic(4) 6/1 7/5
Ave King
Zaraz Ci zdjęcie podeślę .
Roża Mistrzu :applause:
ATP - ROGER CAPTURES THIRD CINCI TITLE!
Roger won his final against Novak Djokovic 6-1, 7-5 today to become just the fourth player in the Open Era history of the tournament in Cincinnati to win the title three times. Our champ has now captured the title in 2009, 2007 and 2005.
Roger showed a brilliant performance today and was never troubled by Djokovic. He had to fight in the second set as his opponent took a 3-0 lead, breaking in the second game. But Roger came back strong in his typical way, breaking back twice. Serving for the match, Roger did not drop a single point to complete the perfect warm-up for the US Open which begins in a week on August 31.
Roger dedicated the title two his twin girls during the prize giving ceremony. It is the first title he has captured as a dad.
Fajne podsumowanie sezonu 09 jak dotąd, przez jednego kibica:
'Madrid Masters
Roland Garros
Wimbledon
Back on world # 1
Twins birth
Cincinnati Masters
What a summer it was for you Roger
Gongratulations Roger
You are the best ever'
Federer wins Cincinnati Masters
World number one Roger Federer warmed up for the US Open in perfect fashion as he beat fourth seed Novak Djokovic 6-1 7-5 to win the Cincinnati Masters
The 15-times grand-slam champion ripped through the first set and then came from 3-0 down to win the second and clinch his fourth title of the year.
"A good start always helps and that was the case today," Federer said at the trophy presentation. "I played awesome yesterday (against Andy Murray) as well and the whole week's been great for me."
Serb Djokovic had beaten former world number one Rafa Nadal in the semi-finals on Saturday but after a quick turnaround he looked sluggish early on.
A 13-minute second game proved crucial as Federer broke for 2-0 and another break two games later helped him to take the opening set.
Djokovic, runner-up last year, hit back well at the start of the second set and broke the Federer serve in the second game on his way to a 3-0 lead.
But the Swiss broke back two games later and forced three more break points on the Djokovic serve in the eighth game, only for the Serb to hold on.
A rare forehand mistake from Federer gave Djokovic a set point at 5-4 but the Swiss saved it with a big serve.
After holding for 5-5, Federer then broke Djokovic again and served out comfortably to clinch his 16th Masters Series title and his 61st career crown.
Djokovic said. "He was just too good today. But it's been a fantastic last couple of years for me in Cincinnati."
(eurosport)
Szczęśliwy człowiek Roger Federer
Roger Federer miał być słabszy, bo pobił już wszystkie rekordy, a niedawno urodziły mu się dzieci. Jest dokładnie na odwrót. - Jestem szczęśliwym człowiekiem, dlatego gram tak dobrze - tłumaczy Szwajcar, który właśnie wygrał w Cincinnati
- Federer nie ma szans w US Open. Za dużo w tym roku przeszedł. Najpierw pierwszy raz wygrał w Paryżu, potem odzyskał koronę Wimbledonu, a teraz jeszcze musi zmieniać pieluchy. Nie wytrzyma - drwił niedawno John McEnroe, przekreślając szanse 28-letniego Federera na triumf w Nowym Jorku.
Szwajcar, numer jeden na świecie, pojechał na turnieje poprzedzające ostatniego w roku Szlema po ponad miesięcznej przerwie. Zabrał żonę i kilkutygodniowe bliźniaczki - Charlene i Mylę. Jeden z rywali żartował, że szansa na pokonanie Federera opiera się teraz na jego nieprzespanych nocach. Jeśli córki będą płakać, pojawi się szansa na zwycięstwo.
W Montrealu udało się to w ćwierćfinale Francuzowi Jo-Wilfriedowi Tsondze, ale w zakończonym w niedzielę Cincinnati Federer nie miał już konkurencji. Wygrał 61. turniej w karierze i 16. imprezę z serii Masters. Więcej triumfów w tym cyklu ma jedynie Andre Agassi (17).
W półfinale po raz pierwszy od roku Federer pokonał Andy'ego Murraya. To wielki wynik, bo Szkot stał się ostatnio zmorą Szwajcara. Wygrywał z nim, jak i gdzie chciał - w Madrycie, Szanghaju, Dausze, Abu Zabi, Indian Wells. Pięć razy z rzędu! Niektórzy wieszczyli już, że 22-letni Szkot, który od tygodnia jest numerem dwa na świecie, niebawem zdetronizuje Federera. W Cincinnati król pokazał jednak, że wciąż rządzi. W finale utarł nos innemu młodemu gniewnemu - Novakovi Djokoviciowi. 22-letni Serb też nie przegrał jeszcze z Federerem w tym sezonie, ale tym razem nie miał szans.
Eksperci podkreślają bowiem, że Federer znów bardzo pewnie serwuje, nie pali się psychicznie, popełnia mało błędów. Gra jak za najlepszych czasów. Krajobraz po Cincinnati przypomina nawet trochę lata 2006-07. Federer wygrywał wtedy właściwie ze wszystkimi za wyjątkiem Rafaela Nadala. Ale jeśli dołożyć do tego słabszą postawę Hiszpana, którego kolana wciąż trzeszczą po kontuzji (przegrał w Cincinnati z Djokoviciem), Federer wydaje się teraz w jeszcze lepszej sytuacji.
Bukmacherzy płacą za jego zwycięstwo w US Open jedynie 2,25 dol. za jednego postawionego. Dalej są Murray (3,75), Nadal (6), Argentyńczyk Juan Martin Del Potro (8,5), Djoković (9) i Andy Roddick (11). Amerykanin, który w finale Wimbledonu był bardzo bliski wygranej z Federerem, niespodziewanie przegrał w ostatnim teście przed US Open w II rundzie.
Nowy Jork to dla Federera miejsce szczególne. W tym roku będzie walczył o szóste zwycięstwo, co byłoby rekordem ery open, czyli po 1968 r., gdy tenis stał się zawodowym sportem. Poza Federerem pięć razy US Open wygrywali jedynie Pete Sampras i Jimmy Connors. Szwajcar chce też dalej śrubować rekord zwycięstw w Szlemie. Na razie ma ich 15.
- Cincinnati ma dla mnie specjalne znaczenie, bo wygrałem po raz pierwszy jako ojciec. Jestem w dobrej formie, bo ostatnio dużo trenowałem, ale tak naprawdę to czuję się po prostu szczęśliwym człowiekiem. Mam wspaniałą rodzinę i robię w życiu to, co lubię najbardziej - powiedział Szwajcar.
John McEnroe na razie nie komentował wyników tatusia Federera.
Roger zwyciezajac w Cincinnati samodzielnie objal druga pozycje w klasyfikacji wygranych turniejow z cyklu "Masters".
Czolowka klasyfikacji:
17 -Agassi
16 -Federer
15 - Nadal
Gratulacje!
Szkoda łysego, ale raczej poleci w tej statystyce na 3 miejsce, nie wierzę by Fed nie wygrał w karierze jeszcze 2 mastersów, a Nadal na pewno coś dołoży na cegle.
Fed-Expresso napisał:
Szkoda łysego, ale raczej poleci w tej statystyce na 3 miejsce, nie wierzę by Fed nie wygrał w karierze jeszcze 2 mastersów, a Nadal na pewno coś dołoży na cegle.
Nie tylko na cegle ;)
Kubecki napisał:
Nie tylko na cegle ;)
Niezłe. 8/10
Roger Federer na czele listy płac
Roger Federer, po niedzielnym triumfie w turnieju ATP w Cincinnati, jako pierwszy tenisista w tym sezonie przekroczył granicę pięciu milionów dolarów zarobionych na korcie - o 383 961. Szwajcar wyprzedza Hiszpana Rafaela Nadala - 4,425 mln dol.
Najwięcej z polskich tenisistów zarobił w tym roku Łukasz Kubot - 308 889 dol., co daje mu 66. miejsce na świecie.
Czołówka najlepiej zarabiających tenisistów sezonu:
1. Roger Federer (Szwajcaria) 5 383 961 dol.
2. Rafael Nadal (Hiszpania) 4 425 323
3. Andy Murray (W.Brytania) 3 022 632
4. Novak Djokovic (Serbia) 2 391 694
5. Andy Roddick (USA) 2 187 719
6. Juan Martin del Potro (Argentyna) 1 731 522
7. Robin Soederling (Szwecja) 1 246 800
8. Nikołaj Dawidienko (Rosja) 1 058 154
9. Fernando Verdasco (Hiszpania) 1 023 874
10. Fernando Gonzalez (Chile) 1 006 516
..
66. Łukasz Kubot (Polska) 308 889
130. Marcin Matkowski (Polska) 154 167
141. Mariusz Fyrstenberg (Polska) 139 016
brawo Roger :)
Fed-Expresso napisał:
Kubecki napisał:
Nie tylko na cegle ;)
Niezłe. 8/10
Naprawde myslisz ze Nadal nie wygra juz zadnego Mastersa na hardzie ? 10/10 :D
Bizon napisał:
Naprawde myslisz ze Nadal nie wygra juz zadnego Mastersa na hardzie ? 10/10 :D
Np Ja tak myślę :P
--------------------------
Brawo Roger :) Zwycięstwo cieszy, a styl w jakim to zrobił hyba jeszcze bardziej ;) Nie było mi dane tego widzieć, ale jak bez moich oczu ma tak grać to nie ma sprawy - 5 minut skrótu na YT też mnie zadowoli :P
Teraz chyba wszystkie sukcesy będzie dedykował dziewczynkom - bardzo słusznie :)
I jeszcze:
Aug 26, 2009 from Business Wire:
BEAVERTON - NIKE today unveiled its US Open apparel and footwear for Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams at a Nike-built, regulation-sized tennis court in the heart of Manhattan.
At the temporary court, located at 23rd Street and Broadway, tennis fans and youth from New York Junior Tennis League, Athletes for Charity, New York City Parks Foundation and Mentoring USA were treated to inspirational tennis tips and guidance from Federer, Nadal, Williams, and McEnroe. A youth representative from each organization had a chance to win a donation for their local group by returning balls from a tennis simulator set to mimic pro shots. The chance to hit against the simulator was also open to the public.
On site, Nike also unveiled the much anticipated apparel and footwear looks for Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal, and Maria Sharapova.
Roger Federer’s contemporary style is embodied in the details and craftsmanship of his US Open day and night looks. These looks are modern, consisting of bold red and black. Federer’s in-game polos are constructed of knit Nike Dri-FIT fabric in the body and a woven Nike Dri-FIT collar for comfort and moisture management. The body of the shirt has an embossed dot pattern inspired by the subway signs of New York, and the button placket features Roger’s black RF monogram logo, applied using bonded innovation and laser cut detailing.
goroger.net
Federer looks for six in a row
It has only been seven weeks since Wimbledon, but already Roger Federer’s life has changed dramatically.
At Wimbledon, Federer officially earned the right to be called the greatest player of all time as he set the all-time Grand Slam record of 15 major titles with a tight, hard-fought, five-set victory over Andy Roddick. The win, which also re-earned him the No. 1 world ranking, came just a few short weeks after the great Swiss tied the record when he completed the career Grand Slam with his first French Open title and talk began that he was officially back atop the world of tennis greatness.
But for all those milestones, they might not be the biggest or most important accomplishments of the last few weeks for Federer. Roger and his wife Mirka became parents for the first time on July 23, 2009, when Mirka gave birth to healthy twin girls, Charlene Riva and Myla Rose.
They will all be with him in New York for the 2009 US Open, as Federer attempts to become the first man since Bill Tilden in the 1920s to win six consecutive US Opens. He enters Flushing Meadows as the favorite after a dominating victory at the Western and Southern Financial Group Masters that included wins over both Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic.
The entire Federer family hit the road for North America just three weeks after the babies were born in Switzerland, first stopping in Montreal, then in Cincinnati before arriving in New York.
Roger and Mirka talked about whether she and the babies were all right for the trip to Montreal, but she said they were good to go.
“It all depended on Mirka, if she wanted to make the trip or not, and obviously if the babies were going to be ready to do it or not,” Federer said after his opening-round win in Montreal. “That’s why I kind of mentioned it to her like one week before the event starts here, and I went from day to day, and at the end we said, I think everything looks all right. And like this, we are going to be anyway then together for a long time in North America. That’s what she wanted. That’s what I wanted.”
Speculation already ensued as to how fatherhood would impact Federer’s storied career earlier this year when the couple announced that Mirka was pregnant in March and they married in April. They kept the news that the baby was actually babies a secret from the general public until Federer announced their girls’ births on his Facebook page. “This is the best day of our lives!” he wrote.
He then stayed at the hospital in Switzerland with Mirka and the babies for three weeks but was still able to practice almost everyday nearby, including with Austrian player Stefan Koubek.
Just how would less sleep and shifting priorities affect Federer? How will he handle playing in a Grand Slam with newborns to care for? Will the Federer sisters be the next generation’s Williams sisters? These and more are questions that have been circulating the tennis world ahead of the US Open.
A loss to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarterfinals of the Rogers Masters – after leading 5-1 in the third set – snapped Federer’s 19-match winning streak. It was a rare loss for Federer after holding a lead. However, the disappointment soon faded.
The next week in Cincinnati, Federer was sensational with his play reminiscent of his dominating year of 2007, when he reached all four Grand Slam finals, winning three. He defeated new world No. 2 Murray in straight sets in the semifinals – snapping a four match losing streak to the Scot – and then dominated No. 4 Djokovic in straight sets to win the title, the 61st of his career, fourth of the season and first as a father.
The victory may have silenced some critics who doubted his form after the Wimbledon layoff and shifting priorities. And while he is all tennis on the court, winning his first title as a father was memorable.
“I think that’s the special part, especially winning for the first time as a dad. It’s a great thing,” Federer said after the Cincinnati final. “(It) gets me going emotionally a little bit because I know it’s been a wonderful summer. And going through all of what I’ve been through and then now right away having success again, it’s a great moment in my career again. Mirka couldn’t unfortunately be in the stadium today, but I know she was watching and happy for me.”
Although Federer is the favorite for his sixth straight US Open title, history has not been on the side of fathers in terms of winning Grand Slam titles. Only eight men since 1980 have won majors after becoming fathers. Andre Agassi won just one more major after the birth of his first child at age 31. Another great, John McEnroe, never won another Grand Slam after having his first child at 27. Jimmy Connors won three more Slams after having his first child in 1979 at 27.
The trend, of course, can have multiple causes, including both age and injuries, and many players simply choose not to have children until they retire from the tour.
Federer just turned 28 this month, however, and with capturing the last two Grand Slams and making history, he seems to be playing some of the best tennis of his career. His chief Grand Slam rival, Rafael Nadal’s early exit from Roland Garros and subsequent injury layoff from knee tendinitis that caused him to miss Wimbledon this year had some critics saying Federer had an easier path to victory in both Slams.
However, the great Swiss came through in both, fighting his way to a 16-14 victory over Roddick in the fifth set of the Wimbledon final to break Pete Sampras’ Grand Slam record. He mixed incredible serving to go with his legendary forehand, including notching 50 aces and 107 winners to regain the title he held for five years before losing it in 2008 in another classic five-set battle to Nadal, a match considered by many to be the greatest men’s match of all-time.
“It’s staggering that I’ve been able to play so well for so many years now and stay injury-free,” Federer said after winning Wimbledon. “Of course there is a certain routine that’s started to happen the last few years since I sort of became No. 1 in the world. I knew what it took to win the big ones. That’s obviously a lot of experience that comes with it, being there and giving myself chances.”
Nadal took over the world No. 1 ranking later that summer in 2008 after winning Wimbledon and then the Olympics, ending Federer’s 237-week reign in the top spot. After Federer then won the 2008 US Open for his fifth in a row – and only Grand Slam title of 2008 – Nadal then defeated him in five sets to win the 2009 Australian Open.
In fact, the first few months of 2009 kept passing without a single title for the mighty Swiss. The title drought hit seven months in May. But just before Roland Garros, Federer finally broke through, winning the Madrid Masters on clay with a straight-sets defeat of Nadal, arguably the best clay-court player of this generation, in the final. And he seems to have hit his stride since.
Then came the history-tying title at Roland Garros with a straight-sets win over surprising finalist Robin Soderling and the record-breaking title at Wimbledon (which was also his 60th career title overall), which led to the 19-match winning streak.
Now back as the world No. 1, Federer will be the No. 1 seed for the 2009 US Open. His top rivals to a sixth straight title in New York will likely be Rogers Masters champion Murray – whom he defeated in the US Open final last year – Nadal, as always, as well as Roddick and Djokovic, who are among a very talented pool of players atop the rankings.
Nadal is looking to win his first US Open and reach the final for the first time – while Federer has defeated Roddick, Djokovic and Murray in the finals in straight years as part of his five-year title run, with none of the matches in those five years even going to five sets.
Can he make it six in a row with his new entourage in tow this year? It would seem hard to doubt with his current level of play.
“All of that I felt like, actually I’m playing very well at the moment. Of course, I was always going to be confident after winning those big titles in a row,” Federer said after the Cincinnati final. “I felt like my game was already going pretty well in practice, so I knew when I was coming over here it was not just to show up, but to really do something. I mean, that it already paid off so quickly, I’m a little bit surprised. But it’s been great, and now I look forward to New York.
“The fans for me really turned it around,” he added of the New York fans and his 2008 season. “And that’s why this year I’m so excited going back there (to the US Open). I’ve had even better results, so I hope I can again show them what I can do on a tennis court.”
Z bloga federastów www.goroger.net :
Aug 27, 2009 from New York Times:
Roger Federer was calm and cheerful before the United States Open draw Thursday afternoon, and he was still calm and cheerful afterward. The 10-minute unveiling of this year’s bracket clearly did not worry him, even if the path to his 16th major title could take him through Andy Roddick or Novak Djokovic in the semifinals, and Andy Murray or Rafael Nadal in the final.
Federer arrived in New York after a momentous summer in which he finally won the French Open, surpassed Pete Sampras’s record for most men’s major titles and became a father to twin girls. With his charge to victory in suburban Cincinnati last week, it seems that changing diapers has not hurt his form.
“It was an amazing summer,” said Federer, who will open the tournament against Devin Britton, an American wild card. “I’m still playing well. I played great in Cincinnati, and I hope to do well at the Open.”
For Federer’s chief rival, the third-seeded Nadal, the tournament could be tricky from the outset. Until this week, Federer and Nadal had been the top two seeds at every major tournament since the 2005 Open. But Murray, who lost in the final last year, earned this year’s No. 2 seed behind Federer at Nadal’s expense. Nadal will face Richard Gasquet, who returned to the ATP World Tour last month after failing a drug test earlier in the year. And it will not get easier for Nadal if he advances, with potential matchups against the Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Murray and Juan Martín del Potro.
For the top five men’s seeds, the draw seemed most generous to Djokovic and Roddick. They probably have little to worry about until the second week. Roddick, seeded fifth, will start his run against Bjorn Phau of Germany and hope to build on his run at Wimbledon, where he fell to Federer in the fifth set of an epic final.
“He has improved as a player again in the last year or two,” Federer said of Roddick on the ESPN News broadcast. “He’s moving better. His serve has always been great. For him, it was more about making the right play from the baseline, and it seems he’s doing all the right things. So I also see him going deep into the tournament again.”
Statystyki Rogera na USO:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/DEUCE- … Bites.aspx
Ciekawa przede wszystkim ta pierwsza statystyka na temat bilansu spotkań z graczami spoza TOP 5 rankingu we wszystkich turniejach WS od 2004r. Niewiarygodny bilans 119-0 i 21 półfinałów z rzędu pokazuje, że trzeba nazywać się Rafael Nadal, Marat Safin czy Novak Djokovic aby odstrzelić Szwajcara z turnieju WS (poprawcie mnie jeśli zapomniałem o jakimś pogromcy Roga).
Kubecki napisał:
Ciekawa przede wszystkim ta pierwsza statystyka na temat bilansu spotkań z graczami spoza TOP 5 rankingu we wszystkich turniejach WS od 2004r. Niewiarygodny bilans 119-0 i 21 półfinałów z rzędu pokazuje, że trzeba nazywać się Rafael Nadal, Marat Safin czy Novak Djokovic aby odstrzelić Szwajcara z turnieju WS (poprawcie mnie jeśli zapomniałem o jakimś pogromcy Roga).
Od 2004 roku to jeszcze Guga Kuerten, ale RG 04 nie było w powyższych statystykach jeszcze uwzględniane, bo passa 21 kolejnych półfinałów WS rozpoczęła się na Wimbledonie.
Like any other sport-orientated Australian, the past week has required something to add a little cheer. Perhaps it would have been better for my country had it come on a cricket field but the evidence I saw on a tennis court was warming to the soul. Roger Federer answered my pleas along with those of many like me. The world No 1 is back doing what he does best; playing attacking tennis again.
Time and again I privately wondered and publicly asked why has Federer been so reluctant to go forward. Sure, he is a truly great player sticking to the baseline, but he is blessed with gifts of athleticism and reflex that mere mortals can only dream about. Until the day I die I’ll advocate that it’s a crime for a top-flight tennis player to not use all the weapons in his armoury and I've lost count in the times I’ve yearned for the No 1 to attack the net a little more.
Last weekend my requests were answered. Personally I was in action in another part of the United States, winning the senior tournament on America’s only grass court of note, in Newport, Rhode Island, and I did it by playing serve-and-volley tennis. Watching television back in the locker room, I saw Federer was doing plenty of the same as he won the last big build-up tournament before the US Open, the Masters 1000 title in Cincinnati.
For the sport of tennis in general this is great. The more positive approach seems to be born out of the confidence of winning back to back French Open and Wimbledon titles, beating Pete Sampras’ record of fourteen major titles and reclaiming the world No 1 spot that was Federer’s property for the small matter of 237 consecutive weeks. Only he will know whether that is the case. But for the rest of the US Open hopefuls, it can only come as bad news because it makes the Swiss an even hotter favourite to win his sixth successive singles title on the cement of Flushing Meadows.
Some might view the following statement as sacrilege but if he does go on to emulate Bill Tilden’s long-time record of winning the six in a row, I will view Federer’s accomplishments in New York as superior to what he’s achieved at Wimbledon. Quite simply there are many more players who are potentially a threat to him on hard court than there are on grass. It long been viewed as the great equalising surface.
Let’s be honest, the likes of Nikolay Davydenko, Fernando Verdasco or Gilles Simon are not going to give him a hard time on grass in the same way that Andy Roddick is never going to be a threat on clay. But they can all muster plenty of resistance on cement and yet Federer has proved himself unbeatable in New York.
This year the conditions are going to be even more favourable to him. The courts are going to be quick and the balls are extremely fast. The decision to make Wimbledon considerably more medium paced a few years ago means the Open is now the speediest Grand Slam. It's the reason Rafa Nadal has never been particularly happy because his top spin does not have a huge effect in the same way they do on Paris’s clay or the much slower hard courts at the Australian Open.
And let’s not shy away from the fact; Federer absolutely blazed into a below-par Andy Murray in last week’s Cincinnati semi-final and showed what he could do to the world’s second-best player when the conditions are swift and he’s in an attacking frame of mind.
Murray is a big contender in this tournament and I don’t subscribe the point of view that he might be going into the event perhaps a little overcooked after another period of hard preparation work in Florida followed by a Masters title win in Montreal and the semi in Cincy. I believe he’s strong enough and his game is getting better all the time but whether it's good enough to live with Federer, I await to find out.
Similarly with Roddick, he did supremely well at Wimbledon and was desperately unlucky to lose the final. He’s finally appeared to eliminate the facets of his game that were holding him back such as the poor volley and suspect sliced backhand. Let’s see if he can maintain the sort of form and focus he showed at the All England Club.
Through it all, Federer is the man of the moment. Five years ago I had just finished speaking in a corporate entertainment engagement on the day of the US Open and stood watching the first set with the 1971 champion Stan Smith as Federer took on my compatriot Lleyton Hewitt. It was the battle of the new world No 1 against the player he had just deposed and from the outset it wasn’t hard to see how the balance of power had shifted. Federer was just supreme, his attacking play pulled Hewitt to shreds and within eighteen minutes of a Grand Slam final he had wrapped up the first set 6-0. I turned to Stan Smith and we agreed that had been one of the most emphatic displays of aggressive tennis that we’d ever seen and if Federer was capable of such excellence then who knew the extent of his potential.
The memory of that afternoon has been the reason I have been accused of being over-critical of Federer in recent years. I know how he can torture the leading players; he did the same to Roddick in a set at the Australian Open a few years ago. And there have been occasions when he’s appeared to err on the side of caution. Here’s hoping he is now going on the offensive and if that is the case, the only message to the rest of the US Open field is, "Watch out."
Federer Exerts His Power From the Ground Up
This is how Roger Federer transcends tennis before taking a single swing. He moves with feet that whisper when most squeak, guided by instincts more sixth sense than court sense, his head held still, as if balancing a book on top.
Federer covers the court in a way that tennis players say they cannot compare to other tennis players. They say he plays with the anticipation of Larry Bird and the graceful athleticism of Michael Jordan. The nimble feet of Jerry Rice. The timing of Wayne Gretzky. The poetic power of Muhammad Ali.
The argument for Federer as the greatest player in men’s tennis history starts from the ground up, with feet snug in lightweight custom Nike sneakers, with muscles sculpted from training sessions in Dubai, with movement that makes Hall of Famers marvel.
“When Roger is in full flight, he looks like he’s gliding,” the former No. 1 Jim Courier said. “Almost like he’s floating above the court.”
Everything else that separates Federer from his peers — the wizardry behind his shot selection, the ferocity of his forehand, the success on varied surfaces — starts with an artful dance that someone like Kathryn Bennetts can appreciate.
Bennetts runs the Royal Ballet of Flanders in Belgium. She grew up in Australia, with tennis courts on every corner, and when she became a professional dancer, she noticed the correlation of movement between both passions. Elite dancers combine speed, dexterity, power and coordination. Grace stems from their awareness of their feet and the way movement flows from there. They move easily, in balance, made to appear that way through thousands of hours of repetition.
In Federer, Bennetts found the Mikhail Baryshnikov of tennis.
“He has this smoothness to him,” she said. “An ease that makes him special. He’s an artist, so refined. Like how dance transports you to a different place, so does he.”
It starts with instincts. Federer anticipates where the ball is headed and arrives early by cutting off the angle. He adjusts his footwork accordingly, using crisp, tiny, deliberate steps, or long, loping strides.
In doing so, he monopolizes the most important element in professional tennis: time. The ball appears to hang for an extra second, allowing Federer to generate more racket speed and aim at a sharper angle. The quicker he reaches the ball, the more he also steals from opponents, allotting less time to recover and forcing them closer to the baseline.
“It feels like you’re being squeezed,” said Justin Gimelstob, a retired pro. “It’s not just psychological. It’s literal. He’s shortening the court.”
Fellow pros can tell with their backs turned when Federer is moving well, because he makes so little sound. Unlike Rafael Nadal, whose physical style is unleashed in a cacophony of grunts and squeaking sneakers, Federer operates in relative silence.
Watching Federer close on a ball reminds Gimelstob of an Olympic diver — the smaller the ripple, the greater the success. When Federer moves well, Gimelstob said, it is as if he dives off the Empire State Building with no splash.
Brad Gilbert, the coach and commentator, said Federer conserved energy by not wasting movement, by allowing balls to pass that other players, particularly Nadal, chased. This does save Federer’s energy, but Gilbert said it also hit on a larger point. Federer knows when to strike, in crucial moments, when least expected.
Federer’s 6-foot-1 build — leaner on the top, thicker and stronger on the bottom — is balanced. When he runs, he keeps his upper body almost level. He moves laterally, not vertically, around the court.
“Like out of a Miss Manners class,” Courier said. “He does most, if not all, of his movement with his legs. That’s part of his genius.”
Federer’s footwork is most evident, though, when he is playing poorly. Only then does he lunge or lean, looking uncomfortable or off-balance. When Federer struggled in 2008, he had missed three of his usual training sessions in Dubai because of mononucleosis, the Beijing Olympics and a bad back.
Courier compared Federer at Wimbledon in 2008 to a sports car with one tire severely low on air. This might seem like a small difference, but in a sport in which victory and defeat are often separated by millimeters, it presented a real handicap.
“It all flows from there,” Courier said. “You can be the most gifted player that tennis has ever seen, which I would contend that Roger is, but if you’re not in position to hit it, you become mediocre really quickly.”
Gilbert said Federer in 2008 was like a baseball batting champion hitting .355 instead of .388 — a small but notable difference, particularly at Wimbledon, where he lost to Nadal in a five-set match many described as the greatest ever.
A Human Instructional Video
Describing the footwork is one thing. Quantifying it is another. This falls to David Bailey, an Australian who prefers the title footwork specialist to coach.
Bailey contends footwork is an underdeveloped part of tennis, and in inventing the Bailey Method, he studied more than 30,000 clips of tennis movement. Borrowing from the instructional style of Bruce Lee, Bailey broke tennis footwork into what he called 15 contact moves — basically athletic movement when striking the ball — and he provides a corresponding clip for each in his instructional videos.
A solid pro performs seven contact moves at a high level, according to his research. Three are offensive moves, two defensive and two rally. And these moves define a player’s style, whether as a baseliner, for example, or a clay-court specialist.
Federer is the only pro Bailey studied who performs all 15 moves at a high level. If Bailey wanted, he could use Federer for each video clip.
“He has a 360-degree skill set,” Bailey said. “He’s fantastic going forward, backward and laterally, on all surfaces. There’s no movement wasted.”
Bailey attributes this, in part, to Federer’s background in other sports, like soccer, basketball and skiing. Some tennis players are one-leg dominant, Bailey said, which makes certain shots and portions of the court uncomfortable.
That’s not the case as often with European players, who Gimelstob said are taught tennis from the bottom up and move well with either leg, often from scurrying around soccer fields.
Federer agreed that soccer helped him, but he also credited Pierre Paganini, his fitness trainer, with bringing the focus back to footwork. Earlier in his career, Federer studied players like Lleyton Hewitt, who moved as well in the fifth set as he had in the first. Federer resolved never to lose a match because of fitness.
Paganini stressed the importance of movement. He designed drills specific to the tennis court, unlike, for instance, the hill running favored by Andre Agassi. He made footwork fun for Federer again. Paganini also built three training blocks into Federer’s schedule each season during which the focus was on fitness and footwork instead of forehands.
“My footwork comes from my fitness,” Federer said. “If I’m fit, I’m moving well, and this puts things in equal terms. And this is where I’m usually the better player. This is where I have the advantage.”
With more players hitting backhands from an open stance and sliding on hardcourts and striking lunging forehands straight out of the squash handbook, movement is now paramount in tennis. Speed, not strokes, drives the modern game.
Few athletes move like Roger Federer as he glides from baseline to service line and back. Some are faster. Others are as technically sound.
None, however, can match Federer in full flight.
DUN I LOVE napisał:
Kubecki napisał:
Ciekawa przede wszystkim ta pierwsza statystyka na temat bilansu spotkań z graczami spoza TOP 5 rankingu we wszystkich turniejach WS od 2004r. Niewiarygodny bilans 119-0 i 21 półfinałów z rzędu pokazuje, że trzeba nazywać się Rafael Nadal, Marat Safin czy Novak Djokovic aby odstrzelić Szwajcara z turnieju WS (poprawcie mnie jeśli zapomniałem o jakimś pogromcy Roga).
Od 2004 roku to jeszcze Guga Kuerten, ale RG 04 nie było w powyższych statystykach jeszcze uwzględniane, bo passa 21 kolejnych półfinałów WS rozpoczęła się na Wimbledonie.
Wyliczyłem tych graczy właśnie od Wimbledonu 04, nie uwzględniając porażki z Gugą.
Podsumowując to szacun Roger, no i pierwszy krok do kolejnego półfinału WS już zrobiony :)
Aug 29, 2009 from The Times:
John McEnroe says now that he never bought into the premise that a sport — football, in the legendary case of Bill Shankly — was more important than life or death, but those who lived through his pomp — accumulating seven grand-slam singles titles (he says it would have been more if he had taken care of himself the way he does as a 50-year-old father of six) — could have been forgiven for suspecting it consumed him.
Which is why he looks at Roger Federer, new father of twins and unmatched accumulator of grand-slam titles with 15, and is filled with wonder. "The guy is unbelievable," McEnroe said. "Where is the tiredness, what about lack of sleep? The way the guy played in Cincinnati last week, he's even hungrier than before. If he keeps this going for the next three years, he's going to get 20 slams for sure.
"One of the important things he has over everyone, and he has it more than any other player I've seen since [Jimmy] Connors, is his love for the sport. Real love. He loves to be out there, to be around tennis, everything about it. There is none of the angst that I had, no demons playing with him. [Pete] Sampras used to look up every once in a while, serve and win titles. He was never 'hey, this is great!' Connors relished it, he got into it so much, the kind of people who drove me crazy — he'd throw his arms around them, play up to them.
"Why couldn't I have done that? It's not like I didn't and don't love tennis. But his was a different kind of love. Federer has that."
goroger.net
http://www.observer.com/2009/federer-an … eir-babies
Federer and Clijsters, Just Chatting About Their Babies
Outside the players' locker rooms, we just spotted Roger Federer and Kim Clijsters chatting. It's rare enough to see players of Federer's and Clijsters' stature idly standing in the hallway, let alone standing and talking together.
Both won easily in straight sets today, and this might be the first conversation they've had in years--it certainly sounded like it--so they stuck to a topic that's new to each of them since they last played at the U.S. Open at the same time.
"Once she got to 10.5 months, she started walking!" said Clijsters to Federer, who was nodding thoughtfully. "It's like she became a different person."
Roger spoke candidly about how it's difficult finding a nanny. Should they get one who speaks French? English? German? (Mirka Federer, Roger's wife, is Slovakian.)
Kim Clijsters offered her sympathy.
Both seemed incredibly relaxed--Roger has said as much--and happy.
http://eurosport.yahoo.com/01092009/3/a … atest.html
Agassi hails Federer as game's greatest
NEW YORK (AFP) - On a night when Andre Agassi was honored at the US Open for his charity work, the retired eight-time Grand Slam champion hailed world number one Roger Federer as the greatest player in tennis history.
Agassi said he was delighted to see the Swiss superstar join Agassi in completing the career Grand Slam by capturing the French Open title in June and then win his career record 15th Slam singles title in July at Wimbledon.
"What he's done in separating himself from the game should be recognized," Agassi said. "The problem is it wasn't being recognized if he didn't win Paris. I thought once he did the discussion is over with.
"What started to become even more frustrating as I looked at Roger's career for Roger is him having to win the 15th to somehow conclude, so for him just to remove that as some sort of possible thorn I think is right."
It was 10 years ago on the red clay of Roland Garros when Agassi completed his career Slam by lifting the trophy in Paris, so he knew Federer's joy at having secured a victory in all four Grand Slam events.
"It was just a pleasure to watch," Agassi said. "It would have been a crime had he not ever won in Paris."
Federer had lost to Spain's Rafael Nadal in the French Open finals the past three years, missing a Grand Slam sweep in 2006 and 2007 as a result of the Paris loss each time, but finally broke through this year.
"He has been the second best clay courter for five years running," Agassi said. "He should have won four or five French Opens, if it wasn't for one sort of freakish kid from Mallorca.
"He would have won possibly two Grand Slams, all four in the same year, two years in a row."
Agassi and fellow retired US sport stars David Robinson from basketball, Mia Hamm from women's football and American football quarterback Doug Flutie received a tribute for their charity deeds at an Arthur Ashe Stadium ceremony.
"I'm extra proud to share this court with athletes that are not only great but doing great work, affecting so many lives and impacting so many people," Agassi told the crowd.
Agassi's foundation has raised nearly 75 million dollars in the past 15 years to finance a school for needy children in Las Vegas. His first graduating class this year will attend college.
"No accomplishment has come close to matching the fulfillment I feel with what our foundation is doing," Agassi said.
"The earlier we interrupt a downward spiral, the earlier we give the tools of hope, the more profoundly we can impact the life of a child."
Agassi, who made a third-round exit in the 2006 US Open to conclude his career, was glad to be the center of attention at Arthur Ashe Stadium again, even if only for one night.
"It feels amazing," Agassi said. "It feels great pulling up to the stadium, not caring how you feel. That's probably the best part.
"I can't tell you how many times I've come here a little bit tired, a little bit sore, a little bit injured, a little bit distracted. There's nowhere to hide out there so I've lived and died on this court many times and taken a lot of people with me."
Kochany Andre :D
ATP - A START IN STRAIGHT SETS
Roger got his bid for a sixth consecutive US Open title going in convincing fashion with a comfortable 6-1, 6-3, 7-5 victory over Devin Britton.
Roger now has a winning streak of 35 matches at the US Open. He started perfectly, sending down an ace as he won the first game to love on the way to a 3-0 lead, dropping just one point in the process and then wrapping up the first set in 18 minutes. In the second set, he answered a break by his opponent with a re-break, then taking a 2-0 lead in sets. The third set was more evenly contested but having again gone a break up at 4-3, Britton was again immediately overpowered by our champ, losing his serve and eventually the match.
Roger will play his next round against Germany's Simon Greul (ATP 65).
ATP - ROGER FIGHTS OFF CHALLENGE
Roger had to fight off a few challenging moments from Simon Greul, but marched on into the next round of the US Open without dropping a set. He dispatched the German 6-3 7-5 7-5.
"I just had to make him play more shots, be more tough," said Roger. "I had to raise my level today to win because that's what was required to get through."
In his first match under the lights in 2009, Roger won the second-round match in straight sets but it was not a straightforward win as the world number 65 forced our top seed to play some top-drawer tennis earlier in the tournament than he is accustomed to. Roger will next face Lleyton Hewitt, who cruised past Argentina's Juan Ignacio Chela.
www.rogerfederer.com
Wywiad udzielony po meczu:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceixLVOUoro
ATP - ROGER RALLIES TO WIN
Roger battled past Lleyton Hewitt with a 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 victory today.
“We played here in the finals in 2004,” Roger said in a court-side interview. “The third round, it just doesn’t seem right.”
Roger had a good start, taking a 4-2 and 40-love lead in the first set, but then suffered a bout of wayward groundstokes which eventually lead to the loss of the first set. But Roger found his rhythm rapidly and eventually raced through the second set. Hewitt did have four break points in the third set, but couldn't convert any. And our champ then went on to make everything clear in the fourth.
Roger's next match will be against Tommy Robredo of Spain.
ATP - ROGER CRUISES INTO QUARTER FINALS
Roger did not have any difficulty defeating 14th-seeded Tommy Robredo today, booking a spot in the quarter finals with a 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 victory. He has now won his last 38 matches in New York!
It was yet again a rather typical match between the two players: Robredo showed a strong start, but Roger was too strong and constant in the long run. Roger moved on in 1 hour, 48 minutes with the help of nine aces and five breaks. He held his serve throughout the predictable bout and is now 9-0 lifetime against Robredo.
Next up is 12th-seeded Robin Söderling. Roger has played the Swede eleven times, dropping only one single set in the process.
Motivated Federer reigns supreme
On the 40th anniversary of Rod Laver winning his historic second Grand Slam at the US Open, Roger Federer waxed Tommy Robredo, 7-5, 6-2, 6-2, which was his 38th consecutive victory at Flushing Meadows, just four short of the great American Bill Tilden's record of 42 straight victories from 1920-26.
Federer cannot tie the mark in New York because, even if he scores three more wins and nails down his sixth straight crown, he'll still be one short. But be that as it may, he has already put himself into Laver territory and, in many folks' opinions, has gone above and beyond the feats of the multi-talented Australian.
Over the past five years in New York, he's been virtually untouchable and has come nowhere near under the same type of threats that he's faced at the other majors.
“He's as good as there is, there's no doubt, that I've played,” said former No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt, whom Federer beat in the third round for his 14th straight victory over the Aussie. “He's got the most all-court game, I think, than I've ever played. Obviously, Agassi and Sampras were both greats, and I was able to play both of them when they were still at their best, winning Grand Slams. Roger has been able to take the game to a new level, and I think is the most complete player for sure.”
He was certainly more complete than No. 14 Robredo, who attempted to go forehand for forehand with him and occasionally take it to him early in points, but whose strokes and mental fortitude simply do not match up against him, hence his 0-9 record against Federer.
The Swiss nailed 35 winners and only had 18 unforced errors in the match and won 87 percent of his first-serve points.
“When he saw that he was up a set, he began to start hitting harder and with confidence,” Robredo said. "Then it's tough to handle it. Then you have to try to hit harder sometimes, and the match goes easy for him.”
The Swiss was so carefree that he began to laugh when he lost a line call challenge up 5-1 in the third set.
“Maybe it's too easy for him, the tennis, so he can even laugh,” Robredo said.
Federer will have his third straight Grand Slam clash against another man he has never lost to, Sweden 's Robin Soderling, who advanced when eighth seed Nikolay Davydenko retired with a thigh strain, down 7-5, 3-6, 6-2. Federer took down the much-improved Soderling in the Roland Garros final and the fourth round of Wimbledon and is 11-0 against the powerballer.
“We had a few very good matches, and I had some good chances to actually win in a couple of them, so of course to me he's the best player of all time,” Soderling said. “If I can play well, hopefully I have a small chance.”
But as Soderling said, that chance isn't very large against a 15-time Grand Slam champion who has more options in his pocket than a Wall Street stockbroker.
He can power and spin his serves to every angle of the box. His tap dancer's footwork allows him to get into comfortable positions and nail his forehand in whichever directions he chooses. He's substantially improved his backhand return of serve over the past few months and now can go inside out from the deuce court with confidence. He can close at the net and go into a defensive scramble, if necessary.
Unlike the beginning of the season, when he was clearly straining at times, he's largely playing by instinct.
“I guess if things go well, you don't ask yourself that many questions,” he said. “But at the same time, I remember almost six years ago, I don't care almost what my opponent's best serve is, for instance, or what his best shot is. I'll just improvise because I'm very good at that. I concentrate on what I do best. Then I'll decide what comes from my opponent. I'll adjust. I like playing the game that way, instead of trying to figure out every possible move there is out there.”
There is almost nothing that Federer cannot do when he's healthy and when he's not confronting a super-elite player, like six-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal or No. 2 Andy Murray. He rarely feels overburdened.
But even if he's playing someone he's cut down time and time again, Federer remains motivated because being the best, day in and day out, is still what drives him.
“It's not like even trying to beat him again; it's just about having fun out there, playing a good match, playing good tennis, enjoying the moment, playing in packed stadiums. It's something not many people get an opportunity to do,” Federer said. “I think everybody would love to be in my shoes. Why should I give away my spot, really, because I enjoy too much and people love to come see me play? So this is motivation alone for me. It's plenty.”
10.09.2009 - 22 z rzędu wielkoszlemowy półfinał Federera.
Roger Federer pokonał w 4 setach Robina Soderlinga w 1/4 finału US Open 2009. Szwajcar odnotował tym samym 22 kolejny półfinał w turnieju Wielkiego Szlema. Ostatni raz Roger przegrał w WS przed 1/2 podczas RG 2004, gdzie Jego pogromcą okazał się Brazylijczyk Gustavo Kuerten.
Federer śrubuje swój własny rekord.
Gratulacje :)
ATP - 22ND MAJOR SEMI-FINAL IN SERIES!
Roger defeated Robin Söderling 6-0, 6-3, 6-7(6), 7-6(6) this night to reach the semi-finals of the US Open. He will now meet Novak Djokovic.
The victory brought Roger to his 22nd (!) consecutive semifinal at a major tournament, which more than doubles the previous mark of 10 set by Ivan Lendl. “It’s probably one of the greatest records,” Roger said on court, “for me, anyway, in my personal career.”
Roger set off a firework to start off, wrapping up the first two sets with ease in just 59 minutes. Söderling struggled with Roger's perfect display and the gusting conditions. In the third set, the Swede hung in there, eventually challenging Roger to a tie-break. Roger quickly moved to 4-0, only for Söderling to suddenly came alive, getting back to 5-5 and finally even taking the set.
Söderling was not going away and he held his game together sufficiently to take the fourth set into a tie-break as well. He had another set-point but then lost two crucial points, handing Roger the victory just after midnight.
Roger will now play Novak Djokovic (ATP 4) in the semi-final on Saturday - the remake of last year's semi-final at the US Open. Roger leads the head-to-head 8:4.
US Open Diary - Federer's Numbers Game
Numbers Game
There’s never any shortage of numbers on the line when Roger Federer takes the court. Here’s three of interest following his quarter-final win over Swede Robin Soderling: Federer has made 22 consecutive Grand Slam semi-finals, more than twice as many as Ivan Lendl, who used to hold the record of 10 straight. During that streak, Federer’s record in Grand Slams against players outside the Top 5 is 124-0. And he improved his unbeaten record against Soderling to 12 wins from 12 meetings.
A Rare Club
During Federer's 22 consecutive Grand Slam semi-finals streak he has lost only to three players in the majors: Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Marat Safin.
Double Digit Defeats
Another number of note: Soderling is one of four players against whom Federer has a perfect record after more than 10 meetings. He is 12-0 against Soderling and Nikolay Davydenko and 10-0 against Mikhail Youzhny and Jarkko Nieminen.
Is there a player who has never have lost a set against Roger Federer?
Marco Kreukniet, Zwijndrecht, The Netherlands
A: Franco Squillari of Argentina is the only player with at least two wins against Federer who has never lost a set, winning in the first round of Hamburg in 2001 (63 64) and in the first round of Sydney in 2003 (62 63).
Znalazłem statystykę ilości wielkoszlemowych półfinałów.
Wygląda następująco:
31-- Connors
28-- Lendl
26-- Agassi
24-- Federer
23-- Sampras
19-- McEnroe
19-- Edberg
18-- Becker
17-- Borg
14-- Wilander
---------------------
10-- Roddick
10-- Nadal
Federer jest na 4 miejscu w tym zestawieniu. Goni Agassiego.
13.09.2009 - 21 wielkoszlemowy finał Federera.
Najwięcej finałów WS w historii tenisa:
21 - Federer
19 - Lendl
18 - Sampras
17 - Laver
ATP - MONDAY'S FINAL: ROGER VS. DEL POTRO
Roger will face Juan Martin del Potro in Monday's US Open final after beating Novak Djokovic in straight sets 7-6(3), 7-5, 7-5.
It is the third year running that Roger has beaten Djokovic in New York as he is now only one last step away from his sixth consecutive title! No one has won six U.S. titles in a row since Bill Tilden in the 1920s and no player has captured three Slams in a row in the same year since Rod Laver's 1969 Grand Slam sweep.
The most amazing moment of the semi-final was clearly Roger's forehand hit between the legs which he swatted past an amazed Djokovic into the empty part of the court. "I practice them a lot actually but they never work," Roger said. "That's why I guess it was the greatest shot I ever hit in my life." Having seen a TV replay himself, he commented "That's unbelievable!" His magical shot brought up a match point for Roger. Novak Djokovic did have his chances throughout the match, but was unable to seize them. So Roger took advantage and made everyting clear after 2 hours 34 minutes.
Monday's final will bring Roger's seventh career meeting with Del Potro, our champ having won their previous six meetings.
(rogerfederer.com)
ATP - ROGER HAS TO PASS ON HIS US OPEN CROWN
Roger was not able to extend his collection of Grand Slam titles to 16 today. He was defeated by Juan Martin del Potro in the final of the U.S. Open 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-7(5), 2-6.
In warm but slightly windy conditions, Roger started perfectly. At 5-4 and 30-0 in the second set, he was just two points away from a two sets to love lead. But the Argentinian suddenly stepped it up and after getting back to 30-30, he ripped a brilliant forehand pass down the line to set up a break point. The ball was initially called wide but always looked good with the naked eye and Hawk-Eye agreed as Del Potro won the challenge. Roger did not agree at all as he had seen the ball land next to the line. Roger started having more and more problems with his service and wasn't able to use this weapon in critical moments, cumulating a total of 11 double faults. Del Potro played a strong match, probably returning better than the players that had challenged Roger in the previous rounds. Del Potro was allowed a challenge after both players were near their seats in the third set, much to Roger's dislike. Our champ came out firing after that, but unfortunately wasn't able to keep it up. After claiming the third set, del Potro won a tiebreaker in the fourth and broke Roger in the second game of the fifth set.
ATP - US OPEN 2009 - WEBNEWS
Federer stunned by del Potro in US Open final (Forbes)
Normally so cool, so consistent, so in control of his emotions and his matches, Roger Federer let the U.S. Open championship slip from his grasp.
Two points from victory against inexperienced, unheralded Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina, two points from a sixth consecutive title at Flushing Meadows and a record-extending 16th Grand Slam overall, Federer, quite simply, fell apart Monday.
He railed at the chair umpire. His legs grew weary. His double-faults mounted. He could not figure out a way to stop the 6-foot-6 del Potro from pounding forehand after forehand past him. In a result as surprising for who lost as how it happened, del Potro came back to win his first Grand Slam title by upsetting Federer 3-6, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2.
Federer’s U.S. Open Streak Ends in Emotional Loss to Del Potro (Bloomberg.com)
Roger Federer was rolling toward his record-tying sixth consecutive U.S. Open championship when a line challenge got in the way.
“I got off to a pretty good start, and had things under control as well in the second set,” Federer said. “I think that one cost me the match eventually. But I had many chances before that to make the difference. So it was tough luck today, but I thought Juan Martin played great. I thought he hung in there and gave himself chances, and in the end was the better man.”
Del Potro beats Federer in US Open final (Belfast Telegraph)
Roger Federer's five-year reign as US Open champion has come to an end following a four-hour battle with Juan Martin del Potro last night.
The two men shared the first four sets, but the world number one began to flag in the decider.
Federer was typically gracious in defeat, saying he had a great tournament, but del Potro was the best competitor.
Del Potro leaves Federer in daze with US Open win (Washington Post)
Roger Federer sat in his sideline chair, listening to the music, gazing into the distance - the glassy-eyed look of a defeated man.
Shocked.
The owner of the most Grand Slam titles in history - maybe the best player of all time - finally lost at the U.S. Open, but not to Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick or even Andy Murray.
Juan Martin del Potro puts thrilling end to Roger Federer’s US Open reign (Times Online)
For Federer, it was a remarkable end to an incredible year that began with him unable to stem the tears at the Australian Open when he lost an epic five-set battle to Nadal. His first French Open triumph changed everything and, when he won Wimbledon, he broke the record of wins in grand-slam tournaments set by Pete Sampras. Win No 16 was agonisingly close but Del Potro snatched it away from him with a brilliant performance.
US Open - Federer: I missed chances
The numbers tell the story of Roger Federer's stunning loss in the final of the US Open: 62 unforced errors, 50 per cent first serves, 11 double faults
"I tried everything, didn't work," Federer said after his shocking 3-6 7-6 4-6 7-6 6-2 loss on Monday to 20-year-old Juan Martin del Potro. "I missed chances."
After five successive US Open titles and 40 straight victories at Flushing Meadows, few expected the man many consider to be the best tennis player ever to look so mortal.
The Swiss with 15 Grand Slam trophies sprayed the ball long and wide. In the fifth set, when Federer is normally at his steely best, he had three double faults and no aces and went down quietly on a service break in the last game.
Federer, 28, had Del Potro on the ropes early, up one set and serving for the second at 5-4, 30-love. But the Swiss maestro could not close the door on the youngster appearing in his first Grand Slam final.
"I had him under control for the first two sets," said Federer. "I should never have lost so many chances. It was just a pity. If I win the second set, I'm in a great position to come through.
"Unfortunately, I didn't and that was it."
New Yorkers love Federer but the 25,000 crammed into Arthur Ashe Stadium were solidly supporting Del Potro, perhaps believing a changing of the guard was at hand.
Men's tennis could use a fresh face to challenge Federer and Rafael Nadal and the lanky Argentine with the scraggly beard could hold that honour after beating them on consecutive days.
Del Potro yielded only six games while pummelling Nadal in the semi-finals on Sunday before following it up against the world number one in mankind's largest tennis arena.
"It's always an amazing effort coming through and winning in your first final," said Federer, who won this year's French Open and Wimbledon titles.
"I've got to give him all the credit because it's not an easy thing to do, especially coming out against someone like me with so much experience."
While it was obvious Federer was bitterly disappointed, he tipped his hat to the youngster.
"It was tough luck today, but Juan Martin played great," he said. "He hung in there and gave himself chances, and in the end was the better man."
(eurosport)
Fed przegrał, ale:
1) przy okazji pobił kolejny rekord - swój bo swój ale jednak. szwajcar został pierwszym graczem w historii, który przekroczył 50 mln $, jeżeli chodzi o łączna sumę zarobków - obecnie stan konta Rogera w rubryce "pieniądze podniesione w kortu" wynosi: $50,777,919
2) przyjął porazkę lajtowo, ale obudziła się w nim sportowa złość, o czym czytamy:
Federer Looks Forward To More Success
The ghost of Bill Tilden can rest once again. Roger Federer couldn’t quite match the great American’s haul of six straight US titles, but the Swiss superstar can be satisfied with the knowledge that at 28 he has plenty more opportunities to add to his record of 15 Grand Slam championship trophies.
“Five was great, four was great, too,” said Federer, after his five-set loss to Argentine Juan Martin del Potro ended his 40-match winning streak at Flushing Meadows on Monday. “Six would have been a dream, too, [but I] can't have them all. I'm not too disappointed, because I thought I played another wonderful tournament.
“This one is easy to get over just because I’ve had the most amazing summer and a great run. He played well and in the end it was a tough fifth set. It’s acceptable. Life goes on. No problem.”
Federer is already looking forward to adding to his 61 career titles at the Shanghai ATP Masters 1000, Davidoff Swiss Indoors Basel and BNP Paribas Masters in Paris prior to the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London, which is set to be the world’s biggest-ever indoor tournament.
"There’s a lot of time between now and the Australian Open,” said Federer, who dropped to 15-6 overall in Grand Slam finals. “We have some big ones along the way. So I hope I can keep it up because I’m playing great tennis right now.
“I've had a wonderful season in terms of Grand Slams. Next to that, I also got back to No. 1 in the world. I hope I can defend that until the end of the year and then hopefully win the [Barclays ATP] World Tour Finals in London.”
Of course, it was a different story at the start of the year when Rafael Nadal was the dominant force highlighted by the Spaniard capturing his sixth Grand Slam title over Federer at the Australian Open.
It took Federer nearly five months to lift his first piece of silverware at the Mutua Madrileña Madrid Open, an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament, and he was quick to silence his critics by producing another year of record-breaking achievement.
In becoming the fourth player in the Open Era to capture the Roland Garros and Wimbledon title double, which helped him better Pete Sampras’ record of 14-major titles, he got rid of the weight of history.
"The year has been amazing already and it's not over yet,” said Federer, who married his long-time girlfriend Mirka Vavrinec in April and welcomed twin girls, Myla Rose and Charlene Riva in July. “[i] got married and had kids, [i] don't know how much more I want.”
http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis … -Year.aspx
C'mon Roger! :D
World No. 1 Roger Federer took a break from Switzerland’s Davis Cup preparations on Thursday in Genova to meet Italian football star Alessandro Del Piero.
Accompanied by his wife Sonia and his brother Stefano, Del Piero presented Federer with two jerseys – one with the number 1 and the name Roger written on it, and the other bearing his own name and autograph. He also offered Federer a pair of his shoes, assuring him that "they don't stink".
Similar to Federer, a five-time recipient of the Stefan Edberg sportsmanship award, the 34-year-old Del Piero has received accolades for his gentlemanly conduct and in 2007 was presented the Golden Foot award in recognition for his sportsmanship and playing ability.
"I have been following Roger's career for many years and I admire him very much,” said Del Piero, who often plays tennis during the summer and likes to watch it whenever he gets a chance.
Just days removed from his runner-up finish to Argentine Juan Martin del Potro at the US Open, Federer will attempt to take Switzerland back into the Davis Cup World Group when he leads the squad against Italy this weekend. He is scheduled to play in the second rubber Friday against Simone Bolelli.
Koszulka Alexa jest, ale 1500$ mniej w portfelu:
NEW YORK – Roger Federer has been fined $1,500 for using a profanity while arguing with the chair umpire during the U.S. Open final.
CBS microphones picked up the exchange during its live broadcast of the match.
Tournament spokesman Chris Widmaier says Federer is being docked the same amount as two other players — Vera Zvonareva and Daniel Koellerer — for audible obscenity.
I po polskiemu:
Federer też człowiek - zaklął i zapłaci
Roger Federer to wielkiego formatu zawodnik i rzadko dochodzi do kontrowersji z udziałem Szwajcara. Ale ciśnienie finału US Open udzieliło się nawet tak spokojnemu tenisiście.
Federer przegrał w finale US Open, po pięciosetowym pojedynku, z Juanem Martinem del Potro. Mikrofony stacji CBS wyłapały, jak szwajcarski tenisista klnie siarczyście pod nosem. Z tego powodu numer 1 światowego rankingu będzie musiał zapłacić karę w wysokości 1,5 tysiąca dolarów. Oprócz Rogera Federera taką samą kwotą ukarano Wierę Zwonariową oraz Daniela Koellerera.
Z kolei konto Sereny Williams “uszczupli” się o 10,5 tysięca dolarów za wydarzenia z półfinału, kiedy postraszyła sędzinę liniową oraz rozwalił rakiety po pierwszym secie.
Małe podsumowanie występu Rogera w barażach o grupę światową PD:
GENOA – Switzerland has kept its spot among the world's elite in the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas. Roger Federer defeated Potito Starace 63 60 64 in a match, which was interrupted for two hours because of rain, to give the Swiss an unassailable 3-1 lead. Fabio Fognini then gave Italy its second point by beating Michael Lammer 75 76 in the dead rubber.
When Federer stepped on court to take on Italy’s Potito Starace, substituting for Andreas Seppi, at noon, the Ligurian capital showed its grey face, it was already raining, slowly but steadily. Conditions that ideally suit Starace, who has the classical claycourt game. And Starace, who had won all of his previous ten Davis Cup singles, came out off the blocks well. He played with a lot of topspin but also included plenty of dropshots, which were extremely tough to chase down under these conditions.
However, Federer managed to fend off the danger by staying extremely focused on his own service games and got the first break to lead 5-3 after 32 minutes in the ever continuing rain.
His relief was shown by the fact that he then shouted "come on" and punched the fist. "He definitely didn't underestimate me," Starace said.
After holding comfortably to give his team the opening set, Federer played better and better. He found plenty of different angles and even showed a few of his trade mark miracle shots, which got huge appreciation from the home crowd as well. When the Swiss led 4-0, it was finally agreed to interrupt the match as conditions definitely became too slippery and dangerous.
Both players then had 140 minutes in the locker room to review the first part of the match and prepare their strategy for the second. However, not much changed in the encounter: Federer continued on his streak, finished the set to love and then got an early break in the third. Encouraged by the home crowd, Starace didn't accept his destiny without a fight however and hung in but never had a serious chance of breaking Federer. After 103 minutes, Federer gave Switzerland the win with a backhand volley which Starace was unable to answer.
"I’m very happy to have won the point for Switzerland so that we can play in the World Group again. I'm very happy with the quality of my game today, as I definitely didn't feel the best and had a problem on my leg, which has troubled me a bit since the final of the US Open."
It was not only Federer’s 12th consecutive win in Davis Cup competition, but also the 15th time that the maestro has contributed at least two points in a tie. He now has reached 37 match wins for Switzerland, overtaken Heinz Günthardt and is joint second with Marc Rosset in the national honor roll. For now, he still is 12 wins shy of Jakob Hlasek but it's rather likely that he'll pass the mark of the former top ten player in the next years.
Despite losing his fifth encounter with Federer, Starace couldn't have many regrets:
"Today, Roger was particularly inspired. I still managed to put him into difficulties but when he got the break to lead 5-3, he raised his game in an unbelievable manner. I definitely played my best match against him, but there was not much I could do."
goroger.net
-------------------------------------------
Roger wygrał swój 12 z rzędu mecz w PD. Ponadto po raz 15 zdobył co najmniej 2 pkt w jednym meczu dla swojej reprezentacji. Roger ma łącznie 37 wygranych meczów dla Szwajcarii w PD. Wyprzedził Heinza Günthardta i obecnie zajmuje 2 pozycję, razem z marcem Rossetem. Najwięcej spoktan dla Szwajcarów wygrał Jakob Hlasek - 49.
Roger autuje sie z azjatyckich turniejow:
ATP - TOKYO AND SHANGHAI
Dear Fans
I am disappointed that I have to withdraw from Tokyo and Shanghai as they are two of my favorite cities in the world and the fans have been great to me over the years. After consultation with my team and doctors, I decided to take the difficult decision to withdraw from both tournaments so that I can give my body a chance to rest, rehabilitate and fully recover from a physically challenging year.
Kind regards
Roger
No i dobrze :D
Sezon piekielnie intensywny, trzeba szukać odpoczynku. Fedowi się pewnie jeszcze tegoroczny Londyn marzy ;)
Tak sobie właśnie myślałem wczoraj, że Fedkowi przydałaby się dłuższa przerwa. Na pewno tan różne rzeczy pobolewają, a i dla rodziny trzeba mieć wreszcie trochę czasu.
Federer bardzo madrze prowadzi swoja kariere. Latka leca, wiec nie moze sie juz tak eksplatowac. Po US Open w zasadzie jedyny wazny turniej w jakim bedzie sie staral na maxa to Masters Cup. Potraktuje sobie sparingowo Bercy, a na serio zagra w MC. Punktow i tak ma tyle ze na nr. 1 do konca sezonu powinno wystarczyc. Z takim podejsciem Federer jeszcze na dlugo powinien sie utrzymac w czolowej trojce rankingu.
Zdaje się, że znowu plecy się odnowiły:
Federer out of Shanghai Masters with back injury.
http://twitter.com/JamesHMartin
Znam takiego, co wiedział to już podczas 5 seta finału USO :D
No powiedzmy sobie szczerze, 8(bo z Nole to samo było przecież) kolejnych setów z celnością pierwszego podania na poziomie 40-50% i to niezależnie od przebiegu gry, to nie jest normalne. :]
250 tygodni jako #1!
29.09.2009 - Roger Federer rozpoczyna dziś 251 tydzien przodownictwa w rankingu ATP Entry Ranking. W związku z powyższym pierwsza ćwiartka tysiąca została zamknięta :P Szwajcar umocnił się na 4 miejscu w klasyfikacji wszechczasów.
Najwięcej tygodni na pozycji nr1 rankingu ATP:
1. Pete Sampras - 286
2. Ivan Lendl - 270
3. Jimmy Connors - 268
4. Roger Federer - 250
5. John McEnroe - 170
6. Bjorn Borg - 109
7. Andre Agassi - 101
DUN I LOVE obejrzał jednego dnia 100 filmików o Federerze. TurboDymoMan zawstydził Dunaja i obejrzał 150.
xDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
Ktoś zadał sobie trud by policzyć, do którego turnieju musi wytrwać Fed jako nr 1 żeby pobić rekord Sampy?
Robertinho napisał:
DUN I LOVE obejrzał jednego dnia 100 filmików o Federerze. TurboDymoMan zawstydził Dunaja i obejrzał 150.
xDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
:D
Uwielbiam reklamy z TurboDymoManem tak btw :P
Fed-Expresso napisał:
Ktoś zadał sobie trud by policzyć, do którego turnieju musi wytrwać Fed jako nr 1 żeby pobić rekord Sampy?
Już dawno :P Tzn liczyłem "na oko". Jeżeli nic nieprzewidzianego się nie stanie Roger wyrówna i pobije wyniki Panów #2 i #3 na początku lutego (po AO), a żeby wyprzedzić Samprasa Roger musi liderować nieprzerwanie do końca RG "010" :D ;)
Czyli wszystko zależy od Nadala. Jak Hiszpan powiedzmy straci sporo pkt w AO i Mastersach na hard, to wtedy jest szansa, że nawet średnio grający Fed dobije do rekordu. Bo nie sądzę, że Murray był tutaj jakimkolwiek zagrożeniem, od teraz do Miami broni prawie maxa za wszystko poza Melbourne.
Znaczki, znaczki :P
Sep 28, 2009 from swissinfo:
Tennis star Roger Federer features on a special stamp to be issued by the Austrian post office next year.
It will show him winning the French Open tennis championship at Roland Garros. The picture was selected by the star and his family.
The post office plans to produce 400,000 of the stamps and to make an official presentation to Federer in Zurich in February.
O Federerze napisano juz wszystko :) Ja dodam od siebie że lubię Szwajcara ale nie zaliczam go do ścisłej grupy ulubieńców
http://www.rogerfederer.com/en/rogers/n … NewsID=969
OFF COURT - ROGER AND WILSON
This year, Roger used his Wilson [K]Six-One Tour racket to cement his place in tennis history and 2010 has the potential to be even more extraordinary.
Take a look at the new video by Wilson to get a little hint to what’s neXt from Roger and Wilson in 2010!
Link Video:
http://www.youtube.com/user/WilsonRacquet
FROM CALCUTTA TELEGRAPH:
Q: What other sport do you follow?
Pankaj Advani (the world billiards champion): I follow tennis and I am a huge, huge Roger Federer fan. The fact that he has achieved so much with such grace and dignity makes every sportsperson want to be in his shoes.
Power rankings: Federer resting, remains No. 1
Roger Federer has not been spotted on the ATP Tour since the U.S. Open final – and don't be too surprised if he takes his extended break all the way into the New Year.
The world No. 1 took time off after his defeat to Juan Martin del Potro at Flushing Meadows to rest up and spend time with his young family, yet was expected to return for the Paris Masters and the year-ending ATP Tour finals in London.
However, rumors out of Switzerland have suggested that Federer is considering keeping a low profile until January in order to be fully fresh and ready for 2010.
It would be a controversial move if Federer decided to skip the Tour finals, and one that would likely bring sanctions from the ATP unless he could prove he was injured. Rafael Nadal, then atop the rankings, pulled out last year.
Federer's year has been outstanding but it is understood he has made regaining the Australian Open crown his first priority for next year.
He was devastated to lose to Nadal in this year's final, with his idol Rod Laver looking on. After losing to Novak Djokovic in the 2008 semifinal, the Swiss feels his preparation for Australia has not been ideal and wants a more structured approach this time around.
Federer remains atop of our power rankings, primarily because most of the leading men have either been out of action or out of form.
Trochę informacji dla rozjaśnienia sytuacji w klasyfikacji #1:
As for October 19, Rogers have 253 weeks:
to beat Connors 268, he needs more 16 weeks, or 4 moths, or late February 2010
to beat Lendl 270, he needs more 18 weeks, or 4 moths and 2 weeks, or early march 2010
to beat Sampras 286, he needs more 33 weeks, or 8 months and 2 weeks, or late june 2010
Oby dał radę ;)
Tak zestawiając oba te wpisy, zaczynam się poważnie zastanawiać nad tym czy dalej powinienem kibicować Rafie. :(
Kalendarz RF 2010:
Cena:
$ 27.55
€ 18,85
Athletes of The Decade - #2 Roger Federer
Our #2 Athlete of the Decade is the most accomplished tennis player in history. This quiet Swiss ace was a man who had never advanced past the 4th round of a major from 2000-2002. Then, he broke onto the scene in 2003 with a win at Wimbledon. After that first Grand Slam title, he went on a nice little run of winning at least 2 Grand Slams in 6 of the next 7 years and would become one of the most dominant athletes of all-time. Our Silver Medal Athlete is Roger Federer.
Resume
-15 Grand Slam Singles Titles, #1 in tennis history
21 Grand Slam Finals, reached SF stage in 22 straight majors
-237 Consecutive Weeks at #1 from '04-'08
-2008 Olympic Doubles Champion
Facts
-Won Wimbledon and US Open every year from '04-'07
-Holds record winning streaks on grass and hard-court in Open Era
-One of 6 players to win Career Grand Slam.
-And to get the broad scope of the records that Federer has held and set, here's a link to his career achievements page on Wikipedia, it's pretty long.
Why He's Here
-Well, Federer is on this list because he is the greatest tennis player of all-time. Being at the top for so long in an individual sport is a testament of greatness. If you are or aren't a tennis fan, you've seen Federer play in a Grand Slam final. Remember his epic win over Andy Roddick? Sure, a lot of folks in the States were rooting for Roddick, but after the game the respect shown to Federer was surreal. "Yea, Roddick played great, but you knew Federer would win." "Wow, Roddick played the match of his life, and still lost to Federer." That's not normal in sports to see that kind of respect for an athlete. He surpasses the rest of the athletes on our list because in truth there are only two men in contention for #1, and Federer is one of them. He comes up just short in the countdown, but only because of the awesomeness of our #1 Athlete. Here are some highlights from the '09 Wimby Final
Lasting Impact
It's hard to know just what lasting impact Federer will have. He's been so good this decade that perhaps he's under-appreciated, and will probably continue to be under-appreciated when the history books look back on his career. Federer's legacy has taken a slight hit recently with the rise of Rafa Nadal and his loss in the '09 US Open final against an underdog in Juan Martin Del Potro. However, being able to consistently contend and win majors in his late 20's might mean Federer will extend his record and could possibly win up to 20 majors in his career, demolishing Pete Sampras' old record.
What we'll remember about Federer is that he was perhaps the most dominant athlete in any sport in his prime. He won every Wimbledon and US Open for 4 years in a row! That likely will never be seen again. But, moreso than the numbers, is the grace and sheer technical ability that Federer has shown over the years. He is the Tiger Woods of tennis (cough, hint, cough) and has shown some transcendent ability into the mainstream world. He has that European dry wit and smoothness about him which might not hit home with middle America, but gives him a certain aura of brilliance on and off the court.
http://www.randallsimonssausages.com/20 … derer.html
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/10/1 … r-federer/
Na coraz większej ilości stron, for, serwisów poruszany jest temat dalszego udziału Rogera w tegorocznym sezonie ATP:
However, rumors out of Switzerland have suggested that Federer is considering keeping a low profile until January in order to be fully fresh and ready for 2010.
Fragment z artykułu z Yahoo, który Art zamieścił w całości kilka postów wyżej. Mówi się, że być może Roger zakończy przedwcześnie sezon, by być w pełni świeżym i wypoczętym w styczniu. Oznaczałoby to nie tylko opuszczenie Basel, Paryża i Londynu, ale prawdopodobnie także utratę pozycji nr1 na koniec sezonu, na rzecz Rafaela Nadala.
Zawsze można to sobie tłumaczyć tym, że jest trochę ogórkowo ostatnio i trzeba mieć o czym pisać. Mi osobiście się nie chce wierzyć, aby takie coś (ten rogerowy scenariusz) miało miejsce w rzeczywistości. :)
DUN I LOVE napisał:
Zawsze można to sobie tłumaczyć tym, że jest trochę ogórkowo ostatnio i trzeba mieć o czym pisać. Mi osobiście się nie chce wierzyć, aby takie coś (ten rogerowy scenariusz) miało miejsce w rzeczywistości. :)
No popatrz Sherlocku, a w to że Fedek otarł się o pokojowego Nobla uwierzyłeś bez problemu. :D
Federer potwierdził na Facebooku, że zagra w Basel.
Znalazłem bardzo fajny cykl skrótów " Roger Federer - An amazing career"
Kompilacja przedstawia najlepsze zagrania z najlepszych spotkań Rf w Jego wczesnej karierze (obejmuje lata 2001-2005).
Można obejrzeć obszerne skróty batalii szwajcarskiego Mistrza, począwszy od pamiętnej gry z Samprasem na Wimbledonie, poprzez Jego walkę ze znakomitymi New Ballsami.
Pierwsza część filmu:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTqHpb_qers
Pozostałe będą dostępne tradycyjnie, po prawnej stronie, na marginesie. Polecam.
Szczerze mówiąc, to oglądając wczoraj te filmiki strasznie się zdołowałem. W porównaniu z tamtym kilerem, obecne wydanie prezentuje się może nie jak Andrew przy Adamku, ale tylko niewiele lepiej. :| Człowiek stara się sobie wmawiać, że nie jest tak źle, ale rzeczywistość jest brutalna.
Ciężka sylwetka, dużo gorsza dynamika, pasywność i metrowe auty przy próbach uderzeń, które kiedyś na zawołanie czyściły linie. :(
No dobrze, ale trudno mieć o to do Papy pretensje, z wiekiem coraz trudniej panować w 100% nad własnym ciałem, i co wszyscy doskonale wiemy, jego atrybuty fizyczne będą mocno spadać na przestrzeni nawet kilku miesięcy.
A czy ja mówię, że mam pretensje? Trudno obwiniać czas, że płynie, ale pomarudzić chyba można?
Robertinho napisał:
A czy ja mówię, że mam pretensje? Trudno obwiniać czas, że płynie, ale pomarudzić chyba można?
Zabronić marudzić Federaście to tak jak zabrać smoczek niemowlakowi :D
Oct 16, 2009 from London Evening Standard:
Chelsea’s German midfielder Michael Ballack has revealed that watching tennis legend Roger Federer recover from a slump in form to win Wimbledon gave him the inspiration to bounce back from a disappointing season at Stamford Bridge
He revealed: "It's good for your career as a sportsman if you watch other professional sports - how they're behaving and how they react in difficult situations. I think it's always good to learn from other sports.
"It was amazing to see how relaxed Federer was and how easy he made it look. This is always a sign he's on a different level. If you play five hours of a match, five sets and the last is 16-14, you have to come to a point where it's getting difficult. But you couldn't see it happening with him and this was unbelievable."
from CareFair:
Online reports indicate that after six years of trying to get the RF brand off the ground, it has been discontinued. Roger Federer’s range included deodorant, shower gel, aftershave and a fragrance. The most recent reports state that the company has been put into liquidation. The downfall of RF Cosmetics is not expected to hurt Federer’s fortunes too much. He still has endorsement deals with Gillette, Mercedes Benz and Rolex.
Oba cytaty z goroger.net
from Daily Express:
According to Margaret Court, to be successful one must always have a goal. Taking Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer as examples, she said that champions always set some goals for them to aim for.
She told the youngsters that tennis is a wonderful game that teaches ones to be more focused, attentive and disciplined.
Court advised the youngsters to learn the basics first, for example on stroke progressions, steps and most importantly, learn to volley at a very young age, before moving on to much complicated skills.
"If you want to copy somebody these days, copy Federer," said Court, "He always moving forward for the ball and not leaning backwards.
"And always remember to play the ball and not the opponent," she concluded.
Oct 18, 2009 from ASAP Sports:
Q. What's the difference for you playing Nadal and Federer?
NIKOLAY DAVYDENKO: Completely different games. Federer always have good serve, play fast. He didn't make so long rally. He just try to make winners, and you need always running with him. It's much more difficult.
Nadal always play long rally, a little bit more slow and you have always chance to control ball. You have always chance to play long line across, always fighting with him. That's was -- and he play -- yeah, that's was maybe I have more priority play against Nadal, winning, beat him.
Against Federer, if he very good feeling, have very good confidence, it's not so easy to beat him. If I have many chance like in Paris, Roland Garros, I play also good, but, you know, have always chance to win first, second or third set, but I didn't realize, because he was better after, you know, good concentration and did well job.
But really, I don't know if I play today against Federer what's can happen. (laughter.) Really, it's a different situation, you know. I was really happy it was not Federer today. (laughter.)
goroger.net
Jakiś pokraczny ten angielski w ostatniej wypowiedzi, ktos redagujący się nie popisał.
:D :D :D
OFF COURT - ROGER TO BECOME GLOBAL AMBASSADOR FOR HIS FAVORITE CHOCOLATE LINDT
Kilchberg (Switzerland), October 29, 2009 – Premium chocolate manufacturer Lindt & Sprüngli is partnering with Swiss tennis champion Roger Federer in a long term deal to serve as the global brand ambassador for his favorite LINDT chocolate.
Lindt & Sprüngli is delighted with this opportunity to associate with the most successful tennis player of all time. The contract details of the agreement will not be made public.
For the first time in the company’s history dating back for more than 160 years, the Lindt & Sprüngli Group is linking its own name to that of a celebrity. The global fame of top sportsman Federer makes this partnership a highly promising opportunity for Lindt & Sprüngli to further enhance the global popularity of its premium chocolates and become still more firmly established in key global markets. With his likeable and down to earth image, Federer is the ideal brand ambassador for Lindt & Sprüngli. He uniquely embodies Lindt & Sprüngli’s fundamental values of “Swissness,” “Premiumness,” “Quality” and “Passion.” The association of these important attributes with the names of LINDT and Federer symbolizes the perfect “match” between the number 1 in premium chocolate and the number 1 in the world of tennis.
Ernst Tanner, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Lindt & Sprüngli, comments: “We are naturally delighted to be able to name Roger Federer, an exceptional and well-known Swiss icon, as our brand ambassador. Together with Roger Federer, we will become the foremost ambassadors for Swiss quality.” And Roger Federer confirms this: “I am Swiss by birth, and since my childhood, I have always been a great fan of LINDT chocolate. I am very excited to partner with the global leader in premium chocolate and I enjoy their products and am very impressed with their plans for future growth.”
Alongside the proven and successful communication concept based on the universally popular Maîtres Chocolatiers, the cooperation with Roger Federer will be used as an additional communication instrument in Lindt’s global marketing efforts.
from DPA:
Basle - Roger Federer's return to tennis after a five-week pause will be celebrated with joyous voices as his home Swiss Indoors honours the world number one local hero Monday. Amid the a bid from anti-smoking forces to somehow get the Swiss to avoid the event sponsored by luxury good provider Davidoff, plans advanced to honour the native son in a tennis hall re-named for him last year.
The event will stage an opening ceremony to celebrate the record 15 Grand Slam titles of the Swiss star. After that, Federer will take to the court for his opening match.
Organisers say the tournament's 40th edition will feature a concert by Spanish soprano Montserrat Caballé in a mix of sport and culture. The Catalan opera singer will be accompanied by the Opera Choir of the Theater Basel and the Basle Festival Orchestra.
A row over tobacco sponsorship at the event has turned ugly, with non-EU member Switzerland perfectly free to accept tobacco sponsorship - as was the case elsewhere in Europe until 2005.
So high was recent pressure that broadcaster Eurosport was forced to drop coverage plans under that of legal action, with a German satellite broadcaster now taking the feed.
The UN, a big part of the Swiss economy has also made its displeasure known, returning a donation from the tournament to Unesco, the UN cultural arm.
British news reports suggest that up to 500 health officials have signed a letter asking Federer to boycott the tournament which is perhaps closest to his heart.
goroger.net
ATP - ROGER'S 2010 SCHEDULE
Roger's tournament schedule for 2010 is out: he is planning to play a total of 18 tournaments coming year, plus hopefully the ATP World Tour Finals in London.
The 2010 schedule is as follows:
Capitala World Tennis Championship, Abu Dhabi
Qatar Exxonmobil Open, Doha
Australian Open, Melbourne
Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships, Dubai
BNP Paribas Open, Indian Wells
Sony Ericsson Open, Miami
Internazionali BNL d’Italia, Rome
Estoril Open, Estoril
Mutua Madrileña Masters, Madrid
Roland Garros, Paris
Gerry Weber Open, Halle
Wimbledon, London
Rogers Cup, Toronto
Western & Southern Financial Group Masters, Cincinnati
U.S. Open, New York
Shanghai ATP Masters 1000, Shanghai
Davidoff Swiss Indoors, Basel
BNP Paribas Masters, Paris
Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, London
Pożartowaliśmy z kibiców i organizatorów, ale trzeba się szybko wycofać z Portugalii żeby ludzie nie kupili na marne biletów.
Kalendarz standardowy jak co roku, ciekawe czy Fed skusi się jeszcze na Monte Carlo???
Fed-Expresso napisał:
Pożartowaliśmy z kibiców i organizatorów, ale trzeba się szybko wycofać z Portugalii żeby ludzie nie kupili na marne biletów.
A w życiu. :D Ten turniej będzie pełnił, podobnie jak ubiegłym roku, rolę zaworu bezpieczeństwa na wypadek kiepskich występów. Jakiś turniej przed Halle wygrać wypada, więc jak już wszystko inne zawiedzie, pozostaje Estoril :D
ATP - A GOOD DRAW FOR BASEL
Roger can be pleased with today's draw for the Swiss Indoors in Basel - his hometown.
Our champ will meet a qualifyer in the first round before later meeting Andreas Seppi (ITA) or Stéphane Bohli (SUI). James Blake (USA/7) and Fernando Gonzalez (CHI/3) are the highest seeds on Roger's side of the draw.
Roger has been staying in Basel for a few days already in order to prepare for his first tournament after not having competed for several weeks. The town is bustling with activity as the annual fun-fair is being held at the same time as the Swiss Indoors.
Roger Federer zatrudnił fizjoterapeutę na więcej niż pełen etat. Prywatny trener będzie nieodłączną częścią Teamu szwajcarskiego Mistrza.
Roger Federer shapes up for the challenges ahead by hiring full-time physio
Roger Federer returns to the ATP Tour after a six-week hiatus in his home city of Basle tonight, having taken a decision designed to preserve his dominance over the sport well into his thirties.
Federer, the 28-year-old world No 1, has appointed Stéphane Vivier, one of seven ATP physiotherapists, to travel with him full time to make sure that he is in the finest physical shape every time he plays. If anything was certain to nail the suggestion that Federer is thinking of slowing down after winning 15 grand-slam singles titles — and reaching a record-breaking 22 consecutive semi-finals — this has to be it.
Although he is one of the fittest men and most graceful movers in the game, Federer is aware that only by sustaining his excellent shape can he see off the challenges presented to him by the young titans of the game, Rafael Nadal, 23, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, both 22, and Juan Martín del Potro, the 21-year-old Argentinian who defeated him in the US Open final in September.
Federer’s comeback this evening — he will play a qualifier in the first round of the Davidoff Swiss Indoors — gives him the prospect of a fortnight of high-density tennis before he spearheads the talent pageant at the inaugural Barclays ATP World Tour Finals at the 02 arena, southeast London, from Sunday, November 22. Federer is one of the six players who have qualified for the finals and ten are in pursuit of the last two spots. The favourites are Nikolay Davydenko, of Russia, and Fernando Verdasco, of Spain, both competing with Murray in the Valencia Open this week.
Related Links
Like Andy Roddick, who snapped up Doug Spreen, a former full-time ATP trainer, to work with him on a private basis three years ago, Federer is placing his faith in someone whose responsibility has been to treat every player at his respective tournament.
Federer has an enormous amount of respect for Vivier, a Frenchman, going so far as to say that the physio knows how his body works even better than he does himself. Remarkably, although Severin Luthi, the Swiss Davis Cup captain, travels on an occasional basis with Federer, the world No 1 still has no permanent coach.
At the start of this year, the Swiss had a problem with his lower back that, he insists, contributed to his inability to be properly prepared for the Australian Open, where he was beaten in a tumultous five-set final by Nadal. Having someone of Vivier’s expertise at his beck and call is exactly what he requires to maintain his levels through the increasingly arduous demands of the men’s game.
As president of the ATP Player Council, Federer has been working assiduously behind the scenes on trying to establish a tour calendar that takes better account of the demands on the players — nine of whom were forced to retire at various stages during the most recent Masters event in Shanghai — while keeping as many tournament directors as possible happy with the composition and quality of their fields.
Should he help to establish a fairer set of working conditions for the future of tennis, he will have done almost as much to keep the sport alive off the court as he has by winning tournament after tournament on it.
Federer has won in Basle for the past three years and is completely refreshed, having not played since the middle of September, when he helped to secure Switzerland’s World Group status in the Davis Cup for 2010. In the first round of that championship next year, they will meet Spain, which offers the intoxicating prospect of the Swiss playing Nadal in the tournament for the first time.
Much of his time away from the circuit recently has been spent bonding with his now three-month-old twin daughters, Charlene and Myla.
ATP - ROGER LOSES TOUGH FIGHT IN BASEL
Novak Djokovic ended Roger's run of three straight titles at the Swiss Indoors in Basel. Even an enthusiastic Basel crowd did not manage to push Roger to victory today; he eventually lost 4-6, 6-4, 2-6 in the final.
"I thought I missed plenty of opportunities. I'm not looking for excuses. He played tough and he played well when he had to, and saved a ton of break points that were crucial," Roger said. He is now 59-9 this year after losing only his third match since May.
The first set ended in a thrilling last game, when Roger earned himself a total of five break points in a game that lasted 24 minutes. In the second set, our champ spectacularly came back from one break down to win the set, the crowd stamping and clapping in joy. But unfortunately Roger could not keep up the great run and saw himself fall back to 0-4 in the deciding set. Djokovic closed out the victory after Roger could not profit from three break points.
Roger will now travel on to Paris, where he will compete in the BNP Paribas Masters this coming week.
Finał w Basel to 85 tego typu występ Federera na poziomie ATP Tour. Szwajcar po wczorajszej porażce ma bilans wygranych finałów do przegranych: 61-24 i 4-3 w 2009 roku. W tym roku Szwajcar ma bilans spotkań 59-9, 34-7 na kortach twardych. Bilans Szwajcara w starciach z zawodnikami z top-10 wynosi 117-56, z czego 13-8 w tym sezonie.
"I think the lack of opportunities was the problem today," said Federer. "I missed too many chances throughout the match. Novak played well and make it tough for me to get chances, but when I had them he also played well.
“I think I could have played a bit better from the baseline, a bit more aggressive. I was maybe lacking a bit of timing on my backhand side, but it was still a good tournament for me. I think with a few adjustments I could have done better but I’m still happy."
“We have some exciting weeks ahead of us, for all the players," said Federer. "I won Roland Garros in the summer and now I return to Paris. Of course having won Wimbledon, I will return to London. It will be interesting to see how the crowds will be, as I have never gone back to Paris as the Roland Garros champion. I am feeling well and mentally fresh. I am in the mood to do well there."
goroger.net
ATP - THANK YOU!
Dear Fans
Last week in Basel was an interesting and also intensive one. It was great to spend some time in my home town together with my family and enjoy what the city has to offer. It is, of course, a pity that I was not able to defend my title at the Swiss Indoors.
There were various things happening next to the tennis tournament. I was able to meet up with my friends and family, I hadn’t seen a lot of them for quite some time. It’s great that so many were able to make their way to Basel.
Furthermore, I had the opportunity to give something back to others: I met children and also participated in an event organised by my official fan club, fans4roger. The children had a special day in Basel, arranged by an institution called “wonderlamp”. It was their greatest wish to meet me in person. My fan club arranged for 100 fans to attend one of my training sessions on Center Court, followed by a meet and greet.
It is always fascinating to see so many happy, beaming faces. It shows me just how far I am able to reach out through my sport. I would like to thank all of you for your interest, your support and the joy you show throughout the entire year. My fan club was also present with their banners (see gallery) during the matches on Center Court once again and the whole atmosphere at the tournament was terrific. I would like to express my gratitude for all that.
I am looking forward to the end of the season, especially of course the ATP World Tour Finals in London.
Yours, Roger
ATP - ROGER OUT EARLY IN PARIS
Roger had to accept an early defeat in Paris against Julien Benneteau at the BNP Paribas Masters today: 6-3, 6-7(4), 4-6.
Roger had not dropped a set against Benneteau in their two previous meetings. He raced to the first set today, showing tennis on a high level. But the second set turned out to be less one-sided and Roger even fell back rather clearly in the tie-break. Our champ seemed a little irritated and had to save three break points early in the decider but Benetteau took advantage at the fourth attempt to edge a lead he then did not lose, finishing the match in just about two hours.
In Roger's seven visits of the tournament, his best performances remain three quarter-final rounds.
PARIS – Roger Federer lost to Julien Benneteau 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4 in the second round of the Paris Masters on Wednesday.
The 15-time Grand Slam champion has never been further than the quarterfinals in seven appearances.
"He played incredible at the end. Julien went out and got the victory," said Federer, who refused to give excuses. "I definitely had chances. I missed them. I feel fine physically, and mentally I was fresh to do really well here."
Federer took the first set when Benneteau's backhand return hit the net, but the Frenchman found his range in the second set and dominated the tiebreaker, tying the match with a low return that landed just inside the baseline.
"I didn't have my rhythm from the baseline. Every time I had a chance he was winning the point," Federer said.
Boosted by the first set he'd taken off Federer in three matches, Benneteau forced mistakes on Federer's backhand as the Swiss star rushed his shots. Benneteau broke early and then held to lead 3-1.
Federer missed his chance in the fifth game when Benneteau saved two break points, and then held for 4-2.
Benneteau smacked a two-handed crosscourt winner past a startled Federer to set up two match points, acing the first one and falling to the floor in tears. Federer contested the call but was already at the net and ready to shake hands when the call was upheld.
The early loss, however, does give Federer more time to prepare for the ATP World Tour Finals in London this month.
"I hope I can at least make a good run there, because I really feel like I have some good tennis left in me," Federer said. "Not going to let my head hang after this tournament."
No panic stations for Federer after Paris defeat
No panic stations for Federer after Paris defeat Roger Federer remains unruffled by his second-round exit to Julien Benneteau at the Paris Masters, with the Swiss No. 1 convinced that he can recover with a week of training prior to heading to London for the new year-end final.
The Swiss has suffered his second setback in four days after going down to Novak Djokovic in the final at home in Basel - but there is no panic in Team Federer.
"I guess I'm a clay court specialist now," joked the reigning French Open champion, who has only reached three career quarterfinals at the Bercy arena.
"I was really happy to come here, unfortunately it's a two, three day trip. Now it's back home, back to the practice courts. I want to make sure I'm in top shape for London where I won Wimbledon before."
Federer is now banking on coming good at the eight-man championships.
"I can at least make a good run there, because I really feel like I have some good tennis left in me. I'm not going to let my head hang after this tournament.
"These matches sometimes happen for me. And I definitely have some work to do. Even though this wasn't bad, but I definitely think I have to up my game for the Masters."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ … t=0&page=1
Świeża porcja wyznań Papy. Sporo tego, ale jakby ktoś na przykład chciał dowiedziec się jak Roger wspomina swoje "it's killing me" to polecam :P
Roger Federer i Wimbledon 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DDQwLZJMgI
Wspaniały filmik, zabierający Federastów w sentymentalną wręcz podróż po turnieju Wimbledon 2009.
Do tego piękna piosenka Enyi w podkładzie.
Kolejny sponsor Federera i kolejne 20 mln dolarów
Credit Suisse wszedł w niebezinteresowny romans z Rogerem Federerem. Drugi największy szwajcarski bank wypłaci w ciągu dekady 28-letniemu obecnie tenisiście około 20 milionów dolarów. Znaczna część tej kwoty zasili konto fundacji Federera.
Przedstawiciele Credit Suisse odmówili wprawdzie podania kwoty kontraktu, ale można zakładać, że powinny być to pieniądze rzędu tych otrzymywanych przez 28-letniego Szwajcara z tytułu już realizowanych umów. A to oznacza około 2 milionów dolarów rocznie.
Fundacja Rogera Federera ma na celu niesienie pomocy dzieciom zamieszkującym Afrykę poprzez promowanie edukacji i sportu.
Federer w karierze zgromadził 61 triumfów z czego 15 w turniejach wielkoszlemowych, co czyni go najbardziej utytułowanym tenisistą wszech czasów.
Szwajcar w ostatnim czasie związał się również umową sponsorską z producentem wyrobów czekoladowych Lindt. Na liście marek promujących się wizerunkiem tenisisty znajdują się także: Nike, Rolex, Gillette i Mercedes Benz.
Bank Credit Suisse w tym roku zrezygnował ze sponsorowania Formuły 1 deklarując chęć skupienia się na wydarzeniach mniej globalnych
eurosport.pl
OFF COURT - CREDIT SUISSE AND ROGER FEDERER ENTER LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIP
Credit Suisse today announced a long-term partnership agreement with Roger Federer. The world’s top tennis player, Roger Federer has won 15 Grand Slam titles and 61 singles tournaments. In an exclusive video interview, Roger Federer discusses the importance of teamwork in his sport and what drives him to achieve excellence.
As part of the partnership agreement, Credit Suisse will make a significant annual contribution to the Roger Federer Foundation, which is dedicated to helping disadvantaged children and to promoting education, sports and play, particularly in Africa. This commitment underscores the importance of corporate citizenship to both Roger Federer and to Credit Suisse.
Brady Dougan, Chief Executive Officer of Credit Suisse Group, said: “Credit Suisse is delighted and proud to be associating ourselves closely with Roger Federer – one of the greatest tennis players of all time, known and admired worldwide. Our decision to enter into a long-term partnership is driven by the fact that Roger represents the values that we embrace as a bank. He has a passion for excellence and is a great player. He has achieved this through a combination of hard work and determination. He brings all of his talent to bear in his play and raises the level of his game to meet the challenge in even the most trying of circumstances. At the same time he sets an example for responsible conduct both on and off the court. We also particularly share his passion for giving back to the community through his sponsoring of educational initiatives and look forward to supporting his charitable foundation.”
Roger Federer said: "I am excited about this opportunity to act as a global ambassador for Credit Suisse. They have been an important and trusted banking partner with me for a long time and I admire their passion for excellence. I also value Credit Suisse's substantial support for my foundation. I look forward to our ongoing partnership and helping make a contribution to the bank's continued success."
Roger Federer, speaking to the Sunday Times, on where he is in his career: "I’m midway. It feels like the second part of my career right now, although I am trying to avoid saying that because the second part sounds like ‘neehhhhrrrrr’ [motions straight down].
"You can definitely play your greatest tennis until 32 or 33, it’s just a matter of how you look at it. I’ve always been a big believer in looking at the big picture. It’s not about, ‘What will we do tomorrow?,’ it's about, ‘How will my life and tennis look in the next five years?’ And I still have the same vision, so that’s going to help me.
“Many people were asking me, ‘When are you going to retire?’ And I said, ‘Well, I'm definitely going to play until the 2012 Olympics,’ but that was to shut them up, really. It depends how fit you are, but I would like to play beyond that..."
By Tim Adams - In July, a couple of weeks before his twins were born, I talked to Federer about how that match (2009 Wimbledon final) had felt from his side of the net, in particular the weirdness of that fifth set, in which neither player had seemed remotely likely to crack. "I had a feeling at changeovers that we would be there all summer long," Federer suggested, "that they would close the roof, people would sleep all night and wake up and me and Andy would still be there, beards growing, holding serve. Honestly, that went through my mind. I knew he was not going to make a mistake, and I didn't feel that I was…"
Federer dla eurosport.pl: Lubię zmieniać pieluchy
Muszę wyznaczyć sobie nowe cele, a nie żyć przeszłością. Myślę, że największe zwycięstwo w tym sezonie odniosłem w Paryżu. Teraz staram się jak najwięcej pomogać mojej żonie przy dzieciach - mówi specjalnie dla eurosport.pl Roger Federer. Szwajcar jest jednym z faworytów US Open
Chciałbym mieć więcej czasu między French Open i Wimbledonem, by móc się dłużej cieszyć tym pierwszym turniejem, ale OK, mogłem płynąć z tą "falą" na Wimbledon i do narodzin moich dzieci. Właśnie dlatego czuję się teraz wyjątkowo dobrze - mówi "Król Roger".
- Już kilka razy byłem blisko pobicia historycznych rekordów, jak na przykład podczas finałów w Paryżu. Gdybym wygrał tam wcześniej, miałbym już wtedy wszystkie cztery Wielkie Szlemy. A więc nie pierwszy raz grałem z historią, dlatego też ten finał nie różnił się dla mnie od innych. Tak samo było, gdy próbowałem pobić rekord Bjorna Borga dwa lata temu. Pamiętam, jak nie mogłem spać przez te dwa tygodnie, bo stałbym się wielki, wygrywając Wimbledon pięć razy z rzędu. Odtąd patrzę na wszystko z większym dystansem, nie tracąc jednak motywacji - zaznacza szwajcarski mistrz.
Federer opowiada o swojej żonie.
- Tyle razem przeżyliśmy. Kiedy ją spotkałem, nie miałem jeszcze tytułu, dziś mam ich już 61, a ona była ze mną, gdy zdobywałem trzy czwarte z nich, zwłaszcza w ostatnich latach. Wywarła na mnie ogromny wpływ, zarówno jako na tenisistę, jak i na człowieka. Jest ode mnie o trzy lata starsza i wiele się od niej nauczyłem. Kobiety są zawsze o krok do przodu w stosunku do mężczyzn, szczególnie w młodszym wieku. Ona pcha mnie do przodu, jeśli można tak powiedzieć i nigdy nie zabrała mi pasji do tenisa - wyjaśnia Federer, który odnosi się także do narodzin swoich bliźniaczków.
- To nie było dla mnie łatwe stać i nie móc nic zrobić. Do tej pory miałem jakąś kontrolę, czy to grając w tenisa, czy też prowadząc samochód. Ale podczas tych narodzin nie miałem na nic żadnego wpływu, mogłem mieć tylko nadzieję, że wszystko pójdzie dobrze. Dziś ma to na mnie niewiarygodny wpływ; przychodzę do domu i jestem szczęśliwy, widząc je trzy i mogąc spędzić z nimi czas - przyznaje Roger. - Śpię trochę mniej niż zwykle, ale tak już jest. Cieszę się tym, co robię, nie jestem już facetem, któremu nic się nie chce. Lubię zmieniać pieluchy i staram się jak najwięcej pomagać, bo to przecież dla Mirki także nie jest łatwe - dodaje.
Padło także pytanie o to, czy Roger postrzega siebie jako legendę.
- Hmm, Tak/Nie. Dopóki gram, nie myślę o sobie w ten sposób. Trzeba być ostrożnym, bo nikt nie wie, co zrobię. Nie wiem, coś złego mogłoby się nagle stać, na przykład nie wygram już nigdy meczu, albo zachowam się źle na korcie. Nie wiem, co się jeszcze wydarzy, więc moja kariera musi się sama toczyć dalej i wtedy zobaczymy, czy jestem najlepszy, czy może drugi. Oczywiście, jestem szczęśliwy, że doszedłem do takiego punktu kariery w tak młodym wieku. By zdobyć 15 tytułów, potrzebowałem o połowę mniej czasu, niż ten, w jakim Sampras wywalczył 14 tytułów. Cieszy mnie bycie w tym gronie.
Cały wywiad zostanie zaprezentowany w stacji Eurosport przed kolejnymi meczami Rogera Federera.
In last part of chapter 29 in his book, Andre has deep respect for Roger during the 2005 US Open.
"Walking to the net, I'm certain that I've lose to the better man, the Everest of the generation. I pity the young players who will have to contend with him. I feel for the man who is fated to play Agassi to his Sampras. Though I don't mention Pete by name, I have him uppermost in my mind when I tell reports: It's real simple. Most players have weaknesses. Federer has none."
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=298376
_ _ _
ATP - A CHALLENGING DRAW
Roger will compete against Andy Murray, Juan Martin Del Potro and Fernando Verdasco in Group A at the ATP World Tour Finals - not an easy draw!
Roger has won three of the nine encounters with Murray. He beat Verdasco in all their three matches so far and defeated Del Potro in six of their seven meetings (he lost to the Argentinian in this year's US Open final).
Roger can meet Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic in the semifinal of the World Tour Finals starting in London coming Monday.
Po co ta asekuracja.
Grupa jest łatwa, jeden rywal z którym porażka jest dość realna i 2 spotkania któe należy wygrać obowiązkowo.
Jeżeli Federer myśli nadal o rywalizacji z obecnym topem, to musi wygrywać tego typu spotkania.
November 19
2006 – Roger Federer concludes one of the most dominating seasons in tennis history, defeating James Blake 6-0, 6-3, 6-4 in the final of the Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai, China. Federer finishes the year with 12 titles in 16 final-round appearances in 17 total tournaments played, three major championships (Australian Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open) and becomes the first player to exceed $7 million in prize money in a season with a $8.34 million during the 2006 campaign. Only two players manage to beat Federer during the year – Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray. Says Blake of the undisputed world No. 1, “Obviously, we’re all chasing Roger. It’s no secret. He’s playing head and shoulders above the rest of us.” Says Federer of his epic year, “To finish it off by winning the Masters Cup, the world championship so to speak, it’s the perfect ending to an incredible season. There’s not much more I could have done.” Federer is one match from winning the Grand Slam – losing in the final of the French Championships to Nadal. He finishes the year with a 92-5 record – winning his last 29 matches.
Federer's Footwork: Artful and Efficient:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009 … ref=sports
Roger Federer aware of pitfalls in chasing fifth end-of-year title
Roger Federer, appearing in his eighth successive end-of-year finals, is favoured to win his fifth, which would simply add to the majesty of his career. He was the last of this year’s eight to speak his mind yesterday and, as ever, the most beguiling.
Reflecting their status in the sport, Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray — the top four players in the world — took their places at the big three-sided tables with the more intimate, round ones saved for Juan Martín del Potro, Nikolay Davydenko, Fernando Verdasco and Robin Söderling, who could not quite fill the seats around them.
Federer said the two groups for the round-robin stage of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals are the most balanced in his memory. “To know each player has to play three times is great for the fans, it can be a brilliant end to the season where you beat all your closest rivals, or you could be sent packing after three matches,” Federer, seeking a record-equalling fifth victory, said. “It is all very equal.”
The Swiss’s campaign begins tomorrow night at the O2 arena in southeast London against Fernando Verdasco, the Spaniard. Federer would have preferred to play on Monday, but the organisers wanted Andy Murray to open proceedings tomorrow to a packed afternoon audience.
Federer was told that Del Potro, Murray’s first opponent, wants to be No 1, as if it was not everyone’s ultimate aspiration. “Well, he’s left it a bit late this year,” said Federer, who was beaten by the Argentinian in the US Open final in September, raising a quizzical eyebrow. Only Nadal can usurp the 15-times grand-slam champion, but it would require a rare confluence of results for that to happen.
Federer is clearly the favourite to win the event but, if allowed, I would wager a shilling on Davydenko, the Russian who is appearing in his fifth tour finals and who was runner-up to Djokovic last year. “Over five sets, sometimes I do not have the mental or physical strength, but I am a match for anyone in the world, I believe, over three sets,” Davydenko said.
When he arrived in London this week and presented his credentials at Customs, the officer asked what he was in Britain for. “To play tennis,” he replied.
“At what?” came the follow-up.
“At the world championships,” Davydenko replied. “He did not seem to know it was on, I thought this was supposed to be a big-time event.” He is getting a touch mischievous.
With that, he was about to rise from his chair when the table collapsed around him. Murray, on the adjacent table, could not hear the commotion because there were several bodies in between heaving forward to hear his every word. They amounted to a desire to do his best and give the British fans something to cherish. That will do.
ATP - ROGER FIGHTS BACK IN STYLE
It took Roger just under two hours on the opening night at the ATP World Tour Finals to defeat Fernando Verdasco 4-6, 7-5, 6-1.
Roger did not find his rhythm in the starting phase of the match. He opened with a double fault and did not win a single point in his opening game. He had trouble coping with Verdasco's sliced serves at first. But Roger committed a lot less unforced errors in the second set and he finally had break-points himself at the very end of the second set - which he made use of straight away. He then carried on the Federer-way: taking the next five games and finally the match in masterly style.
Roger will play his next match on Tuesday against Andy Murray who won his opening match against del Potro.
rogerfederer.com
http://www.sportowefakty.pl/tenis/2009/ … ko-ojciec/
Roger Federer: Radzę sobie jako ojciec
Szwajcar Roger Federer podczas kończącego sezon turnieju ATP World Tour Final w Londynie występuje nie tylko w roli lidera rankingu tenisistów, ale i ojca, który od kilku miesięcy łączy wyczynowy sport z nową rolą.
- Nie jest łatwo pogodzić to wszystko, ale myślę, że radzę sobie z tym całkiem dobrze. Bycie ojcem to poważne zadanie i nowy rozdział w moim życiu, ale także niesamowita radość i zabawa - powiedział Federer w Londynie.
- Trudno opisać wszystkie uczucia towarzyszące oczekiwaniu na dzieci, ich narodzinom i temu, co dzieje się później. One zmieniają wszystko i tworzą nowy porządek, któremu trzeba się podporządkować - dodał.
W lecie tenisiście z Bazylei urodziły się córki, bliźniaczki. Kilka dni po tym umieścił na swoim profilu na Facebooku zdjęcie dzieci leżących na kolanach rodziców.
- To niebywałe uczucie, kiedy trzymam je na rękach, a czas spędzony z nimi i Mirką w domu pozwala zapomnieć o wszystkich porażkach, ale i zwycięstwach. Trochę inaczej patrzę już na tenis, który mnie wciąż bawi, ale nie jest już jedyny na mojej liście priorytetów - powiedział Federer, który w marcu ożenił się z byłą tenisistką Miroslavą Vavrinec.
To osoba, która od lat mu towarzyszyła, najpierw jako menedżerka, później partnerka życiowa, a teraz żona. To ona w znacznej mierze miała wpływ na zmianę wizerunku Federera, który teraz należy do ikon sportowej mody. To ona też wymyśliła mu specjalną linię białych strojów, nawiązujących do wimbledońskiej tradycji i korzeni "białego sportu".
- Grając w Wimbledonie trudno uciec od tradycji i elegancji, która była kiedyś bardziej widoczna w tenisie. Wiele się zmieniło: stroje, technika gry, wzory zachowania na korcie. Mnie trochę brakuje tego, co było kiedyś, dlatego białym strojem na All England Club staram się nawiązać do pięknej przeszłości - powiedział Federer.
Odkąd Szwajcarowi urodziły się córki nieco rzadziej gra w turniejach ATP i można chwilami odnieść wrażenie, że jest nieco zdekoncentrowany na korcie. We wrześniu przegrał w finale US Open z Argentyńczykiem Juanem Martinem del Potro.
Po nieudanej obronie tytułu w Nowym Jorku długo odpoczywał, a w październiku poniósł nieoczekiwane porażki we wczesnych fazach turniejów w rodzinnej Bazylei i w paryskiej hali Bercy.
- Przegrywanie to część tenisa, choć jak każdy wolę zwycięstwa. Ale nie robiłbym z tego wielkiego problemu. W tym roku gram o wiele lepiej, niż w poprzednim, więc nie mogę narzekać. Wiele w moim życiu się zmieniło, a najbardziej moje spojrzenie na świat - powiedział Federer.
Ubiegły sezon był dla Szwajcara dość trudny, bowiem zaczął ponosić nieoczekiwane porażki, często z dużo niżej notowanymi rywalami i stracił po ponad czterech latach prowadzenie w rankingu ATP na rzecz Rafaela Nadala.
Na dodatek właśnie za sprawą Hiszpana przeżył największe rozgoryczenie w karierze - porażkę w finale Wimbledonu, który wygrywał w latach 2003-07. W tym sezonie ponownie triumfował na londyńskiej trawie.
- Już prawie zapomniałem o tamtym meczu, choć wtedy długo nie mogłem się po nim pozbierać. Lubię Wimbledon. To drugie wśród najważniejszych miejsc dla mnie na świecie, zaraz po moim domu. Jeszcze niedawno było odwrotnie, ale teraz to właśnie dom jest najważniejszy - powiedział Federer.
Występ w tegorocznym ATP World Tour Finals Szwajcar rozpoczął w niedzielę wieczorem, od wygranej 4:6, 7:5, 6:1 z Hiszpanem Fernando Verdasco w meczu grupy A. W Londynie Federer nie mieszka, jak wszyscy uczestnicy w hotelu usytuowanym nad Tamizą vis a vis Big Bena i gmachu parlamentu, lecz w wynajętym apartamencie.
:)
http://www.youtube.com/user/WilsonRacquet
Krótka prezentacja nowej rakiety Rogera Federera. Szwajcar będzie nią grał począwszy od sezonu 2010.
Screen z RF.com:
24.11.2009 r.
Roger odnosząc zwycięstwo nad Andy Murray'em w drugim meczu fazy grupowej turnieju ATP World Tour Finals zapewnił sobie pozycję numer 1 w światowym rankingu na koniec sezonu 2009. Szwajcarowi takiego wyczynu udało się dokonac już po raz 5 w karierze, wcześniej jako #1 kończył lata 2004-07.
Gratulacje !
GEM, SET, MECZ : Roger Federer w top-10.
24.11.2009 - Roger Federer pokonał Andy'ego Murraya w spotkaniu grupowym Turnieju Mistrzów w Londynie. Tym samym Szwajcar odniósł swoje 678 zwycięstwo w oficjalnym meczu ATP Tour i a2wansował na 10 lokatę w klasyfikacji wszech czasów. Tylko 9 graczy wygrało więcej spotkań ATP niż legendarny Szwajcar.
Najwięcej wygranych meczów ATP w historii :
1) 1241 - Jimmy Connors
2) 1071 - Ivan Lendl
3) 923 - Guillermo Vilas
4) 875 - John McEnroe
5) 870 - Andre Agassi
6) 806 - Stefan Edberg
7) 762 - Pete Sampras
8) 755 - Ilie Nastase
9) 713 - Boris Becker
10) 678 - Roger Federer
Brawo :)
Federer po raz piąty królem ATP
Roger Federer po raz piąty w karierze zakończy sezon na pierwszym miejscu w rankingu ATP. Szwajcar wyrównał tym samym wynik Jimmy'ego Connorsa, a do Pete'a Samprasa brakuje mu już tylko jednego sezonu zakończonego na szczycie. We wtorek "Król Roger" wygrał ze Szkotem Andy Murrayem 3:6, 6:3, 6:1.
- Ukończenie obecnego sezonu na szczycie rankingu bardzo dużo dla mnie znaczy - powiedział tuż po meczu z Murrayem Federer. - To był dla mnie wspaniały rok, zarówno na korcie, jak i poza nim. Wciąż nie mogę uwierzyć, że udało mi się poprawić rekord wszechczasów w wielkoszlemowych zwycięstwach - dodał.
Szwajcar jest jedynym, obok Ivana Lendla, tenisistą, któremu udało się pierwsze miejsce w rankingu ATP na zakończenie sezonu wywalczyć po wcześniejszej jego stracie. Federer kończył na szczycie sezony 2004-2007, by w 2008 roku oddać pierwszeństwo Rafaelowi Nadalowi. Teraz, po roku przerwy, "Król Roger" znów powrócił na miejsce, do obecności na którym ostatnimi laty nas przyzwyczaił.
Jak już wspomniano, Federer dołączył do Ivana Lendla, który był jedynym graczem, któremu udało się odzyskać pozycję YE#1.
Najwięcej razy Mistrzem sezonu był Sampras, aż 6-krotnie. Roger wczoraj zbliżył się do Pistol Pete'a.
ATP - ROGER TO END YEAR AS WORLD NO. 1!
It took Roger a moment to get going today, but when his engine was warm he showed a fantastic performance, defeating Andy Murray at the ATP World Tour Finals 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.
"It was a great atmosphere and I thought I played a great match," said Roger. "Andy was playing really well in that first set, I couldn't read his first serve and he made it very hard. When you are behind against the top players it's very difficult and I was a bit worried because I've lost so many three setters against him. But I picked up my game and when he dropped a bit, I took advantage. It's given me real confidence for my next match."
Murray's weapon in the first set was clearly his serve, which proved just a bit too strong for Roger. But our champ kept his cool, waiting for his chance and then peaked when it mattered, winning the last six games in series!
Roger has not booked his semi-final spot quite yet, but is of course very close to doing so. But what is certain is that Roger will once again end the year as the world's number one player! His victory today earned him enough points to keep Nadal at a distance. Roger is only the third player in history - after Jimmy Connors and Pete Sampras - to begin the new season at the top of the ranking for a fifth time (Sampras' record stands at six!).
http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis … mpion.aspx
FEDERER CROWNED 2009 ATP WORLD TOUR CHAMPION
Roger Federer has ranked No. 1 for 258 total weeks.
London, United Kingdom – Swiss superstar Roger Federer has been crowned ATP World Tour Champion for the fifth time, after becoming just the second player in the history of the South African Airways ATP Rankings to regain the year-end No. 1 ranking.
With five year-end No. 1 finishes, Federer ties Jimmy Connors’ mark and now stands just one back of Pete Sampras on the list of all-time ATP World Tour Champions. Sampras finished as the No. 1 player six straight years, from 1993-98.
Federer clinched the 2009 ATP World Tour Champion title by beating Andy Murray at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals tonight. Federer and rival Rafael Nadal, the 2008 ATP World Tour Champion, had entered the prestigious circuit finale at The O2 in London locked in a two-man battle to conclude the season atop the South African Airways 2009 ATP Rankings.
“It means a lot to have returned to No. 1 and to finish the year again at No. 1,” said Federer. “It was an incredible year for me both on the court and off the court and to be able to break the all-time Grand Slam record and finish the year on top is amazing.”
The 28-year-old Swiss held the World No. 1 ranking for a record 237 straight weeks from 2 February, 2004, to 17 August, 2008, before Nadal ended his streak. Federer reclaimed the top rankings spot on 6 July, 2009, after winning a record-breaking 15th Grand Slam title at Wimbledon.
Federer now joins Ivan Lendl as the only players to have held, lost and regained the ATP World Tour Champion title in the history of the South African Airways ATP Rankings (since 1973). Lendl held the year-end No. 1 South African Airways ATP Ranking from 1985-87 and finished second behind Mats Wilander in 1988 before reclaiming the top spot at the end of 1989.
Federer began his return to the top in mid-May at the Mutua Madrileña Madrid Open, where he snapped a seven-month title drought by avenging his Australian Open defeat against Nadal. He followed with history-making performances in his next two tournaments. He became the sixth man to achieve a career Grand Slam with victory over Robin Soderling in the Roland Garros final, and then prevailed against Andy Roddick at Wimbledon to eclipse Pete Sampras’ record of 14 majors won.
After celebrating the birth of twin daughters with wife Mirka in July, he returned to the courts the following month to win his fourth title of the season at the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters in Cincinnati. He then became the first player in history to reach the finals at all four Grand Slams in the same year on three occasions, completing his 2009 campaign at the majors with a runner-up finish to Juan Martin del Potro at the US Open.
Federer is pursuing his fifth circuit finale title this week at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. He won successive titles in 2003-04 when the tournament was held in Houston and reclaimed the title in 2006-07 in Shanghai.
Konferencja prasowa Rogera po zwycięstwie nad Murray'em:
Roger Federer presser Nov. 24, 2009
Read Roger Federer's press conference after his round robin victory over Andy Murray.
Q. How much does finishing No. 1 mean to you, considering you weren't No. 1 at the end of last year?
ROGER Federer: Obviously, that was one of my big goals for this season. And it's one of the greatest performances I think I've achieved, you know. Seeing also what happened, you know, off the court: getting married, having twin girls, reaching all four major finals, you know. Playing so well at the most important moments, it's been the key this year, and staying healthy.
Especially after having a rough 2008, coming back this year and being able to dominate and play at the top when the depth in tennis is so, so great at the moment. I think it's a wonderful achievement. Of course, it's official. It's a wonderful feeling.
Q. Today Andy didn't feel that he played well. What did you think of the quality of the match today?
ROGER Federer: Well, I think we've always had up‑and‑down matches. So I think we both always come out thinking, Hmm, I could have done better. I just think it's our styles of play, that when they collide, you always feel like you can play better.
Maybe we have a playing style that makes the other player not play, you know, the best tennis. When we collide, that's sometimes kind of the feeling you get walking away. I've walked away many times feeling like I could have done so much better. Today it's his turn. So it's unfortunate for him.
Q. Do you think Del Potro can jeopardize your qualification like he did in the US Open final?
ROGER Federer: I don't know how much he has to say really because I think the other guys are playing ahead of me on Thursday, so maybe that will already be decided. But he's definitely in for a shot maybe. I don't know. It could be a make‑or‑break match for us to get through. If that's the case, I'll give it all I have and try to beat him this time.
Last time we played, it was a fantastic match in New York. And it seems like he's playing well, whereas in the beginning I thought he might have some issues maybe with his wrist or with his abdominal strain. But he seems fine now. So he looks like he's getting better as the tournament goes on.
Q. You've been nominated for an Athlete of the Decade award along with Lance Armstrong and Tiger Woods. Who do you consider to be the greatest athlete of the last decade in any sport? How would you make a case for yourself to win the award?
ROGER Federer: Oh, it's hard to talk about myself. I mean, of course I follow a lot of sports. There's been many great athletes, you know, through the last 10 years. I think obviously the ones who have been at the top for the longest, like Valentino Rossi or Tiger or myself, who have done amazing things at the highest of levels, you know.
I think our, how do you say, sport is tough. We play all year long, from January to November. We travel around the world. Yeah, I mean, it's very physical, too, very taxing. And I think with the knock‑out system we have in tennis, you know, it's very hard to always keep on winning, because on a bad day, you're out of the tournament. It's just not an easy thing to do.
But then again, so many other athletes did great things. So it's just nice, you know, being part of the greatest athletes of the this decade. We'll see if I win. It would be nice anyway.
Q. The fact you won this match, having lost the first set against Murray, is that a particularly encouraging aspect for you or don't you think it matters that much?
ROGER Federer: I don't think it matters that much. I was always surprised how sort of the wheels came out a few times I played him in the third set. He just said the same thing, you know, like the wheels came off for Andy today. It just happens sometimes. These best‑of‑three set matches are tough, especially when the best players play each other.
Whoever has the momentum, he can swing freely. The other guy has to be careful. That's why the beginning of sets are crucial.
Of course, I had my doubts I was going to come through after having lost so many times in three sets against him. It feels good, but more than that, I think this is more the night to celebrate No. 1 than celebrate the victory over Andy really.
Q. At what time do you like to play your next match, in the evening or in the beginning of the day?
ROGER Federer: I heard I'm playing night. I'm not sure about that.
Q. What do you prefer to play?
ROGER Federer: As long as I'm still playing...
Q. You play at night.
ROGER Federer: I have no choice. I play at night.
I have no preference really. It doesn't matter to me. It's already decided.
Q. Were you at all surprised how even‑handed the crowd were in their support for both players tonight? It didn't sound like a particularly partisan crowd in Murray's favor.
ROGER Federer: Uhm, yeah, what did I expect? I don't know. I guess I think I was more focused on how Andy would play than how the crowd would react. I figured like it was always going to be a fair crowd, you know, because they respect all the achievements I've had here in this country. I've always been very respectful and very, you know, fair with them as well, I think. As good as I could anyway.
Today was obviously a special night for tennis, you know, in this country, I think playing Andy for the first time here. He's a great champion. I knew he was also going to play very fair and straight. That's the way it was played.
I think the crowd followed that. They enjoyed it. At the end obviously it was nice looking back that when I came into the stadium, sort of the ovation I got. When I left the court, I was quite surprised to hear how happy they were that I won or that I was here and playing so well. It's nice to see and nice to hear, because I play around the world and I don't get many chances to play back in Switzerland.
So for him, this is obviously massive. He's got a few big tournaments here in this country. I wish we had more, too, in Switzerland. But we're just a bit smaller than you guys. So it's nice to get support away from home.
Q. Do you think in any way the round robin system gives you an unfair advantage on Thursday in that you and Juan Martin playing second would know exactly what you need to do to get through?
ROGER Federer: Yeah, look, I don't think the players think too much, Are we through or not. So many times we have had the situation that the player needed something and the other thing happened. Matches are always played full on. I remember matches like, was it Costa against Moya in Shanghai 2002, they could have knocked out Hewitt if Costa would have won. Moya ended up winning in three. Hewitt came through, ended up winning the tournament. This stuff just doesn't happen.
That's why, no matter if you play first or second, you play as good as you can, and then you see if you're through or not. The only advantage or disadvantage is now I guess I'll know if I'm through or not before my match.
I've had to deal with it where five minutes before my match I wasn't sure if I was going to be through in Shanghai, I think, two years ago when I had to play Roddick. It depended on the outcome of the Nalbandian‑Davydenko match. That was uncomfortable to be in.
But this time around I'll probably have enough time to get ready and mentally prepare for the tough match with Del Potro. That's going to be my focus.
Q. Could you explain your strategy to choose to receive serve to start the match.
ROGER Federer: Well, pretty simple: remember what happened against Verdasco? Didn't win a point. So I just felt maybe I win one, maybe by luck. Today, I just figured I do it differently. Against top guys, sometimes you have to surprise them. I guess he likes to also sometimes choose return. So I just figured it's the feeling of the day. It was not the wrong thing, even though I lost the first set in the end.
Q. Since you almost qualified for the semifinals, what do you think in Group B, who is playing his best tennis right now, and who would pose the greatest threat to you?
ROGER Federer: Of the Nadal group?
Q. Yes.
ROGER Federer: Very even. I mean, all groups are very even. Look, I think we've only had one straight‑set match so far, I think the Soderling‑Nadal match. Other than that, it's always gone three sets and been very hard‑fought.
I think this was also the prospect we all envisioned I think. Groups are very even. At the moment at the top we know it's not easy to dominate. That's why, yeah, I think I wouldn't know who to favor at this stage. I'll know much more tomorrow. It's obvious.
But I'll follow it, you know, very closely because I think it's a very exciting World Tour Finals this year.
ROGER FEDERER NUMEREM 1 SEZONU 2009!
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ATP - ROGER JUST MAKES IT THROUGH!
Roger had to face a second consecutive defeat by Juan Martin Del Potro today, but has nevertheless qualified for the semi-finals at the World Tour Finals in London! Our champ lost 2-6, 7-6(5) and 3-6.
There was quite some confusion regarding the tournament regulations today, but it was eventually clear that Roger needed to win just one set in order to book a spot in the semis. Del Potro served excellently and also showed a strong display, especially in the starting phase. Roger battled to stay in the match and waited until the very last moment to make it to the next round as he fought back from a mini-break back in the tie-break to eventually convert the first set-point he had.
In the end, all came down to one game, with Roger winning the group and Del Potro pipping Andy Murray courtesy of his 45 games won to 43 lost, while the Scot's record read 44-43!
Roger Federer presser Nov. 26, 2009 Read Roger Federer's presser after he lost in 3 sets to Juan Martin Del Potro at the World Tour Finals.
Q. You've experienced many strange things in your varied career, but being two points from going out and a round robin qualification decided by one game, how curious is that in terms of curiosity?
ROGER Federer: Well, obviously the focus is completely on my own qualification. I knew I wasn't looking very good at whatever, 6-2, 4-All, let's say. Still trying to find my game and everything. It reminded me a lot like the first couple matches I played in the round robin. I just started slow. Never really found my game.
Also had a tough start to the breaker. Just tried to hang in there. I mean, he served a great serve at 5-4, then missed that forehand. I knew I couldn't lose in two sets because I knew that was going to knock me out. That's why I was very excited having won the second set.
It was disappointing to lose at the end, you know, against Juan Martin, who I already lost against at the US Open. Had chances, you know, at 3-All. Had a couple of break points. Had him on the down the line backhand and stuff, so it was unfortunate.
I thought he played a really good match. I thought he was able to lift his game after the first two matches where I just thought he looked a bit weary.
So for me it's a tough loss. But, sure, I'm happy I'm through. That he got so close with the other two guys, it's quite incredible. I am - how do you say - in a way surprised myself it came down to a couple games.
Q. Are you aware during a match like that of all the mathematical probabilities and possibilities that are going on or do you just play the match without knowing or taking that onboard at all?
ROGER Federer: The only thing that was important to me was the set I needed to win, trying to win the match. The rest you block out and you concentrate on the match because I don't want to lose against fellow rivals. It's not something I enjoy doing, to be quite honest. A lot of money, a lot of points on the line. So it would have been nice to go through. It was a clean sheet to the semis. I missed that. But it was against a good player today.
Q. I'd like to know, after winning the second set, you had the knowledge that by winning one game in the third you were qualified for the semifinal?
ROGER Federer: Yeah, I didn't know that.
Q. You didn't?
ROGER Federer: No. Otherwise I would have been gone on the ground and celebrated it, right (smiling)? I didn't do that.
Q. The end of the match was quite confusing. Juan Martin was left on the court for some time.
ROGER Federer: I didn't see that.
Q. Waiting to find out who he'd qualified.
ROGER Federer: Okay.
Q. Obviously you didn't know about that.
ROGER Federer: I didn't see that, no. I was doing something else.
Q. What do you think about the qualification system in general? It's obviously been very confusing tonight for at least one of the players. Andy Murray also tweeted that he was confused waiting for the result to come through.
ROGER Federer: I think I answered the question before. I mean, it's - how do you say - there are certain rules and these are the rules. Sometimes unfortunate, sometimes fortunate, you know. These times are very hard for Murray, who didn't get through. But he got so close.
How can we imagine that we all play three sets and it comes down to a couple of games. He had it maybe on his racquet when he served against him at 5-1 down in the third. You have to go back there, that maybe if he held that game, all of a sudden he gets through. That's not the way you can think.
I definitely tried to push myself to close out matches as quickly as I can against fellow rivals because you never know when you might need those games. They might come back in the match and turn the match around completely. It happened to me once this year against Tsonga. I was up 5-1 in the third and I ended up losing. You always have to push yourself. The system is the way it is.
Q. Through to the semis, do you prefer one of the three guys that you can face?
ROGER Federer: I don't know, again, the scenarios on the other side. I think there, it's a bit more straightforward. I hope anyway (laughter). No, I mean, preference? Not really. I think whoever I play probably is in good shape, you know. The guy who I play also has probably won two matches, I'm sure, so he's on a roll, as well, same as Del Potro and myself.
Yeah, I'm excited to be through. But I wished I could have won today. That would have given me extra confidence. Now it's the way it is. But I got a day to rest, which is probably a little advantage.
Q. You said you know Del Potro could raise his game. To which level? Are you surprised how good he could play? Do you think he could be better, something more?
ROGER Federer: Well, I mean, time will tell. It's not disrespectful at all, but I think he's done incredibly well the last six months, let's say 18 months. I think he's really, really improved a lot. I didn't think he was going to become that good, to be quite honest. I played him a few times before, that's why I have a very good record against him still, because back then, he was playing very strangely, I thought. With his size, he was playing more like a guy who is like a little guy. Today he's finally using his size to his advantage.
It's going to be interesting to see how he progressing. I was already wrong once. So I don't know where it's going to take him. Seems like the sky's the limit for him at the moment. He seems very consistent, very tough mentally, too. Those are definitely good attributes to have for the future.
Q. You had those three break points at 3-All. At the start of the following game, he had the lucky net cord that put you down Love-15. Did you have a bit of a mental letdown after having missed those three break points and then the net cord?
ROGER Federer: No, not really. I mean, I thought I actually played -- I remember especially one breakpoint - I remember both actually. I thought I was unlucky on the first one, too, hit the net, gave him the advantage in the rally. The second breakpoint, I thought I played it very well. I had a down-the-line. Hit the net there, didn't go over.
Sure, it was unlucky. But sometimes, you know, games go very quickly. You seem unbreakable for a long time, and then you just need, you know, one sort of unlucky spell or one bad couple of serves in the first two points and then you're down Love-30. That's what happened to me. I don't think I should have missed the overhead either. I underestimated that it was going to go longer than I thought it was. That would have been a 15-All game then instead of being a Love-30 game. Then I needed to push it and force the issue. I couldn't do it.
It was a bit of a pity because I thought I was starting to figure him out actually. So, yeah, he caught me on the finish line, I thought.
Q. Do you feel sorry for the spectators who didn't know at the end of the game who had qualified? There must have been thousands of people who didn't know Murray was out, that Del Potro was through? Maybe some of them didn't know you were through. Do you feel sorry for the spectators who paid money to watch you tonight?
ROGER Federer: Well, I didn't see what happened after the match. Like I said, I had other things to do, like a doping test and showering, stretching and stuff, getting ready for Saturday, when I heard I was through.
Sure it's confusing. It's hard for Murray. Yeah, I mean, I asked Juan Martin myself at the net, Did you make it or not? He said, I don't think so. So that's the story I got. Of course, you got to feel sorry for the guy who didn't make it, you know.
At the same time, Del Potro beat the No. 1 player in the world, in the group, and I guess also deserves to go through. There's only two places, and that's the way it is. It happens very, very rarely. But I still think there were a lot of Federer fans there, a lot of Del Potro fans there, who were there just to enjoy a match and didn't really care who is going to make the semis. Then, of course, the ones who also really care about who is going to make it there. For those, it definitely was quite a rollercoaster match then, too, the ones who were there with the calculators. I wasn't one of them (smiling).
ATP - ROGER STUNNED BY DAVYDENKO
Roger suffered a 2-6, 6-4, 5-7 defeat to Nikolay Davydenko in today's semi-final at the ATP World Tour Finals.
Roger had never lost against the Russian in their 12 previous matches. But number 13 proved unlucky for our champ today. After having won the title at the Finals four times in five attempts between 2003 and 2007, his quest was stopped in the semi-final this year.
Davydenko produced a strong performance, taking a fast lead in the first set, breaking Roger's serve twice in the first five games, as Roger struggled to find his best form. But our number one recovered in the second set to level the match and take it into a decider. Tied at 5-5 in the final set, the Russian managed to hold Roger's high level and scored a break in the very last moment. Roger came close in the last game when he fought back to 30:30 from 0:30, but Davydenko eventually battled through his final service game to win the match.
from New York Times:
By Christopher Clarey - Whether he wins or loses in London next week, this will still be Roger Federer’s tennis year.
No matter how big the buzz at the tour championships that start Sunday in their new, trendy digs by the River Thames, the truth is that the most significant trophies have been handed over. By reaching the finals of all four Grand Slam tournaments and by winning his first French Open and securing his record 15th major singles title, at Wimbledon, Federer has already become the indispensable man of 2009.
“Maybe it’s even Roger’s finest year when you think about it,” said Novak Djokovic, who has been playing finer than anyone for the past month.
But the surprise for those who have not kept crunching the numbers and the ranking points is that Federer may still not finish the year — his year — at No. 1. Rafael Nadal is still within striking range as the world’s top eight healthy players prepare to exchange blows for the first time in the O2 Arena.
Federer, with his 945-point lead in the rankings, has much more margin for error in the sprint for No. 1. There are 1,500 points available to a champion who goes undefeated throughout the week in London, positioning the event behind only the Grand Slams, with their 2,000-point rewards to their champions. Depending on how Nadal fares, Federer could lose once, twice, even three times in London and still hang on to the top spot. The Spaniard, meanwhile, must at least reach the final to have a chance at No. 1 and could actually go undefeated and still finish second in the rankings if Federer sweeps his round-robin matches or manages to reach the final.
Federer now has a chance to become the only man other than Ivan Lendl to finish the year at No. 1 after having let the ranking slip away.
“It means a lot to him,” said Federer’s agent, Tony Godsick. “Not enough for him to go chase the points in Asia when he was hurt and risk further injury. Guys don’t seem to take a lesson from Roger in terms of giving their body a break. But Roger wants this. There’s an all-time record out there for weeks at No. 1, and I know he’d love to have it.”
That record — 286 weeks — belongs to Pete Sampras. Federer will be at 258 weeks come Monday. Finish at No. 1 this year, and Federer’s chances of breaking Sampras’s record next year are excellent, considering that he won’t have a critical mass of points to defend until next June.
“I think it’s going to be a great finish to a really fascinating year of men’s tennis, one of the best we’ve ever had, with Roger completing the career Grand Slam and Rafa’s incredible start to the year at the Australian Open,” said the coach and commentator Darren Cahill. “There have been so many story lines.”
Read Roger Federer's press conference after losing to Nikolay Davydenko for the first time ever.
Q. Last year in Shanghai you couldn't get to the semis. In any case, the match was played so quickly, can you explain what happened there? You usually never lose with Nikolay.
ROGER Federer: Yeah, not so far. So, sure, it's disappointing. But not to lose against him; just to lose the semis. Coming so far in a tough group, in a tough tournament, I had hopes to get through to the final and maybe win again.
But I missed the start again, and I guess that's what cost me the match at the end.
Q. You started very fast. I think you won the first seven points. What happened then? Was it concentration?
ROGER Federer: No, I think I picked sometimes wrong choice of shots, you know, right from the start, that let him sort of recover, not be a break down.
After that, I didn't serve very well in the first set at all. So that gave him obviously opportunities to start to find his range from the baseline. So that was pretty much the story in the first set.
Second set, it was more a story of just trying to hang on, you know, get through to the third. As the match wore on, I actually started to feel better and better. I was starting to feel better, which made my life easier throughout the match. In the end, you know, indoors, you never know what can happen. It could swing either way. I was a couple of points away, but just couldn't get it done.
He did well. I thought he played strong throughout, even though I don't think it was our best match we ever played against each other. That wasn't the greatest for quite some time.
Q. Everybody expected Davydenko would be tired after yesterday's match. How would you estimate his game today? Was it just luck for him? He managed to beat you for the first time in his career.
ROGER Federer: Well, I didn't think it was a particularly physical match. So that's why I don't think it had anything to do with fitness. We're professional tennis players. We're used to playing many matches in the same week. These are not best-of-five-set matches. Doesn't usually come down to a lot of fitness. It's just a long season. That means that you're more maybe mentally fatigued for some.
But he missed quite a few months of the season early on, before. Really the season was sort of already into Miami and stuff before he started really playing. So I think he also has got some reserves left.
I had the same left, although I had also tough matches in my group. So for this reason I don't think it was played on fitness, you know. I think we were both fresh. Niggling injuries we all have when we're playing. It's just how you handle them. I thought today he handled them well.
At times he did look a little bit sort of wrong-footed. Maybe he had some issues, but he's definitely not going to tell them to you before the final, so don't even bother asking him (smiling).
Q. Nikolay has finished top five in the world for the past four years. Do you think he gets the respect he deserves?
ROGER Federer: Well, I don't know if you guys have. I have. I think it's most important that he has respect from his fellow players. I think he didn't have the easiest of last few years, you know, where people suspected him of doing bad things in the sport, you know. He had a cloud over his name for quite some time, which was not very fair at the end now. I think he handled it very well towards the end.
To be able to continue playing this well by being asked always the same stupid questions must not have been very easy for him. So I respect him not only for that, but obviously for the player he is. Proved it was worth hanging in there. He finally beat me today. I wish him all the best for the final.
Q. You talked about fatigue. Could it have been the other way: you haven't played a whole heap of tennis since the US Open? Could that have been a factor today?
ROGER Federer: How do you mean? How should I be tired?
Q. I don't mean tired.
ROGER Federer: You said 'fatigued.'
Q. Not fatigued, going the other way.
ROGER Federer: Not enough matches?
Q. Exactly.
ROGER Federer: I had three here before. Three three-setters. No. I don't know how to answer it. It's just the wrong question. Sorry.
Q. The Davis Cup final? Do you think the Czech Republic has a better chance after Rafael Nadal and Verdasco looks like they're out of form?
ROGER Federer: Out of form? Hmm. We'll see in a couple of weeks, huh? For some reason, I just still favor the Spaniards, even if they don't have Verdasco and Nadal, because they've got quite a few players out there in their arsenal.
Good luck anyway.
Q. We spoke yesterday already about your first sets here that were difficult. Another one today. Does it worry you at all or...
ROGER Federer: I tried everything to have a good start. I wasn't able to do it again, so, sure, it's disappointing. I guess the important thing is your serve works, you know. Maybe I just couldn't get my serve working, you know, in the first set this week. On top of that, you know, played top guys. It's just not easy.
But I think that definitely cost me maybe two out of the four matches, you know. You can't turn around every single match against top guys because then you don't have enough cushion anymore at the end. It's a game of luck at the end. Not that this one was one. But things swing so quickly, you know, at this pace we play at. That's why I think this is where I made my mistakes, just to hand him over the first set. It was a pity.
But looking at the bright side, I still had a great season. Looking how deep the game is right now. To finish on top for me is phenomenal. I don't know, I try not to look at too much what I did wrong this week or what I did wrong today. This is my last press conference of the year, so I'm happy (smiling).
I had a good season, and I don't have to answer any questions anymore.
Q. Have you spoken to Tiger Woods since his accident? How worried were you when you heard the news?
ROGER Federer: I haven't spoken to him. And I heard it's not too serious, which is a good thing.
Q. What do you say about Robin's performance here, his progress during the last six months?
ROGER Federer: Well, he's been very good, you know. I thought he played a great round robin. He's still in the tournament. He's got everything to play for. Sure, there's no easy matches now in the semis. Against Del Potro, I thought he was playing really well. But still I give him an outside chance. You never know.
He's definitely made his move now. I think next year is his year where he needs to prove himself even more, again and again. That's how tennis works. I think he's done exceptionally well. I think he can be proud of himself.
Q. Since it's the last press conference the year...
ROGER Federer: And the last question, so this better be good (smiling).
Q. I'll try my best.
ROGER Federer: You're known for good questions, so I'm really excited (smiling).
Q. So what is the best moment of the year? Roland Garros? Was it the memory you will always remember of this year, 2009? What is the worst memory of the year, if there is any?
ROGER Federer: Well, the best one from a tennis standpoint was definitely, you know, winning I think sort of that combination of Paris and Wimbledon back to back, coming from so far back in so many matches in Paris. I think those are incredible moments in my career.
Worst moment, I don't know. I mean, didn't really have many. I always play at a very high level usually at the end of tournaments. When you go out, if it's five sets or three sets or straight sets, I know I put in the best effort I could. And then you don't walk away too disappointed.
I finished No. 1 in the world. So I don't have many regrets.
THE MODERATOR: Thank you.
ROGER Federer: Pleasure. Anytime. Find me somewhere.
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Co On bierze? :D
jaccol55 napisał:
Co On bierze? :D
Nic :P Niekontrolowany napad śmiechu. Czasami mam podobnie i muszę przyznać, że jest to wspaniałe uczucie. Jest później co wspominać :D
Słynny tenisista nie wytrzymał
Udzielał wywiadu. Popłakał się ze śmiechu!
To miał być poważny wywiad dla poważnej telewizji. Z Rogerem Federerem - jednym z najlepszych tenisistów świata - miał rozmawiać dziennikarz CNN. Ale poważnie było tylko na początku. Gdy Federer usłyszał, jak dziennikarz zaczyna mówić po hiszpańsku, sytuacja... wymknęła się spod kontroli.
Dziennikarz CNN Pedro Pinto przyleciał na wywiad z Federerem do Zurychu. Okazją do rozmowy
było podpisanie przez tenisistę umowy
z nowym sponsorem. Wszystko było już przygotowane, kamera i światła włączone, tenisista uśmiechnięty i zrelaksowany. Pierwsze pytania po angielsku i wywiad szedł idealnie. Potem jednak zaczęły się schody.
Pinto miał odczytać z kartki kilka pytań po hiszpańsku. Wywiad nie był bowiem na żywo - druga jego wersja miała
zostać zmontowana dla hiszpańskiej wersji programu
. Gdy tylko dziennikarz zaczął czytać, Federer dostał ataku śmiechu, a w jego oczach pojawiły się łzy. I tak było kilka razy - ilekroć Pinto próbował zadać pytanie, tenisista wybuchał histerycznym śmiechem.
Na nic zdały się próby odwrócenia jego uwagi. "Nie musisz patrzeć na mnie, patrz na ścianę" - radził Pinto, który jednak sam zaraził się "głupawką" Federera. Tenisista w końcu nie wytrzymał - musiał wstać i napić się wody
, ale nawet z kieliszkiem w ręku nie przestawał się śmiać.
Jade po trawe do Szwajcarii nie ma bata.
OFF COURT - USSA ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
It is that time again – the United States Sports Academy is looking for the Athlete of the Year 2009. They honour the accomplishments of men and women in sports around the world. The election runs from now until Christmas Eve (December 24).
But of course, Roger once again faces strong competition:
Craig Alexander (triathlon); Usain Bolt (running); Drew Brees (football); Kobe Bryant, (basketball); Angel Cabrera (golf); Santonio Holmes (football); LeBron James (basketball); Jimmie Johnson (auto racing); Manny Pacquiao (boxing); Albert Pujols, (baseball) and Tiger Woods (golf).
Sezon 2009 w liczbach
Ranking: 1
Tytuły: 4 (Madryt, RG, Wimbledon, Cincy)
Finały: 3 (AO,USO,Basel)
Bilans spotkań: 61-12
Zarobki: $6,768,110
AO - Finał
RG - Triumf
WM - Triumf
US - Finał
OFF COURT - BIRTHDAY BOOKS 2009
Roger just received his birthday book for 2009 - for his 28th birthday. It is actually a series of four books with 200 pages each, covering all sorts of aspects of Roger's life over the past 12 months.
The birthday book is an initiative by Silvy from Argentina. She coordinates the collection of content and designs the books which are then printed here in Switzerland. An entire group of fans contributed to the project with texts and images, putting together a broad collection of photos, art, media clippings, fan-reports and texts that cover an incredibly vast variety of topics from all over the world.
Roger received the books straight from the printers last week: "This is a very special present. The collection is a precious album as it contains a whole series of articles, images and creative content that I have never seen before. Such a lot of people from so many countries have worked on this project - thank you very much to Silvy and all of you! It is great fun to see my life from so many different angles; it will be an amazing book to be looking back at one day."
Please note that these books are a personal present for Roger and are not for sale or available in any other way.
http://www.rogerfederer.com/en/rogers/n … NewsID=997
http://www.rogerfederer.com/en/fanzone/ … leryID=127
7.12.2009 - "pękło" 260 tygodni.
Ilość tygodni na szczycie rankingu ENTRY (top-5)
Stan na dzień 7.12.2009
1. Pete Sampras - 286 tygodni
2. Ivan Lendl - 270
3. Jimmy Connors - 268
4. Roger Federer - 260
5. John McEnroe - 170
Roger Federer, his sandcastles in Dubai
Roger Federer flew to Dubai, his principal residence, where he spent two months a year. In a few days he will be joined by his fitness trainer Pierre Paganini, and resume work. Weight training, running, aerobic tests. Another harsh winter under the dodger.
When the elite tennis migrate to the palms of Florida or the plane to Geneva, Roger Federer, pioneering spirit, was established in Dubai in the premise of luxury bling-bling (the eternal history of stuttering) and double-digit growth. The city identifies 1.4 million expatriates, representing 80% of its population and the largest concentration of cranes in the world. For a week, the Dubai World conglomerate, unbridled fantasy of Sheik Mohammed, is in serious debt.
Crisis heralds a new crossing of the desert, but it will be a mirage in the life of Roger Federer. For three years, the Basel lives in a loft of 600 m2, overlooking the marina, the thirteenth floor of a skyscraper Pharaohs. Inner beauty is the work of designer Khwan, unfortunately named Woo Mi Each room is equipped with an en suite bathroom where, among other facilities, a plasma screen is embedded in the mirror. Air conditioning is controlled remotely by phone or Internet.
This house would cost $ 1.7 million, included services - chauffeur, concierge, gourmet restaurants at all hours. Its market value has doubled quickly, before the explosion of the housing bubble does not bring the price "at some one million francs, assesses a Swiss banker employed in Dubai.
Scenery of Venice East
Roger Federer did not take umbrage in 2010, advertising revenues will reach 50 million francs, excluding gains. When the Basel declaims his preference for Dubai, he talks like a tourist brochure: "The beach is located nearby. I can walk alone without being bothered. Dubai concentrates all the advantages of a big city. "
Fondue lacks. "But in Switzerland, the climate is too volatile to plan long-term internships. I will return to live there after my career. "In winter, the training sessions last up to six hours per day, an average temperature of 40 degrees. "When I played in Australia or New York, I'm not afraid of the heat ..."
The skills are tested privately in a quiet throughout Switzerland, on the courts of the Al Qasr Hotel, "a palace smells of incense, protected from view by a lush palm grove. The flow through the channels at will, while boats glide like a scene from Venice East, "tells a story of The Illustrated.
Each year, Yves Allegro and Marco Chiudinelli act as sparring partner. The juniors are also shipped from France and the United States. For accommodation, Roger Federer takes care of everything: it has a free suite at the Burj Al Arab, the only seven stars of the planet where night culminates at 6000 dollars.
Mirka Federer, too, knows the area well: it was a finger to marry a member of the ruling family, before the presumptuous not asked to leave tennis. She was 21, he took her to drive a red Ferrari, then accompany him on the Bahnhofstrasse. Today, "and Mirka Rodgeur" make bling-bling shopping malls in Dubai, where they do not tell her nights.
OFF COURT - CREDIT SUISSE SPORTS AWARDS
As 2009 is steadily coming to an end, it is time for the most important election in sports in Switzerland: the Credit Suisse Sports Awards ceremony will take place in Basel on the evening of December 12th.
Once again, Roger is among the nominees, facing competition by nine other athletes with a successful year behind them: Diego Benaglio (soccer), Fabian Cancellara (cycling, road), Dario Cologna (Nordic skiing, cross-country), Didier Cuche (Alpine skiing), Didier Défago (Alpine skiing), Daniel Hubmann (orienteering), Carlo Janka (Alpine skiing), Nino Schurter (cycling, mountainbike), Mark Streit (ice hockey).
"I am happy to have been nominated for the Credit Suisse Sports Awards again. I appreciate all the support and I would like to thank all fans for voting for me on Saturday evening", Roger said.
Eventually it is up to the Swiss TV audience to decide which athlete will take home the title (voting is only possible within Switzerland). Roger won the award 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007 as an individual athlete as well as last year in the team-category together with Stanislas Wawrinka –after their victory at the Olympic Games in Beijing.
Federer's 15-Slam decade was Grand as could be
Set aside, for the moment, Roger Federer's athleticism and artistry, his sturdiness and strokes. Start instead with the pure numbers, simply because they serve as an objective — and overwhelming — measure of his supremacy on a tennis court:
_15 Grand Slam singles titles;
_21 Grand Slam finals overall, and 17 of the last 18;
_22 consecutive Grand Slam semifinal appearances;
_237 consecutive weeks (about 4 1/2 years) ranked No. 1;
_24 consecutive victories in tournament finals;
_65 consecutive victories on grass courts;
_56 consecutive victories on hard courts.
Go ahead, scan that list again.
All are records, some by large margins, surpassing the achievements of such greats of the game as Pete Sampras, Bjorn Borg, Rod Laver, John McEnroe. All were achieved during a remarkable run of dominance that began in 2003, building a case for Switzerland's Federer to be selected as The Associated Press' Athlete of the Decade.
"What he's done over the past five years has never, ever been done," Sampras said the day Federer won the 2009 French Open, "and probably will never, ever happen again."
That title in Paris this June was significant: Federer tied Sampras' career record of 14 major championships, a mark he would go on to eclipse a month later at Wimbledon; he finally ended his seemingly quixotic quest for a first French Open trophy; he became the sixth man in tennis history with a career Grand Slam.
And to think: On May 26, 2003, a 21-year-old Federer lost at the French Open to Peru's Luis Horna (it's OK to ask "Who?"), his sixth first-round exit in 16 career Grand Slam tournaments to date. That made Federer a combined 29-16 — a .644 winning percentage — at his sport's four most important sites, with zero semifinals in that span.
"I was so weak mentally," Federer once said, recalling that setback-cum-turning-point against Horna. "I had to toughen up a bit, you know? It was just one of those moments when I finally realized I have to still change a few things. Because I thought I had everything figured out by then. But I didn't."
He soon would. The very next major tournament, Wimbledon in 2003, represented the breakthrough. Starting with that fortnight, which culminated with Federer in tears on Centre Court after winning his first major title, his record at the past 26 Grand Slam events is 159-11, a .935 winning percentage.
Federer owns six championships from Wimbledon, five from the U.S. Open, three from the Australian Open, and that precious one from the French Open, part of his tour-leading haul of 61 titles this decade.
But enough with the numbers for now, because as informative as statistics may be, they hardly tell the full tale. Federer must be seen with racket in hand to truly appreciate the way he reshaped the geometry of tennis with an all-surface, all-around game full of verve and versatility.
Dec 7, 2009 from AFP
LONDON - Swiss tennis star Roger Federer, Hollywood actor Brad Pitt and Brazilian author Paulo Coelho are among new entries in "Who's Who", the guide to society's most influential people published on Monday.
World number one Federer, 28, is among the youngest new entrants to the 162nd annual edition of the book, which also lists Blackburn Rovers manager Sam Allardyce and Everton manager David Moyes.
Another new sports entry is Claire Taylor, the cricketer named player of the World Cup after England's victorious campaign in Australia in March and the first woman to be named one of the Wisden annual's Five Cricketers of the Year.
In the world of entertainment, Pitt and fellow US actor Morgan Freeman made their debut alongside British actress Anna Friel and Coelho, whose 1987 novel "The Alchemist" became a bestseller in 74 countries.
British comedians Ricky Gervais, responsible for hit sitcom "The Office", and Matt Lucas and David Walliams, the duo behind the "Little Britain" series, are among the 1,000 new entries this year.
Fashion designer Christopher Bailey, the creative director of Burberry, and Tim Hincks, the chief executive of Endemol UK, the production company that makes "Big Brother", also feature.
First published in 1849, "Who's Who" "celebrates the diversity of human achievement, recognising the people who have reached the pinnacle of excellence in their field", according to a spokesman.
The 2010 edition contains more than 33,000 entries, compiled from questionnaires submitted by the individuals concerned. They remain listed until they die, when they are transferred to "Who Was Who".
While most of those included are British, international figures are included due to their presence and importance in British life. Britons with hereditary titles are automatically included, and make up 10 percent of the listings.
goroger.net
OFF COURT - WHO'S WHO
Roger figures among the Who's Who of international celebrities in the 2010 edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica. He is one of the youngest personalities to have been added this year.
The Encyclopædia Britannica is the oldest English-language encyclopaedia still in print, widely regarded as the most scholarly of encyclopaedias. Published for the first time in 1849, the Who's Who section now contains over 33'000 names of people that will stay there until their death.
LONDON - Swiss tennis star Roger Federer, Hollywood actor Brad Pitt and Brazilian author Paulo Coelho are among new entries in "Who's Who", the guide to society's most influential people published on Monday.
World number one Federer, 28, is among the youngest new entrants to the 162nd annual edition of the book, which also lists Blackburn Rovers manager Sam Allardyce and Everton manager David Moyes.
Another new sports entry is Claire Taylor, the cricketer named player of the World Cup after England's victorious campaign in Australia in March and the first woman to be named one of the Wisden annual's Five Cricketers of the Year.
In the world of entertainment, Pitt and fellow US actor Morgan Freeman made their debut alongside British actress Anna Friel and Coelho, whose 1987 novel "The Alchemist" became a bestseller in 74 countries.
British comedians Ricky Gervais, responsible for hit sitcom "The Office", and Matt Lucas and David Walliams, the duo behind the "Little Britain" series, are among the 1,000 new entries this year.
Fashion designer Christopher Bailey, the creative director of Burberry, and Tim Hincks, the chief executive of Endemol UK, the production company that makes "Big Brother", also feature.
First published in 1849, "Who's Who" "celebrates the diversity of human achievement, recognising the people who have reached the pinnacle of excellence in their field", according to a spokesman.
The 2010 edition contains more than 33,000 entries, compiled from questionnaires submitted by the individuals concerned. They remain listed until they die, when they are transferred to "Who Was Who".
While most of those included are British, international figures are included due to their presence and importance in British life. Britons with hereditary titles are automatically included, and make up 10 percent of the listings.
http://www.tennis.com/spotlight/2009_09 … index.aspx
Chronologiczny układ zdjęć z 15 szlemów Rogera i 6 przegranych finałów WS.
Roger Federer's New To-Do List
By James Martin
Writing a to-do list is the biggest part of my morning ritual. It’s the best way to organize my time and get the most out of the day. Typically, I’ll start with an item that I know will be finished before the first cup of coffee. No. 1: Write to-do list. Check! But what about those people who have accomplished everything they can in their chosen line of work? For them, there’s no need for a daily to-do list, never mind a long-term one. This is the sort of frightening scenario that could lead to a state of atrophy and imbalance, where finding the motivation to record programs on your DVR would be considered a triumph.
This, at least, is how I imagine the world of Roger Federer after he broke Pete Sampras’ record for major titles at Wimbledon. Behind the happy façade is a man teetering on the brink of an existential crisis. You thought his outburst at the chair umpire during last year’s U.S. Open final was a sign of his anger at being outplayed for once? Please, like winning Grand Slam No. 16 could have carried any meaning for him. No, Federer’s meltdown was evidence of something deeper and more troubling.Roger Federer
He's set the record for most career Grand Slam singles titles and is widely considered to be the greatest tennis player of all time. But for Roger Federer, there's still much more to achieve.Federer, after all, has checked off virtually every major accomplishment for a professional tennis player. Twenty-two straight Grand Slam semifinal appearances—you’re joking, right? But before he tosses away his racquets, starts wearing Goth eyeliner and loses himself in the works of fellow Basel product Friedrich Nietzsche, he should take a deep breath. Yes, there’s hope even for the best.
Contrary to thinking that he might as well join Marat Safin on a quixotic mountain-climbing expedition, Federer must realize that now is the time to redouble his efforts on the court. Once again, Roger Federer has a to-do list.
• Achieve the real Grand Slam record. Yeah, it’s all well and good that you blew past Pete Sampras, but everyone knows that the true major mark is Margaret Court’s record 66 Grand Slam titles, including a record 24 in singles. 15? You’ve got a lot more work to do, Rog.
• Hit the greatest behind-the-back forehand ever. When you pulled off that between-the-legs shot against Novak Djokovic at the U.S. Open, you apparently decided that it wasn’t enough to own every important statistical record—you needed to be immortalized for hitting the best trick shot, too. Well, we’re still waiting for a behind-the-back forehand winner on match point for the Wimbledon title. Do that, then talk to us.
• Bag the Davis Cup. One tiny caveat: Amend the rules so, for each tie, you must play both singles matches and in the doubles—Canadian doubles.
• Destroy Hawk-Eye. You know you haven’t seen eye-to-eye since it made its debut, and we suspect you’ve been watching Office Space in your spare time, admiring how the nerds went gangsta on the fax machine. The blueprint is there. Time to execute.
• Become the first player to win the Grand Slam in mixed-doubles twice—with family members. Your team is ready to go, with daughters Myla and Charlene ready to trade binkies for racquets.
• Reach the No. 1 ranking on Facebook. See, Roger, you dominate on the court, but you’re a journeyman in the world of social networking. Those 3 million plus fans of yours might seem impressive, but not when you consider the two biggest pages in Facebook: Michael Jackson (10 million fans) and Barack Obama (6.7 million fans). Heck, you could compromise here and just beat out Vin Diesel (6.2 million fans) to get your self-respect back.
• Achieve the record for most aces in a match. Your tally of 50 in the Wimbledon final was only five off of Ivo Karlovic’s record, until Ivo shot back with a 78 in Davis Cup in September. Obviously, Dr. Ace was worried that you would steal his only claim to fame.
• Wear top hat and carry cane on Centre Court. Then, and only then, will your dandy’s ensemble be complete.
• Upgrade celebrities in players’ box. Gwen, OK. Anna, I guess. But Gavin? You do know he was the singer for Bush, right?
• Dedicate yourself to blocking Andy Roddick’s every attempt to win Wimbledon forever. Just because.
Federer i Serena mistrzami świata ITF
Szwajcar i Amerykanka zostali uznani mistrzami świata ITF za osiągnięcia w minionym Sezonie. Roger Federer oraz Serena Williams po dwa razy zwyciężyli w turniejach wielkiego szlema.
- Był to dla mnie wyjątkowy rok na korcie jak i poza nim - powiedział szwajcarski tenisista, dla którego jest to już piąty tytuł mistrza świata. Federer odzyskał pierwsze miejsce w rankingu ATP. Oprócz tego wygrał dwa wielkie szlemy. Pierwszy raz w karierze triumfował na kortach Rolanda Garrosa. Wygrał również Wimbledon, dzięki czemu pobił rekord Pete'a Samprasa 15 zwycięstw w turniejach wielkoszlemowych. Pomógł reprezentacji Szwajcarii utrzymać się w grupie światowej Pucharu Davisa. Po za kortem urodziła mu się córka.
Serena Williams mistrzynią świata została po raz drugi. ITF nie przeszkodziło skandaliczne zachowanie Amerykanki, która podczas US Open, gdy zwyzywała sędziego liniowego. W sezonie wygrała Australian Open oraz Wimbledon. Triumfowała na kończących sezon mistrzostwach świata WTA w Dausze. Wspólnie z siostrą Venus Serena zgarnęła też tytuł najlepszej deblowej pary roku. Wśród panów mistrzostwo przypadło również rodzeństwu, braciom Bobowi i Mike'owi Bryanom.
- Był to kolejny niezapomniany rok dla tenisa z kilkoma niesamowitymi występami naszych mistrzów. Roger Federer zasłużył na swoje miejsce na kartach historii, podczas gdy siostry Williams pozostają najmocniejszymi zawodniczkami w WTA tour - powiedział prezydent ITF Francesco Ricci Bitti.
Fed-Expresso napisał:
Po za kortem urodziła mu się córka.
:]
Dziewczynki rosną ;)
http://www.rogerfederer.com/en/rogers/n … ewsID=1001
http://www.rogerfederer.com/en/rogers/n … ewsID=1000
ATP - ROGER NAMED 2009 ITF WORLD CHAMPION
The ITF announced today that Roger and Serena Williams are the 2009 ITF World Champions. This is the fifth time Roger has been honoured, while Williams receives the award for the second time.
Roger Federer regained the world No. 1 ranking from Rafael Nadal after a record-breaking year which saw him complete a career Grand Slam at Roland Garros with victory over Robin Soderling in the final. He went on to surpass Pete Sampras by winning his 15th Grand Slam title at Wimbledon after a memorable final contest against Andy Roddick. Federer was also runner-up at the Australian Open and US Open, and helped his country retain its World Group status in Davis Cup by BNP Paribas.
Roger Federer said: “It is an honour for me to be named ITF World Champion for a fifth time. It was an incredible year for me both on and off the court. To win my first Roland Garros title, break the all-time Grand Slam record and regain the No. 1 ranking is amazing. It means a lot to me to finish the year again at the top.”
The ITF’s selection of its senior World Champions is based on an objective system that considers not only performances in the Grand Slam tournaments and respective tours, but also gives weight to performances in the two ITF international team competitions, Davis Cup by BNP Paribas and Fed Cup by BNP Paribas.
ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti said: “This has been another memorable year for tennis, with some outstanding performances by our World Champions. Roger Federer has truly earned his place in the history books, while the Williams sisters remain the strongest competitors on the women’s tour.”
http://video.eurosport.pl/tenis/news-fd … ideo.shtml
Krótka wypowiedź Federera o roku 2009 i swojej tenisowej przyszłości.
Roger najlepszym sportowcem Europy w 2009 roku według agencji prasowych
Szwajcarski tenisista Roger Federer został triumfatorem 52. Ankiety Polskiej Agencji Prasowej S.A. na najlepszego sportowca Europy w 2009 roku. W głosowaniu uczestniczyło 18 agencji prasowych.
To piąty sukces Federera w tym jednym z najstarszych plebiscytów sportowych świata. Poprzednio był najlepszy w latach 2004, 2005 (wspólnie z tyczkarką Jeleną Isinbajewą), 2006 i 2007.
28-letni Federer, zwycięzca tegorocznych turniejów wielkoszlemowych French Open oraz wimbledońskiego, zgromadził 135 punktów i o 54 wyprzedził mistrza świata Formuły 1, Brytyjczyka Jensona Buttona. Trzecie miejsce zajął norweski biathlonista Ole Einar Bjoerndalen.
Wśród zgłoszonych 54 zawodniczek i zawodników było troje Polaków. Rekordzistka świata i złota medalistka lekkoatletycznych mistrzostw świata w Berlinie w rzucie młotem Anita Włodarczyk zajęła 18. miejsce (14 pkt). Punkty otrzymała od agencji BTA (Bułgaria), TANJUG (Serbia), BNS (Łotwa) i PAP.
Dwukrotna złota oraz brązowa medalistka mistrzostw świata w Libercu i zdobywczyni Pucharu Świata w biegach narciarskich Justyna Kowalczyk - zgłoszona przez CTK (Czechy) i PAP - uplasowała się na 20. miejscu, ex aequo z alpejczykiem Akslem Lundem Svindalem (Norwegia) i gimnastykiem sportowym Marianem Dragulescu (Rumunia). Uznanie znalazł także Robert Kubica. Pięć punktów od agencji UKRINFORM (Ukraina) dało mu, podobnie jak przed rokiem, 37. lokatę.
Federer zgłoszony został przez szesnaście agencji - pięć razy na pierwszym, tyle samo na drugim oraz dwa razy na trzecim miejscu. Szwajcar jest piątym przedstawicielem tenisa, który triumfował w ankiecie PAP S.A.. Poprzednio sztuka ta udała się Niemce Steffi Graff (w 1988 i 1989 roku), Szwedowi Stefanowi Edbergowi (1990), Szwajcarce Martinie Hingis (1997) i Hiszpanowi Rafaelowi Nadalowi (2008). W tym roku Nadal musiał zadowolić się 26. miejscem, dzielonym z ukraińskim bokserem Witalijem Kliczką oraz triumfatorem Pucharu Świata w skokach narciarskich Austriakiem Gregorem Schlierenzauerem.
W ankiecie punkty otrzymało 54 sportowców, 37 mężczyzn i 17 kobiet, reprezentujących 23 kraje. Najwięcej było przedstawicieli Rosji (9), Hiszpanii (6), Norwegii (5) i Niemiec (4). Po trzech reprezentowało Polskę, Ukrainę, W.Brytanię i Włochy, po dwóch Serbię, Szwajcarię i Węgry oraz po jednym Austrię, Chorwację, Czechy, Belgię, Francję, Grecję, Holandię, Litwę, Portugalię, Rumunię, Słowację i Szwecję.
Najliczniej z dyscyplin, po siedem osób, reprezentowane były tenis i pływanie. Dziennikarzom żadnej z agencji nie udało się poprawnie wytypować czołowej trójki.
Federer, jako jedyny pięć razy wygrywał Ankietę PAP S.A. Trzykrotnie triumfowali: radziecki skoczek w wzwyż Walery Brumel (1961-1963) i siedmiokrotny mistrz świata Formuły 1 Niemiec Michael Schumacher (2001-2003).
Dwa razy najlepszymi sportowcami Europy zostali uznani: zdobywczyni siedmiu medali olimpijskich w lekkiej atletyce Irena Szewińska (1966, 1974), francuski alpejczyk, zdobywca trzech złotych medali olimpijskich w Grenoble w 1968 roku Jean-Claude Killy (1967-1968), belgijski kolarz Eddy Merckx (1969-1970), pływaczka z NRD Kornelia Ender (1973, 1975), brytyjski lekkoatleta, a dziś szef komitetu organizacyjnego igrzysk olimpijskich w Londynie w 2012 roku sir Sebastian Coe (1979, 1981) oraz niemiecka tenisistka Steffi Graf (1988-1989).
W 52. Ankiecie PAP S.A. głosy oddali dziennikarze agencji: AFP (Francja), APA (Austria), Agerpres (Rumunia), BNS (Łotwa), BTA (Bułgaria), CTK (Czechy), EFE (Hiszpania), ELTA (Litwa), HINA (Chorwacja), ITAR-TASS (Rosja), MTI (Węgry), NTB (Norwegia), SITA (Słowacja), STA (Słowenia), STT (Finlandia), TANJUG (Serbia), UKRINFORM (Ukraina) i PAP S.A.
Wyniki 52. Ankiety PAP S.A.:
1. Roger Federer (Szwajcaria) tenis 135 pkt
2. Jenson Button (W.Brytania) Formuła 1 81
3. Ole Einar Bjoerndalen (Norwegia) biathlon 73
4. Sebastien Loeb (Francja) rajdy samochodowe 56
5. Blanka Vlasic (Chorwacja) lekkoatletyka 51
6. Alberto Contador (Hiszpania) kolarstwo 50
7. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugalia) piłka nożna 42
8. Pau Gasol (Hiszpania) koszykówka 41
9. Valentino Rossi (Włochy) sport motocyklowy 40
10. Andreas Thordkildsen (Norwegia) lekkoatletyka 36
Roger Federer triumfatorem 52. Ankiety PAP
Szwajcarski tenisista Roger Federer został triumfatorem 52. Ankiety Polskiej Agencji Prasowej na najlepszego sportowca Europy w 2009 roku, rozpisanej wśród agencji prasowych Starego Kontynentu.
Pięciokrotny triumfator ankiety Polskiej Agencji Prasowej S.A. na najlepszego sportowca Europy Roger Federer został w tym roku szóstym tenisistą, który odniósł zwycięstwa w każdym z czterech turniejów wielkoszlemowych.
W maju Szwajcar po raz pierwszy triumfował na kortach ziemnych im. Rolanda Garrosa. Miesiąc później wygrał Wimbledon i z dorobkiem 15 triumfów w Wielkim Szlemie poprawił rekord Amerykanina Pete'a Samprasa (14 zwycięstw).
Federer urodził się 8 sierpnia 1981 roku w Bazylei. Przygodę z tenisem rozpoczął w wieku ośmiu lat. Wśród zawodowców zadebiutował w 1998 roku, a w lutym 2001 wygrał w Mediolanie swój pierwszy turniej z cyklu ATP.
Australian Open wygrał w latach 2004 oraz 2006-2007. Na wimbledońskiej trawie okazał się najlepszym w latach 2003-2007 i 2009, natomiast US Open wygrał pięć razy z rzędu - w latach 2004-2008. Po brakujący do wielkoszlemowej "kolekcji" triumf w French Open udało mu się sięgnąć dopiero w tym roku.
Jest jedynym zawodnikiem w historii, który trzykrotnie wygrał przynajmniej trzy turnieje Wielkiego Szlema w jednym roku. Stało się to w 2004, 2006 i 2007 roku. Szczyci się także innym rekordem. Jako jedyny wygrał pięć razy z rzędu dwa turnieje wielkoszlemowe - Wimbledon 2003-2007 i US Open 2004-2007.
Dochodząc do finału tegorocznej imprezy w Nowym Jorku zaliczył 21. finał Wielkiego Szlema. Przed tym sezonem rekordzistą był Czech z amerykańskim paszportem Ivan Lend, który wystąpił w finałach dziewiętnaście razy.
Federer jest posiadaczem wielu innych rekordów: należy do niego najdłuższa seria zwycięstw na kortach trawiastych - 64 spotkań od czerwca 2003 do lipca 2008 roku - i najdłuższa seria na kortach twardych - 56 od stycznia 2005 do marca 2006 roku. Wygrał także 55 kolejnych meczów na kortach Ameryki Północnej.
W pierwszym turnieju Wielkiego Szlema 2009 - Australian Open, Federer uległ triumfatorowi ankiety PAP z 2008 roku Hiszpanowi Rafaelowi Nadalowi 5:7, 6:3, 6:7 (3-7), 6:3, 2:6 i była to jego pierwsza przegrana w finale tej imprezy. W finale French Open pokonał pogromcę Rafaela Nadala, rewelacyjnego Szweda Robina Soederlinga 6:1, 7:6 (7-1), 6:4.
Kolejny sukces zanotował w stolicy W. Brytanii, wygrywając w finale Wimbledonu z Amerykaninem Andym Roddickiem 5:7, 7:6 (8-6), 7:6 (7-5), 3:6, 16:14. W finale US Open lepszym od Szwajcara okazał się Argentyńczyk Juan Martin del Potro, który wygrał 3:6, 7:6 (7-5), 4:6, 7:6 (7-4), 6:2.
W turnieju Masters Cup w Londynie Federer grał ze zmiennym szczęściem. Pokonał Fernando Verdasco oraz Andy'ego Murraya i ponownie przegrał z del Potro. W półfinale na drodze Federerowi stanął Rosjanin Nikołaj Dawidienko, który zwyciężył 6:2, 4:6, 7:5.
Jednak dochodząc do półfinału Federer po raz piąty zapewnił sobie pozycję lidera rankingu na koniec roku. Lepszy jest tylko Amerykanin Pete Sampras, który sześciokrotnie kończył sezon na pierwszym miejscu.
W tym roku Federer wziął ślub z byłą tenisistką Mirką Vavrinec i został ojcem bliźniaczek.
ATP - EUROPEAN ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Roger has been elected European Athlete of the Year 2009, making it his fifth overall title. The election is coordinated by the Polish Press Association (PAP), with a total of 18 news agencies participating.
The result was very clear as Roger (135 points) had plenty of room to Formula-1 world champion Jenson Button who came second (81 points). Roger had already been awarded the title during four consecutive years from 2004 until 2007. Rafael Nadal had received the award last year.
The further 2009 ranking: 3. Ole Einar Björndalen (NOR/biathlon) 73, 4. Sebastien Loeb (FRA/rallye) 56, 5. Blanka Vlasic (CRO/athletics) 51, 6. Alberto Contador (ESP/cycling) 50, 7. Cristiano Ronaldo (POR/soccer) 42, 8. Pau Gasol (ESP/basketball) 41, 9. Valentino Rossi (ITA/motorcycling) 40, 10. Andreas Thorkildsen (NOR/athletics) 36.
Roger Federer undecided about Open build-up.
ROGER Federer is considering a radical change to his successful Australian Open preparation.
The world No. 1 is contemplating whether to contest the AAMI Classic at Kooyong from January 13-16 as he attempts to notch a 16th grand slam.
Federer's alternative is to concentrate on practice sessions at Melbourne Park in the week before the January 18-31 Australian Open.
Federer has traditionally used the Kooyong round-robin to hone his game before the first grand slam of the new season.
But his agent Tony Godsick said Federer would not make a decision on Kooyong until after he contests the Capitala World Championships in Doha, which starts tomorrow.
Federer has won 37 of his past 40 matches at Melbourne Park, claiming three titles, appearing in this season's final and losing twice in the semis.
The only time he has bypassed Kooyong over the past six years was last year because of glandular fever.
Since beating Marat Safin for the 2004 title, Federer has either won the Open or lost to the eventual champion.
He was upstaged by Safin in the 2005 semi-final, won in 2006 against Marcos Baghdatis then defended his title against Chilean Fernando Gonzalez without dropping a set in the tournament.
Federer was beaten in the 2008 semi-finals by Novak Djkovovic, and lost his first Open final in five sets to Rafael Nadal this year.
In Doha, Federer will face Nadal, Tsonga, Davydenko, Fernando Verdasco and Robin Soderling over three days.
History was made in Federer’s comeback
Two months under Europe’s hazy summer skies was all it took for Roger Federer to once again reign supreme over the world of tennis.
Widely lauded as one of the greatest players to grace the courts, on July 5 he proved the accolade true, once and for all.
It began in 2003, when Federer, then aged 21, first dropped to his knees on Wimbledon’s Centre Court to cry tears of joy after defeating Mark Philippoussis in a near faultless display to win his first grand slam title.
Six years later his emotions once again spilled on to the courts of south London, this time to mark an historic moment in tennis – his 15th grand slam victory.
After a tough 2008 season, where Federer lost his world No 1 crown and relinquished his grass court dominance to Rafael Nadal, the Swiss maestro limped to the end of last year in deflated fashion.
It appeared the tables had turned on one of the fiercest rivalries in sport, and belief that Nadal had finally got the better of Federer seemed to be confirmed at this year’s first grand slam in Melbourne, Australia.
Reaching the final of the Australian Open provided little relief for the world No 2, who was once again overpowered by his Spanish rival in an epic five-set duel.
Federer’s outpouring of emotion during his runner-up speech set the tone for a year of on-court tears, joy and tantrums for both the men’s and women’s sport.
Following success in Australia, Nadal looked on course to add a fifth French Open title to his name on the red clay courts of Roland Garros.
Robin Soderling had other ideas. The Swede dug deep to dispatch the Spaniard in the last 16, causing one of the biggest upsets of the year.
With Nadal’s downfall, Federer saw his chance to claim the only grand slam title still to elude him. Making short work of Soderling in the final, he lifted the trophy to complete a career slam and equal Pete Sampras’s record of 14 majors.
Federer could not hide the elation and relief at finally being crowned champion in Paris. His win made him only the sixth player ever to win all four grand slam singles titles in the men’s game.
Only one month later, he went on to eclipse that achievement.
Struggling with tendinitis, Nadal was unable to defend his 2008 Wimbledon title. His absence left the door open for Federer to once again assert his dominance over the All-England grass courts.
With Sampras and Rod Laver watching from the Royal Box, a rejuvenated Andy Roddick piled the pressure on the 27-year-old in the longest grand slam final in history in terms of games played.
Roddick played out of his skin, producing a scintillating performance many had thought beyond the American’s capabilities.
The nail-biting 30-game, 95-minute fifth set was the longest seen in a grand slam championship final.
With no tie-breaker in the final set at the historic tournament, Roddick, who had been runner-up to Federer in the 2004 and 2005 Wimbledon finals, eventually succumbed again, this time 5-7, 7-6, 7-6, 3-6, 16-14.
While Roddick emerged heroic, if not triumphant, history belonged to Federer – as did the title of world No 1.
As the staged turned to the US Open, the role of leading man once again changed hands. Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro dazzled on the courts of Flushing Meadows, first beating an injury-plagued Nadal in the semis before smashing his way through Federer in a five-set final thriller.
Del Potro had made his mark in surprising fashion, while Federer could console himself in the knowledge 2009 had already seen him seal his 15th grand slam win, wed his long-term girlfriend Mirka Vavrinec and become a father to twins Charlene Riva and Myla Rose.
As Federer stuttered in 2008, so Nadal stumbled in 2009. Dealing with one injury after another, success was hard to find after the Australian Open.
Nadal was the first player to exit the end-of-year ATP World Tour Final in London– refuelling questions over the Spaniard’s ability to come back from his injuries.
However, he did have the consolation of helping Spain to retain their Davis Cup crown by defeating the Czech Republic this month.
Andy Murray also failed to deliver on the promising progress made in 2008. After starting the year with a victory at the inaugural Capitala tournament in Abu Dhabi, the Scot made little impact on the season’s grand slams.
Despite winning six ATP titles, the world No 4 failed to progress further than the semis in all four majors.
Nikolay Davydenko’s triumph in London last month helped reassert the Russian as a top five player. Now sitting pretty as world No 3, the veteran made a clean sweep over this year’s grand slam winners – Nadal, Federer and Del Potro – to win the title, and has set his sights on a repeat at the Australian Open next month.
Although retired, eight-time major winner Andre Agassi caused the biggest controversy in the men’s game this year. The American rattled the tennis world with confessions of drug use and lying to ATP officials.
As 2010 rolls in, Del Potro and Davydenko will be looking to continue their end-of-year form, Federer will need to fight to maintain his dominance of the majors, and Nadal and Murray will seek to rekindle their winning ways.
Roger Federer: Champion of champions
One room of Roger Federer's Swiss home is dedicated to his tennis exploits. "It's a wonderful room with three sides full of trophies and one end full of pictures," he said recently. "It's a very special room. Sometimes I just go and sit in there and do some autograph-signing for fans and I just look around. It's quite something."
The trophies and awards have been piling up ever since Federer's career was launched in less than auspicious circumstances 20 years ago. In his first serious match in junior competition he was beaten 6-0, 6-0 for the only time in his life. Fifteen Grand Slam titles later – he has won more than any other man in history – the Swiss is acknowledged as the greatest tennis player of all time.
When he next pauses for reflection in his trophy room the 28-year-old will have another accolade to his name. Federer is revealed today as our readers' choice of greatest hero in the The Independent's Poll of the Decade. The fact that he won more than two-thirds of the votes cast by readers, in the face of competition from sporting titans like Michael Schumacher and Tiger Woods, is a tribute both to his tennis prowess and to his impeccable credentials as a sporting ambassador.
Winning trophies is one thing – Federer has 61 titles to his name and is the first player to earn more than $50m in prize-money – but what takes the six-times Wimbledon champion to another level is the style and grace with which he conducts his business.
On the court Federer is poetry in motion. Arguably his greatest quality is his ability, through a combination of devastating speed, flexibility and anticipation, to put himself into the perfect position to hit his next shot. His majestic forehand is hailed as the greatest weapon in tennis, while his backhand – struck, unlike most others in the modern game, with one hand – is a stroke of beauty. Add an almost unreadable serve and exquisite volleys and you have the most formidable arsenal at the disposal of anyone who has played the game.
"There's no safe zone with him," Andre Agassi says. "He can hurt you from any part of the court. A great champion tends to have one or two strengths, one shot for sure that transcends everybody else. Federer has maybe three or four departments of his game that you could argue individually are the best in the world."
Has a sportsman ever perspired less than the Swiss maestro? While Rafael Nadal and Andy Roddick seem to sweat buckets every time they set foot on court, Federer never appears unduly extended. Perhaps that is one of the reasons why he has become a style icon, a man who can come on to Centre Court at Wimbledon wearing a cardigan or a safari jacket and still appear the king of cool.
No player is more level-headed in a crisis, though we see occasional glimpses of fires raging beneath the surface. In Miami earlier this year Federer gave a decent John McEnroe impression when he smashed his racket in frustration while losing to Novak Djokovic.
Remarkably, family and coaches had grown used to such behaviour in his early days. Federer was a serial racket-abuser and tantrum-thrower but decided to mend his ways after a particularly unproductive show of emotions during a defeat in Hamburg eight years ago.
Two years later he was rewarded with his first major title at Wimbledon and has since put together an extraordinary run of consistency, reaching a record 22 Grand Slam semi-finals in succession. Last year he made the last four of the Australian Open despite being in the throes of glandular fever.
If luck was on Federer's side when he finally completed his set of Grand Slam crowns this summer, his perennial French Open conqueror Nadal having been knocked out in an earlier round, nobody was going to begrudge him his triumph. Federer is a hugely popular and respected champion among his fellow players as well as the general public.
Off the court he is the role models' role model. You never hear of the Swiss leaving a nightclub the worse for wear or being the subject of kiss-and-tell revelations. This year he married Mirka Vavrinec, his long-time girlfriend, and they are now proud parents of twin girls who travel everywhere with them.
No player is in more demand from the world's media, yet Federer thinks about every answer to every question, including those he has heard a thousand times before. Fluent in German, French and English, he is well aware of his ambassadorial status.
"If I've played a part in making the game more popular that's great," he said earlier this year. "I've always wanted to be a good role model for kids, someone who can encourage more juniors to play tennis and enjoy tennis, to understand that it's a fair game and a great game to play. It's a great thing when I hear that I'm someone's favourite player. These are things I'm very proud of."
Holding out for a hero How the other contenders fared
Manny Pacquiao may be acknowledged as the best pound-for-pound fighter of the decade but he finishes second in this tussle with Roger Federer. The Filipino has won six world titles across six divisions and battled to some classic triumphs along the way: this year he floored Ricky Hatton, the year before Oscar de la Hoya and then there were his three fights with Erik Morales that spanned the mid-part of the decade.
When he does finally end a career that began 15 years ago – perhaps after a grandstand finish against Floyd Mayweather Jnr in March – a move into politics will follow. He is already deeply involved in providing for the country's poor, having given tens of millions of dollars to charity. "He is," said one admirer, "a one-man welfare system." And if that all goes pear-shaped, look out for him at Alexandra Palace; darts is a passion.
Andrew Flintoff (right) claims the final place on The Independent's Hero podium. His achievements in terms of trophies and honours may fall some way short of others on the shortlist, but his extraordinary feats in the Ashes-winning triumphs of 2005 and this year hold him up as a true English hero, a once-in-a-generation cricketer.
Tiger Woods comes fourth – one place lower than his finish in the Villain of the Year standings, which just goes to show how quickly the achievement of winning 14 majors can be overshadowed in the eyes of some. The titled pairing of Sir Alex Ferguson and Dame Kelly Holmes share fifth, while the fact that Michael Schumacher's domination of Formula One occupied the first half of the decade may account for his lowly finish. What other reason could there be? Venus Williams completes the field with her five Wimbledons.
Fed Express: Decade of dominance
*15 Grand Slams
Australian Open 2004, 2006, 2007; French Open 2009; US Open 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008; Wimbledon 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
*Masters Cup 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007
*16 Masters Series titles
*263 weeks as world No 1
Federer waiting to decide Australian Open tune-up schedule
Roger Federer will be leaving it late to decide his final Australian open tune-up programme, with the Swiss refusing to make a final decision until after his weekend's Capitala exhibition in Abu Dhabi.
Normally, Federer puts the final polish on his game the week before the Australian Open at the Kooyong event, where he has been a regular.
But things could change this year, with Melbourne organisers of the eight-man round-robin kindly holding a spot for the Swiss until he makes up his mind. Should Federer opt for private practise at Melbourne Park prior to the January 18 start of the Open, Juan Del Potro is reportedly ready to step into the lineup.
Federer's camps says the world No. 1 won't decide until early next week as the countdown to Melbourne begins in earnest.
The AAMI Classic at Kooyong runs January 13-16.
Federer owns wins from 37 of his past 40 matches at Melbourne Park with three titles as part of his all-time record of 15 majors. He missed the Kooyong date in 2008 due to glandular fever.
2 notki z www.goroger.net
Jan 1, 2009 from Eurosport:
ABU DHABI - Robin Soderling claimed his first victory over Roger Federer at the 13th attempt at an exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi.
Federer won the first set on a hard-fought tie-break before Soderling came back to claim his first ever career victory over the Swiss player in a 6-7(6) 7-6(1) 6-2 triumph.
Federer reflected on a tough opening to 2010 season, saying: "Obviously it's hard to start playing against him but I had fun."
Dec 31, 2009 from Gulf News:
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal warmed up for the Capitala World Tennis Championship today with a friendly knock-around on one of the most unique playing arenas - Abu Dhabi's stunning Yas Marina Circuit.
from Tennis Earth:
Roger Federer has decided to sit out of the Switzerland's first-round Davis Cup tie against the defending champion Spain, as reported by the Swiss press. The best of five matches tie is scheduled to be played from March 5-7.
Federer said that playing on clay in Spain right before Indian Wells and Miami isn’t really the best preparation for the two Masters events.
I z rf.com:
ATP - ROGER OPENS SEASON IN ABU DHABI
Roger opened his 2010 season in Abu Dhabi today. He was beaten in three sets by Swede Robin Söderling (ATP 8) at the high-profile exhibition tournament: 7-6(6), 6-7(1), 2-6.
Roger commented: "Obviously it's hard to start playing against him but I had fun." He will be playing his first ATP tournament next week in Doha.
This week, Roger also announced that he will skip Switzerland’s Davis Cup first round in Spain in March.
Zapis z dzisiejszej konferencji prasowej:
Federer:
“I started to struggle a little bit in the third set. I thought he really found his range well. I tried to play a bit more aggressive, try out a few things and change it up, but it didn’t work.”
“It’s about getting in to the rhythm, finding your form, trying out a few things and obviously you do make the wrong decisions at times, especially on a quick court like today.”
Federer will now face Ferrer in a third / fourth play-off beginning at 3pm.
“I’m happy that I’m going to have another chance to play again tomorrow,” he said.
“The crowds really are great here; they love coming out and it’s a lot of fun playing in front of them - they seem like very knowledgeable fans.”
“For the last two years it seems like people love coming out here to watch us play and it seems like a very good date – just look at the field we have.”
It was the first time Söderling had beaten the Swiss Master in 13 attempts.
Söderling said:
“For me, the best way to learn is to play matches against the best.”
“This gives me a lot of confidence for the whole year. I’ve been beating all the top guys so I feel like I really belong up there now.”
“I couldn’t ask for a better start.”
Federer: A champion role model
World no 1 says he is enjoying the company of his wife and twin daughters.
Abu Dhabi : No one doubts Roger Federer's claim to being one of the all-time greats of tennis, but it is also his image as a role model that is unblemished and the Swiss ace vows to keep it that way.
Federer was part of a Gillette advertisement along with golfing great Tiger Woods and football maestro Thierry Henry. Subsequently both Woods and Henry have seen their reputation crumble — the former thanks to sex scandals and the latter for his handball that cost Ireland a place in the World Cup finals.
Federer, in reply to a question from Gulf News yesterday on the pressures of being a top sportsman and a role model, said: "I think it is important for athletes and for me, anyway, to be as good a role models as you can be."
"It is never guaranteed that you will be liked by the public and the fans. You try to achieve something and when that happens, it is also hard to maintain it," he said at a press conference yesterday ahead of the Capitala World Tennis Championship.
"Obviously I am very happy that my image is on the good side," said the 28 year old who won a record-breaking 15th Grand Slam to end 2009 as World No 1.
Another highlight, on a more personal note, for Federer in 2009 was his marriage to his long-time partner Mirka Vavrinec and the birth of their twin daughters, Myla Rose and Charlene Riva. With wife and kids also travelling with him most of the time, Federer said he was fully enjoying the family experience.
"The girls are five months old and it is challenging that way, but it has been fun. I have a great wife who helps in an incredible way. I try to help as best as I can but she is doing the main work," he said.
"My mindset has not changed. I am as eager as ever, as motivated. I am excited about this whole new chapter in our life. To manage it all and eager to experience it.
"I am also happy that there is a change in my routine as well. I've been doing many things for many years the same way. This [family] has made a big impact on my life and my organisation."
Federer said he was planning to mark New Year's Eve by having dinner with family and friends and then maybe attend the Rihanna concert provided "my girls allow it".
Federer bounces back for third place in Abu Dhabi
Federer bounces back for third place in Abu Dhabi One day after losing to Robin Soderling, Roger Federer defeats David Ferrer in straight sets to finish in third place at the season-opening exhibition in Abu Dhabi.
Roger Federer beat David Ferrer 6-1, 7-5 in the third-place match at the Capitala World Tennis Championship on Saturday afternoon.
Federer earned a victory in Abu Dhabi after losing his opener to Robin Soderling in Friday's semifinals. But just as he did against Soderling, Federer made things difficult on himself after leading by a set and a break.
The world No. 1 led Ferrer 6-1, 3-1 before the Spaniard found his way to make it competitive. Ferrer broke back for 2-3 and took care of his next three service games for a 5-4 advantage. Federer, however, seized another break for 6-5 and saved two break points before capitalizing on his third match point.
"David is a great player," Federer said afterward. "He's one of the great grinders on court and he never gives up so it's never easy against him. It's obviously excellent to be back to world No. 1, but the key is to stay there for the end of the season and I managed that lasy year."
"I thought I played pretty well but I didn't really have a chance in the match," Ferrer added. "But I'm happy to be here and learn from the experiences."
ATP - FIRST VICTORY IN 2010
Roger celebrated his first victory in 2010 today. He defeated David Ferrer 6-1, 7-5 in the match for third/fourth place at the exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi.
Next week Roger will meet Christoph Rochus (BEL, ATP 86) in the first round of the ATP tournament in Doha.
rf.com
Federer wary of chasing rivals as 2010 season starts
Federer wary of chasing rivals as 2010 season starts Roger Federer knows that the points gap between himself at the top of the table and fifth-ranked Argentine danger-man Juan Martin Del Potro is a less-than-comfortable margin.
Only 3,765 points separate the Swiss from the man who beat him for the US Open title and repeated with a round-robin win in November in the London year-end event.
"With the ranking system we have, everything can change in a second," Federer told media in Abu Dhabi, where he lost in the semifinals of the six-man Capitala World Tennis Championship to Robin Soderling.
