Posts tagged Roger
Roger Federer Interview – Miami, Apr 1
Apr 2nd
Roger Federer Interview
Sony Ericsson Open – Miami
April 1, 2011
R. NADAL/R. Federer 6 3, 6 2
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. You’ve heard your name called many times around the world. Have you ever heard quite so intense and such a testimonial to you as tonight?
ROGER FEDERER: Um, yeah, I mean, I don’t know. Haven’t gone through every match I’ve ever played, but it’s definitely a very nice feeling to get the support from the crowd, you know, especially against Rafa, obviously.
Yeah, I think definitely had something to do with the score. I’m not sure I wanted it or not because it meant I was down in the score. Definitely nice hearing my name go through the stadium. I’ve had some great times here in Miami. Definitely nice feeling to have to play out there and hear that.
Q. You want to break it down for us?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, I think it’s always a bit of an adjustment obviously for me coming out and playing Rafa any lefty, I guess, but him in particular. That’s what kind of made it hard tonight.
I tried to warm with a lefty, Bob Bryan, and tried to get as acclimatized as I could against him. It’s just hard. In the first couple games you get break down, and then I felt like conditions weren’t really favoring me as well.
I knew it was slow, but just makes it so hard it hit through him on a surface like this. Then maybe you try to overhit a bit, and then obviously I start taking wrong decisions on big points.
From then on, you’re down a set and a break, and it’s not easy to come back. I thought he played well. He played tough and he played good when he had to, and I didn’t do that tonight.
So it’s disappointing for me.
Q. It seemed like your backhand just wasn’t there tonight. Did you feel it was off from the beginning? Did you want to just run around it all night?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I guess so. What else you want to me to tell you?
Q. Looked like in the fifth game in the first set that you were finding some rhythm and started to find your groove. Is there anything about that?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, clearly I’m not going to go through a match not being able to make any shot at all. I’m going to get through a few games where I feel better.
Like I said, I had a few mini chances, which against Rafa I was down right away. From then it was an uphill battle. When I did have chances I played poorly and he came up with some good stuff. Off night for me, unfortunately.
Q. What does this surface add or take away from your game? You talked about it being as slow as clay. Just more specifically, is it higher bounce? Too much time for him?
ROGER FEDERER: Particularly against players like Rafa who like to have a bit more time and gives the, an opportunity to return from way back, from in front, defend like they can and so forth, it’s definitely helpful.
You can’t sort of shoot through the court too much. It’s always got to be worked out every rally. That’s not how we played against each other in London, and knew it wasn’t going to be anything like this tonight.
But, yeah, it’s what it is. I’ve played really well on this surface in the past. Tonight, unfortunately, it wasn’t the night for me.
Q. Are you satisfied wit the way you served tonight? Were you expecting it to help you a bit more?
ROGER FEDERER: I didn’t see the statistics, so how did it feel? Felt okay, I guess. I served in spells. I knew I wasn’t going to get the free points like on the faster surfaces, and that makes it harder against Rafa, getting some momentum on your service games. Every time you miss your serve you’re going to be in a tough rally and so forth.
That’s what the serve is tonight I was hoping to get a few more free points. I did when I was hitting my spots nicely, but…
I didn’t think I served poorly, but Rafa did well and got a lot of balls back. I was just not good on the offensive tonight, and that kind of took all the opportunities away to create something tonight.
Q. Does this widen the gap, or are you more determined than ever to get back?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, for me those are not big setbacks. I wish I could play better right now against those guys, but it is what it is. I’m the last guy who gets pulled all the way down and then can’t get up for the next tournament.
I’m excited going Monaco now. I’m going to fly there directly and prepare as well as I can for the clay court season. It’s a big swing coming up now in Europe, so that’s the mindset.
Yeah, I want to do well and I want to do better. I got the opportunity in a couple weeks already.
Q. 3 Love down in the second set, Love 30, you felt like you were right there, right?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, well, right there is different for me. But I wasn’t far from maybe getting a break, let’s put it that way. Did I have any breakpoints tonight?
Q. One.
ROGER FEDERER: One. I don’t remember how I messed it up, but, yeah, I had a chance. Could have attacked better on one of them and ended up, yeah, not hitting it perfectly. So just one of those nights.
Q. Coming into the match what was your mentality? What did you want to do? Show? What did you anticipate coming into the match?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, I was confident. I was feeling well. Clearly I had in the back of my mind also how has this tournament been for me? Has it been as perfect as I wanted it to be getting into the semis?
I knew there were some doubts after all getting through the match with Simon, Rochus, a match with Monaco, extremely hot. I’m not saying that Rafa didn’t have I don’t know how his matches have been, but he just played a night session against Berdych. That definitely helped him.
