|
Post by RogiFan on Jul 3, 2004 11:40:46 GMT -5
Rogi d Seb 62 63 76(86) tricky TB there, Rogi! OK, ROGI, time to defend your title tomorrow so just do it in straights and don't let Pandy in... GO, ROGI!!!!!!
|
|
|
Post by Doris on Jul 4, 2004 13:53:59 GMT -5
Well he did it - but he was really lucky this time with the rain delays they really came in the right time!!
Still concrats Roger for defending your title. Taking in account that you weren't a 100 % fit (he did catch a cold during his match against Lleyton!) it's even more impressive!!
Well done. Looking forward to Gstaad now!!
|
|
|
Post by ILR on Jul 4, 2004 13:59:57 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Doris on Jul 4, 2004 14:03:15 GMT -5
Pssst there were tears just not as many as last year. But he did cry when he was sitting on his chair and Mr. Moosley or what ever his name was congratulated him.
|
|
|
Post by ILR on Jul 4, 2004 14:08:06 GMT -5
well, not as many as last year They weren't flowing lol, he said it himself the tears were last year!
|
|
|
Post by RogiFan on Jul 9, 2004 18:44:14 GMT -5
So happy for Rogi defending his Wimby title and winning his 3rd slam!! Wow! Beating Pandy once again... so satisfying despite it being a less-than-stellar match but he did it! So proud of you Rogi! I cried a little when I saw Rogi's tears -- he was SO relieved! Lovely, Rogi!! Federer's double time rewarded By Bill Scott in Gstaad (Filed: 10/07/2004) Roger Federer, despite being distracted by a helicopter, won a rain-delayed second-round match yesterday, then came back on court a few hours later to reach the semi-finals of the Swiss Open. The Wimbledon champion beat Radek Stepanek 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 during which the Czech shook his fist and aimed imaginary finger bullets at the world No 1 in the heat of their quarter-final battle. It was equally dramatic in a morning session, when Federer overcame towering Croatian Ivo Karlovic 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 7-6 (7-4), duplicating his fourth-round victory at Wimbledon over the tallest man in tennis. "The key to his game is really his serve, and that's why it was easy for me to hold. When you play against him, you don't have many chances," said Federer. A rescue helicopter commandeered for television work temporarily drove Federer to first-set distraction against Karlovic before Stepanek created his own annoyance as he denied the Swiss a straight-sets win, finally falling on the first of three match points in the third. Gaston Gaudio, the French Open champion, beat Rafael Nadal 6-2, 6-3 to reach the semi-finals of the Swedish Open in Bastad. Top-seeded Carlos Moya withdrew because of an injury he sustained last weekend in an exhibition against Nadal, his Spanish compatriot. www.telegraph.co.uk/
|
|
|
Post by RogiFan on Jul 9, 2004 18:47:10 GMT -5
Tired Federer into semis Wimbledon champion Roger Federer claimed his second victory in the space of five hours when he beat Radek Stepanek at the Swiss Open on Friday. The top seed won 6-1 5-7 6-4 to reach the last four where he will face Potito Starace, a shock winner over defending champion Jiri Novak. Federer earlier saw off Ivo Karlovic 6-7 6-3 7-6 (7-4) in a rain-delayed second-round match. Igor Andreev faces third seed Rainer Schuettler in Saturday's other semi. Federer was pushed hard by Karlovic in his quarter-final but looked to be cruising through in his second match of the day against Stepanek. Six sets in one day is a lot - I just hope I can recover Roger Federer But the Swiss was broken to love when serving for the match in the second set and was forced into a third, this time making no mistake and serving out to love. And he admitted that playing two matches in one day had taken its toll. "In the second against Stepanek my legs were tired, I was down and I just couldn't push myself like I had," said Federer. "I was serving into the tape and not over it and he had confidence, and for five or 10 minutes the whole