"If you can’t play Wimbledon like Rafa last year, you lose 2,000 points. If someone else wins, it's a 4,000-point swing. There is pressure week-in, week-out, for the players."
The world No. 1 said that 2009 was a struggle for hot rival Nadal as well as himself. And there are outsiders like Soderling, Del Potro, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray ready to make moves to join the elite.
"Rafa has had to deal with injuries and I have had struggles with sickness and injuries," said the 15-time Grand Slam champion, who claimed the French Open and Wimbledon last season. "A lot of the players coming up, including the players here, don’t make it any easier."
One month enough as confident Federer heads into 2010
Roger Federer called his one-month off-season "short and sweet,” but said that the break was more than enough to set him up for a solid 2010 campaign.
After fine-tuning at the weekend exhibition in Abu Dhabi - he lost for the first time to Robin Soderling - the Swiss co-headlines this week in nearby Doha in an ATP field which also includes Rafael Nadal.
"People say it's only four weeks, but if we get two weeks off and then practise for two weeks we are very happy people and we are ready to go for another few months," said the world No. 1. "We might get another few weeks off down the road, but it is obviously important to get in shape ahead of the first Grand Slam of the season.”
Federer has yet to announces his decision on final polish for the January 18 start of the Australian Open, with a place being held for him in next week's eight-man special event at Melbourne's Kooyong club.
Federer is coming off a 2009 season where he won his first French Open and claimed a sixth Wimbledon title, also reclaiming No 1 ranking he had held previously for a record 237 consecutive weeks.
The Swiss is pleased to be on perfect fitness to start 2010 - a contrast to a year ago. "Last year, I had a problem at the start of the season with my back. I lost to Murray, Djokovic and Rafa."
"But I feel fine now because I have been practising enough to feel confident of winning.”
ATP - A VERY PROMISING START
Roger opened the ATP season perfecty today, cruising past Christophe Rochus of Belgium 6-1, 6-2.
"I was able to create points," Roger said. "It was good to get on a roll. My movement was explosive. I am happy how I played."
Our champ had 12 aces and 47 winners in the dominating performance. He'll face Evgeny Korolev of Russia on Wednesday.
ATP - ANOTHER STRONG PERFORMANCE
Roger defeated Evgeny Korolev (ATP 53) 6-2, 6-4 today to march on into the quarter-finals at the ATP tournament in Doha.
"I know how he plays so I had the match under control," Roger said. "He plays a lot of balls on the forehand, so I was able to stay ahead in the match. There were long rallies in the second set, but I am pleased to have reached the quarter-finals."
Once again, Roger raced into the match, taking a 3-0 lead in the first set. He broke serve a total of three times in the first set and once in the second and was always in control of the match.
Roger will play the quarter finals on Thursday where he will either meet Andreas Seppi (ITA) or Ernests Gulbis (LAT).
ATP - ROGER FIGHTS HIS WAY INTO SEMIS
Roger faced a strong opponent in Ernests Gulbis (ATP 90) today, dropping a set but finally prevailing 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 to advance to the semis in Doha.
At first, there were no signs for a tight match as Roger dominated Gulbis in all types of situations. Roger had a total of 11 break-balls in the first set, two of which he successfully converted. But as the second set progressed, the Latvian began to grow in confidence and his serve - one of the best on the Tour - became more and more difficult for Roger to handle. The first set saw early breaks by both opponents, but after our champ broke again to then serve for the set, Roger went all the way.
Roger will get back on court for his semi-final on Friday, playing the winner of the match between Nikolay Davydenko and Ivo Karlovic.
ATP - ROGER LOSES SEMI
Roger was defeated for the second time in his 14th match against Nikolay Davydenko. He lost 4-6, 4-6 to the Russian in Doha today.
Next up is the Australian Open in Melbourne which starts on January 18th.
Roger Federer, top of the pops:
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/roger … 5817531180
Jan 11, 2009 from Reuters:
MELBOURNE - Roger Federer will not warm up for the Australian Open at this week's Kooyong Classic in Melbourne, prompting organisers to target Briton Andy Murray for the vacant eighth spot in the invitational field.
Federer had decided to rest before next week's grand slam at Melbourne Park, tournament director Colin Stubs said Monday.
"Tony Godsick from IMG said Roger had decided to pass on the spot this year," Stubs said. "It's possible he'll play an exhibition match."
Organisers had pledged to hold a place for the 15-times grand slam champion until the day before the January 13-16 tournament.
Federer's management did not cite any reason for his decision to rest, but organisers had only rated him a "slightly better than 50-50 chance" to play, Stubs said.
Federer won't play in Kooyong exhibition
Roger Federer will not take part in the exhibition event in Kooyong next week. Organizers had reserved a spot for the world No. 1 in case he wanted more matches leading up to the Australian Open, but after a semifinal result at Doha this week, Federer has opted for practice at Melbourne Park instead.
Andy Roddick was another potential last-minute addition to the lineup but has decided not to request a spot after winning in Brisbane this week.
Coś na uspokojenie Federastów. Nie ma żadnej kontuzji. Godsick na konferencji prasowej wszystko zdementował i stwierdził, że Roger będzie "prywatnie" się przygotowywał do AO.
His decision not to contest the AAMI Kooyong Classic this week, coupled with minor injury, prompted speculation Federer was battling to be fit for Monday's start to the Open.
But Federer's manager Tony Godsick today rebuffed claims the reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion is in doubt.
"Not true," Godsick said as Federer prepared to practise in Melbourne.
Seeking his fourth Australian Open title and 16th Grand Slaml, Federer's management is believed to have requested tournament staff send a supply of balls to an inner city base where he will practise in private between sessions at Melbourne Park.
WORLD No. 1 Roger Federer's management flatly denies the Swiss champion is in doubt for the Australian Open.
Federer complained of soreness in his right arm after losing to Nikolay Davydenko in the Qatar Open semi-finals in Doha.
His decision not to contest the AAMI Kooyong Classic this week, coupled with minor injury, prompted speculation Federer was battling to be fit for Monday's start to the Open.
But Federer's manager Tony Godsick today rebuffed claims the reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion is in doubt.
"Not true," Godsick said as Federer prepared to practise in Melbourne.
Seeking his fourth Australian Open title and 16th Grand Slaml, Federer's management is believed to have requested tournament staff send a supply of balls to an inner city base where he will practise in private between sessions at Melbourne Park.
Federer was last week beaten 6-4 6-4 by Davydenko in only his second defeat in 14 matches against the Russian.
Unusually, Federer struggled with his serve.
"I felt my (right) arm from the cold," Federer said in Qatar.
"But it is not an excuse. He (Davydenko) served well. He made it difficult as the match went on.
"There is nothing to worry about my arm. I will be fine."
Federer had first refusal on the eighth place at Kooyong, but decided against following his traditional route to the Australian Open.
The right-hander last bypassed Kooyong in 2008 when he was affected by mononucleosis, eventually reaching the Open semi-finals.
Federer has built a 37-3 record at Rod Laver Arena over the past six years, triumphing in 2004, '06 and '07.
His three defeats in that time all came at the hands of the eventual champion - Marat Safin ('05 semi-finals), Novak Djokovic ('08 semi-finals) and Rafael Nadal ('09 final).
Federer arm injury worries appear unfounded
Roger Federer has been looking the picture of health during private practise this week as the Swiss prepares for the Australian Open after choosing to skip the AAMI Classic warm-up at Kooyong club.
After complaints of some elbow and right arm soreness trouble from the world No. 1 in Doha after losing last weekend to Nikolay Davydenko, Federer's camp has told Australian media that he is fit and ready for the Grand Slam.
The Swiss had a well-televised hit at Melbourne Park shortly after arriving in Australia from the Gulf, where he has a base in Dubai.
His form appeared normal with no signs of any discomfort.
In Doha, Federer said that it might have been a chill in the air as much as anything else which contributed to his pain. "I felt my arm from the cold, but there is nothing to worry about my arm. I will be fine."
Federer is a favourite to lift a fourth title at Melbourne Park after losing the final a year ago to Rafael Nadal.
Federer i Vlasic wygrali plebiscyt UEPS
Lider rankingu ATP Tour i zwycięzca 15 turniejów wielkoszlemowych Szwajcar Roger Federer i złota medalistka lekkoatletycznych mistrzostw świata w Berlinie w skoku wzwyż Chorwatka Blanka Vlasic zostali triumfatorami 27. edycji plebiscytu na najlepszych sportowców Europy w 2009 roku, zorganizowanego przez Europejskie Stowarzyszenie Prasy Sportowej (UEPS).
Uznanie głosujących zdobyła również zdobywczyni trzech medali mistrzostw świata w biegach narciarskich w Libercu i zwyciężczyni Pucharu Świata Justyna Kowalczyk, która uplasowała się na szóstym miejscu wśród kobiet.
28-letni Federer zgromadził 54 punkty i wyprzedził mistrza świata Formuły 1, Brytyjczyka Jensona Buttona - 18 oraz znakomitego norweskiego biathlonistę, Ole Einara Bjoerndalena - 13.
Młodsza od Szwajcara o dwa lata Vlasic uzyskała 30 punktów. Drugie miejsce zajęła dwukrotna mistrzyni i rekordzistka świata z Rzymu, włoska pływaczka Federica Pellegrini - 22 pkt, a trzecie rekordzistka świata w skoku o tyczce Rosjanka Jelena Isinbajewa - 20. Przed Kowalczyk znalazły się jeszcze belgijska tenisistka Kim Clijsters i niemiecka pływaczka Britta Steffen.
Vlasic wygrała plebiscyt UEPS po raz pierwszy, a Federer już po raz piąty. Jego hegemonię w ostatnich latach 2008 roku przerwał inny tenisista - Hiszpan Rafael Nadal.
UEPS, do którego należą dziennikarze z 48 krajów, jest największą sekcją kontynentalną zrzeszającego 153 państwa Światowego Stowarzyszenia Prasy Sportowej (AIPS).
Federer reassures all is fine with his forearm
Roger Federer says family time and not injury time were responsible for his decision not to play in his usual warm-up event at Kooyong Club prior to next week's start of the Australian open.
"This year is very different," said the world No. 1 Swiss, as he made a chocolate sponsor appearance in Melbourne before Monday's start of the Grand Slam,
He added that the right forearm which troubled him last week in a loss at Doha to Nikolay Davydenko will not be an issue as he begins the quest for a fourth title at Melbourne Park.
"It was a precaution, but also I've played quite a bit of tennis already. I played six matches in eight days in the Middle East.
"When I came here I wanted to enjoy the family, settle into Melbourne and then see where it takes us. I've had a couple of hits, it's been good weather."
Federer has been hammering the practice courts, training in blocks of two and three hours since arriving on Tuesday.
"I've been hitting well, my forearm is where it's supposed to be and I'm moving well and that's always important at the beginning of the season. I'm sure it's going to be fine for the Aussie Open."
Wywiad z RF.
ROGER FEDERER ON “UNPLEASANT QUESTIONS”, BULLSH*T AND TIGER WOODS
Q: For the first time since a long time, you start the season not having to answer those 2 questions: ‘Are you going to break Sampras’ record any time soon?’ and ‘Are you finally going to win Roland-Garros?’ Do you miss them?
RF: (he laughs) Now I’m done with unpleasant questions! Frankly, it’s relaxing. A year ago, I was No. 2 in the world, I was about to lose the final in Melbourne and people were relentlessly questioning me.
Q: Now that you’ve won at least once each of the Grand Slams, now that you hold the Grand Slams titles record, don’t you feel a sense of emptiness?
RF: It’s the end of a period. Within one month last year, between RG and Wimbledon, I reached those 2 great goals. I think it changed my life, but I never felt ‘empty’ afterwards. I’ve never woken up one morning asking myself: ‘What do I do now?’ We’re lucky because tennis is a very dense sport. There’s the rankings, Grand Slams, Masters 1000, head-to-heads… Sometimes I motivate myself just by thinking about the history I have with one player. [whynotme - Murray at the end of last year? LOL]
Q: You haven’t felt the need to think about what happens next, about your goals?
RF: No. The desire to play comes naturally. What I often do is that I go back to the beginning: why did I chose tennis as a kid? Why did I work so hard during all those years? What do I like so much when I play tennis? And the answers come easily. It’s simple: I don’t really think there is someone who loves tennis more than I do.
Q: But don’t you feel like a burden has disappeared?
RF: Yes and no. Personally I think the pressure is always there, and it’s a good thing. It’s a different pressure, but it has not disappeared. Anyway, if one day there’s nobody to put pressure on me anymore, I’ll still be there to put it on myself. I don’t even remember having played a match without feeling any pressure.
Q: You like challenges [whynotme - they do not mean Hawk-Eye ], so here are some. Tell us if you’re motivated by them.
RF: OK, here we go.
Q: You need 2 more Masters 1000 to beat Agassi’s record of 17.
RF: Mmmmmh. I’m not really excited by that. Masters 1000 have been existing only for 20 years, and I don’t know how many of them great players from the past could have won. So this record does not mean much.
Q: Another challenge. If you stay world No. 1 after RG, you’ll beat Sampras’ all-time record of 286 weeks.
RF: This is an important record to me. When I beat Connors’ record (consecutive weeks as world No. 1) I already thought it was really great. Staying in the front that long when you know who is behind you, it’s not easy. By the way, my main goal this year is to finish the year No. 1 in the world. It has been so hard to get that ranking back.
Q: So you want to stay No. 1. What else?
RF: To win more tournaments. Last year, I won 4 of them. They were big ones, but I have to be able to do better. I lacked titles in smaller tournaments. True, I had to withdraw several times, because of an injury or because I needed some rest (Dubai, Halle, Tokyo). So I focused entirely on big tournaments, and I don’t really like it. Before I withdraw from Tokyo last year, I had told Seve (Luthi): ‘I’m going there to serve-and-volley on 1st and 2nd serves’. Because I thought it could help me later.
Q: Speaking of later, when do you think you’ll end your career?
RF: To calm down everybody, I said I’ll play until the 2012 Olympic Games in London. But it’s a minimum. I don’t think I’ll stop there. I see myself playing after, but differently. I’ll try to play some new tournaments, to do some exhibitions in South America, where I’ve nearly never been to.
Q: You’re in the top 10 since you’ve entered it in October, 2002. Do you think today’s top 10 is stronger than back in 2002, with Safin, Hewitt, Novak, Henman, Grosjean, Ferrero?
RF: Tough question. I’m not so sure. Nowadays, the guys have less weaknesses but maybe also less main strengths. Before, players were more surprising, with more varied games. It was harder to dominate on a specific surface. Nowadays playing conditions are been standardized and the players as well. Often, when I watch players like Davydenko, Del Potro or Djokovic, I wonder what their best shot is…
Q: If you had to chose one player that is going to reach a new milestone in 2010, who would it be?
RF: If I had to chose only one, it would be Murray. He has built himself cleverly, he won a lot of Masters 1000, he already has a lot of experience. That being said, Del Potro never won a Masters 1000 but still won the US Open. A year ago, I would never have said predicted that. He was not really using the strength of his serve, unlike now. He’s improved so much.
Q: And what about the winner of the World Tour Finals, who just beat you 2 times in a row?
RF: Oh, Davydenko! I can tell you I’m going to follow him very closely in Melbourne. The Australian Open is going to show us if he can keep up with this rhythm, and if he can beat us in best-of-five matches. This is so interesting!
Q: Monfils, Tsonga, Simon, Gasquet, you’re interested?
RF: A lot. We all know they have a big potential. Let’s say they confirmed it last year. Now, they need to make a breakthrough and therefore to be less injured. Richard is going to go up quite fast. The big question is how far?
Q: Nadal has not won a tournament since Rome last year, in May. Some think he’ll never be what he once was.
RF: This is bullshit ['conneries' in French]. It reminds me what people said about me last year. I’ve seen Rafa play in Abu Dhabi and in Doha: he lacks absolutely nothing. Granted, he’s not won in a long time. But look at those who beat him: Del Potro, Murray, Davydenko, Djokovic, Soderling… They’re not bad! Think about it: had he played Wimbledon last year and not lost 2,000 points from his victory in 2008, where would he be right now? He came back from injury, so it’s normal that he lacked confidence. But to me, the really great Rafa is still to come.
Q: You never had any serious injuries. The Australian Open is your 41th GS tournament in a row. Is it hard work or luck?
RF: Both. I’m expecting myself to be fit in big tournaments. You cannot just come at Grand Slams with a small injury. Ladies can handle the 3 first rounds while healing, men just can’t. My style of play helps me to last longer. Most of the time, I decide how the point is played, I make the other one run. When Rafa takes 45 minutes to win a set, I can take 30. I worked really hard when I was a junior to build myself an efficient armor. Now, I work less hard, but more precisely.
Q: You’re 28 and you can’t recover as fast as before. Is it why you hired Stephane Vivier, a French physio?
RF: He’s from Marseille on top of that! (he laughs) It’s true that your age matters. Until this season, I always had masseurs, and I wanted to work with a physio. He had worked a long time with the ATP and I didn’t want people to think that I was stealing him, like ‘Sorry guys, but I’m Federer. Now he’s mine’. I think everybody took it well.
Q: What do you mean by ‘working more precisely’?
RF: When you’re young, you don’t warm up. You play on your PlayStation and when you’re called to play the match, you leave. Now, I consistently take a 10-minutes muscle warm-up right before the match. I strengthen my back nearly everyday because I’ve had problems in the past. I’ve always felt my back wasn’t strong enough.
Q: And what about your sleep? Word is that you sleep like a log.
RF: True! If I don’t sleep 11 or 12 hours a day, it’s not right. If I don’t have that amount of sleep, I hurt myself. When the twins cry and I’m in a tournament, I put my earplugs in and I go back to sleep.
Q: You withdrew from the Davis Cup 1st round. Is it because it’s against Spain, in Spain, and on clay?
RF: Not because it’s Spain. Just because it’s on clay. Between Dubai and Indian Wells, it just doesn’t fit. It saddens me, but I know why I took that decision.
Q: Some said it was self-centered and unpatriotic. People thought that after having beaten Sampras’ record you would be able to play the Davis Cup…
RF: People have to understand that it’s just not possible to do everything. Had I made another choice, maybe I wouldn’t have won RG last year. Do people prefer me to play the Davis Cup or to hold the GS record? Don’t Swiss people prefer having me as the world No. 1? If I play it and then it costs me in the rankings, people will always be there to tell me: ‘Ho, hum, you’re not no1 anymore!’
Q: Is it really impossible to do both?
RF: I consider that a Davis Cup round amounts to take out one Masters 1000. And I’m not ready to do that. I still favour my individual choices; time will come when this changes. You also have to understand that I do not have a team as abundant as Rafa’s with Spain. I’m not complaining. It’s just a fact. Rafa hasn’t played the quarterfinals and the semifinals last year. But people saw him as the star in the finals. They just forgot he wasn’t there before.
Q: Have you spoken to Tiger Woods since his problems were revealed?
RF: Yes, he is my friend and I told him I was there to support him. It’s really tough for him and his family to see their intimate problems flaunted everywhere.
Q: Have you learned something from the magnitude of this story?
RF: This is instructive. The tabloids are going crazy, sponsor contracts are falling apart… I’ve always been aware that the image you patiently construct for an entire career can be ruined in a minute. It scares you a bit, but that’s the way things are. Tiger needs calm. And soon he’ll become the wonderful golfer that we know again.
OFF COURT - HAITI FUNDRAISING EVENT
Dear fans
We are going to have a fun exo at Melbourne Park tomorrow (Sunday) at 2 p.m. to help raise monies for relief efforts in Haiti from the devastating earthquake. Other top players such as Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Kim Clijsters, Serena Williams and Sam Stosur will also participate. The entry fee is a minimum donation of $10. This should be fun and it's for a great cause.
I think it’s something as a tennis family we’re very happy to do. I know it’s on the eve of the first Grand Slam of the season, so it’s for some not so easy maybe mentally to separate a few things – but I think it’s a great initiative.
The devastating earthquake which hit Haiti on Tuesday measured 7.0 on the Richter Scale and has left tens of thousands of people dead. The United Nations has launched an appeal for hundreds of millions of dollars to try to help around three million people in need.
We all hope to see lots of you there to support the cause - it may be a nice day also for families to come and see some top players play!
(rogerfederer.com)
ATP - READY FOR TAKEOFF!
Having made it all the way to the final last year, Roger will start his quest for a fourth title at the Australian Open starting on Monday. It is everything but an easy way there as he is scheduled to play Russia's Igor Andreev (ATP 36) to start off with. Next up should be Argentina's Juan Ignacio Chela (ATP 75) or Romania's Victor Hanascu (ATP 47). In the third round he could meet Spain's Albert Montanes (ATP 31). After that, France's Gilles Simon (ATP 15) or Lleyton Hewitt (ATP 22) - obviously the crowd's favourite - could follow. A tough quater-final against Nikolay Davydenko, who defeated Roger in both their last matches, is possible before making it to a potential semi against Novak Djokovic..
OFF COURT - HAITI FUNDRAISING A GREAT SUCCESS
The charity-match that Roger initiated has turned out to be a great success! A total of 15'000 tickets for seats in the stadium were sold (full house), about 5'000 more visitors came to see the action on the screens on the compound, which normally stays closed on Sundays.
The athletes played a doubles competition in two teams:
Team Federer: Roger, Serena Williams, Lleyton Hewitt, Samantha Stosur.
Team Nadal: Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Roddick, Kim Clijsters.
Roger's team was eventually defeated 6-7 in the show-match. All in all, the stars were able to generate about 200'000 Dollars with the event. The money will be donated to help the victims of the devastating earthquake in Haiti.
rf.com
Przed AO - Wywiad z Rogerem Federerem.
An interview with:
ROGER FEDERER
Q. Can you tell us more about what you're doing for the people of Haiti tomorrow.
ROGER FEDERER: I had the idea that we could do something, you know, to help Haiti after the tragic earthquake. So I spoke to some other top players. I got some connections, you know (smiling). They all said, Yes, we should do something.
So we're going to play doubles or mixed doubles tomorrow, also with top women's players, try to fill the stadium. This is where you guys can help. Maybe put it out in the press. I think there will be a donation at the door of $10 to come and see us play.
I think it's something as a tennis family we're very happy to do. I know it's on the eve of the first Grand Slam of the season, so it's for some not so easy maybe mentally to separate, you know, a few things. But I think it's a great initiative.
Happy we can go through it, have some fun tomorrow. Maybe nice day also for families to come and see some top players play.
Q. Chosen your partner yet?
ROGER FEDERER: I haven't chosen yet. I'll pick wisely (smiling).
Q. How has being a father affected your preparation?
ROGER FEDERER: It's been good. Flight to Australia was good. I was surprised. I was expecting much worse. The girls are feeling good. Mirka is doing well, too. You know, if they're all doing well, I'm always much more relaxed, as well.
We've been enjoying our time over here. Preparation's been going smooth, you know, the way I wanted. I could get the practice session in and also spend some quality time with them. So it's been a fun week.
Q. Although it doesn't seem like probably 12 months have passed since you were last in that chair, could you reflect to what's happened to you and your game, et cetera, in the intervening period.
ROGER FEDERER: The last 12 months?
Q. How different you feel coming back here.
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, I feel great, you know. New start to the season is in a way always refreshing and exciting. Everything sort of starts at zero, you know, except the rankings, which is a good thing, thank God.
No, look, I think the players feel great. Most importantly obviously I'm focused on my game. I think I put in a lot of work, you know, last year trying to get back to No. 1. Also in the off‑season I try to work extremely hard. Because the year before, you know, I think I lacked that a bit through illness and everything. So I think I'm back where I want to be.
Also my game's following. I maybe wasn't as successful as I wanted to be, you know, the last few tournaments, but I was able to reach No. 1 in the world. But obviously the back‑to‑back with the French and Wimbledon was, you know, an amazing accomplishment for me.
On top of that, you know, on the personal note, that I was able to sort of handle everything at the same time was quite fascinating actually for me as well.
I'm excited now traveling the world, you know, as a family. It's a first for me, as well. Like I said before, it's going really well. It's really inspiring.
Q. You made some comments about Tiger. How difficult has it been for you as a friend to see him going through all that in such a public way?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, just following it from afar, you know. All I can say, I'm not going to talk about his personal life, but I wish him all the best, you know, getting back, you know, hopefully on the golf course, resolving his problems, and see how he goes.
But yeah, that's about it.
Q. There's been a lot of talk about him being a role model and that being a bad example. How do you take your position as a role model as a top tennis player? Do you feel you have to stay extra squeaky clean?
ROGER FEDERER: No, I mean, I just try to be myself, not change for the press or the public or the fans, you know. If they like me, that's great. If they don't, you know, that's too bad.
But, you know, I think most important is that there's a lot of fair play involved when I play the game, respect for the game, respect for the opponent, you know, be polite to every meet. I think those are key things my parents have taught me. You know, I try to do the same thing.
Sure, you know, I'm doing a lot of press conferences, and not being able to hide on the tennis court is not an easy thing sometimes. But I think I've done well over the years. I still enjoy doing it even though there's more enjoyable things than doing press conferences. It's just part of it, you know (smiling).
Q. Do you still get anxious before a big tournament? If so, on a scale of 1 to 10, how anxious do you feel?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I think the first thing you arrive and you're, Okay, let's relax, get over the jetlag, practice a little bit. It's nice getting back on Rod Laver Arena, for instance. From yesterday to today on I feel it's moving closer. I do get, you know, the sense of now also knowing who I play against, when I play, sort of the mind goes into preparing. This is really when I feel I'm getting excited.
Yeah, I mean, I definitely do get very excited for many big events, many tournaments, trying to prove myself over and over again, and see if the hard work paid off. Playing in front of a nice crowd is always something special because in the off‑season there's maybe two people hanging at the fence just walking by and seeing you practice. But, you know, this is where it's special and you can get some momentum during the match because of the spectators. That's really what I'm looking forward to live again this week or the next two weeks.
Q. Do you like this court surface? What sort of difference do you feel?
ROGER FEDERER: I like the surface a lot, yeah. I think it's very fair for every playing style. Slice stays low. Kick bounces up. You can play with spin. You can play from beyond the baseline. You can play in the court. If that's the case, I think we found a good sort of a court for a tournament, especially a big one.
So I think it's a fair, you know, surface. Also when it's hot, you know, the ball bounces more. When it's cool, it's a bit tougher to hit winners. But you have to construct the point a bit more.
Yeah, I think it's a very nice surface.
Q. You're a real fan of tennis and often stay up late to watch matches at the US Open. Having the kids now, is that going to cramp your style a bit?
ROGER FEDERER: We'll see. At the US Open actually it went fine, but they were still even younger than now. They're still very young. But, yeah, I mean, if they're up, I'll take care of them. If they're sleeping, maybe I'll have to catch some sleep, as well. We'll see how we figure it out here in Australia depending on their jetlag and mine.
But, yeah, I like watching the tennis especially from bed, the night sessions, you know, it's exciting. Obviously not until 4:30 in the morning like Lleyton likes to do the stuff sometimes (smiling).
But, no, I'm also anxious to see how everything's going to be these next couple weeks.
Q. The changes in your life, what are you going to do with the schedule this year? I'd like to get a comment from you as to some people saying you may not have the hunger now that you have a family to go after the big tournaments. What would you say about that?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, the schedule is, what is it, the Australian Open, then we got Davis Cup, then I got Indian Wells and Miami, then we for to clay. We have Rome, Estoril and Madrid, the French, Halle, Wimbledon, so forth.
You know, similar schedule I had the last few years. With the clay sometimes I switch around a few things here and there. So that's about the plan. Not massive changes.
With the hunger, I mean, of course, there's always going to be speculation I think. Once you have a family, they look at the history and see, Oh, some players didn't win when they had family and so forth. But I think there's not much you can, you know, compare really because normally as guys you have kids later on, you know, because in the beginning you play, you travel so much, it's not so easy to create a family when you're traveling so much. But the hunger is still there. I'm working as hard as I have been.
I haven't been just baby‑sitting, you know. I also like to go out in the morning, you know, put in the big hours. I feel my game's really where it's supposed to be. I can only put in the best effort I can and hope that the results will follow.
Q. When you said Davis Cup, did you mean Dubai?
ROGER FEDERER: Playing Dubai and not Davis Cup, yeah.
Doting Roger Federer ready to roll
WORLD No.1 Roger Federer says fatherhood has provided inspiration in his pursuit of another Australian Open title.
The Swiss champion arrived in Melbourne with wife Mirka and six-month-old twins Charlene and Myla. He said he was enjoying the busy new phase of his life.
"I'm excited now, travelling the world as a family," Federer said.
"It's a first for me, as well. It's going really well. It's inspiring. It's not so easy to create a family when you're travelling so much.
"But the hunger is still there. I'm working as hard as I have been. I haven't been just babysitting. I also like to go out in the morning, put in the big hours.
"I feel my game's really where it's supposed to be. I can only put in the best effort I can and hope results will follow."
Federer was a doting dad in the corridors of Melbourne Park yesterday.
Only eight players have won grand slam singles titles after becoming fathers -- and only American Jimmy Connors managed the feat more than once.
Federer said his preparation could not be faulted for a tilt at his 16th grand slam crown.
"There's always going to be speculation once you have a family, you look at history and see some players don't win when they have a family," he said.
"But the flight to Australia was good, I was surprised. I was expecting much worse.
"The girls are feeling good. Mirka is doing well, too. If they're all doing well, I'm always much more relaxed."
Roger i Jego rekordy w DEUCE.
Roger’s Records To Stand Test Of Time
DEUCE
Like Mozart and Michelangelo, Roger Federer’s body of work ranges from exceptional to sublime. The Swiss has set multiple records that will likely stand the test of time. Below we look at 10 of Federer’s most amazing feats and quantify [with totally unscientific methodology!] the chances of the achievements being matched or topped during his lifetime.
1. Winning five consecutive titles at two different Grand Slam tournaments
About The Feat: Since the abolition of the Challenge Round [when the defending champion was automatically placed in the following year’s final] Federer is one of just four players to win the same Grand Slam tournament five consecutive years. [Tilden six at the US Open 1920-25; Emerson five at the Australian Open 1963-67 and Borg five at Wimbledon 1978-81]. But Federer is the only player in history to win two different Grand Slam titles [Wimbledon 2003-07 and US Open 2004-08] for five consecutive years.
Chance of Feat Being Topped: 1%
2. Winning 15 Grand Slam titles in the span of 26 majors
About The Feat: After going titleless in his first 16 Grand Slam tournaments, Federer has made up for lost time. Beginning with his 2003 Wimbledon breakthrough, the Swiss has won more than 50 percent of the majors he has contested. In contrast, Pete Sampras won his 14 majors over a span of 45 Grand Slam tournaments.
Chance of Feat Being Topped: 2%
3. Reaching 17 of 18 consecutive Grand Slam finals between Wimbledon 2005 and US Open 2009
About The Feat: This record goes beyond consistency. It speaks to Federer’s unrivaled excellence at the pinnacle of the sport – the Grand Slams – and his ability to play his best under pressure and when it counts most. No other player has come even close to a streak of Grand Slam finals appearance like this – and no one likely ever will. Federer will try to make it 18 of 19 at this month’s Australian Open.
Chance of Feat Being Topped: 3%
4. Reaching 22 consecutive Grand slam semi-finals (or better) from Wimbledon 2004 to US Open 2009
About The Feat: To put this feat into context, Federer’s ongoing streak of contesting 22 consecutive Grand Slam semi-finals is more than double the length of Ivan Lendl’s 10 consecutive Grand Slam semi-finals reached – the next best streak. The last time Federer didn’t make the last four at a major was in 2004 at Roland Garros, when he was beaten by three-time champion Gustavo Kuerten in the third round.
Chance of Feat Being Topped: 3%
5. Winning 24 consecutive finals
About The Feat: In 2004 and 2005 Federer won 22 consecutive finals in which he appeared [in addition to winning his last two finals of 2003] for a streak of 24 straight finals won. That’s astonishing considering that Federer was going up against the second best player in each of those particular tournaments. In finals, you not only have to play well, you have to play clutch. Federer’s finals streak ended at the last event of 2005, the Tennis Masters Cup. Although he came into the tournament with an ankle injury, Federer led arch rival David Nalbandian two sets to love and later, in the fifth set, was two points from the title on his own serve before Nalbandian rallied to win a fifth-set tie-break. It was all down hill from there for Federer, who in 2006 lost in four finals (all against Rafael Nadal) and only won 12 titles :)
Chance of Feat Being Topped: 4%
6. Reaching all four Grand Slam finals in the same season three times
About The Feat: Only two singles players have ever reached all four Grand Slam finals in the same year: Rod Laver, who did it twice when he completed calendar-year Grand Slams in 1962 and 1968, and Federer, who did it a remarkable three times in the past four years. Considering also that Federer is the only man to reach all four Slam finals in the same year on three different surfaces (hard court, grass and clay), it seems even more unlikely that someone will top that feat in Federer’s lifetime.
Chance of Feat Being Topped: 4%
7. Three-year period of dominance
About The Feat: Between 2004-2006 Federer went on a tear that is unlikely to be matched during any future three-year period, compiling a 247-15 match record. His season records during that time were 74-6 (2004), 81-4 (2005) and 92-5 (2006). He won a stunning 34 titles, including eight Grand Slams, nine ATP World Tour Masters 1000s and two Tennis Masters Cup titles. Had he served out the 2005 Tennis Masters Cup final against David Nalbandian [instead of losing in a fifth-set tie-break] Federer’s season record that year would have been 82-3, the same as John McEnroe’s unrivaled match record in 1984.
Chance of Feat Being Topped: 5%
8. Holding the No. 1 South African Airways ATP Ranking for 237 consecutive weeks
About The Feat: Federer’s 237 consecutive weeks at No. 1 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings (from 2 February, 2004 to 17 August 2008) is best contextualised by looking at the next best streaks: Jimmy Connors at 160 weeks, Ivan Lendl at 157 weeks and Pete Sampras at 102 weeks. Federer, who has been No. 1 a total of 265 weeks (as of 11 January, 2010), is now within reach of Sampras’ all-time (non-consecutive) record of 286 weeks at No. 1. [Federer has five times finished as ATP World Tour Champion, just one year shy of Sampras’ six finishes as year-end No. 1. But Sampras finished No. 1 six consecutive years - a separate feat that Federer, now 28, is unlikely to ever match.]
Chance of Feat Being Topped: 7%
9. Sixty-five consecutive grass-court match wins
About The Feat: Federer’s 65 straight wins on grass could so easily have ended at 39 when he saved four match points against Olivier Rochus in the Halle quarter-finals in 2006. But history shows that Federer scratched out a win and ultimately extended his record streak to 65 before he lost 9-7 in the fifth set to Rafael Nadal in the 2008 Wimbledon final. With modern-day grass-court tennis no longer favouring a dominant serve-volleyer like a Sampras, Becker or Edberg, it will be more difficult for one player to dominate on the surface and threaten Federer’s streak.
Chance of Feat Being Topped: 12%
10. Winning one Grand Slam title a year for seven consecutive years
About The Feat: This is a category in which Federer does not hold the record – yet. The Swiss has won at least one Grand Slam title for seven consecutive years, just shy of Pete Sampras and Bjorn Borg, who won at least one major for eight consecutive years. Assuming Federer wins a Grand slam title this year to get a share of the record, what are the chances someone (other than Federer) will extend it? It sounds a tough record to break, but Rafael Nadal is already riding a five-year streak. And despite his lapse at Roland Garros last year, he’s likely to be the leading contender for that title for many years to come, as well as at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, where he is a former champion.
Chance of Feat Being Topped: 25%
Wywiad z Fedem po I rundzie AO:
Q. Close call, or based on past experience, you figured you would get to him eventually?
ROGER FEDERER: No, tough match, you know, like I knew from the start. It was not gonna be an easy one. He's got incredible acceleration on his shots, obviously, especially his forehand. He's very physical and intense, so I was happy with the start I got today.
I was up a break and actually feeling well, and then there was a quick swing around and he was able to get the first set. That was tough, but I reacted, and I think I played a very good match from start to finish really.
A few hiccups, but I think those are more due to his good play and because of also playing against the wind. So it was a good first round for me anyway.
Q. Are you very happy to play the best of five?
ROGER FEDERER: I mean, I just think in best of five you have more the mental strength that comes into it, physical strength. It's not so much up to chance.
Best‑of‑three sets is always over in a hurry. I would have been at one set all and a break down, and, you know, close from being out. Like this, you still know you have some way to go.
He get tired in the fourth set a little bit. If you can take advantage of it, the tougher player comes through.
It's also mindset going into a match like this, you know. I don't think if it was the best‑of‑three‑set match you think that way. You know you're gonna be out there for a while. I like that approach.
Q. After such a tough first three sets, how do you explain 6‑Love in the fourth?
ROGER FEDERER: It might be just that one step slower than he was in the beginning, you know. Instead of hitting the forehand close to the line, it clips the tape. It's that one or two shots, and then you have to start taking more chances and then you get frustrated. Then it's over quickly, you know.
To break anyway isn't easy, but you have to put in the hard work. He did it for a very long time. I got off to a good start. I think then he got a bit disappointed.
Important for me is to stay focused and, you know, put him away. It's not an easy thing to do. It looks routine, but it's a lot of hard work in there.
Q. Would you say that you saved more the set points or that he missed a little bit of those set points he had?
ROGER FEDERER: I'm sure he could have played better, you know. But it was a very crucial, you know, moment in the match. There was a lot of tension. I could have won the set twice before; he could have won the set twice before.
So it was just one of those moments where anything can happen, you know. You need a bit of luck. I definitely got that in the third set today.
Q. What's your relationship with Hawk‑Eye these days? I know you don't like it, but have you accepted it more?
ROGER FEDERER: I got no chance other than to accept it. You know, we always hope we don't have to use it much, you know, because the linespeople are so good. That's how it was today. I was happy with the linespeople's performance.
Q. How are you finding the challenge of being a dad and the world No. 1 player?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I'm happy there's those two challenges. Before it was only the No. 1 in the world challenge. For a tennis player, that is obviously the greatest thing. I feel really good about it.
It's a lot of fun coming back and spending time with them. Now they can also start spending some time at the court sometimes, which was not something we did last year. So it becomes also a bit more fun also for Mirka's day‑to‑day life.
I think I'm handling it well. I'm trying to. It's not the easiest thing, but we're trying.
Q. Nikolay Davydenko said everyone in the draw is scared of him. Are you scared of him?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, respect the way he deserves. Yeah, sure.
Q. Not scared?
ROGER FEDERER: "Scared" is a bad word. I don't like that word. Ask a boxer if he's scared of the other guy. I don't think he's going to say yes.
Q. Do you fear him?
ROGER FEDERER: I respect him like I do over a hundred other players in the draw.
Q. Can you say something about the wind in the stadiums in Grand Slams? Which differences between this year when it's windy on the two different sides of the court?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I think most windy is maybe New York usually. It's just the strongest winds. But it's pretty ‑‑ it's not so swirly, you know. I think maybe at the French Open and Wimbledon you get sometimes more the swirly winds.
Here, normally it's easiest to play because it's the most covered center court we have on a Grand Slam level. So usually it's pretty good. There was a slight breeze, a comfortable one today. Still, it makes a huge affect on how you play from one side and the other side.
Yeah, you always got to adjust. It's not easy. But I quite like playing in the wind. I think it's more challenging than just playing the opponent himself.
Q. Can you think about last year where you were at coming into the Australian Open with Nadal at the top of his game and this year? How do you feel different about your game and your attitude now as compared to last year at this stage of the Australian Open?
ROGER FEDERER: Um, well, I mean, I came off a tough ‑‑ what was it? Shanghai Masters, I think, not making it to the semis and having a back injury. So it was important to see how I'm feeling and how deep in the draw I can go and how is the back gonna hold up.
Focus is completely on my own game and not really who's playing well. I know if my body is there and my game is there, I can beat anybody. I'm sure Rafa was on an incredible run, but he had issues himself. He also pulled out of Paris and Shanghai, didn't he, that year? So he had issues himself. We couldn't quite predict how incredibly well he was gonna play.
You only see that after the first week is over, who's really in good shape and stuff. So the way I'm feeling now, I'm very happy. I can really concentrate on the way I want to play and not on my body or anything.
So that's a good start already. I'm through in the second round. It's not very deep yet, but at least I got some information, and I feel like I'm playing really well. Hope I can keep it up and go deep.
Q. Was the back bothering you during the Australian Open last year?
ROGER FEDERER: Actually I don't remember. I think I was just worried that it was gonna come back, and so maybe I was playing with a little bit of doubt, you know.
But I still thought I played a great Australian Open last year, even though I ended up losing in five in the final. I think that final match we played against each other was one of the best we've ever played. I still walked away feeling good about my game.
Q. Most people go to the office; sometimes they wouldn't like to go. Does it happen to you, too? Or, I mean, does it happen often that you get bored and you said, Okay, today I wouldn't like to play or practice? Does it happen often or never?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, what's you're ‑‑ what do you think my office is, the practice court or the center court?
Q. I think the office is the practice court.
ROGER FEDERER: The practice court. Yeah, I do sometimes go to the office then thinking, Why do we have to do that many hours today, or is it really necessary? Sure, I also ask myself the questions.
If it's the center court you're talking about, no problems whatsoever to get into it and motivated. The practices are, sure, tough.
But I've gotten really, in the last years, actually quite a lot of joy out of practicing tennis or fitness, because I really see the benefit of doing the tough, long hours.
I will get them afterwards on center court and they will pay off. Like, for instance, maybe in a match like today which was very physical. When I was younger, a teenager...
Q. You see the benefit but you don't enjoy?
ROGER FEDERER: I do like it, because I know I can enjoy it even more out on center court. I don't want to lose any matches because of fitness or lack of practice. So that's not gonna happen.
Q. Santoro said today he had the most respect for you out of the whole career. Do you have any words for him?
ROGER FEDERER: Sure, it's nice to hear. We're good friends and we get along well together. He enjoyed playing against me. Same for me. If I could pick a guy to play against, I would like to play against him. Every day I would pick him. He would try something different and I would try something different.
We would almost allow each other to do that; whereas with other players you get tangled up in the same rallies. He's not the power player and he uses a lot touch. So obviously I have a lot of respect for everything he's done in our game.
ATP - ROGER SURVIVES FIRST ROUND SCARE
Roger played Igor Andreev (ATP 36) on the second day of the Australian Open. He had to work hard in a match lasting 164 minutes in order to defeat the Russian 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(2), 6-0.
"I just hoped that I was going to hang in there. He was a wonderful player and it was tough. It was a fortunate third set for me today, but all in all I'm very happy with my performance," Roger said after the match. He has never been eliminated in the first round in his eleven appearances at Melbourne Park and was thus clearly relieved.
Roger started well, controlling the first set at first, but with Andreev's powerful returns then had to admit a break and dropped the first set. He won the second set in Roger-like, efficient manner - but the third was one big battle. Facing break point, Roger hit a misjudged drop shot, but Andreev, with the court open, played long. Roger then served for the set, but won only one point, then served to stay in the set and won just two points. Everything was wide open for Andreev - who then went on to miss the chances given. In the tie-breaker, at last, normal service resumed, with our champ taking it home easily. The last set was one last race by Roger, making everything clear after the somewhat scary intermezzo.
Roger will meet the winner of the match between Chile's Juan Ignacio Chela and Romania's Victor Hanescu in the second round on Thursday.
Federer through, aided and abetted by his opponent
The mere act of walking out to toss the coin prompted a round of applause for Roger Federer yesterday, the way Greg Norman once compelled cheers in this country as he walked between holes. MC Craig Willis' theatrical presentation of Federer's credentials - ''but wait, there's more'' - was the cue for a second round. If anything, the ovation for Federer was warmer than ever yesterday, recognising what would be brought into sharper focus this day in an unexpectedly taxing first-round match: somewhere, a bell has tolled.
It is still distant, faint and ambiguous. If Federer is in decline, it can be measured not in failings, but in degrees of success. He played all four grand slam finals last year, but was stretched to five sets in three of them, and lost two. He lost 12 whole matches. He missed others because of injury, to get married, and after the birth of his twins, all twists which have dulled the motivation in others. He finished the year at No.1 again, but at least partly because of setbacks for Rafael Nadal. He is 28, an elder in tennis terms. Nikolay Davydenko is one of several who are talking openly of a post Federer/Nadal era.
The sum of these parts made Federer a sentimental as well as obvious favourite yesterday, and made Russian Igor Andreev a rare example in Australia of a little-loved, though eminently admirable underdog. As it happened, Federer would need all of his fund of goodwill. It is six years since he has lost even a set in the first round of a major tournament. Yesterday, he lost the first and should have lost the third, except that on each of three set points, Andreev hit the ball out. All were forehands, his best shot. Andreev stared at them achingly, like lost loves.
Spent, Andreev could not win a game in the fourth set. Federer said later he liked best-of-five tennis because everything after the third set was mental. But the humour of his post-match interview was flatter than usual. He, too, had had to work at his wits' end.
Andreev is a seven-year veteran who wins more than he loses, which is more of a boast than it seems in the archly competitive world of mens tennis. He dates Maria Kirilenko, plays what Federer says is an intensely physical game, hits his forehand with such heavy topsin that the ball appears to elongate in flight and follows it with an equally elliptical grunt; in short, he is perfectly adapted to the modern game. He is ranked 37, and might perhaps have thought that he was entitled to avoid Federer in the first round.
Once Federer would not have minded who he played. Now, he regarded Andreev warily. They had played only twice, but both matches were hard fought. Federer felt in control of the first set yesterday, but because of Andreev's aggression he was contained largely behind the baseline and hit arrhythmically. Suddenly, two crunching returns won Andreev the set.
Federer won the second speedily, but the third was a whirligig. Each won it twice and lost it twice. Facing break point, Federer hit a badly misjudged drop shot, but Andreev, with the court open, played long. Aghast, he adoped a frozen pose. Federer served for the set, but won only one point, then served to stay in the set and won only two points.
His frustration showed, in his grimaces, in a shout of self-recrimination, in the way he flapped his hands. Rarely has Melbourne Park seen Federer so ragged, rarely has Federer heard Melbourne Park so hushed. But Andreev missed his moment, all three of them. It made him one of around 15,000 on centre court yesterday in a mood to shower indulgence on Federer, but also the least heartfelt in his generosity. In the tie-breaker, at last, normal service resumed, and in the fourth set, Fed express.
It is not uncommon for an older player to betray vulnerability early in a major tournament. Towards the end of his career, Pete Sampras would say that he was more likely to lose in the first week than the second. But never before has Federer appeared so brittle, so early. At least now he knows he is in the tournament.
''I prefer easier matches,'' he said. ''But this works well.'' Even in his mortal moments, Federer endears himself. Somewhere, Tiger Woods must be watching and thinking what he has squandered.
Australian open 2010: Roger Federer admits he was lucky to progress
World No 1 Roger Federer admitted he needed to ride his luck in his first-round match at the Australian Open as he battled back from a set down to overcome Igor Andreev.
The Swiss produced an uncharacteristically sloppy display as his Russian opponent's big hitting and aggressive style repeatedly forced him into unlikely errors.
It was the first time in 25 first-round grand slam matches Roger Federer had been taken past three sets before he eventually wore down his opponent 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7/2), 6-0 in two hours and 44 minutes.
The turning point of the match was at the end of an epic third set when Andreev failed to take three set-point chances on his serve before losing the tie-break, and Federer admitted he had got lucky.
"It was a very crucial moment in the match. There was a lot of tension," Federer said. "I could have won the set twice before, he could have won the set twice before.
"So it was just one of those moments where anything can happen. You need a bit of luck. I definitely got that in the third set today."
He added: "It was a tough match. He's got incredible acceleration on his shots, especially his forehand. He's very physical and intense, so I was happy with the start I got today.
He next plays the winner of the match between Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela and Romania's Victor Hanescu, neither of whom have beaten the Swiss in a combined seven matches.
Nikolay Davydenko, who upset Federer in their last two matches having lost their previous 10 encounters, is a potential quarter-final opponent.
The Russian dismantled German qualifier Dieter Kindlmann 6-1, 6-0, 6-3 in his opening match and said: "Now it's everyone scare(d)."
Federer was not prepared to count himself among the fearful.
"Ask a boxer if he's scared of the other guy. I don't think he's going to say yes," he said. "I respect him like I do over a hundred other players in the draw."
ATP - ROGER IN PERFECT FORM
Roger played a terrific match today, dismissing Victor Hanescu 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 today to show that he is ready to go all the way for his fourth title Down Under.
"I knew the danger of Victor. He is a good player although maybe he is more accustomed to clay. I am just thrilled to be through," Roger said.
Our champ raced through the first set with ease in just 34 minutes. It took him one minute less in claiming the second set and Hanescu could only play witness to greatness in the third, as Roger dashed ahead and then closed the match. Roger hit 52 winners and was not broken once by his Romanian opponent.
Roger faces Albert Montañes on Saturday, he has beaten the Spaniard in both previous meetings. After that, he is headed towards either Lleyton Hewitt or Marcos Baghdatis.
Konferencja po meczu II rundy AO:
Q. Were you warned beforehand that there may have been a Royal visitor tonight during the match?
ROGER FEDERER: Yes, I was warned.
Q. Did you expect the reaction that came with the flashes and the cheering and stuff like that?
ROGER FEDERER: For him when he walked on?
Q. Yeah.
ROGER FEDERER: Of course. I think I've had situations where someone walked in and there was big round of applause. I'm used to it because I play a lot of primetime matches where there are very important people watching.
This one tonight was obviously extremely special. It's a pleasure, of course, playing in front of him.
Q. What would be the most intimidating person that's come to watch a match of yours?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, used to be my friends and parents early on. Then it goes other athletes, actors and musicians, Royal Highness. Just moves on. So I've had plenty. Obviously depends on the situation. Obviously having legends of the game watching, for me, is very nice always.
But then, of course, where he comes from, you know, he knows tennis, and Wimbledon's big, you know. So for me it was very ‑‑ I mean, a big honor that he came to watch me.
Q. Was that game perfect for you for the next round?
ROGER FEDERER: We'll see. I mean, I'm happy the way I played today. I think the opponent was very different to the one I played in the first round. He played much more on the baseline, so there was many more half‑volleys and the rallies were shorter.
So it was different kind of a match. Got off to a good start and kind of never looked back. Very happy with the way I played. Moved well and played some amazing shots. It was great.
Q. Back to the Prince, he visited ‑‑ sorry.
ROGER FEDERER: Sure. He doesn't come around every day.
Q. He visited New Zealand on his way here. What about your memories of playing in New Zealand in 2000, and also do you plan to visit again?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I remember playing once. I think it was also the time when America's Cup was held there. Didn't win a whole lot of matches. Played on the outside court and lost first round to Ferrero.
But you never know. Right now obviously the Middle East swing for me works very nice. But you never know in the future. I might always switch around my schedule. Never know. I'd like to come back.
Q. Will you get a chance to chat more informally to William later, maybe see him later tonight?
ROGER FEDERER: I saw him briefly just before the press conference. Got a little chance to talk.
Q. What did he say to you?
ROGER FEDERER: What did he say?
Q. Yeah.
ROGER FEDERER: He was happy he could make it. Yeah, I mean, I'm not gonna tell you everything he just said to me. You've got to have a little bit of a secret.
No, he looked really happy coming to a sports venue. I think he's had a very busy schedule the last few days. He shook a lot of hands, and I knew mine was one more. From what I've heard, I think he met Serena and myself, and came to watch my match.
He said he was happy that I played a little bit longer, because the match could have ended even shorter. Yeah, so it was nice.
Q. Have you met other members of the Royal family before at Wimbledon?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, the ones on court at the trophy ceremony. Do those count for you, or not?
Q. Yeah. (Laughter.)
ROGER FEDERER: Because those you should know. I mean, but not...
Q. But chatty‑wise?
ROGER FEDERER: Chatty‑wise, no, I don't recall. No. Chitchat, no. English breakfast tea? No, not yet.
Q. Just a question about Rafa. He's had a lot of problems in the last 12 months, although he...
ROGER FEDERER: Depending how you look at it.
Q. Although he's your major rival, is there part of you that wants to see him back to his best?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, he's ranked No. 2 in the world. Okay, maybe he hasn't won a tournament for a long time. He's given himself opportunities over and over again. He struggled lately against the top 10 players from what I've heard.
Still, he's not the type of guy that anyone in the top 10 wants to play against. He still has and will always have the mental strength and toughness and that physical game that he has, you know.
So I expect him to win a tournament very soon, of course. The end of the season it's always harder for him to win tournaments because the surface speed gets faster and faster as the season goes on. You can't expect him to win every tournament at the end of the season. I didn't win many either lately. So it's not easy.
There's a lot of competition at the moment. I think once he gets his edge back, which he almost got in Doha by having a few matchpoints against Davydenko, I think he'll get back on a roll again.
Q. Have you given any thought to how many years you can stay at the top of the game?
ROGER FEDERER: No. It's something that you just hope it's gonna last as long as possible. It's amazing being world No. 1 and playing in front of sell‑out crowds every match I play.
It's something I hope to have as long as possible. If you lose your ranking, you hope to get it back. You know, what I've achieved nobody can take away from me. That's obviously something that's very satisfying. It's also something I like doing.
You know, where I'm gonna spend my vacation, how I'm gonna spend time with my family, how I'm gonna practice and which tournaments I'm gonna play. It's something I like to talk about. It's not something I'm trying to run away from, which is obviously a good sign for me.
Q. Do you prefer playing any time of day or not, or doesn't matter to you? Supposed to be 36 degrees in the next couple days. Or is it all the same? You just go out there and play your best?
ROGER FEDERER: No, I mean, sure, it changes playing at night or playing during the day, also with the crowds. Obviously there's as huge focus, you know, the whole tournament is focused on center court at night. So I would lie if I told you I didn't like playing at night. I have also a great record playing in night sessions around the world and at many tournaments.
But then again, you have to be play also all conditions. I don't mind the heat. I think the hard work has paid off finally after many tough years in the heat. That's why I wouldn't mind playing in the heat. That could actually be a bonus for me.
Q. Do you think you're becoming a more patient player? You seem to be taking a patient approach and waiting for your opponents to make mistakes.
ROGER FEDERER: It's still early on in the tournament. You sometimes don't have to force the issue every single time. Because against, let's say lower‑ranked players outside of top 10, you do sometimes in the rally get a second chance; whereas against top players it's pretty obvious how you gotta play.
That's how my two opponents played. They know they have to step it up and not give me a chance in the rally. That's why it's dangerous for me to play against all these guys. They take huge cuts at the ball and nothing to lose. And if they win they're heros, and if they lose, it's an incredible experience.
From my standpoint, it obviously depends also on how the opponent plays. Today I was willing to go for more points and rallies where I decided I not to miss and only go for it if I'm perfectly set up. I think the tactic worked tonight.
For the next round opponent, I definitely have to adjust my tactics again.
http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/new … 58656.html
No i jeszcze mały bonus:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNpIOsaHMM8
:P
OFF COURT - ROGER MEETS PRINCE WILLIAM
ATP World No. 1 Roger Federer met HRH Prince William of Wales after his second round win at the Australian Open on Thursday.
Below are excerpts of Roger’s post-match press conference tonight:
Q. Were you warned beforehand that there may have been a Royal visitor tonight during the match?
ROGER FEDERER: Yes, I was warned.
Q. Did you expect the reaction that came with the flashes and the cheering and stuff like that?
ROGER FEDERER: For him when he walked on?
Q. Yeah.
ROGER FEDERER: Of course. I think I've had situations where someone walked in and there was big round of applause. I'm used to it because I play a lot of primetime matches where there are very important people watching.
This one tonight was obviously extremely special. It's a pleasure, of course, playing in front of him.
Q. What would be the most intimidating person that's come to watch a match of yours?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, used to be my friends and parents early on. Then it goes other athletes, actors and musicians, Royal Highness. Just moves on. So I've had plenty. Obviously depends on the situation. Obviously having legends of the game watching, for me, is very nice always.
But then, of course, where he comes from, you know, he knows tennis, and Wimbledon's big, you know. So for me it was very ‑‑ I mean, a big honor that he came to watch me.
Q. Will you get a chance to chat more informally to William later, maybe see him later tonight?
ROGER FEDERER: I saw him briefly just before the press conference. Got a little chance to talk.
Q. What did he say to you?
ROGER FEDERER: What did he say?
Q. Yeah.
ROGER FEDERER: He was happy he could make it. Yeah, I mean, I'm not gonna tell you everything he just said to me. You've got to have a little bit of a secret.
No, he looked really happy coming to a sports venue. I think he's had a very busy schedule the last few days. He shook a lot of hands, and I knew mine was one more. From what I've heard, I think he met Serena and myself, and came to watch my match.
He said he was happy that I played a little bit longer, because the match could have ended even shorter. Yeah, so it was nice.
With kind permission by the ATP.
Rozmowa z Federerem po III rundzie:
Q. Could you assess your game today? Tell us what you thought of it.
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I thought it was dominated from my side with my serve, which allowed me then to take chance on the return. Pretty straightforward match, really. I don't remember him having any breakpoints.
But, yeah, it was tough to play. He was playing tough from the baseline and making it hard for myself. I'm happy with the match and was able to serve it out, so it was good.
Q. I think you made 39 unforced errors. I know you've got high standards. Is that a little bit disappointing?
ROGER FEDERER: No. I don't care about stats. That's not me.
Q. Are you happy with the way the tournament's going now?
ROGER FEDERER: Sure. I mean, I'm happy I survived a scare against Andreev. After that, I was able to come through comfortably in the next two rounds into week two. I feel like I'm obviously fresh and ready to take on the bigger names.
So far it's been great. I'm happy the way I'm feeling. Obviously you'll elevate your game gradually as the opponents get harder. So I'm happy the way I feel.
Q. Do you sense that there is an even greater strength in depth at the top of the game? Coming into this event, you could have made a case for probably 12 players having a great shot at winning this.
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, I definitely think we have guys now ‑‑ as they get older as well, they're gonna win bigger tournaments and have more experience.
Before, the group was Del Potro, Murray, Djokovic, and all those guys. They were just coming out of their teens. You can't expect them right away to win slams. Now they're all in a good age where normally you either make your move or, you know, you definitely have a chance.
So that's what we're looking at at the moment. A few guys have already won slams. That's not an easy thing to do, because, I mean, Rafa and myself are still around and making it extremely hard for guys to take home any slams. Because over five sets in two weeks, I think we know best how it works.
But, um, I think it's an interesting draw again. You know, I think there's no easy ways to a final or to a victory here. So you definitely gotta probably beat some of the best players in the world.
Q. Does that drive you, the fact that the youngsters on the block are nipping at your heels nowadays?
ROGER FEDERER: No. I think you can always find ways to motivate yourself. I obviously loved the time when I was dominating and winning 10 to 12 tournaments a year and not losing to any top‑10 player. I mean, those were fantastic times for me, of course.
But then again, it was also nice going through the time with the incredible rivalry I had with Rafa. Before that, being able to play against guys like Sampras and Agassi and so forth and being the up‑and‑coming guy. So I think you take it as it is and try to make the best out of it. That's the way I looked at it.
I think today it's a completely different situation. I'm still at the top of the rankings and I like to be challenged. That's what makes me better.
Q. How do you feel in comparison to the last time you won a Grand Slam as far as form?
ROGER FEDERER: My form is fine. I think you have to assess it as the tournament goes on. You can feel great today and play a horror in two days' time. I don't want to say I'm playing the best tennis of my life, because I haven't had to so far.
Depends how you're being pushed and how the opponent is playing. I'll go match by match.
Q. We saw Nadal fighting pretty hard last night and getting through. Everyone talks about his mental strength. Do you think you get enough credit for your mental strength and toughness?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I think from the experts' sides I do. I don't know how much the regular media or fans talk about it. But I think you definitely need it to stay at the top of the rankings for so long.
Victories don't come easy. If you look at today's match ‑ I don't know how many watched it today ‑‑ but it looks straightforward. If you're on the other side of the planet you think, okay, no problems whatsoever.
But it was a tough match. I had to battle through, and there was tough moments and frustrating moments out there. They don't come easy, those victories. You have to be mentally strong to be at the top no matter ‑‑ regardless of the player you are.
With him, it's from point one to the last point it's always the same intensity. He never drops it. I think that's what is different if you look at him and other players.
Q. It's the first time we've had the top three players on the council. You've been in that role for a while now. Do you feel like you guys are having any affect on the way the tour's run?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, we try to, you know, be involved, of course, as much as we can. You know, of course more importantly is that we play good tennis. We want to leave, I think, the game better off.
For this, we would like to be involved obviously in the decision‑making to some degree. You know, of course we do trust Adam Helfant and the board.
But I think it's better for everyone, to be quite honest, that we are involved. Because too many times as it happened that the decisions have been taken and we almost only heard about it through the press in the past.
That's not the way I think it should be run. I'm happy that Rafa and Novak have a big interest. I also the other guys, if we would ask them, would be interested to be on the board. But I think they trust what we do at the moment, so it's going pretty smoothly.
Q. What do you think are the top pressing issues?
ROGER FEDERER: At the moment?
Q. Yeah, for the tour.
ROGER FEDERER: I think it would be nice to have a main sponsor for the ATP. I think that's maybe No. 1. I always think figuring out, you know, sort of tennis mostly on TV as much as possible, especially in Europe where the markets are pretty difficult to get to sometimes.
Because one's French speaking, one's German, one's English, one's Italian. You have to go to each individual market which kind of makes it hard. I think that would be nice, to get as much tennis on TV as possible.
Other than that, just shortening of the schedule. I don't know if that's a really big priority. I mean, it's always something we'll talk about for the next hundred years. But we'll see if it's possible to change or not.
It's something we're always debating. And as the top guys, I think we'll come together and find a solution for that. The longer the season is the more weeks you have off during the season, so it always works.
Q. To follow up with that question, they're talking about a World Cup competition which could be replacing the Davis Cup over two years. What do you think about that? We read some strange stories, like the players can be substituted during the match. So if it comes out from you straight as you said it, or you read it from the press, did you read anything about it?
ROGER FEDERER: I heard. I mean, I was not in the press the week prior to the Australian Open, because I didn't to have speak to you guys, you know, because I wasn't playing in Kooyong.
I just read a lot as well. I don't know quite enough about the concept, so I don't know. We'll see how it goes. Focus is on the tournament, not on the World Cup or Davis Cup.
We know we have issues, but we'll see. Probably I'll look more into it after the Australian Open.
Q. You spoke on court after the match about the fact that your father worked here for a few months, and there was a chance for a while that the family could have emigrated to Australia. Could you elaborate on that?
ROGER FEDERER: I don't remember quite ‑‑ I was maybe 12, 14 years old. I remember actually my parents having a debate, are we moving away from Switzerland to come live over here.
At the end, they just said, Look, we have all our friends over here. And even though it's lucrative and nice to go to Australia, they love the country, they also asked us kids. And we were like, whatever the parents decide. What are we gonna decide here?
So at the end they decided to stay in Switzerland. So, yeah, it was interesting time, you know, but it was quickly decided on. I think we even went ‑‑ I mean, went on vacation here maybe before I joined the National Tennis Center at 14.
We went on a big vacation here through Melbourne and Brisbane and Cairns and everything to maybe get a better idea of the country. Beautiful vacation, but at the end we decided to stay in Switzerland.
Q. What was your father doing out here? And secondly, Australia Day is coming up, and traditionally any new citizens who want to change nationalities choose that day to do it. You've still got time.
ROGER FEDERER: I would probably move first to South Africa than Australia, because I have that passport, too. No, my father was working in the paper industry. I don't know how you call it in English. Ask him yourself. He's in the corridor sometimes.
ATP - ROGER FRESH FOR WEEK TWO
Roger produced a convincing display on serve to progress to the fourth round of the Australian Open with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Albert Montañes (ATP 32).
"He didn't make many mistakes. I expected him to miss a bit more. I needed to make sure I served well because if I had a hiccup on serve it could have been an even closer game," Roger said. "I've come through a difficult draw, I feel physically fine and mentally fresh, but the opponents will get tougher from here."
Our champion broke his Spanish opponent once in each set and did not allow him a single break point on the way to today's victory. He only had a rather short period during the second set when his game did not work like he wanted it to. But he went right on to break Montañes to love to advance 5-4 in the second and then serve out the set. The third was again dominated by Roger who came to an early break, closing the match after 1 hour and 48 minutes.
Roger will now face either Lleyton Hewitt or the 2006 finalist, Marcos Baghdatis, for a place in the quarter-finals. Roger has beaten Baghdatis in all nine of their previous meetings and defeated Hewitt the last 14 times they have played each other.
Roger Federer admits his family almost migrated to Australia
SWISS tennis legend Roger Federer has revealed he came close to emigrating to Australia as a youngster.
Federer, who has a South African mother, was born in Switzerland and has won his record 15 Grand Slam titles under the Swiss flag.
But his Swiss father, Robert, who is employed in the pharmaceuticals industry, spent three months working in Australia when his son was aged about 12.
And the family considered moving Down Under.
"I was maybe 12, 14 years old," said Federer, after progressing to the fourth round of the Australian Open.
"I actually remember my parents having a debate about moving away from Switzerland to come live over here.
"At the end, they just said, 'look, we have all our friends over here.'
"So in the end they decided to stay in Switzerland."
Federer said the family went on vacation to Australia before he joined the Swiss National Tennis Centre at 14.
"We went on a big vacation here through Melbourne, Brisbane and Cairns and everything to get a better idea of the country," he said.
"It was a beautiful vacation, but in the end we decided to stay in Switzerland."
Federer has long enjoyed a close relationship with Australians, including two of his coaches, Tony Roche and Peter Carter, who died in a car crash in 2002.
AO: 50 zwycięstwo Federera w Australian Open.
Roger Federer, po zwycięstwie nad Montanesem w 3 rundzie AO10, odnotował swój 50 wygrany mecz w turnieju Australian Open. Jest to drugi wynik ery Open. Najwięcej wygranych w Wielkim Szlemie Azji i Pacyfiku ma Stefan Edberg (56).
Federer miał być Australijczykiem
- Pamiętam, że moi rodzice zastanawiali się, czy wyjechać ze Szwajcarii, żeby zacząć nowe życie w Australii - przypomniał Roger Federer. Trzykrotny triumfator Australian Open był o włos od tego, by święcić triumfy w barwach Australii. W końcu Federer wrócił jednak do ojczyzny.
Federer miał wtedy 14 lat. Ojciec najlepszego tenisisty świata musiał wylecieć na antypody na trzy miesiące do pracy i zabrał ze sobą rodzinę. - Mieliśmy długie wakacje od Melbourne, przez Brisbane, aż po Cairns. To była świetna okazja, żeby lepiej poznać ten kraj - wspomina numer jeden na świecie.
- Mimo że rodzice zakochali się w Australii, postanowili jednak zostać w Szwajcarii - zdradził. Wkrótce Federer dołączył do tenisowej akademii i rozpoczął karierę. Niespecjalnie żałuje też, że nie osiadł w Australii na stałe. - Nie zmieniłem wtedy obywatelstwa i zostanę Szwajcarem na zawsze. Bardzo się cieszę, że wybrałem taką drogę - zaznaczył. - Przykro mi... - puścił oko do Australijczyków.
Federer i tak ma dwa paszporty. Jest jeszcze obywatelem Republiki Południowej Afryki, skąd pochodzi jego matka. Australijskiego paszportu nie chciał, ale i tak jest uwielbiany w Melbourne. Wywalczył tu trzy wielkoszlemowe tytuły, a od sześciu lat nie schodzi poniżej półfinału. W poniedziałek nad ranem polskiego czasu stanie w szranki z innym faworytem gospodarzy, tym razem już Australijczykiem, Lleytonem Hewittem.
http://www.eurosport.pl/tenis/australia … tory.shtml
niezłe jaja :D ja na przykład nie wiedziałem, że Roger ma obywatelstwo RPA :)
Weapon of choice
In tennis, you need a weapon. Fernando Gonzalez’s weapon is his forehand. Andy Roddick wields his serve like a rocket launcher, and Justine Henin has a backhand that can put an ‘L’ next to a player’s name quicker than the petite Belgian can yell “Allez!”.
But what is Roger Federer’s weapon of choice? The world No.1 is pretty damn good at, well, everything. But he does have a weapon that perhaps isn’t as obvious as a killer forehand or lightning court coverage. Federer’s biggest weapon is, arguably, all in his mind.
His name features at the top or near the top of every record worth achieving in men’s tennis.
He has been No.1 for a total of 266 weeks over a career that is now in its 13th year. Of his time at the top, 237 of those weeks were consecutive – the next person on this list is Jimmy Connors with 160, and then Ivan Lendl with 157.
He has won a major in each of the past seven years. Pete Sampras and Bjorn Borg each did it for eight years, and Federer could equal that this week.
And, of course, he’s won 15 major singles titles – one more than Sampras.
The next record on the Fed Express’s list is Sampras’ achievement of 286 weeks as the world No.1, and the Swiss could do that some time this year if all goes to plan.
But how does he do it? Talent is only part of the equation. To come back after losing his coveted Wimbledon title to Nadal in 2008 and the No.1 spot with it, to withstand the force of the next wave of contenders pushing from behind in 2009, and to keep winning on a tour that takes no prisoners and gives players little rest between seasons takes a strength of mind and resolve that few can match.
“He is in charge of his mind; physical work makes the psychological side of his game stronger,” said Federer’s conditioning coach, Pierre Paganini.
“There are many links between body and mind, but there are also links between the way you play and your mind as a whole.”
The man himself agrees. “I think you definitely need it [mental strength] to stay at the top of the rankings for so long,” Federer says.
“You have to be mentally strong to be at the top no matter – regardless of the player you are ... I know I’ve got the game, and this is very important that you know that you have it.”
It’s been well documented that what is now Federer’s greatest strength was once his greatest weakness.
“He was going nuts on the court; if you look at him now you can’t believe it,” said friend and Swiss Davis Cup player Yves Allegro.
“I was very bad when I was young, to be honest. I always had a tough time being consistently strong mentally,” explained Federer.
“I would always have these lapses where I would get very disappointed, very angry, very sad. I would go through an emotional rollercoaster all the time.
“And this is what I think the other players always expected me to do. They would say ‘if you stay on top of Roger, eventually he will let go or he will have these 10 minutes where he won’t be able to control himself’.”
Former world No.1 and dual US Open champion Pat Rafter played Federer three times early on in Federer’s career, with the Australian taking the honours on each occasion.
“He just hadn’t developed,” said Rafter. “He needed to get the experience on the tour. He had to become tougher mentally, and that happened over those couple of years; he became better and better.”
And as he built up his mind to be as sharp and strong as a bear trap, the victories started to come, tons of them.
So what now for the King? He’s won practically every tournament there is to win and is universally recognised as one of the greatest sportspeople on the planet – so what’s his motivation? What could there possibly be left for him to do in the game that he has practically owned since 2004?
“I think you can always find ways to motivate yourself. I obviously loved the time when I was dominating and winning 10 to 12 tournaments a year and not losing to any top 10 player. I mean, those were fantastic times for me, of course,” he says.
“But then again, it was also nice going through the time with the incredible rivalry I had with Rafa. Before that, being able to play against guys like Sampras and Agassi and so forth and being the up‑and‑coming guy. So I think you take it as it is and try to make the best out of it. That's the way I looked at it.
“I think today it's a completely different situation. I'm still at the top of the rankings and I like to be challenged. That's what makes me better.”
If Federer can win his match on Monday night against Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt, he’ll be through to the quarter-finals and two short steps away from another major. If he goes all the way on Sunday, he will have won 16 of the past 28 Grand Slam titles. A remarkable feat.
“It's something that you just hope it's gonna last as long as possible. It's amazing being world No. 1 and playing in front of sell‑out crowds every match I play,” he says.
“If you lose your ranking, you hope to get it back. You know, what I've achieved, nobody can take away from me. That's obviously something that's very satisfying. It's also something I like doing.”
ao.com
Wywiad po meczu 4 rundy AO10:
An interview with:
ROGER FEDERER
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. Does playing Lleyton bring out the best in you?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, now it does. Used to not be the case. But we had some really good matches back when I lost, you know.
No, but I always think they're extremely tough. Physically and mentally very challenging. You know you're gonna be caught up in quite a tough match always against him.
Even though the scoreline predicts something else tonight, I had to really dig deep and come up with some amazing shots to beat him tonight.
Q. How did you rate the match tonight?
ROGER FEDERER: Very high. Hardly made any unforced errors. If there were some, they were at moments I can live with. I was really able to press on the offensive, serve well when I had to, and I moved well as well. Overall I'm extremely happy.
Yeah, I'm very pleased with my performance tonight.
Q. How important was it for you to take the crowd out of the equation and get a good start early?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, the crowd, I'm okay, you know, anywhere it goes really. I'm used to playing in tough conditions around the world, and also nice ones. I consider also crowd support for my opponent fine, too.
But I think the beginning of the match was just more important of giving a direction. I'm a great frontrunner, so I feel like if he gets the first set, it's gonna be a really close match; whereas if I win the first set, it's always gonna be hard for him.
We both started really well, and I was able to get the first crucial break. After that, it was tough for him.
Q. When you talk about being a frontrunner, when you have the first set under your belt, does your mindset change at all?
ROGER FEDERER: Um, well, I mean, it's just maybe more comfortable being in the lead. You don't ask yourself any questions of, Do I need to change anything around, because what you've been doing has been working, so you keep that up and you can go for a bit more maybe.
I think that's what top guys do really well overall. If you look at it, I obviously have done it so many times I know exactly what I need to do. Also, when I'm down, I just try and react and stay with it.
I think this is where Lleyton is extremely tough. When things aren't going so well, he can fight back. You know, the scoreline predicts 6‑2, 4‑1, but you don't feel like it's that much. You feel like it's 3‑2, 30‑All all the time. It's just tight. That's how I felt out there tonight.
Q. Where do you rate your rivalry with Lleyton?
ROGER FEDERER: Um, it's probably a top 5, for sure for me. Obviously the one with Rafa is great. But for some reason, I like the ones who are my age as well: Roddick and Hewitt. I like playing against them, because I came through with Lleyton in the juniors.
Roddick I don't remember him that much back then, but we played on so many big occasions in big matches. Same as Lleyton. And we're the same age. I really like those matches a lot.
Q. You said tonight you thought Nikolay had improved his serve and that's what makes him more dangerous. How has he done that, and what makes him more dangerous on serve now?
ROGER FEDERER: I mean, he would not hit his first serve, and if he would he would, he would miss it and then he would serve a ton of double faults. That would obviously give him many more opportunities to break.
In Doha when I played him, he hit 27 out of 27 first serves into the court clocking them at around 190. So it's a bit a difference, you know. That makes it a bit more difficult to break.
Obviously he's one of the good return players we have in the game. He moves extremely well and makes it hard.
I'm in for a good match for sure. I obviously favor my chances in a best‑of‑five set match. We'll see how it goes.
Q. You've got the Grand Slam record, family, and heaps of money. What motivates you now?
ROGER FEDERER: Love for the game, like it's always been. There's always ways to motivate and challenge you. Never really been in it for the money anyway. It's always been my dream to play on the biggest stages around the world, especially Wimbledon.
I've lived through many more things than I ever thought I would, so I feel very fortunate. I'm looking forward to many more years hopefully on tour.
Q. You mentioned tonight you played some amazing shots. How often are you genuinely surprised by some of the shots you come up with?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, quite often. Even though I know I can play really good shots and come up with great backhands, forehands, serves and volleys, and stuff, when you can really produce them in the most important stages of a match it's so rewarding and such a good feeling that all the hard work you put in in the off‑season is so like ‑‑ it's just a beautiful feeling, you know.
Then if you can start to hit a dropshot or dig in the corner and get the ball back that you think you would never get, but it's a match situation and the adrenaline is there and you just got that extra speed and you get the ball back and end up winning the point, it does still obviously surprise me even today.
Q. Lleyton was saying you're still pretty much the best in the game. What makes you so good, do you think?
ROGER FEDERER: You guys are the experts.
Q. We try to answer it all the time.
ROGER FEDERER: Right. I know. I don't know, I mean, like I said, I think the love for the game is very important, that I go through the daily grind and practice and matches with a very positive attitude, and how much I like to play it.
I think the variety of my shots. Like I said before, I can always change it up and surprise myself again. That makes it a lot of fun for me. Very challenging as well.
I can always adjust to any type of player. Maybe those are the reasons. I don't know. I think with the experience and the mental toughness and the physical capabilities I have, I think it's a very good combination obviously.
Q. Do you think the way you played tonight is the form that helped you get your last Grand Slam? Is it good enough?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, I've played great at the US Open, too. I've been very happy with my performances at the Grand Slams for many, many years now.
I'm happy I can always elevate my game against the better‑ranked players, especially champions like what Lleyton is.
So that's obviously a very good feeling. But we're only through to the quarterfinals already depending how you look at it. I hope I can go further, but I'm very happy with where my game is at right now. Looking forward to the next round.
Q. Are you getting enough sleep with the twins?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, it's been fine. Otherwise I would let you know. Maybe you can give me a hand. It's been okay actually.
Q. A lot of players are intimidated when they go on the court against you. Can you tell us the last time you were intimidated going on to the court and how you get through that.
ROGER FEDERER: Sometimes ‑‑ I'm never intimidated. Not that that's good or bad. I'm just saying that sometimes you're nervous before a match and you don't know why that is. Tonight, for some reason, I was unsure if I was gonna be able to bring my best game.
I don't know why. I told myself I got to be aggressive and go after my shots, and hopefully it's gonna work and not be a disaster. You sit down two hours later and analyze the match, and you're the happiest person alive. It's weird how it goes sometimes.
Almost doesn't matter who or where you're playing. It's just a feeling I have inside of myself. Sometimes I feel very, very confident and I lose in straight sets.
Not something you can predict.
ATP - ROGER MARCHES INTO QUARTERS
Roger brushed aside Lleyton Hewitt 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 today to advance to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.
Roger said: "He played very well the last couple of times we've played. I've always had tough ones against him. He's really picked up his game, he used to have issues on serve but now that's gone. I am happy to get through because Lleyton is a great competitor." Roger further commented that his athletic and mental strengths have allowed him to advance to a series of 15 victories against Lleyton Hewitt.
Lleyton Hewitt played aggressively but after a few games Roger found his rhythm and controlled the points. He left no doubt about his form as he varied pace, placement and spin on every shot, looking at ease. Hewitt also showed good tennis but was not able to match our number one. The match between the current and former world number ones certainly was a display of tennis of excellent quality.
Roger broke Hewitt in the middle of the first set, then going on to take the set. Roger dominated the game even more in the second set, winning it 6-3.The third set was a much tighter affair, but still Roger seemed comfortable while Hewitt continued to scrap for every point on offer.
Roger's reward is a last-eight match against sixth seed Nikolay Davydenko, ATP World Tour Finals champion, against whom Roger has lost the last two matches (semi-finals at the Masters '09 in November and in Doha in January '10).
Federer says its certainly not about the money
Roger Federer has his millions and his record-breaking array of titles. But the Swiss world No. 1 says that it's the on-court thrills which keep his momentum alive in a sport where he dominates.
"Love for the game, like it's always been," the Swiss said of his motivation after crushing Lleyton Hewitt to reach another Australian Open quarter-final. "There's always ways to motivate and challenge yourself."
Added the game's best-paid player: "I've never really been in it for the money anyway.
"It's always been my dream to play on the biggest stages around the world, especially Wimbledon."
The 15-time Grand Slam champion's latest goal is winning a fourth title at Melbourne Park after losing the final a year ago in five long sets to Rafael Nadal, himself still hot in the title chase.
"I've lived through many more things than I ever thought I would, so I feel very fortunate," said Federer. "I'm looking forward to many more years hopefully on tour."
More power to Roger Federer's elbow
WHEN Roger Federer lost the US Open final to Juan Martin del Potro last September, he did something out of character. I’m not referring to his choice of less than gentlemanly language to harangue the umpire and neither am I alluding to the way he was rattled uncharacteristically by his Argentine opponent’s successful use of Hawk-Eye. No, what he did that might have had the most lasting effect was to complete ahead of schedule all his post-match commitments, such as press conferences.
Traditionally, Federer has liked to take his time in that respect; once the match is over he is not to be rushed. But seemingly he knew the time had come to give his game some extra thought, to work out a new plan. Maybe he knew that the longer he had at his disposal, the better would be the outcome.
The tournaments that remained at the end of the season were not high on his list of priorities. He didn’t make the trip to Asia for the autumn events, didn’t seem hugely bothered by losing early at Paris-Bercy, got beaten in his home-town event in Basel and wasn’t really firing on all cylinders at the Barclays ATP World Tour Championships at London’s 02 Arena. He was concentrating on fine-tuning his game and the first week of the Australian Open tells me he has modified his forehand to make it easier on his body while at the same time producing more power.
The majority of Federer’s disappointments last year came on hard courts: the way he disintegrated against Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open final, the frustration in Miami that saw him trash a racket and the US Open final when he helped Del Potro’s cause by spraying ground strokes all over the place.
Now he is hitting the ball earlier and stepping into a more advanced position on the court. He is hitting his shots harder, courtesy of his fantastic racket-head speed. That’s a great bonus here in Melbourne because this year the court surface is sticky, which makes the balls fluff up quicker than normal and consequently sees them coming more slowly onto the racket. By generating his own pace, he gives himself a tremendous advantage.
Stringing his rackets a little bit looser will aid the process and I’m sure he did a lot of experimental work at his Dubai training base over the close season. Maybe he hadn’t quite perfected the new style when he began the year at the exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi and the ATP World Tour event in Doha, but it was interesting that he chose to miss the warm-up in Kooyong that has always been his preferred Melbourne preparation when fit. I would take a bet that he still had some work to do.
In the past I have criticised Federer for not utilising the advice of a coach and there is no question that he’s single-minded when deciding how to play. However, I applaud him for what he’s done here because it is a sensible option for a 28-year-old who wants to be around for a while yet. By taking the ball earlier and hitting it harder he’s in effect shortening the length of points.
Also, by playing that little bit further into the court, he’s not covering so much ground. Somebody such as Nadal who plays way behind the baseline might need seven or eight paces to get from one extreme to the other but being more advanced to take the ball almost on the half-volley a lot of the time lessens the effort.
I don’t want to boast but I arrived at much the same conclusion at a stage of my career when injuries had taken their toll and I knew I had to put my body under less stress. I’ve long been convinced it was a good move and I’m sure it will be the same for Federer, because he’s clever and has the skill and hand-to-eye co-ordination that make most of us jealous.
Right now things are still in the early stages and there may be some bumps along the road. Perhaps it might even take six months to perfect but by then we’ll be at Wimbledon and, based on the assumption that he doesn’t usually get things wrong there, the slightly adjusted Federer game could be stunning to witness.
Konferencja po 1/4 AO:
Q. After the Hewitt match, you described yourself as a great frontrunner and the importance of winning first sets. How deep did you have to dig today to get out of it?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, very much so. Was in a tough situation at 6‑2, 3‑1 down and 15‑40 on my serve. I knew I wasn't looking very good, you know.
But that's the beauty of best of five sets. I wasn't panicking, even though I maybe would have lost the second set had I lost another point there at that stage.
But, you know, I just relaxed and thought, you know, maybe if the sun goes and his level drops just a little bit, the whole thing might, you know, change for the better. It did. I couldn't believe the way it changed.
But I'm happy the way I was able to go on an incredible run and get the cushion with the extra break at the beginning of the fourth.
Q. What was happening with the sun?
ROGER FEDERER: It was just tough to play, I mean, for both players, you know. When the sun comes from the side, you get the feeling that obviously the one side's in the sun and the other one is in the shade because of it.
The ball seems half the size and is just hard to hit. Then there was a bit of a breeze and he was playing terrific. That was just more psychologically trying to be positive more than anything else.
We play in conditions like this all the time at the US Open, Indian Wells, and here. Just something you got to get used to.
Q. Serving for the match in the fourth and Davydenko fires those two rocket returns; what were your thoughts when they came back and he broke you?
ROGER FEDERER: It's not necessary, I thought. I was like, Why now? You could have played those some other time when it wasn't so important. I remember it happened once to me before. I hit a great serve on match point against Alberto Costa in Miami. I had flashbacks. I was like, Oh, my god, I had match point there. I served a great serve wide. He blocked it back. I didn't have a chance or I didn't have a play on match point. No regrets really.
And all of a sudden you're against the wind, he's starting to play better, and it was tough. You know, especially also the Hawk‑Eye call at deuce. You know, that was unfortunate, too, maybe.
But I believed still that even if it's maybe through the breaker or maybe even if I have a slight chance to break that I was gonna be able to win it. I'm happy that I believed in it and played great.
Q. 23 straight Grand Slam semifinals. Where does that rank in your accomplishments, and can you believe it?
ROGER FEDERER: No, I mean, it's incredible looking back on how many years that is now, you know, I'm able to deliver at Grand Slam play, especially, you know, this year. I think looking at the draw with Hewitt in the fourth round and Davydenko in the quarters, who has been on fire the last weeks and even today, you know, we saw big signs of it, why he's, you know, such a great player.
So for some reason I was just a bit worried I was not gonna make it this time in the semis. You always believe the streak is gonna be broken. I stopped thinking about it after the second round on and just started focusing on the tournament.
It helps once the tournament starts. You focus match for match and point for point, so I forget about the record. Now obviously that it's safe again and I've been able to add one. It's amazing. Definitely one of the most incredible things I have in my resume.
Q. So many incredible records. This one today is one that maybe nobody will ever remember. You won 6‑Love in the third set hitting only two winners. How does it come? How do you explain it?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, if you look at the match it's pretty easy to explain. You know, he hit so hard form the baseline and so flat, and it's hard to look for too many angles, you know. We had many, many forced errors.
That's why I never look at the ‑ how do you say it ‑ the stat sheet. You know, some are fanatics about it. How many aces and double faults did I hit, how many points won, or first serves. I couldn't care less about all those stats.
Same with winners and errors did you hit. I don't care if I was in the positives or the negatives. What matters is how you play your opponent, and the wind and tactics and everything. There are so many more important things, you know.
I thought through the second and third set we were playing extremely hard from the baseline. He was just missing a touch earlier, you know, so I didn't have to go for that much more. I was just happy with serving well and playing sort of exceptionally tough tennis.
Q. When you were on the run today, so you feel that was that some of your best tennis?
ROGER FEDERER: I mean, sure, winning that many games in a row against a player that's been on fire like this, it's a great sign. I've always had those spells, you know, if you look back at my Grand Slam play, that all of a sudden went on a terror and I was able to sort of dominate and create the difference this way.
I remember a few years go here, maybe in 2006 when I won against Baghdatis in the finals that year. I went on ‑‑ I think like in three matches I went on an incredible run. I'm happy I was able to do it again against a wonderful player.
Q. Do you feel you can get better still? Does that drive you to make your game better still?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, if we would have more practice, you know, I think I would have many more opportunity to improve.
You got to sort of deal with what you have. We have a season that goes from January to November. What makes you tough is normally matches, not practices. It makes you fit, but not tough. I'm happy where I am.
And when I have practice the few weeks of the year, I try to improve my strengths and my weaknesses and see where it takes me. What's important is I believe I can always improve. I think tennis is a very unique game because you're always on the move and you're always adjusting.
So you can practice two or six hours. Sometimes it doesn't matter. It's about the quality.
Q. Do you feel like you can still get better, though?
ROGER FEDERER: Same question, right?
Q. Yeah. Just be clear.
ROGER FEDERER: Is that your headline, or...
Q. Can you talk about how your game matches up against Tsonga and Djokovic?
ROGER FEDERER: How I match up. Let me think. Tsonga I think I've only played twice as far as I remember, so I don't know that much about him. I think he's only played his first five‑set match of his life. It's quite amazing at this age to only be pushed there, or for himself to be in that situation.
So it's interesting to see how he's gonna hold up and come out and play Djokovic, one of toughest guys we have on tour. But, yeah, he's a dangerous player. Very athletic obviously. You know, good athlete, both of them really. So regardless of who I play in the semis it's gonna be tough.
Safe bet tonight is Djokovic because he's been there before. But I think Tsonga has a pretty good record against him. But I think Djokovic maybe hasn't been tested that much in the tournament, so it's gonna be an interesting match for Novak as well.
Q. Are you the sort of character that seeks revenge given that Novak beat you last time here?
ROGER FEDERER: Oh, no, I'm not like that.
Q. Now that the defending champion is out, are you feeling a little bit less pressure?
ROGER FEDERER: Who's out? The defending champion, Rafa? You know, not really. I mean, I was ‑‑ I think that changed. That was the only time in my life I think I went through this was the French Open. Thank God I was able to win it, you know.
That was a huge affect. It had a huge affect on me that Rafa lost at the French, you know, just knowing the opportunities I had and being already occupied with my own game and opponents. It was ‑‑ that was ‑‑ had a big impact on me.
But not that Rafa lost this time around. I've won the Australian Open before. I thought Murray played a wonderful match. I think I had my hands full today with Davydenko, and I knew that last night watching it.
Q. There are many players that don't read much and don't know much about tennis. You come here and you say that you know Tsonga played for the first time five sets and you know that Tsonga beat four times out of six Djokovic and things like that. That means you read a lot? You like to keep yourself informed on what happens during a tournament? You read papers?
ROGER FEDERER: A little bit. Some days I do and some days I don't. Then I just like to listen to the commentary as well and see what they say. It's actually not really to study opponents. I watch it more as fan, I think.
I didn't watch last night's match going, Like, Hmm, that's interesting, you know, how they're playing. I couldn't care less. I just like to see a good tennis match and see how they battle it out and see the intensity of both players, you know, and watching how important it is for both of them to come through.
So I see it more that way than, What's he doing exactly when I play him next time? That would be for me way too stressful watching every single tennis match just thinking of my own game, how it would match up.
Q. As a fan, who is your idol apart from Roger Federer?
ROGER FEDERER: No, I think idols for me were the ones sort of reaching for the stars I thought were untouchable, such as Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg, Pete Sampras. You know that. I liked also Marcelo Rios' game as well when I was coming along. I was lucky enough to play him a few times as well.
Now I just enjoy watching the other guys play, too. Obviously I liked the net rushers back then like Rafter and Henman. But, yeah, no, I just watch it because I like tennis.
ao.com
27.01.2010 - 23 półfinał wielkoszlemowy z rzędu.
Roger Federer pokonał Nikolaya Davydenko w 1/4 finału Australian Open 2010. Szwajcar awansował po raz 23 z rzędu do najlepszej czwórki w imprezie wielkoszlemowej. Federer dzięki dzisiejszej wygranej zapewnił sobie pozycję #1 w rankingu Entry, bez względu na dalszy przebieg turnieju.
Australian Open: Wielki rewanż Federera
Roger Federer został pierwszym półfinalistą Australian Open. W hicie turnieju lider rankingu pokonał w środę 2:6, 6:3, 6:0, 7:5 Nikołaja Dawidienkę, triumfatora Masters. Szwajcar o drugi z rzędu finał w Melbourne zagra z ze zwycięzcą pojedynku Novak Đoković - Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Kto wygra w Melbourne? Obrońca tytułu odpadł, a z ćwierćfinałowego pojedynku największych faworytów zwycięsko wyszedł były trzykrotny mistrz. Będący w życiowej formie Dawidienko znów musi obejść się smakiem w jednej z czterech najważniejszych imprez tenisowych. Historia mówi: tak musiało być. Federer po raz ostatni w najlepszej czwórce Wielkiego Szlema nie znalazł się podczas French Open 2004, gdy odpadł w III rundzie.
Dawidienko na trzynastu meczach przerwał zwycięską serię, w której dwukrotnie (w Londynie i Dausze) pokonał Federera. Ten po triumfie nad Lleytonem Hewittem przyznał, że lubi grać z rówieśnikami i jeżeli dobrze rozpocznie mecz, rywal jest w potrzasku. Dawidienko też ma 28 lat, ale to on postawił Szwajcara pod ścianą. Mecz zmienił bieg, gdy przy 6:2, 3:1 Rosjanin nie wykorzystał kolejnych trzech szans na przełamanie. - On to odwrócił i dlatego jest numerem jeden - powiedział Rosjanin.
W I secie dzielił i rządził Dawidienko, któremu wchodziły wszystkie piłki (po krosie, wzdłuż linii, woleje), a do tego Federer grał nerwowo. Po pięciu gemach Rosjanin prowadził z dwoma przełamaniami. W tym momencie lider światowego rankingu miał na swoim koncie 14 niewymuszonych błędów przy czterech Dawidienki.
Sytuacja jednak diametralnie się zmieniła. Federer przy 1:3 w drugim secie obronił w sumie trzy break pointy, a w końcówce popisał się bekhendem wzdłuż linii oraz asem. - Nie panikowałem - tłumaczył Federer. - Pomyślałem sobie, że może jak słońce trochę zajdzie, to będzie mi się lepiej grało. I tak się stało! - dodał. Zaczęła się zadziwiająca zapaść Dawidienki, który przegrał 13 gemów z rzędu! Nie lubiący statystyk Federer w wygranym do zera secie zanotował ledwie dwa(!) kończące uderzenia.
Rosjanin przemógł się dopiero w trzecim gemie IV seta, gdy wygrał do zera podanie. Po sześciu gemach był remis, bo ambitny Kolia poderwał się do walki i wydawało się, że będzie w stanie dokonać tego, co w meczu z Rafaelem Nadalem w finale turnieju w Dausze (po przegraniu seta do zera odrodził się i sięgnął po zwycięstwo). - Zwykle wygrywam gemy toczone głównie na linii końcowej - stwierdził.
Końcówka IV seta była niezwykle dramatyczna. W ósmym gemie Federer wyszedł z opresji od stanu 0-40, wygrywając cztery piłki z rzędu za pomocą znakomitych serwisów i asa. Rosjanin rozpamiętywał zmarnowane szanse i w dziewiątym gemie dał rywalowi prezent w postaci breaka, popełniając podwójny błąd serwisowy.
W dziesiątym gemie Federer miał meczbola, ale Dawidienko popisał się serią trzech kapitalnych returnów i wyrównał stan seta na 5:5. Decydujący dla meczu okazał się gem jedenasty. Dawidienko miał dwie szanse, by po raz pierwszy od stanu 3:2 w II secie wyjść na prowadzenie. W tej wojnie nerwów zwycięski był jednak Federer, któremu przy trzecim break poincie dopisało szczęście (forhend Rosjanina po taśmie poza kortem) i już nie wypuścił zwycięstwa z rąk.
W trwającym 2 godziny i 36 minut meczu obaj mieli po 35 kończących uderzeń. Federer za to popełnił mniej niewymuszonych błędów (43-50). Wykorzystał też osiem z 14 szans na przełamanie serwisu rywala, sam zaś obronił 14 z 19 break pointów.
ATP - ROGER FIGHTS HIS WAY INTO SEMIS!
Roger defeated Russia's Nikolay Davydenko 2-6, 6-3, 6-0, 7-5 at the Australian Open today to reach the semifinals. It is the the 23rd time in series that he has reached the semis at a Grand Slam tournament!
After the match, Roger said: "I was luckier today, definitely, but I played well and I am really happy now." But they both left all spectators lucky enough to be there with a match to remember. It might even have been the match of the tournament.
After one hour, at 2-6, 1-3 with Roger's chances not looking a bit dim, he turned the match within just of a few minutes - winning a breathtaking 13 games in a row. He found his serve again in the same moment as Davydenko's tennis fell to pieces. But, just as bizarrely as he imploded, Davydenko gave the match another twist as he fought his way back in the fourth set. However, the Russian's return to form came too late as Roger closed the set 7-5.
He will now either play Serbia's third seed Novak Djokovic or France's 10th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Friday's semi-final.
13 gemów z rzędu Federera i jest półfinał!
Po pierwszym secie wydawało się, że Roger Federer trzeci raz z rzędu, w krótkim odstępie czasu, przegra z Nikołajem Dawidienką, ale w drugim nastąpiła totalna odmiana. Szwajcar wygrał 13 gemów z rzędu i zrewanżował się Rosjaninowi za ostatnie dwie porażki 2:6, 6:3, 6:0, 7:5.
Nikołaj Dawidienko rozbił Rogera Federera w dwóch ostatnich potyczkach. Pod koniec ubiegłego roku ograł Szwajcara w mistrzostwach kończących sezon ATP, a na samym początku obecnego sezonu Rosjanin ponownie ograł Federera na turnieju w katarskiej Dausze.
Pierwszy set ćwierćfinału w Melbourne zwiastował hat-trick Dawidienki, który grał jakby chciał wybić Federerowi tenis z głowy jak się później okazało szwajcarski mistrz odpuścił ten set, bo jak sam powiedział... "przeszkadzało mi światło, które padało na kort i czekałem aż zajdzie słońce. Wiecie, to jak z opóźnieniem jak czekasz aż skończy padać deszcz".
To by się zgadzało, bo w drugiej partii Federer rozpędził się jak "Fedexpress" (trafne określenie z naszego forum!) i zatrzymał się dopiero po zdobyciu trzynastu gemów z rzędu, a stan meczu z 0:1 w setach błyskawicznie zmienił się na 2:1 dla Szwajcara. Czwarty set rozpoczął się od prowadzenia Rogera Federera w setach, ale Dawidienko wrócił do gry, kiedy wyciągnął wynik na 5:5 w finałowej partii. Rosjanin zdołał obronić jeszcze jedną piłkę meczową, po czym Federer sięgnął po zwycięstwo. Szwajcarski tenisista, dla którego będzie to 23 półfinał z rzędu w turnieju wielkoszlemowym, spotka się w przedostatniej rundzie ze zwycięzcą meczu Novak Djoković - Jo Wilfried Tsonga.
Roger Federer into last four after rallying to beat Nikolay Davydenko
Roger Federer recovered from losing the opening set of his quarter-final with Nikolay Davydenko to reach the last four of a grand slam for the 23rd consecutive time.
The world No 1 beat the Russian 2-6, 6-3, 6-0, 7-5 and will now play either Novak Djokovic or Jo-Wilfried Tsonga for a place in the final.
Davydenko had beaten Federer in their previous two meetings and began confidently to roll through the opening set before grabbing an early break in the second. The Russian had all the momentum but Federer responded to the challenge in emphatic style as he reeled off the next 13 games to leave his opponent stunned.
Davydenko, who had won his previous 13 matches, regained his composure to briefly threaten in the fourth set, but again Federer withstood the challenge to book his place in the semi-final.
"I've played him many times and I know he goes through phases although they weren't a notch on what he did in that first set." Federer said. "I just tried to stay positive. I wasn't playing bad but he was just playing so well. It was obviously a bit of a surprise to come back that great because obviously he has been on an incredible run."
Federer finally found his form after going 3-1 down in the second set. His serve came good just as Davydenko's game fell apart. Federer's timing and his smile returned as he won the next five games to take the set 6-3. The Swiss also revealed that he had used a toilet break to his advantage at the end of the first set after Davydenko had broken him twice to take the initiative.
"I was having problems with the sun in my eyes also in the opening set," Federer said. "I was waiting for it to move. I never use my toilet breaks so I thought I will use it and I hoped that maybe in that time the sun would move maybe one centimetre, maybe three.
"It might have been one point that it affected, but maybe that is important in the end."
Federer stormed through the third set 6-0 but Davydenko, one of the game's steeliest competitors, regained his composure to take the match to 5-5 in the fourth. However, Federer ground out the break before serving out for the match.
The victory has ensured Federer will retain his world No 1 ranking for a 268th week when the new list is released on Monday, equalling Jimmy Connors in third place on the all-time list.
Roger Federer revival buries nemesis Nikolay Davydenko in Australian Open
ROGER Federer last night weathered Nikolay Davydenko's fierce challenge to reach the Australian Open semi-finals.
Seemingly down, and almost out, Federer hauled himself off the canvas to win 2-6 6-3 6-0 7-5 after Davydenko held a 3-1 lead in the second set.
Federer traded on his resilience to reel off 13 games in a row as his Russian opponent self-destructed.
The victory elevated Federer into a record 23rd successive grand slam semi-final and ended Davydenko's run of wins against him - at the ATP World Tour finals in London last year and in Doha, Qatar, two weeks ago.
Distracted by a setting sun and Davydenko's lightning start, Federer told himself to be patient in the hope a match, which seemed lost, might eventually be won.
"I've played him (Davydenko) many times and I know he goes through many phases," Federer said.
"Some of those phases are a notch under what he can be, so I was hoping for that.
"I was struggling with the sun coming in from the side and I knew it would eventually go away.
"It was like a rain delay - you hope for better."
Federer took a leisurely toilet break at the end of a ragged first set, sauntering back on court with the demeanour of a man without a care in the world.
It was a ploy to chew up a little more time as the sun faded from view.
"Of course, I'm very happy with the way I played," Federer said.
"I hung in there and believed. I got lucky a bit as well."
Davydenko's rollercoaster performance was perplexing. For a set and a half, he was untouchable, clubbing winners from all over the court.
He made Federer look inferior.
In the first set the world No. 1 made 17 unforced errors.
Once Federer cleaned up his act, only another 33 unforced errors came from his racquet.
Faced with the possibility of trailing by two service breaks in the second set, Federer sprang to life.
Suddenly, his serve, forehand and movement clicked.
And Davydenko began to miss.
Once he had control of the match, Federer was never going to lose - even when he failed to serve out the match in the fourth set and twice lost his serve.
Davydenko briefly threatened to take the contest to a fifth.
Truth is he had thrown everything at the winner of 15 majors but could not put away the world No. 1.
Federer is unfairly not renowned for his toughness - mental and physical.
But he was outwardly unmoved as defeat loomed as Davydenko revelled in blustery, cool conditions.
The Russian broke serve in the first and fifth games of the opening set as Federer struggled to find range.
The pattern continued into the second set.
And then Federer awoke with devastating impact.
Jan 27, 2010 from AFP:
MELBOURNE — Roger Federer made it to his 23rd consecutive Grand Slam semi-final after ending Nikolay Davydenko's hot streak at the Australian Open on Wednesday.
Federer misfired for the first set and a half, then went on a winning run of 13 games before holding off a late comeback to win 2-6, 6-3, 6-0, 7-5 in two hours 36 minutes. He will now play 10th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Friday's semi-final.
Federer had been beaten by sixth seeded Davydenko in their two previous matches and yet again the Russian gave him problems before the Swiss sealed it on his second match point.
Federer also ended the Russian's 13-match unbeaten streak stretching back from the ATP World Tour Finals in London last November.
The victory continued his amazing Grand Slam sequence of having never missed making the semi-finals since his third round defeat to Gustavo Kuerten at Roland Garros in 2004. No other player in history has appeared in more than 10 consecutive semi-finals.
The win also ensured that Federer would stay the number one player in the world when the new rankings are released on Monday.
Federer was woefully off-form in the first 13 games, clocking up 27 errors, before he got his first break point on Davydenko's serve in the sixth game of the second set.
He broke the Russian with a scorching forehand deep to the corner as he went on a demoralising run of 13 games to seize control of the match.
The Russian steadied and both exchanged service breaks before Federer missed his first match point in attempting to serve out for the match.
But Federer had the final word, breaking Davydenko in the 11th game before serving out to love for the match.
Federer advances to 23rd straight GS semifinal !
15-time Grand Slam champ to face No. 10 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in semis
MELBOURNE, Australia - The only three men to beat Roger Federer in the last 19 majors were already out of the Australian Open, leaving the Swiss star with a new threat to face.
Nikolay Davydenko’s 13-match winning streak was the hottest on the tour and included two wins over Federer during title runs at the season-ending championships in November and the season-opening event at Doha earlier this month.
The Russian unloaded everything he had on Federer for a set and a half Wednesday and was suddenly in uncharted territory at a Grand Slam tournament.
That’s when a bit of gamesmanship and a lot of big-match experience helped Federer switch gears and win 13 straight games en route to a 2-6, 6-3, 6-0, 7-5 victory that sent Davydenko packing to join Federer’s former Grand Slam conquerors: No. 2-ranked Rafael Nadal, No. 3-ranked Novak Djokovic, and No. 4-ranked Juan Martin del Potro.
“Winning that many games in a row against a player that’s been on fire like this, it’s a great sign,” Federer said.
The win stretched his record to a 23rd consecutive Grand Slam semifinal appearance, something he rated as “definitely one of the most incredible things I have in my resume.”
Before Federer, Ivan Lendl and Rod Laver shared the record at 10.
“It’s incredible looking back on how many years that is now, you know, I’m able to deliver at Grand Slam play, especially this year,” he said. “Looking at the draw with (former No. 1-ranked Lleyton) Hewitt in the fourth round and Davydenko in the quarters, who has been on fire the last weeks and even today, you know, we saw big signs of it.
“So for some reason I was just a bit worried I was not going to make it this time in the semis. Now obviously that it’s safe again and I’ve been able to add one. It’s amazing.”
Besides his incredible run of Grand Slam semifinals that began at Wimbledon in 2004, Federer boasts three Australian Open wins among his record 15 major titles and 50 wins or more at three of the four biggest tournaments in tennis.
Defending champion Nadal, who beat Federer in five sets in last year’s final here and at Wimbledon in 2008 and at three French Opens, retired with a knee injury while trailing No. 5 Andy Murray in the third set of their quarterfinal on Tuesday night.
Del Potro, who beat Federer to win the U.S. Open in September, lost to Marin Cilic. The Croat gained a semifinal against Murray, a Scot who carries the extra burden of trying to be the first British man since the 1930s to win a major.
Djokovic, who beat Federer in the semifinals here in 2008 en route to the title, complained of an upset stomach following a 7-6 (8), 6-7 (5), 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 loss to Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, reversing the outcome of their meeting in the final here two years ago.
“I saw he wasn’t very good, but sometimes he does that and he wins,” Tsonga said.
Tsonga, whose last two wins came in the only five-set matches he’s played 11 Grand Slam tournaments, will meet Federer on Friday in the other semifinal.
Federer said he’s more concerned about who was still in contention than who had dropped out. The only time he’d ever felt different was at the last French Open, after defending champion Nadal tumbled out, opening the way for Federer to complete a career Grand Slam by winning on clay and to equal Pete Sampras’ record 14 majors.
“It had a huge affect on me that Rafa lost at the French, just knowing the opportunities I had and being already occupied with my own game and opponents,” he said. “But not that Rafa lost this time around.”
Del Potro surprised Federer at New York in September in the Swiss star’s first major since he became a father of twins. He might have been distracted later in the season in his losses to Davydenko, but always seems to play his best at the Slams.
To beat Federer, the Russian said, you have to be like the Swiss star.
“You know, to be like perfect,” he said. “He’s No. 1.”
Davydenko had lost 12 matches to Federer before gaining some confidence with his back-to-back wins.
He broke Federer’s serve in the third and fifth games, and didn’t give the Swiss even a glimpse at a break-point chance.
Federer decided to take a quick comfort break after the first set, to let the sun that had been bothering him move a little bit.
That gave Davydenko time to cool his heels inside Rod Laver Arena — unfamiliar territory for somebody more familiar with the outside courts — and time to think about the situation.
It didn’t work right away, Federer dropped serve three games later and then fell behind 3-1, but then the momentum swung dramatically.
“You’re allowed to have two toilet breaks and I never use them, and I figured maybe the sun goes by 1 centimeter to 3 centimeters ... maybe it’s that one point that makes a difference,” Federer said, adding for the record: “Oh, I had to go to the toilet, too.”
Fatherhood fails to blunt Roger Federer's edge
Not only has Judy Murray, Andy’s mum, blogged that she has been "cooing" over Roger Federer’s five-month-old twin daughters, those who have passed the world No 1 in the Melbourne Park corridors pushing a double-buggy have found the sight both a touch incongruous and so absolutely normal. The man is smitten.
Federer laughs off any suggestion that having a family has taken the edge off his tennis and if a couple of performances at this Australian Open — both against Russians, rather oddly — have given cause for concern, he plays his 23rd consecutive grand-slam semi-final tomorrrow against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France. Who can quibble with that?
Still the benchmark by which every other player is judged, his blips are focused upon more than anyone else’s. The minute Federer loses, siren voices are raised suggesting that at 28, he is passing his peak. Then he will win another major champonship and the critics are stilled.
Igor Andreev, the world No 37, had three points for a two-set-to-love lead against Federer in the first round here, on two of those he attempted the boldest of strokes, running around the backhand to play a forehand to the Federer forehand wing and he came a cropper. Against anyone else, they would probably have hit the lines. That is what still sets the Swiss apart.
“Three times I have chances and I don’t know how to win or not,” Andreev said. “Still against Federer, you need to be perfect.” That is the task confronting Tsonga today, to play at such a sustained level of brilliance that maybe Federer will be tested in the manner demanded of a grand-slam tournament semi-final. Of those 22 previous matches at this stage, the man has lost only three, which is quite incredible.
Federer will not know this. He is as dismissive of statistical analysis as he is of the Hawk-Eye line-calling technology. “I couldn’t care less about stats," he said. "If I am in the positive or negative with winners and losers, I don’t care. What matters is how you play your opponent and tactics and if there is a wind, how you play the wind. There are many more important things than numbers.
"I would like to have more practice time, so I could improve even more and what is important to me is that I believe I can still improve. Tennis is unique in that you are always on the move, always adjusting.”
That is Tsonga’s task, to move, to adjust. He is a very fine player, blessed with an innate athleticism and ferocious determination. He says that Federer won his first grand slam "without experience" and yet this is the 24-year-old Frenchman’s 11th major tournament. He has been to a final against Novak Djokovic here two years ago, in which he won the first set and almost took the entire tournament by storm. Maybe his time has come.
“What do I have to do?” he said. “I have to play my best tennis. I am stronger than I was. I have more than one way to play, which is going to be essential against Federer but it is also why I am a better player now. I have had tough matches and I have won them. Why not against Roger, the same? I will give everything I have and we will see.”
We British may get all uppity about our own failings at grand-slam level, but the French have not had a male champion in Melbourne since 1928, when Jean Borotra won the title six years before Fred Perry was our last success Down Under. Tsonga represents an opportunity to emulate that in a very big way indeed.
He defeated Federer in the Canadian Masters in Montreal in August so although this is a different ask altogether, to win over five sets against the greatest accumulator of major singles titles in history, he is not without hope or confidence. Bon chance.
Roger Federer can be even better
ROGER Federer generates titles and superlatives in equal measure. The Swiss is revered globally, not only for his achievements, but also for his demeanour.
At 28, Federer has already won 15 majors and retains the world No. 1 ranking.
He is the sport's enduring poster boy. Style and substance.
It was not always that way.
Federer drove some of his formative coaches to distraction, none more so than South Australian mentor Peter Carter.
Carter, a conservative character, was a massive influence on Federer as the Swiss teenager struggled to reconcile his sublime skills and talent with excruciating defeats.
Carter sensed early how good Federer might become. Until his death in a car accident in 2002, Carter had encouraged Federer to balance flair and flint. The message was repetitive and incessant: get tough and stop losing to opponents barely good enough to be on the same court as you.
Difficult as it is to comprehend now, there was a time when Federer was more inclined to break racquets than records.
He simply had too many options - as he does now - but, as a younger player, often made the wrong choice of shot.
Carter, and subsequent coaches Peter Lundgren and Tony Roche, drummed into Federer the need to improve; to persevere and to fight; to play the percentages.
The message has been heeded.
Even now, after all his astonishing success, Federer's hunger, ambition and toughness remain unsated.
In three matches over the past 12 days, Federer's resilience has pulled him through against Igor Andreev, Lleyton Hewitt and Nikolay Davydenko. Lesser players would have perished.
Hewitt, stung more often than most by Federer with 17 defeats in 25 matches, knows precisely how tough the world champion is.
"He's sort of the limit at the moment. He's the No.1 player in the world," Hewitt said.
"Everyone says it (2009) wasn't an absolutely great year for him and he still won two grand slams (French and Wimbledon) and lost in two finals in five sets in the other two (Australian and US Opens). He's obviously the benchmark."
Andreev held three set points for a two sets to one lead in the first round.
As the Russian panicked, Federer performed.
"That's the difference in the rankings," world No. 36 Andreev said. "That's why he's No.1. Three times, really good chances and I don't know (how) to win or not."
Asked what it took to topple Federer after blowing a huge lead in the quarter-finals, Nikolay Davydenko said: "I would say you need talent.
"You need for sure (to be) like Federer. You know, to be like perfect.
"To play everywhere good and like after losing first set and already in the second set losing, and then come back and winning 6-0. He's No.1."
Federer's balletic movement and his shot-making artistry goes only some of the way to explaining his genius.
The right-hander's desire has kept him at the top of the rankings for 268 weeks, just shy of Pete Sampras's record of 286.
The frightening thing is Federer claims he can be even better.
"If we would have more practice, I think I would have the opportunity to improve," he said. "When I have practice the few weeks of the year, I try to improve my strengths and my weaknesses and see where it takes me.
"What's important is I believe I can always improve. I think tennis is a very unique game because you're always on the move and you're always adjusting.
"So you can practice two or six hours. Sometimes it doesn't matter. It's about the quality."
Federer adores most things about tennis, including its traditions and quirks. He is much less enamoured of statistics and Hawk-Eye.
"I never look at the stats sheet," he said. "Some are fanatics about it. I couldn't care less about all those stats.
"Same with winners and errors. I don't care if I was in the positives or the negatives. What matters is how you play your opponent and the wind and tactics. There are so many more important things."
There was a time when Federer thought he might not fulfil his talent.
When he looked at the sport's titans in the late 1990s, Federer considered his heroes were unreachable.
"Idols for me were the ones sort of reaching for the stars I thought were untouchable, such as Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg, Pete Sampras," he said.
"I liked also Marcelo Rios's game as well when I was coming along. I was lucky enough to play him a few times as well. Obviously I liked the net rushers back then like (Pat) Rafter and (Tim) Henman."
Fear is not part of the Federer mindset. Anxiety, yes. Expectation, yes. Presumption, no.
The last sporting hero
Roger Federer is No.1, in more ways than one, writes Jake Niall.
Next month, when Tiger Woods is pondering his next move, possibly from the Mississippi sex addiction clinic he is purported to be visiting, Roger Federer will be in Ethiopia, where the Roger Federer Foundation will be working to improve the lives of disadvantaged children in the region.
Federer, from what one can gather, would be embarrassed by any comparison. Woods arguably should be. In any case, the gulf that has opened between Tiger and Roger in terms of public credibility leaves the planet's greatest tennis player without a peer in the global sporting pantheon.
Federer might well be the world's last sporting hero; the last active sporting icon who hasn't damaged his brand.
That Federer isn't a brand is one of the reasons he's endured. Whereas Tiger was packaged and sold - the bland private product too good to be true - Roger has never been presented to the public as something that he wasn't. He has not been presented as a product, in part, because he has never allowed commerce to interfere with tennis. Until quite recently (2005), Federer was managed by his dad, with his then girlfriend, now wife, Mirka often handling media requests. Now he has IMG, the same management as Tiger, but there's never been a sense that Federer's image is contrived.
Roger isn't spun. ''He's not a brand. He's a player,'' said Paul McNamee, the former tournament director of the Australian Open.
Stories of Federer's obliging nature are often told by those who see him regularly, and even some who've dealt with him sporadically. Nicola Arzani, the ATP's senior vice-president of media and marketing, estimated that Federer spent ''at least'' 30 minutes with media every day that he played, and he does interviews in a minimum of three languages, French, English and German. When he wins a grand slam event, Federer's interviews will stretch on for hours; after the 2007 Australian Open final, he did not finish in the media room until 3.30am.
Colin Stubs, who runs the Kooyong event before the Australian Open, recently sought Federer's counsel when he wanted to discover more about the Middle East events that were eating into the January calendar. Federer, a regular at Kooyong, gave him a good half an hour of his time. ''He's very approachable,'' McNamee said, ''but there's a time and place for everything.''
Arzani said Federer takes his duties very seriously - especially the foundation work and his role as head of the player council. ''We've never had the No.1 player in the world so involved,'' Arzani said. ''It's a lot of work.''
The media's interest - including the new phenomenon of mobile phone stalkerazzi - makes it difficult for anyone of sporting significance to get away with much. Michael Phelps was going swimmingly until he was accused of smoking dope at a party as a result of a picture taken on a mobile phone.
Andre Agassi, retired and rehabilitated from his early mullet-brat incarnation, has undone his own reputation by telling the truth about his illicit drug-taking (and lying). Lance Armstrong has had to fend off unproved allegations of drug cheating; Usain Bolt? Let's wait and see.
Bolt and Armstrong, even if clean, are in sports with chequered records, and, as such, some acclaim is automatically withheld.
Michael Jordan hurt himself with an apparent gambling addiction. Shane Warne's long and highly entertaining rap sheet needs no elaboration. Others who've passed the character test aren't quite at Federer's level of performance. Jack Nicklaus certainly was a great, but is now long gone from active service. Ditto Muhammad Ali.
Earl Warren, the former chief justice of the US Supreme Court, famously said of sport's appeal: ''I always turn to the sports section first, which records man's accomplishments. The front page has nothing but man's failures.''
That was in the '60s, and these days, sadly, it is the failings of the athlete, as much as his achievements, that command our attention. Federer, perhaps, is an exception - a pure sportsman who can be appreciated, lauded, for his freakish skills, without worrying about baggage off the court.
Federer benefits from his Swiss neutrality and his nation's inoffensive nature. Would he be different if he were American? Would he have been as good as an Australian, as his parents considered? No one can say. Certainly, a Swiss passport enabled him to enjoy a greater level of anonymity earlier in his career, than he might had been afforded in the US.
Federer, from what is on public record, is a busy family man, and in his six or seven years of intense public scrutiny, there's not been one significant blemish. No financial misdeeds, no drugs and, touch Woods, nothing in the Warne/Tiger territory. He has twin daughters now, and his cred, especially in many women's eyes, is enhanced by his choice of woman, Mirka not being a model, actress or songstress (she is a former tennis player).
The tag ''low key'' comes up quite a bit in conversations about Federer. Whereas Tiger's arrival in town was trumpeted like a royal visit - and it attracted far more attention than Prince William - Federer treats his trips to Melbourne as if he is visiting relatives. So much of what he does is made to seem natural, regulation stuff.
Arzani described Federer's position in the game as beyond ambassador. ''He's also like a statesman.''
Indeed, Walter Bagehot's 19th century definition of a statesman could be applied to this great, untainted champion: A man of common opinions and uncommon abilities.
AO10: 22 wielkoszlemowy finał Federera.
Szwajcarski Mistrz zagra w niedzielę w finale Australian Open 2010. Będzie to już 22 tego typu występ lidera światowych rozgrywek. Federer umacnia się na czele tej historycznej statystyki.
Najwięcej finałów WS w historii:
22 - Roger Federer
19 - Ivan Lendl
18 - Pete Sampras
17 - Rod Laver
Federer amazed by his 23 straight Slam semi-finals
World No. 1 Roger Federer brings the confidence that only 15 Grand Slam titles can offer into his semifinal matchup with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, as the Swiss passes another record milestone.
The match with the 2008 finalist is Federer's 23rd consecutive Grand Slam semifinal, a stat which even amazes the man billed as the best to ever play the game.
"You always believe the streak is gonna be broken," he confessed. "I stopped thinking about it after the second round (last week) on and just started focusing on the tournament.
"It helps once the tournament starts. You focus match-for-match and point-for-point. I forget about the record. Now obviously that it's safe again and I've been able to add one.
"It's amazing, definitely one of the most incredible things I have in my resume."
Australian Open - Imperious Federer sets up Murray final
Roger Federer provided a masterful demonstration of his incredible talent and hunger to win to overwhelm Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-2 6-3 6-2 and join Andy Murray in the final of the Australian Open.
The world number one was at his brilliant best as he outclassed his French opponent to wrap up a lop-sided victory in under an hour and a half at Melbourne Park.
Murray has been the form player over the past fortnight but Federer's imperious display will give the Scotsman a couple of sleepless nights before Sunday's final.
"I know he'd like to win the first for British tennis in... what is it ... like 150,000 years?" Federer joked.
"The poor guy has to go through those moments over and over again. He's done tremendously.
"We match up well. I'm looking forward to the final."
Federer has already won the Australian Open three times, in 2004, 2006 and 2007, and is now through to his fifth final after losing an epic five-set clash with Rafael Nadal last year.
The Swiss is also through to his 22nd Grand Slam final, more than any other man in history, and his eighth in a row.
A victory over Murray will provide the 28-year-old with his 16th Grand Slam, extending yet another record he holds.
"I thought (Tsonga) did really well in those five-set matches and I expected him to come out here and be really athletic the way we know him," a relaxed Federer said.
"Maybe he was mentally more fatigued than physically."
Federer, growing in confidence with every match after a slow start to the championship, showed no mercy against a weary Tsonga, who had won his two previous matches in five sets.
"It was tough to play against him today," Tsonga said. "He took the ball earlier than me and he was just better than me. He was really good, and that's it."
Federer shows no sign of slowing down despite his haul of major trophies.
He broke Tsonga's erratic serve once to win the opening set then twice more in each of the next two while comfortably holding each of his service games.
Tsonga, who reached the Australian Open final two years ago but has yet to win a Grand Slam, did not get a single break point on the Swiss master's serve.
"I'm very happy. You've always got to deal with how your opponent plays. Sometimes he plays like you want, sometimes not," Federer said.
"It's nice going through like this but I already know the next match won't be this way."
Reuters
Federer destroys Tsonga, into Australian Open final
Roger Federer erases Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in three lightning-quick sets on Friday night in Melbourne. Federer will now face Andy Murray for the 2010 Australian Open title.
Roger Federer put on a devastating display of tennis on Friday night, crushing Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 in the semifinals of the Australian Open. Federer needed a mere one hour and 28 minutes to set up a final showdown with world No. 4 Andy Murray.
The top-seeded Swiss posted some incredible numbers to go along with overwhelming performance. He finished with 33 winners against only 13 unforced, won 84 percent of his first-serve points and 61 percent of his second-serve return points, and fired four aces without double-faulting. Federer also never faced even a single break point.
Playing in his second career Grand Slam semifinal, Tsonga never had a chance. The 10th-seeded Frenchman surrendered serve in the fourth game of the match when Federer converted his third break-point opportunity with a cross-court forehand pass. Federer earned another service break at 5-2 to close out the opening frame of play in style after just 30 minutes.
One break in the second was easily enough for the world No. 1 to take seize a two-set advantage. Tsonga stayed on serve until 2-3, but Federer constantly kept the pressure on him by crushing short balls and racing into net behind them, and a flurry of Tsonga errors the underdog in a major hole. Two Federer service holds later and the second was over in 31 minutes of play.
From there it was all over. Whereas Tsonga tried valiantly--but failed--to throw anything he had at his opponent throughout the first two sets, he was left resigned to his fate in the third. Federer refused to come down from his unbeatable level and Tsonga went away quietly, dropping serve at 1-1 and 1-3. The 15-time Grand Slam champion, who lost only four points on serve in the second, allowed Tsonga the same miniscule number of return points in the third. At 5-2, Federer capped off the victory in style with a backhand overhead on his first match point.
A helpless Tsonga, who finished runner-up to Novak Djokovic at this event in 2008, recorded 21 winners and 27 errors. He struck six aces and double-faulted five times while serving at 56 percent.
"I'm very happy to be through," said Federer, who is 4-6 lifetime against Murray. "Sometimes it plays out the way you want it to and sometimes you have to work a lot harder. I thought it was quite intense early but maybe he was more fatigued mentally than physically, I think that showed near the end."
When asked if anyone could beat Federer in that kind of form, Tsonga replied, "I think nobody."
Wywiad z Rogerem po meczu 1/2 finału AO10
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. That was a pretty relaxed and amusing interview you gave Jim Courier. Is this as relaxed as you've been going into a Grand Slam final?
ROGER FEDERER: Oh, I don't know. I mean, obviously I feel good about my game, you know. I didn't expect something even close to this kind of scoreline, so obviously it feels great.
Crowds were rather on the quiet side towards the end because, you know, also they were a bit surprised I think how fast it went.
I thought make it a bit more entertaining maybe in the on‑court interview after. So it was fun, you know (smiling).
Q. Are there days ‑ maybe this was one of them ‑ that you can feel it in your bones you're going to be Roger Federer plus?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, maybe after a few games, you know, I felt like this could be a good match for me. I'm hitting the ball well. You know, I'm not panicking. Because, you know, Jo, he's a talented player, with a lot of potential. I'm sure we're gonna see much more of him in the future. This is probably the last easy match I have against him.
I felt like right from the start I was hitting the ball well, even though the prematch feeling I have or the on‑court warmup I have, they don't predict anything to me. You know, it's really only after maybe the first four sort of two service games each. Then I have a little bit of an idea where it can take us.
But I felt good, you know. But then I didn't expect the second and third to sort of be able to be able to run away with the score the way I did.
Q. It's actually only 74 years since we haven't won a Grand Slam.
ROGER FEDERER: How many years did I say?
Q. You said 150,000.
ROGER FEDERER: I missed it by a little bit (smiling).
Q. Can you imagine what it is like for a nation to have wait for so long to win a Grand Slam?
ROGER FEDERER: You could be one of those nations that never had a Grand Slam champion, you know.
Q. Feels like it.
ROGER FEDERER: No, it doesn't (laughter).
No, I mean, it's just funny, you know, because that's the question he probably gets asked quite a bit. Wouldn't be surprised if he's a bit fed up by it. I think he's done really well, you know, handling the pressure and considering, you know, sort of the media in England is very strong. So I think he's done great, you know, under the pressure.
Maybe US Open you could think he crumbled there under pressure, being in the finals the year before. I think once your game is good enough, even on your off days to come through, I think that's what he's proving here at the Australian Open now. He's one match away. I'll make sure it won't happen. We'll see how it goes.
Q. Normally the guy who plays you has nothing to lose at all. Andy is in a slightly different predicament. Do you think that will affect his game at all?
ROGER FEDERER: Uhm, don't know. I mean, look, he's in his second Grand Slam final now. I think the first one's always a bit tougher than the second one. But now that he didn't win the first one, I think doesn't help, you know, for the second one around.
Plus he's playing, you know, me, who's won many Grand Slams prior to that, been able to win here three times so I know what it takes and how to do it, which is definitely an advantage.
I don't feel like the pressure's really on me having to do it again, because I did it before. I think he really needs it more than I do, you know. So I think the pressure's big on him.
But we'll see how he's gonna handle it. It's not going to be easy for him, that's for sure.
Q. Do you still feel a need?
ROGER FEDERER: I feel a need for myself that I spent three weeks here and I don't want to just give away a match. So I will make sure I will make it as hard, as tough as possible for my opponent. Hope I can play another good match.
I'm really where I want to be. Being back in a Grand Slam final is always an amazing thrill for me.
Q. Given the fact that Andy has had another 24 hours to prepare and rest, how important was it for you tonight to be off the court early, 90 minutes, done, finished?
ROGER FEDERER: Not too important going into the finals. I mean, if we would have played, you know, 150,000, 250, 5,002, you know, I don't know. Then it would have been obviously very different.
Look, I'm ready to play seven times five sets. If I go three or four, that's great. But it's the way it is. Last year the two days didn't happen. Rafa played a rough five‑setter, came through in another rough five‑setter against me to win.
I'm happy that I don't have to change my schedule around. I got one day off. It's the same thing I've been doing for the last two weeks now. But I don't think anybody has an advantage, you know, having one or two days off.
Q. Some of your shots you seemed to change mid‑stroke.
ROGER FEDERER: What do you mean 'mid‑stroke'?
Q. You were going to play a dropshot and you played a longer one.
ROGER FEDERER: Once, I think.
Q. How much is instinctive and how much is thinking during the rally and during the shot?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, tonight was definitely one of the nights where I felt like I had that extra split second more time to think where I was going to play, what I was going to do with the ball.
So you always feel like you almost have a second option. Then you also tend to do stuff like this. You have to be careful you don't overdo it. You still go with the right plays.
You know, usually when you do the dropshot, you're also going to hit it. You're not going to fake him and play long, because then you can make mistakes. Sometimes we know how it is: one point can change an entire match. So you have to be careful.
I felt like it was the right shot. I ended up winning the point. But he was there. I got a bit lucky on it.
Q. On nights like tonight, does it ever bother you at all that it might be a boring match to watch?
ROGER FEDERER: Not really. I don't think for myself it wasn't boring at all. For me it was very challenging bringing it over the finish line. Last time I played him, probably most of the entire stadium didn't know I was up 6‑1, 5‑1 and ended up losing.
That wasn't a boring match for me either. Ended up being a horrible match. I didn't want the same thing happening. So for me it was trying to put the hammer down and like finish him off. I was able to.
Here I am sitting very relaxed and excited about the finals, not still battling it out there. It was a great match. I'm happy.
Q. You were not expecting anybody from the corner of Muhammad Ali to throw the towel in the middle of the match?
ROGER FEDERER: No, never thought of that. That was only you with those ideas, you know.
Q. He got you to run around a lot early on in the game. You matched every challenge there. Besides hitting a thousand tennis balls in practice, what do you do to keep yourself so aerobically fit?
ROGER FEDERER: I thought the beginning was extremely physical. I felt quickly the pulse was racing. It was a tough few rallies we had early on. I think it was key to stay with him there and even take control of the match.
Of course, I work extremely hard in the off‑season. I was joking a bit with Courier, but I do work hard. I do all kinds of stuff. I think that's what's nice about us tennis players. It's not very sort of how you say always the same thing. It's not just running and that's it.
We do a lot of agility work, weights. You name it, you can combine it with tennis and conditioning. I do all sorts of different things, you know. So it's worked out for me well over the years.
You know, I'm a strong believer that the tennis player needs to work on what he needs on the tennis court. Before maybe running sand dunes and stuff like this, it works for some players. But I believe you work on the court and it's going to benefit your tennis more than running sand dunes.
Q. What has been the maximum number of hours in a gym in one day in your life?
ROGER FEDERER: I don't know in a gym. Three hours maybe. Three hours in a gym. But then do tennis, as well, you know. Maybe on a tennis court four and a half hours in a row.
Q. You've won finals against Andy, but he's got the better record. Why do you think that is?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, because, first of all, he's a good player. I don't think otherwise you're just gonna start having good records against me.
But, no, without having any ‑‑ taking anything away from him, but I think a few times he played me I wasn't at my very, very best. I think I played him on a couple of occasions. Dubai the first time we played, I just came back from resting, my mono, and everything. I know some don't like to hear it. Some still don't believe me for some reason.
I played him maybe at times when I wasn't at my very, very best. We had some close matches on many occasions where I thought I was in control and I ended up giving the match away by making errors of my own. That was definitely because of his play and the way he plays.
So I think the head‑to‑head could be quite different. But that's why I don't really care too much about how the head‑to‑head stands. Every match is played differently. Best‑of‑five is anyway very different. He's done well against me to win so many matches when he was able to beat me when he was supposed to.
Q. Has he improved since the US Open final from what you've seen?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I think he's still as good, you know. Let's put it that way. He was already an excellent player back then. I just think now he has more, again, more matches in his body. He knows what to expect from the crowds, from the opponents, from the conditions and everything.
And I think that's a big step, just playing a lot of tough matches on center courts. He 5knows his fitness more now, where maybe in the beginning it was unsure if he was fit enough for tough matches.
This is stuff that Tsonga went through, for instance. He knows more where he is now on a physical level. I think Andy knows that now. I think the last two years have given Andy many answers.
Q. The last two matches where you did beat him and stop the four‑match losing streak, were there any things in Murray's game that you found that you could exploit more now?
ROGER FEDERER: Not really. I always felt, you know, if I played well, I had my chance. If I don't play well, I'm gonna lose, you know. It's been against many sort of counterpunchers, guys that keep the ball in play.
Hewitt used to be that way. Nalbandian used to be that way. I knew if I was not going to play a good match, you know, you could just walk off the court and shake hands and say, Well done.
But I usually don't play bad matches anymore. If I do, it's maybe a few games here and there like everybody else.
No, I mean, you know, he's consistent. He's one of the best return players we have in the game. He's been able to improve many things in his game that make it harder today to beat him. I just think I played a good match in London. He didn't maybe catch his best day. So it was one of those matches I got the better of him.
Q. When is the last bad match you played?
ROGER FEDERER: Last bad match? I don't know. A long time ago, I think.
No sweat for Federer
World No. 1 Roger Federer has made a mis-match of his Australian Open semi-final against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, crushing the Frenchman in less than 90 minutes at Rod Laver Arena on Friday night.
The top seed produced some of his finest tennis as he outclassed Tsonga, winning 6-2 6-3 6-2 to book his place in Sunday’s final against Andy Murray.
With only 13 unforced errors in the match, Federer’s win avenged a defeat at the hands of Tsonga in Montreal last year, and advanced him into his record-breaking 22nd Grand Slam final.
After the match, Federer admitted everything had gone his way.
“I’m very happy. In these matches you always have to deal with how your opponent plays – but sometimes they play exactly how you want.
“I just think it’s easier with the top players if you get them in the first set. It’s nice going through like this,” the 28-year-old said.
Unlike Wednesday’s quarter-final against Nikolay Davydenko, the Swiss started strongly, and was finding the line with attacking shots off both forehand and backhand from the outset.
Tsonga competed well early, but at 2-1 down in the first set, he conceded his first of five service breaks to hand Federer a 3-1 advantage. Federer negotiated some close games through the latter part of the set, but as he played almost error-free tennis, the Frenchman crumbled again at the end of the set, gifting it to Federer by a margin of 6-2.
The 10th seed looked rejuvenated at the beginning of the second set, and fired down two confidence-boosting aces in a strong service game to level at 1-1.
At 3-2 to Federer in the second, the world No. 1 again showed the gulf in class between the two, creating a break-point chance with a sublime backhand down the line and a drop shot that caught Tsonga off balance. He took the break and served to make it 5-2. Though Tsonga held comfortably, it only delayed the inevitable as Federer served out the set, winning it 6-3 in just 31 minutes.
Weary from two consecutive five-set encounters, Tsonga was again no match for Federer in the third set, as the Swiss again took control early with a service break in the third game. A member of the crowd humorously summed up the feeling in the stadium when he yelled, “Give him a chance, Roger!”
The world No. 1 was clearly in no mood to do so, and continued his barrage of quality winners – 33 in total - as he broke Tsonga for a second time in the set, eventually closing out the match with a 6-2 scoreline in the third.
The top seed now meets fifth seed Murray in Sunday’s final, after the Scot defeated Croatia’s Marin Cilic in four sets on Thursday night.
Fast facts
- Tsonga recorded 27 unforced errors to Federer’s 13.
- Tsonga hit five double faults, while Federer hit none.
- Federer hit 33 winners to Tsonga’s 21.
- The Swiss served at 64 per cent on first serves, and won 84 per cent of points when he landed his first ball.
ATP - ROGER FLIES INTO FINAL
Roger will challenge for his fourth Australian Open title this Sunday after he defeated France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-2, 6-3, 6-2, wasting no time and energy.
"It's nice going through a match like that," Roger said. "I think against top players, it's always positive if you can win the first set. It won't be the same story in the next match I play here."
Roger had no problems disposing of the 2008 runner-up today. The Frenchman looked a pale shadow of his best form as our number one did what he pleased to. Tsonga had won their last encounter, in three sets in Montreal last August, but it was never a contest at their third career meeting.
Roger will play the 22nd (!) grand slam final of his career and 18th of the last 19 majors. The only break in the sequence was his semifinal loss to Djokovic in 2008 in the Australian Open, which he has won three times so far. Roger will meet Andy Murray (ATP 5) in Sunday's final. Although the head-to-head is negative for our champ (4-6), Roger has a good feeling as he had been able to defeated the Scotsman clearly in the final of the US Open 2008.
Charming Roger Federer proves flattery can get you everywhere
Roger Federer has taken tennis, perhaps all sport, to new levels of elegance and refinement. He has even elevated that unpromising encumbrance: the post-match interview. Yesterday, still courtside after his semi-final but scarcely out of breath, Federer offered a classic of the genre. He was lightly amused, improbably civilized and utterly intimidating.
He had three things to say about Andy Murray. First, I really like Andy — he’s a nice guy. Second, I feel sorry for him being under all that pressure, what with Britain not having a grand slam for like 150,000 years! Third, the final will be great fun and I’m looking forward to it. Mateship, irreverence, sympathy, lightness. I can’t imagine a harder mix of qualities to face in an opponent.
We tend to overestimate what Steve Waugh called “mental disintegration”. Sportsmen are innate pugilists, so being confronted by a war of words is just more of the same.
How much harder it is to play against someone who conveys innate superiority while retaining his dignity. When a 41-year-old Colin Cowdrey first faced Jeff Thomson, he stuck out his hand saying: “I don’t think we’ve met, I’m Colin Cowdrey.” Cowdrey never flinched from the ball, either.
Federer’s dignity and sophistication are part of his mystique. I doubt it is a ploy on Federer’s part; he is just made that way. Federer is unerringly at ease with himself and his greatness. And the ability to amount to more than his opponent — even in defeat — is all part of the Federer effect.
Great sportsmen, like great writers, must find their true voice. British sportsmen have long tried to copy the gutsy Aussie battler and the bravely defiant Yank. Perhaps they have been following the wrong example. By conveying the sense that he is not only better at tennis but also better at life, Federer belongs to a different tradition: Europe’s natural aristocracy.
• Ed Smith is a leader writer for The Times, edsmith.org.uk
Roger Federer still the daddy at Australian Open
Not only has Judy Murray, Andy’s mother, blogged that she has been “cooing” over Roger Federer’s five-month-old twin daughters, those who have passed the world No 1 in the Melbourne Park corridors pushing a double buggy have found the sight both a touch incongruous and so absolutely normal. The man is smitten.
Federer laughs off any suggestion that having a family has taken the edge off his tennis and although a couple of performances at this Australian Open — both against Russians, rather oddly — have given cause for concern, he plays his 23rd consecutive grand-slam semi-final today, against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, of France. Who can quibble with that?
Still the benchmark by which every other player is judged, Federer’s blips are focused on more than anyone else’s. The minute he loses, siren voices are raised suggesting that, at 28, he is passing his peak. Then he will win another major and the critics are stilled. Igor Andreev, the world No 37, had three points for a two-sets-to-one lead against Federer in the first round here; on two of those he attempted the boldest of strokes, running around the backhand to play a forehand to the Federer forehand, and missed them. Against anyone else, they would probably have hit the lines. It is what still sets the Swiss apart.
“Three times I have chances and I don’t know how to win or not,” Andreev said. “For sure still against Federer, you need to be perfect.” Tsonga must play at such a sustained level of brilliance today that maybe Federer will be tested. Of those 22 previous matches at this stage, the man has lost only three, which is quite incredible.
Federer will not know this, of course, because he is as dismissive of statistical analysis as he is of the Hawk-Eye line-calling technology. “I couldn’t care less about stats, if I am in the positive or negative with winners and losers, I don’t care,” he said. “What matters is how you play your opponent and tactics and if there is a wind, how you play the wind. There are many more important things than numbers. I would like to have more practice time, so I could improve even more, and what is important to me is that I believe I can still improve. Tennis is unique in that you are always on the move, always adjusting.”
That is Tsonga’s task, to move, to adjust. He is a very fine player, blessed with an innate athleticism and ferocious determination. He says that Federer won his first grand-slam title “without experience” and yet this is the 24-year-old’s eleventh grand-slam tournament, he has been to a final against Novak Djokovic here two years ago, in which he won the first set and almost took the tournament by storm. Maybe his time has come.
“What do I have to do?” he asked rhetorically. “I have to play my best tennis. I am stronger than I was. I think I have more than one way to play, which is going to be essential against Federer, but it is also why I am a better player now. I have had tough matches and I have won them. Why not against Roger, the same? I will give everything I have and we will see.”
We British may get all uppity about our failings at grand-slam level, but the French have not had a male champion in Melbourne since 1928, when Jean Borotra won the title six years before Fred Perry was Britain’s last success Down Under. Tsonga represents an opportunity to change that statistic in a very big way indeed. He defeated Federer in the Canadian Masters in Montreal in August, so although this is a different challenge — that of winning over five sets against the greatest accumulator of grand-slam titles in history — he is not without hope or confidence. Bonne chance.
#62) Australian Open 2010
R128 I.Andreev 4-6 6-2 7-6 6-0
R64 V.Hanescu 6-2 6-3 6-2
R32 A.Montanes(31) 6-3 6-4 6-4
R16 L.Hewitt(22) 6-2 6-3 6-4
QF N.Davydenko(6) 2-6 6-3 6-0 7-5
SF J.Tsonga(10) 6-2 6-3 6-2
W A.Murray(5) 6-3 6-4 7-6
ATP - 16TH GRAND SLAM TITLE!
Roger showed a terrifc display against Andy Murray today, capturing his 4th Australian Open and 16th grand slam title 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(11).
"I'm over the moon at winning again. I think I played some of my best tennis again of my life these last two weeks," Roger said during the award ceremony. "So this obviously a very special moment sharing this with you guys. You get the best out of me."
Roger needed just two hours and 41 minutes to join Andre Agassi as the only man to capture four titles at the Australian Open (Agassi was also the last father to win a grand slam title - in Melbourne 2003). With a total of 16 grand slam titles, Roger is now two clear of Pete Sampras on the all-time grand-slam leaderboard. He will clearly remain on the number one spot for quite a few weeks to come!
It was clear right from the start that today's match would turn out a hard fight. Roger scored an early break, but had to accept his opponent breaking straight back. It was a tight moment from there, but Roger grabbed a decisive second break in the eighth game with a forehand winner before comfortably serving out the first set. The second set was clearly in Roger's hand, never giving away the lead he secured with a break. When Roger's intensity dropped slightly in the third set, Murray looked on the way of coming back. The Scotsman did not face a break point until he was serving to take the match into a fourth set, when Roger finally hit back with a break. Murray squandered five set points in the tension-filled breaker, and, opportunities lost for the Scot, Roger finally finished his tiring foe off on his third match point when the fifth seed netted a backhand.
Kolekcja z nową fotką, dodaną:
Szwajcar Roger Federer zdobył rekordowy 16. w karierze tytuł w Wielkim Szlemie. W niedzielę 28-letni tenisista z Bazylei wygrał po raz czwarty Australian Open (z pulą nagród 22,14 mln dol. australijskich). Wcześniej triumfował na twardych kortach w Melbourne Park w 2004 roku i w latach 2006-07.
W finale Federer, najwyżej rozstawiony w imprezie, pokonał 6:3, 6:4, 7:6 (13-11) Szkota Andy'ego Murraya (nr 5.). Pojedynek ten trwał dwie godziny i 41 minut. Szwajcar zakończył go przy trzeciej piłce meczowej, wcześniej w tie-breaku obronił pięć setboli.
Właśnie tie-break trzeciego seta był najbardziej emocjonującym fragmentem finału. Obaj tenisiści popisali się w nim grą na najwyższym światowym poziomie. Chociaż 22-letni Brytyjczyk rozpoczął go od prowadzenia 3:1, to jednak nie zdołał osiągnąć większej przewagi. Choć później wyszedł na 6:4, to nie wykorzystał dwóch okazji do rozstrzygnięcia seta na swoją korzyść.
Trzecią szansę, której również nie wykorzystał, miał przy stanie 7:6, ale zaraz po tym musiał bronić meczbola przy 7:8. Dwa kolejne setbole Murray zmarnował, gdy prowadził 9:8 i 11:10.
Po raz drugi w poważnych opałach znalazł się, gdy na tablicy był wynik 9:10. Wtedy zdołał minąć biegnącego do siatki rywala, trafiając piłką w linię. Federer postawił przysłowiową kropkę nad "i" dopiero przy trzecim meczbolu.
W sumie Szwajcar uzyskał 116 punktów, o sześć więcej od Szkota. Lepiej też wypadł w asach serwisowych 11-10, natomiast popełnił cztery podwójne błędy, dwukrotnie więcej od rywala. Częściej też psuł piłki, bowiem w niewymuszonych błędach było 42-36.
Natomiast zdecydowanie skuteczniejszy był Federer w wygrywających uderzeniach 46-29. Wykorzystał cztery z 12 okazji na przełamanie serwisu Murraya, a sam obronił dwa z ośmiu "break pointów".
W pierwszym, trwającym 43 minuty secie, raz stracił swoje podanie, ale i zdobył dwa gemy przy serwisie przeciwnika, w tym ważny na 5:3. Chwilę później rozstrzygnął tę partię wynikiem 6:3.
Drugi był nieco bardziej wyrównany. Federer wykorzystał jednego z siedmiu "break pointów" na 2:1 i tę przewagę utrzymał do końca, obejmując prowadzenie 2:0 po kolejnych 46 minutach. Ostatnia partia była najdłuższa, trwała 72 minuty.
Podczas ceremonii wręczenia pucharów Murray nie potrafił zapanować nad emocjami. Gdy w jego oczach pojawiły się łzy, zażartował, że nawiązuje do miejscowej tradycji.
- Mogę płakać jak Roger. To skutek wstydu, że nie gram tak dobrze, jak on - powiedział Szkot, który po raz drugi wystąpił w wielkoszlemowym finale; w poprzednim w US Open w 2008 roku również przegrał z Federerem.
- Andy, jesteś zbyt dobrym zawodnikiem, żebyś miał nie wygrywać w Wielkim Szlemie, więc nie martw się o to - mówił Szwajcar po tym, jak poprawił bilans meczów z Murrayem na 5:6, pokonując go po raz trzeci z rzędu.
- Czuję się, jakbym dotarł na księżyc, zwyciężając znów tutaj. Myślę, że grałem w ciągu ostatnich dwóch tygodni najlepszy tenis w życiu. To także szczególny dzień dla mnie z innego powodu. To mój pierwszy triumf w Wielkim Szlemie odkąd zostałem ojcem. Liczę na kolejne - dodał Federer, który w Melbourne osiągnął 22. w karierze finał w Wielkim Szlemie, odnosząc 16. zwycięstwo.
Wynik finału gry pojedynczej mężczyzn:
Roger Federer (Szwajcaria, 1) - Andy Murray (W. Brytania, 5) 6:3, 6:4, 7:6 (13-11).
Artful Roger Federer has tricks to spare
MATS Wilander - the only other man in the past 35 years to have won three Grand Slam trophies in a single season - says it is scary to think how many majors Roger Federer will secure.
"He's done what he's done in only six years. Give it another six years and see what happens," Wilander said on the eve of the 15-times Grand Slam champion's Australian Open final with Andy Murray.
Never mind tennis, Wilander rates Federer up there with sport's all-time greatest athletes and can see no end to the mighty Swiss's global domination.
"I think it's his style. He's gone through three generations, three eras and his style is fine with each era," the Swede said.
"My style, it wouldn't be good enough to play with Sampras and Agassi. I couldn't beat them.
"I was good, but it's just hitting the ball too softly. I never missed. They would hit winners."
Wilander won the first Australian Open at Melbourne Park in 1988, then captured the French and US Open titles the same year.
He had just turned 24, but never qualified for another major final again.
Federer, now 28, was only getting started at 24, not reaching all four major finals until the following year.
Federer has repeated the effort twice since and Wilander is adamant the world No.1's phenomenal display of longevity will never be seen again.
"First of all, it's unbelievable that he's been able to do the 23 semi-finals in a row," Wilander said.
"That's unbelievable, that's the record. I can't imagine anyone breaking that. That's impossible.
"Four different majors and they're all different surfaces now. It's mind boggling."
What sets Federer apart, according to Wilander, is his ability to consistently see off all comers, challengers of vastly different playing styles, over such a sustained period of time.
He ended Pete Sampras's seven-title reign as Wimbledon king in 2001, cruelled Andre Agassi's last Grand Slam shot at the 2005 US Open and reduced once-great rivalries with similar-aged foes Lleyton Hewitt and Andy Roddick to mockeries.
And as he enters a 268th week at the sport's summit, Federer is keeping the next generation at bay.
Murray, who the Artful Roger clipped in the 2008 US Open final, is one of 12 players Federer has met in a Grand Slam decider.
"He's played them all," Wilander said.
And conquered all but one of them - Juan Martin del Potro, who ambushed the complacent top seed in five sets at Flushing Meadows last September.
While Federer's rivals come and go, Wilander believes the silky Swiss will remain for years to come.
He believes Sampras "under-achieved with his 14" and that Federer will continue piling up the slams.
"There are guys who could have won more, for sure, but didn't because they didn't work as hard as Roger," Wilander said.
"He's born with having good technique but obviously the mental strength and the physical abilities are unbelievable.
"In tennis, I would say that 27 or 28 is probably the age when you should be at your best. I think today it's difficult to break through when you're 18, 19.
"So he's not old in that sense at all. I think he has three or four years that are going to be physically as good as the last three or four for sure."
Not even fatherhood will slow him down.
"I don't think it's going to affect his game at the slams," Wilander said.
"Because I think at the slams, I don't care what anybody says, the grand slam tournaments - when you enter - they are more important than your kids.
"I mean, your kids are more important but this is more important in a way. You're able to forget everything when you play a slam.
"It's the other tournaments that are going to be the problem, I think. If you don't keep it up in the other tournaments, then suddenly he's not going to be ranked one or two in the world.
"You can't let yourself slip past No.4 in the world, that's the problem, because then you suddenly play Nadal in the quarter-finals at the French."
While the prospect of Federer lingering for several more years may be worrying for his peers, Wilander insists "it's more frightening for the tennis circuit if he doesn't play".
"We need him," he said.
"We think that it's just going to keep coming, that another guy will come. Another guy won't come. He's once in a lifetime for sure."
Australian Open - Rusedski: Federer was superb
Every day during the Australian Open, former world number four Greg Rusedski has joined Rob Curling in the British Eurosport studio.
Greg Rusedski, Michael Stich and Virginia Wade all agreed that Roger Federer was too good for Andy Murray in the Australian Open final.
http://eurosport.yahoo.com/31012010/58/ … uperb.html
* * * * *
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPXng6WPIRw - pomeczowy wywiad
Let's roll out the Fed carpet - Roger Federer beats Andy Murray in the Australian Open
ROGER Federer was true to his word, shrugging off Andy Murray's ambitious challenge last night to enhance a staggering grand slam record with a glorious Australian Open victory.
Federer's imperious 6-3 6-4 7-6 (13-11) defeat of Murray brought his 16th major title.
But he was made to sweat through a dramatic third-set tiebreak, which saw Murray hold five set points and Federer three match points before the contest ended dramatically after 161 minutes.
"I'm over the moon," Federer said. "I've played some of the best tennis of my life. This is a special moment in my life. It's also very special, first grand slam as a father."
Federer's wife Mirka gave birth to twin girls Charlene Riva and Myla Rose in July.
Murray struggled with his emotions post-match.
"I can cry like Roger, it's just a shame I can't play like him," Murray said. "(Roger), your achievements in tennis are incredible. You were a lot better than me tonight."
No male has won as many grand slam singles titles as Federer. Pete Sampras is closest with 14. Only five women - Margaret Court (24), Steffi Graf (22), Helen Wills Moody (19), Chris Evert (18) and Martina Navratilova (18) - have won more.
At 28, Federer is a chance to become the most prolific winner of singles majors in the history of the sport.
Mindful of the widely held opinion Murray shapes as his natural successor, Federer went out of his way to make a statement to the 22-year-old Scot.
Watched by his parents Lynette and Robert, Federer monstered Murray after a tight start, where both men dropped serve four games into the first set.
Murray was effectively gone from the moment Federer broke serve in the eighth game of the first set.
He was simply stunning as he improved his record in major finals to 16-6.
Federer soaked up Murray's best in the first 30 minutes before mercilessly exploiting the Scot's shrinking confidence.
Wary of attacking Federer's magnificent forehand, Murray found himself over-playing to the Swiss genius's backhand.
Murray first raised hopes of a late-match revival when he led the third set 2-5, only to collapse when serving for the set.
Regrouping in the tiebreak and holding five set points, Murray sacrificed his hopes by netting a sitter forehand and then narrowly missing a backhand volley. He then saved a match point as Federer looped a forehand down the line.
More drama followed as Federer wasted a second match point by attempting to drop-shot Murray only to have the Scot scoop a backhand winner into court. Eventually, it ended when Murray's weary backhand found the net.
Federer was seemingly eager to also make a point to the British media contingent that its man is not yet good enough to become a grand slam champion.
After the match, he said to Murray: "You are too good a player not to win a grand slam, so don't worry about it."
Federer last night smoked 46 winners to Murray's 29 and joined Jack Crawford, Ken Rosewall and Andre Agassi as a four-time winner of the championship.
Wywiad po zwycięstwie w Australian Open 2010:
An interview with
ROGER FEDERER
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. Would you say maybe your ability to retrieve is just as important as shot‑making, the balls you ran down?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, I definitely think footwork is something of the most important things in tennis, especially at the level that we're playing at. At the moment, I think it's become extremely physical, you know, the game of tennis, especially at the baseline. It's not as much back and forth. It's more side to side.
I feel like, you know, my movement's back. I think that's a great thing. I definitely had to play some of my best tennis tonight to come through. That was clearly the case.
Q. Did you think it was a great strategy tonight, more than usual?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, he's obviously a very patient man from the baseline, you know. I mean, I think this is how he made it to the top really. You know, not missing much, being dangerous, mixing up his pace very well, some loopier, some flatter. He can obviously go angle, hard down the line, as well as his backhand. I think that makes him particularly tough to play against.
I think the first set was very interesting on a mental and on a physical level. I thought he played at a very high intensity. I think the first set could have gone either way. So for me to get the first break and play well the way I did, and I think him as well, was obviously crucial for the match, you know, that we were both playing so well.
Somebody had to win the set. Thankfully it was me. I think I was hitting the ball well. I felt that from the start. So I always knew it was going to be a very intense match, you know. I'm happy I was able to play so aggressive and patient at the same time because that's what you got to be against Murray.
Q. We saw you engage in psychological warfare, talking about the pressure on him, how long it's been, using 150,000 years out on court. Was it so much sweeter beating Andy because he has a very good record against you and has got under your skin in the past?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I think it got exaggerated. The on‑court interview, I don't take those serious anyway. If you think it was a mental thing, it was not the case, you know.
But you ask me a question, I'll give you a straight answer. That's how the press conference was after the Tsonga match. It's not an easy thing to do to win your first Grand Slam. That's not mental, you know, trying to screw with his head, you know. It's just a tough thing, you know.
The next one is not gonna get any easier. But his game is so good that I'm convinced he will win one, you know. And I thought he did really well tonight because conditions were tough. I mean, I think I played a great match. So someone's got to win, and I'm happy it was me.
Q. After the emotions of wins 14 and 15, how do you rate a 16th title?
ROGER FEDERER: I think you also got to see the way a match ends. Is it 40‑Love point where serving and you're up 5‑Love, or in a breaker. I don't even know the score, 13‑11. Sometimes it's over before you know it.
This felt similar to the Wimbledon victory in a way, because all of a sudden it was over and it hit me, you know. Whereas before I made the dropshot and I think I won, and might have been much more emotional, you know.
But then after losing that point, I'm thinking, My God, he just grabbed the trophy out of my hands. I might end up losing this thing. Two or three points later, I'm the winner after all.
It was very much a rollercoaster with the emotions. You know, you just try to stay focused. I guess the match point was over, and I was like, Oh, my God, this is it. That's kind of how I felt. It was great.
Q. How do you keep doing it year after year, Grand Slam after Grand Slam? You make it look so easy, and obviously it isn't.
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, look, there's no secret behind it. You know, I mean, definitely a very talented player (laughter). I always knew I had something special, but I didn't know it was like, you know, that crazy.
I definitely had to work extremely hard so I would pick the right shot at the right time. For instance, on the match point I decided to hit a dropshot. You got to be crazy to do that.
But I just ‑‑ you know, I always knew I had it in my hand. The question is do I have it in my mind and in my legs, you know. That's something I had to work extremely hard at. Now I feel like obviously I'm being pushed a great deal by the new generation coming up. I always feel sort of tennis changes sort of every five years.
Because when I came on tour, matches were played very differently. It was more of a bluff game, guys serving well, but there was always a weakness you could go to. Today that doesn't exist anymore. I think that's also thanks to guys like Murray. They've made me a better player, because I think this has been one of my finest performances, you know, in a long time, or maybe forever.
Q. Would you have been confident even if you lost the third set? How were you feeling at that point?
ROGER FEDERER: I mean, I think it would have been very interesting obviously to see how he would have handled it, you know, coming off such a high of winning the third set. Then still I think it was very physical, so it would have been very taxing on his body and my body, you know, just to see how we would have both sort of pulled up after that third set.
Unfortunately, it didn't happen for him. But it was played at a very high intensity, I think, from start to finish. Rallies were long. They were physical. I would have been okay. I still had the lead, so wouldn't have been a problem.
Q. Andy said he can cry like you, but he can't play like you. You were very gracious about what you said about him afterwards. What makes you think he will win one of the trophies?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I just think he's ‑‑ I mean, he's a wonderful mover, tactician, great backhand. He has got everything you need to beat the best and to win big tournaments. You know, sometimes it just doesn't happen when you want. Sometimes it all of a sudden happens without you knowing that it did.
He's going through, I mean, you know, a tough generation at the moment. There's many guys. You know, I've dominated hard court and grass for a long time; Rafa did clay. Rafa also became very strong on the other surfaces and so forth.
So I think it's just not an easy thing to do, Grand Slams, and I proved it again tonight. But I think he's extremely strong in his mind, and I just feel like he's got the game to do it. The question is just when.
Q. This is your first Australian Open for a couple of years. Can we now start talking about a Grand Slam? Is that on your mind with Nadal having some issues and you looking very good?
ROGER FEDERER: Look, I mean, it's not something I've ever put in my mind that this is something I want to achieve. I'll still go and play the smaller tournaments, you know, the Masters 1000s, the ones we're supposed to play. I try to give my best everywhere I go to, because I think there's not only the Grand Slams.
Of course, they are important, but I try to respect every tournament that invites me to go play there. There's the fans who pay tickets. I want to live up to my expectations, too.
I won't just put the entire calendar just around trying to win the calendar Grand Slam. I mean, it's something if it happens, it does, it's great; but it's not something that's like my number one goal. Not at all. It's the same as I haven't put a number on how many Grand Slams I want to try to win. Whatever happens happens.
You know, I really want to try to enjoy, you know, my end to my career, because I've reached already so many goals I thought were never possible. I really want to just enjoy the tour, and that's what I'm doing at the moment. Obviously as a dad as well even more so.
Q. Do you let yourself sort of think about what sort of legacy you'd like to leave on the game when it is done?
ROGER FEDERER: No, neither. I just think it's something that's going to be once I hang up my racquet, that's when people should judge me and talk about what great things I did, maybe less great things I did, you know.
But I try to be good for the game, leave it better off than when I arrived, even though that's hard. I'm very thankful to the legends of the game who created this great platform for us. We did have another record crowd attendance at the Australian Open.
For me to be part of something like this is something also very special, of course.
Q. The way you feel and the way you're playing, is there any suggestion that you couldn't go on for another four, five years? Doesn't seem to take that much out of you. You have a new physio working with you.
ROGER FEDERER: Sure, but there is never a guarantee. Tennis has always been that way. For the last 10 years I go week in, week out. Every practice I play, I hope I'm going to be healthy on the other side.
But I feel, like you said, my game is not as taxing as other players' games. I also think I have a very relaxed mind when it comes to the game of tennis. I'll definitely try my best on the court. I'm professional the way I'm supposed to be.
But off the court, it's a matter of relaxing and enjoying it, you know, seeing friends and families. There's more important things than tennis after all. I think that's something I've always had a clear vision of how my life is, you know. I think that's also helped me to go through better and tougher phases, you know, because I know this is an incredible trip I'm on.
We'll see where it ends, you know. I hope not anytime soon.
Q. You mentioned a couple times it's your first major win as a dad. Did you ever doubt you'd be able to keep winning as a father?
ROGER FEDERER: Not really. I mean, it was more put out there, you know, that apparently it's hard to do. Not as hard as it seems (laughter).
I mean, I think the special win for me was winning in Cincinnati, I think. I think the girls were barely two, three weeks old. That was terrific. That was very special. Sure, this is the first Grand Slam, but it doesn't feel as much as the Cincinnati victory felt like, just because there it was right off the bat; it was fresh.
It was all in my mind, you know. So to get through that tournament by beating Andy and Novak in the semis and finals was very special. Then, of course, being a dad, just coming off the whole thing was amazing.
This is obviously terrific, as well. Maybe not as much as the dad part, but just more that I can still do it, you know, after losing the US Open final.
Q. How will you celebrate tonight? Any different?
ROGER FEDERER: Friends and family, you know. See if the babies are up. Hope not (smiling). Otherwise I'll wake them up tomorrow or I'll just grab them because I'm so happy.
No, we'll just have a good time tonight with drinks and food. That's what I usually do, regardless if I win or lose. It's something I've got the habit, you know, because I got a lot of support. I just like to let the tournament unwind a bit, you know, see where it ends. At 12:00 apparently we have a photo shoot.
Q. Can you understand why Andy got emotional at the end? You've been through that yourself. You say it's hard to win the first one. Can you appreciate why he felt as deflated as he did at the end?
ROGER FEDERER: Uhm, yeah, I mean, of course I do. I mean, it happened to me, too, you know. I think the US Open everything happened a bit quick for him there. I think he played back‑to‑back Saturday, Sunday matches, a match with Rafa.
Before he knew it, he was in the US Open final and he didn't know what hit him. He lost. You know, I think he was still happy with the outcome, you know, because to Rafa the victory for him was a huge one. But maybe he didn't have time to really get emotional about it.
I don't know if you ever heard me say, but the US Open is very loud, so you don't maybe start thinking too much of, how did I play, am I disappointed. Here in Australia or Wimbledon, it's very different. It's very quiet. It's very respectful. Standing ovation. It builds up in you as the trophy ceremony goes by.
I thought he was actually doing fine until he told me, I think there will be some tears. I'm like, Don't worry, it will be all right. And he actually did.
You know, in a way it was hard to watch, but at the same time I like seeing players who care for the game. I don't know. It's nice to see, you know. So you wish, you know, only the best for him.
Federer remains the master after beating Murray
The Swiss master did it again. Roger Federer now has a 16th grand slam title, a fourth in Australia and a stranglehold over his rivals that shows no sign of ending.
Britain's long wait continues. The added burden of 74 years of expectation was too much for Andy Murray and he failed to produce his best when it mattered most.
The Scotsman was brave but Federer was just too good, winning Sunday's Australian Open final 6-3 6-4 7-6.
It was not so much a match as a tennis lesson but Federer said it was players like Murray that brought out the best in him.
"I'm being pushed a great deal by the new generation coming up," Federer said.
"They've made me a better player, because I think this has been one of my finest performances in a long time, or maybe forever."
At the presentation ceremony, Murray broke down in tears, just as Federer had done when he won the 2006 final and again last year when he lost to Rafa Nadal.
"I can cry like Roger. It's just a shame I can't play like him," Murray said.
Murray's time may still come. He is just 22 and has already played in two grand slam finals, at the U.S. Open two years ago and now Australia. At the same age, Federer had only made one grand slam final.
Murray might have lost both his finals in straight sets to Federer but there is no shame in that. The apprentice's best years are still ahead of him and Britain may yet get their first male grand slam champion since Fred Perry won the U.S. Open in 1936.
"You're too good a player not to win a grand slam so don't worry about it," Federer reassured him.
Later he added: "The next one is not gonna get any easier. But his game is so good that I'm convinced he will win one."
TIGHT GRIP
Federer's game is not quite as clinical and precise as it used to be but his grip on the game has never been tighter.
Rarely was this better illustrated than Sunday's final at Melbourne Park as the pair captivated the Rod Laver Arena crowd with some absorbing rallies.
Murray went into the match full of optimism and confidence and there were moments when he had the world number one under pressure.
In the opening set, he broke Federer's serve when he chased down a drop shot then whipped a forehand across the court, then in the third set he broke him again, with another sweetly struck winner.
He also served for the third set in the ninth game and had five set points in the tiebreaker, but was unable to convert.
"I thought I deserved to take it into a fourth, but it didn't happen," Murray said.
"I had my chance to get back into the match. That was probably why I was upset."
Throughout the match, Federer was always more aggressive. He made more unforced errors than Murray but also hit more winners, 19 with his forehand, six with his backhand and 11 thundering aces.
He wasted two match points in the tiebreak but took the third that came his way when he thumped a return back to Murray that put the Scotsman on the back foot and ended when he lamely slapped a backhand into the net.
"I'm over the moon, winning this again," Federer said. "I think I played some of the best tennis of my life again the last two weeks.
"This is also special because it's my first grand slam as a father. I'm looking forward to them watching me next year maybe."
Federer has already broken almost every record in men's tennis. He has made the final in 18 of the last 19 grand slams but lost none of his enthusiasm.
"There's no secret behind it. I'm definitely a very talented player," he said.
"I always knew I had something special, but I didn't know it was like, you know, that crazy.
"I definitely had to work extremely hard so I would pick the right shot at the right time.
"I haven't put a number on how many grand slams I want to try to win. Whatever happens happens."
Roger, po triumfie w AO wyrównał wynik rekordowej ilość zwycięstw w AO w erze Open, który dotychczas samodzielnie posiadał Andre Agassi.
Najwięcej sukcesów w poszczególnych Szlemach:
AO - Federer, Agassi (po 4)
RG - Borg (6) przy 1 Federera
Wimbl - Sampras 7 przy 6 Federera
US Open - Federer, Sampras, Connors (po 5)
Ciekawostka, Federer mimo rekordowej ilości zwycięstw w ogólnej liczbie Szlemów, nie jest samodzielnym liderem w ilości triumfów w żadnym z poszczególnych turniejów.
Jeszcze coś ze strony ES:
http://eurosport.yahoo.com/31012010/58/ … crown.html
Roger Federer has defeated Andy Murray in the Australian Open final
Roger Federer has won his record 16th grand slam title after defeating a determined Andy Murray in the Australian Open final. The Swiss champion won convincingly in three sets, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6.
Federer was is in total control against the ambitious Scot, who came out firing after the Swiss great first broke his serve early in the first set.
Federer won the first two games before Murray fired up and strung together some winners to break back and grow in confidence against the world's No. 1.
Federer and Murray were locked at 3-all before the Swiss champion resisted the challenge and claimed the first set 6-3.
In the second set, Federer proved too strong around the court and broke Murray's serve to take out the first set.
In the third set, Federer resisted a determined Murray who broke his serve. But Federer hung on to claim his 16th grand slam title in convincing style.
Federer's mental toughness is his winning formula for consistent performances at grand slam events.
The list of all-time winners of Grand Slam tennis events after Roger Federer's latest victory (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, US Open):
16 - Roger Federer (SUI) 4 Australian, 6 Wimbledon, 1 French, 5 US
14 - Pete Sampras (USA) 2 Australian, 7 Wimbledon, 5 US
12 - Roy Emerson (AUS) 6 Australian, 2 French, 2 Wimbledon, 2 US
11 - Bjorn Borg (SWE) 6 French, 5 Wimbledon
11 - Rod Laver (AUS) 3 Australian, 2 French, 4 Wimbledon, 2 US
10 - Bill Tilden (USA) 3 Wimbledon, 7 US
08 - Andre Agassi (USA) 4 Australian, 1 French, 1 Wimbledon, 2 US
08 - Ivan Lendl (CZE) 2 Australian, 3 French, 3 US
08 - Fred Perry (GBR) 1 Australian, 1 French, 3 Wimbledon, 3 US
08 - Ken Rosewall (AUS) 4 Australian, 2 French, 2 US
British Men in Grand Slam Finals
1937 French Championship - Bunny Austin lost to Henner Henkel 6-1 6-4 6-3.
1938 Wimbledon - Bunny Austin lost to Don Budge 6-1 6-0 6-3.
1977 Australian Open (Dec.) - John Lloyd lost to Vitas Gerulaitis 6-3 7-6 5-7 3-6 6-2.
1997 US Open- Greg Rusedski lost to Patrick Rafter 6-3 6-2 4-6 7-5.
2008 US Open - Andy Murray lost to Roger Federer 6-2 7-5 6-2.
2010 Australian Open - Andy Murray lost to Roger Federer 6-3 6-4 7-6 (11).
Magnificent Roger Federer puts Andy Murray to the sword
Andy Murray was an unfortunate fall guy as Roger Federer once again proved he is a tennis player par excellence as the imperious Swiss added a 16th grand-slam title and a fourth Australian Open crown to his record-breaking collection.
Murray’s hopes of ending the agonising 74-year wait for a British male champion of one of the game’s four majors disintegrated in straight sets, just as they did in the final of the US Open 16 months ago.
But though the score line was similar, Murray’s added maturity in the interim is obvious and as Federer celebrated his 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 victory he turned to his opponent and in a reassuring tone said: “Don’t worry Andy, you are too good a player not to win one of these soon.”
Murray could and should have at least extended the encounter as he let five set points slip through his hands in the concluding tie-break before he aimed a final tired backhand in the net.
As emotion got the better of him in the aftermath and tears welled up in his eyes, Murray tried to inject a little humour as he alluded to Federer’s many shows of emotion when the spoils of victory are being handed out and he choked: “I can cry like Roger, it’s a shame I can’t play like him.”
The immediate reaction to Murray’s loss is one of predictability. Once Federer took the first set, another win for the world No 1 seemed inevitable but closer analysis certainly reveals there were opportunities for the Scot, who had dropped only one set on his way to the final, to have made more of an impression.
Murray’s second set point in the tie-break was certainly the most agonising as he was presented with the most straightforward of forehands that he would expect to hit with ease 100 per cent of the time in practice. With the opportunity to haul himself back into contention, he showed too much anxiety and rushed his action as he tried to put extra pace on the ball.
The result was it thudded horrendously into the net and Federer looked to the heavens, knowing he had most certainly dodged a potentially deadly bullet.
Things had started so well as Murray attempted to show Federer his intentions as he let fly with a wondrous backhand return on the opening point before a Federer return made it 0-30 in the British hope’s favour. Apart from a trio of unconverted break points five games later it was the only time Murray was ahead and for the most part of the opening two sets Federer called the tune.
Contest wise, things became much closer in the third as Murray upped his ace count and played a far more aggressive game. He still didn’t attack in the way he had done in the earlier rounds but that was only to be expected against an opponent of such magnificence.
Certainly this match was another lesson in Murray’s learning process. Without doubt he will go away from Melbourne Park and reflect on how he has got closer to his ultimate goal in the past fortnight. But in the end it was reaffirmation that Federer is probably the greatest player of all time while Murray and Britain must still wait in hope.
Pięknie widzieć Rogera tak uradowanego, cóż więcej chcieć żona, dzieci i do tego kolejne triumfy w najważniejszych turniejach, French Open będzie chyba największym sprawdzianem dla Feda w drodze do klasycznego Wielkiego Szlema.
Obserwujac Feda w poprzednim sezonie, zastanowiałem się gdzie tu mogą być jeszcze jakieś rezerwy i myślałem o psychice i przygotowaniu atletycznym; miło się przekonać, że sam zainteresowany się z tym zgadza. :D Wiadomo, że technicznie to on już lepiej grać nie będzie(jeśli w ogóle można grać lepiej technicznie niż Fed :] ), ale w głowie jest pewien zapas; jeśli idzie o determinację nigdy nie można było niczego Szwajcarowi zarzucić, podobnie jeśli idzie o grę w ważnych momentach(jej czasem negatywna ocena wynikała chyba po trosze z nadmienych oczekiwań), natomiast problemem było zawsze utrzymywanie koncentracji. I tu jest pole do rozwoju, bo gdyby potrafił nie schodzić poniżej pewnego poziomu, to jego efektywność znacznie by zyskała, zwłaszcza w pojedynkach z regularnymi tenisistami. Jeśli idzie o sprawy fizyczne, są dwie kwestie; po pierwsze unikanie kontuzji, Fed miał trochę problemów z barkiem, plecami, a ten turniej pokazał, jak wielkie znaczenie ma dobre serwowanie dla pewności jego gry; druga rzecz to optymalne przygotowanie atletyczne; poza dyskusją moim zdaniem jest, że utrzymanie idealnej formy przez cały rok, jak w sezonie 2006, w ogóle nie wchodzi w grę, trzeba szykować się na poszczególne fragmenty sezonu, co nie jest łatwe, bo nie można ani przesadnie pofolgować w okresie miedzy turniejami, bo oponka wróci, ani przesadzić z obciążeniami; Roger ma od jakiegoś czasu nowego współpracownika od przygotowania fizycznego, więc można chyba optymistyczne się na to zapatrywać.
Robertinho napisał:
natomiast problemem było zawsze utrzymywanie koncentracji. I tu jest pole do rozwoju, bo gdyby potrafił nie schodzić poniżej pewnego poziomu, to jego efektywność znacznie by zyskała, zwłaszcza w pojedynkach z regularnymi tenisistami.
Moim zdaniem tu można sporo poprawić, ale też jest pewna granica. Dochodzę do wniosku, że Ci geniusze już tak mają (patrz Ronnie). Ewentualna drastyczna (chyba jednak nierealna) zmiana na tym polu chyba negatywnie odbiłaby się na stylu i charakterystyce gry.
Znalazłem ciekawą statystykę, Roger w ilości kolejnych finałów WS awansował na 2 miejsce w klasyfikacji wszech czasów. Goni...samego siebie. :P
Najwięcej kolejnych finałów WS:
10 - Roger Federer: 2005 WIMBLEDON, UNITED STATES; 2006 AUSTRALIAN, French, WIMBLEDON, UNITED STATES; 2007 AUSTRALIAN, French, WIMBLEDON, UNITED STATES
8 - Roger Federer: 2008 French Open, Wimbledon, U.S. OPEN; 2009 Australian Open, FRENCH OPEN, WIMBLEDON, U.S. Open; 2010 AUSTRALIAN OPEN
7 - Jack Crawford: 1933 AUSTRALIAN, FRENCH, WIMBLEDON, United States; 1934 Australian, French, Wimbledon
6 - Don Budge: 1937 WIMBLEDON, UNITED STATES; 1938 AUSTRALIAN, FRENCH, WIMBLEDON, UNITED STATES
6 - Rod Laver: 1961 WIMBLEDON, United States; 1962 AUSTRALIAN, FRENCH, WIMBLEDON, UNITED STATES
Australian Open - Federer targets French defence
Roger Federer supped champagne and partied until dawn in Melbourne, savouring his first Grand Slam victory as a father but already looking forward to the defence of his French Open crown.
The 28-year-old Swiss defeated Andy Murray in the Australian Open final to extend his record to 16 major titles and dash British hopes of a first men's grand slam champion in 74 years.
Looking fresh after only a few hours' sleep, the father of six-month old twin girls said he had no plans to slow down and that he still had plenty to prove on the tour.
"I think I played some of my best tennis these last two weeks, especially the final yesterday against Murray," Federer said, with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup perched on a table next to him.
"The win was exceptional and the performance from my side, so it makes me very happy and eager to await what's to come this year."
"As you grow older you enjoy the victories even more, you try to savour them as long as possible.
"Because you never know when it could be your last, even though I'm sure I have much more left in me."
After celebrating with a few dozen friends at his hotel until sunrise, Federer was delighted to return to his room to find one of his daughters awake.
"I quickly was able to see (Myla). Even though she has got obviously no clue what has happened and couldn't care less, but I still felt it was a special moment to hold her in my hands, and in my arms after what happened."
Federer's brilliant win at Melbourne Park quashed doubts about the world number one's hunger for success and the Swiss scotched any notion he might take a break from the game, like Belgians Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin.
"That's not realistic or feasible for me," he said. "Maybe (I could) take a few months off, but that doesn't mean half a season off. I just think it's too tough to come back after that. I don't know, the men's game's different, I think. It's brutal, the margins are so small."
Federer has enjoyed a blissfully injury-free career and brushed aside any concerns about his fitness as a player entering his twilight years, saying that he understood his body "more and more" as time goes by.
"I remember in the beginning here in 2004 when I won the first time, I couldn't move the next day, (I was) so tired, the whole pressure."
"Now I'm like 'it's over, perfect, what's next?'"
"Obviously now with the family now and everything there is no time to be tired... I'm not allowed to show any fatigue (to wife Mirka)!" he joked.
Although his triumph at Melbourne Park has set up the tempting possibility of a calendar grand slam, the world number one has no new goals.
He just wants to prove that he can "still beat the guys at the top".
"I hope I can defend my French Open crown obviously, but first things first, vacation, practice and Dubai again," said Federer, referring to the Dubai Championships later this month.
He has enjoyed having his family follow him around the world on tour and said he had not spent a day apart from his children since they were born.
"I know eventually times will be tougher because if (the kids) are good now, at one stage they will scream or not be as easy you know."
"Whatever comes, comes really... It's not enough to be a tennis player, you need to also be a person.
"You don't want to feel like you have to play tennis. Now that I have it, I want to savour it as long as I can and for the fire to burn you need to be smart about how you do it."
Federer to potwór - prasa po Australian Open
Prasa światowa prześciga się w nadawaniu kolejnych tytułów Rogerowi Federerowi. Szwajcar pokonując w niedzielnym finale Australian Open Szkota Andy'ego Murraya do szesnastu wyśrubował własny rekord wszech czasów zwycięstw w Wielkim Szlemie.
"Słodka szesnastka dla niezrównanego szwajcarskiego mistrza" - pisze w poniedziałek dziennik The Australian. Roger przed wyjazdem do domu mógł jeszcze zobaczyć nagłówek w The National: "Federer ubiega się o sportową nieśmiertelność".
Lament w Wielkiej Brytanii? "Murray zostawiony w łzach przez fajerwerki Federera" - to tytuł w The Independent. "Zapłakany Murray zyskuje respekt Federera mimo 'pasywnej' porażki" - pisze The Guardian, który na pierwszą stronę daje cytat Andy'ego: "Mogę płakać jak Roger. Wstydem jest to, że nie mogę grać jak on".
W Szkocji dziennik Herald tytułuje sportową stronę "Rozczarowany", dając zdjęcie takiego właśnie Murraya. "Lekcja od mistrza" - dodaje gazeta. "Murray jest znów zdeklasowany" - czytamy na kolumnach sportowych Daily Telegraph. "Szwajcar cementuje swoją wielkość, gdy zapłakany Szkot przeklina zmarnowane szanse" - to tytuł z Irish Independent.
"Federer, co za potwór" - pisze na pierwszej stronie La Gazzetta dello Sport, która używa na określenie Szwajcara słowa mogącego znaczyć zarówno "potwór" jak i "fenomen". "Federer, co za ekspert!" - to z kolei nagłówek z L'Équipe. "Odzyskuje tytuł, który w ubiegłym roku oddał Nadalowi" - pisze paryski dziennik.
Ciekawa prezentacja kolejnego sukcesu "własnego" zawodnika w Basler Zeitung. "Cień Federera jest coraz dłuższy" - to tytuł w dzienniku z rodzinnego miasta Rogera, który jest przedstawiony na fotografii z czterema długimi cieniami.
"On pisze historię" - poświęca swoją pierwszą stronę francuskojęzyczny Le Matin. "Zdumiewający!" - krzyczy natomiast Tribune de Genève.
#1 - Federer wyrównał rekord Connorsa.
Roger Federer przez 268 tygodni (łącznie) zasiada na tronie rankingu ATP. Wyrównał tym samym wynik Jimmego Connorsa i obecnie obaj gracze zajmują pozycję 3 na liście wszech czasów.
Najwięcej tygodni jako #1:
286 - Sampras
270 - Lendl
268 - Connors, Federer
170 - McEnroe
ATP - ROGER TIES WITH CONNORS
Roger's 16th grand slam title has secured him some space at the top of the ATP world ranking. Quite a few changes have occurred directly behind him, though: Novak Djokovic (2) and Andy Murray (3) have moved up, Rafael Nadal has fallen to fourth place.
Roger reached 268 weeks as number one of the ATP ranking today and has thus leveled Jimmy Connors' best mark. Ahead of him lie only two further players: Ivan Lendl (270) and Pete Sampras (286). And our champ certainly is on track to breaking these rekords, too!
1. Pete Sampras (USA) : 286
2. Ivan Lendl (CZE/USA) : 270
3. Jimmy Connors (USA) and Roger Federer (SUI) : 268
5. John McEnroe (USA) : 170
6. Björn Borg (SWE) : 109
7. Andre Agassi (USA) : 101
8. Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) : 80
9. Stefan Edberg (SWE) : 72
10. Jim Courier (USA) : 58
The morning after: Federer reflects
Roger Federer says his performance in the 2010 Australian Open men’s singles final against Andy Murray was one of the finest of his career.
The morning after his fourth triumph at Melbourne Park, Federer said he was pleased with his ability to play at such a high level for the whole tournament.
“I thought it was some of my best tennis, it’s always hard to judge if was it your finest performance [because] it also depends who you play,” he told the media after a photo shoot on the banks of Melbourne’s Yarra River with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup on Monday.
“I thought yesterday was a very tactical match, always against [Andy] Murray it’s very interesting because I think he neutralises his opponents so for me to be able to play aggressive, controlled aggression really, I thought I did a great job.”
It was Federer’s first Grand Slam victory since becoming a father in July last year and after celebrating with family and friends last night, he spent the morning showing off his silverware to twin daughters Myla and Charlene.
“I woke up and I couldn’t sleep anymore so I went for a cuddle with them, they came to bed and it was beautiful,” he said.
“Then I went back to sleep for another hour but it was nice seeing them in the morning, I actually saw one of them late last night because she woke up. It’s nice after such a win even though they have no clue what just happened, you try to still celebrate a little bit with them.”
The 16-time Grand Slam champion again refused to put a figure on how many majors he could end up with at the end of his career preferring instead to focus on his latest achievement.
“It’s always the ultimate achievement for a player to win matches and win tournaments so for me it’s the same thing and it’s very rewarding,” he said.
“As we could see yesterday again I played fantastic and I had a lot of fun, also celebrating later on with the team and of course I’m delighted to have started the year again so well.’
Federer dziękuje młodym za to, że gra najlepiej w życiu
Roger Federer nie ukrywa, że został obdarzony... szalonym talentem. Twierdzi, że nigdy nie czuł się po turnieju tak świeżo, że chciał od razu iść na narty. Po niedzielnym sukcesie w Melbourne jest zrelaksowany - bo ma przy sobie rodzinę i nie czuje presji.
- Nie czuję żadnego stresu - mówi w rozmowie z La Gazzetta dello Sport. W Melbourne zdobył pierwszy wielkoszlemowy tytuł jako ojciec. - Mam ze sobą dzieciaki, żyjemy tutaj w spokoju - tłumaczy. A jeszcze rok temu płakał po przegranym finale z Rafaelem Nadalem.
Wspomina tamto spotkanie. - Wiem, że zagrałem jeden z moich najlepszych meczów, biorąc pod uwagę problemy z plecami. Ale potem, gdy wygrałem w Paryżu, a po Wimbledonie pobiłem wielkoszlemowy rekord Samprasa, uwolniłem się od wszystkich niekomfortowych pytań - opowiada.
Poprzednim turniejem wygranym przez Federera był ten w Cincinnati w sierpniu. - Wtedy moja radość była świeża, bliźniaczki miały 2-3 tygodnie. Był to turniej specjalny, bo pokonałem Andy'ego i Novaka, pokazałem, że mogę zrobić wiele także jako ojciec - przyznaje.
W spokoju tkwi sekret Rogera. - Teraz gram kompletnie zrelaksowany - wyjaśnia. - Zrobiłem to, co uważałem za możliwe. Do końca kariery chcę cieszyć się Tourem - mówi. Jak twierdzi, gdy czuje się dobrze w Australii, to tak samo jest potem podczas sezonu. Mówią fakty: po każdym z trzech poprzednich triumfów w Melbourne zdobywał w tym samym roku dwa kolejne tytuły w Wielkim Szlemie.
Przez ostatnie dwa tygodnie udowodnił, że jest numerem jeden. - Przeciw Dawidience i Tsondze czułem, że nie mam na korcie tylko jednej opcji, że nie jestem zmuszony do zrobienia jednej rzeczy, a mogę wybierać. Jak pięknie - mówi.
Do światowego tenisa wszedł w 1999 roku. Grał wtedy zupełnie inaczej niż dziś. Nie było wolejów, w ogóle rzadko ruszał do przodu. - Ale nauczyłem się gry klasycznej, która mówi, że powinienem iść do siatki, co w ważnych momentach daje mi przewagę nad rywalem - tłumaczy. Nauczył się jeszcze jednej zasady: - Moja gra nie jest uzależniona od gry przeciwnika.
Według Szwajcara, najlepszy tenis grał pod koniec 2007 roku. - Ale nie wszystko było ok - mówi. - Nigdy nie poświęcałem w tym sporcie wielkiej uwagi treningowi, bo mecz to zupełnie inna sprawa. Ale wtedy myślałem, że wszystko jest takie proste, byłem zachwycony samym sobą - wspomina.
Uczucie powróciło teraz. - Zawsze wiedziałem, że mam talent, ale nie myślałem, że taki... szalony - mówi. - Ciężko pracowałem, by uderzać właściwie we właściwym momencie. Wiedziałem, że mam to coś w rękach, ale nie wiedziałem czy także w głowie i w nogach. Dziękuję młodym za to, że uczynili ze mnie najlepszego zawodnika.
Federer o klasycznym Szlemie
" Nie jest to coś o czym marzyłem od zawsze, ale chciałbym wygrać wszystkie 4 wielkoszlemowe turnieje w 1 roku" - powiedział Szwajcar przed wylotem z Melbourne. Zaznaczyłem jednocześnie, że nie tylko Szlemy są dla Niego istotne.
"Będę grał także w mniejszych turniejach, to nie tak, że liczą się tylko turnieje wielkoszlemowe. W każdym turnieju staram się dawać z siebie wszystko" - dodał.
DUN I LOVE napisał:
to nie tak, że liczą się tylko turnieje wielkoszlemowe.
Widzę, Federera humor po zwycięstwie nie opuszcza :D
Również parsknąłem smiechem słysząc te słowa wypowiedziane przez Szwajcara na konferencji prasowej po zwycięstwie na AO.
Kto wie, może Roker trochę inaczej ma zamiar na to spojrzeć? Smokowski mówił podczas spotkania z Hanescu, że gdzieś wyczytał, że Federer mówił, że chce zwiększyć skuteczność w mniejszych turniejach, bo notuje tu za dużo porażek w kluczowych spotkaniach.
Nie wierzelbym w to. Federer jest nastawiony od 3 lat na same Wielkie Szlemy. Dorzuci do tego Basel, Estoril i jakiegos Mastersa, a szczyt formy przyjdzie na RG, Wimbla i US Open.
Ja tam nie wiem, ale od dwóch lat wyniki Feda w turniejach innych niż szlemy są nieco frustrujące. Może sam to właśnie zauważył i zamierza to zmienić. Nie zdziwiłbym się jednak, gdyby to były tylko i wyłącznie słowa.