Then again, regardless I’m not sure I would have beaten Rafa tonight. I just couldn’t play my game. Maybe that has something to do with the lack of rhythm I got all week from the opponents I’ve played, from the conditions I played in.
But those are not excuses. Those are just facts. I knew those were a few things that could go wrong. Maybe that was one of the things. But then again, Rafa is such a unique player in terms of how he plays that he always makes it difficult for any player.
I was determined and trying to cut down the length of the rallies, taking the ball early, serving well and mixing it up well and then a few specific details I’m not going to share but I wasn’t able to do to tonight; Rafa was able to do his game plan, and he deserves to be in the finals.
Q. With the exception of Andre and maybe Connors back in the day, there haven’t been too many players winning slams after 29. What do you feel like you have up your sleeve that you’re going to be able to use to win some slams in the future?
ROGER FEDERER: Um, I don’t know. You tell me. I don’t know. I think I’ve done quite well over the last ten years. I feel like I’ve done a lot more than some other players, so I feel like I’m yeah, we’ll see how it all plays out.
We’ll see at 36, 39 how many more I was able to get or not. We’re not going to predict how many I’m going to get or not. I’m enjoying myself right now, and I feel like if I’m playing well I can get those. That’s what I care about right now.
Q. After Rafa’s play today, do you think it’s going to start a new era with Djokovic and Nadal on the top?
ROGER FEDERER: Possibly. I don’t know. You tell me. Let’s see in five years. Look back. It’s not like Novak hasn’t been around. Guys all talk about it like the guy can’t play tennis. It’s disappointing.
Q. It took Pete a long time to get his last title, and some of the other guys also, before they made that final statement, went through a lot of stuff. Are you prepared and thinking about maybe having to go through all that and ultimately prove your point? Is that a challenge, or more of a hassle and a drag?
ROGER FEDERER: No, bigger hassle is being asked all the time these questions. I don’t know how many times I need to answer until I just say I’m not going to answer it anymore. Up to you how many times I will have to answer the question until I’m sick and tired of it.
But I know that I can do many more things in the game. Sure, it’s disappointing losing a game like tonight, but those are the matches I work extremely hard for in the off season and practice, and I’m very excited by what’s to come still.
I don’t feel like I’m 35 like you guys make me sound I am. I’m still only 29, and I have many more years left.
Q. Is it a Grand Slam title, or are you also thinking Olympics, Wimbledon, grass?
ROGER FEDERER: You name it. It’s not only just the slams for me. I like any tournament, that’s why I play them. Otherwise it would be like only playing eight tournaments a year.
Q. Where are the Olympics?
ROGER FEDERER: They’re high, sure. I would love to win the Olympic gold. Who wouldn’t? And who wouldn’t want to win them at Wimbledon?
It’s clearly a big goal and I’m thinking about, but it’s not my No. 1 goal in my career right now. It’s one after another. There are a lot of the highlights in tennis, which is great. Thank God we have those. I don’t know how I would handle having a highlight every four years, to be honest.
I think we’re very lucky in tennis. I think that’s why it’s very easy to go from one tournament to the next, because the next one is as big as the other. We have so many wonderful events around the world, and the tour is on such a high right now, such a great buzz around it.
So I wouldn’t want to miss that, playing with all those guys at the moment and facing off and seeing how I can do against them. I’ve had a great last sort of six to nine months, and I’m looking forward to what’s to come until Wimbledon at least right now.
Q. You have a favorite for the final here?
ROGER FEDERER: Um, I think it’s pretty open, obviously because of how Rafa played tonight and how he can play in finals. He’s got a great winning record for finals in general. I don’t know if he’s ever won here? He hasn’t.
I think it would be nice for him to win here for the first time. He should have beaten me here six years ago I was down two sets to love and a break and breakpoints if I am not mistaken. So he should have gotten that one, but I snuck that one out on him.
Novak has been playing great this season. Yeah, I think Rafa is going to give Novak a run for the money, and I’m going to pick Rafa.
FastScripts by ASAP Sports
From www.tennis-x.com
Get Ready Miami for Semi’s Clash of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal
Mar 29th
Get Ready Miami for Semi’s Clash of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal
Tuesday, March 29th, 2011 at 1:14 pm , filed under Tennis News by Kevin Jones
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As the 2011 Sony Ericsson Open is just coming to end, the expectations of the favourite players is getting higher, as per the draws it could be possible for an another exciting semi-final clash with the top seeded players, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in the Crandon Park Tennis Center in Key Biscayne, Florida.
This would be the first time in this season; the top seeded players will be clashing up between each other after a span of four months, the previous encounter between both the players was in Abu Dhabi last December, where the world no.1, Nadal defeated the Swiss maestro, Federer in the finals of the Mubadala World Tennis with a 7-6(4), 7-6(3) in a thrilling meet.
