wanted to post some news from Munich:
FEDERER CRUSHES NIEMINEN IN MUNICH FINAL
Federer: On a roll
RELATED STORIES
- ATP Munich Open Results 2003
Roger Federer captured his third title of the year on Sunday, needing just 56 minutes to rout Finland's Jarkko Nieminen 6-1, 6-4 at the BMW Open in Munich.
The top seeded Swiss player, whom some see as a future world No. 1, was in devastating form throughout the $418,000 clay court event, sailing through to his seventh career title without dropping a set.
"I'm very happy about the way I played and I expect to be back next year," Federer said as a large contingent of fans from Switzerland cheered wildly.
After racing past Nieminen in the first set in just 19 minutes, Federer took advantage of his third match point when the eighth-seeded Finn missed the line with a forehand.
Along the way, Federer showed an impressive display of power, mixing it with lobs and drop shots to win key points, as he ran his record to 26-2 since the Australian Open.
Federer, the world No. 5, was technically playing his first clay court tournament of the season, although he played on indoor clay when Switzerland beat France in a Davis Cup tie as he won three matches.
Nieminen, the first Finn to ever finish the year in the Top 50, was trying to win his first title after putting
together a string of good performances this season, including reaching the semifinals on clay at Milan.
But Federer was so dominant the first set, the 4,000 spectators began cheering Nieminen's every point in hopes of seeing a closer match. The Swiss player rattled off the first eight points, including out closing out the first game by slamming an ace.
source:
msn.skysports.com...
In-form Federer Cruises to Munich Victory
Top-seed Roger Federer claims his third title of the year and improves his record to an ATP best 31-6.
© ATP
Switzerland's Roger Federer captured the seventh ATP title of his career and his third of 2003 with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Finland's Jarkko Nieminen in the final of the BMW Open in Munich.
The 21-year-old, who also has won titles this year in Marseille and Dubai, did not drop a set all week with victories over Zeljko Krajan, Raemon Sluiter, No. 6 seed Mikhail Youzhny and Stefan Koubek en route to the final. The No. 1 seeded Federer was appearing in his 13th career ATP final and captured his second clay court championship (2002 Tennis Masters Hamburg).
In the final, Federer won four straight games at 2-1 to win the first set, before Nieminen opened a 3-0 lead in the second. But the Swiss star came back and stormed to victory by winning six out of the seven last games of the match.
Federer remains in fifth position in the ATP Champions Race 2003 and improved his record to an ATP best 31-6 for the year.
In addition to the winner's check of €52,000 Federer received a brand new BMW Z4 from the title sponsor.
Nieminen, appearing in his fourth ATP final, was aiming for his first career title. The 21-year-old defeated Irakli Labadze, Jean-Rene Lisnard, Radek Stepanek and No. 5 seed Yevgeny Kafelnikov en route to the final.
What the Players Said:
Federer: "I never expected this, it's amazing! If you don't lose a set it's a pretty good tournament. I've won three titles this year already and it's only half way through the season. I'm very happy with this season this far.
"I made some errors in the beginning of the match. I was lucky to be able to break back again.I'm happy that I could come back in the second set, to play a third set would have been tough. It was difficult for him, he has never won a tournament. I used that to my advantage. I'm sure he will win a title in the future.
"To play so well on clay gives me confidence for this season. I know I can win tournaments on clay and that winning Hamburg wasn't a coincidence. I don't think about Paris yet and I don't see Rome and Hamburg as preparations for Roland Garros, these tournaments are much too big for that."
About winning a brand new BMW Z4: "It was an extra incentive for me, I didn't know about it until the quarterfinals. I'm a big fan of cabriolets. I'll take it to the mountains in Switzerland."
Nieminen: "I think I tried too much in the beginning of the match. I thought I had to do something special to beat him, and actually that's what I had to do. It's always difficult against Roger when he is playing well, I feel that I have to play my best tennis to beat him.
"He was so concentrated. He was really the best player this week, actually by far. He always plays his best tennis in tight situations that's why he is in the top 10.
"This was my first time in Munich and only one guy was too good for me. I can't be too disappointed, he was the best player. I wasn't so close to winning the match, I tried my best but Roger was too good."
source:
www.atptennis.com...
Federer eases to Munich win
BMW Open
Federer wasted little time in dispatching Nieminen
Swiss top seed Roger Federer claimed the Munich Open title after he crushed Finland's Jarkko Nieminen 6-1 6-4 on Sunday.
Federer raced to his third title of the year to cruise past Nieminen in 56 minutes in the $418,000 clay court event.
Afterwards the world number five said: "I'm already at three wins halfway through the season. If I can now step it up in the majors, that would make me very happy."
He never let his 21-year-old opponent settle, taking the first two games to love before being broken in the third game.
But Federer, who had won the pair's two previous encounters in staright sets, soon recovered his poise and took the rest of the games in the first set in just 19 minutes.
Nieminen made a better fist of the second set, winning the first three games, before Federer won the next four games for a 4-3 lead.
Nieminen broke him again, but the Swiss contender for the French Open then claimed the final two games to clinch the title.
Today, I never had a chance
Jarkko Nieminen
Federer will now compete in Rome and then defend his Hamburg title before competing in the French Open.
On Sunday he refused to speculate on his chances in the second Grand Slam of the season.
He said: "First there's Rome and Hamburg, The French Open is too far away."
Nieminen heaped praise on his opponent after failing to win a title at his fourth attempt.
He said: "Congratulations to Roger, he was by far the best player the whole week. It was tough. I had to play so well every point just to have a chance.
"Today, I never had a chance."
source:
news.bbc.co.uk 
Buona fortuna in Roma, bello Rogi!
;D
and congrats!!! ;D 