Roger Federer doczekał się znaczka pocztowego od austriackiej poczty. Wcześniej w podobny sposób uhonorowali Go oczywiście Szwajcarzy.
OFF COURT - AN AUSTRIAN STAMP FOR ROGER
Austria's postal services issues a stamp honouring Roger as the world's best tennis player.
The 65-centime stamp shows Roger winning the French Open 2009 (the photo was taken by Paul Zimmer), accompanied by the text "Best Tennis Player of the World". It has been designed by renowned Austrian stamp artist Renate Gruber.
This limited edition of only 300,000 stamps will be available on February 8th, 2010. The timing could not have been better after Roger's triumph in Australia, winning his 16th Grand-Slam title.
Further honouring Roger, the Austrian Postal Service is launching a silver edition, too. The «Roger Federer-Numiphilum Collection» has a size of 20x26 mm and is 0.1 mm thick. This special edition costs 15.99 Euros, only 2,000 of the stamps are available at selected shops of the Austrian Postal Service.
#1: Federer wyprzedził Connorsa, teraz Lendl.
Najwięcej tygodni jako #1 (stan na dzień 8.2.2010):
1. Pete Sampras - 286 tygodni
2. Ivan Lendl - 270
3. Roger Federer - 269
4. Jimmy Connors - 268
5. John McEnroe - 170
Sorry, Fed: You're still the best
I want to start with a heartfelt apology to all Roger Federer fans. I got it really wrong.
Before the Australian Open I really did feel that the demands of fatherhood, plus the trouble that he showed at times closing out big matches last year, meant that we had seen the best of him.
I still thought he would have occasional great moments, but that they would become fewer and fewer.
Yet that one performance against Andy Murray at the final in Melbourne blows that theory out of the water.
Federer's decline will happen one day - it might be next year, it might be the year after.
But there's one thing you can say for sure about this season: he has got it back.
His form ebbed and flowed a little through the tournament - just as it did last year - and he even looked a little shaky in the opener against Igor Andreev, but when it came down to the big points in the big matches he came through, and in style.
Never was it better illustrated than in the third set of the final against Murray. With the Scot serving for the set, Federer came up with the goods to break, then closed out the win.
Not for a second did I think I'd be saying this, but if Federer wins again at Roland Garros then the Grand Slam is genuinely on.
---
I spoke to Andy after the final, and the thing that really got to him about his loss wasn't the missed set points in the tie-break, it was faltering when serving for the third set.
His star is still rising, though, and there's no reason to think that he won't spend most of this season as the number two in the world.
Part of that, sadly, is to do with Rafael Nadal's injury trouble.
He obviously thought he had the problems licked, and while nobody knows - not even him - how bad the latest set-back will be, it seems like the trouble isn't going away yet.
Let's all hope he'll get back to full fitness, because he's a cracking bloke and his talent is fantastic. I thought the best two sets of the whole tournament were the stunning first two against Murray in the quarter-final.
Of the other players, I was pleased to see Marin Cilic - one of my pre-season tips - play so well, particularly when he dug in and saved the match against Bernard Tomic.
Novak Djokovic had his moments too, and I believe he will stay in the world's top three and win more Grand Slams in the coming years. I still do think that Murray is a better player, though, and he will probably spend most of his career ranked above the Serbian.
---
It feels like the women's tournament in Melbourne has ushered in a new and incredibly exciting period for women's tennis.
Serena Williams was simply magnificent. It's clear that she wasn't fully fit at any stage of the fortnight, but the way she played through the pain - and the way she performed in the final - was just amazing.
After everything that surrounded Kim Clijsters's comeback last year, it's easy to forget that Justine Henin's return was in its way every bit as impressive.
Perhaps more so, in fact, because while Clijsters relies on power for much of her success Henin relies on touch and skill, and getting that back to Grand Slam level so quickly is astonishing.
Either way, it's going to be the most exciting season in women's tennis for years.
Clijsters's mysterious collapse as she went out of the tournament was bizarre, but clearly just a blip. Her win at the US Open last year tells you everything you need to know about her.
Elena Dementieva is also looking good so far in 2010 - her match against Henin was the best of the women's tournament - and from what I've heard it sounds like Jelena Jankovic could be on the way back to her best.
You can also throw Dinara Safina into that mix; I feel she'll have a much better season now that she won't have to deal with people questioning her number one ranking everywhere she goes!
But while those players and Serena could enjoy another great year, I don't think that Venus Williams will be much of a threat - with the sole exception of Wimbledon, where she will always challenge.
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/tennis/si … icle/1747/
Simon :o
Jak wspaniale mieć Pana Reeda po swojej stronie. :D
Mam nadzieję, że z tymi prognozami będzie miał wreszcie rację. :P
Facebook fans want Federer billed
A Facebook group calling for Swiss tennis star Roger Federer to become the face of the country’s 100 franc note has attracted more than 30,000 fans in five days.
The group was set up on February 1 following Federer’s Australian Open title win, with the slogan: “The greatest tennis player of the world should be represented on the 100 franc note.”
The free daily newspaper 20 Minuten reported the idea had the backing of former Sport Minister Adolf Ogi, quoting him as saying: “I personally would be happy about it. But I know that this is very difficult to implement in practice.”
According to the newspaper, the Swiss National Bank, the country’s central bank, is not considering the idea.
Die-hard fans on the group aren’t giving up just yet. As one member, Brigitte Jansen put it: “Federer not only on the 100 franc note, but on all notes.”
Were the group to be successful, Federer could convert his lifetime winnings into more than 587,205 Federer-emblazoned 100 franc notes – nearly enough to cover the floors of a 7,000 square metre mansion.
Federer stamped with success in Austria, but Swiss banknote a no-go
There's movement afoot for yet another honor for Roger Federer, with a new Facebook page lobbying for the Swiss star's likeness to be put on the mighty 100 Swiss Franc note.
That effort comes shortly after neighboring Austria - with no particular closeness to it's adjacent alpine nation - issued a 0.65 Euro cent stamp featuring the 16-time Grand Slam champion.
The stamp is part of a limited edition of 300,000.
The banknote push came after the 28-year-old won the Australian Open: "The greatest tennis player of the world should be represented on the 100 franc note," said a note on the internet site.
The idea may find tough sledding in the seat of government in Bern, but former Sport Minister Adolf Ogi, an ex-athlete himself, voiced limited support: "I personally would be happy about it. But I know that this is very difficult to implement in practice."
Despite the groundswell of support from tennis quarters, Swiss media report that the National Bank is not entertaining thoughts of putting the star on its forest green note worth nearly $100.
Roger Federer charytatywnie w Etiopii.
FOUNDATION - AN EMOTIONAL VISIT TO ETHIOPIA
World number one Roger Federer sends the ball spinning into the net. His opponent, Ethiopian teenager, Jirata Demksa, smiles and prays the Swiss is having an off day. But Federer just pauses and, taking a deep breath, serves a blistering ace. The 17-year-old, realising he's beaten, simply shrugs.
"He's the best tennis player ever," he says. "I am just lucky we played ping-pong." Jirata says he will never forget taking two points from Federer in an impromptu game of table tennis at a school the tennis ace funds in the poor country. For Federer, this week's visit to Ethiopia was one that moved him to tears. "When I arrived at the school and all of the children were singing, it was very emotional," Federer told Reuters. "They sang, `Roger, our Father' to me. I didn't really understand it at the beginning but I still had tears in my eyes." Federer, limbering up for an attempt to win all four grand slams in a calendar year having already claimed the Australian Open title, was taking some time out to visit Ethiopia -- one of the countries his charitable organisation works in. The Roger Federer Foundation, founded in 2003, spends $1 million a year on education in Ethiopia, South Africa, Tanzania, Mali, Malawi and Zimbabwe.
MOTHER'S INSPIRATION
"My Mum being from South Africa is obviously the inspiration behind the foundation," Federer said, as local kids screamed `Number one!' behind him. "I went there on vacation a lot when I was younger. So we started with a project in South Africa and, as I got older and got more money, I wanted to expand."
Eating a lunch of traditional injera -- a sort of spongy pancake -- with the students at one of two schools he pays for in the country, Federer was peppered with questions. Most of the children wanted to know if he had any of his own. His seven-month old twin girls, Myla and Charlene, could eventually take over the charity Federer wants to continue long after he stops playing, he said. "I definitely want to show them that this world exists as well," Federer said, gesturing at the tin-roofed classrooms around him.
"There's no way around it for them because I'll be travelling. It will be a very exciting ten years for me because I'll be trying to educate and help them and show them all these things." Ethiopia is the world's seventh largest recipient of foreign aid, receiving more than $1.94 billion in 2006, according to the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). About 12 million of the Horn of Africa country's people are reliant on foreign food aid to survive.
As multi-millionaire Federer drove through the streets of the capital Addis Ababa, four street kids caught a glimpse of him through the window of his coach. Leaping to their feet, they ran after the bus. "Federer! Federer! We love you! We love you!" they shouted.
SURPRISE RECOGNITION
For Federer, who has won 16 grand slam titles, the level of recognition in one of the world's poorest and most remote countries, more known for athletics than tennis, was a surprise. "It's my first time here so I didn't expect this," he said. "I always think I should have been to a country before people know me. I forget about the television." Local girl Nihlaa Omar, stretching before racing against the tennis maestro in a 1km fun run, said she had seen him on television in a nearby town.
"We know he's as famous as our famous runners like Kenenisa Bekele," she said referring to the twice Olympic 10,000 metres champion. "But I think Ethiopians can beat him at running." Federer, who was to run against the school's best athletes, agreed saying: "I'm in a lot of trouble". The race kicked off, with the tennis star immediately humbled as the Ethiopian children, who live at high altitude, overtook him en masse, a goat leading the field for the first 500 metres. Federer finished near the back of the field.
"I've always had massive respect for long distance sports," he said. "The terrain was so dangerous and they ran barefoot. It was impressive to say the least." The children, too, were confused by a man more used to split-second exertion. "How old are you?" one girl said. Super-fit Federer, 28, asked her to guess. "I don't know about white people," she said, shyly. "45?"
McEnroe: Federer jest najlepszym tenisistą w historii.
Nigdy nie widziałem kogoś, kto gra ładniej w tenisa od Rogera. On jest najlepszym graczem w historii - mówi o Federerze John McEnroe. - Rod Laver był zawsze moim idolem, Pete Sampras grał najlepiej na trawie. Jednak Roger jest najbardziej wszechstronnym graczem - dodaje były mistrz.
http://www.eurosport.pl/tenis/mcenroe-c … news.shtml
'Federer Is The Greatest Player Of All-Time' - John McEnroe
John McEnroe has always stopped just short of declaring Roger Federer as the greatest tennis player of all time, until now.
Ahead of his appearance at next month’s BNP Paribas Zurich Open in Federer’s native Switzerland (March 9-13), McEnroe explained his views to the Swiss media while promoting the new ATP Champions Tour event in Zurich.
“Roger is just the greatest player of all time,” he said. “He is the most beautiful player I’ve ever seen and I don’t ever get tired of watching him. Rod Laver is my idol, Pete Sampras is the greatest grass court player ever, but Roger is just the greatest player of all. I think we can all appreciate how incredible he is even more lately, because he’s shown a bit more emotion on court and he’s become a father so he seems a bit more human, more relatable. That makes what he’s doing seem even more amazing.”
McEnroe added that, of all Federer’s astonishing records and achievements in the sport, his run of reaching 23 consecutive Grand Slam semi-finals since Wimbledon 2003 is the most remarkable of them all.
“It’s difficult to pick out one of his achievements as the best because they’re all so incredible,” said McEnroe. “But I would probably say the 23 semis or better in a row is the best record of them all. There’s probably not another player in the top 20 who’s even played 23 straight majors (Grand Slam tournaments) in a row. Then throw in the fact that he got to 18 out of 19 finals and that he’s averaging two Grand Slam titles a year, it’s just phenomenally consistent. It's amazing.”
Federer's glittering career has included an intense rivalry with Spaniard Rafael Nadal, whom he has battled against in seven Grand Slam finals to-date. It is something McEnroe can relate to having been part of one of the most iconic sporting rivalries of all-time with Bjorn Borg.
“It's unfortunate that Rafa is struggling with injury because his rivalry with Roger has become an incredible one, and rivalries are great for the sport,” said McEnroe. “I think at the moment Nadal’s injury is working to Roger’s benefit because he was able to take advantage of it at the French Open and dig deep to win that one. But at the same time I think it would be nice to think that Nadal could stick around for a couple of years and push Roger a bit because competition like that can push you that bit harder.”
At the age of 28 and having just won back his Australian Open crown - his 16th Grand Slam title, Federer shows no sign of relinquishing his grip on the Number One spot, but McEnroe acknowledged that nothing lasts forever.
"When you’ve won as much as he has you have to wonder how he will react when he starts losing regularly at major events - not reaching finals or semis. That’s not going to be easy for him. But, he seems to take great care of his body, the way he moves doesn’t put a lot of strain on the body so you would think he would be able to play at this top level a few more years. I hope so, because we are lucky to have him.”
OFF COURT - ROGER NOMINATED FOR LAUREUS AWARD
Roger is in the running to take his fifth sportsman of the year title after being named on the shortlist for the Laureus Sports Awards this week.
The awards, to be held on March 10, recognize achievements in 2009 - a year in which our champion surpassed Pete Sampras for the most tennis grand slam singles titles by winning his sixth Wimbledon crown, as well as capturing his first French Open title.
Roger won the Laureus award for four straight years until Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt took it out last year. Bolt is on the shortlist again for his three golds at the athletics World Championships. Ethiopian athlete Kenesisa Bekele became the first man to win the 5,000 and 10,000 metres double at that World Championships and was also shortlisted. Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador, who won his second Tour de France in three years, was also among the contenders, along with Barcelona and Argentina footballer Lionel Messi, who won the FIFA World Player of the Year, plus Italy’s Valentino Rossi, who claimed his seventh Moto GP title.
#1: Federer wyrównał osiągnięcie Lendla.
Najwięcej tygodni jako #1 rankingu Entry:
1. Pete Sampras - 286
2. Ivan Lendl - 270
2. Roger Federer - 270
4. Jimmy Connors - 268
5. John McEnroe - 170
ATP - LAST CALL FOR FAN'S FAVOURITE VOTE!
Last chance to be part of the ATP World Tour 2009 Awards. Each year, the fans are asked to make their choice for their favourite singles player and doubles team. Simply follow the link below and choose your favourites.
On 18 February 2010, the ATP will announce the winners of the 2009 ATP World Tour Awards.
ATP - ROGER HONOURED BY PEERS AND FANS
Roger was formally recognised for his triumphant return to the top spot in men’s tennis on Wednesday, as the 2009 ATP World Tour Awards were announced.
The 28-year-old superstar collected Player of the Year, Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award and ATPWorldTour.com Fans' Favourite presented by RICOH honours. Federer was Player of the Year for the fifth time after finishing as the 2009 ATP World Tour Champion and his fellow players selected him for the sportsmanship award for a record sixth consecutive year, surpassing Edberg, who was a five-time recipient over eight years. In a poll of fans, Federer was voted ATPWorldTour.com Fans' Favourite for the seventh straight season.
“I am very proud of these recognitions,” said Federer. “It was a great achievement to once again finish the season at No. 1, especially in a year that was so special for me off the court with my marriage and birth of my daughters. It is also very humbling to be awarded the sportsmanship award again by my fellow ATP players, many of whom I have known for a long time. Additionally, I would like to thank my fans for voting me as the Fans’ Favourite. I always try to exhibit fair play and be a good sport, and it is the fans that inspire me to play this wonderful game.”
Player of the Year (based on year-end South African Airways 2009 ATP Rankings)
Roger Federer: The Swiss native finished as ATP World Tour Champion for the fifth time in six years, highlighted by Grand Slam titles at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. He became the sixth man in the history of the sport to win all four Grand Slam titles during his career and the all-time leader with the most Grand Slam singles titles by winning his 15th Slam crown at Wimbledon, surpassing Pete Sampras. He became the second player in the history of the South African Airways ATP Rankings (since 1973) to finish No. 1 after losing it for a season. Ivan Lendl accomplished the feat in 1989.
Fellow Swiss and Roger's doubles partner at the Swiss Indoors in Basel last year, Marco Chiudinelli, received the Comeback Player of the Year Award (voted by ATP players).
Text with kind permission by the ATP World Tour.
ATP - ROGER OUT OF DUBAI DUE TO LUNG INFECTION
Roger has had to pull out of the Dubai Championships because of a lung infection.
Roger started having problems last week and is expected to be out of action for a further two weeks. If everything goes well, he will return to action at Indian Wells in March.
22.02.2010
#1: Federer przegonił Lendla, 15 tygodni do Samprasa.
Najwięcej tygodni jako #1 rankingu Entry:
1. Pete Sampras - 286
2. Roger Federer - 271
3. Ivan Lendl - 270
4. Jimmy Connors - 268
5. John McEnroe - 170
ROGER FEDERER WILL DO “EVERYTHING” TO PLAY AT INDIAN WELLS
Swiss paper Blick published a Q&A with Roger Federer on Tuesday. In it, Roger provides a few more details about the lung infection that took him out of this week’s Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships and talks about being “fit and healthy” for the Indian Wells Masters in California, where first round men’s action starts on March 11th. This is my Google-assisted translation, click here for the original.
Roger Federer, you are now for the second consecutive year not at the tournament in Dubai, your part-time home.
Roger Federer: It hurts. I like being in Dubai, like the people, the atmosphere, the tournament. When I got sick again, I had to think inevitably of Basel, my home, at my home tournament, in which I had so many years of bad luck. But I can not force anything on any account. I must take this lung infection very seriously.
When did you first realize that something is wrong?
Roger Federer: Actually, I was took it easy after the Australian Open. I wanted to come back to power, put away the strain.There’s no question of it being from strain. I trained last Tuesday and then it quickly went downhill. I got chills, fever, extreme rib pain, could not breathe normally.
You are also acting tired.
Roger Federer: Everything goes a little slower, like in slow motion. The fatigue is even still there, even if it is slowly getting better. I hope that I can put it away quickly.
The rest from competition could adversely affect the course of the next few months.
Roger Federer: I do not think so. This is not like the glandular fever of two years ago, in which the uncertainty was large. I think I’m back at the start of the Masters in Indian Wells. And when I start, I’m healthy and fit.
What have the doctors prescribed exactly and recommend that you do?
Roger Federer: The outgoing message is clear: Two weeks total ban from sport. With such a thing it is no joke. I will then, without pushing it, start to prepare seriously for Indian Wells. But as I said: A start is only possible if everything is physically in the green zone. The worst-case forecast is a break of six weeks. I must take that into account, at least.
Is the charity exhibition game at Indian Wells in danger when you play together with Pete Sampras v Agassi / Nadal for the earthquake victims in Haiti?
Roger Federer: I will do everything to ensure that we can stage it. The people of Haiti need our help urgently.
And we all urgently want to see Roger Federer play in Indian Wells! To see Roger at the Dubai players’ party this week, click here. (Hey, at least it’s not contagious. . .right?)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGtluN5t7rw
No to już wiemy, co załatwiło płuca. :P
Federer will miss Laureus awards
World No. 1 Roger Federer hopes to be back on court when the Laureus awards are revealed.
Prior commitments on court - and his comeback from a lung infection - will prevent Roger Federer from taking the stage next month in Abu Dhabi at the Laureus World Sport awards, where he's again been nominated for Sportsman of the Year.
The ceremony will be held on March 10, the same week in which the recovering Swiss expects to be training in the Californian desert at Indian Wells for the Masters 1000 event where he expects to take to the court for the first time since winning the Australian Open last month.
Federer, four-time Laureus winner said, "I've always been excited to be nominated for this award. It's always been a nice and enjoyable evening for all of us. The awards are something that is very special to an athlete like me.”
Federer is expected to be challenged in the balloting by Jamaican Olympic gold medal sprinter Usain Bolt.
Federer said he'll be sorry to miss the Abu Dhabi gala just a few hours by road form his training base in Dubai.
"This year unfortunately I won't be able to be there. It's so special to be even nominated. We always compare different sports with each other. It's nice to see that there is another platform for the athletes to get together and be compared."
Federer's achievements in 2009 included titles at the French Open and Wimbledon - making him only the third male in the Open era to win all four majors - and a return to the No. 1 ranking which he lost to Rafael Nadal in August, 2008.
Roger planuje powrót na kort w Indian Wells.
Federer is making plans to resume at Indian Wells
Federer is making plans to resume at Indian Wells Roger Federer has arrived home to Switzerland on a flight delayed for three hours by a rare Dubai rainstorm.
He is not quite free of his lung infection but he's hoping to depart at the weekend for the Indian Wells Masters event which begins March 10.
While the No. 1 is still on medications, insiders said he planning to leave for California on Saturday afer presumably receiving a clean bill of health from doctors.
Federer, wife Mirka, the couple's twin seven-month-old girls and Federer's sister Diana, flew from Dubai to Zurich, arriving Sunday.The Federers were escorted into the first class section of the Swiss
International Airbus from an airport lounge in Dubai in the early morning hours and upon arrival in Zurich were taken away in a vehicle on the tarmac next to the jet which brought them home from the Gulf.
The lung problem prevented Federer from playing at last week's Barclays Championsihps, where he has won four titles. His last match was the Australian Open title victory over Andy Murray.
ATP - INDIAN WELLS
Dear Fans I am feeling really good again and I was happy to hear from my doctor today that I have the green light to start working out again so I plan to try and play in Indian Wells next week.
See you all soon!
Roger
http://www.rogerfederer.com/en/rogers/n … ewsID=1031
Uff, dziś rano pojawiła się informacja na tennis.com, że Szwajcar nie będzie gotowy do gry i prawdopodobnie opuści IW. Na szczęście Roker wraca na kort już pod koniec przyszłego tygodnia. ;)
Federer hopes to continue winning trend in California
Roger Federer doesn't expect his recent bout of lung infection problems to disrupt his spring hardcourt tennis as the Swiss prepares to return to action next week at the Indian Wells Masters.
Roger Federer doesn't expect his recent bout of lung infection problems to disrupt his spring hardcourt tennis as the Swiss prepares to return to action next week at the Indian Wells Masters.
The world No. 1 claimed the Californian title from 2004-2006 but has been stopped in the semi-final stage at the last two editions.
His battle with the lung problem, which forced him to miss the Barclays Championships in Dubai after beating Andy Murray for another Australian Open crown, has only whetted his appetite to climb back into the fray.
"Once I get back in shape, I'll try to get back on the run again," said the 16-time Grand Slam champion. "I played so well in Australia. Maybe I can take that swing into another few tournaments."
Federer said he's not concerned about time away from the game. He's done it before and will certainly do it again for one reason or the other. "I've had many breaks throughout my career where I take off one-and-a-half to two months. Once I'm back, I'll be okay again."
"I'd like to defend my Wimbledon crown again, and obviously the French Open. (I want to) stay No. 1 in the world. Big goals, high end."
The Swiss added that his plan to return six weeks after the Aussie final should not be a problem. "This break is not too long.
"This (period) is not a major three-week build up where I could have improved my potential or done many things. It was a thing of maybe nine days (missing Dubai last week).
"You try to get back in shape, and off you go again. Bigger blocks (of time) off will be coming."
Federer fitness no longer an issue as Swiss hits at Indian Wells
Roger Federer has silenced the doubters by arriving in Indian Wells have having a successful first hit, a sure sign that his lung infection is now ancient history.
While Switzerland was going down to Spain in the weekend Davis Cup first round, Team Federer was on court in California, beginning the slow buildup for a return.
Federer last played when he crushed Andy Murray for the Australian Open title and was forced to miss the Barclays Championships in Dubai last month due to his illness..
"Back on the court in Indian Wells today. Felt great to hit as it was the first hit I had in 2 and a half weeks,” the Swiss No. 1 wrote on his Facebook page.
Federer has some days until he's due on court for the Friday's Hit for Haiti 2 benefit which proceeds his opening match at the weekend.
Federer apparently received the all-clear from Swiss doctors this week before travelling nine time zones west to California. The 28-year-old won the event from 2004-2006.
More injury pullout news hit the first Masters 1000 of the season as Argentine Juan Del Potro withdrew with his lingering wrist injury and Chile's Fernando Gonzalez pulled out to work on earthquake relief in his homeland.
OFF COURT - HIT FOR HAITI
Yesterday evening, eight greats of tennis - four women and four men - gathered for a "Hit for Haiti" fundraiser event in Indian Wells.
For the first time since the stadium at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian was built ten years ago, it was sold out for an evening session. The event, with the American Red Cross taking collections from those in attendance, was meant to raise $1 million for Haiti relief. It looks like way more has been collected!
The funny talk and play certainly amused the crowd and all the stars seemed to have a great time, too. After Martina Navratilova and Justine Henin opposed Steffi Graf and Lindsay Davenport in an exhibition doubles set, the team of Roger-Pete Sampras engaged a Rafael Nadal-Andre Agassi tandem. The outcome? Navratilova/Henin and our champ's team defeated their opponents 8-6 alike.
Po wczorajszym zwycięstwie w 2 rundzie turnieju w Indian Wells, Roker obłowił się w trofea. Otrzymał nagrody jeszcze za sezon 2009: gracza roku, ulubionego zawodnika wg fanów i nagrodę Stefana Edberga za "rycerską" (jak mawiał Zdzisław Ambroziak) postawę na korcie.
Federer Honored With Trio Of Awards Following Opening Win
World No. 1 Roger Federer was honored on court Sunday evening at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, receiving three ATP Awards following a 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-1 win over Romanian Victor Hanescu in the second round of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tennis tournament.
ATP Executive Chairman and President Adam Helfant presented the 28-year-old Swiss with trophies for 2009 Player of the Year, ATPWorldTour.com Fans’ Favorite Player of the Year presented by RICOH, and the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award.
“I’d like to thank the fans for voting for me,” Federer said to the crowd after receiving the Fan Favorite Award for a seventh straight year. “You guys are amazing. Thank you. As you know, you guys make this even more worthwhile traveling around the globe from January to November. I love coming back here, so it’s very nice to get presented the awards here.”
“Receiving those awards is always a nice thing,” he said at the post-match press conference. “Those are things that got voted for by other people, especially fellow players or fans, it's something that's very touching. Then on top of the that, the video was nice, sitting there, sharing the moment with the fans, watching it, as well at the same time. It's emotional.”
American John Isner also received his trophy Sunday as the Most Improved Player of the Year, following a 2009 season that saw him climb from No. 145 to a year-end best No. 34 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings.
Hanescu delayed Federer’s awards presentation by 22 minutes after fighting back to level the match. The Romanian finally broke Federer’s serve as he capitalized on his sixth break point to assume a 4-2 lead. Though Federer managed to recover the service break three games later, he was forced to play catch-up throughout the tie-break. He netted a volley to give the Romanian set point, and Hanescu took advantage.
A business-like Federer returned in the third set. He won the opening three games, broke his opponent again to establish a 5-1 lead and served out the match at love. The Swiss finished with 62 winners to Hanescu’s 20.
“I was happy with the way I played,” he said. “Not having played for so long, I thought it was a good match overall. Missed maybe some of the clutch serving when I really needed it. Let's say 30-all, deuce I couldn't really get that one perfect serve I was sometimes looking for, but that's something that happens.”
The Swiss, who had been briefly sidelined with a lung infection last month, was making his first appearance since winning his 16th Grand Slam title in January at the Australian Open. He also defeated Hanescu in the second round of that tournament.
Federer is looking to reclaim the Indian Wells crown after winning three straight titles from 2004-06. He next faces Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis, whom he has defeated in their six previous encounters, including four years ago in the Australian Open final.
ATP - ROGER STARTS WITH A VICTORY
Roger has returned onto the Tour with a victory, defeating Romania's Victor Hanescu 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-1 in the second round of the Indian Wells ATP tournament on Sunday.
Roger looked in great shape in his first appearance on the Tour after his Australian Open triumph. Bidding for a record fourth title at Indian Wells, our champ started with a break in the second game before winning the opening set in just 30 minutes. However, he was surprisingly broken in the sixth game of the second when the Romanian struck a backhand return winner down the line. Although Roger fought back to 6-6, he fell behind 0-3 in the tiebreak, which Hansecu won 7-5 to level the match. Roger reacted right away, breaking again in the second and sixth games to seal victory.
Round 3 will bring a meeting with Marcos Baghdatis who has shown a strong year so far (title in Sydney, tight semi-final against Djokovic in Dubai). Roger has won all 6 matches against him so far.
rf.com
ATP - ROGER LOSES THIRD ROUND MATCH
Roger suffered a 5-7, 7-5, 7-6(4) defeat against Marcos Baghdatis at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
"It was one of those matches that just happens," Roger said. "I didn't play terrible. It just happens. I was doing many things right, but then the next thing you know, I'm stuck in a third set and you never know what's going to happen. It was a decent match but maybe wrong choices at the wrong time for me."
Roger certainly had his chances with a total of three match points, two of which came at 5-4 of the second set, when he took a 15-40 lead on Baghdatis' serve but fired first a forehand and then a backhand long and Baghdatis went on to hold serve and even the set. Baghdatis broke our champ in the next game and then held serve to take the set. The last time Roger surrendered a match after holding at least one match point was in the 2006 Rome final, against Rafael Nadal.
Roger took a 3-1 lead in the third set with a break in the fourth game, but Baghdatis - whose head-to-head record against Federer includes a loss in the 2006 Australian Open final - broke back in the seventh game, setting up the break with a blistering cross-court winner before Roger netted a forehand.
The next tournament on Roger's schedule is the Sony Ericsson which starts on March 22nd in Miami.
OFF COURT - ROGER PRESENTS MARCO CHIUDINELLI ATP AWARD
Last Tuesday, Roger handed Marco Chiudinelli the 2009 Comeback Player of the Year Award in Indian Wells. The two players have been friends for many years, as Marco also grew up in the area of Basel (Switzerland) and they already played together as juniors.
“It’s a great honour to get this award voted by my fellow players,” said 28-year-old Chiudinelli. “It was a hard time for me to get back and I’m very proud of having achieved a great comeback, and it feels great that other people recognize that effort.”
http://www.rogerfederer.com/en/rogers/n … ewsID=1036
Czyli wszystko jasne. Do IW Roger udał się w celu odebrania/prezentowania nagród. Ciekawe po co wybierze się do Miami? :P
OFF COURT - ROGER BECOMES AN HONORARY MEMBER OF SWISS TENNIS
Roger was appointed as an honorary member of the Swiss Tennis Association on Saturday in Bern (Switzerland) at Swiss Tennis' 115th delegates meeting. For the first time in its 114 years, the Swiss association honoured an active athlete. Since Roger is currently in the United States, his godfather Arthur Dubach collected the award in his place. "I am proud to receive this award today on behalf of my godchild. The nomination as an honorary member is a great honour to Roger and he would like to the Central Committee as well as the delegates of Swiss Tennis for this award."
rf.com
ATP - KEY BISCAYNE: THE DRAW
After the Californian desert, Roger is heading off to Key Biscayne, ready to compete in this years' second Masters 1000 Series event.
Like the other top seeds, Roger is exempt from the first round. He will face a qualifier or Italy's Potito Starace (ATP 73) in his first match. Then a meeting with Spain's Albert Montañes (ATP 31) is possible, before playing Gilles Simon (ATP 24) or Tomas Berdych (ATP 20) in the round of the last sixteen. Fernando Verdasco (ATP 12), Marcos Baghdatis (ATP 30) or Marin Cilic (ATP 9) could be up in the quarter finals. And then, in the semis, Roger's opponent from the Australian Open, Andy Murray, could be waiting for him.
Moim zdaniem Roger szczyt formy osiąga co roku na Wimbledonie. W innych turniejach gra dobrze ale nie wyśmienicie.
ATP - ROGER STARTS WELL
Roger opened his bid for a third title in Miami in successful manner, breezing past Ecuador's Nicolas Lapentti 6-3, 6-3 in his first match.
"I served well and made a good start on all my service games. I knew I would have chances on his serve and I took them. It's a pleasing performance and a good start."
Roger struggled with his forehand in the beginning, but fought to earn his first break point to advance to 5-3 in the opening set. Both players competed well in the second set, neither able to reach break point until 3-3. Roger struck first, taking a 4-3 lead as Lapentti gave away a backhand error. Roger then went on to complete the match with no trouble as he collected two match points at 5-3. A well-struck, cross-court backhand sealed the win for our champ in 66 minutes.
Roger will meet France's Florent Serra (ATP 61) in the third round of play. The two have never met before on the Tour.
OFF COURT - ROGER'S SWEETEST FANS
Swiss chocolate manufacturer, Lindt & Sprüngli, and one of Roger's sponsors, published a new video with Roger just in time for the easter season. Check out Roger on court in front of his cutest fans!
ATP - NEXT UP: ROUND FOUR
Roger defeated France's Florent Serra (ATP 61) in a pair of tiebreaks today: 7-6(2), 7-6(3).
Roger displayed some awesome tennis, starting the match well as he raced to a 5-2 lead. But he had to accept a break by his opponent, who managed to level the set at 5-5. As the set went into the tie-break, Roger regained the momentum and spared two points to close it by 7 points to 2. The second set brought an early break in the third game for our maestro, who then consolidated the lead with a double break for 4-1. Serra once again broke Roger to close in the gap, and successfully levelled the set once again at 5-5 with consecutive service breaks. Roger, surprised by the Frenchman's tenacity, failed to grab another break and looked for closure in the tie-break, which progressed as expected, giving Roger a mini-break lead at 3-1. With a lead, he closed the 7-6(2), 7-6(3) match in one hour and 32 minutes of play.
Next up is the winner of the match between Tomas Berdych and Horacio Zeballos.
ATP - ROGER UPSET BY BERDYCH
Roger had to admit a defeat against Czech Tomas Berdych in Miami on Tuesday, losing a tight match 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-7(6).
"It's no secret that I struggled the last five matches I played in the States," Roger said. "I fought, and tried everything I could, but my game is lacking something right now. I'm lacking timing. I had so many chances, but I never felt great all night. When I don't play my best, it's hard to judge my opponent, but I knew the danger. This only fuels my desire to go to the practice courts and figure out what's wrong, and get better."
Roger had beaten Berdych in eight of their previous nine encounters but paid the penalty for an error-strewn display in which he could only convert two of 12 break point opportunities. After a rather unspectacular first set which Berdych eventually won, Roger could only close the second in the tie-break after having failed to make use of his nine break points. The two players met on the same level once again, breaking and re-breaking, with Roger eventually facing the first match-point of the match at 6-5 in the decider. After a successful challenge on the side of the Czech and another match-point for Roger in the tie-break, our champ eventually had to face the three-set defeat.
Roger will now head back to Europe, where the Internazionali BNL d'Italia start towards the end of April.
Kolejny rok z rzędy słaba postawa Feda w tych turniejach, chyba to już będzie stała reguła.
Babies on board no problem for traveling Federers
Traveling with twins are no problem for Roger Federer, with his nine-month-old daughters already experienced globetrotters.
In fact, the Swiss top seed at the Miami Masters admitted he's been surprised at just how easy it's been to take to the road with his new family.
Granted, Federer is not flying coach or carrying many of his own bags. The world No. 1 and wife Mirka have the advantage of private jets and a full-time nanny.
But even in the lap of luxury, babies can sometimes be a handful. Not so Myla and Charlene.
"The traveling has been real easy, to be quite honest," said the Swiss. "I'm surprised how easy it's been. I expected it to be hard, to say the least."
The girls were born in Zurich in late July and within a fortnight were on a plane to North America for a trip which ended a month later after the US Open.
They have also been around Europe, to Australia and Dubai and are back in the US for a second time this month.
"The little ones had issues after Australia, the teething, the ear infections and stuff," said Federer. "That was kind of rough, but at least we weren't traveling too much. Mirka was sick; I was sick, as well. So it was something maybe we had in the family."
"But now everything is great again. And as days go by, they become more and more active, so it's a lot of fun to interact with them."
Federer said that life in hotels suites has taken on a new look with babies on board. "Whereas before you had tables and chairs, it's empty space now so they have room to move. So it's a lot of fun."
Roger, podczas konferencji prasowej w Miami, definitywnie zakończył temat Jego ewentualnego występu w Monte Carlo. Szwajcar oświadczył, że zgodnie z Jego pierwotnymi planami, nie weźmie udziału w edycji turnieju w 2010 roku. Potwierdził także chęć gry w Estoril.
Źródło: http://www.tennistalk.com/en/news/20100 … oril_event
Crisis time for Federer after moderate month on hardcourts
Two months after winning the Australian Open, 16-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer admits he's working his way through a mini-crisis in his tennis.
"It's no secret that I've struggled the last five matches I've played here in the States," said the No. 1, knocked out in the fourth round of the Miami Masters after holding a match point against Tomas Berdych.
"It's disappointing, my performance overall. But I fought as much as I could under the circumstances with my game having issues at the moment. I definitely lack timing. I don't know where that comes from because I played so nicely in Australia. So it's disappointing to not be able to back it up."
Federer said that the lung infection which kept him off court in February could have been a contributing factor. "Maybe the sickness did take it out of me more than I thought. Maybe the break was quite long. I'm kind of used to those things, I could have done much better."
He will now have almost a month to get into a clay groove before starting in Rome in late April. That event will be followed by the Estoril Open, Madrid Masters and finally his title defence at Roland Garros.
"I was a couple points away this week and then also in Indian Wells I had my chances. It's disappointing having had a chance to move on. Maybe I had a chance to sort of turn around my game."
"But we'll see how it goes forward. The lack of confidence cost me these last two tournaments."
"But it only fuels my desire to go back to the practise courts and come back even stronger. I don't like to lose these type of the matches."
Federer says he never meant to psyche out Murray
Federer says he never meant to psyche out Murray Roger Federer is making his deliberate and measured build-up to his start later this month on clay in contrast to distressed Briton Andy Murray, starting early next week in Monte Carlo in hopes of getting his game back in gear.
The Swiss has told London's Daily Mail that despite speculation that things might be somewhat testy between the pair - Murray still holds a 7-5 edge and won five straight matches in 2008-2009 before the Swiss earned the next three - that's certainly not the case.
"I understand that people want to make out there is something between us but I don't think there is."
Federer added that his dominating Australian Open title victory over the Scot was not due in any way to a pre-match psych job after the Swiss joked it had been "about 150,000 years" since a Brit had won a Grand Slam.
"It wasn't deliberate, I was just being honest," he told the London tabloid. "I was asked to analyze it, so I did. It wasn't to put pressure on Andy.
"It's not easy to win your first Grand Slam and it was always going to be far easier for me to win a 16th. I've already got the record, so I felt in a state of peace before that match - it was a great feeling.
"If I've ever criticized Murray's game it's in the context of it being at a very high level, and smart people will realize that this is really a compliment. Anyway, I can't shout out too loudly about our rivalry, because he still has a lead in our head-to-head."
Ale kłamczuszek. hahaha
Federer hits the clay to prepare for Paris title defense
Roger Federer starts preparations for the long run on the dirt in the coming months.
Roger Federer went straight to work on the clay last week, not even waiting to leave the hardcourt environs of Miami after his loss at the Masters before having a hit on the clay which will be his tennis home for the next two months.
In between a lunch date with Tiger Woods' estranged wife Elin Nordegren at a five-star Rizt-Carlton on the island of Key Biscayne along with wife Mirka, the couple's two twin girls and one of Elin's children, the world No. 1 was plotting training strategy for his clay start at the end of the month in Rome.
Federer will be missing by choice from next week's Monte Carlo Masters, with that storied event no longer required on the ATP calendar under an arrangement struck in recent seasons when the Masters 1000 concept was introduced.
But off-court, it will be hard work for the Swiss along with coach Severin Luthi and the rest of his low-key personal team.
While rival Rafael Nadal struggles to break the back of a title-less streak stretching just a few weeks short of a year, Federer will be priming as his French Open title defence takes shape.
“It helps to move on to a different surface,” Federer said before leaving the US. “I’m looking forward to the clay court season.”
The holder of 16 Grand Slam titles won his only honour of 2010 so far at the Australian Open. Federer believes that he perhaps underestimated the lung infection which he apparently picked up in February from Mirka and which left him without practise and somewhat weak during last month's American hardcourt swing.
His losses at both Indian Wells and Miami came in tiebreaks - to Marcos Baghdatis in the California third round - he held three match points - and in the fourth in Florida against Tomas Berdych. “Maybe the sickness did take it out of me more than I thought, I could have done much better,” he said.
Federer's Roland Garros match preparation will start in Rome and follow onto tiny Estoril where he won the title in a debut two years ago. He then defends a title at the Madrid Masters.
OFF COURT - THE 2010 TIME 100 POLL
Time Magazine is currently running their yearly poll for the "world's most influential people in 2010" and Roger is one of the 200 people you can cast your vote for! Simply follow the link below and choose your favourites.
Time Magazine will announce the winner list on 29 April 2010, so watch out for the results.
OFF COURT - BACK ON CLAY
Dear Fans
It's good to be back on the red clay! I've been practicing fitness and tennis these past days and I am really excited for the upcoming stretch of tournaments here in Europe.
See you all soon
Roger
OFF COURT - ROGER AND COFFEE
Dear Fans
You can find out more about my love for coffee in connection with Jura, the leading Swiss coffee machine manufacturer here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtcnWzuufXc
Federer feels less pressure for clay season
ROME (AP) -Having finally won the French Open last year, Roger Federer is feeling far less pressure entering the clay-court season.
The top-ranked player is preparing to play both singles and doubles at the Rome Masters this week.
Questions are already very different. It doesn't start off with, 'Oh, are you going to win the French Open this year?' So it's just a bit more relaxing,'' Federer said at the Foro Italico Sunday.
I also got a lot of confidence from winning the French Open last year. You feel like if you can do it once you can do it twice.''
Still, Federer rated rival Rafael Nadal as the top player on clay after the Spaniard's dominant performance at last week's Monte Carlo Masters, which Federer skipped.
He's been on an absolute tear for the last five years. He's hardly lost any matches - you can almost count those on one hand - and he's only lost one match at the French Open, so I would think he's still the favorite,'' Federer said.
I would love to say I'm the big favorite but I don't think it's quite right, even though I won the French Open last year. He's just proven again in Monaco how tough he is.''
Federer said he is feeling refreshed after a month off, having taken a vacation and then prepared for the clay season with 10 days of intense workouts.
Practice is (the) key during this stage getting ready for clay and the long stretch from Rome on to Wimbledon,'' he said. ``It's a long one and I need to be fresh at the back end as well at Wimbledon, when it comes to hopefully playing another final.''
Nadal's victory in Monte Carlo snapped an 11-month title drought during which the Spaniard struggled with various injuries. Nadal decided to withdraw from this week's Barcelona Open to stay fresh.
When I have physical problems it's more difficult,'' Nadal said. ``For me, it's important to run well, to move well and practice well. If I can't do these things it's very difficult to have the chance to win a tournament, especially the important tournaments.''
Nadal's run of four consecutive French Open titles ended with a fourth-round loss to Robin Soderling last year, and the two players could meet again in the quarterfinals here.
Nadal is also in Federer's half of the draw, while 2008 champion Novak Djokovic is the top player in the other half.
Djokovic is coming off a lopsided semifinal loss to Fernando Verdasco in Monte Carlo, a match in which the Serb struggled to hold serve.
There's a lot of things going on in my mind when I need to serve. But this is the crisis I guess everybody has to go through, and I'm trying to work on it mentally and technically,'' Djokovic said. ``It's going to pay off. I know it's going to come back. I know I'm going to serve as I was. But in this moment there is a little struggle.''
A new 10,500-seat stadium is making its debut at this year's tournament, and players are already raving about how close the fans are to the court.
It looks like the Colosseum of tennis,'' Djokovic said. ``It's all very close, it's great.''
Federer will pair with Swiss Davis Cup teammate Yves Allegro in doubles.
I haven't played doubles in a while, so I asked Yves if he was in the mood to do it,'' Federer said.
Federer and Allegro were given a wild card, and will open against Johan Brunstrom of Sweden and Jean-Julien Rojer of the Netherlands Antilles.
In singles, the top eight players have first-round byes.
Federer will play either Marcos Baghdatis or Ernests Gulbis, and Nadal will face either Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay or Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany.
ATP - CLAY-TIME
Roger will open the clay-season at the "Foro Italico" in Rome today. First up is a doubles match alongside his Davis Cup team-mate Yves Allegro. They will play Sweden's Johan Brunström and Jean-Julien Roger from the Dutch Antilles.
After a first round bye Roger will then open his quest for a first singles title in Rome against Ernests Gulbis (LAT, ATP 44). He could be in for a tough match as Gulbis is currently showing great tennis.
Later on, he could face Sam Querrey (ATP 23) before a quarterfinal against Croatia’s Marin Cilic (ATP 11) and a meeting with Rafael Nadal (ATP 3) is possible.
ATP - ROGER DEFEATED BY ERNESTS GULBIS
Roger crashed out in the second round of the clay-court Rome Masters today, losing in three sets to unseeded Latvian Ernests Gulbis 2-6, 6-1, 7-5 in a match littered with unforced errors. "My game was definitely not up to speed," Roger commented. "My serve was not working at all. I hope I can come back from this. That's usually what I do after a loss like this." Roger broke twice in a one-sided opening set but Gulbis came back by converting two of five break-point chances in the second, as more and more errors showed in Roger's game. The Latvian broke twice more in the concluding set as Roger unfortunately did not find a reply to the situation and finally had to admit defeat. "He has immense power on both sides and one of the fastest serves in the game," Roger added on Gulbis. "I think he's got a great future."
Philosophical Federer accepts Rome reality check
Federer says Rome defeat will help him keep perspective
Even a great champion like Roger Federer appreciates a reality check from time to time. The world number one got one on Tuesday when he was stunned by Latvian Ernests Gulbis to exit the Rome Masters.
"You can't go 100 percent winning throughout the season," the Swiss told a news conference after his error-strewn 2-6 6-1 7-5 second round defeat.
"Sometimes when you are winning, it seems too easy. When you lose you realise how tough it is to dominate the tour. So I won't get carried away with the defeat."
The Swiss said his numerous past triumphs, including his 16th grand slam at the Australian Open in January, cushioned the disappointment.
"It's easier to take because I'm used to so much winning," said Federer, adding that he was not worried about his French Open title defence after making the worse possible start to his claycourt season. The French Open starts on May 23.
"I'm not worried. It's always like that when you touch a new surface and lose. I think there could have been some good tennis at the back end of the tournament if I'd made it through.
"The French Open is at the back of my mind. Winning three, four, five matches in a row is on my mind and that's why I'm happy to be playing in Estoril next week."
Roger Federer on the Cover of ESPN The Magazine
Tennis No. 1 Roger Federer will grace the cover of the latest ESPN The Magazine which hits newsstands today, April 23.
Federer is featured in a story “One Among Many” written by Tim Keown who profiles the 16-time Grand Slam champion.
Personally, I think they could have used a better picture for the cover.
Federer, who has been off the court for a month or so now, will be the top seed in Rome next week.
ATP - ROGER PROCEEDS IN DOUBLES
Roger and Yves Allegro successfully completed their doubles match in Rome today. They defeated their opponents Simon Aspelin (SWE) and Paul Hanley (AUS) 4-6, 6-3, 10-8 and will thus be challenged next in the quarter finals.
Odpoczynek ratunkiem dla Rogera Federera
Odpoczynek - to jest to, czego brakuje Szwajcarowi Rogerowi Federerowi. Lider światowego rankingu tenisistów po odpadnięciu w drugiej rundzie z turnieju ATP w Rzymie zapowiedział, że teraz skupi się na regeneracji, by wrócić w pełni sił na majowy French Open.Szwajcar Roger Federer ze spokojem przyjął wtorkową porażkę z 40. tenisistą na świecie Łotyszem Ernestesem Gulbisem 6:2, 1:6, 5:7. - Nie grałem na swoim normalnym poziomie. Teraz potrzebuję odpoczynku i tym właśnie zajmę się w najbliższych dniach - oznajmił.
Federer po raz pierwszy od 2002 roku ma tak fatalną serię. W trzech z rzędu turniejach nie zdołał dobrnąć do ćwierćfinału. - Nie jestem tym zbytnio zmartwiony. W takich chwilach liczy się przede wszystkim spokój. Wiem, że jestem jeszcze w stanie dobrze grać - powiedział.
Skąd zatem wzięły się porażki? Najlepiej skupiam się dopiero od półfinałów. Wcześniej mam problemy z mobilizacją - przyznał.
Federer w przyszłym tygodniu startuje w turnieju w Estoril. - Jak się tak szybko odpada z zawodów, to kolejnych nie można się doczekać. Tak jest teraz ze mną. Z jednej strony potrzebuję odpoczynku, ale z drugiej chciałbym już znowu zagrać - powiedział 16-krotny zwycięzca turniejów wielkoszlemowych.
Tak jest, powinien odpocząć po tych 6 meczach w 3 miesiące. :D
A od czego ten Federer chce odpoczywac ? Od odpoczywania ? :D
Spokojna glowa i tak sadze ze na RG bedzie w dobrej formie. 1/2 czy finał z palcem w nosie, moze byc lanie od Nadala co najwyzej.
Faktycznie potrzebny odpoczynek. :D
ATP - ROGER LOSES DOUBLES
Roger and Yves Allegro were defeated in their quarter finals in the doubles today. They lost 4-6, 4-6 against America’s John Isner and Sam Querrey, bringing an end to Roger’s appearance in Rome. He doesn’t have much time to prepare, though, as the next tournament is right on the doorstep: the Estoril Open in Portugal starts coming Monday.
I na poprawę nastrojów :P
Apr 29, 2010 from Boston Globe:
“Something happened with tennis that was a positive thing, and I was happy to be part of it,’’ Bjorn Borg said. “Most people remember me as a great player and I’m very happy for that, but even so, Roger Federer is the greatest player to ever play the game.’’
Oby Fed zregenerowal sie po tych trzech deblowych bataliach, i pokazal cos wiecej niz piach w Eszto.
Moim zdaniem Federer powinien mieć trenera który dobrze by go umotywował.
Najpierw musi istnieć taki trener, poza tym Fed już zdobył co miał zdobyć. Teraz raczej zależy Mu na rodzinie, a nie na tenisie, co jest zresztą zrozumiałe. Na Szlemy powinien być przygotowany, reszta turniejów ma drugorzędne znaczenie.
ATP - ESTORIL OPEN
Roger is back in action at the ATP 250 Series tournament in Estoril this week. After a first round bye he will either meet Germany's Björn Phau (ATP 138) or a qualifyer. Roger has been defeated by Phau in the past - dating back to 1999 when Roger was 18 years old, though (in the first round in Washington).
Roger could meet Juan Ignacio Chela (ATP 54) in the quarter finals. Roger defeated the Argentinian in all of their four previous matches, the last time being four years back in Rome on clay. A semi-final against Albert Montañes (ATP 34) is possible after that: Roger has never lost in their three encounters so far.
Jak Roger nie wygra Estoril to perspektywy na wygranie jakiegokolwiek turnieju sie dla niego diametralnie ukroca. Tak na powaznie, nie spodziewalbym sie fajerwerkow, forma moze przyjsc dopiero na RG, nie wczesniej. Chociaz i z Paryzem tez nic nie wiadomo. Baty od Nadala? Nieciekawie.
Federer zagra w pierwszym meczu transmitowanym w 3D
Środowy meczu 1/8 finału turnieju w Estoril między Rogerem Federerem a Markiem Lópezem lub Björnem Phau będzie pierwszym w historii tenisa pokazywanym przez telewizję w trzech wymiarach. Historyczną transmisję, także z półfinałów i finału, przeprowadzi stacja MEO.Widzowie z przystosowanymi odbiornikami w maju i czerwcu w trzecim wymiarze zobaczą także wielkoszlemowy turniej w Paryżu.
http://www.sportowefakty.pl/tenis/2010/ … anym-w-3d/
Roger uczestniczy w historyczym wydarzeniu :P.
Fans Flock To Federer Practise
World No. 1 Roger Federer's first practise session at the Estoril Open Monday saw hundreds of tennis fans scramble for the best positions among the hedge rows surrounding Court 13.
The World No. 1 was escorted to the court by four security guards and his coach Severin Luthi through 200 excited fans along a gravel path to the court, before training with Portuguese No. 1 Rui Machado in windy conditions.
"Since I had practised with Roger before, two years ago here, this time I wasn't caught off-guard by his demanding style," said World No. 114 Machado. "We practised around 80 minutes, we didn't do anything too specific, it was just a normal pre-tournament practice. Conditions were tough, it was really windy.
"We talked a little bit; Roger asked me how many [ATP] Challengers and [ITF] Futures we had in Portugal. He also asked, 'Where do we usually play Davis Cup matches here in Portugal?' I told him we are going to play the next tie here at the Centralito. He said, 'It's a beautiful court.'"
A tournament record 53,888 spectators attended the Estadio Nacional in 2008, when the Swiss superstar beat Russian Nikolay Davydenko in the final.
Federer Eyes Estoril Title; Ready For Weeks Ahead
World No. 1 Roger Federer is hoping to bounce back after losing at the Foro Italico in Rome last week, by recording his first clay-court win of the year at the Estoril Open.
“I felt good going into Rome, but after one match and intense practise I’m looking forward to the week ahead,” admitted the 2008 champion, after practising with Leonardo Tavares on Tuesday afternoon.
In the notoriously windy conditions of the Estadio Nacional, Federer joked that he “needed to visit an eye doctor [on Monday] as I got three kilograms of clay during practice [with Rui Machado].” But he sees playing in testing conditions as a challenge.
“For sure, I’d like to win the tournament again. As the only Top 10 player in the draw, I have high expectations. But first of all I’d like to record my first win on clay after losing to [Ernests] Gulbis last week.
With Roland Garros and Wimbledon on the horizeon, the Swiss superstar admitted, “We’ll see how tricky it is to defend my titles. I know my game, my mind and my body is good enough. The next few weeks will be interesting, not crucial, to see where my level is at.”
Federer, who has a 13-4 match record on the season, will contest his first match at the Estoril Open against Bjorn Phau of Germany on Wednesday. It will be broadcast live in 3D by MEO, the cable channel from Portugal Telecom, for the first time at a national event.
Federer Takes Children To Estoril Open; Remembers His Youth
Roger Federer© Joao Lagos SportsAs a youngster Roger Federer used to travel by tram to his practise sessions in Basel, Switzerland.
World No. 1 Roger Federer answered questions about his life on the professional circuit from 16 lucky school children – aged between six and nine – during a 40-minute tram ride through the streets of Lisbon on Tuesday morning.
“I am very used to drive around in trams,” admitted Federer, who is looking to capture his 63rd tour-level title this week. “I used to travel to practice back in Basel on the tram in winter and with the bike in summer time. It does not feel too unusual to me.
Federer, who lifted the 2008 title with victory over Russian Nikolay Davydenko in the final, started the journey on a 53-year-old tram at the Museu do Eléctrico in Largo do Calvário (Alcântara).
It went through Rua da Junqueira, the house of the president Cavaco Silva at Palácio de Belém, the factory of Pasteis de Belem and the Monasterio dos Jeronimos, where a second group of children from Colégio St. Julians de Carcavelos jumped on the tram.
The last stop was at Rotunda de Alges, where the group got on a bus for the Estadio Nacional, venue of the ATP World Tour 250 clay-court tennis tournament.
“I like coming to Portugal,” the Swiss superstar said. “That is why I am here again. Two years ago, I had a wonderful experience, not just because I won the tournament, but the people were very friendly, very welcoming and very happy to see me.
“Of course the city of Lisbon and Estoril is very nice and so we decided if the schedule allowed we would like to come back. This year was the right year and it is going to be another good tournament for me.”
Federer will contest his first match at the Estoril Open on Wednesday, against either qualifier Marc Lopez or Bjorn Phau of Germany. It will be broadcast live in 3D by MEO, the cable channel from Portugal Telecom, for the first time at a national event.
ATP Estoril: Federeromania w portugalskim kurorcie
Kibiców portugalskich opanowała "Federeromania". Wszystko przez Rogera Federera, który jest najwyżej rozstawionym tenisistą w turnieju na kortach ziemnych w Estoril. Jego pierwszy mecz będzie transmitowany w 3D. Lider rankingu ATP World Tour ma w pierwszej rundzie "wolny los", a w drugiej zmierzy się z Niemcem Bjoernem Phau. Mecz na żywo pokaże stacja kablowa MEO, a będzie to wydarzenie historyczne dla portugalskiej telewizji, ponieważ po raz pierwszy będzie to transmisja w trójwymiarze. W wersji 3D kibice będą mogli obejrzeć także obydwa półfinały singla i finał.
Federer po raz drugi w karierze występuje w Estoril, a swój poprzedni pobyt
w kurorcie położonym nad Oceanem Atlantyckim zakończył triumfem. W finale pokonał wówczas Rosjanina Nikołaja Dawidienkę.
Federer zgłosił się do turnieju sześć tygodni temu. Organizatorzy poinformowali o tym fakcie dopiero w ubiegłym tygodniu, gdy Szwajcar potwierdził swój udział. Wtedy rozpętała się prawdziwa "Federeromania". Na straganach przy ulicy prowadzącej do klubu tenisowego można od soboty kupić jego fotografie, koszulki z jego podobizną i inne pamiątki.
Prawdziwy szał ogarnął kibiców, gdy dowiedzieli się, że tenisista z Bazylei będzie w poniedziałek po południu trenował na korcie numer 13. Pojawił się tam w towarzystwie trenera Severina Luthiego i dwóch ochroniarzy, którzy musieli mu torować drogę. Jego rozgrzewkę i sparing z portugalskim zawodnikiem Rui Machado obserwowało ponad 400 osób.
We wtorek Federer przed południem odwiedził Lizbonę, oddaloną o niespełna 30 km od Estoril. W stolicy Portugalii spotkał się z uczniami szkoły numer 15. Potem
udał się na krótki spacer po zabytkowych dzielnicach miasta.
- Lubię przyjeżdżać do Portugalii, dlatego tu znów jestem. Dwa lata temu przeżyłem tu wspaniałe chwile, nie dlatego, że wygrałem turniej, lecz spotykając fantastycznych ludzi. Są tak otwarci i mili, cieszą się na mój widok. Poza tym podoba mi się Lizbona i Estoril, to piękne miasta - powiedział Szwajcar.
W trakcie wizyty w Lizbonie pozował też do zdjęć przed zabytkowym żółtym tramwajem linii numer 28 łączącym bazylikę Estrela z najstarszą dzielnicą arabską Alfama. Na jego cześć na dachu wagonika pojawił się wyjątkowo numer 1 i jego nazwisko.
- Lubię tramwaje. Jako dziecko i nastolatek wiele podróżowałem nimi w drodze z domu na korty i wracając z treningów, ale w zimie. Latem jeździłem rowerem - powiedział Szwajcar, który w Estoril może odnotować 63. triumf w karierze.
Federer gets first clay court winin Estoril
World number one Roger Federer said he had to get tough and forget about the beautiful side of his game to beat Germany's Bjorn Phau 6-3 6-4 in Estoril and post his first win of the clay season.
The Swiss made the worst possible start to the season, crashing out at the first hurdle in Rome against Latvian Ernests Gublis last month, so he was happy to beat the 138th-ranked German, even if he had to opt for a pragmatic approach.
"Today I played to win, I didn't try to make it look nice or anything, it was about being tough and focused, and coming through, trying to win matches," Federer said.
"I played well and its important that I play the right tennis right now. It wasn't always beautiful, but it doesn't matter," he added.
Federer, who won the tournament in 2008, appeared to be in control of the match but did have to save three break points as he served for the first set.
After receiving a bye in the first round, the win against Phau earned Federer a quarter-final berth against Frenchman Arnaud Clement on Friday.
"He's a guy who's beaten big players in the past, he's tough and he's not going make it easy for me," the Swiss said.
Looking ahead to the French Open, which starts at Roland Garros on May 23, Federer said winning the tournament for the first time last year would give him an "edge" this time.
"I'll be one of the big favourites to again," he said
"As defending champion you have something special going for you. It doesn't make things a whole lot easier, but at least now you know how to do it and I think that's going to give me an edge.
"Last year I came through some really tough matches and that's what the French Open is all about, digging deep and battling when things are not going well and accepting the physical and mental battle," Federer added.
ATP - FIRST SINGLES VICTORY ON CLAY IN 2010
Roger has successfully mastered his first match of the Estoril Open, celebrating his first victory on clay this year. He defeated Germany's Björn Phau (ATP 138) 6-3, 6-4 in 83 minutes.
"It was a very important match for me today," Roger said, knowing that first rounds can be tricky. He won the Estoril crown in 2008 but skipped last year's event
Roger will now meet Arnaud Clément from France (ATP 83) in the quarter finals. Our champ has won 6 out of their 9 encounters so far.
OFF COURT - FEDERER EXPRESS THROUGH LISBON
The day before taking part in the on-court action in Estoril, Roger took an exclusive 40-minute tram ride through the streets of Lisbon. 16 lucky school children – aged between six and nine – were great company and asked Roger some questions en route.
“I am very used to drive around in trams,” Roger admitted, who is looking to capture his 63rd tour-level title this week. “I used to travel to practice back in Basel on the tram in winter and with the bike in summer time. It does not feel too unusual to me."
Our champ, who lifted the 2008 title with victory over Russian Nikolay Davydenko in the final, started the journey on a 53-year-old tram at the Museu do Museu do Eléctrico in Largo do Calvário (Alcântara).
It went through Rua da Junqueira, the house of the president Cavaco Silva at Palácio de Belém, the factory of Pasteis de Belem and the Monasterio dos Jeronimos, where a second group of children from Colégio St. Julians de Carcavelos jumped on the tram.
The last stop was at Rotunda de Alges, where the group got on a bus for the Estadio Nacional, venue of the ATP World Tour 250 clay-court tennis tournament.
“I like coming to Portugal,” Roger said. “That is why I am here again. Two years ago, I had a wonderful experience, not just because I won the tournament, but the people were very friendly, very welcoming and very happy to see me.
“Of course the city of Lisbon and Estoril is very nice and so we decided if the schedule allowed we would like to come back. This year was the right year and it is going to be another good tournament for me.”
Federer przygotowuje nowe stroje na RG :D http://imstars.aufeminin.com/stars/fan/ … 181785.jpg
i Wimbledon :P http://img.metro.co.uk/i/pix/galleries/ … 61x350.jpg
Improving Federer wins again on clay
Roger Federer lifted his clay-court game when it mattered to beat Arnaud Clement 7-6 6-2 and book a semi-final place at the Estoril Open.
Federer's woes on the surface looked in danger of continuing when he lost the first two games of the quarter-final but he gradually improved to see off the Frenchman with something of a flourish.
"At the end I tried some drop shots, which was very good for me, to know I can hit them," the world number one said.
"I know I have a great feel (for them), but it's important to hit them in a match in a tough situation and use the right moment to do so.
"So that was something more fun for me, it gives me more confidence leaving the court today," he added.
Federer, who lost his first match of the clay-court season in Rome, said he was happy with wins of any sort on the surface as he prepares to defend his French Open title.
He next faces champion Albert Montanes after the Spaniard beat Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas 6-4 6-3.
The other semi-final will be between Spanish fifth seed Guillermo Garcia-Lopez and local hero Frederico Gil, who beat compatriot Rui Machado 4-6 7-6 6-3.
ATP - SECOND SEMI-FINAL IN 2010
Roger successfully continued his quest for a second Estoril Open title today, moving into the last four with a 7-6(7), 6-2 victory over Arnaud Clément.
Roger got off to a bad start as his footwork clearly failed him. But just as we love him, he showed his mental resilience to fight back, winning the next three games to take a narrow lead. This mini-revival proved to be the turning point in the set - although Roger was never close to his best in what remained of the opener, he managed to edge past his opponent with the odd flash of brilliance. Roger then went on to take a 2-0 lead and finally picked up his rhythm at 3-1 up, hitting a series of whipped forehands that looked ominous for Clement's chances of recovery.
Roger will now play his first semi-final since January; he will face defending champion Albert Montañes (ATP 34). Roger has won all 3 encouters against the Spaniard so far.
ATP - ROGER MISSES FINAL
Roger had to accept a straight-set loss to Albert Montañes today in Estoril: 2-6, 6-7(5).
Roger clearly had trouble with the surface that was slower today due to heavy rainfall that had caused a rain delay earlier. He dropped his serve three times in the first set. The second set proved to be better but he still did not manage to break the Spaniard, taking the set into a tie-breaker. Roger then raced to a 5-2 lead with two services of his own - only for his opponent to score the next five points and thus the match.
Roger will now travel to Madrid where he will compete in the ATP 1000 tournament that starts coming Monday.
Federer searching for answers on clay
Federer searching for answers on clay Roger Federer is searching for a quick fix to niggles in his game which led to his rain-soaked semi-final downfall in Estoril at the hands of Spain's Albert Montanes.
Even after the surprise loss world No. 1 Federer feels he can still repair the damage and move on with his clay season starting now in Madrid.
"I'm not worried, the French is still too far away," said the Swiss. "My goal is not to win 12 events in a year anymore. It's to win big events like Grand Slams, Masters 1000s and the year-end championships.
"It's a disappointing match to lose. I just couldn't get off to a good start and I struggled the whole way through."
Federer is now defending titles through the remainder of the clay season, which for him will be Madrid and the French Open from May 23. "I"m happy at I least got three matches this week - though I would have liked to get one more."
The Swiss called his movement a problem. "It's still still a bit slow, I need full confidence in that. I'm almost there but I have to do better.
"Actually I'm surprised that it's not there as I've put in a lot of hard work. I know there are good things around the corner, I have to keep pushing hard and believe that it's going to turn for me."
Potrafiłby ktoś ustalić kiedy ostatnio , a właściwie przedostatnio Fed przegrał z Hiszpanem który nie nazywał się Rafa Nadal ? Czy to czasem nie trzeba cofnąć się do 2003 r ?
Sydney napisał:
Potrafiłby ktoś ustalić kiedy ostatnio , a właściwie przedostatnio Fed przegrał z Hiszpanem który nie nazywał się Rafa Nadal ? Czy to czasem nie trzeba cofnąć się do 2003 r ?
2004 rok. W 2 rundzie Rzymu Roger przegrał z Albertem Costą (63 36 26).
Federer looks to find form in Madrid
Roger Federer makes his next stop at the Madrid Masters as he hopes to end a considerable slump. Federer is in a quarter of the draw with Andy Roddick and in-form players Mikhail Youzhny, Albert Montanes, and Ernests Gulbis.
The third and final clay-court Masters event of the season provides Roger Federer with one last chance to find his game before this month's French Open.
Federer, for the time being, is still comfortably atop the ATP rankings and is therefore seeded No. 1 at the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open. His draw, however, is a relative difficult one. Andy Roddick is the second-highest seed in the top quarter in the bracket and that is the best Federer could have hoped for.
Nonetheless, the world No. 1 could have a tough time even making it to the point where he could face Roddick. After a first-round bye, Federer will go up against either Benjamin Becker or veteran wild card Carlos Moya. Unless Moya is somehow 100 percent, Federer should cruise into round three.
Waiting for him there, though, could be stellar clay-court player and fellow Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka. While Wawrinka suffered an upset loss to John Isner in the Belgrade semifinals, he has been playing well this spring and beat Federer last year on the slow stuff (at the Monte-Carlo Masters).
If the top seed manages to reach the quarterfinals, he probably won't be running into Roddick. The American is in an absolutely brutal section of the draw and he has not played since winning the Sony Ericsson Open. In fact, a potential quarterfinal is Federer against the winner of a first-round meeting between his two most recent conquerors: Ernests Gulbis (in Rome) and Albert Montanes (in Estoril).
Whoever wins between Gulbis (a Rome semifinalist) and Montanes (the Estoril champion) could meet Mikhail Youzhny (the Munich champion) in round two. All of those players would be favored on clay against Roddick in a possible third-round encounter.
Federer hopes Madrid will provide turning point
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/37067942/ … ts-tennis/
ATP - STRAIGHT SETS TO START OFF WITH
Roger successfully opened his bid for another title in Madrid today, defeating Germany's Benjamin Becker (ATP 46) 6-2, 7-6(4).
Our top seed broke serve right away and broke again to close out the first set 6-2. He was still in charge in the second set but did not manage to score another break, taking the match to a tie-breaker. He then took control and secured the set with a 7-4 result in the tie-break.
Next up is either Leonardo Mayer (ARG) or Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI).
rf.com
Federer will be ready for Paris no matter what
Federer will be ready for Paris no matter what Roger Federer's calm facade remained firmly in place as the Swiss began his quest for a clay court title prior to the French Open.
The top seed says that no matter what happens at the Madrid Masters, he'll be ready for Roland Garros starting May 23.
"It would be great to win here again if I could. I can get confidence on the practise courts," said Federer, who jump-started his clay run a year ago with a title in Madrid over Rafael Nadal.
"For me, the Madrid win was the key to Paris," added the first-time French Open champion. "Winning the event by beating fellow rivals was very important.
"But no matter what happens here, I‘ll be prepared for Paris. Of course, if I had the choice I‘d prefer to do well here again."
Federer admitted his semi-final loss last week in Estoril cut short his preparation hopes slightly - but not enough to throw his campaign off course.
"I‘m doing well in training, I‘m only lacking a bit of match time. I‘m hitting the ball cleanly, but maybe not as clean as I did to win in Australia though. But it‘s not far away.
"I‘m doing the right things and I‘m not worried. I really hope to do well here again."
Federer delighted to refind form
It was only his sixth victory since the Australian Open but Roger Federer was all smiles yesterday after beating Benjamin Becker 6-2, 7-6 in his opening match at the Madrid Masters. The Swiss has been struggling for form after illness hampered his spring preparations and admits that he needs more matches under his belt before starting the defence of his title at the French Open, which begins in just 11 days' time.
There did not appear to be much wrong with the world No 1's game as he took just 81 minutes to dispose of his German opponent. Federer quickly found a good rhythm and never looked in danger of being broken. Although sometimes tentative, he struck his ground strokes well, cutting down on the errors that had littered some of his recent matches, and volleyed with his usual assurance.
"I was very happy with the match," he said. "It was clean from the start to the finish. It was good to come through a match like that and finish it off in the tie-breaker."
Federer, who now plays Stanislas Wawrinka or Leonardo Mayer, has not won more than two matches in a row at any of the four tournaments in which he has competed since the Australian Open, where he played what he considered to be some of the best tennis of his career.
Andy Murray will play Juan Ignacio Chela in his opening match today after the 30-year-old Argentine's first-round contest lasted only two games before his opponent, Pablo Cuevas, retired hurt. Murray has won four of his five matches against Chela, but the world No 51 is a useful performer on clay and has climbed back up the rankings after dropping out of the top 200 last year through injury.
Federer says he's nowhere near retirement
Roger Federer is ready to modify his oft-stated career guideline of playing through the London 2012 Olympics, with the No. 1 revealing to the BBC that he is keen to carry on with retirement nowhere on the horizon just yet.
"I don't have a problem saying this is the second half of my career because I do have kids and a lot of things have changed around me," he told BBC 5 Live. "It's a lot of fun right now and I obviously want to do this as long as possible."
The 28-year-old appears to be rejuvenated by his infant twin girls who travel with him and wife Mirka around the world. "People think I'm going to retire at the 2012 Olympics - which is not true. Even though you never know, it depends on your body, I would like to play beyond that so we'll see how it goes."
Find the latest tennis odds at Unibet.com
Federer pondering Davis Cup decision
Federer pondering Davis Cup decision Roger Federer is pondering the decision on whether to help Switzerland in another Davis Cup World Group playoff in September, with a possible trip to Kazakhstan required.
The No. 1 has traditionally missed first-round play early in the year but often rides to the rescue of his nation to keep them in the top echelon of the worldwide competition
This year, it's looking to be all about the travel required in September in the weeks after the US Open and before the autumn Asian tournaments. Geography alone might favour a Federer appearance in the central Asian nation should Federer decide to play any ATP events in the region.
"I need to talk with our captain Severin (Luthi), who is also my coach and the other Swiss players," said Federer. "I don’t expect to know anything for a few weeks.
"I need some time before taking a decision."
Switzerland will surely have Stanislas Wawrinka and Marco Chiudinelli on board against a team which features several ex-Russians led by Italy-based Andrey Golubev.
Federer cruises past Wawrinka, into Madrid quarters
Roger Federer defeats Stanislas Wawrinka in straight sets on Thursday at the Madrid Masters. Federer awaits either Ernests Gulbis or Feliciano Lopez in the quarterfinals.
Just as he was last year, Roger Federer is heating up at the Madrid Masters.
Federer, who won both Madrid and the French Open in 2009, turned in an impressive performance to beat Stanislas Wawrinka 6-3, 6-1 in the third round of the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open on Thursday. The winner needed just one hour and nine minutes to earn a place in the quarterfinals.
Federer got off to an inauspicious start, spraying an easy forehand on break point to throw away the opening game of the match. From there, however, the world No. 1 enjoyed a swift turnaround. Wawrinka missed a relatively simple backhand pass to give the break right back and never recovered. Federer had no trouble holding after his initial service game, so one more break at 3-2 was easily enough for him to take a one-set advantage.
With momentum in hand, the top-seeded Swiss converted an immediate break in set two with a blistering forehand return. A demoralized Wawrinka promptly lost all hope and the world No. 23 surrendered another service game at 0-2 without much of a fight. Federer, barely losing any points on serve, extended the lead to 4-0 before his underdog countryman finally got on the scoreboard.
The one game was all Wawrinka would get, as Federer converted his first match point with his opponent serving at 1-5, 15-40 when Wawrinka hit backhand volley way long.
Federer finished with a clean 23 winners and 11 unforced errors while firing six aces against one double-fault. Wawrinka, who won less than half of the points on both his first and second serve, struck 18 winners and made 24 mistakes.
Next up for Federer is either Feliciano Lopez or Ernests Gulbis, to whom he lost in the Rome second round.
ATP - ROGER SHOWS GREAT TENNIS
Roger defeated Stanislas Wawrinka in Madrid today, racing past the fellow Swiss 6-3 and 6-1.
Roger turned in an impressive performance in just one hour and nine minutes to earn his place in the quarterfinals. Today's start was everything but promising, though, as he gave away the opening game of the match as Wawrinka realised the first break. From there, however, our world No. 1 enjoyed a swift turnaround as he took the break right back and finally went on to take a one-set advantage. With momentum in hand, Roger converted an immediate break in set two with a blistering forehand return and even managed to extend his lead to 4-0, leaving plenty of room to breathe. Our champ finished with a clean 23 winners and 11 unforced errors while firing six aces against one double-fault.
Roger can now aim for revenge for his loss in the second round in Rome as he plays Ernests Gulbis next. So let's hope he can keep his game just the way it was today!
Roger Federer: Match Point
As the clay court season on the ATP tennis tour rolls around Europe towards its annual climax at Roland Garros in Paris, it's worth pausing for thought (if you're a tennis fan) to consider the game's greatest player. Roger Federer has had a disappointing spring on the terre rouge - and won't be the favourite to repeat his historic and critic-silencing win at last year's French Open - but his increasing focus is on the four annual Grand Slam events where, by his own assessment, he is virtually unbeatable over five sets.
With Roland Garros 2010 approaching, Federer currently holds the Australian, French and Wimbledon titles - and was only one set away from a triumph at last year's US Open. He has consecutively reached at least the semi-final stage of every Grand Slam tournament at his last 23 appearances: to put this in perspective, his nearest competition is Ivan Lendl with 10. Federer has made 18 of the last 19 Slam finals and famously surpassed Pete Sampras at last year's Wimbledon in collecting his 15th Grand Slam trophy (a 16th was added for good measure in Australia earlier this year). By the end of this month, Federer - already the player with most consecutive weeks at number 1 (237) - will again move past Sampras (at 286) as the player with most overall weeks in pole position.
Much has been written about Roger Federer's extraordinary ability and accomplishments - but this critique focuses more on the often overlooked nuances and minutiae of his skill and behaviour: qualities which separate him - both as a player and as a human being - from all of his contemporaries, and arguably elevate him even further beyond their reach. His on-court etiquette, when acutely observed, is remarkable:
Coaching: although he maintains a concerted practice regimen, Federer doesn't over-train and has had less coaching during his professional career than any other top 20 player. The three coaches he has used since 1997 (Peter Lundgren, Tony Roche and clay-court specialist, José Higueras) have proved the temporary exception rather than the long-standing rule. As one of the game's great students (and fans) - and blessed with inordinate natural ability - Federer often trusts his own instincts and judgment to correct flaws, finesse existing strokes and introduce new repertoire. During the few dips in his career, critics (and fans) have implored him to secure a permanent coach - advice which has often been met by a powerful, silent response: winning. (For an amusing look at Federer's well-documented antipathy regarding coaches, check out this video.
Self-belief: Federer is the only current top player, of either sex, who never looks up at his box (of family/friends/coaches) during a match. The gifted Justin Henin seemingly cannot play a single point without looking up at her coach for reassurance or guidance. Among the men, Rafael Nadal also appears to require regular propping from his box - nearly always looking up at Uncle Toni to get his opinion regarding a close line call (before requesting a Hawk Eye computerised review). (Update: during the current season, Nadal is looking up at his coach less and less, a good sign indeed for the world's best clay-courter.)
Win or lose, Federer is comfortable in his own skin, reliant only upon his own knowledge, experience, confidence and skill. This is a rare quality in the modern game - and one which, like so many of his on-court traits - harks back to a more refined, professional and gentile era. I recall his preparation for an exhibition match a couple of years ago in the Middle East when he and Nadal were inaugurating a new court: both appeared from the same hotel lobby to get into a single waiting vehicle: Nadal emerged first carrying the usual over-sized bag containing several racquets which all the players (including Federer) use at tournaments; the driver had trouble accommodating the bag in the trunk. Federer followed simply holding one racquet in his hand, with no other baggage.
Fitness: one of the many reasons Federer has enjoyed such a remarkable unbroken run of success is his relative lack of injury. He remains so fit mostly because he combines balletic movement with deft, other-worldly hand/eye co-ordination, natural gifts which allow him to rarely over-stretch or punish his physique (unlike Nadal whose relentless power and comparatively awkward, unnatural style have already taken a heavy toll, despite his relative youth). Federer's astonishing combination of speed, grace, strength, balance, positioning, pace and fluidity are unrivalled past or present. The mental fitness of his "tennis mind" is equally unmatched, allowing him to think faster and more creatively than any opponent. If he remains injury-free, Federer's intention is to play well beyond the 2012 Olympics - and the prospect of him reaching a haul of 20 Grand Slams is more probable than possible.
Balls: Federer rarely requires choosing between more than two or three balls from the ball boys/girls before serving. The great majority of his rivals inspect four/five balls before selecting the freshest with which to serve. He will usually just serve with the ball he's given.
Refreshingly and courteously, Federer always hits any extra or stray balls directly and accurately to a ball girl/boy - in contrast to the casual disdain displayed by so many fellow professionals who just don't care. It's a tiny and unimportant behaviour, which I don't think is even a conscious consideration by Federer, simply part of his thoughtful DNA.
Give me a break: before serving, he will only bounce the ball three to four times - and never wastes time. His top rivals - including his friend, Nadal (whose serving preparation ritual frequently exceeds the 25 seconds allowed) and Novak Djokovic (who averages more than 10 ball bounces before swinging) do. To the best of my knowledge, Federer has never once been cautioned by an umpire for exceeding the 25-second rule.
While many of his fellow players will towel off to take an extended break in-between every point (a rather spoilt practice which must amuse/irritate the likes of Rod Laver or Björn Borg who were never allowed such luxury), Federer rarely does - and is the only current top player who will often not even bother to take his towel from his seat to give to a ball girl/boy for inter-point sweat control. (It also helps that Federer's seemingly effortless movement means he rarely seems to perspire.)
Good manners: eschewing his hot-headed behaviour as a junior, and aside from a very occasional expletive (a rare and short outburst during last year's US Open final), Federer is as close as it comes to the perfect gentleman and professional, both on and off the court. The Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award has been bestowed upon Federer six straight years (2004 - 2009) meaning he's now won more than the Swedish gent (with five) after whom it is named. He was also crowned Laureus World Sportsman of the Year an unprecedented four consecutive times (2005 - 2008). His nobility, decency, respect for and from fellow players (he is President of the ATP Players Council) is legend and his devotion to his wife, relatives and twin girls appear equally grounded and real. His down-to-earth good humour is often on display in interviews, no more so than in this out-take from an interview with CNN International last year:
The Greatest: while tennis commentators continue to modify their awestruck reverence of Federer with cop-out phrases like "one of the - if not the - best player of all time", it seems their unwillingness to say he is unequivocally the best is either out of cautious deference to past legends like Laver and Sampras, or is boringly mindful of the changes in racquet technology, fitness and diet, or other era differentials. This observer would like to state that there should no longer be a discussion on the subject: Federer is the greatest tennis player ever to grace the game and would have - at his and their best - summarily spanked (in the nicest possible fashion) any player of any era with any racquet on any surface. Those who point out that Federer's win at last year's French Open did not include a victory over clay court supremo, Nadal (against whom Federer has a losing record - one of the few he needs to correct) should be mindful that the Swiss maestro beat Nadal in straight sets - on clay - at the Madrid Open just one week prior to Roland Garros.
Unlike self-congratulatory greats like say, Michael Jordan, José Mourinho, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Diego Maradona or even Tiger Woods, Roger Federer has never sought acclaim and his ego is not dependent upon being called the greatest of all time. Just one more reason why he is.
Over several decades of watching and analysing the sport, I've only once seen a top professional actually "throw" his racquet in the direction of his opponent in respectful "I give up" awe. It's worth reviewing.
Simon Reed zabrał głos. :P
Federer form not a concern
I think increasingly we've seen that Roger Federer targets the Grand Slams with almost total exclusion to anything else.
Obviously I'm not saying he doesn't care about the other tournaments he plays, but he definitely targets success at the Grand Slams and I think being beaten elsewhere is not particularly important to him.
He is not as good as he was two years ago, I think even he would admit that, and he's not that bothered as long as he feels he's playing well.
Is he playing well right now? Probably not. Is he worried about the French Open? Probably not.
I'm sure he'd like to have a good run on clay and also secure a good win against one of the top players. But I don't see his topsy-turvy form on clay so far this season as a major blip.
He has been the second best clay court player in the world for the past six years and he will again be the second favourite at Roland Garros behind Rafael Nadal.
Assuming he is 100 per cent fit and healthy I can't see anyone beating Nadal at the French Open. I think it's a forgone conclusion that he will win.
Having said that, I thought that last year too!
There will be at least one tough match for Nadal during his run at Roland Garros, and the question is are his knees strong enough to deal not only with that match but with two weeks of play?
Only he and his camp know how good his knees are. And maybe even they don't really know how he'll hold up if he gets all the way to the final and then has to play Federer.
Is he going to be strong enough in my opinion? I suspect yes.
ATP - ROGER BOOKS SPOT IN SEMIS
Roger booked his spot in the semis in Madrid today, defeating Ernests Gulbis (ATP 34) 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.
Roger has leveled the statistic against the Latvian, the head-to-head now stands at 1-1 (Gulbis beat Roger in the second round in Rome this year).
Roger will now meet either Andy Murray or David Ferrer on Saturday.
Federer Avenges Rome Defeat To Gulbis, Closes In On 63rd Title
World No. 1 Roger Federer, the 2006 and 2009 Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open champion, avenged his recent Rome defeat to fast-rising Ernests Gulbis on Friday, with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory for a place in the semi-finals at the Caja Magica, venue of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament.
The 28-year-old Swiss superstar is attempting to clinch his 17th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title, tying him with his rival Rafael Nadal and Andre Agassi.
Should he lift his third Madrid title on Sunday, he will equal Bjorn Borg’s record of 63 tour-level trophies for No. 5 on the all-time Open Era titles list.
Federer got off to a sluggish start, but after falling a break down in the second set he found his rhythm and erased memories of his 2-6, 6-1, 7-5 loss to Gulbis at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome two weeks ago.
Top seed Federer hit 34 winners and won 12 of 21 points at the net to register his 18th win in 23 matches this season. The match lasted one hour and 54 minutes. Federer has a 694-166 lifetime match record and is close to becoming the 10th player in the Open Era to surpass 700 match wins.
The 21-year-old Gulbis, who hit six aces, committed 31 unforced errors. In February he did not drop a set en route to his first ATP World Tour title at the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships (d. Karlovic). He dropped to a 22-9 match record on the season.
ATP - THE PERFECT FINAL: ROGER VS. NADAL
Roger defeated Spain's David Ferrer 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 today to set up the dream final against Rafael Nadal in Madrid, just like last year.
One of the keys to Roger's success today was certainly his serve - he dropped just two points on his own serve in the first set and a break in game 11 helped him secure the set in a little over 45 minutes. Ferrer broke Roger in set number two, taking the fourth game and continuing strong in order to force a decider. Roger then managed to raise the pressure in the third set and secured the vital break of serve in the eighth game. He showed a few more terrific points before closing out the match with an ace and with it a fourth Madrid final in five years.
Sunday's final will take place earliest at 6.30 p.m. (local time). Roger and Rafa had met each other in the final in Madrid last year, the outcome then was 6-4, 6-4 in Roger's favour. Our champ has the chance to improve his negative 7:13 head-to-head against the Spaniard and could win his 17th Masters-Series-title; Rafa on the other hand has the chance to make it his 18th.
ATP - ROGER DEFEATED IN FINAL
Roger was unable to defend his Madrid title today. In a remake of last year's final, Roger was defeated in straight sets 4-6, 6-7(5) by Rafael Nadal this time.
Both players dropped serve early in the first set before Nadal broke to lead 4-3 and went on to bring the set home, even though Roger had quite a few chances of swinging it around. In the second set, Nadal claimed a tightly contested tiebreaker after two breaks of serve each. All in all, Roger even scored one more point than Rafa (46:45), but was not at his best during the critical phases of the match, simply committing too many errors.
But our champ certainly showed that he is more than ready for the French Open which starts May 25.
OFF COURT - LAST PREPARATION
Roger will make use of the last week left before the French Open to get the last bit of fine-tuning done. He will participate in the Guinot Mary Cohr Masters, held at the Paris Golf & Country Club in Rueil-Malmaison (20 km outside of Paris), on clay together with other players such as Andy Murray, Andy Roddick or Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The field consists of a total of twelve top-players who were invited to the event and will compete in two teams. Roger’s only appearance is scheduled for Thursday at 1 p.m. against Germany’s Rainer Schüttler.
Tato nie wraca; ranki i wieczory
We łzach go czekam i trwodze;
Rozlały rzeki, pełne zwierza bory
I pełno zbójców na drodze
:D :D
Robertinho napisał:
Tato nie wraca; ranki i wieczory
We łzach go czekam i trwodze;
Rozlały rzeki, pełne zwierza bory
I pełno zbójców na drodze
Wzruszające ! :cry::)
Coś do poczytania na dłuższą chwilę, trzyczęściowy wywiad z Rogerem przeprowadzony w lutym tego roku w Dubaju:
http://emagazine.credit-suisse.com/app/ … In%20Focus
http://emagazine.credit-suisse.com/app/ … 65&lang=EN
http://emagazine.credit-suisse.com/app/ … 98&lang=EN
Robertinho napisał:
Tato nie wraca; ranki i wieczory
We łzach go czekam i trwodze;
Rozlały rzeki, pełne zwierza bory
I pełno zbójców na drodze
Niczym Rymkiewicz w Rzepie.
Fed-Expresso napisał:
Robertinho napisał:
Tato nie wraca; ranki i wieczory
We łzach go czekam i trwodze;
Rozlały rzeki, pełne zwierza bory
I pełno zbójców na drodzeNiczym Rymkiewicz w Rzepie.
Nie ma to jak pochwalić się publicznie własną głupotą, niewiedzą i ignorancją. :D
OFF COURT - OLYMPIC MUSEUM LAUSANNE
Roger has donated a complete outfit from the 2008 Olympics in Beijing to the Olympic Museum. It is now on display there together with other equipment used by successful athletes over the years.
Roger made a huge dream come true in Beijing, winning his first Olympic gold medal in the men's doubles tennis tournament alongside Stanislas Wawrinka.
The Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland, houses permanent and temporary exhibits relating to sport and the Olympic movement. With more than 10'000 pieces, the museum is the largest archive of Olympic Games in the world and one of Lausanne's prime tourist draws attracting more than 250'000 visitors each year.
ATP - GUINOT MARY COHR MASTERS
Roger absolved his last match before starting at the second Grand Slam of the year, the French Open, next week. He defeated Germany's Rainer Schüttler 4-6, 6-3, 10-5 at the Guinot Mary Cohr Masters in Rueil-Malmaison today.
Roger is the only player of his group (team Mary Cohr) to have scored a victory so far - four of six matches have been played.
OFF COURT - CREDIT SUISSE QUIZ
Credit Suisse, Roger's banking partner, has launched a competition just in time for Roland Garros. Try your luck in the Credit Suisse quiz now and you could be the lucky winner of one of ten exclusive prizes such as a signed racket!
All you need to do is answer a few simple questions such as: What was the name of the tennis club that Roger Federer joined when he was eight years old? In which year did Roger Federer first succeed in making it past the opening round of the French Open?
The deadline for entries is Sunday, June 6, 2010. Good Luck!
ATP - FRENCH OPEN DRAW
The men's draw for the 2010 French Open has just been released. Roger will meet Australia's Peter Luczak (ATP 71) in his opening match. It will be the first time the two players meet.
Roger leads a quarter that features quite a few strong players such as Gaël Monfils, Marin Cilic, Ernests Gulbis or Robin Söderling - last year's finalist. But he can still be rather happy with the draw as most other clay specialists next to Rafael Nadal - David Ferrer, Juan Carlos Ferrero or Fernando Verdasco - can be found on the other half of the draw. Roger could meet Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or Andy Murray in the semis after that.
Federer wipes slate clean as French Open begins
It's a new tournament and a fresh outlook for Roger Federer as the French Open begins, with the Swiss mentally filing away his loss less than a week ago to Rafael Nadal in the Madrid final.
The Grand Slam wipes the slate clean, with Federer eager to get started after getting accustomed to the Chatrier showcase court where he won the title a year ago. "(Going onto the court) felt different from before," said the Swiss. "I have so many great memories from this court now - in the past, I'd just played good matches there.
"To come back and remember what happened a year ago, it was very special thinking how nervous I was before the last service game I had to play, saving break point, and then in the end going down to my knees.
"It's knowing where I left my prints, my foot marks and everything, where I was. It was a big pleasure playing again on Chatrier. I can't wait for the tournament to start, really."
Federer starts with Australian Peter Luczak, who failed to win a match this week at the eight-nation ARAG World Team Championship in Dusseldorf. "The draws anyway are always gonna be tough, especially
in a big tournament like here in Paris.
"I feel relaxed, which is a good thing. If anything, I feel a little less pressure because I've proven it to myself and maybe to many other people. I feel like I'm entering the tournament in the right spirit."
Federer: Wiem, jak wygrywać w Paryżu
Szwajcar Roger Federer broni w tym roku w Paryżu tytuł umistrza French Open. Przed 12 miesiącami najlepszy tenisista świata pokonał w finale Szweda Robina Soederlinga. Był to pierwszy triumf Federera na kortach im. Rolanda Garrosa. Czy stać go obecnie na powtórzenie tamtego wyniku?
- Czuję się wspaniale. Mogę spokojnie patrzeć na te korty. Po tym co stało się w ubiegłym roku, po wygranej piłce meczowej w finale, po wzniesieniu trofeum, jestem zrelaksowany. Wracam jako obrońca tytułu. To cudowne uczucie - powiedział w niedzielę Federer.
Ubiegłoroczna wygrana była dla niego wielką ulgą. Wielu przepowiadało, że Federerowi nigdy nie uda się wygrać w Paryżu.
- Czuję się spokojniej i bezpieczniej. Oczywiście chciałbym wygrać tutaj jeszcze raz. Triumf przed rokiem dodał mi pewności siebie. W końcu wiem jak tu zwyciężać. Ten turniej może być dla mnie wspaniały. Gra tu sprawia mi przyjemność - przyznał "Król Roger".
Główny rywal Szwajcara, Rafael Nadal, wygrał w tym sezonie wszystkie trzy turnieje serii Masters na nawierzchni ziemnej. W ostatnim - w Madrycie - pokonał w finale właśnie Federera.
- Wszyscy czekają na finał między mną o Rafaelem. Jednak do tego jeszcze bardzo daleko. Na razie to są tylko rozważania. Przed nami dużo ciężkiej pracy, żeby znaleźć się w finale. Rok temu w trzech czy czterech meczach poprzedzających finał byłem o krok od porażki - przypomniał Szwajcar.
Pierwszym rywalem Federera będzie urodzony w Warszawie Peter Luczak, który jeszcze nigdy nie wygrał na kortach Rolanda Garrosa choćby meczu.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G74wv9DTRjY
Filmik z treningu Rogera na Rg (z niedzieli).
ATP - ROGER OPENS WITH EASE
Roger began his defence of the title at the French Open with a comfortable 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 win over Peter Luczak (ATP 71) today.
"It's always important coming back as defending champion trying to get off to a good start," Roger said. "It was like a perfect match to get off the French Open campaign, really."
Our champ rarely looked troubled on court Philippe Chatrier as he wrapped up the first set and secured breaks in the fourth and sixth games of the second as his opponent was less and less able to hold up the pace. Two more breaks followed in the fifth and seventh games of the third set.
Roger delighted the crowd with a last razor-sharp backhand to wrap up the match after 1h 48. This is only the second time in nine years that Roger arrived in Paris without a title during the clay season. But he showed no signs of vulnerability at all today.
Next up for Roger is Columbia's Alejandro Falla.
RG 2010 - wywiad z Rogerem po zwycięstwie w 1 rundzie
Q. You seem to be having a lot of fun at the office today. Can you just talk us through that game?
ROGER FEDERER: Which one?
Q. Sorry, the match. You seemed to be having a lot of fun out there?
ROGER FEDERER: The match?
Q. Yeah.
ROGER FEDERER: Well, the beginning obviously is always important coming back as defending champion, and trying to get off to sort of a good start. I think I had a breakpoint in the first game, in the first return game. Wasn't able to, you know, to take advantage of that, but I served well. I never really got a chance on my serve. So I was pretty relaxed.
Finally got a chance again at 5 4, so it was a good first set for me, anyway, without any hiccups on my own serve. After that things were a bit easier. He had to push it a bit more. I could relax a bit more, and then the scoreline changed and towards the end I played some great dropshots. So it was like a perfect match to get off the French Open campaign, really.
Q. In the final last year you met Robin Soderling. Now you may be facing him in the quarterfinal. What do you think we can expect from him this tournament?
ROGER FEDERER: I haven't seen his draw, to be honest. Don't know who the seeds are in his section, but look, I mean, I think he's done well overall if you think back one year ago. It was a surprise that he made the finals and went so far, and from then on he comes back one year later and he's ranked No. 5.
Q. 7.
ROGER FEDERER: 7 in the world? He's really beaten some good players on the way, played consistent, you know, and took advantage of his better seeding. I think he's had a very good year so far. I think he has a lot of pressure to defend as many as points as possible. I think he could have a good year again at the French Open, even though I haven't seen the draw. But of course I do hope I get to the quarters myself, but it seems like he got off to a good start yesterday, I think.
Q. What do you think he needs to improve to get one more level more?
ROGER FEDERER: I think he's doing the right things, so the question is can he beat basically three top 10 players in a row to win a Grand Slam? That's the big question in a best of five set match.
Q. If a young player came to see you and asked you what is the right motivation I have to have to become a champion, what would you answer? And second, have you ever lacked motivation at any time in your career?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, I think every player goes through a time when it's hard, because you expect so much. When you're young there is a lot of pressure that surrounds you by wanting to improve and show people wrong and prove to them that you're the guy, and so when you get you lose too many matches that you think you should have won. It's very frustrating in the beginning. So then you lose motivation a little bit.
When you're very young you'd rather do something else than go play tennis sometimes, because maybe you've done it already too much. I went through those moments, as well.
So I think some realize it already at 15 that from 15 on every practice will be perfect, some from 12. Me, it was later. I only was a good hitting partner for maybe 19 or 20 years old, I think. When I came on tour I had some shocking practices. Still it was even other great top players, you know, like, I don't know, Henman or Bjorkman, and if I wouldn't be in the mood, I would be just, like, You know what? Today just isn't my day. Who cares?
But then you realize it's a lack of respect and you do give 100% every single time because the other guy also wants to practice and also wants to improve.
Then all of a sudden, to me, it was normal to practice 100% every single time. So, I mean, I would think the last sort of eight years have definitely been very good ones, whereas before it's been on and off, I think.
THE MODERATOR: Questions in French, please.
Q. I had the impression that you were moving around nicely today on the court. Is it also your feeling? How would you explain this? Have you worked a lot with your foot practice over the past two weeks?
ROGER FEDERER: I didn't have much time, but as I was saying before, the more I play on clay, the more natural it is to me. And I think it was a bit slippery today, because it was quite warm out there. The surface is the sand is very light, and then you tend to slide. You had to get used to this, but then frankly I didn't have many problems with my footwork.
I was moving around okay at the beginning, and that's very important not to miss balls to start with and to be lagging behind and then to play with more pressure on you, but it didn't happen today. So it was a perfect match from the outset.
Q. There is a point at the end of the third set, a defensive point which was incredible, and it was from the baseline you dropped a shot. Is it very important to win such a point? When did you decide to have this dropshot from the baseline?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, yes, of course. Well, to start with, I had to stay in the game, in the match, because I had several very difficult slice balls. The first one was not really okay. It was floating, to some extent. The other ones, the other two were really okay. They were perfect slices that were really deep to try and neutralize Luczak. And therefore I have to be more aggressive. I'll play forehand but it was too much in the center of the court.
My legs were a bit too heavy, because that was an extreme effort to stay in the match. I thought, I'm going to try and win more quickly. And I was three meters behind the line, and I wanted to play this dropshot. I took the decision at the very last minute, and it worked well.
He couldn't run any longer for the ball, and I was really surprised. I was really behind the line, and it helped me. But it was pleasant, nice, really.
Q. Now, for a while, people have said that Roland Garros could be relocated outside of Paris. What do you think about this at the end of your career to play in Versailles, Gonesse, or Marne La Vallée close to Euro Disney?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, yes, that's a question that people keep on asking during the Grand Slam, that is, people can no longer buy the tickets. The people, the media, ask more. We want to have more, and it's not easy for the tournament, but we have to do our best, and do the best for the tournament.
So if we move elsewhere, does it make sense? I don't know. People will decide. There is a lot of money at stake, and there's a new site, and that means with the new site it means, how can I say? What about the soul of Roland Garros? This is what we might miss after.
So let's think twice before we act. Now, Melbourne, you know, is considering a major change for the years to come. Wimbledon I think will never change. They still have leeway with the golf course. At the US Open they did something new, as well. But I think it was 10 years ago. And it was the old stadium 10 years ago, if I'm not mistaken.
In any case, everybody's always upgraded with the new Lenglen court, with the new Chatrier court. It's changed here at Roland Garros. It's smaller here, the site is smaller. So the question is more important here than anywhere else.
Q. Today, what do you think about the final jewel against Rafael Nadal?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, you know, we've talked about this already a little. I don't know if I need to answer the same question all the time, but I hope I'll be playing the finals. If it's him, it's perfect. Otherwise, you know, what a pity for him; what a pity for me if I don't reach this stage, the finals. We'll see. It's the first round, not the semifinals, unfortunately. But we'll see.
Q. You probably have South African roots. That's your mother. But the World Football Cup will take place in South Africa soon. Do you have any ideas about South Africa and the football players? Because you're half concerned.
ROGER FEDERER: I was really happy that the venue is going to be South Africa, because they won what's the name? They won what's the name? The bid or something. Okay. They were short listed. They won. And then Switzerland was qualified, as well.
So it's a good thing. You know, at the time we were not sure they would be qualified. We lost against Luxembourg. But anyway, I know the country quite well. People are so friendly.
The landscapes are also probably it's the most beautiful country in the world almost. They have so much to offer. I hope it's good in terms of the future of this country.
As you know, this country has gone through difficult moments in the past, so I'm really happy to see the World Cup there, football World Cup.
Q. It's in Africa for the first time. What do you think about this? Has it got a special meaning for you?
ROGER FEDERER: Of course it has. Because my foundation is very active throughout the continent, and of course I'm more interested in this continent than anybody else, probably, the African continent.
OFF COURT - NIKE WORLD CUP TV SPOT
A new Nike World Cup TV Spot has been released. It features Nike's stable of superstar footballers like Didier Drogba, Wayne Rooney, Fabio Cannavaro, Landon Donovan and Cristiano Ronaldo. The short film is directed by Alejandro Inarritu ("21 Grams" and "Babel") and contains a cameo from Roger. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcWwTLMGttE
ATP - ROGER YET TO DROP A SET
Roger endured a first tense set and two rain delays today before making it through to the second round of the French Open in Paris today. He defeated Alejandro Falla of Colombia 7-6(4), 6-2 and 6-4.
Roger did not play his best tennis during the opening set, dropping his serve at 5-5. But as they say 'it is not a break until you hold your own serve' - our champ went on to Break Falla right away, taking the set into a tie-breaker where he scored four brilliant winners to secure the set. Roger then moved up 2-1 before rain interrupted play for 15 minutes. He looked unfazed as he came back on court to win the second set despite still struggling with his first serve. Showers interrupted play a second time for about an hour after Falla won the first game of the third set. Roger broke with a winning forehand return in the third game and closed out the match at love on his serve.
Roger's opponent in round three will either be Germany's Julian Reister (ATP 165) or Belgium's Olivier Rochus (ATP 62). Roger has never played Reister before and boasts a 7-0 head-to-head statistic against Rochus.
Federer Closes In On Milestones
Defending champion Roger Federer is one victory away from recording the 700th tour-level match win and the 150th clay-court win of his career after he reached the Roland Garros third round on Wednesday.
The top seed from Switzerland hit 36 winners in a rain-interrupted 7-6(4), 6-2, 6-4 win over Colombian Alejandro Falla on Court Philippe Chatrier. Contesting his 12th successive Roland Garros, Federer will next challenge either Olivier Rochus of Belgium or German qualifier Julian Reister.
"I thought the first set was good, actually, from both sides," said Federer. "I think he really pushed me to come up with something special, which I couldn't do in the first set. I definitely got a little bit lucky to get out of that one.
"I think he played tough. I mean, both times when I played him before I had much more control from the baseline. But he was able to today to take the ball early and guide it into wherever he wanted to play it to. I thought it was impressive what he was able to do today."
Despite the routine win, Federer was in danger of losing the first set when Falla served for the first set at 6-5. Falla failed to convert break point opportunities in the third and fifth games, but he was able to convert his third opportunity in the 11th game with a forehand winner off a Federer drop shot.
Federer broke back immediately and set up two set point opportunities in the tie-break with a stunning off-forehand winner. World No. 70 Falla miscued a forehand, hitting into the tramlines, to give Federer the opening set.
Rain started to fall at the start of the second set, but play continued until 28-year-old Federer broke Falla’s serve in the third game. After a 20-minute delay, Federer broke to love and held serve after falling to 0/40 for a 5-1 lead.
Play was again suspended, this time for one hour, with Federer serving at 0-1, 30/15 in the third set. The Swiss superstar returned to break Falla’s serve in the third game and went on to wrap up his 699th tour-level win in two hours.
Federer is attempting to become the first player to successfully defend a Grand Slam title since he achieved the feat at the 2008 US Open. He has a 21-6 match record on the year.
RG 2010 - wywiad z Fedem po zwycięstwie w 2 rundzie
Q. How much did the conditions bother you at all today? Was the coming on and off the court annoying, or how did you feel about that?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I thought ‑‑ obviously the court played very different to two days ago. You know, the texture of the clay changes drastically when there's no sun. It gets wet. Conditions slow down, you know, a lot.
So that was a bit of an adjustment I had to make when I started the match. Obviously I practiced before, and that gave me a sense of how it was going to be.
But the first rain delay wasn't too long. We got in and, and 10, 15 minutes later we're back out. It was a matter of quickly changing shirt and getting a chance to speak to your coach and coming up with the proper game plan depending on the scoreline.
I think that helped me, actually, because after that I played a good set. He gave me some good advice, and obviously the second rain delay was actually quite comfortable because I was up two sets to love.
So from then on, everything is much more easier and much more relaxed.
Q. As you said, here the playing conditions change a lot with the weather. Can you elaborate how they change? Secondly, what is the best playing condition for you here? Is it very hot or very in between?
ROGER FEDERER: Really, to me, it doesn't matter too much. I've learned to play in all conditions. These kind of conditions are hard to practice in because usually you don't have the covers, you don't have all the guys doing all the hard work.
But, I mean, it's great you have it here obviously for all of us, really. What did you say?
Q. How did the weather conditions change the game?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, the ball travels differently. I don't know how to explain it. I guess it travels faster through the court, so I hit a slice that's a bit floating.
In these conditions it maybe stays in the court. In the other one, it just travels out by a meter. This is the kind of stuff you feel. Then on the serve, the way the ball bounces off the court, it jumps off the court. Here it just kind of like, okay it's there. Doesn't pick up more pace when it hits the ground. Those kind of things.
And then the dropshot though in wet weather like today stays really low, and you can knife the ball through the clay. So, you know, I think there's advantages and disadvantages, and you've got to use them to yours if you can.
Q. When you spoke about coming back after the rain delays, you said your coach gave you good advice and therefore you were able to hit Alejandro while he was maybe cold. Was that a particularly planned strategy during both the first and the second rain delays?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, the first rain delay I was trying to play more aggressive. He convince me that I should do it and try it and come to the net more often and take chances, which I started to do. That's what worked second set.
Then the third set, as the conditions were getting so slow, he said, Use the dropshot more often, as well, which I did on a couple of key points. So those were good things he told me. Those little details make a crucial difference.
That one break, for instance, in the third. Instead of having to play at even score I can play with a break advantage, and that changes momentum big time.
Q. Why do you think the first set was so hard for you? Do you think he was playing at a very high level, or do you think you were not in the match yet?
ROGER FEDERER: I thought the first set was good, actually, from both sides. Maybe we had a lot of, how do you say, unforced errors, but rallies were long and we were neutralizing each other. So then obviously the points would always end usually with a mistake sooner or later.
I think he really pushed me to come up with something special, which I couldn't do in the first set, really. I definitely got a little bit lucky to get out of that one. It's a matter of getting into his service games a bit better, because many times I just was always down 15‑Love, and then he had the ad side to serve against.
As a lefty that's an advantage, so he went up 30‑Love quite often. I never really got a chance to get into his service games, only until really I was able to break him at 6‑5.
So, you know, I think he played tough. I mean, both times when I played him before, he was ‑‑ I had much more control from the baseline. But he was able to today to take the ball early and guide it into wherever he wanted to play it to. I thought it was impressive what he was able to do today.
Q. So much is made of a player/coach relationship. Do you think that Severin's role in your career at the moment is slightly underrated, and perhaps people don't give him as much credit as he perhaps deserves?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I don't know. It depends on who you ask or who speaks. Maybe he doesn't have the biggest name in the game because he wasn't No. 1 in the world himself or has coached 15 other top guys, you know.
I don't think you necessarily need that to be a good coach, you know. He gives everything he has every day, and people still think he's a part‑time coach, which he's obviously not because he's traveled the last two, three years with me now full time.
He's also Davis Cup captain, so he has a lot of experience by now, obviously. It works really well with me. Also in tougher times, which we had to go through the last three years, he's always been very positive. Maybe he's underrated because I don't follow too much what you guys write about him, maybe.
I know he doesn't speak too much to you guys, so we don't talk about it. (laughter.)
Q. You have such a deep understanding of the history of the game and an appreciation of the heritage of our sport. You spoke briefly on this the other day, but I wanted to ask you to reflect on what it would mean for the tournament to move from this site which has such a heritage. Would this be in some way a loss for our game or not?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, do you think really it's gonna change, or is it more just story than...
Q. I don't know for sure, but I think it's ‑‑ I think it's a possibility, and a significant one.
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, we'll see. I mean, I also believe in traditions and everything, but it's got to make sense for sense for everyone. Obviously it would be very disappointing if it moves away from here.
But if they do it, they must have good reasons. Those reasons sometimes are more important than all the history and all the traditions we've had. I mean, I hope it stays here. I'd love to come back in 20 years', 40 years' time.
Q. You had the rain delays today in your match. Do you think for a match in a Grand Slam tournament on center court it's acceptable, and do you think there should be a necessity for any Grand Slam tournament to have a roof on center court?
ROGER FEDERER: Poor guys are getting hammered, eh? Yeah, we need a roof badly. Tomorrow, if possible. What can I say? It would be great to have a roof. But this is how this game has been played for decades. We're used to walking on and off the court and being flexible about these kind of things.
Now obviously it looks a bit like Paris and the French Open is a bit under pressure because Wimbledon and obviously the Australian Open both have roofs. At least you have a few matches in, so we have at least some things to write about.
You know, it's one of those things. They gotta know when the right time is to make these kind of moves. I think everybody would love to see matches going on the whole time. But for me, it's totally acceptable to walk on and off the court a few times during a match.
Q. Roger ‑‑ over here.
ROGER FEDERER: It's coming from this speaker, you know. It's like you're sitting in the closet. (Laughter.)
Q. Sorry, my ventriloquism trick will be next. You've used a variety of practice partners in tournaments or in Dubai. What kind of quality do you look for in a practice partner?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, it's a lot of fun, I think, if juniors come over 16, 17, 18 year olds, because for them, anything I need them for in practice, they're excited. They learn and improve themselves, you know, which is important to me, too.
Because I don't like to just say, Okay, stand in the corner, and I know the guy hates it and he leaves and he feels like it wasn't worth it. You couldn't do that to another top 10 player, for instance, because for him it's not his goal to do that.
But with a junior, he finds that very interesting to then see me, how I practice or what I do and how I breathe and live tennis, really. So I think that's something I look for, is the guy who is eager and excited to come to practice with me and gives 100%.
And maybe he's tired, he lets me know, because that's completely normal, too, in hot conditions like in Dubai sometimes. Then sometimes you feel like, you know, that I would love to have a lefty; sometimes you feel like you need a righty; obviously you always have the coach.
So sometimes I have two sparring partners or two juniors come over and ‑‑ or then a good friend, you know, from Switzerland. That always works very well.
Q. Sorry, the question is not too technical, but when you come out of the locker rooms and you have to come for a press conference ‑‑
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah. (laughter.)
Q. ‑‑ how easy it is? Because you come, you have to wear the hat which has to match the color with the jacket...
ROGER FEDERER: No, it doesn't need to.
Q. No? You don't pay attention to that?
ROGER FEDERER: No, that's all I have in my bag. It's pretty simple.
Q. You never get confused?
ROGER FEDERER: No. Because does this shirt match this jacket? I don't think so. (laughter.)
You know, that's all I had with me. Sometimes I feel like my hair is not the right way so I put the hat on. Like today. That's why I'm sitting here this way.
Q. It's not a sponsor? Okay. All right. Thanks a lot.
ROGER FEDERER: No, no way.
Q. My question is about your coach, coming back to your coach. What do you ask to a coach exactly? I mean, the level you are, the knowing you have about game and everything, the experience you have, which answer your coach, this coach can give to you that you don't know? And what are you really looking for in a coach now?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, I don't have the time to go scout out future opponents. Like today, for instance, I don't know if they will be able to play Rochus and Reister. But Reister, I think I've only warmed up with him once in Hamburg a couple years ago. Obviously I don't remember how he plays.
Obviously Olivier I know well, but there's still maybe that something extra out there I have forgotten or I don't know still and he can come up with. Then it's just good to have someone to be able to debate about my game and the opponents' game and come up with a game plan, obviously.
I have my ideas from all my experience, but then he's also seen my past matches the last day, the last weeks, the practice sessions, and then he's got a good sense of what I'm doing well and not so well. Then you can structure a game around those problems or those strengths.
Yeah, so it's been going well and smooth. But then again, every player needs different things. It's crazy how players think. You know, for some, the coach is not important; for some it's the physio; for some it's not the physio but the condition trainer; for some it's just good to have a friend on tour.
I think every player needs to look what they need most, really.
THE MODERATOR: Questions in French, please.
Q. We'll still be talking about the coach. Now, in such a situation like today, does it sometimes happen that you don't agree with your coach when you analyze this situation? You know, like the tips he gives you, Severin? If this is the case, who's going to decide finally?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I know I'll ask him, Why have you said this? Why have I said this? We never say the other one is totally crazy. No, no, it's never happened to us. Never.
It's never happened with any of my coaches, because it's always reasonable. There's always a reason why they say these things.
Q. I think that before the press conference you received a DVD with statistics for your match. I'd like to know if you look at statistics with attention, if you draw conclusions for the future match, or not.
ROGER FEDERER: Not really. I don't know if the DVD is just about the statistics or the match. What is more important for me is to watch the match. So, you know, I keep on CD 80% of my matches, and then my coach can analyze the old matches, for instance.
And also, for me, it's for me so that I have a nice connection. My father likes this collection. We can't watch these 800 matches, but at least a few hundred. (laughter.)
Q. You never shout on court, almost never, when you hit the balls. Today during the first point during the tiebreak you were running on a dropshot, and then you shouted a little. Is it because you felt some type of relief or to encourage yourself? And when the opponent shouts a lot, do you think about this? Do you forget about this? Or does that give you hints about his mental position at the moment during the match?
ROGER FEDERER: I don't shout very often because I don't need to play better and shout. Some people think that when they shout they're in a trance, you see. Some do this during practice and not during a match and vice versa.
I understand this, because if you start doing this then you feel that you can hit more strongly, because when you shout you have the impression that it's a bigger effort. Well, there is, depending on the player.
What I don't really like is when some players shout during three shots, and then they don't shout for two shots and then they shout again for three shots. This is something incomprehensible.
Frankly, I don't know when it happens to me, but it's important to have this fire with me. When I'm excited, if the point is important, then this is what is important. This is the key to me.
Sometimes you might think I shout more because I'm a bit more tired, but it could be like pretending. No, I don't really pay attention to this.
Q. Now, the match is not yet over and it's bad for him.
ROGER FEDERER: For who?
Q. For Olivier. But let's say Olivier wins. What about playing against him? What are the memories you have when you played against him?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, he's a good friend. I like to play with him. I played juniors at Wimbledon a long time ago with him, and we always had difficult matches when we played against each other.
One of the best backhands on the tour. He's exceptionally talented. Therefore, playing against him is always something very pleasant. He has such a touch. He reads the game and anticipates.
Q. When you were playing juniors he would beat you or defeat you regularly. Were you frustrated to some extent? Because you were saying that when you were playing juniors you were more nervous than usual.
ROGER FEDERER: Well, you know, under 14s, under‑16s or 15s, he was really strong. He was the strongest one, and, you know, it's the world of tennis.
I knew I was not stable enough, my backhand was not good. My forehand was dangerous, and my serve, as well. I started growing when I was 15 or 16 only. It happened once. I can tell you what happened. I was so powerful and my backhand improved a lot, and then I could defeat him.
In 1998 when I was No. 1 I defeated him I think once or twice, and I felt that things were changing for me. I made many efforts, a lot of progress, but to start with it was frustrating. I felt I was so far away from some people, like Malisse as well 6‑1, 6‑2. It was a dropshot and then a lob. (laughter.)
So, you see, after the match you'll think, Okay, he was a year older at that time. It makes a difference. And, you know, at least I can tell you this calmed me down.
Mouratoglou ostro krytykuje Federera
Patrick Mouratoglou, założyciel słynnej paryskiej akademii tenisowej, mentor Marcosa Baghdatisa i Aravane Rezai, twierdzi, że nie do końca zmotywowany występami poza Wielkim Szlemem Roger Federer nie jest dobrym przykładem dla młodych.
- Jak sympatycy mogą zajmować się tym sportem skoro we wszystkim innych turniejach niż najważniejsze, numer jeden odpada regularnie we wczesnych rundach? - pyta Mouratoglou. - On wysyła sygnał, że dany turniej go nie interesuje. To są porażki dobrowolne. Nie ogranicza się do dwóch setów, on "pozoruje" piekielną batalię - uzasadnia krytykę i daje przykłady takich porażek Szwajcara: 6:7 z Baghdatisem i Berdychem podczas serii amerykańskiej, 5:7 z Gulbisem w Rzymie i 4:6 z Benneteau w Paryżu-Bercy. - Ale ja nie jestem kolejnym głupcem - kwituje Mouratoglou.
W tekście z 28 kwietnia Mouratoglou, którego zasadą jest "by dać najlepszych, bierzemy tylko najlepszych", pisze: - Kolejna porażka Rogera we wczesnej rundzie turnieju z rywalem notowanym 30 miejsc niżej. To jest zdecydowanie bardzo zły nawyk. (...) Roger się starzeje i prawdopodobnie wie, że jest coraz gorszy. Ale wie też, że jeszcze kilka dobrych lat przed nim.
- Dla człowieka, który ma takie statystyki w Wielkim Szlemie, te niecodzienne, ale powtarzające się porażki wpływają na zanikanie wiarygodności. To są z pewnością porażki zamierzone, a w takim przekonaniu jestem widząc numer jeden nie walczącego z zębem, bez determinacji. To smutne widzieć go akceptującego porażki bez wzdrygnięcia, bez zaangażowania - ciągnie.
- Nienawidzę tego, że lider naszego sportu wysyła taką wiadomość do młodych ludzi. Mentalności Federera i Nadala są dziś bardziej niż kiedykolwiek, różne. Dwa tygodnie przed międzynarodowymi mistrzostwami Francji Federer wziął udział w turnieju w Estoril, gdzie odpadł w półfinale. - Dlaczego nie siedział cicho w domu i nie trenował, przygotowując się do Roland Garros? - pyta Mouratoglou. - To pokazuje, że istnieje dwudrożny system w Top 10: jedni grają tydzień w tydzień, a inni nie sądzą, że potrzebują wygrywać, by coś udowodnić.
hahaha hahaha hahaha hahaha hahaha hahaha hahaha hahaha
Eee...? Taki daje przykład młodym, że celuje w największe trofea i co lepsze, zdobywa je.
Federera może zatrzymać tylko deszcz
Kapryśna pogoda trochę pokrzyżowała plany Rogerowi Federerowi. Rozstawiony z jedynką tenisista w dwie godziny bez jednej minuty odprawił z kwitkiem w 2. rundzie Alejandro Fallę 7:6 (7-4), 6:2, 6:4. Federer chciał skończyć mecz szybciej, ale na przeszkodzie stanął deszcz.
Nad kortem Philippe'a Chatriera czarne chmury zbierały się przez cały dzień, zresztą takie prognozy była już we wtorek.
Mecz trzeba było w końcu przerwać w drugim gemie trzeciego seta przy podaniu Federera. Najlepszy tenisista na świecie prowadził 30:15 i miał już się zamachnąć do kolejnego serwisu, kiedy na nagle pojawiła się ściana deszczu. Sędzia chwilę wstrzymał się z decyzją, ale wobec dynamicznie rozwijającej się ulewy wysłał obu zawodników do szatni.
Przed przerwą Federer jak zwykle dyktował warunki, ale do jego gry można było mieć sporo zastrzeżeń. Tylko w pierwszym secie lider rankingu ATP popełnił aż 21 niewymuszonych błędów. Jak na jedną odsłonę, a tym bardziej na takiego tenisistę to liczba horrendalna.
Umiejętnościami Roger Federer i tak bił rywala na głowę. Choć trzeba przyznać, że Alejandro Falla zostawił po sobie dobre wrażenie. 26-letni Kolumbijczyk nie miał spętanych nóg, udźwignął presję meczu z głównym faworytem Rolanda Garrosa. Długo grał z Federerem jak równy z równym, nie bał się odważnych zagrań.
Prawie godzinna przerwa nie zachwiała formą żadnego z tenisistów. Roger Federer sprawiał wrażenie nieco zniecierpliwionego, może dlatego znacznie zredukował liczbę niewymuszonych błędów. O ile w pierwszym secie miał ich 21, to potem 8, a w ostatniej odsłonie już tylko 5.
Mecz chciał skończyć hat trickiem serwisowym. Rozochocił się w ostatnim gemie i zaserwował dwa asy z rzędu. To trzeciego asa z rzędu, który dawał zwycięstwo, zabrakło centymetrów. Ale i tak kropkę nad i Federer postawił przy drugim podaniu.
Federer może nie przegrywa celowo, ale coś w tym jest, że w turniejach o mniejszej randze (poza WS) radzi sobie ostatnio zdecydowanie słabiej. Chyba brakuje mu motywacji nie tylko do wygrywania, ale także do treningów. Chociaż z drugiej strony mecze były przegrywane w końcówkach, więc może z psychiką Rogera też jest coś nie tak. W każdym razie na Madryt się zmobilizował i jego gra wyglądała całkiem przyzwoicie. Przyjdą czasy kiedy Federer w wielkim szlemie będzie odpadał wcześniej (poza pojedynczymi turniejami WS), a wtedy jego pozycja rankingowa będzie oscylować w okolicach 10-20 miejsca.
Joao napisał:
Przyjdą czasy kiedy Federer w wielkim szlemie będzie odpadał wcześniej (poza pojedynczymi turniejami WS), a wtedy jego pozycja rankingowa będzie oscylować w okolicach 10-20 miejsca.
No popatrz, a ja myślałem, że będzie nr 1 do końca kariery i wygra 60 Szlemów :)
Fed-Expresso napisał:
Joao napisał:
Przyjdą czasy kiedy Federer w wielkim szlemie będzie odpadał wcześniej (poza pojedynczymi turniejami WS), a wtedy jego pozycja rankingowa będzie oscylować w okolicach 10-20 miejsca.
No popatrz, a ja myślałem, że będzie nr 1 do końca kariery i wygra 60 Szlemów :)
Cóż może naprawdę tak sądzisz. Zresztą jesteś naczelnym malkontentem na tym forum (tyczy się to głównie Federera, którego nieustannie krytykujesz) i widocznie stać ciebie tylko na takie zaczepne odpowiedzi. I teraz mały prezencik dla ciebie
Fed (Expresso) nad grą idola biadolił
Bo Roger go nie zadowolił
Biednemu Expresso nerwy puściły
Kiedy go wieczne wyrzuty męczyły
Joao napisał:
Fed (Expresso) nad grą idola biadolił
Bo Roger go nie zadowolił
Biednem Expresso nerwy puściły
kiedy go wieczne wyrzuty męczyły
hahaha
Również solidnie się zaśmiałem. :D
OFF COURT - MERCEDES-BENZ ANNOUNCES GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP WITH ROGER
Mercedes-Benz today announced a multi platform global marketing partnership with the 16-time Grand Slam Champion and world’s number one tennis player, Roger Federer.
The multi year deal will cover the use of his image, personal appearances and product placement in a partnership that makes Roger Federer the latest Mercedes-Benz brand ambassador.
The agreement coincides with the start of the Mercedes-Benz sponsorship of the US Tennis Open Championship, beginning in August. Since the beginning of 2008, Federer has served as an ambassador for Mercedes-Benz China.
Mercedes-Benz has used tennis as a marketing platform for more than 15 years and this partnership looks to extend the brands visibility throughout the sport.
“I am delighted that we are adding Roger Federer to the Mercedes-Benz family of sports and celebrity ambassadors on a global level. When it comes to tennis, he is without doubt one of the greatest of all time and he truly has become a global icon..,” said Stephen Cannon, Vice President Marketing for Mercedes-Benz USA. “We are looking forward to working with Roger on a number of initiatives. Much like our own brand, Roger has an impressive and unrivalled history but the best is still yet to come,” he added.
About Mercedes-Benz USA Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service for all Mercedes-Benz and Maybach products in the United States. MBUSA offers drivers the most diverse line-up in the luxury segment with 12 model lines ranging from the sporty C-Class to the flagship S-Class sedans and CL coupes.
rf.com
ATP Tour: 700 zwycięstw Rogera Federera.
Roger Federer, ogrywając Juliena Reistera w 3 rundzie RG2010, odniósł swoje zwycięstwo nr 700 w zawodowej karierze na szczeblu ATP Tour. Szwajcar został 10 tenisistą, który wygrał taką ilość pojedynczych meczów.
Najwięcej wygranych spotkań w ATP Tour
1. Jimmy Connors - 1242
2. Ivan Lendl - 1071
3. Guillermo Vilas - 923
4. John McEnroe - 875
5. Andre Agassi - 870
6. Stefan Edberg - 806
7. Pete Sampras - 762
8. Ilie Nastase - 755
9. Boris Becker - 713
10. Roger Federer - 700
RG 2010 - wywiad z Rogerem po zwycięstwie w 3 rundzie
Q. A lot of players get a lot of questions about rain delays or the French Open moving out of Paris the last couple of days, and they actually said that they don't think that much, or they think it's very simple. It's, What do you eat every day on practice? On warming up? I get a sore leg, and how am I going to recover from it and that sort of stuff. So what is on your mind usually on a daily basis? Like the day before when we had a lot of rain delays, do you go here, and say, I'm going to get a lot of questions about rain delay roof, or do you just come here and do your job and let us do all the thinking?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, what I've found out the more rain delays there are, the more the press starts looking for things that are not there sometimes. That can be tricky sometimes, you know.
Other than that, you know, you just go after your job and enjoy the downtime. Yesterday I didn't practice at all, so that was nice. I spent some time with the family. You're happy there's a bit of a change. Because if it's always the same rhythm every day, it also gets a bit boring.
When it rains like this, I don't mind those days, either. They're just slow and nice and relaxing. No traveling for a change, no cars, no flights, no nothing. Just sitting still for a change.
Q. Three matches in, can you say anything different than any of the other years? How do you feel?
ROGER FEDERER: I feel fine, you know. I mean, from how do you say? From a ranking standpoint, I haven't played top guys yet. But, you know, dangerous players, you know, who are skillful on this surface and a guy who just won five matches here in Paris, so you can never underestimate those kind of players.
With my own form I'm very happy. I'm ready to mix up my game playing aggressive. I'm not sure today if I had to face break points. I'm getting very few breaks, and that's obviously always a good thing looking ahead.
Q. You made some comments which were critical or
ROGER FEDERER: Careful.
Q. Oh, I'm always careful. We have time. Don't worry. But about clay court tennis, could you take the...
ROGER FEDERER: What did I say?
Q. You said, On clay you don't need a volley or a serve, you just need legs, an incredible forehand...
ROGER FEDERER: Only? Only means in an extreme way. Very good legs and very good forehand. But you take it the way you want.
Q. Right. Well, I just want to ask you, in terms of the three prime surfaces, clay, hard, and grass, when you talk about athleticism, how would you rank the three surfaces? Can you compare the three different surfaces in terms of what they demand of an athlete?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, I guess on grass it's good to have a big serve, you know. And then the way you back it up, you definitely got to be able to return a bit and be dangerous off that.
You know, I think being good off second serves is a good thing on grass, because this is sometimes where it's gonna be played out.
Anticipation comes, I guess, with grass court tennis. You have to read and react very quickly to shots that you don't normally see.
Hardcourt, I think, is a bit of a combination between clay and hardcourt, you know. If you want to shorten points, you can do that quite easily; whereas on clay it's very hard to shorten points.
You get caught up in many long rallies, and then if you do shorten the points, you're taking all the chances and the opponent's only happy just to keeping the ball in play, you know. You see that happening quite often, and then a guy blows out because he just misses too much.
Then on clay it's also not usually enough with the best players to keep the ball in play. You have to go after the shots and keep it aggressive. With the best clay court players, they're always very aggressive. That obviously helps also on hardcourts when slower balls come along. All the good clay court players are able to put the easy balls away.
So it's a combination, you know. But I think the things have really slowed down in the last years, especially on the hardcourts. Indoors, as well. And that has definitely helped, I think, the clay court specialists or more of the baseliners, let's put it that way.
Q. You said they're all demanding, but if you had to pick one as "the" most demanding for an athlete...
ROGER FEDERER: I don't know. I guess hardcourts, at the end of the day, is tough on the body. Just the stopping and day in, day out on hardcourts, I think that's a tough thing to go through for, what is it, seven months of the year?
If you don't go back on clay after Wimbledon or after I don't know if there's more after the US Open, but, yeah, I think that's tough. Because clay you kind of glide around and it's better on your body. Grass is soft. So I would pick hardcourt as the toughest surface physically.
Q. I don't know whether you've been asked, but have you seen the Nike commercial for the World Cup which you are sort of premier in that, just like Kobe Bryant?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I'm a Ping Pong player. Normally I'm a tennis player, but we did Ping Pong.
Q. Was it fun shooting it?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, it was good fun. It was unusual, you know. It was different. They were in Switzerland a few months ago, and obviously it's nice being in a World Cup commercial. It's obviously the biggest thing for Nike this year, soccer being such a huge sport.
And doing something fun with Wayne Rooney like that was...
Q. Did you shoot it together?
ROGER FEDERER: Didn't shoot it together, but we're seen together. It's extreme what we can do these days. It was fun. I think it turned out great.
Q. World Cup, the World Cup this summer would overshadow all the other sports, including Wimbledon?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, it always is a big story, and there is sometimes a few Sundays during the year where you just have everything happening during the same time. Could be golf, tennis, Formula 1, soccer, all comes, you know, together.
We're used to that. What's nice about tennis is obviously here there is something written and said about this sport for over three weeks almost. We have a great sport in a way. But the World Cup, I mean, deserving, will get a lot of attention.
Q. The clay here in Paris this week, it's been hot and then it was raining obviously and damp. How has the consistency been for you? I know you've played in both conditions. What do you think about the conditions here this year compared to previous years and the job that the grounds crew has done?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I think the clay courts are fantastic here. I mean, obviously there are the occasional bad bounces, but that's because clay sort of builds up like a little castle almost sometimes. So if you hit that, obviously the ball is always gonna bounce strangely.
But I think they do a great job also in between keeping the courts good if it rains overnight. Clay is something that lives, you know, with the conditions. I think we're very happy playing on them. I think it's always been a fair surface. I never recall coming here and it being overly fast or overly slow.
I think it's kind of always been a good surface.
Q. There was talk at the beginning of the week that there was more clay this year than in previous years.
ROGER FEDERER: I don't feel that, no. It was fine.
Q. Nadal won three tournaments. Now you are together in Roland Garros. You won the last year. Do you think that you're able to win also this year?
ROGER FEDERER: Yes, I do. (laughter.)
You want me to explain, or are you happy? You want me to explain? I won last year, so I think I can do it again. (laughter.)
THE MODERATOR: Questions in French.
Q. This is going to be like fiction. If Wawrinka wins, you're going against him. I think you advised Wawrinka. Has it always been the case, or would you say that now he can manage for himself?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, he must, and he does it well, I think. This is the objective, you see. I'm not his coach, you know, but at the beginning it's like giving tips and advice. I saw him growing, and he had many problems with the indoors before on the hard or quick surfaces.
I saw how he developed on these surfaces. It's always very interesting to see how he can continue and make progress. He's no longer asking for tips, which is a good sign. It's the same with Marco, as well, or Allegro and all these guys I know. When I give hundreds of tips to them, sometimes it's difficult for them to do what I ask them to do tactically speaking.
Sometimes I think it's better they, with their coaches, manage this by themselves. I can just give advice from time to time in terms of management or how to manage a career, or sometimes I can give them tips about one player because I've never been defeated by this one player.
You know, it's a natural type of evolution for them and for me. I'm happy to see that today he is fully serene on court. It was not always the case.
Q. There was a bit of an argument on the Internet saying that you often play on center court. Today you played on Lenglen. Is it new? Are you the one who asks because you're the best player in the world to play on center court? Does it make any difference for you, technically speaking?
ROGER FEDERER: I don't ask to play on center court. I'd rather play on center court, of course. But it's the tournament. They decide. Last year it was a major surprise because I played my seven matches on center court, but I think it's a bit of luck, as well, because until the third round it was against Paul Henri Mathieu.
Sometimes in this case, once or twice, you play on Lenglen, but this is it. All of a sudden, rather than playing on Lenglen on the third round and fourth round, this time I played against top players, as well, and at the end of the day I was never playing on Lenglen, no.
In Australia and also at the US Open I'm never on the No. 1 court. I'm always on center court, because there are night sessions, as well. That's been the case over the past years, and in Wimbledon sometimes it's No. 1, as well. But otherwise it's center court.
Q. I have a strange question to ask. Do you choose your balls? If not, do you understand the players who do this?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, from time to time I do. I take three balls and I compare them. I want to take the two best out of the three, the ones that are less worn out.
This is going to give me an advantage when I serve with these balls, because if it's too worn out, no. And I want to keep the same types of balls. I don't want to have one that's brand new and the other ones that are too old.
I understand the players who do this. Sometimes it's exaggerated. If you want to have four or five balls, that's too much. Three balls is sufficient, I think.
Q. I'd like to know if, you know, you played sometimes against Fognini for practice, and have you seen anything of his match against Monfils? What do you think about this? Now he's going to play against Wawrinka.
ROGER FEDERER: Yes, I knew that. I didn't know who he was playing against.
Q. What do you think about him? What's your vision about Fognini in general?
ROGER FEDERER: I think I practiced with him in Australia when he was 17. He was a junior, and for me, it was the end of my tournament. He was a junior. I practiced against him, and then I played once with him in Montreal, I think. It was an easy match. Well, maybe he was impressed.
It was 6 1, 6 1, 50 minutes, a very good match for me. But he has talent. When I see him, when he plays, I think he hits really well. He can accelerate. He can speed up the ball, which really shows he has potential. You can't do it every day, every point, every set. That's the question I wonder about these players.
This is the question they should ask themselves. Of course I watched a bit of the match with Monfils. It was incredible to see how late they played. I played semifinals against Rafa once here in 2004 or '05, rather, at night, and then the Wimbledon finals, it was almost nighttime and it's really difficult to play when it's dark.
So with the umpire who came, it probably was difficult for the two players, so I was happy the decision was not made, or nobody won the match in the evening, rather.
Q. What about a possible round of 16 against Stan? Do you think you would enjoy it, or on the contrary, you don't want to defeat him because otherwise he can't continue with the tournament?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I'm happy with Stan if he plays well. I'm happy for me, as well. Sometimes this is the way it is. If I have to face him I'll be playing against him.
It's the draw. Well, first he has to play his match, and then it's not that bad. I've never played against him during a Grand Slam, so that's a bit of a difference. He's really fit, and we have the same physical trainer. We know what we do. We've practiced quite often together.
We know it's going to be a tough match, so I'm very happy about this possible challenge, because he's a great player. I'll have to play great tennis, also.
Kolejne rekordy Federera. Do kolekcji brakuje tylko...
Najwyżej rozstawiony tenisista - Roger Federer - awansował do 1/8 finału turnieju na kortach im. Rolanda Garrosa. Broniący tytułu Szwajcar wygrał 700. mecz w karierze, a 150. na kortach ziemnych.
- Nie przygotowywałem się szczególnie do tego pojedynku. Wczoraj spędziłem większość dnia z rodziną, co było miłą odmianą od codziennego rytmu. Miałem tylko krótki trening. To był normalny dzień, jak każdy inny. Dzisiaj wstałem rano i wszystko też było jak zwykle - powiedział Federer.
- Mam za sobą trzy mecze z zawodnikami spoza czołowej dziesiątki, więc trudno wyciągać jakieś wnioski. Owszem to byli zawodnicy, którzy całkiem nieźle czują się na korcie ziemnym, ale najtrudniejsi rywale dopiero przede mną - dodał.
Szwajcar startuje w Paryżu po raz 12. z rzędu. W piątek, na wypełnionym po brzegi korcie im. Suzanne Lenglen (drugim co do wielkości), Federer pokonał 6:4, 6:0, 6:4 Niemca Juliana Reistera, który do turnieju głównego przebił się z eliminacji.
Mecz trwał 93 minuty, a sklasyfikowany na 165. miejscu w rankingu ATP Reistel nie był w stanie stawić mu większego oporu. Szwajcar miał 34 wygrywające uderzenia, przy dziesięciu po stronie rywala.
W spotkaniu o awans do ćwierćfinału Federer zmierzy się z rodakiem Stanislasem Wawrinką, z którym w sierpniu 2008 roku zdobył w Pekinie złoty medal olimpijski w deblu.
- Odpowiadają mi paryskie korty, chociaż są posypane mączką, to jednak nie jest zwykła "cegła". Są szybkie, choć czasem piłki się dziwnie odbijają, ale można się do tego przyzwyczaić. Jestem pełen uznania dla organizatorów za to jak potrafią zadbać o korty, gdy pada prawie cały dzień i noc. One bardzo się zmieniają pod wpływem pogody - powiedział Szwajcar.
28-letni Federer jest dziesiątym zawodnikiem w erze open, który przekroczył granicę 700 zwycięstw (ma na koncie 169 porażek). Tuż przed nim znajduje się w klasyfikacji wszech czasów Niemiec Boris Becker - 713, a liderem jest Amerykanin Jimmy Connors - 1242.
Jednak Szwajcar ma w dorobku rekordową liczbę 16 tytułów wielkoszlemowych, a w sumie odnotował 62 turniejowe zwycięstwa. Jest jednym z sześciu tenisistów w historii, którym udało się wygrać każdy z czterech najważniejszych turniejów w sezonie, choć nie w jednym roku. Bilans występów w nich ma 198-27.
Prawdopodobnie już za miesiąc podczas wielkoszlemowego turnieju w Wimbledonie przeskoczy w klasyfikacji wszech czasów Beckera. Ten turniej będzie się pokrywał z decydującą fazą finałów piłkarskich mistrzostw świata w RPA.
- Nie sądzę, żeby mundial przesłonił Wimbledon. Przecież w każdym roku z turniejami wielkoszlemowymi pokrywają się wyścigi Formuły 1, turnieje golfowe, ważne mecze piłkarskie. Jeśli się ktoś interesuje tenisem, to ze względu na nie przecież nie przestanie. Oczywiście mistrzostwa świata zasługują na szczególną uwagę, ale nie martwię się tym, że ktoś mógłby nie zauważyć mojego zwycięstwa w Wimbledonie. Oczywiście jeśli mi się uda wygrać - powiedział z uśmiechem Federer
ATP - ROGER MAKES FINAL SIXTEEN
Roger defeated Germany's Julian Reister 6-4, 6-0, 6-4 today to advance into the round of the last sixteen at the French Open. He will play Wawrinka (SUI) or Fognini (ITA) next.
Roger Federer: Mundial nie przesłoni mojego zwycięstwa w Wimbledonie
Nie przygotowywałem się szczególnie do tego pojedynku. Wczoraj spędziłem większość dnia z rodziną, co było miłą odmianą od codziennego rytmu. Miałem tylko krótki trening. To był normalny dzień, jak każdy inny. Dzisiaj wstałem rano i wszystko też było jak zwykle - powiedział w piątek Roger Federer.Lider rankingu awansował do 1/8 finału wielkoszlemowego turnieju na kortach ziemnych im. Rolanda Garrosa w Paryżu, pokonując Reistera. Broniący tytułu Szwajcar wygrał 700. mecz w karierze, a 150. na kortach ziemnych.
- Mam za sobą trzy mecze z zawodnikami spoza czołowej dziesiątki, więc trudno wyciągać jakieś wnioski. Owszem to byli zawodnicy, którzy całkiem nieźle czują się na korcie ziemnym, ale najtrudniejsi rywale dopiero przede mną - dodał.
Szwajcar startuje w Paryżu po raz 12. i to z rzędu. W piątek, na wypełnionym po brzegi stadionie im. Suzanne Lenglen (drugim co do wielkości), Federer pokonał 6:4, 6:0, 6:4 niemieckiego kwalifikanta.
- Odpowiadają mi paryskie korty, chociaż są posypane mączką, to jednak nie jest to zwykła "cegła". Są szybkie, choć czasem piłki się dziwnie odbijają, ale można się do tego przyzwyczaić. Jestem pełen uznania dla organizatorów za to jak potrafią zadbać o korty, gdy pada prawie cały dzień i noc. One bardzo się zmieniają pod wpływem pogody - powiedział Szwajcar.
28-letni Federer jest dziesiątym zawodnikiem w Erze Open (od 1968), który przekroczył granicę 700 zwycięstw (ma na koncie 169 porażek). Tuż przed nim znajduje się w klasyfikacji wszech czasów Niemiec Boris Becker - 713, a liderem jest Amerykanin Jimmy Connors - 1242.
Jednak Szwajcar ma w dorobku rekordową liczbę 16 tytułów wielkoszlemowych, a w sumie odnotował 62 zwycięstwa. Jest jednym z sześciu tenisistów w historii, którym udało się wygrać każdy z czterech najważniejszych turniejów w sezonie, choć nie w jednym roku. Bilans występów w nich ma 198-27.
Prawdopodobnie już za miesiąc podczas wielkoszlemowego turnieju w Wimbledonie przeskoczy w klasyfikacji wszech czasów Beckera. Ten turniej będzie się pokrywał z decydującą fazą finałów piłkarskich mistrzostw świata w RPA.
- Nie sądzę, żeby Mundial przesłonił Wimbledon. Przecież w każdym roku z turniejami wielkoszlemowymi pokrywają się wyścigi Formuły 1, turnieje golfowe, ważne mecze piłkarskie. Jeśli się ktoś interesuje tenisem, to ze względu na nie przecież nie przestanie. Oczywiście mistrzostwa świata zasługują na szczególną uwagę, ale nie martwię się tym, że ktoś mógłby nie zauważyć mojego zwycięstwa w Wimbledonie. Oczywiście jeśli mi się uda wygrać - powiedział z uśmiechem Federer.
ATP - 700TH SINGLES WIN!
Roger eased into the fourth round of the French Open with a 6-4 6-0 6-4 win over German qualifier Julian Reister today, earning his 700th singles victory!
"With my own form, I'm very happy. I'm ready to mix up my game playing aggressive," said Federer. "I'm not sure today if I had to face break points. "I'm getting very few breaks, and that's obviously always a good thing looking ahead." It was Roger's 700th career singles wins on the ATP Tour, making him only the 10th player ever, and only active pro, to have won 700 or more singles matches.
Reister managed to keep up with Roger's pace in the first set, especially as Roger was unable to convert the first seven break points he had. Once Roger broke for a 5-4 lead in the first set it was plain sailing for number one seed. Roger raced through the second set in just 18 minutes, completing a 'bagle'. It took one more break in the third set before Roger wrapped up the match after 93 minutes with a regulation forehand.
In the round of the last eight, Roger will meet Stanislas Wawrinka on Sunday. It is the first meeting between two Swiss players at a Grand Slam tournament in the last ten years.
Federer’s French fancies: Records and Roland Garros
He is the defending champion, number one in the world, and the top seed.
He is one of Paris’ favourite players—at least he is once all the French contenders have been counted and found wanting. For the French are as susceptible to the grace of his game and the graciousness of his demeanour as every other tennis lover.
Yet Roger Federer is not the favourite to win the 2010 French Open.
This year the draw contains a stronger, fitter and more complete Rafael Nadal than the one who was beaten in 2009’s fourth round. He is the best that the terre battue has to offer, and he is the favourite for the title. Even Federer says so.
Roland Garros might nevertheless be the setting for a series of new Federer landmarks. It may also be the launch-pad for some important records.
In his next match, for example, Federer will hope to reach 700 tour-level wins and, coincidentally, 150 clay court wins. Impeccable timing comes naturally to the Swiss champion.
If he reaches the semi-finals, two more landmarks will be reached. First, he will notch up 200 Grand Slam match wins. But more significantly, he will achieve something that neither Björn Borg, nor Ivan Lendl nor even Nadal himself has managed: six consecutive semi-finals at the French Open. A fifth consecutive final would also see Federer outstrip all those champions.
As he reaches the final stages at Roland Garros, he will also increase the clear water between himself and the other greats of the Open era. With a semi-final place, Federer’s streak of consecutive Grand Slam semis reaches 24—14 clear of Lendl and Rod Laver. If he reaches the final, it will be his 23rd overall: four clear of the next man, Lendl. If he wins the tournament, it will be his 17th Grand Slam: three clear of Pete Sampras.
But perhaps the most important task for Federer at Roland Garros is to retain his No.1 ranking. As of next week, he is guaranteed to achieve a total of 285 weeks as the best man in tennis, but his all-important target is the Sampras benchmark of 286 weeks.
Federer has only to reach the semifinals to stay at No.1 and add that record-breaking week. Should he fall short of the semis, only a win from Nadal or Novak Djokovic can deny him.
This is a significant watershed, for if Federer fails to seal the record at Roland Garros, his chances of regaining the No.1 spot are not good. He has big points to defend during the rest of the season, while Nadal has very few.
But perhaps the biggest prize in tennis—the Holy Grail—is the calendar Slam: all four Majors in a single year.
Three times Federer has held three at once and on two of those occasions he reached the final of the fourth. But the Slam has remained stubbornly elusive due, for the most part, to the ‘Nadal wall’ at Roland Garros.
In 2010, Federer has another chance. He holds the Australian, already. He now has to win in Paris, and that means he has to find the key to beating his clay-court Nemesis. It really is all to play for.
ATP - ROGER WINS SWISS DUEL
Roger cruised past fellow Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-2 today to book a spot in the quarter finals.
"I could have lost a set against Alejandro Falla in the second round and today against Stan and after this, you never know," said Roger. "So I am happy with what's happened. I'm playing well, serving well and moving well. I hope it continues like this."
In rather stormy conditions, Roger dominated the match from the start. His ground strokes were unerringly accurate and his serve metronomic. It seemed only complacency could stop our champ after the first set. But the second set proved to be a bit of a struggle as Roger dropped service in the first game. But he came right back and continued his superb tie-break record to end the set and move two sets up. Roger raced into an early lead in the third set and experienced no further problems at all from there.
Roger's win booked him a place in the last eight where a clash with Maric Cilic (ATP 7) or Robin Soderling (ATP 12) is up next on Tuesday.
Konferencja po wygranym meczu IV r. RG 2010
Q. About this week, maybe you will meet Robin Soderling now. He has now two sets. If it will be him, what do you think about his kind of game, and what do you think about him as an opponent?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, obviously I think he's taken advantage of the better ranking he's had since the last year here. Obviously now I've played him a few occasions now in Grand Slam play. I think I played him in Wimbledon as well the following Grand Slam, and at the US Open, as well.
So we have experience playing against each other. I've never lost against him, so obviously that's a good record to have. But because of the improvements he's made, he's an opponent not to underestimate.
Obviously he beat incredible players on the way to make the finals here last year, so clay seems to also become really his surface of preference, as well.
Q. You met him in a training match in Abu Dhabi, and there he beat you. What do you remember of that game?
ROGER FEDERER: Exhibition play. I mean, I don't want to downplay or upplay exhibition matches, but they're there to try out a few things. It was the first match of the season. Obviously if you lose to a fellow top 10 players player, there's obviously going to be a lot of talk about it. You can't control that.
It's always better to win. But at my stage of my career, I prefer to still try out a few things, because I'll have enough matches down the road where I can't try out too many things.
He played well at the beginning of the year, but then he had the surprising exit I think first round in Australia, which was surprising.
But, no, look, that match has nothing to do with here. Conditions are way too different. We both have to go back to the drawing board and come up with a good game plan.
Q. Out there today, is there any difficulty at all in thinking of Stan as just another opponent?
ROGER FEDERER: No, I mean, it changes a lot, playing a good friend like Stan. Like I said, I don't have that very often. Obviously we've spent a lot of time as well away from, you know, just the tennis courts and the practice courts, so it makes it a bit harder.
But at the same time, you know, basically I think about playing him every point I play, but then I'm able still to play good tennis and put in a good performance.
I'm happy that I'm able to, you know, not forget who he is, but at the same time really able to play great tennis.
Q. What's the key to beat a hard hitter like Soderling? You obviously know how to do it. You have 12 nil.
ROGER FEDERER: Well, any hard hitter, I want to try to get him to move. Sometimes that's not in your control. If they play aggressive off the return and they serve well, then you play more like a hardcourt match, which I don't mind doing.
Maybe that's why I'm good on many surfaces, because I can adapt to any sort of an opponent. But, yeah, you want to try to get those guys moving, give them different types of balls, keep them low maybe with the slice, because they have to bend more than little guys.
But then you don't want to give them too much time, either, because they can hit so hard. Usually we had big guys like Robin's size serve and volleying before.
Today we had many guys playing from the baseline, such as Del Potro, Roddick, Robin himself. We have those guys that are Murray as well; he's tall; Djokovic, the same thing. They all decide to play from the baseline.
Times have definitely changed in how big guys play tennis today.
Q. Are you talking Swedish in the locker room?
ROGER FEDERER: With him?
Q. Yeah.
ROGER FEDERER: Ah, not so much. With other guys, but I just spoke a little bit of Swedish with Nyström. He told me a few things.
Q. We've just passed the halfway mark in the tournament. Looking at your scoreboards, everything couldn't be better. Straight sets, straight sets, straight sets. What would be your halftime report?
ROGER FEDERER: Very happy, you know, because seeing the draw, what was it a week ago or more, 10 days ago? Got my nerves going already thinking of who I was going to play maybe the first round, and then see who my first few seeds with.
Now I played my first seed in the tournament, and a good friend, as well. I really knew the danger in this match. I could have lost definitely a couple sets on the way, against Falla, for instance, or today against Stan.
I was able to hang in there and turn it around in the breaker, but that's the stuff you need to do. Last year I had to battle it out more over four or five sets. It has also its advantages to do that.
As long as you come through, I always say it's a great tournament. I'm playing really well at the moment, so I'm very happy where my game is at right now.
Q. Looking out the window now, the wind is really blowing. How hard was it when you were on court?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, it was not constantly the same breeze. You know, it changed directions at times. I couldn't pick which side was better to play from, actually, especially when the wind comes from the side.
You know, you have maybe one side, the slice serve works better, and the other you have to work through the wind. You always have to adjust. I think first serves were really key, and making little adjustment steps, was that key today.
Then obviously the second set for him kind of killed it. He maybe didn't believe as much in beating me anymore. I was able to play steady and better as the match went on.
Q. If Rafa wins tomorrow and I'm not mistaken, he will have 200 victories on clay. Which of the matches you guys have played on this surface is the best on clay level from your side?
ROGER FEDERER: On clay?
Q. Yeah.
ROGER FEDERER: I think maybe once in Monaco in the finals, four sets; and the one in Rome maybe when I lost in five sets. I think those were really good matches. I had chances. He played well. It was good tennis from both sides. We both played aggressive, and it's a match I look back on and think that was a good match.
There's other ones, too, but you make me choose. Not that the other ones were (mouth noise), just to make things clear.
Q. A while ago, you spoke how pleased you were that the World Cup was going to South Africa where you and your foundation have so many connections. Last night Rafa was pretty upbeat and confident about Spain's chances in the opener.
ROGER FEDERER: Where are they playing?
Q. They're playing a team from Central Europe called Switzerland.
ROGER FEDERER: There you go.
Q. Despite losing their Basel star. Anyway, what do you think? Do you think you guys have a chance? Give us a score and so forth.
ROGER FEDERER: Well, yeah, I mean, it's unbelievable how much excitement there is about the World Cup. It's normal, too.
But then you're in it for, what, two matches, and you hope still you have a chance in the last match. You don't have too much time for players to get into good shape really.
It could be an advantage or a disadvantage for us playing the best team of the group right off the bat. Obviously they're the huge favorites after the way they played at the European Championships was fantastic. I don't think they've lost since.
Obviously with a point we will be very happy. I don't know if they can play outright aggressive, because you also want to kind of get into the tournament, and that could be our chance.
On that, we hope to get through the knockout stages and into the last 16 or quarters, I'm not sure. Yeah, we'll see. We're excited. We're at the World Cup, and everybody's got a chance once you're there.
Q. In the match you used the dropshot a few times. How important is that as a weapon to you? Do you consider this a trend for tennis on clay the past few years?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, competence. If guys stand back 10 meters behind the baseline, it's normal that players will have to use a dropshot. It's incredible how far back some players stand, you know, especially on the returns.
You want to keep them closer to you sometimes and keep them guessing. I missed a few today but made a few. In the long run, I hope by playing them it helps me also in other areas of my game.
I was able to, you know, use the dropshot much more the last couple of years now. It's been something that's worked for me. But it doesn't work against every player the same way.
Today against Stan I thought it was not the best choice of shot. He reads it well. He defends well, and you can't really play that much. That's why then you have to find other ways to beat him.
THE MODERATOR: French questions, please.
Q. Another question concerning the dropshot. I have the impression you use dropshots more than before. My question is: Is it a choice you make match after match, or is it a game plan you have for the end of the tournament when the points are more and more important, therefore a dropshot could be a good weapon?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, not really, because as I said before, each player plays differently. Stan plays heavy balls, deep balls, long balls, and it's difficult to have a dropshot against him. The best thing is to move around and then use your forehand. Sometimes it's backhand, as well.
But the balls reach you differently, and today I used the dropshots quite a lot. But then you can sometimes try it three times and it doesn't work. It depends. Mentally, then, you're not in a good position to start the match.
So throughout the match I try and feel if it's the right time to do it. I have to choose the right time. Not for the very first points of the game or the match. You can decide to have a dropshot at that moment, but to me it's mainly about tactics.
I use my dropshots only when I'm convinced. You shouldn't do it for the sake of it. Today it's a lot clearer to me. This is it. It works well, and I'm going to use this against these players. I think it's good.
Q. Well, twice when Stan broke you during the second set, he was up 40 15 and then 40 Love, and then he made four faults in a row. You know him. Would you say that it's mentally that there was a change?
ROGER FEDERER: Yes and no. The conditions were tough, as well. When he broke me during the second set, I hit the frame of my racquet four times. Was I nervous? No. I had won this set. I served well. I was well positioned. I was doing everything well.
But then it was on the frame of my racquet, and then it was Love 15. He played a good game, and it happens, you know. That's why I thought I have to be very close to him, even though he was up 40 15. Then two silly errors and then it's love and the other one gets nervous, and that's how it happened.
It was difficult today, you see. Because I think the first set during the first set he was, how can I say well, the first set was quite well open and balanced, and I made the first break. I didn't want him to break back. I wanted to lead.
And then the second break was due to the fact that he was perhaps a bit disappointed, because I played well when I was 5 3. But then I felt he was already into the match, and that's why he deserved this break during the second set.
I had to stay in the game, so the first one and a half hours were very difficult. During the tiebreak I made the right decisions, I think, and that's how I won the second set, and then the third set was easier.
Q. Is it a disadvantage to reach quarterfinals without having played any difficult match?
ROGER FEDERER: I don't think it's a disadvantage or drawback, because I've gone through difficult moments. But if each match were to be 6 1, 6 1, 6 1, it would be different. I've played many sets so far.
The conditions were difficult, and there was rain, it was sunny, sometimes so so, and today windy, so I've had everything.
So for me, the tournament's been really excellent so far.
Q. We don't know who the opponent will be. It could be Robin Soderling.
ROGER FEDERER: We know each other.
Q. That was my question. Will it be a revenge finally? What do you think about this match? Will you say it's a normal match or very special match because it's going to be here?
ROGER FEDERER: I think it's going to be a bit more normal than last year, because last year it was a final. So it makes a big difference, I can tell you.
I've played with Soderling several times during Grand Slam matches. We usually meet one another at these levels in the tournaments. He's got a better ranking this year, so I don't meet him very quickly in the tournament.
He's going to be fitter than in the past when I played him during the third round or second round, I can't remember. But I'm really looking forward to this match, because he hits very strongly, forehand, backhand, and serves.
So it's going to be up to me to do my best to vary the game. This is what I like. This is why I have a good record against him.
Q. Will you have any fears, or will it be a match like any other match?
ROGER FEDERER: To me, yes, unfortunately for you.
Q. Once again the crowd on center court was supporting you. How did you feel about the match? It was a match between Swiss players. Would you say it was different from usual?
ROGER FEDERER: Oh, yes, very different from usual, because I've never played well, I'm not certain I've ever played against a Swiss player during a Grand Slam. I don't think so.
So that's why it was quite pleasant to experience this. The crowd, in any case, is always friendly with me, so each time I thank the crowd because that's what I have to do, I know.
I'm also happy with my tennis today, my level, because playing against Stan, he's a good friend. It doesn't happen every single day, so when it happens, you're a bit nervous. That's why I'm happy to have played such a good match.
Roland Garros 2004 - Roland Garros 2010: Koniec jednej z najbardziej fenomenalnych serii w historii sportu.
telegraph
Roger Federer przegrał z Robinem Soderlingiem 63 36 57 46 w 1/4 finału Roland Garros 2010. Tym samym skończyła się znakomita passa 23 kolejnych półfinałów wielkoszlemowych. Wskutek tej porażki pod wielkim znakiem zapytania stanął rekord w ilościach tygodni na pozycji #1 rankingu, trzeba będzie także poczekać na zwycięstwo nr 200 w wielkim szlemie.
RG 2010 - wywiad po porażce w ćwierćfinale
Q. Two hours after the match, tell me something about the emotions. You must be very disappointed.
ROGER FEDERER: Well, disappointed to a certain degree. You know, I don't think I played a bad match, so it's easier to go out this way, I think.
Conditions obviously were on the rougher side for both of us, and I thought he came up with some great tennis.
You know, it's a touch easier to digest this way.
Q. In any case, before the stop you had a set point, so it could have been another story, or he started playing flat?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, best of five set matches you always get chances, and I definitely had those at, what was it, 5 4, Love 30? I mean, he missed a forehand that was close to go up at Love 30, and then he had a forehand that just touches the line a little bit to go maybe Love 40 instead of, you know, 15 30. So that's obviously a big change.
The backhand smash he hit he catches with the frame a little bit, you know. I mean, that was kind of a hard shot to hit, I thought. That kind of shot from my side with the smash and stuff is very unusual.
So hit it well, you know. But he played aggressive and kept on coming. When the conditions got more heavy when we came back from the rain delay, he played well, you know.
That was a tough set for me to lose after having those chances and being up 40 15 on my serve when I came back.
Q. You have, of course, the great semifinal streak that is now broken. What does that mean to you? Obviously all good things come to an end at some point.
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, like you say, they all come to an end at some stage. You hope they don't happen, but they do.
No, I mean, it was a great run. Now I've got the quarterfinal streak going, I guess. (laughter.)
No, I mean, it's been an amazing run. I think it sort of started here when I lost to Kuerten back in '04, I guess it is. If then I could have signed for all those semis in a row, I would have done it right away.
I've made, how you say, incredible progress in terms of my play at the highest of level to be able to always come back and play semis after semis after semis in Slams and give myself chances to win in Slams. I was able to win many of them.
I was proud to have that streak, and it's probably one of the greatest ones I have in my, you know, history books, really, for me.
Q. Secondly, the difference between the Robin you saw last year here and today, was it significant?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I think conditions were even harder today. I mean, I think last year's match was difficult for both of us. You know, I had a good start again today, which was the case as well last year.
You know, I mean, at times I guess I could have played a bit better. He served well. I didn't take my chances early on in the second set. And then in the third set as well.
So I just missed too many chances today, which I didn't do last year, and I was able to run away with it. Today I couldn't do that.
Q. You were 12 0 against him. What did he do today that really bothered you on the court?
ROGER FEDERER: He played really well, you know, for almost an entire match, really.
I'm not blaming the conditions or anything, but I think they were in his favor towards the end. Because, I mean, these were some serious, tough conditions, you know. If you serve 225, 230, you can still hit through the court on the serve.
I may be lacking those 5 to 10ks extra on the serve to hit through a guy on the serve, but that's the way conditions are. I can't complain, because it was the same for both of us.
But of course I'm disappointed to having sort of lost three matches in the rain on clay this season: in Estoril, in Rome, and now here again.
So I just couldn't come up with the plays when I had to today.
Q. Did you have any feeling going into today's match that you might not win?
ROGER FEDERER: I mean, I respect everyone, but I'm always, how do you say? I'm honest enough to myself that I know I can win them all. I felt confident going into the match knowing that if I play well, if I play solid, I'd probably win this match.
Q. Once you got in the rallies, do you think the lower bounce because of the heavier conditions favored him over you?
ROGER FEDERER: Look, I don't mind slow clay. When it gets rainy, it's tough, you know. Not only for me, but for the opponent too, usually. It's not a lot of fun for the fans either, and for us, the players, it's hard, you know, because you never know when it's gonna be interrupted.
You know, your mind starts wandering. It was tough conditions. I guess today they favored him, but I really felt like he played great. He was able to hit consistently through the ball, and on the offensive I put them close to the lines. That's something, you know, that was impressive.
Q. As you look inside yourself, what is worse for you: having been beaten in quarterfinals and have no chance to win another Grand Slam title, or let the chance open to lose the No. 1?
ROGER FEDERER: I mean, you just take the defeat as it is. You don't think of the consequences. I guess most disappointed I am that I can't defend my title here. I really felt like my tennis was good enough to come here and do it again, but that was not the case today.
So it's more the disappointment in having maybe not delivered my very best performance today, conditions and opponents didn't allow me to.
And, yeah, then you move on. You know, you move on to the grass and forget a little bit.
Q. Do you think that Robin can go all the way this year?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, once you're in the semifinals, there's four players that can go all the way. Counts for him too; he was in the finals here last year.
If he makes the finals again, he'll feel more comfortable, you know, in that kind of a situation, a position. Maybe he'll play a better final. Who knows?
But he definitely has a chance, yeah.
Q. You had obviously, you know, a great turnaround in Australia and then the break. I'm just wondering if you ever felt you had your A clay game on this spring? Were there times when you felt you had it, or did you always feel like you were sort of searching for it throughout the spring?
ROGER FEDERER: I felt like I found my game when I arrived in Madrid, really. Felt like my game was good enough again. That's why I was very happy with my play over there. I was very happy with my play here this week.
You can't really practice with these kind of conditions. You just take them the way they come, you know. That's why it's disappointing.
And honestly, I don't look too deep into why I lost today. For me, it's very clear very quickly. That's why I think I can move away from this rather fast and concentrate on the grass season coming up.
THE MODERATOR: French questions, please.
Q. Have you ever played such a big hitter as Soderling today?
ROGER FEDERER: Yes.
Q. Who?
ROGER FEDERER: Del Potro. You've forgotten him because he's injured.
Q. What's the feeling when you have such a powerful ball in your racquet?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, it can be pleasant and unpleasant because you have less to do and you can't play your game, you can't impose your game.
As for me, I'm strong on both sides if I have to attack and if I have to defend and take the speed of the other player. That's why I had such a good record against him.
So not too much of a problem for me, but today he played very well. He was impressive.
Q. Would the conditions prevent you from varying your shots as much as you would have liked to?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, slightly. But then I did what I wanted to do. I just missed some opportunities at the end of the second set, beginning of the third. The rain was not very helpful.
I was one break up in the fourth, and, well, I lost three sets; this is what I did. That's why it's frustrating leaving the tournament like that.
But at the end of the day, he needs to take credit. He played incredibly well from the beginning to the end and in very difficult conditions.
So it's a bit of a shame. The conditions were what they were, but he deserves it. He played very well.
ATP - ROGER STUNNED BY SÖDERLING
Roger was upset by Sweden’s Robin Söderling at the French Open today, ending his record streak of 23 straight Grand Slam semifinals. Roger lost 6-3, 3-6, 5-7, 4-6.
Roger started well and had everything well under control in the first set. But Söderling suddenly cranked up his response and took a 2-0 lead in the second, finally winning the set as both players held serve from there. Roger had a set point in the 10th game of the third set which unfortunately he could not make use of. Play was suspended with Roger leading 30-15 due to rain. After an interruption of over an hour, Roger eventually dropped his serve and then lost the set.
Roger seemed to come back in the final set as he took a 2-0 lead. But it wasn't long before the Swede pushed forward again, breaking back and eventually wrapping up the match after 2h 30min when Roger went long with a weary return.
The last time Roger did not reach the semi-final of a Grand Slam tournament was in 2003, when he was evicted in Paris by Gustavo Kuerten. Today's defeat opens up the possibility that, should Rafael Nadal win the title, Roger will lose the top ranking just a week before equalling Pete Sampras's record of 286 weeks at number one.
FEDERERA NIE MA JUŻ NA ROLAND GARROS!
Rozstawiony z jedynką Roger Federer odpadł w Paryżu! Sposób na Szwajcara znalazł fenomenalny Robin Soderling. Szwedzki tenisista wygrał w ćwierćfinale z głównym faworytem Rolanda Garrosa w czterech setach 3:6, 6:3, 7:5, 6:4.
- Z meczu na mecz gram coraz lepiej. Czuję się bardzo pewnie - mówił po zwycięstwie bez krzty skromności Robin Soderling.
Ten sam zawodnik w zeszłym roku wyeliminował z French Open Rafaela Nadala. Była to największa sensacja na paryskich kortach w ostatnich latach. Potem dotarł jeszcze do finału, w którym został błyskawicznie odprawiony przez Szwajcara.
Zresztą w dwunastu dotychczasowych meczach między nimi wszystko, na co było stać Soderlinga, to ledwie dwa sety. Ale finalista French Open z zeszłego roku teraz nie ukrywał, że w tym roku wygrać całą imprezę. W 1/8 finału szybko poradził sobie z Marinem Ciliciem 6:4, 6:4, 6:2, z Rogerem Federerem tym razem przegrał tylko seta.
Federer, numer jeden na świecie, nie miał nic do powiedzenia. W grze Szweda rzeczywiście było widać niesamowitą wiarę w swoje umiejętności. Soderlingowi ani razu nie zadrżała rakieta. Nie bał się agresywnej gry, a z forhendu grał tak, że Federer do niektórych piłek nawet się nie ruszał. Soderling uderzał jak z armaty.
Główny faworyt do zwycięstwa w Paryżu pewnie grał tylko w pierwszym secie. Trzy kolejne odsłony kolejno zapisywał na swoim koncie przeciwnik ze Szwecji. Robin Soderling był świeży, szybki i rzeczywiście biła od niego niewiarygodna wiara w zwycięstwo.
Sprzymierzeńcem Szweda była też pogoda. Nad kortem Philippe'a Chatriera mżyło, w końcu spadł deszcz. Takie warunki były atutem Soderlinga, który czuje się w nich jak ryba w wodzie.
- Grałem na moim ulubionym korcie, ograłem numer jeden. Czego chcieć więcej? - cieszył się Robin Soderling, który załatwił rywala w dwie i pół godziny.
W półfinale szwedzki tenisista spotka się z Czechem Thomasem Berdychem.
Roger Federer: Warunki i rywal nie pozwoliły na zaprezentowanie najwyższego poziomu
Seria 23 kolejnych półfinałów w turniejach Wielkiego Szlema była według Rogera Federera jednym z jego największych osiągnięć. Jeżeli Rafa Nadal odzyska tytuł w Roland Garros, Szwajcar straci pozycję numer jeden w rankingu ATP.- Jestem zawiedziony do pewnego stopnia. Nie sądzę, że zagrałem źle, więc łatwiej jest mi się pogodzić z porażką - powiedział Federer po przegranej z Söderlingiem w ćwierćfinale w Paryżu. - Szczerze, nie zagłębiam się w to dlaczego przegrałem. Dla mnie to sprawa jasna i dlatego mogę szybko od niej uciec i skoncentrować się na nadchodzącym sezonie na trawie.
Federer zagrał w tym sezonie w czterech turniejach na nawierzchni ziemnej, a z trzech odpadł po meczach
toczonych w deszczu: w Estoril, Rzymie i Paryżu. Przeciw Söderlingowi na kort stadionu Chatrier wyszedł pewny siebie. - Wiedziałem, że jeżeli zagram solidnie, prawdopodobnie wygram - przyznał. - Naprawdę czułem, że mój tenis jest na tyle dobry, że mogę wygrać w Paryżu ponownie. Ale w meczu z Söderlingiem chodziło o co innego. Warunki
i rywal nie pozwoliły mi na zaprezentowanie swojej najlepszej
dyspozycji.
To w Madrycie, na dwa tygodnie przed Roland Garros, Federer miał poczuć, że odnalazł się ponownie na korcie ziemnym. - Także w Paryżu byłem zadowolony ze swojej gry
. Ale przy trudnych warunkach nie można tak naprawdę trenować. To jest tak frustrujące - stwierdził.
Federer grał
w półfinałach 23 poprzednich turniejów Wielkiego Szlema, wcześniej przed tą fazą odpadając w Roland Garros 2004 w meczu z Kuertenem. - Wszystko się zawsze kończy. Masz nadzieję, że jednak nie, ale to w końcu następuje - powiedział. - To była świetna seria, jedno z największych dokonań, jakie wpisałem do historii tenisa. Ale teraz mam inną serię: ćwierćfinałów - śmiał się.
Porównując starcia z Söderlingiem ubiegłoroczne (w finale) i ostatnie, Federer przyznał, że teraz nie wykorzystał zbyt wielu szans. - A rok temu ich nie traciłem. Dzisiaj [we wtorek] nie byłem w stanie - przyznał. Szwajcar nie chciał zrzucać winy za niepowodzenie na trudne warunki, ale stwierdził, że im bliżej końca, tym bardziej były przychylne Söderlingowi. - To dlatego, że uderza serwis z prędkością ponad 225 km/h. Mnie brakuje tych 5, 10 dodatkowych km/h.
Pozwolę sobie na skopiowanie pewnego posta z rf.com:
Passa kolejnych SF w WS Rogera obejmuje:
1. 2004 Wimbledon: Champion
2. 2004 US Open: Champion
3. 2005 Australian Open: semifinalist.
4. 2005 French Open: semifinalist.
5. 2005 Wimbledon: Champion
6. 2005 US Open: Champion
7. 2006 Australian Open: Champion
8. 2006 French Open: Runner Up
9. 2006 Wimbledon: Champion
10. 2006 US Open: Champion
11. 2007 Australian Open: Champion
12. 2007 French Open: Runner Up
13. 2007 Wimbledon: Champion
14. 2007 US Open: Champion
15. 2008 Australian Open: semifinalist.
16. 2008 French Open: runner up
17. 2008 Wimbledon: runner up
18. 2008 US Open Champion
19. 2009 Australian Open: runner up
20. 2009 French Open: Champion
21. 2009 Wimbledon: Champion
22. 2009 US Open: runner up
23. 2010 Australian Open: Champion
Owacja na stojąco! :D
FACTBOX-Tennis-Roger Federer
Factbox on Switzerland's Roger Federer, whose run of reaching a record 23 consecutive grand slam semi-finals was snapped on Tuesday with a 3-6 6-3 7-5 6-4 defeat by Sweden's Robin Soderling in the quarter-finals of the French Open.
MAKING HIS NAME
* Born Aug. 8, 1981 in Basel, Switzerland.
* Bursts on to the scene in 2001 when he ends Pete Sampras's 31-match winning streak at Wimbledon in the fourth round before losing in the quarter-finals.
RECORD 16 GRAND SLAM TITLES
Wimbledon, 2003-2007, 2009; U.S. Open 2004-2008; Australian Open 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010; French Open 2009.
* In 2003, becomes the first Swiss man to win a grand slam after beating Mark Philippoussis in the Wimbledon final.
* Is the only man to win five consecutive titles at two different grand slams -- Wimbledon and U.S. Open.
* Is the first man to win Wimbledon-U.S. Open double four years in a row.
* Is the only man in the professional era to win three consecutive majors twice in his career when he captured the 2007 Australian Open title.
* Equalled Bjorn Borg's record of five consecutive Wimbledon titles in 2007.
* His run of reaching 10 consecutive grand slam finals is snapped by Novak Djokovic in the 2008 Australian Open semi-finals.
* The 2008 five-set epic at Wimbledon is regarded by many as the best ever tennis match. He lost the match to Rafael Nadal.
* His 2009 French Open crown makes him only the sixth man -- after Fred Perry, Don Budge, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson and Andre Agassi -- to have won all four grand slam titles during their careers.
* Breaks American Pete Sampras's record of 14 grand slam titles with his 15th win in the 2009 Wimbledon final to reclaim the world number one spot from Nadal.
* In 2009, becomes the first man to reach seven successive Wimbledon finals since the abolition of the Challenge Round in 1922. It is also a record 20th grand slam final for Federer, beating Ivan Lendl's 19.He extends it to 22 grand slam finals at the 2010 Australian Open, where he wins his 16th major crown.
* His record run of reaching 23 consecutive grand slam semi-finals is snapped by Soderling in the last eight of the 2010 French Open. That record is considered by pundits as one of the most astonishing in sport as it means Federer has finished in the top four at a major for almost six successive years. His streak is more than double of the previous record held by Lendl, who reached 10 consecutive major semis.
OTHER CAREER MILESTONES
* Becomes the 23rd man to top the ATP rankings in 2004, and keeps the ranking for a record 237 consecutive weeks.
* Holds a record run of 24 consecutive final victories, which was snapped when he loses 2005 Masters Cup final to David Nalbandian. Finished the season with an 81-4 win-loss record.
* In 2006 he reached all four grand slam finals, winning in Australia, Wimbledon and the U.S. among a haul of 12 titles and a 92-5 win-loss record.
* Has a professional era record of 65 consecutive wins on grass, which was finally snapped by Nadal in the 2008 Wimbledon final.
PERSONAL LIFE
* Suffered from a bout of glandular fever at the start of the 2008 season which affected his form.
* Married long-time girlfriend Mirka Vavrinec in April 2009 and celebrated the arrival of twin daughters three months later.
Federer not stopping to ponder Paris loss
Federer not stopping to ponder Paris loss Roger Federer will not spend too much time pondering his quarter-final loss at the French Open, preferring to shift his focus to grass and the Halle event from Monday.
The Paris defeat by Robin Soderling after 12 straight wins over the Swede was certainly a blow, with Federer failing to reach a record 24th straight Grand Slam semi-final. It was his earliest Roland Garros loss since the 2004 Paris third round to Gustavo Kuerten.
"Honestly, I don't look too deep into why I lost today. For me, it's very clear, very quickly," said Federer. "That's why I think I can move away from this rather fast and concentrate on the grass season coming up.
"You just take the defeat as it is, you don't think of the consequences. I'm most disappointed that I can't defend my title here."
Federer sounded like he never saw defeating coming in the rain-interrupted contest with the big-hitting Swede whom he beat for the 2009 title.
"I really felt like my tennis was good enough to come here and do it again, but that was not the case today. It's more the disappointment in having maybe not delivered my very best performance today, conditions and opponents didn't allow me to.
"Then you move on. You move on to the grass and forget a little bit."
Fed not ready for rubber chicken circuit
PARIS -- Roger Federer was late for dinner Tuesday night. The crowd in the posh banquet hall had already started the second course by the time he arrived, but as he wound his way through the maze of round tables where people were digging into their duck breast, everyone put down their forks, stood up and applauded.
Federer mounted the stage looking slightly sheepish in his suit and tie, and said it was no big deal. He reminisced about the first time he had been invited to the International Tennis Federation's Champions Dinner as a junior player in 1998, when he had to travel from a lower-level tournament in Surbiton, England. "This was a five-minute car ride away," he said.
The logistics may have been easy, but the situation was not, which is why Federer's appearance was met with surprise and deep appreciation. Just a few hours before, he had been blown out of the French Open quarterfinals by the whiplashing groundstrokes of Sweden's Robin Soderling, who mushed relentlessly toward the finish line like a muscular, blue-eyed sled dog straining at the harness in the Iditarod.
By the time Federer got through doping control and his trilingual news conference, the evening program had begun. He sent his parents ahead to tell the emcee that there was "absolutely" no question he would show up.
In one of those ironic and unplanned intersections of sports history, the night's guest of honor was three-time Roland Garros champion Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil, the last man to have derailed Federer before the semifinals of a Grand Slam, back in 2004. Kuerten was clearly moved at Federer's presence and choked up as he received the Philippe Chatrier Award.
As the two slim, smiling men posed for pictures together, looking like tousled-haired brothers from different continents, it was hard not to wonder if this was the start of a career phase in which Federer will be attending as many awards dinners as trophy ceremonies. He referred to the prospect himself -- then immediately shot it down.
"I get standing ovations from people thinking they'll never see me again," Federer said, then added, "I don't know if I've ever enjoyed tennis more. … I had to tell the press something, so I said I'd play through the 2012 Olympics. I want to play more if my body allows it."
Federer's loss ended his streak of semifinals appearances in majors and could cost him his No. 1 ranking if prohibitive favorite Rafael Nadal wins the French. But ESPN analyst Patrick McEnroe said it's not necessarily a bellwether of anything more significant.
"I don't see this in any way as the beginning of the end," McEnroe said Wednesday, sipping coffee in the bar near the television booths at Chatrier Stadium. "Is he going to be the dead-solid favorite at every tournament? No. He's certainly more vulnerable. But he still won two majors last year. He [has] won one this year. He has two more to go, which are his two best."
Soderling took Federer out in the gathering gloom of a dark, wet afternoon with the same kind of power game wielded by Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina in the U.S. Open final. It's not as if Federer rolled over -- McEnroe said Federer tried to respond tactically and simply got outplayed. Federer went for big second serves whenever he could, but the heavier conditions prevented him from taking full advantage of his patented slices, kicks and spin, while simultaneously giving Soderling more time to tee up.
McEnroe considers Federer the favorite at Wimbledon: "I think he'll be more motivated. It must be weird for him -- first time ever, he's got a few days to practice on the grass before Halle [a tune-up event in Germany]. He's really good about shaking off losses. He doesn't let those things stay with him that long. He's a great adapter and a great adjuster. Rarely does he lose to the same player repeatedly, except for Rafa on clay."
Federer got to sit down in time to have dessert Tuesday night. He'll have to wait until next year to try to put icing on the cake, in the form of beating Nadal in the final here. In the meantime, you can only admire the fact that he took the time to give the rest of the dinner guests a sweet moment.
Federer’s Streak Had to End With Close Loss
Roger Federer’s amazing streak of 23 consecutive Grand Slam semifinals — more than any other male tennis player ever — is over. Robin Soderling, whom Federer beat in the French Open final last year, avenged the loss with a four-set upset of Federer in the quarterfinals at Roland Garros. Soderling and Thomas Berdych, who also advanced to the semis on a rain-delay-plagued Tuesday, now share the active streak for consecutive semis, with one. (The other three semifinalists from the Australian Open all failed to reach the quarterfinals at the French Open.)
Roger Federer and Robin Soderling
Reuters
This time, Federer couldn’t solve Soderling’s fierce groundstrokes on the red clay.
Federer still holds the record for consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinals, with 24. The second longest active streak? Novak Djokovic’s four quarters in a row. If Sodering goes on to win his next two matches, Federer’s streak of 24 majors with either a win or a loss to the eventual champ also will remain intact.
Federer’s amazing run looked near its end two years ago, when Rafael Nadal demolished him in straight sets in the 2008 French Open. Federer won just four games that day. But since then he’d made every major final, and his three finals losses were all very close. The Soderling match fit that profile. In this latest loss and his three prior ones, Federer won 49% of the points and 48% of the games.
And while Soderling and Juan Martín del Potro were out of the top five when they won, both were Top 10 players. Soderling, in fact, is 17-1 in his last 18 Grand Slam matches against players other than Federer — who ousted him last year at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, in addition to the French Open final. Among those 17 wins was a stunning fourth-round upset of Rafael Nadal at last year’s French Open, in which Soderling used a similar formula of dictating play with risky, unreturnable baseline blasts. Against Nadal 23% of points ended with Soderling winners, and 20% with Soderling unforced errors. In his upset this time, Soderling ended 20% of points with winners and 17% with unforced errors. Drawing fifth-seeded Soderling in the quarters was a bad break for Federer, and a quirk of the Grand Slam bracket process in which No. 1 can be paired with No. 5 and No. 4 with No. 8 in the quarterfinals — intentional randomness injected to prevent too many repeat matchups.
Before bidding goodbye entirely to Federer’s amazing run, here’s one more way to appreciate it. Since he first ascended to the Top 10 eight years ago, Federer has won 536 sets and lost 103 in major tournaments. Just 15 of those lost sets were by a score of 6-2 or worse, including just one bagel set — against Nadal in that 2008 French Open final — and just three 6-1 sets (including one against Nadal in the same match). He also never retired to end a match. That’s just 2.3% of all sets in which he wasn’t even close. Nadal also has lost 15 sets by 6-2 or worse and retired once since ascending into the top 10, and retired once down 3-0. But that’s in far fewer sets, 350, for a rate twice Federer’s: 4.6%.
Meanwhile the other two players who have been recent fixtures at the top of the rankings get blown out far more often. Novak Djokovic has 11 lost sets of 6-2 or worse and three retirements in Grand Slam matches since reaching the top 10, for a rate of 5.6%. (In his defense, he’s never been bageled.) And Andy Murray has been blown out in 7.5% of Grand Slam sets since ascending to the Top 10, including a bagel in each of the last two French Opens. Federer’s reign may be near an end, but he’s still shown a consistency at the big tournaments unparalleled by his peers.
Z niemieckiej prasy:
http://www.blick.ch/sport/tennis/federe … der-148202
Federer: mój główny cel na resztę sezonu to pozycja #1 na świecie.
OFF COURT - ITF WORLD CHAMPIONS DINNER
Earlier this week, Roger attended the ITF World Champions Dinner at the Pavillon d’Armenonville in Paris, despite his elimination in Roland Garros. He appeared in an elegant smoking in the middle of dinner and was treated to a standing ovation by the 400 guests present, thrilled to see our champ.
"I remember coming here in 1999 to receive the trophy as Junior World Champion. I was playing a tournament in Croatia at the time and had to take a bus and the metro in order to collect my prize... Today I just had to be here. It's an honour. And I also wanted to express my respect to Gustavo Kuerten." Gustavo Kuerten was presented the Philippe Chatrier Award as three-time Roland Garros champion.
Federer's semifinal streak is one of the greatest in sports history
By Chris Chase
Roger Federer lost to Robin Soderling in the quarterfinals of the French Open, thus snapping his remarkable streak of playing in 23 straight Grand Slam semifinals. Though the record doesn't have the cachet of DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak or the staggering longevity of Cal Ripken's consecutive-games mark, it should end up standing alongside those hallowed baseball streaks as the most impressive in the history of sport.
The last time Federer failed to make it to the semifinal at a Slam was six years ago in Paris. There, he lost to Gustavo Kuerten in the third round. Since then, Federer had never failed to advance to the semifinals, a run which stretched almost six years, 14 Grand Slam titles and 139 Grand Slam victories. As those numbers show, Fed won 14 of those 23 tournaments and made it to the finals in six more, meaning he had played for the title in 20 of the last 23 Grand Slams. (That achievement may be even more amazing than the semifinal streak, but it's not a streak so it doesn't count for the purpose of this discussion.)
Context is important in gauging the impressiveness of any streak, and Federer's stands up to such scrutiny. At the time Federer's streak began, the Open era record for most consecutive semifinal appearances was 10. Ivan Lendl held the record, which had stood at six before he broke it. Federer passed that mark back in 2007.
By the time he was done, Federer didn't just extend the record, nor did he simply shatter it. He doubled it, and then for good measure added 30 percent more to that total. It's like if Barry Bonds had broken Hank Aaron's home run record and then hit 929 more.
Could Federer's record ever be broken? Let's put it this way: As of 3:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday afternoon, Rafael Nadal's current Grand Slam semifinal streak is zero. The only two men on the ATP Tour with active streaks are Soderling and Tomas Berdych (the other man who won a Tuesday quarterfinal). Both their streaks are at one. The old saying is "never say never," but I feel quite comfortable in saying that this mark is never going to be surpassed.
So instead of lamenting the demise of Roger Federer's semifinal streak, let's celebrate it. We've been witnesses to the greatest sustained run of tennis in the history of the sport. Thanks, Roger.
OFF COURT - NEW GILLETTE TV SPOT
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Check it out here. Roger's sponsor Gillette launched a new TV spot in the UK.
Federer’s Streak Had to End With Close Loss
Roger Federer’s amazing streak of 23 consecutive Grand Slam semifinals — more than any other male tennis player ever — is over. Robin Soderling, whom Federer beat in the French Open final last year, avenged the loss with a four-set upset of Federer in the quarterfinals at Roland Garros. Soderling and Thomas Berdych, who also advanced to the semis on a rain-delay-plagued Tuesday, now share the active streak for consecutive semis, with one. (The other three semifinalists from the Australian Open all failed to reach the quarterfinals at the French Open.)
Federer still holds the record for consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinals, with 24. The second longest active streak? Novak Djokovic’s four quarters in a row. If Sodering goes on to win his next two matches, Federer’s streak of 24 majors with either a win or a loss to the eventual champ also will remain intact.
Federer’s amazing run looked near its end two years ago, when Rafael Nadal demolished him in straight sets in the 2008 French Open. Federer won just four games that day. But since then he’d made every major final, and his three finals losses were all very close. The Soderling match fit that profile. In this latest loss and his three prior ones, Federer won 49% of the points and 48% of the games.
And while Soderling and Juan Martín del Potro were out of the top five when they won, both were Top 10 players. Soderling, in fact, is 17-1 in his last 18 Grand Slam matches against players other than Federer — who ousted him last year at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, in addition to the French Open final. Among those 17 wins was a stunning fourth-round upset of Rafael Nadal at last year’s French Open, in which Soderling used a similar formula of dictating play with risky, unreturnable baseline blasts. Against Nadal 23% of points ended with Soderling winners, and 20% with Soderling unforced errors. In his upset this time, Soderling ended 20% of points with winners and 17% with unforced errors. Drawing fifth-seeded Soderling in the quarters was a bad break for Federer, and a quirk of the Grand Slam bracket process in which No. 1 can be paired with No. 5 and No. 4 with No. 8 in the quarterfinals — intentional randomness injected to prevent too many repeat matchups.
Before bidding goodbye entirely to Federer’s amazing run, here’s one more way to appreciate it. Since he first ascended to the Top 10 eight years ago, Federer has won 536 sets and lost 103 in major tournaments. Just 15 of those lost sets were by a score of 6-2 or worse, including just one bagel set — against Nadal in that 2008 French Open final — and just three 6-1 sets (including one against Nadal in the same match). He also never retired to end a match. That’s just 2.3% of all sets in which he wasn’t even close. Nadal also has lost 15 sets by 6-2 or worse and retired once since ascending into the top 10, and retired once down 3-0. But that’s in far fewer sets, 350, for a rate twice Federer’s: 4.6%.
Streak Players
What were you doing during the last week of May 2004? Let me guess: You have no idea. It was a while ago. A lot has changed. Those were the strange, dark years before John Kerry had left our lives and Lady Gaga had entered, when we were all forced to walk down the street without being able to stare into an IPhone. What did we look at back then? Other humans?