If both players win their quarter-finals clash with their competitors, it would be fascinating match in the semi-finals of the Miami Masters between the top seeded players. Federer, who has won all the matches against his competitors except against Novak Djokovic, who has stopped Federer in the semi-finals and finals clash this season, will have to work hard in order to achieve his third title Sony Ericsson Open.
While, Rafael Nadal, who is still waiting for his first tile at Miami, was also defeated by the Serbian in the finals of the BNP Paribas Open, if he overcomes against the world no.3 player, Federer, it would be tough job for him in the finals to face the dangerous Djokovic.
So guess who’s going to be the Champion this Year in the Sony Ericsson Open 2011?
Is it, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer or the inform player, Novak Djokovic.
Ballot yourself, who is the champion of 2011 Miami Masters?
Tags: 2011 Miami Masters, Abu Dhabi, BNP Paribas open, Mubadala World Tennis, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Sony Ericsson Open
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From www.livetennisguide.com
Novak Djokovic is tennis’ new No. 2, with a bullet, after outgunning Roger Federer
Mar 20th
The left-hander with the bulletproof game and the new gunslinger in town will play in Sunday’s men’s singles final at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
It will be No. 1 versus No. 2, as tennis fans here have been coveting for the last several years. But the names that go with the numbers won’t exactly be what they wanted, and clearly rooted for Saturday afternoon in the packed 16,100-seat stadium at Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
They got only half their wish.
No. 1 Rafael Nadal, who plays like he is trying to wear out the energizer bunny, defeated Juan Martin del Potro, 6-4, 6-4. That set the stage for the duel in the desert that has never happened, the Nadal-Roger Federer matchup that has captivated the world in places such as Melbourne, Paris and Wimbledon, England.
But never in Indian Wells, Calif., and now, probably never here at all.
In the second semifinal, Federer was dispatched by Serbian star Novak Djokovic, and the 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 victory further confirmed that Djokovic has moved past Federer in men’s tennis. Numerical measurements confirm it. Djokovic entered the match No. 3, Federer No. 2. On Monday, when tennis computers make their calculations official, Djokovic will be No. 2, Federer No. 3.
There is no question that Federer’s long reign at the top of the tennis rankings, and his dramatic matches against Nadal, have given both men the exposure to make them the most popular players in the game. Federer fans are zealous about their Swiss star, Nadal fans the same about their Spanish hero. Still, each group of followers has grudging respect for the other’s hero.
And so, it was no surprise when Federer told a TV interviewer as he took the court to play Djokovic that Nadal’s victory had been “inspirational,” and he hoped to draw from that.
But against Djokovic, who at 23 is six years younger and who had beaten him at last year’s U.S. Open and this year’s Australian Open, Federer needed more than inspiration. He needed masterful tennis shots, something that was his trademark as he placed himself on a tennis pedestal with 16 major titles, most ever in men’s tennis.
But Saturday, against a more mature, confident Djokovic, the artist Federer continued his recent trend of emulating Picasso for three shots and Ralph the house painter for the next two.
The end for Federer — maybe for one last shot at another title here, where he has won three — effectively arrived at 3:32 p.m., 1 hour 58 minutes into the match. He had fought back from 2-0 down to 2-2 in the final set, gotten to 40-15 on his serve . . . and then let Djokovic reel off 11 straight points, a run that left Federer trailing, 2-4, and down love-40 on his serve.
Now, , after saving two of those three break points, Federer fed Djokovic a short ball and could only watch as his young opponent hit a perfect topspin forehand just out of reach in his forehand corner for a two-break, 5-2 lead. It was effectively the end, possibly for future hardware at Indian Wells. Federer’s runner-up finish with Stanislas Wawrinka in men’s doubles later in the day won’t carry the same sizzle.
After Djokovic served it out, he turned toward his team in the stands and pounded on his chest. Federer quickly gathered his equipment and departed. The body language said as much as the scoreboard.
“Right now,” said Djokovic, whose victory was his 19th in a row, going back to last season’s Davis Cup victory by Serbia, “I kind of have more self-belief when I step on the court against him. Before, it was, you know, let’s hope I can play well.”
Now, Djokovic goes out with full knowledge that he not only can win, but is probably the favorite against Federer. Just three weeks earlier, he’d beaten Federer in the final at Dubai, 6-3, 6-3. There was a time when nobody beat Federer, 6-3, 6-3. But now, as one recent tennis magazine headline said, this Serbian star is “No Djok.”
With different spelling, that certainly could apply to Nadal.