match changed and I just had to start from zero again. "I feel exhausted now, very tired. Six sets in one day is a lot - I just hope I can recover." Rising star Andreev became the first man to reach the semi-finals with a 6-3 6-4 win over Spain's Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo. He was later joined by unseeded Italian Starace, who had a superb 6-4 6-3 victory over fourth seed Novak. "I don't know what happened," said Starace, the world number 145. "Two years ago, I was watching this tournament on television, now I'm in the semis. I'm so happy, I just can't believe it." Germany's Schuettler secured a semi-final spot with a 6-1 4-6 6-2 defeat of Spain's Felix Mantilla. Story from BBC SPORT: news.bbc.co.uk/Rain woe at Swiss Open Wimbledon champion Roger Federer endured a frustrating day on the sidelines on Thursday after thunder storms prevented him from playing his second round match at the Swiss Open. Sharapova out of Games Swiss Federer, who retained his Wimbledon crown on Sunday by defeating American Andy Roddick, was scheduled to play Croatian Ivo Karlovic. However, torrential downpours in the Alpine resort forced organisers to abandon play for the day with Switzerland's Marc Rosset still to complete his match against the Czech Republic's Radek Stepanek. Top seed Federer had defeated Karlovic in straight sets in the fourth round at Wimbledon. The winner of that contest is now likely to play two matches on Friday. Rosset, Federer's Davis Cup captain, held a 6-4 3-2 lead over Stepanek when play was suspended. Earlier, third-seed Rainer Schuettler progressed into the quarter-finals after a comfortable 6-3 6-2 victory over fellow German Florian Mayer. Sixth-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer skidded out, however, suffering a 6-3 7-6 second round defeat at the hands of compatriot Felix Mantilla. Schuettler took 57 minutes to overwhelm Mayer, who was broken once in the first set before losing service twice in the second set in the Roy Emerson Arena. Mantilla, who now meets Schuettler in the last eight, comprehensively won a second set tiebreak 7-2 to end Ferrer's challenge and ensure only three seeds remain in the tournament. Meanwhile at ATP Bastad in Sweden Spanish prodigy Rafael Nadal confirmed he is back to his best and his foot injury behind him. The eighteen year old swept past compatriot Santiago Ventura in straight sets 6-1 6-2. He will play Argentinian clay-court specialist Gaston Gaudio in the quarter-finals. Reuters - 08/07/2004 Federer grabs Gstaad quarter-final spot World number one Roger Federer overcame rain and the tallest man in tennis to belatedly claim his place in the quarter-finals of the Swiss Open on Friday. Wimbledon champion and commanding leader in this year's rankings, the Swiss top seed beat Croatian Ivo Karlovic 6-7 6-3 7-6 in a delayed second round clash. The match had been due to be played on Thursday afternoon, but was postponed because of cloudbursts at the Swiss Alpine resort where Federer, 22, is seeking to win his home event for the first time. Federer, meeting the 6ft 10ins (2.083 metre) Croatian for the second time in 11 days following his fourth round triumph at Wimbledon, struggled to find his best form on the clay court of the Roy Emerson Arena. "I have played six sets against him now and four of them have gone to a tiebreak," he said. "That shows how difficult it is to play against his service. I had to work hard to win this game." Asked to compare the service of Karlovic with that of defeated Wimbledon finalist American Andy Roddick, who holds the record for the fastest, Federer said: "They are both very fast, but I think that Karlovic's second serve is a little stronger." UNFINISHED MATCH Federer, who lost to Czech Jiri Novak in last year's final, is due to meet his Swiss Davis Cup captain Marc Rosset or Czech Radek Stepanek in the last eight later on Friday. Their unfinished match from Thursday was due to continue following Federer's victory with Rosset one set