I do remember where I was that week. I was at the French Open watching Roger Federer lose to Gustavo Kuerten in straight sets in the third round. I knew that in the years since, Federer had built up a mind-boggling streak of 23 straight semifinal appearances at Grand Slams. But I didn’t realize until yesterday that it stretched all the way back to that loss to Kuerten. Twenty-three is an impressive number, but when you think of it in terms of time, and think of all that has happened since Federer last lost before the semis, the streak boggles the mind even more.
It ended yesterday, as you know, when Federer lost in four sets to Robin Soderling in the quarters. Yeah, the quarters; the guy is really slipping. What’s next for Federer, losing in the—don’t say it—round of 16? Have some dignity, Rog, and retire before it comes to that. But as surprising as it must have seemed to the general public, Federer’s loss made sense in two ways. The streak was most likely going to end at the French Open, which, relatively speaking, has been Federer’s weakest major. And Soderling, who beat Rafael Nadal last year in Paris and had played Federer close in recent matches, would have been on most people's short list of candidates to pull it off.
If anything, Soderling played even better than he did against Nadal last year. He also revealed more about his game than we knew before. He’s always had the serve, but what about the return? On many points, Soderling had the gall to take Federer’s second ball and aim his return about a foot from the baseline. More important, and surprising, was that he had the confidence and accuracy to put it there. Yesterday it wasn’t just his power—again, something we knew he had—but his depth. From the opening shot of a rally, he took Federer’s time away and forced him to play catch-up. The question for Soderling is, typically, can he make the points more north-south than east-west? In other words, can he control them from the middle and avoid having to run wide and play defense, which, at 6-foot-4, will never be his strength? Starting with his bomb serve up the middle, he had no trouble tilting the points in his favor—he looked like he was playing downhill.
What’s more remarkable to me about Soderling is his mentality. Does he get nervous? If he does, he doesn’t let it affect his play. In this match and in the match against Nadal last year, he was the guy with the swagger, the guy with the belief, the guy, if you didn’t know any better, who looked like he was sure of victory. Even his celebration yesterday, a vintage clenched first/stern face combination, contained no hint of stunned elation. Earlier in the week, I talked to a Swedish journalist about Soderling. What kind of person was he, I asked him; I’ve found it difficult to square his on-court edge with the soft-spoken player who shows up in the press room. This reporter said that Soderling was a “typical Swede”: He was a nice guy in general, but he “had the anger thing.” Magnus Norman, who also had an angry side when he was a young player (the journalist described him as a “monster on court"), had helped Soderling use that anger, rather than letting it use him. However he does it, Soderling's biggest weapon going forward at this tournament, bigger than his serve or his forehand, is going to be that irritable confidence of his. If he has a lead in the final, I would be surprised if he gave it way because of nerves.
First, Soderling must get past Tomas Berdych in the semis. Looking at these two guys, are you beginning to see a new men's future at Roland Garros? Last year the three men’s semifinalists at the French not named Federer were Soderling, Fernando Gonzalez, and Juan Martin del Potro. The trait that unites the three is not their skill at sliding or their grinding consistency. It’s their ability to crush the ball; they may be the three biggest hitters on tour, or in the history of the tour. Now we’ve got Soderling and another tall blitzkrieg artist, Berdych, in the semis. Do they represent a new clay-court specialist? Each of them has the long swings of a dirtballer, but instead of camping out five feet behind the baseline and looping topspin balls back, the way clay specialists of old did, these guys use those swings to pulverize the ball and put it past their opponents from on top of the baseline. The millisecond of extra time you get on clay doesn’t just allow a fast player to track down more balls now; it allows an offensive player to get around on his swings. Who knows if it’s a trend that will last, but clay seems to be shifting in an offensive direction. John McEnroe called Soderling’s style “21st century clay-court tennis” yesterday. If he or Berdych win this event, and beat Nadal while they’re at it, the new century on dirt may have arrived.
Matches are always about the winners, and yesterday was about Soderling. But thinking about Federer’s streak, about how long ago it began, I realized that what was most remarkable about it to me was the way that Federer changed the goal posts for men’s tennis, changed our expectations of what was possible, what was thinkable, for an individual. I can remember being awed by Chris Evert’s string of 34 Grand Slam semifinal appearances, but something in that realm was never even considered remotely achievable on the men’s side. The all-time record was 10, by Ivan Lendl, and even that seemed like a stratospheric number, unlikely ever to be broken. Federer broke it, doubled it, and kept going. Records are made to be broken, but when have they ever been made to be doubled?
Rf In one of his press conferences at the French this year, Nadal was asked about his winning head-to-head record over Federer. He said that it didn’t mean he was the better player, because the nature of the sport meant that anyone at the top could beat anyone else on a given day. That’s what I had always believed, too, until Federer. I thought that, given that all of the best players have so many weapons and so few weaknesses, there were simply too many variables—most obviously how your opponent was playing on a given day—to make total dominance by one person possible. I thought that the difference between success and failure, between a clean winner and an unforced error, was so razor-thin, and that men’s tennis matches were so close by nature—most sets are decided by a single break or less—that it went against all the laws of sports that a male player could ever achieve Evert-like consistency. As Nadal says, there just wasn’t enough of a difference between the top guy and the guys in the spots right below him. The evidence bore this out. Pete Sampras was No. 1 for six straight years, but he never reached more than three straight Slam semis.
Federer may not be remembered for changing that calculus. The Grand Slam title record will rightfully be his legacy. The semifinal streak—like, say, the Atlanta Braves' streak of playoff appearances—would have lost much of its meaning if he hadn’t gone on to win those 16 titles. It's also worth mentioning that Federer did this in the era when 32 players were seeded rather than 16, giving him a little more time to work his way into an event. Still, I’m guessing that 10 years from now I’ll look back and think that what made Federer and his era special, and what will never be repeated, is that he temporarily changed the nature of tennis. Federer faced all of the variables, including opponents who were playing their best tennis, and mastered them every time. He walked on the right side of that razor-thin line between success and failure every time. He won all the close sets when he needed them. He didn’t cave in to fate or the odds that say you can’t win them all. He lost his No. 1 ranking and then became one of the very few players to get it back. In this individual sport, Federer and his streak, more than any other player or any other record in history, raised the standard for what an individual athlete can do.
When Roger Federer last fell short of grand slam semi-final appearance
Roger Federer’s shock quarter-final defeat to Robin Soderling at this year’s French Open prevented the world No 1 from extending his incredible run of consecutive grand slam semi-finals to 24.
You have to go back six years when the Swiss failed to reach the last four of a major. It was at Roland Garros on 29 May 2004 when Federer, then aged 22, suffered a third round exit to former world No 1 and Brazilian Gustavo Kuerton.
- Federer headed into 2004 French Open as top seed and world No 1 after supplanting Andy Roddick at the top of the rankings.
- Unseeded Gastón Gaudio won an all-Argentine final at Roland Garros with victory over Guillermo Canas in five sets.
- In the women's draw, Anastasia Myskina became the first Russian female tennis player to win a grand slam title.
- A fresh-faced 16 year-old Andy Murray had not even set foot on the senior circuit and was four months away from becoming US Open boys’ champion.
Away from the court
- Aston Villa striker Darius Vassell kept his place in Sven Goran Eriksson’s 23-man England squad for Euro 2004 at Jermain Defoe’s expense.
- Jose Mourinho’s Porto lifted Champions League trophy with 3-0 win over Monaco.
- Antonio Tarver won WBC light-heavyweight title with second round knockout of champion Roy Jones Jr
Federer: I will bounce back for Wimbledon
After his worst Grand Slam in seven years, the world No 1 is adamant this is not the beginning of the end
By Paul Newman at Roland Garros
A downcast Roger Federer can find no way to avoid defeat against Robin Soderling during the French Open in Paris
Ralf Weber was probably the second happiest man in tennis after Roger Federer's exit from the French Open here on Tuesday night. Indeed, the German's pleasure may even have surpassed that of Robin Soderling, Federer's conqueror.
Weber is the tournament director of next week's Gerry Weber Open, which was founded by his father in Halle, central Germany, 17 years ago and has become a key part of Federer's preparations for Wimbledon. The world No 1 won the grass-court tournament four times in a row from 2003 and went on to triumph at the All England Club on each occasion.
Twice in the last three years, however, the Swiss has pulled out, exhausted by his runs to the final of the French Open. This year, having lost at the quarter-final stage, the Swiss looks certain to resume his traditional preparations for Wimbledon, which should make Ralf Weber's year.
In the aftermath of his defeat to Soderling, which ended his extraordinary run of 23 successive appearances in Grand Slam semi-finals, Federer was accentuating the positive. "This gives me the chance to take a breather and to have a couple more days to prepare for the grass-court season," he said.
Federer won Wimbledon in 2007 and 2009 without playing any grass-court tournaments in the build-up, but he knows he will be better prepared if he goes to Halle. Everything possible is done for the players' comfort: they stay at a hotel less than 100 metres from the venue, the practice grounds are hidden from public view and the courts are designed to feel like the All England Club's.
There is, moreover, nobody better at recovering from setbacks than the Swiss. Asked how long it took him to get over a big defeat, he once replied: "One hour I need, and then it's a different day and a different hour and a different match coming up. I don't bother to think too much about losses." As he reflected on his loss to Soderling here, Federer insisted: "You just take the defeat as it is. You don't think of the consequences. Then you move on."
Federer, as usual, will start as the favourite at Wimbledon, which begins in 18 days' time, although he may not go there as world No 1. Had he made tomorrow's semi-finals the Swiss would have been certain to top Monday's updated list – and thereby equal Pete Sampras's record of 286 weeks at the head of the world rankings – but if Rafael Nadal wins the title here the Spaniard will take his place.
Federer insisted he would take any dethronement in his stride. "Losing the top spot wouldn't be the end of the world," he said. "If I do lose it I'm sure I'll get it back soon – and that would be an even better feeling."
However, that could be wishful thinking because Nadal would have an outstanding chance to consolidate his lead at Wimbledon. While Federer will have to defend his ranking points as champion, Nadal can only profit, having missed last year's tournament through injury.
Might Federer be destined to remain for ever just behind Sampras's record number of weeks at the top? In recent times the Swiss has owed his ranking largely to the Grand Slam events as his title haul elsewhere has declined sharply. Between 2004 and 2007 he won 42 titles; in the last three years he has won only nine, including just one in 2010, at the Australian Open. If his Grand Slam consistency slips, so will his ranking.
However, the ending of Federer's Grand Slam semi-final record might hit him more. "It's been an amazing run," he said. "I think it started here when I lost to Gustavo Kuerten back in 2004. If I could have signed then for all those semis in a row, I would have done it right away. It's probably one of the greatest records I have."
Nevertheless, it would be foolish to write Federer off. He will be 29 in August, but remains supremely fit and has shown in the past that there is nobody better at bouncing back from defeat.
In 2007 some were questioning his future after he lost in successive Masters Series tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami to Guillermo Canas, but he went on to win Wimbledon, the US Open and the Tennis Masters Cup and reach the French Open final. In 2008 he lost his cherished Wimbledon crown to Nadal but responded by winning in New York. In 2009, after Nadal's Australian Open victory left him in tears and holding just one Grand Slam crown, the Swiss responded by winning the French Open for the first time and surpassing Sampras's total of major titles by winning Wimbledon again.
The staging of the 2012 Olympic tournament at Wimbledon is also a huge incentive. Although Federer won gold in the doubles in Beijing, he has never won the Olympic singles title – and there would be no better place to fill one of the only gaps in his CV.
Roger Federer signs lifetime agreement with the GERRY WEBER OPEN
Roger Federer and the GERRY WEBER OPEN have signed a unique partnership for the remainder of Federer’s playing career. On Sunday, tournament director Ralf Weber and the Swiss signed an agreement which ensures Federer will participate in Germany’s only grass court tournament until he ends his career.
“I am delighted,” said the world number one. “It feels a bit like I am getting married. I wanted to plan more long-term. I want to build up friendships and I get on really well with Ralf and Gerhard Weber.”
“Germany’s tennis fans can be glad that they will get to see Roger playing at the GERRY WEBER OPEN for many more years to come,” said Ralf Weber. “I am convinced that he will be serving here still in 2015.” Weber and Federer signed the ‘Lifetime Contract’ in front of a mass collection of TV teams, reporters and photographers at the GERRY WEBER Sportpark Hotel in Halle (Westfalen).
“Halle has always been a really important tournament in my career,” explained the 28-year-old maestro, who has toppled record after record in recent years, leading the all-time list of most successful Grand Slam winners with 16 titles, including six to date at Wimbledon, four in Melbourne, five US Open triumphs and one French Open.
He added: “I have always been happy here, played successfully and gained momentum going into Wimbledon. Therefore, I would also like to continue this partnership”
Up to this Sunday, he had spent 285 weeks at the top of the world rankings and is therefore just a hair’s breadth away from catching his friend Pete Sampras (286). However, whether he breaks that record is not now in his hands: should eternal rival Rafael Nadal win the French Open today, Federer would drop to number two. “But my aim is to be at the top come the end of the year,” said the Swiss. He knew he would only be number one up to Wimbledon anyway since Nadal has no points to defend there, but he will definitely want to get back to the top as and when he drops a position. “Being number one remains my priority,” quipped Federer.
Federer has beaten the likes of Michael Schumacher and Tiger Woods to be named the (Laureus) World Sportsman of the Year four times and he has also been voted as Switzerland’s Sportsperson of the Year four times while he is the five-times International Tennis Federation (ITF) champion. “He is the greatest personality world tennis has ever had,” said tournament director Weber. “He is a man who has made tennis popular beyond its means.” Federer himself says the way the tournament in Halle (Westfalen) has evolved is “a great story”.
“What has been built here and what is done for the fans is simply fantastic,” he said.
Federer begins his latest GERRY WEBER OPEN campaign this Tuesday (June 8) at 16:00 against the Finnish left-hander Jarkko Nieminen. The tournament in East Westphalia, which is being staged for the 18th time in 2010, is now the only ATP event in Germany where the ‘Mozart of tennis’ (according to The Times) still plays. Federer says that the GERRY WEBER OPEN has always given him a good feeling. Furthermore, it is an ideal platform “to prepare perfectly for Wimbledon,” according to Weber.
Since 2003, Federer has won his favourite tournament on the annual tennis calendar five times and he has become a firm fans’ idol. “Roger has forged many friendly links in Halle. You can see how much he looks forward to taking part here each time, and how disappointed he was when that was not possible,” said Weber.
Federer arrived in Halle (Westfalen) with his wife Mirka and their twin daughters Myla Rose and Charlene Riva last Friday, and moved into his customary suite in the GERRY WEBER Sportpark Hotel. He has been training hard since arriving to be sharp for the first difficult task of the tournament. “I am happy not to have to listen to any more questions about sand courts and my form on sand,” he said. “That is now behind me and that’s just fine.”
At this year’s GERRY WEBER OPEN, he is particularly looking forward to Lleyton Hewitt’s participation. The Wimbledon champion from 2002 is taking part in Halle for the first time. “As soon as I heard that, I first asked myself: ‘does he have to?’” joked Federer. “But seriously: we played against each other for the first time when I was 15. I defended a match point and still won. Since then, our clashes have often been really tight.” Fortunately, a duel between the two is only possible in the final of the GERRY WEBER OPEN.
Dobry znak. Zawsze to minimalna gwarancja na ten 1 tytuł w roku. :D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61EXmrbe5DE
Trening Federera w Halle.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tenn … tion=Popup
Seria 23 kolejnych półfinałów WS została umieszczona na 1 miejscu 10 najlepszych serii w historii sportu wg brytyjskiego Independent.
Fed-Expresso napisał:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61EXmrbe5DE
Trening Federera w Halle.
Coś ten trening nie za ciężki :D
ATP - GERRY WEBER OPEN 2010
After the end of the clay season it's now finally time for the green surface! Roger will play the 18th Gerry Weber Open in Halle this week where he will try to capture a sixth tournament title and adjust the last details for Wimbledon. He will face Finland's Jarkko Nieminen (ATP 69) in the first round. He has never been defeated by Nieminen in any of their 10 matches so far. He could then play Columbia's Alejandro Falla (ATP 70) in round two before meeting Radek Stepanek (ATP 20) in the quarter-finals. A potential semi-final against Juan Carlos Ferrero (ATP 18) or Marcos Baghdatis (ATP 30) could then be the last step before a final clash with Nikolay Davydenko (ATP 5).
"It's been a while since I last played here in Halle," our champion commented as he was welcomed by tournament-director Ralf Weber and the founder of the tournament, Gerhard Weber. "I am happy to be able to play the Gerry Weber Open again."
Roger will make the most of this week to prepare for Wimbledon, starting with a doubles match together with Yves Allegro against Germany's Christopher Kas and Philipp Kohlschreiber today.
ATP - ROGER WINS OPENER IN HALLE
Roger secured a break in both sets today to defeat Jarkko Nieminen 6-4 6-4 in the first round on grass this year.
"I think any surface change has something nice about it, but grass obviously is the most special one because only one month on it," he said. "So every day you have the chance to play on this surface is a special day. I feel it is something you want to savour as long as you are on it."
Roger has won the tournament in Halle five times so far. Today he took just over an hour to set up a second-round match against either Colombia's Alejandro Falla or Israeli qualifier Noam Okun.
A break in each set was just right for Roger today in order to wrap up the match. He scored a total of 11 aces and saw 75 percent of his first serves in the field.
ATP - ROGER EASES THROUGH
Roger cruised into the quarter-finals of the Gerry Weber Open in Halle by defeating Alejandro Falla of Colombia 6-1, 6-2 today.
Roger needed just 52 minutes against Falla, dominating the match in all situations and scoring breaks at regular intervals. He has certainly proved that he has adjusted to the surface very well. He conceded just two break points in today's match on centre court but saved both of them.
Roger will now play Philipp Kohlschreiber in the last eight after the German's 6-4, 7-5 victory over Roger's countryman Marco Chiudinelli. Roger has won all four matches against the German - three of which were played on grass (one of them being the final in Halle in 2008).
ATP - SEMIS IN HALLE
Roger easily defeated Philipp Kohlschreiber (ATP 35) 7-5, 6-3 today to book his spot in the semi-final of the Gerry Weber Open.
It was an even performance on both sides in the first set, but Roger got the crucial break in the twelfth game and wrapped up the first set 7-5. Roger leaped forward in the second set as he scored the first break in the second game, maintaining the lead until the end. Roger lost 10 points in 11 service games today, half of those came in the game in which Kohlschreiber got his only break-point chance of the day.
Roger will next face Philipp Petzschner (ATP 41) - he has never played the German on the ATP-Tour so far.
Federer extends his record since 2003 in Halle to 75-1
“Ten strong minutes led to today’s success,” said Roger Federer after his match against Philipp Kohlschreiber. By that, he meant the time between the score of 5-5 in the first set up to 3-0 in the second. In the end, the grass court king won 7-5, 6-3.
He remains a phenomenon. Roger Federer couldn’t find an explanation for how he is just better than his opponents at the decisive moment either. “It was a bit of a bumpy start, but then I found my rhythm,” said the Swiss, a bit relieved after reaching the semi-finals. In fact, Philipp Kohlschreiber made the better start, but he was still unable to take his one and only break point on Federer’s serve. Overall, the German Davis Cup player only managed to win more than one point on Federer’s 11 service games just twice.
“Even if Roger played a weak shot, you can’t do anything with it because you just don’t expect him to play such a poor shot,” said Kohlschreiber, trying to explain why he was unable to take the chances which presented themselves. He didn’t do too badly, apart from a 10-minute spell in which Roger showed his true champion credentials. At 7-5, 3-0, the match was effectively over. The world number two needed just to impose his service game - which he did flawlessly - and the match was over after 68 minutes with the first match point.
“Roger just served too well and he took advantage of my weaknesses, and that was it,” summarised Kohlschreiber, who remains optimistic as he travels to Wimbledon, of course hoping he does not meet the Swiss too early on “because he has registered four of his 75 grass-court victories against me.”
Federer is still not looking as far as Wimbledon, though, but rather the upcoming semi-final against Philipp Petzschner. “That is not going to be easy. Philipp has played really well here and I have watched him, but we have not played each other yet,” said the grass court king, who doesn’t really know what to expect. He wants to improve his record on grass since 2003 to 76-1.
ATP - ROGER REACHES FINAL IN HALLE
Roger notched up his 29th straight win in Halle today as he beat Germany's Philipp Petzschner 7-6(3) 6-4. He will now take on Lleyton Hewitt in Sunday's final.
It was the first meeting between Roger and Petzschner on the ATP-Tour. The first set was a tough fight on both sides. Roger conceded two breaks in the opening set, but managed to score two breaks himself, eventually prevailing in the tie-break. Roger then secured the only break in the second set and served out the match to end Petzschner's resistance.
Roger will now meet Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt (ATP 31) in the final of the Gerry Weber Open in Halle.
Napisałbym, że gorzej być nie może, ale się boję. :P
ATP - ROGER DEFEATED BY HEWITT
Roger had to accept a 6-3, 7-6(4), 4-6 defeat against Lleyton Hewitt today.
Roger showed a strong start in Halle today. He took a 40-0 lead on Hewitt's serve during the second set, but did not manage to use the chance given. From that point on he was no longer able to score on the important points, eventually losing the final in three sets. "We've known each other for years and once played doubles together in Wimbledon and I always looked up to him," Roger said going into the match. "It is something special to play against him."
Roger had not lost a match at Halle since 2002, winning the title five times, and had beaten Hewitt in their last 15 showdowns. But he simply committed too many unforced errors today. Nevertheless, Roger profited from an entire week of preparation on grass and is ready for Wimbledon starting in a week.
Roger jest w znakomitej formie, sami spójrzcie. :D
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php … 137&ref=mf
OFF COURT - HOW DOES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL?
Watch the new Wilson advertisement with Roger as a psychotherapist.
Federer unworried by Halle loss heading to Wimby
Federer unworried by Halle loss heading to Wimby Roger Federer transfers to London this week to begin the bid for a seventh Wimbledon title in eight editions with full confidence despite suffering his a rare grass-court loss in the final of Halle to Lleyton Hewitt.
The Swiss, who had not lost a match at the German venue since 2002 and owned 15 straight wins over Hewitt, said he's not concerned about the loss on his Grand Slam preparation.
"I’m happy with the way I’m playing. It’s unfortunate not coming through, but I think my level of play is fine. This loss doesn’t worry me in any way. I’m excited about the week. And I thought it was a good tournament.”
Hewitt iced his own chances at a Wimbledon seeding as the 2002 winner lifted his ATP ranking to 26th, well within the zone of 32 seeds. "Roger's a hell of an opponent, his grass-court record speaks for itself. If you play him on a grass court you know you're in for a hell of a battle."
Federer had won 76 of his last 77 matches on grass with only his 2008 Wimbledon finals loss to Rafael Nadal blotting that sparking record.
http://www.tennistalk.com/en/news/20100 … g_to_Wimby
Teraz to dał. :D
Niestety typowy trashtalk, co bardzo źle wróży przed tym turniejem.
ATP - ROGER GETS NO. 1 SEEDING FOR WIMBLEDON
Roger has been seeded No. 1 for Wimbledon, ahead of Rafael Nadal. Our six-time Wimbledon champion received the top seeding even though Rafael Nadal recently replaced him as No. 1 in the ATP world rankings. Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam which does not strictly follow the ATP world rankings when deciding the seedlings, taking into account performances in grass court tournaments before making their decision.
Roger has the chance to win Wimbledon for the seventh time and can therefore draw level with record holders William Renshaw (winner: 1881-1886, 1889) and Pete Sampras (winner: 1993-1995, 1997-2000), each with seven victories in Wimbledon. This would be his 17th Grand Slam victory.
The draw will take place on Friday.
Roger Federer: The Practice Court Champion
There’s a certain level of conflict provided when watching Roger Federer practice.
For those who have seen him rack up all or most of his 16 Grand Slam titles, the effortless nature which he takes to the practice court just doesn’t add up to his success.
Looking freshly groomed with not a hair out of place when he strolls towards the back courts of whichever locale he’s visiting, Federer’s practice time would lead many who have never been to a tennis event to question: “Just how good is this guy, really?”
Throughout my year’s of covering tennis, I’ve probably witnessed three to four dozen of Federer’s practice sessions at about 10 to 12 different tournaments. And with each passing month, with each passing year, the routine has remained the same.
Federer will usually walk onto court—which was previously occupied by another player(s)—provide a subtle nod or say hello, and then sit down. Waiting patiently as if he’s got all the time in the world, Federer will slowly bend over and pick up his racket of choice.
Keeping his track jacket on as he approaches the net, Federer approves of his string tension by gently thumping his palm off of his string bed, while engaging in a wide grin conversation with whoever stands on the other side of the net.
After shaking out his legs and raising his racket over his head to stretch out his shoulders, Federer will typically glance up at the sky and pick which side he will begin his warm up.
Starting off his first rally with a sliced hit feed, Federer’s intensity and footwork continue to remain in a very casual sequence for the duration of his session.
Unlike his chief rival Rafael Nadal, Federer’s movement and outlook towards his practice time revolves more around developing a feel for his shots, and not overexerting his body.
Where Nadal grinds, grunts, and full on attacks every shot when he’s practicing, Federer will glide, caress, and more often than not let a ball that is out of reach sail by.
I’ve always been amazed at how Federer can transition from his easy going “hit,” to his eclectic presence in match play.
The Swiss star will enter Center Court with no sense of urgency, before he tightens his headband, adjusts his wristband, and makes sure that his weapon of choice is ready for battle.
I guess the ability to know when to step it up is an elite commonality that only the game’s best players share. I remember reading an excerpt from Brad Gilbert’s book titled Winning Ugly, suggesting that what made Pete Sampras such a dominant force was his elite ball-striking ability. There was really no need to implement a game plan for Sampras, and subsequently very little in the way of providing an answer to combating his genius. Gilbert commented that the outcome of Sampras’ matches rested on his shoulders, and that his experience had taught him how to address various situations.
Federer in many ways is cut from the same cloth as Sampras, while taking his modern strokes to another level.
We’ve all heard many great players claim that when they’ve played at their highest levels that they’ve been in “auto-pilate” mode.
I’ve sensed that from watching Federer on numerous occasions that irrespective of his wins or losses, his ability to cruise through the point-by-point flow of a match has always remained in place.
Federer certainly believes in his strengths and the surfaces that he’s gathered his greatest victories.
I must confess that I enjoy watching players who wear their emotions on their sleeves, and show us constantly that their rewards have been hard earned. But I must admit that there’s something special about watching Federer go about his daily routine (especially on the practice court) that holds a timeless quality.
The precision that Federer has been able to consistently place his shots time and time again within the singles sideline has never provided anything short of a disbelief look from the crowd, or a subsequent dismal sigh of anguish from his opponent.
Federer may once in a while provide a “c’mon” or an “allez” to spur on his charge, but his practice court mentality will always stand as the cornerstone of his match time dominance.
The best players have always designed their own set of routines that have matched their successful careers, but not too many of the greats have been as relaxed on the practice court as Federer.
I certainly hope that the trend of Federer’s practice court regime doesn’t trickle down to the future great’s of the sport, but there’s no question that the easy going resolve of the Swiss has resulted in his historic on court brilliance.
Too Soon to Panic?
On Friday I began by quoting from Gordon Forbes’ amateur-era memoir, A Handful of Summers. Since you can't really beat the man’s writing when it comes to tennis anecdotes and humor, I’ll open this post by referencing his second book. No quotes are needed; the title alone should be enough to give us a theme. It was called Too Soon to Panic.
You know where this is going. Is it too soon to panic? This is the question that many fans of Roger Federer are asking, now that he’s lost his 15-match win streak over Lleyton Hewitt, as well as his title in Halle, which seemed to have come with a lifetime guarantee. If my own club is any indication, it might be the Fed fans who are most likely to answer with an emphatic “yes.” This weekend I asked the club’s pro, a diehard Federer-ite, when we should start worrying.
“If he loses to Hewitt today.”
“Well, he lost.”
“He lost? I’m worrying.”
A few minutes later I mentioned the upset to another member who has a more neutral view on the subject. His response, which he said out of the side of his mouth as he walked past me, was to the point: “Whatever.” In other words, no need to panic, or worry, or think twice about it. It's Federer, relax.
So what does his loss to Hewitt mean, if anything, for his chances at Wimbledon? Generally, it's harder to predict Federer's Slam form based on his tune-up form than it is Rafael Nadal's. He's not as much of a confidence player as Rafa—with Federer, the confidence is ingrained but the shots can go haywire; with Nadal it's the reverse. Look at 2008: It was clear that Nadal was on a roll when he came to Wimbledon that year, and he did end up winning it. The opposite was true with Federer when he came to the U.S. Open. He'd lost to Gilles Simon and Ivo Karlovic in Toronto and Cincinnati, but he rebounding to win at Flushing Meadows. A similar phenomenon happened in 2009, when Federer had a horrible spring before winning in Madrid and at the French Open, and again this winter, when he lost to Davydenko in Doha, then came back to beat him in Melbourne on the way to winning the tournament.
Federer's most recent performance at a major offers a slightly different possibility for his immediate future. He started the clay season horribly, shanking his way through losses to Gulbis and Montanes and struggling with his forehand, the way he did at times against Hewitt in Halle. In Madrid, though, Federer willed his way through a win over Gulbis and found an acceptable clay-court form in losing to Nadal in the final. It was pretty much the same form that he carried into the quarters in Paris, and which wasn't enough to get him past Soderling for the first time in his career.
By that think piece of evidence, we can say that draws will become more important to Federer's success than they have been in the past. In Paris, aside from Nadal, Soderling was probably the worst quarterfinal opponent Federer could have played. I’d say Federer is in a similar position going into Wimbledon. The loss to Hewitt, a guy he’s owned, shows that, while Federer will be on his best surface rather than his worst in London, his current form leave him with just a sliver of vulnerability, one that could be discovered and exploited by a big hitter who happens to land in his quarter—a Berdych, a Gulbis (if he plays), a Soderling, an Isner or a Gonzalez. Maybe even Hewitt. This is a reason to worry, naturally; but worry is the natural state of all fans. Is it a reason to panic? Not quite. With the right draw, any vulnerability in the Federer serve or forehand could easily go undetected during the fortnight.
***
OK, let’s change the question slightly, moving from Gordon Forbes to ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption. There they play a game they call “Too Soon?” As in, is it too soon to make a prediction about a player’s future based on one limited and perhaps incidental event.
The two Andy’s, Murray and Roddick, who floundered in Queens, are in trouble coming into Wimbledon.
Too soon?
“Trouble” is too strong a word, so it is too soon to use this phrasing. But neither is where they want to be at the moment, for slightly different reasons. Murray, though he’s still ranked No. 4 in the world, hasn’t been a dominating force for most of this year, and he can’t seem to find a way out of his essentially defensive game. He’s been hit off the court this spring by Soderling and Berdych, and beaten twice by Mardy Fish, including once on grass last week at Queens. He was in a funk for most of that match, but he won’t be—he can’t be—next week. The wild card for Murray is the Wimbledon Thing: Last year, he thrived on the excitement early in the event; it counterbalanced his usual moodiness and gave his sometime wayward emotions a focus (sort of like the focus that Marat Safin gained when he played Davis Cup). A boost from the fans and the atmosphere could be just what Murray needs. Otherwise, he looks vulnerable.
While Roddick suffered a rare loss to a significantly lower-ranked player—Dudi Sela—at Queens, his problem isn’t form as much as it is momentum and rhythm. He hasn’t had enough match play to build either since way back at Key Biscayne in April, and Roddick gets antsy when he has to sit around waiting to get out there. This could have an affect on him in the early rounds, if he draws a quality opponent.
***
The Other Americans—as in Fish, Querrey, and Isner—are a legitimate part of the Wimbledon conversation now.
Too soon?
Too soon. All of them have the serve-based games that can work on grass; of the three, I think Isner, with his dominating delivery, is the most likely pull off a tiebreaker-heavy upset of a top seed. Just as important, he's the most outwardly ambitious and grittiest of them; he seems to have willed himself against great odds into the Top 25. Fish also has the strong serve and a shot-making style from the ground, but he got tight at the end of the second set in the Queens final and gave the match away. After a nice week, he ended it on the sidelines with his towel over his head, and some of the wind out of his sails going into Wimbledon. Still, he'll be unseeded, and the definition of a "guy no one wants to face" in the first round.
As for the flavor of the day, Querrey’s win at Queens was impressive for two reasons: (1) The way he cleared his head so quickly and completely by taking a week off—when he left Paris, I wondered if we’d ever see the guy again. He’s a levelheaded and self-aware kid with the strength to be honest with himself and the media. (2) For the way he put himself into position to hit as many forehands as he did in the Queens final. He didn’t need to run around his backhand all that much, but somehow the ball kept coming back to his forehand. Patrick McEnroe has praised Querrey’s “court sense,” that nebulous, know-it-when-I-see-it term that’s the rough equivalent in the NBA to “basketball IQ.” Querrey gets it, but does he get it at the majors? That we haven’t seen. Going back to the NBA (I’m turning into Brad Gilbert here, I know), the Slams are what you might call “playoff basketball,” which means there's more intensity, rougher play, and a cutthroat mentality. Querrey’s even-keel style has worked well in the low-key world of the regular season—he’s won three 250s this year—but hasn’t gotten him deep in the playoffs. But if Sam has shown us anything since the French Open, it was way too soon, for him or his fans, to panic.
Federer aims to prove his critics wrong
LONDON: Roger Federer will be under even greater scrutiny than usual at Wimbledon next week as the defending champion attempts to prove he is still the dominant force in his sport.
Federer will travel to London ahead of the start of Wimbledon on Monday with uncertainly surrounding his form after an unusually poor run of recent results.
The 28-year-old started the year in assertive fashion as he crushed Andy Murray in the final of the Australian Open, but he has failed to win any of his seven tournaments since that triumph in Melbourne.
It is the lacklustre manner of defeats to the likes of Albert Montanes, Ernests Gulbis and Tomas Berdych -- players he would have brushed aside in the past -- that has raised questions about Federer's appetite for success after so many years at the top.
The six-time Wimbledon champion looked distracted and irritable during a four-set defeat to Robin Soderling in the French Open quarter-finals and then allowed a one-set lead to slip away against Lleyton Hewitt in the Halle final on Sunday.
That defeat was especially significant as Federer had not lost at Halle since 2002 and it was only the second loss he had suffered in 78 matches on grass since 2003 -- his other being the 2008 Wimbledon final against Rafael Nadal.
Yet for all the speculation over his form, Federer, who has a record 16 Grand Slam titles to his name, is never happier than when he can feel the grass of Wimbledon's Centre Court under his feet.
He insists he is comfortable with the way he is playing and expects nothing less than another winning performance at Wimbledon.
"I'm happy with the way I'm playing," Federer said. "It's unfortunate not coming through (against Hewitt) but I think my level of play is fine.
"It was a good tournament for me at Halle. I've got to ensure I draw the right conclusions for Wimbledon. That loss (to Hewitt) doesn't worry me in any way."
Federer isn't the only star player going into Wimbledon with something to prove.
World number three Novak Djokovic is struggling for consistency, while Andy Murray, the world number four, has yet to recover from his mauling by Federer in Australia and looked a long way from his best when Mardy Fish ended his reign as Queen's champion in the third round last week.
Murray, who reached the Wimbledon semi-finals last year, is Britain's only hope of ending the long wait for a home winner at the All England Club but he struck a downbeat note when discussing his recent troubles.
"I don't know whether it's focus or a lack of confidence. There have been a few occasions this year where I have made more mistakes than usual and had dips in form and that's something I need to improve," Murray said.
If Murray can't challenge Federer, the most likely threat to the Swiss is likely to come from Nadal, who returned to the top of the world rankings after winning his fifth French Open crown.
He reeled off 24 successive victories and claimed titles at Monte Carlo, Rome, Madrid and Roland Garros before losing to Feliciano Lopez at Queen's last week.
That defeat could largely be attributed to fatigue after such an emotionally and physically draining claycourt campaign.
Nadal will have no shortage of motivation after being forced to miss Wimbledon last year due to knee tendinitis.
The Spaniard would have been the defending champion after his dramatic victory over Federer in that 2008 final and he is desperate to regain the title.
Even the prospect of dropping to second seed in deference to Federer's phenomenal record at Wimbledon doesn't concern Nadal.
"I will go to Wimbledon with very, very good motivation," he said. "If I am number one or number two won't affect anything. If I am number three seed that is going to be a surprise for me!"
Federer's chase for the No. 1 record
When Roger Federer fell to Robin Soderling in the French Open, he didn't just lose a quarterfinal match -- he also lost his No. 1 ranking. By not reaching the semifinals, Federer gave Rafael Nadal the chance to overtake him by winning the tournament. And Nadal promptly did so, winning his fifth French Open crown to move back to No. 1 and nudge Federer down to No. 2.
During the tournament, neither of them seemed to care much who ended up in the top spot.
Rankings
Kamakshi TandonNo matter which way you look at it, Rafael Nadal has a definite edge over Roger Federer in the battle for No. 1.
"As far as the No. 1 ranking is concerned, it's in his hands now," Federer said after his loss, referring to Nadal. "Things change really quickly. I won't be following the rest of the tournament and hoping that Nadal doesn't win just so that I stay on top."
After winning the title, Nadal said, "When I was crying after the match, the last thing I was thinking was of the No. 1."
But the switch was important in one respect -- it left Federer just shy of breaking the record for total weeks spent at No. 1, a pretty significant statistic in tennis. The Swiss does hold the record for the longest unbroken streak at No. 1, having spent 237 straight weeks at the top. But cumulatively, his count is 285 total weeks, one week behind Pete Sampras' mark of 286 total weeks.
At first glance, the setback doesn't seem particularly devastating -- Federer trails Nadal by only 220 points in this week's rankings, and Federer traditionally outperforms the Spaniard on grass and U.S. hard courts. So he should get a chance to move back up fairly soon, right?
In fact, Federer's chances of reclaiming No. 1 are slim until at least after the U.S. Open in September, and perhaps beyond.
Ranking points expire after one year, so players have to constantly match last season's performance at any given tournament to maintain their total. If they do better, their total goes up; if they do worse, it goes down.
Since Federer won the French Open last year and earned the maximum 2,000 points available, for example, he had no way of gaining ground this year -- the best-case scenario for the Swiss was to defend his title and collect another 2,000 points to replace the 2,000 that would drop off at the end of the tournament. As it happens, he reached only the quarterfinals, collecting 360 points (a net loss of 1,640 points). Nadal, who reached only the fourth round last year but won the whole thing this time around, had 180 points drop off and added 2,000 (a net gain of 1,820 points).
The same scenario is set to play out for the rest of the summer. Federer will be defending titles, finals and semifinals all the way, while Nadal has the opportunity to add a lot of points -- injuries forced him to miss Wimbledon last year and he had only so-so results during the North American hard-court season. All in all, Federer is looking to defend 3,120 points more than Nadal through the U.S. Open -- more than the equivalent of a Grand Slam plus a Masters title.
So the real gap between the two is far larger than the 310 points on this week's ranking list. Federer cannot retake No. 1 at Wimbledon under any circumstances, and should Nadal reach the semifinals there, Federer would have to win Toronto, Cincinnati and the U.S. Open to have any chance at all.
There's a possibility Federer could even drop to No. 3, with Novak Djokovic able to overtake him at Wimbledon if he both outlasts the Swiss and reaches at least the semifinals.
If Federer can avoid that scenario and stay within striking distance of No. 1, he will have chances to move back up in the fall, when he is defending fewer points than Nadal. At the same time, however, Nadal is also likely to play more tournaments, taking part in October's Asian swing while Federer may opt to skip Shanghai and take a break before the indoor events in Europe.
Either way, the bottom line is that Federer will have to do something special to earn back the No. 1 ranking. After he won the Australian Open, he was in position to simply coast to the 286-week record by reaching a semifinal here and there.
As it turns out, winning just two more matches at Indian Wells and Miami would have done it (he squandered match points in both his losses there), or defeating Nadal in the final of Madrid, or defeating Soderling in the French Open quarterfinals.
But week after week, he fell just short. And at the last minute, it slipped away.
So for the moment, it's a case of close-but-not-quite for Federer and the No. 1 record. He needs just a week or two more at the top, but getting back there could take a lot longer than that.
ATP - WIMBLEDON'S DRAW
Roger will play Columbia's Alejandro Falla (ATP 65) in the first round in Wimbledon. The Swiss leads the head-to-head 4:0. Roger hasn't lost a set in four previous matches with Falla, including a 6-1, 6-2, 6-0 rout at Wimbledon in 2004 and 6-1, 6-2 win on grass in Halle, Germany, last week. If Roger beats him again, he will play the winner of the match Ilija Bozoljac (Serbia, ATP 153) or Nicolas Massu (Chile, ATP 98).
The defending champion and top-seeded was drawn in the same top half with last year's finalist Andy Roddick (ATP 7), Novak Djokovic (ATP 3) and former champion Lleyton Hewitt (ATP 26), as well as Stanislas Wawrinka (ATP 23), Tomas Berdych (ATP 13) and Nikolay Davydenko (ATP 5) which are possible rivals in quarter-finals.
Wywiad z Rogerem, udzielony jednej z niemieckojęzycznych gazet (tłumaczenie z google za rf.com).
The end is still far away "
by Dirk Schlingmann
Sport Bild: Mr. Federer, you are considered the perfect sportsman, gentleman and father, who is not afraid to wrap his twin daughters. But even you must have weaknesses. Simply fill in at least one ...
Roger Federer (2: I'm not always on time too. And sometimes I lack a little patience.
That sounds harmless. As you have the revelations about Tiger Woods included, like you seemed to be beyond reproach, but then confessed to dozens of affairs?
He is a friend of mine, and I am very sorry that the whole thing has been dragged through the press. There was an over-hype. It's all about his private life that does not belong to the public. He had to apologize on television, which I found very strange. So what is only possible in America. He has no one done anything wrong - except of course his wife. In any case, I'm glad he plays again.
Caused a stir even the biography of Andre Agassi, in which he admitted drug use. Have you read the book?
No. Apparently, it is well written. But Andre gives the impression that the top players get a free ride. This is certainly not the case.
They are against the man without scandals. Why is that?
I think, is with me in the education of many things went well. My parents are now often in tournaments this because they see the little ones happy. I also had good coaches from the start with a strong character. And Mirka, with which I am now already ten years together, has a good influence on me. Beir me everything is consolidated. I always had my own circle. When I was number one, stormed a lot to me. The red carpet was the worst for me and small talk was not me. But I also now handle this without problems.
Can you think of one thing in common with Boris Becker?
Previously he was my idol, just like Stefan Edberg. Meanwhile, we know a little bit. If we see ourselves, we talk nice. But he is certainly a different type than I am.
They also know the German basketball star Dirk Nowitzki. How intense is the contact with him?
We have taken a couple of times and each time I had the impression that we've known each other for a long time. If he had lived in Europe, the contact would certainly be intense. I remember when we were both at the Olympic opening ceremony in Beijing in 2008, the flags of our countries. I saw him from a distance: his light blue shirt was now dark blue, because he is so sweat - wonderful!
Nowitzki hunts in vain for eleven years after the NBA title. Are you happy to be independent of individual athletes to and from other players?
On the contrary. In moments of victory, I miss it sometimes, a player running into the arms and to be able to share my joy. So I stand alone here, and that's it. I think I would be a good team leader. Basically, I run so now a team with coach, fitness trainer and physiotherapist.
What would you become if it had not worked out for the tennis?
Professional footballer. But even at 13 I have everything on the map tennis. At 16 I left school.
You are already a legend and, as measured by Grand Slam tournament victories, the greatest tennis player of all time. What drives you more?
I like it, tell me again and again to argue against the new generation. I want to prove again and again new. I'm only 28 and am now in the second half of my career. The end is near. I will be active until well into the thirties. I play for the history books, for me and my team. 16 Grand Slam wins I have. Even 20 is possible. If I am fit, I can win every tournament where I play. It's good to know and will until my last day as a tennis player to be.
Other players are at your age already burned out. Why do not you?
I do not dubbing. 18 tournaments a year are enough for me. I take enough time for regeneration and training. Additionally my game is not as energy-consuming. I'm not a clay court burrowers, the endless rallies plays.
Your stagnated tournament victory - in January in Melbourne - is long gone. What does this mean?
I had a Lugenentzündung and played from January to April only two tournaments. But now I am physically and mentally fresh. I'm looking forward to Wimbledon.
Who will be the time your successor?
Nadal, Djokovic and Murray have been established so that they
can not be called as his successor. And the teenagers did not excelled not a super talent.
Is there an explanation?
It may be that the top men in tennis is very dense. Almost everyone opens with 210 km / h. Previously it was a giant hammer, now is the norm.
rf.com
Wimbledon 2010: Switzerland inspired by the powers of Roger Federer
Every tennis player knows about Roger Federer’s commanding presence on court and the way he can intimidate so many opponents before the first point is even played. Now it seems that his powers of inspiration have extended into the world of football.
Speaking at Wimbledon on Friday, the defending champion described how he had delivered pep talk to the Swiss team who shocked Spain’s World Cup favourites in Durban.
Federer made his intervention in September 2008, after Switzerland’s footballers had suffered a humiliating 2-1 defeat to Luxembourg — their lowest point in more than 80 years of internationals. It must have worked, because since then they have gone unbeaten in eight games.
“The coach [Germany’s Ottmar Hitzfeld] invited me to come to see the players because we had lost to Luxembourg,” Federer said. “I hope it helped – we made the World Cup and now we have beaten Spain.
“I’d told Hitzfeld if you ever need me I’d love to come by and say hi to the guys. Maybe I could be an inspiration to the team – they could ask me questions, how I handled the media, how I handled the pressure of playing great every day. All the players were sitting around me, a little bit like we were at school.”
As the most successful player in the history of tennis, you might not imagine that Federer would have much in common with Hitzfeld’s men — a team who were forced to soak up wave after wave of Spanish attacks before scoring an unlikely goal on the break.
But even Federer has had matches when he is forced on to the defensive, notably when he is playing his Spanish rival Rafael Nadal. In those situations, he, like his footballing compatriots, is forced to fall back on his pride and sheer bloody-mindedness.
Many neutral fans will be hoping that this year’s Wimbledon throws up another final between these two giants of the game, and that it comes close to equalling the quality of their 2008 match — rated even by Bjorn Borg, who played his own famous final with John McEnroe 30 years ago, as the best game the tournament has ever seen.
No one can be too confident of how the next fortnight will play, however, in the light of the eccentric results thrown up by the past couple of weeks. Federer lost to Lleyton Hewitt in the final at Halle — only his second defeat in 78 grass-court matches over the past eight years — while Nadal was one of many high-ranking players to stumble in the AEGON Championships at Queen’s.
“Queen’s was a big surprise,” Federer said on Friday. “To see the top six seeds go out of the tournament before the weekend, that’s unbelievable really. You’re talking about big calibre players here, who are almost all in the top 10, so it’s a huge surprise to happen all at the same time.
“Then again, you can’t read too much into those things. Some guys didn’t have the right preparation, some were under too much pressure, some weren’t playing well, some ran into a guy who was hot.
“Obviously [Andy] Murray and [Novak] Djokovic haven’t been playing at their very best, over the last few weeks and months, as I have not. But it could turn out to be normal and we can all be in the semi-finals.”
Federer has received a comfortable draw, in line with the All England Club’s helpful decision to award him the top seeding ahead of Nadal, the world No 1.
“Maybe I don’t have the most dangerous players on grass but you cannot underestimate anybody,” he said. “It looks like Nadal has an interesting draw. But we are good enough to beat anyone on our terms.” Mind you, that is probably what Spain were saying before they walked out at the Moses Mabhida Stadium last week.
Federer may still take Wimbledon
Swiss star may not be at his peak, but he could still seize victory on the fabled grass.
BOSTON — He is six years younger than Tiger Woods, the man with whom he is most often compared for their dominance of their respective sports over the past decade. But at just 28 years old, Swiss tennis star Roger Federer already seems to have reached as many crossroads as any Mississippi delta blues musician.
We who chronicle sports are always in a rush to crown the next great thing and too often show an unseemly haste to declare the demise of our greatest stars. Federer was first diagnosed as being in irreversible decline back in 2008 when, after reaching 10 consecutive finals at majors, he was ousted in the semis at the Australian Open. He followed up that “flop” by losing both the French Open and Wimbledon finals — and his number one world ranking — to the precocious and relentless Spaniard Rafael Nadal.
However, Federer salvaged the season by winning his fifth consecutive U.S. Open. And then in 2009 — with titles at both the French and Wimbledon — he not only reclaimed the number one ranking, but set a record with the 15th major championship of his career. Certainly nothing seemed amiss when he began 2010 by winning his record 16th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.
But soon after, the tennis world began singing the Federer blues. He opens his Wimbledon defense this week having won just that one title back in January, his worst performance going into the hallowed grounds since he was a 20-year-old comer still two years away from his first major championship.
Since the Australian, his record streak of reaching the semi-finals at 23 consecutive majors ended in Paris and he then failed to win his Wimbledon tune-up, only his second defeat on grass in the past seven years. Some have suggest that supremacy in tennis demands a singular dedication and that fatherhood — with twin girls about to celebrate their first birthdays — has exacted a toll.
But the grass of Wimbledon has always proved a tonic for Federer. He treasures its history and traditions and covets a seventh men’s title that would tie Pete Sampras’ modern record. And he would like nothing better than for that triumph to come against Nadal, not because of any resentment of his younger rival, but out of respect bordering on reverence for their spirited rivalry.
Before folks write epitaphs for Federer’s career, there has to be somebody who can beat him at Wimbledon. Despite reclaiming the number one ranking after last year’s injury-plagued season, Nadal hasn’t demonstrated that he is completely back in form on any surface other than clay. Andy Murray can’t stand up to the pressure of fans’ desperate desire for a British man to finally win the title after 74 years. American hope Andy Roddick brought his A-game last year and still couldn't best him. As for Leyton Hewitt, who hadn’t defeated Federer in eight years before his upset victory in Halle, Germany earlier this month, well lightening isn’t going to strike twice.
All the naysayers will look even more foolish if Federer wins a sixth Wimbledon and then adds his sixth U.S. Open title in September. And if right now that doesn’t seem likely, it certainly doesn’t seem — at least not to me — unlikely either. Folks are making the mistake of comparing Federer to his younger self rather than to the field. That he is not the precision Swiss machine of a few years ago should not be equated with being finished.
In recent decades, a number of champions — Jimmy Connors, Andre Agassi and Sampras — competed successfully into their 30s and won major titles in their fourth decade. Federer may not be destined to dominate his sport any longer and there likely will be more unexpected stumbles. But I see no reason that he can’t win a few more majors before he hangs up his Wilson, putting his record total out of anybody’s reach. Ever!
Wimbledon - Oxfam to gain from Federer win
British charity Oxfam can gain over £100,000 if Roger Federer wins Wimbledon for a seventh time thanks to a bet placed by a late patron.
Nicholas Newlife from Kidlington in Oxfordshire placed a £1,520 bet with William Hill at odds of 66/1 for Federer to win seven Wimbledon titles before the year 2020, in August 2003.
Newlife died in February last year and left his estate to Oxfam.
The Swiss star has so far won six Wimbledon singles titles, and a seventh this summer will see £101,840 paid out.
"Mr Newlife made arrangements in his will to pass any profit from his bet on to his favoured charity, Oxfam - a unique eventuality in our experience," said William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe. "We will, of course, be handing the profits from his far-sighted wager to them just as soon as Federer holds the trophy aloft for a seventh time.
"In the event that he fails to win this year - and he is 6/4 favourite to do so - the bet does not run out until 2019," Sharpe added.
Federer begins the defence of his Wimbledon title on Monday when he faces Colombia's Alejandro Falla.
Roger Federer is in no mood to hang up his tennis racket just yet
n the case of Roger Federer – a man who achieves an unusually high proportion of his goals – one of the few remaining entries is 'Compete at the 2012 Olympics'.
Other than that, the tennis world is searching for signals as to how long he intends to continue his glorious career.
Some take the view that when Federer goes, he will go quickly. If he happened to pick up a serious injury — something he has managed to steer clear of thus far — he might find it hard to resume his floating-on-air style of play. Even if he stays fit, too many more defeats like the one he suffered against Robin Soderling in Paris could easily sap his morale. In the view of Boris Becker, mixing it with the hoi polloi would be difficult for a man who has bossed the game for so long.
“He says he will play for years, but I don’t see it,” said Becker recently. “If he starts losing in grand slams, I don’t think he’ll be happy with a quarter-final. I think that would bother him too much. I don’t see him continuing to play if he is losing early, and not getting to finals.”
Becker’s diagnosis will no doubt be welcomed by the other leading players on the tour. The likes of Lleyton Hewitt, Andy Roddick and even Andy Murray have spent most of their careers toiling in Federer’s shadow.
But the man himself offered them little encouragement on Saturday. Speaking at the All England Club, he made it clear that “I don’t see a reason for me to leave the game any time soon.”
As to Becker’s point, Federer rather shrugged it off by insisting that he would be prepared to keep going even if he no longer had a shot at the No 1 ranking. “If you’re ranked third in the world, or second, or eighth, or 12th, it doesn’t really matter where you are as long as you get into the main draws and you have a good seeding.
I know that I can beat anybody on any given day and dominate any tournament so I don’t think the ranking will matter down the stretch.”
Federer says his motivation now is not so much to equal Pete Sampras’s record of seven Wimbledons, nor to extend his overall collection of Grand Slam titles past the current, mind-boggling figure of 16.
After all, he suggests, records are not meant to last for ever. “Let’s say Rafa [Nadal] goes on a tear and he gets it, you can’t be sad about that. Nobody can take away the moment when you did break the record.”
Instead his main goal is to keep enjoying the tour as much as he is at present, and — most crucially — to cope with the challenge of parenting while maintaining a presence on tour.
“I’m fortunate that I’ve only spent three days away from the kids since they were born,” said Federer, whose wife Mirka gave birth to twin girls less than a month after last year’s Wimbledon.
“I’m sure the day will come they can’t come to every tournament. It’s too hard to go back and forward to Asia, let’s say, and beat jet-lag twice in the space of two weeks. We’ll have to see how we handle that, it will be tough on Mirka and myself because we’ve basically not had a day away from each other in seven years.
“Of course, the tennis does take a bit of time away from trying to be the perfect dad, but at the same time every normal father goes to work, and maybe sees his child in the morning and a little bit in the evening. I get the chance to see them in the afternoon and we’re always together.”
With Kim Clijsters in the women’s draw and Federer in the men’s’, there will be an unusually high proportion of nannies walking around the All England Club with free passes this year. If anything, parenthood usually seems to help athletes’ performance, by reminding them that there are some things even more important than a good first serve.
That has certainly been Federer’s experience so far.
As he says, “When I played great tennis in Cincinnati and at the US Open, I was able to prove to myself that it didn’t play with my mind; in fact it’s actually only helped me to play better tennis and to relax a little bit.”
It seems unlikely Federer will take his twins out on court if he wins the title, as Clijsters did with daughter Jada at Flushing Meadows this year. In all probability, they are still too small. Mind you, they could have plenty more chances. “I guess they’re four or five before you send them to preschool,” Federer said.
“In all honesty I haven’t checked yet, so it’s still to be seen.”
If Federer is still winning grand slams with his kids safely tucked up in a kindergarten, tennis players across the tour really will be cursing their luck. Unless your name is Rafael Nadal, there is little glory to be had while playing in the era of the Swiss maestro.
Seventh heaven? Federer the favorite at Wimbledon
By STEVEN WINE (AP)
WIMBLEDON, England — Walking the Wimbledon grounds Sunday, wearing a stylish white jacket with gold trim, his collar turned up for protection from a biting wind, the tournament's six-time champion looked like the same old Roger Federer.
True, there have been signs of slippage this month. Federer lost at the French Open in the quarterfinals, his earliest Grand Slam exit in six years. Then he dropped to No. 2 in the rankings behind nemesis Rafael Nadal. Then, at a Wimbledon warm-up event, came Federer's second grass-court defeat since 2003, extending his drought of nearly five months without a title.
But the All England Club tends to bring out the best in Federer, which is awfully good. He has reached a record seven consecutive Wimbledon finals, losing only one of them — to Nadal in 2008. Last year Federer regained the title, beating Andy Roddick 16-14 in the fifth set of a final that ranked with the sport's greatest matches.
And so when Federer steps onto an immaculate Centre Court lawn for his opening-round match Monday against Alejandro Falla of Colombia, he'll again be the man to beat. Tournament organizers acknowledged as much by giving Federer the top seeding even though he's ranked second.
He'll try to join Pete Sampras and 19th-century champion Willie Renshaw as the only men to win the singles title seven times.
"Obviously my game's made for grass," Federer said. "I definitely think every time I play, I'll have a chance to win here, there's no doubt. We all know how hard it is to win Grand Slam titles. But I think the experience I have on this surface can pull me through many matches maybe I would be struggling with."
Also made for grass are women's favorites Serena and Venus Williams, who are seeded 1-2 and have combined to win eight of the past 10 Wimbledon championships. Serena, who earned her third title by beating her sister in last year's final, has tweaked her tournament preparation in anticipation of a visit Thursday to Wimbledon by Queen Elizabeth II.
"I've been working on my curtsy," Serena said. "It's a little extreme, so I'm going to have to tone it down. I was practicing it this morning."
The queen hasn't been to Wimbledon since 1977. Also returning after absences will be Grand Slam champions Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters, each seeking their first Wimbledon title. Henin hasn't played at Wimbledon since 2007, Clijsters since 2006.
And then there's Nadal, who withdrew shortly before last year's tournament because of knee tendinitis. A match Tuesday against wild card Kei Nishikori of Japan will be Nadal's first at Wimbledon since he beat Federer in their memorable 2008 final.
Nadal is coming off his fifth French Open title and an unbeaten but grueling clay-court season. He celebrated with a brief break a week ago back home in Mallorca.
"I went for a party with the friends," the Spaniard said. "I played golf. I go to the beach. So I had a perfect Sunday. I need it."
Along with a recharged Nadal, the biggest threats to Federer include Roddick, Brit Andy Murray and No. 3-seeded Novak Djokovic. In short, it's a familiar cast of contenders.
"You're still going to get the same five or six names," Roddick said. "Roger's always a favorite when he comes here. Rafa's in form, he's playing well. Murray will have the home court. I could have given you the same answer last year as I'm giving you right now."
Federer remains at the top of the list despite mixed results this year. It started well: He won the Australian Open in January to increase his record total of Grand Slam championships to 16.
He hasn't won a tournament since.
"In Australia I really played some of the best tennis of my life," he said. "I've been disappointed I wasn't able to carry on. I know my game, my body and everything so well that I really expected to take off and just go on a tear."
A lung infection that forced him to withdraw from a tournament in February interrupted his momentum. He showed flashes of his best form at the French Open, where he was defending champion for the first time, but lost to Robin Soderling.
Federer lost again a week ago to Lleyton Hewitt in the final at Halle, Germany — his second defeat in 78 grass-court matches since 2003. But he said he played well in both tournaments, feels fit and likes his chances of joining Sampras and Renshaw as a seven-time Wimbledon champ.
As a fan of Switzerland's World Cup team, Federer does face one potential distraction in the first round. He takes the court at 1 p.m., and the Swiss play Chile in South Africa two hours later.
"You think I'll just like leave the court at 3? That's not going to happen," Federer said with a smile. "Maybe I can install a little screen on Centre Court."
Actually, if he's still the same old Federer, he'll be off the court and into the second round before the World Cup game begins.
Wywiad z Rogerem tuż przed startem Wimbledonu 2010.
R. Federer - June 20 2010
Q. You spoke about being aware of Borg's record, the pressure of that. Here you are with a chance to beat Pete's record. Is that on your mind at all?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, maybe obviously a little bit because I'm aware of the great things he achieved, being one title away from it, you're obviously aware of it because you also ask me the questions, and you're not the first one. But then again, you have to break it down and make it simple for yourself, trying to win the first round, being here, trying to defend the title before everything.
So I'm happy I'm back here playing, you know, healthy and everything, because that's always something sometimes you can't control, like with Rafa last year who couldn't come here and defend his title. I'm here, I get a chance, so that is great.
Q. You've spoken before about the belief you have when you're on the court. What was it like when you first realized that you could compete not just to win one Wimbledon championship but maybe more than anybody ever? What was that like for you to come to the realization you could win more Wimbledons than anybody ever?
ROGER FEDERER: I guess it comes by proving yourself in the bit smaller tournaments against fellow top players that you know you can beat them on a regular basis and that you have no issues really on a fitness standpoint, you know. I think once those things are in place, it's a matter of maybe day form on the day who plays better, who chose the better tactics, you know.
But early on, everything's a bit confusing because you know you're good, but you can't perform every single day at your best. I guess once I was able to win in 2003 here for the first time at Wimbledon, I knew I could do it basically week in, week out.
Q. And then the confidence that you developed that you could not just win one, two, three, but now Pete Sampras was quoted in today's paper as saying you might win eight, nine, even ten.
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, well, that's nice of him, you know, to say that (smiling). I don't feel pressure by him saying that because I've -- people already compared me to Sampras when I had no Grand Slams. I've done really well, considering the pressure I've always had surrounding me.
But obviously my game's made for grass. You know, since I came here as a junior and since I beat Pete here in 2001 and I won my first Wimbledon here in '03, I definitely think every time I play, I'll have a chance to win here, there's no doubt.
But we all know how hard it is to win Grand Slam titles. But I think with the experience I have on this surface, the experience can pull me through many matches actually maybe I would be struggling with.
Q. Pete, when he was playing, before the tournament sometimes would climb through the catacombs of Centre Court, stick his head out of one of the tunnels, take in the setting quietly, no one else around. Do you have any moments like that when you come back here that you sort of absorb the whole setting, what it all means?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah. I mean, it's much more calm here than at any other Grand Slam sort of the week prior to the tournament, obviously, because qualifying is at a different site. So the only people really you have on-site is the people, you know, sort of doing the finishing touches. It's nice and calming, the whole surroundings.
Just being on whatever court it is, Court 5 on practice, you look at Centre Court and the ivy and the watch, it's perfect, you know.
In the past I also have gone to see the trophy, gone and seen Centre Court. But I don't do it like every year it has to be the same way. I'm not very superstitious when it comes to those sort of things. If, all of a sudden, I go see the chairman, Tim Phillips, I might have a peek out to Centre Court. We'll see how it goes today. Maybe I'll do it.
Q. What does it mean to you after the clay court season to come back to Wimbledon as No. 2 and Rafa as No. 1? Does it change your expectations, add more pressure? How does it feel?
ROGER FEDERER: No, I mean, it doesn't change a whole lot, you know, because I don't think I can get my No. 1 ranking back anyway. It's about winning Wimbledon again. Mentally I didn't have any - how do you say - going crazy, you know, after my loss at the French. It was all digested very quickly. Played well in Halle. Here I am giving myself again a great opportunity to do well at Wimbledon.
Q. You've spoken about your trophy room at home.
ROGER FEDERER: Hmm.
Q. With the Wimbledon Cups, do you have them all lined up one after another? Are they set up in years?
ROGER FEDERER: What do you think (laughter)?
Q. I'd say probably lined up one alongside another.
ROGER FEDERER: There you go (laughter). All the US Opens, all the Wimbledons, they're all lined up next to each other. They almost go in a circle, so it's nice. I'm lucky enough to have won that many.
Q. You were a decent footballer in your youth. Did you watch the Switzerland-Spain game, get in touch with Rafa, and do you think that's a good omen?
ROGER FEDERER: About the omen, again, like I said, I'm not superstitious. This is something, again, very historic for Switzerland. We obviously haven't had the success, you know, on a soccer level that maybe we've had in tennis over the last 20 years.
But obviously this was a huge match. I watched it, of course. No, I didn't get in touch with Rafa because I'm not the type of person who rubs it in. We know the bad times can come by very quickly, very realistic. But obviously after a match like this, you're allowed also to start dreaming that you could go much further in the competition. I hope we can see as many matches as possible.
Q. Who is your favorite in the World Cup?
ROGER FEDERER: I think so far it's been hard to really go just purely with one team. First up, honestly I thought England had a very good chance. Now you never know what's going to happen there. It all comes down to the last match. Argentina, seems like they're solid. Holland are the first that's qualified I think right now.
No, I think Switzerland has the best chance, you know. That's how it looks like for the moment (smiling).
Q. Switzerland playing at 3:00 tomorrow and on Monday, how will that affect your preparations?
ROGER FEDERER: You think I'll just like leave the court at 3:00? That's not going to happen quite yet. Maybe I can install a little screen on Centre Court on the change of ends (smiling).
It's happened in the past that I've had to play matches during important things in my life. You know, kind of went on court last year many times thinking that Mirka was going to give birth to my children. That was a bit more, you know, crazy than Switzerland playing at 3 p.m. I still have a chance to maybe go see a little bit. But focus is always on my first-round match here, come through, see how much I can see of the game.
Q. What does the Swiss team mean to your country? How would you compare the prominence of football and tennis in your country?
ROGER FEDERER: Football is very big. We like the sports, as we do like skiing and ice hockey and tennis. I think those are the biggest sports in our country.
I just think sports, maybe you get more even behind obviously a national team, regardless of what sport it is, but especially soccer because it's the most global sport and the biggest sport we have.
It was nice seeing pictures with Switzerland, them seen going crazy over a win like this, because we all know we will talk about this for 20 years after this win against Spain, you know, because you're not very often in the World Cup and you only get maybe three matches to shine, and we were able to do it on the first one.
This was amazing. I wish them obviously all the best. It's great, a great start for us. Soccer is a very important sport in our country, yeah.
Q. What did it mean to you to have the opportunity to give something of a pep talk to the team a while back? What was that experience like?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, it was an unusual experience because I don't hold, let's say, speeches yet. Maybe one day I will, because I do already get offers saying I need to give motivation speeches to people, banks, whatever. So when Ottmar Hitzfeld, the coach, called me and said if I could just come in and meet the team, inspire them a bit, answer questions on how I handle the media, how I handle the pressure, see the guys a bit, I said, No problem. If my schedule allows it, I'm very happy to do that.
I came in. I don't think they've lost since. If it's 1% they give to me, that's great. But they were good enough themselves. They know it. I told them that. It's in their control, as well, to some degree. It was a good experience for me anyway and I'm happy it worked.
Q. Could you give England a pep talk?
ROGER FEDERER: They don't need one yet. It's in their control, so it's okay (smiling).
Q. How would you grade your first half of the year?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I think it started great with playing so well in Australia, obviously. I really played some of the best tennis of my life. I've been disappointed I wasn't able to carry on. I know my game, my body and everything so well that I really expected to take off and just go on a tear on that.
Maybe the long infection did throw me back a bit, not having played so much through March and April. All of a sudden I went through three months only playing about five matches. Two of the matches I played there, I lost with match points really.
It hurt. It was disappointing. But I think I found my game again in Madrid. Played well there in Paris. In Halle I think the performances were good. That's why I'm confident for Wimbledon now.
Q. Any regrets on those match points? It left you one week short of Pete's record. Were you pleased for Pete to hold onto one record?
ROGER FEDERER: I'm so close, it's obviously a pity to some degree. At the same time I'm happy for Pete so he can keep it for the moment. If I get it back, it's even sweeter, you know. So I'll definitely try to do that.
I don't know if any of those match points would have changed the outcome of me staying world No. 1. But I think it's really the Australian Open that helped me keep it for so long.
Once the clay court season was going to come around, it was always logical that Rafa was going to pick up tournaments.
I don't know. I don't want to say nobody expected him to win all four. But I know his level of play on clay. It's supreme to anybody. So it was impressive to see how well he played. He deserves to be world No. 1 again.
Q. Since you beat Andy in Australia, he's had a real dip in form. Are you surprised by that? Do you still see him as a major contender for the title here?
ROGER FEDERER: Yes. I think regardless of what happened between here and the Australian Open, Andy is one of the big favorites for this tournament. It's been I think for me, for Djokovic and for Murray, you know, to some degree a bit of a disappointing sort of last few months. But I think Murray also played incredible tennis at the Australian Open.
So here we are again at Grand Slam play. You have to maybe ignore a little bit what happened in between and remember the last time you played a best-of-five set match. This is when he was very tough.
I think that's why maybe it favors the big guys. Andy's obviously one of them.
Q. What do you remember most about how you won against Roddick last year?
ROGER FEDERER: What do I remember most? His backhand he missed. My saving of the breakpoints in the fifth. My 50 aces. The match point. Holding up the trophy and being tired afterwards. Almost still today. That's about it.
Q. How much do you relish the increased competition, given that Rafa is here this year and he missed out last year? It's a great battle between the two of you. A lot of people saying Roger won it but Rafa wasn't here. Now everybody is here.
ROGER FEDERER: Del Potro is not here. So not everybody is here. There's always going to be somebody missing eventually down the stretch. Tennis is a tough sport. We'll always have injuries. Last year was a big blow because he was the defending champion. Sure, in some ways it makes it maybe easier to win, but at the same time you have more pressure, too. If you think about it, it doesn't make it any easier because pressure plays a huge part in our game.
Look, I'm happy he's back. I want him to play every tournament. I want the other guys to play as well because it's better for the game if we all face off, that there's more story, you know, for the sport. So I'm looking forward to an exciting Championship.
Q. You say injuries are always a part of it. You've had this incredible streak where you're always not just at the slams but making it far into it. Of all your records, how important is that one to you?
ROGER FEDERER: You mean, the semis streak?
Q. Yes.
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, big. Right now I look at it and say, Okay, it's been broken. It's a great number. But probably when I sit on the couch one day, I don't know, 20 years, I go back and think probably that was one of my incredible runs in the game. Very proud of it, of course.
Q. What would you say is most important to that? The durability?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, just being there, giving myself chances to win. Because I think once you're in the semis, you're only two matches away. I mean, I never got a walkover in the finals or the semis, but I've been there so many times. All of a sudden, you play your best, you go win a few. That's what I've been doing. Different surfaces around the world many years in a row. It seems like you only almost get one chance in a career to do that. So it's like if you miss it, you can't do it again because it just takes too much effort.
Q. After watching him in the clay court season, do you feel like Rafael has switched his game into a more offensive mood, picking his spots, more aggressive?
ROGER FEDERER: More aggressive? Hmm, I think he's always played somewhat aggressive on clay. I mean, it's his nature of play. Some think he plays defensive because he's got incredible passing shots. But on the offensive with his forehand, he can put it on a dime wherever he wants to do it.
We've seen him play aggressive in the past on hard courts and grass courts. I don't think he needs to prove himself anymore that he can play offensive. Otherwise he wouldn't have been able to win the Australian Open and, let's say, Wimbledon as well.
I felt like what I saw was the old classic Rafa on clay hardly losing sets and matches. That's what we got from him. That's why it's going to be incredibly hard to beat him here at Wimbledon.
Q. How do you think your game has changed since your first win in 2003?
ROGER FEDERER: Oh, well, many things have changed, I think. I've definitely become more fit, more experienced. My backhand's improved a lot. I think my serve overall has become more consistent. My second serve has always been good, but I just think overall so many things have become more consistent. I'm much more aware of everything around me.
Sometimes you just have to not forget not only play just the percentages all the time but also play aggressive like a junior. I'm always trying to combine all those things. I work extremely hard in the practice season to improve as a player. I think it's all paid off over the last six, seven years.
Q. Looking forward a bit, do you hope to be fighting for gold in London at 2012? What do you think of Wimbledon as an Olympic venue?
ROGER FEDERER: I think it's fantastic. Obviously with the history already here at Wimbledon, the Olympics are going to be held here, it's special.
Now I think obviously, you know, London is such a big city, an important city in the world, to host the Olympics I think is always great. It was going to be either London or Paris. Regardless, it would have been fantastic.
Obviously I have a great effect with Wimbledon. I'm really excited to be playing there and getting a chance to pick up maybe a singles gold.
Tennis-Focused Federer to ignore World Cup distractions
The Swiss soccer team's Mr Motivator, also known as Roger Federer, is hoping Alejandro Falla does not turn out to be an awkward first round opponent at Wimbledon on Monday.
In line with Wimbledon tradition, the champion will begin his pursuit of a record-equalling seventh men's crown at 1400 local time but that means he will have to miss some or all of Switzerland's World Cup match against Chile.
Federer was recently invited to give the Swiss team a pep talk and despite his vested interest in what happens on the pitch in South Africa, on Monday he will be totally focused on the lush green lawns of Wimbledon. "You think I'll just like leave the court at 3:00?" Federer told reporters on Sunday before hotfooting it to Court Four for a relaxed practice session in black shorts and grey T-shirt.
"That's not going to happen quite yet," added the top seed, who became a father to twin daughters just a few weeks after winning a record 15th grand slam in London last July.
"In the past that I've had to play matches during important things in my life. I went on court last year many times thinking that (my wife) Mirka was going to give birth to my children.
"That was a bit more crazy than Switzerland playing at 3 pm. (But) I still have a chance to maybe go see a little bit (of the football match)."
The 28-year-old is arguably the most famous sports person to emerge out of Switzerland and after bewitching rivals for almost a decade -- winning 16 majors and countless records in the process -- Swiss coach Ottmar Hitzfeld, wanted Federer to sprinkle some of his magic over the soccer squad.
The ploy appeared to work as Switzerland shocked European champions Spain on Wednesday.
"Hitzfeld called me and said if I could just come in and meet the team, inspire them a bit, answer questions on how I handle the pressure," explained Federer.
"I came in (and) I don't think they've lost since. If it's one percent (credit) they give to me, that's great. I'm happy it worked."
Federer enjoys an intense rivalry on court with Mallorcan world number one Rafael Nadal, who had predicted an easy win for Spain in the Group H match, but opted not rub in the result when the duo briefly exchanged pleasantries in a Wimbledon corridor.
"This was a huge match. I watched it, of course. I didn't get in touch with Rafa because I'm not the type of person who rubs it in," said Federer.
"We know the bad times can come by very quickly. But obviously after a match like this, you're allowed also to start dreaming that you could go much further in the competition."
Roger targets Pete's record
London - Roger Federer admits his bid to retain the Wimbledon title will be driven by the prospect of equalling Pete Sampras's record of seven singles' titles at the All England Club.
Federer will walk onto Centre Court on Monday for his first round match against Colombia's Alejandro Falla with Sampras firmly on his mind at the start of a potentially historic fortnight for the world number two.
Sampras has been the finest exponent of grass court tennis in the Open era, but the American conceded last week that Federer has a great chance to shatter his Wimbledon record.
The 28-year-old, who announced his arrival as a force at Wimbledon with a victory over Sampras here in 2001, has already beaten Sampras's record of 14 grand slam singles titles and knows it would be remarkable achievement to draw level with the American's tally of All England Club titles.
"Being one title away from it, obviously I'm thinking about equalling Pete's record a little bit because I'm aware of the great things he achieved," Federer said.
"It's nice of him to say I could beat his Wimbledon record but I don't feel pressure from that because people compared me to Sampras even when I had no grand slams.
"Obviously my game's made for grass. Since I came here as a junior and since I beat Pete here in 2001 and I won my first Wimbledon here in 2003, I think every time I play, I'll have a chance to win here.
"But we all know how hard it is to win grand slam titles. You have to break it down and make it simple for yourself. I just have to try to win the first round before thinking about everything else."
Although Federer's phenomenal record at Wimbledon was enough to guarantee him the number one seeding, ahead of world number one Rafael Nadal, he arrives in south-west London with serious questions over his form.
By his own high standards 2010 has been disappointing year for the Swiss, who has failed to win any of his seven tournaments since beating Andy Murray in the Australian Open final in January.
Federer' run of 23 successive grand slam semi-final appearances was snapped at the French Open and he even lost for just the second time in 78 matches on grass when Lleyton Hewitt beat him in the final at Halle last week.
Yet Federer insists his recent struggles have not affected his preparations for Wimbledon and he expects to make another long run in the tournament.
"I really played some of the best tennis of my life in Australia and I've been disappointed I wasn't able to carry on," Federer said.
"I know my game, my body and everything so well that I really expected to take off and just go on a tear on that.
"It hurt. It was disappointing. But I think I found my game again in Madrid and in Halle I think the performances were good. That's why I'm confident for Wimbledon now.
"Rafa going above me in the world rankings doesn't change a whole lot. Mentally I wasn't going crazy after my loss at the French Open. It was all digested very quickly. Now it's about winning Wimbledon again."
Whatever his struggles away from Wimbledon, Federer will always be supremely confident when he feels the lush grass of Centre Court under his feet.
But he acknowledges there will be a strong challenge to his dominance from French Open champion Nadal, who defeated Federer in the 2008 Wimbledon final, as well as home favourite Andy Murray.
"I felt like what I saw recently was the old classic Rafa on clay hardly losing sets and matches. That's why it's going to be incredibly hard to beat him here at Wimbledon," Federer said.
"Regardless of what happened between here and the Australian Open, Andy is one of the big favourites for this tournament. He played incredible tennis at the Australian Open."
Wimbledon - Federer fully focused on Wimbledon
The Swiss football team's Mr Motivator, also known as Roger Federer, is hoping Alejandro Falla does not turn out to be an awkward first round opponent at Wimbledon.
In line with Wimbledon tradition, the champion will begin his pursuit of a record-equalling seventh men's crown at 13:00 UK time but that means he will have to miss some or all of Switzerland's World Cup match against Chile.
Federer was recently invited to give the Swiss team a pep talk and despite his vested interest in what happens on the pitch in South Africa, on Monday he will be totally focused on the lush green lawns of Wimbledon.
"You think I'll just like leave the court at 3:00?" Federer said on Sunday before hotfooting it to Court Four for a relaxed practice session in black shorts and grey T-shirt.
"That's not going to happen quite yet," added the top seed, who became a father to twin daughters just a few weeks after winning a record 15th Grand Slam in London last July.
"In the past that I've had to play matches during important things in my life. I went on court last year many times thinking that (my wife) Mirka was going to give birth to my children.
"That was a bit more crazy than Switzerland playing at 3 pm. (But) I still have a chance to maybe go see a little bit (of the football match)."
The 28-year-old is arguably the most famous sports person to emerge out of Switzerland and after bewitching rivals for almost a decade -- winning 16 majors and countless records in the process - Swiss coach Ottmar Hitzfeld, wanted Federer to sprinkle some of his magic over the football squad.
The ploy appeared to work as Switzerland shocked European champions Spain on Wednesday.
"Hitzfeld called me and said if I could just come in and meet the team, inspire them a bit, answer questions on how I handle the pressure," explained Federer.
"I came in (and) I don't think they've lost since. If it's one percent (credit) they give to me, that's great. I'm happy it worked."
Federer enjoys an intense rivalry on court with Mallorcan world number one Rafael Nadal, who had predicted an easy win for Spain in the Group H match, but opted not rub in the result when the duo briefly exchanged pleasantries in a Wimbledon corridor.
"This was a huge match. I watched it, of course. I didn't get in touch with Rafa because I'm not the type of person who rubs it in," said Federer.
"We know the bad times can come by very quickly. But obviously after a match like this, you're allowed also to start dreaming that you could go much further in the competition."
Reuters
CONFIDENT FEDERER CHASES WIMBLEDON TITLES RECORD, REFLECTS ON WORLD CUP WIN
Roger Federer’s trophy room at home in Switzerland houses an impressive collection, including his record 16 Grand Slam cups.
“All the US Opens, all the Wimbledons, they're all lined up next to each other,” he described, one day before opening his title defence at The Championships. “They almost go in a circle, so it's nice. I'm lucky enough to have won that many.”
Over the next fortnight, the 28 year old will look to add to the circle when he pursues a seventh Wimbledon title – a record currently shared by William Renshaw (1881-86, ’89) and Pete Sampras (1993-95, ’97-2000).
Federer, who won five straight titles at the grass-court Slam between 2003-07 before reclaiming the title last year with an epic win over Andy Roddick, admitted that the record had been on his mind.
“Maybe obviously a little bit because I'm aware of the great things he achieved, being one title away from it, you're obviously aware of it,” he said. “But then again, you have to break it down and make it simple for yourself, trying to win the first round, being here, trying to defend the title before everything.
“I'm happy I'm back here playing, healthy and everything, because that's always something sometimes you can't control, like with Rafa last year who couldn't come here and defend his title. I'm here, I get a chance, so that is great.”
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Federer has an impressive 51-5 record at the All England Club, with his only loss in the past seven years coming against Rafael Nadal in a 9-7 fifth set in the 2008 final.
“Obviously my game's made for grass,” he said. “Since I came here as a junior and since I beat Pete here in 2001 and I won my first Wimbledon here in '03, I definitely think every time I play, I'll have a chance to win here, there's no doubt. But we all know how hard it is to win Grand Slam titles. But I think with the experience I have on this surface, the experience can pull me through many matches actually maybe I would be struggling with.”
The Swiss made a strong start to the 2010 season as he claimed the Australian Open title, but was setback in February with a lung infection, and has managed two runner-up finishes since then on clay at the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open (l. to Nadal) and on grass at the Gerry Weber Open (l. to Hewitt).
“I think [the season] started great with playing so well in Australia, obviously. I really played some of the best tennis of my life. I've been disappointed I wasn't able to carry on,” he said. “I know my game, my body and everything so well that I really expected to take off and just go on a tear on that.
“Maybe the lung infection did throw me back a bit, not having played so much through March and April. All of a sudden I went through three months only playing about five matches. Two of the matches I played there, I lost with match points really. It hurt. It was disappointing.
“But I think I found my game again in Madrid. Played well there in Paris. In Halle I think the performances were good. That's why I'm confident for Wimbledon now.”
Federer is the top seed at The Championships, despite losing the World No. 1 ranking to Nadal following Roland Garros, where he saw his streak of a record 23 straight Grand Slam semi-finals come to an end with his loss to Robin Soderling in the quarter-finals.
“It doesn't change a whole lot because I don't think I can get my No. 1 ranking back anyway,” Federer said about coming back to the All England Club as the World No. 2. “It's about winning Wimbledon again. Mentally I [wasn’t] going crazy after my loss at the French. It was all digested very quickly. Played well in Halle. Here I am giving myself again a great opportunity to do well at Wimbledon.”
The Swiss also welcomed his rival’s return to Wimbledon, after Nadal missed last year’s Championship with knee tendonitis. “I'm happy he's back. I want him to play every tournament. I want the other guys to play as well because it's better for the game if we all face off, that there's more story for the sport. So I'm looking forward to an exciting Championship.”
And while Federer dismissed the notion of omens following Switzerland’s stunning 1-0 victory against Spain last week in World Cup action, he said of the victory: “Obviously this was a huge match. I watched it, of course. No, I didn't get in touch with Rafa because I'm not the type of person who rubs it in. We know the bad times can come by very quickly, very realistic. But obviously after a match like this, you're allowed also to start dreaming that you could go much further in the competition.”
As for his pick for the favourite at the World Cup: “I think Switzerland has the best chance,” he said with a smile. “That's how it looks like for the moment.”
ATP - ROGER SURVIVES SHOCK
Six-time champion Roger came back from the brink of a dramatic first-round exit at Wimbledon on Monday, recovering from two sets down to beat Colombia's Alejandro Falla 5-7, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(1), 6-0.
Roger who is bidding for a record-equalling seventh men’s singles title, was staring down the barrel as the south American world number 60 served for the match at 5-4 in the fourth set after producing a spellbinding display of baseline power and volleying guile.
But the Swiss top seed, who also recovered from 4-4 0-40 on his serve in the third set, finally found his game after being made to look second best for much of the match before a disbelieving Centre Court crowd. He wrapped up the fourth set tiebreak 7-1 and ran through in double quick time.
He admitted that he had been very fortunate to avoid going out against an inspired opponent. "I definitely got a bit lucky today, this is a match I should have lost and he played incredible" said Roger right after the match.
His next opponent will be Serbia's Ilija Bozoljac (ATP 152).
Konferencja po meczu I r. Wimbledonu 2010:
Q. Nice escape, Roger. Did it occur to you at any point in that match you were going to lose?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, a few times (smiling). It's normal. He played well. Was it in the third I was down Love‑40 in that one game? I'm not sure. That was the moment I felt was the toughest because if I wouldn't have come out of that game, I don't think I would have broken the next one. I had more belief I was going to break him in the fourth.
So it was a tough match, you know. He played really well and I struggled early on, but came through, which is most important.
Q. Why did you have more belief the second time?
ROGER FEDERER: I just felt I started to hit the ball better. Was an awkward break in the first game of the fourth. I should have never been broken there. But I started to feel my backhand was, you know, starting to be there.
I started to pick his serve much better, which has sort of always been the case every time I played him. Today, for some reason, I wasn't able to read his serve. That really rattled me.
So I had to look for that for a long time. Thank God I found it eventually.
Q. When you win matches like that, do you consider yourself more lucky, more good, winning on mind, or do you consider that the opponent was probably trembling a bit, weak? Mixed feelings?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I think I've been unlucky enough this already this season, so I needed one lucky match. We'll see how important it is, depending on the run I go on now.
I've lost a few matches this season with match points, 7‑5 or 7‑6 in the third. This is definitely some kind of a match I kind of needed. You know, you can't win them all when they're that close, because they're being played on a couple of points here or there.
One thing for sure you can do is push the luck on your side. That's not something I have been doing maybe enough the last few months. I'm happy today I gave myself a chance. Maybe some think I should have never put myself in that position.
But he played well. He's unconventional. He doesn't look like much, but he definitely plays very solid and plays very uncomfortable. So I knew that from the start. I wasn't going to underestimate him even though I just beat him 6‑1, 6‑2 in Halle. I think he played terrific. He made it hard for me today.
Q. During your six‑year streak of going far in majors, how many matches have you had like this, this early, where you felt as though you could lose?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, that's your job to find out the stats. It's not my job to remember (laughter).
But I don't think it's definitely happened in many years or ever that I've come back from two sets to Love down in a first round. So that's not the last six years, because I don't remember going through five sets in a first round. It was eventually going to happen. I'm happy, you know, I found a way to win today even though it was a tough match and a tough start for me, because he did offer me opportunities already in the first and second set which I wasn't able to take.
It was frustrating, to say the least. I hung tough and came through. So you have to look at the stats and find your story there.
Q. But how unusual were the feelings that you had during this match for you, especially here at Wimbledon?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, yeah, like I said, it hasn't happened I'm sure the last six years. So it's not something I'm used you.
You definitely feel, you know, uncomfortable because if you're used to being down the whole time your whole life, it's something that's kind of normal. For me it's not normal to be down two sets to Love, especially at Wimbledon, and early on in Grand Slams. It's something I'm not quite used to.
But still I was able to find a way. That's most important right now. Doesn't matter how I felt out there. Didn't feel great, that's for sure.
Q. How are you thinking about the rest of the tournament coming up?
ROGER FEDERER: Scores are set back to 0‑0 when I start the match. That's a good thing. So we'll see how it goes.
Q. How do you think he was able to stay with you so well in the rallies? You said afterwards he neutralized you.
ROGER FEDERER: For those who saw the French Open match, he served for the set in the first set. People that obviously only remember straight sets don't remember I actually played him. He was playing really well there, as well, taking huge chances on second serves.
Obviously on clay that's even easier. It was slow. It was rainy. We had to come off the court once. I knew he could hang from the baseline.
In Halle, I think there were too many bad bounces so he couldn't work with his half volleys. I was really mixing it up well, playing well, reading his serve terrific. That was something that was different today.
But in Paris I did have feelings against him that he was very uncomfortable to play against, even though I think I've had probably the fastest match in my Grand Slam career against him here on Court 1, like in 55 minutes I was able to beat him. I think if you can overpower him, everything goes your way, he's a guy you can put away very quickly.
Once you get tangled up in the rallies, it's very difficult. He has a great forehand, good backhand, moves well. I think he's improved his serve, to be honest. He's a tough player. Great talent. Good junior before. He's got the right potential.
Q. How did you find the speed of the court?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, the thing here, there's no bad bounces. You can just stick at the baseline, half volley, not panic when a guy moves in. You can always flick it at the end. Obviously they're not the fastest courts anymore. Depends obviously how you play, as well.
If you've got a massive serve and you can just outright overpower a guy, then obviously it's fast. But a guy who is that agile at the baseline like Falla makes it very difficult to play against, because he can neutralize you, plays a flat ball, doesn't miss much. You've got to take chances. Today the chances I took were not working.
Q. You said the ability to learn never to panic helped you jump‑start your champion career. Was there a moment where you sort of panicked today?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, sort of, 4‑All, Love‑40, yeah. I mean, I think also the points that leaded up to Love‑40 were not very convincing for me. I think I missed a forehand, missed a backhand, maybe even started with a double‑fault.
My whole game was sort of in disarray. I was just hoping that I get three quick serves to come back. But I had to come up with some passing shots, some scrambling shots. Didn't always get the first serve in.
There was definitely a bit of luck involved there, you know. It's normal when the chances he had, the way I came out of this match, you know, definitely got lucky. But that's how it goes sometimes.
Q. The momentum seemed to swing in the first set when it was 5‑All. You had that distraction, you were about to serve. The ball boy came across. The umpire stopped the match.
ROGER FEDERER: When?
Q. 5‑All in the first set.
ROGER FEDERER: I don't remember what happened.
Q. You were about to serve.
ROGER FEDERER: Didn't I get a first serve because of it? Should have worked my way (laughter). I was about to hit ‑‑ it looked like it maybe, but I didn't take advantage of it because I think I was about to hit a second serve and I got a first serve, which is a good thing. But messed the first serve up, had to hit another second serve, like an idiot.
But, look, no, I don't remember that being any turning point. He played a good game. My serve was on and off. He took his chances well in the beginning.
Q. Any question of nerves because it's the first match? Was there a nervous factor?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, walking on down the corridor, onto Centre Court, sure, there's always nerves involved. I kind of want that, you know, because it means the world to me to open Centre Court. It's a dream for any player to play opening day on the perfect grass court. When I walked out for the warmup, I'm like, This court is amazing. I don't remember it ever being so perfect, you know.
Then once you get the first couple of service games underway, I think my first game was fine during the match, then it's fine. I wasn't particularly nervous once the match started. Just the regular.
Q. It looked like your level of energy was very low. Was that the feeling you had, too?
ROGER FEDERER: No, I mean, I was being calm because I knew I had to be concentrated on trying to read his game. And in the past actually I've always kind of struggled in the first set here at Wimbledon on opening day.
Many times I've been down a break in all the six or seven times I've opened the court. I've been down a couple times a break. I remember that going into the match. Maybe I was playing a little bit careful.
But I was playing the right way. I had a couple of breakpoint chances, everything looking fine. Then there was this one game at 5‑All which then turned the match for me.
Q. Do you sense the crowd sort of panicking a bit for you?
ROGER FEDERER: Not too bad actually. I think, I mean, they were waiting for something to happen, for me to make my move. It's usually how the crowd is, you know, when I'm down. You know, I was happy I had a couple of good points to come back into the match. Then it was obviously thriller atmosphere, which was great for me, making him a little nervous, too.
I think I was able to go get the victory. He didn't just donate it to me. That also makes me feel good, because at the end I did play a great fifth set. Nobody will talk about that, I know. People will say he was tired, he choked already way before. I did play a great fifth set. I was able to read his serve. I was starting to play great with my backhand. Things were really clicking in the end.
Q. What carries over for you moving forward? That fifth set or the struggles earlier?
ROGER FEDERER: I think you got to be ‑ how do you say ‑ realistic saying like there was a big threat today. I did get lucky today. It's important to take ‑ how do you say ‑ the right things out of this match. There was positives and negatives, obviously. But then again every player, thank God, in some ways plays different.
The next guy is a righty, big‑serving guy, nothing to do with the guy I played today. Because you struggle today doesn't mean you're going to struggle in the next match, too. Same thing if you win in straights; it doesn't mean you're going to win the next match in straights. That's just the way tennis is.
That's why you're happy sometimes you get over the finish line and have a chance to play much better maybe or play a different kind of a player. That's what I'm going to get for sure in the next round.
Q. Do you think it might have helped you to play him three times in a row?
ROGER FEDERER: It shouldn't have, no, especially after Halle. He should have known that I was going to beat him. But he forgot I beat him (smiling).
Look, he played a great match. I think he gave himself an incredible look. I told him at the net, I hope he's not too disappointed because I thought he played great. Maybe I didn't play obviously the match of my life, but I did play not bad myself at times. That normally is enough to go through in straight or in four sets, but he definitely pushed me. He was a very tough opponent.
Q. What's it like being a dad at Wimbledon?
ROGER FEDERER: Good. I can come back anytime. I'm a member. I can be a dad anytime at Wimbledon now. It's great being here with the kids and Mirka after last year's time where she was pregnant. It's nice to be back as a family. Even two, you guys didn't know that, so that's nice.
Wimbledon 2010 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w 2 rundzie
Q. Are you aware that the longest tennis match is going on right now?
ROGER FEDERER: I am aware, yes. I'd be a fool if I wouldn't know.
Q. Having that in mind, do you think it does make some sense to have a fifth set tiebreak like the US Open?
ROGER FEDERER: I think it's perfect the way it is. It's unfortunate these guys are going to be a little bit tired tomorrow and the next day and the next week and the next month. I've been following this as closely as I could. I walked on court at about 11 All in the fifth. They're still going. This is absolutely amazing, yeah.
I mean, in a way, I wish I was them, in some ways I wish I wasn't them. So this is a very special match. I hope somehow this is going to end. I don't know. They'll be fresh again tomorrow, I guess. If they have to come back, it's unbelievable. I don't know what to say.
Q. Were you surprised a guy ranked 152 in the world could play that well?
ROGER FEDERER: No, not really, because I do practice a lot with juniors and lower ranked players and doubles players who don't have much of a singles ranking anymore. These guys are tough. You know, they can all hit a good ball. Are professionals, as well, do the right things.
So maybe they can't produce it over an entire tournament, but especially on grass they can produce it on any given day.
It's a good match for me to come out. I thought Bozoljac played great. He served amazing. It's hard to get a read on his serve. He served clutch when he needed to. He was able to really play very dangerously also on the returns, even though I was never broken, which is a good thing for me. This easily could have gone five sets. Also could have gone straight sets, so obviously I'll take the four sets any day.
Q. This Isner/Mahut match, does it give reason for a fifth set tiebreaker?
ROGER FEDERER: No. I answered already. I love this. I know they're maybe not loving this, but I guess this is unheard of in our game. I mean, normally there are breaks in tennis matches.
John is barely moving anymore, but he's still able to produce good serves when he has to. It's so impressive to see. I mean, I was watching this. I don't know if I was crying or laughing. It was too much.
Q. Is this a match that's reduced to a battle of wills rather than tennis ability?
ROGER FEDERER: I don't know. I guess once you get to the point of 10 All, 20 All, you don't doubt anymore. You just go point by point. You hope not to be down Love 30. If it happens, you concentrate a bit extra.
But I guess in some ways you're also relaxed, you know. You just say, You know, whatever happens happens. When it gets important, you try to focus. Like this, you don't have that extra pressure and tension in your body. Maybe that's why these guys can do it for so long and so good.
I heard Mahut only had three breakpoints so far in the entire match. I mean, this is unbelievable. They've played I think over nine hours. The stats on the serves I don't even know about because they must be ridiculous, incredibly good.
So, I don't know, you just go with the flow. Obviously once it's 50 All, you're like, I don't want to lose this match anymore after putting in a heroic effort already. Unfortunately there's going to be a loser. But I think both will come out as winners, that's for sure.
Q. Can you relate that to yourself when you played in the final last year?
ROGER FEDERER: I can relate to this in some little degree. This is beyond anything.
Q. There's been talk about the grass slowing down. When you see those two guys, they've combined for 175 aces. Not a lot of returns are getting back in play. Maybe it shows that the court is at the right speed?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I still think, you know, it's a touch too slow. Indoors I think our game has slowed down drastically. But I definitely think the bounces are nice and high here at Wimbledon. I think the bounces were lower. If the bounces are lower, it makes it much faster to play on.
But, you know, it's the way it is. Today I think it's particularly quick. I felt it also on my serve and on Bozoljac's serve. If you do hit your spots, the ball travels through the air very quickly. Once you try to find the right spots, you don't have to take the chances anymore like in the beginning.
You have the opponent guessing, your first serve percentage goes up. Next thing you know you're serving at 70%, not as high a risk, because the air is doing the work for you. The court was fast, too, because it's hard and quick today.
But it's not always like that. I still wish it was faster, but I'm not complaining. I've played fantastic here over the years obviously in these conditions.
Q. The final point when you were standing at the net waiting for Hawk Eye, what did you exchange with him? Everyone in Serbia wants to know.
ROGER FEDERER: They're debating already?
Q. Yes. They're proud of him.
ROGER FEDERER: I asked him what kind of drink he wants later on in the bar. No. (Laughter).
I said, I think the ball is out, really. Anyway, I hope so. He goes, If it is out, I wish you all the best. Please keep on winning and stuff. It's like, Okay, we'll see. Wait for the call first, you know. But he was very nice. He was very supportive of me going on and playing very well in the next few rounds.
He seems like a very nice guy. I've played him once in doubles in Davis Cup. He comes across as a very open and kind of cool guy. So it was kind of an unconventional finish, but he was a very nice guy at the net.
Q. Is it strange to drop three sets in the opening two games for you? You wouldn't have been expected to.
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, but I won six sets, you know, so... Kind of works. You got to win the right sets.
But sure, you know, I think the first two matches have been tough. My opponents, I think they did play very well. Today was obviously very different. We hardly had any rallies, whereas in the first match it was played out on the baseline points really.
So, I mean, I'm happy with the way I'm feeling today. I'm coming off a five setter. It's never easy. I mean, this is hard. Still, five sets pressure, everything builds up. I was behind almost the entire match in the first round. So I came out feeling actually good. I'm excited that I'm still in the tournament. Looking forward to my third round, regardless how I got there.
Q. Do you think you have improved from your last match to this match?
ROGER FEDERER: I don't know. I mean, it's completely different opponent. You know, the other guy, he served lefty, 105 miles average probably on the first serve. Here we have a guy serving 135 the whole match. You can't compare these kind of matches.
That's what I meant. It's kind of tough that every player plays tough. But it's also good. It makes it interesting. You have to adapt. Today was a matter of staying calm, waiting for high chance, and hopefully come up with some good shots when I had to.
It was hard, because I thought Bozoljac played very well, which also means I think I did very well today.
ATP - ROGER REACHES 3RD ROUND
Roger advanced to the third round by beating qualifier Ilija Bozoljac 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (5). The six-time champion had a slightly easier time than in his opening match, when he overcame a two-set deficit. But he had trouble putting Bozoljac away, converting only three of 13 break-point chances. Roger, playing on unfamiliar territory on Court One, managed to avoid being broken throughout the match and eventually prevailed in two hours and 46 minutes.
“I wish they were straight sets, obviously," Roger said. "But as long as you're moving on, especially at Wimbledon, I'm a happy man." "He was playing really well," the Swiss admitted.
Roger now takes on either Frenchman Arnaud Clement or Australian Peter Luczak.
ATP - ROGER WINS WITH EASE
Defending champion Roger has cruised into the fourth round of Wimbledon with a 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 victory over France’s Arnaud Clement.
After two decidedly unlike performances so far this campaign the Swiss maestro hit the ground running from the off against a man who had beaten him in both their previous grand slam meetings. Roger made only 11 unforced errors and broke the French world number 86 in the opening game and reeled off the first two sets in little over an hour, and settled it after 95 minutes when the Frenchman netted.
The Swiss who is aiming for his 17th Grand Slam title and seventh at the All England Club, will play Austria’s Jürgen Melzer on Monday in the quarterfinals who he has never played before.
Wimbledon 2010 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w 3 rundzie
Q. Was it a relief to get an easy match after the first two rounds that were much more difficult?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, yeah, to some degree, yes. I knew I had more of an active role today in my match, you know, that Clément was only going to allow me to play a bit more. He has different assets than the last opponent.
I knew it could be somewhat like in the first round. I've played him on numerous occasions, also on grass before, so I know how he plays. I've been successful the last few times we've played.
So it's the kind of guy I didn't like to play against. Today I don't mind it, so I'm happy with the score line.
Q. I don't believe you played Melzer before. Probably one of the only guys in that age bracket that you haven't faced. What do you look for in a match where you haven't seen him face to face?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, we know each other very well, back from the juniors. We played doubles back at the Orange Bowl probably like in '97 or '96. So we go way back.
It's funny because I've practiced with him, you know, chat with him every day in the locker rooms. But it's one of the guys I never faced. And he's my age, so it's an interesting matchup. Usually we always play the same tournaments as well because he's Austrian, I'm Swiss.
We tend to have similar schedules, but we never met. Kind of cool we finally get a chance to play each other, especially here at Wimbledon, which I think is one of his best surfaces on grass, and he's coming off of a great French Open.
I'll definitely be in for a tough match. He's improved again. He's making a move, a push in his ranking. My job is to try to stop that a little bit.
Q. It's still the first week of Wimbledon. You've had some tough matches, so has Roddick, Nadal, Djokovic. Do you think the depth in the game is the highest it's ever been in men's tennis?
ROGER FEDERER: No, I mean, I think there's always been big depth, you know, the last years. Just this year it seems like ‑‑ I mean, no major upsets yet but tough matches for everyone. And touch matches don't mean that there's a decline in form.
I think you always also have to respect the guy who put in a great effort and a good match. There's many guys that did that against top guys. Unfortunately for them, they weren't really able to break through and make the upset they were hoping for.
But it's good for the tournament the top guys are still going. Interesting with obviously a week ahead of us now.
Q. Was that your best performance, the performance you were happiest with so far today?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, I guess so. Even though last round's match was hard to judge because there was more just serving, bombing, returning, reacting. Not much you could really do in the outcome, whereas in the first match, obviously I was four sets in trouble and only in the fifth set could I finally start to play a bit of normal tennis.
So obviously, this felt much better. Right off the bat I got the early break. Same thing in the second set. From then on, it was a race to the finish line. So it was a good and solid match for me, clean, hardly any errors, good on the offensive. So I'm very happy with my game right now.
Q. You've been to a lot of special events. Anything at all surprising about your experience with the Queen? What did you enjoy the most about it?
ROGER FEDERER: Just enjoyed sitting right next to her at lunch really and getting a chance to know what kind of a person she is, because you hear a lot obviously about people of her status.
It was nice. She was very friendly, very relaxed. You could tell she's done this a million times, you know. She made everybody feel very special at the table, one of those things you'll never forget, and be able to tell to your kids or someone down the line.
Q. Did she have any sensibility at all towards our sport in terms of references or knowledge?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, she knew about my tough first round. She knew she was going to watch Andy obviously at 1 p.m. She knew about the Isner‑Mahut match. She also was very excited to be back at Wimbledon finally, that her schedule allowed it, because usually she said she was in Scotland during this time. We were all very thrilled she finally made it.
Q. What did she mention about your first round and about Isner?
ROGER FEDERER: She said I should hit more backhand down the line (laughter).
No, she didn't go into details.
Q. Given the choice from a fan's perspective, would you take Monday at Wimbledon or Saturday at the US Open, the second Saturday?
ROGER FEDERER: In terms of?
Q. If you were a fan and you had a ticket and you had to choose between one of those two days.
ROGER FEDERER: You'd do both, you know. Go to one first and the other one in September.
No, I think even the middle Saturday ‑‑ is it Labor Day weekend? I think it's great.
Q. It's a three‑day weekend.
ROGER FEDERER: Those days are great as well at the Open. There's obviously something, a myth about opening Monday here. Obviously, the importance of the match is almost maybe greater at the US Open if you're talking about that middle weekend, the final weekend at the Open. Atmospheres are very different.
Honestly I was joking before. But I still think if you're a diehard fan, you should do both. It's really that great.
Q. Switzerland is playing right now.
ROGER FEDERER: Are they already?
Q. I think so, yes.
ROGER FEDERER: So I should go (smiling). It's a good point. I hope they're winning. I hope this is worth it, what I'm doing right now.
Q. As someone who has won many career‑defining matches, what advice can you give to the England football team for Sunday?
ROGER FEDERER: The better the opponent is, the better you play yourself. It's very simple sometimes. There's nothing much you have to do. Against weaker players or weaker teams, respectful obviously, you tend to have options. You tend to pick the wrong ones.
Against the better players, you only have one option and then you play better. I think that's what's gonna happen with the England‑Germany match, as well.
Tennis-Federer finds his A-game after date with Queen
With no coach in his corner to guide him when the going gets tough, Roger Federer joked on Friday that he maybe could even a little guidance from Queen Elizabeth.
The six-times Wimbledon champion struggled to find his A-Game in his first two matches but after being summoned on his day off to dine with the Queen, he finally found the form that has helped him to reign at the All England Club for most of the 21st century.
"She knew about my tough first round," Federer said on Friday after producing a majestic performance in a 6-2 6-4 6-2 third round pummelling of Arnaud Clement.
"She said I should hit more backhands down the line," the top seed added to hoots of laughter.
In case anyone thought he was being serious, and perhaps to make sure he does not get banished to the Tower of London, the Swiss quickly poured cold water on the theory.
But there was no doubting that after setting pulses racing in his first match when he came within three points of defeat against Colombian Alejandro Falls, and causing a few more panic attacks on Wednesday when he was stretched to four sets by Ilija Bozoljac, he finally hit his stride on Day Five.
It was as if the real Roger Federer had finally shown up at Wimbledon. The footwork was precise and the timing of his shots was sweet -- especially on the backhand.
When world number 86 Clement had strolled in through the All England Club gates on Monday, he had two main claims to fame.
He held the record for taking part in the longest ever men's tennis match and could boast of holding a 100 percent record over Federer in grand slam meetings.
At 1841 local time on Friday, he lost his bragging rights.
Clement, whose six hours 33 minute duel at the 2004 French Open was shattered by the 11 hour five minute Isner-Mahut epic on Thursday, had won both of his previous major showdowns with Federer -- albeit the last one coming in 2001.
On Friday, the writing was on the wall for the sunshade-wearing Frenchman within the first three minutes when he was outfoxed, outhit and out thought by Federer and was broken in the first game.
While most players try and switch to Plan B when things are not working, Clement just fiddled with his headgear. First he tossed aside his red bandana for a blue one. When that failed to have the desired effect, he switched to a purple one.
When none of that distracted Federer in full flow, he even started emitting an anguished wail everytime he made contact with the ball.
After humouring the 32-year-old for 95 minutes, the Swiss put Clement out of his misery and now stands just four wins away from a record equalling seventh men's crown.
The king of Wimbledon promptly turned his thoughts to the Queen.
"(I) just enjoyed sitting right next to her at lunch really and getting a chance to know what kind of a person she is, because you hear a lot obviously about people of her status," said Federer.
"She was very friendly, very relaxed. You could tell she's done this a million times. She made everybody feel very special at the table, one of those things you'll never forget, and be able to tell to your kids or someone down the line."
Federer talks tennis with the Queen
Roger Federer has revealed that Britain's Queen's Elizabeth knows enough about the current tennis scene to carry on a lunch table conversations with those fully in the know.
The six-time champion king of Wimbledon sat next to the host country's monarch for lunch during this week's royal visit and said the head of state can hold her own in a discussion of the sport
"She knew about my tough first round, she knew she was going to watch Andy (Murray). She knew about the Isner-Mahut match. She also was very excited to be back at Wimbledon finally. We were all very thrilled she finally made it."
The diplomat of tennis said that dining with the Queen was a rare opportunity. "I enjoyed getting a chance to know what kind of a person she is, because you hear a lot obviously about people of her status."
"She was very friendly, very relaxed. You could tell she's done this a million times. She made everybody feel very special at the table, one of those things you'll never forget."
Federer even joked that he even got some unsolicited advice on his game from his tablemate: "She said I should hit more backhand down the line..."
ATP - ROGER IN QUARTERS IN WIMBLEDON
Roger has reached the quarterfinals in Wimbledon by easily defeating Jürgen Melzer (ATP 16) 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 in today's match on Centre Court. The one-sided victory in just one hour and 24 minutes secures Roger his 25th consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final appearance.
Roger, who had never faced Melzer at senior level before, produced his full array of wonderful touches and rock-solid serving on Centre Court in sharp contrast to his stuttering performances in the opening two rounds.
Roger dropped his opening service game but that was about the only slip-up from our champ from the rest of the match. Another break followed soon after as Roger took advantage of some hesitant play from the Austrian. He secured an early break of serve in the third and Melzer failed to fashion even a solitary chance of his own as the defending champion breezed into the quarter finals.
Roger: "It was always going to be a tough match against Jürgen. The start of the match was vital. I got the early break but he broke back but I was in my rhythm. It was great to have two days off but that doesn't make the difference if you are going to win the tournament."
Roger will either face Tomas Berdych (ATP 13), or Germany's unseeded Daniel Brands (ATP 98) in the last eight.
Wimbledon 2010 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w 4 rundzie
Q. Are you a fan of this Monday at Wimbledon where all the singles players are on show?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, yeah. I mean, it's great to be part of it when you make it to the second week, first of all. Secondly, I think it's wonderful for the fans. I always say for fans the best days are like quarterfinal day or last 16s, because then you usually have the big names but you still have enough matches to go look at, not only just on the big courts but also on the grounds. The juniors are also playing.
I mean, I think this is a wonderful day for the fans.
Q. How do you feel you played today?
ROGER FEDERER: I thought I played great. Aggressive right from the start, which I think was key today because I knew Melzer was going to try ‑‑ every chance he was going to get, he was going to hit the ball and come forward as well. You want to counter that and play aggressive yourself. I was able to do that very well today.
Q. Do you feel you can intimidate opponents on this Centre Court because you know it so well?
ROGER FEDERER: I don't play that trick. Honestly, I don't even know how it works. So I just try to play a good match, you know.
I know Jurgen too well to play tricks with him. I always say, you know, if you're not good enough and you have to use stuff like that, then you have issues. So I always say, Try to play your best, and if it's enough, that's great; otherwise you have to go to the practice courts and work harder and get better.
Crowds are wonderful here. Obviously I know every corner of this Centre Court. It helps. I've got the experience from playing so many big matches here. I don't obviously get too overexcited about a match like this. But I also have nerves going into a match like this. It's a guy I never played before. He's a good friend of mine. You don't want to lose.
Q. Any concerns about fitness at all? There was a photograph with some strapping on your thigh the other day. Is that just precaution?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, it was after my first‑round match. MY thigh was hurting a little bit, which already was the case in Halle. In the finals it was hurting me as well.
But honestly now I have no more problems, no more strapping. I'm happy I recovered that.
Q. How does the hot and dry weather change the conditions of the courts?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, this is not hot. This is normal to me anyway. Maybe for England, I don't know. For Switzerland, as well. But we're used to playing in 35, 40 degrees sometimes. This is moderate. Very comfortable to play in. This is kind of a one‑shirt‑change kind of match. That's rather easy.
But, no, obviously when it's nice and warm like this, it travels through the air a little bit. Also maybe glides through the grass a bit more. Then again, I think the difference is more from opening Monday to, you know, second week Monday, the court plays different. You can move better, I have the feeling, because it's not as slippery because the grass almost is gone.
It becomes a bit more of a hard court kind of a feel under your shoes. You get more grip, in my opinion. I think that's a bigger change than actually the weather.
Q. How have slower courts and the heavier tennis balls contributed to the decline of the serve‑and‑volley game in your estimation?
ROGER FEDERER: It's tough to say. I obviously came here in the year when I played Sampras, let's say, I was serve and volleying 80% of the first serve, 50% on the second serve.
I remember once speaking to Wayne Ferreira who I was playing doubles with that year actually. He said he used to serve and volley always first serve, 50% of the second serve. And towards the end of his career at Wimbledon, he used to serve and volley 50% of his first serve and not anymore on his second serve.
You wonder, how in the world has that happened? Have we become such incredible return players or can we not volley anymore or is it just a combination of slower balls, slower courts?
I think it's definitely a bit of a combination of many things. If I look back, I think we definitely had many more great volley players in the game back then. When you do have that, you are forced to move in, as well, because you don't want to hit passing shots against a great volleyer over and over again. But because we don't have that as much anymore, everybody's content staying at the baseline.
A bit unfortunate, I think, because I love guys moving in, like a Melzer match today who throws in the occasional serve and volley. You have to throw in great passing shots. It's unfortunate for the games. Unfortunately, they've slowed down everything, indoors, grass. Everything has become so slow, I think that is a bit of a pity.
Q. What have you missed by having that contrast like Sampras and Agassi?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I used to, thank God, still play in that era where I played against serve‑and‑volley players, chip‑and‑charge guys. It was a completely different game plan. Mindset you felt pressure the whole match because you knew it doesn't matter what surface on a couple of shots here and there. You don't get that feeling anymore as much.
Q. Yesterday this country and the sports world were shocked by some problematic officiating, and there were very loud calls for electronic officiating. Could you talk about how electronic officiating has evolved in our sport and would you call for it in soccer, especially at the goal line?
ROGER FEDERER: Have to be careful. Who is the head of the FIFA? I don't remember. Is he a Swiss guy by any chance (smiling)?
We have, what is it, electronic line calling even though we don't need it. We all know we don't, but we do have it. They should have it, and they don't. So it's a choice the guys have to make at the top, you know.
I do struggle a little bit with soccer at the time because there's so many mistakes from umpires. Don't blame them. They're so far away sometimes from what's happening, and then also so many goals are disallowed that are goals and others are not counted that would be goals. It's frustrating as a fan.
You just hope that all those things go for you when you're like in this kind of a stage of a tournament. They could have been sent home just because of that single mistake, and it's incredible.
I think it's rough, you know. To me it seems like it's just crying for a change, a bit.
Q. In our sport you feel it is best just to leave it in the hands of the linesmen and the chair umpire?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, you have to understand, one forehand down the line doesn't change the outcome of the match; whereas one goal changes the entire mindset of a team, of a strategy. You know, you can play defense after that.
Tennis, we don't have that. Guys are sitting there, not moving. They're only staring at the line. It's so much more simple. It's going to even out throughout a career or a season, the good and bad calls.
Whereas goals, I mean, it's such a huge impact in those 90 minutes. It changes everything. That's why they have it in American football, right? They have challenges you can do. I mean, there's so many ways of trying to adjust the system.
Q. You came out missing a few first serves. How do you work on that as the match goes on?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, you look for your rhythm, try to make sure you get the right rhythm going. Well, then maybe you start finding the T serves; then you look for the wide serves. But everything happens very quickly. That's why I'm very happy I can rely on a good second serve. I think I won 70% on my second serve today. That was another key on winning the match in straight.
Q. Did it hurt at all to dismantle Melzer so easily and give him quite a beating since he's your friend?
ROGER FEDERER: No, that's just tennis. That's a tennis match. It's no more than that. He even said right after, the match was over at the end, he hopes he doesn't have to wait another 10 years to play me. He was not frustrated.
He was hoping for a second match right after the match was over. That's the kind of guy is. It's wonderful playing on Centre Court. He knows wherever he plays me around the world, it's most likely going to be Centre Court.
I think our games match up well. He probably likes my style of playing, moving forward, not giving him too much chances. I feel the same from his game as well. I think we would match up well if we play together more often.
Federer: "Oko jastrzębia" do piłki, a nie tenisa
Kontrowersyjne sytuacje z mundialu, a w szczególności nieuznany gol Franka Lamparda z meczu przeciw Niemcom, nie omijają również kortów Wimbledonu. Roger Federer uważa, że piłka nożna musi wykorzystywać technologię, a tenis sobie bez niej spokojnie poradzi.
Anglicy przegrali ostatecznie 1:4, ale decyzja o nieuznaniu gola miała ogromny wpływ na przebieg meczu.
Od 2007 roku podczas zawodów Wimbledonu używa się technologii HawkEye (oko jastrzębia), która pomaga rozwiązać spory dotyczącego tego, czy piłka weszła w kort czy nie. Ale międzynarodowa federacja piłkarska broni się rękami i nogami przed wprowadzeniem technologii.
Roger Federer jest od dawna krytykiem systemu HawkEye. Uważa jednak, że jego rodak i prezydent FIFA, Sepp Blatter, powinien wprowadzić powtórki wideo rozstrzygające kontrowersyjne sytuacje podczas meczów piłki nożnej.
- Mamy elektroniczny system umożliwiający sprawdzenie czy piłka wpadła w kort lub nie, choć tego nie potrzebujemy - stwierdził Szwajcar po awansie do ćwierćfinału Wimbledonu wygrywając z Juergenem Melzerem.
- Oni powinni to mieć, a my nie. Jest to wybór, którego muszą dokonać ludzie na górze. Dla mnie wygląda to tak jakby aż prosiło się o zmianę. Jeden forhend źle oceniony nie zmienia wyniku spotkania. Ale jeden gol zmienia cały mecz drużyny, taktykę - tłumaczy Federer i podkreśla, że w tenisie są sędziowie liniowi odpowiadający za wywoływanie autów.
- Chłopaki tam siedzą i się nie ruszają. Gapią się cały czas w linie. Jest to o wiele łatwiejsze. Gole mają wielkie znaczenie w przeciągu 90 minut. To może zmienić wszystko - zakończył
Bet on Federer could pay off from the beyond
A seventh Wimbledon title this weekend from Roger Federer would mean a payday of $150,000 for British charity Oxfam as a bet from a late supporter pays off.
Nicholas Newlife left his entire estate - and his future bets - to Oxfam. The bet could pay off up to $500,000 in the best-case scenario over the next decade.
One of his bets of $2,300 picks Federer to win seven Wimbledons before the year 2020 at 66/1 (67.00) odds. Should it happen this week, the payout out be in excess of $150,000. The wager does not fully expire for another nine years.
"In the event that he fails to win this year - and he is 6/4 (2.50) favourite to do so - the bet does not
run out until 2019," said a spokesman for the William Hill betting firm. "Mr Newlife made arrangements in his will to pass any profit from his bet on to his favoured charity, Oxfam - a unique eventuality in our experience.
"We will, of course, be handing the profits from his far-sighted wager to them just as soon as Federer holds the trophy aloft for a seventh time."
The charity is hoping to keep profiting from wagers made between 2000 and 2005. Proceeds of the
payoffs were included in the will of the late punter who died in February, 2009, and are directed to Oxfam.
Roger Federer crushes Jurgen Melzer 6-3, 6-2, 6-3
Roger Federer was expected to declare his hand at the start of the second week. Instead he made a declaration of war. In crushing his good friend, Jürgen Melzer, he served warning that any imposters would find Centre Court hostile territory.
Were there doubters? Did anyone really believe that Federer’s first-week wobbles were portents of a greater malaise? There can be no longer. This was a masterclass from the Swiss precisionist, a 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 victory that marked the passage from that-was-then to this-is-now.
“I wasn’t at my best last week but I don’t really care how I got into [the second week],” a delighted Federer said. “To win the tournament you have to keep progressing, and that is what I’m doing.” Federer thus adopted the mantra of every seeded player at the onset of Wimbledon. The saying goes that week one is purely about survival. After that, anything — but anything — can happen.
Except that it is an exaggeration. What usually happens is that Federer dismisses allcomers with a casual flick of the wrist. Only once in the past seven years have his hands been prised from the trophy. Even so, there were more than a few dissenters from that storyline this year.
Generous Centre Court welcomes are assured but they came with chimes of pleading when the Swiss opened proceedings yesterday. “Show us what you’re made of, Roger,” urged one frustrated fan. However, any sympathy for his previously troubled plight quickly turned to sympathy for his opponent.
At times, Federer was quite unplayable. It was as if he had settled down to a lobster lunch, using every implement to crack, crush and fillet out every last morsel. Melzer was the empty shell on his plate — and that after Federer had swallowed the starter whole. He was 3-0 to the good after only six minutes.
Poor Melzer was in meltdown. The Austrian opened with six successive errors, only one of them forced, and was doubtless glad of the cap that covered much of his face. Then Federer played a slack service game embracing a double fault, a backhand beyond the baseline and a complacent approach to usher Melzer back into the set.
Only in a manner of speaking, of course, because at 2-3 Melzer dished out four more unforced errors and Federer was back in clear water. “He broke me back after my great start,” Federer said, “but I wasn’t worried. Even by then, I had found my range.” The second set was a thing of beauty from Federer — including a perfect return on every first serve he put in court. He won all 12 of those points and the rest of his game was approaching concert pitch. He glided over the ground, the ball zinged from his racket and that backhand, so erratic last week, was back in the groove.
A feature of that topsy-turvy week was the way Federer refused to compromise when his game malfunctioned. He continued to rifle those backhands even though they proved costly; he persisted with a big second serve despite the flurry of double faults. He would take his reward here. All the component parts, unsynchronised then, were now working in harmony.
The boost in confidence this gave Federer was tangible. He simply refused to step behind the baseline despite Melzer’s weight of shot, and he took the match to a man who thrives on doing likewise. Melzer’s efforts to compete on these terms were futile. Way out of his comfort zone, his errors became wilder as he succumbed to the inevitable.
OFF COURT - FORBES CELEBRITY 100
Roger has once again made it into Forbes magazine’s most powerful celebrities list. He is ranked 29th in this year's edition of the "Forbes Celebrity 100", the annual ranking of the most powerful celebrities in movies, television, sports and publishing. Factors that are taken into account are income, Google hits, press clips and magazine covers.
Oprah Winfrey heads the list with Beyonce Knowles in second place. Roger lies inbetween LeBron James and Brad Pitt.
OFF COURT - ROGER MET THE QUEEN
Last Thursday Roger had the honour of meeting Queen Elizabeth II who only paid her second visit to the All England Club since having been there last in 1977.
The Queen met several players, including Roger, Venus and Serena Williams and Andy Roddick as well as former Wimbledon champions Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King. She then stayed to enjoy the match involving British player Andy Murray. Before the match, the 84-year-old monarch lunched with Roger and former British champions Angela Barrett, Ann Jones and Virginia Wade, as well as Venus Williams and Tim Henman.
"I was delighted to meet the Queen. It is a big honour for myself on a personal level and it's a big honour for the club." said a smiling Roger, wearing a smart grey suit, bowed as he shook hands with the Queen.
As the photos of the event have finally been released, we are happy to have some in our gallery (see link below).
ATP - ROGER STUNNED BY TOMAS BERDYCH
Roger lost to Tomas Berdych in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon today, the six-time champion’s earliest loss at the All England Club since 2002. He was beaten 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 by Berdych, the 12th seed from the Czech Republic.
Roger, who has appeared in every Wimbledon final since 2003, lost the first set, 4-6, but rallied in the second set, which he won 6-3. Berdych looked uncomfortable and Roger hit his groundstrokes shorter. But Berdych regained control. He seized the third set 6-1, and got an early break in the fourth set and never yielded control, serving for the set at 5-4.
Wimbledon 2010 - wywiad po porażce w ćwierćfinale
Q. Difficult moment, but what couldn't you do that you wanted to do? What let you down?
ROGER FEDERER: Uhm, well, I mean, I don't think I played poorly. But, uhm, I think he went after it. I mean, I know Berdych. I think I've played him 10 times already before. That's the way he plays, you know.
I think he's been able to play more consistent last year or so, and I was just not able to defend well enough and I didn't come up with the good stuff when I had to. So it was disappointing, you know. Yeah.
Q. You beat him almost every time you played him. Was he any different?
ROGER FEDERER: Like I said, I think he was a bit more consistent than in the past. I lost to him in Miami this year, where it was a really tight match as well.
But from my end, obviously, you know, I'm unhappy with the way I'm playing. I couldn't play the way I wanted to play. You know, I am struggling with a little bit of a back and a leg issue. That just doesn't quite allow me to play the way I would like to play.
So it's frustrating, to say the least. Looking forward to some rest anyway.
Q. How do those physical things affect you the most?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, when you're hurting, it's just a combination of many things. You know, you just don't feel as comfortable. You can't concentrate on each and every point because you do feel the pain sometimes. And, uhm, yeah, then you tend to play differently than the way you want to play.
Under the circumstances I think I played a decent match, you know. But I've been feeling bad for the last two, three matches now. It's just not good and healthy to play under these kind of conditions, you know.
So if there's anything good about this it's I'm gonna get some rest, that's for sure.
Q. Some of these big, flat hitters seem to be having an effect on you. Do you need to alter your game to adjust to that?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, if I'm healthy I can handle those guys, you know. Obviously it's a pity that Del Potro is not around, because I think he would have a run at world No. 1 or a run at another Grand Slam. It's unfortunate for him.
But, you know, he's been playing well, and these guys do play very well. I played these guys 10 times. They're not going to reinvent themselves in a year, you know.
But I'm definitely struggling at the moment. That's a bit disappointing.
Q. When did you first start feeling the problems?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, the leg came in the finals of Halle. That kind of never really quite got away from me. Came back a little bit after the first‑round match, and then went away again and just kept creeping back sometimes during the matches.
The back's been feeling stiff the last five days, six days really badly. Also in the finals of Halle. It's just something that's been lingering on the grass. It's normal that the back tends to get stiff, you know, in the grass court season because you have to, uhm, go for many more lower shots.
I've had that for many years. I think many players have it. But it's not just not nice when it doesn't go away and you can't play freely. That's what I was missing today.
Q. Did it affect your level of motivation or anxiety about the match before the match or in the early stages of the match?
ROGER FEDERER: No, it wasn't that bad, like that I was just hoping to get to the finish line. I mean, once I enter the court, I am there to battle and to try to win with what I got. You know, otherwise I'm not going to walk on the court like I did once in my life prior in Bercy against Blake.
But it's nowhere close to being that bad. It's just uncomfortable. Yeah, like I said, you can't play freely. When you can't play freely, that's the kind of performance you get.
Q. Obviously he's going to come at you. Did you feel like you were as aggressive as you wanted to be in the match? You had some chances in the fourth set, Love‑40 on his serve.
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, his mistakes and my mistakes. You know, he played well when he had to. It was brutal for me. Every time he had a chance, he took it. On the breakpoints, he played great on those.
Then when I had chances early on, I was actually not too bad. I just felt like I got the unlucky bounce once in a while, you know. 30‑All he got it on the line over and over again. I just felt like I couldn't create enough chances to really get the breakthrough.
When I did have chances, I played poorly. It was just a frustrating match the way it all went.
Q. Timing issues for you out there on the ball?
ROGER FEDERER: No.
Q. A number of shots were sailing out and the crowd would groan and then they would suddenly curl in. What role do you think technology had on today's result, strings in particular?
ROGER FEDERER: I don't know what you mean. What do you mean, balls were flying out and they came back in?
Q. No. It looked like he was hitting balls that were going to land 10 feet behind the baseline and then they would curl in.
ROGER FEDERER: No, no, he didn't play like that. You saw a different match.
Q. Will this make you hungrier to make you come back and show you can lift this title again?
ROGER FEDERER: Sure. God, I can't wait for Paris and Wimbledon to come around next year again, that's for sure. So, uhm, because they've been frustrating tournaments for me, even though it wasn't too bad.
Quarters is a decent result. Obviously people think quarters is shocking, but people would die to play in quarterfinal stages of Grand Slam play. It's not something I'm used to doing, losing in quarterfinals, because it's not something I've done in the last six years.
So I am winning my matches. Today was a different story than Paris. I mean, I think in Paris conditions were tough. Robin played fantastic. Today was different. You know, I was struggling with my own game and with my physique.
Yeah, I'm looking forward to a rest, and then attack again in North America.
Q. What concern do you have that the injuries will linger?
ROGER FEDERER: Not much of a concern.
Q. Do you feel you can get back to a position of domination in tennis?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I do think that. That's why I'm here.
Q. Obviously a very disappointing day for you personally. Who, in your opinion, do you think will go on to win this competition now?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, let's wait and see who gets through today. But as we don't know, I can't answer. What a pity (smiling.)
Q. Which leg is the one bothering you?
ROGER FEDERER: The right one.
Q. Do you think the return was the most difficult part of your game today? Because sometimes you were returning a little slower and he was hitting a lot of winners.
ROGER FEDERER: That's his game. He took a lot of chances, you know. I tried to slice it; I tried to play aggressive. You know, first you just want to try to make the returns.
But, you know, I mean, I had my chances. I don't think I needed to change much. The way I returned, this match I could have won as well, you know.
But, uhm, I was just not playing well enough. And when he had to, he was able to come up with some good stuff, you know. But I definitely gave away this match, I feel.
Q. Will you shut yourself off from tennis totally now?
ROGER FEDERER: Yes. Two weeks' vacation.
Q. The prospect of a men's final without Roger Federer seems a strange one. Will you tune in on Sunday to see how it goes on?
ROGER FEDERER: I don't think so, no. I'll be on vacation, like I said (smiling.)
Q. Andy Murray is playing a critical match at the moment. Nadal has been having some trouble. What do you think of Andy Murray as a player and do you think this might be his year, given some of the great players are not doing so well?
ROGER FEDERER: The end was what?
Q. I wonder if you think this might be his year, given some of the really threatening players haven't been doing so well this year.
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, true, Rafa played terribly lately; Soderling is not a threat either. He's got an easy ride to this victory, that's for sure. Djokovic can't play tennis anymore it seems like.
Got to make your own work, please. Respect the players. Obviously Andy is a fantastic player and he's got all the chances to win here. We all know that.
Niestety z dniem dzisiejszym zakończyła się kolejna passa Szwajcara.Po raz pierwszy od 2002 roku ma miejsce sytuacja,kiedy to Roger nie zdobywa tytułu na trawie w ciągu sezonu.
Paul Newman: This could be the beginning of the end for the best ever player
You write off Roger Federer at your peril, but might we have seen the best of the six-times Wimbledon champion? Failing to reach one Grand Slam semi-final, ending a run of 23 successive appearances in the last four, might be regarded as careless, but to follow up his quarter-final exit from last month's French Open with defeat at the same stage here hints at a more long-term pattern.
There were similarities between Federer's defeat to Robin Soderling in Paris and his loss to Tomas Berdych yesterday. Both his conquerors are big-hitters who found the consistency to keep the Swiss at the back of the court, denying him the chance to attack. The nature of the former world No 1's game is such that he usually makes a steady flow of errors, but they are usually rendered irrelevant by the torrent of winners.
Through his career Federer has enjoyed remarkable fitness – this was his 43rd successive appearance at a Grand Slam tournament – but, with his 29th birthday approaching, the years and nearly 900 professional matches may finally be catching up with him. The Swiss has not been at his best physically in recent months, a lung infection having hindered his spring programme and leg and back injuries troubling him here.
How much yesterday's defeat owed to Berdych's form rather than Federer's frailties we may find out over the next few days. At one stage the Czech looked one of the best of a potentially great generation of emerging players – one that included Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray – but he has taken time to realise his potential. Reaching two successive Grand Slam semi-finals hints at big things ahead for the world No 13.
You would never discount the possibility of Federer still adding to his tally of 16 Grand Slam titles or winning Olympic gold at Wimbledon in 2012, but regaining his world No 1 ranking might be beyond him. He may be destined to remain for ever on 285 weeks at the top of the rankings, just one week shorter than Pete Sampras' record.
Rety, a ja myślałem, że początek końca był wiosną 2007 kiedy przestał grać swój najlepszy tenis i potem mało kiedy do niego wracał dłużej niż na jeden-dwa mecze w turnieju(następnie to były pojedyńcze sety, teraz to są już tylko gemy). Ale coś czuję, że teraz co chwila będziemy kolejnego domniemanego odkrywcę Indii, który zachwycony swoją przenikliwością obwieści światu, że Federer się kończy. No ale niektórzy dostrzegli że Titanic tonie dopiero jak mieli wodę pod nogami.
Roger Federer: Nadal grał ostatnio tragicznie, Soderling nie jest groźny, a Djoković nie umie już grać w tenisa
Mimo ćwierćfinałowej porażki z Tomasem Berdychem, Roger Federer nie tracił poczucia humoru na konferencji prasowej. Momentami był znudzony, momentami dowcipny, a momentami sarkastyczny.
To trudny moment, ale czego nie udało ci się dziś zrobić, mimo że chciałeś to zrobić? Co cię zawiodło?
Hmm, cóż, nie sądzę, że grałem słabo, ale, yyy, wiecie, znam Berdycha. Grałem z nim 10 razy wcześniej. On tak gra. Myślę, że dziś był bardziej skoncentrowany niż w innych spotkaniach, a ja nie byłem w stanie bronić się wystarczająco dobrze i nie potrafiłem wyjść z dobrymi zagraniami, kiedy musiałem. To rozczarowujące.
Nie mogłem grać tak, jak chciałem. Od jakiegoś czasu zmagam się trochę z bólem pleców i nogi. To nie pozwala mi do końca grać tak, jakbym tego oczekiwał.
Jak te kwestie wpływy na twoją grę?
Cóż, jeśli cię coś boli, to jest to kombinacja wielu rzeczy. Po prostu nie czujesz się komfortowo. Nie możesz się skoncentrować na każdy punkt, bo co jakiś czas czujesz ból. Pomimo tego uważam, że zagrałem przyzwoity mecz. Ale przez ostatnie dwa, trzy spotkania czułem się kiepsko.
Kiedy zaczęły się te problemy?
Z nogą w Halle. Tak naprawdę ból się pojawiał, potem przechodził, a potem znowu czasami wracał. Jeśli chodzi o plecy, to mam je dość sztywne od pięciu, sześciu dni. Czułem je również w finale w Halle. To oczywiście pojawia się w grze na kortach trawiastych, bo, wiecie, trzeba walczyć o wiele niskich uderzeń. Miałem to wielokrotnie. Myślę, że wielu tenisistów z tym się zmaga, ale to nieprzyjemne, kiedy uraz nie przechodzi i nie możesz grać swobodnie.
Było wiele takich piłek, które wydawało się, że wylecą za linię końcową, na trybunach podnosił się już szum, a tymczasem lądowały one w korcie. Jak sądzisz, jaką rolę odgrywa technologia w dzisiejszym tenisie, w szczególności naciągi?
Nie wiem, co masz na myśli. Co, piłki wylatywały za kort, a potem nagle wracały?
Nie. Wyglądało to tak, jakby po jego uderzeniach piłka miała wylecieć daleko w aut, a tymczasem lądowała w korcie.
Nie, nie. Nie grał tak. Oglądałeś inny mecz.
Kto, według ciebie, wygra ten turniej?
Cóż, może poczekajmy, kto przejdzie do półfinałów dzisiaj. Dopóki się nie dowiemy, dopóty ja nie mogę odpowiedzieć na to pytanie. Co za szkoda… (uśmiech).
Z którą nogą masz problemy?
Z prawą.
Robisz sobie przerwę od tenisa?
Tak, dwa tygodnie wakacji.
Wizja finału Wimbledonu bez Rogera Federera jest trochę dziwna. Pojawisz się na trybunach?
Nie sądzę. Tak, jak mówiłem, będę na wakacjach (uśmiech).
Co sądzisz o Andym Murrayu? Myślisz, że to może być jego rok wobec nieco słabszej dyspozycji najgroźniejszych rywali?
Tak, to prawda. Rafa grał ostatnio tragicznie, Soderling też nie jest żadnym zagrożeniem, więc z łatwością wygra ten turniej. Wygląda na to, że Djoković też nie umie już grać w tenisa (śmiech na sali). Proszę, wykonujcie swoją pracę. Szanujcie zawodników. Andy jest fantastycznym graczem i ma ogromne szanse tu wygrać. Wszyscy o tym wiemy.
Top-Seed Federer Defeated by Berdych in Wimbledon; Nadal, Murray Advance
Roger Federer lost to Tomas Berdych in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon today, the six-time champion’s earliest exit at the All England Club since 2002.
The Swiss right-hander, who has appeared in every Wimbledon final since 2003, was beaten 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 by Berdych, the 12th seed from the Czech Republic. Top-ranked Rafael Nadal, the No. 2 seed, advanced in four sets against Robin Soderling.
“I’m very happy with my performance today, I was playing really well,” Berdych told reporters.
Federer, who had been seeking to tie Pete Sampras’s Open era men’s record of seven titles at the London grass courts, led Berdych 8-2 in career meetings before today. The 28-year-old had been seeded No. 1 and was the 11-8 pre-tournament favorite at British bookmaker William Hill Plc to win Wimbledon.
Berdych will play third-seeded Novak Djokovic of Serbia for a spot in the championship match. Djokovic defeated unseeded Yen-Hsun Lu of Taiwan 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. Spain’s Nadal won 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 against Soderling in a repeat of the French Open final and will face Andy Murray, a 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-5), 6-2, 6- 2 winner over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Federer said at his post-match news conference that he was bothered by back and leg trouble.
“If I’m healthy, I can handle these guys,” he said. “When you can’t play freely, that’s the kind of performance you get.”
Last Exit
The last time Federer failed to reach the Wimbledon final came the year before he won the championship for the first time, going out in the first round against Mario Ancic.
Consistently attacking Federer’s serve and backhand, Berdych moved the defending champion around the court with powerful ground strokes and serves of up to 137 miles per hour. The Czech right-hander produced 51 winners, while Federer had 44. Federer converted one of eight breakpoints, while Berdych converted four of six.
Berdych raised his arms and pointed to his private box after he converted his second match point with a forehand winner. After shaking Federer’s hand, the 24-year-old sank into his chair, smiling broadly. Just before leaving Centre Court, Federer turned around and waved at the crowd, receiving a loud cheer.
Difficult Serve
Serving for the match had been difficult, Berdych said. Federer had saved one match point as the Czech served at 5-4 in the fourth set.
“If I can just go through my career, it was the toughest one to serve and close out,” Berdych said. “I’m pretty happy.”
Berdych beat Federer the last time they played, in the round of 16 in Miami in March, when he overcame a match point. He also beat Federer at the 2004 Olympics, in the round of 32.
Federer last year became only the sixth man to win all four majors in a career when he triumphed at the French Open. He went on to claim a record-breaking 15th Grand Slam singles title at Wimbledon and took his 16th at the start of this season at the Australian Open.
He came back from two sets down to win his opening-round match against 60th-ranked Alejandro Falla of Colombia last week. He said afterward that his game had been “in disarray.”
Berdych is the first man from the former Czechoslovakia to advance to the last four at Wimbledon since Ivan Lendl in 1990. Jan Kodes won in 1973.
Quarterfinals Loser
Federer now has lost in the quarterfinals of two consecutive Grand Slams. As defending champion, he was upset by Sweden’s Soderling at the French Open, ending his record streak of 23 straight Grand Slam semifinals.
Federer lost to Lleyton Hewitt in the final at Halle, Germany, a week before the start of Wimbledon -- his second loss on grass in seven years, and his first defeat by the Australian in 16 meetings.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-06-3 … inals.html
Najdotkliwsza porażka Federera od lat!
Mający patent na wygrywanie Wimbledonu Roger Federer poza turniejem! W ćwierćfinale sześciokrotnego zwycięzcę londyńskiego szlema ograł rewelacyjny Tomas Berdych. Czech wygrał w czterech setach 6:4, 3:6, 6:1, 6:4, a ostatnie punkty zdobywał z uśmiechem na ustach.
Nie ma przesady w stwierdzeniu, że Wimbledon to turniej Rogera Federera. Przydomek Król Roger nigdzie nie pada tak często jak na kortach londyńskiego All England Club.
Gdy eksplodował jego talent, zawsze dochodził na Wimbledonie przynajmniej do finału. Od 2003 roku wygrywał tam sześć razy. Jeden jedyny raz w drodze na szczyt powstrzymał go Rafael Nadal. Było to w 2008 roku, ale już w zeszłym sezonie Szwajcar ponownie sięgnął po koronę. Zanosiło się na to, że jego supremacja będzie tam trwała wiecznie.
Ale znalazł się kolejny śmiałek, który postanowił porwać się na Federera w jaskini lwa. Przeciętnie grającego w tym sezonie jak na swoje możliwości Szwajcara zatrzymał młody gniewny 24-letni Tomas Berdych. Dla Federera to być może jedna z najbardziej dotkliwych porażek w karierze. Na Wimbledonie wypadł najsłabiej od 2002 roku! W meczu z wschodzącą czeską gwiazdą był jednak po prostu bezradny.
Już pierwszy set pokazał, że mecz może zakończyć się niespodzianką. Po wyrównanym początku, to Berdych cieszył się z pierwszego przełamania. Jak się później miało okazać siódmy gem okazał się decydujący dla całej partii, gdyż Czech utrzymał przewagę już do końca, wygrywając 6:4.
Po drugim secie wydawało się, że wszystko wraca do zakładanego scenariusza. Trzy gemy z rzędu dla Szwajcara ustawiły tę część meczu. Obrońca tytułu kontrolował grę i zdawało się, że po początkowych problemach łapie swój właściwy rytm. Wynik 6:3 był dla niego dobrym prognostykiem przed dalszą częścią spotkania.
Jakie było więc zdziwienie wszystkich fanów Szwajcara po kolejnym secie. Berdych kompletnie zdominował mecz, już na samym początku częstując rywala przełamaniem. Przy stanie 3:1 Czech przetrwał napór Federera i nie oddał mu już żadnego gema w tej partii. Rozstawiony z "12" tenisista dużo ryzykował i przynosiło to skutek. Posyłając piłki w linię końcową zmuszał Szwajcara do obrony, a w razie potrzeby "wyciągał z kieszeni" zabójcze skróty.
Najwięcej walki było w ostatnim, czwartym secie. Stojący pod ścianą Federer poprawił swój serwis i szukał okazji na przełamanie rywala. Najlepszą ku temu okazję miał w gemie numer "6", ale pomimo prowadzenie 40/0 nie udało mu się postawić kropki nad "i". Zemściło się to nim bardzo szybko. W kolejnym gemie znów trwała walka na przewagi, ale tego dnia to Berdych lepiej radził sobie z wykorzystywaniem break pointów (w całym meczu wykorzystał 4/6, Federer... 1/8). Przewagę przełamania Czech utrzymał już do końca seta wygrywając 6:4, a cały mecz 3:1.
Choć to dopiero trzecie zwycięstwo Berdycha z Federerem w 11. meczu, to aż dwa z nich Czech odniósł właśnie w tym roku. Poprzednio 13. w rankingu ATP tenisista okazał się lepszy od słynnego Szwajcara wiosną na twardych kortach w Miami. Czyżby powoli miało się to stać regułą?
Roger Federer Book Now Available In English & Paperback
Roger Federer: Quest For Perfection, the updated and re-released book that chronicles the incredible tennis career of Roger Federer, has been officially re-released in paperback by publisher New Chapter Press. The book also appears in English for the first time.
Roger Federer: Quest For Perfection ($19.95, New Chapter Press) was written by Rene Stauffer, the esteemed Swiss tennis journalist who has covered Federer since the budding tennis champion was a 15-year-old. The book chronicles Federer's life as a tempermental junior player, his early struggles on the ATP Tour, his break-out win at Wimbledon in 2003 through his record-breaking 15th major singles title at Wimbledon in 2009. The book also focuses on his values, how he has been marketed, his relationship with the media as well as his numerous charitable pursuits.
Federer made his statement for being considered as the greatest tennis player of all-time in 2009 when he defeated Andy Roddick 5-7, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5), 3-6, 16-14 to win his sixth Wimbledon singles title and capture his 15th major singles title, surpassing the all-time men's record of 14 set by Pete Sampras. Four weeks earlier, Federer defeated Robin Soderling 6-1, 7-6 (1), 6-4 to win the French Open, moving him into exclusive company as only the sixth man to complete a "Career Grand Slam" - winning all four major tournaments over a career.
Federer's major trophy mantle, that now numbers 16, currently includes the 2009 French Open title, six Wimbledon titles (2003-2007, 2009), five U.S. Open titles (2004-2008) and four Australian Open titles (2004, 2006, 2007, 2010).
Stauffer is one of the world's leading tennis journalists and the highly-respected tennis correspondent for Zurich's Tages-Anzeiger and Sonntags-Zeitung. A sports writer since 1981, Stauffer worked for the Swiss newspapers Blick and Sport, before joining Tages-Anzeiger in 1993.
After first writing about Federer in 1996, Stauffer has traveled the world covering Federer and his many triumphs.
New Chapter Press is also the publisher of "The Bud Collins History of Tennis" by Bud Collins, "The Education of a Tennis Player" by Rod Laver with Bud Collins, "Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games" by Tom and Jerry Caraccioli, "Acing Depression: A Tennis Champion's Toughest Match" by Cliff Richey and Hilaire Richey Kallendorf, "Jan Kodes: A Journey To Glory From Behind The Iron Curtain" by Jan Kodes, "The Lennon Prophecy" by Joe Niezgoda, "Bone Appetit, Gourmet Cooking For Your Dog" by Susan Anson, "The Rules of Neighborhood Poker According to Hoyle" by Stewart Wolpin, "People's Choice Cancun - Travel Survey Guidebook" by Eric Rabinowitz and "Weekend Warriors: The Men of Professional Lacrosse" by Jack McDermott, among others. Founded in 1987, New Chapter Press is an independent publisher of books and part of the Independent Publishers Group. More information can be found at www.NewChapterMedia.com.
Hard-headed Federer must change with the times
Once upon a time, Wimbledon legend Pete Sampras lost a match on Centre Court against a cocky young ponytailed pretender named Roger Federer.
Sampras had seven Wimbledon trophies to his name. He never won an eighth. A year later, he was gone.
There were echoes of that moment at Wimbledon on Wednesday -not so much in the passing of the torch, because Tomas Berdych will never be Roger Federer -but because it was the first real hint of what's to come.
Federer had seven straight Wimbledon finals to his credit when Berdych blew him off the court in the quarterfinals. He won six of them; there might never be a Sampras-tying seventh.
We're going to have to start talking about how it's going to end for him. And the fascinating thing about the final act of Federer's career won't be his quest for another major. It's going to be how he handles his inevitable decline.
Will the stubborn Swiss continue in denial about how tennis has changed around him? Will he make changes to a game that has been so successful? Will he suffer through a bad loss here, a niggling injury there, and make comments like the one he made Wednesday about the quarterfinals being a "decent result", about how people "would die to play in a Grand Slam quarterfinal".
That was shocking: the great one suddenly judging himself by the standards of mere tennis mortals.
Federer burst on the scene at the tail end of an era of all-court players who could still serve-and-volley to great effect. A decade later, he regularly faces the first breakthrough players of the new generation, who grew up hitting every single ball as hard as they could from a very young age.
Developments in racquet technology and strings have only exacerbated that trend.
Federer was always a hard hitter, but it was because of his incredible wrists and racquet-head speed, not technology. While he has changed his strings, the stick he uses isn't much different from the one he started with, which was pretty similar to the one Sampras played with his entire career, the Wilson Pro Staff.
Clearly, Federer wasn't listening when the equally stubborn Sampras later rued that he hadn't changed to a more modern stick while he was still playing on Tour.
Federer is as hard-headed as they come. If you want to make an argument for change, he can point to all the titles he won with that racquet.
But the 10-15 mile-per-hour difference between his serve and those of the huge servers he plays is showing now. It used to be only Andy Roddick; now it's a whole host of players who are bigger, taller, stronger and more powerful.
But to those who say he needs a real coach (a waste of money if he won't listen to him), needs to change his game, change his racquet, change this, change that, what do you expect him to do, exactly?
Here's the thing; Federer isn't ever going to serve 135 mph. He isn't ever going to hit a two-handed backhand that will be less vulnerable to the rocket groundstrokes and high-bouncing topspin. He isn't ever going to be 6-foot-6.
Federer seems somewhat fixated on Juan Martin del Potro, perhaps because the young Argentine shocked him in last year's U.S. Open final. But there are plenty of del Potros around, and he seems to be dismissing them. He has met two of them, Berdych and Robin Soderling, in the last two Grand Slams -and lost.
Both times, he blamed other factors, like difficult court conditions or injuries.
In his own way, Federer is as obsessive about his training regimen and preparation as Nadal is about his on-court water-bottle placement. That hard work behind the scenes is one reason he has had extraordinary luck with injuries through his career, in addition to some genetic good fortune that the heavier Nadal wasn't blessed with.
He likes things to be perfect; he works like a maniac to make them that way. When they're not, he melts down a little, like someone sticking a spoke into the wheels of the finest racing bike on the planet, or pouring a little Coke on the most expensive laptop ever made.
But to ask him to make radical changes to try to keep up with the game is asking him to something that's probably not in his nature. He's the great Federer, not Michael Chang, who changed to a longer racquet, tried to beef up his serve, did everything he could. And it didn't really work for Chang.
As he goes along, there are going to be more injuries, more lingering injuries. There will be more and more variables out of his control, more spokes in his wheels.
How will he handle it? Hopefully, it will be a full-circle
kind of thing.
Fallen Roger Federer ready for new life after tennis
In PUBLIC, Roger Federer is still in denial; in private, it seems, he knows the score. His quarter-final defeat at the hand of Tomas Berdych on Wednesday, coming hard on the heels of his quarter-final loss to Robin Soderling at the French Open, signalled the end of the Federer era. He would not admit it openly, but deep down he knows that his time at the top is over.
For six years, he had not lost before the semi-finals of a grand slam event, a 23-tournament run that brought him 14 of his 16 major trophies. But at Wimbledon, as in Paris, he was bundled off the court by a bigger, stronger and - most importantly of
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all - a younger man.
When he lost to Berdych, he was in a miserable mood. He snapped at the journalists in front of him, blaming his loss on a sore back and a sore leg, and bit the head off og one poor newshound who simply asked him for a thought about Andy Murray. No, he would be back, he claimed. He could not wait to return to the All England Club and Roland Garros to erase the two unfortunate blots on his record.
But in private, Federer is clearly thinking ahead.
He wants to buy the Davidoff Swiss Indoors, the tournament in his home-town of Basle. But this will be no play-thing for the multi-millionaire local superstar - the tournament would be the first of a portfolio of tournaments owned by him. Sources within Federer's management company have admitted that he is looking for serious and long-term investments.
Federer's interest in the Basle event leaves the current tournament director, Roger Brennwald, in a desperate position. The event is his creation, his baby, and it is an extremely successful business venture. But if Brennwald does not sell to Federer he will face the wrath of the Federer faithful; if he does sell, he will be giving up the business he created and nurtured over the years.
This new interest in matters financial is the clearest indication yet that the end is nigh for Federer the player. For so long, he has made winning look easy but in the past couple of months, he has discovered that losing is hellish.
His spell at the top has been long and it has been consistent. Even Pete Sampras, who set the record for finishing the year as the world No.1 for six consecutive years, had dips and troughs during that run. Federer has been relentless. But he will be 29 in a few weeks' time and even for the greatest player of all time, that is knocking on a bit.
When Pete Sampras finally called it a day, he had just turned 31. He won his seventh and final Wimbledon title at the age of 28 and then won nothing for another two years when, in a fairytale finish to a record-breaking career, he won the US Open in 2002.
Federer at No. 3 for 1st Time Since November '03
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) -- Roger Federer fell to No. 3 in the ATP rankings Monday, the first time since November 2003 he's been that low.
The 16-time Grand Slam champion's quarterfinal loss at Wimbledon, following seven consecutive appearances in the final, dropped him one spot. He trails No. 1 Rafael Nadal and new No. 2 Novak Djokovic.
Federer was No. 1 earlier this season, but he was overtaken in the rankings by Nadal on June 7, after the French Open. Nadal won his fifth title at Roland Garros, while Federer lost in the quarterfinals there, too. That left Federer one week shy of tying Pete Sampras' career record of 286 total weeks at No. 1.
Nadal's second title at Wimbledon, a year after missing the tournament because of bad knees, increased his lead atop the rankings. Runner-up Tomas Berdych, who upset Federer at the All England Club, climbed from 13th to a career-high No. 8 by reaching his first Grand Slam final.
Andy Roddick, who lost the 2009 Wimbledon title match to six-time champion Federer, dropped two spots to No. 9 after losing in the fourth round. The man who beat him, Yen-hsun Lu of Taiwan, leaped 40 spots to No. 42.
Like Nadal, Wimbledon women's champion Serena Williams remains at No. 1. But her older sister, Venus, dropped from No. 2 to No. 4. Jelena Jankovic moved to second, with Caroline Wozniacki third.
Vera Zvonareva's run to her first major final allowed her to rise from No. 21 to No. 9.
Time catches up with Roger Federer
ROGER Federer's mask of grasscourt invincibility has been shredded.
It wasn't so much the fact Federer suffered his earliest loss at Wimbledon since 2002.
Nor the fact his conqueror was Czech Tomas Berdych, a serial under-achiever who Andre Agassi considers to be one of the purest ball strikers in the world.
And it wasn't the fact the Swiss wizard had failed to reach the semi-finals at the past two grand slams after reaching the 23 previous.
It is simply this: Federer's body, the bulwark protecting a gorgeous game, is finally showing signs of terminal fatigue.
Tennis history is crammed with precedents.
Stefan Edberg, the fastest man of his generation between baseline and service box, saw the writing on wall when other players began winning the race to the net.
John McEnroe read the signs when not even reflex and anticipation were enough any more.
Pat Cash, the sport's high priest of physical conditioning, slid to oblivion when body could not keep pace with mind.
Ivan Lendl's back, Gustavo Kuerten's hip and Pat Rafter's shoulder contrived to prematurely rob the sport of grand slam champions and world No. 1 players.
Federer is not given to excuses.
Yet after falling to occasional tormentor Berdych, including an unheard of 6-1 set on grass, a revealingly tetchy Federer felt the need to detail back and leg issues.
He said he had struggled with the injuries in the Halle final loss to Lleyton Hewitt - another victim of a deteriorating body - and the first-week Wimbledon struggles against Alejandro Falla and Ilija Bozoljac.
Before the Berdych match, Federer insisted he was physically fine.
Little wonder Berdych was mightily peeved to hear of Federer's comments as he savoured the finest win of an unfulfilled career.
If Federer is to be taken at his word, expect more of what the world saw on the All England Club's centre court.
No matter the record, no matter the player, a slippery slope awaits the competitor operating at less than 100 percent.
True to jungle law, the vultures are already circling.
Federer will take a two-week holiday, brooding over the worst loss at Wimbledon in eight years.
"I'm definitely struggling at the moment," he said.
"Quarters is a decent result. Obviously people think quarters is shocking, but people would die to play in quarter-final stages of grand slam play."
Who would have thought those words would ever tumble out of the mouth of the man who has won more major singles crowns (16) than any other in history?
Another failure at the US Open will seal the deal - Federer has slipped back into a baying pack.
As it is, he will drop to No. 3 in the world next week, his lowest mark in seven years.
On the face of it, he is flattered by the ranking.
Federer third for first time in seven years
Roger Federer slipped down one place to world number three, the first time the Swiss great has been ranked outside the top two since November 2003.
Federer, winner of a record 16 Grand Slams, suffered a shock quarter-final defeat to Czech Tomas Berdych at Wimbledon, won for the second time on Sunday by world number one Rafael Nadal.
Federer also lost at the same stage of the French Open in June, breaking a record sequence of 23 consecutive semi-final or better appearances in grand slams going back to Roland Garros in 2004.
Serbian Novak Djokovic, who reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon, is now world number two.
Federer was last at three in the world on November 10 2003, since which time he has notched up 15 Grand Slam titles after opening his account at Wimbledon that year.
The 28-year-old first reached world number one on February 2 2004, holding the position until August 2008 when Nadal climbed to the top.
Federer then reclaimed the top slot the following July after winning Wimbledon for the sixth time, but saw Nadal again oust him as world number one in June this year.
American Pete Sampras holds the record for time spent at number one with 286 weeks, just one more than Federer.
Reuters
Federer's excuses, dismissive remarks at Wimby invite criticism
A few years ago at Wimbledon, during the peak of his reign, Roger Federer admitted that he liked to read the newspapers. He'd get up nice and early in London and buy a stack, just to see what was being written about him.
About 10 daily newspapers were (and still are) available there, so Federer could digest a veritable novel on his greatness. There wasn't much to say but "unbeatable," or "nobody ever played this well," so it tended to be pretty fun reading.
I wonder if Federer even passed by a newsstand last week after he was eliminated by Tomas Berdych. If there's a truism about storied athletes, it's that a tear-down process is inevitable, and we're at the heart of the Crush Federer movement -- especially after an interview session featuring dismissive remarks and the excuse of injury. These were some of the reactions, all from journalists with experience and perspective:
"The press conference was embarrassing, the words of a man in denial."
-- longtime Wimbledon chronicler Art Spander
"The excuses fell from the king's sky like acid rain...so put-upon, so unlucky...to see Federer fighting reality so hard was disturbing."
-- Matt Cronin, TennisReporters.net
"It strayed dangerously close to rationalization."
-- Greg Garber, ESPN.com
"His reaction -- that he was dogged by back and leg injuries that hampered his movement -- was particularly ungracious."
-- Neil Harman, the Times of London
"Federer's aura of infallibility at the All England Club? It's long gone, up the hill in the Wimbledon village, having a pint at the Dog & Fox."
-- Mark Hodgkinson, Telegraph
"He was sour, sarcastic, self-pitying, the portrait of an ungracious loser."
-- Linda Robertson, Miami Herald
"The day that Roger Federer says that the 'quarters is a decent result' for him at the All England Club, we really have reached the end of an era."
-- Steve Tignor, Tennis.com
"It wasn't his back that failed, and it wasn't his leg. It was his nerve. That's how it is when a great champion's determination and courage begin to ebb. And, like the proverbial cuckold, he's always the last to know."
-- Pete Bodo's TennisWorld
All in all, Mary Carillo concluded, "I heard him give a bunch of different interviews, and he kept bringing up the injuries, which is not like Roger. I feel bad. Berdych played the match of his life and had to defend his win."
It's worth noting that whenever a section of Internet comments came into play, fans rushed to Federer's defense -- passionately, almost savagely. How dare writers even question the great man, after all he has done? And there's much to be said for that stance. Can't we allow Federer a few moments of exasperation? He's never been a player to make irrational statements, take fraudulent bathroom breaks, call for a trainer to change the mood, or downplay the performance of an opponent. Surely he has played hurt before, without mentioning it, and it's not as if he was speaking angrily. For years, Federer's mannered honesty was something we greatly appreciated. As one reader noted, "This is the most gentlemanly player ever. He's been at the top for so long, people may unconsciously take pleasure in his fall from grace."
In the end, there is no definitive answer. Federer doesn't deserve to be the court jester, nor should he be reviled, necessarily, for aberrant remarks. We do know for certain that he is vulnerable, a condition he hasn't experienced since his tempestuous teenage years, and that he has drifted well out of character. If Federer loses a tough match at Toronto or Cincinnati, he'll once again enter a tough room full of unsettling questions.
As an unabashed fan of Federer's talent and a first-hand witness to several of his major titles, I'd love to see him win the U.S. Open and confront his critics with that deadliest of weapons, the scoreboard. I would hesitate to predict such a thing, however. Six months of hard evidence suggests otherwise.
Some other thoughts on Wimbledon:
Martina Navratilova is calling Serena Williams' serve the best she's ever seen, and that's a popular notion among insiders. Pam Shriver, speaking on BBC television, went as far as to call it "the single greatest shot in the history of women's tennis," but that might be a stretch. I'd suggest Chris Evert's two-handed backhand (changed everything, in every corner of the world), Monica Seles' version (unprecedented power), Steffi Graf's revolutionary forehand and Navratilova's volleys from both sides, with Billie Jean King's not far behind . . . When the imposing Marat Safin beat Sampras to win the 2000 U.S. Open, many felt it signaled the arrival of a new era, full of huge, big-serving guys who would take control of the sport through sheer power. The notion seemed plausible enough as the likes of Goran Ivanisevic, Richard Krajicek and Mark Philippoussis made their mark, but the real shotmakers -- Andre Agassi, Federer and Rafael Nadal -- maintained the sport's fine aesthetic. Now there's a new wave of big hitters, more graceful and deadly than ever before, with Berdych, Robin Soderling and Juan Martin del Potro (currently out with a wrist injury) leading the way. Federer seems unable to stem the tide, although he insists he can "handle those guys" when he's healthy. It would be nice to see Federer and Andy Murray keep up with Nadal in staving off the big-blast giants. There has to be life beyond the three-shot point.
Enjoyed hearing Murray so open in his admiration after losing to Nadal: "I love watching him play. He's my favorite to watch, and I hope he wins. He can take as long as he wants on any point, I don't care. I just love watching the guy play." . . . If anyone had a right to deride Wimbledon's lack of a fifth-set tiebreaker, it was John Isner, who was so mentally and physically thrashed after his 183-game marathon against Nicolas Mahut, he was hurried out of Wimbledon in the next round. But Isner likes the rule, and he's right. There's nothing like Wimbledon tradition, and it's something to be embraced, not overturned. "It's the way it's always been here," he said. "There's no need to change it." . . . Somebody show Andy Roddick a photo of Berdych as he posed with Nadal during the post-match ceremony. Look closely, Andy: No hat. Berdych took the damn thing off. Play in a hat if you must, but when you're down there in the presence of royalty, being photographed for the pages of history, reveal your countenance and especially don't turn the hat around backward. My friend and colleague Scott Price has a great way of describing what that look says to people: "Hey, I'm an idiot." And Roddick is hardly that. If he ever gets a chance to do that again, let's hope he shows up as himself.
"Nie przekreślajmy Federera…."
Niektórzy twierdzą, że to początek końca Rogera Federera. Ja bym jeszcze Rogera nie przekreślał -powiedział Wojciech Fibak w rozmowie z Hubertem Zdankiewiczem, dziennikarzem "Polska The Times".
Czy to początek końca Rogera Federera?
- Tak twierdzą niektórzy. Ja bym jednak jeszcze Rogera nie przekreślał.
Po raz drugi nie zdołał się jednak przebić do półfinału turnieju Wielkiego Szlema. Najpierw podczas Roland Garros, teraz na kortach Wimbledonu.
- To prawda, proszę jednak pamiętać, jak bardzo zmieniło się życie Federera. Od prawie roku jest szczęśliwym ojcem i to nie jednego, a dwójki dzieci [ma bliźniaczki - red.]. To musiało wpłynąć na jego tryb życia, sposób myślenia, odżywiania, spania. Niby nadal wszystko jest podporządkowane karierze Rogera, ale wiadomo, że córki odciągają go od kortu. Wystarczy, że któraś zachoruje albo źle zniesie zmianę strefy czasowej, bo przecież żona z dziećmi nie siedzi w domu, tylko podróżuje z nim po całym świecie.
A może po prostu już mu się nie chce? Wygrał 16 Wielkich Szlemów, jest rekordzistą wszech czasów, a do tego za chwilę skończy 29 lat.
- Nie sądzę. On ma mentalność konkwistadora. Gdy wychodzi na kort, zawsze chce wygrać. Po porażce z Robinem Soederlingiem w Paryżu powiedział jednak, że jest "średnio rozczarowany". To w jego stylu. Roger bardzo przeżywa swoje porażki, ale nie ma w zwyczaju ich rozpamiętywać. Zawsze myśli do przodu. Stara się wyciągać wnioski.
I chyba doszedł do wniosku, że nie jest już takim supermanem, jak przez ostatnie lata. Na szczyt wspięła się generacja graczy, jak Soederling czy Tomas Berdych, który pokonał go w Londynie. Ci ludzie nie czują przed nim respektu i to chyba Federera usztywnia.
- W Londynie był spięty - to prawda. Wynika to ze wspomnianego na wstępie powodu, ale również z tego, że Roger nie uderza już piłki tak mocno jak kiedyś. Jest też mniej regularny i trochę wolniejszy. Pozostał olbrzymi talent, ale coraz trudniej jest mu mierzyć się z takimi graczami jak wspomniana przez pana dwójka. A trzeba dodać, że jest ich więcej, pojawiło się kilkunastu, a może nawet kilkudziesięciu graczy, którzy bardzo mocno uderzają forhendem i serwisem. Gdy Federer ma się z nimi mierzyć, czuje się trochę zagubiony. Od czasu do czasu wyciągnie z rękawa jakieś czarodziejskie uderzenie, ale to już nie wystarcza. Ja jednak mimo wszystko w niego wierzę.
Nie tylko Federer ma problemy. Andy Murray również.
- On przeżywa kryzys już prawie od roku. Miał przebłysk w Australii, gdzie doszedł do finału, ale już w decydującym meczu zagrał przeciętnie. Murray powinien coś zmienić. Podobnie jak Novak Djoković, bo to bardzo podobny przypadek. Obaj są ogromnie utalentowani, świetnie się ruszają, mają duży repertuar uderzeń, ale są na korcie zbyt pasywni. Gubią się, gdy muszą prowadzić grę.
Łukasz Kubot - przyniósł wstyd czy nie, że przypomnimy komentarz w telewizji?
- Nie przyniósł, ale pozostawił niedosyt. Mógł wygrać z Philippem Petzschnerem, w drugim i trzecim secie grał mecz życia. Później jednak była ta piłka przegrana przez błąd sędziego. W efekcie stracił koncentrację. Do końca walczył, ale widać było, że to mu zostało w głowie. Szkoda, bo Niemiec stoczył później pięciosetowy bój z samym Rafaelem Nadalem. To mógł być Łukasz. Podobnie z Michałem Przysiężnym. Z jednej strony trzeba go pochwalić. Debiutując w Wimbledonie, pokonał Ivana Ljubicicia, a Yen-Hsun Lu, z którym przegrał, wyeliminował później Andy'ego Roddicka. Z drugiej jednak strony za wcześnie się poddał. Prowadził z Tajwańczykiem 3:1 w trzecim secie i stanął. Przyznam, że mam mieszane uczucia po tym Wimbledonie, choć oczywiście bardzo się cieszę, że doczekałem czasów, gdy w turnieju głównym mamy aż dwóch Polaków.
Więcej w „Polska The Times”
Jul 1, 2010 from ATP:
Roger Federer: Quest For Perfection, the updated and re-released book that chronicles the incredible tennis career of Roger Federer, has been officially re-released in paperback by publisher New Chapter Press. The book also appears in English for the first time.
Roger Federer: Quest For Perfection ($19.95, New Chapter Press) was written by Rene Stauffer, the esteemed Swiss tennis journalist who has covered Federer since the budding tennis champion was a 15-year-old. The book chronicles Federer's life as a tempermental junior player, his early struggles on the ATP Tour, his break-out win at Wimbledon in 2003 through his record-breaking 15th major singles title at Wimbledon in 2009. The book also focuses on his values, how he has been marketed, his relationship with the media as well as his numerous charitable pursuits.
Tenis. Czy Roger Federer jeszcze się podniesie?
Po wimbledońskiej klęsce Rogera Federera świat tenisa zastanawia się, czy to już jego koniec, czy dopiero początek końca. Bjoern Borg uważa, że Szwajcar w przyszłym roku może skończyć karierę.
Borg przywołuje własne wspomnienia. Po sześciu zwycięstwach w Roland Garros i pięciu triumfach w Wimbledonie Szwed przyjechał w 1981 r. do Londynu pełen optymizmu i wiary, że znów się uda. Przegrał jednak w finale z Johnem McEnroe, ponosząc pierwszą porażkę na trawie od 41 meczów. To był szok, trzęsienie ziemi, sportowe wydarzenie dekady. Borg myślał jeszcze wtedy, że się podniesie, ale nie dał rady. Gdy kilka miesięcy później znów przegrał ważny mecz - w finale US Open po raz kolejny pokonał go McEnroe - nagle zdecydował, że kończy karierę. Miał ledwie 25 lat. - Uświadomiłem sobie, że tenis przestał sprawiać mi przyjemność, że mam dość turniejów, podróży, hoteli, wywiadów i ciągłych pytań, dlaczego znów przegrałem. Chciałem zacząć normalnie żyć - opowiada Borg gazecie "Expressen". - Myślę, że tak samo może być z Federerem, który może już robić mnóstwo ciekawszych rzeczy niż gra w tenisa. Dopóki wygrywał, było wspaniale, ale gdy przestał być najlepszy, po co mu to? Roger już prawdopodobnie myśli o końcu kariery, ale nie może ogłosić tego nagle ze względu na obowiązujące reklamowe kontrakty - uważa 54-letni Szwed.
Według "Forbesa", który umieścił niedawno Federera na 29. miejscu wśród najbardziej wpływowych osobistości świata (pierwsza jest Oprah Winfrey), Szwajcar zarabia rocznie 43 mln dol. Ale raptem 4-6 mln dol. z tej sumy z pochodzi z nagród w turniejach, reszta to kontrakty sponsorskie i reklamowe. Część z nich prawdopodobnie mogłaby trwać nawet po zakończeniu kariery. - Ale pod warunkiem że odejdzie się w odpowiednim momencie - zaznacza Borg.
Jak zniesie porażki?
Oficjalnie Federer nie daje żadnych sygnałów świadczących o rychłym końcu. W Londynie po ćwierćfinałowej porażce z Tomaszem Berdychem mówił, że motywację wciąż ma ogromną. - Boże! Nie mogę się już doczekać przyszłorocznego Rolanda Garrosa i Wimbledonu, tak bardzo były dla mnie frustrujące. Wiem, że mogę grać lepiej, wiem, że znów mogę dominować - stwierdził Szwajcar, który po raz pierwszy od 23 turniejów wielkoszlemowych przegrywał w tym roku przed półfinałami. Media na całym świecie potraktowały to jako "koniec ery", "zmierzch epoki".
Federer wciąż podkreśla twardo, że chce grać do igrzysk w Londynie w 2012 r., gdy Wimbledon będzie gościł olimpijski turniej tenisowy. Ale czy będzie umiał wytrwać jeszcze dwa lata, zakładając, że porażek i rozczarowań będzie coraz więcej? Wielu dziennikarzy znających Federera od lat twierdzi, że niekoniecznie. Już dostrzegają nieprzyjemny symptom - były mistrz z porażkami nie umie się pogodzić. Nie wszystkim przypadło do gustu główne wytłumaczenie Federera dla przegranej w Londynie, czyli tajemnicze kontuzje pleców i nogi. Dlaczego nie mówił wcześniej, że go bolało? "Takie tłumaczenie to oznaka nerwowości, tego, że sam nie rozumie, dlaczego przegrał" - pisze Bud Collins, wieloletni ekspert amerykańskiej telewizji NBC i publicysta "Boston Globe". Podobnie Szwajcar zachował się miesiąc wcześniej, gdy przegrał z Robinem Soederlingiem we French Open - wtedy winne były ciężkie piłki i dżdżysta pogoda, w mniejszym stopniu świetnie grający rywal. Większość fachowców jest zgodna, że Federer, zazwyczaj wielki dżentelmen, trochę się pogubił. "Nie umie przegrywać" - napisał wprost "Daily Mail". Media źle przyjęły też słowa Federera, że "ćwierćfinał Szlema to przecież niezły wynik". W ustach człowieka, który od 2002 r. zawsze grał w finałach, brzmiało to śmiesznie. "Roger, to świetny wynik, ale nie dla ciebie" - drwiły brukowce.
Federer rzeczywiście jest zagubiony. Podkreśla np., że chce szybko wrócić na czoło rankingu ATP, choć szwajcarskie gazety wyliczyły już, że przez najbliższy rok to niemożliwe. "Musiałby wygrać wszystko i liczyć jeszcze na porażki Nadala" - pisze "Tages Anzeiger". Federer po raz pierwszy od 2003 r. spadł po Wimbledonie na trzecie miejsce, bo wyprzedził go Novak Djoković. Do Nadala traci już 4 tys. punktów (to równowartość dwóch zwycięstw w Szlemach), a do końca roku ma ciągle więcej punktów do obrony niż Hiszpan. W sondażu na stronie "Tages Anzeiger" aż 45 proc. osób uważa, że Federer nigdy nie wróci już na prowadzenie. Oznaczałoby to, że nie pobije rekordu Pete'a Samprasa, który był na czele przez 286 tygodni. Rogerowi brakuje do jego pobicia dwóch tygodni.
Dlaczego gra słabiej?
Największą zagadką jest to, dlaczego Federer po zwycięstwie w Australian Open nagle zaczął tak często przegrywać. Do niedawna tylko Rafael Nadal potrafił zwyciężać go regularnie, od czasu do czasu wygrywali z nim Murray, Djoković i Del Potro. Ale teraz bije go już cały tłum, czasem zupełnie przypadkowych postaci - poza Berdychem i Soederlingiem, także Montenes, Gulbis, Baghdatis. Szukając przyczyn zapaści, początkowo mówiono głównie o dzieciach - rok temu żona Federera Mirka Vavrinec urodziła bliźniaczki. Logiczne wydawało się, że wraz z nowymi radościami i obowiązkami tatusiowi miała prawo uciec gdzieś koncentracja i motywacja do pracy. Ale ostatnio coraz częściej wskazuje się na czynnik czasu - Federer w sierpniu skończy 29 lat i po prostu się starzeje. Wielu ekspertów zwraca uwagę, że Szwajcar nie rusza się już tak świetnie jak kiedyś. "Bywało, że fruwał po korcie, teraz nie był w stanie dobiec do wielu piłek, do których kiedyś sięgał" - pisze Charlie Bricker, publicysta "World Tennis Magazine".
- Ma słabszy drugi serwis, przez co łatwiej go przełamać Przestał też właściwie w ogóle chodzić do siatki - wylicza Anglik Tim Henman, czterokrotny półfinalista Wimbledonu. - Nie zaskakuje rywali tak jak kiedyś ofensywną grą. Roger długo był o kilka długości przed resztą świata, ale teraz ta luka się zmniejszyła, inni grają mocniej, szybciej. To poważny sygnał ostrzegawczy, że musi coś zmienić w swojej grze - dodaje Henman. Pete Sampras, gdy zaczął zbliżać się do trzydziestki, przysuwał się do siatki - grał bardziej ofensywnie, ruszał do ataku, by nie dać się rozpędzić młodym rywalom. Federer robi dokładnie na odwrót - zostaje z tyłu i daje się stłamsić. Eksperci analizują też, że bekhend Federera znów się rozregulował - Szwajcar wykonał kiedyś gigantyczną pracę, by poprawić ten najsłabszy element w swojej grze, ale teraz znów przegrywa z tymi, którzy bekhend mają oburęczny, a więc bardziej stabilny, regularny, jak Soederling i Berdych. - Roger nie może się stresować, niech gra dalej i cieszy się grą, tylko grając na luzie, może dalej wygrywać, stres i presja wyniku mogą go zniszczyć - podkreśla Henman.
"To nie jest koniec Federera, ale początek końca jego ery. Roger jest trzeci na liście najlepszych tenisistów, ale paradoks polega na tym, że nawet to nie oddaje prawdy. Na świecie jest dziś znacznie więcej niż trzech lepszych od niego" - twierdzi Bricker w "World Tennis Magazine".
- Skreślanie Federera jako jednego z faworytów w Szlemach byłoby szaleństwem, ale czasy jego wielkiej dominacji przeminęły. Roger stał się normalnym człowiekiem, bardziej wrażliwym na ataki i częstsze porażki. Jestem ciekaw, jak to zniesie - mówi John McEnroe.
Federer wraca do gry 9 sierpnia w Toronto, potem wystąpi w Cincinnati, a od 30 sierpnia w wielkoszlemowym US Open w Nowym Jorku.
ROK UPADKU FEDERERA
Styczeń
Wygrywa Australian Open, zdobywając 16. w karierze tytuł wielkoszlemowy. To wynik lepszy już o dwa trofea od poprzedniego rekordu Pete'a Samprasa
Marzec
Przegrywa w III rundzie w Indian Wells z Marcosem Baghdatisem (ATP 33) i w IV rundzie w Miami z Tomaszem Berdychem (ATP 20)
Kwiecień
Przegrywa w pierwszym meczu sezonu na czerwonej mączce w Rzymie z Łotyszem Ernestsem Gulbisem (ATP 40). Tak źle występów na kortach ziemnych nie zaczął od ośmiu lat
Maj
W Estoril pokonuje go przeciętny Hiszpan Albert Montanes (ATP 34). W finale w Madrycie przegrywa z Rafaelem Nadalem
Czerwiec
W ćwierćfinale Rolanda Garrosa pokonuje go Robin Soederling (ATP 7). Federer odpada z Wielkiego Szlema przed półfinałem po raz pierwszy od 2004 r. Pod koniec miesiąca przegrywa też na trawie w Halle z Lleytonem Hewittem (ATP 32) - to jego pierwsza porażka w turnieju od 2002 r. i pierwsza porażka z Australijczykiem od 2003 r.
Lipiec
Porażka w ćwierćfinale Wimbledonu z Tomaszem Berdychem (ATP 13). Po raz pierwszy od 2002 r. zabraknie go w finale Wimbledonu.
Federer as Religious Experience
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/20/sport … ted=1&_r=1
Wrzucam, bo muszę. :P O Federerze napisano już chyba wszystko, ale powyżej artykuł-legenda. Dziennikarz NYTimes, DAVID FOSTER WALLACE napisał i opublikował tę wypowiedź w 2006 roku. Całość ma aż 5 podstron i śmiało można powiedzieć, że tworzy historię dziennikarstwa tenisowego.
Federer and family get away from tennis on luxury yacht
Roger Federer and family have taken to the Med on a luxury rented yacht for some days of relaxing cruising with the first birthday of the couple's twin girls falling next week.
Swiss Federer and wife Mirka are now fodder for celebrity paparazzi, with a whose series of tasteful family snaps finding their way onto the internet as documentary proof of the summer holiday in the waters off of Corsica.
One site even went so far as to publish detailed publicity shots of the elite yacht chartered by the millionaire first family of tennis.
Readers seems particularly impressed with shots of Federer showering off sea waters on the deck of the vessel which also features a cinema and Jacuzzi.
Included in the family holiday were Federer's mother, Mirka's mother and of course, infant twins Charlene Riva and Myla Rose.
Bolletieri says Federer will rise again
American uber-coach Nick Bollettieri says Roger Federer's lower back and leg problem at Wimbledon were no bluff, with the Swiss truly hurting as he exited in the quarter-finals to Tomas Berdych.
Some had said the former long-time dominator of the courts was simply making excuses - but Bollettieri blew up that theory.
"Federer talks straight," said the 78-year-old who has worked with Andre Agsassi, Boris Becker, Kim Clijsters, Maria Sharapova and the Williams sisters among others. "It was obvious that he was not moving well.
"He was spraying balls all over, he was obviously not fit. Federer is a great ambassador of tennis and he doesn't make excuses."
Bollettieri still believes that Federer, currently ranked third behind Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, can still add to his 16 Grand Slam singles titles. "Federer can still win Grand Slams; he just needs to be fit.
"But players no longer fear him. He faces a strong challenge from Nadal who is in top form with his confidence very high. Winning US Open for Federer won't be easy but if wins it, he will start believing in himself."
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=5381428
Roger otrzymał nagrodę ESPN dla sportowca roku wsród Panów.
The Fed file: A chronicle of recent struggles
The warning signs were there for Roger Federer at the Australian Open.
The usually silky Swiss was in trouble against Igor Andreev in the first round and, in the quarterfinals, versus another Russian in Nikolay Davydenko. Escaping, Federer then cruised in the semis and final to notch a record-extending 16th Grand Slam title. It was all going so well.
Since then, though, Federer has struggled, arming detractors who suggest he's no longer dominant.
ESPN.com chronicles Federer's recent woes:
February: A health hiccup
After visiting Africa as part of his charitable work, Federer is diagnosed with a lung infection. He skips a tournament in Dubai, his second home.
"Breathing is difficult," Federer said. "I'm still very tired and slow. The doctors say it's too serious for me to try [to play], and that I should rest for at least two weeks."
March: The one that got away
He didn't expect much upon his return to the circuit and in the past year has targeted success at majors, but Fed wastes three match points against Marcos Baghdatis in Indian Wells, Calif. He succumbs in a third-set tiebreak to lose to Baghdatis for the first time in seven tries.
"I did many good things but also many bad things," Federer said. "I used up too many chances."
March: The other one that got away
Groundhog Day.
Federer traveled to Miami, only to lose another encounter in which he held a match point. Tomas Berdych (remember the name) took him out in a third-set tiebreak, capping a 2-hour, 51-minute classic.
"[The loss] only fuels my desire to go back to the practice courts and come back even stronger," Federer said. "I don't like to lose these type of matches. I'm looking forward to the clay-court season now."
April: Arrivederci, Roma
Federer bypasses the Monte Carlo Masters, a nonmandatory event, and makes his clay-court debut at the Rome Masters.
He gets a rough draw in his opener, paired against Latvian Ernests Gulbis, and can't eke out another close third set.
May: Still can't get the confidence
Federer visits Estoril, the star attraction at an otherwise low-key event. It wasn't a panic move -- he planned to compete in Portugal before Miami and Indian Wells.
Federer reaches the semifinals and -- in heavy, windswept conditions, which he despises -- can't handle Spanish clay-court specialist Albert Montanes.
His unforced error count almost topped 50 in two sets.
"I'm lacking matches," Federer said. "I must take positives into the next few weeks."
May: Rafa beats him again
The faster conditions in Madrid suit Federer and, sure enough, he makes it to a second straight final, edging Gulbis and dangerous Spaniard David Ferrer in the quarters and semis, respectively.
Confronting archrival Rafael Nadal in the finale, Federer goes 3-for-11 on break points. Nadal prevails 6-4, 7-6 (5) for a sixth win in their past seven head-to-heads.
June: The streak is over
On another rainy day, one of the most impressive streaks in tennis history comes to an end. Having reached 23 straight Grand Slam semifinals, Federer is outhit by Swede Robin Soderling in the French Open quarterfinals, ousted in four sets. No repeat.
Soderling, previously 0-12 against Federer, saved a set point in the third with an outrageous backhand overhead smash.
"Now I've got the quarterfinal streak going, I guess," Federer said.
June: Fortress breached
Federer has a deep affection for the Gerry Weber Open in Halle, Germany, even signing a lifetime agreement with the tournament this month.
Imagine the shock when he was beaten by Aussie scrapper Lleyton Hewitt in the final. Federer hadn't lost to Hewitt in 15 straight. Nor had he suffered defeat in Halle in eight years.
"The loss here doesn't worry me in any way," Federer said.
June: Another chink in the armor
Berdych has a huge game. And he proved his win in Miami was no fluke, overpowering Federer in four sets in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon on Wednesday.
Federer, complaining of a sore back and leg, suffered his earliest exit at Wimbledon since 2002.
He was fortunate to escape in the first round, down two sets versus Colombian journeyman Alejandro Falla.
"Obviously, people think the quarters is a shocking result," Federer said. "But people would die to play in the quarterfinal stages of Grand Slam play. I'm looking forward to rest and then attack again in North America."
Everyone is waiting to see what transpires.
Will fallen Federer ever be the same?
After an unparalleled run of dominance, the 16-time Grand Slam singles champion appears to have slammed into the wall.
Roger Federer's serve isn't quite as irresistible, his footwork not as crisp, the volleys not quite as firm as they used to be. His marvelous, exquisite timing has gone missing. In the few moments that truly matter in a match, he has had difficulty summoning the spark that used to separate him from everyone else.
Federer, who turns 29 next month, won the Australian Open in January, but his attempts to defend his two 2009 major titles were anemic. He lost to Robin Soderling in the quarterfinals at Roland Garros, marking the first time in six years Federer failed to reach a semifinal at a major.
And then, on a bright, exceedingly pleasant Wednesday at the All England Club, it happened again. Federer fell to Tomas Berdych in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.
That this wasn't considered an upset of great magnitude underlines just how swiftly Federer has fallen. After reaching a record 23 consecutive semifinals at the majors, Federer is suddenly 0-for-2.
"From my end, obviously, I'm unhappy with the way I'm playing," Federer said. "I am struggling with a little bit of a back and a [right] leg issue. It's frustrating to say the least. When you're hurting … you don't feel as comfortable. You can't concentrate on each and every point because you do feel the pain sometimes.
"Under the circumstances, I think I played a decent match. It's just not good and healthy to play under these kind of conditions."
Berdych did not seem too bothered with Federer's remarks.
"I don't know if he just looking for some excuses after the match or something like that," Berdych said. "I mean, it happened to all of us. I think he's been [100 percent] every time when he played [previously].
"So maybe right now he's getting some more troubles with the health. But I think it just happen today."
Federer was asked about the big hitters who have beaten him recently in majors -- Berdych, Soderling and Juan Martin del Potro -- and responded quickly, "Well, if I'm healthy, I can handle those guys."
He said he injured his leg nearly three weeks ago in the final at Halle, Germany, and added that his back has been stiff since then, too.
"The back tends to get stiff in grass-court season because you have to go for many more lower shots," Federer said. "You can't play freely. When you can't play freely, that's the kind of performance you get."
Those remarks, ESPN analyst Pam Shriver said, were "grumpier and less gracious than usual. I think he's on edge. I think internally, maybe he's a little bit uncomfortable because of the big question hanging over him.
"Is his career on the downside?"
Berdych, who beat Federer earlier this year in the fourth round at Miami, was understandably ecstatic.
"It's amazing," he said. "To play on this stadium, to play such a great player as Roger is. To be a winner is really amazing for me."
For Berdych, a 24-year-old from the Czech Republic, it was the win of a lifetime. After going 26 major tournaments without passage to the semifinals, Berdych has done it twice in a row. This was the first time Berdych has beaten a Grand Slam singles champion in a major; he was 0-for-9 going in.
He was terrific under pressure, cashing four of six break points in the 2-hour, 35-minute match. Federer? He failed in seven of eight break opportunities and was dogged by atypical, random errors that suggested a lack of focus.
The quest to win a record-tying seventh Wimbledon title -- Pete Sampras (1993-95 and 1997-2000) and William Renshaw (1881-86, 1889) -- will have to begin again a year from now. Will Federer, based on what we saw this fortnight, be up to that daunting task?
His first two matches here were loaded with clues that this might happen. Federer dropped the first two sets to Alejandro Falla in the first round, and Falla actually served for the match. In the second round, Federer dropped another set -- to Ilija Bozoljac -- but stabilized after that, winning back-to-back straight-sets decisions.
The raw numbers continue to paint the portrait of decline:
• The loss to Berdych, ranked No. 13 among ATP World Tour players, ended a 42-0 streak for Federer at Wimbledon against players ranked outside the top 10. It also finished a 119-0 run in the Grand Slams, going to 2004 at Roland Garros, when he lost to Gustavo Kuerten.
• The last time Federer lost a set by the count of 6-1 on grass? Ten years ago in Nottingham, England, to Australian Richard Fromberg.
• The loss will drop Federer to No. 3 in the ATP rankings next week for the first time since late November 2003.
A two-game sequence in the final set defined the match.
Berdych, serving at 2-3, fell into a love-40 hole with two consecutive double faults. Two big serves and a sweet backhand volley winner bailed Berdych out, and when Federer pulled yet another forehand wide, it was 3-all.
In a wild, three-deuce game, Berdych broke Federer's serve with a marvelous running forehand that presented a forehand volley Federer couldn't execute.