He dug himself a 1-4 hole against the huge-hitting, 6-foot-6 Argentine, and few in the place actually thought he was in deep trouble. That’s because Nadal is the un-squashable bug. When he is healthy and firing on all cylinders, which is almost always, beating him is like trying to lasso a ground squirrel or swat a fly with a pencil.
Nadal got from 1-4 to 4-4 in a blink, then broke Del Potro’s huge serve by returning one 133-mph delivery so effectively that a surprised Del Potro responded by netting his answer.
Soon, the second set became a study in puppetry, and Nadal was pulling all the strings. Deep shots to Del Potro’s right, then left, then right. As long as Del Potro’s legs were, they couldn’t keep up.
Quickly, it was 2-2 and time for Nadal to break serve and further destroy Del Potro’s confidence. At 30-40, Del Potro made a perfect approach shot, deep and wide to Nadal’s backhand side. Few mortals would have even gotten near the shot. Nadal got there, stretched out with his two-handed backhand slapped a winner past the huge wingspan of Del Potro.
Asked later how many players would have made that shot, a glum Del Potro said, “Not many.”
Nadal and Djokovic play Sunday at 1 p.m., after the women’s final between No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki and surprise finalist Marion Bartoli.
Nadal has a 16-7 lead against Djokovic, including victories in all five Grand Slam matches they have had, as well as the semifinals at the Beijing Olympics. He has also played Djokovic twice at Indian Wells and won both.
But then, as the headline said, right now, Novak is No Djok.
bill.dwyre@latimes.com
From www.latimes.com
New wave of young guns excites Roger Federer at Indian Wells
Mar 16th
By Mark Lamport-Stokes
INDIAN WELLS, California (Reuters) – Excited by the emergence of a new generation of players this season, Roger Federer said he would savor the prospect of playing one of them at the Indian Wells ATP tournament.
The 16-times grand slam champion takes on 18-year-old American wildcard Ryan Harrison in the fourth round of the elite ATP Masters 1000 event on Wednesday, giving him an early glimpse into the sport’s future.
Harrison, ranked 152nd, clawed his way past 20-year-old Canadian Milos Raonic 7-6 4-6 6-4 on Tuesday in a match-up between two of the most exciting prospects in men’s tennis.
“I’ve never played either one of them, and it’s going to be an interesting match for me,” world number two Federer told reporters after booking his place in the last 16 with a 6-0 6-1 demolition of Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela.
Federer, who spoke a couple of hours before Harrison triumphed over Raonic, felt the two young guns were capable of blazing a trail in the future just as he, Andy Roddick and Lleyton Hewitt had done in the early 2000s.
“I definitely feel like we’ve been waiting for that generation to come after the strong generation of (Andy) Murray, (Novak) Djokovic and (Rafa) Nadal,” the Swiss said.
“That’s what I went through as well with Roddick and (Juan Carlos) Ferrero and (David) Nalbandian and Hewitt and (Marat) Safin and so forth.
“You want them to do well at the big tournaments like here now and one of them is going to come through and play me, which is gonna be big news. I’m excited playing against them.”
MIRROR MOMENT
Asked to pinpoint a moment early in his own career which perhaps mirrored what Harrison would experience against the Swiss on Wednesday, Federer replied: “The first time I played Carlos Moya in Marseille.
“I got a wildcard, and he was three or four in the world, and later on became world number one here in Indian Wells.”
Federer beat Spaniard Moya 7-6 3-6 6-3 in that encounter in 1999.
“I was ranked I think 200 or 300 in the world and it was an amazing feeling,” the Swiss recalled. “I always felt on a big court I could do some damage, maybe not in the entire tournament but at least in one given match.”
Asked how he would approach the challenge of taking on three-times champion Federer at Indian Wells, Harrison replied: “He’s not gonna take any match lightly. Whether it be me or someone who has no ATP points, he will play on his terms.
“The biggest thing for me is to go out there, keep my head together and make sure I stay on my terms as much as possible.
“I know he’s gonna come out and give me his best stuff, just like I’m gonna go out and try to give him my best stuff.”
Harrison was elated with his third-round victory over the big-serving Raonic, the world number 37 who has set the tennis world alight this year.
“He’s the up-and-comer who has been kind of like a giant-killer right now,” Harrison said. “He’s taken out a lot of guys in the top 20, and even the top 10 in the world.
Raonic clinched his first ATP title by upsetting top seed Fernando Verdasco at last month’s San Jose Open and then reached the final in Memphis the following week where he lost a thriller with Roddick 7-6 6-7 7-5.
(Editing by Ossian Shine)
From www.latimes.com
Roger Federer: The Seventh Greatest Tennis Player Ever?