ahead before thunderstorms prevailed. In front of a sell-out capacity 5,800 crowd, ringing bells to urge on their hero, Federer extended his successful streak to 22 wins in 23 matches, but did not find it easy against fast serves that flew off the court in the relatively thin air at an altitude of more than 1,200 metres. His own service and considerable artistry with ground strokes that often left Karlovic flat-footed were enough to carry him through, however, and keep alive his dream of taking the Swiss title for the first time in seven attempts. Reuters - 09/07/2004 Federer through but tired Wimbledon champion Roger Federer played six sets in one day to book his place in the semi-finals of the Swiss Open. The World number one ousted big-serving Croatian Ivo Karlovic 6-7 6-3 7-6 in a rain delayed encounter before dispatching Czech Radek Stepanek 6-1 5-7 6-4. Rusedski into quarters In both matches, Federer mixed some sublime all-court tennis with unforced errors as his hangover from Wimbledon fortnight took its toll. "Maybe I needed the practise," said Federer, who lifted his second successive Wimbledon title last Sunday when he beat American Andy Roddick in the final. On a darker note the Swiss native revealed how fatigue is catching up with him. "I feel exhausted now," he said. "Very tired. Six sets in one day is a lot -- I just hope I can recover." Last year a similarly gruelling post-Wimbledon schedule had serious consequences on his form as the American season got under way. Following Federer's 2003 Wimbledon win his performances on the American hard courts went from bad to worse. A semi-final eviction from the Canada Masters Series at the hands of big-gun Andy Roddick gave way to a second round exit at the Cincinnati Masters to David Nalbandian. The Argentine would also prove to be his undoing at the US Open. Federer, 22, will meet Italian qualifier Potito Starace in Saturday's semi-finals. Starace, who will be 23 on Wednesday, beat defending champion and fourth seeded Czech Jiri Novak 6-4 6-3 in the opening quarter-final. Eurosport - LNabarro & Reuters - 09/07/2004 www.eurosport.com/
|
|
|
Post by RogiFan on Jul 10, 2004 20:06:10 GMT -5
Yay, Rogi into the FINAL once again after beating Potito in 3 63 36 63! OMG, ROGI! Cheering for my Rogi to win it all this year!!! HOPP, ROGI, v. Andreev. Here's Rogi w DJ Bobo and their Emmi products! www.swissopengstaad.com
|
|
|
Post by RogiFan on Jul 10, 2004 20:08:44 GMT -5
Em, did you get my email this week re: Toronto?? If not, let me know and I can PM you instead. HOPP, ROGI once again! I shall start praying now... he has to win a Swiss final [he's 0 for 3 so far... ]... and he's never played Andreev before... great! everything you DON'T want in such an important final...
|
|
|
Post by RogiFan on Jul 11, 2004 6:22:07 GMT -5
Congratulations, Rogi!! Your first Swiss title in Gstaad!!! Wow! You ARE amazing -- and you gave the Swiss sth to cheer about today by beating Andreev 62 63 57 63!! Now you must take a real break, away fr everyone, esp the journalists... you deserve it. 7 titles already? unbelievable! next stop... TORONTO!!!!!
|
|
|
Post by RogiFan on Jul 11, 2004 7:23:31 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by ILR on Jul 11, 2004 11:23:13 GMT -5
Em, did you get my email this week re: Toronto?? If not, let me know and I can PM you instead. HOPP, ROGI once again! I shall start praying now... he has to win a Swiss final [he's 0 for 3 so far... ]... and he's never played Andreev before... great! everything you DON'T want in such an important final... Yes, I did get it. Nice place! edit: Wrong smilie! :Red:
|
|
|
Post by RogiFan on Jul 17, 2004 17:47:43 GMT -5
TMS TORONTO coming soon!! Can't wait! GO, ROGI!!! Already I've seen some lovely posters of Rogi in town -- mostly Wilson ads... wonder who will do the draw -- probably will be on Friday. Last yr it was Rogi in Montreal, cos he was there and il parle francais. Hewitt in TO in 2002. How about Juanqui?? Might be Coria tho...