"I think he went after it," Federer said of Berdych. "That's the way he plays; he's been able to play more consistent the last year or so. He was able to come up with some good stuff, you know. But I definitely gave away this match, I feel."
Federer said he was going on vacation for two weeks. In his postmatch news conference -- injury excuses aside -- he talked about unlucky bounces and strayed dangerously close to rationalization.
"Quarters is a decent result," Federer said. "Obviously, people think quarters is shocking, but people would die to play in quarterfinal stages of Grand Slam play. It's not something I'm used to doing, losing in quarterfinals, because it's not something I've done in the last six years.
"I think in Paris conditions were tough. Robin played fantastic. Today was different. I was struggling with my own game and with my physique. Yeah, I'm looking forward to a rest, and then attack again in North America."
Said Shriver, "Certainly, this is going to put a lot of pressure on him to put together a run at the [U.S.] Open. The thing is, he's already won a Slam this year, in Australia. In men's tennis, that's a good result.
"He's just set such a ridiculous pace -- two a year, three a year -- that he's really a victim of his own success."
OFF COURT - FIRST BIRTHDAY
Dear Fans
We are celebrating Charlene Riva and Myla Rose's first birthday today! We are currently staying in Switzerland and are having a great time together. We will be enjoying a birthday party later today which will certainly be a treat for our two little ones.
We would like to thank all fans and friends for your gifts, cards and nice words for Charlene and Myla. We are very grateful to receive all your support.
All the best and see you soon
Roger and Mirka
http://www.rogerfederer.com/en/rogers/n … ewsID=1093
100 lat dziewczynki! ;)
Roger Federer and a bag full of Lindt Chocolates – A dream come true
Roger Federer and a bag full of Lindt Chocolates – A dream come true
When it comes to tennis, Roger Federer is one of the greatest professional tennis players to come across one’s mind. The world of tennis is practically incomplete without the mention of this heroic player. This former world number one has recently fallen down in ATP rankings by two spots to the world number three position at the moment. However, his amazing history as a tennis player still generates great expectations from the Swiss player whenever he makes it to a tennis court. Federer is a winner of sixteen Grand Slam singles titles which is a record in male tennis history. He is one of the six men to have earned the career Grand Slam which means that he has won each of the four Grand Slam titles (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open) at least once in his career. Federer’s countless achievements have indeed turned him into one of the most highly cherished professional tennis players of all time.
His prize earnings are higher than any other tennis player, making Federer an all time leader in earnings among all other athletes. A majority of his earnings come from tennis of course, but Federer has also signed million dollar deals with world class brands such as Nike and Rolex which add to the riches of this tennis superstar.
Federer is a Swiss professional tennis player and has made the Swiss Confederation proud by going so far in the world of tennis. Along with Roger Federer, another reason of pride for the Swiss nation is their remarkable chocolate. The chocolate produced in Switzerland is considered to be better than any other chocolate being made all over the world. Their chocolates have been granted an international reputation for excellence and are included in the category of the most expensive chocolates being made in the world due to their high quality.
Lindt is one of the leading Swiss chocolate producing brands. Lindt chocolates are famous for their fresh flavour as they melt the moment they are placed in one’s mouth. Recently, Lindt has offered its customers a chance to meet and melt with the great Roger Federer. Federer is not in a contract with Lindt nor is he a shareholder but he feels that it is important to let the world know when they have a chance to win bags full of the finest chocolates available in the world.
The Grand Slam champion is doing a wonderful job in promoting this latest scheme by Lindt. It is given the name of ‘The Perfect Match’, which it no doubt is. Chocolate is irresistible and tennis fanatics can say the same about Roger Federer. Having a chance to combine both of them is a dream come true for any tennis fan. The great prizes include Nike racquet duffle bags full of Lindt chocolates personally signed by Federer himself but the main attraction of winning is to get a chance to meet the tennis star himself.
Five lucky winners will get a chance to fly out to New York on a three-day trip to watch Federer play in full form at the U.S. Open this year. Moreover, everyone can enter a lucky draw which can earn them a trip to Switzerland to meet the great Roger Federer himself and be given a personalized tour of the great Lindt global headquarters at Zurich, Switzerland. This is an opportunity that no one can afford to miss out on. Getting a chance to meet Roger Federer who is a living legend in the world of tennis and getting to munch on mouth-watering chocolate treats prepared by Lindt, all at the same time – no one can say no to that!
Wywiad udzielony przez Rogera niemieckiemu tennismagazine. Szwajcar opowiada o wadach kalendarza ATP, Rafaelu Nadalu, możliwości podróżowania z rodziną i swojej dalszej karierze, gdzie zaznacza, że nie zamierza w najbliższym czasie kończyć kariery.
„We need a summer break“
In this interview the Swiss talks about the weakness in the calendar, his rival Rafael Nadal and the luck to be able to travel with the family. Also that he doesn’t think about a retirement.
Mr. Federer, this year you haven’t reached for the first time since 2003 the final of Wimbledon. You already lost in the QF against Tomas Berdych. How much did this loss pained you?
Of course it was painful. It was frustrating. My game didn’t worked. I had problems with my back and my legs. I didn’t played well in the deciding moments of that match. I was dissatisfied as I couldn’t play freely. But it isn’t the end of the world. On the contrary: I’m looking forward to return to Paris and Wimbledon next year.
A lot of people said it would be the end of the era Federer.
I don’t think so at all. I’m able to dominate again. That’s what I play for. When Federer loses in the QF people say that this is shocking. People aren’t used to this, me included. But I know that I can beat the other guys when I’m fit. It isn’t the case that they invented the game new in one year.
How do you explain the physically problems you had in Wimbledon?
On grass the balls are going deep and you have to bow a lot. It’s normal that this stresses the back. The back felt stiff, which happens to a lot of players. It wasn’t something really serious.
Injuries are a constant topic on the tour. Are you satisfied with the calendar?
It surely isn’t perfect and it won’t ever be perfect unless you would start at 0. But that’s not possible. There are too many contracts which have to be coordinated. Even with a perfect calendar a claycourt specialist would say: I would like to have one week more. And the grasscourt player says: Me too. And the hardcourtplayer in the States demands: We need to have two more weeks.
You are the president of the players council. How do your visions look like?
There are reflections to shorten the tour. I’m in favour that there is a month without any tournaments in the summer. Everyone could heal their injuries. The problem is that players could play showmatches then. There is always someone who would like to play. Maybe we can agree on having a 2 or 3 months break at the end of the year. You would have the time then to work on your game. That’s something which we professionals are extremely lacking. We always play tournaments. In the short breaks we only practice a little bit. But on the other hand you can’t really work that much on your game anymore when you are 20 years old. That leads to stagnation. Therefore I like it to have 2 or 3 times a year practice sessions for 3 or 4 weeks. That’s how I can develop as a player.
Nadal critized the tour calendar a lot lately. Rightly so?
I was surprised about it. He is part of the decisions as he is the vicepresident of the players council.
I think his critic is against the calendar when he for example has to cancel Barcelona. It’s more an apology to the tournament organizer. I would like to play 15 tournaments more, but the body and the calendar don’t allow. The great thing of tennis is that everyone can chose where to play. I can understand it that Rafa wants to play more on clay. I would also like to play 3 months more on grass, but I don’t complain.
Did you expect that Rafael Nadal would be able to play so consistant this year again?
Yes, but I thought he would be in better form already earlier. I was surprised that he wasn’t able to win a tournament for 11 months. He wasn’t able to beat top 10 players. Therefore it was an advantage for him that he barely didn’t had to play against any of the topplayers on the way to his titles in Monte Carlo and Rome. On clay Rafa is incredible strong. I was sure that he would win 2 or 3 of the Masters tournaments on clay and then go to the French Open as the main favourite.
He has displaced you as the #1 in the rankings. Meanwhile you slipped down to #3. How difficult is this drop?
Rafa hold steady his position as #2 or #3 in his crisis. I knew that he would have a chance to get back to #1 when he would play well. He used this chance. At the latest in Wimbledon, where he didn’t played last year, he would have overtaken me anyway. I really see this relaxed.
What makes you confident that you can reach the top again?
That I was able to go through difficult situations quite often already. I only won one title this year so far, but the victory in Melbourne was extremely important. It was groundbreaking. I lost the supremacy on hardcourt after I got mono. There were players who came up strong like Djokovic, Murray and Del Potro. In Australia I didn’t just won, I dominated there.
Afterwards you got a lung infection and returned to the tour in Indian Wells with moderate success. Was it part of your results that your focus is mainly on the Grand Slam tournaments anyway?
Absolutely not. I’m surprised that people say this. I don’t overplay and don’t appear at 25 or 30 tournaments. On the contrary. I’m playing selectively. That means when I play I give everything. I lost with matchpoints in Indian Wells and Miami. In Rome against Gulbis it was 5:5 in the 3rd set. I don’t lose on purpose.
In 2009 everyone was talking about the „Fab Four“, you, Nadal, Djokovic, Murray. Now there is a Söderling, a Berdych and other players who push forward. How do you see this development?
I was surprised how constant we four have played last year. At nearly every tournament we reached the SF, always the same players. Then there came Del Potro. He made a huge step. I should have never lost the US Open final against him, but he was incredible strong in the end. It’s pity that he is forced out of the game for such a long time. I think he would have had the chance to compete for the #1. Söderling has played very well, just as Verdasco, but Del Potro has won tournaments. Just like Davydenko. Roddick also played well. 2009 was a very interesting year.
Söderling beat you in Paris. But he didn’t belongs to the topplayers for you?
He has played at the limit a lot. He has learned how to be able to handle different situations. When you are that strong as he is you are going to win. He has lost against me 12 times. I beat him in Paris, Wimbledon and the US Open last year. But he didn’t won any of the big tournaments. One step is missing for him. The final in Paris (which he lost against Nadal) would have been the day of truth for him.
You are always seen as very balanced. When did you went wild the last time?
That’s a long time ago. I smashed a racket last year in Miami against Djokovic. But that’s not really a rage for me. That’s just a moment of a second.
Are you never angry?
Really, really seldom. I can get angry when I look like an idiot because someone has kidded me. But I’m able to defend myself.
You are travelling with your wife Mirka and your 1 years old daughters Charlene Riva and Myla Rose. How do you manage the balance between family and job?
Very well. I only spent 3 days without my children so far. It’s one of the most beautiful things ever to see how they are growing up. I also need the change from tennis. In former times I enjoyed the time-outs with Mirka, now with the twins.
Children also mean stress…
I wouldn’t want to change a thing though. I want to have Mirka and the kids around me when I play.
Of course it doesn’t have to be too much for the little ones. But we have the luck to be at the same place for at least one week. That makes it easier to settle in. Financially I’m in a very good position and that makes lot of things easier. I can invite friends. Often the girl-friends or wives of my coaches are there. I’m only 1 ½ months at home in Switzerland or Dubai the year. Therefore it is important for me to have a feeling like “home away from home” at the tournaments. Meanwhile we have lots of friends in New York or Paris which we meet for dinner. I need these kind of things to feel well. It would be difficult for me to travel alone, like many of the players do.
You could play as long until the children would go to school, which means 5 years.
Yes, that could indeed happen.
Roger w 2009 roku zarobił $61,768,110. Jest liderem, jeżeli chodzi o zarobki sportowców pochodzących spoza USA.
Roger Federer Tops Sports Illustrated’s Earnings List
Roger Federer leads all non-American, international athletes in terms of total earnings according to a new “fortunate 50″ earnings list released by Sports Illustrated. Through the 2009 season, the Swiss former No. 1 had collected $61,768,110 in earnings. That figure includes prize money, endorsements, appearance fees and other income.
In second place is Argentine soccer great Lionel Messi at $44 million. Third on the list was last year’s No. 1, David Beckham at $40.5 million.
Cristiano Ronaldo is fourth at $40 million and boxer Manny Pacquiao is fifth at $38 million.
Federer’s rival Rafael Nadal is also among the Top 10. Nadal is ninth at $27.6 million in earnings for 2009.
The 20th-ranked Maria Sharapova is the highest female on the list at $19.9 million.
Among overall athletes (American stars included), Tiger Woods leads everyone at $90.5 million in earnings. Federer does edge out Phil Mickelson’s $61.6 million to grab the No. 2 spot.
OFF COURT - ROGER TO DO TEST WITH PAUL ANNACONE
Dear Fans
I've been looking to add someone to my team and I've decided to spend some days with Paul Annacone. As Paul winds down his responsibilities working for the Lawn Tennis Association, we will explore our relationship through this test period. Paul will work alongside my existing team and I am excited to learn from his experiences.
See you soon
Roger
rf.com
Federer próbuje się podnieść. Nowy trener
Roger Federer próbuje nowego rozwiązania, które pomogłoby mu wrócić na szczyt światowego rankingu ATP. Szwajcar zdecydował się zatrudnić w roli trenera Paula Annacone na "okres testowy".
Annacone rozpocznie współpracę jak tylko zakończy współpracę z Lawn Tennis Association. A to nastąpić z początkiem listopada. Amerykanin jest byłym trenerem Pete'a Samprasa i Tima Henmana.
Federer ma nadzieję, że Paula Annacone (na zdjęciu) pomoże mu w powrocie na szczyt rankingu, z którego zsunął się po dwóch ćwierćfinałowych porażkach w ostatnich turniejach wielkoszlemowych. Szwajcarski tenisista zajmuje obecnie trzecie miejsce na światowej liście i jest to jego najgorszy wynik od siedmiu lat.
- Szukałem kogoś, kogo mógłbym dołączyć do swojego zespołu i postanowiłem spędzić kilka dni z Paulem Annacone - napisał Federer w swoim oficjalnym serwisie internetowym. - Jak tylko Paul zakończy swoje obowiązki w Lawn Tennis Association, będziemy współpracować na testowy okres. Paul będzie pracować w ramach mojego obecnego zespołu i jestem bardzo podekscytowany, że będę mógł wykorzystać jego doświadczenie - wytłumaczył.
28-letni Federer wygrał sześciokrotnie Wimbledon, pięciokrotnie US Open, raz turniej Rolanda Garrosa, a na początku roku po raz czwarty wygrał Australian Open.
Roger Federer miał kilku tymczasowych szkoleniowców, wliczając w to Darrena Cahilla, Jose Higuerasa oraz Tony'ego Roche.
Annacone to bardzo znana postać w trenerskim światku zawodowego tenisa. Współpracował z Timem Henmanem i przede wszystkim Petem Samprasem, który pod Jego wodzą wygrał 8 z 14 swoich turniejów WS.
Annacone od zawsze preferował agresywny, ofensywny styl gry i od zawsze też stał na stanowisku, że droga do sukcesu prowadzi poprzez ciężką, tytaniczną wręcz, pracę. Zobaczymy, czy się skończy na "testach" czy może Panowie będą razem współpracować przez dłuższy okres czasu.
Federer to jednak wielki indywidualista i trudno sobie wyobrazić, aby miał zamiar komukolwiek sobą "rozkazywać". :P
Jeszcze trochę info o 1 urodzinach dziewczynek Federerowych:
http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/07/2 … birthdays/
Federer to work with Sampras's coach
Roger Federer has hooked up with Pete Sampras's former coach Paul Annacone for a "test period" in a bid to rediscover his winning touch.
It was only three months ago that the Swiss, winner of a record 16 Grand Slam crowns, was world number one and the defending champion at three of the four Majors.
But after suffering a triple setback in the European season when he surrendered his French Open title in the quarter-finals, lost his number one ranking and failed to reach the Wimbledon final for the first time since 2002, Federer has conceded he needs outside help.
"I've been looking to add someone to my team and I've decided to spend some days with Paul Annacone," the world number three said.
"As Paul winds down his responsibilities working for (Britain's) Lawn Tennis Association, we will explore our relationship through this test period. Paul will work alongside my existing team and I am excited to learn from his experiences."
Widely considered as the greatest player to have wielded a tennis racket, Federer has shunned full-time help ever since splitting from Swede Peter Lundgren six months after winning his first grand slam at Wimbledon in 2003.
Darren Cahill, Jose Higueras and Tony Roche have made cameo appearances in Federer's players' box since while working with him on a temporary basis.
Just what Annacone can teach a player who has all the shots in the book, and a few more, remains to be seen.
Under the 47-year-old American's guidance, Sampras won nine of his 14 grand slam titles and Federer will hope Annacone can inspire him to further glory by getting him out of a rut in which he has failed to win a title since the Australian Open in January.
Federer has six Wimbledon titles, five US Opens, one French Open and four Australian Opens.
He had reached a jaw-dropping 23 consecutive grand slam semi-finals before losing to Robin Soderling at Roland Garros and Federer has dropped out of the world's top two for the first time in seven years.
The 28-year-old is due to return to action in Toronto in August after taking a month-long break from the ATP Tour.
Reuters
PAUL ANNACONE ON FEDERERS SLUMP: ITS DAUNTING BUT NOT THAT DAUNTING
There is a great piece by Christopher Clarey in today’s NYT, titled “Federer Struggles With His Altered World.”
Some sensitive types might want to avoid it, thinking that it’s just another obituary for Roger’s career. But it isn’t. It brings perspective to Roger’s current slump and includes some great quotes from Paul Annacone, Pete Sampras’s ex-coach.
Here are some choice excerpts, but please click here to read the whole article.
On tennis, the cruelest sport:
One of the best and cruelest aspects of tennis is that there is nowhere to hide. You might be an all-time great, even the all-time great, and yet you are only as effective as the forehands, backhands and decisions you are making on any given day.
On the racquet smashing:
It required great effort for Federer to cure himself of the on-court tantrums of his youth. To see him resume breaking rackets now, after all these years of self-control, was like watching the owner of a health food store start fumbling through his desk drawer for a long-lost pack of cigarettes.
Paul Annacone on the Sampras-Federer connection:
“There are definitely some parallels,” said Paul Annacone, Sampras’s longtime coach, in an interview this week. “Just as it was for Pete, it’s a particularly interesting, challenging time in Roger’s career. But I would look at it with Roger in the same way as for Pete. For guys like that, it is daunting but not that daunting. They are so skilled they can adjust, but a lot of the adjustment is mental.”
Paul Annacone for coach!
“He may choose to keep doing what he’s been doing and not tweaking, and that’s his choice as a champion,” Annacone said. “But for me it would be a shame. If you have a lot of weapons in your arsenal and choose not to use them, what’s the point in having them? It’s a matter of managing them a bit differently than he did a few years ago.”
Seriously, can Roger pick up the phone and get Annacone on the next flight to Monte Carlo?
The Deity's Apprentice
Something's been bothering me about Roger Federer and the French Open since the final on Sunday, and the other day I finally put my finger on it. I think Roger needs a coach - not because I think he would have taken out Rafael Nadal, 2-2-3 if he had one, but because going without one these days isn't gallant or old-school or classy as much as baffling or even silly. It's less a statement of how great and confident you are than of how disinterested you are in being even greater and more confident.
Now hold it before you fire up the angry comments. What I just wrote does not really apply to Federer because what he is - I hope,for his sake - is not coachless but between coaches. He only fired Tony Roche a few weeks ago. Still, I get the feeling from some of the comments here(and elsewhere), that many people think it's some kind of badge of honor to go coachless - The Mighty Fed's way of sending the message: Man, I am so danged gifted and capable - so on top of the game, and everyone in it, that I don't need whatever it is that all those other guys are getting from their coaches. I like cutting up my own food, thank you very much!
In a way, I believe TMF has been coachless for some time now, and from what I've heard and read about the lack of communication between Tony and Roger, he's been without one for while. In review, I'm not even sure Tony qualified as a top coach to a top player by today's barometer. I've got all the respect in the world for Roche, but let's face some facts: Roche is over twice Roger's age. He's almost the model product of a no-nonsense, just throw the ball up and give 'er a whack, for gosh sakes! era and culture (in other words, he uses the pre-Sopranos definition of the verb, "to whack"), and he's not only hit a gazillion balls, he's also watched countless players hit a gazillion balls, as a player, coach, Davis Cup co-captain and, for all I know, tennis director on a cruise ship.
I had the distinct impression over the last two years that the fire for tennis in Tony's belly went out a long time ago. Occasionally, he would blow on the embers and some of the burning fragments would work their way up to his mind and out through his mouth. But Tony seemed to be rolling with it - happy to help Roger in any way the boy needed, and help I'm sure he did. But it never seemed like he was sitting up nights, surfing the web to find innovative ways to un-lock the secrets of the contemporary game. And TMF, being on top of his game and a gentleman who respects his icons to boot, didn't expect him to do that. Although this seemed destined to end with them turning to each other simultaneously and asking, So what the hail, exactly, are you doing here?
Everyone loved the Tony and Roger pairing; they had about them the aura of a "feel good story" married to counter-intuitive "feel perverse" appeal. Somehow, the presence of this old-school Aussie icon translated to an endorsement of Federer as the Deity's apprentice, and to hail with the X's an O's. I think the engine driving the pairing was sentiment, rather than common sense.
If you think I'm being overly critical of Roche here, keep in mind that I have more respect for Tony because of all this. I'd hate to have seen him in his dotage, running down the hall in Rod Laver Arena with an arm full of racquets, in a panic to find more Luxilon. He's a good man and distinguished man, who appeared to have no desire and certainly no need to kowtow to anyone, including TMF - the only trouble being that part of a coach's job is kowtowing. Sounds terrible, but the money ain't half bad and, as I understand it, Tony's unwillingness to drop everything at a moment's notice when Roger called had a lot to do with their parting.
But the larger issue here is whether or not Federer needs a coach, and the answer is, of course he does, unless his whole point is to prove the opposite,which would be a curiously abstract exercise and a dumb one to boot. He needs a coach the same way you and I need two eyes, even though we can appreciate a sunset with just one, or why even a great writer can really benefit from having a great editor. You can get by without one, but why should you>
Mulling over Roger's options, I made a short list, and then I whittled that one down, too. Who would be the ideal coach for TMF? The answer I came up with is, Paul Annacone. Here are my reasons:
1 - Pete Sampras says he's a great coach.
2 - Annacone coached the man (Sampras) whose Grand Slam title record Federer is hoping to shatter, so it's not like Paul is unfamiliar with the terrain. And he coached him through the toughest part of Sampras's long slog to immortality.
3 - Paul, who was one of the last chip-and-charge players on the tour, knows the attacking game cold, and that's territory Roger hasn't fully explored.
4 - He's got a relaxed, poised manner and he brings no "Ugly American" baggage to the table.
5 - Paul has very need or desire for attention; he showed that when he guided Pete for a solid year (while Sampras's "official" coach, Tim Gullickson, fought a losing battle with brain cancer) and never once took credit for Pete's results.
6 - Paul is close enough in age to TMF for the two to have a lot in common, tennis and otherwise.
7 - Tim Henman can't last forever (although I sure hope he's got a good next three-and-a-half weeks in him).
So I picked up the telephone and called Paul, who's presently in London with Henman. And don't despair, Henman fans, Annacone believes Henman is striking the ball as well as ever, the results just haven't reflected that for reasons beyond our pale. Paul has his hands full with Henman and his consultancy with the British LTA, but he was happy to talk. We've been friends for a long time.
When I asked Paul if he thought TMF needed a coach, he said:
Everybody is different, but no matter who you are it's nice to have an extra, objective set of eyes watching - that can be really helpful. Roger is the exception rather than the rule among players, but I would also be the first to say that Tony Roche helped him.
I guess you can say Federer knows his opponents cold, but I have to figure that he isn't out there, closely watching the guy he's going to play next. Or sitting down to a pleasant, mellow dinner with a friend who just watched that guy, and noticed a few tendencies. . .
Paul went on:
The biggest thing for Roger is that he's fine as long as he keeps trying to get better and keeps his hunger. But one of the interesting thing about the game today is that Roger is so good, there's a little bit less of an environment to mandate improvement. Let's face it, with the exception of Nadal, there aren't a lot of guys pushing Roger. He's like Pete in some obvious and subtle ways. Like Pete, he can win without playing exceptionally well. If he doesn't panic, he can stand on the court entitled to feel that he's genuinely better. But that becomes a problem if and when you do need to get better.
Now, with Nadal taking his measure and Novak Djokovic coming on like gangbusters, Roger is potentially facing that kind of moment. He's dominated for over three years now, but nothing stands still. TMF may get through an entire career on cruise-control, but most champions, including the very best ones, never did. The difference between the great ones and indomitable ones is climbing the steps high above the abyss on either side, getting above everyone else, and then taking those next few small, agonizing steps - without benefit of a handrail. In a way, it represents a re-dedication and re-commitment. And those who take those final steps are alway glad they did.
So what can a coach bring to TMF's table; what can he tell Roger that Roger himself doesn't already know? What would be the secret to having a mutually satisfying relationship with Federer that wouldn't involve an high-stakes game of Who's In Charge Here, Anyway? This is what Annacone learned:
I honestly felt Pete was the best player I ever saw. I felt like the biggest thing I could do was figure out what I wanted to say, and find the way he needed to hear it. Because the great ones are tricky that way. They need the support and reassurance, because they live with a tremendous amount of self-inflicted pressure. But they also like to have that pressure alleviated, without feeling that someone else is doing that for them.
Annacone has ideas about Federer and his game. He thinks TMF is like Sampras in another way:
Each of them is capable of playing different styles at the highest level. But, because they are almost always better than their opponent, they have a tendency to revert back to the mind-set, "I'm better so I'll be able to get that one extra ball back, most of the time." The trick for Federer against, say, Nadal, is to figure out when to play which way, instead of just trusting his confidence. But because a Roger or Pete is so comfortable wining as he usually does, it goes against the grain to say, "I'll do it this way this time." They never had to do it differently before, why should they have to start now? The thing a coach has to do is get the player to buy into this because it's an asset and a strength, not a sign of compromise.
Watching the Roland Garros final, Annacone felt that TMF made an unusually high number of errors because he was lured into playing the game that Nadal, the ultimate defender, prefers. He's been down that road before, with Sampras, and he explained his thinking this way:
When Pete played a great baseliner - say, an Alex Corretja or Carlos Moya - he would usually win, and sometimes he would come off happy with the fact that he beat the guy playing mostly from the the backcourt. I would say, "You played for 3 hours and 20 minutes, from the back of the court, and you won 7-5 in the third. But if you're Moya or Corretja, and you see Pete Sampras at the baseline for three hours, aren't you thinking 'Pete is playing from the baseline, I really have a chance now!'" One of my big things is that when you're a Pete or a Roger, you impose yourself on the other guy.You use that aura you have. It's not easy to get Nadal out of his comfort zone, but Federer - if anyone - has the tools to do it, or at least do it more often than he does."
There are many other dimensions to coaching, and satisfying ends in a player-coach relationship, especially for a pair of guys who are low-key, intelligent, conversant and comfortable with the intricacies of greatness. And consider this: those who have experienced winning as team effort often say that winning is more satisfying when it is a team effort (just ask Justine Henin). When you're at TMF's level, hiring a coach isn't all that different from hiring a best friend. There's no point being cynical about it; if you don't have the right coach already in your life, you may as well go out looking for him, instead of waiting for him to drop in, or deciding you can or even should do without him. At its best, a player-coach relationship is a fine and noble thing.
Everyone needs a little love, even if he ends up having to pay for it.
Tennis-Federer hooks up with Annacone to rediscover magic touch
Roger Federer has hooked up with Pete Sampras's former coach Paul Annacone for a "test period" in a bid to rediscover his winning touch.
It was only three months ago that the Swiss, winner of a record 16 grand slam crowns, was world number one and the defending champion at three of the four majors.
But after suffering a triple setback in the European season when he surrendered his French Open title in the quarter-finals, lost his number one ranking and failed to reach the Wimbledon final for the first time since 2002, Federer has conceded he needs outside help.
"I've been looking to add someone to my team and I've decided to spend some days with Paul Annacone," the world number three said on his website (www.rogerfederer.com).
"As Paul winds down his responsibilities working for (Britain's) Lawn Tennis Association, we will explore our relationship through this test period. Paul will work alongside my existing team and I am excited to learn from his experiences."
Widely considered as the greatest player to have wielded a tennis racket, Federer has shunned full-time help ever since splitting from Swede Peter Lundgren six months after winning his first grand slam at Wimbledon in 2003.
Darren Cahill, Jose Higueras and Tony Roche have made cameo appearances in Federer's players' box since while working with him on a temporary basis.
Just what Annacone can teach a player who has all the shots in the book, and a few more, remains to be seen.
Under the 47-year-old American's guidance, Sampras won nine of his 14 grand slam titles and Federer will hope Annacone can inspire him to further glory by getting him out of a rut in which he has failed to win a title since the Australian Open in January.
Federer has six Wimbledon titles, five U.S. Opens, one French Open and four Australian Opens.
He had reached a jaw-dropping 23 consecutive grand slam semi-finals before losing to Robin Soderling at Roland Garros and Federer has dropped out of the world's top two for the first time in seven years.
The 28-year-old is due to return to action in Toronto in August after taking a month-long break from the ATP Tour.
(Editing by Ed Osmond; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
Roger Federer Gives Paul Annacone Coaching Trial
On his official website today, former World No. 1 Roger Federer announced that he will “test” Paul Annacone as a new coach.
Said Federer, “I’ve been looking to add someone to my team and I’ve decided to spend some days with Paul Annacone. As Paul winds down his responsibilities working for the Lawn Tennis Association, we will explore our relationship through this test period. Paul will work alongside my existing team and I am excited to learn from his experiences.”
The slumping Swiss has failed to reach the semifinals at his last two Grand Slams. And Federer has just two titles in on his 12 month current ranking resume - 2010 Australian Open, 2009 Cincinnati.
Federer is currently ranked No. 3, a distant way from No. 1 Rafael Nadal. He is expected to play in Toronto next month.
In the absence of an official coach, Swiss Davis Cup captain Severin Luthi has been serving as Federer’s de facto coach.
The 47-year-old Annacone is best known as the former coach of Pete Sampras. More recently he coached Tim Henman and served as head of LTA coaching. Annacone won three ATP titles and reached a career-high No. 12 during the 80s.
Can Roger Federer's Game Recover With Paul Annacone's Help?
News has come out recently that Roger Federer has employed Paul Annacone as a short-term tennis coach. This is the same Annacone that teamed with Pete Sampras in his heyday. That should be encouraging for Federer's fans (and I am one of them) that he has hired Annacone. There's no shame in hiring a coach to try and get another set of eyes to help you tweak your game.
There are some observations that oodles of people have made already, that are current problems to Federer's game.
1) His serve. Used to have arguably the best serve in the game. Fast serve, hard for opponents to read, great placement. Great variety in using a flat, slice, or topspin serve. I've seen incredible serves from Roger- highlight reel quality. Now, his serve is not quite as precise, not as much pace. He has been passed by dozens of players as far as the pace on his serve. It's not a bad serve, but instead of being the best in the game, it has fallen back a few slots. It's now maybe top 10.
2)His backhand. It was one of the best in the game. Now it's a liability just as often. His slice backhands are landing short more and more often and sitting up for opponents for easy putaways. The big hitters especially are driving Roger back in the court on the backhand side. Then Roger will hit a short slice backhand and he's a sitting duck. Nadal was able to do this when Federer's backhand was still great, due to his superb serve placement and natural lefty crosscourts to Roger's backhand, but now many others can do this to Federer as well.
3). Federer's reduced court coverage. At his peak, he was one of the best at getting to balls in the corners. Plus, he had great anticipation to know where opponents would hit there next shot. Now he's slowed a bit, and balls are getting by him in the corners more.
4) Federer's loss of muscle mass- it's obvious that his frame has gotten thinner, and looking at his arms you can see that they're dramatically thinner. His forehands, which were once the best in tennis, are not blowing people off the court as much anymore. He's gotten into hitting matches, forehand to forehand, with DelPo, Soderling, Berdych, Nadal, and some others and been beaten at his own game. He needs to muscle up a bit if he wants to hold his ground.
It reminds me of a hot fireballing baseball pitcher. He comes into the league with a 100 mile an hour fastball and a curve ball that buckles your knees. The first few years he'll get everyone out with those pitches, but two things happen. The pitcher eventually loses 5-10 mph off his fastball, and the curve doesn't break quite as much. Second, the hitters start figuring the pitcher's tendencies out and don't get fooled as often.
Then the pitcher, if he wants to stay successful, has to add another pitch or two to his repertoire, and also start pitching on the corners and learn the hitters, since he doesn't have the 100mph fastball to blow by them anymore.]
Well, that is Roger Federer right now. He's lost a little off his fastball and the opposition is figuring him out some. He has to adjust. Problem is, he's facing players like Nadal, who still have their 100mph fastball and wicked curve ball, plus a couple other pitches that are so nasty they make your knees turn to jelly, and he brings it every night.
There are a lot of things a Paul Annacone can do, and recommend, just like a pitching coach in baseball can help squeeze a few more years out of a once-fireballing power pitcher. He can help him add a few things, make a couple tweaks that will take the opponents off their game and keep them off balance. That pitcher may never beat you again with pure heat, but may be able to stay near the top through strategy, finesse, and other things.
One thing Annacone did for Sampras is to help him filter out all the distractions from the people in the press who were pronouncing him dead after a few bad matches, and to keep him focused on the goal of competing at the highest level. For Federer, who is newly married with children, and buzzards circling because of his recent title drought, these skills might really help him.
Annacone has said that in sports, there are a few elite athletes for whom the normal rules do not apply, that can transcend what is normally thought possible. Athletes like Michael Jordan, Mario Lemieux, Sampras and Agassi. He mentioned Sampras and Agassi being able to come back, Agassi from being almost out of the sport, and going back to #1 in the world.
He also mentioned Sampras standing out as having the most belief in himself of any other player. Despite what everyone else said, he always believed in himself, and that got him over a lot of bad patches. Federer has had that same quality. He has historically spurned coaching, believing that he knows himself and what it will take him to compete and succeed at the highest level.
Annacone may be able to reinforce that belief in Federer. Help him filter out the distractions and focus. Achieve a better balance that enables him to squeeze that extra 5% more out of his tennis. If it helps him close out more of those close matches he lost this year, and take his self-belief up a notch, it will be time well spent.
This is not to say at all that Federer's needing an assist from Annacone means he is almost washed up, but if it were all about just getting healthy to beat the other top players, Federer wouldn't have needed to bring Annacone in. The injuries play some part in some of Federer's matches, but they are certainly not the main reason why he's losing. It's to Roger's credit that he's trying to improve his game. Heck, Nadal was forced to do it after he got injured. The thing with a Nadal, though, is that he still brings the heat every match, AND he's added new moves to his game. He just needs some extra rest between tournaments.
Federer also needs to add to his game, but with Nadal and others improving, it may not be enough to consistently beat the Nadals of the tour. It may, however, be enough to keep him near the top for an extra two or three years, and every once in a while beat those fireballing young bucks.
Roger Federer and Paul Annacone: The right partnership at the right time
This is a statement Federer fans needed to see. (Hat tip to Dootsiez for directing me to Fed's post.) I have worried for some time that Roger would not be able to bear being displaced as the World No. 1. No one since Bill Tilden has felt more comfortable, more entitled, to be the number-one tennis player in the world. "There's no secret behind it. I'm definitely a very talented player," Roger has said about his dominance. "I always knew I had something special."
He does indeed have something special -- note my use of the present tense. But being the best came so easy for so long to Roger that one sensed a late-career transition to hard-slog tennis would be difficult for him, maybe even emotionally impossible. Each of his last three losses in major finals came in fifth sets, when he seemed to expect his opponent to fall away and realized only too late that the opposite was occurring. Facing this increased resistance from opponents, this refusal to bow down to his greatness, Roger was caught unprepared. Might he thus become angry and depressed as his powers inevitably decline (he turns 29 in two weeks), leading him to retreat to his mansion to eat peanut butter-and-banana sandwiches and shoot out his TV screens with an antique revolver?
No, of course not. There would be no Elvis-like spiral into the abyss. But certainly Federer might decide the added effort needed to continue winning majors wasn't worth it. That instead of hitting the practice courts every day, he'd rather hang out with Mirka and the kids, shop for fine duds and eat rich foods. I saw Federer retiring at the age of 30, after a desultory 2011 season, as a very real possibility.
But now it looks like my fears were unjustified. On the face of it, Annacone seems like a good choice as coach. He's canny and thoughtful about the game, wise in the way that only smart second-tier players-turned-coaches can be. Plus, he's been down this road before. Pete Sampras, after losing to a young Swiss kid in the second round of the 2001 Wimbledon, looked like he was going to grumble and stumble his way into retirement. But Annacone re-focused and motivated him the following summer, and Sampras went on to buff up his CV with another major title.
Let's face it, Federer in late career has a greater upside than Sampras did. He's been remarkably stubborn in his playing style not out of necessity (as was the case with Sampras) but out of habit. Taking on a coach, something he probably should have done years ago, will help him shake up his routine and look at other options. Maybe we'll see him coming forward more, or, like Andy Murray, change pace more to break up the rhythm of rallies. Maybe we'll see him mentally wander away mid-match less frequently.
Who knows? But this much seems clear: Roger Federer will not be going away any time soon.
Federer to work with coach Annacone
With his ranking on the decline, Roger Federer is working with coach Paul Annacone on a trial basis.
Annacone, an American, is the former coach of Pete Sampras. He also coached Marat Safin and Tim Henman, and is now the head coach of men's tennis for Britain's Lawn Tennis Association.
"I've been looking to add someone to my team, and I've decided to spend some days with Paul Annacone," Federer said on his website Monday. "As Paul winds down his responsibilities working for the Lawn Tennis Association, we will explore our relationship through this test period. Paul will work alongside my existing team, and I am excited to learn from his experiences."
In the past two months Federer has slipped to No. 3 in the ATP rankings, the first time since November 2003 he's been that low. He trails No. 1 Rafael Nadal and No. 2 Novak Djokovic.
Federer has worked with coaches Darren Cahill, Jose Higueras and Tony Roche, but has also gone without a coach for extended stretches.
He's scheduled to play his first tournament since Wimbledon beginning Aug. 9 in Toronto. He plans to play in Cincinnati the following week before heading to the U.S. Open, and may be accompanied by Annacone.
"They will take the necessary time to see if the relationship can work," Federer's agent, Tony Godsick, said in an e-mail. "I would assume that Paul, if he can work it in with his remaining responsibilities and schedule with the LTA, will join Roger for some of his upcoming summer hard court events in North America."
Federer's most recent title came in January at the Australian Open, his 16th Grand Slam championship. His record streak of reaching the semifinals at 23 consecutive major tournaments ended when he lost in the quarterfinals at the French Open.
At Wimbledon, he also lost in the quarterfinals following seven consecutive appearances in the final.
Federer topped the rankings earlier this year but was overtaken by Nadal after the French Open. That left Federer one week shy of tying Sampras' career record of 286 total weeks at No. 1.
Federer Adds Annacone
MIAMI (AP) -- With his ranking on the decline, Roger Federer is working with coach Paul Annacone on a trial basis.
Annacone, an American, is the former coach of Pete Sampras. He also coached Marat Safin and Tim Henman, and is now the head coach of men's tennis for Britain's Lawn Tennis Association.
''I've been looking to add someone to my team, and I've decided to spend some days with Paul Annacone,'' Federer said on his website Monday. ''As Paul winds down his responsibilities working for the Lawn Tennis Association, we will explore our relationship through this test period. Paul will work alongside my existing team, and I am excited to learn from his experiences.''
In the past two months Federer has slipped to No. 3 in the ATP rankings, the first time since November 2003 he's been that low. He trails No. 1 Rafael Nadal and No. 2 Novak Djokovic.
Federer has worked with coaches Darren Cahill, Jose Higueras and Tony Roche, but has also gone without a coach for extended stretches.
He's scheduled to play his first tournament since Wimbledon beginning Aug. 9 in Toronto. He plans to play in Cincinnati the following week before heading to the U.S. Open, and may be accompanied by Annacone.
''They will take the necessary time to see if the relationship can work,'' Federer's agent, Tony Godsick, said in an e-mail. ''I would assume that Paul, if he can work it in with his remaining responsibilities and schedule with the LTA, will join Roger for some of his upcoming summer hard court events in North America.''
Federer's most recent title came in January at the Australian Open, his 16th Grand Slam championship. His record streak of reaching the semifinals at 23 consecutive major tournaments ended when he lost in the quarterfinals at the French Open.
At Wimbledon, he also lost in the quarterfinals following seven consecutive appearances in the final.
Federer topped the rankings earlier this year but was overtaken by Nadal after the French Open. That left Federer one week shy of tying Sampras' career record of 286 total weeks at No. 1.
New coach for Federer
Roger Federer has announced that he is to work with Pete Sampras's former coach Paul Annacone for a "test period" in the hope he can reclaim top spot in the world rankings.
The Swiss star's decision comes following a three-month spell which has seen him surrender the French Open title in the quarter-finals, slip to number three in the rankings behind Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic and also fail to reach the Wimbledon final for the first time since 2002.
"I've been looking to add someone to my team and I've decided to spend some days with Paul Annacone," Federer said on his website.
"As Paul winds down his responsibilities working for (Britain's) Lawn Tennis Association, we will explore our relationship through this test period. Paul will work alongside my existing team and I am excited to learn from his experiences."
Although Darren Cahill, Jose Higueras and Tony Roche have all worked with Federer on a temporary basis, he has not had a full-time coach since splitting from Swede Peter Lundgren six months after winning his first Wimbledon title in 2003.
Under Annacone's guidance, Sampras won nine of his 14 grand slam titles and Federer will hope the 47-year-old American can help him out of a rut which has left him without a title since the Australian Open in January.
The 28-year-old now holds the record for grand slam victories, having won six Wimbledon titles, five US Opens, four Australian Opens and one French Open in all.
He had also reached 23 consecutive grand slam semi-finals before losing to Robin Soderling at Roland Garros.
Federer is due to return to action in Toronto in August after taking a month-long break from the ATP Tour.
Roger Federer tries out new coach
WITH his ranking and his game on the decline, Roger Federer is working with coach Paul Annacone on a trial basis.
Annacone, an American, is the former coach of Pete Sampras. He also coached Marat Safin and Tim Henman, and is now the head coach of men's tennis for Britain's Lawn Tennis Association.
"I've been looking to add someone to my team, and I've decided to spend some days with Paul Annacone,'' Federer said on his website on Monday.
"As Paul winds down his responsibilities working for the Lawn Tennis Association, we will explore our relationship through this test period.
"Paul will work alongside my existing team and I am excited to learn from his experiences.''
In the past two months Federer has slipped to No.3 in the ATP rankings, the first time since November 2003 he's been that low. He trails No.1 Rafael Nadal and No.2 Novak Djokovic.
Federer has worked with coaches Darren Cahill, Jose Higueras and Tony Roche, but has also gone without a coach for extended stretches.
He's scheduled to play his first tournament since Wimbledon inn Toronto on August 9.
He plans to play in Cincinnati the following week before heading to the US Open, and may be accompanied by Annacone.
"They will take the necessary time to see if the relationship can work,'' Federer's agent, Tony Godsick, said in an email.
"I would assume that Paul, if he can work it in with his remaining responsibilities and schedule with the LTA, will join Roger for some of his upcoming summer hardcourt events in North America.''
Federer's most recent title came in January at the Australian Open, his 16th grand slam championship. His record streak of reaching the semi-finals at 23 consecutive major tournaments ended when he lost in the quarter-finals at the French Open.
At Wimbledon, he also lost in the quarter-finals following seven consecutive appearances in the final.
Federer topped the rankings earlier this year but was overtaken by Nadal after the French Open. That left Federer one week shy of tying Sampras' career record of 286 total weeks at No.1.
Annacone can give Fed tactical boost
Roger Federer's link-up with Paul Annacone is very interesting to me, and you have to say that Paul's record as a coach speaks for itself.
He is a terrific coach; I've talked to Tim Henman about him and he has nothing but the highest praise. Of course you also have to look at everything he did with Pete Sampras and conclude that that was pretty special too.
I have often thought with Federer that he is not a great match player. He is the greatest tennis player that has ever lived, and the greatest shot-maker ever by some distance, but I don't think there has ever really been a plan B to his game.
Of course, pretty much every time he goes out on the court he doesn't need a plan B but maybe his dip in form over the last couple of years has been the tipping point and he finally now feels that he needs a little help.
There is nothing that anyone, including Paul Annacone, can teach Federer about shot-making but tactically everyone needs a little boost here and there from time to time and I feel that's the one thing Roger really requires at the moment.
So in that regard I think it is a good appointment. Annacone is very astute tactically and can help Federer get a little edge in the big matches.
I'm not saying that Federer is bad tactically, but in the past he has won matches so easily because his talent is so sublime and so overpowering that he hasn't needed to be tactical when push comes to shove.
However, he is now being involved in more and more tight matches and he has to find a new way to try and ensures he wins those contests.
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/tennis/si … icle/4538/
Aha, czyli g... z tego będzie. :]
Robertinho napisał:
Aha, czyli g... z tego będzie. :]
Simon ma ostatnio znakomitą passę. Wytypował Rafę na Mistrza RG. :D :D
What Federer wants, he usually gets
I have a confession to make. Before I woke up yesterday and heard that Roger Federer had employed Paul Annacone on a trial basis, I had no idea who Annacone was. I’m not ashamed; it isn’t my fault I grew up in a rugby obsessed country and didn’t discover the world’s greatest sport until early 2007. I’m far too lazy to dig into the history books and read up on these people that used to do this thing called a volley, so my knowledge of tennis pre-Federer is pretty hazy. A quick google search told me Annacone is a serve-volleyer and chip and charger who achieved solid results on the ATP tour until he retired in 1992. What he’s famous for, however, is working with Pete Sampras, particularly when Sampras was on his way out. Annacone coached Sampras to his last Slam by helping him play more aggressively and, according to Peter Bodo, keeping him in line mentally. He coached Tim Henman part-time following Sampras and has only recently finished up with the Lawn Tennis Association.
I’m sure I am not the only one who needed that background check.
Now Annacone finds himself working with Federer. Federer has been working with people on a trial basis a few times over the last year or so, most famously Darren Cahill, but is yet to find someone he wants to work with full-time. Annacone represents someone who is used to coaching great players in the latter stages of their career and therefore could be a good match for Federer. Federer doesn’t need someone to teach him the finer points of forehands, he needs someone to go over game-plans with, to help him become more attacking at net, and someone to coach him through these latter stages. I should probably rephrase that, because I don’t think anyone really think Federer needs a coach. But he clearly wants someone else on his team and Annacone possibly has the right strategies and temperament to work with a man who is probably very difficult to coach.
The real news behind this all is that Federer still really wants to win. It probably would have been easier to slide off into history with his two twins and dedicated wife in tow, but the 16 time champion still wants very much to add to his collection. Obviously his Wimbledon loss hit harder than perhaps we thought it did and gave him a wake-up call. No matter what comes of this trial, one thing is for certain. Federer still wants it. And what Federer wants, he usually gets.
Wywiad z Pierrem Paganinim na temat Rogera:
Mr. Paganini, how fit is Roger Federer at the moment?
Pierre Paganini: At the moment he is superfit. We are practicing nearly for 2 weeks meanwhile. The holidays have been good for him.
In Wimbledon he complained about having pain. Where did those pains come from?
In principle these pains are normal. You are playing 60-70 matches in a year. Then you are going to have those matches where you care carrying a little injury with you and where you are feeling your back. Especially on grass. He didn’t felt that well and that means you play with lesser selfconfidence, which already disturbs the puzzle. On this level already little things have a big effect.
How important is fitness for Federer?
Of course it is the best when everything works. As a person, as an athlete, as a player. But the reality is that Roger just like many others sometimes doesn’t feel 100% well in matches. He knows that he can beat most of the players, even when a little detail is missing, but he also knows that it can become dangerous than for him.
Roger is going to be 29 years old next week. How do his performance parameters these days look like compared to former times?
He is exactly as fit as 6 or 3 years ago. I don’t name any exact numbers. But the measured values which you can have regarding explosiveness, speed or specific stamina, are where they must be. Adding to this Roger has more maturity because he has practiced all these years very disciplined. Fact is: You can’t really show each day what you are having in your suitcase.
So age isn’t a problem?
You are not old when you are 29 or 30 years. But at this age you already have done a lot and this is the huge difference. It isn’t your first practice or your first match. He has nearly 900 matches in his legs and x-thousand practices. You are going to feel this. What is changing now is not the quality of an athlete, but the planning is different. You have to give your body a little more time to make certain things.
The statistics of many former topplayers show that especially with 29 years mostly a decrease in general performances happens.
It’s different with everyone. Agassi had a long period like this in between. Important is the willingness. What delighted me in the last 2 weeks: Roger comes to the practice with a vigour in his head as he would be a junior. I’m really fascinated. It sparkles in his eyes. When you say to him: You are going to have 1 ½ days off he says: Maybe it’s beautiful tomorrow and one can practice.
That shows me that he has the mentally right attitude.
So Federer ticks differently?
Maybe others were less in love with tennis. Roger loves ballsports. That’s why he plays. Everything which he has done so far took a lot of energy out of him. You have to respect this. Roger practices as much as before. It also has to be divided differently. The same quantum, only arranged differently.
What do you think when people say that his time is running out slowly?
When someone at the crackerbarrel with a beer in his hand is saying something like this he should say it. You can’t be mad at him as he doesn’t know it better. What irritates me are the so-called specialists who talk about the end after every loss. When you are going to feel tennis you should come to another conclusion.
Federer is father of twins. That costs energy. Doesn't that influence his game?
Sure, but I think only positively. Federer takes also strength from the family, it also distracts him. Other players had much more problems with the adjustment.
But Mirka does an incredible god job. She empathize with Roger.
So Stress with the kids is not harmful for the performance?
Not at all. There are many positive sides. How many people are unhappy with 29, because they don't feel a sense in life ?
Roger is happy. His privat life guarantees, that he will play a long time.
Has the new coach Paul Annacone a clear opinion, what he wants to add Federer's game? He was a serve-and-volley specialist.
Annacone is here since two days and is thrilled of Roger's committment. Basicaly it is Roger, who creates the game.
You cannot impose anything to him. It is a dialog. Roger is much more open than five years ago. That with s-a-v- specialist I would not see it too narrow. Annacone played like that. That doesn't mean, that he wants to impose this to someone. Everything is much more complex.
How demanding is the trainingprogram of Federer in Zürich?
We are training just under two weeks. Until August 5 we will have done between 15 to 17 conditioning units of 1 to 2 hours. And 18 to 24 hours on the court. The training partners Stefan Koubek and with immediate effect Philipp Kohlschreiber are training also.
How long can Roger win Grand-Slams?
Today I would say four to five years. Also if certain physiologic wearing will add. But what concerns his abilities, enthusiasm and athletic, he can keep up with the others a few more years without any problems.
We plan long-term right now for the next five years.
Przed turniejem w Toronto Federer będzie miał za sobą ponad 40 dni odpoczynku po Wimbledonie. Jego forma jest wielką zagadką.
polo90 napisał:
Przed turniejem w Toronto Federer będzie miał za sobą ponad 40 dni odpoczynku po Wimbledonie.
Jak od bodaj 5 lat.
Robertinho napisał:
polo90 napisał:
Przed turniejem w Toronto Federer będzie miał za sobą ponad 40 dni odpoczynku po Wimbledonie.
Jak od bodaj 5 lat.
Drugi rok. :P Do tej pory przerwa między Wimbledonem, a Toronto wynosiła 4 tygodnie. :)
-------------------------------------------------
OFF COURT - LINDT SWEEPSTAKES
I am really excited about this new sweepstakes I’m doing with LINDT Chocolate.
Get the chance to win some great prizes including a trip to a tennis event in NYC or even a trip to meet me in Switzerland for the LINDT Holiday Lighting Ceremony! Go to www.lindtusa.com to learn more and play (Please note that participation is limited to US residents).
Trochę wcześniejszy wywiad z paganinim.
"Jak długo Roger będzie grał, tak długo będzie mocny".
http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/10/2 … be-strong/
Chciałbym bardzo żeby Roger powrócił do formy jaką prezentował na Australian Open. Czy według was jest to możliwe?.
polo90 napisał:
Chciałbym bardzo żeby Roger powrócił do formy jaką prezentował na Australian Open. Czy według was jest to możliwe?.
Jak najbardziej. :) Trzeba cięzkiej pracy Mistrza i cierpliwości Jego kibiców. ;)
Nie jest :/
OFF COURT - ROGER'S MAGIC
You all certainly remember Roger's incredible shot at the US Open 2009 between the legs and past his opponent! Watch our champ explain how it works.
http://www.rogerfederer.com/en/rogers/n … ewsID=1095
Link do filmiku:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdEimnmW1Yc
Najlepszego Roker. :beer: :o
OFF COURT - 29TH BIRTHDAY
Dear Fans
It is a great feeling to be celebrating my birthday with my family here in Canada. I am excited to compete again these days after having spent several weeks preparing intensely for the second half of the 2010-season.
Thank you so much for all your kind messages and wonderful gifts that I have received these past days and continue to receive today. This really motivates me as I can see how much my passion for tennis also means to you. I would like to thank you all for your loyalty over all these years - let's hope for many more to come!
All the best and see you soon,
Roger
http://www.rogerfederer.com/en/rogers/n … ewsID=1097
Wszystkiego Najlepszego Roger!
Stówa Królu! ;)
Najlepszego Tato. :D
One-on-one with the Maestro
Taking a fresh approach with Australian Open champ and World No. 3 Roger Federer
Roger Federer has almost done it all in tennis – won a record 16 Grand Slam titles, held the No. 1 ranking for 285 weeks and established marks that may never be matched such as playing in 10 Grand Slam finals in a row and 23 Grand Slam semi-finals in a row.
Celebrating his 29th birthday on Sunday, Federer has been asked just about every question imaginable since he turned pro in 1998. On Friday, after his practice session in Toronto for next week’s Rogers Cup,The Globe tried something different, asking him 10 questions that he has never (or rarely) been asked before.
Q: When is the last time you hit against a wall?
RF: It’s been a long time. The other day I was practising and I saw a junior playing against a wall and it was like, ‘remember those days when we were playing against the wall for hours and hours and hours.’ It was like the best practice partner who would never miss.
Q: When was the last time you had a conversation with somebody who didn’t know who you were?
RF: It happens rarely because if I’m moving in the tennis world, then obviously it doesn’t happen. It might happen in a hotel if someone asked for directions, then that’s a quick conversation. I actually like to talk and interact with people who don’t know me. But that’s been a while too.
Q: When is the last time you lost to a woman or a girl?
RF: I used to practice with Magdalena Maleeva [the former world No. 4 from Bulgaria], when she was at the national tennis centre [in Switzerland]. I remember I lost a set against her once. I also played against Emmanuela Zardo, who was also a Swiss player who ranked top 50. I actually lost against her too. I think I even cried after the practice session because I was so disappointed. I was only like 14 or 15.
Q: What’s your greatest sports accomplishment outside of tennis?
RF: [He laughs]. I beat Chiudinelli [his good Swiss friend and fellow tour player Marco Chiudinelli] in soccer in a final after he beat me the year before in penalty shoot-out. I got him back. I was probably like 10, he was playing for FC Basel and I was playing for FC Concordia Basel. He was the main defender and I was the main attacker. So, we played each other, even in soccer.
I enjoyed doing all kinds of sports, skiing – I did some competition, little races as a kid.
Q: What’s the best trick you can do with the ball and a racquet?
RF: I guess hitting through the legs consistently. Like tricks themselves, I don’t practice them at all. It’s something that many players are probably better at than me.
Q: What kind of an ice hockey player were you?
RF: I never played. I can’t skate properly. I skated here [in Toronto] but I go in circles because I can’t stop and I can’t go backward. I’m so slow. That’s something I want to do once I retire, learn how to skate properly. But we used to play uni-hockey, with the light ball. We used to do that a lot in Switzerland.
Q: These pop singers – Avril Lavigne, Taylor Swift, Nelly Furtado and Alanis Morissette – do you know all of them?
RF: I don’t know the second one [Swift].
Q: The question was going to be: Do you know which one is not Canadian?
RF: I actually knew the other three were Canadian.
Q: Of all the people you’ve ever met, who were you the most nervous beforehand about meeting?
RF: It might have been [former U.N. secretary-general] Kofi Annan at the U.N. [in 2005] because I was so freaked out about the situation. The former Swiss president Adolf Ogi thought of me to be ambassador for the year of sports and I said ‘okay fine.’ So I got in a suit, and we were waiting for him and I had to give a speech in one of the big rooms. And then later on we went to a little room and Kofi Annan was there. I only met him briefly, but I think I was more nervous about the speech than meeting him.
Q: What food always makes you feel good?
RF: Thank God I’m an easy eater now. I used to not eat fish or meat when I was younger just because of texture and taste. Today I basically eat everything. Swiss food for me is still No. 1, and then Japanese and I like Italian. I could eat Italian every day.
Q: You speak several languages (Swiss German, English, French and German), what’s the hardest new language for you to learn?
RF: I’ve been together with my wife [Mirka Vavrinec] for almost, or over, 10 years now, and when she speaks to her parents in Slovak, I still don’t understand a word. I guess that is hard for me, it’s so different.
Art napisał:
Taking a fresh approach with Australian Open champ and World No. 3 Roger Federer
Dziwnie to wygląda. :D No cóż, trzeba się przyzwyczaić. :P
RF: I’ve been together with my wife [Mirka Vavrinec] for almost, or over, 10 years now, and when she speaks to her parents in Slovak, I still don’t understand a word. I guess that is hard for me, it’s so different.
Buu, słowacki jest bardzo podobny do polskiego. :(
Federer begins work with new coach
Roger Federer celebrated his 29th birthday this week but the cagey Swiss said he was not too old to learn a few new tricks as he launched his North American hardcourt campaign with coach Paul Annacone at his side.
The 16-time Grand Slam winner came to the Toronto Masters with his wife, twin girls and Annacone - the newest member of his compact entourage - eager to finish an up-and-down year on a high note with a victory at the US Open in September.
Federer has spent much of his prime years working alone, but a crushing quarter-final exit at the All England Club, some stagnating play and a lower ranking convinced him it was time for some fresh thinking.
"I've always questioned myself in the best of times and in the worst of times, even though there were not many bad moments the last seven years or so," Federer said.
"But I always look at new ways I can improve. Paul, I think, with his experience can bring something to our team and that's what we're exploring right now."
Federer would not elaborate on the status of his working relationship with Annacone, who also coached Pete Sampras and Tim Henman, but said he would likely wait until after the US Open before deciding whether to keep him on a full-time basis.
The well-rested Swiss is spending plenty of time with Annacone on the Toronto hardcourts opting not to play doubles in order to focus on working with the American.
"I've always gotten along very well with Paul, him being obviously the coach of Sampras and Henman who were sort of friends to me," said Federer. "So I thought it was a good time to do a test and this is our first test tournament."
Federer insists he is not a control freak, but from the outside the Swiss seems in complete control of every aspect of his life on the court and off.
Since parting ways with Peter Lundgren in 2003, Federer has not employed a full-time coach, opting instead to work with a string of high-profile part-timers including Australians Tony Roche, Darren Cahill and Spaniard Jose Higueras.
Annacone will be courtside when Federer, Toronto champion in 2004 and 2006, begins play on Tuesday with a second-round match against Argentina's Juan Ignacio Chela.
"I know I can handle a lot by myself but obviously at this stage now I do need help from all sorts of sides because my family has grown and the business is much bigger," said Federer.
Reuters
Refreshed Federer Driven To Improve
A refreshed Roger Federer plays in his first tournament since Wimbledon, and opens his bid for a third Rogers Cup title on Tuesday night in Toronto.
Federer eagerly anticipated his return to the courts, following a family vacation and three weeks of training from home. “It was nice to get away from it all, like the whole scene I know throughout the whole year, and then you get very excited again to go back on tour and pack your bags and go on a trip again,” he said Monday. “[I’m] very happy to be back on tour again.”
On his return to tour-level action, Federer finds himself in an unfamiliar position, playing in his first tournament at No. 3 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings for the first time since the 2003 Tennis Masters Cup.
“Being ranked No. 3 in the world is something I haven't been in a very long time,” said Federer, who turned 29 years of age Sunday. “[It] also gives me motivation and a drive to come forward again, and I'm doing all the right things and it's, to me, just a matter of time. But guys are getting good and it's inspiring for me also to get better.”
Federer won his 16th major in January at the Australian Open, but has since been unable to capture another title following a setback with a lung infection in February. At Wimbledon, he was absent from Championship Sunday for the first time in eight years after succumbing to Tomas Berdych in the quarter-finals.
“For me, [it] was important to take a rest and really work on my game again,” he said. “I think, by doing that, I'm confident that the results will come back eventually. I'm doing all the right things with the last years. I was definitely disappointed, as well, that I couldn't play better right after the Australian Open, which I thought was some of my best tennis I ever played in my life.”
Over the last month, Federer has been working on a trial basis with Paul Annacone, a former coach of Pete Sampras, Marat Safin and Tim Henman. Annacone is accompanying Federer this week in Toronto.
“The goal has always been for me to improve as a player, and I won't just be happy of playing the same way for years and years and years,” explained Federer. “I've always questioned myself in the best of times and in the worst of times, even though there were not many worst moments, bad moments, the last seven years or so. But I always look at new ways I can improve on. Paul, I think, with his experience can bring something to our team, and that's what we're exploring right now.”
Federer, who plays Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela in his second-round opening match, is looking to win his 17th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title and his first since last August in Cincinnati. He reached the Rogers Cup quarter-finals last year in Montreal, falling to Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in a third set tie-break.
Canada’s ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament has been happy hunting grounds for Federer in the past. He has a 22-6 tournament record and claimed the titles in Toronto and 2004 and ’06. He has reached the quarter-finals or better in five of his past six appearances at the Rogers Cup, only failing to do so in 2008 when he was surprised by Frenchman Gilles Simon in his opening match.
OFF COURT - MEETING WITH CROSBY
Roger met Canadian ice hockey player Sidney Crosby - another Olympic champion.
The two had planned to hit some balls, but unfortunately rain crossed their plans. Nevertheless, Roger and Sidney had an interesting chat. Both athletes had something to celebrate this weekend, after all: Crosby's 23rd and Roger's 29th birthday!
Roger, an ice hockey fan, had closely followed the Olympic Games in Vancouver where Crosby scored the match-winning goal in a thrilling final against the United States.
The famous No. 87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins already won the Stanley Cup in 2009.
OFF COURT - WILSON'S OUTTAKES
See how much work it takes until you get everything in a tv-spot right - enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r00QND7e8Dg
ATP - ROGERS CUP
Roger has an extra day off thanks to a first round bye at the Rogers Cup in Toronto. He will then either play Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG, ATP 48) or Alejandro Falla (COL, ATP 61).
Roger won the last two matches against Juan Ignacio Chela with ease in two sets. Alejandro Falla is a different topic - our Champ had to dig deep in the first round in Wimbledon against the Columbian this year, battling to victory in the fifth set.
Roger is scheduled to play his first match on Tuesday evening (local time).
10.08.2010 - Roger Federer wygrywa z Juanem Ignacio Chelą i odnosi tym samym swoje 210 zwycięśtwo meczowe w turniejach rangi Masters-1000. Szwajcar zostaje samodzielnym liderem tej klasyfikacji.
Najwięcej wygranych spotkań - Masters-1000:
1. Roger Federer 210-65
2. Andre Agassi 209-73
3. Pete Sampras 190-70
4. Rafael Nadal 180-35
5. Andy Roddick 141-57
ATP - ROGER WINS FIRST MATCH
Roger made a good start in Toronto to beat Juan Ignacio Chela 7-6 (7), 6-3 to reach the third round of the Rogers Cup.
"I'm glad to go through," Roger said. "I was a bit rusty in the opening match and he really made me play. But I'm very happy with how it went tonight."
Roger opened the match in brilliant fashion, approaching the net more than he has done recently, and went to take a 5-2 lead. But he battled with his serve after that and was unable to make use of two set-points at 5-4, taking the match into a tie-breaker. That proved to be a tough one, but our champ made it through and took home the first set - taking him seven set points and 48 minutes all in all. Roger showed solid tennis in the second set, booking his spot in the round of the last eight after 81 minutes of play.
Next up is either Nicolas Almagro (ATP 16) or Michael Llodra (ATP 35) on Thursday.
Konferencja prasowa:
http://tennisconnected.com/home/2010/08 … onference/
Roger Federer will not mind criticisms from new coach Annacone
Roger Federer has been taking a ride on the coaching merry-go-round this summer and just as Andy Murray was splitting up with Miles Maclagan, the Swiss was joining forces with Paul Annacone, the former guide to Pete Sampras and Tim Henman.
After losing in the quarter-finals of both the French Open and Wimbledon, he felt the need of a new voice to advise him as he approaches the US Open.
"Just hearing someone else for a change is good," he said. "I think it's interesting for players. They need to know for themselves what's most important for them. Sometimes it can be just a friend travelling with them, making them feel good. Then maybe having the coach or a conditioning coach or a physio, I think the player needs to know for himself what that really is.
"So it depends on what kind of a personality you are. Some people think I control everything, I'm a control freak. That's not at all the case. I like it that actually the coach does have a lot of say, a lot of input.
"I never have arguments, have ever had arguments with my coaches, because I like them to criticise me. I need that to become a better player."
ATP - ANOTHER RECORD BROKEN
After defeating Juan Ignacio Chela in Toronto, Roger has exceeded Andre Agassi in the number of victories in the Masters 1000 series.
Our champ has now achieved 210 victories (against only 65 defeats), one more than Andre Agassi (209 victories - 73 defeats between 1990 and 2006). Roger won his first match in a Masters 1000 series tournament in Miami in 2000 against America's Justin Gimelstob.
The top five of this ranking are:
1. Roger (210 victories - 65 defeats)
2. Andre Agassi (209 victories - 73 defeats)
3. Pete Sampras (190 victories - 70 defeats)
4. Rafael Nadal (180 victories - 35 defeats)
5. Andy Roddick (141 victories - 57 defeats)
Federer still has major goals in tennis
After starting his US Open run-up with a straight-sets win over Juan Chela, Roger Federer remains unconcerned about unsubstantiated loose talk of any kind of subtle slide in form.
The Swiss showed his eagerness for the sprint to the last Grand Slam of the season, quickly listing further goals that can inspire even the winner of a record 16 Grand Slam titles.
"There's no secret I'd love to win another 10 Wimbledons and another five French Opens and so forth, and an Olympic gold in London, and Davis Cup. You name it. I'd love to win many, many tournaments still," he said.
He realistically added: "But what I'll try to do is make, you know, the best possible career and then judge it at the very end instead of trying to run after things.
"I think I did that enough with the Grand Slam count of Pete's 14 and the French Open (2009, his only title in Paris), and now that I got those out of the way, really, I feel like I'm playing much more with relief, more fun, and a purpose."
"Before it was quite stressful entering the press conferences, always being reminded about those two things."
Federer's win over Chela was his fifth in the series, having lost just one set of 11. "It's always nice to come back after six weeks and get the win," said Federer, who last played at Wimbledon. "I think that's really what counts the most.
"It's normal that you're a bit rusty after six weeks. You have to work your way into playing matches again, even though you play a lot of practice sets and matches."
"Overall it was a good match. I think I really did some good things out there and a bit of a pity I had a bit of a letdown at 5-2 up in the first set. I had many options, I wanted to play on my terms against a player like that, and that's what I was able to do today somehow."
ATP - ROGER ADAVENS TO QUARTERS
Roger defeated Michael Llodra 7-6 (2), 6-3 today to set up a quarter-final clash with his conqueror at Wimbledon six weeks ago, Tomas Berdych.
"It will bring back memories, some not so nice," Roger said of the rematch against Berdych. "Hopefully I can get him back."
Roger needed one hour and 19 minutes to complete victory today. He did not manage to find his rhythm right from the start, falling behind 0-3. But he managed to come back to 3-4 and then eventually secure the set with ease in the tie-break. The second set posed no threat to our champ, even though he dropped serve again at 5-1. The two players have both been active on the ATP-Tour for over ten years, but - astonishingly - had never met in a major tournament before.
Federer sets his sights on 20 Grand Slams
Roger Federer wants to win at least 20 Grand Slam titles before he retires.
The 29-year-old Swiss player earned his 16th title with a victory at the Australian Open this year. But he failed to get beyond the quarterfinals at the French Open and Wimbledon. He's dropped to No. 3 in the rankings, his lowest position since November 2003.
However, Federer told the BBC that winning 20 majors is a realistic goal.
"I believe that having won three Grand Slams per season three times, and two per year a couple of times, it's something doable for me," he said. "I only play 16-20 tournaments per year, so I'm not overplaying, and that keeps the fire burning."
Federer overtook Pete Sampras' record of 14 Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon in 2009. By winning the French Open a month earlier, he became only the sixth man in history to win a career Grand Slam.
But his aura of invincibility has faded in recent months. He has not won a title since the Australian Open, and his quarterfinal loss to Tomas Berdych at Wimbledon marked the first time he failed to make the final at the All England Club since 2002.
Federer, who is married with 1-year-old twin daughters, denied his motivation had waned.
"I'm giving 100 percent for each and every tournament that I play because I don't play a ton of tournaments," he said in the BBC interview. "Tournaments like Toronto this week and Cincinnati next week are important to me, too. The motivation is huge for the next few years. And obviously if I can win Grand Slams that's fantastic, but they are not the only motivation over the next few years."
Federer admits that his body requires more time to recover between tournaments.
"Being a teenager is different to being 23, and being 23 is very different to say being 28. Today, I know my body better than ever," Federer said. "Some things take a little bit longer to recover from with age, but I can prevent more problems by doing a lot more stretching, physical work, practice, massages. I'm doing everything much more professionally today than I ever have before.
"There's no denying that I've played almost a thousand matches in my life, and that obviously has a big wear and tear on your body, too. So you have to be a little bit more careful."
Federer is playing at the Rogers Cup in Toronto this week, his first tournament since hiring Sampras' former coach Paul Annacone.
He'll aim for his 17th Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open, which begins Aug. 30.
ATP - BACK TO NUMBER TWO!
Roger booked his spot in the final of the Rogers Cup in Toronto with a 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 victory over Novak Djokovic on Saturday night - meaning that Roger will move back up to number two in the world rankings already.
"Tonight I came out with all guns blazing," Roger commented. "I played fantastic in the first set but in the second set Novak was able to raise his game and make it super competitive so I feel very happy to have come through."
Our champ needed under half an hour to secure the first set and continued in the same fashion, winning the next two games as well. But then Djokovic had a strong phase, when Roger had to face breaks and the loss of the second set. But he entered the deciding set clearly focused and jumped to a 4-1 lead - only for the Serb to come back to 4-4. But Roger was convinced not to let this one slip away, scoring a last break in just the right moment with a forehand by Djokovic that landed in the net.
With the win, Roger regained the No. 2 seed he lost following Wimbledon with Djokovic dropping back down to No. 3. He will now play the final in Toronto against Andy Murray, who owns a slight 6-5 edge in career matches between the two, but the last three have all gone Roger's way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTl3U6aS … embedded#!
A czy Ty zaufałbyś Rogerowi Federerowi? :o
Federer set for title defense in Cincinnati
Newly reinstated World No. 2 Roger Federer continues his North American hard-court run at the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters this week. The defending champion enters the tournament as the third seed.
Federer begins his 10th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Cincinnati with a 35-10 season record. The 29-year-old Swiss will make his return to competition following a successful run at the Rogers Cup in Toronto. Federer advanced to the championship, where he lost in straight sets to an in-form Andy Murray, 5-7, 5-7.
Federer is bidding for his 17th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 shield this week. He is three-times a winner in Cincinnati, having taken home top prize in 2005, 2007 and 2009. The Swiss put together a solid string of performances last year, as he surrendered only one set en route to the championship victory. Federer defeated Novak Djokovic in the final, 6-1, 7-5.
The World No. 3 tops a quarter of the Cincinnati draw that hosts a collection of talented hard-court players, including: Nikolay Davydenko, David Ferrer, Gael Monfils, Sam Querrey, Alexandr Dolgopolov, Philipp Kohlschreiber and James Blake.
Federer has been placed in the same half of the draw with World No. 1 Rafael Nadal, 7th seed Tomas Berdych, 11th seed Marin Cilic and 14th seed Nicolas Almagro. Other combatants in the Swiss’s section are Marcos Baghdatis, Thomaz Bellucci, Feliciano Lopez, Philipp Petzschner and fellow countryman Stanislas Wawrinka.
Following a first-round bye, Federer looks toward a potential clash with 2007 Cincinnati finalist James Blake. The closest seed to the Swiss is No. 16 Monfils, who looms as a possible round of 16 challengers. Should the defending champion progress through the draw, he likely faces No. 6 Davydenko in the quarterfinal, and either top-seeded Nadal or Berdych in the semifinal.
Art napisał:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTl3U6aSd2w&feature=player_embedded#!
A czy Ty zaufałbyś Rogerowi Federerowi? :o
:o
ATP - ISTOMIN HAS TO RETIRE
Roger advanced into the round of the last sixteen in Cininnati as his opponent, qualifier Denis Istomin, had to retire at 5-2.
"If there is a right timing for this, it's now, I guess," Roger said. "It gives me an extra day to get into it. From that standpoint, it's good."
Istomin hurt his right foot and ankle during a rally and had to quit the match after only 28 minutes. Roger controlled the match and had a 5-2 lead when Istomin pulled up and sat down in the corner of the court, removing his shoe. He got the foot and ankle taped, but couldn't put much weight on the leg and decided to retire.
Roger certainly welcomed the easy night coming off his finals match in Toronto but was obviously also sorry for his opponent's injury.
Roger will now meet Germany's Phlipp Kohlschreiber.
ATP - ANOTHER UNEXPECTED BREAK
Roger can profit from another unexpected break, moving on to the quarter finals in Cincinnati. He advanced by walkover as his third-round opponent Philipp Kohlschreiber retired due to a right shoulder injury.
Roger has yet to play a complete match this week and will play either Russian sixth seed Nikolay Davydenko or number 10 David Ferrer of Spain on Friday.
US Open - Federer mocks talk of decline
Roger Federer has heard the talk about his supposed decline before and the world number two finds it hard to take the suggestion seriously.
The record 16-times Grand Slam winner failed to get beyond the quarter-finals at the French Open and Wimbledon this year and with the last Grand Slam of the season, the US Open, on the horizon, talk has turned to whether the Swiss is fading.
Federer, who lost to Andy Murray in last week's final in Toronto, appears to find the idea ridiculous.
"I had a wonderful summer last year with (winning) the French Open and Wimbledon, which wasn't case this year," he said.
"But last year after the Australian Open when I lost against Nadal, people were also talking about how I was on a huge decline. I cried on centre court at the Australian Open, which was a big tragedy for many people.
"Nobody ever believed I would come back. I won two Slams and played the finals of the US Open and won the Australian Open, so then everything changes and you don't win the French or Wimbledon, and things are all bad again.
"So it moves very quickly. I know the rules and how it all works."
Federer said that in the current era - with four outstanding players at the top of the rankings and others, such as Robin Soderling and Tomas Berdych closing in - people had better get used to keen competition.
"(You) can't win them all," he continued. "I always knew that, so I was very shocked and surprised at how dominant I was and how well I played for so many years.
"And still today I'm hanging with the top and I've got chances, and already won a Slam again this year. I have a chance to win a second one and maybe the World Championships at the end of the year.
"There's still a lot to play for. But usually if you stay the same, you will move down. That's never something I was content with."
Federer, whose semi-final win over Novak Djokovic last week regained second spot in the world from the Serb, has a very simple measurement for how well he is doing.
He said: "For me, it's important that I'm happy with my game... I'm very happy with how I played in Toronto.
"I fought hard and I was able to turn it around a bit and get those close matches going my way.
"Now we're gonna be on this kind of (hard court) surface for eight months, so I think this is a very important start for me, playing well on the hardcourts again."
Reuters
Roger Federer back in business
I am convinced that Roger Federer is back in business.
Some may think I'm rushing into this conclusion, but I have seen vital signs which prove, in my opinion, that the champion we all love has returned.
I'm not going to predict that he will win every match he plays, but I am convinced he has rediscovered his motivation, something lacking over the past year.
And as such he becomes one of my favorites to win the US Open.
Against Tomas Berdych in the Toronto semi-finals, Roger chose to attack from the first point of the match. He was hitting the ball with conviction, adding speed to the movement of his arm while retaining his usual relaxed game.
He clearly respects the Czech player after losing both previous matches played against him this year. But he knew he had to restore order to prevent his opponent from obtaining the psychological edge - and that he had to play his best tennis in order to beat Tomas.
The match in Toronto was different to the ones Roger has played over the past year.
We have gotten used to seeing him play matches when he didn't really care, which showed he wasn't committed as he used to be, and he struggled with his confidence as a result. He did not put in the extra effort to win.
But this match was completely the opposite: he was focused from start to finish. In his press conference, Roger compared it to the one they played in Miami, where he lost despite holding a match point.
But for me it was like comparing day and night. In March, Tomas wasn't the player he is today. He didn't have two successive victories over the Swiss player. And now he is a semi-finalist and a runner-up in the last two Grand Slams played. As for Roger, he took his chances from the get-go, compared to Miami, where he was lymphatic at times, and even seemed to be walking while hitting the ball.
In Toronto, however, he finished the match the same way he started it. He was aggressive and dominated rallies against the Czech, who was slow at the start of the match and too defensive in the deciding tie-break.
Roger's movement around the court is outstanding. He is a player who moves around the ball to hit forehands from any position. He is also a player who moves forward to put pressure on his opponent. He takes the ball early, and therefore moves one step ahead of his opponent.
In the first set, Roger looked nervous on key points. He was more static and less decisive. He was playing backhand chop shots too often and trying to force his opponent to make a mistake. Statistics speak for themselves: Roger managed to convert just two break points out of 12.
However, that doesn't upset my opinion. Federer was weaker on key points, which only goes to prove his desire to do well and his lack of confidence after accumulating many setbacks over the past year.
And I finally saw the old Roger, the winner. He had his focused face and determined spirit back.
He looked a combination of desire, calm and extreme focus. Over the past year he hasn't seemed that comfortable on a tennis court - it was like he almost didn't want to figure out how to win any more. But in Toronto, Roger was deeply involved in his game. He is the best ambassador for tennis when he is fully committed to it.
He also proved once again that he could return to the world number one spot. When he hits the first four or five shots of a rally he is so aggressive, but he is less decisive when he has to play longer rallies.
It was a treat to see him play in the first set. He was attacking the ball with great conviction. It is the key to his game: to convince himself to move forward, to fully take his chances, to create openings during the first couple of shots of a point.
There are still places where Roger can improve though.
As the match progressed, his intensity reduced. In fact, he had to dig himself out of a tough situation after trailing 5-2 in the decider. He won thanks to his focus and determination, and took his chances.
Roger is no longer used to playing his best tennis for three hours in a match. He only played really well for one set. But with this rediscovered mindset he will very soon be able to keep playing well for longer.
He used the backhand chop shot far too often. In the past this weapon would force the opponents to play safe and allow Roger to attack, but now it is a weaker asset since he is forced to defend more than to attack.
He did not take enough advantage of the Czech's second serve, which is relatively weak. He did hit few Sampras-like returns, taking the ball early, but most of the time Roger just putting the ball back in play on Berdych's short second serves.
He should also give up playing long rallies, which force him to become too defensive.
That is why he is losing against Nadal. In their head-to head meetings, Roger kept playing from the baseline in most encounters. Therefore, he forced himself to wait a couple of shots before taking the decision to attack.
Roger seems to have found a new motivation with the help of Paul Annacone and maybe the solutions needed to beat the Spaniard. The first set he played in Toronto was a good example of the type of play he will have to use against Nadal.
Let's not forget that all the hard work already achieved is thanks to American Annacone. Of course there is still a long way to go in order to find the very best in Roger Federer, but he is moving in the right direction.
PATRICK MOURATOGLOU
Federer jak Wilhelm Tell?
- Magicy nie wyjawiają szczegółów swoich sztuczek - tak Roger Federer tłumaczył się w Cincinnati z nowej reklamy telewizyjnej ze swoim udziałem.
Federer ubrany w garnitur robi zamach rakietą i z odległości kilkunastu metrów strąca piłką tenisową stojący na głowie człowieka niewielki przedmiot - tak wygląda nowa reklamówka jednej z marek kosmetycznych ze Szwajcarem w roli głównej. Piłka leci z prędkością 180-200 km/godz., gdyby uderzyła parę centymetrów niżej, mężczyzna mógłby dostać w nos lub oko. Filmik robi zawrotną karierę w internecie, w ciągu 48 godzin obejrzał go ponad milion ludzi.
Czy jest prawdziwy, czy to komputerowa animacja? - pytano Federera w Cincinnati, gdzie Szwajcar gra właśnie ostatni turniej przed US Open. - Magicy nie wyjawiają, jak powstają ich sztuczki - oparł wymijająco, ale później mrugnął okiem i dodał: - Robiłem już takie rzeczy, zazwyczaj wystarczało jedno ujęcie.
Wiele reklam wykorzystujących podobne triki jest efektem fotomontażu, np. kiedyś Andy Roddick zagrał w imitującym prawdziwy mecz filmiku, na którym posłana przez niego piłka wbiła się w kort ziemny, zostawiając po sobie czarną dziurę jak po pocisku. "Jezu, to naprawdę?" - dopytują do dziś niektórzy internauci.
Federer 100-procentowej odpowiedzi nie dał, ale potwierdził przynajmniej, że humor ma dobry. W Cincinnati Szwajcar bez problemów awansował do III rundy. Dalej grają też wszyscy najgroźniejsi rywale - Rafael Nadal, Novak Djoković i Andy Murray.
ATP - INTO SEMIS WITH A STRAIGHT SET WIN
Roger has made it into the semi-final in Cincinnati thanks to a straight-set victory against Nikolay Davydenko. He defeated the Russian 6-4, 7-5 while Rafael Nadal lost to Marcos Baghdatis.
"It was a bit - not scary - but a bit, 'Do I have enough play on these kind of courts in a match moment?' So I was really hoping to kind of get a decent match in today, play solid, and come through and then feel really like I am really in the tournament," Roger said. "Because before it didn't really kind of feel that way."
Although he converted only three of 11 break points, Roger fired 12 aces and won 83 total points to Davydenko's 72. Roger was able to improve to 7-2 in quarterfinal matches this season and 14-2 against Davydenko. It took Roger just under 100 minutes to complete the victory.
Roger's semifinal opponent will be unseeded Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis, who beat Rafael Nadal, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in a match that took over two hours and 30 minutes to complete.
Federer sheds little light on Annacone coach experiment
Roger Federer is making no promises as he continues what has this week become a remote-control test period with American coach Paul Annacone.
The former mentor to Tim Henman and Pete Sampras is not present at the Cincinnati Masters as Federer works with longtime advisor Severin Luthi, the Swiss Davis Cup coach.
Federer hinted that Annacone still had duties to wrap up in London as his contract with Britain's Lawn Tennis Association draws to a close.
Under the guidance of the veteran coach a week ago, Federer got to the final of the Toronto Masters, losing to Andy Murray.
"It's definitely gonna take some time," Federer said of his trial run with Annacone, which is expected to go through the US Open, "It's nice hearing a fresh voice but Severin is still part of the game, and he's doing a great job himself.
"He's been there the last three years. We use everybody's experience here to make this the best team possible and the best success possible."
Federer is leaving all options open after hardly ever having a coach throughout the bulk of his glittering career. "I haven't decided yet if I will continue with Paul, so that's still hanging around. He's not here this week, so we're in contact by phone. We'll see how it goes."
Federer Closes On Fourth Cincy Title
Roger Federer converted a brief moment of concern into a match-winning opportunity against Nikolay Davydenko to reach the semi-finals of the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters Friday.
Facing double break point at 4-4 15/40 in the first set, Federer rallied to hold serve and win five consecutive games after breaking the Russian to close out the first set and again in the second game of the second set to race to a 3-0 lead.
Davydenko did break back to challenge Federer, but the five-time ATP World Tour Champion eventually sealed victory 6-4, 7-5 and will next play Marcos Baghdatis, who upset ATP World Tour No. 1 Rafael Nadal 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in the feature night match.
Federer, who won the Cincinnati title in 2005, '07 and '09, has won 20 of 22 matches here since 2005. The Swiss is attempting to reach his second ATP World Tour Masters 1000 final in as many weeks, having fallen to Andy Murray last week in the Toronto title match. He is aso looking for his second title of the year and first since late January at the Australian Open.
"I know the danger [against Nikolay]... so it was a tough match for me. But I felt like I played really good considering I had not played well this week yet," said Federer, who had played just seven games en route to the quarter-finals. In his opener he was leading 5-2 when Denis Istomin retired with an ankle injury and in the third round Federer received a walkover from Philipp Kohlschreiber, who had a shoulder injury.
"Today I had a good ten minutes, and all of a sudden I'm up 6-4, 2-0. You don't know what happened, but you're in the lead. So it's just the way it goes. You got to make the best of it, and I'm happy and it's another successful year for me here in Cincy."
Roger Federer's hunt for vindication
How should we assess the state of Roger Federer's game as he prepares for the U.S. Open? Even more than his beloved Wimbledon, this tournament has been his rock, his island of success when all else seemed to be falling apart. In 2008, he careened into Flushing Meadows after an epic defeat at Wimbledon and terrible losses in Toronto, Cincinnati and at the Beijing Olympics. Two weeks later he emerged from the heat of New York smelling like a rose, on top of the game, a champion once again.
As in '08, Federer has traveled to North America fresh off a rare loss at Wimbledon. Can we expect vindication again? He still likes the relatively slick hard courts at Flushing, and though he didn't win the event in Toronto last week, he did avenge his Wimbledon loss to Tomas Berdych before losing in two tight sets to Andy Murray in the final. Based on this evidence, he's in better shape than he was at the same point two years ago, when he lost an early-round match to Gilles Simon in Canada. And he is -- in 2008, he could barely keep a forehand in the court during the summer. But that's a very low standard by which to judge the progress of this player. Like it or not, the "monster of expectations" that Federer has created, and so aptly described, means that anything less than Slam-winning -- check that, Slam-smashing -- form is going to be seen as a sign of decline.
By that high measure, it seemed that every upside came with a downside for Federer in Toronto. He didn't drop a set in his first two rounds, against Chela and Llodra, but each of those second-tier players succeeded in bottling him up for most of the match. Against Berdych, Federer tightened the ship when he was down 5-3 in the third, but he also relied on some old-fashioned gagging from Berdych, who, after matching Federer shot for shot for two hours, suddenly remembered his place in tennis' pecking order. Just as significant was the way Federer lost the second set. Serving at 5-6, he double-faulted twice, hit a late forehand long and shanked a backhand into the back fence on set point. Federer admitted afterward that, after two straight losses to Berdych, he believed that this one would slip away as well. That isn't something we've heard much, or ever, from Federer in the past, but it showed in the way he lost that second set.
Although he didn't break down as severely against Murray, Federer still lost two close sets, sets he's specialized in winning in the past. He couldn't rely on Murray, who had beaten him six times before, to remember his place in the pecking order and give him any breaks. More important, unlike in the past, Murray didn't win by waiting for Federer to miss; he took the rallies to him and served big when he had to. Every champion relies on his name alone to make his opponents think twice when they try to finish him off. Contrary to some rumors, Federer is still as feared in the locker room as ever, as Berdych showed. It's still a very big and very nerve-wracking deal to beat him. This will be even more true at the U.S. Open, where his opponents will have five sets, rather than three, to mull over the possibility.
At the same time, Toronto showed another opposing truth about aging champions. It isn't that they lose a step; it's that there are always talented younger guys who are gaining them. Murray gained on Federer last year; this season it's been Berdych's turn. Although Federer played well with his back to the wall last week, there was an ad hoc sense to his performances. He couldn't sustain his vintage best for more than a set at a time, and his attempts to be proactive -- to hit big against Berdych, to come to net against Murray -- were largely thwarted. Maybe Paul Annacone can help him hone his first strikes (though whether they will form a long-term partnership seemed more up in the air as the week went on). But if the Rogers Cup is any indication, the famously smooth and serene Roger Federer will sweat through a few hot days and wild nights in New York ... and so will his fans.
Roger Federer sets major title goal
LONDON -- Roger Federer wants to win at least 20 Grand Slam titles before he retires.
The 29-year-old Swiss player earned his 16th title with a victory at the Australian Open this year. But he failed to get beyond the quarterfinals at the French Open and Wimbledon. He's dropped to No. 3 in the rankings, his lowest position since November 2003.
However, Federer told the BBC that winning 20 majors is a realistic goal.
"I believe that having won three Grand Slams per season three times, and two per year a couple of times, it's something doable for me," he said. "I only play 16 to 20 tournaments per year, so I'm not overplaying, and that keeps the fire burning."
Federer overtook Pete Sampras' record of 14 Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon in 2009. By winning the French Open a month earlier, he became only the sixth man in history to win a career Grand Slam.
But his aura of invincibility has faded in recent months. He has not won a title since the Australian Open, and his quarterfinal loss to Tomas Berdych at Wimbledon marked the first time he failed to make the final at the All England Club since 2002.
Federer, who is married with 1-year-old twin daughters, denied his motivation had waned.
"I'm giving 100 percent for each and every tournament that I play because I don't play a ton of tournaments," he said in the BBC interview. "Tournaments like Toronto this week and Cincinnati next week are important to me, too. The motivation is huge for the next few years. And obviously if I can win Grand Slams that's fantastic, but they are not the only motivation over the next few years."
Federer admits that his body requires more time to recover between tournaments.
"Being a teenager is different to being 23, and being 23 is very different to say being 28. Today, I know my body better than ever," Federer said. "Some things take a little bit longer to recover from with age, but I can prevent more problems by doing a lot more stretching, physical work, practice, massages. I'm doing everything much more professionally today than I ever have before.
"There's no denying that I've played almost a thousand matches in my life, and that obviously has a big wear and tear on your body, too. So you have to be a little bit more careful."
Federer is playing at the Rogers Cup in Toronto this week, his first tournament since hiring Sampras' former coach Paul Annacone.
He'll aim for his 17th Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open, which begins Aug. 30.
Federer to play at Stockholm Open
The 29-year-old, who was a late withdrawal in 2008, said that he felt he owed the Stockholm public his attendance.
"I was supposed to play two years ago but my schedule was too tough. This year I have organized a better schedule which means that I will be well prepared...I keep my promises," he said.
Federer is the most decorated men's player in the history of the game with 16 grand slam titles. But one of the titles missing from his list of achievements is the Stockholm Open and he on Monday expressed his determination to correct that omission.
"The competition has fine traditions with winners such as Borg, Edberg, Becker and Agassi and I also want my name engraved on the trophy," he said from Cincinnati where he is bidding to reclaim top spot in the world rankings this week.
One of the challengers which Federer will face in the Swedish capital is local favourite Robin Söderling, who has established himself in the elite of world tennis in recent months. Söderling has not won the title either and will alongside Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych be vying to upset Federer's Stockholm ambition.
ATP - ROGER TO FACE FISH IN FINAL
Roger is only one more step away from defending his title in Cincinnati after defeating Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis 6-4, 6-3 in the semi-final.
"After Wimbledon I had six weeks to work on a few things. On the hard courts it's nice to play forwards and not always be defensive and let the other guy dictate," Roger commented. "I'm happy that the hard work is paying off right away."
Roger showed an almost perfect match against Baghdatis. He dropped only three points on his first serve and showed a more aggressive game as he approached the net more often. Roger was also very efficient when it came to scoring the necessary points, making use of just one break-point to secure the first set, the second set was over just as fast - the match totalling to a mere 70 minutes.
Our champ will meet Mardy Fish (ATP 36) in Sunday's final. Roger leads the head-to-head 5-1, but the American beat Roger in their last meeting in Indian Wells two years back.
#63 - ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Cincinnati 2010
1R BYE
2R: def. D.Istomin 5-2 ret.
3R: def. P.Kohlschreiber w/o
QF: def. N.Davydenko 6-4 7-5
SF: def. M.Baghdatis 6-4 6-3
W: def. M.Fish 6-7 7-6 6-4
Jak dorwę zdj. z pucharem to wkleję.
To 17 masters Federera. Wyrównał tym samym osiągnięcie Agassiego. Przed szwajcarskim geniuszem i amerykańskim Mistrzem znajduje się tylko Rafael Nadal (18 tytułów).
Najwięcej Mastersów w historii:
18 - Nadal
17 - Agassi, Federer
11 - Sampras
Dla Roger finał z Fishem był 28 finałem turnieju Masters w karierze. To absolutny rekord. Szwajcar wyprzedza w tej statystyce Nadala (24 finał).
Najwięcej finałów Mastersów w historii:
28 - Federer
24 - Nadal
22 - Agassi
Gratulacje. ;)
ATP - 63RD TOURNAMENT TITLE!
Roger celebrated his fourth Cincinnati Masters and 63rd career title with a 6-7(5), 7-6(1), 6-4 win over Mardy Fish today.
Roger is only the fourth player to capture four titles in Cincinnati (after 2005, 2007 and 2009).
He dominated the first set but was unable to convert any of his four break-points - taking the set into a tie-break. Everything looked good as he took a 5-4 lead, only to slip two mini-breaks behind and then let his American opponent serve for the set. It was then Fish who had the only break-point of the second set, which he in turn did not profit from. Roger was at his best in the second tie-break of the match, leaving Fish no chance at all. It looked as though the final set would again lead to a tie-break, when Roger thrilled tennis-fans with several stunning points, securing a break to take a 5-4 lead and finally the match.
Roger certainly proved that he is ready for the US Open which starts on August 30th!
Federer Back To Winning Ways With Fourth Cincinnati Crown
ATP World Tour No. 2 Roger Federer ended a seven-month title drought on Sunday as he battled past the in-form Mardy Fish 6-7(5), 7-6(1), 6-4 to win the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters for a fourth time.
Federer had gone title-less since capturing his 16th Grand Slam championship at the Australian Open (d. Murray) in January and was contesting his 90th tour-level final. In winning his 63rd tour-level title, the Swiss moved into joint-fifth position with Bjorn Borg in the list of Open Era (since 1968) title leaders.
The 29-year-old Federer also won the Cincinnati title in 2005 (d. Roddick), 2007 (d. Blake) and 2009 (d. Djokovic) and became only the second player to win the title four times, joining Swede Mats Wilander (1983-84, ’86, ’88).
By virtue of winning his 17th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 trophy, Federer received 1000 South African Airways 2010 ATP Rankings, which will further boost his chances of qualifying for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. The top eight players at the end of the season qualify for the year-end championships at The O2 in London.
Forma jeszcze nie tak znakomita jak rok temu, ale może to i lepiej w perspektywie długiego i wyczerpującego turnieju? Gratulację i powodzenia w Nowym Jorku!
Triumf w Cincy to dla Federera 41 tytuł na kortach twardych:
1. Andre Agassi 46
2. Jimmy Connors 44
3. Roger Federer 41
4. Pete Sampras 37
To także 50 tytuł Rogera odniesiony na kortach odkrytych, można by rzec, na świeżym powietrzu. :P
1 Guillermo Vilas 55
2 Jimmy Connors 54
3 Ivan Lendl 52
4 Roger Federer 50
Federer ready for all opposition at US Open
Roger Federer is more than ready to mount a serious bid for a fifth US open title next week after re-establishing himself as a major contender with his trophy at the Cincinnati Masters.
The Swiss stayed cool in a three-set comeback win over American Mardy Fish, the form player of the summer with four finals and two titles in two months.
But the Floridian was just another obstacle to be overcome for the 16-time Grand Slam champion Swiss. Federer tips the usual suspects for the title when playing New York begins August 30.
"I guess the top four have the best shot again, naturally," said Federer. "We can all play really well on the hardcourts. (Andy) Murray has proven himself, so has (Novak) Djokovic on the hardcourts and so has Rafa (Nadal), he's won the Australian Open.
"Maybe US Open is a bit faster, so you figure Rafa will struggle a bit more. But if the draw goes his way, he'll be in the finals and have a crack to the title, too. He knows how to win slams. He's won all the other ones."
Federer calls the upcoming major "an interesting US Open."
"Many guys are playing well again. Murray didn't win a tournament for a long time, and he's been able to win Toronto again. So that definitely puts him as one of the favorites as well."
After his Cincinnati win, Federer was reunited with his wife Mirka and two young daughters after spending the week away from the family for the first time since the girls' birth in July, 2009.
Federer still man to beat at US Open
Roger Federer returned to winning ways in Cincinnati and announced himself anew as the man with the form and experience to win the US Open.
There had been talk of Federer being in decline after he went out at the quarter-finals at Wimbledon, part of a near seven month streak where he has failed to win a tournament.
But the manner of his victory over American Mardy Fish in Ohio showed his opponent - and plenty of other observers - that the Swiss is the leading player in the best form heading into the Open.
The Swiss has an astonishing record at Flushing Meadows, having reached the last six finals and winning all but last year's loss to Juan Martin del Potro, and Fish believes Federer is a different beast when he turns up at the Grand Slams.
"He's just been there so many times. Clearly he loves the US Open and his record is incredible in Grand Slams. I feel like he's a different player even in Grand Slams as opposed to even Masters 1000 tournaments," Fish said.
"I think he realises the importance [of them]. When you speak about the best players ever, you speak about how many Grand Slams they've won. I know that Mats Wilander won seven Grand Slams but I have no idea how many Masters series he won," he added.
Federer said the biggest obstacles he is likely to face in pursuit of a 17th major crown will come from familiar quarters - Briton Andy Murray beat him in the Toronto final last week and Rafa Nadal is desperate to complete a career Grand Slam by hoisting the elusive US Open trophy.
"I guess the top four have the best shot again. We can all play really well on the hard courts. Murray has proven himself, so has (Novak) Djokovic on the hardcourts and so has Rafa. He's won the Australian Open," said Federer.
"Maybe US Open is a bit faster, so you figure Rafa will struggle a bit more. But if the draw goes his way, he'll be in the final (stages) and have a crack to the title, too. He knows how to win slams. He's won all the other ones.
"So I think it's gonna be an interesting US Open. Many guys are playing well again. Murray didn't win a tournament for a long time, and he's been able to win Toronto again. So that definitely puts him as one of the favourites as well."
But there is no doubt who the 29 year-old Federer believes has the biggest chance of all - himself - and he is far from fazed by the rivals he faces.
"I'll always have new challenges coming up. I used to play against Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, and Carlos Moya, and Todd Martin and all those guys," he said. Next generation was sort of already my generation almost. It was Andy Roddick and Lleyton Hewitt and Marat Safin and Juan Carlos Ferrero.
"So I've played through many generations now. Always been different challenges and rivals. That's not going to change. I think every five years you'll have someone new. I think the next generation is probably already sort of knocking on the door."
Federer clear favourite for US Open after his 'perfect week'
Cincinnati Masters win is a confidence booster for the former world No 1 a week before Grand Slam
Only two months ago Roger Federer was nursing his wounds after a second successive defeat in a Grand Slam quarter-final, but the former world No 1 will go into next week's US Open in New York as the clear favourite to win the last major title of the year.
Having lost in the final of the Toronto Masters eight days ago in his first tournament since Wimbledon, Federer went one better last night when he successfully defended his crown in Cincinnati. In beating Mardy Fish 6-7, 7-6, 6-4 after a tight final that lasted two hours and 40 minutes, Federer won his first tournament since the Australian Open at the start of the year.
Federer's 17th Masters Series title puts him level with Andre Agassi and just one behind Rafael Nadal, the record holder. In winning his 63rd tournament Federer moved level with Bjorn Borg and into joint-fifth place on the all-time list behind Jimmy Connors (109 titles), Ivan Lendl (94), John McEnroe (77) and Pete Sampras (64).
Most significantly, the result will give Federer hope that he has put behind him the disappointments of what has been, by his standards, an indifferent last six months. Since beating Murray in Melbourne, Federer had lost finals in Madrid (to Nadal), in Halle (to Lleyton Hewitt) and in Toronto (to Andy Murray). This success prevented him losing a fourth successive final for the first time in his career.
The fast conditions in Cincinnati make the event the ideal preparation for the US Open, which Federer won five years in a row until his defeat to Juan Martin del Potro in last summer's final. With Nadal having never gone beyond the semi-finals in New York, it could be down to Murray to provide the biggest challenge to Federer.
Fish will be another who will fancy his chances at Flushing Meadows following the best run of his career. Last night's defeat ended a run of five successive victories against top 10 players by the 28-year-old from Tampa, who has not looked back since losing two stone in weight last winter. The American was not even in the world's top 100 less than six months ago but will climb to No 21 in today's updated ranking list, having won 22 of his 26 matches since the beginning of June. During that run he has won titles at Newport and Atlanta and reached the finals at both Queen's Club and Cincinnati.
Federer has been working on a trial basis with Paul Annacone and the former coach of Sampras and Tim Henman appears to have restored some zip to his game. Federer served well throughout the tournament, dropping serve only once, and has hit his returns with more aggression than in the recent past.
The big-hitting Fish provided the sternest of tests in a final that featured only one break of serve. Having exchanged tie-breaks in the opening two sets – Fish won the first 7-5 and Federer the second 7-1 – the Swiss made the decisive break in the ninth game of the decider. Fish, who forced only one break point all match, saved four in the first set, but from 4-4 and 30-15 in the third set he made three successive errors, enabling Federer to claim his fourth Cincinnati title by serving out for victory in the following game.
If Federer lasted better than his opponent that was perhaps no surprise, given their respective runs to the final. Having needed a wild card to play in the tournament, Fish reached his third Masters Series final – he is still awaiting his first victory – by beating Gilles Simon, Fernando Verdasco, Richard Gasquet, Murray and Andy Roddick. Federer, meanwhile, had been on court for a total of less than three and a half hours in his previous matches, a bye, a withdrawal and a retirement having required the Swiss to complete only two other victories, against Nikolay Davydenko and Marcos Baghdatis.
After the match Fish hailed Federer as "a true champion, the greatest of all time", while the world No 2 described his week's work as "perfect". He added: "It could have gone either way. It was a wonderful tournament for both of us."
Federer fights back to win Cincinnati title
Roger Federer ended a seven-month title drought with a 6-7 7-6 6-4 win over American Mardy Fish in the Cincinnati Masters final to send a timely reminder of his class just a week before the US Open.
Federer captured his 63rd title in his 90th final and his victory was his fourth at Cincinnati since his first win in the tournament in 2005.
But having failed to win a title since his record 16th grand slam win at the Australian Open in January, a run which included defeat to Andy Murray in the final at Toronto last week, the Swiss needed this boost.
"I've been playing well the last couple weeks, and today was just another proof that I'm playing really well," he said afterwards.
"It's nice knowing that the hard work already in the off season after Wimbledon paid off right away. I know it's not all (about) work from there but I've been committed to this sport for many years. I think when you do that and give yourself chances over and over again, you'll break through by winning tournaments again.
"I came close a couple times earlier in the season. Should have won Halle, I felt. Could have won Madrid, but things didn't really work my way.
"I was maybe playing a little bit too passive. Now I'm taking it more to the opponents again. I'm happy that that's the right game plan right now," he added.
Fish enhanced his growing reputation as a threat on the hard court with a display that bodes well for his chances at Flushing Meadows and his recent run, including wins at Newport and Atlanta, takes him up to 21st in the world.
There was nothing to choose between the pair in a tight opening set which Fish won on a tiebreak but the momentum shifted in the second set when Federer, facing defeat, raised his game a notch to run out a 7-1 winner in another tiebreak.
Fish maintained his focus on continued to serve and return well but Federer produced the first break of the match to go 5-4 up and then kept serve to win.
Andre Agassi, in Miami eight years ago, remains the only American to have beaten Federer in the 15 finals where he has taken on a U.S player.
The latest triumph came after just three hours and 25 minutes of tennis in the tournament before the final, thanks to a first round bye, a retirement by his second round opponent and a third round walkover.
But it was not fitness that proved the difference Sunday for Federer, wearing his pink shirt for the final time.
"He's a true champion, the greatest of all time," said Fish on court.
While there has been much talk of Federer being in decline, his confidence would indicate he has plenty left to give yet.
"I thought today was just a really close match that went my way. I had huge belief that I was going to win today from the first point until the end. That sometimes can make a bit of a difference," said the world number two.
"I was positive all the way through because I felt I was playing well, even though I lost the first set. So I never got down on myself and doubted myself. I think that reflected in the game."
Federer w formie i nie boi się nowych generacji
Coraz lepiej prezentuje się szwajcarski mistrz przed rozpoczynającym się 30. sierpnia U.S Open. Roger Federer w dobrym stylu wygrał Cincinnati Masters. W zaciętym finale pokonał Amerykanina Mardy Fisha 6:7 (5-7), 7:6 (7-1), 6:4. - Daje sobie radę w nowymi generacjami tenisistów - mówi Szwajcar.
Federer odpadł w ćwierćfinale Wimbledonu, a wcześniej nie udawało mu się wygrać żadnego turnieju przez siedem miesięcy. Teraz jednak pewnie pokonał Fisha i pokazał, że jest w najlepszej formie przed zawodami na kortach Flushing Meadows w Nowym Jorku.
Szwajcar jest rekordzistą U.S Open. Sześć razy grał w finale, a przegrał w nim tylko w zeszłym sezonie z Argentyńczykiem Juan Martin del Potro, który w tym roku nie wystąpi z powodu kontuzji.
- On był tam wiele razy i staje się tam prawdziwą bestią. Bez wątpienia kocha U.S Open, a jego rekord triumfów w Wielkim Szlemie jest niewiarygodny - mówił Fish. - Myślę, że on zdaje sobie z tego sprawę. Kiedy mówisz o najlepszych tenisistach w dziejach, to zastanawiasz się, nie tylko ile turniejów rangi U.S Open wygrał, ale także ile razy był najlepszy w zawodach rangi Masters - dodawał Amerykanin.
A Federer także tutaj ma rekord, bo niedzielny sukces w Cincinnati był jego 17 w Masters. Wcześniej triumfował tam trzykrotnie - w 2005, 2007 i 2009 roku.
Największymi rywalami Rogera w Nowym Jorku będą: Hiszpan Rafa Nadal, Brytyjczyk Andy Murray - pokonał Szwajcara kilka dni temu w finale w Montrealu i Serb Novak Djoković.
- Myślę, że czołowa czwórka znowu ma świetnie uderzenia. Wszyscy możemy grać bardzo dobrze na twardych kortach. Wszyscy poprawili się na tych nawierzchniach. Rafa przecież wygrał Australian Open - przypomina Federer. - Może U.S Open jest trochę szybsze, więc może dla Rafy będzie to trochę trudniejsze. Ale jeśli losowanie pójdzie po jego myśli, będzie w ostatecznej rozrywce i zawalczy o tytuł. On wie, jak walczyć o tytuł w Wielkim Szlemie. Wygrał przecież wszędzie indziej, tylko nie w Nowym Jorku. Myślę, że będzie to zatem interesujący turniej. Wielu graczy znowu spisuje się dobrze. Murray długo nie wygrał żadnej imprezy, ale pokonał mnie niedawno i będzie jednym z faworytów - uważa 29-letni "Król Roger".
- Zawsze czekają na mnie nowe wyzwania. Grałem przecież z Petem Sampresem, Andre Agassim, Carlosem Moyą, Toddem Martinem i innymi. Następna generacja była w moim wieku: Andy Roddick, Lleyton Hewitt, Marat Safin i Juan Carlos Ferrero. Więc grałem przeciwko wielu pokoleniom tenisistów. Zawsze to były rożne wyzwania i rywale. To się nie zmienia. Co każde pięć lat jest coś nowego. Myślę, że już następna generacja jest gotowa i puka do drzwi - kończy Szwajcar.
W sumie Federer wygrał już 63 turnieje rangi ATP (z 90 finałów, w których wystąpił). Na ten dorobek składają się m.in. triumfy w 16 turniejach wielkoszlemowych.
Wynik meczu finałowego:
Roger Federer (Szwajcaria, 3) - Mardy Fish (USA) 6:7 (5-7), 7:6 (7-1), 6:4.
ATP - CINCINNATI - WEBNEWS
It’s No Snap for Federer, but a Title (New York Times)
A well-rested Federer beat Mardy Fish, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (1), 6-4, on Sunday in Mason, Ohio, for his second straight Cincinnati Masters championship and his fourth over all. Federer, the world’s second-ranked player, was barely on the court all week because some of his opponents were injured and his game was sharp. He spent only 3 hours 17 minutes in matches en route to the final. There, he was pushed to the limit for the first time. Fish dropped the final set after the match’s only service break.
“Maybe I was just a touch fitter than him today,” Federer said. Federer ended a streak of three straight losses in tournament finals, winning his first Masters event since Cincinnati last year. His 63rd career title tied Bjorn Borg for fifth place in the Open era. Pete Sampras is fourth at 64, and Jimmy Connors holds the record with 109.
Federer finds his winning form with fourth Cincinnati title (Hindustan Times)
Roger Federer collected a fourth Cincinnati Masters title on Sunday as the world number two thrust himself front and centre as a repeat US Open threat with a 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-1), 6-4 comeback defeat of Mardy Fish. The victory came as the Swiss world number two played for the second consecutive week in a final after losing in Toronto to Andy Murray seven days ago.
"It's nice knowing that the hard work already in the off season after Wimbledon pays off right away," said Federer, now with 63 career titles. "I came close a couple times earlier in the season. I should have won Halle (in June), I could have won Madrid (in May), but things didn't really work my way. I was maybe playing a little bit too passive. Now I'm taking it more to the opponents again. "I'm happy that that's the right game plan right now."
Federer clear favourite for US Open after his 'perfect week' (Independent)
Only two months ago Roger Federer was nursing his wounds after a second successive defeat in a Grand Slam quarter-final, but the former world No 1 will go into next week's US Open in New York as the clear favourite to win the last major title of the year.
Federer's 17th Masters Series title puts him level with Andre Agassi and just one behind Rafael Nadal, the record holder. In winning his 63rd tournament Federer moved level with Bjorn Borg and into joint-fifth place on the all-time list behind Jimmy Connors (109 titles), Ivan Lendl (94), John McEnroe (77) and Pete Sampras (64).
The fast conditions in Cincinnati make the event the ideal preparation for the US Open, which Federer won five years in a row until his defeat to Juan Martin del Potro in last summer's final. With Nadal having never gone beyond the semi-finals in New York, it could be down to Murray to provide the biggest challenge to Federer.
Timely victory boosts Federer ahead of U.S. Open (CNN)
Roger Federer will go into the final grand slam of the season at Flushing Meadows on the crest of a wave after claiming the Cincinnati Masters title on Sunday.
"I've been playing well the past couple weeks, and today was just another proof that I'm playing really well," Federer told the official ATP Tour website. "I had a tough moment staring at one set down and break point in the second set, but I hung tough and was able to come across the finish line faster than him," he added. The Swiss maestro has bounced back to near his best form after the disappointment of losing to Tomas Berdych in the quarterfinals as he defended his Wimbledon crown.
Federer gained a measure of revenge after beating Berdych in the last four at the Toronto Masters before losing to Britain's Andy Murray in a tight final. It was his first tournament appearance for six weeks, but Federer says he is feeling confident on the North American hard courts as he builds up to the U.S. Open in New York."I have not lingering injuries, no problems whatsover and feeling really healthy and fit which was not the case during the grass court season." "That's a relief," added Federer, who will be bidding for his 17th grand slam crown next week.
Roger Federer of old returns to end trophy drought at Cincinnati Masters (The Guardian)
Roger Federer was asked this week who was the most famous person on his cell phone. "Tiger Woods," he said, without a blink. There is every chance he will be giving his troubled friend a call after turning his own ordinary season around with his first title in eight months today. A hard-fought three-setter against Mardy Fish to hold on to the Cincinnati Masters was just what the world No2 needed a week before the US Open. It was not a performance to silence all the critics – there were too many fluffed volleys and overhit ground strokes – but there were several flashes of the old Federer in an enthralling 6-7, 7-6, 6-4 win, including a couple of delightful drop shots.
"I thought I played well the whole match," Federer said. "I had a tough moment staring at one set down and breakpoint in the second set. But I hung tough." Federer said he regards Andy Murray, who went out in the quarter-finals, as the main threat in New York, alongside Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Even a couple of days ago, that might have seemed presumptuous from the former world No1. "The top four have the best shot again," he said. "Murray has proven himself on the hard courts, so has Djokovic and so has Rafa. He's won the Australian Open. The US Open is a bit faster, so you figure Rafa will struggle a bit more. But, if the draw goes his way, he'll be in the finals and have a crack at the title. He knows how to win slams. He's won all the other ones. "Many guys are playing well. Murray didn't win a tournament for a long time, and he's been able to win Toronto again. That definitely makes him one of the favourites."
The king is not dead: Federer knows he's back in grand form
Critics wrote him off after a poor year, but the world No 2 has issued a statement of intent for the US Open. Paul Newman reports
The leg and back injuries that troubled him during the grass-court season have cleared up, he has rediscovered the aggressive style that served him so well for so long and he has just won his first title for seven months. As Roger Federer heads for the US Open, which begins next Monday, the former world No 1 could hardly be in better shape going into the last Grand Slam tournament of the year.
You write off Federer at your peril. Although it remains to be seen how he will fare over a possible seven best-of-five set matches in New York, the manner of his victory in the Cincinnati Masters, secured with a hard-fought win over Mardy Fish in Sunday's final, suggested that the 29-year-old Swiss has put his recent difficulties behind him.
Having made such a good start to his 2010 campaign by winning the Australian Open, Federer aroused suspicions that he might be in long-term decline when his record-breaking run of 23 successive appearances in Grand Slam semi-finals ended in quarter-final defeats at both the French Open and Wimbledon. He left the All England Club bemoaning injuries, but the 16-times Grand Slam champion's failure to impose his game on opponents – particularly hard hitters like Robin Soderling and Tomas Berdych, his conquerors in Paris and at Wimbledon respectively – was arguably his greater problem.
Since Wimbledon, however, Federer has worked hard to regain form and fitness. Most significantly he has had a trial period with Paul Annacone, who used to coach Pete Sampras and Tim Henman. The fruits of their work have been evident in Federer's more positive play and in the greater variety on his serve, which was always one of his greatest strengths. In 42 service games in Cincinnati Federer was broken only once, while Fish forced just one break point in three sets.
"It's nice knowing that the hard work I put in during the off-season after Wimbledon has paid off right away," Federer said. "I know it's not all [down to] work from there, but I've been committed to this sport for many years. I think when you do that and give yourself chances over and over again, you'll break through by winning tournaments again.
"I came close a couple of times earlier in the season. I felt I should have won Halle. I could have won Madrid, but things didn't really work my way. I was maybe playing a little bit too passively. Now I'm taking it more to the opponents again. I'm happy that that's the right game plan right now."
Federer has not employed a permanent coach since parting company with Peter Lundgren seven years ago. Tony Roche and Jose Higueras both worked with him on a part-time basis, but in recent times he has toured with Severin Luthi, his Davis Cup captain, who is likely to remain a key member of his entourage.
Annacone, who is seeing out his current contract with the Lawn Tennis Association, spent some time with Federer in Switzerland after Wimbledon and was with him at the Toronto Masters, where the Swiss lost in the final to Andy Murray. The 47-year-old American was not in Cincinnati, but has been in regular telephone contact. Federer expects a long-term decision on their possible partnership to be made after the US Open.
As for his physical preparation, Federer said that he was enjoying the work with his long-term fitness trainer, Pierre Paganini, more than ever. "We've always looked for new ways to keep it interesting, even if the work-outs aren't sometimes the most fun," he said. "Today I know why I'm doing it, whereas as a teenager I never knew. I didn't know why a biceps exercise was good for my tennis, because I didn't get a five miles faster serve after that. Today I know exactly what I need to do."
Federer has a superb record in New York, where he won the title five time in succession before going down to Juan Martin del Potro in last year's final. The fast courts and balls suit his game perfectly. Federer expects Rafael Nadal, the world No 1, to be among his biggest challengers, along with Novak Djokovic and Murray, the men he beat in the 2007 and 2008 finals.
"We can all play really well on hard courts," Federer said. "Murray has proved himself, so has Djokovic on hard courts and so has Rafa. He's won the Australian Open. Maybe the US Open is a bit faster, so you figure Rafa will struggle a bit more. But if the draw goes his way, he'll be in the finals and have a crack to win the title, too. He knows how to win Slams. He's won all the other ones.
"I think it's going to be an interesting US Open. Many guys are playing well again. Murray didn't win a tournament for a long time, and he was able to win Toronto again, so that definitely makes him one of the favourites as well."
Federer added: "I have no lingering injuries, no problems whatsoever. I'm feeling healthy and fit, which was not the case during the grass-court season. That's a relief and I've been happy to start the American hard-court season so strongly."
Federer's year of highs and lows
January
Loses to Nikolay Davydenko in semi-finals of his first tournament of the season in Doha, but drops only two sets in winning Australian Open for fourth time (left), beating Andy Murray in the final of the tournament
Indian Wells and Miami
Goes out in early stages of both Masters hard-court events, losing to Marcos Baghdatis and Tomas Berdych
Clay-court season
Loses to Ernests Gulbis in second round in Rome Masters and to Albert Montanes in Estoril semi-finals before reaching Madrid Masters final, where he goes down to Rafael Nadal. Defeat to Robin Soderling in French Open quarter-finals ends his record run of 23 successive appearances in Grand Slam semi-finals
Grass-court season
Loses to Lleyton Hewitt in Halle final, only his second defeat in 77 matches on grass going back over eight years. Loses to Berdych in Wimbledon quarter-finals, ending his run of seven successive appearances in the final
North American hard-court season
Loses to Murray in Toronto Masters final in first appearance since Wimbledon before winning Cincinnati Masters to claim his first title for seven months
Sunday's victory in the Cincinnati Masters was Federer's first title since the Australian Open in January
Federer not ready for rocking chair
MASON, Ohio -- Roger Federer isn’t ready to be talked about it in the past tense. It’s a strange thing to say about someone who turned 29 less than a month ago. But this is professional tennis, and that’s how it works.
“The perception is, your peers have narrowed the gap . .. .’’ someone suggested.
Federer spent 237 consecutive weeks as the best tennis player on the planet. Now, he’s No. 2, and he’s getting mortality questions. “Is it harder to become an elite player, or to stay an elite player?’’ someone wondered.
Before we retire a 29-year-old, it might be good to note that he won the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters title Sunday, in three sets over a younger, perhaps more eager opponent, the rejuvenated Mardy Fish. Federer won it after losing the first set in a tiebreaker, and being forced to a tiebreaker in the second set.
There have been years at this event, as good as it is, when players might not have spent 13-plus minutes on one game early of the first set, as Federer and Fish did Sunday. This tournament has grown enough in stature that it’s considered prestigious. It rates just south of the Grand Slams in importance.
Still, for a guy like Federer, it’s not a Slam. He has won 16 of those. They are what he works for. It wouldn’t be outrageous for him to consider the W&S Masters as merely a fine tuneup for the U.S. Open that begins a week from today. Thirteen minutes to play the third game in the first set? In Cincinnati?
“I had huge belief I was going to win today, from the first point to the end,’’ Federer said, and this is where you see the champion in him. He knows the clock is ticking on his reign as Best In The World. He knows that, relatively speaking, a tennis player’s prime has the shelf life of a pound of bananas.
He won the Australian Open this year, but lost in the quarterfinals of both the French Open and Wimbledon. On Sunday, he was down a set to the 36th-ranked player in the world. Mardy Fish has had a good year. But if you are Roger Federer – and want to stay Roger Federer – you do not lose a title match to Mardy Fish.
So he lost the first set, then went to work. He pounded first serves, he kept Fish on the baseline. “Maybe I was also a touch fitter,’’ Federer said, given his relative breeze through the early rounds.
Fish had his own explanation. “(Federer) plays on his own terms,’’ Fish said.
Federer dominated the second-set tiebreak, then produced the only service break of the match, to go up 5-4 in the third, before serving out the win. “Today was (more) proof I’ve been playing well,’’ said Federer.
I asked Federer if at 29 he had to work harder to achieve the same results. I asked him if it were more difficult to stay on top than to get there. He wasn’t biting on either angle. “Getting there is harder because not many guys get there,’’ he said. “To me, it was easier to stay at the top. Once you’re there, you feel like you belong there.
“I’ve played through many generations,’’ said Federer. “There’s always been different rivals. Every five years, someone new. The next generation is knocking on the door.’’
Fish took Federer to the limit Sunday. Maybe Fish showed Federer that the end is closer than the beginning. Or maybe Federer is just gathering momentum for another long run. He blames injury for faltering in the French and at Wimbledon.
“Always, new challenges,’’ Federer said. “I’ve been working hard many years now. I’m always looking for ways to keep the workouts interesting. Today, I know why I’m doing it. As a teenager, I had no clue. I’m having fun with it. It’s kind of strange, actually.’’
Not really. It’s what all senior citizens do, if they want to stay relevant. The difference is, most of us aren’t 29 when we figure that out.
FOUNDATION - NEW TEAM-MEMBER FOR THE FOUNDATION
Dear Fans
I am happy to announce another new member on my team - not linked to my tennis career this time, but to my Foundation: Janine Händel.
The Roger Federer Foundation was founded in 2003 and we have now decided to allocate a significantly larger amount of money to projects every year. For this reason, we need to raise the Foundation and its structures to a higher level. To achieve this, we have decided to establish a professionally managed Foundation office.
We are glad that Janine Händel will be in charge of the office as a qualified professional. Throughout her career, she has gained experience as a Swiss diplomat developing and implementing programs in the fields of peace policy, human rights and humanitarian policy. Janine has been working for an international company in the area of corporate citizenship over the last few years and will take up her job with the Roger Federer Foundation as per today.
See you soon
Roger
OFF COURT - ARTHUR ASHE KIDS' DAY PRESENTED BY HESS
This year, all sorts of activities will be going on during Arthur Ashe Kid's Day in New York. The event will take place on Saturday, August 28.
Arthur Ashe Kids' Day is an annual tennis/children’s event that takes place in the Arthur Ashe Stadium at the United States Tennis Association (New York). The event begins the U.S. Open, which officially starts one day later and is a celebration of the memory of Arthur Ashe, who died of AIDS in 1993, and of his efforts to help young people through tennis. Kids’ Day began in 1993, the year that Ashe died.
Participants at the Arthur Ashe Kids Day have an opportunity to play and/or watch numerous tennis matches before and after the main event at Arthur Ashe Stadium at the USTA Center. The main event at the stadium consists of a concert and tennis matches - this year's stars on court are Roger, Andy Roddick, Ana Ivanovic, Novak Djokovic, James Blake and Rafael Nadal.
ATP - US OPEN DRAW
Roger will face Argentine Brian Dabul (ATP 94) in the round of 128 at the US Open which starts next week.
Roger could face two-time French Open runner-up Robin Söderling in the quarters. while his potential semifinal opponents could be third-seeded Novak Djokovic, sixth-seeded Nikolay Davydenko or ninth-seeded American favorite Andy Roddick. Djokovic lost to Roger in the 2007 final here, while Roddick captured his lone Grand Slam title here in New York seven years ago and lost to the amazing Roger in the 2006 final at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Defending champion Juan Martin del Potro will not participate in this year's US Open due to a wrist injury. Del Potro defeated Roger in the final of 2009.
Federer przywraca właściwy porządek
- Mówiłem, że gram dobrze, to mi nie wierzyliście, więc teraz macie dowód - śmieje się Roger Federer, który wygrał turniej w Cincinnati i na tydzień przed US Open wydaje się murowanym faworytem.
W niedzielnym finale imprezy z serii Masters w stanie Ohio z pulą nagród 2,4 mln dol. Szwajcar pokonał Mardy'ego Fisha 6:7 (5-7), 7:6 (7-1), 6:4. Ważniejsze od samego zwycięstwa nad rewelacyjnie serwującym Amerykaninem było to, że wszyscy najgroźniejsi rywale Federera - Rafael Nadal, Novak Djoković i Andy Murray - nie dobrnęli w Cincinnati nawet do półfinałów. Szwajcar zatriumfował więc podwójnie. - Dobrze jest wiedzieć, że ciężka praca, jaką wykonałem po Wimbledonie, przyniosła efekty - promieniał Federer, który wygrał 63. turniej w karierze i na liście wszech czasów zrównał się na piątej pozycji z Bjoernem Borgiem (liderem ze 109 tytułami jest Jimmy Connors).
Bukmacherzy już tydzień temu, gdy Federer doszedł do finału w Toronto, zaczęli go uważać za faworyta zbliżającego się US Open. Teraz stawki na wygraną Szwajcara spadły jeszcze bardziej - jest już faworytem niemal murowanym.
- Wiedziałem, że uda mi się przełamać i wrócić do formy. Zacząłem grać mniej pasywnie i to przyniosło efekty - tłumaczył Federer, któremu od trzech tygodni w przygotowaniach pomaga Paul Annacone, były szkoleniowiec Pete'a Samprasa. Szwajcar zwrócił się do niego o pomoc po dotkliwych ćwierćfinałowych porażkach w Rolandzie Garrosie i Wimbledonie.
Od 30 sierpnia w Nowym Jorku Federer spróbuje zdobyć szósty tytuł w US Open i w sumie już 17. w Wielkim Szlemie. Zadanie będzie miał ułatwione, bo poza słabszą formą konkurentów pomoże mu na pewno absencja zeszłorocznego zwycięzcy - Juana Martina del Potro (kontuzja nadgarstka). Większość ekspertów twierdzi, że zagrozić może mu tak naprawdę tylko Murray. Zarówno Nadal, jak i Djoković nie czują się bowiem dobrze na nawierzchni w Nowym Jorku, która jest dla nich zbyt szybka.
Federer enjoys calm before US Open storm
Roger Federer reveals that "smaller" events like the Cincinnati Masters, which he won at the weekend, make a welcome contrast from the high-pressure atmosphere of the majors.
With the US Open starting Monday for one of the leading title favourites, the Swiss is calmly preparing for his run at a sixth title from seven appearances in New York.
"I like the idea of coming from bigger cities to smaller cities, back to bigger cities. it doesn't always need to be Paris, London, New York and all that stuff," he said. "
"I also like to get away from it all. That's why I like to return to Switzerland between huge events. That kind of relaxes you; it's less stressful."
Federer said that his victory week in Cincinnati was especially restful - with his wife and two daughters elsewhere, he was alone with advisor Severin Luthi. "I drive my own car, go to coffee shops; go hang out, read some books; spend time with friends; go to the movies," he revealed adding that he has to make his own fun in what is essentially a strange town.
"I have no friends here really, so the friends who are here are with me. I don't have anybody living in the area who are my friends like in New York or Paris or London where I have tons of friends. At those places it becomes very busy."
ATP - PAUL ANNACONE TO JOIN TEAM
Dear Fans
Paul and I have had a good trial period. He will be working with me during the US Open and I look forward to having Paul as a member of my team going forward and he will be integrated more and more as his responsibilities with LTA wind down.
See you soon
Roger
US Open - Federer makes Annacone move permanent
Roger Federer has agreed to hire Paul Annacone as his new coach after the pair hit it off during a one-month trial.
Federer said Annacone would join forces with Swiss Davis Cup captain Severin Luthi in coaching him.
"We've moved it from a test trial to integrating him into the team now, so that's going ahead," Federer said at Flushing Meadows.
American Annacone, best known as the former coach of Pete Sampras and Tim Henman, joined Federer's camp earlier this month and the pair enjoyed instant success when the Swiss won the Cincinnati Masters.
Federer said Annacone had agreed to work with him on a part-time basis during the US Open, starting on Monday, and would be part of his regular team once he finished his current job with the British Lawn Tennis Association in November.
"Obviously he has had stuff to do for the LTA here and he will have things to do obviously after the US Open, which I'm cool about."
Federer has experimented with several different coaches over the years whenever he felt his game needed improvement.
Although he won the French Open for the first time last year to complete his own career Grand Slam, then broke Sampras's record of Grand-Slam titles, Federer has had a lean time this year by his own standards.
He won the Australian Open in January but was knocked out in the quarter-finals at the French Open and Wimbledon and slipped to third place in the world rankings.
He moved back to second place after winning in Cincinnati last week and the 29-year-old believes the inclusion of Annacone could be the key to getting back on top.
"It's just nice to hear a fresh, different voice for a change," Federer said.
"I just think the dynamics work really well with Severin, and Paul and me coming into the conversation just makes it really interesting. I can go with a very clear mindset into the matches."
Federer has won the US Open five times, from 2004 to 2008, the same number as Sampras and Jimmy Connors. He lost last year's final to towering Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro.
Roger odpowiadał na pytania fanów na Facebooku. Zapytany o to z kim chciałby zagrać w finale turnieju WS (ze wszystkich tenisistów jacy kiedykolwiek grali w ATP), odpowiedział następująco:
"Prawdopodobnie wybrałbym Borga na RG, Lavera na AO, Edberga na Wimbledonie i Menroe na US Open."
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=345683
No more Mr. Nice Guy for Roger Federer
Roger Federer is mad, and he's not gonna take it anymore.
That's the message he sent via his triumph at the Western and Southern Financial Group Masters on Sunday, and not just because he played a tough, hard-nosed match to snatch the title out of surging Mardy Fish's hands in three dramatic sets (maybe Federer wanted to give the fans their money's worth, after playing just seven games in back-to-back matches in previous rounds).
If you understand the passive-aggressive streak in Federer, you may have taken note of some comments he made after he joined Mats Wilander as a four-time champ in Cincinnati: "I had huge belief that I was going to win [Sunday] from the first point until the end. That sometimes can make a bit of a difference."
A "bit" of a difference? Come on, Roger, admit that you're showing more snarl than you have since the first month of the year, which was when you last won a title. Surely you'd grown just a "bit" tired of the suggestions that you've adopted a new role model in Novak Djokovic. We're not buying that pink shirt thing, either. Somehow, a light bulb went on over your head and you decided, "Hey, why am I letting these guys get away with this stuff?"
After slashing and smothering resurging Marcos Baghdatis in the semifinals, Federer said:
"The past year I've been very disappointed with my returning. I've played very safe the whole time and even on the first serve I haven't been able to read the players as much, which had been my big strength. That got me thinking.
"After Wimbledon, I had six weeks to work on a few things. On the hard courts, it's nice to play forwards and not always be defensive and let the other guy dictate. I'm happy that the hard work is paying off right away."
Federer has always played his cards close to his chest when it comes to what coaching help and advice he's received from the string of part-timers on whom he relies, but does anyone else think that maybe that recent stint with Paul Annacone (formerly the mentor of Pete Sampras) has had a little something to do with this new "No More Mr. Nice Guy" attitude?
Let's remember that Annacone was a chip-and-charge fool in his playing days and thoroughly dedicated his years as Sampras' coach to preaching the gospel of attacking and aggressive tennis. He constantly reminded Sampras to impose himself on his opponents; it drove Annacone bananas when Sampras screwed around, playing on his opponent's terms, just to prove he could do it and still win.
Federer also has been playing with his food -- for years -- and largely getting away with it. How often have we seen him just dump the ball back in play and trust his genius to take are of the rest? It has cost him dearly in some critical matches with his nemesis, Rafa Nadal. And he lost the U.S. Open final last year partly because he let Juan Martin del Potro take command of the tone and pace of the match. That just won't make it anymore.
Granted, Federer played all of seven games in his first two matches (a default and walkover) in Cincy. But they enabled him to hit the reset button on a game adrift and fired his mind just a week out from the U.S. Open. The guy still may not be playing great "full-flight Federer" tennis, but he's doing something better. He's winning.
Anger can make a bit of a difference, you know?
ATP - PRESIDENT OF THE PLAYER COUNCIL
Roger has been unanimously re-elected president of the ATP World Tour Player Council while Rafael Nadal was re-elected vice president. “I think it’s important that the players have a seat at the table to discuss any issues confronting the sport,” Roger said. “We might not always agree on every point, but we respect each other’s opinions and try to find a solution that works.”
Members of the Player Council 2010-2012:
Roger Federer (president)
Rafael Nadal (vice-president)
Yves Allegro
Eric Butorac
Ashley Fisher
Fernando Gonzalez
Peter Luczak
Jarkko Nieminen
Sam Querrey
Nenad Zimonjic
Claudio Pistolesi
Ignacio Hirigoyen
ATP - ROGER CRUISES THROUGH
Roger showed a strong and entertaining performance in the first round of the US Open, defeating Argentine Brian Dabul 6-1, 6-4 and 6-2.
"I've never lost night sessions. I feel very much at home here," Roger said. "I always come out and played some good tennis here over the years. I've been in six straight finals. I would like to go there again this year. The path is long and rough, we'll see how it goes. I'm excited to be back and playing well."
Roger has yet to lose a night session in Flushing meadows (stat: 16-0). It took him two games to definitely find his way into the match, but he was all in after that. Roger blasted 18 aces to none for Dabul and cranked out 46 winners to his opponent's four. And he had the entire stadium on their feet when he reprised the between-the-legs winner he hit last year in the semi-finals against Novak Djokovic.
Roger will plays Germany's Andreas Beck (ATP 104) in the second round. He has never player the 24 year old on the Tour before.
Federer wyprzedził Samprasa
Dzisiejsze poranne zwycięstwo Rogera Federera nad Brianem Dabulem to 204 wygrany mecz w turniejach WS przez Szwajcara. Roger poprawił tym samym osiągnięcie Pete'a Samprasa i został samodzielnym #4 omawianej statystyki.
Najwięcej wygranych spotkań w turniejach WS:
1. Jimmy Connors 233
2. Andre Agassi 224
3. Ivan Lendl 222
4. Roger Federer 204
5. Pete Sampras 203
6. Stefan Edberg 178
7. Roy Emerson 174
8. John McEnroe 167
9. Boris Becker 163
10. Ken Rosewall 159
11. Mats Wilander 144
12. Björn Borg 141
OFF COURT - MATCH FOR AFRICA
On 21 December Credit Suisse proudly presents a holiday gift of the ultimate kind: "The Match for Africa" for the benefit of the Roger Federer Foundation.
Zürich showcases the tennis show-down of the year, where the all time grand slam leader goes head-to-head with the current world number one Rafael Nadal.
With this event Roger would like to thank all his Swiss fans and he is looking forward to welcoming you in the Hallenstadion in Zurich. Thanks to the presenting sponsor Credit Suisse and the other partners Rolex, Nationale Suisse and Lindt & Sprüngli the evening is all in the name of charity as the proceeds will benefit the Roger Federer Foundation.
Join us for this one-off event to see Roger take on the current world number one Rafael Nadal, in the name of charity. An evening guaranteed to be full of suspense, showmanship and entertainment.
Federer Qualifies For Barclays ATP World Tour Finals
World No. 2 Roger Federer has secured his place in the season-ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, to be held at The O2 in London, 21-28 November. The Swiss clinched his berth after beating Argentine Brian Dabul in the first round of the US Open Monday night. The season-ending tournament on the ATP World Tour features the world’s top eight singles players and eight doubles teams competing to be officially crowned as the 2010 ATP World Tour Champions.
Federer, a five-time ATP World Tour Champion (2004-07, '09), joins current World No. 1 Rafael Nadal as the only singles players to have clinched their berths in this year’s Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. Nadal finished as ATP World Tour Champion two years ago and has held No. 1 since 7 June, after capturing his fifth Roland Garros crown.
Federer, 29, will be making his ninth consecutive appearance in the year-end championships. He is a four-time winner, in 2003-04 in Houston, and 2006-07 in Shanghai. He owns a career mark of 29-7 in the event. In 2009, he reached the semi-finals in London.
"I am very happy as it is the ninth consecutive year I have qualified for the year-end event," Federer said. "I have played in a lot of different venues during my career and I can say they staged a fantastic event at The 02 last year. I look forward to returning there in November and finishing the season strong."
This season Federer captured his 16th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open (d. Murray) and in his last tournament prior to the US Open, he earned his 17th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crown in Cincinnati (d. Fish). His 63 career titles is tied for fifth place (w/Bjorn Borg) on the Open Era titles list. Federer also was runner-up at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments in Madrid (l. to Nadal) and Toronto (l. to Murray) along with Halle (l. to Hewitt). He is on course to finish in the Top 2 for a record eighth consecutive year.
He is one week shy of tying Pete Sampras for the most weeks (286) at No. 1 in the history of the South African Airways ATP Rankings (since 1973).
ATP - ROGER MAKES ATP WORLD TOUR FINALS
By winning the first round of the US Open, Roger has earned his spot in the year ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, to be held in London coming November. The ATP World Tour Finals highlights the world’s top eight singles tennis contenders along with a total of eight doubles teams playing to be officially crowned at the 2010 ATP World Tour winners.
Roger has won the ATP World Tour 2003-04 in Houston and 2006-07 in Shanghai. He is the second singles player this year after Rafael Nadal to have confirmed his spot in this season’s Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. It will be Roger's ninth appearance in series in the season ending tournament as he stands at 29-7 in the championship.
"I am extremely glad as it is the ninth season in a row that I have managed to qualify for the season ending competition,” Roger said. "I have contested in a variety of different places throughout my professional tennis career and I can surely say that it is one of the fantastic places to play the game of tennis. Therefore, I am definitely looking forward to once again return there in the month of November and finish the year strongly.”
US Open 2010 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w 1 rundzie
THE MODERATOR: Questions for Roger.
Q. Is this year's shot better than last year's between‑the‑legs one?
ROGER FEDERER: What do you think?
Q. This one.
ROGER FEDERER: You think this one was better? I don't know. I would have to compare. Obviously the importance of last year's was probably a little bit more important just because I think it was Love‑30 to go Love‑40, two points away from the match, and it was a semifinal. So obviously that has a little bit of an impact, too.
But maybe in terms of difficulty maybe this one was harder, because I had the feeling I had to run a longer distance and I was further back somehow, I felt. I had to really give the last big push at the end. I didn't have time to set it up. So I felt like this one was incredible again. I turned around and couldn't believe the shot landed in the corner.
So ovation was fantastic. Crowds went wild. Yeah, you could see on my reaction I couldn't believe it.
Q. You practice that?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I don't know if you can call it practice. I don't go like, Feed me a few of those. It just happens or not, and you try to do ‑‑ you probably hit one max at practice. So rarely.
Q. You're undefeated at night matches here. I think this is 16‑0. What is it about playing under the lights at the Open?
ROGER FEDERER: I guess I got off to a good start. I think the lights are really good. There are some stadiums around the world where the lights are not the same, but here it feels great. Obviously I have the experience to play under pressure and with so many people, high expectations, so I guess I can use that to my advantage.
Then court speed, surroundings, the event and everything helps my cause to really do well and play well here. I always loved coming here. Never had a bad US Open. Never had a first‑round upset somehow. Just shows again, you know, I was playing well tonight. I'm happy I got to play a night session again.
Q. When you pull off a shot like that, how much does that reflect the confidence you're feeling in your game at the time?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, has not that much to do with it, you know. But I guess what you can read out of it is you have to be at the net to have to hit a shot like that first. So it means I'm playing offensive, which is a good thing.
If you really want to break it down to like the last detail (smiling). My approach was somewhat awkward already to start with, so I don't know what I was thinking. I tried to fake him out and it didn't quite work, but I still got kind of the reply I wanted to.
But he hit a good hustle ball, which was not an easy shot for him to hit ‑ the overhead ‑ running in.
Look, there's not that much you can read into confidence when you hit a shot like that.
Q. When you hit it, did you know it was good?
ROGER FEDERER: I mean, I knew I hit it ‑‑ I had good contact, perfect speed and hit and everything. I kind of like it when the ball like gets away from me a little bit, so I hit it with it's lower, because then I can generate more pace off it.
The thing is, by the time I turn around it's already in the corner of the court on the other side, so I'm almost looking for the ball first up. And then I just ‑‑ I'm not even sure if I saw the bounce or not, and then obviously the crowd gave me the answer, which was kind of good.
Q. You make a ranking in your career of all your best shots?
ROGER FEDERER: Best shots? No. I know on YouTube there are guys that are putting together best shots of me. I guess you can do that after a 10‑year career. I've gone there myself to see them, you know, because some of them have been forgotten, you know, because it was a second round, I don't know, 3‑All or 40‑Love point in an ATP event somewhere.
Then those guys on the net, they find that stuff. That's fantastic that they put it all together. I've pulled up some incredible shots throughout my career obviously in terms of length, just sheer talent or sheer importance of the moment because it all kind of comes together.
Today was just great shot‑making.
Q. Can you talk about marriage. Used to be marriage was considered bad. Borg and McEnroe got married and quickly dropped from being No. 1.
ROGER FEDERER: That's why I waited 10 years (smiling).
Q. Is there a feeling among male tennis players that marriage might distract you from your competitiveness?
ROGER FEDERER: No, not really. I guess in soccer guys marry and have kids much faster than in tennis. In tennis I guess very often financially you're never quite safe, because for a long time at least, you know, because injury can hit at any time. You don't have a five‑year contract. Who is going to take care of you and stuff?
So it's very much living day by day. You're young, you know. 25, either you're working or you're going to school, and we're not in one place like one place like maybe soccer players are. You have a tendency to marry later, and later also in your career you start to maybe not play as well.
I don't believe in all those statistics, you know, because, uhm, that's just the way our life is. We cannot get married that early. And if we do, you're not going to see the other person maybe for over 50% of the year. It's hard to keep up a good relationship, I find.
I was lucky enough that the last seven or eight years, I've been every day together basically with Mirka, and that has definitely helped me, you know, to be good.
I feel married since a long time, not just since last year. That's for sure.
Q. But do you feel like your competitive spirit might wane a little bit with marriage and kids now?
ROGER FEDERER: No. I have the same fire, the same drive. I thought it might have a little impact on my schedule, it might play less, have an impact on how I practiced, maybe early mornings so I could get back and stuff because I have to wake up early.
It's so well set up. Mirka takes such great care. I'm there anyway most all the time as well that I can place my practice whenever I want. I still have enough time with them.
Honestly, the transition was very smooth. I'm very happy about it, of course.
Q. In terms of trick shots, there's been a lot of skepticism about the YouTube video.
ROGER FEDERER: Criticism?
Q. Skepticism.
ROGER FEDERER: There's a difference.
Q. Some doubt that it's real.
ROGER FEDERER: They're not sure, those guys? They don't dare to try it (smiling).
One thing I tell you, that the shots on center court in front of 22,000 people is a bit more difficult than what I did at the Gillette commercial. That was just having a bit more fun.
No, I can't tell you if it's real or not. That's up for debate. Still up to debate, you know. I'm not going to answer that question.
Q. Could you hit one between your legs and knock the can off someone's head?
ROGER FEDERER: That's kind of tough, the trajectory going up. You can feel like the nose and everything being hit first. No, I wouldn't be able to do that.
Decision on Fed's best? Split, naturally
NEW YORK -- What's more important, degree of difficulty or the magnitude of the moment?
Even Roger Federer couldn't say which of his between-the-legs shots was better, the one Monday night against Brian Dabul in the first round of the U.S. Open, or last year's semifinal tweener against Novak Djokovic.
Federer, a five-time U.S. Open champ, had trouble deciding which of his babies he loved more, so he went into detail about both.
On the one hand, last year's was pretty pivotal.
"Obviously the importance of last year's was probably a little bit more important just because I think it was love-30 to go love-40, two points away from the match, and it was a semifinal," Federer said.
On the other hand, Monday's was pretty difficult.
"I had the feeling I had to run a longer distance and I was further back somehow, I felt," Federer said. "I had to really give the last big push at the end. I didn't have time to set it up. So I felt like this one was incredible again. I turned around and couldn't believe the shot landed in the corner."
Luckily, fans can check the tape of both shots, and debate the merits of a passing shot like the one that blew by Djokovic, to a corner winner that left Dabul to shake his head. Clearly, Federer had more distance to cover Monday night, and the shot landed closer to the line.
"I had good contact, perfect speed and hit and everything," Federer said of this year's version. "I kind of like it when the ball gets away from me a little bit, so I hit it [when] it's lower, because then I can generate more pace off it. The thing is, by the time I turn around it's already in the corner of the court on the other side, so I'm almost looking for the ball first up. And then I just -- I'm not even sure if I saw the bounce or not, and then obviously the crowd gave me the answer, which was kind of good."
The advantage the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium had this season was experience. Monday night, one announcer even called a tweener as Federer ran to the baseline to make the shot -- and there was reason to believe the No. 2 seed could turn it into a winner, even with a higher degree of difficulty.
The beauty of the between-the-legs shot is that it can only be used in certain moments, as a last resort once the ball has nearly gotten away from a player. Most of those shots are impressive, but ultimately bound for the net.
Federer is accumulating his own highlight reel of those shots, and the U.S. Open has barely gotten started.
Annacone there to help Roger re-Pete?
NEW YORK -- For anyone who remembers the forlorn sight eight years ago of a fading Pete Sampras reading fortifying mash notes from his wife between changeovers of his shocking second-round loss to Swiss qualifier George Bastl at Wimbledon, seeing Roger Federer hiring Sampras' old coach Paul Annacone -- the same man who helped Sampras rebound just a few months later at the 2002 U.S. Open -- presents some symmetry that is too irresistible to ignore.
Can Annacone work the same magic for Federer? Can any coach make a 29-year-old player, even one as historically great as Federer, play like he was 24 or even 28 again?
Federer -- who meets Andreas Beck of Germany on Thursday in a second-round match at the U.S. Open -- would probably take the form he had when he won the French and Wimbledon in Rafael Nadal's absence last summer, lost the Open final to Juan Martin Del Potro but then won the Australian Open at the start of this year. But it's been a pretty bleak stretch for Federer since: two fourth-round exits at the French and Wimbledon, and a seven-month drought without a second title until he finally held off Mardy Fish two Sundays ago in Cincinnati.
That also happened to be his second tournament with Annacone, who has declined interview requests since Federer announced they were working together.
Even now, Federer won't admit last month's Wimbledon loss to Tomas Berdych was a personal nadir. But Federer was playing to tie Sampras' record of seven titles, and Wimbledon has always been his best tournament after the U.S. Open, which he was won five times.
Paul Annacone (left) represents a rarity: a coach hired by Roger Federer.
Federer was justifiably tweaked for uncharacteristically reaching for an out and mentioning leg and back problems after Berdych beat him. Federer went on a charter cruise with his extended family afterward, part of a six-week, post-Wimbledon break he took overall, and later said it took 10 days for his body to feel better after the tournament -- an admission that didn't exactly buttress his argument that his decline is a matter of perception rather than reality.
"Everyone is spoiled," Federer argues.
But it's not just that.
Federer's hiring of Annacone looks like a tacit admission that Federer knows his problems go deeper.
Sampras was 31 when he quit. Even 29 is old in tennis years.
What Annacone brings to Federer is far more than what Federer has called a "different voice" and calm temperament. Federer has gone long stretches without a coach during his career, and what he shrewdly seems to be looking for from Annacone now isn't so much strategy tips or stroke refinement.
What Federer must want is Annacone's insights into the mindset of being a great-but-older champion -- always a delicate thing. Federer got to witness it from afar in Sampras' case: A year before the Bastl stunner, it was actually Federer who first began to show Sampras the door, upsetting him at Wimbledon in 2001 to snap Sampras' 31-match winning streak there, back when Sampras was still the king of Centre Court. Sixteen months later, his last fig leaf gone, Sampras took the hint and retired.
"We speak occasionally about Pete," Federer says of Annacone, "how he was with him or about his experiences and stuff. I know so much about Pete already that I never try to copy him. I never try to be like him, but I tried to learn from him as a junior because he was my hero growing up. So definitely when I do hear stories from Paul about Pete, it can be inspiring."
Like Sampras at the end, Federer has been accused lately of not being as hungry or devoted to tennis as he used to be. After all, he is now the father of 1-year-old twins.
Federer has looked increasingly overpowered at times against the tour's heavy-hitters like Rafael Nadal or Berdych, but Federer disputes that too, insisting, "I can handle [the pace]." Regardless, there's not a whole lot Annacone can do about that in just two weeks, except perhaps remind Federer to keep attacking and trust his own forehand. It's no longer the best in the game, but it's still a pretty good one.
But what Annacone may be able to provide Federer most is belief -- the main thing Sampras says he got from Annacone between the disastrous loss against Bastl and an out-of-nowhere run to that last U.S. Open title over Andre Agassi just weeks later.
"It may sound like I just wanted to get stroked," Sampras wrote in "A Champion's Mind," his 2008 autobiography with Peter Bodo, "but there was something else in play. ... No matter how selfish tennis players are, it's also true that they spend a lot of their lives playing for others -- for coaches, for parents, for spouses. Paul showed great faith in my game and that inspired me.
"To hear Paul say he wanted me to go and impose myself on my rivals, that I should remember that I was Pete Sampras and they were not, that meant something, too. It meant more than I imagined it would."
Annacone's influence already may be working for Federer, too. Since announcing that he was working with Annacone, nobody has pinpointed any major overhauls in Federer's game even as the Swiss star was rolling to the finals in Toronto -- the first event he and Annacone worked together -- then winning that title in Cincinnati.
The transformation may all be in Federer's mind. But as it was for Sampras once upon a time here at the Open, perhaps for Federer that will be enough.
Can Federer hang with tennis' giants?
There was once a glorious time when Roger Federer sliced, diced and pureed virtually every opponent in his path.
From 2004-07, the Swiss star won 11 of 16 Grand Slam singles titles and his annual losses could be counted on just two hands. His exquisite gifts of timing and vision and mental toughness moved people to call him the greatest player of all time.
Recently, with his breathtaking game in relative remission, he's been overpowered by stronger adversaries. Two weeks ago in the Toronto final, Andy Murray -- famously passive in important matches -- tagged Federer 7-5, 7-5.
In an era of bigger, stronger and faster players, Roger Federer has his work cut out.
"He was aggressive," Federer said. "He was taking the ball earlier. Just all of a sudden it was all over."
The next week in Cincinnati, however, Federer was the last one standing. He beat Mardy Fish in the final and finished his summer U.S. Open tune-ups with a 9-1 record. He would appear to be the marginal favorite ahead of Rafael Nadal and Murray.
Federer's post-Wimbledon won-lost percentage (.900) was the best on tour, ahead of David Nalbandian (.846), Mardy Fish (.889) and Murray (.833).
Federer's artistry was at odds with the trend of bigger, faster, stronger athletes who dominated other sports. But now, it seems, tennis has joined that muscular arena.
"First we saw Big Babe tennis," said ESPN analyst Mary Carillo. "Now we have Big Boy tennis. I mean, let's face it: Roger's got to get physically stronger. This is the big time now."
Federer is listed at 6-foot-1, 187 pounds, but against the emerging crop of behemoths he looks smaller. Juan Martin del Potro, the strapping 6-6 Argentine, knocked him around in last year's U.S. Open final. Robin Soderling, 6-4, 192 pounds, pounded Federer in the French Open quarterfinals and Tomas Berdych, with an advantage of four inches and 13 pounds, did the same at Wimbledon. Federer won the Australian Open final with his third straight win over the 6-3 Scot, but the Toronto match suggested that dynamic might be changing.
Like Martina Hingis, who won three of the four majors in 1997 but slammed into the powerful wall that was the Williams sisters, Federer can no longer dominate without a game-changing weapon. Because he hits a one-handed backhand, he is ceding a significant margin in power to the rest of the truly elite field that uses two. And though Federer has the solid lower body of a man who makes his living on the run, his upper body -- particularly his arms -- is so lean it borders on frail.
"It is almost hilarious," Carillo said, "close to silly. What Roger's facing is a natural evolution. John McEnroe lost a step and guys who played more physically, like Becker, Lendl and Sampras, started to beat him."
Said Ivan Lendl, who at 50 will play his first match on the ATP Champions senior tour later this year, "He hasn't really worn out his body that much because of the style of his play. The issue is that the guys have gotten better. Berdych, del Potro, Soderling -- they all can serve bigger than Roger and hit bigger than Roger."
Recently, Federer has been working with Paul Annacone, Pete Sampras' former coach, in an effort to raise the level of his game. They spent time together in Toronto and are expected to collaborate again at the U.S. Open, which begins Monday in New York.
"The goal has always been for me to improve as a player," Federer said in Toronto. "I won't just be happy playing the same way for years and years and years. I've always questioned myself in the best of times and in the worst of times, even though there were not many bad moments the last seven years or so."
Nick Bollettieri, the legendary coach, has observed indecisiveness creeping into Federer's game. It can be seen, he says, in an increasing number of slices from the backhand side.
"When he hits that slice to Nadal's forehand, he's been able to flatten it out and send it back strong," Bollettieri said. "Sometimes when you go to the slice you're not as sure of yourself, especially when you have a one-handed backhand.
"Now, players want to play Roger -- that's not good. It's the message he's sending. He's got to believe; when did you ever see Roger put his shoulders down like at Wimbledon? Never. Champions have that fire, and Roger's got to rekindle that flame."
Federer says playing a lighter schedule keeps his intensity at a high level.
"I only play 16 to 20 tournaments per year, so I'm not overplaying, and that keeps the fire burning," Federer told the BBC a few weeks ago.
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Darren Cahill, who coached both Andre Agassi and Lleyton Hewitt, believes Federer's issues are less about mentality and more about physicality.
"Losing in the quarterfinals probably set off some small alarm bells going off in the [Federer] camp," Cahill said. "Truth be told, every Grand Slam he plays, he's a factor. But the challenges are getting harder. He's going to have to work harder on the court -- and off the court."
In the recent past, Federer has tinkered with his game in run-up tournaments. Now, Cahill believes, Federer needs to raise his game in those smaller tournaments for more of a running start into the Grand Slam events.
"He needs to find his game quicker, build confidence quicker so when he gets to the second and third round of a major he's more confident, quicker," Cahill said. "Paul's influence will help him be technically smarter on court; knowing how to use strengths can physically cut some corners. Playing smarter in the earlier rounds will help him save some gas in the tank for later on."
Brad Gilbert, an ESPN analyst and former pro who coached Agassi, said Federer's recent decline is a natural evolution.
"In the last 24 months he's become more vulnerable in best-of-three sets -- until the French, that hadn't been the case in best of fives," Gilbert noted. "It's not surprising at all. Very few players have dominated tennis at the age of 29.
"Roger's played [43] majors in a row. The amazing thing about Roger is he's had one of the best runs ever of being healthy. In the final analysis, it's not about Cincinnatis or Romes -- the number everyone will be shooting for is 16, 18, 20 [majors]. It would be a major mistake to think that his last chapter has been written."
Added Lendl: "If you ask John [McEnroe] and myself about going out in the quarters of a Slam twice in a row -- the sky is falling," laughed Lendl. Maybe Tommy Haas or Tomas Berdych might think differently. The point is, Roger is head and shoulders ahead of everybody.
"What are his goals? Maybe to win as many majors as possible? Maybe to stand in Rafa's way of winning more [Slams]. Roger is not going to say `Well, I'm not playing that well. I'm playing for enjoyment. I'm done.' You're not going to hear that from him."
For some observers, Federer is a subject to be discussed in the past tense. But, to be fair, a win at the U.S. Open would give him eight of the 16 major titles available in the past four years.
Federer told the BBC that winning 20 major titles remained a realistic goal. That would be one each year for the next four years.
"Having won three Grand Slams per season three times and two per year a couple of times, it's something that's doable for me," he said.
ATP - ROGER MOVES ON WITH EASE
Roger moved on smoothly at the US Open today, defeating Germany's Andreas Beck 6-3, 6-4 and 6-3.
Roger's opponent piled up substantial errors in each set to make it an easier task in the end for our champ, who profited from two double-faults by Beck on the latter's serve. Beck started off well in the second set, but faltered in the fifth game that allowed Roger to get the break. Roger maintained the lead till the end and went two sets up in the match without facing any sort of commendable challenge from the German. He made quick in-roads into the third set with a break in the first game and again got the break in the ninth game to finish off the match on a high note after precisely 100 minutes.
Next up will be a French player as Roger will meet the winner of the match between Paul-Henri Mathieu and Guillaume Rufin.
Konferencja po meczu II rundy USO 2010:
Q. Can you talk about the conditions out there today? Specifically, the heat early on and then the wind later in the match.
ROGER FEDERER: Um, yeah, I mean, it was a little bit warmer at the beginning and at the end of the match, but I thought the wind gave it a bit of a cooling factor today.I don't know if it was hotter yesterday or today. I really don't know, but for me it wasn't a problem, anyway.
Q. In this extreme heat, have you lost any weight? I know some commentators mentioned you've been looking a little skinny.
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I don't know. The match wasn't that long, and I played like an hour the last two days. So I don't think there's much I was eating more than I was practicing, so... No, I mean, I thought it was warm, but I don't think it was brutal, you know. Sure, out on the court it always gets warmer than elsewhere because of, you know, the concrete and all that stuff that reflects back from the court, as well. Obviously if you have tough rallies it's tough anywhere but especially if it's humid and hot, sure, you feel it. But I don't know. We practice hard to be fit for those conditions, as well.
Q. You mentioned that you had muscle pain in Toronto; earlier this week you were talking about it. How are you feeling now?
ROGER FEDERER: No problem. The body has gotten used to playing matches and serving one after another, returning one after another, for three, four hours in a row. So I have no muscle pain anymore, and it's about just, you know, saving your energy for the really big match coming up, maybe the next one. Who knows?
Q. At this point in your career, is it any more important for you to make sure you get off court as soon and quickly as possible?
ROGER FEDERER: No, not really. I feel it's the same. I guess now it's almost easier to handle tougher matches, really, just because you know what your body can take. You know what's just muscle pain, you know what's more injuries, you know what's tiredness; whereas when you're younger that kind of hits you like a truck, and all of a sudden you realize you have no more energy and mentally it's a big push when you're young.You know, and I had it twice at the French against Corretja. I think both times I kind of got into it. Once I got into the third or fourth round of the Major I was just so tired from playing. I think today it's much easier to cope with that.
Q. After last night's match, Andy Roddick's opponent said he didn't think Roddick was as aggressive as he should be in that match, and it's pretty well known he should be more aggressive. What's your opinion of Roddick's degree of aggressiveness and his approach in the court?
ROGER FEDERER: I mean, he played well in Indian Wells and Miami. You figure he knows what he's doing. If he keeps that up, he's gonna have a shot at a title here. Obviously it's a big surprise for me to see him go out, even though Tipsarevic is a good player. I beat him at the Australian once 9 7 in the fifth. That was a phase I had mono, and so it's kind of somewhat of a similar situation, I guess. Andy had signs of it now, as well. Look, him and his coach need to know what's best for him. The guy played well yesterday. It was a tough match for Andy, and I feel bad for him.
Q. You alluded earlier to the short durations of your first two matches, two straight set win. Is this sort of the perfect way, in terms of looking at the way you're launching this particular campaign? Do you feel like you're you've gotten off to a more or less good start?
ROGER FEDERER: No, it's the perfect start, sure. I played Monday, had two days off. I had another easy one physically today, and here I am in the third round feeling like I'm completely in the tournament. I got a sense for how the court speed is again. I got the sense of, you know, the crowd and the wind now as well. I played one night, one day. I have all the answers after two matches. Obviously they weren't the most difficult matches, you know. I didn't have to save multiple breakpoints or whatever. Even though I got broken today, I feel really good. Tougher matches will only be coming up now, I guess. I underestimate nobody. But today was already, you know, a little bit dangerous of an opponent. He hits hard, flat, and through the wind it's not so easy to all of a sudden try to brush up the ball because you shank a lot so you start playing more careful. It's gonna be interesting to see how the Saturday conditions are going to be with the hurricane sort of moving in. We'll see how that goes.
Q. The women's top seed is Wozniacki, also one of the youngest players. What do you make of her success?
ROGER FEDERER: I obviously haven't seen her play so much. Definitely not as young as when Martina and Capriati and Serena all came up. They were all 15, 16, and you knew they were going to be future No. 1s in the world and win Grand Slams. That doesn't happen so much in the women's game, and actually in the men's game you don't have any teenagers in the top 100, which I think is a bit unfortunate. But games are getting more physical and more tough now. It's just hard to kind of breakthrough sometimes, I guess. But seems like she's doing great. She's No. 1 seed obviously because Serena is not here, but she's doing great in all other events, playing a full schedule. I'm sure that's one of the reasons she's ranked up high.
Q. Have you seen any huge improvements in your style lately with Paul on your team now?
ROGER FEDERER: No. I mean, when I'm playing great, regardless of who's in my player box, I can beat anybody, you know. It's about being consistent and being confident in the way I play. I'm not all of a sudden going to play a two handed backhand or serve and volley on my second serve nonstop. It's just not gonna happen. It's in the details, and it's very important to me what Paul tells me and what Severin also tells me, who I've been with for three years now. It's an interesting, you know, time right now, because I went through times where I thought every time was interesting for me, because I went through times where I didn't have a coach, I had times where I had two coaches, as well, one coach. Here we are at the stage again where there's someone new to the team, and I kind of like those times, yeah.
Q. You're the only past champion left in the men's tournament. How much of an advantage is that, or a help is that, knowing you've done it in the past versus other players who are trying to but don't know that they can, because they haven't?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, it's definitely an advantage, I would think, yeah, because weathering the conditions here in New York. A lot of players can really do well here in New York because it's a fair kind of a court. It's a quick court, so if you're not feeling well, it can all of a sudden slip away from you. So it's a dangerous court to play on, and everybody has the last slam left to prove. I think that's why it makes it really hard to win. You could be unlucky and get hit with a really hot day or a very windy day, and not even in your control sometimes you lose a match here. That's where it's important like today to get through easily instead of maybe going five hour match, you know, and losing the tournament because of a match like this, you know. Yeah, I mean, I would consider it as an advantage. But again, I'm not at match point serving for it, so still a lot of hard work to do.
Q. In the last couple of days, several people have spoken about the shot you made the other day through your legs.
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah.
Q. But Novak Djokovic said he didn't need to see that one. The one he saw last year...
ROGER FEDERER: Was enough for him? Okay.
Q. How do you look back at the shot you made against him last year, and what made it special for you?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, being all of a sudden center court always helps because you get every angle of the shot. That just helps the spectators, the media, for me as well, for the players. I mean, you can see it so many different ways, which is fantastic; whereas this year I think I hit it from the other side of the court, so I'm not sure we have as many camera angles like last year. But it was just a moment, semifinals on center court against Novak, Love 30 and going -- getting match point, and after that playing on a high end, ripping another forehand winner on the second serve of Novak to clinch the match. Everything was just like boom, over, with fireworks, you know. I think that's what was so special about last year, I thought.
Q. What goes through your mind when you see replays of that point?
ROGER FEDERER: I like it and I smile, of course, like everybody would.
Q. In the spring and in Paris there was a lot of talk about new string.
ROGER FEDERER: About?
Q. Advances in a new string from Babolat. Are you an equipment guy in that when you hear about new equipment or strings or racquets, you test things, or are you very conservative when you have your equipment and you stick with it? Pete always...
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I remember Pete wasn't very flexible when it came to all that stuff. I think it's hard, because if we had a five months offseason, we could just go out and just test anything. You know, like work on your game and completely come out five months later and you're like, you know, This guy's playing different than he was five months ago. We don't have that, so you have a tendency to be very cautious about how much testing you go through, because you don't want to waste days and stuff on testing and all that stuff. Honestly I'm always very open, and I talk to Wilson very openly about, Is there another racquet you guys think I should be testing? I've tried out some other things again, you know, the other year. And with strings the same thing, even though I've been playing with the same string now for eight years. It's what many guys do, is like the half gut, half synthetic, Luxilon. So that's been working well for me. The others talk about something else. Obviously if some of the top guys use it, it becomes bigger news than if No. 75 in the world uses it. But I think it's important to stay open for changes and just not get stuck in a bubble and think what I got is perfect. Who knows, maybe there's something very good as well out there that you haven't seen yet.
Q. What do you think about Russian tennis? Maybe have some Russian friends on tour?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, Russia's always been very strong, especially on the women's side lately. Obviously when I came up, Yevgeny was there, Marat. I came with Marat through the juniors, and then once they kind of went away we have had Davydenko at the top for five years now. I don't think if he would have been injured so much, always at crucial times, he could have been even maybe top 3 in the world, top 2 in the world, if things would have gone really well for him. They're all very good, all very talented. I'm sure there is no change in the future. They will always be very strong, have very strong will.
Q. I just wanted to ask you about a habit of yours, kind of helping the ball boys out during matches, and do you do it sort of out of a sense of politeness or playfulness, or does it help your game? Help in the match? Comment on that.
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, I don't know. Depends how the points are being played. If balls end up on my side of the court, then I like to get the ball from them and get it on the other side real quick, you know. These guys catch the ball really well here at the US Open, all those ball boys. You know, they're not 10 years old, so they know -- they're really, really good, and that's why you can play around with it a little bit. I don't know if they enjoy it. I like it. They're always ready to catch it, anyway. Seems like they're just waiting for it. I don't know. I like to have a good flow of the match so spectators don't have to wait so much, and also my opponent. I just kind of think it's a nice thing.
Q. Two matches in, do you feel like your game and your body are exactly where you want them to be?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, body is well. Mentally obviously I'm fresh, too. I haven't played much, so I'm really eager to, you know -- looking forward to -- I'm ready, anyway, for tough matches coming around. It's good I'm saving myself, really, and my game is fine. You know, today it's tough to judge, because it was quite windy at the end. It's just a matter of getting through those kind of matches, really.
ATP - FIRST WEEK WITHOUT DROPPING A SET
Roger has come through the first week of the US Open without dropping a set. He defeated France's Paul-Henri Mathieu (ATP 109) 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 today to book his spot in round four.
Roger had 13 aces and no double-faults. He had to fight off four break points on his serve, while he scored four breaks on his opponent's. Mathieu did his part in helping our champ as he dropped his serve with a final double-fault on two occasions. Roger is now at 5-0 against the Frenchman who had upset Lleyton Hewitt in the first round.
Conditions in the Arthur-Ashe stadium were extremely difficult today with gusting winds troubling both players when tossing the ball on service as well as controlling the ball during play. Roger and Mathieu had to capitulate several times as they misjudged trajectories. Mathieu's only chance came when he forced a break point in the eighth game but Roger saved it and won three games in a row to win the first set. Roger broke twice to win the second set and in the sixth game of the third, wrapping up the match in under 100 minutes.
Roger's next match is scheduled for Monday against Jürgen Melzer (ATP 15) or Juan Carlos Ferrero (ATP 24).
Roger Federer's resurgence defies belief as well as history
At the time of writing, it is impossible to know if Roger Federer has won, or even played, his semi-final against Novak Djokovic. But if, as the odds heavily suggest, he has won his 22nd consecutive grand slam semi-final, it will be an unprecedented achievement. From Wimbledon 2005 to the end of 2007, Federer competed in 10 straight finals. If he prevailed/prevails in New York he will have racked up another seven consecutive Grand Slam finals and counting. You have to go back to 2002 to find a Wimbledon or US Open final in which he did not play. There is greater strength in depth than ever before on the men's tour and, yet, Federer continues to make history.
Among all of these outstanding figures, it is his recent achievements that are the most astounding. This is because there was a moment when it seemed he was finished: 2008 was, by his standards, poor. There was the loss to Djokovic in the semi-final in Australia, perhaps down to him suffering from mononucleosis; a first-round defeat by Andy Murray in Dubai; a 6-1 6-3 6-0 drubbing by Rafael Nadal in the French Open final; the ending of his magnificent Wimbledon run and first defeat on grass for 65 games in that match, again against Nadal; and losing to James Blake, for the first time, in the Olympic quarter-final.
Normal order was resumed with a US Open victory over Murray. But, then, Nadal beat him again in Australia at the start of 2009 and Federer burst into tears. This, it appeared, was his "Bjorn Borg moment". It was when John McEnroe defeated the Swede for a second time that he jacked it in. The Wimbledon defeat he could just about live with, but not being outwitted again in New York. There was no way back for Borg.
Federer, meanwhile, had been beaten three times in a row on three different surfaces by Nadal. He was losing to Murray on a regular basis. He smashed his racket when losing again to Djokovic. He couldn't even get far enough to confront his nemesis. The most sublime talent the game had seen appeared exhausted. If you have reached the heights Federer has reached, you don't come back.
Usually, the greats go fast. Like Borg, McEnroe's end was quick. In 1984, perhaps his greatest season on the Tour, he racked up an 82-3 record which included a 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 victory over Connors in the Wimbledon final and a 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 win over Ivan Lendl in the US Open final. He appeared invincible; he never won another slam. The lesson seemed to be that you can't be that good and return to being as good again. Except that is exactly what Federer has done, completing a career grand slam by winning the French and then picking up his sixth Wimbledon title after the marathon against Andy Roddick. Not only was his game back, but so was his grace and charm. Instead of niggling about Murray, he was back to praising him to the skies. He was at ease once again in his terrible clothes.
There is just one cloud. These recent victories have been achieved in the absence of Nadal, who has now returned to action. If Federer fails to become the first player since Rod Laver to win the French, Wimbledon and the US in the same year it will probably be because the Spaniard has completed a victory over him in the final of each of the four slams. The stakes could neither be higher nor rarer.
Marriage is good for Federer's game
I was with a group of friends, discussing athletes and their romantic lives, when Roger Federer appeared on a television in the background, playing in an early match at the U.S. Open.
Now, anyone who has ever seen Roger playing on television knows what came next: a quick cutaway shot of his wife, Mirka Federer, in the stands.
I have had the pleasure of seeing Roger play -- both in person and on television -- countless times over the past seven years. I have attended the same events as him and even had the pleasure of having dinner with him. Through it all, Mirka is always there -- in the stands, in the room and especially in his heart.
Now, clearly I'm a tad biased when I say the two are one of the warmest couples I have ever had the pleasure of being around. They seem to genuinely love each other. But more importantly, as this relates to the topic of infidelity in sports, I repeat: Mirka is always there.
I'm not saying they don't have problems in their marriage; only they know that for sure. But if Roger were cheating, he'd have to be sneaking out through a wormhole in the continuum of time and space, because as far as I can tell, his wife is always by his side.
Lovingly, not begrudgingly.
In fact, it is news when she's not in the stands, as was the case in Cincinnati a couple of weeks ago.
For some, that dynamic in their relationship might seem like a bit much -- as if she is smothering him, doesn't trust him or doesn't have a life of her own. But for those who truly understand the nomadic lifestyle professional athletes have, particularly those who play an individual sport like tennis, having a familiar face in a strange land can be more than just comforting; it could be soul anchoring.
While baseball and basketball players have long seasons away from home, as former pro Brian Vahaly points out, they have teammates. Tennis is essentially a year-round solo sport.
"For 99 percent of the players, it's not financially possible to bring your family and friends with you to each tournament," he said. "Sure you see your family during the Grand Slams, but what about the other 30 weeks a year? You're lucky if you're at the ranking where you can afford a coach."
Most players go it alone.
That's why, when the world is yanking your identity between one hyperbolic extreme and the next, having someone there who actually knows who you really are can help mute all the noise and distractions, freeing you to focus on the things you can control. Like your athletic performance.
Roger has been on one of the most incredible journeys in all of sports, and he's been able to achieve his success in large part because of his wife, Mirka. She might not get the headlines, but because she has unselfishly allowed him to focus primarily on tennis, he has been able to rewrite the books with his best friend, his soul mate, his anchor alongside him each step of the way. That is something to be envied, not ridiculed.
And I'm not alone in that thinking.
U.S. Open it-boy of the moment, Mardy Fish, gives a lot of credit to his new wife, Stacey Fish, for his career resurgence, saying she gives him something more to play for. ESPN analyst and former player Brad Gilbert said when he was Andre Agassi's coach, he noticed Agassi's best tennis came after the Hall of Famer married Steffi Graf, and that "my best moments as a player came when I had a wife and son to come home to."
"It just balanced everything for me," he said.
We're so accustomed to seeing athletes through the lens of boys being boys that we're no longer capable of recognizing when men are being men. Or maybe the country's divorce rate has made us all a bit leery of making huge personal sacrifices so our spouses can accomplish their goals -- like working full time while the other goes to school, leaving a career to raise children or, in Mirka's case, walking away from a career to help her husband build his.
People forget Mirka was an Olympic tennis player before hitting the road with Roger. It isn't clear whether she would've been hugely successful had she stayed with the sport, but as Gilbert points out, it's obvious Roger greatly benefitted because she didn't.
"They have a great situation, they are great partners and their relationship is a key to his success," Gilbert said.
For years to come, tennis aficionados will debate whether or not Roger's is the game's greatest, as Rafael Nadal and the next generation of hard-hitting studs come along to challenge the records he has set.
But the one thing that cannot be questioned is the role Mirka has played in his setting those records -- first as a friend when they were teenagers, then as his business manager, girlfriend, wife and now mother of his children.
The cynic would say she is nothing without Roger. I would add this: Roger would be nothing without Mirka. Not in a behind-every-great-man-there's-a-great-woman sort of way but in a partners-in-life way. The way we hear sung about in song but few of us ever experience.
For the past two years, we have been trying to write Roger's eulogy. Yet last week, he walked into Flushing Meadows a favorite for the seventh consecutive year.
True, he's lost a step, but he still has Mirka. We've recently seen him lose his cool from time to time, but Mirka is always there. We are nearing the end of an era, but he and Mirka will go on to write a new beginning in life. Together.
Go ahead and make your crude jokes about her lording over him. I just see a good old-fashioned love story with a few Grand Slam titles sprinkled in to add to the plot.
I can still remember something Roger said to me the first time I interviewed him years ago. I was trying to get a sense of the person he is off the court and asked him a question I've asked hundreds of athletes: What do you love?
Now, in the past I've heard everything from "I love horror movies," to chocolates to fast cars and, of course, winning. Roger simply smiled and said, "I love Mirka." At the time, she was across the room, so I'm sure he didn't say that just so she could hear it. Not that it mattered. By the way he appears to live his life, that's hardly a secret.
US Open 2010 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w 3 rundzie
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. You told Mary Joe in the prematch interview you might have to adjust your match for the wind. Did you have to adjust your game? How brutal was the wind?
ROGER FEDERER: The wind was very strong. Tough conditions to play in, especially if you're down in the score. I think you could tell Mathieu was really struggling after being down in the score. His serve, his returns, everything kind of falls into pieces. That's what the wind can do to you. It's really hard to stay positive when you're down and the wind is the way it is, like today. I kind of felt comfortable, you know, because you can also use it to your advantage and play really great tennis. You have to be careful with it. Maybe not aim at the lines as much. After, like I said, four games or so, I knew what I could do and what I couldn't do.
Q. How would you compare your class to win the French Open and complete a career slam with Rafa's pursuit of the US Open and a career slam?
ROGER FEDERER: I guess it's somewhat similar. I won the other three Grand Slams rather quickly, as well, like he did, as well. There's a bit of similarity to that. Yeah, I mean, the only difference so far is that I lost, what, two finals before, plus a semis before; whereas he's never been in a finals here. But there's a few similarities I would think, yeah.
Q. Last night Rafa said that in his mind you're the best player in history. If he is able to complete the career slam, given his head to head with you, how young he is, what are your thoughts on his chances to eventually be the best player in history?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, clearly has a chance because he's young enough. He has already so many, let's say, French Open titles to his name just alone at his age is an amazing accomplishment. Plus he's had some incredible clay court records that are going to be very hard to beat. Then again, obviously I guess he would need to win the US Open, put himself there. He's won the Olympics, done some amazing things. So he'll have a shot at it, I'm sure.
Q. How much better a player are you because Rafa has been such a rival for you? What are the two or three things specifically you've worked in your game to try and deal with Rafa?
ROGER FEDERER: It's hard to pinpoint exactly what it is that makes you a better player. I just think maybe your work ethic, maybe you're more professional, try out different things, the mindset. Those kind of things to me stand out and a particular shot that I had to work on to beat Rafa or play against him. The thing is, you can't just start working on your game just to play Rafa, you know, because we're No. 1 and No. 2 for so long, and we are again. So we only play each other in the final. To get there, we have to beat four, five, or six other guys to get there. They play nothing like Rafa, like me for him, as well. That's why it's the wrong approach to focus on one player.
Q. But he has made you a better player?
ROGER FEDERER: I said that multiple times, and him as well.
Q. What do you think separates players who are successful in fifth sets from those who aren't?
ROGER FEDERER: I mean, the five set record is obviously a bit of a tricky one, you know. It depends on, I don't know, if let's say I go five sets today in the first two rounds, obviously I'll have the experience, the fitness. I'll be such a huge favorite in a fifth set. But I don't go five. So then I miss a chance to have maybe a better five set record. Early on in my career, I went more often five sets. It was 50/50 or I wasn't maybe the favorite to win in five just because of the experience, maybe lack of fitness, you know, pressure and all that. It depends on how it kind of starts. I don't think James Blake is, how you say, not a fit guy.
Q. 4 13.
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, well, he lost his first whatever, 10 or 12. Maybe it becomes mental at that point obviously. I don't think you can just put it down to fitness. It depends on who you play, where it was. That's why that record it's great if it's positive, but what I just like about five sets, it gave me answers if I was fit enough or not and if I had still some stuff to work on. For a very long time, I hardly ever went five until the match where I lost against Safin 9 7 in the fifth. I had match point in the fourth. I played great, but it was good again for me to see, you know, can I last for that long period of time, because practice is not the same like a match.
Q. Changing subjects. As you are a great fan of soccer, I would like to ask you about your thoughts about the last World Cup, and specifically if you saw any games of Uruguay and have you ever met Diego Forlan?
ROGER FEDERER: I think I've met him during the Madrid tournament briefly walking by. I don't remember what we were talking about. But I remember shaking his hand. I think he's quite a big fan of tennis because he's been to the tournament multiple times when it was indoors and also now since it's been outdoors. I saw him play a little bit, but honestly I didn't see any World Cup from the quarterfinal on. I missed that part. Obviously, I was cheering for Switzerland, South Africa, just hoping for a good World Cup. I thought it was a good one. The best team won. Spain played fantastic. I still think it was a very successful World Cup for many teams.
Q. You might play Ferrero in the next round. How much do you think you influenced his career in the sense when you guys are from the same generation, he used to be a No. 1, then he started losing lots of matches, not fighting for the big titles. How much do you think you affected him?
ROGER FEDERER: I don't think I played him the amount of times I've played against Roddick or Rafa. I don't know how many times I've played him, but I think a guess is maybe like 10. But I don't think I played him 20, you know. I never played him in a Grand Slam final. So I don't think, you know, I had a big effect on him playing better or worse really. I think we actually pushed each other up, if we did anything. I always thought he was a wonderful player. Had some big matches against him in the past. Australian Open semifinal, I had to beat him to get world No. 1 the following Monday. Then I went on to win the Australian Open in '04 against Safin in the final. I mean, he was the best player on clay for a while there. It's hard to dominate the clay court season every single year. It's obviously if you're not going to win the majority of the clay court tournaments, at the French Open your ranking will slip maybe from 3 to 8, and then from 8 it can slip quickly from 8 to 15. I think that's what happened to him. I think he also had some injuries. It's good to see him playing well again. We still get along well. We practice once in a while. I'd love to play against him here, even though Melzer is a good friend of mine, too. I played him in Wimbledon, so we'll see.
Q. Those conditions, how successful could you be hitting high, loopy, soft balls?
ROGER FEDERER: That's the thing. If you just played soft into the court, as well, it's kind of tricky then to measure the ball well and let the other guy dictate play. You just go with the pace of the other guy. It's not so easy to create pace when it's so windy. So sometimes, you know, you try to just hit a slow ball in there, you know, and see what happens. It's uncomfortable for the opponent, but it's just not the way to go in men's tennis. Guys have too much power. The thing is, like once the other guy figures you out, how you're playing, if you're just really pushing the ball in play, it's so hard from going, playing like that to playing offensive again. It's almost like a thing of impossibility. You have to hit the ball otherwise. It's not a good thing.
Q. I wanted to ask you what you think of the new, slimmer Mardy Fish? Still remains to be seen how he'll do here. He says he feels like a completely different player now.
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, his talent was never questioned, was it? I played him back in maybe was it 2003, 2004, when I won my first couple Wimbledons. He was the only guy to take a set off me. I always thought he was an incredibly good player, regardless of his weight, to be honest. I think it's great to show maybe other players, too, to see what's possible at a later stage in your career, if you come up with some new ideas. You know, let's change it up and see what happens. I think that's what he's doing. That the results follow, it's not always a guarantee. But with him now, it's happened. Obviously this is the big stage for him now, the US Open. So the next 45 minutes will be huge for him. You know, this is what it's about for him now. This is where it's really going to pay off for him, not in Washington or something. It's great to see him playing well, doing well. He's a nice guy. He's always been talented, so we knew that.
Q. Did you see Francesca Schiavone's shot between the legs?
ROGER FEDERER: I think I did see it. I'm not sure.
Q. Is it more difficult for a girl, in your opinion, to do it?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, yeah, because they never come to the net, so they'll never be lobbed. No, I've seen her hit some very good shots in the past already, you know. She has a great ability to come up with some different kind of variation for a woman's player, which is nice to see. I think she played incredible at the French Open. She is not scared of trying out a few things, you know. That's why I kind of like to watch her.
US Open 2010 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w 3 rundzie
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. You told Mary Joe in the prematch interview you might have to adjust your match for the wind. Did you have to adjust your game? How brutal was the wind?
ROGER FEDERER: The wind was very strong. Tough conditions to play in, especially if you're down in the score. I think you could tell Mathieu was really struggling after being down in the score. His serve, his returns, everything kind of falls into pieces. That's what the wind can do to you. It's really hard to stay positive when you're down and the wind is the way it is, like today. I kind of felt comfortable, you know, because you can also use it to your advantage and play really great tennis. You have to be careful with it. Maybe not aim at the lines as much. After, like I said, four games or so, I knew what I could do and what I couldn't do.
Q. How would you compare your class to win the French Open and complete a career slam with Rafa's pursuit of the US Open and a career slam?
ROGER FEDERER: I guess it's somewhat similar. I won the other three Grand Slams rather quickly, as well, like he did, as well. There's a bit of similarity to that. Yeah, I mean, the only difference so far is that I lost, what, two finals before, plus a semis before; whereas he's never been in a finals here. But there's a few similarities I would think, yeah.
Q. Last night Rafa said that in his mind you're the best player in history. If he is able to complete the career slam, given his head to head with you, how young he is, what are your thoughts on his chances to eventually be the best player in history?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, clearly has a chance because he's young enough. He has already so many, let's say, French Open titles to his name just alone at his age is an amazing accomplishment. Plus he's had some incredible clay court records that are going to be very hard to beat. Then again, obviously I guess he would need to win the US Open, put himself there. He's won the Olympics, done some amazing things. So he'll have a shot at it, I'm sure.
Q. How much better a player are you because Rafa has been such a rival for you? What are the two or three things specifically you've worked in your game to try and deal with Rafa?
ROGER FEDERER: It's hard to pinpoint exactly what it is that makes you a better player. I just think maybe your work ethic, maybe you're more professional, try out different things, the mindset. Those kind of things to me stand out and a particular shot that I had to work on to beat Rafa or play against him. The thing is, you can't just start working on your game just to play Rafa, you know, because we're No. 1 and No. 2 for so long, and we are again. So we only play each other in the final. To get there, we have to beat four, five, or six other guys to get there. They play nothing like Rafa, like me for him, as well. That's why it's the wrong approach to focus on one player.
Q. But he has made you a better player?
ROGER FEDERER: I said that multiple times, and him as well.
Q. What do you think separates players who are successful in fifth sets from those who aren't?
ROGER FEDERER: I mean, the five set record is obviously a bit of a tricky one, you know. It depends on, I don't know, if let's say I go five sets today in the first two rounds, obviously I'll have the experience, the fitness. I'll be such a huge favorite in a fifth set. But I don't go five. So then I miss a chance to have maybe a better five set record. Early on in my career, I went more often five sets. It was 50/50 or I wasn't maybe the favorite to win in five just because of the experience, maybe lack of fitness, you know, pressure and all that. It depends on how it kind of starts. I don't think James Blake is, how you say, not a fit guy.
Q. 4 13.
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, well, he lost his first whatever, 10 or 12. Maybe it becomes mental at that point obviously. I don't think you can just put it down to fitness. It depends on who you play, where it was. That's why that record it's great if it's positive, but what I just like about five sets, it gave me answers if I was fit enough or not and if I had still some stuff to work on. For a very long time, I hardly ever went five until the match where I lost against Safin 9 7 in the fifth. I had match point in the fourth. I played great, but it was good again for me to see, you know, can I last for that long period of time, because practice is not the same like a match.
Q. Changing subjects. As you are a great fan of soccer, I would like to ask you about your thoughts about the last World Cup, and specifically if you saw any games of Uruguay and have you ever met Diego Forlan?
ROGER FEDERER: I think I've met him during the Madrid tournament briefly walking by. I don't remember what we were talking about. But I remember shaking his hand. I think he's quite a big fan of tennis because he's been to the tournament multiple times when it was indoors and also now since it's been outdoors. I saw him play a little bit, but honestly I didn't see any World Cup from the quarterfinal on. I missed that part. Obviously, I was cheering for Switzerland, South Africa, just hoping for a good World Cup. I thought it was a good one. The best team won. Spain played fantastic. I still think it was a very successful World Cup for many teams.
Q. You might play Ferrero in the next round. How much do you think you influenced his career in the sense when you guys are from the same generation, he used to be a No. 1, then he started losing lots of matches, not fighting for the big titles. How much do you think you affected him?
ROGER FEDERER: I don't think I played him the amount of times I've played against Roddick or Rafa. I don't know how many times I've played him, but I think a guess is maybe like 10. But I don't think I played him 20, you know. I never played him in a Grand Slam final. So I don't think, you know, I had a big effect on him playing better or worse really. I think we actually pushed each other up, if we did anything. I always thought he was a wonderful player. Had some big matches against him in the past. Australian Open semifinal, I had to beat him to get world No. 1 the following Monday. Then I went on to win the Australian Open in '04 against Safin in the final. I mean, he was the best player on clay for a while there. It's hard to dominate the clay court season every single year. It's obviously if you're not going to win the majority of the clay court tournaments, at the French Open your ranking will slip maybe from 3 to 8, and then from 8 it can slip quickly from 8 to 15. I think that's what happened to him. I think he also had some injuries. It's good to see him playing well again. We still get along well. We practice once in a while. I'd love to play against him here, even though Melzer is a good friend of mine, too. I played him in Wimbledon, so we'll see.
Q. Those conditions, how successful could you be hitting high, loopy, soft balls?
ROGER FEDERER: That's the thing. If you just played soft into the court, as well, it's kind of tricky then to measure the ball well and let the other guy dictate play. You just go with the pace of the other guy. It's not so easy to create pace when it's so windy. So sometimes, you know, you try to just hit a slow ball in there, you know, and see what happens. It's uncomfortable for the opponent, but it's just not the way to go in men's tennis. Guys have too much power. The thing is, like once the other guy figures you out, how you're playing, if you're just really pushing the ball in play, it's so hard from going, playing like that to playing offensive again. It's almost like a thing of impossibility. You have to hit the ball otherwise. It's not a good thing.