Mar 7th
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The Wall Street Journal recently published the results to a study by Filippo Radicchi that used an analytical approach to try and determine the best men’s tennis player of the Open Era (1968-present).
The study, which was published recently in a scientific journal looks at every match played and gives each player a “prestige score” based on the number of wins they had in their career against quality opponents.
Based on the study, Jimmy Connors ranks as the top men’s player of all time. Connors is helped by the fact he played competitive tennis until he was nearly 40. But while his 109 career titles is tops all time, his eight career Grand Slam titles is only tied for eighth ever.
Meanwhile, Roger Federer, who has the most career Grand Slam titles (16) is only the seventh best men’s tennis player ever based on Radicchis “Prestige Score.” He is just ahead of Pete Sampras who has the second most Grand Slam titles, and just behind Stefan Edberg. Yes, Stefan Edberg.
Not even listed among the top eight players based on Prestige Score are guys like Roy Emerson (12 Grand Slam titles), Rod Laver (11), Bjorn Borg (11), Bill Tilden (10), and Rafael Nadal (9) all of whom have more Grand Slam titles than the top 6 players on this list.
It is nice to see somebody try to quantify greatness in tennis. But while Stefan Edberg had a nice run in the 80s and early 90s, he seems to benefit on this list from having a career that overlapped many of the other greats and had more opportunities to play against “quality opponents.”
So to say Edberg is a better tennis player than Federer seems like a bit of a stretch. And if there is a problem with that piece, then the entire list comes into question. And if the list is flawed, it is hard to accept that Connors is indeed the best over.
All data via Wall Street Journal or Tennis-X.com
From www.businessinsider.com
Roger Federer and Pete Sampras Practicing for Indian Wells
Mar 7th
Roger Federer and Pete Sampras Practicing for Indian Wells
Monday, March 7th, 2011 at 10:44 am , filed under Tennis News by Davis Robinson
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Roger Federer, the world no.2 player is practicing with the former world no.1 player, Pete Sampras ahead of the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament that begins on Monday in Indian Wells.
The former world no.1 American player, Sampras on Friday have spent some time playing with the Federer, Swiss maestro before the start of the Masters 1000 tournament which is being held at Indian Wells.
Roger Federer and Pete Sampras, the two generations of tennis supermen boasted a collectively of 30 Grand Slam titles in their career and 11 year-end No, 1 rankings on the same court.
After finishing their practice, the Tennis stars watched Koberian and Pau Gasol, from Los Angeles Lakers, take on the Charlotte Bobcats. Federer has 16 Grand Slams in his career and the former world no.1 Sampras has 14 grand slams in his career for a total of 30 in their account.
Federer earlier has lost his fourth title in Dubai Open last week in straight sets against the Novak Djokovic, world no.3 player. Federer is looking out for fourth title at Indian Wells, earlier he has won the Masters1000 tournament in the years 2004, 2005 and 2006.
The main Draws will be out on Monday or Tuesday for the Masters 1000 tournament which is going to be held in Indian Wells.
Federer in statement has said that, It is great to be in the USA again and really looking forward to the tournaments in Indian Wells and in Miami and said that he had a great time in 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.
Tags: Masters 1000 tournament, Novak Djokovic, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer
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From www.livetennisguide.com
Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer have near stranglehold on majors
Mar 5th
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Call them the two-headed monster of men’s tennis.
In the past six years, any player attempting to win a Grand Slam tournament usually has found Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer barring the way. No two players in the Open era have dominated as they have in winning 21 of 24 Grand Slams dating back to the top-ranked Spaniard’s first win at the French Open in 2005.
While their rivalry atop the men’s game has captivated fans and produced indelible moments, it also has made it nearly impossible for other players to earn that career-defining win.
Just ask Andy Roddick or Andy Murray.
And now the monster might have sprouted a third head with Novak Djokovic winning his second Australian Open.
“There is respect, but there is frustration also,” said Gilles Simon, a former No. 6-ranked player who has never beaten Federer or Nadal in a Grand Slam. His latest setback came in a five-set loss to Federer in the second round of this year’s Australian Open.
“They stopped me every time I was playing my best tennis,” Simon said. “I lost three times to Nadal in slams, one time to Roger. Of course, it’s so boring. You know when you play against them you just have a little chance.”
Simon is just one of the top players who has failed to get past Nadal and the second-ranked Federer in a Grand Slam.
Former No. 3 Nikolay Davydenko has never beaten Federer in five meetings at the majors and has yet to face Nadal. Seventh-ranked Tomas Berdych also has struggled against the duo in majors, beating Federer once in five matchups and losing twice to Nadal.
Then there is Roddick. The American has lost all but two of his 20 meetings with Federer — and neither of the victories came in a Grand Slam.
