FOR MAD RAVING ROGI MANIACS!

[Partridge In A Pear Tree]

6-2, but it's now 5-5 in the second set! C'monnn, Roger!!!

[Partridge In A Pear Tree]

Roger broke, 6-5 and serving for the match. HOPP!!!!

[TennisHack]

C'mon Roger, close it out!

[Partridge In A Pear Tree]

Roger wins over the Peruvian! 6-2, 7-5 ;D

[Partridge In A Pear Tree]

Match Summary Horna Federer
1st Serve % 60% 59%
Aces 3 7
Double Faults 3 4
Winning % - 1st Serve Pts. 23 of 38 = 61% 28 of 34 = 82%
Winning % - 2nd Serve Pts. 10 of 25 = 40% 15 of 24 = 63%
Winners (Including Service) 17 25
Unforced Errors 27 23
Break Point Conversions 1 of 4 = 25 % 4 of 7 = 57 %
Net Approaches 11 of 20 = 55 % 15 of 20 = 75 %
Total Points Won 48 73
Fastest Match Serve Speed 128 MPH 123 MPH
Average Match Serve Speed 106 MPH 111 MPH

[RogiFan]

;D

Woo hoo!

ROGI won!!

Keep going!

How was the match? Did anyone see it on TV?

[RogiFan]

Here's what Rogi said after he defeate Luis Horna:

"I was feeling okay - sweating much because of the humidity, but I got used to it now the last few days so it's okay," said Federer. "For me these tournaments are so tough, because from the first round on you've got very good opponents. If you can beat these guys here in the early rounds it's going to help you in the Slams."

source: www.atptennis.com/

They were talking about Roger's "hot game" and how Federer leads the ATP circuit with 22 match wins on the year.

Keep the hot streak going, Rogi!

[Lily]

Thank god for Rogi!!! for coming thru and saving the day since Marat and Guga went out. It sounds like he was v determined to win. Good! Keep up that attitude! Chela scares me. He seems like such a mystery, doesnt he? But Rogi has v high confidence now.

Hopefully MMgirl will tell us everything. And its good to hear PL was doing a scouting report on Horna. Thanks for the Verdasco info, RF. He plays Carlos next. Well now its up to Rogi, Juanqui or Carlos.

[Lily]

 
R. FEDERER/L. Horna
6-2, 7-5

An interview with:

ROGER FEDERER

THE MODERATOR: First question, please.

Q. How important was it for you to just win that in two sets and not have to play another set in that heat? Is that something you were consciously thinking?

ROGER FEDERER: You know, most important is that you win the match. But for me, I was not really scared of going to a third set. I mean, of course the chance was there, but what I want to say is physically it wouldn't have been a problem. Of course it's hot out there, but imagine you're playing best-of-five. You don't have a choice.

So I was feeling okay - sweating much because of the humidity, but I got used to it now the last few days so it's okay.

Q. You play such a versatile game. Can you just say, for instance, when you go from hard courts to clay courts, what adjustment, if any, do you make anymore?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, that's, I think, one of the biggest change, just to go to clay or going away from clay. It's really something you have to work on your footwork, you know, because that's really what changes everything. Because the way you move in the clay courts is not at all the same than on the hard courts.

Same again on grass. On grass, you take smaller steps.

So I think the first few practice sessions or condition sessions you do, you work on the right on-the-court movement, you know. After, then you can start to work on your serve and volley game or be more patient from the baseline.

So that's just the way I look at the court change.

Q. Is the Agassi match still on your mind to some degree?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, little bit, you know. Just still remember that chance I had - break in the fourth set to go in the fifth.

But that's okay (smiling).

Q. Do you relive it in your mind, thinking, "If I had done this instead of that, if I had done this instead of that..."?

ROGER FEDERER: I don't really remember the points at that stage. I just remember I was up a break and that it went very quickly and that he broke me twice and the match was over. Suddenly, we're standing there, holding a trophy. So that was a little bit strange but, you know, I don't remember the points and what I should have changed. I think he played well from the start. I couldn't manage to hold on. Then I started to serve better, and after, it was a pity that I couldn't go in the fifth.

Q. Backing up for a second, how was it making it to your first Masters Series semi, then your first Masters Series final here last year?

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, it's true, it was a little bit of a breakthrough for me to do well at a Masters Series. I think I played two times quarterfinals before, before that.