Q. I wanted to ask you what you think of the new, slimmer Mardy Fish? Still remains to be seen how he'll do here. He says he feels like a completely different player now.
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, his talent was never questioned, was it? I played him back in maybe was it 2003, 2004, when I won my first couple Wimbledons. He was the only guy to take a set off me. I always thought he was an incredibly good player, regardless of his weight, to be honest. I think it's great to show maybe other players, too, to see what's possible at a later stage in your career, if you come up with some new ideas. You know, let's change it up and see what happens. I think that's what he's doing. That the results follow, it's not always a guarantee. But with him now, it's happened. Obviously this is the big stage for him now, the US Open. So the next 45 minutes will be huge for him. You know, this is what it's about for him now. This is where it's really going to pay off for him, not in Washington or something. It's great to see him playing well, doing well. He's a nice guy. He's always been talented, so we knew that.
Q. Did you see Francesca Schiavone's shot between the legs?
ROGER FEDERER: I think I did see it. I'm not sure.
Q. Is it more difficult for a girl, in your opinion, to do it?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, yeah, because they never come to the net, so they'll never be lobbed. No, I've seen her hit some very good shots in the past already, you know. She has a great ability to come up with some different kind of variation for a woman's player, which is nice to see. I think she played incredible at the French Open. She is not scared of trying out a few things, you know. That's why I kind of like to watch her.
ATP - ROGER MAKES 26TH GRAND SLAM QUARTER-FINAL IN A ROW
Today Roger powered his way into a 26th consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final in a row by defeating Austria's Jürgen Melzer (ATP 13) 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-3 in a night match at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Roger played with his accustomed style on the court, registering 41 winners to 23 for the Austrian as he continued his at Flushing Meadows without the loss of a set.
Nevertheless, our champion had some luck in the second set tie-break with two net-cords and had to recover from a break down in the third set, but was always in control of the match. "Obviously, the tiebreakers are always crucial," Roger said. "It was a tough match today, breezy. He's a tough opponent and a close friend of mine so it was never going to be easy. I'm really relieved and happy to get through."
Roger's next match is scheduled for Wednesday against Robin Soderling.
ATP - SEMIS AT THE US OPEN
Today Roger ran into his semi-final at the US Open by defeating Sweden's Robin Soderling 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 at a windswept Flushing Meadows.
Our champion took advantage of the tricky conditions in New York and served 18 aces and just two double faults, while it took Söderling until the fifth game of the third set to serve the first of his two aces. Roger, whose string of five consecutive US Open titles was snapped in last year's final, commanded his serve with power and precision through the adverse conditions to quash Soderling in just 116 minutes.
"I've practised my serve my whole career, if I can't serve in the wind I've got a problem!" joked Roger after the match. "You can wake me up at two in the morning or four in the morning and I can hit serves."
Roger will now face Novak Djokovic on Saturday for the fourth year in succession in the tournament, the 16-time Grand Slam winner won all three previous contests.
Kolejne fantastyczne osiągnięcie Federera.
Roger Federer pokonał Robina Soderling 64 64 75 w 1/4 finału USO10. Tym samym Szwajcar zaliczył swój 7 z rzędu półfinał nowojorskiej imprezy. Roger Federer to jedyny tenisista w historii, który zanotował podobną serię w 3 różnych imprezach wielkoszlemowych. Na AO i USO ma szansę ten rezultat poprawić.
Najkrótsza passa kolejnych półfinałów Federera dotyczy Roland garros - "tylko" 5 kolejnych SF.
3 x 7 SF z rzędu:
AO 04-10
Wim 03-09
US O 04-10
Półfinały WS: Federer dogonił Agassiego.
Półfinał US Open 2010 to 26 półfinał turnieju WS w karierze Rogera Federera. Szwajcar zrównał się tym samym w tej statystyce z Andre Agassim. Więcej półfinałów od Rogera i Andre mają: Jimmy Connors (31) i Ivan Lendl (28).
Ilość półfinałów WS:
1. Jimmy Connors 31
2. Ivan Lendl 28
3. Roger Federer 26
3. Andre Agassi 26
Szerzej w temacie statystycznym Joao:
http://www.mtenis.pun.pl/viewtopic.php?id=651
Tennis-Federer proves himself a man for all seasons
Let it sizzle, let it blow, let it chill.... whatever the weather, Roger Federer proved himself to be a master of the elements at the U.S. Open.
Federer coolly dismissed opponents in the early rounds when on-court temperatures topped 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celcius) and on Wednesday, he warmed up his serve in the cold and wind to blow away Robin Soderling and reach the semi-finals.
"I see it as a challenge and I see it as an opportunity to play differently," the Swiss owner of a record 16 grand slam crowns said about playing through the wind.
"It's not easy, you know. It's cold. Everywhere it's blowing. You feel like it's blowing through your ears and into your eyes.
"But I think I used to dislike it so much that I'm on the other side now. I was able to turn it around and kind of take enjoyment out of playing in the wind, actually."
Federer also enjoyed the sweet taste of revenge in his 6-4 6-4 7-5 rout of Soderling, who had beaten him in the French Open quarter-finals earlier this year.
The 29-year-old Swiss sent down 18 aces against the Swede, who only registered two for himself.
"I guess I got a good service motion," Federer said by way of explanation. "To me, it doesn't affect my concentration.
"I think what I'm also very good at is also hit a good serve even though the ball toss is not in the right location anymore. I think that's something I was always able to do.
"I can serve to all different corners with either kick or flat or slice. I think that allows me to have a great variety of serves, first of all."
Federer thought of another advantage he holds. "My second serve is reliable, I don't panic or double fault so much. It's a huge weapon in conditions like this."
The Swiss went on to admit he was ready for almost anything.
"You know, I've played in such strong winds. I've practiced in such hot conditions. Whatever you throw at me, I can do it.
"I mean, obviously if it's snowing and tough, then it gets a bit different," he said. "I haven't had that yet, so I guess I would freak out when that starts happening."
US Open 2010 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w 4 rundzie
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. It seems this year it's a little bit more of a subdued Open for you, you're not the No. 1 seed, not the defending champion this year. Do you prefer it that way, the spotlight a little bit off of you?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I always feel the spotlight's on me regardless of what my ranking is and how I'm playing. I've still got to attend press conferences and all that stuff, so nothing changes from that side (smiling). It's hard to read because I get recognized more than ever. Crowds are fantastic, you know, regardless of what my ranking is. That's about it.
Q. How do you feel compared to A Rod who I think you met after the match as far as being recognized in New York?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I met him for three minutes. I didn't ask him if he can still walk the streets. That's like a journalist question. I'm not journalist. It's just nice to meet another great athlete. Never been to a baseball game. So that's something on the 'to do' list for me. Surprising enough, he invited me. My schedule is busy, so we'll see if I can make it or not.
Q. What is your feeling about facing Robin, and how important do you think the surface is to the matchup with him?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I think obviously toughest conditions for both players are playing on wet clay when it rains. That is what we had in the last match. No excuses there, but it's just tough conditions to play in. We usually played each other on faster courts because we usually played the same tournaments, which are more on the hard courts or the grass courts. This is where we faced off quite often against each other. So I don't think there's any really hidden secrets for both of us. He's been able to string together, you know, a few good years now on the tour. Before he was very good already, but he was a bit up and down. Maybe that's also maybe why his ranking was a bit lower. Look, he's playing really well. We played each other last year here in the quarters, if I'm not mistaken, was the round. Started off well. Got off to a great two sets to love lead. He came back. We had two breakers after that. I expect it to be really tough, especially now that he's gotten a taste of how to beat me. It's up to me to clean up my game and put in a good performance.
Q. What is most challenging for you about his game?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, like against any big server, trying to, you know, read the serve, get into good baseline rallies, try to move him around, just play a solid match and have no hiccups on your own serve. I've been able to do that 12 times out of 13. So it's a matter up to me now if I can do it again.
Q. Mats Wilander said this summer the greatest development in the men's game in the last two years is Robin Soderling's head. Do you understand what he's saying?
ROGER FEDERER: He knows Robin much better than I do, him being a Swede. But, yeah, I mean, I don't know. Maybe he's more calm on the court now. Maybe he doesn't see all the other opponents as enemies, you know. Maybe he realizes that the tour is not that bad as it once was. I don't think he was enjoying as much, you know, a few years ago. Who knows, maybe his girlfriend also calmed him down, the whole deal. Little things can have a huge impact. Just growing up, too. Took me a long time to figure out that staying calm was going to be better for my game than not. I only realized that only about at 20 years old. A long time coming sometimes.
Q. You're on the official car this year. How does it feel to see yourself on the move every day?
ROGER FEDERER: I can't sleep at night, it's so amazing, the feeling (smiling). It's nice. But I'm not riding in those. Look, I think it's great how do you say that they obviously picked me to be on the car. I think it's great for tennis that cars like this drive around New York City and that people see that tennis is in town. Other than that, the feeling remains pretty relaxed to me, you know, anyways (smiling).
Q. You obviously didn't coast against Jurgen tonight. What sorts of problems did you have to solve the problems tonight?
ROGER FEDERER: He's a great shot maker. He was always going to hit some good stuff, some dangerous shots. He was able to come up with some really good returns at times. That obviously got me on the back foot. There's not many guys out there who can really crunch the return off a first serve like he can. So he's always going to, you know, get the occasional dangerous return into play. It's up to me to make, you know, little adjustments with my footwork, make sure I stayed ahead in the score on my own serve. But it was hard today. Jurgen is a good player. Been on the tour a long time. Has great potential. For him it's also important for him to do that consistently week in, week out, which is not an easy thing to do. But he seems he's getting the hang of it. From my side, I thought conditions were tough out there tonight. There was wind, which made it hard to serve well. He usually also serves better than that, but he was also trying to have a high percent on first serve plays, making them, you know. So it was just kind of hard to play. I don't think it was our best match, obviously. We only played twice. I just think we both can play a bit better. I just think we really tried to play the moment and play in a way maybe the opponent doesn't like it. That meant for him taking huge chances and for me trying to be as solid as possible.
Q. You were sorry for the second set tiebreak and told him that at the net?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah. I know I got real lucky. Maybe I would have won the tiebreak anyhow, you know, also maybe not being lucky. That's the way it goes. I could see he had big frustration after the two let cords, the overrule, which gave me another first serve, and then got me a service winner. In the third set I broke him hitting three shanks. It was a good 10 minutes for me.
Q. On a much lighter note, in England, especially during Wimbledon, betting houses are all over the place. It's a big part of the culture to gamble on tennis. Here in the States, it's taboo. What are your thoughts about betting on tennis?
ROGER FEDERER: On a lighter note, you mean, right (smiling)? It's really a light subject, really relaxed. But go ahead.
Q. Are you for it or are you against it? Would you like to see betting houses in Times Square if some of the revenue might help subsidize a roof?
ROGER FEDERER: You think the money is going to come from betting for the roof here in New York?
Q. Anything it possible.
ROGER FEDERER: I guess so. No, look, the whole betting situation, I know it's existing from many fans out there, you know, betting on players. Obviously in England, they sometimes even ask us or tell us what we think about the odds and stuff. Same in Australia. Here it's much more calm. I prefer it when it's not so much out there because obviously also then trickles down into the press and to the players, all that stuff. I don't like to be aware of it. I didn't even know it kind of existed until a few years ago. I know it's naïve, but honestly I never even heard of it until a few years ago. Now I hear more about it. Honestly, I have no clue how much is going on. So we have a very tough code on us that we're not allowed to do it, our entourage is not allowed to do it. We have how do you say tough? Regulations. Yeah. We get fined, big penalties, then we can't play and stuff. It's not that light of a subject like you said it was. So we're aware of it. But, yeah, we don't like to see it in our game, especially from the player and media side and the entourage.
Witam.
Jak myślicie, czy Roger Federer naprawdę zakończy karierę złotym medalem na najbliższej Olimpiadzie? Czy to jest główna motywacja by wciąż się rozwijać i główny cel, który zamierza jeszcze osiągnąć? Patrząc na jego niedawne (miejmy nadzieję że już przeszłe) zmęczenie i osłabienie formy jest świadectwem tego, że chęć zdobycia złota jest jedyną rzeczą trzymającą go jeszcze przy na korcie?
Wyznaczył sobie jakąś datę graniczną i tyle. Raczej mało prawdopodobne, żeby wygrał akurat IO, skoro ostatnimi czasy w ciągu roku wygrywa tyle turniejów, że można je zliczyć na palcach jednej ręki. A latka lecą, a nie ubywają. Zresztą nie zdziwiłbym się, jeśli by zakończył karierę na USO. Takie domknięcie kawałka historii.
A tak poza tym Fed oznajmił, że IO będą jego ostatnim turniejem (nie orientuję się aż tak dokładnie)?
Szwajcar przyznał,że zakończy karierę,jeśli wygra 20 turniejów WS,co naznaczył sobie jako cel nr 1.
ajcorporation napisał:
Witam.
Cześć ;)
Jak myślicie, czy Roger Federer naprawdę zakończy karierę złotym medalem na najbliższej Olimpiadzie?
Moim zdaniem nie.
Czy to jest główna motywacja by wciąż się rozwijać i główny cel, który zamierza jeszcze osiągnąć?
Trudno powiedzieć, ale z tego co wyczytałęm to Jego główną motywacją do gry w tenisa jest niepohamowana miłość do tego sportu.
Patrząc na jego niedawne (miejmy nadzieję że już przeszłe) zmęczenie i osłabienie formy jest świadectwem tego, że chęć zdobycia złota jest jedyną rzeczą trzymającą go jeszcze przy na korcie?
Kryzys przydarza się każdemu. Roger miał fatalny okres między Indian Wells a Wimbledonem, ale chyba powoli ma to już za sobą. Mastersy w USA latem pokazały, że chęci do grania i wygrywania wciąż są. Rezerwy, jeżeli chodzi o wytrzymałość też, co jest pokłosiem znakomitego prowadzenia się przez całą sportową karierę.
Musimy starać się (nie jest to proste) patrzeć na Rogera ja na starzejącego się geniusza, często zaś ciągle oceniamy Go w oparciu o wspomnienie o "potworze", który w latach 2004-2007 był głównym autorem największej dominacji jednego człowieka w historii męskiego tenisa. Dopóki będzie w stanie wygrywać, dopóty będzie grał. Pierre Paganini stwierdził niedawno, że może to potrwać jeszcze ok 4-5 lat.
Federer proves fatherhood doesn't disrupt tennis
Father-of-two Roger Federer has shown that family life seems to help in tennis, with his world-beating exploits continuing on pace after the July, 2009 birth of his twins with wife Mirka.
"I have the same fire, the same drive," said the 16-time Grand Slam champion, bidding for his 17th at the US Open. "I thought it might have a little impact on my schedule, it might play less, have an impact on how I practised.
"But it's so well set up. Mirka takes such great care. I can place my practice whenever I want. I still have enough time to be with the family. The transition was very smooth and I'm very happy about it, of course."
The Swiss, who married his longtime girlfriend in spring 2009, said that nuptials tend to come later for tennis players, as opposed to footballers. "I guess in soccer guys marry and have kids much faster than in tennis. In tennis, very often financially you're never quite safe. Injury can hit at any time. You don't have a five-year contract."
"It's very much living day by day. We're not in one place like one place like maybe soccer players are. You have a tendency to marry later, and later also in your career you start to maybe not play as well."
ATP - ROGER MISSES FINAL IN NEW YORK
Roger was defeated by Novak Djokovic 7-5, 1-6, 7-5, 2-6 and 5-7 in today's semi-final at the US Open.
This means that unfortunately Roger will not play Rafa in what would have been the eighth Grand Slam championship match between tennis' top two men — and first such showdown at Flushing Meadows. It is the first time in the last seven years that Roger misses the final of the US Open. He has won five trophies from 2004-08.
Roger saw two match points today but let them slip away. He also committed too many errors during the critical phases of the match and was often not able to count on his first serve. The two players showed a most entertaining display of tennis on an amazingly high level - the match was only over after 3 hours and 44 minutes.
US Open 2010 - wywiad po porażce w półfinale
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. If you can just describe how disappointing is this. You've played such great tennis in that fifth set. To have double match point and not to be able to convert, that's not very common ground for you.
ROGER FEDERER: Well, this year it is. (Smiling.) I lost a couple more with match points this year, so they all pretty much feel the same, you know. They feel somewhat empty at the end because you have tried everything, and maybe it was luck. Maybe it was he played well. Maybe you didn't pick the right shot; maybe he did, you know.
Can't turn back time, but, look, obviously had to come up come up with a couple of good shots on match point, so I don't feel I have that many regrets in that regard. Obviously you feel like you left something out if you lose the match having had match point.
Yeah, it wasn't the final, so I'm not as disappointed it would have been the final. That's the only positive news to enjoy anything out of it.
Q. Can you speak to your fitness today, how tired you were or not?
ROGER FEDERER: No, not really tired. Just, I guess, tense, you know, from the situation and from the crowd. It was, you know, electric. It was good tennis at the end, so that was the tougher part.
And the fitness, I mean, I don't think it was the longest match, so I really didn't have the longest rallies. So from a fitness standpoint, I came into this match perfectly ready, didn't drop any sets, didn't waste any time on the court. I felt good out there.
Q. As we got into the second week, could you feel the hopes of people around you looking forward to a Federer/Nadal final?
ROGER FEDERER: Around me, do you mean like my team?
Q. Just in New York, the atmosphere and the buzz around.
ROGER FEDERER: Um, I mean, not from my team, no. You go match by match, and you don't want to look ahead. Just can't do that with the caliber of players around you.
I had a tough draw with Soderling and Novak in my section. I knew I had my hands full with those kind of matches. Then the wind was being tough on us, so that was an equalizer and that made it really unpredictable.
Today conditions were fine, you know. The only tough part was when the shade came in and the sun was on the side.
Yeah, of course, the excitement ‑‑ I mean, I don't read too much press once the tournament starts, but I can only try to imagine the excitement around the two of us maybe playing.
Q. Once you saw that Rafael had won, did you even have in your mind at all that you wanted to play him tomorrow? How much would you have been looking forward to that match? A lot of the fans obviously wanted that match.
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, it happens all the time. Every other week when you make a final, you either see who's won before you or you go ahead and try to make it there. It's not something I've never had to deal with.
I would have loved to play against him here. I mean, I did my hard yards the last six years making it to the finals, and he was unfortunately never there.
That's obviously disappointing. And now one point away from this happening, obviously it's a bit of disappointment. But just being there and losing, that wouldn't have been nice either.
Now we'll never know how it would have gone, but if I would have made it to the finals I would have obviously wanted to win.
Q. Was there one aspect of your game that broke down today, or was there one moment where you thought, I do have this?
ROGER FEDERER: Oh, it was close in the fifth. Unfortunately the second and fourth just kind of snuck away from me, I guess. The 1‑All 40‑15 game for me was a tough one to take in the second set, because I thought momentum was completely on my side.
I tried to play aggressive, not to give him too much rhythm, and it all came back at me. I let him back in the match like that.
At the end, it's not easy, you know. 3‑All, 4‑All, 5‑All in the fifth, anything can happen. That's the good part, not the bad part, because it's not purely in your control.
Sure, now looking back I missed a few too many forehands at the very end, but the match won't be decided on winners only. You can also see mistakes, and he pushed me to make those. Credit to him.
Q. As somebody who's made plenty of history yourself, what are your thoughts on the opportunity that Rafa has to make history with a few straight slams and creating the career Slam?
ROGER FEDERER: Fantastic. It's great for tennis, and it's great for him at the young age, you know, he is to have that opportunity already.
I don't know when I had my first opportunity in Paris, how old I was, but my guess would be that he's younger, you know. It doesn't really matter if he's younger or not. It's a matter of can he make it, and chances are good now, especially that Novak is so tired and Rafa has been playing so well.
But it's exciting for tennis that we're doing something very special in tennis at the same time. Yeah, I won't watch, but I hope he wins. (Laughter.)
Q. Why won't you watch?
ROGER FEDERER: Look, I've been around tennis for weeks and weeks and weeks right now. Last thing I want to do is watch another tennis match where I'm not a part of. I will spend some time with my kids and take it easy, maybe go shopping.
I don't know if shops are open here in New York Sundays, but I'm sure something is open. We'll see.
Q. You began by saying that maybe it was luck, maybe it wasn't. Could you go into that a little bit more and amplify that, what you meant by that?
ROGER FEDERER: I can't, no. I can't. I think I explained it.
Q. Could you talk a little bit more about your forehand?
ROGER FEDERER: No, I don't blame it on my forehand. I played a good first match point point. Second one I tried to be more safe on it, because you never know if you're gonna get another one; I didn't.
Played a good forehand under pressure. It's not easy to hit a winner. So that's the way it goes.
Q. You played a pretty epic game at 4‑5 to hold. Sometimes when you lose a match like that it seems like you lost your opportunity. Do you feel like he rose to the occasion and snatched the victory from you?
ROGER FEDERER: Don't know. It's really hard to explain. I wish I could say he only hit winners to get back and whatever and I played my very best tennis, but it wasn't the case.
It was just a case of a tough situation to be in for both of us, and someone has to win. It's just the way it is. There's no draws in our sport. Obviously I like to see a match like this being two winners, but one guy had to win. It won't be written that way, unfortunately.
It's a tough loss for me, but it's only going to fuel me with more motivation to practice hard and get back to Grand Slam finals, which I haven't been in for the last three slams. I feel like I'm playing well, and I would have deserved to be in the finals tomorrow.
Novak has the shot, and I wish him the best.
Q. Was your backhand any kind of issue today? Did it bother you at all?
ROGER FEDERER: No. No problems.
Q. Secondly, on Novak, you've handled him well here before. Was he a different player in some ways today? Everybody in the crowd wanted him to go down because of the prospect of you and Rafa, and yet he held up under great pressure.
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, I was the favorite, so there was not that much pressure on him. But he played well under the circumstances, playing the semifinals of a slam.
Honestly, I think he played already well against me the last three times we played here in New York. So it was not like the guy can't play under pressure. He's proven his point, and time and time again. I knew he was gonna be a really tough opponent. The guys who overlooked him don't know anything about tennis, unfortunately.
Look, he played a good match. I kind of felt like the racquet was in my control, and I just let those couple of sets slip away too quickly instead of maybe making him work extra hard.
But, again, I did have match point, and I was, you know, a couple of points away, like I was ‑‑ a couple of points away from victory last year at the Open. So it's two tough losses in two years.
But anyhow, I feel like I played good tennis. That's positive, at least.
Q. How much of a shot do you think he has given...
ROGER FEDERER: I'm sorry? I didn't hear.
Q. You said Novak had a shot tomorrow. How much of a shot do you think he has given the Super‑Saturday, since you've been through this a lot, and the fatigue factor?
ROGER FEDERER: Ask him how he feels. Yeah, I mean, it's tough. We played second, so that's not an advantage.
I'm not gonna start saying bad things, but it's a tough setup, Saturday and Sunday finals, you know.
Yeah, we will see how he feels coming out tomorrow. It's a big question mark.
Q. You lost with match points with Berdych and with Baghdatis this year. I remember you had two match points with Nadal in Rome; match points with Gasquet Monte‑Carlo. Even a champion like you has some sort of different attitude when you have to play match point? You play differently than in other situations? I mean, do you feel some more pressure than normal, or not?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, if you're not serving, you're, I guess, somewhat gonna play safe on it, you know, and not just donate an error, because you don't know if you're gonna get another match point.
When you're serving you're playing aggressive. So I guess in many matches I didn't have match points, you know, in those matches. But it's tough, you know. Don't know what else I need to tell you.
It's not a fun thing losing with match point, that's for sure.
Q. Did you have an opportunity to speak with your team, coach, wife? Maybe they find some right words for you?
ROGER FEDERER: I don't need the right words. I'm old enough. I didn't speak to them much, no. I went to do doping and here I am.
So, look, everybody's a bit disappointed, but after the shower I feel okay. It's all good.
Q. The guy's been on top of the mountain for years, and then the guy who's coming up challenging and winning and so forth, what is the emotional ride of that?
ROGER FEDERER: Um, it's normal, because you can't go through 10‑, 15‑year career thinking you'll always be at the very top. I think I did incredible work staying so long in the top 2 in the world.
I never would have guessed in '04 when I got to No. 1 for the first time that it was going to carry me for so long and that I was always going to be part of quarters, semis, finals of slams, and get a shot over and over again.
I struggled to get into my first Grand Slam final back in 2003; whereas everybody predicted I was gonna win many and get to No. 1. It's just not as easy as it seems. You can see with other players who are trying it. There's many tough guys out there, and it's gotten very physical, very mental.
But I think I'm doing really well under the circumstances with as many challengers. I got a few guys back who were able to beat me, and many times when I lose I feel like it's on my racquet. That's a good thing, you know.
I wouldn't want to feel the way that I couldn't compete with the new generation, but I can. It's not a problem for me.
US Open. Federer: Finału nie będę oglądał
Szwajcar Roger Federer, który przegrał z Novakiem Djkovicem w półfinale US Open, przyznaje, że nie ma ochoty na oglądanie niedzielnego finału. - Od kilku tygodni tylko gram w tenisa. Ostatnią rzeczą, o której myślę jest oglądanie meczu, w którym nie gram - powiedział tenisista.
Po niesamowicie emocjonującym meczu Serb Novak Djoković pokonał 5:7, 6:1, 5:7, 6:2, 7:5 Rogera Federera w półfinale wielkoszlemowego US Open. Szwajcara zabraknie w finale po raz pierwszy od siedmiu lat.
Federer zapytany po meczu przez dziennikarzy o niedzielny finał US Open, momentalnie odparł: "nie, nie będę oglądał". Przyznał także, że po ostatnich kilku tygodniach grania ma dość tenisa.
- Zrozumcie, od pewnego czasu tylko gram i gram. Ostatnią rzeczą, o której myślę jest oglądanie spotkania, w którym nie wystąpię. Chcę spędzić trochę czasu z dziećmi, rodziną, zwolnić, pójść na zakupy - przyznał zmęczony Szwajcar.
Dziennikarze przed półfinałem z Djokovicem obszernie pisali o wymarzonym finale na szczycie: Federer - Nadal. Humory popsuł im Novak Djokovic, który w niedzielny wieczór powalczy z Hiszpanem o tryumf.
- Od początku turnieju nie czytałem prasy. Ale wyobrażam sobie podekscytowanie jakie towarzyszy naszym pojedynkom. Uwielbiam z nim grać. Występowałem w finałach US Open sześć razy z rzędu. Tak się nieszczęśliwie złożyło, że jemu nie udało się tego dokonać - dodał Federer.
Szwajcar przyznał także, że porażka jest dla niego dużym rozczarowaniem, ale na pewno nie będzie miała złego wpływu na dalszy przebieg jego kariery.
- Jestem jeszcze młody. To da mi tylko jeszcze więcej motywacji, żeby wrócić i znowu awansować do finału wielkiego szlema - zakończył.
Federer wygrał w tym roku Australian Open. Z turniejami w Paryżu i Londynie żegnał się jednak już na etapach ćwierćfinału.
Roger ma humor - to w takim razie Nadal to jeszcze szczeniak :D
metjuAR napisał:
Roger ma humor - to w takim razie Nadal to jeszcze szczeniak :D
Szczeniak, nie szczeniak, ale pod względem wyeksploatowania organizmu są na podobnym poziomie. Wcześniej bym się spodziewał skończenia kariery przez Nadala niz Rogera (kolanka).
Nie sądze, 5 lat różnicy pomiędzy nimi to jednak kupa czasu. Rafaelowi dużo fachowców już życzyło przedwczesnego zajechania, podobnie jak Roddickowi urwania ręki od serwowania, a ten jednak dalej gra i ma się bardzo dobrze. Ważne jest to że sam Nadal ze swoim ludźmi podjął kilka dobrych decyzji, jak zrzucenie paru kg po zaleczeniu parszywej kontuzji sprzed roku, ograniczyli również kalendarz startów.
Niczego nie można być nigdy pewnym, ale wydaję mi się że wizja wcześniejszego końca Nadala, jest dużo mniej prawdopodobna niż jeszcze rok, dwa lata temu.
Open House: Federer in Autumn
Gerry Marzorati: Morning, Michael. So this is it — though the “it” isn’t exactly what we expected, which is not to say it isn’t more momentous than we expected. In the slanty-sun and dark shade of Ashe late yesterday afternoon — the light evoked World Series games, which seems appropriate enough — the world of men’s tennis reached an inflection point, as we now like to say. What was before gave way. You know something is happening, and you do know what it is.
Roger Federer will not be in a U.S. Open final for the first time since 2003 (which Andy Roddick won). And this is the first year since 2005 that Federer failed to reach three Grand Slams finals. Meanwhile, this is the first year that Rafael Nadal reached the Open final, having already won the French and Wimbledon.
It is entirely possible that there will never be another Federer-Nadal Slam final, or final of any kind. It is expected that Nadal will defeat Novak Djokovic, Federer’s conqueror in five sets, today in the men’s final.
If Nadal’s knees hold up, it is hard to see how Federer will ever again challenge the Spaniard’s position as the No. 1 player in the world. New era. But it is so hard to watch Federer fade. I completely identified with the anxiety felt by Calvin Tomkins, who in a recent New Yorker profile expressed how difficult it is watching Fed lose a point, game, set or, once seemingly rare, match. It’s not the same Fed from David Foster Wallace’s seminal piece in Play magazine four years ago.
There is something about Federer playing poorly or being bested that upsets your sense of Cartesian orderliness. It’s not that I ever rooted for Federer the way I root for the football Giants. I am a rabid Giants fan who schedules nothing for afternoons and evenings they play, and who calls my 81-year-old dad after every game, win or lose, to discuss. I don’t care how they win. I simply want the W.
But rooting for Federer has meant rooting for beauty and greatness, and that’s why we wanted a Federer-Nadal final — to see Federer’s game challenged and raised one more time by the player who has done that most consistently. We did get that in the fifth set of yesterday’s semifinal, didn’t we?
But are we likely, Michael, to see such a thing on men’s tennis any time soon? Do you see among the current crop of players anything that might become what Federer-Nadal has come to mean?
Michael Kimmelman: Games, matches have their turning points — or as you put it, inflections. So do careers, eras. You can often only see them in retrospect. I agree that yesterday’s match may come to be seen as a passing of generations.
It was beautiful but a little sad, too. I thought about Federer’s loss at Wimbledon to Nadal, then to his loss to Del Potro here last year. Now this. At 29, of course he’s still an amazement and probably has a few more big victories in him. But his career, like your summer sun passing into the autumn shadows, has clearly begun to fade.
Let’s be grateful. Federer-Djokovic was some match, the best of the tournament, probably of the year — for two weeks, what we’d been waiting for. But let’s admit that Roger played erratic, often messy tennis, missing a slew of first serves, making 66 unforced errors (compared with 48 winners) and looking as if he’d gone to lunch during the second and fourth sets.
That said, Djokovic, save for the three shaky service games he dropped in the first and third sets, dominated the first four sets, played magnificently in the fifth and made Federer press, miss or have to produce magic to win every point. The Djokovic who had played the brittle, jokey third wheel to the Great Men, the guy known to complain, cave in the crunch and make way for Federer or Nadal, gave the lie to that never-quite-fair reputation.
I became a fan yesterday. He showed himself to be, as Federer used to be, a player who would not yield, who came up with incredible shots under the greatest pressure — hitting that swinging volley then that unreturnable forehand to thwart two match points. Great stuff. When they had both risen to wild heights, it was Djokovic who kept frustrating Federer. Shots Federer would have won against almost any other player came rocketing back. You sensed his frustration. Djokovic did to him what Nadal does — what Federer himself used to do to everyone else.
Think about how important that Wimbledon victory in 2008 was for Nadal. He had lost to Roger in two straight finals. He felt devastated after the second loss. Had he lost again, as a writer friend of mine speculated with me yesterday, who knows what toll it might have taken. But he won and has evolved into a more and more versatile and unbeatable champion. Djokovic also was knocking on the Open door year after year. But now he’s finally past Federer and through to the final and he’s No. 2 in the world again. Had Roger won, he could have ended the year as No. 1. Instead he falls to No. 3.
There’s your fork in the road, your inflection, however fleeting or minor it may seem, and for those of us no longer 23 like Novak or 24 like Rafa, it accounts for the melancholy of seeing a 29-year-old genius at his craft give way to life’s inevitable changes.
I have always loved watching Federer, been awestruck by the complexity and elegance of his game, felt privileged to have followed the Open when he won it at his peak. Yes, tennis is frivolous. But we rarely get to see anyone do anything so well. And at his best, Federer’s game was (is) almost heartbreakingly beautiful. That accounts for the disturbance we can feel when it goes off, as if — to borrow your metaphor — the order of the world had been ever-so-slightly upset. But it’s heartbreaking to watch, too, because we intuit the fragility of perfection, its evanescence.
I don’t want to mope because Djokovic has emerged, the anti-Federer in his shades-of-Lendl outfits, with his parents wearing what Steve Tignor on Tennis.Com calls those “I-don’t-give-a-damn-if-Anna-Wintour-is-here, my-son-is-awesome T-shirts.” It’s a breath of fresh air. Djokovic has played tough baseline matches against Nadal, which may come to replace the Federer-Nadal matches in the quality of their drama, the way Evert-Navratilova was replaced by Navratilova-Graf. Here’s hoping so. Albeit today, with Djokovic fatigued after yesterday’s struggle — the questionable cost, as readers have noted, of semis and finals on consecutive days — it’s hard to imagine an extended cliffhanger.
G.M.: So what might the Reign of Rafa be? (Certainly more compelling than the women’s game. Should the ticket-holders to last night’s women’s final have been offered a refund after Kim Clijsters’s one-hour victory?)
Ok, we know Nadal has become a great all-court, all-surface player, with a serve that cannot be easily broken. We know he is a sweet, young guy with a real sense of the game’s history. We know that he depends a lot on Uncle Toni — I loved Karen Crouse’s piece on him — and that when he is not playing or practicing tennis, he spends a lot of time with video games.
One thing I noticed during his match with Youzhny yesterday is that he likes being on Rafa Time. He was late getting on court, he continued practicing his serve after the umpire called time, and took an awfully long time to get a blister taped. A little ‘tude, perhaps?
M.K.: Definitely, ‘tude, although I find it impossible not to like Nadal and his game. Isn’t it interesting that while insiders like Nick Bollettieri talk about the hunger of players from former Soviet bloc countries, Nadal comes from a well-to-do Spanish family (partly explaining why Toni can refuse to take a salary for coaching) and Roger comes from a perfectly comfortable Swiss family. But have there ever been hungrier, or greater, players?
And it is another misconception that Rafa and Roger are perfect gentlemen. We know about Roger’s peevishness after losing at Wimbledon and Rafa’s head games — with his delays and injury timeouts, even if they’re really him absorbed in his own world. Then there’s the illegal coaching that Toni provides during matches. Those tactics have gotten to Roger.
That said, I trust the reign of Rafa will be as good — if not as elegant — as the reign of Roger and possibly even more rivalrous. A decade ago (remember?) the game seemed doomed to the boredom of Roddick’s serve, and suddenly along came Roger to revolutionize everything. So you never know. Another revolutionary may already be in the wings. Change happens. There is no end of tennis.
Federer: Coś się skończyło
- Przestałem dominować na kortach, to pewne - przyznał Roger Federer po porażce z Novakiem Djokoviciem w półfinale wielkoszlemowego US Open (7:5, 1:6, 7:5, 2:6, 5:7). Szwajcar po raz pierwszy od 2003 roku nie zagra o zwycięstwo na kortach Flushing Meadows.
Disappointed Federer steps away from tennis for a day
Roger Federer tried to put aside his semi-final loss in five sets at the US Open, instead concentrating on an outing with the family in New York.
The Swiss had all he could do to forget his defeat by Novak Djokovic after holding two match points.
Rafael Nadal now stands on the brink of duplicating Federer's feat - achieved in 2009 at Roland Garros - of winning all four Grand Slams during a career. The Spanish No. 1 would be the sixth in history to record the achievement.
"It's great for tennis, and it's great for him at the young age (24) that he is to have that opportunity already," said 16-time Grand Slam winner Federer, champion at five of the previous six New York editions.
"It's a matter of can he make it, and chances are good now, especially that Novak is so tired and Rafa has been playing so well. It's exciting that we're doing something very special in tennis at the same time."
But the semi-finalist who spent nearly four hours on court quickly added: "I won't watch, but I hope he wins. I've been around tennis for weeks and weeks and weeks right now. Last thing I want to do is
watch another tennis match which I'm not a part of. I will spend some time with my kids and take it easy, maybe go shopping.
"I don't know if shops are open here in New York Sundays, but I'm sure something is open. We'll see."
DAVIS CUP - DAVIS CUP
Dear fans,
I have decided not to join the Davis Cup team to Kazakhstan. I need some extra time to relax after the intense weeks in North America so I can finish the year strong.
See you soon,
Roger
Mój ulubiony tenisista.
Żyjąca legenda. Na pewno zostanie zapamiętany przeze mnie jak i przez wielu innych tenisowych sympatyków na bardzo długo. Wspaniała technika i osobowość. To jest to co cenię sobie na korcie. Zawsze trzymam za niego kciuki na wszystkich turniejach. Kiedy zakończy karierę na pewno zostanie dziwna pustka w rozgrywkach ATP.
ATP - ART OF TENNIS
Roger once again proved his passion for art and tennis - but not on a tennis court this time. All players qualified for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals to be held in London (November 21 to 28) have been asked to create a work of art by hitting tennis balls covered in paint onto a canvas.
"It was great fun being invited to create my self portrait and I'm excited to see how the finished piece looks," Roger said. "Raising money for charity is always a great thing so already I would like to thank people who will buy these pictures and it's going to be for a good cause. I'm happy I can help a bit. I am very happy as it is the ninth consecutive year I have qualified for the year-end event. I have played in a lot of different venues during my career and I can say they staged a fantastic event at The O2 last year. I look forward to returning there in November and finishing the season strong."
The artworks will be on display for the public before being auctioned for charity. Discover all the information on the "Art of Tennis" on the ATP website.
http://www.barclaysatpworldtourfinals.c … ennis.aspx
OFF COURT - WILSON OUTTAKES
Check out the latest outtakes video with Roger from the Wilson BLX photoshoot on Wilson’s YouTube page.
http://www.youtube.com/user/WilsonRacqu … 6S5NBo6nKs
Death, Taxes, and Rafa Nadal
Roger Federer has earned the right to feel awfully good about himself. He’s had a great career and, with the exception of a few relatively minor injury issues, a remarkably smooth one. He frolics in the deep end of the pool, but he wasn’t flung into it helter-skelter. Federer played 16 Grand Slam events before he won his first—an apprenticeship that introduced him to the perils of life at the top gently, and it probably made the rewards it brings taste that much sweeter when he finally began to accrue them.
Nobody can accuse The Mighty Fed of missing out on the joys of drinking a fine wine because he grew accustomed to the harsh taste of a young one. A player like Pete Sampras or Boris Becker had so much to defend at such a young age that, in the famous construction Ion Tiriac used to describe his protégé, Becker, “He was both formed and deformed by early fame.” Federer’s surprisingly long breaking-in period has probably played a larger role in the development of his amenable character and persona than is generally acknowledged. And it has certainly helped him navigate the obstacles met by every top player.
In writing a marvelous book about Bill Bradley, the former New York Knicks forward and, later, U.S. Senator, author John McPhee chose a terrific title that was also highly relevant to just what made Bradley, a slump-shouldered victim of white man’s disease (he couldn’t jump), such an effective ballplayer. The book is called “A Sense of Where You Are.”
Federer has been a Bradley-esque figure in tennis, both on and off the court. He’s almost always had that “sense of where you are” on the court, which is one reason his style is so effortless and his game so fluid. More than any other player, he’s been blissfully free from having to develop a game plan, because he has the talent and ability to play what you might call aggressive-reactive tennis. It travels under the more familiar and now-fashionable concept of the “transition” game—how to turn a defensive position into an offensive one. The strategy let him down on only a few occasions, but more about that later.
About the worst thing you can say about Federer is that he’s been such a solid, mainstream, uncontroversial role model that he can bring out the cynic in anyone pre-disposed to skepticism. One of the words that repeatedly pops into my mind when I think of him is “inoffensive,” a quality that always strikes some as, if not exactly offensive, then at least highly suspect.
What’s not to like, after all? Federer apparently is a devoted husband and father; he has no in-your-face taste for flashy cars or high-stakes poker. He has great hair. And he’s always tried to maneuver those glimmerings of a prickly streak in a reasonable if not submissive tone and manner. So his life is good, so good that we can only look upon it with admiration or something like envy.
But like the rest of us, there are a few things Federer cannot escape, like death and taxes. Only in TMF’s case you can add, “Rafael Nadal.” And this additional inevitability looms like a storm cloud on his horizon. It’s appropriate to contemplate the gravity of the situation now that Nadal has won his ninth major, completed his career Grand Slam, and conquered the last territory formerly held exclusively by Federer, the United States (as represented by the U.S. Open).
Federer, whose domination of tennis was both grand and generally free of stress and conflict for six years beginning in 2004, is now on the horns of a dilemma. He’s said that he’ll continue to play while it’s still fun and challenging. But is he really prepared to do that if it’s going to have an impact on his legacy vis a vis his rivalry with Nadal? Or put it this way: Will Federer, whose pride is of the mellow sort but pride nonetheless, retain his appetite for tennis if he’s overshadowed, particularly if it’s by a single player?
Other players have faced a similar conundrum, but never one that seems so sharply and simply defined. Andre Agassi was often there to keep Pete Sampras on his toes, but Sampras remained in control of that rivalry, beginning to end. Besides, Agassi spent enough time undermining himself, and disappeared from the big stage frequently enough, to keep Sampras from feeling overly—or effectively—challenged.
Jimmy Connors thought he ruled the world defined by the tramlines until Bjorn Borg blew in like a chill wind from Sweden to challenge his sovereignty. The insult was so severe that at one point Connors swore to follow Borg “to the ends of the earth” in order to prevent him from winning a calendar year Grand Slam, although what he really meant was that he would hunt Borg until he won back what Connors thought was rightfully his own. Turns out all Connors would have needed to do is follow the Long Island Expressway to John McEnroe’s home and knock on the door. McEnroe showed himself more than capable of taking care of Borg, even to the benefit of his arch-enemy, Connors.
By the time Ivan Lendl became part of that conversation, it was pretty clear that nobody of that era was going to do much dominating of anyone else. The men basically each settled for a slice of the glory pie, canceled out each other out, and realized that none of them owned the planet. They all just rented space.
But the Federer vs.Nadal rivalry is different. For starters, long before he won his 16th major in Australia this year, Federer was hailed as the anointed one. This Greatest of All Time conversation, once started, was impossible to dismiss or ignore. And as Federer added to his resume, his status continued to swell until it matured fully when Federer completed the last leg of his own career Grand Slam in Paris in 2009.
That Federer scaled that final summit at a time when Nadal’s career appeared to hang in the balance only strengthened Federer’s case. And while Nadal’s subsequent resurgence—aided by a few missteps by his rival—was persuasive, the difficulties Nadal traditionally had at the last major of the year put a dampener on any valid comparison of the two players. Just as Federer had no pre-emptive claim on the GOAT label before he won the French Open, so Nadal could not be considered Federer’s equal—or better—until he bagged that U.S. Open title.
Of course, that didn’t stop diehard fans of either player from shouting their man’s praises from the rooftops. Now the most lavish claims on behalf of either man are supportable. Federer has 16 majors—almost twice as many as Nadal. He’s by far the most successful player of the Open era. But that isn’t the same as saying he’s the best one, and that 14-7 head-to-head advantage enjoyed by Nadal undermines any claim of dominion made on behalf of Federer. Like it or not, you can argue each man’s case pretty persuasively. The discussion is less about who’s the GOAT, something that can’t be definitively determined anyway, than about which guy is better, period.
And that’s just why Federer is in such a tight spot. Personally, I have no doubt that his game is in decline. Without wishing to take anything away from Novak Djokovic, that was the major takeaway for me from their semifinal clash at the U.S. Open. I don’t believe it’s an irreversible decline, or even necessarily a physical one. In fact, TMF’s critical weaknesses in that Djokovic match seemed entirely of the mental kind, and less related to any threat he felt from his rival, or the occasion (as if that could bamboozle Federer), than to the hours he’s logged on his competitive clock. For the lives of tennis players, like farm equipment, are best measured in hours of service rather than accumulated miles.
Federer’s dilemma is obvious. He can certainly enjoy the late stages of his career without duplicating his previous success rate. But can he afford to lose more matches than he wins against Nadal, especially if Nadal goes on to add to his Grand Slam title count? The real question is not whether Federer can tolerate the implicit disappointment, but whether tennis will continue to remain as enjoyable to him, month-in, month-out, if Nadal were clearly in command. Those who really believe that Federer is a better player than Nadal can always hope that TMF will re-assert his superiority. I find it hard to imagine that happening, simply because Federer is at an age disadvantage.
I wasn't encouraged on Federer's behalf at the U.S. Open, when he volunteered that he hoped Nadal would win the final, and made a point to say that he won't watch it. A curious soul asked him, "Why," and his answer bordered on the snappish: "Look, I've been around tennis for weeks and weeks and weeks right now. Last thing I want to do is watch another tennis match where I'm not a part of it. I will spend some time with my kids and take it easy, maybe go shopping. I don't know if shops are open here in New York on Sundays, but I'm sure something is open. We'll see."
I couldn't help but think how Nadal, just a few days earlier, admitted to the press that he was going back to the hotel to watch tennis, that he enjoyed watching tennis. And the way he said it, he might have started his answer with, "Duh!. . ."
In all fairness, Federer made his remarks on the heels of a bitter, perhaps devastating loss. You couldn't blame him for wanting to have as little to do with tennis as humanly possible at that moment. Still, the contrast in the attitudes of the two men was memorable. TMF appears to be one tired, Fed up warrior.
In some ways, we may be on the verge of seeing which thing TMF loves more—winning or playing. At one time, they were synonymous, but that doesn’t seem to be the case anymore, and that's always when things get difficult.
Fajny temat przyszedł mi na myśl Roger Federer i jego tenisowe wakacje.
Roger urządza sobie wakacje(nie gra w żadnym turnieju ATP)
Po Australian Open czyli mniej więcej od 1 lutego do 10 marca czyli Indian Wells.
Po Wimbledonie czyli mniej więcej od 4 lipca do 8 sierpnia do turnieju Masters w Kanadzie.
Po US Open czyli mniej więcej od 13 września do 10 października do turnieju w Szanghaju.
Doliczając grudzień Roger ma więc około 120 dni wakacji w roku. :sleep:
OFF COURT - LIMITED SPECIAL EDITION ROGER FEDERER
JURA is launching a special-edition exclusive automatic coffee machine, limited to just 300 items worldwide, and at the same time actively supporting the Roger Federer Foundation.
In 2009, JURA had the pleasure of presenting Roger and his new wife Mirka with a very special wedding present: a custom-made automatic speciality coffee machine with leather side panels and a chrome-plated coffee spout. The exclusive ROGER FEDERER EDITION is the same as this model and enables 300 fans to own the same JURA machine as that which will treat Roger and his family with delicious speciality coffees.
Every ENA in the Roger Federer Edition is unique and will never lose its value. High-quality, shagreen-free cowhide is used to finish the side panels. A special highlight is the official Roger Federer logo embossed on the machine, the use of which was kindly authorised by equipment partner Nike for 300 limited edition machines. The front is decorated with a plaque embossed with Roger’s autograph and the machine number. A certificate hand-signed by Roger himself provides confirmation of authenticity for each ROGER FEDERER EDITION machine.
Bid now and become the pround owner of the first machine of this special edition.
http://www.rogerfederer.com/en/rogers/n … ewsID=1133
Pomysłowość i kreatywność godna mojej osoby, że tak skromnie napiszę. :o
Czekam na papier toaletowy z podobizną Rogera. :D
jaccol55 napisał:
Czekam na papier toaletowy z podobizną Rogera. :D
Ha ha, zaśmiała się hrabina po francusku. :P
If I play well, can I keep up fine with Nadal
Roger Federer comments on the descent in the Davis Cup and criticism, which earned him his absence. And he explains why he let the 5000 points behind Nadal cold.
After four weeks without competition will start Roger Federer in Shanghai in the last installment of the tournament season, it Stockholm, Basel, Paris-Bercy and London (ATP final) result is sought out. In an interview with the Sunday paper, he looks ahead - and back to the 0:5 of the Davis-CupTeams in Kazakhstan.
Roger Federer, as you have almost four weeks since the U.S. Open, spent?
I was in Dubai and trained hard with Seve (Luthi) and Pierre (Paganini), joined to the end, Paul Annacone. I still have a few tournaments before me, so it was important for me to recover in the head and body, in accordance with the North American tournaments. I feel great, could make a second building. I had no backache or other pain.
You now have two coaches. How do you divide them?
In Shanghai, I'm with Paul. Seve will be there again in Europe, Annacone is likely to encounter in Paris re-included.
What goals do you have for the last weeks of the season?
After four weeks without matches, I do not know exactly where I stand. In training I felt well physically, mentally I'm extremely motivated and I have to play mega pleasure. But that still does not guarantee great results. Since I am the only top ten player who played any tournaments before Shanghai, the first matches a little dangerous for me. After Stockholm, I should be able, in Basel, Paris and London to be able to get my best tennis. I am very confident for the rest of the season. I would like to win some of those five tournaments.
Why play for the first time in ten years in Stockholm?
I should have played there two years ago, but had to withdraw because of back problems. I wanted to Shanghai before or play a tournament in question were Stockholm and Beijing. Stockholm I'm a little guilty. Thomas Johansson and Jonas Bjorkman, who take care of the tournament, enjoyed very much. I also like to play again in Sweden.
You say you are extremely motivated. But it is not discouraging that you are the world rankings over 5000 points behind Nadal are in?
You could feel it even as a depressing, but I do not. If you not number 1, look for what the ATP points do not matter too much, but concentrates from tournament to tournament. I plan long term anyway and I will not lead me on whether I'm number 2, 3 or 4. It is important that I have the opportunity to be the number 1. Only I am the moment, because that is deservedly Rafael, he has won the last three grand slam titles. That is why he is the favorite for the tournament at the end of the year. But I know that if I play well, I can easily compete with him. It is just about time for me to show that I still can.
The dominant topic of tennis in Switzerland was the last descent of the Davis Cup. That the journey to Kazakhstan gave up, you wore a lot of criticism, including this newspaper. How do you imagine that?
What can I say? It will be written even more. I have always communicated very openly and clearly with the team, with the Captain, with Stan (Wawrinka), with Swiss Tennis. I can not count on anything, it is clear that each understands, and I am grateful. Kazakhstan was also a nightmare for me, to see them lose 0-5. You must not think that I would not be scratching.
Swiss Tennis President Rene Stammbach said that they wanted more clarity from you now, what concerns the Davis Cup.
For me it is clear that I will play for Switzerland. That is now more pressure is understandable. I will certainly talk to Rene Stammbach look and say openly how I feel towards the Davis Cup, and that I will continue to play like. We are bound to find a good solution. The problem is the format of the competition.
In what way?
The Davis Cup does not find like a World Cup every four years or such instead of the Ryder Cup every two years but every year. It consumes very much energy. Especially someone like me, who knows that he is Friday, Saturday and Sunday play. We do not have a team where I can easily stand in for a match, then it might be enough. My situation is different. I'm the leader, so I would invest much more time, because when I play, I would like to do it properly. As a whole organization is one of them, and many discussions.
And you go too far.
Right now I can not take such effort for two weeks for me. Because I have other goals, with the Grand Slams, with the rankings, with tournament victories. So I decided that it would be wrong to travel to Kazakhstan. That certainly does not mean that I will never play more Davis Cup. I feel that my CupCarriere Davis will take a long time. Later, I can hopefully concentrate on this competition. But all is not the same unfortunately.
Switzerland, runs the Davis Cup but out of time: 2011 best they can rise up, 2012 is the Davis Cup in the shadow of Olympia, and in 2013 you are already 32nd
So think some, but for me, the situation has changed not great - except that we do not win 2011 Davis Cup can.Many think, for me would be able to check off everything: Wimbledon, Roland Garros, Olympic Gold, Masters, 1, Davis Cup ... But this is not that simple. The Davis Cup is also very lucky to do so; where you play in the semi-final or final, if you get there, if you are set or not.
At the beginning of the career you were a fan of the Davis Cup.
Now I always say I try to save the whole, as much as possible. And if Switzerland would one day win a second round, I would like to be in the quarterfinals. Well, it is unfortunately never came. What do I do not want is that the team descends into the third division, as England. There was also some bad luck here that we had to play after the U.S. Open in Kazakhstan. Also for the use of standard there was very risky because of the injury, he is aware of it. But I am now no stressed or under pressure. That it is now asking questions is already clear and okay.
Never thought I would be better traveled to Astana?
Yes, logical. If they lose, I always say I would rather have been there (laughs). I follow the games exactly, I'm practically on the live ticker and knows what it is. I can not relax. Once I was in South Africa when they played against Holland, and all the time on the phone. But unfortunately I have the feeling that the Davis Cup is not as valuable as before, that one would have to change something. I start no controversy. But all played Davis Cup before, not now. It's just too hard on the tour, to athletic. And when I play Davis Cup and it falls back in the rankings, I am criticized for it there.
Even McEnroe called once, you should Davis Cup every second year to deliver.
Then he would be a lot of special, and it also knew every player, next year is free. In the Davis Cup also make the national federations pressure to an individual in a mixed sports - where we have more in Switzerland as well. And if you do not even play, you have left the country down. It's difficult to really decide. I have the Davis Cup least learned a lot.
A nie lepiej czasem zamknąć dziób tatuś?
ATP - RETURN TO SHANGHAI
Roger returns onto court this week at the Masters 1000 in Shanghai after a month-long break. He had captured the title in the Asian metropolis in 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007.
Like all the other seven top players, Roger has been freed of the first round. He will enter the tournament against the winner of the match between America's John Isner (ATP 22) and Czech Republic's Lukas Dlouhy (ATP 600). After that a meeting with Marin Cilic (ATP 14) would be likely. Further progress will lead to a possible match with Robin Söderling (ATP 5) in the quarterfinals, followed by Novak Djokovic (ATP 2) in the semis.
http://www.rogerfederer.com/en/rogers/n … ewsID=1134
Tato powinien zwrócić uwagę swoim newsmanom, bo to jest żenada. :p
Wywiad z Rogerem przed pierwszym meczem:
http://www.shanghairolexmasters.com/Eng … 0/360.html
Federer gotów na zamknięcie sezonu z podniesioną głową
Roger Federer nie zamierza przyznawać, że wkraczający w finałową fazę sezon jest dla niego nieudany. Zawód odczuwa jednak w związku z Roland Garros i Wimbledonem: w obu europejskich turniejach Wielkiego Szlema nie sprostał roli obrońcy tytułu. Ale teraz, w pięciu ostatnich turniejach, zamierza zamknąć rok z podniesioną głową.
Najważniejszym sukcesem Federera w 2010 roku jest zwycięstwo w Australian Open, co pozwoliło mu do liczby 17 wyśrubować własny rekord wielkoszlemowych tytułów. - W US Open byłem o punkt od finału [przegrał z Novakiem Đokoviciem], a w nim nigdy nie wiadomo - powiedział w Szanghaju przed powrotem do rywalizacji po międzynarodowych mistrzostwach Stanów Zjednoczonych.
Sezon przyniósł takie porażki, których Federer w poprzednich latach nie zwykł ponosić. - Nie spisałem się w Paryżu i Wimbledonie - przyznaje. - Przeżyłem kilka ciężkich przegranych, niekiedy nie wykorzystując meczboli, niekiedy zwycięstwo uciekało mi w meczach, które w przeszłości być może poszłyby po mojej myśli. Myślę jednak, że byłem w stanie obrócić nieco to wszystko w Toronto i Cincinnati - mówi. W US Open niektórzy obserwatorzy jego kariery nie wahali się stwierdzić, że Szwajcar gra najlepiej w życiu.
Reprezentacja w Pucharze Davisa, której nie wspomógł w barażu, rozpocznie rozgrywki w przyszłym sezonie poza Grupą Światową: - To dla mnie zawód, nie jestem z tego szczęśliwy. Ale to sprawa, na którą nie mam wpływu. Powiedziałem, że nie wybiorę się w ciężką podróż do Kazachstanu. Zawsze to zapowiadamy, gdy poznajemy naszych rywali. Co do przyszłości, porozmawiamy o niej w najbliższych miesiącach.
Czas między US Open a przylotem do Szanghaju Federer spędził w Dubaju, gdzie pracował z Severinem Lüthim, kapitanem Szwajcarii w Pucharze Davisa, a potem z chorym wcześniej Paulem Annacone, swoim trenerem od lata ( - Za nami wystarczająco długi okres próbny, bym mógł stwierdzić, że nasza współpraca jest interesująca, wprowadza urozmaicenie i daje mi wiele doświadczenia). W tym roku wystąpi jeszcze w Sztokholmie, rodzinnej Bazylei, Paryżu-Bercy (tam ponownie może dołączyć do niego Annacone) i Masters w Londynie.
Co robił w Dubaju? - Przede wszystkim musiałem odzyskać siły, bo w Ameryce mieliśmy napięty okres. Ale grałem naprawdę dobrze: dotarłem do finału [Toronto], zdobyłem tytuł [Cincy], potem zatrzymałem się na półfinale [Nowy Jork]. Zakończyło się na ciężkim meczu przeciw Novakowi. Czułem, że w pierwszej kolejności potrzebuję, by odpocząć mentalnie i fizycznie, by być znów świeży. Gdy poczułem, że jestem gotów, zacząłem pracować niesamowicie ciężko. Przed niemal trzy tygodnie ćwiczyłem kondycję, trenowałem na korcie. To był dobry czas, czułem się świetnie. Była przy mnie rodzina.
W Chinach małżonka i dzieci mu nie towarzyszą. Wraca do Szanghaju, gdzie był stałym gościem, dopóki rozgrywano tam Masters na koniec sezonu. W ubiegłym roku, w turnieju nowej rangi Masters 1000, Szwajcara zabrakło, bo po US Open zrobił sobie sześciotygodniową przerwę: - Byłem zbyt zmęczony, wykończony tym wszystkim co stało się latem - wspomina okres po zmianach życiowych (małżeństwo, dzieci) i przełomowym wydarzeniu w karierze (triumf w Roland Garros). Twierdzi, że tamta pauza mu się opłaciła: - Odnalazłem na nowo energię, którą wykorzystałem pod koniec roku i także w przyszłym sezonie, bo grałem znakomicie w Australii.
Szanghaj 2002 i Szanghaj 2010: - Jestem chyba jedynym zawodnikiem, który wystąpi w obu tych turniejach. W tym roku bardzo chciałem tu przyjechać, bo fani są niesamowici. Mam stąd świetne wspomnienie, zawsze grałem tutaj znakomicie, nigdy nie przytrafił mi się zły turniej - mówi o mieście, gdzie triumfował czterokrotnie (2003-4 oraz 2006-7). Masters w Szanghaju rozgrywano w hali, a istniejący od ubiegłego roku nowy turniej toczy się na otwartym stadionie Qizhong.
W ubiegłym roku Federer (nie pamięta dokładnie ile ma na koncie tytułów!) nie wystąpił w żadnej pokazówce, ale teraz jest już umówiony z Rafą Nadalem na spotkanie charytatywne (na rzecz fundacji Federera), które odbędzie się w Zurychu. Roger jest jednym z rzeczników zawodników, którzy głośno mówią o potrzebie wydłużenia przerwy między sezonami. - Cztery tygodnie to niedużo, do tego dochodzą święta Bożego Narodzenia, więc w przygotowaniach do nowego sezonu staram się wykorzystywać także ostatnie tygodnie poprzedniego sezonu.
I can still dominate - Federer
Roger Federer insists he has no intention of retiring and believes he can return to world No. 1.
The 16-time grand slam champion has slipped to world No. 3 for the first time since 2003, but after a month's break he is desperate to end the season on a high.
Federer was usurped as world No. 1 for the first time by Rafael Nadal in 2008, but despite being written off went on to complete a career Grand Slam in 2009. And Federer, who is one week short of Pete Sampras' record of 286 weeks spent at the top of the world rankings is confident he can rediscover his dominant form once more.
"Stories in tennis move around very quickly. I went through a bad patch as well and I got back to world No. 1 by winning last year's French and Wimbledon and playing really well through the American summer as well," Federer told reporters in Hong Kong.
"I'm a strong believer that when I'm at my best I can beat anyone, I can even dominate anyone but there's many guys around that play really, really well and Rafa, being the No. 1 guy, is a tough guy to beat."
Federer makes his first appearance since his US Open semi-final defeat to Novak Djokovic in Shanghai next week, and he is adamant he can still beat the best players in the world.
"Obviously [Nadal] is a stronger player today than a few years ago but the same counts for me even though the ranking has slipped maybe a little bit," Federer said. "With a few minor adjustments I think I can really beat the best without a problem. Without being arrogant but I know I have the game and I'm playing really well right now.
"I practised extremely hard for the last three weeks. I feel like I am ready to go for the next five. I have no intention to quit the game and I am looking forward to the future."
Federer ready to re-live good old days in Shanghai
Roger Federer is leaving it until late, starting and ending his personal ATP Asian swing with the Shanghai Masters event.
The Swiss arrived in the Chinese commercial capital well-rested a month after losing a US Open semifinal to Novak Djokovic.
Rafael Nadal and Djokovic have been busy in the region, Nadal playing for two weeks and Djokovic one with a title defense in Beijing. Federer, his family along as usual on the trip which starts in Shanghai and carries onto Stockholm for an ATP 250 event there, is keen to show how it used to be in China for him.
While he has not played since the tournament became a Masters 1000 a year ago, he does have winning experience at the lotus-roofed Qi Zhong stadium, lifting the year-end title four times at the venue - 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007.
And the 29-year-old is keen to start gaining ground as third in the world on No. 2 Djokovic while admitting that his chances of seeing off No. 1 Nadal on the top top are long-odds - and cannot happen until 2011 at the earliest.
"He is the best player in the world right now, he's won the last three Grand Slams so he completely deserves to be at world No. 1 " said Federer, who opens with a bye like all eight leading seeds.
"But I'm a strong believer that when I'm at my best I can beat anyone, I can even dominate anyone."
Federer on his own this week in Shanghai
Roger Federer is settling into his routine at the Shanghai Masters with one notable exception - he's traveled to China without his family and is playing alone for the first time in months.
The world No. 3 who owns two titles in the city when the event was the year-end Masters Cup, got in a visit to Shanghai's record-setting World Expo before returning to the practice courts.
Federer made a VIP flying visit to pavilions of Switzerland and South Africa - the countries of his passports - as well as dropping in to the Australian and US displays at a six-month event which ends October 31.
Federer is dedicating himself to lifting during the final five-week run of the ATP season after qualifying for the season-wrap up final in London from November 21. He owns only two titles.from the Australian Open and Cincinnati Masters.
But the Swiss remains extremely positive about Shanghai. "I have great memories, I've always played great here.I've never had a bad tournament.
"Now that it's a Masters 1000, and having also opened the stadium (dedication ceremony half a decade ago), it's extra special coming here and playing outdoors in Shanghai, which I'm very excited about."
Rest of 2010 could belong to Federer
The Shanghai Masters is currently ongoing and it is the first time this season when the top 20 players in the world are all playing.
However, I'm not sure there is a lot we can learn from an event like this.
Having said that, the man I think to watch this week is Roger Federer. He is starting to play better and I felt he proved that at the US Open. I think he played his best match all year against Novak Djokovic in New York in the semi-finals even though he lost.
I don't think he will ever again be quite the player that used to dominate the sport, but he looks back to being 85 to 90 per cent of what he once was, and I for one wasn't sure he could even get back to that level.
So I'll be very interested to see what he comes up with this week and until the end of the season.
Rafael Nadal might be about to start going through the process that Federer has gone through over the last few years where it becomes all about the Grand Slams for him.
Nadal will never not try, but I think he is going to learn to target the big four events more and more to such an extent that Slams will be his only goal from here on in.
When you think about how Nadal approaches his matches, unless he is 100 per cent into it, he can potentially be picked off, so I wouldn't be surprised if he lost to, for example, Andy Murray in the semi-finals, but come the Australian Open a defeat like that would not mean a lot.
This is the time of the season when those players outside of the elite group can make a bit of an impact, as we saw at the Tour Finals last year when Nikolay Davydenko beat Robin Soderling in the final.
It might be slightly different this year though as I think Federer will be really up for Tour Finals in London, perhaps more so than for any other event he has played outside of a Grand Slam.
I just sense he is starting to feel better about his tennis, especially with Paul Annacone now his coach; it looks as if he is enjoying himself again; and he is relishing being the hunter which is something he hasn't been for a long time.
The focus of the tennis world is now firmly on Nadal and Federer will enjoy that in a way, as he has had to cope with being the top dog for so long.
Top sportsmen always have this siege mentality in them that no matter how much they have won, they keep wanting to prove people wrong.
People like for me have been saying Federer is in decline for the last two years or so, whether I'm right or wrong is for other people to judge. I do think the general feeling is that he is not now the player he was, and he will never be at that level again, but that will act as a big motivational tool for Federer. He will use all the criticism to his advantage and enjoy the fact that the pressure is now all on Nadal.
When it comes to a Grand Slam meeting between Federer and Nadal, and it will still only ever be a semi-final or a final, well I'm firmly a Nadal man now until I'm proved wrong, but in a tournament like this in Shanghai, and then also in London later in the year, it will mean more for Federer. He needs to try and end the year on a real high after what has been a difficult campaign by his high standards.
I haven't put any money on this tournament in Shanghai, but If I did, I'd probably put it on Federer.
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/tennis/si … icle/4963/
Zdechł pies. :P Naprawdę nie masz pan kogo przeklinać swoimi proroctwami? :] Może by jednak coś o True Number One?
Cóż, niezłą podpowiedź dla grających w MTT. Szkoda, że mam kontuzjowane plecy. :/
DUN I LOVE napisał:
Cóż, niezłą podpowiedź dla grających w MTT. Szkoda, że mam kontuzjowane plecy. :/
Może hiszpańscy czarodzieje medycyny Cię podleczą? :o
Robertinho napisał:
Może hiszpańscy czarodzieje medycyny Cię podleczą? :o
Nie ma już takiej potrzeby, terpia odpowiednia przyniosła pożądane efekty, będę gotowy na Basel. ;)
from AFP:
"I think I played some of the best tennis of my life at the Australian Open and then after that I got unlucky with a few matches where I lost with match points," said Federer.
"The biggest disappointment for me was Wimbledon," added the 29-year-old.
"The world number one spot takes more time and it happens if you play well. He (Nadal) is the best player in the world right now. He's won the last three Grand Slams so he completely deserves to be at world number one."
But Federer said before his recent run, Nadal endured a long title drought. "People then wrote him off as well," he added.
"Stories in tennis move around very quickly. I went through a bad patch as well and I got back to world number one by winning last year's French and Wimbledon and playing really well through the American summer as well," Federer said.
"I'm a strong believer that when I'm at my best I can beat anyone, I can even dominate anyone but there's many guys around that play really, really well and Rafa, being the number one guy, is a tough guy to beat," he added.
Federer said Nadal was a stronger player than a few years ago but he had also improved.
"Players don't always want the result and the ranking but to also improve as a player. That sometimes is also a work in progress. I've just started with a new coach (Paul Annacone) as well and that sometimes takes some time to settle," he added.
Federer said he had no intention of ending his career and he still felt he had more to achieve.
"This is exactly the time I've worked so hard for, to enjoy now. That's why I have no intentions of quitting the game and I'm looking forward to the future," said Federer, in Hong Kong in his capacity as a global ambassador for Credit Suisse.
Federer said he felt mentally fresh ahead of the final part of the season, starting with next week's Shanghai Masters, where he expects a strong challenge from a powerful field including Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.
goroger.net
SHANGHAI ROLEX MASTERS
Federer Answers Chinese Fans Questions
Shanghai, China
Roger Federer is a firm fan favourite in China.
Roger Federer answered questions from Chinese fans prior to starting his campaign at the Shanghai Rolex Masters.
毛易之: Hi Roger, I see from your old photos that you were once a ball kid. How has this kind of experience helped you in your career?
I remember very well when I was a ball kid at my home tournament in Basel. It was such a great experience to be able to see the very best players so close and learn from them, so that was important for me in my early stages.
倪蔚: If you hadn’t chosen to play tennis, what would you have done? You said maybe in six years time that you would retire, have you ever thought about what you want to do after that? Do you want your twin daughters to be tennis players some day?
I still want to play tennis for a few years; I would like my daughters to see me play now they are too young. I think I will be involved in tennis in some way in the future but it is early to think about that, I still have a lot of things that I would like to achieve. I liked soccer very much when I was young, so I could have become a professional player in soccer.
汪涛: You were the five-time defending champion at Wimbledon and the US Open, which is more valuable or means more to you?
They are both incredible achievements. Wimbledon is obviously such a great event, so special and my first title. But what I did in New York is also very remarkable and important for me.
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郭佳宁: You have completed the career Grand Slam and have had a fabulous career. Many have questioned if you are still motivated, or if you want to retire. You have stated many times you continue being motivated and passionate for the tennis. So, I want to ask where the momentum comes from. Love of tennis or your happy family? Nowadays, for you, is playing tennis a kind of enjoyment above competitive sport itself?
I love tennis and it is not difficult to be motivated, I always want to be the best I can be. Having a family now and having my wife and daughters travelling with me everywhere, it contributes to me having a balanced life.
光宇周: China is a place you are familiar with. Is there anything else about China you want to learn? Can you compare the rise of Chinese women’s tennis with Chinese men’s tennis? And I want to let you know that you have billions of fans in China! Thank you!
I love playing in China; I played my first year-end event in 2002 and kept coming back. I would love to learn a few words in Chinese, I love speaking languages. The Chinese women have already made their mark at the top level and I am sure that the men will have more and more success. It is just a matter of time and experience.
洋: Hi Roger, the standard of men’s tennis keeps rising. How do you keep focussed and in control on key points, especially when opponents get two, even three break points? At those moments your fans may be much more nervous than you are. Thank you.
You can never lose your focus or get down on yourself; you always have to stay strong no matter what the score is. Competition doesn’t get any easier.
凌落: You are a world-class player, what differences can your new coach Paul Annacone make to your game. I guess he is unlikely to change your technique now, what tactical instructions does he give to you, can he help you with your mental game?
Paul is a very nice guy and he's very calm and has experience as a player as well as a coach. It is good to hear a different, fresh opinion on how I need to handle myself both from a tactical and a mental standpoint.
李: Could you describe a typical day in your life, on a match day and on a day you don’t have a match? For example, when will you get up, have breakfast, train, go to bed and have other entertaining activities?
It is a normal life when I am away from tournaments, I need to practise and work on my fitness but I get to spend more time with my family which is fantastic. Luckily they travel with me so whenever I have a break from my tournament routine, I am with them.
As one of the greatest player, do you also care about the younger generation? At the moment there are up and coming players such as Ryan Harrison, Kei Nishikori, Devin Britton, even Marton Fucsovics, and so on. Do you think one of them will have chance to be the “best player” one day?
Yes, for sure those players will be at the top one day. It is probably a bit more difficult to break through now because the game has become more physical and players reach the top at a slightly older age than before.
唐君: We often write to you , and sometimes we receive replies (with signed picture）from you. I want to ask do you sometimes really read some letters from fans. Do you think they are helpful?
I like to read what my fans write, especially on my Facebook page, I wish I could read and respond to them all! Of course it is important to have their support and I do appreciate the fact that I have been voted the fans’ favourite player on the ATP web site the past few years.
ATP - A SUCCESSFUL START IN SHANGHAI
Fresh from his four-week break from the ATP Tour, Roger booked his place in the round of the last 16 at the Shanghai Rolex Masters today. He defeated John Isner (USA, ATP 20) 6-3, 6-4 in a dazzling, crowd-pleasing performance.
Roger secured an early break in either set to see off the American - who in turn did not have a break-point during the entire match. He came close at one point, but Roger countered the linesman's decision with a successful "Challenge".
Next up for our champ is Andreas Seppi of Italy (ATP 58) who had to complete two matches on Wednesday(!). Roger has never dropped a set against Seppi in their six encounters so far.
Federer takes time from tennis to try out Mandarin
Roger Federer is going where no tennis Western player has likely gone before. The Swiss world No. 3 has found time for a few private Mandarin lessons as he makes his way through at the Shanghai Masters.
Call it intellectual curiosity, call it commercial good sense - he is a brand spokesman for Mercedes-Benz specifically in China, for instance - but the multi-lingual Swiss is looking to at least get a grasp on the official language of Chinese government and the tongue used everyday in the tennis centers of Shanghai and Beijing.
"One lesson so far," said Federer. "We're going slow, little by little. It's not an easy language. It's hard, you know, but maybe I'll pick up a few sentences here and there." His attitude of having a go is in contrast to players who say they don't have time to do anything but play, eat and train.
"I have some time, my wife and kids are not here. I thought it would be fun," said the Swiss. "We did it together with the team. So I thought to change it up a bit of just having a regular routine. I like languages in general. I speak Swiss German, German, French and English fluently. I thought a bit Mandarin, which I'll never speak anyway, would just be a fun hour for me to learn some."
Federer included in IMG gambling lawsuit
ATP superstar Roger Federer has been named in an October 13 lawsuit involving illegal gambling activity by IMG owner Theodore Forstmann.
Website TMZ reported today that a lawsuit was filed L.A. County Superior Court naming IMG owner Theodore Forstmann. The suit was brought by Agate Printing, who claimed that it served as a gambling go-between for Forstmann, who allegedly made millions off the transactions.
Also named in the lawsuit is Roger Federer, who was accused of giving Forstmann inside information about at least one match in which the Swiss man participated. Forstmann allegedly raised a bet from $10,000 to $40,000 on one of Federer’s tips. The match in question is thought to be the 2006 French Open final, which he lost to Rafael Nadal.
TMZ also reports that a similar suit against Forstmann was brought in 2008, but was dismissed. The Federer camp was not available for comment.
ATP - QUARTERS IN SHANGHAI
Roger secured a 6-3, 6-4 win over Andreas Seppi at the Masters 1000 tournament in Shanghai today.
It was a tight match during the first set and half of the second. Roger served well but had to face several break points that Seppi fortunately could not make use of. The Italian did manage to do so in the second set, though, taking a 3-1 lead. But that was precisely the moment when Roger came back full blast, capturing the next five games in series and ending the match after 74 minutes.
Roger will now face Robin Söderling in the quarters on Friday in what could be a competitive match. Roger leads the head-to-head 13:1 but the Swede beat Roger in the quarterfinal of the French Open back in June.
Rafael Nadal was ousted by Germany's Jürgen Melzer today.
Cztery języki to mało dla Federera
Były lider rankingu tenisistów Roger Federer płynnie mówi w czterech językach, jednak to dla niego za mało. Podczas turnieju ATP Masters 1000 na twardych kortach w Szanghaju (z pulą nagród 3,64 mln dol.) postanowił się uczyć dialektu mandaryńskiego. - Na co dzień
mówię płynnie w szwajcarskim dialekcie niemieckim, po niemiecku, francusku i po angielsku. Generalnie lubię języki, a naukę mandaryńskiego dialektu uznałem
za dobra zabawę. Nigdy wcześniej nie miałem z nim styczności - powiedział Federer, który do Szanghaju przyleciał bez żony Miroslavy Vavrinec i rocznych córek bliźniaczek.
- Nie było łatwo, choć miałem ambitne plany, że wytrzymam godzinę na kursie
. To okazało się jednak trudniejsze niż sądziłem. Przyznaję, że się poddałem już po dziesięciu minutach
, to mnie przerosło - dodał
ze śmiechem Szwajcar, który w czwartek wygrał z Włochem Andreasem Seppim.
W piątkowym ćwierćfinale rywalem tenisisty z Bazylei, rozstawionego z numerem trzecim, będzie Szwed Robin Söderling (nr 5.).
Chinese Fans Flood Federer With Gifts
Roger Federer has for the best part of a decade been the most popular tennis player on the planet. He’s won the ATPWorldTour.com Fans’ Favourite award for seven consecutive years and has 4.7 million Facebook followers, third most among all global sports stars, behind only footballers Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
But in China, fans take their adoration of Federer to a whole new level. Like anywhere, the Swiss is besieged by fans seeking photos and autographs, but what makes any visit to the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament in Shanghai different is that Federer is routinely showered with gifts by tennis lovers.
“[Fans are] very creative here in this country giving gifts,” Federer said Thursday. “Obviously many think of my twin girls. Many think of Switzerland, maybe give me a cow or something like that. Others create great books about me and my career, places where they've been, pictures they've taken with me, souvenirs that I've signed for them, they've taken pictures of it. It's very nice.
"It's very different, to be honest. Not everywhere do I get such nice and creative gifts. I always need to pack in the extra suitcase to take all the gifts back. That's the only small problem, but it's a good problem to have, so I'm happy about it.”
Speaking at his post-match press conference, Federer was also asked about Lady Gaga, who, among other major hits, sings ‘Love Game.’ “It's got tennis connections,” Federer said of the song. “I wonder if she's a good tennis player. I have my doubts. She's created a great CD.”
While few would ever question Federer’s astuteness, particularly on the court, finding a connection between tennis and ‘Love Game’ is a stretch. Perhaps Roger is referring to these three lines:
Let’s play a love game, play a love game
Do you want love or you want fame?
Are you in the game? Doin’ the love game
But a deeper analysis of the song’s lyrics would suggest there’s more than tennis going on.
Earlier in the week Federer revealed that he had taken a Mandarin lesson with his team. “We're going slow. Little by little. It's not an easy language,” Federer said. “It's hard, but maybe I'll pick up a few sentences here and there.”
With more time on his hands than normal this week, Federer said that it was a good opportunity to add to his extensive language skills. Unfortunately, members of his team don’t share the same enthusiasm. “I have some time [this week],” Federer said. “My wife and kids are not here. I thought it would be fun. We did it together with the team. I like languages in general. I speak Swiss German, German, French and English fluently. I thought a bit Mandarin, which I'll never speak anyway, would just be a fun hour for me to learn some.
“It was a private lesson with the team who is here. They gave up after 10 minutes, and I was the guy who was saying the words and sentences. I was the guy who was really learning, not them.”
ATP - ROGER ROARS INTO SEMIS
Roger produced a great display in Shanghai today, overwhelming Robin Söderling 6-1, 6-1 to reach the Shanghai Masters semi-finals.
Söderling managed to score the first game and take a 1-0 lead - but lost a total of eleven games in series from that point on. Roger played well, but it was certainly not Söderling's day. In the end, Roger smashed four aces to call time in just 54 minutes.
Roger now faces a semi-final showdown with Novak Djokovic - a match that will decide on who will be placed second in the world ranking. Djokovic last won against Roger at the US Open a few weeks ago. The other semi-finalists are Juan Monaco and Andy Murray.
ATP - ROGER RECLAIMS NO. 2 SPOT
As of next week, Roger will occupy the second spot behind Rafael Nadal in the world rankings - thanks to a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Novak Djokovic in the semifinal of the Shanghai Rolex Masters today.
Roger came through an hour-long first set at the Qi Zhong stadium to regain form and defeat Djokovic, who had stopped Roger's quest for another US Open title in the semi-finals a few weeks ago.
Today Roger battled for almost an hour before breaking Djokovic in the 11th game of the first set after saving four break points himself to level at two games apiece. He then swiftly finished off the set and then broke, to power through the second in a show of strength. Roger went up a double break, but Djokovic clawed one back to no avail as our champ secured his 48th win of the season, putting him into his fourth final of 2010.
Roger is aiming for his 64th career title in tomorrow's final where he meets Andy Murray. Murray beat Roger in the Toronto final two months ago and holds a 7-5 lead in their career series.
ATP - ROGER DEFEATED IN SHANGHAI
Roger was defeated by Andy Murray 3-6, 2-6 in the final of the Shanghai Masters today.
"Andy had an outstanding tournament," Roger said. "I thought Andy played great today. He didn't give me many chances."
Roger had to deal with a break right from the start as he dropped serve in the opening game of the match - from leading 40-15. And unfortunately that was the way the match continued. Roger committed too many unforced errors and even when he placed his shots wunderfully, Murray managed to retrieve the ball from seemingly impossible situations. A second break at the end of the first set made everything clear for Murray.
Roger had two break points in the opening game of the second set, but the Scotsman did not allow him the chance to break him. Roger was troubled by the inconsistency on his groundstrokes, particularly his forehand. Another two break points later Roger still wasn't able to score a break, but lost his own service games to fall behind 1-3 and later 2-6.
Roger remains 3-2 ahead of Murray in their final duels including wins over the Scotsman at the 2008 US Open and this year's Australian Open. Thanks to having reached the final, Roger is set to move up to second in the world and has certainly made a solid start into the end of the 2010 season. Next up are Stockholm, Basel, Paris-Bercy and finally the ATP World Tour Finals in London.
Federer angry with call after defeat
Britain's world number four Andy Murray romped to a 6-3 6-2 win over Roger Federer to claim the Shanghai Masters title but the Swiss was unhappy with the linesperson.
The 23-year-old Scot was in impeccable form throughout the one-hour-25-minute contest, breaking the third seed's serve four times to dismantle the 16-time Grand Slam champion and win his second Masters title of the season.
Federer was annoyed that the umpire had over-ruled a call in his favour on a breakpoint in the second set, saying the decision possibly cost him the match.
"It was a classic bad mistake by the linesperson. In the end it's what maybe cost me the match," the Swiss said.
Murray did not lose a set all week. "I have had a great week and played some of my best tennis, which I had to, to beat Roger," he said at the trophy presentation.
The contest was the third meeting in a final between the pair this season with Murray losing at the Australian Open at the start of the year before gaining some revenge at the Toronto Masters in August.
On Sunday, Murray faced down Federer from the start, breaking serve in the first game and defending six break points with fearsome returns.
"Roger had a couple of chances to get back in the first set with a few big serves on some of them. He had one big chance with a forehand that he missed. Apart from that, it was obviously a great, great match for me," Murray said.
"I made few mistakes. As a tournament overall, I'm very happy."
Federer appeared to run out of steam in the second set as Murray repeatedly sent the 29-year-old scurrying from side to side with an array of pinpoint cross-court winners.
The Swiss was still smarting about the overturned line call after the match.
"It happens all the time. You hope it doesn't happen in the finals against a great player like Andy on a breakpoint," he said.
Federer, though, said the better player had won, adding: "Andy didn't give me many chances to pull off the really big shots today."
The win signalled a return to form for Murray after a roller-coaster season during which he sacked his coach.
He complained of illness on his arrival in China two weeks ago and was beaten in a listless quarter-final by Ivan Ljubicic at the smog-affected China Open in Beijing.
Murray also secured qualification for the World Tour Finals in London next month when he will pit his rediscovered confidence against top seed Rafa Nadal, number two Novak Djokovic, Federer and number five Robin Soderling.
Reuters
Federer Reclaims No. 2, Looks For Big Finish To Season
Despite his loss to Andy Murray in the final of the Shanghai Rolex Masters, Roger Federer remains upbeat about the latter part of the season in the build up to the season climax at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, beginning 21 November. Federer reclaimed the World No. 2 South African Airways ATP Ranking by reaching the final.
Speaking about his decision to play this week in Stockholm – an event he has played just once before, in 2000 – Federer said that the tournament fitted nicely into his schedule this season.
Last season, Federer’s only appearance between the US Open and the ATP World Tour 500 tournament in Basel was a Davis Cup appearance for Switzerland. But this year Federer added Shanghai and Stockholm to his schedule, and will again play his native Basel, the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris and the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in the closing weeks of the year.
“Last year I had quite a few things happening through the summer, winning French, winning Wimbledon, playing well in the summer, having twins, getting married, you name it," Federer said. "I could have done it, come here as well. But I just needed a rest. I was tired. This year, obviously the French and Wimbledon were nothing as brutal as last year. That's why also for me it was a big priority at the beginning of the year so I could play Shanghai. I was considering either playing the week before Shanghai or the week after.
“But I felt like I owed Stockholm to come back there. Good friends with Bjorkman and Johansson, who run the tournament there now. Disappointment of pulling out there a couple years ago. That was the decision behind that. I hope also by playing Stockholm, this was half indoor tournament already, which is good for what's to come now. I hope it's going to help me playing well in Basel, Paris and then London. Still a lot of points to pick up and many important events for me.”
Federer will relinquish the mantle of ATP World Tour Champion, with Rafael Nadal already guaranteed to finish the year at No. 1 in the South African Airways 2010 ATP Rankings. But the Swiss is locked in a battle with Serb Novak Djokovic to finishing No. 2. Federer has finished no lower than No. 2 for seven consecutive seasons, beginning in 2003 when he finished No. 2 behind Andy Roddick.
Federer has won the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals four times, most recently in 2007, when it was held in Shanghai.
Federer ponders his missed chances in Shanghai
It was a story of bad luck and missed chances for Roger Federer in his Shanghai Masters loss to Andy Murray.
"Every time it got important, it was not going my way," complained the Swiss, carrying on this week to the small Stockholm event.
"You feel like it's a wave coming at you and you just can't escape it. That's kind of the feeling I had today. You don't play with frustration, you just try to play decent. I had some chances but I couldn't break through. He played great and didn't give me much."
Federer remains on only two titles this season, his win over Murray at the Australian open final and two months ago when he won in Cincinnati over Mardy Fish. He was prevented from leveling on the all-time best of 18 career Masters titles alongside Rafael Nadal.
But Federer, now back to second in the rankings behind Rafael Nadal, tries to take away positives. "I had some great wins this week," he said after defeating Robin Soderling and Novak Djokovic. "Today could have been better. But Andy was the best player of the tournament so he deserved it."
ATP - STOCKHOLM TEN YEARS LATER
Welcome back to Stockholm, Roger! Our champ is playing the Stockholm Open this week - his last participation in the tournament in Sweden's capital dates back to 2000 (where he lost to Andreas Vinciguerra in round two).
Roger, the number one seed, will play either America's Taylor Dent (ATP 101) or Poland's Michal Przysiezny (ATP 91) after a first round bye. He could then meet Stanislas Wawrinka (ATP 21) in the quarter finals and Ivan Ljubicic (ATP 17) in the semis.
The two other top seeds Robin Söderling (ATP 5) and Tomas Berdych (ATP 6) are on the other half of the drawn and thus potential opponents for the final.
Federer tworzy historię. Jubileuszowy mecz
Polacy nie chcą grać z Federerem, tym razem Przysiężny
Po 10 latach przerwy Roger Federer zagra dziś ponownie w halowym turnieju ATP w Sztokholmie. Będzie to zarazem 900. mecz Szwajcara w tourze. To absolutny rekord w historii!
29-letni Federer przyleciał do Sztokholmu wprost z Szanghaju, gdzie w finale turnieju ATP Masters 1000 przegrał ze Szkotem Andym Murrayem. Na pierwszym spotkaniu z dziennikarzami w stolicy Szwecji przyznał, że jego celem na ostatnie tygodnie tego sezonu jest obrona drugiej pozycji w rankingu, na którą wrócił w poniedziałek.
We wtorek miejscowe gazety z dumą informowały na pierwszych stronach o jego przylocie, a tytuły "Roger w mieście" czy "Federer już tu jest" najlepiej obrazują emocje, jakie towarzyszą pierwszemu występowi Szwajcara w Kungliga Tennishallen od dziesięciu lat.
W pierwszej rundzie tenisista z Bazylei - jako najwyżej rozstawiony - miał wolny los, a dziświeczorem spotka się w 1/8 finału z Amerykaninem Taylorem Dentem (w pierwszej grał z Przysiężnym, który skreczował przez skręconą kostkę po przegraniu pierwszego seta 2:6). Wcześniej spotkali się tylko raz, przed rokiem w Miami, gdzie lepszy był Federer 6:3, 6:2.
Tym razem będzie to szczególne wydarzenie, bowiem Federer rozegra 900. mecz w tourze, jako pierwszy tenisista w historii. Bilans dotychczasowych jego występów jest imponujący, bowiem odniósł 726 zwycięstw i poniósł 173 porażki. W dorobku ma też 16 tytułów wielkoszlemowych, 63 wygrane turnieje i blisko 58 milionów zarobionych na korcie.
Jubileuszowe mecze Federera:
100. - Sztokholm (2000) - w 1. rundzie wygrał z Michaiłem Jużnym (Rosja)
200. - Miami (2002) - w finale przegrał z Andre Agassim (USA)
300. - Halle (2003) - w 2. rundzie przegrał z Fernando Vicente (Hiszpania)
400. - Gstaad (2004) - w 1/2 finału wygrał z Potito Starace (Włochy)
500. - US Open (2005) - w finale wygrał z Andre Agassim (USA)
600. - Bazylea (2006) - w 2. rundzie wygrał z Guillermo Garcią-Lopezem (Hiszpania)
700. - Miami (2008) - w 1/2 finału przegrał z Andym Roddickiem (USA)
800. - Roland Garros (2009) - w 2. rundzie wygrał z Jose Acasuso (Argentyna)
900. - Sztokholm (2010) - w 2. rundzie zagra z Taylorem Dentem (USA)
700. - Miami (2008) - w 1/2 finału przegrał z Andym Roddickiem (USA)
No proszę, chociaż raz Roddick uprzykrzył Federerowi jubileusz (chociaż sam Szwajcar pewnie ma to w głębokim poważaniu) :D
Po 10 latach przerwy Roger Federer zagra dziś ponownie w halowym turnieju ATP w Sztokholmie. Będzie to zarazem 900. mecz Szwajcara w tourze. To absolutny rekord w historii!
Ciekawe.
Federer: World No. 1 ranking is the only pursuit
STOCKHOLM (AP)—Roger Federer says when it comes to rankings, it's No. 1 or nothing.
In July, Federer dropped out of the top two for the first time since November 2003. He's now back at No. 2 after finishing runner-up to Andy Murray at the Shanghai Masters over the weekend.
But the 16-time Grand Slam winner said Tuesday that the move made no difference to him.
"It's not that important to be two, three or four," Federer said. "For me it's either No. 1 in the world or everything else. After being No. 1 for so long and having been there it's obviously the best feeling to be there. When you're not ranked No. 1 in the world, you obviously try to get back there."
Federer will face American Taylor Dent on Thursday in his first appearance at the Stockholm Open in 10 years.
"I was supposed to come here two years ago, but I had a really bad back," he said.
Federer held a practice session in front of a crowd on center court at the Royal Tennis Hall, taking time to play a doubles match with some children.
After being No. 1 for so long, some people may have questioned whether Federer still has the hunger to counter Rafael Nadal's dominance. But the Swiss maestro said he still has the drive to play and to win.
"I practice, I play matches and there's always people cheering me on supporting me, wanting an autograph, wanting a picture," Federer said. "That does keep me going. If you put me on the small court with no spectators, this is where I'll struggle with my motivation."
The other players in the top four have threatened Federer's dominance. Top-ranked Nadal has won 14 of their 23 matches, Murray has beaten him in 8 of 13 matches, and Federer leads Novak Djokovic 11-6.
"Maybe in the past I had winning records against everybody," Federer said. "I remember at one stage, I beat 24 top 10 players in a row. Every time I was in a final, I won 24 finals in a row, so obviously you cannot keep up those kinds of streaks. But I was so successful that I suppose I'm being compared to back then, which is very hard to do."
Federer said he's been satisfied with his level of play this year, particularly since Wimbledon.
"I definitely lost some matches that I could have avoided this year," Federer said. "You have to fight back and try to make it not happen so often, and that's what I'm doing. I hope I'm going to be able to turn this thing around."
DUN I LOVE napisał:
Po 10 latach przerwy Roger Federer zagra dziś ponownie w halowym turnieju ATP w Sztokholmie. Będzie to zarazem 900. mecz Szwajcara w tourze. To absolutny rekord w historii!
Ciekawe.
Coś się eurosportowi pomyliło.
Pewnie ktoś przyjął, że jest to liczba wygranych spotkań w karierze. :szczeryusmiech:
jaccol55 napisał:
Pewnie ktoś przyjął, że jest to liczba wygranych spotkań w karierze. :szczeryusmiech:
Ale tylko wtedy, gdy brał pod uwagę aktywnych graczy. Connors wygrał ponad 1200 spotkań w karierze i jest rekordzistą na tej "płaszczyźnie cyferkowej". :) Muszę przejrzeć dział statystyk, być może nie dałem tam tej statystyki, a latami nosiłem się z takim zamiarem. :D
Joao napisał:
Coś się eurosportowi pomyliło.
To na pewno. Faktem jest, że Federer jako pierwszy rozegra 900 meczów w karierze, ale tylko spośród grupy AKTYWNYCH tenisistów. Myślałem początkowo, że być może jest to rekordowy wyczyn za czasów kadencji ATP Tour (założono tę organizację w 1972, ale turnieje organizuje ona od 1990), ale też nie. Od 1990 roku począwszy więcej razy na kort w oficjalnych potyczkach wychodzili Panowie Andre Agassi i Pete Sampras.
ATP - 900 IT IS!
Roger will play his first match in Stockholm against Taylor Dent (not before 6:30 local time). He defeated the American 6-3, 6-2 in their first and only encounter in Miami in 2009.
It will be Roger's 900th match, making him the first active player on the ATP World Tour to appear in 900 singles matches (Tour level). He has never retired in a match during his career. Here is a look back at his milestone matches:
Match, Tournament, Result, Round
No. 1 1998 Gstaad, lost to Lucas Arnold Ker, first round
No. 100 2000 Stockholm, def. Mikhail Youzhny, first round
No. 200 2002 Miami, lost to Andre Agassi, final
No. 300 2003 Halle, def. Fernando Vicente, second round
No. 400 2004 Gstaad, def. Potito Starace, semi-final
No. 500 2005 US Open, def. Andre Agassi, final
No. 600 2006 Basel, def. Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, second round
No. 700 2008 Miami, lost to Andy Roddick, quarter-final
No. 800 2009 Roland Garros, def. Jose Acasuso, second round
[Musisz być zalogowany, aby przeczytać ukrytą wiadomość]
DUN I LOVE napisał:
ATP SZTOKHOLM: FEDERER WYGRYWA JUBILEUSZOWY MECZ
Roger Federer pokonał Taylora Denta 6-1 6-2 w meczu 2 rundy turnieju If…Stockholm Open, rozgrywanym w szwedzkiej stolicy. Spotkanie trwało zaledwie 50 minut. Potyczka Federera z Dentem miała symboliczny wymiar w postaci jubileuszowego, dziewięćsetnego meczu, jaki Szwajcar rozgrywał na szczeblu ATP Tour. Kolejnym rywalem Roger będzie Jego rodak – Stanislas Wawrinka.
Przybliżmy sobie kilka zestawień statystycznych dotyczących pojedynczych spotkań rozgrywanych przez tenisistów na przestrzeni całej Ery Open.
900 rozegranych spotkań na najwyższym światowym poziomie to bardzo pokaźny dorobek. Niemniej nie jest to statystyka, w której Federer wiedzie prym, jeżeli chodzi o kontekst historyczny całej dyscypliny. 3 gracz rankingu ma najwięcej rozegranych meczów w karierze spośród wszystkich aktywnych graczy.
Najwięcej rozegranych spotkań w Erze Open:
1. Jimmy Connors 1508
2. Ivan Lendl 1310
3. Guillermo Vilas 1207
4. Andre Agassi 1144
Dzisiejsze zwycięstwo nad Dentem było 727 karierowym zwycięstwem Federera. Absolutnym rekordzistą jest naturalnie Jimmy Connors.
Najwięcej wygranych meczów w zawodowej karierze:
1. Jimmy Connors 1241
2. Ivan Lendl 1071
3. Ivan Lendl 923
4. John McEnroe (USA) 875
5.Andre Agassi (USA) 870
6.Stefan Edberg (SWE) 806
7.Pete Sampras (USA) 762
8.Ilie Nastase (ROM) 753
9. Roger Federer 727
10.Boris Becker (GER) 713
Na zakończenie ciekawe zestawienie najskuteczniejszych tenisistów, czyli statystyka największego % wygranych meczów w stosunku do ogółu spotkań rozegranych:
1. Bjorn Borg 82,6 % (603-127)
2. Rafael Nadal 82,4 % (468-100)
3. Jimmy Connors 82,3 % (1241-277)
4. Ivan Lendl 81,8 % (1071-239)
5. John McEnroe 81,5 % (875-198)
6. Roger Federer 80,7% (727-173)
ATP - ROGER WINS NO. 900
Roger defeated America's Taylor Dent (ATP 101) 6-1, 6-2 in his 900th ATP match today to reach the quarter finals of the Stockholm Open. That means the next match will be against Roger's fellow countryman Stanislas Wawrinka.
Piątkowy ćwierćfinał turnieju ATP w Sztokholmie wcale nie był zwyczajny dla szwajcarskiego mistrza. Roger Federer pokonał dobrego kumpla Stanislasa Wawrinkę 2:6, 6:3, 6:2 i dzięki temu jego nazwisko ponownie zostało
zapisane w annałach tenisa. Tym razem m.in. obok Connorsa i Edberga.
16-krotny triumfator turnieju z cyklu Wielkiego Szlema zanotował 50. wygraną w sezonie. Zrobił tak po raz dziewiąty z rzędu! Tym samym znalazł się w ekskluzywnym gronie wybitnych graczy, którzy mogą pochwalić się takim osiągnięciem.
Dziewięć lat pod rząd po co najmniej 50 zwycięstw notowali Jimmy Connors, Guillermo Vilas, Stefan Edberg i Pete Sampras, który dokonał tego jako ostatni. Było to w latach 1990-98.
"Król Roger" trafił do tego zestawienia dzięki wygranej nad rodakiem i bardzo dobrym kumplem z reprezentacji. To właśnie w parze ze Stanislasem Wawrinką wywalczyli mistrzostwo olimpijskie w Pekinie. Teraz nie było sentymentów, ale
pojedynek był ciekawy i trwał prawie dwie godziny.
- Wszystko działo się bardzo szybko. Walczylem trochę o złapanie odpowiedniego rytmu. Wszyscy spodziewają się, że będę wygrywać za każdym razem, ale to czasami nie jest proste. Myślę, że Stan grał fantastycznie. Do pewnego momentu
zdominował mnie kompletnie - mówił Federer
ATP - ROGER BATTLES INTO SEMIS
Roger recovered from a rough start today to beat Swiss compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 at the Stockholm Open. His 50th victory this year also means he will now play his tenth semi-final of the season.
Wawrinka had a terrific start as Roger had to face breaks in the first and fifth games making some uncharacteristic errors. Trailing 0-2 in the second set, Roger came back in terrific fashion with some great winners to break Wawrinka twice and take the match into the third set. Our champ then raised the level of play even further to bring the match to a clear end after 107 minutes.
Next up is Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic (ATP 17) on Saturday.
ATP - ROGER IN STOCKHOLM FINAL
Roger made it through to the final of the Stockholm Open today by defeating Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia 7-6(5), 6-2.
Our champ once again had to come back from a slow start, fighting back from a break down in the opening set. But it was not long before he found his rhythm and eventually captured the set in the tiebreak. Roger then played a wonderful backhand winner in the second set to take a 3-2 lead. Another break in game number seven gave him a comfortable lead to serve out the match - which Roger ended in style with an ace.
Roger is playing Germany's Florian Mayer (ATP 47) in Sunday's final, aiming for his 64th ATP tournament title. He has clearly won both encounters with Mayer so far.
# 64 - Sztokholm 2010
1R: BYE
2R: Taylor Dent (USA) 6-1 6-2
QF: Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) 2-6 6-3 6-2
SF: Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) 7-6 6-2
W: Florian Mayer (GER) 6-4 6-3
Poprawny turniej Feda, trochę dobrych momentów, niezły finał. Może przy sporym szczęściu uda się odbić Basel, lecz w tym momencie na Paryż, a tym bardziej WTF nie ma co liczyć.
Federer ma już tyle samo tytułów co Sampras
Roger Federer zwycięzcą turnieju w Sztokholmie. W finale wicelider rankingu ATP pokonał Niemca Floriana Mayera (6:4, 6:3 w 1h03'). Szwajcar zdobył 64. tytuł w karierze, wyrównując osiągnięcie Pete'a Samprasa.
Liczne rekordy zabierał Samprasowi jeden po drugim: od wielkoszlemowch tytułów (co obiektywnie jest wyznacznikiem wielkości zawodnika) do łącznej liczby wygranych turniejów. A że Federer chce pograć do igrzysk olimpijskich w Londynie, należy spodziewać się kolejnych tytułów, choć nieprawdopodobne osiągnięcie Jima Couriera (109) nie wydaje się być w zasięgu nikogo.
Na liście wszech czasów Federer, lat 29, dołączył na czwartej pozycji do swojego wielkiego amerykańskiego poprzednika. Podium klasyfikacji tenisowych "kanibali" w Erze Otwartej zamyka wynikiem 77 zwycięstw turniejowych John McEnroe, a drugi jest Ivan Lendl - 94 trofea. Federer może się pokusić o inny rekord: stu finałów karierze (ten w Sztokholmie był jego 92.).
Potyczka z grającym o tytuł w premierowym cyklu po raz pierwszy poza Sopotem Mayerem do najtrudniejszych nie należała. Szwajcarski arcymistrz wielkoszlemowy, podobnie jak dzień wcześniej przeciw Ljubičiciowi, w pierwszym secie odrobił przełamanie, ale tym razem tie breaka grać nie zamierzał i wygrał trzy kolejne gemy od 3:4. Całkiem ciekawa gra Mayera w drugiej partii nie dała mu już ani jednego break pointa, a sam został przełamany przy jedynej okazji (na 2:4).
Niemiec (tak jak w Sopocie w latach 2005-6 nie udała mu się próba zdobycia premierowego tytułu w ATP World Tour) zanotował sześć asów i 77-procentową skuteczność pierwszego podania, w czym był lepszy od Federera (4 asy, 61% pierwszego serwisu). Ten jednak pochwalił się znacznie ważniejszą statystyką: zebrał aż 85% punktów po pierwszym podaniu.
Federer lubi Niemców, a po zwycięstwach nad nimi (już 36 kolejnych!) może im podziękować za walkę w ojczystym języku. Z Mayerem w trzech potyczkach nie stracił seta. Ostatnim rodakiem Goethego, który pokonał Rogera (w 2002 roku w Halle) jest Nicolas Kiefer.
Wspomnienie po Mayerze pozostanie w hali Kungliga takie, że w ćwierćfinale odprawił żelaznego faworyta gospodarzy, Robina Söderlinga.
Stolica Szwecji tymczasem, która powitała Federera ponownie po dekadzie (tam Szwajcar zagrał swój setny i 900. mecz w karierze) ugięła się w końcu także pod jego... polityką międzynarodową. Kraj Abby jest 18., w którym Federer wygrał turniej. Do Szwecji (impreza rangi tylko 250) pojechał na uprzejme zaproszenie swoich przyjaciół-organizatorów, znakomitych ex tenisistów Thomasa Johanssona i Jonasa Björkmana.
ATP - TITLE NUMBER 64!
Roger defeated Germany's Florian Mayer 6-4, 6-3 today to win the Stockholm Open. It is his third title this year and his 64th career title - matching Pete Sampras' record!
Once more in Stockholm, it was not easy for Roger to find his way into the match as he eventually faced a break in game number 7. But he reacted immediately today, breaking right back and even scoring another break shortly afterwards to take the set. The second set was all Roger's as he showed some spectacular tennis to secure the title after 64 minutes.
Only Jimmy Connors (109), Ivan Lendl (94) and John McEnroe (77) have collected more tournament titles than Roger so far. Our champ matched Pete Sampras' mark of 64 today. Next up are the Swiss Indoors in Roger's home-town Basel in a week's time.
Stockholm webnews
Federer matches Sampras haul of 64 ATP titles (Reuters)
"It's fantastic to come here, face the pressure and be able to come through at the end," the world number two told Swedish TV. Federer now shares fourth place in terms of most ATP tournaments won, behind Jimmy Connors, Ivan Lendl and John McEnroe. But while the Swiss holds numerous records, including most Grand Slam men's singles titles, he is unlikely to catch up with Connors any time soon. The American finished his career with over 100 titles. Federer was happy to have reached the 64 figure, telling a news conference: "You never know when it's your last tournament, that's why you want to savor every victory." The win gives Federer three titles for the season so far, a lean year by his standards. "Sure the summer was somewhat disappointing, with earlier losses at the French and at Wimbledon," he said. "But I played amazing at the Australian Open and played great at Cincinnati. I just had a bad win-loss record this year in finals. "In other years maybe I would have won seven titles already but here I am only with three and people are complaining, so it's the way it goes a little bit." "It's been a tough week. I came from Shanghai where I played five matches, then the jet lag and the whole thing, so to back it up with another win is great," said Federer after picking up the trophy from Crown Princess Victoria. Federer, who is president of the players' council, said the Tour is looking at proposals to end the season earlier. He told reporters: "I don't remember the season ever finishing as late as it is this year. I'm not complaining because I don't mind a long season because I just take breaks during the season. "But I just think for the average player I think it's smart to finish at some stage and have a proper off-season."
Federer pleased with Stockholm win (sport.co.uk)
Roger Federer landed the Stockholm Open title on Sunday after seeing off Germany's Florian Mayer in straight sets. The Swiss star secured a 6-4, 6-3 triumph in Sweden to score his 64th career crown, moving him level in fourth place with Pete Sampras on the all-time title board and he was delighted to pick up yet more silverware. "Ten years ago I came here with no expectations and now I'm back as the favourite," he said. "Anything but a win would be disappointing. I played a great event, it was a tough final. Florian played well a terrific final. I'm very happy to win." Mayer added: "Roger really deserved to win. I hope you get back to number one as soon as possible."
Roger Federer has won 64 singles titles (Seattle Times)
Federer beats Mayer in Stockholm Open final: Roger Federer of Switzerland beat German Florian Mayer 6-4, 6-3 to win the Stockholm Open in Sweden on Sunday and match American Pete Sampras' total of 64 career singles titles. Since 1968, only Jimmy Connors (109), Ivan Lendl (94) and John McEnroe (77) have won more men's singles tournaments than Federer and Sampras. Federer is the lone active player of the five. "It's amazing that I'm there where Pete's ended his career on," Federer said. "You never know when it's your last one. That's why you want to savor every tournament victory."
http://www.rogerfederer.com/en.html
Nowy wygląd Rokerowej strony. :o
WELCOME
Dear Fans
I am excited to present my revamped website!
I am lucky to have such a great fan following in the 'real' world as well as on the web. We are currently counting over 310'000 members on my website and almost 3.5 million people have visited the site this year. It is thus a pleasure for me to be able to give all of you something in return. We have focused on designing the new site in a classic and clear way – something easy and enjoyable. I am sure you will appreciate the new technology, design and functions and I am already looking forward to reading your feedback.
See you soon
Roger
Szef najpotężniejszej na świecie sportowej agencji marketingowej IMG przyznał, że obstawiał wyniki Rogera Federera u bukmachera. Problem w tym, że Szwajcar to jego główny klient. Czy tenisista pomagał mu w hazardzie?
IMG to sportowy gigant - prowadzi interesy Federera, Rafaela Nadala, Marii Szarapowej, a poza tenisem m.in. Tigera Woodsa. Firma pośredniczy w zawieraniu kontraktów sponsorskich i reklamowych, zarabiając na prowizjach, ale jest też właścicielem turniejów tenisowych, akademii (m.in. słynnej Nicka Bolletteriego na Florydzie), klubów, na całym świecie handluje prawami do telewizyjnych relacji, sama produkuje wiele programów. Rocznie przez jej ręce przepływają miliardy dolarów. Jak każdy pośrednik lubi stać w cieniu, rzadko pcha się na pierwsze strony gazet. Trudno jednak wskazać dziś ważną imprezę sportową, za którą nie kryją się ludzie z IMG. Firma jest np. partnerem FIFA i MKOl, a więc zarabia też na piłkarskim mundialu i igrzyskach.
Założycielem IMG w latach 60. był najsłynniejszy agent sportowy wszech czasów Mark McCormack, a jednym z pierwszych klientów słynny golfista Arnold Palmer. Teraz sportową maszynką do robienia pieniędzy kieruje Theodore "Teddy" Forstmann, który wpadł właśnie w poważne tarapaty.
Jeden z jego byłych biznesowych partnerów Jim Agate oskarża go, że używał znajomości i firmowych pieniędzy do obstawiania milionowych kwot u bukmacherów. Agate skierował nawet pozew do sądu - twierdzi, że jego własna spółka była pralnią pieniędzy Forstmanna. IMG wyśmiało zarzuty, nazywając słowa Agate "wymysłami żałosnego frustrata", a Forstmann dorzucił jeszcze, że "kanalii i łajdaka". Ale kiedy dziennikarze zaczęli węszyć, "Teddy" podłożył się sam. - Zarzuca mi, że postawiłem na porażkę Federera, a to nieprawda, bo obstawiłem jego zwycięstwo w finale French Open w 2007 r. Straciłem wtedy 40 tys. dol. - wspomniał szef IMG.
W amerykańskich mediach zawrzało, bo Forstmann jednoznacznie przyznał, że obstawiał wyniki swoich klientów. W tym konkretnym przypadku aż dwóch, bo w finale grał Federer z Nadalem. To poważny zarzut, bo IMG poprzez sieć swoich agentów, trenerów i wreszcie samych zawodników ma ogromną, jeśli nie największą w sporcie, wiedzę insajderską (ang. insider information) na temat możliwych wyników. "Akurat szef IMG, który w ciągu minuty może dowiedzieć się od swoich ludzi, kogo boli noga, kto się zatruł, a kto jest bez formy, nie powinien nigdy grać u bukmachera!" - piszą amerykańscy publicyści.
"Tenis ma poważny problem i nie może odwrócić wzroku" - uważa Greg Couch z AOL Sports. Zachowanie szefa IMG łamie przepisy, które federacje WTA i ATP same wprowadziły po niedawnych skandalach z obstawianiem wyników przez graczy. Zakaz dotyczy też właścicieli turniejów oraz członków sztabu, a trudno nie uznać za nich menedżerów z IMG. Jeden z paragrafów mówi nawet o dożywotniej dyskwalifikacji. "Wyrzucić IMG z tenisa? Przecież tenis jest ich własnością!" - drwi jeden z dziennikarzy.
Wreszcie cień podejrzenia pada na samego Federera. Agate twierdzi bowiem, że Szwajcar i inni zawodnicy pomagali Forstmannowi obstawiać. "Jeśli początkowo wyśmiewany Agate nie mylił się, że szef IMG gra na wynikach, to może w tej kwestii też się nie myli, choć trudno w to uwierzyć" - pisze Couch.
Federer zaprzeczył doniesieniom, nazwał je wyssanymi z palca. Większość eksperów ufa jego uczciwości, ale zastanawia się, jak dalej rozwinie się afera. Czy bardzo ucierpi reputacja IMG? Czy władze tenisowe będą na tyle odważne, by ukarać jednego z najpotężniejszych ludzi sportu? No i najważniejsze - czy dojdzie do rozprawy w sądzie między Agate a Forstmannem?
No szkoda bardzo. Chyba komuś się nudziło. :madrala:
Większość czołówki zmęczona, a Roger Federer... wciąż świeży! Przed turniejem w rodzinnej Bazylei uważa, że priorytetem jest teraz dla niego zdobywanie kolejnych tytułów, bo perspektywa odzyskania pierwszego miejsca w rankingu może być odległa.
Jestem zbyt daleko od pozycji lidera, więc na razie liczą się tytuły. Duże lub małe - mówi. Prawdopodobnie najlepiej obsadzona w historii edycja imprezy w Bazylei posiada rangę ATP World Tour 50o, ale z oczywistego powodu ma wielkie znaczenie dla najsłynniejszego szwajcarskiego sportowca (w tym roku raczej przegra rywalizację o nr 1 w kraju z mistrzem szos Fabianem Cancellarą).
W piątek Federer trenował w hali św. Jakuba z Marco Chiudinellim, rówieśnikiem i przyjacielem z dzieciństwa. Obaj z Bazylei, w ubiegłym roku spotkali się w półfinale. Lepszy był Federer, któremu jednak potem nie udało się zdobyć czwartej w karierze korony Swiss Indoors, a przeszkodził w tym Novak Đoković. W tym roku oprócz Serba na starcie z czołówki także Tomáš Berdych i Andy Roddick.
Szwajcarscy tenisiści uważają atmosferę turnieju w Bazylei (jednego z dwóch w premierowym cyklu w tym kraju; inny w Gstaad) za bardzo rodzinną. Treningi obserwowali ojcowie Federera i Chiudinellego. Ich synowie podawali kiedyś piłki. Pierwsze wspomnienie Federera jako zawodnika: dzika karta w 1998 roku i mecz z Andre Agassim (- Nie chciałem przegrać 0:6, 0:6). Dwa lata potem grał już w finale (porażka w piątym secie z Thomasem Enqvistem). Pierwszy z trzech tytułów to rok 2006.
Nie chce odczuwać zbyt wielkiej presji w związku z występem przed własną publicznością. Motywacją jest już sama obecność w rodzinnych stronach. Jest pewny siebie: - Jestem usatysfakcjonowany kilkoma ostatnimi turniejami. Od Wimbledonu gram lepiej. Czuję się świeży, by zaatakować w końcówce sezonu, podczas gdy wielu zawodników jest już bardzo zmęczonych. To przewaga dla mnie - powiedział dziennikowi "Le Matin".
Federer nie czuje się wyczerpany trudami roku (Rafa Nadal powiedział w Szanghaju, że sezon wydaje się być nieskończenie długi), bo mądrze planuje starty: - Robię sobie przerwę wtedy, kiedy jej potrzebuję - tłumaczy. Po US Open zagrał w Szanghaju (porażka w finale) i Sztokholmie (64. tytuł w karierze).
W domu - a mieszka rzut beretem od Bazylei, w Bottmingen - trenuje z... córkami. Charlene Riva i Myla Rose to 15-miesięczne bliźniaczki Rogera i Miroslavy Federerów. - Biegają we wszystkie strony, musimy je gonić i uważać. Prawo czy lewo? Jak ja idę w lewo, to one w prawo. Zawsze się mylę - Roger się śmieje. Oprócz wspólnych treningów rodzina wybrała się na miejscowy karnawał, a przy okazji odwiedziła siostrę Rogera
Federer back in action in Basel
Roger Federer looks to go one step further in Basel than he did last year, when he lost to Novak Djokovic in the final. Federer is in a half of the draw that also includes Andy Roddick, Jurgen Melzer, and David Nalbandian.
Roger Federer will be looking fourth Basel title when he takes the court this week for the first time since losing to Andy Murray in the Shanghai final. Federer enjoyed a three-peat at the Swiss Indoors between 2006 and 2008, but he was denied by Novak Djokovic in last year's championship match.
Another Federer-Djokovic final is possible, but both players have a long way to go before that could become a reality. Up first for the world No. 2 on Monday night is Alexandr Dolgopolov. Should Federer advance, the rest of his path to the title match could feature Janko Tipsarevic, Jurgen Melzer, and Andy Roddick.
Federer and Melzer are on a collision course for the quarterfinals, but the veteran Austrian has to be getting tired of being in the same section of draws as the 16-time Grand Slam champion. Melzer, who is coming off a repeat title in Vienna, lost to Federer in the fourth round of both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. Basel's No. 5 seed will open against Santiago Giraldo prior to a potential meeting with either Radek Stepanek or Thiemo De Bakker.
In the other section of the top half, an all-American showdown between Andy Roddick and Sam Querrey is on the menu. Neither man has played since the Shanghai second round; Roddick retired against Guillermo Garcia-Lopez due to a groin injury and Querrey lost to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The Roddick-Querrey winner will likely contend for a semifinal spot along with David Nalbandian, Andrey Golubev, and No. 6 seed Marin Cilic.
Roger storms through
Roger successfully started his bid for a record fourth title at the Swiss Indoors in his home town Basel today. He defeated Alexander Dolgopolov 6-4 5-2, as the Ukrainian had to retire.
Roger took a 4-3 lead in the opening set as he converted the first of three break points. Dolgopolov had served strong in the first set, but the danger was reduced in the second set as a wayward forehand gave Roger an early advantage after a double-fault. Roger raced even further, taking a 5-2 lead and served for the match. As Dolgopolov was sprinting up to the net, he hurt his right ankle as he stretched to reach a drop shot.
Roger is looking to regain the title in his hometown after losing in last year's final against Novak Djokovic. He has previously won the title three times.
Roger will play either Denis Istomin (ATP 43) or Janko Tipsarevic (ATP 46) on Wednesday.
Roger returns to Abu Dhabi
Six of the world’s leading tennis stars, including Roger and Rafael Nadal have been confirmed for the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi next month.
Robin Söderling, Tomas Berdych, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Marcos Baghdatis, complete an all-star line-up which will return to the recently upgraded Abu Dhabi International Tennis Complex at Zayed Sports City from December 30 to January 1.
Announcing his return to Abu Dhabi for the third straight year, all-time great with 16 Grand Slam singles titles, Roger, said: “To win the Mubadala World Tennis Championship against such a strong field will be the perfect start to the 2011 season, as this world class tournament has put Abu Dhabi on the global tennis stage.”
Federer offers professional tip after opponent injured
A sympathetic Roger Federer had some veteran's advice for 48th-ranked Aleksandr Dolgopolov after the Ukrainian rolled his ankle in his opening Swiss Indoors match and had to quit against the top seed.
A pair of trainers came out to examine the injury, with a few minutes of grimacing and medical analysis signaling a season done for the challenger. Federer recalled a Basel injury drama of his own. "I missed this event five years ago with a similar injury," he said. "Ever since, I've always had my ankles taped."
While lauding Dolgopolov as a future talent - "someone we need for the future" - Federer did not hesitate to add, "I really want to win my home tournament for the fourth time. I have so many great memories from here"
The world No. 2 is living the dream this week as an idol in his hometown at the tournament which is as dear to his hearts as any Grand Slam after starting in the game as a ballboy in the St Jakobshalle arena. His run of three consecutive titles in his hometown was broken a year ago by Novak Djokovic in the final.
Quarters in Basel
Roger raced into the quarterfinals of the Swiss Indoors today after a 6-3, 6-4 victory against Janko Tipsarevic (ATP 46).
Roger showed a highly concentrated match right from the start, playing especially well upon his own serve. He produced just five unforced errors on the night while Tipsarevic had 11.
Next up will be either Radek Stepanek or Santiago Giraldo on Friday.
"Help for Ethiopia"
Swiss TV SF2 will be showing "Roger Federer: Help for Ethiopia" on Friday, November 5th 2010. The documentary shows details of the Roger Federer Foundation, accompanying Roger during his visit of the EFDA project in Ethiopia in 2010.
http://www.rogerfederer.com/en/en-spezi … ionen.html
Dear users,
Thank you for your emails describing the problems with the new website.
We are aware of these problems, especially the forum, and are working on it to fix them as soon as possible.
Thank you for your patience and your understanding.
Your webteam
A już myślałem, że tylko dla mnie się forum nie chce otworzyć. Mam nadzieję, że ogarną ten bałagan, jaki powstał po zmianie wyglądu strony.
Roger cruises into semis
Roger cruised into the semi-finals in Basel today with a clear 6-3, 6-2 victory against Radek Stepanek (ATP 38).
Roger played brilliant, effortless tennis against a rather weak Stepanek today. Our champ could once again rely on his strong serve and was always at his best during the important points. One break in the first and two in the second set gave Roger the necessary lead to take home the match. He has yet to face a break-point in Basel this year.
Roger will now meet America's Andy Roddick (ATP 9) in the semis on Saturday. Roger has a clear 19-2 lead in the head-to-head.
Final in Basel!
Roger only needed 70 minutes to defeat Andy Roddick in Basel tonight, making a clear statement with a 6-2, 6-4 victory.
It was the first time after their memorable encounter in the Wimbledon final 2009 that Roger and Andy played each other today. Roger took a super quick lead, breaking Roddick when he first had the chance. He served 13 aces and was clearly the better player at the Swiss Indoors this time. against a single opponent in the past 30 years.
As Roger faces Novak Djokovic in Sunday's final, he has the opportunity to take revenge for the defeat against the Serb in last year's final, where Roger was deprived of a fourth title in his home town.
rf.com
#65) Basel 2010
R32 Aleksandr Dolgopolov 64 52 ret.
R16 Janko Tipsarević 63 64
QF Radek Stepanek [WC] 63 62
SF Andy Roddick (4) 62 64
F Novak Djoković [2] 64 36 61
Fourth title in Basel
Roger captured a record fourth title in his hometown Basel today, defeating Novak Djokovic 6-4, 3-6, 6-1.
"It was a fantastic week, I played well from start to finish. The final was the most dangerous of the week, especially playing Novak. But I was able to pull away in the third set," Roger said.
Both players had the same number of break point chances in the first set, but it was only Roger who managed to convert one of his to take the lead. Djokovic was more opportunistic than Roger in the second and it was soon clear the he was going to tie in sets as Roger just commited too many errors. Very early in the third set, Roger still committed a large number of unforced errors, but this time Djokovic was unable to take advantage. Roger went all the way to treat himself and his home crowd to a record fourth title in Basel.
With his victory in Basel, Roger has now moved past Pete Sampras with 65 career singles titles. Ahead of him are now only John McEnroe (77), Ivan Lendl (94) and Jimmy Connors (109). He will now head to Paris as top seed - as Rafael Nadal will not be playing - for the last event of the ATP season.
rf.com
Kurde jak by nie patrzeć, to od zatrudnienia Anakondu naprawdę dobrze idzie Fedowi. Żadnej wtopy z kimś spoza czołówki i wyniku poniżej semi, kilka wartościowych wygranych, styl może nie porywa, ale w porównaniu z wiosną to generalnie rewelacja jest. Oby udało się potwierdzić progres w najważniejszych turniejach.
Od czasu zatrudnienia Annacone 6 startów: 3 tytuły, 2 finały, półfinał. Rewelacja.
Kanada - finał
Cincinnati - tytuł
US Open - półfinał
Szanghaj - finał
Sztokholm - tytuł
Bazylea - tytuł
Szwajcar, po dzisiejszym sukcesie w Bazylei, zanotował już 9 turniej, w którym zwyciężał co najmniej 4 razy. Fantastyczne osiągnięcie. Pozostałe tego typu turnieje to:
Australian Open
Dubaj
Hamburg
Halle
Wimbledon
Cincinnati
US Open
Turniej Mistrzów
Wyczyn ten Roger rozłożył na wszystkie nawierzchnie (Plexicushion, cegła, trawa, decoturf, indoor Hard). Cóż więcej napisać. Fenomen!
65 tytuł, samodzielnie zajmowana 4 pozycja na liście wszechczasów. Do tej pory dzielił ją z Samprasem.
Trochę za późno już na takie dywagacje, ale co by to było, jakby miał prawdziwego trenera od razu od rozstania z Lundgrenem? :P
Bez trenera nie było tragedii. W latach 2004-2007 niewiele więcej dało się wygrać. ;) Cieszy mnie jednak, że Fed nie miał oporów poprosić o pomoc trenerską, gdy uznał, że sam sobie daje radę trochę gorzej niż w najlepszych latach. ;)
Ale o to niewiele wszystko się rozbija. :P Był tylko jeden gracz do rozpracowania w rozgrywkach, a Fed z uporem godnym lepszej sprawy forsował zły sposób grania z nim, tu trener który ma coś do gadania mógłby pomóc, nie mówiąc o zmniejszeniu presji przez rozłożenie odpowiedzialności za wynik.
Nieważne to już jest zresztą, ważne żeby teraz wygrywać ile się da. :)
Federer ponownie królem
Roger Federer (ATP 2) wygrał turniej Swiss Indoors Basel na kortach twardych (hala) w Bazylei. W finale Szwajcar pokonał Novaka Đokovicia (ATP 3) 6:4, 3:6, 6:1.
Były lider rankingu ATP wziął na Serbie rewanż za ubiegłoroczny finał imprezy. Wtedy to urodzony w Belgradzie tenisista zakończył trzyletnie panowanie Federera w Bazylei pokonując go 6:4, 4:6, 6:2. Szwajcar odniósł 12. zwycięstwo nad Đokoviciem (bilans 12-6). W tym sezonie już po raz trzeci był górą nad Serbem (półfinał w Toronto i Szanghaju). Đoković za to pokonał Federera w półfinale US Open po pięciosetowej batalii broniąc dwóch piłek meczowych. Szwajcar zdobył swój 65. tytuł i czwarty w sezonie (bilans finałów 65-28, w 2010 roku 4-4). W styczniu w Australian Open święcił swój 16. wielkoszlemowy triumf, poza tym był najlepszy w Cincinnati i przed dwoma tygodniami w Sztokholmie. Był to jego trzeci z rzędu finał i zdobył drugi kolejny tytuł. Od czasu porażki z Tomášem Berdychem w ćwierćfinale Wimbledonu Federer wygrał 26 z 29 spotkań. Đoković wystąpił w czwartym finale w sezonie (bilans 2-2) i 31. w karierze (bilans 18-13). Serb w tym roku święcił triumfy w Dubaju i Pekinie, a na Flushing Meadows osiągnął swój trzeci wielkoszlemowy finał (US Open 2007, Australian Open 2008 - triumf).
Bilans spotkań Federera w Bazylei to teraz 38-7. Wygrał on tutaj 24 z ostatnich 25 spotkań triumfując w latach 2006-2008. Poza ubiegłym sezonem grał tutaj jeszcze w finale w latach 2000-2001. Đoković po dziewięciu kolejnych zwycięstwach został pokonany w tej imprezie. Szwajcar i Serb w dniach 21-28 listopada zagrają w kończących sezon Finałach ATP World Tour w hali O2 w Londynie.
W I secie Federer przełamał Đokovicia w trzecim gemie, do końca nie dał sobie odebrać serwisu broniąc trzech break pointów. W II secie to Serb okazał się lepszy o jedno przełamanie, które zaliczył w drugim gemie. W decydującym secie Federer przy swoim serwisie zdobyła 16 z 17 punktów, dwukrotnie przełamał serwis rywala i po jednej godzinie i 56 minutach zapewnił sobie czwarty triumf w domowym turnieju.
Federer jest czwartym na liście rekordzistów pod względem triumfów w ATP World Tour, tuż przed Petem Samprasem, który w swojej karierze zdobył 64 tytuły. Szwajcar jest trzecim tenisistą, który w tym sezonie zdobył cztery tytuły, obok Rafaela Nadala (siedem) i Sama Querreya (cztery).
Bazylea: odzyskana korona
Roger Federer znów najlepszy w rodzinnej Bazylei! Szwajcar zrewanżował się Novakowi Djokoviciowi za zeszłoroczną porażkę, wygrywając tym razem 6:4, 3:6, 6:1. To dla niego piąty tytuł w Bazylei, czwarty w tym roku i 65. w karierze.
- Novak gra teraz świetnie. Ostatnio stoczyliśmy trzy znakomite spotkania z rzędu – w Toronto, US Open i Szanghaju. Mam nadzieję, że widzowie będą za mną i tym razem to ja wygram – mówił przed meczem Roger Federer.
Jego nadzieje się spełniły. Finał był zacięty, trwał prawie dwie godziny, ale kropkę nad i postawił właśnie Federer. W pierwszej partii Szwajcar grał lepiej, ale Djoković miał aż trzy okazje, aby przełamać rywala. Nie wykorzystał żadnej, za to Federer swojej szansy nie zmarnował. Zdobył jednego breaka i wygrał 6:4. W drugim secie sytuacja się odwróciła. Serb wykorzystywał słabe drugie podanie faworyta gospodarzy i tym razem to on był lepszy o jedno przełamanie. Jednak w decydującej odsłonie Federer dał prawdziwy popis. Przy własnym serwisie stracił tylko jeden punkt! Djoković zagrał dużo słabiej i było go stać na zdobycie tylko jednego gema.
Wynik finału:
Roger Federer (Szwajcaria, 1) – Novak Djoković (Serbia, 2) 6:4, 3:6, 6:1
Webnews
Roger Federer, who on Sunday won his home event in Basle, has closed the gap on Rafael Nadal in the latest men’s top 10 tennis rankings issued by ATP on Monday. Nadal still has a convincing lead of more than 4,000 points, but Federer closed the gap by 200 points and could move even closer with a good showing at the Paris Masters this week.
Cool Federer wins back Swiss title from Djokovic (Reuters Canada)
The Swiss himself had to save two break points in the second game, the only glimmer of a chance Djokovic had in the first set, before breaking in the third. World number two Federer produced some delightful strokes including a superb backhand drop from near the baseline in the fourth game. But he seemed to lose his composure at the start of the second set and was broken in the second game as he produced a flurry of unforced errors.
There were some outstanding rallies, one ending with a stunning crosscourt drive from the Serb and another a perfect smash by Federer from a Djokovic lob which nearly hit the ceiling. Federer saved one set point in the eighth game but Djokovic then held serve to level to clinch the set and level the match. Federer could have fallen apart after missing two sitters in a row in the second game of the final set, over-hitting both with the court at his mercy. Instead, he produced the decisive break in the fourth game with a superb pass down the line followed by a double fault from his opponent.
Federer beats Djokovic to win back Swiss Indoors title (CNN International)
It was his third win over the second seed in four meetings this year with his only loss in the U.S. Open semifinals at Flushing Meadows. Federer now has 65 career titles to go fourth in the all-time list, one ahead of American great Pete Sampras.
The St. Jakobshalle arena is certainly a happy hunting ground for the 16-time grand slam champion, winning four of the last five finals at the Swiss Indoors tournament and seven from 11. He swept through the deciding set for the loss of a single game to wrap up victory in just under two hours.
Federer now heads to the Paris Masters bidding for a hat-trick of tournament titles after winning the Stockholm Open last week. He will be top seed at Bercy in the absence of world number one Rafael Nadal. Meanwhile at the Valencia Open, Spain's David Ferrer beat compatriot Marcel Granollers 7-5 6-3 in Sunday's final. The victory boosts Ferrer's chances of claiming one of the three places available for the season-ending ATP Tour Finals in London later this month with the Paris Masters the final counting event for qualification.
Federer regains hometown crown (swissinfo.ch)
Roger Federer has defeated world number three, Novak Djokovic, in the final of the Swiss Indoors 6-4, 3-6, 6-1. Federer's fourth Basel title gave him some revenge after having lost to Djokovic in the semifinal of the 2010 US Open. The Swiss also avenged last year's defeat when Djokovic beat him in the final to interrupt his run of wins at the Basel tournament. Both men showed how evenly matched they were in the first two games.
Federer Beats Djokovic To Reclaim Hometown Title
World No. 2 Roger Federer won his hometown title at the Swiss Indoors Basel for a record fourth time as he avenged his 2009 final defeat to Novak Djokovic with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 victory over the Serb in Sunday’s final.
"It’s obviously a beautiful moment. It’s always very emotional and just a good feeling; I’m very happy," said Federer. "I’ve had a great history here. I can’t believe I’ve been in the final so many times and I’ve won already four times. I couldn’t be more happy today."
Basel-born Federer captured his 65th career tour-level title, taking him to fourth place on the Open Era Singles Titles List, one ahead of American Pete Sampras. It was the Swiss No. 1’s fourth title of the season, adding to triumphs at the Australian Open (d. Murray), Cincinnati (d. Fish) and Stockholm (d. Mayer) two weeks ago. He is the third player this year to win four tour-level titles, following Rafael Nadal (7) and Sam Querrey (4).
"I have to back it up [in London] now. I’ve played three straight finals in a row; I’ve won titles back-to-back in Stockholm and Basel," said Federer. "Now I have a couple of days off and a travel day as well to get to Paris and play well there and it’s only then that the focus will really shift to London. I’d like to keep it up and play well in Paris and see how it goes from there.”
Top seed Federer made a fast start to his 18th meeting with Djokovic and broke serve in the third game as he quickly wrapped up a one-set lead. The second-seeded Djokovic was quick to respond, though, breaking Federer’s serve for just the second time this week in the second game of the second set to level the match.
Riding an eight-match winning streak, though, the confident Federer kept his focus in the deciding set and from 1-1 won five successive games to seal victory in just under two hours. Since squandering two match points in a five-set defeat to Djokovic in the US Open semi-finals, Federer has beaten the Belgrade native twice, also in the Shanghai semi-finals, and extended his career-lead in their head-to-head series to 12-6.
"Today obviously was the most dangerous match [of the week], I was playing the best player in the tournament," reflected Federer. "I had a tough final last year, pretty similar to this one this year, but it just went my way in the third set. We always play very athletic against one another, I always think it’s really close, they can go either way, so I’m happy I won the last three of the four. I had match point [against him] at the US Open and that one hurt, but look, this one makes up for it big time."
The 29-year-old Federer improved to a 38-7 record in Basel, where he once served as a ball boy, and has won 24 of his past 25 matches at the ATP World Tour 500 indoor hard-court tennis tournament. He won three successive titles from 2006-2008 before finishing runner-up to Djokovic last year; he also reached the final in 2000-2001.
World No. 3 Djokovic was contesting his fourth tour-level final of the season and dropped to a 2-2 mark; he won the titles in Dubai (d. Youzhny) and Beijing (d. Ferrer) and finished runner-up to Nadal in his third Grand Slam final at the US Open.
“Overall it was a good week," reflected Djokovic. "The only thing today, which I think was bad, was the third set. I lost a little bit of balance and a little bit of focus and in a split second I was already 5-1 down and there was no way back. I’d definitely like to congratulate Roger; he was the better player today. It was a great atmosphere, it’s always a packed house here, especially the last couple of days of the tournament.
“I like playing here. I’ve had a lot of success in these two years and hopefully I’ll come back next year. It’s a great tournament and it would be a pleasure to play here in 2011.”
Moving week for reinvigorated Federer
ATP
- What wonderful emotion showed by Roger Federer in Basel when he won on Sunday!
The champ claimed his 65th title so it was so surprising to see him nearly in tears.
But it is a really special event for him, at home in front of an audience totally dedicated to him.
I think it also proves how hard the Swiss has worked since he asked Paul Annacone for help. After a season of struggles (because when you’re Federer, only reaching a quarter-final in two Grand Slams can be seen as failing), he understood that if he really wanted to win Majors again it was high time to go back to work.
He seems so much more motivated now and we’ve noticed signs this summer in the States with his offensive mindset.
To see him play so many tournaments and being so focused in each one shows his renewed spirit. He told how he felt stronger than last year before the match, how he was fit and it was unusual for him to show how ambitious he was for the final.
It wasn’t the best match of the year.
After winning the first set, Roger totally lost his rhythm and the second set. I felt like he was searching for his game and he was struggling a lot.
I think he saw himself losing at that moment and it would have happened if Novak hadn't missed all the offered chances before sinking in the decisive set.
It’s so refreshing to watch Federer, this amazing champion, being so hungry for an ATP 500 event!
Federer Relishes Fast Conditions; Aims To Improve Paris Record
World No. 2 Roger Federer, who has reached the BNP Paribas Masters quarter-finals in 2002-03 and 2008, admitted on Tuesday he hopes to do better this year at the final ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament of the season.
“This has been by far my worst [ATP World Tour] Masters 1000 tournament, so I hope I can do well this year,” said Federer, who lifted his 65th tour-level title at his home tournament, the Swiss Indoors Basel, on Sunday.
“I won't have much of a preparation. I'll hit an hour later on today, and that's about everything I'll get before my match tomorrow. [But] I'm happy that I'm feeling so well [and] I'm playing so well.”
Many players have commented this week about the fast court conditions at the Palais Omnisports in Paris-Bercy, but Federer isn’t fussed ahead of his first match against France’s Richard Gasquet.
“I think it's nice that some tournaments have made the courts faster again,” he said. “I'm not saying it should be the trend for all the tournaments, but indoors is supposed to be faster. We only have one indoor [ATP World Tour] Masters 1000, so I think it should be the fastest one.
“I just think it's good for the players, honestly, to experience again a faster court, and a bit of sort of two-shot tennis is fun for a change to do. It's tricky. It's not easy.”
Federer takes a 6-1 lead into his match against Gasquet on Wednesday. The pair has not met since June 2007 at Wimbledon.
“I believe he has the potential to become Top 10, there's no question about that,” admitted Federer. “But tennis has become more mental and physical than before. Maybe that's the reason why it's so difficult to become Top 10 overnight.
“I hope he won't start his way to the Top 10 tomorrow.”
Later this month, from 21-28 November, Federer will attempt to win his fifth title at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London.
http://www.facebook.com/Federer#!/photo … 4760994940
Fed wrzucił fotę na fejsa ze swojego spaceru po deszczowym Paryżu. ;)
Roger kicks off in Paris
Immediately after the final in Shanghai and his titles in Stockholm and Basel, Roger is going to play the Masters 1000 in Paris-Bercy this week. The furthest he has ever come in Paris so far are the quarter finals.
In absence of the injured world number 1 Rafael Nadal, Roger has been seeded as number 1.
Roger begins the tournament against France's Richard Gasquet (ATP 28), who he dominated six times in seven matches. He could then meet Radek Stepanek (ATP 41), who he defeated in Basel in two sets or Nicolas Almagro (ATP 16). In the quarter-finals, he could cross the path of Austria's Jürgen Melzer (ATP 11). Should Roger make it through to the semi-finals for the first time, he could set up a clash against Andy Murray (ATP 4) - against who he had lost in Shanghai.
Roger breezes through
Roger defeated Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-4 in his opening match in Paris today, setting up a third-round clash against Radek Stepanek.
Roger showed a fresh and strong display today. He scored a break early in either set, giving him the necessary comfortable lead. Roger completely dominated on serve - hitting 7 aces and 90 percent of his first services into the field. Gasquet did not see any break-balls during the entire match.
Roger will now play Radek Stepanek in the quarter finals. The two had already met last week in Basel in the quarters, where Roger dominated 6-3, 6-2. Roger leads the head-to-head 9-2.
Federer displeased with IMG betting scandal
Roger Federer has had words with his management company.
The Swiss expressed his displeasure that his 2007 French Open final loss to Rafael Nadal was the subject of a massive bet by the head of his management company IMG.
The rock-solid Swiss, a sponsor's dream for VIP brands like Rolex, Mercedes-Benz and Nike, said at the Paris Masters that he had sought and received an explanation from IMG head Ted Forstmann, who lost $40,000 when he bet on Federer to beat Nadal in the Roland Garros final three years.
Forstmann told his side of the story to an American website, saying he spoke with Federer before the final but only as a friend.
"It's disappointing that my name gets thrown around for something that I have no control over," said No. 2 Federer, whose reputation for fair play will surely be well worth preserving. "It's a bad thing that people close to the game are betting on the sport, but you can't control what other people do.
"All I can do is make sure me and my team don't do anything that's not allowed. I reached out to him (Forstmann) to know about the case.
"And Ted Forstmann is not my agent, he's head of IMG. That's clear. He owns the company and I'm sure he's learned his lesson through that. But he gave me straight answers about what was going on, and that's OK for me."
Forstmann is being sued in a US court by a disgruntled plaintiff who said he placed millions in sporting bets for the multimillionaire.
Federer will surely be quietly working behind the scenes with his personal advisors to assess the damage and ponder the relationship with IMG. While player and coaches are forbidden to bet on matches, punting by agents and management has never been addressed. International anti-corruption authorities have so far said nothing.
Nowa strona Rogera dość często zawodzi. Zapomnieli wrzucić angielksą wersję newsa o zwycięśtwie nad Stepankiem. Tak więc wrzucam tekst po niemiecku. :D
Viertelfinale in Paris
Roger hat heute dank eines souveränen 6-4, 6-3 Siegs gegen Radek Stepanek am Masters-1000-Turnier in Paris die Viertelfinals erreicht.
Roger rief in der Schlussphase des ersten Satzes und zu Beginn des zweiten die entscheidende Leistung ab - und verbuchte so Durchgang Nummer eins und ging im zweiten früh in Führung. Mit insgesamt elf Assen konnte er auf seinen Aufschlag zählen, dennoch musste Roger heute aber zwei Breakbälle abwehren.
Im Viertelfinale trifft Roger auf Jürgen Melzer (ATP 12), den er dieses Jahr in Wimbledon und New York jeweils in drei Sätzen besiegen konnte. Falls er eine Runde weiter kommen sollte, wäre das sein bisher bestes Resultat am Turnier in Paris-Bercy.
Jest i po angielsku:
Quarters in Paris
Roger continued his quest for a fifth title this season by defeating Radek 6-4, 6-3 at the BNP Paribas Masters today.
Roger had to face rather tough resistance from Stepanek and was only able to score a break at the end of set number one. But he continued just the same, breaking early in the second set and bringing it home safely. Once again, Roger's serve was a great help, scoring a total of 11 aces - although he did face two break-points today.
Our champ will now meet Jürgen Melzer (ATP 12) in the quarter finals. He defeated the German in straight set in Wimbledon and New York this year. Should Roger make it into the semis, it would be his best result so far at the tournament in Paris-Bercy.
Roger reaches semis
Roger has reached the semi-finals of the Masters in Paris-Bercy for the first in his career thanks to a 6-1, 7-6(4) victory against Jürgen Melzer today.
Roger showed another terrific display, racing to a 3-0 lead in the first set and wrapping it up in a quarter of an hour. Melzer improved on his serve in the second set, taking it into a tie-break after no breaks on both sides. Roger had to recover from trailing 3-4, but scored 4 points in a row and thus securing his spot in the round of the last four. Roger had 18 aces and 33 winners overall today.
The victory also means that Roger will hold the number two ranking until the end of 2010. He will now play Gaël Monfils in Saturday's semi-finals.
Roger defeated in semis
Roger will still have to wait to play his first Paris Masters final. He had to accept a 6-7(7), 7-6(1), 6-7(4) defeat against France's Gaël Monfils in the semi-final in Paris today.
Our champ fought out an enthralling contest with Monfils. The match was as tight as can be, requiring three tie-breaks to settle matters. Both players showed great tennis and made no presents. It was until the end of the second set when, needing to level things to stay in the match, Roger raised his game to snatch the tie-break and take the match into a third set. Roger then raced to a 4-1 lead in the deciding set and looked to be on course for a spot in the final. But his French opponent fought hard, battling his way back into the contest and finally even win the match in the last tie-break. Roger unfortunately could not make use of his 5 break-points.
Federer wciąż świeży fizycznie i mentalnie
Mimo pięciu niewykorzystanych meczboli w półfinale, Roger Federer uważa swój występ w Paryżu-Bercy za przełomowy. Nigdy wcześniej nie przebrnął tam przez fazę ćwierćfinałową. Szwajcar jest gotowy na Masters.Porażka w epickim boju z Gaëlem Monfilsem mogła przypomnieć Federerowi podobny przypadek z półfinału US Open, gdy dwukrotnie był o punkt od pokonania Novaka Đokovicia. - Na szybkich kortach sytuacja zmienia się bardzo szybko - powiedział w sobotę w Palais Omnisports. - Prowadziłem 4:2, 30-0 i nagle, niewiadomo skąd, pojawił się break point. Tak, trochę żałuję. Może przy meczbolach mogłem zagrać lepiej?
On sam także nie dawał dopingowanemu przez publiczność Monfilsowi wielu szans przy własnym podaniu: - Na początku meczu to była batalia na serwisy. W drugim secie miałem swoje okazje, gdy on popełnił trzy podwójne błędy. W trzeciej partii kontrolowałem sytuację. Z tego powodu ciężko jest pogodzić się z porażką. Ale w warunkach halowych, na bardzo szybkiej nawierzchni, można przegrać jeżeli rywal gra dobrze i ty grasz dobrze.
Spotkanie trwało 2h49', ale Federer nie był wyczerpany jego trudami: - Szczerze, czuję się dobrze fizycznie. To jakieś ukojenie, że w takiej formie kończę występ w Bercy. Jestem świeży fizycznie i mentalnie. Pod koniec sezonu to ma największe znaczenie. Dlatego zamierzam szybko odpocząć w Szwajcarii i wyruszyć do Londynu. Myślę, że moja gra pozwala mi myśleć o zwycięstwie tam.
Czterokrotny triumfator Masters, Federer w ubiegłym roku podczas pierwszej edycji tego turnieju rozgrywanej w Londynie przegrał walkę o finał. W okresie po US Open to on wśród zawodników czołówki wydaje się być w najlepszej formie (cztery turnieje - trzy finały - dwa tytuły).
Federer to pause London prep to kick-start Swiss Christmas season
Roger Federer will pause in his World Tour Finals preparation to delight his Swiss chocolate sponsors by turning on the Christmas lights at the Lindt Maîtres Chocolatiers factory.
The event may have been scheduled to coincide with a busy tennis schedule for the world No. 2, who will begin preparations in London this week for the Sunday start of the eight-man end-of-season competition at the O2 arena. Federer will slot in the obligation between his return from a semi-final at the Paris Masters and his flight to London.
He will throw the switch to kick-off the Christmas lights at Kilchberg near Zurich, not too far of a drive from his home country base on Lake Zurich.
It is likely to be a family affair with the 16-month-old Federer twins sure to delight at the spectacle of it all. The girls made a rare public appearance at the recent Basel final won by their 16-time Grand Slam champion dad.
But Federer said that contrary to popular belief, they did not sit through the entire match but instead were brought out near the end when cameramen suddenly became aware of their wiggling presence. The family can expect to do some pre-Christmas shopping in London with Federer hoping to complete a stay of nearly a fortnight should he get to the November 29 final.
Roger's opponents in London
The ATP World Tour Finals will start this coming Sunday. Roger will face Andy Murray, Robin Söderling and David Ferrer in the group stage (Group B). In Group A, Nadal has been drawn against world number three Novak Djokovic, Tomas Berdych and Andy Roddick. Matches in Nadal’s group will commence on Monday, November 22. Reigning champion Nikolay Davydenko is a notable absentee, just like last year's second finalist, Juan Martin Del Potro.
Roger has defeated Ferrer in all ten matches the two have played so far and has only lost once to Söderling in 15 encounters. In the head-to-head with Murray, on the other hand, Roger trails by 5:8. The first two players of each group will book a spot in the semi-finals, the tournament final will be held on Sunday, November 28.
Federer liczy na mocny koniec sezonu
Roger Federer, wicelider rankingu tenisistów, liczy na "mocne zakończenie roku". 29-letni Szwajcar zapowiada udany występ w zamykającym sezon turnieju ATP World Tour Finals (z pulą nagród 5 mln funtów), który w niedzielę rusza w londyńskiej O2 Arena.- Myślę, że mam spore szanse na zwycięstwo w Londynie. Jestem silny psychicznie i dobrze przygotowany fizycznie, no i miałem kilka dni na odpoczynek i złapanie głębszego oddechu, szczególnie w sferze mentalnej - powiedział Federer.
- Po porażce w hali Bercy wróciłem od razu do domu i tam przygotowywałem się do startu w wielkim finale sezonu w Londynie. Czuje się dobrze i gram dobrze, więc jestem optymistą. Przed rokiem w O2 Arena byłem w półfinale, ale to trochę za mało dla mnie. Chcę poprawić ten wynik - dodał tenisista z Bazylei, który poprzednio przegrał walkę o finał z późniejszym triumfatorem Rosjaninem Nikołajem Dawidienką.
Szwajcar wygrywał ostatni turniej w sezonie czterokrotnie, w latach 2003-04 w Houston i 2006-07 w Szanghaju. Bilans jego występów w nim, od debiutu w 2002 roku, wynosi 29-7. Przed rokiem, już w trakcie fazy grupowej londyńskiej imprezy, zapewnił sobie fotel lidera rankingu ATP World Tour na koniec sezonu.
Tym razem będzie rozstawiony z numerem drugim, a w grupie B będzie miał za rywali Szweda Robina Soederlinga (nr 4.), Szkota Andy'ego Murray (5.) i Hiszpana Davida Ferrera (7.).
W notowaniach bukmacherów, ale i opiniach wielu fachowców, Federer jest jednym z najpoważniejszych kandydatów do triumfu w Londynie, chociaż w tym sezonie wiodło mu się różnie. Choćby w maju przegrał ze Szwedem Robinem Soederlingiem w ćwierćfinale turnieju na kortach ziemnych im. Rolanda Garrosa w Paryżu. W ten sposób przerwana została jego seria 23 kolejnych występów w wielkoszlemowych półfinałach.
Nie obronił też tytułu w Wimbledonie, gdzie w 1/4 finału pokonał go nieoczekiwanie Czech Tomas Berdych. Ma w dorobku 16 triumfów w Wielkim Szlemie, po tym jak poprawił po raz kolejny rekord triumfując w styczniu w Australian Open. Jednak niepowodzenie poniósł też w nowojorskim US Open, wyeliminowany w półfinale przez Serba Novaka Djokovica.
W grupie A zmierzą się Hiszpan Rafael Nadal (1.), który już w lecie zapewnił sobie fotel lidera na koniec roku, Djokovic (3.), Berdych (6.) i Amerykanin Andy Roddick (8.).
Natomiast w rywalizacji deblistów, podobnie jak przed rokiem, wystąpi trzech polskich tenisistów: Mariusz Fyrstenberg i Marcin Matkowski oraz Łukasz Kubot z Austriakiem Oliverem Marachem. Obie pary trafiły do różnych grup.
DEFINING SWISS SUCCESS
DEUCE
Four titles, including a Grand Slam crown, might enough for most players in one season, but Roger Federer isn't really like most players...
Roger Federer agrees with former tennis great Pete Sampras, who once said: “Every year with a Grand Slam title is a great year.” From this point of view, his season already was a huge success after the first major tournament.
Federer started 2010 by winning his 16th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, beating Andy Murray in the final and increasing his lead over former record holder Sampras, who finished his career with 14 of these trophies. “In Melbourne, I played some of the best tennis of my life,” Federer says, looking back.
But after being thrown back by a lung infection in February that kept him from playing in Dubai, Federer went through some tough times. He surrendered his titles at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, losing in the quarter-finals to hard-hitting Swede Robin Soderling on a wet and cool day in Paris and to Tomas Berdych in Wimbledon, thus missing the final of the All England Club Championships for the first time since 2002.The defeat in Roland Garros ended one of the most astonishing streaks in tennis history. Federer had reached at least the semi-finals in all of his past 23 Grand Slam tournaments. The loss had another consequence: Federer lost the No. 1 spot to Rafael Nadal and missed the chance to surpass Pete Sampras, who holds the record of most weeks at No. 1. His total now stands at 285 weeks, only one week short of the record.
“Rafa fully deserves to be No. 1, since he won the last three major tournaments,” Federer says. “But I know if I am playing well, there is no question that I am able to challenge him and get a chance to return to the top spot.”
In August, Federer managed to conquer the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters in Cincinnati for the fourth time. It was his 17th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title, equalling Andre Agassi and putting him only one win behind leader Rafael Nadal.
But luck was not on Federer’s side at the other three big U.S. tournaments. At each of them he lost after having wasted match points, in Indian Wells against Marcos Baghdatis, in Miami against Berdych and in a spectacular US Open semi-final against Novak Djokovic.
But Federer still finds a lot of positive aspects in his 12th full season on the ATP World Tour. In Paul Annacone, a former pro and long-time-coach of Pete Sampras, he found a new, highly experienced coach to strengthen his team and add new ingredients to his game and tactics. Having spent some years on the tour without a coach, Federer now counts on two of them, Annacone and his Swiss friend Severin Luthi. He also managed to play through the whole summer without being hammered by injuries or back problems.
He again paused for four weeks after the US Open to recharge his batteries in Dubai, his second home, and to stay with his wife, Mirka, and his twin girls, Myla Rose and Charlene Riva. They started to keep him busy by running around in all directions. “I always try to guess where they are going, but every time I am wrong,” he laughs.
When Federer returned to the tour in Shanghai, he felt fresh and eager to play in a way he’d rarely felt before at this stage of the season. In China, he avenged his loss to Djokovic and went on to reach the final, losing to Andy Murray.
Only one week later he conquered his third trophy of the year, winning the If Stockholm Open for the first time. With his 64th title overall, he equalled the career total of Pete Sampras. The following week, he surpassed Sampras’s mark by winning his hometown title at the Swiss Indoors Basel. Only three players have won more tournaments in the Open Era – Jimmy Connors, Ivan Lendl and John McEnroe.
“Compared to my best years, 2010 was not that great,” Federer acknowledges. “It could have been better, but it could have been much worse. All except one player would be happy to get these results.” He was looking forward to the great finale of the year, the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London. “I am very optimistic that I can end the season on a high note.”
The View From Switzerland
- Rene Stauffer, Tages-AnzeigerWhen Roger Federer arrived at the Swiss Indoors in his former hometown Basel for the 11th time in early November, 9,000 fans awaited him and gave him a standing ovation before his first match. Federer is in a class of his own when it comes to popularity in Switzerland.
He was the first living person to appear on a Swiss stamp. In 2003, the Swiss TV-viewing public gave him the most important award of the country, “The Swiss of the Year”, when he only had one Grand Slam title under his belt.
Federer is the most popular and respected person in his home country and has attracted new people from all ages and classes to tennis. Most realise that he is the best and most important ambassador for the country, which he represents with values that count as typically Swiss: reliability, quality, humanity.
Some criticise him for his reluctance to play every Davis Cup tie, but he keeps promising that one day he will do everything to win this trophy for the first time for Switzerland.
Federer's adjustments paying off
Paul Annacone was a pretty fair tennis player. He served and volleyed his way to a career-high ranking of No. 12 on the ATP Tour, as well as three titles. He reached the singles quarterfinals at Wimbledon in 1984; his only major title came in 1985, when he won the Australian Open doubles with Christo van Rensburg.
Roger Federer enters the year-end championships with confidence after making the requisite strategic changes to his game. But his greatest impact on tennis came as the coach of Pete Sampras. The combination of Annacone's intellect and Sampras' athleticism resulted in a flurry of Grand Slam singles titles. Sampras won eight majors (and reached three more finals) in their seven seasons together, from 1995 to 2001. When Sampras was winding down his final year, Annacone returned for one more run. It ended with Sampras' fifth U.S. Open title -- and record 14th major -- at the age of 31.
And now, after a nearly four-year stint as the Lawn Tennis Association's head of British men's tennis, Annacone is at it again, attempting to conjure a few more majors from the man who broke Sampras' Slam record, Roger Federer.
"When you have his skills, his drive and his discipline, there is not much that cannot be achieved," Annacone wrote ESPN.com in an e-mail. "It think that is shown by his record. Personally, it has been terrific for me to be part of the team and be involved with a great player and more importantly terrific person.
"I am really enjoying it."
Federer, heading into the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals that start Sunday, seems happy with the results. Which, considering how the first half of the year went, is something of an upset.
He came out of the box fast, as he usually does, and won the Australian Open, but there were troubling early-round losses to Marcos Baghdatis, Tomas Berdych, Ernests Gulbis and Albert Montanes in his next four tournaments. When he lost in the quarterfinals at Roland Garros and Wimbledon (to Robin Soderling and Berdych), the end of Federer's record of 23 consecutive major semifinals left some people wondering how much he had left.
Quite a bit, even at the age of 29, as it turned out. Federer has won 29 of 33 matches since Wimbledon -- significantly better results than the past two years. He lost to Novak Djokovic in a spirited five-set semifinal match at the U.S. Open but came back to beat him in the Basel final -- winning 6-1 in the third set. Federer held five match points against Gael Monfils in the recent Paris semifinal, but lost two of three tiebreaker sets.
ESPN tennis analyst Darren Cahill said he sees some new tricks in the old dog.
"A lot of people think Roger's best tennis is behind him," Cahill said recently. "I disagree.
"To me, it looks like he's trying to come in on every ball, looking for every opportunity to be more aggressive. He's already got one of the best offensive games in the world and now he's got more of an attacking mindset. He's not wasting time looking for opportunities."
Annacone, understandably, is a bit more circumspect.
"Roger has been playing terrific tennis," he allowed. "He is a great player with great perspective, so he really understands what is going on and why. This gives him a great ability to adapt and adjust."
But is he consciously playing more aggressively?
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"Roger is a great player with a large variety of tools in his tool kit, so to speak," Annacone wrote in answer to the specific question. "Much of the challenge is figuring out when to use which tool. This is a great asset and as great players do, Roger reads the situations and puts the best plan into place to reach his goals."
Cahill, who coached former No. 1 players Andre Agassi and Lleyton Hewitt (and, very briefly, Federer himself), said he sees the fingerprints of Annacone all over Federer's game.
"Before, Roger would problem solve as he went along," Cahill said. "Now, he's going out there with a specific game plan. There's more structure."
Federer, who complained of back and leg injuries after Wimbledon, was upbeat after losing to Monfils.
"I feel good physically," Federer said last week. "In a way it is a relief that I was able to finish the [Paris] tournament in good physical health. I'm fresh mentally, too. This is the most important thing.
"Victories are important, but when you're not fit and when you're injured, it's bad. So I think I'm going to recover quite fast after that loss. I think I have good chances maybe in London for winning."
Annacone likes what he's seeing and, going forward, it appears Federer will have the best strategic support of his career. For that reason alone, 2011 should provide some compelling theater.
"It is a luxury to have such diversity," Annacone wrote, "but more importantly it is a skill and talent to know how and when to implement each [weapon]. And it is a process, so each day is a new challenge and a new opportunity."
BARCLAYS ATP WORLD TOUR FINALS
Federer Saves Best For Last
London, England
Roger Federer will be chasing his fifth Barclays ATP World Tour Finals title. The day after meeting British Prime Minister David Cameron at No. 10 Downing Street, World No. 2 Roger Federer joked, “Mr. Cameron was very excited to have us there. He was giving more tips to [Andy] Murray than to me.”
One could excuse Mr. Cameron for giving words of advice to the British No. 1 as opposed to the Swiss – after all, Federer is a four-time champion at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, winning back-to-back titles in 2003-04 and 2006-07.
Ahead of his ninth consecutive appearance at the circuit finale, the 29-year-old Swiss said on Friday in London: “This is a huge tournament for me. It’s a goal for the entire season trying to make it here, and once you make it here, trying to beat fellow Top 10 players, which is always fun to play against and face off at the end of the season. You hope you can save [your] best for last.”
If the past month is any indication, Federer has indeed saved his best for last and enters the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals arguably as the man to beat. Since the middle of October, he has compiled a 16-2 match record with a runner-up finish at the Shanghai Rolex Masters (l. to Murray), titles at the If Stockholm Open and Swiss Indoors Basel, and semi-final run at the BNP Paribas Masters.
Despite playing more matches than his fellow contenders over the past five weeks, the Swiss felt physically prepared for the Finals. “I feel like I got one more tournament left in me,” he said. “That’s the mindset a long time. I know when it starts, I know when it ends. My body isn’t screaming for vacation just yet”
Federer hasn’t been alone in hitting his stride in the lead into London. His round robin group includes Robin Soderling, Andy Murray and David Ferrer – players who’ve all won titles in the last month. Federer plays 2007 finalist Ferrer in his opening round robin match Sunday evening.
“Obviously it’s a tough group, but I think they’re even,” he said. “Novak [Djokovic]’s in one group, Murray’s in one; I’m in one group, Rafa [Nadal]’s in the other, so I think it’s quite even.
“In our group, it seems like we all know we’re playing well. Ferrer’s won Valencia, I won bunch of tournaments just now and won many matches, Murray won Shanghai and Soderling just won Paris, whereas in the other group maybe it’s just a bit more up in the air. They haven’t just won all the tournaments lately. It’s two completely different groups, but very exciting ones.”
In Federer’s favour will be experience and the fact that the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals often brings out his best – he’s made more appearances than his three round robin competitors combined and boasts an impressive 29-7 mark.
Reflecting on his history at the event, the Swiss chose the 2003 title run as the standout moment of his Finals career.
“I arrived and heard that the group would be [David] Nalbandian, [Andre] Agassi and [Juan Carlos] Ferrero, and I was just like, ‘Uh oh, this is not a group I like’,” he said. “I didn’t like to play baseliners back then. I liked guys who would come in or would not be so solid from the baseline, and I think that for me was a huge breakthrough.
“Obviously a few months earlier at Wimbledon was a huge breakthrough for me, but the confirmation beating Agassi twice in Houston was amazing. I also beat [Andy] Roddick in the semis, who actually then finished World No. 1, so that was a real huge win.
“Then obviously some of the Shanghai [Finals] I won were terrific. I played some of my best tennis quite often at the World Tour Finals, which I’m happy about.”
At Age 29 and Backed by a Brain Trust, Federer Digs In
PARIS — Not long ago, Roger Federer had no official coach. Now, intent on remaining a major force in the majors, he finds himself with two: Severin Luethi, his longtime confidant from Switzerland, and Paul Annacone, the former American player turned mentor who has worked with Pete Sampras and Tim Henman.
Luethi, Annacone and Federer have been together since July, when Annacone, with the British Lawn Tennis Association at the time, began working with Federer on a trial basis in Zurich. The trial became official before the United States Open in August, and Annacone, who is no longer with the association, and Luethi have been sharing duties, e-mails, text messages and Federer’s ear without evident rancor.
They are both planning to be with Federer in London for the ATP World Tour Finals.
“Sure it took some managing, just in the beginning, getting everybody happy and comfortable with the situation,” Federer said in an interview last week in Paris. “But I look at the long run. We all do, so it’s all cool. If you look at the short term, I think that’s when it gets a bit hectic and a bit pressured.”
At 29, with a record 16 Grand Slam singles titles in hand and his toddler twins in tow, it would be understandable if Federer lapsed into short-term tennis thinking. But even at No. 2 in the world rankings, behind Rafael Nadal, and even after failing to close out several critical matches this year, he is projecting plenty of eagerness.
“When we first started talking, and I was starting to get to know him a little more in-depth, his level of excitement and desire to keep playing and to do it in a way that’s positive, optimistic, energetic and open-minded, really kind of floored me,” said Annacone, who has spoken little publicly since joining Federer’s team.
“I felt like I was with a 23-year-old or 22-year-old again,” he added. “He loves the life. He loves the tennis matches. He loves the travel. He has all the ingredients, including and most importantly good health in mind and body, to keep going for a number of years. I think in retrospect Pete at this age was a lot more tired — a lot more tired mostly emotionally, not physically.”
Annacone began working with Sampras after Sampras’s coach Tim Gullikson became ill with the brain tumor that eventually killed him. Annacone helped Sampras make his final surge at age 31 and win the 2002 United States Open in what turned out to be his last tour event.
“At the end of Pete’s career, he rejuvenated himself for that great push at the U.S. Open, but the last couple years, for a multitude of reasons, were a bit emotionally draining for him,” Annacone said. “Roger is not anywhere near that state.”
Determining the precise state of Federer’s game remains difficult. The final phase of this season has been both reaffirming and disquieting. Reaffirming because he won three of seven tournaments and reached two finals after putting in a solid training block in July. Disquieting because he continued to let matches slip away after holding multiple match points. He failed to convert either of his two match points against Novak Djokovic in the United States Open semifinals or any of his five match points against Gaël Monfils in the semifinals in Paris last week.
His best chance against Monfils came on the first, when he flubbed a straightforward attacking forehand with plenty of open court at his disposal. Monfils gratefully referred to it as “missing a penalty kick,” and Federer missed plenty more forehands as the big-serving Monfils rallied.
Earlier this year Federer lost two other matches after holding match point: against Marcos Baghdatis in Indian Wells, Calif., and against Tomas Berdych in Miami. In the final in Halle, Germany, against Lleyton Hewitt in June, Federer was up by one set and 0-40 on Hewitt’s serve at 4-4 and also lost.
“I think this was for me the worst part, that I missed quite a few big opportunities, which then make my season look somewhat fragile but which it wasn’t,” said Federer, whose biggest victory came at the Australian Open in January. “I think it was a good season after all, but for me maybe the worst part is all those really close matches.”
The question is whether this is a hint of the decline to come — and both Federer and Annacone are weary of the legions of decline spotters — or simply an anomaly. What is clear is that Federer has never been through any stretch quite like this, even as Annacone points out that it was only last year that Federer coolly held off Andy Roddick, 16-14, in the fifth set of the Wimbledon final.
“I’ve always tried to play each point as tough as I can and sometimes it just happens that way,” Federer said. “It’s not the first time I lose a big match with match point. I lost to Marat Safin at the Australian Open once with match point and it was a great match from the beginning to the end. Sometimes you get unlucky with those kind of runs, and you just want to make sure they stop.”
The last chance to apply the brakes in 2010 starts Sunday in London, where he will have ample crowd support (although less against Andy Murray) along with his now-ample coaching support.
“We don’t particularly set up and say, ‘Let’s do a brainstorming session,’ like in business school or something,” Federer said of Luethi and Annacone. “But it’s somewhat more casual. We are in track suits and lounging around and all of the sudden it happens.”
Federer said he hired Annacone to give himself access to a fresh, experienced voice.
“Look, he’s just maybe simplified a few things,” he said. “Maybe I knew a few things but just needed to hear them differently.”
Considering that Annacone was an attacking player and that Sampras and Henman were frequent net rushers, Annacone has clearly not been hired to help Federer retreat farther behind the baseline.
“You have to shorten the points when you get older, and also these other guys are hitting better off the ground and that one-handed backhand is a liability now,” Martina Navratilova said of Federer in a recent interview.
But Annacone sounds convinced that Federer still has the talent to succeed by multiple means, as Sampras did.
“I think one of the great ingredients of Roger is that his tool kit is so deep and so vast,” Annacone said. “I still don’t think anyone else’s tool kit kind of matches up to his.”
Signed Self-Portrait & Racquet
In celebration of Roger's qualification for the 2010 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, the ATP has released his one-of-a-kind self-portrait and racquet for auction! Created using paint covered tennis balls, the piece marks Roger's participation in this year’s season-ending event.
The unique 'Art Of Tennis' collection will be exhibited at the O2 from 21-28 November during the week of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.
"It was great fun being invited to create my self portrait and I'm excited to see how the finished piece looks. Raising money for charity is always a great thing so already I would like to thank people who will buy these pictures and it's going to be for a good cause. I'm happy I can help a bit. I am very happy as it is the ninth consecutive year I have qualified for the year-end event. I have played in a lot of different venues during my career and I can say they staged a fantastic event at The O2 last year. I look forward to returning there in November and finishing the season strong." said Roger.
Specific details about the art work
* Acrylic paint
* 1220mm (48 in.) x 1400 mm ( 55 in.) x 25 mm (1 in.)
* 5kg (11 lbs)
* Comes with signed player racquet used to make paintingNo Returns
Support the Roger Federer Foundation & Save The Children
All money raised through the online auction will be donated to charity, with 50% of funds going towards Save the Children - the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals official charity - and the remaining 50% going towards Roger's charity of choice, the Roger Federer Foundation.
Lindt Christmas Lighting Event
Earlier this week, the Lindt & Sprüngli Chocolate Factory was the setting for a spectacular light show. Roger, the Lindt Maîtres Chocolatiers and Ernst Tanner, Chairman and CEO of Lindt & Sprüngli, set the kick-off for the festive light projections by artist Gerry Hofstetter. Around 8000 visitors marvelled at the festive images and enjoyed the magical Christmas village around the chocolate factory.
Shortly after 7 p.m., Ernst Tanner, Chairman and CEO of Lindt & Sprüngli, opened the first Lindt Christmas Lighting Event. He welcomed the crowd and said enthusiastically: "Today, a Christmas fairytale will come true – for everyone who loves Lindt chocolate and enjoys being enchanted by Gerry Hofstetter's fantastic light illuminations". This was the cue for Roger. Acclaimed by the onlookers, he stepped onto the stage in front of the Lindt & Sprüngli Chocolate Factory in Kilchberg. Our champ admitted it was a real honour for him to be there: "I take some of Lindt's fine chocolate with me to every match, and here in Kilchberg is where it is made. Spending a whole evening devoted to chocolate is a wonderful Christmas present."
Light projections to continue until 26 December
The atmospheric light projections can be seen until 26 December. Every morning from about 6 a.m. until 8 a.m. and in the evening from 5 p.m. to approx. 10 p.m. a different image will appear on the facade of the chocolate factory. The Lindt Christmas letterbox next to Santa's house will also remain until Christmas. Five winners will be drawn from all completed wish lists every weekend throughout Advent, and will have their chocolate Christmas wishes granted.
Roger visits 10 Downing Street
The eight players fighting for the crown of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals met British Prime Minister David Cameron on Thursday. "It's fantastic that the ATP World Tour Finals tournament is back in London for the second year running. It's great for London and great for the country."
Roger, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Robin Soderling, Andy Murray, Tomas Berdych, David Ferrer and Andy Roddick met Cameron at 10 Downing Street for a group photo and then went on to a private recepti
ATPWorldTour.com Fans' Favourite presented by RICOH (Singles)
Federer Roger Federer: The Swiss, who is admired for his work on and off the court, continues to be a fan favourite by millions of fans around the world, who have voted him as ATPWorldTour.com Fans' Favourite Presented by RICOH for a record eighth consecutive year. Federer received 47% percent of all votes, followed by Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
Federer faces up to his thirties
After seven years of making greatness routine, could 2011 be when Roger Federer slips back into the pack?
On his way to winning in the Stockholm Open in October, the thought seemed far from the 29-year-old's mind.
"In the past I've had an amazing run. I think I won 24 straight finals at one stage, so this could be the start of the streak again," he said.
If he does put together such a sequence, particularly if it includes reeling in runaway world number one Rafael Nadal, it would represent a compelling, and possibly conclusive, claim to be the greatest player ever.
Earlier in this decade Federer was undoubtedly lucky with the standard of opposition he played
But an opposite trajectory may be just as likely after a 2010 that, by his own stratospheric standards, was below par for Federer.
It began well as he foisted the role of tearful Australian Open runner-up onto Andy Murray, a year after Federer's own emotions spilled over following defeat by Nadal in Melbourne.
But as the Spaniard returned, knees repaired, to scythe through the rest of the tennis calendar, Federer looked increasingly vulnerable.
His run of consecutive major semi-finals was halted at 23 by Robin Soderling in Paris before Tomas Berdych ensured the current world number two was also absent from the last four at Wimbledon.
Novak Djokovic's win in the US Open semi-final left him with just one Grand Slam final appearance to reflect on for the first season since 2003.
A troubling profligacy has also crept into Federer's game.
At his most recent outing at the Paris Masters, he squandered five match points in a semi-final defeat by Gael Monfils - the fourth time this year that his opponent has wriggled off the hook to win from the brink of defeat.
By his own admission, Federer is fortunate that a new generation of players has not impressed themselves on the scene in the dramatic style he once did.
"There's not a whole lot of promising newcomers. I was asking myself the question, why don't we have any teenagers in the top 100?"
Federer savours his Australian Open win over Andy Murray in January
"It is quite surprising to me because when I was coming up with Lleyton Hewitt, Marat Safin, Andy Roddick, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Tommy Haas, they were all excellent players and in the top 100 as teenagers."
The rankings offer little reassurance.
Whereas he began 2010 with a comfortable rankings lead, Federer ends the year staring up at Nadal, who lies almost two major victories clear and is likely to pull further ahead in early 2011.
Looking the other way, the decline from the top can be steep and swift.
Pete Sampras dropped from world number one for the final time at the age of 29 and was 12th in the world before he turned 30.
American legend John McEnroe won all seven of his major titles before the age of 26 while his great rival Bjorn Borg famously walked away from the sport at 25.
Bud Collins of the Boston Globe and Tennis Channel, has seen all these careers rise and fall in over 45 years commenting on the sport and believes the modern game is particularly unforgiving on ageing limbs.
But he also asserts that Federer is better prepared than most to last the course.
"Forget about 29 - Roger is a very young 29. The way he plays, with such smoothness and such balance, he is not getting hurt like everybody else," Collins told BBC Sport.
"With Nadal every shot is an explosion and with Federer many shots are lullabies. It is going to be very difficult because Rafa is playing well
Federer on his chances of reclaiming top spot
"Nadal is really taking it out on his body, he is tremendously conditioned, but still the knees gave way and will the shoulder?"
"The most important word for Roger is motivation - how long does he want to stay at the top?"
The appointment of former Lawn Tennis Association figurehead Paul Annacone as his coach suggests Federer is not ready to allow his career to fade out just yet.
Federer has operated over the past few years with fellow Swiss Severin Luthi at his side, a figure so low-profile that his boss has had to clarify that he really is his coach.
But since Annacone, who previously worked with Sampras, was added to the team on a permanent basis in August, Federer has won in Stockholm and Basle and reached the final in Shanghai.
"That is the biggest signal that still he wants to improve," said Rene Stauffer, tennis correspondent for Zurich's Tages-Anzeiger and Sonntags-Zeitung, who has followed Federer since he was a 14-year-old rising star.
Annacone was given a full-time role after a month's trial with Federer
"I think it is a very smart decision, a fantastic choice.
"After two or three weeks I think the difference is already visible. Roger is already playing differently to how he was in the months before.
"If you look at him and the way he is talking about his game and talking about the tour and his ambition and you would have to think it would be the body that tells him not to play any more.
"He is still so enthusiastic and the fire is still burning in him."
That fire may not be enough to power him back to number one for the seven days needed to match Sampras' record of 286 weeeks at the top.
Twenty-three players other than Federer have held that spot, but only four of them have been older than he is now when in possession of it and the Swiss admits he faces a tough task overhauling Nadal.
"Sure it is challenging. It is going to be very difficult because Rafa is playing well," said Federer.
"It's not something I have in mind right now. The goal is to play well here in London and prepare for next season and hopefully at some stage get it back.
"If not then I will focus on just winning tournaments. That is something I like doing as well!"
Sixteen majors attests to that, and, however he ranks against the rest, it may be a long time before a 17th can be ruled out.
I may not return to No.1 - Roger Federer
ROGER Federer has admitted he faces a long struggle trying to regain the world No.1 ranking from Rafael Nadal.
Federer goes into the ATP World Tour Finals in the unusual position of not being the sport's pre-eminent force after a relatively unsuccessful year by his high standards.
Although the Swiss star started the season by winning the Australian Open, he lost his Wimbledon and French Open titles and is nearly 4,000 points behind Nadal in the rankings.
Roger remains Fans’ Favourite
Roger is admired for his work on and off the court and continues to be a fan favourite by millions of fans around the world, who have voted him as ATPWorldTour.com Fans’ Favourite for a record eighth consecutive year. Our champ received 47 per cent of all votes, followed by Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
Roger defeats Ferrer
Roger got off to a great start at the ATP World Tour Finals in London, defeating David Ferrer 6-1, 6-4 in his first match at the season-ending event.
"I'm really happy the way I was able to get out of the first match here," Roger said. "Looking at the scoreline, it doesn't reflect how tough it was. Usually 6-1, 6-4 kind of matches take an hour of play. Here, it took one hour 25 minutes I think."
Roger wasted no time and opened up a 4-0 lead in the first set. But it did not take long for Ferrer to fight back and score a break himself. But Roger simply increased the level of play and broke again in a marathon sixth game, which included six deuces, before serving out the set.
The second set was another tough run, with Roger managing to break away with a 3-2 lead. Ferrer earned himself several break points until the end of the set - three alone upon Roger's final serve at 5-4 - but was not able to convert any of them as Roger kept his poise and finally clinched the win with an ace.
Roger will now face Britain’s Andy Murray at the round-robin tournament on Tuesday. Murray defeated Robin Söderling 6-2, 6-4 on Sunday.
Federer kocha życie podróżnika
Pierwszym hitem Masters będzie we wtorek pojedynek Rogera Federera z Andym Murrayem, którzy dwukrotnie mierzy się ze sobą w finałach wielkoszlemowych. W Londynie obaj rozpoczęli od komfortowych zwycięstw w grupie.- Ale wynik nie oddaje tego, jak było trudno - powiedział Federer, czterokrotny triumfator Masters, po triumfie 6:1, 6:4 nad Davidem Ferrerem. - Gemy były wyrównane, szczególnie w drugim secie. Pierwszy mógł być jeszcze krótszy niż był. Mimo wszystko jestem zadowolony z tego jak to się wszystko ułożyło: nie jest łatwo pokonać zawodnika na fali, który właśnie wszedł do Top 10.
Ukontentowania nie ukrywał także Murray, który pierwszego dnia ostatniego turnieju sezonu wygrał 6:2, 6:4 z Robinem Söderlingiem: - Taktycznie to był wielki mecz - stwierdził faworyt gospodarzy. - Zagrałem bardzo mądrze. Nawet kiedy zrobiło się ciężko w drugim secie, kiedy pojawiło się wiele długich wymian i byłem w defensywie, cały czas trzymałem się swojej taktyki. Ruszałem się dobrze. W drugiej partii musiałem pobiegać trochę więcej. Slajs także działał dobrze. Nie zawsze szukałem linii: żeby sprawić mu trudność, uderzałem wiele piłek pod jego nogi.
Obaj panowie wiedzą, że ich bezpośredni pojedynek będzie czymś więcej niż tylko walką o prymat w grupie B: - Jestem przekonany, że to będzie wielki mecz - mówi Federer. - Wiem, że grając przeciw rywalowi, którego zawsze pokonywałem [a propos Ferrera], muszę wyjść na kort, grać swoje i przetrzymać napór. Ale przeciw takim rywalom jak Murray, Đoković lub Nadal trzeba wciąż szukać kluczy do szansy na zwycięstwo. Wiele zależy od formy dnia: jeżeli nie jesteś w najwyższej, a twój rywal tak, nie możesz wiele zrobić.
Jak zauważył Federer, w tym sezonie notuje dobre wyniki w tych samych okresach co Murray: - W Australii, Toronto, Szanghaju. Jedyną różnicą jest to, że ja wygrałem Szlem, turnieje 1000, 500 i 250. On wygrał inne, ale ja byłem bardziej regularny, bo inaczej nie wyprzedzałbym go w rankingu - ciągnął Szwajcar, który w niedzielę był obserwowany z trybun hali O2 przez Diego Maradonę.
Jeszcze Murray o roli faworyta: - Wszyscy zawodnicy chcą pokazać tutaj swój najlepszy tenis. Odniosłem pierwsze zwycięstwo, duże zwycięstwo, bo pokonałem gracza notowanego wyżej ode mnie. On jest czwarty na świecie. Jest bardzo, bardzo dobrym tenisistą.
Szkot pokonał Federera dwukrotnie w finałach w drugiej połowie roku: w Toronto (7:5, 7:5) i Szanghaju (6:3, 6:2). Teraz hala, ale nawierzchnia w niej wcale nie jest bardzo szybka. Federer porównał korty w ostatnich turniejach: - W Bazylei było średnio szybko. W Paryżu nawierzchnia była tak szybka, że nie widzieliśmy takiej od lat i pięknie jest na takiej grać. Tutaj natomiast kort wydaje się bardzo wolny i trudno notować asy: w Paryżu i Bazylei miałem średnią 15, a tutaj 5. Muszę się mentalnie przyzwyczaić do długich wymian z głębi, bo jeżeli tylko zaatakujesz, zostaniesz minięty, czyli mamy do czynienia z rzadką sytuacją na najszybszych kortach.
To, co podoba się Federerowi, to właśnie różnorodność nawierzchni: - Są inne z tygodnia na tydzień. Dyrektorzy turniejów mają możliwość decydować o szybkości nawierzchni i świetnie, że zmieniają je od czasu do czasu.
Od sezonu 2012 wyrażenie Federera z tygodnia na tydzień nabierze dosłownego znaczenia także w samej końcówce sezonu, bo nowy kalendarz ATP nie przewiduje już prawie tygodniowej przerwy między ostatnim turniejem Masters 1000 w Bercy a Finałami ATP World Tour: - Myślę, ze to dobra decyzja, krok w dobrą stronę, ale czas pokaże jak będzie naprawdę. Świetnie, że sezon skończy się wcześniej, bo będzie także więcej czasu na odpoczynek między Masters a finałem Pucharu Davisa.
Zwolennik skrócenia sezonu dla wszystkich, Federer zwykł układać sobie terminarz pomijając nawet niektóre imprezy Masters 1000: - Osobiście nigdy nie lamentowałem nad długością kalendarza, ponieważ sam robię sobie przerwy kiedy tego potrzebuję. Pytanie jednak do wszystkich tenisistów: czy chcą grać więcej turniejów czy wolą dłużej trenować. Ja tam kocham podróżować i przemierzać kilometry. Nie uważam, by tenis zmienił się w przyszłości ze sportu globalnego jakim jest dzisiaj. Przez 10 lat życia jest tak samo i gdyby zachodziła potrzeba, będę tak żył przez kolejne 10 lat.
Federer won't complain about slightly shorter season
Federer won't complain about slightly shorter season A two-week reduction in the ATP calendar for 2012 and 2013 won't change life much for Roger Federer, who has always charted his own course through the long season.
But the world No. 2 has optimistically greeted news of the change, saying it may help other players to find more time for rest and improvement between seasons.
"I think it's a good thing but time will tell," said Federer after the move to carve out a seven-week off-season by combining smaller events into fewer weeks and losing the six spare days between the end of Paris Bercy and the start of the season-ending final, currently played in London through 2013.
"(The decision) is in stone now, I think it's good to have somewhat of a bit of a longer off season. Will we have less or more injuries because the calendar is more packed? I don't know. But I definitely think it's a step in the right direction."
Federer, president of the Player Council, certainly had a say in the proceedings which decided on the new calendar. But he was not a particularly outspoken advocate of less playing weeks. "I was not the guy fighting it as much as maybe other players because I feel if the season's long, you take more breaks during the season.
"But having a bit more of an off-season makes more sense for everybody."
Federer not stressed over current No. 2 status
Federer not stressed over current No. 2 status Roger Federer has more to deal with than worrying about regaining the No. 1 ranking from Rafael Nadal, with the Swiss content to let level of play from both tennis heroes decide the purely mathematical issue during 2011.
Nadal took over the top spot in 2010 and will enter next season with little to defend by way of points at the Australian Open quarters as he quit injured against Andy Murray. "It's going to be very difficult," said Federer. "Rafa is playing well and I have to defend my (champion's) points in Australia. Things look very good for him over the next few months."
With a record 16 Grand Slam titles in his pocket and a solid grip on tennis history, the 29-year-old Federer won't stress over a ranking number. "It's going to be challenging," he said of any return to the top spot. "The ranking is not something I have in my mind.
"My goal is to play well (this week) in London (at the eight-man World Tour Finals) and prepare well for next season. At some stage hopefully I'll try get it back. Or I'll focus on winning tournaments - I enjoy doing that too."
Federer took the first step towards a possible fifth year-end title by winning his opening match in style over Spain's David Ferrer as play began at the weekend.
Roger easily defeats Murray
Roger showed a fantastic display at the ATP World Tour Finals against Andy Murray today, clearly defeating the Scotsman 6-4 and 6-2.
Federer confidence building as London semis loom
Federer confidence building as London semis loom Roger Federer is relying on his proven ability to lift his huge game at precisely the right moment as he heads for what looks to be the semi-finals of the year-end ATP World Tour Finals.
His crushing win over Andy Murray to run his group record to 2-0 with a pair of straight-set victories will boost Swiss confidence. And his final date this week with longtime opponent Robin Soderling could put the icing on the cake for a player who has won four year-end events during his career.
"I expect myself to play some of my best tennis at the biggest events where I try to peak. That includes the World Tour Finals," said Federer. "I've shown a lot of grit at the end of the season throughout my career. This is the ninth time I'm qualifying and the ninth time I'm playing through groups. I have a great record in round robin.
"I find the extra gear at the end of the season year when the season is long. That's something I have experience doing."
The relaxed world No. 2 is thriving in the London atmosphere as he waits for his rivals to do their part to reach the weekend at the O2 arena. The Swiss can cement his own place with a victory over Soderling.
"Qualifying (after two wins) or not doesn't really change my mindset a whole lot," explained Federer. "I've saved energy so far, it's been good. Plus I've had the days off in between, like in a Grand Slam. Only having to play two sets, is also nice at the end of the season."
Roger through to semis
Roger once again displayed great tennis today, defeating Robin Söderling 7-6(5), 6-3 and is the first player to book his spot in the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals in London.
Söderling tried to dominate Roger with his serve today but the sheer class of our champ showed through. The first set was pretty close with Roger taking it 7-6(5) and it is at this point that he looked like he had put his foot down on the gas. The second set saw Roger get into his stride and play some of those lovely ground strokes that we love. He broke in the eighth game with a couple of classy points and completed his 15th victory in 16 encounters with Soderling in 88 minutes. Roger's variation of play and his serve were outstanding.
He will now play the player coming second in group A on Saturday.
Federer uznaje porażkę w plebiscycie szwajcarskiego sportu
Rok 1981 wydał Szwajcarii wybitnych sportowców: kolarza Fabiana Cancellarę, skoczka narciarskiego Simona Ammanna i tenisistę Rogera Federera. Ten ostatni, wobec sukcesów kolegów w ostatnich latach, już nie może liczyć na regularne zwycięstwa w wyborach na postać nr 1 w krajowym sporcie.Czterokrotnie wybierany sportową osobistością Szwajcarii (2003, 2004, 2006, 2007), Federer w ubiegłym roku nie otrzymał nagrody, mimo zdobycia dwóch tytułów i dotarcia do dwóch innych finałów wielkoszlemowych. - Nie mam szans także teraz - powiedział w czwartek w Londynie. - Ja już zostałem uznany. Jeden gość wygrał dwa złote medale olimpijskie w skokach narciarskich. Prawdopodobnie dadzą nagrodę jemu. Takie mam wrażenie.
Nieco chłodna opinia pokazuje, że ex lider rankingu ATP być może nie bardzo przejmuje się już indywidualnymi wyróżnieniami. W 2008 roku najlepszym sportowcem jego kraju został Cancellara, a w ubiegłym roku Didier Cuche, inny oprócz Ammanna przedstawiciel sportów zimowych. - Wszystko, co mogę spróbować zrobić, to mieć dobry sezon - powiedział Federer. - Jedno jest pewne: Szwajcaria nie będzie mnie wybierać dziesięć razy z rzędu. Już wygrałem mnóstwo razy i to było miłe. Mam nadzieję, że kiedyś jeszcze będę mógł wziąć udział w ceremonii wręczania nagród, bo zwykle je opuszczałem, jako że w grudniu szukam raczej słońca do treningu poza Szwajcarią.