The challenge, many of the players said, is that winning a Grand Slam title has meant beating both of them — and often in five sets. Berdych got close to winning his first Grand Slam at Wimbledon in 2010, when he beat Federer in the quarterfinals and Djokovic in the semis before falling to Nadal in the final.
“If you want to win a Grand Slam, you have to beat at least three of the top guys,” Berdych said. “In Wimbledon, I beat Roger, I beat Novak, but in the final was still one more waiting. … So even if you want to do well on Grand Slam, still you need to beat at least three great players. That’s how it is. And it doesn’t matter who it is.”
Others said Federer and Nadal also have an edge, since they bring unbridled confidence into the Slams due to their past success and often face weaker competition in the earlier rounds. They also have played plenty of five-setters, giving them an edge over young, up-and-comers who may depend on one big weapon such as a serve, which may bring them wins in lesser tournaments but not in Grand Slams.
Take Federer. He had a run of 23 consecutive Grand Slam semifinals snapped only last year when he lost in the quarterfinals of the French Open. He also has come from two sets down on six occasions, including his first-round win at Wimbledon last year and his fourth-round victory over Tommy Haas of Germany at the 2009 French Open.
“You have to win five matches to be there 23 times and you play good players. Sometimes he was close to losing 2 sets to love for the opponent,” Simon said, almost in awe.
“But at the end, they always win the match. I don’t know how I can explain it. I think it’s easier for them when it’s five sets,” he said. “You can play one amazing set against them and you win and you are one set closer to win the match. But it’s not about luck or playing one hour of your best tennis. You have to play four hours of your best tennis to win. I saw that against Roger this year. I was playing very good and couldn’t play better than that. I had an impression I could win the match but finally I lost.”
From news.bostonherald.com
Dubai Loss Raises Questions About Decline in Roger Federer’s Game
Feb 26th
Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
It was painful – again – for me to watch Roger Federer lose another tournament to Novak Djokovic this morning. Djokovic trounced Federer 6-3, 6-3 in the Dubai Tennis Championships and the match didn’t seem close most of the time. Last month, Djokovic also beat Federer in the semi-finals of the Australian Open before he defeated Andy Murray in the finals.
As a fan, I love Federer and want him to keep playing at the highest level for as long as possible. But in the finals of the Dubai event, Federer again appeared more flawed and vulnerable than ever.
This match was much less of a contest than the Federer-Djokovic match at the 2011 Australian Open. Federer only looked strong during a short spurt in the second set, when he went ahead of Djokovic 3-1, but he regressed into his bad form and Djokovic dominated until the end.
At this point, like all Federer fans and observers, I’m trying to determine if Fed has, in fact, begun to decline, or if he can mount a comeback and make a few key changes in his game to win a few more majors. I must say that the more I watch him, the more worried I am that his game is spiraling downward – perhaps in slow motion, but still downward.
I say that after watching Federer play in all the majors for the past few years. The bad trends, unfortunately, are indisputable. His serve, which had been dominating and such an important piece of his entire game, has become more average. In fact, in the past year or so, his serve has become even a vulnerability. His most talented adversaries – Rafael Nadal and Djokovic – have made it a habit to pounce on Fed’s second serve and take the offensive in rallies that they’re then winning more often. In today’s match, Federer lost a lot of points off his second serve and he often didn’t get this first serve in, and when he did, it was quite playable for Djokovic.
Can’t Federer practice and get his terrific first serve back? One would think he’d have a good shot at that. Unfortunately, he’s got other problems. His backhand, which used to be consistent – even if he didn’t use it to hit as many winners – has suddenly become a genuine weakness vs. Djokovic and Nadal. They both just keep belting the ball deep to Fed’s backhand, and, unlike a few years ago, he’s hitting far more unforced errors. Today, as in his Australian Open match against Djokovic, Fed hit a surprisingly high number of wood shots on his backhand.
At the same time, Federer simply does not hit as many forehands that are either winners or that put his opponents on the defensive. Djokovic and Nadal, for example, seem able to return many Federer forehands, partly because they’ve already got him on the defensive before he hits it, or because he’s hitting too many forehands back in the middle part of the court. Lastly, you don’t see Fed run around his backhand in order to hit more forehands as often as you used to – and, I think that’s a bad thing. Federer used to appear more “offensive-minded” and “aggressive” on the court and running around his backhand to belt his terrific forehands was a big part of that.
This brings me to a more surprising, discouraging aspect of Federer’s game – his level of confidence and focus. I’ve noticed that Federer has often seemed less confident in key parts of matches compared to his attitude several years back. When pivotal moments arrive in tightening sets, Federer seems to tighten up much more than he used to. In today’s match at Dubai, for instance, after going ahead of Djokovic 3-1 in the second set and experiencing a “surge” in all parts of his game, suddenly, Federer just fell apart and it was 3-3, and, then, the next thing, you knew it was 6-3 Djokovic and the match was over. Federer never had problems with lapses in his confidence in big matches before, or they were rare. In the past three years, these lapses have become so common that I’m almost surprised when he wins key sets easily.