For me, these tournaments here are so tough, you know, because from the first round on you've got very good opponents. If you can, you know, beat these guys here in the early rounds, it's also going to help you in the Grand Slams and, you know, any other tournaments, you know.

So it helped me definitely, too, experience -wise when I played Hewitt in a night session here in the semifinals, which was a good experience; then the finals against Agassi. Then in Hamburg a few weeks later I experienced something similar, so it was very good for me, these two Masters Series.

Q. Do you change anything because of the heat, either in your preparation or in the way you might play a rally, perhaps occasionally trying to shorten it?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, depends how you feel really. I mean of course you're going to watch out before what you eat, what you drink. You got to drink a lot before, during, after, you know? You can basically never drink too much. It's almost impossible because you sweat it out so quickly.

Of course at one stage maybe in the match when you feel like totally exhausted and tired and hot and everything, maybe you try to come to the net more often, you know, take more risks. It all depends on the situation I guess.

Q. Not too long ago there were different people dominant at certain portions of the year, there were different styles, people couldn't figure out how to play on clay or people couldn't figure out how to play on grass. Do you think all those changes and differences are vanishing, that there is kind of a uniform style emerging now?

ROGER FEDERER: If I would have to tell you who's probably the biggest favorite for clay court season, there's maybe one or two but then the rest is totally open, you know? I don't know why, you know. Even before the clay courts were dominated by clay court players, now I feel like even other guys have a chance, you know?

So the balls are getting slower for the hard courts, you know. Guys like my opponent today, they're standing five meters behind the baseline to return. And it works okay, if you don't have a big, big serve.

They're kind of getting around, you know, these -- the fast courts and all this by standing further back, giving themselves more time, and it seems to work, you know, on any surface or style. Maybe except on the grass, where you have to come into the net more.

[Lily]

Q. You come from one of the great ocean sailing countries of the world: Switzerland. Do you know they took all that expertise off to New Zealand to win America's Cup. Do you know any of those men who won the cup?

ROGER FEDERER: I've met Mr. Bertarelli once a few years back in Gstaad. I didn't know who he was, but now I know.

Q. How are your sailing skills?

ROGER FEDERER: I've been on boats before, but not sailing so...

Q. Can you talk about what it's like for you now that you're in the Top 10? Do you feel more relaxed because you know for sure you belong, or are the expectations now from the outside higher and is that somewhat more pressure?

ROGER FEDERER: First of all, I think it's a great feeling to be in the Top 5 and to have achieved, you know, good things so far.

So I think it was a struggle for me last year, you know, after I won Hamburg and made my first step into the Top 10. That was more difficult because I was so happy maybe and so relieved and reached my goal, you know, my dream goal. Of course Top 5 and No. 1 in the world is always dreams for any player. But Top 10 is another milestone.

I don't know if it was because of that that I didn't play as well after. But, you know, now that I finished the year in the Top 10 and had some time to think about all this, you know, now I got used to it and nothing really changed if I'm No. 12, 6 or 4 or 20 I think, so...

Q. If you had one match to play, a challenge match against somebody, where would you play it on and what surface, if it was your choice totally?

ROGER FEDERER: I don't know. You know, I had Sampras in Wimbledon, so I don't need to play that one again (smiling).

Otherwise... I like to play Marat Safin. I think he's a fair guy, you know, nice guy off the court. We always have good matches.

Q. I was driving more at what court would you choose to play one match on if somebody said, "Next week you have to play one match for a very big prize or something very important," and you could choose where it would be, what surface, what would you choose?

ROGER FEDERER: Probably some indoor court in Europe back home, my hometown (inaudible).

Q. How is it you came to be friends with Ziggy Palffy?

ROGER FEDERER: "Friends," I met him a few times, you know. I just met him two years ago maybe or three years ago. I was in LA and watched a few of his matches. Actually, I met him through Hrbaty. I don't know, friends is a little bit too much because we don't call each other. We just met each other.

Q. Are your PlayStation days over, or are you still a big PlayStation fan?

ROGER FEDERER: Occasionally.

Q. You didn't bring your PlayStation with you?

ROGER FEDERER: No. In the States it doesn't work, so...

Q. Can you talk about, are you noticed a lot more when you're out, recognized a lot more when you're out and about this year than you were last year here? Can you talk about what it means to have gotten as far as you did last year in terms of how people recognize you here.

ROGER FEDERER: Definitely in Switzerland. A lot of people recognize me abroad, you know. Sometimes you're surprised where they recognize you; sometimes you think, "Why aren't they here," you know? It's strange.