Masters zaczyna się od półfinału
Federer wygrał grupę B Finałów ATP World Tour, w ostatnim meczu pokonując Robina Söderlinga: - Jestem zadowolony, że byłem w stanie wyjść i zagrać ciężki, solidny mecz przeciw zawodnikowi, który myślałem, że jest w dobrej formie. Świadomie nie chciałem znać kalkulacji przed spotkaniem: dzięki sytuacji z ubiegłego roku teraz byłem lepiej do tego przygotowany. Nawet nie byłem pewny, czy wygrany set daje mi awans. Grałem tym razem jako pierwszy, więc musiałbym poczekać na wynik Murraya. Chciałem zagrać najlepiej jak potrafię. Porażka nigdy nie jest rozwiązaniem, by wygrać turniej. To dlatego jestem szczęśliwy ze wszystkich trzech meczów, że nie straciłem seta i za wiele energii. Gram naprawdę dobrze.
Bez porażki, bez straty seta, czeka na sobotniego rywala półfinałowego, którym może być każdy z czwórki zawodników w grupie A (Nadal, Đoković, Berdych i Roddick). Ale czy popis w O2 to nie pokazywanie pazurów Nadalowi? - Niezależnie od mojej wygranej czy przegranej, jestem jednym z wielkich rywali Rafy i innych zawodników próbujących sięgać po najważniejsze tytuły - powiedział dyplomatycznie.
Roger twierdzi, że tytuł w Londynie po tym na początku sezonu w Australian Open byłby zamknięciem cyklu: - Świetnie sezon zacząć, świetnie skończyć - powiedział. - Ale wciąż jestem od tego o dwa mecze, dwa naprawdę ciężkie mecze, w których zmierzę się najpewniej z graczami z czołowej piątki. Trudny weekend przede mną. Do tej pory było dobrze: zwycięstwa bez straty seta nad przeciwnikami z Top 10 pozwalają mi czuć się niesamowicie. Trzeba utrzymać ten poziom. Turniej się nie skończył, a dla mnie tak naprawdę dopiero się zaczyna.
Trener musi być przyjacielem
Wiceprzewodnik listy rankingowej o znakomitym bilansie w drugiej połowie sezonu (co najmniej półfinał w ośmiu kolejnych występach): - Moje podejście jest zawsze takie, by wrócić mocny po Wimbledonie, niezależnie od wyniku tam - wyjaśnił. - Hala była miejscem do otrząśnięcia się po nie zdobyciu korony w Wimbledonie, nie byciu tam w finale po nie wiem ilu latach. To było dziwne uczucie. Ale miałem miłe wakacje, a później znakomite przygotowania. W Toronto czułem się niezwykle pewnie, byłem przekonany, że zamierzam grać dobrze przez kilka kolejnych miesięcy.
Nie ukrywa, że wpłynęli na jego grę także trenerzy Paul Annacone i Severin Lüthi. - Już sama rozmowa z kimś innym była miłą zmianą - powiedział a propos Annacone, ex coacha Samprasa. - Kluczem do sukcesu jest także udział w tym wszystkim Severina, który zna mnie przez trzy czy cztery lata, o wiele lepiej niż Paul. Ważne, by mieć zawsze dwie strony obok siebie i móc przygotować najlepszy możliwy plan na mecz. Byłem w stanie grać tak jak zwykle chcę: mieszać, być agresywnym. Prawdopodobnie wpadłem w skłonność do bycia czasami pasywnym, szczególnie w Wimbledonie. Ale powtarzam, Berdych zagrał wtedy wielki mecz.
Powrót do ćwierćfinałowej porażki w Roland Garros, tego jedynego razu, gdy musiał uznać wyższość Söderlinga: - W ogóle podczas sezonu na kortach ziemnych grałem wiele meczów w deszczu, co nie jest łatwą sprawą. Söderling zaprezentował się wtedy fenomenalnie. Czasami trzeba zaakceptować to, że rywale grają dobrze. Powrót do porażek po niewykorzystaniu meczboli: - Oczywiście, to także uczyniło mój sezon ciężkim aż do końca. Ale w tym wszystkim był to także sezon solidny, bo potrafiłem grać dobrze na kortach twardych.
Federer reminds us who’s boss as he flattens Murray in 14th episode of career face-offs
There is something a bit unique about a Federer-Murray encounter. Perhaps it’s because, ultimately, every soul among us who aspires to hit the ball over the net wants to be like Roger Federer. To be able to glide around the court without breaking a sweat, hitting winners from indeterminable angles, and all the while, be such an asset to humanity, such a nice guy.
But then again, there’s nothing like seeing a favourite upset, a King de-throned. And for some reason, whenever he plays Murray, Federer is that bit less likeable. Confidence becomes arrogance, honest becomes mean, and we decide that he’s not such a saint after all. When Federer talks about Nadal, he oozes praise. Getting him to say something nice about Murray is like pulling teeth. It happened again on Sunday. There Muzz was, saying what a great player the Swiss is, what an honour it is to play him, and what did Roger do? Remind us that he’s the one with 16 Grand Slams, not Andy. And so with every ounce of our heads and our hearts we want Murray to beat him. To deflate some of that hot air. To show him that he isn’t so perfect after all.
Federer reminds us whos boss as he flattens Murray in 14th episode of career face offs, sport
One of the first Fed-urray face-offs of note was when young Andy drew the mighty world No.1 in the first round of Dubai in 2008. The lanky Scot, considerably leaner than today’s sushi-fuelled fighting machine, came out onto the court, and….absolutely destroyed the world’s best player. Federer could hardly find the ball, let alone win with it. That match proved that when Murray is playing his best, he can stop an opponent’s game in his trucks. Snuff it out like a candle. Buzz, scamper and scrap around the court, slicing and dicing the ball to Federer’s feet until the Swiss shakes his locks angrily and punts the ball out.
True, the Dubai win was only a first round in an ATP 500 tournament. Not exactly a Wimbledon final. But it gave Murray a 2-1 lead in their head-to-head, a lead he has maintained ever since. Yes, he’s lost two Grand Slam finals to the Swiss. But he’s also won two finals at the second-highest level of the tour, at the ATP Masters 1000 events in Toronto and Shanghai this August and October. Not such a young pretender after all.
The point of all this pre-amble is that these two jugadores have a history, not a warm and fuzzy one like the Roger and Rafa annuals. It’s an altogether grittier, curiouser sort of beast. Today, Tuesday at the O2 Arena, or Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, or Final Showdown, whatever your favourite piece of nomenclature, we were treated to episode No.14 in the Federer v Murray show. Spectators staved off man-flu, skipped work, forgot to eat lunch, all in the hope of witnessing a marvel. Could Murray beat Federer yet again?
The short answer is no. Just as the number of Swiss flags inside the O2 Arena outranked the lonely Scottish saltire by at least 20 to 1, Federer was simply better today. Served better, returned better, hit the ball better. There were a few wow-making rallies, but Murray was flickering rather than firing. The fact that he changed his shirt from white to black just five games in surely suggests that all was not quite right.
As is his usual custom, Muzza said it like it was afterwards. “I returned poorly and I served poorly, and against a guy like Roger, that’s not going to win the match. It’s disappointing. I feel like I’m hitting the ball fine from the back of the court, but when you’re serving at 30% it’s tough to make an impact. I did the two most important things in tennis – serve and return – very badly today. That’s got to improve.”
What would Federer say? Would he take the high road and resist the challenge to say more than that Andy was clearly having a bad day, drop in a few ’sorry’s’, the way Rafa would? Of course not. He’s already teeing up for the next face-off. “Maybe it was due to my good play,” the world No.2 said. “I played tough and solid from start to finish…. I find the extra gear at the end of the season year when the season is long… Obviously I’m maybe always the one who is a little bit in control where I’m the aggressor, where he’s maybe the counter-puncher still a little bit…. Tennis is not rocket science. It’s pretty straightforward.”
Onwards then to Federer v Murray No.15, whenever, and wherever it may be. I know who I’ll be supporting.
Roger plays Nadal in final!
Roger defeated Novak Djokovic 6-1, 6-4 in the semi-final in London today. He has reached the final of the ATP World Tour Finals for the sixth time in the nine times he has participated.
Roger won the first set after approximately half an hour due to his outstanding performance. Djokovic began the second set in determined fashion and broke Roger for the first time to take a 2-0 lead. But the joy from an increased margin of 3-0 lasted only two games for Djokovic when Roger began to battle back and leveled the match at 3-3. Roger won the match pulling away with an service winner out of reach for Djokovic.
It seems like it's working this week," said Roger after the match. "I played well against a player who's had a great season. I played a great match so I'm very happy. I hope I can keep this up for a long, long time."
Therefore, the dream final is perfect: Roger will face Rafael Nadal on Sunday.
#66) ATP WORLD TOUR FINALS LONDYN 2010
round robin
David Ferrer [7] 6-1 6-4
Andy Murray [5] 6-4 6-2
Robin Soderling [4] 6-4 7-6
1/2 finału
Novak Djoković [3] 6-1 6-4
finał
Rafael Nadal [1] 6-3 3-6 6-1
Boże Kochany, cała ścisła czołówka na rozkładzie. :D
Czysto spekulując, wydaje mi się, że ta przemiana Federera to może być zasługa jego nowego trenera Paula Annaconn'a bodajże (piszę z pamięci więc jakby co niech ktoś poprawi).
muto napisał:
Czysto spekulując, wydaje mi się, że ta przemiana Federera to może być zasługa jego nowego trenera Paula Annaconn'a bodajże (piszę z pamięci więc jakby co niech ktoś poprawi).
Nowy trener i chyba jednak ogromna motywacja po serii klęsk, a teraz jeszcze dochodzi chęć storpedowania Rafa Slam.
WTF: Federer wyrównał rekord końcowych triumfów.
Szwajcar Roger Federer, wygrywając WTF 2010 wyrównał wynik Pete Samprasa i Ivana Lendla, 5 zwycięstw w tym prestiżowym turnieju.
Najwięcej wygranych "Mistrzostw ATP":
5 - Pete Sampras
5 - Ivan Lendl
5 - Roger Federer
:D
Korty twarde: Federer coraz bliżej rekordu Agassiego
Roger Federer po wspaniałej jesieni, podczas której wygrał 3 turnieje na kortach twardych (Sztokholm, Bazylea, Londyn) zbliżył się do rekordu 46 wygranych turniejów na kortach twardych, dzierżonego przez Andre Agassiego.
Najwięcej tytułów na kortach twardych:
1 Agassi - 46
2 Federer - 44
3 Connors - 44
:P
Roger wins World Tour Finals!
Roger defeated Rafael Nadal at the ATP World Tour Finals in London 6-3, 3-6 and 6-1 today, defeating the current number one of the world at the inofficial World Championships!
Roger has won the prestigious season-ending-event five times now after his last victory in 2007. He certainly proved that he is hot for the 2011 season. "I am already looking forward to the training starting beginning of December. The start of the season won't be easy as I will have to defend my title at the Australian Open, my only Grand Slam title this year. And staying uninjured will also be an important aspect," Roger said.
Roger played his absolute best today, attacking with his forehand and serving well throughout almost the entire match. After the two players split the first two sets, each breaking the other's serve once, Roger had the first opportunity to break in the third set when Nadal sent a forehand wide in the fourth game. Our champ then took advantage of a second serve to race the net and Nadal drove a forehand pass wide to give Roger a 3-1 lead. Roger then held serve and gained two break points in the next game. He needed just one to grab a commanding 5-1 lead after Nadal netted a backhand. He then opened a 40-0 lead in the final game before Nadal won a point, but Roger smacked a forehand past the Spaniard, not sure whether it was in or not at first, celebrating his victory as he saw the linesman's hands were still held together.
Nie skreślajcie Federera. "Będę grał jeszcze wiele lat"
Wiele było w tym sezonie opinii, że Roger Federer się skończył. Że teraz męskim tenisem rządzi Rafael Nadal. W niedzielnym finale Mastersa Szwajcar pokazał jednak, że nie jest z nim tak źle. Wygrał z Hiszpanem 6:3, 3:6, 6:1. Potem ogłosił, że zamierza grać jeszcze wiele lat.
- Tak długo, jak zdrowie dopisuje, czuję chęć do gry i motywację, nie zamierzam schodzić z kortu - mówi 29-letni Federer.
- Tenis sprawia mi przyjemność. Lubię podróżować po świecie, grać przeciwko najlepszym, stawiać sobie wyzwania. Za mną wiele sukcesów i niesamowita kariera. Nie chcę tego kończyć.
- Wiem co to zmęczenie. Za mną dziesięć pełnych sezonów w ATP, z czego dziewięć zakończyłem Mastersem. Zawsze miałem wyczerpujące i długie sezony. Ale nie przestanę grać, nie odejdę, czy jakkolwiek inaczej to nazwiecie. Mam nadzieję, że dam radę występować jeszcze wiele lat. To jest mój główny cel i wierzę, że jest możliwy - kończy były numer jeden rankingu singlistów.
Finały ATP World Tour: Federer nie mógł zagrać lepiej
Roger Federer uczył się tenisa w hali, w której zdobył 16 ze swoich 66 tytułów. Trzy z tych wywalczonych pod dachem to turnieje Masters. Także w Londynie nie dał sobie zabrać trofeum, nawet jeśli po drugiej stronie siatki stał Rafa Nadal.
- Jestem zachwycony sposobem, w jaki grałem przez cały tydzień - powiedział w niedzielę po finale (6:3, 3:6, 6:1) przeciw wielkiemu hiszpańskiemu rywalowi. - Wygrać Masters po raz piąty to coś niesamowitego, po raz trzeci w innym miejscu.
W opinii ekspertów Federer w drugiej połowie sezonu prezentuje być może najlepszy tenis w swojej karierze. - Jestem naprawdę zadowolony ze stylu, w jakim byłem w stanie zakończyć sezon, grając mój najlepszy tenis, rzeczywiście zachowując najlepsze na koniec - powiedział. - Grałem dużo, by przygotować się do tego jednego momentu. A pokonanie Rafy w finale jest szczególne z powodu roku, który on ma za sobą.
O drugim secie, przegranym z Nadalem: - W gemie, w którym zostałem przełamany, praktycznie nie trafiałem pierwszego serwisu. Nie chcę powiedzieć, że oddałem tego gema. Ale Rafa jest wystarczająco dobry, by zabrać dla siebie co najmniej połowę punktów po drugich podaniach rywali, chyba że jesteś na fali i nie odczytuje twojego serwisu. W tym momencie był w meczu: wiedział o wadze sytuacji. Nawet jeśli straciłem seta, jestem zadowolony z tego, że byłem nastawiony pozytywnie przez cały mecz. To był bardzo wysoki poziom i nie wiem czy byłbym w stanie zagrać lepiej.
O odpływie energii z mającego za sobą ciężki półfinał Nadala nie było mowy nawet w trzeciej partii: - Bardzo szybko przełamałem go przy 4:1, kilkukrotnie bardzo dobrze returnując. Byłem w stanie wciąż grać ofensywnie, wymiany nie były aż tak długie: myślę, że to mogło sprawić, że był trochę sfrustrowany. Ale to też jest tenis halowy, na którym się wychowałem. Wierzyłem w swój plan od początku do końca. Od pierwszego pojedynku grupowego przeciw Ferrerowi, zawsze potrafiłem grać tak jak chciałem.
Od początku starał się być agresywny: - Miałem nadzieję, że czasami będę popełniał mniej błędów. Tak długo jak nie musiałem gonić wyniku, nie było powodu do paniki.
Serwowałem bardzo dobrze, trafiałem we właściwe punkty, używałem poprawnie bekhendu, co jest kluczem przeciw grającemu lewą ręką Rafie, który odnajduje mój bekhend nieco łatwiej niż inni. Wiedziałem, że to będzie interesujący mecz. Myślę, że obaj mamy do siebie mnóstwo szacunku. Podziwiam jego grę, myślę, że z wzajemnością: to zawsze powoduje dobrą walkę. Stoczyliśmy kolejny wieki mecz z fanastycznymi wymianami.
Tenis na wyżynach
O drugiej połowie sezonu i przygotowywaniu do meczów z Paulem Annacone jako trenerem: - Przede wszystkim musiałem odzyskać pewnność siebie, a to tylko da się zrobić wygrywając mecze. Po rozczarowującym sezonu na mączce, Halle, Wimbledonie, nie byłem w stanie wygrać turnieju, chyba nie grałem najlepszego tenisa, byłem pasywny. Przed sezonem na kortach twardych ważne było by podnieść poziom gry, zacząć lepiej się poruszać, czuć się lepiej fizycznie i mentalnie. Jestem pewien, że Paul mi w tym pomógł. Ale pomógł także Severin [Lüthi, kapitan Szwajcarii w Pucharze Davisa], który jest przy mnie od kilku lat.
O podróżowaniu: - Jestem zadowolony ze swojego teamu, mogę im tylko podziękować za znakomitą pracę, także trenerowi przygotowania kondycyjnego, fizjoterapeucie, żonie, dzieciom i wszystkim innym, z którymi świetnie było podróżować po świecie. Nie obyło się bez poświęceń, ale wygląda na to, że podjęliśmy w tym sezonie wiele odpowiednich decyzji. Moje ciało było w stanie wytrzymać intensywną dawkę meczów, jakie zagrałem: pięć turniejów w siedem tygodni. Oczywiście, czuję się teraz raczej zmęczony i wykończony. Ale kto będzie się tym przejmowałem za 20 lat.
O pozycji swojej i Nadala w światowym tenisie: - Kto mówi, że nasze czasy się skończyły? Rafa wygrał trzy kolejne turnieje Wielkiego Szlema, w których nie miał go kto zatrzymać. Teraz ja odnalazłem swoją najlepszą formę. Patrzmy dalej: Murray i Đoković mieli kolejny znakomity rok, w którym może zabrakło im tylko wielkich tytułów. Murray pokonał mnie dwukrotnie w finale: to dla niego pozytyw na następny sezon. Są inni: Berdych i Söderling, którzy także byli mnie w stanie pokonać. Myślę, że męski tenis jest teraz na absolutnej wyżynie, z mnóstwem ekscytujących meczów. Świetną rzeczą jest według mnie także to, że sport ma mnie i Rafę, którzy obaj już w młodym wieku naznaczyliśmy swoją karierę Wielkim Szlemem. Nie gramy tylko dla siebie, ale też dla historii. Myślę, że zawsze będzie wiele w stawce gdy będziemy mierzyli się w przyszłości. To cudowne.
Federer wymijająco na pytanie o różnicę między sobą i Nadalem a resztą czołówki: - Nie wiem, możliwe. Nie znam sytuacji w rankingu. Ostatnio nie sprawdzałem.
Wspomnienia większe niż kasa
Jako niepokonany mistrz Szwajcar wzbogacił się w Londynie o ponad półtora miliona dolarów. Co zrobi z pieniędzmi? - Potrzebuję wakacji. Czas to pieniądz w tych dniach. Miło zarabiać, z pewnością pomaga. Ale nie dlatego tutaj jestem. Wspomnienia, które ze sobą zabieram są zawsze o wiele większe niż wygrane pieniądze.
Do kiedy zamierza grać w tenisa? - Tak długo jak będę w stanie, jak będę zdrowy, chętny, zmotywowany. Na razie jestem. Za mną chyba dziesięć pełnych sezonów, a w dziewięciu z nich zakwalifikowałem się do Masters. Zawsze zatem były to sezony długie i wyczerpujące. Ale z każdego się cieszyłem, radowałem podróżami po świecie, rywalizacją z najlepszymi, stawianiem sobie wyzwań na treningach. To niesamowita sprawa mojej kariery. Nie mam planów odejścia. Mam nadzieję grać jeszcze przez wiele lat. To w każdym razie cel, myślę że możliwy.
Zapytany o techniczne szczegóły rakiety: - Moja rakieta waży tyle samo od lat, dlatego nie pamiętam dokładnej wartości. Jeżeli chodzi o naciąg, to go znam, bo proszę o inny na każdy mecz. Przez ten tydzień miałem jednak cały czas taki sam (ok. 22 kg). Od 2002 gram pół syntetycznym, pół naturalnym.
Życie to nauka
Symbolem sezonu Federera był dotąd półfinał US Open, w którym nie wykorzystać dwóch meczboli i został wyeliminowany przez Đokovicia, któremu zdążył się już dwukrotnie zrewanżować. - Może nauczyłem się czegoś na błędach. W Nowym Jorku trudno było przygotować się do spotkania mentalnie, wiedząc, że może czekać mnie pięć setów, a Rafa łatwo awansował do finału. To może dlatego tak szybko uciekły mi sety drugi i czwarty. Ale to jedna rzecz, która się już nigdy nie powtórzy. Człowiek żyje i się uczy. Novak zagrał znakomicie. Ale mogłem wygrać, powinienem był wygrać.
Sezon zakończony w wielkim stylu trzeba uznać za sezon udany: - Fani wierzą we mnie niezależnie od tego czy wygrywam czy nie. Ale wygrywanie pomaga. To był dobry sezon i nie wiem jak ktoś może powiedzieć, że był on zły. Z pewnością poniosłem kilka ciężkich porażek, ale nie jestem w stanie wygrać każdego turnieju. Już nie mogę notować 16 finałów w 17 turniejach, jak jeszcze w 2005 roku. To nierealne. W tym sezonie cieszę się z dziewięciu finałów, pięciu tytułów, w tym Szlema. Fizycznie prezentowałem się lepiej niż przez ostatnie dwa sezony. To jest pozytyw przed kolejnym rokiem, który - wierzę - także będzie wielki.
Kolejny cel: Australian Open. - Celem nie jest przegrać w I rundzie, tylko spróbować zdobyć kolejny tytuł. Lubię presję związaną z byciem obrońcą tytułu. Moje wspomnienia z Australii są bardzo emocjonujące, miłe. Kocham tam grać. Jestem zawsze podekscytowany przygotowując się do nowego sezonu, i zarazem móc odpocząc, w Abu Zabi i Katarze. Jestem przekonany, że będę grał dobrze, choć samo to nigdy nie gwarantuje sukcesu. Ale jestem pewien, że nabrana tutaj pewność siebie pomoże, a zwycięstwa nad kompanami z Top 10 mogą zawsze mieć znaczenie w mentalnej grze na początku nowego sezonu. Wiele jest zatem pozytywów, które zabieram z Londynu.
Teraz okres świąteczny: - Mogę jeść babeczki i wszystko inne, desery przez dziesięć dni z rzędu. Dobrze jest ćwiczyć i jeść zdrowo. Ja odżywiam się bardzo zdrowo. Cięższy znaczy silniejszy, ale nie zawsze. Nigdy nie musiałem być zbyt ostrożny. Niebezpieczeństwo w moim przekonaniu pojawia się wtedy gdy odnosisz kontuzję i nie możesz przez dłuższy czas trenować. Wtedy wciąż jesz to samo i w takich samych ilościach jak byłbyś normalnie sprawny.
Federer eyes return to top in 2011 after ATP win
LONDON — Roger Federer believes his ATP World Tour Finals triumph against Rafael Nadal will provide him with the perfect springboard to return to the top in 2011.
Although Federer is publicly adamant he has nothing to be disappointed about over the last 12 months, privately he will feel a nagging sense of regret at the loss of the world number one ranking to Nadal, who also took the French Open and Wimbledon titles from the Swiss star.
That was what made the 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 victory over Nadal in the final at London's O2 Arena on Sunday so significant for the world number two.
In Federer's mind, his record-equalling fifth title in the prestigious end-of-year event was secondary to the message the win sent to Nadal and his other rivals at the top of the rankings.
"I'm happy I made my ninth final this season. I've won five titles, won a slam. That obviously makes me be very positive for next year. I believe I can have another great season in 2011," he said.
"I'm just really happy the way I was able to finish the season in style, playing some of my best tennis, really saving the best for last.
"Obviously, beating Rafa in the finals makes it extra special because of the year he had.
"I've had a good season. I don't see how someone can say it's been a bad season. I had some tough losses, sure but you're not going to win every tournament you play.
"After having somewhat of a disappointing clay, Halle, Wimbledon stretch, where I wasn't able to win any tournaments, maybe didn't play some of my best tennis, played a bit passive, it was important that I was able to pick up my game."
The 29-year-old will take a short vacation now before starting his preparations for the new campaign, which he begins by defending the Australian Open in January.
But the 16-time Grand Slam champion is well aware that Nadal would love to repeat his remarkable year, which included successive Grand Slam triumphs at the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.
Nadal leads their career head-to-head 14-8 and Federer admits every match between them seems to carry an historic edge.
"I think the men's game is at an absolute high right now, with a lot of exciting games being played, with a lot of respect. Also I think having had me and Rafa both made the career Grand Slam already at a young age I think is great for the game," he said.
"We're obviously playing not only for ourselves and beating the other guys, but also for history. I think there's a lot at stake always in all our matches we play in the future. I think it's wonderful."
Nadal was happy to credit Federer for his impressive display but he hinted tiredness after his epic three-set win over Andy Murray in the semi-finals on Saturday had taken its' toll on him.
"He played unbelievable. He was unplayable in the first set. I still had chances in the second and the beginning of the third, but he played better than me," Nadal said.
"The thing is everybody saw the match on Saturday, so everybody's free to make his own opinion.
"But I don't want to say I lost the match because I was tired. What I'm going to say is I lost the match because I played against a very good Roger Federer on one of his favorite surfaces.
"When he's playing like this it is very difficult to stop him but it was a fantastic week for me."
Federer's victory here will only add to the intensity of the focus on their rivalry next year, but Nadal insists he doesn't feel under any pressure to emulate his feats of the past 12 months.
"It doesn't make any differences if I won three Grand Slams this year or if I won one or two. When I start the season, everything starts again," he said.
"In Australia or in Doha when I start the season, I have zero points. So we start from there. The first goal is qualification for London next year and after we will see."
Federer targets London Olympics, maybe Rio?
Roger Federer says that winning a gold medal in singles at the 2012 Olympic Games in London is one of his major remaining goals.
"I've now carried the flag twice, in Beijing and Athens, and it's always been a dream for me to play for my country and to win an Olympic gold,” Federer told Reuters. “I already have one [a doubles gold medal with Stan Wawrinka] but still, the special part of having it at Wimbledon will be amazing."
Federer also said that he’s not ruling out playing in 2016 in Brazil, even though he’ll be 35 years old then. When asked what his most memorable Olympic memory was, meeting his wife Mirka during the 2000 Games or winning the doubles gold in Beijing, he responded with a laugh: “That's why I've had very emotional Olympics. "I couldn't choose but obviously Mirka is long-lasting, I've had 10 incredible years with her, I've two beautiful kids with her so I guess that's my number one pick."
W niektórych polskich księgarniach internatowych są dostępne dwie biografie Rogera Federera (napisane w języku angielskim). Pierwszą pt. The Roger Federer Story: Quest for Perfection została napisana w 2007 roku przez szwajcarskiego dziennikarza Rene Stauffera. Niestety ksiażka jest bardzo droga (kosztuje 70 zł). Druga biografię pt. Roger Federer: The Greatest napisał Chris Bowers i wydano ją w 2010 roku. Jej cena jest bardziej przystępna i wynosi niecałe 40 zł.
Federer thanks coach; ready for 'many more years'
After winning the ATP World Tour Final over Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer thanked American coach Paul Annacone, who used to work with Pete Sampras, as well as his Swiss coach, Severin Luthi.
Since he hooked up with Annacone, Federer has reached six finals and compiled a 35-4 record.
"I had to regain some confidence. That only comes through winning matches,” he said. “After having somewhat of a disappointing clay season, Halle, Wimbledon stretch, where I wasn't able to win any tournaments and didn't play my best tennis, played a bit passive, it was important that I was able to pick up my game. I started moving better, started feeling well physically and mentally. I'm sure Paul has helped in this regard. So has Severin. That's why I'm very happy with my team at this stage of the season."
Federer, 29, also said he has no plans of retiring and hopes to play for “many more years.” The Swiss added that he’ll bring confidence into the Australian Open and likes the pressure of being the defending champion. He stated that it’s conceivable that he and Nadal could dominate 2011.
“Obviously with Rafa having won three Grand Slams in a row, seems like not many people stopping him,” he said. “And now that I've found back to my best form as well, when I'm on, that's a hard thing to do, as well. Look, Murray, Djokovic had another great year, maybe lacking some of the bigger titles. Murray won two against me in the finals, too. That is a positive sign next year for him. Then you have other guys like Berdych and Soderling that had another excellent season and were able to beat me a few times. I think tennis, the men's game, is at an absolute high right now.”—Matthew Cronin
Federer heads "home" to Dubai for sponsor work
The Federer family holiday will have to wait a day or two as the recent champion at the World Tour Finals rushed off to Dubai a day after his London win against Rafael Nadal to film a television advert in the city where he keeps a second home.
The Swiss will have escaped the freezing weather which marks winter in his home nation and is sure to kick back with his wife and twin daughters in the Gulf warmth when his on-camera duties are done.
While December will be low key for the No. 2, the start of 2011 hostilities are only weeks away, with Federer and World Tour Finals runner-up Rafael Nadal beginning their new seasons in Abu Dhabi December 30 along with Robin Soderling, Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych and a pair of former Australian Open finalists in Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Marcos Baghdatis.
Federer will stay warm for another couple of months as he competes in the Doha ATP event in the first week of the New Year, followed by the Australian Open. He will then likely take his usual training period in Dubai before playing his "home" event in mid-February.
Federer and Nadal will both have to brave European weather conditions as they play a back-to-back pair of charity matches in Zurich on December 21 and Madrid on December 22. Both exhos benefit the host player's charity foundations.
Disciplined Federer can eat what he likes at Christmas
Roger Federer won't have to deny himself at Christmas, with the disciplined Swiss more or less pre-programmed to avoid any dietary excess which could come back to haunt him when the tennis begins in Abu Dhabi only days after the holiday.
"I can eat biscuits and everything, have fondue and everything, no problems, desserts 10 days in a row," said the Swiss world No. 2, winner of his fifth season title at the ATP wrap-up event in London.
Federer said that as a professional athlete, there is no place for slipping into bad eating habits. And with his years-long high dose of exercise on a daily basis, his body is used to the exertion. "It's a good thing to work out and to eat healthy. That's what I do. I never have to be too careful."
But he warned that there are situations which call for restraint. "When it gets dangerous is when you get injured and you can't practise as much and you keep on eating the same amount, which you usually eat, because that's what you kind of need to be able to perform well.
"I eat very healthy to start off with. That helps to keep me from getting any bigger and heavier, even though heavier means stronger - but not all the time."
Światowa prasa po finale WTF
Federer and Nadal Rekindle a Rivalry
(The Wall Street Journal)
Tennis has a rivalry again. In London on Sunday, Roger Federer defeated Rafael Nadal 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 in the ATP World Tour Finals. Though the match wasn't a classic, it did much to reinvigorate a clash that recently had become one-sided. The 24-year-old Mr. Nadal had won six of their previous seven meetings and this season had distanced himself from the 29-year-old Mr. Federer by winning three-straight Grand Slam singles titles, including his first U.S. Open.
Even on his best days, Mr. Federer has had trouble with Mr. Nadal's high-bouncing forehand and endless hustle. Mr. Federer brought a new approach to London, though. Since he began working with Paul Annacone, Pete Sampras's former coach, this summer, Mr. Federer has taken more chances, hit his topspin backhand more often and looked for more opportunities to approach the net. His final charge Sunday began with an aggressive play one rarely sees these days: a serve return followed by an immediate approach to the net and two consecutive volleys. Mr. Federer rattled off the last five games and won all three of his break points, a rare feat against the Spaniard. Mr. Nadal has never won the season-ending championships, and he has never beaten Mr. Federer in an indoor match. And so yes, there's room for more in this rivalry in 2011 and beyond. May it never end.
Roger Federer versus Rafael Nadal is like Ali versus Frazier, but with racquets for gloves
(The Telegraph)
The greatest rivalries in sporting history have thrived on the highs and lows, the to’s and the fro’s, but they fade away when inevitability strikes. So there were moments after the second set of yet another fabulous chapter of the Roger Federer-Rafael Nadal saga here at the O2 Arena that it just felt that we might be witnessing the end of a thrilling duopoly and the advent of a Spanish monopoly.
We had been here before; Federer, the prince, forging ahead, offering shotmaking from the Gods, looking untouchable – “unplayable,” Nadal called his opening barrage – like the best there has ever been. Then finding himself being pegged back inexorably by tennis’s relentless dementor, the most astonishing athlete his sport has witnessed, sucking away his confidence and belief.
Federer confidence soaring again
(IOL sport)
Roger Federer's year-end triumph over world No.1 Rafael Nadal has given him a shot in the arm ahead of the 2011 season. He has proved the validity of tennis planning as the Swiss re-asserted himself once again at the elite level with his fifth year-end trophy lifted at the weekend over Rafael Nadal in London.
Federer's 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 defeat of the Spanish world No.1 at the World Tour Finals puts the Swiss straight back into the conversation when talk turns to the pair who currently dominate the game. Federer will head off on a well-deserved family holiday, confident that his 2010 planning and dedication to detail has paid off in huge confidence dividends.
The 29-year-old is quick to praise his coaching team of old hand Severin Lüthi and new American hire Paul Annacone for helping him turn the corner this season to end with five titles from nine finals.
Roger Federer is unplayable, admits beaten Rafa Nadal
(mirror)
Rafa Nadal claimed Roger Federer had been "unplayable" after the Swiss superstar ended his season in style last night.
By winning the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, world No.2 Federer avenged his defeat in their last London meeting - the epic Wimbledon final of 2008. And his sensational brand of attacking tennis showed the 29-year-old still has the hunger and ability to win back the status as the best player on the planet.
Federer eyes return to top in 2011 after ATP win
(AFP)
Roger Federer believes his ATP World Tour Finals triumph against Rafael Nadal will provide him with the perfect springboard to return to the top in 2011. Although Federer is publicly adamant he has nothing to be disappointed about over the last 12 months, privately he will feel a nagging sense of regret at the loss of the world number one ranking to Nadal, who also took the French Open and Wimbledon titles from the Swiss star.
That was what made the 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 victory over Nadal in the final at London's O2 Arena on Sunday so significant for the world number two.
In Federer's mind, his record-equalling fifth title in the prestigious end-of-year event was secondary to the message the win sent to Nadal and his other rivals at the top of the rankings.
Federer tops Nadal for season-ending title
(The Washington Post)
Roger Federer turned his high-profile, season-ending match against Rafael Nadal into little more than an exhibition.
Federer gave his rival little chance to mount a challenge in the 22nd meeting between two of the greatest players of all time, winning his fifth season-ending title, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, at the ATP World Tour Finals on Sunday in London.
Federer won an incredible 92 percent of the points played on his first serve in the final, and lost only 13 points on serve in the entire match.
Joao napisał:
W niektórych polskich księgarniach internatowych są dostępne dwie biografie Rogera Federera (napisane w języku angielskim). Pierwszą pt. The Roger Federer Story: Quest for Perfection została napisana w 2007 roku przez szwajcarskiego dziennikarza Rene Stauffera. Niestety ksiażka jest bardzo droga (kosztuje 70 zł). Druga biografię pt. Roger Federer: The Greatest napisał Chris Bowers i wydano ją w 2010 roku. Jej cena jest bardziej przystępna i wynosi niecałe 40 zł.
Dobrze by było, gdyby ktoś przetłumaczył te biografie.
Federera wygrana walka nie ostatnia
Gdy odpadał w ćwierćfinale Wimbledonu wielu ekspertów zastanawiało się czy dominacja Rogera Federera w męskim tenisie raz na zawsze dobiegła końca? Wielu było niedowiarków wątpiących w Szwajcara, ale on tak jak Rafael Nadal pokazał, że głupotą jest skreślanie go po kilku niepowodzeniach.Roger Federer od ubiegłego sezonu zaczął przegrywać z tenisistami, którym przez lata drżały ręce i łydki gdy przychodziło im się zmierzyć ze Szwajcarem. Urodzony w Bazylei gigant pokonał Nikołaja Dawidienkę 12 razy z rzędu, by na przełomie sezonów 2009 i 2010 ulec Rosjaninowi dwukrotnie. Robin Söderling również nie był w stanie go pokonać w 12 spotkaniach, aż w końcu dobrał mu się do skóry w ćwierćfinale tegorocznego Roland Garros. Szwajcar był niepokonany od 15 spotkań z Lleytonem Hewittem, aż w końcu Australijczyk był górą w finale w Halle, gdzie Roger nie przegrał od 2002 roku. W lipcu pokonał go Tomáš Berdych, z którym nie przegrał ośmiu wcześniejszych spotkań i to w jego królestwie, w All England Club, gdzie Federer wywalczył sześć wielkoszlemowych tytułów w ciągu siedmiu lat.
Gdy Federer wygrywając w styczniu Australian Open zdobył swój 16. wielkoszlemowy tytuł (został pierwszym ojcem - triumfatorem wielkoszlemowej imprezy od czasu Andre Agassiego - 2003) wszystko wskazywało na to, że opinie o wypaleniu Szwajcara można włożyć między bajki. Kolejne miesiące były jednak dla niego pasmem porażek. Przez całą pierwszą część sezonu nie zdobył więcej żadnego tytułu. Ale odpadnięcie w ćwierćfinale Wimbledonu (po siedmiu finałach z rzędu po raz piąty w karierze odpadł w Londynie przed półfinałem, wcześniej w pierwszych czterech startach w latach 1999-2002) i wypadnięcie z czołowej dwójki rankingu ATP po raz pierwszy od listopada 2003 roku podziało na niego jak czerwona płachta na byka. Roger do końca sezonu wygrał 34 z 38 spotkań święcąc triumfy w Cincinnati, Sztokholmie i Bazylei oraz Finałach ATP World Tour. Pokonując w finale Nadala zdobył swój piąty tytuł w imprezie kończącej sezon (2003, 2004, 2006, 2007) wyrównując w ten sposób osiągnięcie Ivana Lendla i Pete'a Samprasa. Szwajcar mając 29 lat, trzy miesiące i 20 dni został drugim najstarszym zwycięzcą Masters (Ilie Nastase triumfował w 1975 roku w wieku 29 lat, czterech miesięcy i 18 dni).
Po przegranym finale w Halle z Hewittem Roger tłumaczył się kontuzjami nogi i pleców, o czym jednak wcześniej nie wspomniał ani słowem. z jednej strony można powiedzieć, że nie chciał się na nic skarżyć, ale z drugiej strony mówiąc o tym po przegranym finale zdeprecjonował trochę sukces Australijczyka. Szwajcarowi zadano też pytanie czy będzie jeszcze dominował w męskim tenisie, a on odpowiedział z pełnym przekonaniem. "Tak, myślę że tak. Po to tutaj jestem!"Wtedy wielu mogło pomyśleć, że jest arogancki i nie zdaje sobie sprawy z upływającego czasu. Przecież nawet jego rodacy, którzy zawsze go wspierali, także w tych najtrudniejszych momentach zaczęli wątpić, czy kiedykolwiek jeszcze zobaczą magicznego Rogera. Tymczasem Szwajcar po raz kolejny podniósł się, jak Feniks z popiołów.
Gdy coraz więcej pojawia się głosów o jego rychłym upadku, braku motywacji i wypaleniu związanego z założeniem rodziny on wraca jeszcze mocniejszy. Śmiało można powiedzieć, że od sierpnia do końca sezonu grał swój najlepszy tenis. Po raz kolejny zagrał niedowiarkom na nosie. Gdy wydaje się, że droga powrotna na szczyt będzie jeszcze bardziej wyboista on prostuje wszelkie nierówności i niszczy wszystkie przeszkody, które się na niej pojawiają. Bo on już taki jest. Zagra parę słabszych turniejów, ludzie zaczynają go skreślać, a on wtedy zmienia maskę i staje się tym samym Rogerem-kilerem jak w swoich najlepszych latach. Nie po raz pierwszy pokazał, gdzie ma opinie o zbliżającym się upadku mistrza. Wygrał kolejną walkę w swojej karierze i na pewno nie ostatnią. W końcu zapowiada powrót na fotel lidera rankingu ATP. I nie spocznie póki się w nim wygodnie nie usadowi.
Federer dopiero trzeci. Górą Ammann!
Simon Ammann, dwukrotny mistrz olimpijski z Vancouver w skokach, triumfował w plebiscycie na najlepszego sportowca Szwajcarii. Drugie miejsce zajął zapaśnik Kilian Wenger, a dopiero trzecie tenisista Roger Federer.
W pięcioosobowym finale elekcji Ammann zdobył ponad 32 % głosów, Federer nieco ponad 18%. Poza czołową piątką sklasyfikowano między innymi mistrza świata w kolarstwa w jeździe indywidualnej na czas Fabiana Cancellarę oraz alpejczyków Didiera Couche i Didiera Defago.
- Skoki dały mi więcej, niż mogłem sobie wymarzyć. To dzięki nim poznałem najlepszych przyjaciół i moją ukochaną kobietę - powiedział podczas ceremonii Ammann.
Federer przeczuwał, że kibice nie postawią na niego. Na ceremonii w Zurychu w ogóle się nie pojawił, a podczas imprezy przedstawiono tylko przygotowane wcześniej nagranie.
Tato ostro trenuje przed pokazówkami, wrzucił dziś fotkę na fejsa z zakończonej sesji treningowej. :P
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= … 940&ref=nf
CAN FEDERER RECLAIM NO. 1?
Roger Federer will attempt to reclaim
the World No. 1 ranking from Rafael Nadal.
ATPWorldTour.com previews five storylines to watch during the 2011 season. In the final installment, we look at Roger Federer's bid to reclaim the World No. 1 ranking.
Roger Federer looked poised to rewrite history books earlier this year at Roland Garros, needing a semi-final effort to tie Pete Sampras’ all-time record of 286 weeks at No. 1.
Going into the quarter-finals, the numbers were strongly in favour of the Swiss – he had defeated opponent Robin Soderling in all 12 of their previous meetings, including the previous year’s final, had reached an unprecedented 23 consecutive Grand Slam semi-finals and had contested four straight Roland Garros finals.
But Federer’s bid to match Sampras’ mark would frustratingly come up just two sets short, as Soderling came from a one-set deficit to defeat the defending champion, thereby opening the door for Rafael Nadal to overtake World No. 1. Nadal not only usurped Federer by winning the clay-court title, but ran away with the top ranking over the next few months, clinching the year-end No. 1 distinction by September.
Though Federer was at his best in the final months of the season, compiling a 21-2 record following the US Open, he remained realistic about his chances of returning to World No. 1.
“Sure it is challenging. It is going to be very difficult because Rafa is playing well. It's not something I have in mind right now,” he said one week prior to his title-clinching victory over his Spanish rival at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. “The goal is to play well here in London and prepare for next season and hopefully at some stage get it back.
“If not then I will focus on just winning tournaments. That is something I like doing as well. I have Australia to defend first. Rafa has no points to defend here [in London]; that's why things look very good for him for the next few months.”
To start the 2011 season, Federer trails Nadal by 3,305 points in the South African Airways ATP Rankings and may see the gap widen even further following the Australian Open, where he has 2,000 points to defend and Nadal 360.
Federer’s best chance to gain ground would be during the European spring clay court swing, where Nadal swept the three ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles and Roland Garros for 5,000 points. Federer, meanwhile, earned 970 points during that stretch.
The lawns of the All England Club, where they’ve shared the past eight titles and faced off in consecutive finals between 2006-08, could also prove a critical stage in the Battle for No. 1. Federer, who made a quarter-final exit to Tomas Berdych this year, would net 1,640 rankings points by winning his seventh Wimbledon title. That triumph would put him alongside William Renshaw and Sampras atop the list of all-time Wimbledon champions, but would it also be enough to help him equal Sampras’ number of weeks at World No. 1?
It was following Wimbledon in 2009 that Federer first took back the World No. 1 ranking, ending Nadal’s reign of 46 consecutive weeks and going on to become just the second player after Ivan Lendl in 1989 to reclaim the year-end top spot after losing it for a year. Lendl maintained his status as the No. 1 player on the tour through August 1990, five months after his 30th birthday, and never regained the top spot again.
Does Federer, who celebrates his 30th birthday next August, have what it takes to get back to No. 1? Buoyed by his strong finish to the year, the Swiss was optimistic about the year ahead. “I'm just really happy the way I was able to finish the season in style, playing some of my best tennis, really saving the best for last,” he said in London. “I believe I can have another great season in 2011.”
And though Sampras was 29 years old when he last held the top ranking for a 10-week stretch in 2000 and played his final tournament two years later, Federer claimed after his victory at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, “I have no plans at all - stopping, quitting, whatever you want to call it. [i] hope I can play for many more years to come. [i] enjoy it and take pleasure out of traveling the world, playing against the best, challenging myself in practice and so forth.”
Tenis. Przysiężny będzie trenował z Federerem
Roger Federer zaproponował Michałowi Przysiężnemu niespełna tydzień wspólnych treningów w ramach przygotowań do nadchodzącego sezonu. - Tego nie można kupić za pieniądze - przyznaje w rozmowie ze Sport.pl Michał Przysiężny.
Michał Przysiężny rozpocznie najbliższy sezon od występu w turnieju ATP w Dausze (3-9.01.2011 r.), gdzie pula nagród przekraczać będzie milion dolarów. Ostatnie dni przed występem w Katarze Polak spędzi w towarzystwie Rogera Federera. Szwajcar zaproponował mu bowiem sześć dni wspólnych treningów w Dubaju. - Takim tenisistom się nie odmawia - mówi Przysiężny w rozmowie ze Sport.pl.
Polak musiał nieco zmienić swoje plany, zgodnie z którymi miał wylatywać z Polski po Świętach Bożego Narodzenia tj. 28 grudnia. Trzy dni wcześniej w Dubaju będzie czekał już na niego Roger Federer. - Takich rzeczy nie można sobie kupić - podkreśla Przysiężny, który dotrze do Dubaju 25 grudnia i przez pierwsze dwa dni będzie trenował wyłącznie z Federerem. W niedzielę wieczorem do zawodników dołączy trener Szwajcara Paul Annacone. To pod jego okiem tenisiści będą trenowali od poniedziałku do czwartku. - Annacone zapowiedział, że treningi będą trwały po 3,5-4 godziny dziennie - przyznaje Przysiężny. Oprócz zajęć na korcie, zawodnicy będą mieli także treningi ogólnorozwojowe.
Federer pokryje wszystkie koszty związane z pobytem Polaka w Dubaju. Wspólne treningi ze Szwajcarem są zaszczytem, który nie przypada wielu tenisistom. Tym bardziej, że Federer częściej trenuje z zawodnikami leworęcznymi. - Roger często trenuje z mańkutami, np. z Jarkko Nieminenem. Przygotowuje się w ten sposób do pojedynków z Rafaelem Nadalem - komentuje sklasyfikowany na 86. miejscu w rankingu ATP Polak.
Do sezonu 2011 Michał Przysiężny przygotowywał się w Niemczech. Tam trenował m.in. z innym Szwajcarem, Marco Chiudinellim. Federer poinformował kolegę z reprezentacji o wyborze Polaka. - Chłopak, z którym niedawno trenowałeś, będzie grał ze mną przez kilka dni w Dubaju - tak miał wyglądać SMS, którego otrzymał Chiudinelli.
Michał Przysiężny zapowiedział, że jego celem na najbliższy sezon jest znalezienie się w pierwszej trzydziestce rankingu ATP. Treningi z najlepszym tenisistą ostatniej dekady z pewnością będą dla niego cennym doświadczeniem. Być może właśnie takie przygotowania do sezonu pomogą mu w osiągnięciu postawionego celu.
Robertinho napisał:
Tenis. Przysiężny będzie trenował z Federerem
Roger Federer zaproponował Michałowi Przysiężnemu niespełna tydzień wspólnych treningów w ramach przygotowań do nadchodzącego sezonu. - Tego nie można kupić za pieniądze - przyznaje w rozmowie ze Sport.pl Michał Przysiężny.
Michał Przysiężny rozpocznie najbliższy sezon od występu w turnieju ATP w Dausze (3-9.01.2011 r.), gdzie pula nagród przekraczać będzie milion dolarów. Ostatnie dni przed występem w Katarze Polak spędzi w towarzystwie Rogera Federera. Szwajcar zaproponował mu bowiem sześć dni wspólnych treningów w Dubaju. - Takim tenisistom się nie odmawia - mówi Przysiężny w rozmowie ze Sport.pl.
Polak musiał nieco zmienić swoje plany, zgodnie z którymi miał wylatywać z Polski po Świętach Bożego Narodzenia tj. 28 grudnia. Trzy dni wcześniej w Dubaju będzie czekał już na niego Roger Federer. - Takich rzeczy nie można sobie kupić - podkreśla Przysiężny, który dotrze do Dubaju 25 grudnia i przez pierwsze dwa dni będzie trenował wyłącznie z Federerem. W niedzielę wieczorem do zawodników dołączy trener Szwajcara Paul Annacone. To pod jego okiem tenisiści będą trenowali od poniedziałku do czwartku. - Annacone zapowiedział, że treningi będą trwały po 3,5-4 godziny dziennie - przyznaje Przysiężny. Oprócz zajęć na korcie, zawodnicy będą mieli także treningi ogólnorozwojowe.
Federer pokryje wszystkie koszty związane z pobytem Polaka w Dubaju. Wspólne treningi ze Szwajcarem są zaszczytem, który nie przypada wielu tenisistom. Tym bardziej, że Federer częściej trenuje z zawodnikami leworęcznymi. - Roger często trenuje z mańkutami, np. z Jarkko Nieminenem. Przygotowuje się w ten sposób do pojedynków z Rafaelem Nadalem - komentuje sklasyfikowany na 86. miejscu w rankingu ATP Polak.
Do sezonu 2011 Michał Przysiężny przygotowywał się w Niemczech. Tam trenował m.in. z innym Szwajcarem, Marco Chiudinellim. Federer poinformował kolegę z reprezentacji o wyborze Polaka. - Chłopak, z którym niedawno trenowałeś, będzie grał ze mną przez kilka dni w Dubaju - tak miał wyglądać SMS, którego otrzymał Chiudinelli.
Michał Przysiężny zapowiedział, że jego celem na najbliższy sezon jest znalezienie się w pierwszej trzydziestce rankingu ATP. Treningi z najlepszym tenisistą ostatniej dekady z pewnością będą dla niego cennym doświadczeniem. Być może właśnie takie przygotowania do sezonu pomogą mu w osiągnięciu postawionego celu.
No no Michałek tylko pozazdrościć i pomarzyć.
Federer won't linger long in freezing Europe
Roger Federer will celebrate family Christmas in the desert heat of Dubai as he returns to his Gulf base from Europe after a pair of charity matches in Zurich and Madrid with Rafael Nadal.
The pair begin in Switzerland in the internationally televised fundraiser, then switch to the Spanish capital for a one-night run.
Proceeds from the sold-out "Match for Africa" series will benefit the individual charities of each of the players, with agents and competitors alike foregoing the usual fees.
Federer's father Robert, a trustee of the Roger Federer Foundation which works mainly with underprivileged children in Africa, told Swiss media that he expects to raise around one million dollars on the night.
"The goal is to raise money, and we want to offer people a great show," Roger Federer added. "It's almost a little sad that this happened so quickly. But you never know how such an important occasion. Especially in the Christmas season when so much is going on. "
But while Europe shivers under the big freeze, Federer will only stay long enough to perform on court and perhaps buy that last Christmas present for wife Mirka, who remained behind in Dubai with the couple's twin girls at the Federer home in Dubai.
Federer had a full schedule during his flying visit to Europe, working with sponsors, signing autographs and training with kids in Zurich, with a repeat in Madrid.
MATCH FOR AFRICA - A GREAT SUCCESS!
Roger and Rafael Nadal came together in Zurich today for the 'Match for Africa'. The world numbers one and two competed in front of a great crowd in the Hallenstadion in order to raise money for the Roger Federer Foundation.
The two friends showed most entertaining tennis, earning applause and Mexican waves. Roger lost the opening set, but eventually defeated Rafa in his home-match 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.
A lot more important than the result on court is the fact that with the event a total of 2.5 million Swiss Francs were generated! The money will be used for education projects in Africa supported by the Roger Federer Foundation.
Roger experienced a day full of different activities. He picked up Rafa at the airport in the morning and personally drove him into town. After having lunch together, they made their way to a kids-clinic, various activities with sponsors and eventually the big finale. Tomorrow Rafa will be the host as they will be meeting again the same way in Madrid, this time to support Rafa Nadal's Foundation.
Unidos Por La Infancia
Roger and Rafael Nadal played the second of their two planned exhibitions today. After yesterday's encounter in Zurich the event took place in the Caja Magica in Madrid today.
Just like on Tuesday, it was the host who took home the match after three sets of interesting tennis. Roger was defeated 6-7(3), 6-4 and 1-6. The money raised today will benefit Rafael Nadal's Foundation, the event is called "Unidos Por La Infancia" (united for childhood).
Thank you and Season's |Greetings
Dear Fans
I would like you to thank all the people from near and far for all the donations we have received during the course of the year and also on the occasion of the Match for Africa this past week. We are overwhelmed and indeed happy with the progress the Roger Federer Foundation is making.
Once again, the amount of posts, letters, cards and presents I have received is wonderful. It is such a motivation to receive these for victories, our birthdays, Christmas as well as New Year. And we also appreciate your great participation towards Myla and Charlene in form of messages and gifts. Thank you so much.
Also, I don't want to miss thanking all you fans who travel so far to watch and cheer for me all around the world. I am really proud of all of you and I always enjoy meeting you wherever I am. Thank you for your support.
We would all like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Roger, family & team
2010 w liczbach
Ranking: 2
Bilans gier: 65-13
Turnieje: 5 (Australian Open, Cincinnati, Sztokholm, Basel, WTF)
Finały: 4 (Madryt, Halle, Toronto, Szanghaj)
Zarobki: $7,698,289
Kalendarz Rogera na 2011 rok
http://www.rogerfederer.com/en/tennis/s … /2011.html
1. Capitala World Tennis Championship
12/31/2010 - 01/01/2011
2. Qatar Exxonmobil Open
01/03/2011 - 01/08/2011
3. Australian Open
01/17/2011 - 01/30/2011
4. Dubai Tennis Championships
02/21/2011 - 02/27/2011
5. BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells
03/07/2011 - 03/20/2011
6. Sony Ericsson Open
03/21/2011 - 04/03/2011
7. Mutua Madrileña Masters
05/02/2011 - 05/08/2011
8. Internazionali BNL d’Italia
05/09/2011 - 05/15/2011
9. Roland Garros
05/23/2011 - 06/05/2011
10. Gerry Weber Open
06/06/2011 - 06/12/2011
11. Wimbledon
06/20/2011 - 07/03/2011
12. Rogers Cup
08/08/2011 - 08/14/2011
13. Western & Southern Financial Group Masters
08/15/2011 - 08/21/2011
14. US Open
08/29/2011 - 09/11/2011
15. Shanghai Rolex Masters
10/10/2011 - 10/16/2011
16. Swiss Indoors
10/30/2011 - 11/06/2011
17. BNP Paribas Masters
11/07/2011 - 11/13/2011
18. Barclays ATP World Tour Finals
11/20/2011 - 11/27/2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqw4GAkcOUM
Roger w trakcie treningu z Michałem Przysiężnym w Dubaju.
Roger opens season
Roger will open his 2011 season tomorrow at the high-profile exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi. Only 6 players will be in the event which takes place this week between Thursday and Saturday: Roger, Rafael Nadal, Robin Söderling, Tomas Berdych, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Marcos Baghdatis. On Friday, Roger will play the winner of the match Söderling between Tsonga.
Roger to play Rafa in final
Roger will play his first final of the new year in Abu Dhabi against Rafael Nadal.
Roger defeated Robin Söderling 6-7 (3/7), 6-3, 6-3, sending down a total of 16 aces. Roger had lost to the Swede precisely a year ago in Abu Dhabi.
Rafael Nadal celebrated a 6-4, 6-4 victory against Tomas Berdych. The numbers one and two of the world will play the final on Saturday.
The Last Word: ATP No. 2, Roger Federer
Federer's remarkable consecutive Grand Slam
semifinal streak was broken at 23 in Paris.
Best of 2010
The best came very early and very late for Federer this year, at the Australian Open in January and at the World Tour Finals in November. The Aussie was the bigger title, but he played his best tennis of the season in dominating the other seven best players in the world in London.
Worst of 2010
Making the quarters at Wimbledon is tough to call a “worst.” Unless your name is Roger Federer, of course. He hadn’t gone out before the final at the Big W since 2002. This time he lost in a tepid four sets to Tomas Berdych. He also may have cost himself the ATP sportsmanship award by bringing up and complaining about his injuries afterward. Berdych later said that was why he voted for Nadal, the winner of the award, instead.
Year in Review
It was a tale of two, maybe even three, seasons for Federer. He was on top of his game and in cruise control in Australia, but for the next eight months we began to see a few signs of the decline that the rest of the men’s tour has been waiting to see from the 29-year-old. He had his streak of 23 straight Slam semis broken at Roland Garros, lost to Berdych at Wimbledon, and blew match points against Novak Djokovic in the semis at the U.S. Open. Then it all turned back around again. With new coach Paul Annacone in his corner, Federer went 20-2 to finish the year and beat rival Rafael Nadal to wrap it up in London. For the moment, the declinists have been silenced.
See for Yourself
Federer at his finest in London:
The Last Word
Federer goes into 2011 in the odd position of having had his worst season in six years, yet coming out of it looking as sharp as he ever has. Were his three pre-final Slam losses and multiple blown match points over the course of a season a telltale sign of age, or just a blip? Judging by the way 2010 ended, you have to lean toward the latter.
—Steve Tignor
Roger defeated in high-class|Final
Roger was defeated 6-7(4), 6-7(3) by Rafael Nadal in the final of the World Tennis Championships exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi today.
Roger took a 3-0 lead in the first tiebreaker, but then simply committed too many unforced errors and eventually dropped the set. The second set also proved to be a tough fight as neither of the two players was able to score a break. Eventually it was Nadal's serve that helped him clinch the match in the second tie-breaker.
Roger will now make his way to Doha for the Qatar Exxonmobil Open which starts on Monday.
AWESOME ATP PROMOTION
I had a great experience playing on a water court with Rafa today, promoting the new ATP season.
Eeee. :D Czekam na jakiś filmik z YT. :P
Wejdź w ten link do strony RF, będziesz miał podany odnośnik do galerii. Za chwilę postaram się dać coś do zdjęciowego.
Roger nie może żyć bez spotkania z Rafą, walka o wysokość kontraktów sponsorskich trwa w najlepsze. ;)
DUN I LOVE napisał:
Roger nie może żyć bez spotkania z Rafą, walka o wysokość kontraktów sponsorskich trwa w najlepsze. ;)
No wiadomo, jakoś trzeba dziubdziać na chleb. :P
Roger Federer - the year that was
Roger Federer, who began 2010 as the world No. 1, was beaten in the semifinals of his first ATP event in Doha, Qatar, by Nikolay Davydenko. It was his second loss in a row to the Russian grinder after a string of 12 consecutive victories.
That match served as an appetiser for their head-scratcher of a quarterfinal at the Australian Open. Davydenko took a 6-2, 3-1 lead, with Federer serving at 15-40. The turnaround then was astounding as the Swiss took 13 games on the trot, finishing up a 2-6, 6-3, 6-0, 7-5 winner.
His finest hour in 2010 came just days later with a stellar 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(11) victory over Andy Murray in the final. Memorably, a tearful Murray said during the trophy ceremony, "I can cry like Roger, it's too bad I can't play like him."
Federer did not play in February because of a lung infection and then lost twice in March after holding match point - to Marcos Baghdatis in Indian Wells (three) and Tomas Berdych in Miami (one). It marked the first time since Rome in 2006 against Rafael Nadal that he had lost after having match point.
As defending French Open champion, he had an unremarkable season on the terre battue. In Rome, he lost to the explosive unpredictability of Ernests Gulbis, got bogged down in rainy conditions against the gritty Albert Montanes in Estoril and was beaten 6-4, 7-6(5) by Nadal in the final in Madrid.
His quarterfinal loss to Soderling at Roland Garros was a matter of the bruising Swede being better able to power through the slow, damp court on a cold, windy, drizzly afternoon to win 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4. That ended Federer's streak of 23 Grand Slam semifinals in a row.
On the grass, Federer lost for the first time in 16 matches against Lleyton Hewitt in the final in Halle, 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-4.
That was followed by Wimbledon and an opening-round shocker win over Alejandro Falla, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(1), 6-0, with the left-handed Colombian actually serving for the match at 5-4 in the fourth set.
In the quarterfinals, Federer suffered his second Grand Slam pre-semifinal defeat in a row, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 to Berdych. "It's uncomfortable... you can't play freely," he said later about leg and back problems. "The leg came in the finals (versus Hewitt) of Halle. The back's been feeling stiff the last five days, six days really badly - also in the finals of Halle."
After a six-week break, a fitter Federer, just turned 29, scored confidence-boosting wins over Berdych, 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(5) and Djokovic, 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 in the quarterfinals and semifinals in Toronto before a 7-5, 7-5 loss to Murray in the final.
In Cincinnati, a first-match retirement and then a walkover meant he played only seven games before the quarterfinals. He won his long-awaited second title of the year, beating Mardy Fish 6-7(5), 7-6(1), 6-4 in the final.
At the US Open, he was superb, blowing away five opponents in difficult windy conditions before facing Djokovic in a sensational semifinal. The Serb saved two match points with gutsy forehand winners and won 7-5, 1-6, 7-5, 2-6, 7-5.
Later Federer attributed the roller-coaster scoreline to thinking about Nadal, who had earlier easily beaten Mikhail Youzhny."It was quite tricky mentally," he has since explained, "knowing it was best-of-five sets and Rafa had an easy run through to the finals, that he was going to be completely fresh on Sunday. I didn't know it would rain Sunday. Maybe that's why the second and fourth sets kind of were over in a hurry. That's one thing that's never going to happen to me again. You live and you learn."
Post Flushing Meadows included another loss to Murray, 6-3, 6-2 in the Shanghai final, a title at home in Basel (Djokovic), a title in Stockholm (Florian Mayer) and another loss after having match points - five - by a 7-6(7), 6-7(1), 7-6(4) score Gael Monfils in the semi-finals in Paris.
The year finished on a high at the ATP World Tour Finals in London. He went undefeated, taking out his main rivals, Murray, Soderling, Djokovic and Nadal, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 in the final.
Federer strengthened his No. 2 ranking and earned a whopping $1,630,000 (US) cheque but that is not what inspires him. "The memories I take away from
this," he insisted, "are much greater than all the money I won."
Federer aims to extend his reign in Australia
Swiss world No 1 hopes to win in Doha to boost his confidence and get a chance to avenge his loss to Nadal
Roger Federer, despite not losing a single serve, lost the title to Rafael Nadal in the final of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship at Zayed Sports City on Saturday night.
Abu Dhabi: After finishing second-best to world No 1 Rafael Nadal in Saturday's Mubadala World Tennis Championship, Roger Federer is looking for some good results in Doha to boost him for the Australian Open.
The world No 2 and winner of 16 Grand Slam titles defends the Australian Open later this month and despite his loss here to arch-rival Nadal, Federer said he was happy with his preparations.
"It's been a perfect preparation in Switzerland and Madrid (where he and Nadal played in exhibition matches) and here in Abu Dhabi. Off season actually helps not losing your game completely and just staying in touch," said Federer, who signed off last year with a brilliant win over Nadal in the season-ending event in London.
Federer, who never lost his serve here in Abu Dhabi against Nadal despite losing the final, said: "It has been very good tennis down here. In Doha I have to start from scratch. Rafa [Nadal] is there again so it's not going to be easy to win that one but I have been able to do it before.
"We will watch how it goes in Doha and then we have enough time to rest and get ready for the Australian Open. I will be ready and hope to get wins in Doha to boost my confidence," said the Swiss star.
New champion
"It's a special Australian Open coming with me being the defending champion, Rafa going for his fourth so obviously the focus is going on the two of us. Since we have played so many times in exhibitions now and also at the World Tour finals. Tennis is really going to be exciting down in Australia.
"But there can be someone else coming and break through, like [Andy] Murray, [Novak] Djokovic and I'm sure they will give all the run for the money," Federer said.
"You never know in four weeks you could have a new grand slam champion. That's what is good and tough about tennis. It's hard to keep on winning," said the man whom Nadal refers to as one of the all-time greats in tennis history.
Federer excited by "special" Australian Open
Federer is already lloking ahead to what promises to be a thrilling 2011 for the Swiss maestro
Roger Federer believes the upcoming Australian Open - the first Grand Slam of the 2011 season - will be a "special' one as he goes in search of his 17th Grand Slam crown.
While the Swiss maestro is the defending champion at the tournament, Rafael Nadal, who he lost to in the final of the Mubadala Tennis Championships on Saturday, will make it four consecutive Grand Slam successes in a row if he emerges victorious.
And as a result, Federer is expecting fireworks down under: “It’s a special Australian open coming up. Me being the defending champion, Rafa going for his fourth so obviously the focus is going on the two of us.
"Tennis is really going to be exciting down in Australia. There can be someone else coming and break through but obviously players like (Andy) Murray, (Novak) Djokovic will give the run for the money.
“You never know you could have a new Grand Slam champion. That’s what is good and tough about tennis in such tournaments where you have just a knock out system.”
Federer, who beat old foe Robin Soderling in the semi-finals in Abu Dhabi before succumbing to Nadal 7-6 7-6 in the season opener, is now headed for Doha next week to continue his preparations and where a re-match with Nadal could be on the cards.
“I played some very good tennis here," Federer remarked. "I have to start Doha from scratch. Rafa is there again so it’s not going to be easy to win that one.
"We will see how it goes in Doha and then we have enough time to rest and get ready for the Australian open. I hope I get some wins in Doha to boost my confidence.”
Meanwhile, Federer has expressed his delight at how things are progressing under new coach Paul Annacone, who was appointed at the back end of last year after a disappointing run of result for the world No.2.
Annacone made his name in the game working alongside Pete Sampras and Federer admits his experience has been invaluable over the past few months - adding certain facets to his own game.
“He is a great guy. We share a good work relationship. Obviously the key for me is spending a lot of time with him and travelling the world I need to get along well with my team and coach.
“That’s the case I have great harmony in my team. He has brought a few things to my game and I’m very happy about it.”
Federer treats fans at tennis clinic
Abu Dhabi: Positioning his racket between his legs as he returned the tennis ball, and dancing on court as he rubbed his tennis shoes on clay, were just some of the tactics Roger Federer used to keep his young UAE tennis opponents calm.
During the Federer Clinic held yesterday morning at the World Tennis Championship, Federer spent an hour coaching 15 participants, most of whom were children under 13 years of age.
The initiative was organised by the event's title sponsor, Mubadala, to help encourage healthy lifestyle habits among residents.
Dressed in an all Nike labelled yellow cap, white shirt, grey shorts and a yellow tennis wrist, the world's number two tennis player, made sure the atmosphere on court — as he offered suggestions and advice to his young tennis opponents — was fun and relaxed.
Federer used simple techniques while returning the ball, and encouraged players with comments such as: "Good shot, stand behind the line, move, closer, well played, take it slow, no worries, spin, coming in. At one point he also said: "Never miss the internet, get it over the net."
Federer also took the time to speak to the players once he was finished coaching them. Apart from recommending a pasta diet, he also spoke about his frequent visits to the UAE.
"I visit Dubai three months a year, and whenever I can I visit some of my friends in Abu Dhabi, who always watch me play here. I also celebrated new years eve with my kids in Abu Dhabi last year," he said.
When asked about plans for tennis, Federer said: "There are still many things I want to do, and have clear career goals I want to achieve. I love to travel around, and enjoy meeting amazing fans and spending time with kids. I just love my life!"
Federer impressed
There was one particular 12-year-old tennis player that Federer was particularly impressed with during the training sessions.
And each time Adham Gabr faced his renowned opponent on court, Federer would joke and say: "Ohhh he's trouble."
Adham is ranked third at the Tennis Emirates, and plays in under 12 tournaments across the UAE.
Being a huge Federer fan, the young champion made sure he won last year's tennis tournament in the UAE for its reward — a four-day trip to Paris, to watch Federer play at the semi-finals.
"Adham is a huge Federer fan. Today's the second time Adham meets Federer, but it's the first time he actually speaks with him. Federer pat him on the shoulder and told him that he has a great future in tennis," Hisham Gabr, Adham's father said.
Gabr added that both Adham and his sister Nouna, ranked 2nd in the under 14 group of the Tennis Emirates and practice tennis five times a week. "I expect both my children to become tennis professionals in the future," he added.
Roger to play Chiudinelli
Roger booked his spot in round two of the Qatar Open thanks to a 7-6(3), 6-3 victory over Thomas Schoorel (ATP 168).
The Dutch qualifier showed no fear in the first set, playing consistent tennis. Roger even had to deal with three set-points on his own serve at 4-5. Roger did not hesitate in the tie-break, though, clearly winning it 7-3. Roger then went on to break Schoorel's serve with his first break point in the match - going 3-1 up in the second set. Schoorel didn't find his way back after that, as Roger even showed his trademark between-the-legs winner as he served out the match.
Roger's opponent in the second round is his fellow countryman Marco Chiudinelli, also from the area of Basel (Switzerland), the two know each other since they were kids. The only encounter between the two players so far took place in Basel in 2009, with Roger defeating Chiudinelli in two sets.
Amazing shot in Doha
In the first round in Doha, Roger returns a ball that suddenly changes its direction as it touches the net - hitting an awesome winner between the legs!
Quarters in Doha
Roger defeated friend Marco Chiudinelli at the Qatar Open 7-6(5), 7-5 today.
Neither player managed to break away in the first set and even the tie-breaker proved extremely tight, with Roger eventually snatching it 7-5. He then had to recover from an early shock in the second set as Chiudinelli scored a first break. But Roger's answer came soon thereafter, breaking the opponent's serve and later a second time to secure the match after 1 hour 48 minutes.
Roger will now meet Viktor Troicki (ATP 28) in the quarter finals.
An impressive performance
Roger made his way through to the semis at the Qatar Open today with an impressive display against Viktor Troicki, defeating the Serb 6-2, 6-2.
Roger showed some of his very best tennis today and need just an hour to wrap up his quarter final. He was also given plenty of opportunities as Troicki faced down a whopping 16 break points, surrendering a pair in each set.
Roger will now take on Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (ATP 13) of France. Roger clearly defeated Tsonga in Madrid in 2008 as well as at the Australian Open last year. His only loss goes back to 2009 in Montreal, where Roger dropped the deciding set despite a 4-0 lead.
First final 2011!
Roger is through to his first final of 2011! He defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3, 7-6(2) at the Qatar Open today.
"I started very well. The break in the first set was, of course, very important," Roger said. "I had a few problems in the second set, but my serve always kept me in the match. It was a great match all in all. I feel good and am looking forward to the final."
Roger looked untroubled as he brought home the first set after just 25 minutes. He only dropped four points on his own serve in the opener and broke Tsonga once to take the lead. Tsonga rallied in the second which ended in a tie-break - and Roger once again thrived under pressure to book his spot in the final.
Roger is seeking his third title in Doha after 2005 and 2006 and will play either Rafael Nadal or Nikolay Davydenko.
#67) Doha 2011
R1 Thomas Schoorel [Q] 7-6 6-3
R2 Marco Chiudinelli [Q] 7-6 7-5
QF Victor Troicki [6] 6-2 6-2
SF Jo-Wilfried Tsonga [3] 6-3 7-6
W Nikolay Davydenko [4] 63 64
Warto dodać,że Fed jest pierwszym w historii zawodnikiem,który wygrał w Doha trzykrotnie :)
Prawdę mówiąc, wydaje mi się, że śnię. Słowo daję, po tym cholernym US Open w życiu nie przypuszczałem, że ujrzę jeszcze tak prezentującego się Szwajcara . To jest coś niesamowitego.
Jacuszyn napisał:
Warto dodać,że Fed jest pierwszym w historii zawodnikiem,który wygrał w Doha trzykrotnie :)
Tak, jest to też 11 turniej ATP, który Federer wygrywał co najmniej 3 razy:
Doha (3)
Australian Open (4)
Dubaj (4)
Indian Wells (3)
Hamburg (4)
Halle (5)
Wimbledon (6)
Cincinnati (4)
US Open (5)
Basel (4)
WTF (5)
Titel number 67!
Roger was at his best today as he defeated Nikolay Davydenko in the final of the Qatar Open. The 6-3, 6-4 victory against the Russian earned him his third title in Doha.
Fed-Expresso napisał:
To jest coś niesamowitego.
Jak niesamowity jest jest ten człowiek, kompletny geniusz tenisa(nie licząc psychiki :P ).
FEDEER napisał:
Jak niesamowity jest jest ten człowiek, kompletny geniusz tenisa(nie licząc psychiki :P ).
Mylisz się. :P Te lata dominacji, nieustannej presji i gigantycznych wymagań, że ciągle coś trzeba udowadniać niejednego "tytana" odporności mentalnej doprowadziłyby do psychiatryka. ;)
DUN I LOVE napisał:
FEDEER napisał:
Jak niesamowity jest jest ten człowiek, kompletny geniusz tenisa(nie licząc psychiki :P ).
Mylisz się. :P Te lata dominacji, nieustannej presji i gigantycznych wymagań, że ciągle coś trzeba udowadniać niejednego "tytana" odporności mentalnej doprowadziłyby do psychiatryka. ;)
Z tej strony patrząc masz 100% racji.
FEDERER EYES RETURN TO NO. 1
Roger Federer has been in tremendous
form over the past four months.
After opening the 2011 ATP World Tour season by winning his third title at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open Saturday, Roger Federer made clear his intention to try and wrest back the World No. 1 South African Airways ATP Ranking from his rival Rafael Nadal this year.
The Swiss was within one win of tying Pete Sampras’ all-time record of 286 weeks at No. 1 when he was beaten by Robin Soderling in the quarter-finals of Roland Garros last May. Nadal went on to reclaim the No. 1 ranking by winning his fifth title at Roland Garros, and by the end of 2010, had extended his lead over Federer to 3,305 points following triumphs at Wimbledon and the US Open.
The gap could widen further following the Australian Open, with 2010 champion Federer defending 2,000 points and Nadal only 360. The Swiss has been in tremendous form over the past four months, though, winning 26 of his past 28 matches since reaching the US Open semi-finals (l. to Djokovic).
“We’ll see how it goes,” said Federer. “Look, obviously Rafa has a lot to defend (from April onwards), but at the same time, he's very confident and he's the one who is World No. 1 and has all the confidence, really.
“So it's going to be very difficult, clearly. But if I keep playing at the level I'm playing and reaching almost all these finals lately, then obviously you feel like you'll have a chance,” added the Swiss, who closed 2010 by defeating Nadal in the final of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.
“But I have to keep it up, and you need to do something special to get to World No. 1. It's not enough to win a Grand Slam and the [Barclays ATP] World Tour Finals anymore. You almost need to do more than that, and I'm prepared for that, so we'll see how it goes.”
Should he succeed in reclaiming the World No. 1 ranking it would be the second time he has wrested it from Nadal’s grip, having previously done so following his triumph at Wimbledon in 2009, ending Nadal’s reign of 46 consecutive weeks. That year he went on to become only the second player after Ivan Lendl in 1989 to reclaim the year-end No. 1 after losing it for a year.
Bilans Rogera od czasu zatrudnienia trenera Annacone'a :
41 zwycięstw- 4 porażki (91%)
5 wygranych turniejów, 2 finały, 2 półfinały
:o
Respect.
Joao napisał:
Bilans Rogera od czasu zatrudnienia trenera Annacone'a :
41 zwycięstw- 4 porażki (91%)
5 wygranych turniejów, 2 finały, 2 półfinały
Warto dodać, że w każdym z rozegranych od lata półfinałów miał piłki meczowe.
I am excited about the win today in Doha and now we are on our way
heading down under to Australia!"
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= … 940&ref=nf
Webnews - Doha
Federer begins year on high note (The Province)
World No. 2 Roger Federer began his season in formidable fashion by beating Nikolay Davydenko 6-3, 6-4 to win the Qatar Open on Saturday. Federer did not drop a set throughout the tournament, and is looking good heading into the Australian Open, which begins Jan. 17. "I'm very happy to kick off the season today this way," Federer said. "I think I played an amazing match ... it will give me a lot of confidence for the remainder of the season."
'Flawless' Roger Federer sends ominous warning to Rafael Nadal (Herald Sun)
Roger Federer has sent a warning to his rivals ahead of his Australian Open defence, starting next week. Opening the new season as he ended the last, the Swiss master declared himself "almost flawless" after winning his third Qatar Open in Doha yesterday. The world No. 2 wrested the Qatar title back from the defending champion, Russia's Nikolay Davydenko, 6-3 6-4 to earn his 67th crown. Federer will practise on Rod Laver Arena this week before seeking a record 17th major singles success. "It is important to do well here," Federer said after dispensing with Davydenko in Doha. "I'm not just using this to get ready for the Australian Open. "When he's on, he's easily top 10 if not top 5 potentially, and that's why this is obviously a huge win, because I thought he was playing well. I thought the level of play was extremely high. I was very happy with it from my side. I was almost flawless and I was able to play offensive when I needed to and, when I wanted to, it all worked out.So I'm really pleased with such a great final."
Federer king for third time in Qatar (Gulf Times)
Roger Federer became the first man to win three titles in Doha when he outclassed Nikolay Davydenko in the final of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex. “ Yeah, I think this is the best I have played against Davydenko. I mean, look, I think his serve has very much improved over the years and he’s become so solid and so, how do you say, just accurate with his shots over the years,” said Federer who noted that the Russian had won several titles. The authoritative victory also puts Federer in an excellent frame of mind to defend his title at the Australia Open in a week’s time. “I mean, people almost put too much of an emphasis that it’s purely a preparation tournament, and I don’t like to see it that way, because regardless of how I go here, I still have a week in Melbourne where I’ll prepare for the Australian Open. That’s preparation week for me. It was important to do well here. I’m not just only using this to get ready for the Australian Open. This is a pleasure coming to this part of the world where I actually do spend quite a bit of time, and I’ve always had, you know, good friends here in Qatar. I love playing here, been successful here in the past. That’s the reason why I come here, not because of the Australian Open really.”
Rotacja wsteczna
Karol Stopa
Niebiańska gra
Roger Federer jest pierwszym tenisistą, który po raz trzeci wygrał turniej ATP w Katarze.
Szwajcar ośmieszył bohatera ostatniego finału Pucharu Davisa, Serba Viktora Troickiego, pobawił się z Francuzem Jo-Wilfriedem Tsongą, w ostatnim pojedynku bez wysiłku zrewanżował się za ubiegły rok Nikołajowi Dawydience. Rosjanin występował w roli obrońcy tytułu, w półfinale znów poradził sobie z Rafaelem Nadalem. Przez cały turniej widać było, że wraca do wielkiej formy z przełomu 2009/2010 r., jednak na tle Rogera i on od pierwszej piłki przypominał zagubionego prowincjusza. Szwajcar pokazał, że zmiana w jego podejściu do gry ma trwały charakter. Od pięciu turniejów przegrał tylko raz, na bardzo szybkim korcie w hali Bercy. Tytuły w Sztokholmie, Bazylei, Londynie i teraz w Dausze zdobywał w stylu przypominającym jego najlepsze chwile z lat 2005 – 2007. Przeciwnicy znów zaczęli się Rogera bać, w meczach z nim zapominają, co potrafią.
Znakomitym pomysłem okazało się nawiązanie współpracy z ostatnim mentorem Pete’a Samprasa, amerykańskim trenerem Paulem Annacone. To jest pierwszy od bardzo dawna szkoleniowiec, którego rad taktycznych Federer posłuchał. Efekt jest taki, że u progu nowego sezonu Szwajcar znów wymieniany jest jako kandydat nr 1 do tytułów wielkoszlemowych. Naturalnie pozostaje zagadką, jak się zachowa, kiedy w finale w Melbourne, Paryżu, Londynie czy Nowym Jorku zobaczy po drugiej stronie siatki przeciwnika najmniej wygodnego, kogoś, kto do tej pory jego wirtuozerię techniczną potrafił zneutralizować nieludzką wytrzymałością i ambicją. Na pierwszą prawdziwą weryfikację w meczu z Nadalem trzeba poczekać jeszcze trzy tygodnie. Hiszpan będzie się starał w Melbourne o tzw. niekalendarzowy Wielki Szlem, czyli czwarty tytuł z rzędu, ale niewywalczony w jednym roku.
Na forum internetowym przeczytałem po finale w Dausze wzruszający wpis: „Roger! Jakbyś w niebie grał w tenisa, tobym umarł, żeby Cię oglądać!!!”.
Wygląda na to, że fanom Federera wróciła nadzieja. Wraz z nimi zacieram ręce na wielkie australijskie emocje.
Fed przygotowuje się do AO:
Federer's ready to play, says coach Paul Annacone
Paul Annacone believes that Roger Federer could not have had better preparation ahead of Australian Open 2011, the world No.2 coming into the tournament on the back of a title in Doha last week, and before that winning the season-ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London in November.
Annacone, one of the keynote speakers at Tennis Australia's Grand Slam Coaches Conference, has been working with the 16-time Grand Slam champion since September, and admits to be "enjoying the ride."
"Every time I wake up I kind of have to pinch myself a little bit," he said. "I've been pretty fortunate in my career, because I've had the best jobs you can have in terms of coaching at the top level, being around Pete [Sampras] for eight years, Tim [Henman] for four, and am now lucky enough to be working with Roger."
The Californian, brought into Federer's camp in the autumn, admits he is not there to "teach the guy how to slice bread," but has been able to offer the record-breaker additional strategic impetus.
"He's not all of a sudden going to have a two-handed backhand," Annacone explained. "It's about combining the head, heart and talent components of a player, and understanding how they interact, the best way to match up against other players, and ultimately, the best way for them to keep having fun doing it, and the best way to try to get better. If you're not trying to get better you're getting worse, because everyone else is getting better. Roger is very eager to continue improving, so when you see that in someone who's won as much as he has, it's pretty incredible."
Part of their time spent together has involved encouraging Federer to make use of the many facets of his game, which has resulted in a more attacking approach on the whole. "He's been focused on trying to be aggressive and trying to find ways to use his offensive skills a little more prominently. In today's game, guys are so good just at the back of the court, it's become a game that's very one dimensional in many aspects. The biggest thing that Roger has going for him is that he can do so many things at such a high level, not only technically but strategically, it becomes quite a complex puzzle. So for me it's about managing all those pieces."
Annacone's softly-spoken approach has already yielded results, the world No.2 reaching eight consecutive semifinals from September through to November, and finishing off with victory against Rafael Nadal in London. "His last six months, he's been playing great tennis, had some downtime with his family, rebounded last week winning Doha, he's ready to play," said Annacone. "I don' t think I would change much that he's done, his body feels good, his mind feels good, now it's just about getting out there and getting things going."
The American also revealed that he sees no sign of Federer letting up, and can find no reason why a 20th Grand Slam title is not within the Swiss maestro's reach.
"It's hard for me to put a number on it, so really what I focus on is the process. He can win every tournament he plays, he's probably not going to, but he can win every match he plays and there's not a lot of guys you can say that about. So if he can stay healthy and happy and eager I don't know what the end number would be, but is 20 realistic, sure why not?"
The Grand Slam Coaches Conference takes place from 13-15 January at the Hisense Arena, Melbourne Park, and will be attended by 260 participants from all over the globe.
"Our role in coach development is to develop the best coaches for everyone at all levels, and in particular Paul has done an amazing job of developing the players at the highest level, so very excited to have him as part of our conference," commented Travis Atkinson, Manager of Coach Development at Tennis Australia.
Alongside Annacone, speakers include Gil Reyes, physical conditioning coach to Andre Agassi for 17 years, former Australian players Nicole Pratt and Scott Draper, Gary Stickler, talent development coach involved in the formative years of Pat Rafter, Michele Krause of Cardio Tennis USA, and Professor Bruce Elliott and Dr Damian Farrow.
Roger Federer rozpoczął sezon z wysokiego C. Teraz szykuje się do podboju Australii. Nigdy w historii swoich startów w Australian Open nie zagrał w trzech kolejnych meczach finałowych. Czy po dwóch latach przerwy doczekamy się finału wielkoszlemowego turnieju z udziałem Nadala i Federera? Czy Szwajcar będzie w stanie pokonać zdeterminwanego Hiszpana, który zapewne zagra lepiej niż w w londyńskiej O2 Arena? Fani Helweta, jak i on sam są pełni nadziei na jego udany występ.
Jakże odmienne nastroje towarzyszyły jego sympatykom po ubiegłorocznym Wimbledonie. Pojawiały się coraz donośniejsze głosy o przedwczesnym zakończeniu kariery przez szwajcarskiego mistrza. Roger jednak zamiast rozpaczać, zatrudnił nowego szkoleniowca i zabrał się do ciężkiej pracy. Na efekty trzeba było jednak trochę poczekać. Choć Federer grał coraz lepiej, wciąż przytrafiały mu się dziwne porażki (zaprzepaszczone piłki meczowe w spotkaniach z Dokoviciem w Nowym Yorku i Monfilsem w Paryżu). Zwieńczeniem sezonu był wygrany turniej mistrzów w Londynie, gdzie odprawił z kwitkiem wszystkich najlepszych tenisistów globu.
Od AO ropoczyna się na dobre walka o pierwsze miejsce w rankingu. Hiszpan z Manacor broni ogromną liczbę punktów zdobytą w ubiegłym roku na kortach w Paryżu, Londynie i Nowym Jorku. Natomiast król Roger może zyskać ich wiele podczas ostanich trzech turniejów Wielkiego Szlema. Także w okresie między AO a RG Szwajcar broni niewiele punktów w przeciwieństwie do swojego hiszpańskiego rywala. Czy Helwet będzie w stanie utrzymać dobrą formę przez większość długiego sezonu? Jak dobrze Hiszpan będzie się spisywał na kortach twardych i trawiastych?
Federer celuje w 20 Wielkich Szlemów
Roger Federer marzy, by wygrać dwadzieścia turniejów wielkoszlemowych. - To możliwe - zapewnia jego trener Paul Annacone. Na razie szwajcarski mistrz zwyciężył w szesnastu, ale niedawno mówił, że zmierza występować aż do IO 2016 w Rio de Janeiro.
Mistrz z Bazylei trenuje już w Melbourne Park i tak jak inne gwiazdy nie ma problemów z deszczem. Rod Laver Arena posiada dach, który w ostatnich dniach jest oczywiście bardzo często zasuwany.
- Przed Australian Open jestem pełen optymizm. Roger to mistrz jeśli chodzi o oszczędzanie energii - tak Annacone komentuje przygotowania do Australian Open. I dodaje: - Jeśli tylko Federer pozostanie zdrowy, jeśli tylko będzie się czuł szczęśliwy, to jest w stanie wygrać jeszcze przynajmniej kilka wielkich turniejów i dobić do dwudziestki. Jak? Tak jak do tej pory, przede wszystkim dzięki olbrzymiemu talentowi. Ja nie jestem przy nim po to, by zmieniać mu bekhend z jednoręcznego na oboręczny. Mam tylko dbać o szczegóły i o to, by nieco lepiej i efektywniej atakował - dodaje.
http://www.sports.pl/Tenis/Tenis-Roger- … 1,289.html
Ambitne plany :P
Mam tylko dbać o szczegóły i o to, by nieco lepiej i efektywniej atakował - dodaje.
O, to, to!
Trochę więcej linków odnośnie słów Paula:
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/austr … 5986435893
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sp … 5986449193
The rebirth of Roger Federer
Roger Federer has won four of his five past tournaments, including the World Tour Final in November last year.
SIX months after losing his way, Roger Federer is back with a new coach, renewed self-belief and a hunger for more slams.
SOMETHING odd happened to Roger Federer at Wimbledon last year.
He lost. And to somebody other than Rafael Nadal.
Tomas Berdych, the richly talented Czech who Andre Agassi says is the ideal prototype for modern tennis, put Federer to the sword in the quarter-finals.
Federer's fabulous sequence of seven consecutive All England Club finals, winning six, was over.
Most of Federer's peers would give their eye-teeth for a quarter-final berth at Wimbledon just once.
Federer, of course, is in another sphere.
Yet, here he was, walking off in defeat.
His mojo apparently had slipped, despite his participation in eight of the previous 10 major finals.
If ever a man has fallen victim to his own high standards, it was Federer - after 16 major titles.
By losing twice in the last eight at successive grand slams, Federer was in decline. Allegedly.
But change was required.
In September, he formally hired American coach and former player Paul Annacone.
Annacone, among other things, had worked with Pete Sampras.
He preaches subtle, occasionally simple, messages. And he understands Federer, his thirst for improvement and the enduring value of attacking tennis.
"He's obviously told me to play more aggressive because I did have a tendency to just starting chipping the ball back into play and just getting the rallies started," Federer admitted.
"I'm very good at that, I can do that all night, but it's just a bit predictable for the opponent.
"I've just been working on a few little key areas. Things have been going well."
So well, Federer has won four of his past five tournaments, and 26 of his past 28 matches.
Achievement aside, the most remarkable thing about Federer is the scale of his unsatisfied ambition.
At 29, Federer has snared almost double the number of grand slams to any of his active rivals. Nadal has nine.
For as long as anybody can remember, Federer tentatively outlined next year's London Olympics - the tennis will be played at Wimbledon - as a possible exit point. Landing a singles gold medal at the sport's ancestral home appeals to Federer.
But now, on the crest of a remarkable renaissance, Federer hinted the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics might be a preferable swansong.
The defending Australian Open champion still loves going to work.
"As long as I'm healthy, eager, motivated ... which I clearly am," Federer said of his plans to continue for as long as he can.
"I've played 10 full seasons in my career really.
"Nine of them I made the World Tour finals. So I've had obviously always long and exhausting seasons.
"But I seem to enjoy it and take pleasure out of travelling the world, playing against the best, challenging myself in practice and so forth.
"Yeah, at the moment I have no plans at all stopping, quitting, whatever you want to call it.
"Hope I can play for many more years to come. It's a goal anyway. I think it's possible."
And why not? Federer's self-belief has been restored.
He says there were times after an unavailing claycourt season and defeats to Lleyton Hewitt at Halle in Germany and Berdych at Wimbledon when doubts gnawed.
"Well, first of all, I had to regain some confidence," he said. "That only comes through winning matches.
"After having somewhat of a disappointing clay (season), Halle, Wimbledon stretch, where I wasn't able to win any tournaments, maybe didn't play some of my best tennis, played a bit passive, it was important once the hardcourt season came around that I was able to pick up my game, start moving better, start feeling well physically and mentally.
"I'm sure Paul has helped in this regard.
"So has (Swiss Davis Cup captain) Severin (Luthi). He's helped, as well, over the last few years. That's why I'm very happy with my team at this stage of the season."
It is a enduring measure of Federer's standing that, even after winning the Australian Open, finishing the season at No.2 and collecting five more titles, he is judged negatively. It is water off a duck's back.
"Look, I've had a good season. I don't see how someone can say it's been a bad season," he said.
"I had some tough losses, sure. You're not going to win every tournament you play.
"Obviously I can't play every season, make 16 out of 17 finals like I did back in 2005. It's just not realistic. I won five titles, won a slam. Everything was there.
"I think physically, I was better than the last two seasons I've had.
"That obviously makes me be very positive, that I believe I can have another great season in 2011, which is important to feel."
Federer no longer plays for fame or fortune. He plays for his own gratification.
"Time is money these days. It's nice to get money. Sure helps," he said. "But this is not why I'm here. Look, the memories I take away from this are much greater than all the money I won."
And, if things go to plan, Federer intends to correct the Wimbledon aberration - and win several more majors before he heads off into the sunset. Starting with the Australian Open.
Rally for Relief
Dear Fans
This coming Sunday, we will be organising a fund-raising event for the victims of the floods here in Australia. Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Kim Clijsters, Lleyton Hewitt, Sam Stosur and Pat Rafter will also be among the players to participate. Our aim is to raise as much money as possible for the people in Queensland who have lost everything in the devastating floods.
Tickets for the event in Rod Laver Arena are available at www.ticketek.com.au, they are 20 Dollars each. Furthermore, the ATP and WTA will donate 10 Dollars for each ace hit at the tournaments in Brisbane, Sydney, Hobart and the Australian Open.
This is for a really good cause - I hope lots of you can come out here to help the flood victims!
Australian Open draw
The draw for the Australian Open took place today. In Roger's 45th consecutive participation in a Grand Slam tournament, he will meet Lukas Lacko for the first time in the first round. The Slovak had all eyes on him as he took a set 6-0 against Rafael Nadal in the tournament in Doha, before finally losing the secound-round match 6-7, 6-0, 3-6.
If all goes well for our defending champion, he could face Frenchman Gaël Monfils in the third round and in the quarter-finals he could be seen battling with Andy Roddick. After that, the semis is a likely duel with Novak Djokovic before a final battle between Nadal and Roger could not be ruled out, if all goes well for these two champions.
Wywiad przed AO
Q. Your performance in Qatar you described as near flawless. You've been here for a few days. How would you describe your preparation to this point?
ROGER FEDERER: Uhm, well it's been good. I've been trying to relax from a busy end of the year, also busy start to the year with the XOs with Rafa, going to Abu Dhabi, more XOs there, then playing Qatar. I didn't obviously want to overplay.
I practiced well, good quality. I'm feeling well. It's been all under the roof, so I'm looking forward to playing outdoors hopefully this afternoon.
Q. Has that been a little disconcerting: you haven't been able to enjoy the conditions you'll be able to enjoy during the tournament?
ROGER FEDERER: I don't think so. I think it would be really difficult if the first day it would be 40 degrees, let's say. That would be somewhat of a shock for the body, just getting used to. But I'm not worried about that. I don't think it's going to be 40 degrees either.
Look, it's been humid. At least been sweating a lot while we were practicing also indoors. I'm feeling good. The point is starting the tournament rested. If I'm hitting the ball well, you know, things look good. But then again, I need to really play well obviously to get through.
Q. Do you set a certain goal for the first Grand Slam of the year for your entire calendar year, how many Grand Slams you'd like to win?
ROGER FEDERER: Not necessarily. I mean, I try to see this period here just trying to defend my Australian Open title, trying to play really well. Last couple of weeks was just trying to stay injury free really, being fresh, ready and motivated and ready to play, because I played so much down the stretch at the end of last year.
After the Australian Open, I'll have some good time off, actually more time off than I had after London. This is where I think I'll really start thinking about the rest of the season. So in essence my focus is purely on the Australian Open right now, and then I'll go for the rest after that.
Q. Obviously all Grand Slams mean a lot to players. Melbourne has good memories for you, but it sets you up for the rest of the year, doesn't it?
ROGER FEDERER: Clearly. It's a big gap, if you speak in terms of Grand Slams, between the Australian Open and the French Open. It's obviously nice when you play so well here because it kind of slows down after that, Indian Wells and Miami being two tournaments, but only played over a one month period. If you don't play well there, like me last year, it just gets a bit slow, people start talking faster than they should. Thank God last year I won the Australian Open, but still they were talking.
That's why the Australian Open is really important, depending obviously on how your schedule all works out. I tend not to overplay usually. So we'll see how it goes.
Look, the Australian Open is huge in terms of many reasons: I've had coaches from here, I used to come vacation in here back in '95 or '94. I always had great times here. Never had a bad tournament here in Australia. Loved my first time here as a junior back in '98. Obviously the great memories from being here and playing some epic matches also, let's say, in Davis Cup with Lleyton, the finals here with Rafa, or the semis with Safin that I lost here. I've had some amazing matches here. This is also where I got to world No. 1 in 2004. It's been an amazing tournament for me really.
Q. You mentioned Rafa. He has been struggling a bit of late. Do you read much into that? Do you think he'll be good come Monday?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, look, I don't know. I was not with him the whole time. I saw him a lot through Zurich, Madrid, the matches we played in our foundations, then Abu Dhabi. He was fine. I saw his physio was sick from Abu Dhabi. That's never good, a guy that's working on you is sick. That it caught him was no surprise. I was sick, too, before and after Christmas. Look, I think something going around a bit.
But he's been practicing again. I'm sure he'll be ready.
Q. Despite your record here, pretty impeccable, for us to think if you don't win the Grand Slam, it would be the first time you wouldn't hold a Grand Slam title since 2003. Hard for us to believe. How does that sit with you?
ROGER FEDERER: It is what it is. It's not easy to win slams. That means I've done something quite extraordinary for many seasons. The season's not over after that. Maybe you're not holding a slam, but you still have three more chances to win a Grand Slam.
At the end of the day it's not only about Grand Slams, like what people make it out. We all know that these tournaments are massive and this is where normally the top guys are being measured. The World Tour Finals is equally important; other tournaments are very important. I don't just purely gear up for the slams, you know. It's not how I work, otherwise I wouldn't play Qatar, Stockholm, Basel, Halle, you name it, I would be saving myself all over the place, but I'm not.
I play a full schedule from January to November. I've done that for 12 years. I will keep on doing that, listening to my body, trying to be smart about what I need to do to play well when I really want to play well. That doesn't always mean always just majors, but obviously it's a big part of our game, and that's why I feel my game is exactly where I want it to be before the Australian Open. That's all I can really ask for.
We'll see how it goes. I'd love to win. If I don't win, look, someone else was better, and that's okay.
Q. Given that situation, there's an intriguing debate as to whether four in a row at any stage of a player's career constitutes a real Grand Slam. What is your verdict on that? Do you perceive four in a row at any stage across the calendar is a Grand Slam?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I don't know. I haven't heard the debate, to be honest. For me it's the one during the year. Then the other one, if Rafa were to do it, doesn't matter if it's Rafa or someone else, it's amazing in itself as well. It's just a different order.
But shouldn't take much away from it. It's very close, but it's not the calendar Grand Slam. But it doesn't matter. I mean, if anybody complains at that stage that you have four in a row, in which order it is...
Obviously, the classic one is the one that Rod Laver did twice. That will always be that way. That's why it's a very exciting Australian Open, to see if Rafa can do it. He sure has all the opportunities, having won three Grand Slams in a row on three different surfaces. Quite spectacular. So I'm excited to see how he goes.
Q. The big relief matches tomorrow, there's been a lot happening in Australia, in Queensland. Why did you put your hand up? Must be quite distressing seeing what's happening up north.
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, I was in Qatar and was seeing the news. When I saw it hit the city of Rockhampton, I right away thought of Rod Laver, you know. I tried to reach out to him and see if he wanted to do anything, if he needed my help. Obviously very excited, but said probably can't come down to Australia this year, which is unfortunate, but was very happy if I do something. Didn't really know then how big the devastation was going to be.
Once I came down to Australia, I spoke to him. I told him, Look, I'm really trying to get something going like we had here going last year, but this time we have more than 24 hour notice, so I think we'll be able to generate more money, especially in a country where we're playing right at the moment. I think it's very appropriate and a must for us to do something as a tennis family really.
I'm really happy we've been able to do it again. I mean, I always knew it was going to be possible. The question was, did all the people want to do it, as well. Here it is. I'm really excited that it's happening tomorrow, will be able to really raise a significant amount, which is going to be fantastic to help all those people who lost so much.
Q. With the attention on Rafa, whether he could get the Rafa Slam, whatever you want to call it, the focus has been on yourself, the records you've been setting. When you see the attention on Rafa now, does that set the desire to be the man on top again?
ROGER FEDERER: No, I mean, I don't read much press, so I don't know where the attention's at right now. I hope it's on him. He deserves it. He's world No. 1. He's going for four in a row. I always knew that is going to be big news, like it is big news that I'm the defending champion, that it's big news to follow Sam Stosur, see Del Potro coming back. I know what makes headlines. I don't necessarily need to go read it.
I am excited when we're talking about tennis in the media in any shape or form, as long as it's positive hopefully. That's important.
But, look, I think it's unbelievable what Rafa's been able to do. That in some ways makes him the favorite for this tournament. I mean, he's been playing incredible, an incredible run through the French, sort of the clay, French, Wimbledon, US Open. It was incredible to see. Then obviously it's hard to maintain. But he's going to be for sure ready for this. I'll follow it very closely. If I get a chance, I hope I can stop him, obviously.
Q. Do you feel he should be favorite or you should be favorite, in your own mind?
ROGER FEDERER: No, he should be favorite. He's holding the three slams. I hold this one still, but just, so... Of course, I won the World Tour Finals, I've been playing really well on the hard courts right now. But he's been the one dominating the slams. Had hardly any tough matches in the last three slams. That makes him the favorite.
I don't have any problems not being the favorite really.
ROGER AND RAFA PLAY DOUBLES
Roger and Rafa had great fun together today as they played doubles together for once at the the Rally for Relief to raise money for victims of the fatal floods in Australia. Eventually, over 1.7 million Dollars were collected thanks to the appearances of several top-players. "As a tennis-family, it is our obligation to do something," Roger said.
Roger and Rafa played on opposite sides of the net first before playing together against Kim Clijsters and Sam Stosur in front of a capacity 15'000 crowd which paid to watch a host of tennis stars in the fundraiser. Novak Djokovic and Andy Roddick wore microphones and joked with the crowd, playing alongside and against the likes of Caroline Wozniacki and Victoria Azarenka in the celebrity hit-and-giggle exhibition.
Tomorrow it is back to work as Roger opens his quest to defend his Australian Open title against Lukas Lacko.
AUSTRALIAN OPEN
FEDERER READY FOR NADAL CHALLENGE
Roger Federer is chasing a fifth Australian Open crown.
On the eve of the 2011 Australian Open, defending champion Roger Federer has hung the label of ‘tournament favourite’ firmly around Rafael Nadal’s neck, but is hoping he can be the one to stop the Spaniard achieving the “Rafa Slam”.
The Swiss has been as impressed as anyone by Nadal’s results over the past eight months, which have left the World No. 1 with the chance to hold all four Grand Slam titles at one time should he reclaim the Australian Open trophy that he lifted in 2009. No player has done so since Rod Laver in 1969.
“That's why it's a very exciting Australian Open, to see if Rafa can do it,” said Federer at his pre-tournament press conference on Saturday. “Having won three Grand Slams in a row on three different surfaces is quite spectacular. So I'm excited to see how he goes.
“I think it's unbelievable what Rafa's been able to do. That in some ways makes him the favourite for this tournament. I mean, he's been playing incredible. It was incredible to see. He's going to be for sure ready for this. I'll follow it very closely. If I get a chance, I hope I can stop him.
“Of course, I won the [Barclays ATP] World Tour Finals, I've been playing really well on the hard courts right now,” added Federer. “But he's been the one dominating the slams. [He’s] had hardly any tough matches in the last three slams. That makes him the favourite.”
The 29-year-old Federer is, himself, looking for another history-making run in Melbourne. The Basel native is bidding for his fifth Australian Open crown and a 17th major title; he currently is the Open Era record holder with 16 Grand Slam singles titles after defeating Andy Murray in the final at Melbourne Park last year. He will open his campaign against Lukas Lacko on Monday on Rod Laver Arena.
“The Australian Open is huge in terms of many reasons,” said Federer. “I always had great times here. Never had a bad tournament here in Australia. Loved my first time here as a junior back in 1998. Obviously the great memories from being here and playing some epic matches also, let's say, in Davis Cup with Lleyton [Hewitt], the finals here with Rafa [in 2009], or the semis with [Marat] Safin that I lost here [in 2005]. I've had some amazing matches here. This is also where I got to World No. 1 in 2004. It's been an amazing tournament for me really.”
Federer’s lead in to the Australian Open has been impeccable and he goes into the first Grand Slam of the year as arguably the most in-form player on tour. Since reaching the US Open semi-finals (l. to Djokovic) last September, the Swiss has won 26 of his past 28 matches, including triumphing at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals (d. Nadal) in November and opening the 2011 ATP World Tour season with victory in Doha (d. Davydenko.
“[The] past couple of weeks were just [about] trying to stay injury free really, being fresh, ready and motivated and ready to play, because I played so much down the stretch at the end of last year,” said Federer. “My game is exactly where I want it to be before the Australian Open. That's all I can really ask for. We'll see how it goes. I'd love to win.”
ROGER CRUISES INTO SECOND
Roger was in fine touch on Rod Laver Court and moved into the second round of the Australian Open with a 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 victory against Lukas Lacko.
Roger proved that he is in great shape, breaking Lacko's serve seven times in total. "I felt great right from the start. My aim was to play aggressively and see if Lacko can hold the pace", Roger said after the match.
Roger won the point on his firs serve 87 per cent of the time and won 16 of 20 net approaches to mix it up enough to make the baseliners of the game uncomfortable. He needed no more than 33 minutes for any of the three sets, showing some fantastic tennis. Lacko did score a break in the second set, but was unable to win the games upon his own serve. Roger needed one final break in the last set to comfortably wrap up the victory after 84 minutes.
Next up is a clash with either Sydney International winner Gilles Simon of France or Taiwan's Yen-Hsun Lu on Wednesday.
AO 2011 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w 1 rundzie
Q. Is that one of the best starts you've had to a Grand Slam?
ROGER FEDERER: I don't know. I don't remember all my starts, to be quite honest right now.
But, look, I thought I played great. Tried to play offensive from the start and see where it takes me. It didn't work. You know, I got back and played a bit more risky and so forth.
But I was able to keep on pressing, you know, put him on the back foot. For me it was no surprise he started, you know, to get into the match at one stage in the third set. You know, I thought it was a good match. I don't think he played too bad himself. I saw some talent in him, too, and that's why I think I was really happy I chose that tactics early on to pressure him.
That it worked was obviously great. But at the end, I'm obviously very happy.
Q. How are the twins?
ROGER FEDERER: The twins are good. Thanks for asking.
Q. Are they showing any signs of good hand eye coordination at this stage?
ROGER FEDERER: I don't know. Ask me next year when they're a year older. Right now, they're not playing that much with tennis racquets and stuff yet. They're still a bit too young.
Q. We still don't know the name of your next opponent. It could be Gilles Simon. He's one of very few players on tour you have a losing record against. Is that something that affects your preparation at all?
ROGER FEDERER: Uhm, no, it doesn't affect my preparation. You know, maybe I'll look into if I do play him; if he was to win if I do play him, maybe I will look just a bit more into what has worked and what has not worked against him in the past.
Obviously, it's up to Paul and Severin to give me advice on how to play him. Then it's up to me to, you know, mentally try to forget those matches or remember the good things I did, because both matches we did play against each other were close.
I mean, one no excuses but I came in, it was the back issue at the Masters. But, look, he played well. He was on a great run there, playing the finals I think in Madrid, beating Rafa there. So he's beaten the best in the world really. If he can do it once, he always feels he can do it again, which he did against me.
It's a tricky second round for me if I play Simon. Even if I don't play him, the other guy is very good, too.
Q. You talked about Paul after the game. You said he's a nice guy and you know him well. What else was it about him thought you thought he could help you? What was it particularly about Paul?
ROGER FEDERER: I didn't have anything particularly in mind. With Tony Roche, for instance, I had very much in mind I wanted someone who could improve my volley. That really worked with him. So I'm still obviously very thankful to the great work I got in with Tony Roche. He was really happy to teach me how to work with, you know, good quality and practice for a long period of time, really motivate me for the practice, had good advice all around.
With Paul I didn't know, to be honest, what to expect too much. I had more of a conversation. It was more on a level of, you know, just on a broad level all around, you know, just getting someone in from the outside a bit more who I could listen to, who had just some advice maybe I never heard about.
You know, it worked well. I'm happy it integrated well. Gets along well with Severin, as well. The results have shown, as well. So I'm very happy.
Q. Going back to the memories you had about the match with Simon, normally you remember more the wins?
ROGER FEDERER: Which ones? Either one? I played him twice.
Q. I'm just asking you if you remember more easily the wins, the loss, certain specific matches? Do you remember, in general, a lot of them or just a few very important?
ROGER FEDERER: You mean if I remember the losses more?
Q. Yeah, or the wins.
ROGER FEDERER: Well, usually I remember the losses maybe just a bit more because I don't have as many as I have wins (smiling). It's a good/bad problem. Because I have started to forget wins, which is not a good sign, you know, or a good sign. Depends on how you look at it (laughter).
But losses come to me faster just 'cause I don't have as many as the wins, like I said before. So I quickly can tell you probably what happened in those matches and so forth, you know. Because usually when you lose, you leave and you analyze the match and you try to think back on what could I have done better and it kind of sticks with you for a little bit.
Whereas normally with a match in a normal tournament, you win, you move onto the next round. You win, you move onto the next round. It doesn't last with you so long. But when you lose, you have a few days to think about it, or a couple times even a few weeks. Not that you're going to think about it all day long and in your dreams, but it for sure sticks with you longer.
That's why I do remember the matches with Simon vividly, to be quite honest.
Q. Do you remember when was the last time you didn't play on Rod Laver Arena?
ROGER FEDERER: It's been a while, that's for sure. Because they have two sessions here with the day and night session, they give me either one. The same at the US Open really. At the French and Wimbledon where we don't have the night sessions, you know, they mix it up a bit more, put me on Lenglen or Court 1. Hisense, Margaret Court, center court, either one is fine. As long as it's the show court, it's great.
I think it would change a lot if I were playing on one of the classic outside courts where you just have small stands. But they all feel like a center court. Some are smaller, some are bigger.
Sure, I always love playing on center court, but I don't request anything. I just get put where they like to see me play.
Q. You mentioned the dreams. Do you have bad dreams about losses in Grand Slam finals where you wake up in a cold sweat?
ROGER FEDERER: No, not really. I don't dream much, in the first place, which is a good thing, I think. Even if I would, I wouldn't tell you, so...
But I don't dream and wake up of nightmares like this, thank God yet.
Q. There are a few members of the England cricket team watching you play a very successful team, by the way. Have you been made aware of the significance of what the England team has done here? Do you follow cricket at all?
ROGER FEDERER: I do follow cricket, yes. I did see a bit of the Ashes at the very beginning. Then after that I didn't see much anymore.
Yeah, I mean, I always like to watch cricket when I'm down here. Yesterday I was watching the one day match a bit. Yeah, I know it's big news, so you should be happy that you have it. It's not always going to be like that, you know (smiling). It changes, you know.
But they played well, you know, so...
Q. The YouTube video where you hit the bottle off the guy's head, is that real?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I did it twice, that's why I wanted to make sure people knew it was real. A bit of help there, but... (smiling.)
Q. You've never done it before and got someone in the face?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, we couldn't show those clips (smiling). Yeah, that's about it. That's all I'm going to say (laughter). Can't say more.
THROUGH IN FIVE SETS
Roger needed five sets and over 3 hours to win his second-round match 6-2, 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 6-3 at the Australian Open against Gilles Simon today.
"Matches against him don't come easy, it's the first win I've had," Roger said. "Today I got lucky, I was happy I won."
Things worked fine for Roger as he ripped through the first two sets in just 68 minutes. Then, Simon broke twice to take a 3-0 lead in set number three, but Roger also broke twice before he then had his serve broken once more as the Frenchman held on to win the set. Simon was the only player to break serve in the fourth set, taking the match into a fifth.
In the decider, Roger converted a break point in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead. He later gained another three break points to end the match, but Simon saved all of them to force our champ to serve for the match. Roger had to work for the victory all the way up to the end and was finally able to make use of match point number 5, closing the match with an ace.
Roger will play Belgium's Xavier Malisse (ATP 45) in the third round. Roger leads the head-to-head 7:1. The one defeat goes back 12 years in a Davis Cup encounter.
ROGER FLIES INTO NEXT ROUND
Roger defeated Xavier Malisse 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 at the Australian Open on Friday to reach the fourth round.
"I pulled up with no back problems after the match with Simon, which in the past would have scared me a little bit," Roger said. "I'm happy how my body is feeling and I'm moving well. Obviously key to good tennis play today is good movement. That's what I've got at the moment, so I'm very happy."
Roger started perfectly, breaking Malisse twice and racing to a 4-0 lead and then easily securing the first set. But after the break between the sets his game wasn't what he had started with, falling 1-3 behind after a break by the Belgian. But Roger woke up immediately, won 10 games in a row to fly to a 6-3 and then 5-0 lead and eventually move into the fourth round after 1 hour 45 minutes.
Our champ will now play Tommy Robredo (ATP 52) on Sunday. He stands 9-0 against the Spaniard, a 2007 quarter-finalist.
AO: rekord Federera
Roger Federer, pokonując Xaviera Malisse w 3 rundzie Australian Open 2011, został rekordzistą pod względem ilości wygranych spotkań w Melbourne. Szwajcar na czele klasyfikacji zmienił Stefana Edbera (56 wygranych meczów w AO), notując dziś swój 57 wygrany mecz w pierwszej lewie Wielkiego Szlema.
AO 2011 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w 2 rundzie
Q. You warned us two days ago it was going to be close and it was going to be tough. Did you really expect it was going to be that tough?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, four or five sets, what's the difference really? But, look, at the end of the day I'm happy I'm through. That's what it comes down to. Doesn't matter if you win in straight or in five. Just keep on moving on in the draw and give yourself an opportunity for the next match, maybe an opponent that suits you more, maybe conditions that are maybe a bit more faster than tonight, let's say. Get the night sessions, sort of the first one, out of the way, and stay alive and feel good.
That's what's it's all about. I thought the match was great. I thought it was played at a high level for a very long time. Obviously it's always hard like also last night with Hewitt and Nalbandian to see someone lose when there's such a great match happening out there.
But at the end of the day, I thought I played great and I'm very happy.
Q. Was that as hard as the Alejandro Falla match at Wimbledon in the first round?
ROGER FEDERER: If it was as hard?
Q. Yeah.
ROGER FEDERER: Look, it was different. Look, I was always at the water here against Falla the whole match basically until I was up a break in the fifth. I mean, I was under enormous pressure for a very long time; whereas today it was completely the opposite.
While I was losing the third and the fourth, I still was in the lead somehow. That's why I was I guess a bit more confident tonight, even though I knew it was going to be a much more difficult fifth set against Simon than it was going to be against Falla for some reason.
Because I was getting stronger and stronger as the match wore on in Wimbledon, and tonight I started so well in the first two sets. It was always going to be hard to keep it up against such a good player like Gilles. I found a way in the fifth, and I'm happy I made it.
Q. He's not the average second round opponent, is he? He's sort of a lot better quality. Do you think that kind of match sets you up well for the rest of the tournament?
ROGER FEDERER: I would think so, yeah. There's definitely positives to take out of this match. I didn't play bad. I didn't think I played bad in the third and the fourth sets. Really a lot positives coming out of this match.
Physically I'm fine, and I'm really looking forward to my next round opponent, who I've known since a very, very long time.
Sure, a match like this can give you a lot of information, and should be very positive in the long run. We'll see how it goes.
Q. Do you think your previous record against him affected you?
ROGER FEDERER: Not too much, to be honest. Look, I came out and played great. Didn't really affect me.
But he hasn't been nothing what was he, No. 6 in the world for nothing? He's beaten me twice, Rafa before, other players before at the very top. He's got something special in his game that really can be very tricky for us. I think obviously he raises his game against the best players.
The better the ball he gets the better he plays, really. But I was able to outplay him early on. And I think through really cold weather almost towards the end, it was harder and harder to really put balls away, and that got him on so many more balls that in the beginning he couldn't get on.
I think that's just what made it so hard for me to readjust tactically against him. But, look, he played great and fought so hard. It was a very intense match. Maybe it wasn't the longest one. We didn't take much time between points so, and I think that's why it was so short but exciting match to play.
Q. The fact that it's been a long time since you've fallen in the early rounds of a Grand Slam event, does that help you in a match like this?
ROGER FEDERER: Look, I mean, for me losing last 16, second round, first round, it's the same thing basically, because there are so many other guys that are ranked around me that are going to make to the semis or finals.
It's an early loss in a slam, which then obviously hurts. They do happen. What to do when the guy plays well? You have to just acknowledge it and move on. I'm happy I survived a scare like today. It's not the first time. I've had Berdych here before; I've had Tipsarevic before; Falla in Wimbledon.
So it does happen, and you just try to stay calm even though I'm not playing for much. He's playing for the huge upset, and I'm just trying to get through. So it's not easy.
But, look, I handled it well tonight, and I'm very happy that things turned out so nicely at the end.
Q. You see Simon returning to the top 10 based on tonight's performance?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, look, I mean, I hope for him. I think he's an exciting player to watch. He brings something different to the match every time he plays. He can play soft, he can play hard, he can counter punch really well. He's one of the quickest guys out there and he returns really, really well. I think he's just a different kind of a player.
Look, he's had some issues with his knee, so I hope that holds up. I think obviously if he plays at the very high level for a long time, I definitely think it's possible.
Q. You say the two defeats only don't mean that it's a boogeyman for you, your wild beast our whatever you call it. Still, he's one of the three guys that causes you more problems, would you say, or maybe not?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, the thing against Gilles, victory is in my racquet because I'm the aggressor. He let's me play and he likes to defend, so I like that kind of a match up where I control if I'm going to win or lose.
Today I was able to completely outplay him for two sets. After that, we had a tricky third set, and next thing you know he's completely in the match. And then it gets hard. So is he one of those guys? I don't know. We have to play more often.
But I was very happy the way I was able to forget those two matches I played against him and just play a good match. I'm very pleased with my performance tonight.
Q. Did you change the way that you played in the third and fourth set, because early on you seemed to keep him off balance with short slices and dropshots and moving him all around the court. In the third and fourth set, he seemed to have a bit more time and then you put that away and brought it back again late in the match.
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, like I said, I think conditions helped him. As the match wore on, it was really cooler. The shots that in the first two sets were causing a lot of damage were just not causing the same damage, so he was getting on more shots.
The next thing you know, it's like it changed the whole dynamics. I had to take more chances to come in, I had to take more chances on the serve, more chances with my backhand, with my forehand, and this is when I started to overplay a little bit.
But that was due also that he was really getting into the match sort of midway through the second set, and it was important to get the two sets to love lead.
So I think it was more due to the conditions changing. I knew that he was going to find a way to get into the match regardless of the conditions, but it just got that much harder as it was getting cooler.
And in the fifth set, I mean, you threw the tactics out of the door, because all you want to do is just fight and find a way and hope that maybe he misses a few, or that you find an extra gear, which I was able to find.
It was an extremely exciting end towards the end when I had 5 2, Love 40, I think, and then he held and I had a really good game to finish.
It was really a lot of fun.
Q. What was going through your head when he saved those three match points? I think they were all on second serves as well.
ROGER FEDERER: I was like, This can't be true, right? I've had some tough losses last year. Obviously they're in the past and I've had a wonderful last six months. But sometimes it just doesn't seem to go your way. As much as you believe and press and do the right things, sometimes you get unlucky and sometimes the other guy just reads your mind or it just all falls into place and it's not your day.
I didn't feel that feeling out there, but I definitely felt something was not going my way. I really had to play an extremely good game to close it out. Obviously I was quite relieved.
AO 2011 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w 3 rundzie
Q. A good game after a five setter the other night. Happy with it?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean the match against Simon was good, too. Don't make it sound like it was bad just because it was five sets. They usually are a higher level over a longer period of time.
So I thought today was intense too. The first two sets almost didn't reflect how tough it could have been. Or how tough it was. I think that maybe broke his will a little bit because he was up 3 1 in the second I think it was. Then I was able to come back and win 11 straight games which was obviously a great run I got on. I was able to do a few different things.
Q. After a tough five set match, David Nalbandian said he felt weak and dizzy and quit 59 minutes into his next match. You had a tough five set match too. What's the difference?
ROGER FEDERER: Well he also played last week, so I mean that's maybe part to it. He never really had time or a couple days to kind of rest and get used to it at all. Then he got almost the toughest draw you can get with Lleyton here. Obviously the intensity you get from Lleyton and the crowd and the pressure and all those things combined can maybe give a result like this.
It was for long periods of time very close, and he had to put in an hell of an effort to get back in the fourth set. You know, then he plays a tough guy in the next round and he's on a smaller court and things are just not the same and so easy, so simple. Maybe he picked up something small as well that was bugging him.
Look, I'm okay today, and I'm happy I was able to come through it. Surely not the easiest thing to come back after a five setter, but I managed.
I'm sure that another day of rest is going to do me good.
Q. Is there something that gives you an edge in Grand Slams to bounce back in tough matches?
ROGER FEDERER: Clearly, I mean, I always said you can't win a Grand Slam in the first week but you can lose it. Maybe that's what happened to Nalbandian. Maybe had he had an easier draw maybe he would have been a threat in the long run, but starting with such a tough match early on in the tournament, if you don't win the next match, maybe somewhat easier, you know, it just kind of sticks with you. Down the stretch you get tough players, another grinder, and grinder and grinder and eventually it gets you.
That's what happened to him. It's unfortunate but didn't happen to me. I would have been okay playing another one today, no problem.
Q. You had issues at Wimbledon and the French last year with movement and back problems. Are you moving as freely as you want to now and for the last few months?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I pulled up with no back problems after the match with Simon, which in the past would have stared me a little bit. Somewhat of a cold condition, somewhat of a little wind with the sweat on the back and everything. That would have worried me. Perfectly fine, same night, next day, and today.
I'm happy how my body is feeling and I'm moving well. That's obviously key to good tennis play today is good movement. That's what I got at the moment, so I'm very happy.
Q. Just wondering after all the wins you've had and success, what gets you excited out there on court? Is it saving breakpoints, hitting aces? Hitting a great passing shot?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, mixing it up. Playing exciting tennis like I was able to do today. Coming to the net, trying out a few different things, hitting dropshots, big forehands, you know, playing tactically the right way. So I enjoy that.
And obviously playing on Rod laver Arena or any center court around the world where usually I am put on to play is obviously a lot fun. It takes a lot of hard work to get there. Because in the beginning you need some great results to get to the show courts. Maybe sometimes when you're there you want to stay there. You can really cement your place on the big show courts, which I've been able to do. That's obviously now a dream come true playing all around the world on all the great courts we have.
Q. What is your opinion of Bernard Tomic and what he might be able to do against Rafa tomorrow?
ROGER FEDERER: Don't know. I haven't seen him enough to be quite honest. I wasn't just sitting there watching him play. I have kids I have to take care of as well. So I like to that more than watch Bernard. I think I'm sure it's going to be an exciting match, you know.
Great at his age to win back to back matches in a Grand Slam. Obviously at home even more so. Now everybody is going to watch that kind of a match depending when it's going to be played. Is it a night session? Yeah. Obviously depends.
Interesting test. This is as tough as they come. Rafa doesn't give anything away. I've felt that before. Bernard can tell you how it felt for him.
Q. Will you watch yourself?
ROGER FEDERER: Depends when I go for dinner. I won't put my schedule around it.
Q. Two players have been investigated recently because of match fixing. I know you don't know...
ROGER FEDERER: But you do, so it's all good.
Q. Yes. Even this is off topic, what is your reaction? You're more pissed off when you hear about doping or about match fixing? I mean, they're both bad, but there is one of the two which is worse?
ROGER FEDERER: No, because they're both bad. It's not good. Doesn't matter if I think it's 51/49. It doesn't matter. I think it's just unacceptable when athletes, players, whatever you want to call it, try to do things like this or play with the integrity of the sport.
I don't know if I get more angry or disappointed. It's just a pity to a game that has given us everything. Why would you want to play with that? You're not only taking a chance for yourself, but for so many other players to harm the sport. That's why it's disappointing to hear those kind of things.
You know about it; I haven't heard about it.
Q. If a friend of yours would do it, what would you say to him?
ROGER FEDERER: To not do it.
Q. For Malisse it was the first time he played in Rod Laver. He said it felt like a different world. What do you remember when you played your first match here?
ROGER FEDERER: I don't know, maybe it was Arnaud Clement when I lost here. Yeah, it's definitely a different world out on the big, big center courts, that's for sure. It's just a different atmosphere out there. Much more space on the sides and in the back. When you hit the ball, the sound is different.
So it's something you kind of got to get used to. It doesn't come easily sometimes if you're used to playing on smaller courts where the fans are right next to you. And, I don't know, there's much more wind. There's a different type of wind on a center court as well.
The atmosphere can either inspire you or make you really nervous. I know exactly what he's talking about. That's to some degree an advantage for me to always be playing on the show courts because I know what to expect. It's almost normal for me to be playing on those kind of courts these days.
But at the same time, it can almost inspire players like Xavier to play his absolute best tennis on a court like this because it's such a thrill, and that's what you work hard for, to get there and then to show what you can do.
That's why it's never easy playing players like Xavier today, and I thought he played a good match actually.
Q. What do you invest all your prize money in, you sponsorship money in? Properties? Shares?
ROGER FEDERER: What do you expect what a Swiss guy would say? (Laughter.)
Q. A Swiss bank account.
ROGER FEDERER: We put it in the banks, yes, that's what we do. And we sit on top of it. Then we'll see later on what we do with it.
Yeah, I'm not going to tell you, no. (Smiling.) Sorry.
Q. Are you never embarrassed for all that much money that you make? Of course all players, all champions make it. Sometimes you see also some poverty. You're helping with charities, your foundation. But still, you've got so much. Sometimes you say, How that is possible?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, sure. I never expected myself to earn so much money. This is where I always thank the older generation for all their hard work where prize money wasn't so high yet. But they were doing it basically for the love of the game because that's what it was.
Okay, there was no maybe media and no, you know, professional tour at the beginning. But they were doing some incredible things for the game to promote it all around the world. This is what I'll never forget. I like the history of the game, and this is why also I respect all the legends so much.
The platform we have today is incredible. I didn't start playing tennis to make a living out of it. It was just more living a dream, trying, because you knew, okay, you could make a bit of money. Maybe that could help you travel, and then you go from there.
I hope that in 20 years, 50 years it's going to be even more incredible, the game of tennis, which it already is. Yeah, I know how lucky I have become. That's why for me it's absolutely normal to give back with my foundation, and wherever I can help. I try to do my best.
It's not for image sake or because I have a bad conscious or anything. It's got to come from your heart, and that's what it is with me anyway.
Q. Just on tennis globally, I think there is 95 Europeans in the main draw, and there are South Americans as well. Do you think there is ever a way for Australia and America to get back to something like the glory days with all the European dominance? And what do you think the reason is for this European dominance?
ROGER FEDERER: Never really thought about it. I mean, I definitely think America and Australia can get back sooner than later definitely. Why Europeans, I don't know. I guess it's just a trend right now like it used to be a trend that America and Australia had such great players. I guess it comes in phases.
Maybe courts slowing down a bit has helped Europeans a bit, especially if you think about Spain and how they grow up sort of hitting I think they work a lot out of the basket, you know. So the ball comes slow and they can really accelerate through the ball; whereas an American and maybe an Australian are more used to playing on a faster court where the ball comes to you. So they're not so used to going to the ball and hitting it, which for the Spaniards is absolutely normal.
That's maybe why the slower conditions have helped the Europeans to make their move who grew up playing on clay. I also grew up playing on clay courts. Yeah, so that's also why I think also today you don't see a guy who can only play on hardcourt. Today everybody can play on all the different surfaces. That's definitely from slowing down the game with the balls and the surfaces.
AO 2011 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w 4 rundzie
Q. Do you recall your first visit to Australia and what impression it may have made on you?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, it was a long time ago now. I remember I had a great vacation here with my parents and my sister. We did all sort of the east coast, Sydney, up into Cairns, and also did the Great Barrier Reef. It was a wonderful time we had. People were friendly and helpful, because sometimes we didn't know our way around. It was great.
Q. I meant as a tennis player.
ROGER FEDERER: '98 as a junior. Same thing. I played out in Taralgon. A little country town. Very relaxed atmosphere. Players were in a good mood, I remember that.
Obviously it was a dream come true to play on the grounds here at Melbourne Park. Same thing. To sort of rub shoulders with the big guys, it was kind of cool.
The city was fun. I don't remember what I was doing and where I was staying actually, but it was a good time.
Q. We're one week on the way now. You had a scare against Gilles Simon. Now you're in the quarterfinals. Are you satisfied with the way things are going now?
ROGER FEDERER: Yes, I'm satisfied. I'm still in the tournament. I'm in another quarterfinal. Got all the chances to make it to the semis again, so I'm very pleased. It's been a tough first week with a bit of heat the last couple of matches I played in.
The match against Simon was a great first round. Pretty happy how I'm hitting the ball. Had sort of a tricky draw with guys with experience or great return players. That's why I'm happy I was able to beat all those guys and give myself a chance to get into the second week.
Q. You took a coach, Paul, and now you're having another type of game. You're trying to improve. Do you see that here in Australia?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, it's Paul Annacone actually. No, I'm looking always forward trying to improve as a player during a tournament or outside of the tournaments. It's obviously always a busy schedule. Always something happening, but little things can sometimes make a huge difference. I always try to find ways, and I always also did that when I was hardly losing at all. It's important to question yourself and that's what I've always been doing since I got to word No. 1 in 2004.
Q. Is there a sense that Rod Laver is a little slower this year than before?
ROGER FEDERER: Is it? I think at night it's a bit slower. It's hard to put the ball away it seems like. I don't know if that's because I played Gilles Simon. I definitely felt like after when the sun was down and it was cooling off a bit, you know, I think the court was playing slower.
Now, during the day today I think the ball was flying again and it definitely takes a kick and the spin and all those things, so I think it's pretty much the same to be quite honest. I just think it was because the nights were quite cool at the beginning of the week. That's changed again.
Q. Do you think it plays to anyone's advantage?
ROGER FEDERER: Depending against who you play on the day and then day form comes in. So I wouldn't know who I would favor in a night session or day session. I wouldn't really know. I think we can play on all the surfaces anyway and conditions. That's what we're made for really.
Q. What do you prefer to do deep down as a player: Attack or sit back and have long rallies and play baseline tennis?
ROGER FEDERER: I prefer to come forward and force the issue. I've always played that way since I'm a kid. Try to run around my backhand. I used to have a horrible backhand before so I had to find ways to get around that and use my forehand so they couldn't find my backhand or the rally would end.
That how I grew up playing. Then I grew stronger and my serve got better. My forehand had more topspin, and my backhand started to improve a bit. That's how I always enjoyed playing. But I really was able to improve sort of in 2001 and '02 my defensive game as well. My mental part of the game also started to kick in a bit. Obviously being able to play defense and then right way change to offense, that's something I was really able to become good at. Definitely learned that from some players. And footwork helped me in a big way as well.
I can do it all today. But deep down I guess I'm an attacker more than a defender.
Q. Do you think if you play offensively, which you have been here, and you said yourself you play your best tennis that way, that the unforced errors, you have to almost accept that that's going to happen?
ROGER FEDERER: Clearly. I don't care about unforced errors. The guys that love the statistics, they love those things. I don't care if I make 20 or 60 unforced errors, I don't care. As long as I'm doing the right things and staying true to my game plan and it makes sense. If I'm just making errors and I can't hit any winner any more, then I'm in trouble clearly.
But it's about setting up the plays right. That's why for me those kind of statistics don't mean a whole lot to me. It's sort of more how many points do you win on second serves and returns and all those kind of things. So it's not just winners and error count that matters to me.
Q. When did you have a horrible backhand? Or were you being a little bit modest?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I couldn't come over the backhand. I didn't have the power, so I would just chip it in. I remember when I joined the National Tennis Center, we were playing on a really quick supreme tennis court there indoors. I was like obviously I had to play to make it to the National Tennis Center. They had to still choose me.
I was just like, I have to come over it. I have to prove that I can hit it over the backhand drive and stuff. I think this is how it kind of all started. Because with the slice again on a really quick surface you don't get very far.
So between 13 and 15 I really was able to improve a lot. This is when all the results came in the juniors really.
Q. Do you think if you were starting off now you would have a double handed backhand? That's all the coaches seem to coach these days.
ROGER FEDERER: When I was 12 years old I went to a junior tournament in France, and I remember with the brother of the Patty Schnyder I started working on my double hander. I was like, You know what, I can't even do that, so I'll just stay with my bad one hander. Yeah, thank God I did stay with it, you know.
But, I don't know. Look, obviously it feels very free. Two hander, it hurts me everywhere: My chest and my wrist. So I'm happy I play with a one handed backhand now.
Q. Who or what can could stop this being another Federer/Nadal final?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I think Andy and Novak are playing extremely well, and that's why I'm not really looking very far ahead here. Rafa, myself; Robin is playing well; Roddick seems like he's in form; Stan, same thing; Berdych hasn't dropped a whole lot of sets or games.
I think really the top seeds here again are showing that they're above the rest a bit at the moment still. Interesting second week, I think. Yeah, I don't think I'll be looking too far ahead here.
Q. There may come a day when you are not the No. 1, No. 2 with Rafa. Do you see yourself having the same motivation, the same attitude, fighting in the tour as a No. 5, 6, 7 in the world?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, wouldn't change much. I would say 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Doesn't really matter a whole lot to me anyway. Sure, it's better to be No. 2 so you don't face No. 1 in the semis or already in the quarters or the last 16.
That's what Lleyton's little problem is at the moment. When your ranking drops and it's not a priority anymore, you get hit with tough draws at times.
This is where the seeding does help you. But I don't think the ranking will change my outlook a whole lot.
Q. One more sweet victory today. One more small step towards the ultimate crown.
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, it's a step in the right direction. I'm happy I'm still alive and going strong in the tournament. It's a tough match. I knew Robredo was going to come out and hit a lot loopy shots and make me earn it. He wasn't going to just give it to me.
I thought he was really able to play strong midway through the second set. I really had not many chances on his own serve, like he didn't have on my serve in the first set. But I found a way. I was able to play a bit more aggressive and sort of not make some stupid mistakes I did at the end of second set, which really cost me the set, I thought.
I was able to battle through.
Q. You looked relaxed today. What was the secret?
ROGER FEDERER: I'm pretty relaxed usually. I hope it's not the first time you've seen me play. (Laughter.) You should ask them if I'm relaxed or not. I think I am. It helps me to save energy at key moments during a tournament or match actually.
Q. Just on another topic, you seem to be aware of a lot of different sports. Just wondering if you know that the Rugby World Cup is on this year.
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah.
Q. What sort of support would you have? England, France?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, the Swiss, are they playing? (Laughter.) I think they're starting to get into it a bit. No, who am I supporting? I'll probably support the South Africans, of course, because my mom is from South Africa. So I would always support them.
But I just like good matches. I really enjoy was it the last World Cup that the South Africans won actually? I think it was. Yeah. I was just following that. It's a great sport. So especially World Cups and stuff, I try to follow those.
Q. Which other sports you would play if you were not a tennis player?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I don't know. Soccer, basketball, skiing. I don't know. Not swimming for sure. I can swim well, but I wouldn't want to swim. Too hard. Yeah, those kind of things.
Through to quarters in four
Roger has made it through the first week Down Under and will play the quarter finals next week thanks to a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory over Tommy Robredo.
"It was a tough match and I'm really happy to be in the next round," Roger commented. "I'm sweating bullets out here so I'm really delighted to win this match."
Once again, Roger started perfectly, hitting ace after ace and not conceding a single point on his serve in the first set. But the second proved to be a rough ride as he struggled with his return and couldn't get the balls into play like he wanted to. But he went on to regain control in the third and fourth set, taking each one thanks to early breaks.
With the victory, Roger has reached the quarter-finals for 27 consecutive majors since his third-round exit at the 2004 French Open, equaling Connors Open era record! Of his 26 previous quarter-final appearances, he has converted 24 into semifinals, gone on to reach 20 finals and won 14 of them.
In the quarter-final, he will either meet Andy Roddick (ATP 8) or his Swiss Olympic teammate Stanislas Warwinka (ATP 19) on Tuesday.
1/4 WS: Federer wyrównał rekord Connorsa
Roger Federer, po zwycięstwie nad Tommym Robredo w 4 rundzie Australian Open 2011 zanotował swój 27 kolejny ćwierćfinał imprezy wielkoszlemowej. Szwajcar wyrównał tym samym rekord Jimmego Connorsa.
Z dotychczasowych 26 ćwierćfinałów WS z rzędu Roger zanotował 24 półfinały, 20 finałów i 14 wielkoszlemowych tytułów.
Wydaje mi się, że chodzi o liczbę 27 ćwierćfinałów, bo ostatnio przegrał Fed w 3 rundzie RG z Kuertenem w 2004. Czyli 24+2+1=27.
Tak, oczywiście 27. Myślałem 27, napisałem 26. Forma Rogera z meczu z Robredo wyraźnie mnie otumaniła. :P
ROGER SOARS INTO SEMIS
Roger has reached his eighth consecutive semi-final at the Australian Open as he had little trouble defeating his Olympics doubles partner, Stanislas Wawrinka 6-1, 6-3, 6-3.
"I needed a good performance. We’ve played a lot in matches and a lot of practice together so there’s no secrets,” Roger said. “I had a good day today. I was able to mix it up. I’d like to say though Stan played an amazing tournament.”
Roger broke Wawrinka in the second game of the match, and made 77 per cent of his first serves - his best performance in the tournament to date. And our champ also held him to just one ace, keeping him from earning the free points on his serve that had helped in the previous rounds - Wawrinka had scored 24 aces against Roddick. As Roger broke to a 2-0 lead in the final set, Wawrinka showed his frustration by breaking his racket in two after pounding it onto the ground. Roger went on to easily finish the third set with his second match-ball after just 106 minutes.
As well as making his eighth Australian Open semi-final, it is Roger's 27th in Grand Slams since his first title 2003 in Wimbledon. Roger will either play Novak Djokovic (ATP3) or Tomas Berdych (ATP 6) on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
AO 2011 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w ćwierćfinale
Q. A very impressive win today. What did you like about it?
ROGER FEDERER: That it was a win (smiling).
No, uhm, I think it was a good match for me really. I started off well. Was able to serve and return really well. Really serve, which I didn't expect myself to do, because last time I played him he was really able to get the free points he was also getting in the match against Monfils and against Roddick.
I expected him during today to even serve bigger, because the ball travels faster through the air. For some reason I was able to return him well. On my own service games I was really good, too. I think that really set the tone for a good match for me.
Q. Did his performance disappoint you a little bit as a fellow Swiss?
ROGER FEDERER: Uhm, no. Look, I mean, I play Stan obviously very different to what Roddick or Monfils or what other players might do against him. Clearly it's not an easy match for him also. I've been in so many quarterfinals, in this situation so many times before, that I have the experience and I have the game to, you know, be tricky for him.
Then once obviously when the first set goes quick, maybe, you know, he's a bit under pressure there. He actually played a good second set. He had the first chance to make the break. Then he doesn't make it. The next thing you know, I get it. It's two sets to love.
It wasn't an easy match for him. The scoreline suggests maybe it was easier than it looked like. I thought it was a pretty tough match. He really got into the match, especially in the second set. But I was able to mix it up well and just keep him on his toes.
Q. Can you talk specifically about what you and Paul have been working on the last six months.
ROGER FEDERER: We didn't have that much time, to be quite honest. I was playing a lot of tournaments. I guess it was more talking about tactics, how to play in the matches. More also getting to know each other.
Maybe down the road here we'll have more time to work in the off season. Honestly, I haven't really had an off season, to be quite honest. So it was more just getting to know each other a bit more.
Q. The results have been very good since you started working with him.
ROGER FEDERER: That's true. There was also obviously a surface change. I think I was really able to work really well with Severin and Paul in Switzerland after Wimbledon, which was I think really important for me. I felt good. Didn't have any back pain. All those things were a thing of the past.
Finally I had a good buildup again. I think that one really carried me through in a big way for quite a few weeks and months. And then the confidence came back. Then it's obviously no surprise that I do play well. But I'm happy that since Paul has been in the team, my success level's gone up again.
Q. Just a question about you and Rafa. Can you remember your first impressions of him? How do you think your relationship has developed over the years? You have this friendship and strong respect, which is quite unusual for great rivals.
ROGER FEDERER: Uhm, first time I remember him I guess was when I saw him play I don't know. I don't quite remember what tournament it was, but obviously the first time I played against him in Miami. You know, I knew he was very good already, and then I lost also the first time we played against each other. I think I must have been world No. 1, too.
So a teenager who can beat any world No. 1 obviously I knew is going to become a future champion really. Even though it's just one match, there's still so much work he has to do, which clearly he did.
So I think he's always been quite respectful. Obviously he's younger than me, maybe looked up to me at the very beginning. So I think he was always very respectful. I've always been the same to any opponent really.
So I think, uhm, from the start it was just mutual respect. Didn't speak much at the very beginning, was shy. As time went by, we had to spend more time together, and we played more against each other. We started to I don't want to say hang out more together but we saw each other more and started to speak more together.
It was always friendly and it was always very nice. So from this standpoint, we never really had any issues together.
Q. Do you talk about tennis with him?
ROGER FEDERER: Uhm, depending on the subject. We talk about many things. But tennis probably being one of them at times, yeah (smiling).
Q. Assuming that you agree that you've gotten more aggressive, what went into the thinking that you thought that was necessary in your game plan?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, I think I was always aggressive. People make it sound like I was just pushing the ball into play. I don't think that's how anybody ever saw me play. I think just at crucial times it haunted me to play a bit passive instead of trying to take it to the opponent a bit more.
You know, with success sometimes you get a bit comfortable. Because it's working, why change it? Sure, I was always trying to look for new ways. But there's times, you know, it didn't work against a few players. I ran into a few players at the wrong times maybe. It just stuck in my game plan. Instead of changing it, I got a bit unlucky at times, too. Who knows.
But I prefer to play aggressive. I don't overdo it either, because that's not the point, just storming to the net, hit clean winners on every shot. It's about building up the right plays and, you know, having the right game plan. That's what I seem like I'm having.
Obviously with the many wins I've had in the last sort of four or five months, it's been much easier to play again, as well.
Q. How special would it be for the game if you and Rafa got through to Sunday?
ROGER FEDERER: I'm not sure really. I don't know who really expects it. There is attention on any player right at this stage really. I think many players are playing extremely well, like I mentioned the other day.
Uhm, obviously, you know, it's normal to follow Rafa in a big way because he's going for something particularly very special. My focus is not playing him in the finals quite yet.
I mean, he still has to win a few matches against really tough players ahead of him. I got my hands full with either Djokovic or Berdych. I'm not quite there yet.
Q. Can you reflect back on the two losses to Djokovic, both here three years ago and the US Open. Obviously you have a great record against him. Those are arguably the two biggest wins of his life.
ROGER FEDERER: Well, the US Open was a close match. I think I had two match points. I'm not sure how many I had. Maybe three. I guess I should have won really. I mean, I was playing good enough to win.
But I was a bit confused mentally maybe, you know, because we played the second session, it was a back to back with the was Super Saturday, which I'm not a huge fan of.
Maybe I just felt like I have to get out of this match as quick as I could to save energy to play Rafa the next day. I think it ended up hurting me losing the match at the end.
It was unfortunate. Novak and myself both played a good match. In the end, it was a shot here and there. He whacked those forehands in the corners the way he had to to get around, turn the match around.
Here was the year I had mono really. If I look back, I think Novak played another good match. He was very confident. He played a great tournament, which he also ended up winning. Both times he beat me, he played really well.
It's not the only two times he beat me. He's a quality player who plays really offensive, he takes it to the opponent. I enjoy playing against him because of the shot making we are able to create really.
Q. Just a question about all your languages. Do you ever wish or regret that you speak so many languages, you have to spend so much time? Compared to Tiger Woods or Beckham or those guys, you give a lot more to the media. Why do you do that?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, I don't know what they do. I know what I have to do in the tennis world. It's become a lot. I wish it was less sometimes. Sometimes I wish I never told anybody I learned French or something like that (laughter).
I'm happy to speak it. It's a language we speak in Switzerland. I'm proud to have learned that language. At least I can communicate and have friends as well from that part of the world.
English, I grew up speaking English, and obviously Swiss German. German we read and write. So for me it's been nice being able to have so many friends around the world really.
That it comes at a cost, sure. But I don't mind it. I try to have fun with it. I have almost I don't want to say characters but I have different humor in all the different languages, which is kind of fun for me, too. Getting to know myself through different languages is actually quite interesting for me.
I really enjoy it, even though it sometimes takes a bit more time out of the day. It's not every day I have to face the music like this, so it's not so bad.
Q. Many players are saying that the atmosphere in the tour is relaxed and friendly. It was never like this. They say this is your merit and Rafa's merit, not just because of players, but as a person. Are you aware of this and proud of achieving this?
ROGER FEDERER: I guess when I also came on tour, I felt it was pretty friendly, especially also Agassi towards the end of his career. I only know that part really. He was always very friendly.
Pete was maybe not speaking as much, but he was friendly, too. You obviously had Moya, Henman, so many other guys who stuck around for such a long time who really were very welcoming for the young guys as well to be on tour.
I always thought it was actually quite nice to be nice to younger generations coming in instead of making them feel like this is going to be hell for you.
I just think it's nice to respect each other and be friendly to each other. I'm sure it rubbed off on Rafa. I think when they see the two of us being the biggest rivals in the sport actually to speak to each other and be somewhat friendly, I think that rubs off to other players as well, actually thinking, you know, tennis is a fierce sport, a tough sport, but at the end of the day it's only a sport. There's so much more to life. I think maybe that's a little bit what I've been able to show many other athletes.
But then again, once you're out on court you play tough and fair. That's how I do it anyway out on center court.
Q. What do you do with all your free towels that you get?
ROGER FEDERER: Give them away 'cause my friends all want them. I might take one, if that (smiling).
Q. You were talking the other day about the single handed and double handed. Would you be surprised to know that you haven't lost to a single handed backhand player for seven years in a Grand Slams?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, in Grand Slams, okay. Not every tournament is a Grand Slam.
Q. Do you know any idea as to why that might be?
ROGER FEDERER: No, I don't know. I wish there was more better ones around. Even though there's very good ones around already, I wish there were more. I think they're nice to watch. It's fluent movement.
Like Stan's backhand is wonderful, too. I just think it brings a bit of a different dynamic, too, to the points that are being played because naturally you do slice and, you know, spin the ball a bit more or you have to move differently to the ball having a one hander.
Yeah, we'll see what happens. Maybe it goes in phases again. Maybe in the next 10 years we'll see many more again.
But, sure, I'm happy the record in slams is that way. But I don't know if there's one handers around anymore. Maybe not. So I'll survive one more tournament. We'll see. Who cares.
AO 2011 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w ćwierćfinale
Q. A very impressive win today. What did you like about it?
ROGER FEDERER: That it was a win (smiling).
No, uhm, I think it was a good match for me really. I started off well. Was able to serve and return really well. Really serve, which I didn't expect myself to do, because last time I played him he was really able to get the free points he was also getting in the match against Monfils and against Roddick.
I expected him during today to even serve bigger, because the ball travels faster through the air. For some reason I was able to return him well. On my own service games I was really good, too. I think that really set the tone for a good match for me.
Q. Did his performance disappoint you a little bit as a fellow Swiss?
ROGER FEDERER: Uhm, no. Look, I mean, I play Stan obviously very different to what Roddick or Monfils or what other players might do against him. Clearly it's not an easy match for him also. I've been in so many quarterfinals, in this situation so many times before, that I have the experience and I have the game to, you know, be tricky for him.
Then once obviously when the first set goes quick, maybe, you know, he's a bit under pressure there. He actually played a good second set. He had the first chance to make the break. Then he doesn't make it. The next thing you know, I get it. It's two sets to love.
It wasn't an easy match for him. The scoreline suggests maybe it was easier than it looked like. I thought it was a pretty tough match. He really got into the match, especially in the second set. But I was able to mix it up well and just keep him on his toes.
Q. Can you talk specifically about what you and Paul have been working on the last six months.
ROGER FEDERER: We didn't have that much time, to be quite honest. I was playing a lot of tournaments. I guess it was more talking about tactics, how to play in the matches. More also getting to know each other.
Maybe down the road here we'll have more time to work in the off season. Honestly, I haven't really had an off season, to be quite honest. So it was more just getting to know each other a bit more.
Q. The results have been very good since you started working with him.
ROGER FEDERER: That's true. There was also obviously a surface change. I think I was really able to work really well with Severin and Paul in Switzerland after Wimbledon, which was I think really important for me. I felt good. Didn't have any back pain. All those things were a thing of the past.
Finally I had a good buildup again. I think that one really carried me through in a big way for quite a few weeks and months. And then the confidence came back. Then it's obviously no surprise that I do play well. But I'm happy that since Paul has been in the team, my success level's gone up again.
Q. Just a question about you and Rafa. Can you remember your first impressions of him? How do you think your relationship has developed over the years? You have this friendship and strong respect, which is quite unusual for great rivals.
ROGER FEDERER: Uhm, first time I remember him I guess was when I saw him play I don't know. I don't quite remember what tournament it was, but obviously the first time I played against him in Miami. You know, I knew he was very good already, and then I lost also the first time we played against each other. I think I must have been world No. 1, too.
So a teenager who can beat any world No. 1 obviously I knew is going to become a future champion really. Even though it's just one match, there's still so much work he has to do, which clearly he did.
So I think he's always been quite respectful. Obviously he's younger than me, maybe looked up to me at the very beginning. So I think he was always very respectful. I've always been the same to any opponent really.
So I think, uhm, from the start it was just mutual respect. Didn't speak much at the very beginning, was shy. As time went by, we had to spend more time together, and we played more against each other. We started to I don't want to say hang out more together but we saw each other more and started to speak more together.
It was always friendly and it was always very nice. So from this standpoint, we never really had any issues together.
Q. Do you talk about tennis with him?
ROGER FEDERER: Uhm, depending on the subject. We talk about many things. But tennis probably being one of them at times, yeah (smiling).
Q. Assuming that you agree that you've gotten more aggressive, what went into the thinking that you thought that was necessary in your game plan?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, I think I was always aggressive. People make it sound like I was just pushing the ball into play. I don't think that's how anybody ever saw me play. I think just at crucial times it haunted me to play a bit passive instead of trying to take it to the opponent a bit more.
You know, with success sometimes you get a bit comfortable. Because it's working, why change it? Sure, I was always trying to look for new ways. But there's times, you know, it didn't work against a few players. I ran into a few players at the wrong times maybe. It just stuck in my game plan. Instead of changing it, I got a bit unlucky at times, too. Who knows.
But I prefer to play aggressive. I don't overdo it either, because that's not the point, just storming to the net, hit clean winners on every shot. It's about building up the right plays and, you know, having the right game plan. That's what I seem like I'm having.
Obviously with the many wins I've had in the last sort of four or five months, it's been much easier to play again, as well.
Q. How special would it be for the game if you and Rafa got through to Sunday?
ROGER FEDERER: I'm not sure really. I don't know who really expects it. There is attention on any player right at this stage really. I think many players are playing extremely well, like I mentioned the other day.
Uhm, obviously, you know, it's normal to follow Rafa in a big way because he's going for something particularly very special. My focus is not playing him in the finals quite yet.
I mean, he still has to win a few matches against really tough players ahead of him. I got my hands full with either Djokovic or Berdych. I'm not quite there yet.
Q. Can you reflect back on the two losses to Djokovic, both here three years ago and the US Open. Obviously you have a great record against him. Those are arguably the two biggest wins of his life.
ROGER FEDERER: Well, the US Open was a close match. I think I had two match points. I'm not sure how many I had. Maybe three. I guess I should have won really. I mean, I was playing good enough to win.
But I was a bit confused mentally maybe, you know, because we played the second session, it was a back to back with the was Super Saturday, which I'm not a huge fan of.
Maybe I just felt like I have to get out of this match as quick as I could to save energy to play Rafa the next day. I think it ended up hurting me losing the match at the end.
It was unfortunate. Novak and myself both played a good match. In the end, it was a shot here and there. He whacked those forehands in the corners the way he had to to get around, turn the match around.
Here was the year I had mono really. If I look back, I think Novak played another good match. He was very confident. He played a great tournament, which he also ended up winning. Both times he beat me, he played really well.
It's not the only two times he beat me. He's a quality player who plays really offensive, he takes it to the opponent. I enjoy playing against him because of the shot making we are able to create really.
Q. Just a question about all your languages. Do you ever wish or regret that you speak so many languages, you have to spend so much time? Compared to Tiger Woods or Beckham or those guys, you give a lot more to the media. Why do you do that?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, I don't know what they do. I know what I have to do in the tennis world. It's become a lot. I wish it was less sometimes. Sometimes I wish I never told anybody I learned French or something like that (laughter).
I'm happy to speak it. It's a language we speak in Switzerland. I'm proud to have learned that language. At least I can communicate and have friends as well from that part of the world.
English, I grew up speaking English, and obviously Swiss German. German we read and write. So for me it's been nice being able to have so many friends around the world really.
That it comes at a cost, sure. But I don't mind it. I try to have fun with it. I have almost I don't want to say characters but I have different humor in all the different languages, which is kind of fun for me, too. Getting to know myself through different languages is actually quite interesting for me.
I really enjoy it, even though it sometimes takes a bit more time out of the day. It's not every day I have to face the music like this, so it's not so bad.
Q. Many players are saying that the atmosphere in the tour is relaxed and friendly. It was never like this. They say this is your merit and Rafa's merit, not just because of players, but as a person. Are you aware of this and proud of achieving this?
ROGER FEDERER: I guess when I also came on tour, I felt it was pretty friendly, especially also Agassi towards the end of his career. I only know that part really. He was always very friendly.
Pete was maybe not speaking as much, but he was friendly, too. You obviously had Moya, Henman, so many other guys who stuck around for such a long time who really were very welcoming for the young guys as well to be on tour.
I always thought it was actually quite nice to be nice to younger generations coming in instead of making them feel like this is going to be hell for you.
I just think it's nice to respect each other and be friendly to each other. I'm sure it rubbed off on Rafa. I think when they see the two of us being the biggest rivals in the sport actually to speak to each other and be somewhat friendly, I think that rubs off to other players as well, actually thinking, you know, tennis is a fierce sport, a tough sport, but at the end of the day it's only a sport. There's so much more to life. I think maybe that's a little bit what I've been able to show many other athletes.
But then again, once you're out on court you play tough and fair. That's how I do it anyway out on center court.
Q. What do you do with all your free towels that you get?
ROGER FEDERER: Give them away 'cause my friends all want them. I might take one, if that (smiling).
Q. You were talking the other day about the single handed and double handed. Would you be surprised to know that you haven't lost to a single handed backhand player for seven years in a Grand Slams?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, in Grand Slams, okay. Not every tournament is a Grand Slam.
Q. Do you know any idea as to why that might be?
ROGER FEDERER: No, I don't know. I wish there was more better ones around. Even though there's very good ones around already, I wish there were more. I think they're nice to watch. It's fluent movement.
Like Stan's backhand is wonderful, too. I just think it brings a bit of a different dynamic, too, to the points that are being played because naturally you do slice and, you know, spin the ball a bit more or you have to move differently to the ball having a one hander.
Yeah, we'll see what happens. Maybe it goes in phases again. Maybe in the next 10 years we'll see many more again.
But, sure, I'm happy the record in slams is that way. But I don't know if there's one handers around anymore. Maybe not. So I'll survive one more tournament. We'll see. Who cares.
Wywiad z Paulem Annacone, rozmowa oczywiście na temat jego podopiecznego, przeprowadzona już po awansie do półfinału Australian Open 2011.
Entourage: Paul Annacone on Roger Federer
Q: Seeing Roger so dominant today against Stan Wawrinka, you must be extremely optimistic for the rest of the event.
PA: Every day is different unfortunately. But yeah, he mixed it up well, and did a good job getting control of the match early. I was very happy with the way he played. Stan's had a great tournament, so to come out and play like that is a good effort. The first set was important, but it's a long match and a lot can happen. But it's always better to be ahead and behind in my opinion. I think he did a good job early, the momentum went his way and he was able to push it through.
Q: Roger has been playing extremely well since the last part of 2010. Why is this so in your view?
PA: I wish I could say it was a magic potion. But it's not. He's a great player. He's done a lot of hard work and he loves to play. It's a pretty simple recipe for him.
Q: How would you compare working with Roger and with the other champions you have coached?
PA: Actually some similarities to him and Pete (Sampras). They're able to focus on what's happening in front of their face and have a great perspective on what's going on. There are not huge fluctuations when they win or lose. The dramatisation doesn't happen with them, which is great. They all work hard and love the game. The most important thing is that they're immensely talented and know what they need to do to be successful and stick to it pretty well.
Q: How do you see your role helping Roger?
PA: I'm just one of a group of guys helping Roger. Severin (Luthi) and I talked last night. We talk all the time. When I'm not there, he's there, we're on the phone and we stay in touch with each other. We relay the same messages to Roger. My job is to do whatever I can to figure out the best way to make him play his best tennis. Ultimately it's up to him out there to do it. We talk strategy, training, we talk everything and then he goes out and executes and he's done a real good job with that.
Q: One of the main things we hear is that you have been encouraging Roger to come in more, to attack.
PA: Yes it's true. The guy's a great athlete and he can do a lot of things at the highest level. So now it's mostly a matter of managing those things. When he plays offensive like that, there are not a lot of guys that can do it as his level. But the good news is when he's off a little, he can play different styles. That's great.
Q: Roger's been using the drop shot a lot more in the last couple of years, and even more now as we saw today. How do you view the importance of that shot in his arsenal.
PA: Well, it's effective as you can see. The thing is he's so powerful that he backs guys up. To me you want them to have to cover as many areas on the court as you can. If you're backing them up, then you bring them in sometimes. Again, it's about managing those things and picking the right time to use it. Maybe it's more prominent because he's playing more offensively.
Q: How important was the match against Simon where he came so close to losing in the second round?
PA: It's always good to win a close match. For all those guys when they can get...you don't want to have five of those matches, but to have one or two is fine. He fully recovered and it's not a problem, so I think it's always great to be in that pressure situation and get through it. That's a real good omen for him.
Federer dziś awansował do 1/2 AO po raz 8 z rzędu. Szwajcar ma niezłe rekordy "ciągłości" w poszczególnych szlemach:
AO - 8 półfinałów z rzędu (trwa)
RG - 4 finały z rzędu (także 5 kolejnych półfinałów)
Wimbl - 7 finałów z rzędu
USO - 7 półfinałów z rzędu (trwa), wcześniej 6 kolejnych finałów.
Roger Federer: Mam różny nastrój w rożnych językach
autor: Krzysztof Straszak
Od siedmiu lat Roger Federer nie przegrał w Wielkim Szlemie meczu z rywalem posługującym się jednoręcznym bekhendem, czyli takim jak on sam. Po awansie do półfinału Australian Open wicelider rankingu mówił o początku znajomości z Rafą Nadalem.Rodaka Wawrinkę pokonał po raz siódmy w ich ósmym meczu: - Byłem już w tak wielu ćwierćfinałach, że mam doświadczenie, by stać się dla niego niewygodnym. Poza tym, po szybkim pierwszym secie on czuje jeszcze więcej presji - tłumaczył.
Federer zgadza się, że osiąga lepsze wyniki od kiedy rozpoczął współpracę z Paulem Annacone. - Ważne było to, że po Wimbledonie mogłem dobrze potrenować razem z Paulem i Severinem [Lüthim, kapitanem Szwajcarii w Pucharze Davisa]. Szczerze natomiast, tak naprawdę nie miałem przerwy między sezonami, więc może znajdziemy trochę czasu na pracę po tym turnieju.
Roger i Rafa, Rafa i Roger. Federer o pierwszych wrażeniach, gdy widział Nadala: - Nie pamiętam kiedy i w jakim turnieju widziałem go po raz pierwszy, ale my spotkaliśmy się w Miami. Już wtedy miałem o nim pojęcie, no i przegrałem [6:3, 6:3]. Byłem przekonany, że nastolatek, który jest w stanie pokonać nr 1, będzie w przyszłości wielkim mistrzem. Myślę, że zawsze był pełen szacunku, być może mnie podziwiał. Od tamtej pory był to jednak respekt obustronny, choć na początku nie rozmawialiśmy za dużo, bo on był nieśmiały. Nigdy nie było między nami problemów.
Kłopotów Federer nie miał też, gdy sam był młokosem i wchodził do zawodowego tenisa: - Dobrze, że atmosfera była przyjazna i nie zamierzali dać nam wyobrażenia, że wchodzimy do piekła. Miło jest okazywać wzajemny szacunek.
Należy zaznaczyć, że z Rafą trudno było mu się porozumiewać, ponieważ Nadalowi w pierwszych latach kariery trudno było dogadać się po angielsku, a Federer nie zna hiszpańskiego. Szwajcar mówi za to jeszcze po niemiecku i francusku: - Wiem, że w tenisowym świecie muszę posługiwać się wieloma językami. Czasami chętnie jednak ukryłbym przed wszystkimi, że nauczyłem się francuskiego - śmieje się na pytanie o wywiady w różnych narzeczach. - Jestem zadowolony i dumny, że mówię po francusku, bo to jeden z języków używanych w Szwajcarii. Dorastałem mówiąc po angielsku i oczywiście szwajcarskim niemieckim, w którym czytaliśmy i pisaliśmy. Mam inny humor w poszczególnych językach, poprzez które mogę także poznawać się z różnych stron
Dopiero dzisiaj spojrzałem na kalendarz gier Federera i zauważyłem, że w tym roku zagra tylko w dwóch turniejach na clay'u przed RG. Mało, ale w sumie to dobrze.
ROGER LOSES IN THREE SETS
Roger was defeated 6-7(2), 5-7 and 4-6 by Novak Djokovic in the semi-final of the Australian Open today. Roger struggled to stem Djokovic's aggressive assault, and also had problems with his serve.
Roger was unable to dominate the match and had troubles holding up right from the start. Djokovic won a tense 57-minute first set in a tie-break. Hopes of a comeback for Roger evaporated in the second set when, having fought back from a break down to lead 5-2, he was swept aside by a run of five consecutive games for the Serbian.
Roger was broken once again to 1-2 in the third set, before fighting his way back to 4-4 with a threaded forehand down the line. But unfortunately it was only a brief moment of hope as he went on to save three match-points in the final game and eventually had to admit the defeat.
The loss leaves Roger without one of the four Grand Glam titles for the first time since 2003.
Federer Optimistic About The Future
Defending champion Roger Federer insisted he remains optimistic about the future despite losing to 2008 titlist Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open semi-finals on Thursday.
"I feel very good [and] I'm very optimistic about the next 15 tournaments," said Federer. "I've barely lost matches lately really, so I'm happy with where my game is at, with where my condition is at. I'm really excited for what's to come.
"This is obviously a bit of a blow. At the same time, I played a good tournament. I had some really good moments here these last couple of weeks. I have no regrets. I left everything out there. We'll see what comes next.
"I hope I'll stay healthy this time around in February, which is going to help me through Dubai, Indian Wells and Miami, and then going into the clay-court season."
The former World No. 1 has compiled a 45-5 match record, including five titles, since a quarter-final exit to Tomas Berdych at Wimbledon in July last year.
"I wish I had a chance on Sunday, but, look, Novak was the better player tonight," the 29-year-old Swiss admitted. "I'm feeling really good considering how intense it was. It was a three hour match over three sets. It was intense.
"I think we always try to play very aggressive against each other. Usually that's what players do against me; the more aggressive you play, the more aggressive they will almost have to play. Novak has great assets in his game and can go up the line on both sides, forehand, backhand, moves extremely well.
"He's a tough player to play against. Tonight he was better and won the big points. There's many good players out there. Not just two of us. I wish I could have won here again for the fifth time."
Federer has won 67 career titles, including 16 Grand Slam championships. His last major title came at the Australian Open last year, when he beat Andy Murray in the final.
Roger Federer, po dzisiejszej porażce z Novakiem Djokoviciem w półfinale AO'11, w najbliższy weekend przestanie być aktualnym mistrzem któregokolwiek z 4 turniejów wielkoszlemowych. Taka sytuacja będzie mieć miejsce po raz pierwszy od 2003 roku. Szwajcar obecnie pozostaje nawet bez pojedynczego finału w którejkolwiek z imprez wielkoszlemowych:
AO - 1/2
RG - 1/4
WM - 1/4
USO - 1/2
Quo Vadis, Roger? Czy na naszych oczach odchodzi największa gwiazda w historii tenisa?
Bohater, czarodziej, legenda, symbol - przez ostatnie lata właśnie takimi słowami opisywano Rogera Federera. Coraz częściej jednak przy wytwornych epitetach pod adresem 29-letniego Szwajcara kibice stawiają znaki zapytania. Bo też coraz więcej rys pojawia się na, jeszcze nie tak dawno nieskazitelnym, sportowym wizerunku Federera. Czy na naszych oczach z tenisowej sceny powoli schodzi największa postać w historii tej dyscypliny?
- W erze specjalistów jesteś albo ekspertem od mączki, albo od trawy, albo od nawierzchni twardych... albo jesteś Rogerem Federerem - miał kiedyś powiedzieć słynny Jimmy Connors, jedna z największych postaci męskiego tenisa. Obecnie ze smutkiem pozostaje stwierdzić, że te słowa z dnia na dzień tracą na aktualności. A przecież nie kto inny jak właśnie Federer może się poszczycić najdłuższym okresem supremacji w dziejach męskiego tenisa. W latach 2004-07 wygrywał z kim chciał, gdzie chciał i jak chciał. Tyle tylko, że to już przeszłość...
Teraźniejszość nie jest dla Federera tak łaskawa. Po raz pierwszy od 2003 roku nie wygrał bowiem żadnej z czterech kolejnych odsłon Wielkiego Szlema. Kiedy na kortach w Melbourne z kontuzją przegrał Rafael Nadal, znawcy tenisa już wpisywali w biografię Szwajcara 17. wielkoszlemowy tytuł. Miał "tylko" uporać się z dwiema przeszkodami - Novakiem Djokovicem w półfinale i Andy Murray'em lub Davidem Ferrerem w finale.
Nic z tego. Już na pierwszej z nich Rogerowi powinęła się noga. A widok Federera niemalże uciekającego z kortu po ostatniej piłce meczu z Serbem był chyba dla każdego miłośnika tenisa czymś niezmiernie bolesnym. Można Szwajcara lubić bądź nie, ale chyba żadne słowa nie są w stanie oddać jego wkładu w rozwój i promocję tenisa na przestrzeni ostatnich lat. I za to należy mu się wielki szacunek.
Dlaczego jednak człowiek na którym wychowało się cale tenisowe pokolenie poległ tak łatwo? Dlaczego znów przegrał z rywalem, którego jeszcze nie tak dawno równie łatwo ogrywał? Pytań z serii "Dlaczego...?" jest w tym wypadku wiele, a wciąż ich przybywa. Wydawało się, że od czasu zeszłorocznego US Open tenisowy czarodziej z Bazylei odrodził się. Wydawało się, że odzyskał pewność siebie i świeżość. Jednak przede wszystkim wydawało się, że odzyskał radość z gry. No właśnie, czyżby to wszystko tylko się wydawało?
Sezon 2010 zakończył przecież w wymarzonym stylu. Triumf w londyńskim ATP World Tour Finals, w którym zdeklasował całą światową czołówkę pokonując m.in. Andy'ego Murraya, Novaka Djokovica i Rafaela Nadala, był spektakularny. Początek nowego sezonu również był obiecujący. Pewna wygrana w Dausze dawała realne podstawy, by przypuszczać, że Federer ma duże szanse na swój piąty tytuł w Australian Open. Jak czas pokazał, na szansach się skończyło. A przeszkodą nie do przejścia, podobnie jak w półfinale US Open 2010, okazał się Djokovic.
autor: Łukasz Rogojsz
AO 2011 - wywiad po porażce w półfinale
Q. Big disappointment. Thoughts on the game? What went wrong?
ROGER FEDERER: I thought he played a great match. I didn't think I played bad myself, so it was a match played at a very high intensity for a long period of time.
Clearly it's disappointing to lose, but what to do if he plays well on the big points, and potentially maybe I didn't. It was a tough match.
Q. Physically how much did the match take out of you? Did you feel at any point you were getting weary, that he was wearing you down?
ROGER FEDERER: No, not really. I'm feeling really good considering how intense it was. It was a three hour match over three sets and, you know, I don't take much time in between points. It's maybe even a longer match if you like.
No, I felt good. It was intense. We had long, tough rallies and played at a very high speed and everything. So sure, you feel it a little bit, but obviously I was ready for another two sets easily. Pity that I couldn't push him there.
Q. You couldn't defend the title. What do you think about this?
ROGER FEDERER: I couldn't? Yes, I could not.
Q. How do you feel?
ROGER FEDERER: I feel okay, because I'm healthy. I wish I had a chance on Sunday, but, look, Novak was the better player tonight. You got to accept that and move on from here.
It's not the end in any way. It's a start for many other tournaments after this. Sure, it's disappointing and it hurts in the moment itself. I wish I could have won here again for the fifth time.
But wasn't possible tonight.
Q. Do you feel like there's anything tactically you could have done different or anything that you would have changed if you had to do it over again?
ROGER FEDERER: Um, well, the night session against Gilles Simon. Playing at night here makes it pretty tricky to actually move a whole lot to be quite honest, because as the match goes on and it gets a bit cooler the ball bounces less. So, the spinny balls don't really have that affect so the flatter you hit it the more effect it has overall.
But then you get used to that. When it's that kind of condition, every point is basically played the same way. It's pretty tough, you know. But I wish it was a bit different, maybe use the kick a bit more and slices would stay lower through the air. But look, I've been successful here under all circumstances, night and day, windy and hot, whatever. When you end up losing you wish you had different conditions.
I think he managed the conditions well. He played great. He played well when he had to. Yeah, he deserved to win at the end.
Q. Will you watch the remainder of the tournament or will you give it a break?
ROGER FEDERER: It's always a classic question. I don't know why you care. I don't know what my plans are quite yet. I doubt it because I don't switch on the TV a whole lot when I'm elsewhere with the family, so...
Q. (Question regarding who will win the final)
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I don't know who is in the final yet on the other side. I fancy Murray's chances to go through. Then again, it's night. I don't know how that's going to match up against each other.
I'm sure it's going to be an exciting final. I mean, obviously if Novak plays at this level, he's got his chances; if Murray continues playing at his level he'll have his chances too. Ferrer played a fantastic match yesterday.
Yeah, regardless it's going to be a great end to the tournament.
Q. Tonight you had chances to win the second set. You were up. Then you played a dropshot on his breakpoint and you lost your serve. You were close to the net. Do you think you lack some lucidity?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I think the start to the game wasn't the best one already. 5 3, I think, I was right away down Love 15, I think. I was always playing catch up until I had something of a chance. The dropshot was just adding one. Him getting the extra ball back in a tough way. He moved so well side to side that you have to try to get him forward too at times.
On that one he predicted it might happen and played it well. I should definitely not have given that game away. It was crucial for the remainder of the match clearly. But I've won matches in straight sets against him at the US Open where I should have never won in straights. I ended up doing it because things just fell my way and tonight was one of those nights it went his way. Every time I had slight opportunity, either I didn't play my best and he played his best.
It was a tough night from this standpoint. Those are sometimes the way matches go.
Q. Todd Woodbridge after the match was sort of suggesting that with Rafa injured and you out now that it was something of a passing of the torch.
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, they say that very quickly, so...
Let's talk in six months again.
Q. Having played this first Grand Slam, how are you feeling about the rest of the year?
ROGER FEDERER: I feel very good. I'm very optimistic about the next 15 tournaments, however many I'm playing. I've barely lost matches lately really, so I'm happy with where my game is at, with where my condition is at.
I'm really excited for what's to come. This is obviously a bit of a blow. At the same time, I played a good tournament. I have no regrets. I left everything out there. We'll see what comes next.
Q. Do you think Novak has improved in any particular way?
ROGER FEDERER: Honestly, I thought he played a great end to the season as well. Played well at the US Open; played well before that, a little bit after that. His game doesn't go away overnight either. I was able to sort of get the better of him on a few occasions in a couple of close ones.
I think I beat him four out of five times at the end of the season, and that obviously hurt his end to the season so it makes it look like he didn't play great. Honestly, I think he was always there giving himself chances. Would he have maybe played at this level or would I have played a little level underneath that, he would've had an unbelievable end of the season.
But that's sometimes how it goes. Doesn't mean the guy that doesn't win the tournament can't play tennis. That's sometimes how things are portrayed. I had a great season last year, and I think I'll have another one this year.
Q. When you lost three years ago in three straight sets, 2008 here, do you see any similarity with that match and the one of tonight, apart from the scores?
ROGER FEDERER: Um, why compare?
Q. Just to find out if you played better tonight, the other time, or if he was playing different, if something changed or is exactly the same. Just an idea.
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, I don't know. I don't think it's not a greatest question, to be honest. What do you want me to say? I don't know what to tell you. I think it's irrelevant tonight.
Q. Two days ago, Novak said you are maybe the most aggressive player on the circuit. Do you think somehow he was more aggressive than you tonight?
ROGER FEDERER: I think we always try to play very aggressive against each other. Usually that's what players do against me; the more aggressive you play, the more aggressive they will almost have to play.
Like I said before, conditions allowed it really to hit full blast through the ball, especially the one end that was with the wind made it a bit easier than the other.
Look, Novak has great assets in his game and can go up the line on both sides, forehand, backhand, moves extremely well. He's a tough player to play against. You know, I felt that many times. He's felt my aggressiveness all the time.
It's a battle for almost who can play more aggressive. Tonight he was better and won the big points.
There's many good players out there. Not just the two of us. I think we face off quite well against each other.
Q. Was he putting a lot of pressure on your backhand side? Do you think that was a winning tactic for him?
ROGER FEDERER: I'm not sure if the match was won there, to be quite honest. I think was a few points here and there. If I had served it out in the second set, who knows what happens.
I was always going to be there physically and mentally. That's what I was going to try to test with Novak tonight , but I just couldn't do it. He snuck out on me on a few occasions. My bad a few times; his great play a sometimes. It was just bad combination for me tonight.
Q. You had a couple exchanges with the chair umpire. Was there anything about Novak's tactics or crowd noise that was bothering you that prompted those exchanges?
ROGER FEDERER: He's a nice guy, the umpire, so I kind of like to talk to him at times.
Q. Nothing bothered you?
ROGER FEDERER: No?
Q. After Doha's final, Davydenko said if you play like that you would be unbeatable. How do you compare your form here and in Doha?
ROGER FEDERER: Obviously completely different circumstances with playing best of five. I still think I played a great tournament. I had some really good moments here these last couple of weeks.
Like I said, I don't think tonight was a bad match. I can move on from this with a good mindset, to be honest. That's what's important right now, that I don't feel like I have physical issues or I'm not playing the right way and whatever.
So I'm really positive what's ahead of me. I hope I'll stay healthy this time around in February, which has been a bit of an issue in the last couple years. So I hope this time around I'll be good, which then is going to help me through Dubai, Indian Wells, and Miami, and then going into the clay court season.
I'm playing well. Tonight, like I said, I just ran into a player who was a bit better than me tonight.
Federer has to adapt to stay at the top
An Australian Open final without either Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal is a pretty rare event. Of course, everyone is talking about a handover in men's tennis as a result, but many observers, journalists and others are far too quick to jump to conclusions. I think they are going way too far.
Certainly, Federer has had a huge come down since the 2009 US Open. We know it and we have, on many occasions, analysed it. He only won one of the last six Grand Slams and wasn't in any of the last four finals of them. For Roger, we're talking about really bad stats.
Yet, it's undeniable that, since last summer, he showed a new desire and a rising game level. He had great results at the end of 2010, especially winning the Masters Cup, though it wasn't enough in order to know if he'd be able to win in Melbourne.
And now, the trademark of the Swiss, which has always been to be able to win when he was really wanting to, is seriously put in doubt.
Roger is still playing at a very high level: his will and his determination will allow him to shine again. But he'll have to erase some mistakes which are costing him a lot.
Federer does still not play enough games: he's only relying on his natural talent and, unfortunately for him, it's not enough for him to win all the time anymore. This kind of behaviour is really tripping him up now in my opinion.
By playing like this, he's losing the habit of being there from the first to the last point and, because of it; he's going through a lot of ups and downs.
Overall, what hurts him the most right now is his focus quality or, even more, the duration he's able to keep this focus while playing a match under pressure.
Against Djokovic in the semi-final, but also during many other matches, we can see him play in periods: it's not rare either to see him getting the break, serving for the set and being unable to close it out because he totally messed his service game. He allows his opponent to come back.
The Swiss is playing tennis without taking his opponent in consideration. He's trying to make his own game prevail, but doesn't try to think about the game style, the strengths or the flaws of the one who is trying to beat him.
Talking about new kids taking power seems to be inappropriate to me for several reasons. Roger is still playing great, and he showed it at the end of 2010 and at the start of 2011.
The Swiss is healthy. We know he struggles a lot with his back, even though he doesn't talk about it a lot. He's now free from this and can play with his full physical abilities, which are a key point of his game.
If he's going to continue playing the way that his coach Paul Annacone wants him too, he's going to keep on believing in his chances to win several more Grand Slams.
And, if he finally deals with the things we've talked about, then I think he'll be able to remain at the top level and to make us dream for many more years.
The Burden of Being Roger Federer
I spent Thursday night's men's semifinal moving back and forth between a seat in Laver Arena and my desk in the pressroom, where I watched on the TV monitor in front of me. Live impressions mixed with a little of the television commentary is the ideal combination for getting your thoughts together about a match.
Doing a guest stint as a commentator for Australia’s Channel 7 was Pat Rafter. As the dazzling first set between Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic unfolded, Rafter said what a pleasure it was to sit in the stadium and see these guys first-hand. He saved his highest praise for Federer. Rafter, like so many other ex-pros who marvel at what the Swiss maestro can do, is a fan.
The two-time Slam champ made his admiration even clearer in the middle of the second set. What did Rafter do? Did he stand up and bellow, “Ozzie, ozzie, ozzie, Rogi, Rogi, Rogi!”? Did he put his finger to his lips and whisper to Jim Courier, “Shhh, genius at work”? No, Rafter did something much more common among Federer fans who played the game at a high level: He groaned at his tactics. Rafter thought that Federer had done the right thing early in the set by mixing spins and trajectories with Djokovic, but that going back to trading bullets with him was a mistake.
Rafter may or may not have been right, but one thing's for sure: He was not the first quality tennis player to become exasperated with the way Federer uses his talents. It’s pretty much a cottage industry, and has been going on for what seems like decades.
Mats Wilander, to cite the most extreme example, said Federer had no [insert punchier synonym for "guts" here]. Pat Cash, after Federer won Wimbledon for a fourth or fifth time, said, essentially, “Yeah, that’s fine, but I really wish he would come to the net more.” I wondered what Cash would have done if someone, the night after he won Wimbledon in 1987, had come up to him as he was celebrating and said, “Not bad, Cashy, but couldn't you have won a few more points from the baseline?” He would have smashed a beer can against his forehead.
The list goes on. From the top down, every player seems to have expert advice for Federer, especially when it comes to beating Rafael Nadal. I had dinner a few years ago with a guy who had toured on the amateur circuit back in the day. He was adamant that Federer could beat Nadal at the French Open if he would just slice his backhand down the line instead of crosscourt. But Federer, apparently, was too stupid to realize it. A teaching pro at the National Tennis Center told me that if Federer would run around and crank his forehand return, Nadal would never win another set against him.
This is a specialized version of a wider phenomenon among sports fans when it comes to Federer, and one that was in evidence again last night. In the middle of one of the superb exchanges between the two players early in the first set, Federer stood up too quickly on a backhand and framed it badly, and loudly, toward the seats. A ripple of semi-shocked laughter went through the crowd: Roger Federer had hit the frame, and they were there to see it! Among his fans, the phenomenon manifests itself in an unwillingness to put any limits on what he can do. Call him a baseliner and you’ll get a sharp look: How dare you suggest that Roger is a bargain-basement baseline-hugging grinder! A category, apparently, has yet to be invented that can satisfactorily describe the great man.
In their own way, tennis players and instructors do the same thing—they see no limits to Roger Federer. They see all that easy flair and versatility, and they think that he must be able to do anything he wants, to make anything happen at will. Nadal, that clunky kid? Slice your backhand down the line, Rog, and you’ll never have to worry about him again. Djokovic the two-handed basher? Hit it out of his strike zone and he’s sure to combust on the spot. And why make it so easy on yourself by winning Wimbledon from the baseline? You know you can win it at the net; just do it for the hell of it. That’s what I would do if I had your talent.
Federer talked about the “monster of expectations” that he had created when he lost to Djokovic here three years ago. He didn’t say anything like that last night. The monster is not roaring at the moment; the semifinals is the best that Federer has done at a major in a year now.
But the beast, and the burden of his talent, lives on. I watched a good part of his match against Gilles Simon with a fellow journalist, part-time player and card-carrying Federer admirer. Every time Federer missed a shot, even if it was a tough one on the run, my colleague would shake his head in disbelief: “What’s he doing?” Even blatant winners by Simon were somehow Federer’s fault, as if he could have prevented them simply by doing what he should be doing. The idea that another player could hit a ball past Roger Federer wasn't quite credible.
If I’ve noticed this phenomenon, surely Federer has as well. And you can hear his frustration with it at times. He was asked at this tournament about his new “aggressive” style. Federer answered, “it wasn’t like I was just pushing the ball in the court before,” all those years that he was winning Slam after Slam.
Calll it the price of being better than everyone else: Nothing is ever good enough.
Nike 'Clash of the Champions'
Roger, Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams will be facing off in Nike's "Clash of the Champions' on March 8 at the Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Oregon (USA).
The event, which will begin at 5:30 p.m., will feature Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams playing a singles set, followed by a mixed doubles set and concluding with a men's singles set between Roger and Rafa.
A portion of the proceeds from the exhibition will benefit each of the four athletes' charitable foundations, in Roger's case the Roger Federer Foundation.
Tickets for this special showcase go on sale Friday, February 4 and can be purchased at:
www.MatthewKnightArena.com.
Federer needs a rethink
Roger Federer's semi-final loss at the Australian Open is a real stumbling block for the Swiss player.
Since the American summer, Federer has demonstrated a renewed ambition and stronger wish and determination.
Physically, for the first time in a while, his back issues seem to be solved, and he had finally rediscovered his great movement on the court. His 2010 indoor season was a chance for him to show just how ready he was again to commit to the sport.
By playing further forward, by taking his chances during the points, he also sent a clear message that he was trying to find solutions with which to beat Rafael Nadal in Grand Slam finals.
But in the semi-finals in Melbourne, he fell to Novak Djokovic.
The Serb proved that people will now have to count him as a major challenger and he exposed Roger Federer's limits on the day.
Djokovic found two particular weaknesses.
1. Strategy
Roger can no longer play like he used to, beating opponents without caring to consider their strengths and flaws. His margin is no longer the same. He needs to adjust now if he wants to add more majors to his already outstanding career.
Setting up a gameplan and accepting that his rivals have what it takes to make him struggle is mandatory - even more so in the latter stages of a Grand Slam.
2. Mentality
He's now having issues with maintaining intensity throughout a match and we often see him relaxing when ahead. During the big matches, when his margin is smaller, those bad habits are coming back to hurt him.
He has to think about how to solve that; maybe through reorganising training. If he manages to evolve again, like he always has done before, he can win more major titles.
But if he's not evolving, his rivals, who are getting better and better, could end his glorious career.
Nie podejrzewałem Patricka o taką miłość do Rogera. :P Młoda fala zdaje się być oraz wyższa, a on bez przerwy analizuje to co się dzieje z Rogerem. :P
Moim zdaniem nie ma powodów do obaw, w Londynie Roger pokazał, że wciąż jest w stanie odesłać całą czołówkę w pojedynczej imprezie. Martwią tylko te szlemy, 4 ostatnie WS bez finału. Natomiast to co gramy i to jakie wynikami osiągamy w mniejszych imprezach ostatnimi czasy jest naprawdę fantastyczną sprawą. ;)
Swiss working to follow up Federer era
Swiss tennis looks to build on the momentum of the country's greatest-ever player.
Roger Federer remains a potent threat in tennis and expects to do so for some years to come. But while he does, the Swiss federation is hoping to lay the groundwork for future tennis stars in a tiny country which has also produced Martina Hingis and Marc Rosset among other top players.
Construction is going on through winter at a new national tennis academy, set to be finished within a year. The $6.35 million project will get government funding for a quarter of the cost, with the new facility to supplement Swiss juniors and others who now train at Biel in the west of the country.
The for-profit academy - annual cost around $36,000 per year - is looked upon as an investment. “It’s a new departure,” federation boss Rene Stammbach told the swissinfo agency. “The youngsters will be able to live and train under the same roof. Currently they’re losing a couple of hours a day getting from their homes to the training centre.
"Russia and France develop ideas on PowerPoint for hundreds of players. There’s no point doing that in Switzerland," he added. "We have at most three or four players capable of belonging to the elite.
"We must concentrate on them and give them the best opportunities to develop, the aim is to respond to the specific needs of each player.” Coming on board as a coach is former player and current television commentator Heinz Günthardt, who last worked privately with Ana Ivanovic and guided Steffi Graf in the 1990s. For his part, Federer will headline a national effort to make August 27 national tennis day in the Helvetic confederation.
DUBAI DUTY FREE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Federer Relaxed And Ready For Dubai Title Tilt
Roger Federer talked to the press in Dubai on Sunday morning.
Roger Federer, the top seed at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, is refreshed and ready ahead of his first ATP World Tour tournament since his Australian Open semi-final loss to Novak Djokovic last month.
"I didn't spend much time thinking about the match against Novak," admitted Federer on Sunday. "I generally thought about the first month, how it had gone. I came out of the Australian Open feeling good mentally and physically.
"There was huge hype as [Rafael] Nadal went for the 'Rafa Slam'. Novak, Andy [Murray] and Rafa played well, but the changing of the guard [in world tennis] doesn't happen over three days. Just because a top player doesn't play well, don't jump to conclusions that it's the end.
"I think I am playing well. If I wasn't, then it might be different. If I lost in Doha and early at the Australian Open, then you could ask some questions, but I had a strong end to last year and was one of the best players. I am happy with where my game is at ahead of this swing of hard-court tournaments.
The Swiss superstar, who has spent the past seven days training in Dubai, continues to plan his schedule 18 months in advance. "I have never thought of stopping.
"On vacation, I always talk about my plans and they are always one-and-a-half years ahead of time. Towards the end of vacations I get hungry again to comeback. I am already thinking of the [London 2012] Olympics and also what tournaments to play beyond that."
Federer turns 30 in August, a prospect he "can't believe. I was playing juniors not so long ago. As players, years go by as extremely quick due to the travelling and scheduling. [But] if you enjoy playing then it isn't a problem.
"The challenge for me over the past year has been to stay healthy. I have been able to accomplish that. I don't have to think about what I need to do to lead a healthy life. Now I can focus on my fitness, my tennis, practise and schedule. I pretty much have the same schedule each year and I still get excited returning to tournaments."
The World No. 2, a four-time former champion in Dubai, also confessed that he remains the same person, nearly eight years after he won his first Grand Slam championship in July 2003 at Wimbledon, despite all the fame that has come with his success.