|
|
|
Post by RogiFan on Jul 19, 2004 8:24:38 GMT -5
Toronto articles: By TOM TEBBUTT From Monday's Globe and Mail POSTED AT 2:04 AM EDT Monday, Jul 19, 2004 Doves and Toronto Maple Leafs jerseys — an unlikely combination, many might think — will be in abundance next Monday during the opening ceremony for the new Rexall Centre at York University in Toronto. More than 50 doves will be released at the tennis centre's 11,500-seat Stadium Court. But people need not worry about the birds' welfare, as "they're trained to return home," said Tennis Canada's vice-president and tournament director, Stacy Allaster. The Maple Leafs jerseys are gifts for the players who will compete in the Tennis Masters Canada tournament next week (qualifying play will begin on Saturday) to wear as they parade onto the court. One participant, likely Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, Andy Roddick or Marat Safin, will make a speech on behalf of his peers. The RCMP will be on hand to unveil a Canadian flag as large as the playing court, and the national anthem will be sung by nine finalists from CTV's Canadian Idol. And it all marks the realization of a project long in the planning. "We started discussions about developing the new centre 13 years ago," said Derek Strang, Tennis Canada's senior vice-president and the project's point man. "We got more active 10 years ago, and looked at 50 potential sites. We narrowed it down to eight and then to four, all at York." Ground was broken last summer for the $38-million complex on the west side of the campus — the opposite side of the old National Tennis Centre, which it replaces — and is on 15 acres amid trees and greenery. "Along the east, south and west sides of the site, we have the natural landscape that has always been there," Strang said. "This is going to be a beautiful place for a long time." There are a total of 16 hard courts, including four in the new Compass Group Centre of Excellence, but only five will be used for tournament matches. After years at an overcrowded site, event regulars will appreciate the new spaciousness. It is a 310-metre stroll from the Stadium Court to the Grandstand show court at the opposite end of the grounds. In the stadium, there are innovative plans for the two video screens. "We'll be the first tournament to actually broadcast play live during matches," Allaster said. "That's as long as the players don't feel distracted by them. We're hoping the screens are high enough and out of their sightlines." The Tennis Masters Canada field is made up of the sport's (automatically entered) top 52 ranked men's players, to be joined by four wild cards and eight qualifiers. Among familiar names expected at the qualifying are 2002 champion Guillermo Canas, Thomas Enqvist, Nicolas Escudé, Todd Martin and 2004 Wimbledon semi-finalist Mario Ancic. What the main-draw players do the week before Toronto can affect preparedness and motivation. Among those entering their first event since Wimbledon ended on July 4, are Guillermo Coria, Lleyton Hewitt, Tim Henman, Juan Carlos Ferrero, David Nalbandian, Gustavo Kuerten and Safin. Wimbledon champ Federer comes in after two weeks off, while Roddick and Sébastien Grosjean are playing in Indianapolis, Ind., this week. Agassi, after playing three matches (equal to his total since March) to reach the Los Angeles quarter-finals last Friday, pulled out of the Indianapolis event over the weekend, saying his troublesome hip was all right, but he was concerned about playing "too many weeks in a row." French Open champion Gaston Gaudio, young Spaniard Rafael Nadal and Rainer Schuettler will arrive in Toronto after three weeks at European clay-court events and Carlos Moya after one playing in Croatia this week. Who will play the inaugural match on the Stadium Court at 11 a.m. next Monday is not yet known. Although he prefers to avoid the heat and humidity of midday, Daniel Nestor of Toronto is the logical candidate. He has experience christening new stadiums. In 1997, he served the first ball on Wimbledon's new No. 1 Court. His opponent was a local London lad named Henman. © 2004 Bell Globemedia Publishing Inc. All Rights Reserved. www.globeandmail.com/Tennis Masters Canada hits the beach The action at the new Rexall Centre at York University kicks off in less than a week, but the excitement was in full force at the Beaches on Saturday. Kew Gardens, which runs from Queen Street right down to the beach, was the spot to be, as the Tennis Masters Canada promotions team had people thinking tennis. Beach-goers took their best shot at hitting a serve as fast as defending Tennis Masters Canada champion Andy Roddick in the smash cage and also could but tickets to watch the world’s best tennis at Canada’s newest sports and entertainment facility. The promotions team next stop is Union Station in downtown Toronto. Already branded with tournament advertising all over the station, commuters will be kept informed of all the great activities taking place at Rexall Centre during the Tennis Masters Canada. From July 24th - August 1st, 2004, the best of the best in men's tennis will unveil Rexall Centre for the Tennis Masters Canada. Session tickets and corporate hospitality packages are now available. canada.masters-series.com/Hmmm.... maybe Rogi will make a speech?? COOL!!! He should be presented w sth for being #1, like Clijsters was last yr in TO.