Q. Where is the strangest place you were recognized?

ROGER FEDERER: On holidays, you know. Like once I was in the Maldives. In Thailand I was also on some island and they knew me there. You know, it's just strange to be recognized.

Q. You've won more matches than anyone else on the tour this season. What does that do for your confidence in terms of another good run at this tournament?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I think winning a lot of matches is always, you know, very important for your confidence, and it makes you play better. You feel like you can go for more, you're better on big points. Your whole mental approach to the match changes, you know.

It's been a very good start to the year again, you know. Really the last two or three years I had always good starts with the season. I'm the guy with the most matches won or played, whatever. It's just I think a bonus for me.

Q. Some people have expressed surprise given the talent level that you obviously have that you haven't had bigger results at the Grand Slams yet. Are you at all disappointed? Are you satisfied with your progress so far?

ROGER FEDERER: Of course I'm disappointed with my Grand Slam results - last year especially. I missed a chance at the Australian Open, you know, in January.

So I've played quarters before, but the only thing really for me missing is just Grand Slam results, and I cannot do more than just, you know, work hard and play well outside of the Grand Slams to give myself, you know, good confidence boost to get into the Grand Slams. Then, hopefully, I can play well there, too.

People accuse me that I haven't really showed yet what I can do, but that's -- they only talk about Grand Slams. I've shown it in any other event, so that's up to the people make up their mind.

Q. Do you have any kind of a plan for what you might do differently before Grand Slams this year to enhance your chances, maybe play less, play more, take different training techniques or anything?

ROGER FEDERER: I still, you know, traveling the tour and I still learn every year, you know, what maybe is best for my game and where to go, which tournaments, which surface, you know, are better for me.

Usually I always like to play, you know, a few matches coming into Grand Slams, especially Australia. That's why, because it's the beginning of the season. The French Open I think is a good preparation, I play three before, take a week off before, and then I play the French Open. I've got one tournament before Wimbledon, then a week off where I'm going to go early to Wimbledon this year where I changed my plan to last year's. So we'll see what it does. Hopefully, good things will happen.

Q. Did winning Hamburg hurt you last year in the French?

ROGER FEDERER: No, definitely not. Because, I mean, the time in between was enough, so...

Q. What is your schedule like before and after a match? I'm talking about practicing, laying around, whatever.

ROGER FEDERER: Well, here you've more options, you know. You've got the beach, you've got South Beach, whatever. Here, it's nice weather. There are more things you can do. I played golf last week a lot in Indian Wells.

I like the outdoor season also, because you got so many options to do. But the days are long sometimes, you know - come in early, finish late. So just try to feel okay, you know.

Q. On a day like this where you finish pretty early, will you practice a little bit, then are you going to leave for South Beach or somewhere like that?

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, well, we're staying down at South Beach so we'll go back there later on. I have no plans really, just going to take it easy. I don't know if I'm going to go down to the beach or stay in my room to avoid the sun a little bit. Everything is open, you know, play it by ear.

source: www.nasdaq-100open.com/news/interview.html

Very nice interview!
seems like they really enjoyed talking w him. *sigh*

thanks for reminding me, RF. how could i forget? and just because it was like 4am is no excuse.

[RogiFan]

Hi Lily

I saw that interview too... Rogi has to go far not to be recognized! Can't even be anonymous on some island in Thailand!

Don't forget your source!

[Partridge In A Pear Tree]

Thanks for the interview, Lily! Read also in the Swiss papers that he's staying in one of those art deco hotels in South beach.

Let's hope he handles the Miami heat on his next match, Chela might be used to it.

btw., he's also renewed his contract with Nike for another 5 years, never has a Swiss athlete a contract like thisbefore! and he's with IMG only till the end of June.

[RogiFan]

ILR, I'm here now!

Hard to find pix of Rogi in Miami, esp of the dolphins! If it weren't for Mrs. B. kindly sending us that sweet one... I"m still trying to find more of Rogi... even match pix!

Raining AGAIN in Miami! And they keep on about rain at Wimby.

[RogiFan]

Mrs. said:

Thanks for the interview, Lily! Read also in the Swiss papers that he's staying in one of those art deco hotels in South beach.

Let's hope he handles the Miami heat on his next match, Chela might be used to it.

btw., he's also renewed his contract with Nike for another 5 years, never has a Swiss athlete a contract like thisbefore! and he's with IMG only till the end of June.