"In the beginning, I felt uncomfortable on red carpets, wearing suits and giving acceptance speeches. But you learn to do the photo shoots and speeches. I think I've been able to stay the normal Roger that I am, but I have adjusted to the fame and status."
List otwarty do Federera: Migasz się od obowiązku gry w Pucharze Davisa
Patriotyczna klauzula w niepisanym kontrakcie każdego tenisisty: gra się nie tylko dla siebie, ale dla kraju. Roger Federer, który był wprawdzie mistrzem olimpijskim w Pekinie, nigdy nie poprowadził Szwajcarii do triumfu w Pucharze Davisa.Zarzut może wydawać się naciągany, ale do dzisiejszej rzeczywistości próbuje sprawę odnieść Peter Bodo, popularny felietonista "The New York Times" i magazynu "Tennis", na łamach którego zamieszczono jego list otwarty do Federera: - Dlaczego zrezygnowałeś z walki w Pucharze Davisa? - pyta. - Szanse Szwajcarii w tych drugich największych międzynarodowych rozgrywkach (po piłkarskim Mundialu) były kiedyś żadne. Ale popatrz na Serbię i Đokovicia, który niedawny triumf uznał za "największą szansę życia". Czasy dominacji USA i Australii to przeszłość.
Autor argumentuje, że minęły także czasy, w których Federer mógł czuć się sfrustrowany faktem braku wsparcia ze strony mocnych rodaków, ale teraz jest Stanislas Wawrinka, z którym w 2008 roku Federer zdobył olimpijskie złoto. - Czasami "przyzwoitość" składu wystarczy, jeśli w zespole jest chemia i ma się szczęście w losowaniu. Inny mocny argument: - Każdy z tenisistów jednym tchem obok ciebie wymienianych triumfował w Pucharze Davisa, zwykle na własnych barkach dźwigając ciężar drużyny. Pomyśl o Laverze, McEnroe, Agassim, Borgu, Samprasie, Courierze, Wilanderze, Edbergu, Beckerze, Nadalu, Hewitcie...
Bilans Federera w Pucharze Davisa to 37-11 w 48 meczach od 1999 do 2009 roku. W ubiegłym roku Szwajcaria bez udziału swojego najlepszego zawodnika spadła z Grupy Światowej do Grupy I Strefy Euroafrykańskiej, czyli tam gdzie gra Polska. Szwajcarzy byli potencjalnymi rywalami biało-czerwonych (obie ekipy zaczynają od II rundy) w tym roku, ale my zagramy w marcu z Izraelem, a tenisiści spod znaku białego krzyża czekają na rywali (Portugalia lub Słowacja), z którymi zmierzą się w lipcu.
Roger back in action
Roger returns back onto the Tour in Dubai this week after some time off with his family. He is the number 1 seed and has won the tournament four times in the past.
He is up against India's Somdev Devvarman (ATP 79) in the first round. The 26-year-old reached the final in Johannesburg two weeks ago and is one of the surprise players this year. Roger will then either face Spain's Marcel Granollers or Russia's Dimitri Tursunov, who recently played the semifinal in Marseille. In the quarterfinal, Roger could play Ernest Gulbis (ATP 24) from Latvia.
Novak Djokovic (ATP 3) winner of the Australian Open and Tomas Berdych (ATP 7) are seeded No. 2 and 3 in the bottom half of the draw.
ROGER OVERCOMES DEVVARMAN
Roger defeated Somdev Devvarman 6-3, 6-3 today to reach the second round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
"I've had some tough ones over the years here actually in the early round. That's why I don't judge my first rounds too harshly or whatever," Roger said after the match. "It's about coming through and giving yourself a second chance the next day and then kind of move on in the draw. Then if you're in the quarters or the semis, this is when I expect myself to play much better."
Roger committed a large number of unforced errors but always fought back when it mattered. He broke for 4-2 when Somdev Devvarman served a double fault which gave him a hold on the first set, and broke again in the fifth and ninth games of the second set to complete the 6-3, 6-3 win in 75 minutes of play.
Roger will now play Spain's Marcel Granollers on Wednesday.
ROGER REACHES DUBAI QUARTERS
Roger had no difficulties against Spaniard Marcel Granollers in Dubai today, winning 6-3 6-4 with a flurry of spectacular winners to reach the quarter-finals.
Roger dominated the opening set and went up early in the second before the 53rd-ranked Granollers narrowed the gap to 5-4. Our champ then hit several forehand winners and sealed the win when Granollers hit a return long.
Roger's next opponent will be Sergiy Stakhovsky (ATP 43) of Ukraine.
FEDERER: I'M NOT ROBOCOP
Roger Federer says his mind can wander during matches.
Roger Federer admitted allowing his mind to wander in his comfortable 6-3, 6-4 win over Spaniard Marcel Granollers in the second round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Wednesday night. The top seed and World No. 2 was asked during his post-match press conference whether it sometimes is hard to remain 100 percent focused when he is headed towards a routine win.
“Sometimes [my concentration] wanders," Federer said. "Sometimes if you have a song in your mind, sometimes you're thinking of what's going to happen tomorrow, what's the plan for tonight. All those things happen. We're human at the end of the day. We're not a machine and go from like point to point like RoboCop.
“It's like we have our fun, and sometimes it's hard when the mind starts wandering. I realised today at one point I served the first point of one of the games and I was not even focused. I knew I was going to hit it down the T, but no, you know, not that full concentration I needed. And then I told myself: Okay, concentrate, please. So sometimes you have to remind yourself, because time goes by in between. You want to keep the intensity high, but at the same time you want to relax. It's a habit you get.
“By now obviously I'm an expert at it. I know how it works. But still, after playing so much tennis, I still have to remind myself to focus on each point, and then you break it down to each shot and so forth. So it sounds like it's hard, but you get the hang of it."
One reporter cheekily asked Federer if, during the match, he thought about what he would have for supper.
“Um, maybe. I don't know,” Federer said. "You think of many things. You can imagine how many points I've played, so I've had a lot of time to think out there.”
Switzerland home, but Dubai also perfect for Federer
Roger Federer traces his links with Dubai back to a holiday seven years ago, a relationships which has now blossomed into a training base and home in the Gulf emirate.
"I came on vacation on the way back from Bangkok when I beat Roddick in that final," recalled the 16-time Grand Slam champion playing as top seed this week in a bid for a fifth title. "I met up with (Austalian coach at the time) Tony Roche for a practise session, sort of an undercover operation.
"I remember it was brutally hot, I think like 39 Celsius every day. But I had a good time practising, it was peace and quiet and I kind of enjoyed it here. I was like, ‘You know, I think this works well for practice and leisure’. The next thing I knew, I had an apartment."
Federer is playing in his second home for the first time since 2008, when he lost early to Andy Murray. But as a good Swiss, he knows the origin of his roots.
"Switzerland is my home and it will always be, and that is where I'm going to grow old. So Switzerland for me is obviously the place. But I really enjoy being here. I'm happy I chose Dubai as a base, a practice base or as a going-through place for me to the rest of world. It's a good location. I don't regret it, of course."
ROGER REACHES SEMIS
Roger won his quarter-final match against Ukraine's Sergiy Stakhovsky (ATP 43) 6-3, 6-4 in Dubai today.
Roger was broken for the first time this week in the opening game of the match, but broke back immediately. He eventually wrapped up the match in 1 hour and 12 minutes, firing 6 aces and converting 3 out of 9 break points to earn a comprehensive win.
Roger will face the winner of the all-French quarter-final between Richard Gasquet (ATP 28) and Gilles Simon (ATP 33).
DUBAI DUTY FREE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS
FEDERER REVEALS HIS BLACKLIST
Roger Federer loves a variety of sports, but it seems that ping pong is the only one he allows himself to play due to risk of injury. Speaking after his quarter-final win at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, Federer said that skiing, soccer and squash were all on his banned list. Even the more pedestrian sport of golf is blacklisted.
“To be quite honest, I do miss [skiing]. I used to do it up until a few years ago," Federer said. "Last time I skied was in 2008 when I had mono. Came back after the Australian Open, went skiing, and next day I got ill again. So I was like, Okay, it's a sign for me. No more skiing. That's a pity, but okay, we'll do that.
“Soccer I haven't played much either. I remember when I had the groin issue in Wimbledon. Then I went to Gstaad and I really couldn't move well. I mean, I won the doubles with Safin and stuff. But I went to play soccer that whole week as well and couldn't move at the end. So it was just so silly of me. I did the same with squash as well.”
Federer said that he recently played a round of golf, but even that took its toll on his body. “I played a round of golf with my parents. It was my mom's birthday the other week here, and I went to play on the Emirates Golf Course. It was nice to do, but the same thing again. Next thing you know, your back hurts just a little bit.
“You just don't want to do it, because my body is accustomed to play tennis right now. Honestly, I can wait for many more years until I can do all those sports really well. I actually do miss it to do all those things a bit more often. I can play ping pong. I can do that. It's a pity [I can’t play the other sports] but, look, I'll be able to enjoy them much more when I'm done.”
Federer is chasing a fifth title in Dubai. He plays Frenchman Richard Gasquet in Friday's semi-finals, with the winner to play either Novak Djokovic or Tomas Berdych in the final.
Sport to zdrowie. :lol:
ROGER REACHES DUBAI FINAL
Roger has reached the final of the tournament in Dubai thanks to a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Richard Gasquet today.
Roger had no problems in the first set, playing aggressively and not facing too much resistance from the Frenchman. But he fell back 3-5 in the second as Gasquet made more of a fight of the encounter. And then Roger once again did what we love him for - raise the pressure and take the lead - as he secured the last four games and thus the match.
Roger will now face Novak Djokovic in Saturday's final, in a replay of their Australian Open semi-final in January. The defeat is Roger's only one so far this season, Djokovic is yet to loose a match.
ROGER SUFFERS DEFEAT NUMBER TWO
Roger was defeated in straight sets by Novak Djokovic in the final of the Dubai Tennis Championships today.
"I had a tough start and a tough end but Novak played a solid tournament all the way through and deserved to win,” Roger said. “It was a tough end for me but still a great tournament."
Roger faced a strong Djokovic right from the start and was clearly dominated in the first set. It looked better in set number two as he broke the Serb to take a 3-1 lead. But unfortunately he had to constantly battle with problems with his timing and rhythm, losing 20 of the following 25 points and eventually the match.
Pierwszy przegrany finał w 2011.
Roger Federer po raz 2 w karierze przegrał mecz o tytuł turnieju ATP w Dubaju. Dla 29-letniego Helweta był to już 29 przegrany finał w zawodowej karierze, na 96 rozegranych tego typu meczów.
Roger Federer - przegrane finały (29)
2011 Dubaj
2010 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Szanghaj, ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Kanada, Halle, ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Madryt
2009 Basel, US Open, Australian Open
2008 Wimbledon, Roland Garros, ATP Masters Series Hamburg, ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo
2007 ATP Masters Series Madryt, ATP Masters Series Kanada, Roland Garros, ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo
2006 Roland Garros, ATP Masters Series Rzym, ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo, Dubaj
2005 Tennis Masters Cup
2003 Gstaad, ATP Masters Series Rzym
2002 ATP Masters Series Miami, Mediolan
2001 Basel, Rotterdam
2000 Basel , Marsylia
Federer discusses top tier of tour; next events
Roger Federer, who lost in the Dubai final to Novak Djokovic, on the upper crust of the men's tour:
"At the moment it looks like [Djokovic is dominating], but [Robin] Soderling hasn’t been playing bad himself if you look at his win/loss record this year; [Andy] Murray was in the finals again at the Australian Open, so he’s obviously in the conversation as well," he said. "After that, you have guys tearing apart a few of the clay court tournaments in other parts of world. I think the Top 5 players have played really well the last six months. Someone always has to win one tournament. At the end of the day, we’ve been able to share those a little bit to be honest."
The Swiss also noted the slowness of the hard courts at Miami, coming up in mid-March. Federer’s next tournament will be at Indian Wells, held on hard courts which are also considered to be fairly slow.
"It’s going to be different conditions again. It’s going to be flying, but it’s going to be slower. So it’s going to be a challenge to balance those two things in Indian Wells. And then Miami is going to be really slow. They’ve really slowed down conditions there drastically over the years, I thought. And with the humidity the ball doesn’t fly as much."—Matthew Cronin
Federer heading to California to polish his hardcourt game
Roger Federer expects to arrive in California later in the week after digesting his Dubai finals loss to Novak Djokovic.
The Swiss world No. 2 remains convinced that a hard training in the fast desert conditions prior to the
March 9 start of the Indian Wells Masters 1000 will put his mighty game right.
But while Federer's confidence remains undented after just one title (Doha) from three events in 2011, the spectre of new nemesis Djokovic as well as the return to the ATP of Rafael Nadal will be key complicating factors for any Swiss victory strategy.
"Thank God my first couple of (Dubai) matches weren't brutal physically, so I didn't take away too much muscle pain from them," Federer said. "I won't need as much rest maybe as predicted after having played five days in a row. No, I'll get ready and get or the west coast and get ready over there."
Federer will rendezvous in California with the American half of his coaching brain trust, Paul Annacone, who works alongside Swiss Severin Luthi, a longtime Federer mentor.
Federer is pleased with the dual relationship, which is working with typical Swiss precision. "When Severin is with me I speak with Paul on the phone; when Paul is with me I speak with Severin on the phone," Federer explained. "Communication has been good between the three of us. They also talked when they had to. I'm happy with the harmony in the team.
"I feel like I need more practice, just a little bit here and there. It's going to be different conditions again in California) The ball will be flying but it's going to be slower.
Photo shooting
Roger posed for photographer Mario Testino as part of Credit Suisse's new advertising campaign.
https://multimedia.credit-suisse.com/in … eo&lang=EN
Can Federer return to the very top?
After Roger Federer lost in straight sets in the ATP Dubai final against Novak Djokovic, can we now consider the Swiss a player in terminal decline?
We looked forward to watching this match as the Serbian has been on an upward trajectory since his Davis Cup and Australian Open triumphs. On the other hand, the Swiss's form is dropping off. Everybody is now speaking of a changing of the guard at the top of the rankings, and the next battles between the two players will be scrutinised heavily.
Federer's excellent mindset achieved last summer has been absent since the start of 2011, while if we're relying on results, you cannot deny that he has been in decline for a year and a half. Rafael Nadal is now comfortable on the No.1 throne and looks unreachable, while Djokovic has the No.2 spot within reach.
But is Federer's fall irremediable? Looking at the technical and tactical reasons for his current lack of efficiency, let's have a look at what would need to happen for him to return to the top.
Focusing issues
Watching his matches, you are struck by the many unforced errors he is making. He often seems to struggle with his focus, so his matches are always up and down. He often has streaks of winners followed by easy mistakes: he can be up 30-0 with two winners then be pulled back to 30-30 with two errors - then win the game with an ace and a forehand winner. That is always enough to get through the first rounds, because his margin is so huge - but he's paying the price for it against the top players. At the top level, you cannot allow yourself to play with fire like this.
A less-efficient serve
We were used before to his high first serve efficiency, which gave him a lot of aces or winners. His second serve does not allow him to take charge of the rally in the same way. That, added to the amazing returning abilities of Nadal, Djokovic and Andy Murray, has beaten one of his key weapons down. Let us not forget that he basically won the 2009 Wimbledon final against Andy Roddick on the back of his service. The Dubai final stats say it all: five aces (the same number as the Serbian), 63 per cent efficiency on his first serve (Nole had 82) and 39 per cent on his second serve (56 for Djokovic). Nole broke four times in the two sets, which both finished 6-3.
An ever-shortening gameplan
If the Swiss has always been at his best when playing short points, as years pass the length of his successful points is becoming shorter and shorter. I was amazed by another stat against Djokovic: after one set, he had won only 20 per cent of the points when the rally lasted more than eight shots. It is the exact gameplan set up by Rafa in order to beat Roger: keeping him on his backhand and prolonging the rally puts Federer out of his comfort zone. Against Nole, he often gave the impression that he was seeking to get rid of the ball quickly - as if he knew he wouldn't win the point if the rally was too long. Because of this, his shot selection suffered and he took too many risks on the wrong balls.
Training and injuries?
Federer is still young at 29 and it is reasonable to expect that he has a few more great years in front of him. His style of play saves a lot of energy while his flexibility and fluidity of movement also help him to save his body. It is a body perfectly suited to this game: tall - but not too tall - slender and not too muscular. Yet you have to wonder whether he is feeling at his best physically: is the back pain that troubled him in the past over with? What has always been true - and forms the basis of my coaching methods - is that a player's training sessions resemble their matches: behaviour, sequences and intensity put in day after day of course play a big part in the final performance. So how is the Swiss training? Is he able to get through sessions maintaining a high level of physical intensity?
His approach
If it seems logical that the Swiss will struggle to last the longer rallies as he grows older, he must keep some offensive weapons at their most dangerous if he wants to succeed with shorter rallies. He needs at his disposal his serve, forehand, explosive footwork - to take the ball early - chip and charges and, of course, his volleying game. He should really work on his short game - I do not doubt that that is the wish of his coach Paul Annacone, as evidence of these has been seen in recent times.
Commitment
It is so important for him to play each match with 100 per cent commitment. Matches will become more intense for him, but likely quicker; Pete Sampras, at the end of his career, was playing only one returning game to the maximum - and it was often enough to win the match. He knew how to play at his best when the time came, and we must not forget his outstanding serve and net game which was the basis of his entire career. Federer's supreme talent means that he can return to the top - no doubt about it.
Federer przebywa właśnie w LA, gdzie trenuje z "Pistolem" przed nadchodzącymi turniejami w IW i Miami. Sampras przygotowuje się do starcia weteranów w Zurychu. Panowie zeszłej nocy zasiedli na trybunach Staples Center, gdzie oglądali potyczkę NBA z udziałem LA Lakers. ;)
Zdjęcie z sesji treningowej:
http://www.facebook.com/Federer?ref=ts# … 4760994940
Time with Pete
Dear Fans
It's great to be in the USA again and I'm really looking forward to the tournaments in Indian Wells and in Miami. I had a great time the last few days here together with Pete Sampras. We enjoyed an exhausting training session as well as some basketball-action watching the LA Lakers win at Staples Center.
All the best
Roger
Nike Clash of the Champions
Roger was defeated 5-7 by Rafael Nadal in the "Nike Clash of the Champions" on Tuesday.
"We’ve done a lot of good causes. This is another one," Roger said. “This is a special night for all of us.”
The exhibition match was hosted at University of Oregon and also featured Russian Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka. American tennis legend John McEnroe made a surprise visit to the event and looked really impressed by it.
Funds collected from the Nike Clash of the Champions will go to the Roger Federer Foundation and the foundations of Nadal, Sharapova and Williams, along with Azarenka’s charity, the Children’s Clinic for Cancer.
Indian Wells draw
The draw for the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells is out. Roger has a First-round bye and will then either face Russia's Igor Andrejew (ATP 96) or Japan's Kei Nishikori (63). Roger won all three previous matches against Andrejew, dropping one set each time. Roger has never played Nishikori on the ATP Tour before.
In the quarter finals a match against Roger's friend Stanislas Wawrinka (ATP 14) is possible. In the semi final, Roger could meet Novak Djokovic (ATP 3) again - the Serb defeated our champ in the Dubai final.
The top seeded Rafael Nadal, UK's Andy Murray and Sweden's Robin Söderling are in the other half of the draw.
July Davis Cup tie
Dear Fans
I've decided i'm going to play the Davis Cup tie in July at home against
Portugal. I'm really looking forward to helping Switzerland begin the process of getting back into the World Group.
Roger
Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters
Dear Fans,
I have just decided to enter Monte Carlo. Hopefully I will see some of you in Monaco in the spring.
:bejsbol:
Federer zagra w lipcu w Pucharze Davisa
Tydzień po Wimbledonie w Pucharze Davisa? Jako, że znajdująca się w potrzebie Szwajcaria ma zagrać z Portugalią u siebie, wesprzeć rodaków zgodził się Roger Federer.Na oficjalnej stronie internetowej Federer poinformował, że zamierza pomóc ojczyźnie w procesie powrotu do elity Pucharu Davisa, skąd Szwajcaria wypadła po ubiegłorocznej porażce w barażu z Kazachstanem. Kadra Federera znajduje się w tej samej Grupie I Strefy Euroafrykańskiej co Polska, a tegoroczną rywalizację rozpocznie w dniach 8-10 lipca.
Federer gra w reprezentacji od 1999 roku (bilans 37-11, z czego 27-6 w singlu), ale jego ostatni występ miał miejsce w sierpniu 2009 roku w Genui, gdzie zdobywając dwa punkty w meczu z Włochami przyczynił się do pozostania Szwajcarii w Grupie Światowej. Rok temu nie pomógł i koledzy polegli do zera w Kazachstanie.
Hm... tego to się nie spodziewałem. Wreszcie reprezentacja Szwajcarii będzie wyglądała, jak wyglądać powinna. ;-)
Federer excited by own form
These are unusual times for Roger Federer who says he is excited about his form despite lying second in the world rankings without any of the four Grand Slam titles in his clutches.
The Swiss master has been the sport's dominant figure for the last eight years but could slip to third in the rankings, behind Serb Novak Djokovic, after the Indian Wells tournament starting this week.
Federer has compiled a respectable win-loss record of 14-2 this season, with both defeats coming at the hands of Djokovic, and has made a return to the top of the rankings one of his priorities for this year.
"I am feeling well on the practice court and I am excited that my form is good," Federer, 29, said while preparing for his opening match at the imposing, state-of-the-art Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
"My mental state is really good too. I am confident, I don't have any niggling injuries, I am fresh and that is how I want to feel."
The 16-times grand slam champion has played in just three tournaments this year, winning in Doha, losing to Djokovic in the last four at the Australian Open and again succumbing to the Serb in the final of last month's Dubai championships.
"It's been a good, solid start," said Federer, who lifted the most recent of his Grand Slam crowns at the 2010 Australian Open. "I played well in Qatar, I played well in Australia and I played okay in Dubai.
"I was happy about Dubai in the big picture. I won four matches in a row and then didn't play the best match against Novak. Losses don't rattle me much. They are just part of our game. It's important to analyse them and ... move on" Djokovic, who has won two titles this year, is scheduled to meet Federer in the semi-finals at Indian Wells and would surpass the Swiss in the rankings should he win that match.
Asked how much he was still driven to be world number one, Federer replied: "In a big way. It's part of my big goals for this year, to try to get back to world number one.
"I like being world number one, (more) than two," he added with a flashing smile.
Federer said he gained inspiration when rivals such as Spanish world number one Rafa Nadal and third-ranked Djokovic won the game's big events at his own expense.
"That shows me what they are doing good and I can learn a few things from what they are doing," the Swiss added. "I always look for new ways to improve. I've done that in the best of times and that's what kept me at the top for so long.
"Clearly you can't always play at the highest of levels but I think I have done really well over the last eight years since I have been in the conversation for world number one."
Federer was delighted to be back at Indian Wells where he will be bidding for a record fourth title in the elite ATP Masters 1000 event.
"I've had some really good years here," he said of the desert venue which has established itself as a popular retirement community. "I've always enjoyed my time here, even though in the beginning I thought it was a bit slow.
"As a teenager, I thought I needed a bit more of a New York, London, Miami kind of atmosphere. But I started to really enjoy the pace over here, I would play some golf and my family and my parents would come and join me here sometimes.
"It's nice to get a bit of a calm tournament before Europe comes around and so forth."
Bez komentarza... :]
PERFECT DOUBLES
Roger and Stan Wawrinka made an awesome start into the doubles tournament in Indian Wells. The Swiss pair largely dominated Max Mirnyi and Daniel Nestor, the number two seeds, winning 6-1, 6-2 after 50 minutes of play.
Reunited for the first time after their Davis Cup success in Lausanne against Belgium's Xavier Malisse and Olivier Rochus in September 2008, the Olympic champions left the two doubles-specialists and recent semi-finalists at the Australian Open without much chance.
Roger and Stan will now meet the French pair Richard Gasquet and Julien Benneteau.
Roger will play Igor Andreev (ATP 96) in the second round of the singles after a first round bye. Our champ has beated Andreev in each of their three encounters.
Roger reaches next round
Roger has made it through to round three in Indian Wells thanks to a 7-5, 7-6(4) victory over Russia's Igor Andreev in 94 minutes.
"I played really well," said Roger after the match. "In the first round, you never have too much expectation and you just hope to get through."
It was Roger's fourth victory over Andreev in four meetings. But it was the first time our champ didn't have to drop a set against the hard-hitting Russian. In the tiebreak, Roger set up his match point by forcing Andreev to hit a backhand long and then clinched the win when Andreev pounded a forehand into the net.
Roger will face Argentina's Juan Ignacio Chela (ATP 32) in the next round of Indian Wells on Tuesday.
Roger Federer obiektem pożądania Szwajcarek
Aż 38,4% Szwajcarek byłoby gotowych na skok w bok z Rogerem Federerem. Gdy podczas turnieju weteranów w Zurychu o wynikach ankiety dowiedział się Pete Sampras, chwycił za telefon... Oh Jesus, muszę natychmiast wysłać Rogerowi SMS-a z tą informacją - powiedział ze śmiechem 14-krotny triumfator turniejów wielkoszlemowych. „Randkowa" ankieta wywołała jednak u Helwetów wielką burzę. Wynika z niej, że prawie co czwarta Szwajcarka gotowa byłaby na skok w bok i seks z Rogerem Federerem. Blisko 9 procent pań do łóżka mogłoby pójść również z mistrzem olimpijskim w narciarstwie alpejskim, Carlo Janką.
Federer: “I’d Take Isner’s Serve”
Roger Federer is arguably the most complete player in tennis history, so it’s hard to imagine any shot that he’d trade. But when asked if he had the chance to take any shot from his opponent, the Swiss hinted that he wouldn’t mind a little extra heat on his serve….
“A good serve is a good start,” said Federer after his second-round win at the BNP Paribas Open on Sunday. “Then you pick the obvious suspect. The ones who are hitting aces and unreturnable serves and can clutch serve all day. One of those big guys, like John [Isner] or [Ivo] Karlovic or [Andy] Roddick and so forth. Guys who have proven themselves over a long period of time, of course, and also have variety.”
The Swiss was also drawn into the one-handed vs two-handed backhand debate, but despite being a master of the single-hander, remained firmly on the fence as to which shot was more advantageous.
“It seems like to have a double-handed backhand has maybe a slight advantage. But if you look at the one handers out there, there are some really good ones. It gives you opportunities on different surfaces maybe to mix it up better. And maybe the reach is not the best with the double-handed, but then if you look at how Djokovic and Nadal and Murray stretch to their backhand, it's quite incredible.”
So, would the 16-time Grand Slam champion like to trade backhands with Murray after singling him out? “I don't know how effective it would be, Murray's backhand with my game,” said Federer. “My game needs my one-handed backhand, I feel, and I don't know how his game would work out with my forehand.”
SINGLES AND DOUBLES VICTORIES
Roger has entered the round of the last sixteen in Indian Wells after clearly defeating Juan Ignacio Chela 6-0, 6-2.
Roger raced to the victory in just 58 minutes, the quickest so far in the 2011 ATP World Tour season! He dominated in all aspects of the game as Chela had trouble with his serve - committing 6 double faults - and winning a mere third of the rallies. Roger now leads with a 6-0 over the Argentinean.
Next up is America's Ryan Harrison (ATP 152) who entered the tournament with a Wild Card. The two have never met so far.
Roger is also on a winning streak in the doubles together with Stan Wawrinka. The two Swiss defeated the French pair Julien Benneteau/Richard Gasquet 6-4, 3-6 and finally 12-10 in the super tie-breaker. They are going to play Mark Knowles/Michal Mertinak, the Olympic Champions of Beijing 2008, in the quarter finals.
Roger in quarters
Roger won his match against America's Ryan Harrison 7-6(4), 6-3 to reach the quarters in Indian Wells.
"He was making it very hard for me," Roger said after the match. "It was a very tricky match. I think he's going to have a great future."
Against the expectations, Roger had to battle against the young American in the first set as Harrison showed a tough fight until the last moments of the tie-break. The second set saw much more focused serving from Roger who won 77% of his service points and reached a quota of 65% first serves. After 85 minutes, Roger used his fourth matchball to win.
In the quarters Roger will face his Swiss friend Stanislas Wawrinka.
NEXT UP: DJOKOVIC
Roger has made it through to the semis in Indian Wells thanks to a clear 6-3, 6-4 victory against his compatriot and doubles-partner Stanislas Wawrinka
Roger was in control right from the start as he earned 89% points on his first serve with the help of 14 winners and committed just 12 unforced errors, compared to Wawrinka's 28. The first set lastet 29 minutes and Roger was able to seal his victory after 63 minutes.
Roger will now play Novak Djokovic in Saturday's semi-final.
Roger and Stanislas will meet again shortly - only on the same side of the court this time - as they face the pair Lopez/Nadal in the semis of the doubles competition.
Another loss against Djokovic
Roger suffered another defeat against Novak Djokovic in Indian Wells today, losing the semi-final 3-6, 6-3 and 2-6. Roger will now drop to number 3 in the world ranking as Djokovic takes his place.
The Serbian simply played too well in the opening set today as Roger trailed behind 3-6. But Roger then showed all his experience to reel in the younger opponent to level the match by taking the second 6-3. As the match went on both players displayed sublime skills but it was Djokovic who held his nerve in the end, winning the big points to secure to progress to the final after 126 minutes.
It is the ninth defeat for Roger against the Serbian in their 22nd match - our champ has lost all their three encounters so far this year.
Zabrali Federerowi 300 punktów. Dlaczego?
Novak Dżoković zostanie nowym wiceliderem rankingu ATP. Serb awans z trzeciej na drugą pozycję zawdzięcza zwycięstwu nad Rogerem Federerem 6:3, 3:6, 6:2 w półfinale turnieju w Indian Wells. Ale nie tylko! Zawdzięcza go także przepisom.
W decydującym secie półfinału BNP Paribas Open Szwajcar nagle się „zepsuł" i od stanu 2:2, 40-15 przy własnym serwisie oddał rywalowi aż jedenaście kolejnych piłek. Nie zdołał więc wyrównać rekordu Pete'a Samprasa, który zwyciężył w karierze w 762 spotkaniach. Do tego brakuje mu na razie jednej wygranej.
W poniedziałek Federer spadnie w światowej hierarchii. Co ciekawe, mniej punktów ma również dlatego, że nie zaliczono mu 300 oczek za niedawny finał w Dubaju. To kara za brak występów w regulaminowej liczbie turniejów rangi ATP 500 w poprzednim sezonie. Punkty pojawią się przy jego nazwisku dopiero... w lipcu. Gdyby pojawiły się teraz, w przypadku porażki Dżokovicia w finale z Rafaelem Nadalem Roger obroniłby drugą pozycję.
Przegrałem, ale nie czuję się przegrany. Wciąż mam szansę, by latem wrócić na tron - skomentował Federer swój nieudany występ w Kalifornii. Porażką zakończył bowiem również występ w finale debla. Razem ze Stanislasem Wawrinką uległ Belgowi Xavierowi Malisse i Aleksandrowi Dołgopołowowi 4:6, 7:6(5), 7-10. Na pocieszenie pozostała mu w tej konkurencji półfinałowa wygrana 7:5, 6:3 z Nadalem i Markiem Lopezem.
BARTOSZ GĘBICZ
Once a Cobra. . .
by Pete Bodo
We all know that Roger Federer does not write the headlines for stories about Roger Federer. Not for the Associated Press, TENNIS.com, ESPN or anyone else. Still, it seemed entirely appropriate, in an Onion-esque or SNL "Generalissimo Franco is still dead" way, that the headline on this Ticker item on our home page read: "Federer Not Frustrated by Third Loss to Djokovic."
Great players all have a capacity for denial, and who's entitled to accuse them of lapsing into it until the day they hang up the sticks? Remember that Pete Sampras, near the end of his career, was still so convinced the he might win one more Grand Slam title that he almost leaped up from his chair during a presser to punch out a Spanish reporter for smirking as he questioned Sampras's sincerity—or was it his sanity?—for making that claim. The guy thought Sampras was in denial. He was proved wrong.
So while Federer's claim may induce an eye-roll or guffaw in some of you, bear in mind that once a cobra, always a cobra. No matter how frustra (whoops, I withdraw that word!)...difficult things get, this is a guy with 16 Grand Slam titles to his name. He plays a game that doesn't appear to put an enormous amount of stress or strain on any of his appendages (the organs, like the brain and intestines, are another matter). He hasn't even turned 30. If you don't believe he's capable of going out in a few months time and winning Wimbledon without losing a set, you need to have your head examined.
Whether Federer does something like that, at Wimbledon or elsewhere, will be determined partly by the abilities of his rivals and partly by his own degree of determination and desire (the skill, we know, is there). Federer is struggling, not just to win but to play solid, workmanlike matches—the kind that your run-of-the-mill Top 20 players produce through two or three rounds at every tournament. Here at TENNIS.com, the Mighty Fed has his own Boswell in Tom Tebbutt. After Federer's loss to Djokovic, even Tebbutt was moved to describe that third-set meltdown (that decisive stretch where Federer suddenly lost 11 points in a row, seven of them while serving) as "a total collapse."
Painful as it may be for Federer and his fans, that's exactly the kind of thing that happens to a player who's on the far side of the career hill. Most of the time, losing your grip in tennis has less to do with age or technical/strategic deficiency, at least initially, than with mental and emotional fatigue. As a dedicated professional, you hit a point when your ability to fly on automatic pilot (a talent that took years to develop and is usually a good thing) becomes a tendency to just go through the motions. You get lulled, because down deep it just doesn't feel all that important anymore. You become inattentive, even if your feet and hands are trying to do the right things. You take your eye off the ball, figuratively as well as literally. And lately, Federer has been taking his eye off the ball.
I don't expect that Federer will "recover"' from this condition. It isn't a momentary or situational shortcoming; it's something he'll have to live with for the rest of his career. He can do certain things to rekindle his inner fire, but I'm not sure he has the fierce drive to taste blood and scatter gore that enabled Jimmy Connors to make that incredible run in 1991, or that TMF has the same desire to prove the world wrong that kept Sampras plugging away until he won his final major 2002. At times, Federer seems way too philosophical, too rational and even-keeled.
Federer's chances going forward might be better if he whipped up a little controversy and interest, out of character as that may seem—if he vowed revenge, spat out a challenge, or warned Djokovic, and anyone else who might care to listen, that he's coming back and there's going to be hail to pay. I suppose there's a chance that there's a reservoir of anger and determination buidling behind the wide dam of Federer's perambulations (as he said, after losing to Djokovic for the third consecutive time, "I don't know if I'd rather lose against three multiple different guys, outside of the Top 50. I guess not. I'd rather lose against a guy that's ranked very high..."), but I doubt it. This apparent lack of rage, while admirable in most ways, may not yield much in the way of one thing Federer sorely needs, motivation.
TMF may not be motivated to bag more Masters titles, or perhaps even Grand Slam trophies. But he needs to want something if he's going to to continue to be a force. Why not a desire for Djokovic's head on a platter?
Late in their careers, many of the great champions called upon help from tennis fans to keep going. Connors and Andre Agassi were masterful at drawing on the energy of supportive crowds when their own emotional resources were waning. An outpouring of love and admiration can be a powerful thing, but will TMF be appealing enough, in a personal way, to generate that special kind of love that the crowds bestow on aging champions? Will he be humble enough to ask for it, as did the theatrical, almost to the point of groveling, Agassi?
One thing I've noticed already is that by taking the high road and acting (if acting it is) as if nothing is amiss, Federer invites dismissal. In that sense, he has much to think about as he approaches the twilight of his career with its inevitable ups and downs. He needs to understand that it isn't news in any meaningful sense when he claims not to be worried by or frustrated about losing to Djokovic (or anyone else) three consecutive times.
Well, if Federer isn't frustrated by losing to Djokovic three times, why should anyone else be?
Great a champion as he is, Federer must know that tennis fans are conditioned to move on. In almost all aspects, tennis is about what you've done today and what you'll do tomorrow. This would be a good time for Federer to start planning for those tomorrows.
KEY BISCAYNE: THE DRAW
Roger left California and traveled to the East Coast of the USA in order to play the Sony Ericsson Open on Key Biscayne in Florida.
Like the other top seeds, Roger is exempt from the first round. He will either face Fabio Fognini (ATP 53) or Radek Stepanek (ATP 68) in round two. He could later take on Argentinia's Juan Monaco (ATP 35), before a meeting with either Marcos Baghdatis (ATP 24) or Mikhail Youzhny (ATP 14) is possible. Then, Andy Roddick, the defending champion, could be up in the quarter finals.
Roger, winner in 2005 and 2006, is in the same half of the draw as top-seeded Rafael Nadal. The two champions could meet in the semifinals.
Federer o Navrátilovej: Tak jest, jak się jej podsuwa mikrofon
Coraz odważniejsze słowa padają z ust Martiny Navrátilovej. Wielokrotna triumfatorka wielkoszlemowych imprez wypowiedziała się ostatnio o psychice Andy'ego Murraya i dyspozycji Rogera Federera. Utytułowany Szwajcar postanowił zabrać głos w tej sprawie.
- Widocznie nie oglądała londyńskich Finałów ATP World Tour - stwierdził Federer, który zwyciężył w tym wieńczącym ubiegłoroczny tenisowy sezon turnieju. - Może wspinała się na Kilimandżaro? - dopytywał się tenisista z Bazylei, wskazując na nieudaną górską wyprawę Navrátilovej, podczas której zamierzano wesprzeć jedną z organizacji charytatywnych. - Kiedy masz przed sobą mikrofon podobnie jak inni eksperci, to oczywiście musisz także powiedzieć coś negatywnego - stwierdził utytułowany Szwajcar
Swojego oburzenia słowami pochodzącej z Czech legendarnej zawodniczki nie krył również Andy Roddick. - To jest absurdalne. Ktokolwiek chce krytykować Rogera za sposób w jaki on obecnie gra w tenisa, musi naprawdę się znać się na swojej pracy - powiedział Amerykanin.
Podlizuj się Andy, podlizuj... może Federer da ci wygrać w 1/4 :P
A co raczyła rzec ta urocza niewiasta?
Robertinho napisał:
A co raczyła rzec ta urocza niewiasta?
Federer Unfazed By World No. 3 Ranking; Praises Djokovic
Roger Federer insists he doesn't mind being No. 3 in the South African Airways 2011 ATP Rankings.
Speaking ahead of the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami on Wednesday, the Swiss said, "I still think I've had a great six months. I feel like I'm playing really good tennis, and right now Novak [Djokovic] is just a bit better than the rest. And that's okay.
"I've gone through phases like this on multiple occasions with Rafa [Nadal], with [Andy] Murray, with even [Andre] Agassi and [Lleyton] Hewitt and [Andy] Roddick and so forth. It's just something that's part of the game.
"I never expected myself to dominate for 15 years. I think at the top right now I think actually everybody is playing well."
Federer has a 36-10 record at Crandon Park, the venue of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament, picking up the Indian Wells-Miami title double in 2005 and 2006. Only six players in history have achieved the feat.
"I guess it's hard to win back-to-back [ATP World Tour] Masters 1000s in general because you have a lot of good players in the early rounds," said Federer. "You have no excuse not having had enough time off, because there is enough time so you actually can get ready. It just seems like I guess here and in Indian Wells usually everybody is playing pretty well, because the season is underway for a couple of months.
"Everybody can play on hard courts, so it's not really a surface that favours a particular playing style. The South Americans have their chance, like the Europeans and the Americans have and so forth. So I think it's pretty straight forward, and that's why I think they're tough to win back-to-back.
"But then again, if you're hot, like Novak at the moment, or me back a few years ago when I won back-to-back Indian Wells and Miami, you could do it. Just because the draw falls into place, you are playing well, you are not thinking too much, and you are very just better than the rest at the moment."
Federer is scheduled to meet either Fabio Fognini or Radek Stepanek in the Miami second round.
QUICK START IN MIAMI
Roger made an great start into the Miami Masters today, defeating Radek Stepanek 6-3, 6-3.
Roger scored early breaks in both sets, adding a third one in total to clearly dominate the match. His first serve was a strong weapon as he reached 70% of first serves.
With the victory - Roger's 762nd - he joins Pete Sampras on place number 7 in the ATP records. But our champ is still 480 victories short of Jimmy Connors' who leads the ranking.!
Roger will meet Juan Monaco in round three in Key Biscayne. He leads the head-to-head 1-0 against the Argentinian so far.
ROGER ADVANCES
Roger has reached round four at the Miami Masters, battling down Juan Monaco 7-6(4), 6-4 today.
"I am happy with my game and things are going well," Roger commented. "I've played a lot more games than this time last year. I am confident going on court, preparing well and am happy with how things are going."
The Artentinian made Roger's life everything but easy. But our champ kept in the contest before making his move in the moments that counted.
The first set brought a break on either side, with Roger eventually showing the greater quality in the tiebreak to edge ahead. Both players continued fighting tough with Roger finally scoring the first break at 4-4 and finally pulling out a stunning drop shot to wrap up the match after a tough 104 minutes.
Roger will now play Olivier Rochus (ATP 89) whom he has beaten every time in seven matches so far.
Zwycięstwo Rogera nad Juanem to 763 wygrany mecz w zawodowej karierze Szwajcara. RF wyprzedził tym samym na liście wszech czasów Pete'a Samprasa i przesunął się tym samym na 7 miejsce w tej statystyce.
Najwięcej wygranych meczów w karierze:
1. Jimmy Connors (USA) - 1241
2. Ivan Lendl (USA) - 1071
3. Guillermo Vilas (ARG) - 923
4. John McEnroe (USA) - 875
5. Andre Agassi (USA) - 870
6. Stefan Edberg (SWE) - 806
7. Roger Federer (SUI) - 763
Po troszkę pełniejszą i na bieżąco aktualizowaną statystykę zapraszam po ten adres:
http://www.mtenis.pun.pl/viewtopic.php?id=990
ROGER REACHES QUARTERS
Roger easily defeated Olivier Rochus in straight sets 6-3, 6-1 to reach the quarter-finals of the Miami Masters.
An almost never-ending match between Maria Sharapowa and Alexandra Dulgheru pushed the start of Roger's match into early Wednesday morning. Our champ finally wrapped up his victory at 1:29 a.m. as it took him just 52 minutes to win this match thanks to scoring 88% of the points on his first serve. He already secured his first break after 11 minutes and bagged the first set after 26 minutes. In the end, he had 32 winners, losing only five points on his own serve.
Roger's opponent in Thursday's quarter-final will be France's Gilles Simon.
Federer not finished yet
Despite a Slam-free start to 2011, I still honestly believe that Roger Federer is no longer in decline.
I think he's enjoying his tennis as much as ever, and as long as he continues to enjoy it - and doesn't see his standard slipping - then he'll keep going.
I, for one, don't think his standard has slipped too much.
Perhaps he's not quite the player he was three years ago, but he's a better player than he was last year, that's for sure.
That said, three months into the season I'm not so sure that Federer's advance is quite as strong as I thought it was.
He's starting to find that the top standard he's capable of reaching today might not cut it against Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
One thing's for certain - he desperately needs to win in Miami.
Whatever happens this year, I think that the 2012 Olympic Games (to be held at Wimbledon) will be absolutely huge for Federer. It will be a watershed moment for him.
Maybe there's one more Grand Slam in him, possibly two, but at the moment the pecking order is Nadal on clay and Djokovic on hard courts, leaving Wimbledon and the Olympics as Federer's best chance of claiming one more big win.
The Olympics is the one accolade missing from the great man's trophy cabinet and if he wins Olympic gold, I really think that might be it for him.
The only other thing that would keep Roger playing is he seems a man for history: he won't be too happy leaving while Nadal relentlessly continues to pick up Grand Slams.
Who knows what's going to happen in the future; in 10 years' time we might have another Federer.
However, is anyone really likely to win as many Slams as that in the next 10 years? It's very unlikely.
The only man who could do it is Nadal, so if he can keep nagging away at the Spaniard - rather than the other way around - then that might just keep him in the game a little longer.
Ultimately, Djokovic could give Federer's record a helping hand by challenging Nadal consistently at the top of the game, especially on the hard courts.
If I was Roger Federer, I would be sending Djokovic 'play well' cards!
As I said last week, if Novak can keep playing at the level he's shown us recently, he can really challenge Rafa's domination at the top of the men's game.
I still see Nadal winning the French Open this year, and either he or Federer will probably win Wimbledon, but I'd pick Djokovic for US Open glory, hands down.
At the moment, provided Nadal and Djokovic stay fit, I certainly can't see Federer getting back up to world number one.
SIMON HAS TO RETIRE
Roger had to play just three today to book his spot in the semis of the Miami Masters as Gilles Simon had to retire at 3-0.
After 10 minutes and three games of play - Roger won 12 of 15 points - Simon called the physiotherapist as he claimed to have woken up with a stiff neck. He then realised there was no use in resuming play and shook Roger's hand.
Roger's last few days in Miami have not really been tough and he should be able to attack the round of the last four with plenty of energy. His opponent there will be either be Rafael Nadal or Tomas Berdych.
Sampras says Federer can go on and on in the game
Pete Sampras believes Roger Federer will last a lot longer in his career than he did, calling the Swiss a "young" 29 compared to himself at that age 11 a decade ago.
"He’s still very much out there playing week in and week out and I’m amazed by that," said Sampras, who retired in 2002 after turning 31, going out on a high note with a concluding US Open title over longtime rival Andre Agassi. "He's much younger 29 than I was. I just felt a little more burned out. I see that as a big difference and will enable him to be competitive for many years."
Sampras and Federer met up at the start of the month in Los Angeles for a friendly hit prior to the hardcourt Masters 1000 run at Indian Wells and Miami.
Sampras admits that motivation was tough for him toward the end of his playing day, a problem which he does not see in Federer. "For as Roger wants to play, he will be competitive," said Sampras. "When I didn’t win a tournament for a couple years, I felt a much bigger drop-off, where I was struggling week in and week out. I didn’t have that motivation.
"Roger is just a little more hungry, a little more eager than I was at the same stage. He’s obviously dealing with some players who have gotten better but I think he’ll be fine."
A clear loss against Rafa
Roger suffered a clear 3-6, 2-6 loss against Rafael Nadal in the semi-final of the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne.
"It just got worse and worse. And when I had a chance I simply played too weak. Today was nothing to write about, I'm afraid," Roger commented. "I know that I can do many more things in the game. I'm very excited by what's to come still."
It was no easy task playing against a very strong Nadal as the Spaniard never dropped his serve and converted four of five break-point chances, committing only 10 unforced errors. Roger counted a total of 31 unforced errors and shanked several shots.
Next on Roger's schedule is the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters which starts in a week and opens the clay-season for Roger.
Federer knows his secret for tennis fitness
Roger Federer knows what it takes to stay healthy in the often injury-plagued world of professional tennis.
His case of glandular fever several seasons ago and the occasional low back pain notwithstanding, Roger Federer's standout career has been carried on basically injury-free - with the Swiss crediting hard work and careful monitoring for his tennis good health.
"You have to listen to the signals of your body," said the third seed who lost his semi-final to Rafael Nadal at the Miami Masters.
"I guess it's all together, in practise and the way you live every day, how much you sleep, what you eat. There are different ways you can stay healthy. Then I think every player has their own secrets or routines that make that work. Some just get unlucky."
"It's important to kind of get professional early," said Federer of the rising tennis injury rate. "I have just a good sense of how bad are the injuries I'm playing with, how bad is the pain, how serious is it.
"Sometimes I don't even need a doctor or physio's advice to tell me what's good and bad for my body because I know it. I know how bad the pain feels and how much I can still push on it. I think it's also a secret to knowing when to take a break and knowing when you can actually push."
Porównanie osiągnięć Federera z lat 2004-2006 z wynikami z sezonów 2008-2010
04-06 08-10
Zwycięstwa w Wielkich Szlemach 8 4
Zwycięstwa w turniejach Masters 1000 10 3
Zwyciestwa w World Tour Finals 2 1
Zwycięstwa w turniejach 34 13
Liczba porażek 15 40
Bilans wygranych meczów 94,3 % 82,8 %
Liczba tygodni jako nr 1 152 48
Federer defiant in face of Miami loss
Roger Federer will not let his fourth loss of a 22-win season put him off his stride after exiting the semi-finals of the Miami Masters to Rafael Nadal.
"I know that I can do many more things in the game," said the disappointed but defiant 16-time Grand Slam champion. "Sure, it's disappointing losing a match like tonight, but those are the matches I work extremely hard for in the off season and practise. I'm very excited by what's to come still."
Federer is already making plans for imminent travel to Monte Carlo where he will begin work on the clay in time for the first of the clay-court Masters 1000 events starting a week from Sunday.
The Swiss is understandably annoyed with media trying to write off his tennis era at age 29, as was the case with Pete Sampras a decade earlier. "I don't feel like I'm 35 like you guys make me sound I am," he told said after the loss. " I'm still only 29, and I have many more years left."
Federer still maintains his fighting demeanour despite the loss on the day wife Mirka Vavrinec celebrated her 33rd birthday. "For me, these are not big setbacks," said the Swiss of his recent losses to Nadal and three this season to Novak Djokovic. "I wish I could play better right now against those guys, but it is what it is.
"I'm excited going Monaco now, he said of the clay season which starts in nine day in the principality. "I'm going to fly there directly and prepare as well as I can for the clay-court season."
Federer would trade 2012 Slam for gold
Roger Federer has not won an Olympic singles gold medal and I'm pretty sure if you offered him one, he would take it over a Grand Slam in 2012.
The Swiss legend has a notable gap on his CV where a singles gold medal would fit nicely, and it is fair to say that the allure of Olympic success is growing amongst the players.
There was a time when the Olympics featured very low on any tennis player's priority list, but that is slowly changing.
Of course, the players will be planning their 2012 schedule around the Grand Slams as always, but success in the London Games would still feature very highly.
It simply means that they will have to peak for longer next year, and every tennis supporter will be happy about that.
It's going to be a very hectic summer schedule, but there is no doubt that the players will still monitor their workload in view of the Grand Slams, predominantly.
There certainly used to be a great deal of scepticism when tennis was made an Olympic sport, but its value is growing steadily.
I can see an Olympic medal being as important as a Grand Slam to the top players in perhaps the next decade, but right now it is still short of such status.
For players who have yet to win a Grand Slam like Andy Murray, they would of course prefer to break their duck rather than simply prevail in London.
It would be fabulous for Murray to be victorious in London with a big British support behind him, but it would not be a patch on winning Wimbledon.
I am good friends with Tim Henman, and you ask him how he feels about his Olympic medal, and it would not even rank among his top 10 career achievements in his mind.
Of course, he was happy to have featured successfully on the world stage, but he would have swapped that for a win at any of the top four tournaments on Tour.
But for Federer it is very different: he has won everything on Tour and is almost looking to complete his career achievements now.
If he does not win a Grand Slam but clinches the singles gold medal next year, he will be a very happy man.
I believe this is the main reason he is still playing and is yet to retire to spend more time with Mirka and his children.
Federer finished fourth in the Olympic singles at the Sydney Games in 2000, while he won the doubles title in Beijing in 2008.
At the 2012 Games Federer is probably the only player in the upper echelons of the current rankings who would trade another Grand Slam for a maiden Olympic singles crown.
One day the Olympics will be considered on a level with the Slams - but not yet.
MONTE CARLO: THE DRAW
11.04.2011 | Tennis
Roger is playing the 1000-Masters in Monte Carlo this week, opening this year's clay season. He will meet Philipp Kohlschreiber (ATP 34) after a first round bye. Roger has won all five matches against the German so far.
Roger, the number 2 seed, could face Austria's Jürgen Melzer (ATP 9) in the quarter-final. A meeting with Spain's David Ferrer (ATP 6) is possible in the semis before the defending champion Rafael Nadal could be up in the final.
After Roger had skipped the tournament last year, he is looking foward to an early start on clay and a great week. In 2009, he was defeated in the round of sixteen by Stanislas Wawrinka, just a few days after Roger's wedding.
Federer: "30 years old is not too old!"
When he plays in Monaco, Federer always carries out various services. With the journalists, he answers first in English, then in French. The multilingual Swiss showed up relaxed yesterday in the late afternoon, in the media room. Good looking guy, light coloured jeans, Nike jacket, the always classy hair lock, the now world #3 took adavantage of the occasion to have a dig at the people who tend to burry him too quickly. And if Nadal (who beat him in the 08 finals) is here in his kingdom, Federer apparently would like to pull something nice here.
What is your feeling at the start of the clay season?
- I arrived here very early on Tue. I think I've never arrived this early in Monaco... I got over the jetlag pretty easily. I trained a lot on Thu, Fri and Sat, so I feel really good. But the matches will judge after 7 months on HCs.
You weren't supposed to come at first, and then you changed your mind?
- In fact, I often liked coming here in Monaco to see right away where everyone stands on clay. I see the opponents' level and I can evaluate mine. I always chose to leave the door open as far as this tournement is concerned. This time I feel really good, whereas last year I lacked matches and I had therefore missed it.
Novak Djokovic says that the clay season will decide the #1 spot. Your feeling?
-I think it depends a lot on Rafa. If he's capable of playing as well as last year, I think it's going to be very hard for everyone. But I hope I'll be part of the guys who will be capable of doing it. As far as I'm concerned, I can have a solid tournement in Monaco, then Rome, I'll have a lot of points to gain in RG and Wimbledon.
Were you surprised by ND's withdrawal?
- Yes because he lives here, I think. But not more than that...Me too, when I was in great form I only played 6 or 7 MS. Each makes his choice. Novak has his reasons. He really has played a lot until now. One has to respect his decision.
Nowadays, everytime you lose, the observers aske themselves about your decline; doesn't it irritate you a bit?
- Everyone can have his opinion... Certainly I'm not going to spend 10 or 15 years of my career hearing around me all the time that I'm the best in the world. Certainly as well, I go through tough moments when I don't win my matches against them (Nadal and Djoko). I ask myself questions, about what I should've done better, at what moment I could have made the difference...But then, in the press, I get pretty crushed. I've gotten used to that as well, but it's true that the comments turn around surprisingly quickly. Maybe it's th efact that I'm getting close to 30. Some would probably prefer to see me stop. But if you look at the average, I think that around 32-33 years old we are still able to play tennis. That's what I think. Then, the results will prove me right or not.
Since 2005, Nadal, in 170 matches on clay has only lost 5 times, twice against you. That's impressive, no?
- Thanks for reminding me. As if I didn't know it (laughs). The strengh in his movement, in his FH, you know, I've often felt it weigh on me for hours and hours... Him too, he must have felt some shots from me that hurt him, but you're right, Rafa's achievements on clay is phenomenal. Evrytime, he does it again, endlessly, and last year he was downright perfect. It's just colossal! When he lost to Soderling at RG it was a big shock, we really didn't expect it. In the locker room, players are afraid of facing Rafa. We are not many to be able to worry him on clay. But in a great day, everything is still possible, I'm convinced of that.
Your goal in Monaco?
- I hope I'll win my 1st round, which is sometimes the hardest when we get back on clay. And then I hope I'll have a great tournement, getting better each round on little things, details, automatisms. But like I was telling you, I'm feeling really well in practice. I'm even surprised by it...
PERFECT START INTO CLAY SEASON
Roger defeated Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber (ATP 32) 6-2, 6-1 at his first round of the 1000-Masters in Monte Carlo today.
Our champion had Kohlschreiber running helplessly around centre court and wrapped up victory in just 50 minutes with his fifth ace of the match. Roger broke the German's serve early in both sets to give himself the advantage in each, and rescued the only break point against him with an ace.
Roger said after the match: "I'm really just getting a feeling again for playing on clay here on Monaco and then obviously the next two weeks when I'm not playing any tournaments it's going to be really important for me to get a sense of how well I'm hitting the ball. I really want to get some good practice in to be in great shape for Madrid and Rome."
Roger's next match will be on Thursday either against Marin Cilic or the winner of the match between Pere Riba and Potito Starace.
ROGER CRUISES INTO QUARTERS
Roger defeated Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-3 in Monte Carlo today and has booked his spot in the quarter-finals.
Roger continued his swift trek and needed only 36 minutes to win the first set. He was in control of the match even though he did face his only break point of the day in the opening game of set two. Both players recorded 13 winners, while Roger made only 10 mistakes, compared to 27 errors by Cilic. Our champ wrapped up the match after 70 minutes when Cilic's forehand sailed long.
"I thought Marin did well, actually," Roger commented after the match. "I thought he had a good mix going and I thought we were both serving well. I was really happy with the performance at the end."
On Friday, Roger will either face Jürgen Melzer (ATP 9) or Nicolas Almagro (ATP 12).
ROGER OUT IN QUARTERS
Roger dropped out of the Monte Carlo Masters after a 4-6, 4-6 defeat against Jürgen Melzer (ATP 9) in the quarter-finals today.
“He did well and played aggressive. He didn't give me many chances,” Roger said. “I didn't think I played terrible. It's the first week of play [on clay] so I didn't expect to play my best. It's been a solid tournament.”
Melzer had to be treated due to back problems after the first game. But he came out strong, pushing Roger into defense again and again, causing our champ to make a total of 24 unforced errors throughout the one hour 44 minute contest, not being able to convert any of the 7 break-points. The Austrian, in turn, took his two break point opportunities with gusto.
Roger will get back onto court in the beginning of May in Spain, where he will participate in the Mutua Madrileña Masters.
http://www.rogerfederer.com/en/esp/news … ieden.html
Roger zakończył tym samym, ciągnącą się od Toronto, serię 13 kolejnych półfinałów.
ROGER RETURNS HOME TO REGROUP
Roger Federer dropped to a 24-5 match record on the season.
Roger Federer, who made a surprise quarter-final exit to Jurgen Melzer at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters on Friday, will now return to Switzerland for a couple of weeks to "get physically and mentally fit for the tough stretch ahead.
"I'll be back in Switzerland training on clay. Hopefully the weather is going to be okay so I get some chances to hit outdoors. I'm looking forward to going back home."
World No. 3 Federer dropped to a 24-5 match record on the season, highlighted by one ATP World Tour title at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha (d. Davydenko).
"It's always disappointing regardless against who you lose," said Federer, a three-time former runner-up to Rafael Nadal at the Monte-Carlo Country Club.
"I wish I could have gone further in the tournament. I got three matches. I'm pretty happy.
"I don't think I played terrible. Obviously, it was still the first week of clay, so I don't expect myself to play my very best. I think it's been a solid tournament.
"I think I should have definitely gotten one of the sets. Every time I had this slight opening, things didn't go my way. I thought he did well. He played aggressive, played the right way he was supposed to."
When asked whether Federer is losing his aura of invincibility, Melzer said: "I think you always have to respect Roger. This would be lack of respect from the players if you don't respect Roger. He's a great tennis player, what he has achieved in the past.
"He has played tennis on such a high level that for him being three in the world is a downgrade, which if you think about it, it's kind of stupid. For me, he's the greatest player that has ever played that game. For him to lose matches, it's every time a tragic. There is a lot of players out there that would love to be in his shirt going out of that locker room and being on the court."
Federer, a winner of 17 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles, is No. 7 on the Open Era match wins list (767) in tour-level play. He is next scheduled to play at the Mutua Madrid Open, an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament, from 2 May.
Rome-Madrid schedule swap the perfect solution for Federer
Swiss world No. 3 Roger Federer endorses the decision to have Rome as the last clay court Masters event before Roland Garros.
The 2011 spring schedule swap between Madrid and Rome Masters 1000 events has the full approval of Roger Federer, with the Swiss optimistic about his chances in the Roland Garros run-up period despite a surprise quarter-final exit in Monte Carlo to Austrian Jurgen Melzer.
Federer is getting back to polishing his clay game at home in Switzerland over the next fortnight. The No. 3 is more than satisfied with a new wrinkle in ATP planning which changed Rome and Madrid weeks.
Madrid, standing 1,000 meters above sea level, formerly ended six days before the start of the Grand Slam in Paris, a tough ask for player to acclimate to. Rome, the week before Madrid, stands at a more normal sea level.
So, in a fit of wisdom, the ATP reversed the two, with Madrid now starting a full fortnight before the French Open (May 1) with Rome commencing a week later on Sunday.
"We were never really happy that Madrid had the second slot because of the pre-French playing in altitude, it wasn't a smart thing. Now we have it in a better way, which I think some players are happy about.
"This year it changes around that Madrid has the first slot, which I think is clearly better for everybody," said Federer.
Mutua Madrileña Masters
Roger's next tournament is the Mutua Madrileña Masters in Madrid which starts on May 2nd 2011. Last year, Roger made it through to the final against Rafael Nadal where he was defeated 4-6, 6-7(5). Roger won the ATP-1000 tournament in 2006 and 2009, playing at least the semi-finals in the other years.
rogerfederer.com
Roger back in Rotterdam
Today Tournament Director Richard Krajicek announced that Roger will return to Rotterdam to participate in the 39th ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament. This tournament will be played from 13 until 19 February 2012.
Richard Krajicek on Roger's participation: “We are very proud of the fact that Roger returns to Rotterdam. He is one of the most important athletes in sports in general, not only in tennis. He has always done very well in Rotterdam, with his victory in 2005 as one of the highlights in our 38 years history.”
Roger: “The ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament is one of the ‘special’ events for me on the ATP World Tour. In 1999, Rotterdam was one of my first big tournaments outside Switzerland. I look forward to finally being able to see my own name on the Winners Ring in the stadium, as it will be my first appearance since my victory in 2005.”
Roger has participated in the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament six times. Before winning the tournament in 2005, he reached the quarterfinals in 1999, 2002 and 2004, the semifinals in 2003 and was losing finalist in 2001 (against Nicolas Escudé). He last participated in 2005, the year in which the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament saw a record number of 108.030 visitors, winning one of the most exciting finals in the history of the tournament, 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (5) against Ivan Ljubicic.
Roger has also been very successful in doubles. He won the doubles tournament in 2001 (with Jonas Björkman) and 2002 (with Max Mirnyi). The opponents for Roger in the ATP World Tour 500 event in Rotterdam are not known at this point in time. Over the next months the list of participants will be announced.
Madrid: the draw
This week, Roger is playing the 1000-Masters in Madrid. He is in the same half of the draw as Rafael Nadal, winner of his last 34 matches on clay.
Roger, the number 3 seed, could meet Robin Söderling (ATP 5) in a possible quarter-final. Both players were the last to beat Rafael Nadal on clay - Söderling at Roland Garros in 2009 and our champ in Madrid two years ago.
As the winner of the tournament in 2006 and 2009, Roger has a bye into the second round, where he will either face Milos Raonic (ATP 27) or Feliciano Lopez (ATP 37). In the third round a duel with Spain's Fernando Verdasco (ATP 15) could be possible.
FEDERER FINDS FAMILY LIFE GETTING 'EASIER'
Roger Federer has found a winning formula for balancing tennis with family life. He became the father of twin girls, Charlene Riva and Myla Rose, 22 months ago and, like many athletes with families, was challenged with maintaining his career while adjusting to his new parental role. “A year ago I thought was extremely tough just keeping them entertained for a long time over tough flights… I think it’s getting a bit easier now again,” the World No. 3 said Monday in Madrid.
Federer is seeded third at the Mutua Madrid Open, the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tennis tournament at which he claimed a rare clay-court win over Rafael Nadal in the 2009 final.
He and wife Mirka have found that staying in a location for a longer period of time has made the travel demands less problematic. “It sounds like a lot of tough traveling but you can make it easier on yourself,” Federer said. “These are really short trips of just one and a half hours. If I want to plan it that I way, I could stay here for, say, nine days, which is a long time, so you can make it work.”
Benefiting from his family’s company on the road, Federer still has the drive to win and compete at the highest level. “Once you reach a good level as a tennis player or for that matter win Grand Slams or become No. 1 in the world, it really fuels you with a motivation and energy,” stated Federer. “Clearly wanting to get that feeling back of how it feels winning big tournaments and how it feels to be right at the top of the game [is something] that I´ve been able to do it for so long.”
From a psychological standpoint, Federer believes he has no motivational barriers to continue playing for several years. “I think I've always been really good mentally all the way through, even though early on in my career that was my biggest weakness,” said the Swiss. “I'm happy that consistency is not an issue, motivation is not the issue and I really enjoy my time on tour and hope to do it for many more years to come.”
His motivation will need to be at an optimum level over the next few months, as he’s in a battle for No. 1 with Nadal and Novak Djokovic. “I thought Novak has had a good reaction since the US Open, losing the final against Rafa on a hard court, which you figure could have been Novak's big chance to win it,” assessed Federer. “He didn’t do it so he took it the right way and took the positives out of it and he's gone on a really great run since then.”
Added the 16-time major champion, “I think all of [us in] the Top 5 have been playing really well for the past nine months and there's been good times in the game right now and obviously Rafa on clay is in a league of his own, and that makes it interesting for the next few months right now.”
Roger battles through
Roger battled to get through to the third round of the Madrid Open as he eben had to save a match point to defeat Feliciano Lopez 7-6 (13), 6-7(1), 7-6(7).
"I got a bit lucky tonight. I had my chances early on, so it would have really been a tough loss," Roger said. "It was a tough match. I guess it will help me for the French Open, I did spend three hours on clay."
The two players were on court for almost three hours as Roger served 25 aces - his highest ever mark outside a grand slam event. Roger captured the first set of a very levelled match 15-13, did not manage to hold up in the second as he was beaten 1-7 and eventually came through 9-7 in the final set.
Roger will meet Xavier Malisse (ATP 49) in the next match on Thursday.
Roger cruises into quarters
Roger defeated Xavier Malisse today 6-4, 6-3 and has booked his spot in the quarter-finals.
Roger played much more flexible today - just a few hours after his victory over Spain's Feliciano Lopez. He was in control of the match. He struggled only once when Malisse fought his way back into the first set but Roger eventually took it 6-4. After 70 minutes, Roger won the match with his first match ball.
"I was really happy with my performance," said Roger after the match. "I'm looking forward to the next round. Xavier is a great player, who is capable of great shots so it is very nice to get through."
In the quarter-finals, Roger will face the winner of the match between Robin Söderling and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Roger leads the head-to-head 15-1 against Söderling, and 3-1 against Tsonga.
Ależ głos :P
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6mrZjPT … re=related
Moya says Federer still has tennis to play
Former Spanish great Carlos Moya has no doubt that Roger Federer is far from done at age 29.
"You can’t do anything against genetics and the body, as you get older the body loses power," 1998 French Open winner Moya, who retired from the sport a year ago at the Madrid Masters, told Spanish tabloid Marca.
"The greatest player in history can never be counted out. I hope Federer keeps playing his best because it is a pleasure to watch him play. I hope he can extend his career to its fullest and don’t rule out him winning another Grand Slam," said the Spaniard, now an ambassador for the Masters 1000 in the capital.
"Wimbledon is the one where he’ll have the most chances. When he retires, we will realise how much we miss him."
Moya, who served as the first mentor for Nadal - they share a heritage from the island of Mallorca - says that his prodigy cannot extend his clay dominance forever. "No one is unbeatable on any surface. Anyone can have a bad day, bad night, a bad match."
Roger defeated in semis
Roger had to accept another defeat against Rafael Nadal today. He lost the semi-final in Madrid 7-5, 1-6, 3-6.
Roger was in trouble in the very first phase of the match, falling behind 0-2. But our champ then started mixing things up and gradually upped his level to break back in the eighth game. He did get into trouble once more as he trailed 0-40 at 5-5, but a series of attacks and first serves saved him just in the right moment. After several fantastic returns on Nadal's serve, Roger secured another break and finally the opening set. Roger saw plenty of break-chances in the second set. But failing to make use of any of them, Nadal easily leveled the match to 1-1. The third set offered plenty of opportunities for Roger to take the lead or come back onto the board - but unfortunately he was not able to take it all the way.
Roger will play the tournament in Rome next week, before the start of the French Open - the second Grand Slam of the season.
Federer admits to muscle niggle from Madrid
Roger Federer's semi-final fight at the Madrid Masters was marked as a step up in quality for the Swiss in his longtime rivalry with the Spaniard.
But the battle may have cost the Swiss a niggling injury as he heads to Rome for this week's Masters 1000.
Near the end of the contest, Federer was flexing his arm by swinging his racquet. He later admitted he had a small physical worry. "I had muscle pain since the first game, not only in my chest," he said.
"It's actually better than yesterday but I just feel that when I keep on serving and then the match extends and I haven't served in maybe five to 10 minutes sometimes.
"I was still able to hit full speed which is most important and I didn't double fault much so it was fine."
With the Swiss not prone to give much away, the first real test for the issue will come in the Rome second round, when the third seed starts with a match against one of two Australian Open finalists - Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or Marcos Baghdatis.
ROME: THE DRAW
Roger will play the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome this week.
After a first round bye, he will start his quest against the winner of the match between Marcos Baghdatis (ATP 27) and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (ATP 18).
In the next round, he could meet France's Richard Gasquet (ATP 16), before Thomas Berdych (ATP 7) might be up in a possible quarter-final.
Then, Roger could be in for another match against defending champion Rafael Nadal - the perfect moment for a revenge after the narrow defeat last week in Madrid.
I can get back to No.1: Federer
Record 16-time grand slam winner Roger Federer insists he still has his sights set on a return to the No.1 world ranking.
Federer has been in the shadow not only of long-time rival Rafael Nadal in recent times but now also man-of-the-moment Novak Djokovic.
But the 29-year-old Swiss believes he can still return to the top of the tree, even though he trails Nadal by 3,500 points in the rankings.
“It’s important for me to get back to world No.1. I mentioned it after Wimbledon, it’s a goal of mine and it’s still very real and very possible,” he said in Rome.
“I still have the World Tour Finals in my pocket, I don’t have a grand slam in my pocket but if I win one it changes everything.
“But these guys (Nadal and Djokovic) are playing better than me and other players.
“Novak has won a lot of tournaments, like Rafa, but I’m getting closer.
“It’s not like I’m struggling in the first or second round. It’s a new situation with Novak not losing.
“But not much has changed for me from when I was No.1. With (Andy) Murray or Novak or even Rafa occasionally in my draw it was always hard.
“Everyone is so consistent, it’s not like you can say Murray is bad on clay or Rafael is bad on grass, everyone can play on every surface.
“I’m as optimistic as ever.”
From 2003-2007, Federer was the undisputed best player in the world but then Nadal started to emerge as a very real threat to the Swiss’s dominance.
And in 2008 when Nadal beat Federer in the Wimbledon final, a tournament Federer had virtually owned for the previous five years, the changeover was complete.
Federer had to get used to his new status as No.2 in the world but last year he was also overtaken by Djokovic.
And now that Djokovic has beaten Nadal in a clay final, in Madrid last week, many would suggest that the baton is about to pass from the Spaniard to the Serbian.
It was the third time in a row this year that Djokovic has beaten Nadal in a Masters Series final.
He is also the Australian Open champion and remains unbeaten this year.
But Federer doesn’t think too much should be read into that Madrid final.
“I thought Novak definitely had a chance to play for it, he’s been playing well these last three months,” he said.
“Madrid remains a quick clay court so he had a better chance to beat Rafa there if ever he was going to do it.
“It’s always surprising to see Rafa lose on clay. It’s just one tournament but another good one for Novak.”
Federer denied that he is struggling to adapt to his new position slightly out of the limelight in comparison to his younger rivals.
“They deserve the (good) press, they’ve got a lot of it. It’s good stories and I’m all for it.
“They’ve had a number of matches over the years, the same number as I’ve had with Rafa because they’re playing many semi-finals and finals.
“There’s a number of players behind waiting to stake their claim and I’m one of those.
“I’ve played all the semis since Wimbledon, apart from Monte Carlo. I had a close match with Rafa last week.”
Federer was scheduled to begin his Rome challenge against Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Wednesday
ROGER CRUISES THROUGH
Roger defeated France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4, 6-2 today to book a spot in the next round in Rome.
Roger secured an early break in the first set and had no trouble bringing it home 6-4 after 43 minutes, even though Tsonga had two chances to re-break. In the second set Roger saved seven of the seven break points he faced as he came up with great serves when necessary. After 83 minutes, Roger used his second match ball to win the match 6-4, 6-2.
Our champ will now play Richard Gasquet (ATP 16) on Thursday. The two have met nine times before and Roger is leading the head-to-head 8-1.
ROGER DEFEATED IN ROUND THREE
Roger has dropped out of the Rome Masters in round three, losing 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-7(4) to Richard Gasquet. Our champ made a number of uncharacteristic errors against his French opponent, who he had beaten in their previous eight meetings.
"I should never have lost this match," said Roger. "He knows how close he came to losing. I had multiple chances but I couldn't make the difference. I thought I was playing well but he served better toward the end and hung in there. I didn't feel I could break and it's no fun to play like that".
Roger started into the match well and broke Gasquet in the seventh game of the first set before serving it out. In the second set he already had a 4-2 lead when Gasquet fought his way back into the match and even taking the tiebreak. The third set also had to be decided in a tiebreak where Roger just committed too many errors in the end.
Up next is the second Grand Slam tournament of the year: Roland Garros. "I'm looking forward to a few days to stay mentally and physically fresh and practice very hard" said Roger.
Federer heads to Switzerland to re-charge for Paris
Roger Federer will be hoping that three or four days off will improve his mental outlooks and re-charge his batteries for the French Open starting a week from Sunday.
The No. 3 heads to Paris next week without making the final of a preliminary clay event for the first time in a decade as he lost in three sets against his perennial victim Richard Gasquet.
But instead of savouring his ninth win from 11 starts against the Frenchman, Federer is heading back to Switzerland to reflect on a season going wrong. His Rome third-round loss marked the first time in a year (Rome 2010) that he has not gone at least into the last eight of a tournament.
"There is no reason to panic," said Federer , who led Gasquet a set and a break. "It was a disappointing third set. But I won‘t be affected by this.
"Still, I should have never lost this match, it‘s kind of annoying. I thought I should have been at the hotel by now.
"Richard played better as the match went on and my level went down. I never thought I‘d win the (third-set) breaker, it‘s not fun to play that way. I had multiple chances but I couldn't make the difference."
Wywiad z RF:
"I am able to play still many years"
Q: How do you feel as number three of the world rank list?
A:Not much differently than in former times. Afterall, I slipped down [in the ranking] not because of bad play. I could surely have better played with the Grand Slam tournaments. Paris and Wimbledon were not the yellow of the egg. I up-played end of last yearly extremely strongly and see myself to be on the right way. I do not feel necessarily as number three, although the classification surely says the truth. But I am presented with tournaments not as number three, but as Roger Federer.
Q: Could you resign yourselves to play behind Nadal and Djokovic only the third violin?
A: As long as I know the fact that I can win large tournaments and have joy in tennis it would not be a problem for me. But naturally I am rather the number one than three. But just now we are in a very interesting phase. I have to defend very few points. If I play in Paris and Wimbledon well, I can make a large leap. It is short term my goal of becoming again the number one.
Q: Did you hold your level or to have you weakened? Did the competitors become better?
If I compare myself with 2005, I play today surely better. We improved all. Surely the distances at the top became much closer, so that it is still more difficult to win the whole time. The fact that I am no longer so dominant has to do also with the fact that I changed my planning [ Roger, be quiet.] 2005, 2006 and 2007 I skipped many Masters 1000 (the largest tournaments after the four Grand Slam tournaments) and set more on smaller tournaments. I granted myself many breaks, in order to regenerate.
Q: Such as Djokovic just did with renouncement of Monte Carlo?
A: Yes, Novak played then only again in Belgrade - and won. Thus he maintained his series remained and it boosted his self-assurance further. Thus I did this also for a long time, until the criticism of the ATP, players and from tournaments became too loud. I decided then to play all Masters 1000 or as at least possibly seven or eight of nine. I make that, because it is good for the tennis, although I do not play now 15 and 16 Finals any more. But I consider whether I will play next year directly again in Indian Wells and thereafter in Miami.
Q: Against Djokovic you lost now three times successively. How do you stop such negative series?
A: I beat him twice before. But we are both much to good players, that one of us could lose ten times in series. In Australia it was very close, in Indian Wells I was again very close. Novak now is in a phase, in which he can simply slam on the balls. But clearly, I think about it, what I must change next time against him.
Q: Djokovic is certainly the man of the first half year. Would you have thought capable of to him to intervene in the duel Nadal - Federer?
A: He had the capability for a long time. For some time it was between Nadal, Djokovic, Murray and me back and forth. End of last year I won more against top five, now is it Djokovic.
Q: When is it your turn again?
A: The chances stand naturally in Wimbledon best. In addition, in Paris I figure out chances. Of course it is not completely simple to crack the castle, which Nadal built there. There he is the exceptional player and only once lost. But one should not tell oneself that it is impossible to beat him there.
Q: Do defeats gnaw at you?
A: Today that is easier than in former times. As a young player, who wanted to create the break-through, each defeat was a step back and a giant disappointment. Today that is different, because I know that I tried everything in each match, the opponent played well or it came down perhaps only to few points. Perhaps tactically I could have changed a few things.
Q:You still play with a very small Racket. Sampras advised you to a larger racket as he did on the seniors tour. Is that applicable for you?
A: I changed already once, 2002, from the Sampras racquet to my current model. Every so often I test larger racquets. The problem is that I have no time for detailed tests.
Q: The young Bulgare Grigor Dimitrov is often compared with you. Can there be a second Federer?
A: Dimitrov play resembles technically mine extremely. But it should not be the goal of players of imitating others. I see now many players try to play like Nadal, although it is not at all their play. I always said, you must find your own style. At the beginning of my career I was often compared with Sampras, although he played Serv and Volley, which I never really did. There will never be a second Martina Hingis, second Pete Sampras or second Roger Federer. [Haha<3]
Q: You are playing now against young people, which grew up with you as Idol. How does that feel?
A: It was actually the most beautiful time, when I was allowed to play against people, which I had admired still on the television, like Moya, Henman, Sampras, Agassi or Chang. Against Nadal, Djokovic or Murray it is not so special, that is simply the next generation. I find it brilliant that I play now against people like the young German Julian Reister, which grew up with me as model.
Q: Thus still no tennis tiredness, although you become 30 years old on 8 August and in Ethiopia were estimated to be 45 already?
A: Yes, that was really fun. When eating in Ethiopia a girl asked me, how old I was, and I let her estimate her. She said, it was tricky for her to determine the age of white people and called then this number. No, I do not think of stopping. I am mental in the position to play still many years long. I have firm plans for everything already right up to the Olympic Games 2012 in London, and now planning begins for the time thereafter. For me it is simply important, the balance between training, match, holidays and family lives. Also I have plenty to do with press and sponsor dates as well as promotion for tournaments. All that must be combined well.
Q: Can you switch off in the vacation totally?
A: Yes, I can relax there totally. To Australia we had one supervacation. But I do not want to get again into a terrible muscular strain when I begin training again afterwards. Therefore I played tennis with my wife Mirka in the last vacation three times. After ten days my endurance trainer came for a few days. I do not want that my body down shifts totally.
Q: They have now two scarcely two years old twin daughters. Is the life for a tennis professional with family more difficult? Does it divert you?
A: The family is surely a diverson, but a good diverson. For me the family is a dream, which became also true. One must just organize everything well. We travel with a maid, so that Mirka can see my plays. And the two small ones go, if possible, also on journeys. After the matches I do not hang around any longer for a long time in the changing room, and after training I sit in the car already ten minutes after the end.
Q: Do your twin daughters already know that their father is a world star?
A: They recognize me in pictures, on posters and on the television. That is simply sweet. My children already watched me play few times in matches. In Basel they participated in the award of the prize and applauded. Those are the small things, which make happy, proud and and also motivate me.
Q: Do Myla Rose and Charlene Riva already play tennis?
A: We do not travel with small racquets, with which they would use to ruin the walls. But it can surely be that they come rather to the tennis as to other kinds of sport. That is not our goal. It would be fun for us if they would do many kinds of sport. That is good for the health and for the life. One learns to lose and win. That's what is all about and not to form to superstars in tennis.
Q: Do you lead a restricted life?
No, I can do what I want. If I want to go to for the meal out of the hotel, I can without problems. I just have to prepare myself to be recognized. Sometimes one desires this and sometimes not. Also my children are not pursued. I am glad that my private life is respected and I'm not in the gossip press. Probably they know that we are simply a completely normal family.
Q: They called your life once dream. Is that today still valid?
A: Obviously! One must sometimes deliberate look at oneself back: What would one have signed, when one was eight years old? Even when I had won with 17 years the junior tournament in Wimbledon, I would have never thought that I would have once so much success, although at that time already many said you can become the number one. A single Wimbledon victory would have already been enough for me at that time. Add to this my large joy in playing tennis.
Q: Do you read newspaper? Do you read, what is written about you?
Yes, from time to time, it depends also on the fact whether I am successful or not. Since Miami, since the defeat against Nadal, I don't want to know what was written over me. I omit then the sports section and simply, read, what happened in Switzerland, in the world and in the economy. This always served me well. I do not want to enter a press conference and know that this journalist has written that Federer can no more tennis play and should better stop. I want to be able to answer completely normally to questions and not develop antipathy against journalists. Those also do only their job. I once explained that in such a way: The press conferences are a washing machine. There you are revved up and out-spat again. And at the end nothing happened.
French Open - Federer confident at Roland Garros
A rested Roger Federer will come out swinging when he begins his French Open campaign after being left behind by favourites Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
The Swiss 16-times Grand Slam champion has struggled this year, having won only one title in Doha, but believes he can win his first major since the 2010 Australian Open.
Having lost in the third round of the Rome Masters to France's Richard Gasquet last week, Federer benefited from a few extra days off before the Paris showcase event.
"I'm definitely happy to have a couple of days off - two, three or four days off to feel physically and mentally fresh for the French Open," the former world number one said in Rome.
"I am feeling great now and I'll practice when I get to Paris and that is the plan so it is in the same the last few years.
"This time I will get a couple more days of which is not bad," added the current world number three.
Federer, a less formidable player on clay than any other surface, won the 2009 French Open after Nadal slumped to a shock defeat to Swede Robin Soderling, whom Federer beat in the final.
He should arrive in Paris without any kind of pressure, although the sense that the mighty Swiss is no longer a force has been irritating arguably the game's greatest ever player.
"There is nothing to panic about. (The Rome defeat) will not affect my preparation and work for the French Open.I will be fine," he said, even looking beyond Roland Garros.
"It's still important for me to get back to being number one. I mentioned after Wimbledon (last year) it was a goal of mine.
"It's still very real and possible. I think I can do it if I win one of those Grand Slams."
The French Open is expected to prove a tough ask, even if Federer found comfort in taking a set from Nadal in the Madrid semi-final.
"I again was really close up against Rafa and so all I need to do is to get that step further," insisted Federer.
Another problem is that the red-hot Djokovic is also a further step up the ladder. But that does not ruffle Federer.
"It's definitely an interesting time right now that Novak hasn't lost all season long," he said.
"It makes it a new, different situation, but for me it doesn't change a whole lot."
FRENCH OPEN: THE DRAW
The men's draw for the 2011 French Open has been released. Roger will meet Feliciano Lopez (ATP 41) in his opening match. Roger leads the head-to-head 8:0 and has recently won against him in Madrid.
In the second round Maxime Teixeira (ATP 185) or Vincent Millot (ATP 154) could be up. After that Janko Tipsarevic (ATP 32) could be a possible opponent before heading into the fourth round against either Stanislas Wawrinka (ATP 15) or Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (ATP 18). In the quarter-finals our champ could then play against David Ferrer (ATP 7), the finalist in Barcelona and Monte-Carlo. Finally, in the possible semi-finals, Roger could play against Novak Djokovic, who is still unbeaten in 2011 - certainly, an exciting match for the audience.
"I Love to Prove Myself Day After Day"
In Dubai, his second home town, Roger Federer spoke about the challenges of playing the younger generation and which of Rafael Nadal’s talents he would pick if he had the choice.
Joy Bolli: Roger, after having played for more than twelve years as a professional and having won more Grand Slams than anybody else, you still seem to be very hungry for titles. How do you keep motivated?
Roger Federer: It is actually quite easy today. I used to struggle much more when I was younger, trying to make a break through, trying to prove to everybody that I have talent and that I can play. But then other guys were having success earlier and people were started to question me. Earlier on, I couldn't cope with it as well as today. Because today, all the success you've had, nobody can take that away. So it gives you a sense of security. But at the same time, you want to achieve more. You need to have that fire burning in order to achieve big things. And that's what I have and I think that's why I am really doing well still.
In tennis, statistics play an important role. How important are statistics for you?
I have never been the statistics guy, to be quite honest. I look at them, I read them, I hear about them. But in the end, they are just there. Then obviously, when we talk about huge numbers, about history books at the very very top - and I was close to them or broke a few - because journalists told me or I heard about them, that all of a sudden really triggered some extra motivation for me to push harder, to try more and to stay injury-free and to live healthy. So, playing for the history books has actually been a big part of the last five years for me.
And do statistics still urge you on, for example winning 20 Grand Slams or having the record of weeks being the World Number One?
For sure, almost every time I step on the court today, I can maybe re-write history in some shape or form. Not every single time but very often. That's why it is very intriguing for me to keep on playing for a very long time.
Entrepreneurs usually say "competition is good for business" because it forces you to stay innovative. What role do your rivals play in keeping your fire burning?
When you come along, you are the young one and you only play against either same age players or much older ones, which, in tennis terms means maybe 10 or 15 years older. Then, as time goes by, you play same age players, a few older and a few younger ones but they are still pretty much the same generation. And now, I am playing much more against younger players. I think, in the beginning I struggled to only play against younger players because I so much missed playing Agassi and Sampras and Carlos Moya and Tim Henmann and all those guys I was able to play and challenge. I had to find new motivation and inspiration to play against younger guys and find out why it is also special playing against younger players. I think this is where competition has definitely changed my mind set. Earlier on I struggled to get motivated to play against younger guys, even though you wanted to show what you can do against them. But it was just kind of difficult for me. Today, I love to prove myself day after day against younger guys.
Does that also force you to rearrange your trainging and tactics?
Not really my training regime. But I definitly think the younger generation has pushed me to work hard. However, I think I was doing that anyway regardless of who was coming along. I always questioned myself in the best of times. Even when I was world number one for many weeks and months in a row. At certain times of the year I asked myself what can I improve? What do I need to change? Because if you don't do anything or you just do the same thing over and over again, you stay the same. And staying the same means going backwards, because the other guys are working hard and improving. So, I always needed to find ways to improve my game as well.
In the last years, it's the special rivalry with Rafael Nadal that has dominated the tennis scene. What is special about playing against him?
We are quite different contrasts, different characters. He's a lefty, I am a righty. He was the up and coming while I was the dominant player for a very long time before he came. He was the first challenger who could beat me more than once or twice in row. That drew a big interest in our rivalry. Then, of course, we played some of those amazing matches in Grand Slam Finals such as Wimbledon a few times, Australian Open, French Open - and all of that obviously created this great rivalry. And it's been amazing for the sport and great for our game really, if I look into the future and how everybody talks so positively about the game right now.
He's your biggest rival, but also a good friend. How do you deal with this paradox relationship?
I just think it's nice to get along. Maybe in the past, people always felt that top guys are not supposed to get along because they are supposed to beat eachother and not like each other to play their best. But I think I was able to see it differently. Through respect and fair play you can also dominate and play well. That has trickled down to Rafa as well. For instance, he also takes the same approach: very respectful, but very aggressive on the tennis court - always according to the rules. And I think it's wonderful now that if the two guys at the very top have this kind of relationship that can also speak volumes down in the lower rankings where they are very hungry to break through and come forward. If they see that we get along, why shouldn't they get along as well with all of us?
Rafa once said in an interview, that - if he had the choice to pick one of your tennis strokes - he would pick your serve. Which of his talents would you pick, if you could choose?
Rafa has many great assets to his game. It's very hard to try to imagine that I would have some of his strengths because to me he is such a different and complex player. I try to change my game every single shot or point I play. With him, I think this is different. I think he always tries to do pretty much the same and by doing that tries to eventually get to your mind or physically break you down. Of course, he has improved and today he can vary his game a lot more. If I had to pick: one huge strength he has is his movement on clay. I think he moves extremely well. That's not without talking about his forehand and this mental abilities and all that. He's become a wonderful player and a great person for the game.
Being at the top seems especially challenging in tennis. How do you cope with the constant pressure? How do you keep your mental balance?
I guess to some degree you get used to it. I thought it was somewhat hard to get to world number one. I was very nerveous getting there. And when I realized that I was close and maybe never gonna become world number one, I started to stress out. So for me the time of getting to world number one was quite stressful to be honest. Once I got to world number one, I actually started to relax because I felt I had achieved almost everything I ever wanted and now I had the choice: did I wanna stay there or was I just be happy to be there once. I dicided I would like to stay there, and so I worked extremely hard and tried to beat everybody and just have that mental determination and become a different player actually. I really enjoyed being at the top. And the pressure, honestly didn't really cause any problems for me. Actually I think it made me play better tennis and that's why I am actually thankful I had this wonderful experience.
And to keep at the top, you have surrounded yourself with experts to advise and help you with trainings, coachings not to mention the mental support from friends and family. How important are experts in your eyes? Would you advise managers to get themselves a coach to help them achieve their goals in life?
I think the team is always very important - in any aspect of life. To have a good team with friends around you is key. To be able to pick the right ones I think is another quality leaders tend to have. For me, harmony in the team has always been very important. But then also I need people who can challenge me, who can tell me: Roger, don't you think you should change this, we have an idea for you, a solution maybe to problems. And I am very happy if they tell me that they do see a problem or they think I can still improve. It's important for me to hear criticism sometimes because that's what makes me a better player. It means that someone is questionning me who really cares about me. That's important in the business world as well.
You've become a father recently. In what way have your children influenced your motivation I your attitude to your career?
My children are an incredible inspiration for me. Just to be able to leave the courts and come back and see them grow up day after day. It's been wonderful. I've also been very fortunate that they have been able to travel with me so much and that I have a wife who's so supportive of everything I do. She doesn't say "you know what, you go to the tournaments, it's too hard and difficult for me to travel with the kids". I have a wonderful family and they are so in to it to be with me. And to be honest, I think it's helped my game. Even though there is always a lot of negative talk "once you become a father....once you get older....you don't have so much success". But honestly, I think I played some of my best tennis when Mirka way pregnant and right after. For me that was just a time when there was happiness all around. And that is the same today. It gives me a great balance in my life.
Many people are speculating about your retirement from the center courts. But you once said, you want your children to still see you play tennis. Does this mean, you're planning to give us the pleasure to see you at the top for at least another five years...?
There is never a set target, except if it's a short term. I always plan in the long term, which is one and a half years ahead of time. That means, right now I am looking at the 2012 Olympics in London and beyond that. That's why I see myself playing for many more years. I mean, we'll see many things come into play such as how is your health, how is your life doing, how is your success level? But honestly I feel right now I am still playing some of my best tennis of my life. I know I can still dominate. I know I can still win the biggest tournaments, I can still beat the best players. And I am playing really well at the moment. So, it doesn't really cross my mind. Unfortunately, I am being asked quite a bit recently just because of all of the success I've had and other guys always pushing through. That always creates stories within the game. But at the end of the day, it is important how I feel, how successful I feel I can still be. And honestly, I am quite confident. And that's why I am still going to play for quite some time.
ROGER CRUISES THROUGH
Today Roger won his first match in Paris against Feliciano Lopez (ATP 41) 6-3, 6-4, 7-6.
Roger almost rountinely defeated Lopez today, in contrast to his last match against him in Madrid. He took the first two sets without breaking any sweat and slammed 12 aces in his match. After almost 2 hours Roger achieved his ninth victory in nine outings against the left-hander in the tiebreak.
Roger will play Maxime Teixeira (ATP 181) in the next match. He never played against him before.
RG 2011 - konferencja po zwycięstwie w 1 rundzie.
http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/multi … 000aa.html
Federer said change of balls not ideal for a Grand Slam
The abrupt change of ball brand for this year's French Open has annoyed Roger Federer, who voiced the worries of many other players concerning the hottest locker room topic of the week at Roland Garros.
The swap from Dunlop to Babolat balls has been a huge one for players, with men especially already comfortable with another brand which have been used during the ATP clay buildup. Federer said that such a change should not have come at a major.
"I'm hearing a lot of conversations about the balls, it's just that they're not the same from what we've just played for the last month," said the 2009 champion and third seed. "Tournaments (on the ATP) all changed to the Roland Garros ball after last year, then Roland Garros has changed their balls again.
"Now we're stuck with a different deal for all the different ATP Tour events. That is the frustrating part that we need to adjust before the French, different balls."
Players have complained in their numbers that the speed of the new balls is a sharp contrast to before. Tournament officials deny a problem, saying the speed and lack of control are a result of the current dry weather in Paris.
RG 2011 - konferencja po zwycięstwie w 2 rundzie.
http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/multi … 000f5.html
ROGER ADVANCES
Roger defeated Maxime Teixeira 6-3, 6-0, 6-2 in his second match at the French Open today.
"It's so difficult to come out and play on a big court when you are not used to it," said Roger of his 22-year-old opponent. "I'm playing here for the 12th year and I'm very experienced."
Our champion was broken once early in the first set but fought back and captured the set after 33 minutes. In the second set Roger found back to his usual strength - securing three breaks and taking the set 6-0. Roger left Teixeira without any chance in the final set and used his third match ball to win his second match in Roland Garros.
Roger will now face Janko Tipsarevic (ATP 29), our champ leads the head-to-head 3:0.
ROUND FOUR AT THE FRENCH OPEN
Roger booked his spot in the last 16 of the French Open with ease today, defeating Janko Tipsarevic 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 in precisely 90 minutes.
"I'm very happy, really," Roger said. "I thought that it would have been a lot more difficult. The first set was the key. That gave me confidence and it made him doubt his game plan. It's very nice playing tennis in such a situation because I feel I have less pressure than 10 years ago when everyone was comparing me to Pete Sampras and I had not won anything yet. So it's more relaxed now."
Roger raced through the first set, securing it after a mere 19 minutes thanks to two breaks. There was a fair deal of rallying in the second set and Roger hat to fight off a break-point with an ace, only to break through himself later to 3-2 and finally take the set. The last set and thus the match clearly went to Roger without much of a fight.
Roger next faces either Stanislas Wawrinka or Jo-Wilfried Tsonga for a place in the quarter-finals.
RG 2011 - konferencja po zwycięstwie w 3 rundzie.
http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/multi … 00154.html
ROGER YET TO DROP A SET
Roger booked his spot in the quarter finals of the French Open today after defeating fellow Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka 6-3, 6-2, 7-5.
"I am super-happy because I knew after he (Wawrinka) beat (Jo-Wilfried) Tsonga, when he really dominated in the last two sets, what the danger was," Roger said.
Roger easily took the first two sets against his Olympic gold doubles-partner of Beijing. Wawrinka opened the third set well as Roger suddenly found himself trailing 0-3. But our champ came back right away and finally wrapped up the match with an ace on his second match-ball. He produced 32 winners while Wawrinka had 19. It is Roger's ninth defeat of Wawrinka in ten meetings and another milestone - he broke the record for most consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinals he had previously held with Jimmy Connors (now 28).
Roger will now either face Spain's David Ferrer (ATP 7) or France's Gaël Monfils (ATP 9) for a place in the semi-finals.
Federer powiedział szwajcarskiej prasie, że rozważa opuszczenie w przyszłym sezonie turnieju w Indian Wells.
Źródło? Powyższa wypowiedź wydaje się co najmniej z innej planety, mając na uwadze na jakim etapie sezonu się obecnie znajdujemy.
Kamakshi Tandon - dziennikarka ESPN.
ROGER BOOKS SPOT IN SEMIS
Roger has made it through to the semis of the French Open today thanks to a solid 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(3) victory against France's Gaël Monfils. He will now play Novak Djokovic on Friday.
Roger started slowly today and fell a break behind on his second serve. But it did not take him long to take control and score two breaks himself to secure the first set. The two players exchanged breaks again at the start of the second set and it was finally Roger who took the set thanks to another break. Monfils dug deep in the third set, but our champ raised his game in the tie-break to comfortably seal the victory.
Roger is now in for another match against Novak Djokovic whose stakes are high - he has won his last 41 singles and is just one victory short of the record of the best start into the season of all times.
RG 2011 - konferencja po zwycięstwie w ćwierćfinale.
http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/multi … 0021e.html
1/2 WS: Federer dogonił Lendla.
Roger Federer podczas RG2011 dotarł po raz 28 do półfinału turnieju wielkoszlemowego. 29-letni Szwajcar wyrównał tym samym wynik Ivana Lendla. Amerykański Czech i Helwet są 3 półfinały za rekordem Jimmego Connorsa - 31 meczów o finał WS.
Najwięcej wielkoszlemowych półfinałów:
1. Jimmy Connors 31
2. Ivan Lendl 28
Roger Federer 28
3. Andre Agassi 26
Pełniejsza statystyka:
http://www.mtenis.pun.pl/viewtopic.php?id=651
FRENCH OPEN FINAL!
Roger showed a brilliant display in the semi-final of the French Open today, ending Novak Djokovic's winning run with a 7-6,(5), 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(5) victory and setting up a meeting with Rafael Nadal in the final.
"I've trained a lot during my whole life for these kinds of matches," Roger said. "There was an enormous amount of pressure on Novak and he really played well."
Roger had an answer to just about everything Djokovic showed on court today, even though cumulating 46 unforced errors on the way, five more than his opponent. After taking the first set in a tiebreaker, Roger managed an early break in the second and brought home the set smoothly. Djokovic came back in the third set as Roger also committed too many errors. Just like the opening set, the fourth was a tough fight with breaks on both sides, ending in a tiebreaker. That proved another immensely tight fight, but Roger eventually rode home the victory with his 18th ace.
Our champ will now face Rafael Nadal on Sunday in the final of the 2011 French Open in what promises to be another classic duel between the two players. It is the fourth time in six years that the two meet in the Paris final.
23 wielkoszlemowy finał Federera!
Roger Federer zagra w finale Rg 2011. Będzie to jego 23 mecz o tytuł wielkoszlemowy. Od RG 2009 Szwajcar samodzielnie przewodzi tej statystyce.
Najwięcej finałów WS w historii:
23 - Roger Federer
19 - Ivan Lendl
18 - Pete Sampras
17 - Rod Laver
Roland Garros: Magiczny Federer zakończył cudowną passę Đokovicia!
Novak Đoković po 43 kolejnych zwycięstwach wreszcie znalazł swojego pogromcę. Roger Federer pokonał (7:6[5], 6:3, 3:6, 7:6[5] w 3h39') Serba w półfinale międzynarodowych mistrzostw Francji w Paryżu, gdzie w niedzielę zagra o tytuł z Hiszpanem Rafaelem Nadalem. To będzie czwarty finał Nadal-Federer: w latach 2006-2008 lepszy był Majorkańczyk, rok potem mistrzem Roland Garros jedyny raz został Szwajcar.
Jeszcze przed rozpoczęciem rywalizacji na paryskiej mączce nie był wymieniany w wąskim gronie faworytów do końcowego triumfu. Chociaż do półfinału wielkoszlemowego Roland Garros dotarł bez straty seta, to wciąż na ustach całego tenisowego świata byli tylko Nadal i Đoković. Niewielu zwracało uwagę na to, że Federer prezentuje się we Francji naprawdę przyzwoicie. Z czasem jego gra przybliżała się do tej, którą zazwyczaj oczarowywał wszystkich fanów białego sportu. Magia Szwajcara rozbłysła niczym supernowa w piątek, kiedy to pokonując niezwyciężonego w tym sezonie Serba, otrzymał szansę powtórzenia swojego triumfu sprzed dwóch lat.
Đoković walczył bardzo dzielnie do samego końca, ale szczególnie w dwóch początkowych setach sprawiał wrażenie jakby nie był już dłużej w stanie utrzymać pewnego balastu. Istotnie, był o krok od wyrównania rekordu należącego do Johna McEnroe w liczbie wygranych spotkań z rzędu od początku sezonu (Amerykanin 1984 rok rozpoczął od wyniku 42-0). Awans do finału zagwarantowałby mu również pierwsze miejsce w kolejnym notowaniu światowego rankingu. Serb będzie musiał jednak odłożyć w czasie to marzenie, chyba że wyręczy go Federer, znajdując w niedzielę sposób na zdetronizowanie rewelacyjnie spisującego się na paryskiej mączce Nadala.
Federer, który przegrał trzy spotkania z Đokoviciem w tym roku, poprawił na 14-9 bilans gier z aktualnym wiceliderem światowego rankingu. Szwajcar rozegrał kapitalne zawody: imponował precyzją zagrań, notując 48 wygrywających uderzeń, o osiem więcej niż Serb. Posłał też na drugą stronę kortu aż 18 asów i wypracował łącznie 25 break pointów! Podobnie jak Đoković, wywalczył cztery przełamania. Oba tie breaki poszły na konto Szwajcara.
I SET Federer rozpoczął piątkowe spotkanie od przełamania w pierwszym gemie, ale Đoković błyskawicznie wyrównał. Szwajcar nie ustawał w atakach, popisywał się kolejnymi wygrywającymi uderzeniami (w całym secie miał ich 23), lecz to Serb wysunął się na prowadzenie 4:2. Pochodzący z Belgradu tenisista nie utrzymał jednak przewagi, bowiem przy własnym podaniu popełnił kilka niewymuszonych błędów. Pomyłki zdarzały się również Federerowi, który sprezentował Đokoviciowi dwie piłki setowe w 10. gemie. Magik z Bazylei wyczarował jednak i w takiej sytuacji kilka swoich niezwykłych zagrań i o losach seta zadecydował tie break. W tenisowej dogrywce obaj na zmianę stron schodzili przy wyniku 4-2 dla Szwajcara, lecz kolejne trzy punkty zasiliły konto serbskiego zawodnika. Federer wywalczył setbola przy 6-5, którego wykorzystał po tym, jak Đoković posłał piłkę w siatkę.
II SET Dominacja Szwajcara zaznaczyła się jeszcze bardziej w drugiej odsłonie: przełamał rozstawionego z numerem drugim Đokovicia już w czwartym gemie i wyraźnie zachęcony swoją grą, podjął kolejne próby szybszego zakończenia tego seta. Wicelider światowego rankingu mógł przegrać tę partię znacznie wyżej, ale dwukrotnie uratował się przed utratą podania. Federer grał finezyjnie, popisując się wielokrotnie to wspaniałym forhendem po linii, to cudownym zagraniem po krosie. W dziewiątym gemie Serb miał jeszcze okazję na powrót do gry, ale potężny as 29-letniego Szwajcara zabrał mu resztki nadziei na triumf w drugim secie.
III SET Ci, którzy w tym właśnie momencie przekreślili Đokovicia, doznali jednak sporego zawodu. 24-letni reprezentant Serbii nie zamierzał tanio sprzedać swojej skóry i już po chwili objął prowadzenie 3:0 w trzeciej partii, przełamując podanie swojego utytułowanego przeciwnika w drugim gemie. Miał też idealną okazję na podwyższenie przewagi w czwartym gemie, lecz tym razem Federer ponownie wyciągnął z kieszeni asa serwisowego. Do końca seta żaden z nich nie był już w stanie wypracować choćby jednego break pointa, a całą tę część belgradczyk zakończył gemem wygranym "na sucho".
IV SET W czwartej odsłonie wyrównana gra toczyła się aż do 4:4. Wówczas szczęśliwy return Đokovicia wyprowadził go na 5:4 i zdawało się, że niepokonany od grudnia Serb wyrówna stan rywalizacji jeszcze przed nadejściem ciemności. Magia Federera dała jednak ponownie znać o sobie, a rewelacyjny Szwajcar wykorzystał trzeciego break pointa i doprowadził do remisu. Đoković miał jeszcze dwie okazje w 11. gemie, ale tenisista z Bazylei nie oddał własnego podania. O losach całego meczu zadecydował zatem tie break, w którym obaj na zmianę stron schodzili przy wyniku 3-3. Kluczowego mini breaka na 4-3 wywalczył Federer i po wygraniu dwóch następnych punktów uzyskał trzy piłki meczowe. Serb obronił dwa meczbole, lecz przy trzecim Szwajcar posłał na drugą stronę kortu potężnego asa.
RG 2011 - konferencja po zwycięstwie w półfinale.
http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/multi … 00286.html
RG 2011 - konferencja po porażce w finale.
http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/multi … 002b3.html
Federer shifts attention to grass in Halle
The clay-court season has come to a close as the ATP World Tour heads to Halle, Germany for the start of grass season at the Gerry Weber Open. French Open finalist Roger Federer looks to win his sixth title at the tournament.
World No. 3 Roger Federer makes his return to grass-court competition after finishing runner-up to World No. 1 Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros. The 29-year-old enters into the Gerry Weber Open as the top seed, hoping to capture a sixth title at the event.
Federer is located in the same half of the draw as (3) Gael Monfils, (6) Florian Mayer and (7) Alexandr Dolgopolov. Other competitors in the section include: defending champion Lleyton Hewitt, Andreas Seppi, Philipp Kohlschreiber, Robin Haase, Pere Riba, Ivan Dodig, Jarkko Nieminen and wildcards Dustin Brown and Tommy Haas.
Federer is scheduled to open his campaign against Hewitt. The nearest seed to the World No. 3 is Dolgopolov, who looms as a possible quarterfinal-round opponent. Passage through the early rounds could set a semifinal meeting with Mayer or first-time entrant Monfils.
Former champion Tomas Berdych is slated to top the bottom half of the draw this week. The 2007 champion has been placed in the same section as: (4) Mikhail Youzhny, (5) Viktor Troicki and (8) Milos Raonic.
The Czech will begin his effort against Ruben Bemelmans of Belgium in the opening round.
ROGER DEFEATED IN FINAL
Roger was defeated 5-7, 6-7, 7-5 and 1-6 by Rafael Nadal in the final of the French Open today.
"It was an exceptional performance by Rafa. He's beaten me again. I'm sad but I am happy to play him," Roger said. "He is the best player on clay but I am proud of the way I have played over the last two weeks but I couldn't do enough against him. It was important to get into another grand slam final."
Roger started strong, breaking Nadal in the second game and taking a 5-2 lead. But it was just when Roger was serving for the set that Nadal found his rhythm and won the following five games to take the first set. The Spaniard continued to play almost without errors into the second set, but Roger managed to hold onto his service games and then break to level 4-4 - only to be broken again in return. Play was suspended for a few minutes due to rain - with Roger coming back onto the court to break Nadal and bring the set into a tie-break - which Roger unfortunately clearly lost.
Roger seemed to change his game in the third set and was at his best at 5-5 to go on and book the set onto his account. He continued well into the fourth set and had several break-points, but it was Nadal who made use of the chances he was given and left no doubt that he wanted the match to come to an end.
Roger will now open the grass court season this week at the tournament in Halle (GER).
Wielkoszlemowy Finał - porażka nr 7.
Roger Federer poniósł 7 porażkę w wielkoszlemowym finale, tym razem nie dał rady wygrać meczu o tytuł podczas Roland Garros 2011. Jego pogromcą (podobnie jak w 5 z 6 poprzednich przegranych finałów) był Rafael Nadal. Hiszpan już 4 razy uniemożliwił Federerowi bezpośrednie sięgnięcie po tytuł nad Sekwaną (poprzednio 2006-2008).
Federer przegrał swój 2 finał w sezonie (poprzednio Dubaj) i 30 w karierze.
Roger Federer - przegrane finały (30)
2011 (2) Roland Garros (Outdoor/Clay) , Dubai (Outdoor/Hard)
2010 (4) ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Shanghai (Outdoor/Hard) , ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Canada (Outdoor/Hard) , Halle (Outdoor/Grass) , ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Madrid (Outdoor/Clay)
2009 (3) Basel (Indoor/Hard) , US Open (Outdoor/Hard) , Australian Open (Outdoor/Hard)
2008 (4) Wimbledon (Outdoor/Grass) , Roland Garros (Outdoor/Clay) , ATP Masters Series Hamburg (Outdoor/Clay) , ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo (Outdoor/Clay)
2007 (4) ATP Masters Series Madrid (Indoor/Hard) , ATP Masters Series Canada (Outdoor/Hard) , Roland Garros (Outdoor/Clay) , ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo (Outdoor/Clay)
2006 (4) Roland Garros (Outdoor/Clay) , ATP Masters Series Rome (Outdoor/Clay) , ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo (Outdoor/Clay) , Dubai (Outdoor/Hard)
2005 (1) Tennis Masters Cup (Indoor/Carpet)
2003 (2) Gstaad (Outdoor/Clay) , ATP Masters Series Rome (Outdoor/Clay)
2002 (2) ATP Masters Series Miami (Outdoor/Hard) , Milan (Indoor/Carpet)
2001 (2) Basel (Indoor/Carpet) , Rotterdam (Indoor/Hard)
2000 (2) Basel (Indoor/Carpet) , Marseille (Indoor/Hard)
5-TIMES HALLE CHAMPION PULLS OUT
I've unfortunately decided to pull out of The Gerry Weber Open in Halle, Germany. I am very disappointed as its one of my absolute favorite tournaments on the ATP Tour, but my body, especially my groin, really needs a rest. After talking with my team this morning, I feel that its way to risky to take a chance on aggravating it even more before Wimbledon.
I send my very best wishes to all my fans in Halle, and again I am so sorry I can't go this year. But I will see you next year.
Yours,
Roger
Serie meczów bez porażki, które zostały przerwane przez Rogera Federera:
- Wimbledon 2001 - 19letni wtedy Szwajcar, w swoim debiucie na korcie centralnym Wimbledonu, pokonał w 5 setach Pete'a Samprasa. Federer przerwał wtedy serię 31 meczów bez porażki 'Pistola' na kortach Wimbledonu.
- Hamburg 2007 - Federer zakończył serię Nadala: 81 meczów bez porażki na kortach ziemnych.
- Roland Garros 2011 - Federer skończył serię 43 meczów bez porażki Nole Djokovicia. Szwajcar "zmusił" Serba do 1 porażki w 2011 roku (do tej pory Djoko dzierżył bilans 41-0 w 2011).
Sorry, że syfię w temacie, ale coś się chyba pomyliłeś:
DUN I LOVE napisał:
Szwajcar zmusił Serba do 1 porażki w 2001 roku (do tej pory Djoko dzierżył bilans 41-0 w 2011).
W 2001 roku to mu siatka do ramion sięgała pewnie :D
Poza tym ciężko kogoś zmusić do porażki ;)
Teraz może być? :P Z tymi cyferkami w dacie to niemal tradycja. Kompletnie nie wiem dlaczego tak mi się klawisze mylą. Wzrok mam całkiem, całkiem. :D
Mam szokujące info. Federer prawdopodobnie będzie zakładał podczas tegorocznego Wimbla...babciny sweter. :/
DUN I LOVE napisał:
Mam szokujące info. Federer prawdopodobnie będzie zakładał podczas tegorocznego Wimbla...babciny sweter. :/
No i po co mu to... Szczęścia to raczej nie przynosi...
Coach Annacone likes Federer chances for a long career
Coach Paul Annacone says his client Roger Federer needs only careful planning to extend his career, with the Swiss player's coach convinced his all-star client can have a long shelf-life in the game.
For the one-time mentor of Pete Sampras, tournament scheduling is key for the world No. 3. "The strength and conditioning people, if you talk to (them) -- at 29 years old, he can still do it. There's no question," he told ESPN. "The idea is to structure your schedule so you're playing your best tennis here, and in Wimbledon, New York. If you do that, things will go just right."
Federer withdrew from his scheduled start at this week's grass tune-up in Halle, Germany, an event he has won five times. The losing French Open finalist to Rafael Nadal cited concerns over a groin strain as his reason.
He was spotted with his wife and twin daughters this week in Zurich on a day out to the zoo and actually riding a public tram.
Annacone expects to start training with 16-time Grand Slam winner Federer within days at Wimbledon, which begins a week from Monday.
The coach said that Federer's semi-final defeat of Novak Djokovic in Paris which brought an end to the Serb's phenomenal 41-match win streak from 2011 proves that Federer remains a potent forced in the game.
"Everyone's talking about how that's one of the highest level matches they've ever seen. That proves he's still there, and he's worked really hard to stay there and maintain that level, so I don't think there's any reason why he can't keep repeating that."
Wimbledon. Wygrana Federera wzbogaci organizację humanitarną
Jeżeli Roger Federer po raz siódmy wygra wielkoszlemowy Wimbledon, międzynarodowa organizacja humanitarna Oxfam otrzyma ponad 100 tysięcy funtów. Stanie się tak na mocy testamentu pewnego hazardzisty.
W 2003 roku, kiedy Roger Federer wygrywał Wimbledon po raz pierwszy w karierze, niejaki Nick Newlife postawił w zakładach Williama Hilla 1520 funtów na to, że Szwajcar zwycięży w prestiżowym turnieju siedmiokrotnie. Bukmacher oszacował wówczas takie zdarzenie na bardzo mało prawdopodobne i zobowiązał się wypłacić 66 funtów za każdego postawionego. W przypadku wygranej daje to kwotę ponad 100 tysięcy funtów czyli około 160 tysięcy dolarów
Newlife zmarł w 2009 roku w wieku 59 lat. Parę miesięcy później Federer wygrał Wimbledon po raz szósty, pokonując w dramatycznym pięciosetowym finale Amerykanina Andyego Roddicka. Jak ujawnił dziennik "Daily Mail", zmarły jako kawaler Newlife zostawił jednak testament, w którym wszystkie ewentualne wygrane z postawionych zakładów przeznaczył na rzecz międzynarodowej organizacji humanitarnej Oxfam.
Rzecznik firmy William Hill Graham Sharpe przyznał, że w przypadku siódmego triumfu Federera organizacji zostanie wypłacona kwota 101 840 funtów. Jeżeli 29-letniemu Szwajcarowi nie uda się wygrać w tym roku, nie przekreśli to szans na realizację zakładu. Jest on ważny do 2019 roku.
Roger w nowej reklamie. Tym razem padło na motoryzację. Troszkę sztuczna :D
Właśnie świetna :D
Wimbledon: the draw
The draw for Wimbledon is out! Roger will start against Mikhail Kukushkin (ATP 60) from Kazakhstan, against whom he has never played before. In the second round, he could take on France's Adrian Mannarino (ATP 53) or a qualifier. After that David Nalbandian (ATP 24) could be up. Both players have not played against Roger since 2008. In the next round, our champ could meet Nicolas Almagro (ATP 15) or Mikhail Youzhny (ATP 17). In the quarterfinals, a meeting with David Ferrer (6 ATP) is possible.
In the semifinals, our six-time Wimbledon champion could again face Novak Djokovic (ATP 2). They just met in Paris when Roger ended Djokovic's winning streak of 41 wins in series.
FEDERER EXPECTING CLOSE-RUN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Roger Federer is chasing
a record-equalling seventh
Wimbledon title.
Six-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer believes The Championships this year will be a close-run contest, with all of the World’s Top 4 feeling confident about their grass-court games. Andy Murray comes into Wimbledon having just won his second Queen’s Club title, Rafael Nadal is a two-time Wimbledon champion, while Novak Djokovic has reached the semi-finals at the All England Club twice.
"I think that's maybe something that's a bit different than in the past, where maybe one of the top four guys wouldn't feel so comfortable on grass," said Federer on Saturday at his pre-tournament press conference. "But this year it seems like all of us are, which is a good thing.
"I think as time went by, [Rafael] Nadal showed how good he was; won a couple times here in the meantime. [Andy] Murray's game is very natural for this surface. I think [Novak] Djokovic has always been great, but nothing extraordinary yet. But with the run he's on, obviously there's a lot of possibilities for him as well here."
The Swiss comes into Wimbledon fully recovered from the groin strain he picked up in reaching the Roland Garros final, where he finished runner-up to Nadal after ending Djokovic’s 41-match unbeaten start to the year in the semi-finals. More records are on the line for Federer at Wimbledon, with the chance to equal Pete Sampras’ tally of seven titles at the All England Club.
"Obviously that’s something very special and important at this point really," said Federer. "I feel good about myself, about my body. I'm happy about my game, and I am happy it showed in Paris. Obviously I come into this tournament very confident.
"After that I hope I get into the tournament a bit better than last year where I almost lost in the first round (against Alejandro Falla). That's the concern I have right now, not trying to break all these different records. I mean, it's nice they're somewhat close, but still they're far. I still have a lot of work to put in these next couple of weeks."
The 29-year-old Federer is a winner of 11 tour-level grass-court titles and has reached the final at Wimbledon in seven of the past eight years; his only blemish on that record was a quarter-final loss to Tomas Berdych last year. Preparing for his 13th assault on The Championships, Federer is unconcerned by a lack of grass-court match play leading in, and is pleased with the transition he has made from the clay in practice.
"The first time I hit here on Monday, very easily, like right away after 10 minutes, it feels so natural for me to play on grass," he said. "I hope that feeling is going to pay off by going deep and then hopefully winning the tournament here."
Reuters Q & A - Federer back to reclaim his crown=2
REUTERS: In less than two months you turn 30? Are you dreading it?
FEDERER: "No, no problem. I can only smile about it. Do I feel 30? I guess I do. I feel ripe like a grape for (a good quality) wine. I feel like I'm in a really nice place right now. Everybody who's 20 wants to stay 20 and everybody who turns 30 wants to stay 30. That's the feeling I get. It's a wonderful age to be. You've already experienced a lot but there's still a lot to come. It's a wonderful age and I'm looking forward to the next 10 years."
REUTERS: What has been your lowest point in your tennis career?
FEDERER: "I have had a few tough losses and the other night I was having dinner and (my friends) were saying 'oh I remember that loss, and this one and that one and this one' and I was like 'oh God, we're only talking about my losses.' With all the 950 plus matches I have played, I've had a lot of losses and a lot of heart breaks. To pick the toughest one, was it here against Nadal (in the 2008 five-set final described as the best ever tennis match)? Possibly, but at the same time it was such a special match to be part of it doesn't hurt as much down the stretch. In the very moment it hurts but not later on."
REUTERS: How does Roger Federer the tennis player differ from Roger Federer the father?
FEDERER: "I'm as patient a father as I am on the tennis court. It takes a lot for me to get really upset but sometimes kids can get you really cross if they really keep bugging you. As they get older, they push the limits more. So it's more a matter of setting boundaries for the kids then getting really upset with them. But you have to pretend that you're a little bit upset sometimes.
"I really enjoy time with the kids and I'm really happy I've only missed them for three weeks in the last two years. I've been very fortunate to have such a wonderful wife (Mirka) who is so supportive and so willing to pack all the bags and come on the road with us and make it work. It's a lot of organisation but I don't want to be away from the kids, I don't want to be away from Mirka and it's just a nice time and I wouldn't want to miss it for the world. I think I'm patient, good husband and good father but your have to ask others about it."
REUTERS: Are you a strict dad?
FEDERER: "I think the strictness will grow as they grow, unfortunately for them."
Roger did a good job
For Credit Suisse’s new Swiss advertisement campaign, Roger tried his hand successfully at acting. Watch the spot here or the making of here.
https://bonviva.credit-suisse.com/Home/ … fault.aspx
http://www.rogerfederer.com/en/esp/news … video.html
Roger with a strong start
Roger has made a strong start into this year's tournament in Wimbledon with a 7-6(2), 6-4, 6-2 victory over Mikhail Kukushkinof of Kazakhstan.
"I thought I struggled putting enough returns into play in the first set but I thought he played very well and made it hard for me," Roger said. "He served well but I served very well myself. It was actually quite tricky on one end, very windy, which made it difficult to time the ball well but overall I'm pleased with my performance."
Roger's serve worked very well and helped him through the opening set. He still had to play strong to go all the way into the tie-brek which he clearly dominated 7-2 to take the set. Roger managed to hold an early break in the second set as he fought off break-points a bit later on. The last set seemed easy as he even seemed to test out a few things for the further matches at his favourite tournament.
Roger will meet the winner of the match between Adrian Mannarino and Conor Niland on Thursday. He has never played against either of the players.
Federer Eases Past Kukushkin
Federer improved to a 56-6
record at Wimbledon with his
win Tuesday.
Six-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer opened his quest for a record-tying seventh crown with a 7-6(2), 6-4, 6-2 win against Mikhail Kukushkin Tuesday at the All England Club.
"It feels like if things go well for me, I can go extremely far here; whereas at Roland Garros. I feel it's a bit more on other opponents' racquets," said Federer. "But here I feel it's a bit more on mine. That's why I'll always play with some pressure here at Wimbledon just because of the occasion and what it means to me really. I was nervous going out in today's match really."
After a close first set, the Swiss pulled away from his unseeded opponent, breaking Kukushkin three times in seven opportunities to take the match in one hour and 42 minutes. The World No. 3 was dominant on serve, winning 89 per cent of his first serve points, hitting 11 aces in the process.
"I thought I played a good match," said Federer. "Tough conditions. It was really windy out there. I think he played a good match and made it competitive, which I thought was fun. The first rounds here at Wimbledon on Centre Court are never easy. They're somewhat nerve-wracking because you don't get a chance to practise on the Centre Courts here. So I'm happy I was able to come through in three sets this time around."
Seeded outside the top two for the first time since 2003, when he won his first Wimbledon trophy as the No. 4 seed, Federer is looking to equal Pete Sampras’ Open Era record of seven Wimbledon titles; William Renshaw also claimed seven crowns from 1881-1889. Tuesday’s win sees the 16-time major champion improve his record at the event to 56-6.
The Swiss next faces 55th-ranked Frenchman Adrian Mannarino, who came back to defeat qualifier Conor Niland 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(7), 4-6, 6-4. Niland, the first Irishman to play in the Wimbledon main draw since 1984, had built a double-break lead in the fifth set before Mannarino roared back to take the final five games.
Federer: "I Can Go Extremely Far Here"
Federer believes the conditions at SW19 have changed dramatically the past 10 years.
Roger Federer believes that his 2011 Wimbledon destiny remains firmly in his own hands, hinting that his best form – if he can produce it when it counts - will be good enough to beat chief rivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic for a record-tying seventh title. In a candid admission Tuesday, Federer contrasted his confidence on grass with his assessment of his recent run at Roland Garros.
"It feels like if things go well for me, I can go extremely far here; whereas at the French Open I feel it's a bit more on other opponents' racquets. But here I feel it's a bit more on mine."
Accompanying that self belief is the pressure of knowing that this is likely Federer's best chance of the year to win a Grand Slam title. "I've won the tournament six times. That's why I'll always play with some pressure here at Wimbledon just because of the occasion and what it means to me. I was nervous going out in today's match really," admitted Federer.
After breaking through for his first Grand Slam title in 2003 at the All England Club, Federer has amassed 16 Grand Slam titles, six of which have come at Wimbledon. Should he claim this year’s title, he’ll tie Pete Sampras’ Open Era record of seven crowns, a record Federer would be proud to share with the American. "Obviously tying Pete in any stats means you're right up there with maybe the greatest, one of the greatest players of all times, and that's always a nice thing."
Added the Swiss, “Winning Wimbledon alone without any records is amazing. Whatever it is, it's positive. Right now I just won my first match, so six more to go. I have to take it one at a time.”
Federer, who is making his 13th consecutive appearance at Wimbledon, made his major mark at The Championships in 2000, when he stunned Sampras in five sets to knock out the four-time defending champion. Reflecting on that match, Federer noted that the conditions have changed dramatically since his famous victory over Sampras 11 years ago. "The conditions have slowed down immensely over the years," said Federer.
"The surfaces are much slower now, so you need to find different ways of winning the point, which is fine. I like to grind it out and go through 10, 20 shot rallies sometimes to win the point and break the opponent's will down. The game has definitely changed with strings and balls over the last 10 years."
Wimbledon 2011 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w 1 rundzie
R. Federer bt M. Kukushin 7-6, 6-4, 6-2
Q. Much change from last year's first round?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, but the result was the same: I was able to win. But, of course, it's nice to win in straight sets. I thought I played a good match. Tough conditions. It was really windy out there.
The first rounds here at Wimbledon on Centre Court are never easy. They're somewhat nerve wracking because you don't get a chance to practice on the Centre Courts here. So I'm happy I was able to come through in three sets this time around.
Q. The Centre Court was thrilled by your performance today. How satisfying was it to you? How far do you feel you got into the tournament in terms of happiness with your game?
ROGER FEDERER: I mean, I think the first round for me, it's a matter of playing solid and coming through really. I mean, it's maybe in a second round match where I can say more about my level of play. I mean, I think I'm playing well. Look, I'm serving well, moving well.
But obviously, you know, I struggled early on in the first set to get any read on his serve, even though he's not the biggest server. But he served consistent. You know, Centre Court, the surroundings were just a bit off in the beginning, and he did well. That made it difficult.
But then I never really struggled on my serve. I was able to actually cruise almost, you know, through lots of my service games. That then maybe probably relaxed me at times maybe a bit too much. But overall it was a good performance. I was very happy with the match today.
Like I said, conditions were tough. It was really tricky winds out there, which made it also tricky sometimes to time the ball well from the baseline.
I think he played a good match and made it competitive, which I thought was fun.
Q. You've played almost 50 Grand Slams consecutively, no retirements in your career, no major injuries. What's the secret? How do you explain that?
ROGER FEDERER: Uhm, I don't know. Look, I've had injuries along the way. But here 10 years ago actually when I played Sampras and Henman, I was injured on my groin, which then I had to rest for six weeks, sort of once Gstaad was over after Wimbledon. But I was able to play. I twisted my ankle. I've had other back issues, some other problems throughout my career, which is completely normal.
But it never really, you know, happened in a time during a Grand Slam or in maybe, you know, huge, important match. I was always able to play, even with pain. I think that's something also you learn as a tennis player is, you know, to play with that.
Many matches during my career I've had, you know, pain and issues and whatever, but they don't affect me to the extent that I can't walk on court except once against Blake in Paris. I've been fortunate and I think smart over the years. Today I know my body very well, how much it can take and what it cannot take.
But I've always been able to play full schedules, never missing a part of the season, let's say the indoors, you know, not missing, I don't know, the American tournaments or whatever. I've always been playing from January to November for 12 years basically. That I'm somewhat proud of, I guess.
Q. You talked in Paris about having less pressure. I'm wondering if you feel differently now that you're on this surface, at this tournament, and also your performance in Paris? Do you feel like some of that has shifted back over to you?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I think everybody was talking about less pressure just because of Novak and Rafa. That honestly had nothing to do with me. I think what gave me less pressure in Paris was for years I was always trying to win the French Open, and then finally I did make it, so then I came back as defending champion. Then you have more pressure. That was sort of the second year after I won it.
So I wasn't the defending champion. I wasn't chasing the French Open for the first time. I think that just made it that I had less pressure.
I definitely think also here it's somewhat similar. I can play with a bit less pressure, but at the same time I want to do so well here at Wimbledon because it's some of the big highlights for me during the season, and I've won the tournament six times.
So it feels like if things go well for me, I can go extremely far here; whereas at the French Open I feel it's a bit more on other opponents' racquets. But here I feel it's a bit more on mine. That's why I'll always play with some pressure here at Wimbledon just because of the occasion and what it means to me really. I was nervous going out in today's match really.
Q. Would it mean a lot to you to tie Pete, especially because you're working with Paul?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah. I mean, it has nothing to do with Paul. But obviously tying Pete in any stats means you're right up there with maybe the greatest, one of the greatest players of all times, and that's always a nice thing.
Winning Wimbledon alone without any records is amazing. Whatever it is, it's positive. Right now I just won my first match, so six more to go. I have to take it one at a time.
Q. You spoke about the longevity of your career. What at this point is the motivation that makes you want to perform and keep on coming back? Has that changed?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, I think it definitely changes. I think from 18 to 23 to 27 to 32 to whatever after that, you go through different stages of your career.
I mean, later it's somewhat easier because you don't have to break through so much. But you have to prove yourself over and over again to people who just need to see it and be reminded.
For yourself, if you're enjoying it, which is the case with me, and you're physically fit and healthy, I mean, then there is, you know, a lot of chances for me to do great things. I really enjoy it.
I have no problems with the travelling. I love playing against the new generation, you know, with all these young guys around me and stuff, even though they're not that young either anymore. But they're doing great.
I think it's one of the, you know, healthy times in tennis. Even though when I came in, it was fantastic, having Pete and Andre and Henman and Krajicek around, Ivanisevic. Now times have changed and you play against different players. That sometimes takes some getting used to.
Now I really enjoy it. I love playing against those guys, trying to, you know, prove my point, show how good I really am. That's fun. That's what I'm working hard for in the off seasons and try to show it on the match courts.
Q. Your game has a great deal of power, but you're also known for how you play with balance. Talk about that quality in your game. Does that give you a great deal of pleasure playing the game, and has that helped you in terms of injuries?
ROGER FEDERER: I think it has helped me with injuries, yes, that my game is somewhat casual, but in a good way, because I had to work on my casualness. I was very quickly pointed out that if I'm losing I'm not trying, and if I'm winning it's an amazing situation.
So I had to really tie my game together, you know, make it solid casual, really. I think I was able to do that. I worked extremely hard on my fitness and on my mental part of the game. All those things eventually came together and I started to be able to glide around the court with little effort and be very explosive, though.
I think that's what I've done really well. I mean, I think it almost comes out the most on grass today. For instance, when I played, I feel so natural on it. You can cut the points short if you want to. You can play aggressive, you can hit two shot tennis, which then creates some very different type of points.
That's the kind of stuff I love doing. Unfortunately, all the conditions have slowed down immensely over the years. The surfaces are much slower now, so you need to find different ways of winning the point, which is fine. I like to grind it out and go through 10 , 20 shot rallies sometimes to win the point and break the opponent's will down. The game has definitely changed with strings and balls over the last 10 years.
Q. You spoke about the game slowing down. Given that the weather has been typically London, the forecast isn't for one of those really hot summers, does that alter the way the tournament goes for you? Does it play into your hands?
ROGER FEDERER: Uhm, I mean, look, I guess in some ways I would like to play indoors here for a change, just that I've gotten to know those conditions. But then again, that's what it is. You know, it's the same for both.
Nobody has a huge advantage right now if it goes indoors because nobody's really been there that often. I've played indoors at Halle before on grass. I have somewhat of an idea.
At the end of the day, it is grass and I'm sure the conditions are very much similar, just that maybe the sounds are a bit different and you're not outdoors anymore. You can get a bit unlucky if you're scheduled on the outside courts if not Centre Court. You get maybe pushed forward, like other guys had to finish today and they have to play again tomorrow.
If you get stuck with a tough five setter, you have to come back the next day, which can make it tricky. I've worked hard in my life that I know I can do that, too. You have to be ready for those situations really.
Q. I'm thinking of when it's 80 or 90 degrees for two weeks, and the court dries out a lot more.
ROGER FEDERER: Oh, no, for me that has no impact really, the way the court plays. And heat is never going to be Australia like or America like. So for me that wouldn't be a problem anyway.
At the end, it's grass. You take little steps. The ball bounces lower than at other slams. Harder or softer for me, doesn't make a big difference.
Q. Do you plan to watch the Isner/Mahut match? Do you expect if it goes on after 6:00 it will finish?
ROGER FEDERER: I don't know when they're playing. I'll try to watch. I hope they can show it on TV, some of it. I think in some ways it's a crazy idea that they're playing again, you know.
But it's wonderful. I think it's great for the fans who missed it last year to just at least go show respect to those guys who hung in there. Isner, who couldn't come out and serve an ace anymore the following match, it was quite rough to watch actually.
My feelings are this is just going to be a somewhat of a normal match, four sets. I hope I'm wrong. I hope it goes again the distance. But it would be rough on them to go through two Wimbledons like that to break each other like that in the first round.
Look, it's great news. I'll try to watch them. I hope it finishes today for them.
Ciekawe co wymyślą następnym razem... :P
A perfect performance
Roger did not have to work too hard today, defeating Adrian Mannarino 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 in 88 minutes to move on to round three.
"I've played on centre court for 10 straight years and it was really enjoyable, as usual, to be back there. I thought conditions were fantastic from start to finish. It was really perfect," Roger said. "It took me some time to get used to him, but I thought I played really, really well."
Roger's serve worked very well again today. He secured a break upon the first opportunity given in all three sets with Mannarino needing quite some time to score his first points on Roger's serve. All in all, it was an excellent display by our champ today under the roof in Wimbledon.
Roger will now meet 2002 Wimbledon finalist David Nalbandian on Saturday.
FEDERER SIGNALS TITLE INTENT WITH DOMINANT DISPLAY
Roger Federer needed just 88 minutes
to dismiss Adrian Mannarino.
After the dramas on Centre Court earlier Thursday, World No. 3 Roger Federer expended minimum fuss to secure his place in the Wimbledon third round, dismissing France’s Adrian Mannarino 6-2, 6-3, 6-2.
The Swiss is chasing a record-equalling seventh Wimbledon men’s singles title and stayed on course as he hit 38 winners to just 10 unforced errors and broke Mannarino’s serve five times in the 88-minute rout.
"I think I served great in the beginning and was able to sort of keep that going for the remainder of the match," said Federer. "From the baseline I think I was solid, so it was a really good match. I think the French Open was just proof that I'm in good shape and physically and mentally in a good place. Unfortunately, I couldn't win it, but I didn't get pulled down by losing in the finals. I hope I can make a run here."
Six of the 29-year-old Federer’s Open Era record 11 grass-court titles have come at the All England Club, with victories over Mark Philippoussis in 2003, Andy Roddick in 2004-2005 and 2009, and Rafael Nadal in 2006-2007.
The Basel native is bidding to win his 17th Grand Slam championship, what would be his first since defeating Andy Murray in the 2010 Australian Open final. Three weeks ago, Federer finished runner-up to Nadal in the Roland Garros final, and, having injured his groin in Paris, did not play a grass-court event in preparation for Wimbledon for just the third time in his career.
Federer goes on to face Argentina’s David Nalbandian, against whom he has a 10-8 career record. It will be their first grass-court meeting.
Looking ahead to the clash, Federer said, "We had some really close matches, big matches actually against each other. I'm looking forward to that match. I think it's a wonderful third round. I wish I could have had an easier one maybe, but I know the danger against him. He can prove his point. If he's weaker or stronger than three years ago or eight years ago, we'll find out. But I'll be as well prepared as I can be and hope I can beat him."
Roger cruises through
Roger won his match against David Nalbandian 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 today to make his way into week two in Wimbledon.
"The guy has beaten me eight times so he knows how to beat me a ninth time. But I had a good level today and I served extremely well and I am very pleased. I'm playing better than last year and I'm more confident on my serve and comfortable on the baseline," said Roger after the match.
Our six-time Wimbledon champion started the match excellently, making use of his second break point to take a lead in game number three. But Nalbandian, too, seized his chances in the opening set, breaking Roger in the sixth game - Roger's first break in Wimbledon this year. Nalbandian fought hard but Roger always just had that necessary edge to finally take home the match after 106 minutes.
Roger will meet Michail Juschni (ATP 17) in the fourth round.
Wimbledon 2011 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w 2 rundzie
R. Federer bt. A. Mannarino 6 2, 6 3, 6 2
Q. Good workout for you?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I thought it was a good match for me. I think I was able to set the tone early and stick to my game plan. Sort of as I was trying to figure him out I was already in the lead, which is obviously helpful. It makes you be loose enough then mentally to move on really quickly, and I thought it was a good match.
I think I served great in the beginning and was able to sort of keep that going for the remainder of the match. From the baseline I think I was solid, so it was a really good match.
Q. You obviously played very well at the French. Are you pleased with how you've continued here?
ROGER FEDERER: I think I've played well for a year now. I think the French Open was just proof that I'm in good shape and physically and mentally in a good place.
Unfortunately, I couldn't win it, but I didn't get pulled down by losing in the finals. I hope I can make a run here.
Q. It's your second match on grass. Do you feel you've already made all the adjustments that you want, that you feel at home?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, look, like you say, grass court season can be over very quickly. That's why I'm happy I'm hanging around. I got through my first two matches here. Now obviously the draw should get a lot tougher.
You know, I'm through the first round, which is important with the body to get a feel for how to move, and then also, you know, the muscle pain creeps in because you haven't played a match in a year on this surface.
That's why I'm happy I'm physically fine and looking forward to a third match here.
Q. How do you feel about the ceiling?
ROGER FEDERER: The ceiling, I think it was nice. Honestly, from start to finish it felt the same, even though outside it was getting darker from the light perspective.
And then from the movement, it felt like it was outdoors. There's no humidity inside. It was a good atmosphere. I mean, if the crowd would be talking just a little bit during the points and so forth, I think it would resonate quite a lot and it would be loud.
But, like, this, I mean, they're very disciplined, the crowd. And then when the point is over they applaud really nice and it becomes a really nice atmosphere actually. So I think it was a special moment for me in my career, I guess, playing indoors here at Wimbledon.
I'm happy I managed to play a good match under the circumstances.
Q. In Paris you mentioned the importance of the mental side of the game. Talk about that. Is that something you've worked on and improved on?
ROGER FEDERER: I don't know if there's more improvement. I just think you adjust to new challenges and new situations.
But I think obviously it used to be more of a weakness. You know, I think I was talking Pat Rafter today. When we played at the French Open he remembered the match I was up a set and I was just 18 years old and I wasn't expected to win. I think I got broken in the second set, and I was like, Oh, God, what am I doing?
Next thing you know, obviously I'm losing 6 2, 6 0, 6 3. I was very mental. I had a lot of respect for the older generation who were already accomplished. Obviously stars like Pat were, for me, people I really looked up to, even though I knew I could beat them. Mentally I was not so solid.
I'm happy to see how far I've come. I've worked hard and try to put in a good effort day in, day out on the practice court, which helps you to do that also in a match situation, which obviously now I've proven over many, many years.
Q. Do you have special mental exercises that you practice?
ROGER FEDERER: No, I don't. Never have.
Q. On the roof, a lot of the other players who played under it said the conditions were slower. Did you not feel that was the case?
ROGER FEDERER: I think they feel slower because, you know, it's indoors and it feels like you can see the ball clearer. You don't have the element of the sun and the wind, which makes the conditions to me a bit faster.
Does the ball fluff up? I don't know. I didn't feel that way, to be honest. Maybe the way the ball resonates you feel it's a bit of a heavier ball probably by hitting it. I'm not sure.
To me it felt pretty similar. It's grass at the end of the day. The ball stays low. If you play it well, you can really use it to your advantage. I don't think the difference was massive.
Q. One thing people do say about the toss a little bit inside is that they're finding issues with the lights. Have you noticed anything like that?
ROGER FEDERER: No. Look, I've played in so many different places with the sun being so many funny places that this is easy. That was fine.
Q. You play now against David Nalbandian. You've played many times against him. This is not the same Nalbandian as years ago. But what do you remember from those moments and what do you expect for the match on Saturday?
ROGER FEDERER: We've come a long way from playing the first time. I guess it was the US Open finals in the juniors back in '98. In juniors I could play him. But then after that, when we came on tour, we had some really close matches, big matches actually against each other.
But he always had sort of the better end, at the end of the matches, just because he was so tough early on. He made the finals here in 2002. So he was sort of a bit I mean, plus he's a bit younger than me.
With his game he was more successful earlier just because I still had some work to do, some figuring out how I was really going to play. I used to panic and run to the net against him because I felt I couldn't hang with him from the baseline. That just made it difficult for me to play against him early on.
Later on I really started to enjoy the challenge against him because he's one of the cleanest ball strikers in the game. His backhand is obviously, you know, a shot like almost no other on tour. All the players admire that shot especially.
I mean, I'm looking forward to that match. I think it's a wonderful third round. I wish I could have had an easier one maybe, but I know the danger against him. He can prove his point. If he's weaker or stronger than three years ago or eight years ago, we'll find out.
But I'll be as well prepared as I can be and hope I can beat him.
Q. At the moment, you can play till 11:00 with the roof. Do you think it would be fun to be able to play to midnight or beyond?
ROGER FEDERER: No. I think 11:00 is plenty. It's already tough enough with the schedule. If you finish at midnight, 1:00, 2:00 in the morning which I have in the past as well you go to bed at 4:30, sleep till noon, your whole schedule is messed up. Turnaround is pretty quick, even though you have a day off, even though sometimes you don't.
I think 11:00 is okay. I don't think Wimbledon should be having night sessions, all that stuff. I mean, it is an outdoor, day tournament. So I think that's where also with the roof, I don't think we should keep the roof the whole time open.
I know they're probably facing some criticism because they could have played through long stretches of many matches outdoors today. But they'll figure it out. Over the years, it will all be okay. In the beginning, it's normal. It takes some getting used to. The weather is really unpredictable at this point.
Q. Jimmy Connors the other day made kind of a Jimmy Connors type point saying he felt the rivalries in this era were soft. Can you talk about that.
ROGER FEDERER: It's hard for me to talk about his generation because I don't remember him much from playing. I mean, I was hitting with a junior the other day, and he didn't remember seeing any matches of Pete. It's like, C'mon. The guy just played 10 years ago. That's how quick it goes, unfortunately.
I can only talk about it from hearing. But obviously the rules have changed quite drastically. So we're not allowed to do all sort of crazy stuff out on the court, otherwise we get penalised, fined, all that stuff. You don't want to be a bad sport either toward your opponent.
If that's what he means, I can understand some points with him. But it's not as easy as it seems. I think we play with a lot of respect for the game still, which I think is most important, to be quite honest, that we respect what has been done before, like, for instance, from players like Connors and McEnroe, Laver, back to when it all started really.
I think that's very important that we don't forget the roots of the game. Every generation is different. Our rivalries are different. They might be different in five to ten years. You have to enjoy the ones that are happening at the moment.
Federer back in Swiss team
It's official. Roger Federer will be part of the Swiss team that will play the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas tie against Portugal next month in Berne. The Swiss Tennis Association has confirmed that the team will be formed by Federer, Stanislas Wawrinka, Stephane Bohli and Marco Chiudinelli.
The Swiss player has adhered to the plans revealed in an announcement on his personal website last March. "I've decided I'm going to play the Davis Cup tie in July at home against Portugal. I'm really looking forward to helping Switzerland begin the process of getting back into the World Group," said the 16-time Grand Slam champion.
The Swiss team is currently competing in Europe/Africa Group I after suffering a comprehensive 5-0 loss to Kazakhstan in last year’s World Group play-offs. This means that the Central Europeans will need to win their next two ties if they are to fulfil their objective of playing in next year's World Group.
Federer played his last Davis Cup tie in the 2009 World Group play-offs against Italy. The Swiss maestro won his two singles matches back then and helped his country keep its place in the top tier of the competition. The importance of his contribution is highlighted by the fact that the team has lost all the ties played since then.
The Swiss champion has played a total of 48 Davis Cup rubbers throughout his career with a win-loss record of 37-11. His best result came in 2003 when Switzerland reached the semifinals and lost against a powerful Australian team led by Lleyton Hewitt and Mark Philippoussis.
The presence of a player like Federer increases Switzerland's chances of achieving its first Davis Cup title. Although the world No. 3 is clearly the most successful member of the team, the Swiss captain, Severin Luthi, can also rely on another competitive player, Stanislas Wawrinka, currently world No. 14. The partnership between these two players could give the Swiss team the status of a potential contender for the title in years to come.
Przestaną się nad nim pastwić w końcu. :P
Wimbledon 2011 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w 3 rundzie
R. Federer bt. D. Nalbandian 6 4, 6 2, 6 4
Q. Would you say you have been really tested since you arrived at Wimbledon?
ROGER FEDERER: Uhm, yes. I thought today was a particularly good performance by my side, on my serve again. Just mentally, you know, having lost to him, you know, eight times before, you know, I knew that he could beat me a ninth time without any problem.
So that's also where the pressure is greater against a player like him because maybe he's not going to win the tournament, but he can knock you out of the tournament. That's a danger against a player like him.
I thought he was also playing a bit like myself, first strike tennis. The rallies weren't that long, but when they were being played, I think the ball was being hit very hard and very clean by him, as we know.
I'm very happy with today's match. I think I played a great match.
Q. Were you worried at any stage?
ROGER FEDERER: Uhm, yes. I mean, first set when he broke back, second set maybe not so much, and then in the third, uhm, always if he would have gone up a break. But I was able to serve well.
Yeah, I mean, I've lost to him previously being up two sets to love, so I knew there was always danger till the very last point.
Q. What is there in your grass court arsenal that you've yet to use this week?
ROGER FEDERER: I haven't served and volleyed a whole lot. I haven't been to the net much. I think if you hit it hard and clean, flat and long, it's hard to come in really. I think you're able to neutralize your opponent.
Today Nalbandian, that's the kind of stuff he does. It's kind of hard to find your way into your net if you don't follow after the return or the serve.
But important is that I'm moving well, I'm using basically everything of my arsenal, the slice, you know, the drive and so forth. I've been playing really well. I've gotten through the matches comfortably and that's very nice.
Q. You've not dropped a set yet.
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, it doesn't really matter. At the end of the day I know other people care more about that kind of stuff. As long as I find my way into the second week, like last year, too, right away, I'm happy.
I hope I can always step it up so when Monday comes around, now the tougher and tougher matches come in, even though today I thought was already very difficult.
Q. When you were in the middle of your five titles on the trot, I can remember you talking about the feeling of coming here, feeling like you owned the place, like it was your court. Does it still feel like that?
ROGER FEDERER: Uhm, I never really felt it was that way. I don't think I ever said that. I always just feel very good here, around the grounds, on the court. Obviously the more you win, the more confidence you get.
Then again, I've learned my lesson early on in my career where I used to underestimate opponents because of the way they played, the way their techniques worked out, or just said against this guy, I can't lose on grass. Next thing you know, that's what happens.
This is where you have to be very, very, you know, sort of mentally strong. I think with the success I've had here, obviously I always come in with somewhat of a pressure. But, as well, I think this is where I'm able to shift up a couple gears on grass because it works to my strengths the way I can play here.
Q. Do you feel you have a gear or two to shift through still next week?
ROGER FEDERER: No, I'm very happy if I keep playing this way. So it's a matter of keeping it up and then, you know, adjusting to what's coming from the opponents.
They all play very differently. Nobody plays like Nalbandian. So I don't even know who I play next round. Still have to find out first.
Q. You may be tired of answering this question, but fans are really interested in comparing the generations. Rafa just said that he felt of the current generation, the top four were more solid, they did better both at reaching the finals at slams and the Masters, the smaller tournaments, that they did really well on all surfaces. Could you take that a little further and compare maybe the play of your generation compared to the Andre and Pete generation?
ROGER FEDERER: Uhm, what do you want me to say? Well, I think it's not fair to say that our generation is stronger. For many years many people said it's weaker just because there was only me and then there was only Rafa and me.
And now all of a sudden there's people talking about four. Now it's the best ever. This is where I disagree. It doesn't happen so quickly.
I remember when Pete and Andre and Becker and Edberg and McEnroe and all those guys were still around, and more even. I think it was very good already. Before that generation was also very strong. It's just a matter that Rafa and myself, we took a lot of the Grand Slams and we didn't allow anybody else to shine really. For that reason, all the other players didn't get the respect they deserve.
That's just to straighten that record a little bit.
Now I still feel 10, 20 years ago, I still think when they were doing something good, they were doing excellent. Like Pete's serve, I still think it will be one of the great serves in the game today if not the best one. Agassi maybe didn't have the serve, but he had the return that many players don't have today.
Maybe they had some other weaknesses in their games, but maybe they were able to eliminate those with their great strengths. This is maybe where today we're more overall because I guess we have to, because the conditions have slowed down, and that allows us to maybe win the French Open and Wimbledon back to back a bit more easier today than back in the day where you had grass court specialists, hard court specialists, indoor specialists, clay court specialists. Today everybody can play everywhere. That's the way the game has evolved and we're adjusting to it.
Q. What are you going to do on your day off tomorrow?
ROGER FEDERER: Same thing. Yeah, just go out and practice, you know, relax, feel good, take some treatment, sleep enough.
Q. How do you relax? Rafa said he's playing PlayStation and stuff like that.
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I spend time with my family. That's what I do. Run around with my kids, spend time with friends and family who are here. That's what I do.
Q. Talk a bit about the new generation of guys coming, the 21 and under set, Tomic, Dimitrov, Raonic. Who has impressed you maybe and why?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, I still think they're all on the brink of doing great things. Some have won tournaments, like Raonic, and others haven't, but are showing clear signs of maturing, getting stronger, believing now, which they're supposed to.
But it's hard to break through it seems like at the moment. It's quite mental and physical these days.
Also Wawrinka is in that mix. He came to Dubai once and practiced with me, very happy to see him doing well but now he's injured. Tomic is still lower in the rankings, but seems like he's making a run.
It's good for tennis if new generations move in. Juniors are here also this week, the second week, coming in. When you're at Aorangi you see how well these guys are already hitting the ball.
The next generation is pushing through, too, which is going to make, for sure, the generation we've just been talking about, the 21 year olds also, aware of that and wanting to improve. I think they're in a very interesting place.
I thought to some degree it was stressful for me being that age because everybody is expecting you to break through, and if you don't, people always ask you, What's wrong with you, man? I'm just trying, you know, learning. I'm playing against men, not boys anymore. It makes it a bit more difficult.
Interesting times in tennis right now. Like we say, at the top it's very strong. There's stuff possible in between, sort of in the middle, and there's young guys coming through. I'm happy I'm still around.
Q. After years of it seems like you've been winning everything, it's now 18 months not winning a Grand Slam, how much have you missed holding one of those trophies?
ROGER FEDERER: You know, I don't go through days thinking like, My God, I haven't won a Grand Slam in so long.
It hasn't been that long, to be honest. The pace on tour is really quick. It turns around fast. Like clay court's over, and grass, here we come. After grass season is over, you're happy to maybe take some vacation finally. Then you sort of prepare for hard court again for eight months.
I don't know. You don't, you know, cry over stuff like that. You guys bring it up and I answer the question; that's it. But I don't really, you know, get pulled down by it. Actually I think I get motivation by it.
Q. You're as hungry as ever to do it again?
ROGER FEDERER: Absolutely. I always have been. The day after my victory, the day after my final losses, I've been hungry. It doesn't come in phases. I'm always hungry. And that's a good thing.
Q. The under 21s are playing tonight.
ROGER FEDERER: I hope Switzerland wins.
Next up: Tsonga in quarters
Roger had to drop a set against Mikhail Youzhni today before eventually celebrated a strong 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 victory.
Both players served well in the opening set, taking it into a tie-breaker. Roger jumped to a 4-1 lead - only to just enter a short sloppy phase and eventually drop the set by losing the tie-break 5-7.
He found his rhythm better and better, managing to break Youzhni twice in the second set. He then continued dictating the game and finally sealed the victory to reach his 29th consecutive grand slam quarter-final!
Roger will now play Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (ATP 19) of France on Wednesday.
Federer overcomes Youzhny, into Wimbledon quarters
Roger Federer comes back from a set down to beat Mikhail Youzhny during fourth-round action on Monday at the All-England Club. Federer is now set for a meeting with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Roger Federer improved to 11-0 lifetime against Mikhail Youzhny with a 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 victory in the Wimbledon fourth round on Monday evening. Federer needed three hours and two minutes to set up a quarterfinal showdown against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Youzhny made a statement throughout the first set by matching his opponent hold for hold. Neither man saw a single break point en route to an opening tiebreaker, which Federer appeared to control when he went up 4-1. Youzhny, however, promptly ran off five consecutive points for a shocking 6-4 advantage. The Russian threw away his chance to finish off the set on serve, but an errant backhand slice by Federer at 6-5 gave the underdog the early lead.
Federer, though, was quick to restore order to the proceedings. The world No. 3 struck for the match's first break in the fifth game of set two, taking a 3-2 advantage with a perfect drop-shot. With Youzhny serving at 3-5, Federer squandered a 0-40 lead but capitalized on his fourth set point to level the match.
With momentum in hand, the six-time Wimbledon champion raced to 5-0 in the third--although not before digging out of a 0-40 hole in the set's opening game. Federer gave one of the breaks back after holding a set point on his opponent's serve that would have given him a perfect 6-0 set. After donating serve at 5-1, Federer made no mistake with a second opportunity at 5-3.
From there it was all over for Youzhny, who dropped serve right away in the fourth set and could not recover. Federer surrendered a mere six points in his last four service games, although he did have to fend off one break point in the second game. The Swiss' sixth break of the day came at 5-3 and finished off the match in style.
Federer wrapped up his effort with 54 winners and 25 unforced errors while while striking 14 aces against only one double-fault. Youzhny recorded 35 winners and 23 errors.
Roger Federer w wielkoszlemowym ćwierćfinale po raz 29...z rzędu!
Roger Federer, pokonując Michaiła Jużnego w 4 rundzie Wimbledonu 2011, awansował po raz 29 z rzędu do najlepszej "8" w turnieju wielkoszlemowym. Federer już podczas ostatniego RG pobił historyczny wyczyn Jimmy'ego Connorsa (27 kolejnych ćwierćfinałów):
1.Roger Federer - 29 (2004-trwa)
2. Jimmy Connros - 27 (1973-1983)
3. Bill Tilden - 21 (1918-1930)
Łącznie jest to już 33 ćwierćfinał wielkoszlemowy w karierze 29-letniego Szwajcara:
1. Jimmy Connors 41
2. Andre Agassi 36
3. Ivan Lendl 34
4. Roger Federer 33
5. Pete Sampras 29
Więcej:
http://www.mtenis.pun.pl/viewtopic.php?id=797
100 wygranych spotkań na trawie.
Triumf nad Miszą Jużnym był 100 wygranym meczem na trawie w karierze Federera. Z grona tenisistów aktywnych zawodowo więcej wygranych pojedynków na tym podłożu ma tylko Lleyton Hewitt.
1. Lleyton Hewitt - 104
2. Roger Federer - 100
Szwajcar zanotował także 223 wygrany mecz w turnieju wielkoszlemowym. Tylko 2 tenisistów w "erze Otwartej" ma na koncie więcej tego typu wyczynów:
1. Jimmy Connors - 233
2. Andre Agassi - 224
3. Roger Federer - 223
Wimbledon 2011 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w 4 rundzie
R. Federer bt. M. Youzhny 5 7, 6 3, 6 3, 6 3
Q. First time you dropped a set this tournament. Is it a sign that the games are getting harder as you go through?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, obviously. I mean, Nalbandian, I don't know if he's a lesser player than Youzhny. But, look, usually what happens is just that you get the players that are more in a groove naturally because they've played more tennis, you know, here.
I thought even though I lost the first set it was good tennis. He didn't have a breakpoint. I played a good breaker actually. Maybe got a touch unlucky with a net cord against me at 4 1 that could have gone my way. I turned that into 5 1, and I don't think I'd lose a breaker from there.
I thought overall we played a good match from start to finish. Good rallies, good atmosphere; it was fun.
Q. I heard on the TV saying you weren't used to No. 1 court yesterday.
ROGER FEDERER: It's like Centre to some degree, but open. Centre I have so many memories. I've played, what, maybe five times more on average on Centre than on Court 1. You never get an opportunity to practice anyway on all the show courts, so That just makes it just a touch more difficult when you show up on Centre Court on Tuesday when I showed up, or on Court 1 today. It's just not something you're a hundred percent used to.
But then again, there is a few center courts around the world that were somewhat built after Court 1 here at Wimbledon. So it doesn't feel completely unnatural. It's just that it's different and takes a bit getting used to.
Q. Do you have a preference among them?
ROGER FEDERER: What do you think?
Q. I could imagine what you think. I just need you to say it.
ROGER FEDERER: Centre Court. Very big surprise. I'd be in the wrong tournament if I picked Court 1. Even if that were the Centre Court, that would be fine, too.
Q. Court 1 is so much more modern.
ROGER FEDERER: No, it's just different. It's round. It's a different court, like all the courts are different around the world.
Q. He's by no means your imminent concern, but Bernard Tomic, have you seen his form? How do you think he'll go against Novak?
ROGER FEDERER: Honestly I haven't seen him play a lot. He played against Soderling on Court 1, but for some reason I missed that match. I guess I was practicing. It wasn't the longest match, so the next thing you know...
Yeah, I maybe saw like 10 points, and then I saw three games against Malisse today in the morning. Not much I can say.
But, look, he's doing well. I don't remember how old he is anymore, but he's still very young, I'm sure. It's great that he's doing his best runs at slams. I guess for him it's just important to back that up in other tournaments. But that's going to come naturally.
If you can do it in slams it shows that you're mentally and physically somewhat tough. Even though grass is a different surface, I learned 10 years ago when I played Sampras you don't play the points the same here as you do other places around the world. You have to play differently when the other surfaces come around again.
But, uhm, I guess if he's gotten this far, somewhat comfortable. I mean, I'm sure he'll have a slight chance against Novak, too.
Q. Do you welcome the Australians having a tennis player for a change after their great heritage?
ROGER FEDERER: You talk like Lleyton isn't around anymore. Be careful.
Q. He's around, but fragile.
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, but still around. Could have beaten Soderling. We'd be talking differently.
For me, he still remains a great champion, always will be. He almost seems a bit injured to me. I'm sure he's never going to say what was actually the problem with him. But he can really battle through, you know, I think tough moments. That's why I admire, you know, him as a player and his work ethic.
Now, I think it's always good that the Australians have players. I just think that's key for a country that hosts, you know, one of the big tournaments around the world. They love their tennis. I think it's still the number one sport in Australia.
When we come there, they have someone to cheer for like they have Murray here, and obviously the French and the Americans there are plenty of. But maybe in England and Australia have a bit fewer players, so it's nice when a guy is coming along.
I don't know if he's going to be in the top hundred yet, Tomic, but I hope he will be when the Australian Open kind of rolls around so he doesn't need a wild card.
Q. You could say your take away comment from Melbourne is, Let's wait six months and see where things are at. Now as you're advancing here, what are your thoughts? Do you think your comment is pretty justified?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, got to wait and see how this turns out to be. Because, again, it could be a repeat of the Djokovic/Murray final and then I was wrong. If it's not the case, then I was right.
At the end of the day, I don't care if I'm wrong or right. I know where my game is at. I know where Rafa's game is at. He was going for four Grand Slams in a row; he loses. It's a new year. I just struggle when it goes from one extreme to the next.
We've all been playing well, I think the top four or five guys really, for a long time. I think it's exciting for tennis. Trying to talk it down or talk about changes, I think it's nice that we're all playing good at the same time.
Q. Do you try to stay calm and within yourself?
ROGER FEDERER: Always. Yeah, I don't need to get into all that fuss. I just need to straighten the record sometimes, otherwise people go in a direction that's just ridiculous.
Q. What is your assessment on Tsonga's game?
ROGER FEDERER: I think he's a great player. He's proven it on numerous occasions. I played a really good match I thought against him in Qatar. I think we both played well in the semis there. He was somewhat coming back from I think he had an injury at the end of the year and he didn't play so much. I thought he played great.
Yeah, it's going to be good tennis. He was a guy I kind of expected to come through in that section. It happened, so it's going to be a tough match. I think he's got the weapons to be a huge threat on grass, make a run here. It's a tough draw, but I'm ready for it.
Q. You mentioned Lleyton. After his loss the other day he approached his children and they started squealing, Daddy, daddy. It was sort of a situation that sort of made your heart melt. What is it like to go back to your kids and you're just daddy to them?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, normally when you have kids, it definitely changes to some degree your mindset. For some who were maybe living in a bubble, that definitely pops that bubble and makes you think there's definitely something else in your life.
I thought I always had a very good perspective, you know, on life and on where I wanted to go, how important tennis is to me, how important other things are in life to me as well. I think I was always able to have a great balance.
So when the kids came around for me, it was natural. It was something I always wanted to do with Mirka. You have nine months sort of getting ready for it while she's pregnant. You sort of hope it all goes well, which it did.
Obviously it's busy, it's intense with twins, but I love every moment of it. I wouldn't want it to be any different. I don't regret having them while I'm playing. I'm actually very happy I do have them while I'm playing.
Yeah, maybe that day will come, too, when they will scream my name and come after me. Right now it's still just a bit early.
Q. If one of your children should say to you, I want to be a tennis player, you will be happy?
ROGER FEDERER: They won't. They can't string three words together yet (smiling).
Q. Would you be happy?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I'm okay. Sports is good. Any sports. Just not boxing maybe. I struggle to watch that stuff in the first place. Even though it's a nice sport...
Roger stunned by Tsonga
Roger was upset by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarterfinals in Wimbledon today: 6-3, 7-6(3), 4-6, 4-6, 4-6.
“I think my game was plenty good enough this year to win the tournament, but unfortunately there’s only one who can win it, and the rest go home empty-handed,” Roger said. “That’s what happened to me today, but Jo played an amazing match.”
Roger started well, converting a break point in Tsonga's first service game and held the lead to take the set. He held in the second which he finally won in the tie-break.
But Tsonga broke our champ in the third set and went on to do so in sets four and five - to eventually end Roger's quest for a seventh Wimbledon crown.
TSONGA STUNS FEDERER IN FIVE SETSS
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is through to his
fourth Grand Slam semi-final.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga became the first player ever to overturn a two-set deficit and beat Roger Federer in a Grand Slam match in the Wimbledon quarter-finals on Wednesday. The Frenchman demonstrated all his flair and power as he rallied to defeat the six-time champion 3-6, 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 on Centre Court.
"For me it's just amazing," said Tsonga. "The feeling is like maybe beating [Rafael] Nadal in Roland Garros, so it's just amazing. And for me it will be, for sure, one of the best memories in my career anyway."
"I felt so good on the court. I was quick. I was just perfect today. Every time I was feeling like a dream. Even at two sets down, because I was in the quarter-finals again Roger Federer. The stadium was full. I was not ridiculous. I was in my match. I'm the kind of player who likes these big moments. So I hope I will have some more."
Federer had commanded a 178-0 record when winning the first two sets in a Grand Slam match, and had only previously lost a two-set lead in five-set matches twice before in his career. The first instance came against Lleyton Hewitt in the 2003 Davis Cup semi-finals, before David Nalbandian repeated the feat in the 2005 Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai final.
World No. 19 Tsonga is through to the semi-finals at Wimbledon for the first time, having fallen to Andy Murray in the 2010 quarter-finals at the All England Club. The Frenchman made his major breakthrough at the 2008 Australian Open, where he beat Rafael Nadal to reach his first final before finishing runner-up to Novak Djokovic. Two years later he reached the semi-finals in Melbourne for the second time, when he was beaten by Federer in straight sets.
For a place in the final, Tsonga will face World No. 2 Novak Djokovic, who ended Australian qualifier Bernard Tomic's dream run with a four-set win. Read Match Report
Tsonga takes a 5-2 career lead into his eighth clash with Djokovic. Their last meeting came in the 2010 Australian Open quarter-finals, when Tsonga prevailed in five sets.
The Le Mans native had advanced to the last eight for the loss of just one set, against Grigor Dimitrov in the second round, but suffered from nerves in the early stages against Federer and paid the price as too many unforced errors saw him surrender his serve in the second game. Federer did not relinquish the lead, saving one break point in the fifth game but was otherwise dominant on serve as he closed out the opener.
Both players settled into a high level in the 47-minute second set, in which neither player was able to break serve. In the subsequent tie-break, Federer seized the initiative, racing to a 5-0 advantage before closing out the seemingly commanding two-set lead with a forehand winner.
The coach-less Tsonga did not let his head go down, though. Instead, the Frenchman stepped in to attack Federer and broke the Swiss’ serve for the first time in the match in the third game after converting his third opportunity with a forehand winner on the run that caught the edge of the line. Federer looked to repair the damage in the latter stages of the set, twice holding a 0/30 advantage on the Tsonga serve in the eighth and 10th games. He was unable to build further, though, and Tsonga’s comeback began as he clinched his third set point with an unreturned serve.
The 12th-seeded Tsonga swiftly built on his momentum, going after a Federer second serve in the third game of the fourth set and breaking down the Swiss’ defences with a blistering forehand winner. Solid on serve, Tsonga coolly went on to level the match with a love service hold in the 10th game.
With Federer reeling, Tsonga took full advantage, bullying the 16-time Grand Slam champion with his booming forehand and drawing a crucial error in the first game of the fifth set to gain an early service break. Federer would earn no chances to regain the break, and Tsonga went on to close out victory in three hours and eight minutes.
"I served just unbelievable," assessed Tsonga. "I feel really confident on this shot. I hope it will continue. It is difficult to play against him because you don't know exactly what he's thinking, what's happening in his head. He has all the time the same behaviour, and it's difficult because he plays so fast. You don't know if he's scared or not, and it's really difficult. I didn't look at him. I was just focused on me, on my serve, and that's it."
Tsonga is the fifth Frenchman to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals in the Open Era, following Henri Leconte (1986), Cedric Pioline (1997), Sebastien Grosjean (2003-2004) and Richard Gasquet (2007). Pioline went on to become the only Frenchman in the Open Era to reach the final (l. to Sampras). The last Frenchman to win the title was Yvon Petra in 1946.
"It's always a tough match to lose today," said Federer, who also lost in the quarter-finals last year (l. to Berdych). "But I think Jo played great. Really from start to finish I don't remember seeing a break point after I broke him in the first game. But I was close. I had all my chances. He came up with some good stuff. So it was tough. I'm actually pretty pleased with my performance today. It's kind of hard going out of the tournament that way, but unfortunately it does happen sometimes."
The 29-year-old Swiss was looking to win his first major title since the 2010 Australian Open, and claim a record-tying seventh Wimbledon crown.
“It's the second year running that the talk has been about me equalling Pete's seven Wimbledons. I didn't feel that makes it particularly special. I love equalling any record Pete has made, but it's not the driving force behind my motivation really. I love Pete. It's always nice doing stuff that he did. But at the end of the day I'm trying to win a tournament.”
http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis … -Sets.aspx
FEDERER: I CAN WIN MORE SLAMS
Federer's attention shifts to the Davis Cup,
where Switzerland will square off against
Portugal from 8-10 July.
Despite losing in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon for the second straight year on Wednesday, World No. 3 Roger Federer remains upbeat about his chances to claim one or more Grand Slam titles in the future. When asked whether or not he sees himself hoisting another major title, a confident Federer said, “I think I definitely can, yes. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't the case.”
Federer won the first two sets against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, but his French counterpart stormed back to hand the Swiss his first loss in 179 Grand Slam matches when holding a two-sets lead. The No. 12 seed rallied to win 3-6, 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 and Federer credited Tsonga’s ability to step up when it counted. “I really did play well, and I also thought Jo played an amazing match, as good as I've seen him play for such a long period of time. You can only respect that,” said Federer. “It was a great match from both sides. To talk bad about this match would be unfortunate.”
After breaking Tsonga in the opening game, Federer did not see another break point. The six-time Wimbledon champion believes there wasn’t much more he could do to reverse the outcome of the match “I can't blame my poor returning or my poor serving or my poor movement or anything like that in this match, and that makes it a bit easier to digest.”
Added Federer, “I'm actually pretty pleased with my performance today. It's kind of hard going out of the tournament that way, but unfortunately it does happen sometimes. At least it took him sort of a special performance to beat me, which is somewhat nice.”
The Swiss, who last won a major title at the Australian Open in 2010, is looking to capture a Grand Slam Championship for the ninth straight year, and will have one more chance to extend the streak at the US Open. In comparing his form to the past season, Federer finds that he is playing just as well, if not better.”The game is there. I'm happy. I'm healthy. I feel much better than sort of a year ago. That's very encouraging,” Federer assessed. “Even though I took a tough loss today, I don't feel discouraged in any way. I think that's key right now, to not let anything get to me.”
His attention now shifts to the Davis Cup, where Switzerland will square off against Portugal from 8-10 July for a chance to play in the World Group Playoffs. “I'll work harder than ever, the way I usually do, and hopefully come back extremely strong for Davis Cup first of all, and then for the American summer again.”
Federer has won 11 summer-hard-court titles since 2003, which include five triumphs at the US Open, four titles at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati event and two trophies at the Rogers Cup in Canada.
Roger Federer: Jestem jeszcze w stanie wygrać turniej wielkoszlemowy
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga zniszczył w środę marzenia Rogera Federera o siódmym triumfie na wimbledońskiej trawie. Szwajcar drugi rok z rzędu zakończył udział w turnieju na ćwierćfinale, lecz w dalszym ciągu nie wątpi w swoje umiejętności. - Jestem jeszcze w stanie wygrać turniej wielkoszlemowy - zapewnia Federer.
- Pierwsze dwa sety dzisiejszego spotkania można porównać do mojego finału sprzed dwóch lat z Andym Roddickiem. Obaj serwowaliśmy znakomicie i rzadko zdarzało się odbierającemu wypracować choćby niewielką przewagę - stwierdził Federer tuż po środowej porażce z Tsongą. - Po dwóch setach wydawało się, że kontroluję przebieg wydarzeń na korcie. Jo jednak w dalszym ciągu serwował wspaniale, co utrudniło mi wypracowanie kolejnych break pointów. Ostatecznie to on kilkakrotnie przełamał moje podanie - dodał 29-letni Szwajcar.
Porażka Federera w ćwierćfinałowym pojedynku z Francuzem zaskoczyła wielu tenisowych ekspertów. Na konferencji prasowej przypomniano deklarację złożoną przez zawodnika z Bazylei podczas tegorocznego Australian Open, w której obiecywał maksymalną mobilizację na Wimbledon. Już podczas Roland Garros można było odczuć, że Szwajcar powraca do wspaniałej dyspozycji, a na ukochanych trawnikach przy Church Road będzie walczył o swoje 17. wielkoszlemowe trofeum. - Byłem przekonany, że moja gra okaże się wystarczająca, aby wygrać ten turniej. Niestety Jo rozegrał dzisiaj wspaniałe spotkanie, a ja powrócę do domu z pustymi rękami - wyznał Federer.
Pomimo pożegnania się z wimbledońskimi zawodami, Szwajcar pozostaje dobrej myśli. Ma także przygotowany plan na najbliższe miesiące: - Będę trenował mocniej niż zazwyczaj i chcę być w świetnej dyspozycji na spotkanie z Portugalią w ramach Pucharu Davisa. Następnie rozpocznę przygotowania do cyklu turniejów na amerykańskich kortach twardych - zakończył Federer.
Wimbledon 2011 - wywiad po porażce w ćwierćfinale
R. Federer def. by J. Tsonga 6-3, 7-6, 4-6, 4-6, 4-6
Q. He really seemed to lift his game after getting into the match a little bit. He almost like slammed the door on you and you couldn't quite get it open again. Is that accurate?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, maybe. I don't know. I mean, it's always a tough match to lose today. But, like you say, I think Jo played great. Really from start to finish I don't remember seeing a breakpoint after I broke him in the first game.
But I was close. You know, I had all my chances. He came up with some good stuff. So it was tough.
Q. What would you say went wrong and what went right for you today?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, except the score, many, many things went right. I thought I played a good match myself. I'm actually pretty pleased with my performance today. It's kind of hard going out of the tournament that way, but unfortunately it does happen sometimes.
At least it took him, you know, sort of a special performance to beat me, which is somewhat nice. But, you know, like I said, I think he played an amazing match. Didn't give me many chances. There was some close ones along the way, but he always was able to sneak out on me. That made it tough for me.
But, look, I played well for myself, so it was pretty good.
Q. Was his speed a strong factor in getting balls?
ROGER FEDERER: Uhm, I mean, look, I've played Jo before. It's not like he's 16 years old and I've never seen him play before. I know what to expect from Jo. He can come up with some good stuff and some poor things at times, you know.
He had basically good return games along the way in the third, fourth, and fifth. I think especially the third set, the break I get is very unusual. He chips back a couple; they stay in. He ends up picking a couple of sides and he ends up breaking me in a way I don't think he deserves as much.
But, look, he hung in there. I was controlling the match. Next thing you know, he just continued serving great, which for me was important to get at least a couple of chances.
But the chances were slim. And then again, he only needed a couple of breaks to end up bringing it home. So he did a really good job doing that very well.
Q. Giving up that early break in the fifth, were you discouraged? Did you feel he sort of has you out of it? What was your psychological state?
ROGER FEDERER: I think he played well. Every time it got important on sort of my service games he played great. He took all the right chances. He believed in shots, you know, that maybe you don't hit as often. But exactly when he needed them, he was able to pull them off. That's a big credit to him, for believing that he can, you know, pull shots the way he did.
And for me it was tough obviously. He was taking huge cuts at the ball. When it got important, he went for it. It all worked out for him today.
Q. You've been invincible in matches in majors when you've had a two sets to nothing lead. How would you describe what turned things around from the first two sets here?
ROGER FEDERER: Not much. I mean, I think we just played both well from start to finish. We didn't give each other many looks on our serves. It reminded me to a degree of the Roddick match I played here in the finals. It was that tough getting sort of Love 30, 15 30, 15 40 leads. They were very rare.
Whenever you would get a ball back somewhat decent, you know, the other guy slams the door every time. Forehand in the corner. You're trying to get out of that position, but it's hard.
I think we both did a really good job of doing the 1 2 punch. I knew he could do it. It was not really a surprise to see him do it for five sets. But it was good tennis. You know, I really enjoyed it. It was unfortunate at the end I wasn't able to come out of it.
From start to finish I felt also I was playing well. Didn't take much time between points. It was a quick match for both of us. Before you know it, all of a sudden you're down a break in the fifth. You know, things don't look so good, but you're feeling actually pretty good, which is a bit unfortunate.
Q. Whenever you come after a defeat in a slam, after five minutes you are in the press room. Is it because you just want to get rid of everything and go away and forget about everything or not?
ROGER FEDERER: No. They told me I have a chance now or in an hour. I prefer to do it now and then do doping after and then hopefully they let me go and I can go back.
No, why hang around? I have nothing more to do here, even though I like it here. Who knows, maybe I'll stay in Wimbledon for a few days. I don't know what I'm going to do yet next.
No, I mean, you guys don't like to wait, right? So I'm doing you guys a favor (smiling).
Q. How long will it take you to get over this?
ROGER FEDERER: This is part of the process. I mean, look, I think this one for some reason's gonna be easier to digest than the last year's defeat. Even though this one was in five sets and I was up two sets to love, I don't really feel like I lost from two sets to love up.
Kind of a strange feeling because I did play well myself. There's not much I can't blame my poor returning or my poor serving or my poor movement or anything like that in this match, and that makes it, I think, a bit easier to digest.
Who knows, maybe it's going to hurt me more in three days. I doubt it. I'll be able to move on quickly. Nevertheless, it's disappointing that I loss.
Q. In Australia you did say, Let's wait six months and we'll see then. Now you just came off the court obviously, but if you could reflect on your place in the game, what would you say?
ROGER FEDERER: Like I say, I think I'm playing well, you know. I thought my game was plenty good enough this year to win the tournament. Unfortunately there's only one that can win it, and the rest go home empty handed. That's what happened to me today. I think Jo played an amazing match, like I said, so obviously it's disappointing.
But the game is there. I'm happy. I'm healthy. I feel much better than sort of a year ago. That's very encouraging really. Even though I took a tough loss today, I don't feel, you know, discouraged in any way. I think that's key right now, to not let anything get to me.
I'll work harder than ever, the way I usually do, and hopefully come back extremely strong for Davis Cup first of all, and then for the American summer again.
Q. You can still lift Grand Slam trophies with some ease?
ROGER FEDERER: Is it easy for anybody at the moment? I don't know. I don't think so. I think it's pretty tough for anybody right now to win Grand Slams. But one will win the tournament. The other 120 something players will not. That's what's tough in tennis. Knock out systems are pretty rough.
But I think I definitely can, yes. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't the case.
Q. Is there any special significance for you in any way, either the Pete Sampras record or your record? Was it sort of like a routine Grand Slam event for you, or was there any special meaning to it this year for you?
ROGER FEDERER: Uhm, obviously it's the second year running that the talk has been about me equaling Pete's seven Wimbledons. I didn't feel that makes it particularly special. I love equaling any record Pete has made, but it's not the driving force behind, you know, my motivation really.
Look, I love Pete. It's always nice doing stuff that he did. But at the end of the day I'm trying to win a tournament. It always feels very special coming back to the grounds.
Just, like I said beginning of the week, I feel great here. I think I played some good tennis these last 10 days or whatever it's been. Yeah, I enjoyed myself here once again. Definitely feels special. Was there anything extra special? I'm not sure. There is always something. I always love it here, so...
Q. Does it feel like the end of an era, because we're so used to seeing you win here?
ROGER FEDERER: No, I don't think so. Look, I played too good to wasn't a shocker second round loss in straight sets, some stupid match I played. It was a great match, I think, from both sides. To talk bad about this match would be unfortunate, I think. I really did play well, and I also thought Jo played an amazing match, as good as I've seen him play for such a long period of time.
You know, you can only respect that. I do that. That's why there's no reason to look too far ahead, to be quite honest.
Q. Your record speaks for yourself, but in the fifth set there is something strange. You played 29 matches and you won 16 and you lost 13 today. Just a little bit more than 50%. How do you explain it? A player like you, you're effortless, so you should win more in the fifth set than the others. How do you explain the record is not that great?
ROGER FEDERER: Because when I was probably losing four matches a year I wasn't even in fifth sets. I could have done nicely for my records probably and gone down two sets to one in every match and probably still would have won in five because I was so much better than everybody else.
These records to me don't really sound so right. Was it a physical effort today? I don't really think so. It was more just a serving contest. Good 1 2 punches.
Sure, it takes its toll. What was it, 3 hours 15 match? We can do it in our sleep, to be honest. I don't think five set records come into play so much.
But, sure, it can show a few things. I don't think Jo has a particularly good five set record. How come he played so well today? I don't know. It's all a matter of how you look at it, so...
Federer back in Swiss team
It's official. Roger Federer will be part of the Swiss team that will play the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas tie against Portugal next month in Berne. The Swiss Tennis Association has confirmed that the team will be formed by Federer, Stanislas Wawrinka, Stephane Bohli and Marco Chiudinelli.
The Swiss player has adhered to the plans revealed in an announcement on his personal website last March. "I've decided I'm going to play the Davis Cup tie in July at home against Portugal. I'm really looking forward to helping Switzerland begin the process of getting back into the World Group," said the 16-time Grand Slam champion.
The Swiss team is currently competing in Europe/Africa Group I after suffering a comprehensive 5-0 loss to Kazakhstan in last year’s World Group play-offs. This means that the Central Europeans will need to win their next two ties if they are to fulfil their objective of playing in next year's World Group.
Federer played his last Davis Cup tie in the 2009 World Group play-offs against Italy. The Swiss maestro won his two singles matches back then and helped his country keep its place in the top tier of the competition. The importance of his contribution is highlighted by the fact that the team has lost all the ties played since then.
The Swiss champion has played a total of 48 Davis Cup rubbers throughout his career with a win-loss record of 37-11. His best result came in 2003 when Switzerland reached the semifinals and lost against a powerful Australian team led by Lleyton Hewitt and Mark Philippoussis.
The presence of a player like Federer increases Switzerland's chances of achieving its first Davis Cup title. Although the world No. 3 is clearly the most successful member of the team, the Swiss captain, Severin Luthi, can also rely on another competitive player, Stanislas Wawrinka, currently world No. 14. The partnership between these two players could give the Swiss team the status of a potential contender for the title in years to come.
Król Roger powoli odchodzi
- Wielkość Federera polegała również na tym, że wpłynął na rozwój innych tenisistów, którzy dziś z nim zwyciężają - mówi Boris Becker, wieszcząc powolny koniec ery 30-letniego szwajcarskiego mistrza
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga pokonał w środę Federera w ćwierćfinale Wimbledonu 3:6, 6:7 (3-7), 6:4, 6:4, 6:4, sprawiając największą sensację turnieju. We wszystkich wcześniejszych 178 przypadkach, gdy Szwajcar zgarniał w Wielkim Szlemie dwa pierwsze sety, schodził z kortu jako zwycięzca. Przegrał kilka dramatycznych pięciosetowych batalii w Pucharze Davisa, a w 2005 r. dał się dogonić Davidowi Nalbandianowi na Masters Cup w Szanghaju, ale w Szlemie dwa wygrane sety zawsze oznaczały jego końcowy sukces.
Drugi rok z rzędu odpadł w ćwierćfinale Wimbledonu, bo w 2010 r. w podobnych okolicznościach znokautował go niespodziewanie Tomasz Berdych. Czech też świetnie serwował i przewyższał Federera siłą ataku.
- Grałem dobrze, na poziomie pozwalającym wygrać turniej. Nie poległem w II rundzie, to nie była głupia wpadka. Zwycięzca może być tylko jeden - wzruszał ramionami po porażce Szwajcar. Czy wierzy, że dalej może zwyciężać Szlemy? - Oczywiście. Jestem zdrowy, mam motywację - odparł.
Wątpiących jednak przybywa. Federer za półtora miesiąca kończy 30 lat. Ostatniego Szlema zdobył w styczniu 2010 r. w Melbourne. To jego szósty z rzędu wielki turniej bez tytułu. Tak długą posuchę miał ostatnio przed 2003 r., czyli zanim na dobre rozkręciła się jego kariera.
"Roger chciałby wrócić, ale czas na Wimbledonie nie stoi w miejscu dla nikogo" - napisał "The Guardian". Ostatnim triumfatorem po trzydziestce był Arthur Ashe w 1975 r., czyli w czasach drewnianych rakiet i zwolnionych prędkości. Po 30. urodzinach Szlemy wygrali poza Londynem: Petr Korda (Australian Open 1998), Pete Sampras (US Open 2002) i Andre Agassi (Australian Open 2003). "Ciągle mam w pamięci porażkę Samprasa z Federerem w 2001 r. Wtedy skończyła się era. I dziś też" - zauważył na Twitterze dziennikarz "Daily Mirror".
Jeszcze trzy-cztery lata temu wydawało się, że Federer pobije niemal wszystkie tenisowe rekordy. Licznik Szlemów zdobytych przez Szwajcara zatrzymał się na 16, czyli na dwóch więcej niż osiągnięcie Samprasa, wcześniej najlepsze. Amerykanin, który urodził się i rywalizował dokładnie dekadę przed Federerem, sam podkreślał wiele razy, że Roger będzie większy od niego. Dziś wydaje się, że Szwajcar we wszystkim Samprasa jednak nie przebije - Amerykanin zwyciężył w siedmiu Wimbledonach, dłużej prowadził też na liście ATP. Po piętach Federerowi depcze też Rafael Nadal. Jeśli 25-letni Hiszpan wygra w Londynie, będzie miał już 11 Szlemów.
- Druga z rzędu porażka w ćwierćfinale turnieju, który wygrało się sześć razy, musiała zaboleć. Bez względu na to, jak bardzo Roger stara się to ukryć. Kiedy jesteś na szczycie i nagle zaczynasz przegrywać, ciężko znieść to psychicznie. Przed Rogerem dużo rozmyślań o przyszłości - mówi Boris Becker, ekspert BBC, trzykrotny król Wimbledonu z lat 80. Niemiec przypomina, że jego kariera skończyła się właściwie w momencie, gdy pojawił się Sampras i zdał sobie sprawę, że jest ktoś lepszy od niego. Federer też wie, że dziś lepszy jest Nadal, że coraz częściej przegrywa z Djokoviciem, Murrayem, Del Potro, a od czasu do czasu także z Bedrychem i Tsongą. Ile jeszcze porażek wytrzyma?
- Federer grał magiczny tenis, ale jego wielkość polegała też na tym, że zainspirował rozwój innych. To dzięki niemu męski tenis jest dziś na takim poziomie, bo rywale za wszelką cenę chcieli go dogonić - podkreślił Becker.
I u schyłku kariery mistrza wreszcie go dogonili.
- Nie mogłem uwierzyć w porażkę Rogera. Wydawało się, że po tak udanym Rolandzie Garrosie, na swojej ulubionej nawierzchni trawiastej, zaprezentuje się jeszcze lepiej - mówi Wojciech Fibak, ćwierćfinalista Wimbledonu z 1980 r. - Moim zdaniem za wcześnie na skreślanie Federera. Za rok wciąż ma szansę - dodaje Fibak. Jego zdaniem Tsonga, tak jak przed rokiem Berdych, zaskoczył Federera świetnym serwisem. Pokonał Szwajcara nieco większym atletyzmem i odpornością psychiczną.
Podobnie myśli John McEnroe. - Federer wygra jeszcze Szlema. W meczu z Tsongą nie próbował niczego zmienić i to go zgubiło w końcówce - stwierdził Amerykanin, trzykrotny mistrz Wimbledonu.
Kolejna szansa, żeby przekonać się, kto ma rację, pod koniec sierpnia na US Open.
Jakub Ciastoń
Roger gra w tenisa razem ze szwajcarskim skoczkiem narciarskim Simonem Ammannem :)
2-0 against Portugal
Roger had to fight back from one set down in the Davis Cup rubber today to eventually defeat Portugal's Rui Machado 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.
It was our champ's first Davic Cup match after almost two years. He struggled with too many errors in the opening set but continually raised his level of play. Thanks to early breaks in the following sets, Roger worked his way into the lead and sealed the victory after a little more than two and a half hours.
Switzerland now leads 2-0 against Portugal after the first day of play as Stanislas Wawrinka won the opening match, obviously thrilling the 8'000 Swiss fans in the Swiss capital.
Federer pomoże dzieciom z Malawi
Słynny szwajcarski tenisista Roger Federer zamierza pomagać dzieciom z jednego z najbiedniejszych krajów na świecie - Malawi.Zwycięzca 16 turniejów przyznał, że prowadzona przez niego fundacja dobroczynna przekaże 3,3 mln dolarów na opracowany 10 lat temu projekt dotyczący pomocy w edukacji dzieci z Malawi. Celem jest umożliwienie rozpoczęcia nauki 54 tysiącom najmłodszych mieszkańców państwa położonego w południowo-wschodniej Afryce.
- Jako ojciec dwóch córek (bliźniaczki Myla Rose i Charlene Riva mają po dwa lata), na co dzień obserwuję jak dzieci niewiarygodnie szybko się uczą i rozwijają - powiedział 29-letni tenisista, obecnie trzeci na liście światowej.
Projekt zakłada prowadzenie nauki w 80 centrach edukacyjnych w sześciu z 28 dystryktów w Malawi. Według statystyk, w tym kraju ponad trzy miliony dzieci poniżej ośmiu lat nie chodzi do szkoły, a analfabetyzm jest ogromnym problemem.
Istniejąca od 2003 roku fundacja imienia Rogera Federera pomaga dzieciom m.in. w Tanzanii, Zimbabwe i Republice Południowej Afryki oraz sportowym talentom w Szwajcarii.
Dwa tygodnie temu Federer niespodziewanie odpadł już w ćwierćfinale turnieju na trawiastych kortach w Wimbledonie. Pokonał go w pięciu setach Francuz Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. W przeszłości Szwajcar sześciokrotnie wygrał londyńską imprezę.
PAP