I really hope that Federer is honest with himself about how much he need to change his fame in order to stay competitive. He must keep working hard with his new coach Paul Annacone, former coach to Pete Sampras, if he is to stay close to Nadal and Djokovic. Annacone has helped Federer to try to shorten rallies, go for winners more often, come up to net more, and not let opponents get him into repeated long rallies. This is exactly what Federer needs to do to remain a threat.
Federer cannot do all the things he used to. Some of his opponents – like Djokovic – have caught up to him. Federer must adjust and keep adjusting more. Of course, the other strong possibility is that no matter how hard he tries, Federer will keep declining. That’s what happens to all champions in all sports. Federer has played such a beautiful brand of tennis for so long – and won to many majors – that it’s almost impossible to witness him losing repeatedly. Yet, he has not won a major tournament for a year, and, the way he’s playing now, he will not be able to unless he turns back time a bit.
From bleacherreport.com
Power 100: Roger Beats Rafa
Jan 27th
Power 100: Roger Beats Rafa Rafael Nadal may be ranked No. 1 by the ATP but on the Power 100, Roger Federer comes out ahead
By Karla Swatek
Rafael Nadal has a problem. It has nothing to do with sore knees or a recent virus that left him bereft of energy.
Despite being tennis’ World No. 1 and Power 100 No.16, Nadal has an awareness dilemma. Although his appeal is currently higher than that of Roger Federer (tennis’ World No. 2; Power 100 No. 15) among avid fans, Nadal’s awareness is well below average for all tennis players measured.
Looking more closely at the Federer-Nadal comparison by the Nielsen/E-Poll N-Score numbers, Nadal’s on-court jump was double-digit, while Federer dropped about 50 spots, an accurate reflection of the on-court action in 2010. Nadal won each of the last three Grand Slam events and rose to World No. 1, while Federer won only one of the last five Grand Slam events after winning 15 slams from 2004 to 2009.
In the off-field rankings, Nadal slipped about 30 spots while Federer rose by 20. Why? Despite Nadal’s recent success on the court, Federer continues to have a higher “Awareness” rating. Oddly enough, as Nadal continues to win tournaments, he becomes less popular. Conversely, as Federer fails to win tournaments, he becomes more popular. Avid tennis fans are clearly behind Federer— even more so when he’s the underdog.
Winning tournaments certainly boosts one’s bottom line. The ATP World Tour website lists Federer’s career prize money at $61.2 million and Nadal’s at $37.4 (after seven fewer years on Tour). But Federer’s best strokes have come in Gillette razor commercials and in an additional TV ad that had him slipping Swiss (of course) Lindt chocolates through airport security.
Off the Court, Federer Dominates
Federer also counts Wilson, Mercedes-Benz (DAI), Credit Suisse (CS), and Rolex as sponsors to the tune of an estimated $18.5 million in annual off-court earnings. (His 10-year Nike (NKE) deal alone is worth about $100 million.) The Swiss star’s high profile in the U.S. is likely helped by a dearth of top American players, outside of Andy Roddick. The ever-elegant Fed is a good match for sponsors seeking to reach tennis’ wealthy, cosmopolitan demographic.
Tennis has a relatively small audience. To become a marketing powerhouse as Federer has done, the muscle-bound Nadal will need to find crossover opportunities to reach American consumers.
Nadal makes about $15 million annually off the court from endorsement and appearance fees. His sponsors, led by Nike, include Kia Motors (000270:KS), Babolat, Lanvin, and French watchmaker Richard Mille, who crafted a $525,000, limited-edition watch for Nadal (which he promptly lost).
Perhaps Nadal’s and Federer’s side-by-side Power 100 rankings are a numeric affirmation of their exceptionally friendly rivalry. They’ve often rallied for each other’s causes, even playing back-to-back exhibition matches in December for their respective foundations in Zurich and Madrid. They hold the top leadership positions on the ATP players’ council.
This year, in fact, may well bring a turning point for Nadal’s “Awareness” numbers. Last week new sponsor Giorgio Armani released the first promotional photos from an Armani jeans and Emporio Armani underwear campaign featuring the shirtless Spaniard, who is replacing Cristiano Ronaldo as the brand’s face. The sexy black and white shots were an instant Internet sensation, giving “tennis whites” a whole new meaning.
Click here to see the world’s most powerful athletes in the 2011 Power 100.