I read an article in sonntagszeitung and I think Rogi was talking about these things. So he DID renew the Nike contract! So after June what is Rogi doing about his management? Is his Dad taking care of that? Hope the Nike contract means we see Rogi in Nike ads! All they ever show are guys the stature of Tiger Woods or Michael Jordan! Guess Rogi's in the BIG leagues now!

[ILR]

RF I just posted 2 more pics of Rogi with dolphins!

[Lily]

Mrs. said:

Thanks for the interview, Lily! Read also in the Swiss papers that he's staying in one of those art deco hotels in South beach.

Let's hope he handles the Miami heat on his next match, Chela might be used to it.

btw., he's also renewed his contract with Nike for another 5 years, never has a Swiss athlete a contract like thisbefore! and he's with IMG only till the end of June.

welcome, Mrs. B. I think that's my fave interview of his so far. Let's hope Rogi has a nice long stay in one of those hotels since Miami is one of his fave places. It's great how he's the first Swiss athlete to have a contract like that. I hope he's the first Swiss of many things.

I was thinking maybe they could do a Miami ad of Rogi and Nalby playing w the dolphins, kind of like the Pacific Life Tommy/Mark one. Wouldnt that be fun? Anything to have Rogi on TV. Oh, there was a highlight of Juanqui/Rios. Looks like Rios was in the mood to play and Juanqui did one of those between the legs shots. Not a good day.

going in search of Rogi pics

[RogiFan]

Thanks, Lily! Keep hunting for Rogi pix! Did you like that one of him looking "cheeky" as ILR put it? How about the lucky dolphin getting cuddled by Rogi?

Here's an article:

THINKING BACK
Before Saturday, the last time world No. 4 Roger Federer of Switzerland walked onto stadium court at the NASDAQ-100 Open was last year against Andre Agassi -- in the final. Even after defeating Peruvian qualifier Luis Horna 6-2, 7-5 Saturday in his opening match, Federer conceded the Agassi match was still on his mind.
Federer, now 21, had reached his first Tennis Masters Series final that day after upsetting Lleyton Hewitt. After not dropping a set through the semis, he failed to break against Agassi in the crucial fourth set. Agassi won his fifth tournament on Key Biscayne 6-3, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.
''I just still remember that chance I had, a break in the fourth set [that would have put me into] the fifth,'' Federer lamented. ``He broke me twice and the match was over. Suddenly, we're standing there holding a trophy.
``For me, these tournaments here are so tough, because from the first round on you've got very good opponents.''
Federer, who has one of the most versatile games among the top 10, has been described as ''explosive'' by Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe and Agassi. Agassi told Tennis magazine this month, ``He has some of the best hand speed on the Tour and he knows how to put pressure on you.''
In 1998, Federer was ranked the No. 1 junior by the International Tennis Federation, and is working toward the same goal on the ATP circuit. This season, he has won more matches (22) than anyone on Tour. Last month, he won at Dubai (outdoors hard surface) and indoors at Marseille.
''It's a great feeling to be in the top 5 and to have achieved good things,'' he said. ``Winning a lot of matches is always very important for your confidence.''
Federer meets 30th seed Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina on Monday.
…
-- SUSAN MILLER DEGNAN,
AND GARY ESTWICK

source: www.miami.com/

HOPP, ROGI! ;D

[RogiFan]

Rogi and Max won their doubles match vs. Bhupathi/Henman! 46 63 64

another pic



source: www.blick.ch

Can someone tell me what the Blick artikel from 24mar03 said about Rogi and money? Danke!

>>? Danach managt Familie Federer zusammen mit Freunden ihren Superstar.

Rogi's family and GF are managing him??

[Partridge In A Pear Tree]

it just says that after he'll be managed by his family and friends. On another paper, they wrote that after the contract with IMG finishes, the "in the house solution" is that people in his close circle of friends as well as his father, Robert, will look after his financial management...

and he's so cool: when asked about his 5 yr. contract being the best deal ever for a Swiss athlete, he goes, "about financial details, logically, i don't speak about them".

He was also asked about IMTA. He said he was in a meeting but before he decides, he needs to have more informations. When he has the feeling, and that if it brings him and other players something, it can be a good thing.

[Partridge In A Pear Tree]

Ubrigens, Good morning to all!!!

Beautiful day in Switzerland. Spring is here!

Let's hope Roger wins his match against Chela today.

HOPP, ROGER!!!!!

[TennisHack]

Mrs. said:

He was also asked about IMTA. He said he was in a meeting but before he decides, he needs to have more informations. When he has the feeling, and that if it brings him and other players something, it can be a good thing.

That's nice to hear!

[RogiFan]

Morning all! Lovely sun out there! Thanks for the info, Mrs. B.! I think I read somewhere before that Robert was going to help manage Rogi -- keep it in the family!

Rogi's luck he has a good support team around him!

MMGirl sent me her report on meeting Rogi and PL but I'll ask if it's OK to post here for you guys!

HOPP, ROGI!!

Keep going, Rogz, w all those seeds out, you have a chance!!

[ILR]

Hi RF If I was you Id check out the picture thread I found two more

[Lily]

So how does everyone feel about Rogi playing the night match? Why is he playing the night match? Too bad he didnt play the day then maybe we c have seen a little of him. I dont know, maybe not. Watching the Jarkko/AA match i just had this feeling like AA didnt want to be there. He looked v bored or is that just the way he usually looks? And Rogi and Max won. Well, I didnt want Rogi playing dbls this week cause he needs to focus on sngls, but it wasnt like i was hoping they'd lose, i just didnt really want them to win. oh, he's on soon. Hope the night is good to him.

[RogiFan]

;D Woo hoo! ROGI d Chela but it wasn't THAT easy! 61 36 61 [symmetrical though!]



I guess we won't see Rogi on TV tomorrow afternoon either...

Get some rest, Rogi, and be ready to roll again... vs. Schalken!

[TennisHack]

Lily said:

Watching the Jarkko/AA match i just had this feeling like AA didnt want to be there. He looked v bored or is that just the way he usually looks?

That really pisses me off! Grrr, Jarkko better take some revenge, and soon

Roger won tonight 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 (almost bagelled in the last set) so he's on to the quarters! Might be the only one who can take out Agassihole at this point . . . .

[RogiFan]

Hackie, where is Sjengster?? I keep waiting for him to post his next episode but he hasn't so that's why I did... I need him to spur me on to the next plotline...

ROGI, just do it!

[RogiFan]

R. FEDERER/J.I. Chela
6-1, 3-6, 6-1

An interview with:
ROGER FEDERER

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. It's always best to get a match over as quickly as possible. Do you get any benefit at all from being taken to an extra set in terms of being able to check that everything is okay in your game?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, I thought the match was quite short for a three-setter. It was not like one of these three-setters where you come off the court and you're totally exhausted.
It felt good out there today, was very nice temperature for both players. I think I played well. Even though I lost the second, I still felt like I was hitting the ball well, and good attitude.

Q. All done in less than 75 minutes. Quick one?
ROGER FEDERER: Uh-hmm.

Q. You're back on again tomorrow afternoon. A short match tonight, do you feel you'll be adequately rested?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I don't have much choice, you know, just have to look that I sleep enough tonight and get the stretching done and eat well and look that I have a good preparation for tomorrow. That's all I can do really.
Looking forward to that match, you know. I've played him two times last two months and beaten him, so I'm looking forward to that match.

Q. You played so well here last year. Do you feel things are starting to click? Are you happy with the state of your game?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, was better than the first match definitely. Played much more aggressive, also serve was working better.
So if my game is, you know, at its best, I don't think so yet. But hopefully, you know, I can win the next one and then if I can win the next match, I think it's a very good test, the one of tomorrow. So it's going to be tough.

Q. This is a little out of leftfield. Can you tell me what the mood is with the war, are people talking about it in the lounge? Do you have the TV on in the locker room?
ROGER FEDERER: I don't feel there's much talk about this between the players, you know. I don't think we like to talk about it. Of course, you know, once in a while, I go check out the TV, what's happening, you know. I don't think we're -- we can say much about it because we're not the insiders, so...

Q. Is there any concern?
ROGER FEDERER: I mean, there's concern all over the world, so definitely also in the sports world.
FastScripts by ASAP Sports...

source: www.nasdaq-100open.com

[Lily]

TennisHack said:

That really pisses me off! Grrr, Jarkko better take some revenge, and soon

Roger won tonight 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 (almost bagelled in the last set) so he's on to the quarters! Might be the only one who can take out Agassihole at this point . . . .