Karla Swatek is vice-president of Horrow Sports Ventures and co-author of Beyond the Box Score: An Insider’s Guide to the $750 Billion Business of Sports (February, 2010).
From www.businessweek.com
Roger Federer Vs. Novak Djokovic. Repeat Or Reversal Of Fortunes?
Jan 25th
Victor Fraile/Getty Images
Only two men are through to the semis and they both got through their quarters in compelling fashion. Naturally, I’m talking about Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.
The two men’s rivalry is often overlooked in the grand scheme of things, when it is all about Roger and Rafa and whether they’ll get to their 23th career meeting in the final of the Aussie Open.
Meanwhile, the Djoker and the Maestro are set for their 20th match, Federer leading 13-6, 11-5 on hard courts and 4-2 in HC slams. Moreover, the Swiss came out on top four out of five times in 2010, but lost their most important – the US semifinal after failing to convert two match points, Djokovic going big on those points.
Federer has taken his revenge, beating him three times in the fall including a stinging 6-1, 6-4 at WTF in London after which an awed an impressed Djokovic said that Federer was playing the best tennis of the year and the balls ‘kind of listened to him’.
Nevertheless, given that the Djoker won their last slam meeting, you might say that both players are looking to turn the tables.
Who’s the favourite going in?
The case for Djokovic
The Serb is arguably riding on a high and playing the best tennis of his life. He’s had a tremendous fall, reaching the US Open final, winning the Davis Cup and playing as well as anyone. He’s faced the toughest opponent that any one of the top-four has run into and completely dismissed a reborn Tomas Berdych with a dominant 6-1, 7-6, 6-1 victory in the quarters.
One might say that’s he’s playing the best tennis of anyone.
He’s beaten the Swiss in Slams twice, a feat not matched by many, and has the belief he can do it again.
He’s arguably the best returner in the game and hit some of the cleanest ground-strokes of both wings. He’s consistent and a great defender, yet more than able to hit it big, when he needs to.
His serve, once a comparative weakness, is clicking and he’s been broken only three times in five matches, losing but a set.
That makes him the more dangerous as he’s probably the guy most likely to break you of anyone in the draw.
Fatigue was once a problem for him, but that doesn’t seem to be the case anymore.
Moreover, once the rally gets started, Djokovic is more than capable of matching Federer and putting him under pressure with his heavy, deep and well-placed groundies.
Finally, as opposed to Murray, Djokovic hasn’t got a history of choking and you can be sure he’ll make it a fight. He seems ready for his second slam, but it’s still a tall order to get there.
The case for Federer
Four out of five wins out of their last matches point towards Federer. Federer’s winning streak and form going into the event, losing but two matches since their US Open meeting, also points to Federer.
Federer’s form Down Under has been shaky as best. He’s been dominant for a match and a half, then almost upset in the second half of the Simon match, then played an exhibition against Malisse, before going in and out of the match against Robredo, whom he’s only lost 2 sets two prior, before he finally found that extra gear in yesterday’s beat down of Stan Wawrinka.
Moreover, Federer has historical stats in his favour. Once he’s in the semis, he almost always prevails. The problem? Well, two of the four exceptions to that rule since French Open 2004 has been a guy called Novak.
Last year, Federer lost three out of four slams before the final. Until then, you hardly had to watch his early rounds as there was a 90+ percent probability that he would be there on the last Sunday.
Things have changed and the man has gotten older and more beatable in best of five matches. He’s concentration can disappear for entire sets as was evident against Djokovic in the US, where he lost set two and four by winning only one and two games respectively.
Federer knows what this history means for both his and Nadal’s legacy and is prepared to give it all to come out on top.
All said and done, Federer’s main advantage is that the match is ultimately on his racket. As well as Novak is playing and has been playing, he’s unlikely to beat a Federer in full flight firing on all cylinders.
The old man’s best level is still good enough to beat everyone on tour and he has the ability to disrupt his opponent’s game as he robs him of time, rhytm and belief.
The question is, can he find that level for three sets?
Djokovic knows that he’s likely to lose at least a set, where Federer is playing as if he’s untouchable. But he also knows, that it’s hard, even for one of the best players ever to pick up a racket, to sustain that level for a five-set match.
Finally, he knows that he himself has never been better and has what it takes to take the great man down.
Prediction?
Not sure I dare to say.
Djokovic seems the hottest player in the tournament, yet Federer so often finds a way to raise his level. A lot depends on their respective serves and return games. Can Federer serve as well as he did against Wawrinka, he’s almost impossible to beat, but Novak is more capable than any other in the return game department.
All in all, I have to say, I give the slight advantage to the elder statesman against the young contender.
Federer in a tight four-setter, going towards five.
From bleacherreport.com