TH, even tho Jarkko lost quite badly, he did make some beautiful shots. Two of the things i really noticed about him was his beautiful BH and his speed. He's v quick! And a couple times when he didnt like the call there was no arguing or anything, he just playfully moved on. Next time he'll get his revenge!

Yay Rogi! The night was good to him. He doesnt have much time to get ready for Schalken tho. They did put him last of the day, but that means we wont get to see him again. Isnt the Rios/Paradorn match at that time? Would ESPN actually show that? lol I heard the Younes/Nalby match was a good one, but we're not supposed to know that.

[Lily]

Thanks for the interview RF! Rogi always seems so thoughtful in his answers.

here's something...

Federer needs title to shed unwanted title

By Karen Crouse, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Sunday, March 23, 2003

KEY BISCAYNE -- Roger Federer is the Phil Mickelson of tennis. He has all the shots and none of the Grand Slam trophies. It's his cross to wear, the dog tag identifying him as the best tennis player not to have won a major.

Nobody on the ATP Tour has broken out of the starting gates this year any faster than Federer. The personable Swiss player has won two titles, in Marseille and Dubai. On Saturday he improved his tour-best match record to 22-5 with a 6-2, 7-5 defeat of qualifier Luis Horna in a second-round match at the Nasdaq-100 Open.

Some visitors come to Miami and collect seashells. Federer stops at the Tennis Center at Crandon Park to collect match victories. Last year he also picked up his 22nd match victory here, against Andrei Pavel in the quarterfinals. An upset of Lleyton Hewitt, the No. 1 player in the world then and now, in his first Masters Series semifinal catapulted Federer into the final against Andre Agassi.

Agassi scratched back from a break down in the fourth set to stymie Federer 6-3, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, a loss that lingers in Federer's mind. "I just remember that I was up a break and that he broke me twice and... suddenly we're standing there and (Agassi) is holding a trophy," Federer said.

It was a pity, that, but Federer bounced back. He would post quality victories over the likes of Andy Roddick, Marat Safin, Gustavo Kuerten and Tim Henman on his way to winning three tournaments -- including his first Masters Series crown in Hamburg, Germany, in May -- to climb from No. 13 to No. 6 in the world rankings.

The Grand Slams toyed with Federer in 2002. He reached the fourth rounds at the Australian and U.S. opens to raise everybody's expectations, then fell in the first rounds at the French Open and Wimbledon to amplify the critics' voices.

The Wimbledon defeat, to Mario Ancic, was an especially dispiriting result, considering a number of so-called experts had picked Federer to break his majors maiden there.

"Of course I'm disappointed with my Grand Slam events, last year especially," said Federer, 21. "The only thing really missing for me is just Grand Slam results. I cannot do more than just, you know, work hard and play well outside of the Grand Slams to give myself a good confidence boost.

"People accuse me that I haven't really showed yet what I can do," Federer added, a slight edge creeping into his devil-may-care pitch. "But they only talk about Grand Slams."

He sighed. It's hard to find fault with Federer's game. Ask his fellow competitors and they'll tell you he's a magician with his racquet, able to routinely pull shots out of the air. His skills are beyond reproach and so is his personality.

And so his personality is what people attack. The rap on Federer is he's too nice to be a menace to Hewitt at No. 1. The grit he showed in a 7-5, 5-7, 7-5 loss to Hewitt in the final of the season-ending event in China suggested otherwise.

The Swiss are renowned for their precision timepieces, not for their precision tennis players. The thinking used to be that land-locked Switzerland would win an America's Cup before placing a tennis player in the world's top three. That was before the Swiss Alinghi team this year became the first challenger to win the America's Cup in its initial attempt.

So now the challenge is in Federer's court. You might say he's on the clock.

Federer met Ernesto Bertarelli, the businessman behind the Switzerland's America's Cup entry, a few years back. "I didn't know who he was," Federer said. He smiled. "But now I know."

A lot more people now know who Federer is, too.

Ziggy Palffy, the Los Angeles Kings' star forward and a huge tennis fan, hopped on the bandwagon early. Two summers ago, Palffy arranged to meet and have dinner with Federer through Dominik Hrbaty, a Czech player on the tour. Palffy said Saturday he "loves talking tennis" with Federer.

The reach of his fame surprises Federer. He said he was a bit taken aback when he went to Maldives on a holiday last year and strangers on the beach recognized him. So much for being just another fish in the sea.

"It's strange," Federer said.

He might as well get used to it. Federer's game is too good to ignore.

source: www.PalmBeachPost.com