|
|
|
Post by RogiFan on Jul 23, 2004 18:16:24 GMT -5
GO, ROGI!!!! Can't wait to see you play in the new tennis centre! Hope you defend your points.
|
|
|
Post by RogiFan on Jul 27, 2004 10:54:56 GMT -5
pls stop raining so I can see Rogi play tonight... GO ROGI!!!! Boy is he popular... so much security, so many fans... No sign of Mirka yet...
|
|
|
Post by RogiFan on Jul 30, 2004 7:02:01 GMT -5
Go, ROGI!!! Now he's beaten Arazi , Soderling [on TV], Max [not on TV] and now for Santoro in the QFs.
Defend those pts, Rogi!!!
A title in Canada w be so lovely for us at the NEW tennis centre!!
|
|
|
Post by Doris on Jul 30, 2004 11:02:21 GMT -5
Allleeezzz Roger!! Good luck against Santoro!!
|
|
|
Post by RogiFan on Jul 30, 2004 20:05:13 GMT -5
YAY! Rogi finally beat that annoying Santoro! 75 64. HOPP ROGI v TJohansson in SF!
|
|
|
Post by RogiFan on Jul 31, 2004 19:55:51 GMT -5
Rogi barely got by T Johansson today in 3 sets 46 63 62... this is the worst he has looked this week... and I thought he looked not great yesterday All I can say is unless Rogi steps it up and cuts downt he UEs and serves and returns better, Pandy will get the better of him and start a real rivalry... I hate to see Pandy beat Rogi in a TMS F, esp OUR TMS... Pandy does NOT need another title defence... but he is playing better that Rogi, not great but better. Kiwi sort of pushed him today but basically he's had no opposition... Hernych was crap... as was Chela... Not feeling too optimistic about this final... Rogi really looks weary out there and I knew he'd throw the racquet... bad boy!
|
|
|
Post by RogiFan on Aug 1, 2004 9:59:22 GMT -5
GO, Rogi!!! Win if for PC! Hot, humid and sunny 38C!
|
|
|
Post by RogiFan on Aug 4, 2004 13:36:59 GMT -5
Isn't it nice that Rogi DID win TO for PC? He wore his black... congratulations, Rogi, on winning your first Canadian TMS title!! YES!!! What a display after your struggles of the week! I'm duly impressed! Federer No. 1 on any surface Toronto end of trifecta: Three straight titles on grass, clay and hardcourt Bruce Arthur National Post Monday, August 02, 2004 1 | 2 | NEXT >> CREDIT: Glenn Lowson, National Post If there is a rivalry between the top two men's tennis players, Roger Federer is not aware of it. The Swiss No. 1 dismantled Andy Roddick, ranked No.2, 7-5-6-3 yesterday to win the Tennis Masters Canada title. "You're starting to become very, very annoying," Roddick joked afterward. TORONTO - During a silent moment of Andy Roddick's semi-final win Saturday over Nicolas Kiefer, one particularly vocal fan of the young American bellowed "Andy, you're the king of tennis!" Another, more sensible patron loudly replied, "We'll find out tomorrow!" That we did. The 21-year-old Roddick may be the sport's prince, but the boy king, Switzerland's immaculate 22-year-old Roger Federer, is the sport's supreme royalty. The top-ranked Federer was just magnificent enough in a 7-5, 6-3 victory yesterday in the finals of the US$2.5-million Tennis Masters Canada tournament at York University. This against the world's No. 2 player, playing quality tennis. "I think it was more him [than me]," said Roddick, sounding very much like a man holding a near-unsolvable puzzle. "I played pretty well on the big points -- I mean, he hit these running passing shots that people just don't hit." He paused. "I don't know." If Roddick was referring to the question of how to beat the world's best player, nobody knows. The numbers are becoming grandiose: Federer has won 23 consecutive matches (dating back to the French Open); eight tournaments (one more than his breakout year in 2003); two of the past three Grand Slams (Wimbledon, over Roddick, and the Australian Open); and here, he became the first player since Bjorn Borg in 1979 to win three consecutive titles on three different surfaces -- Wimbledon on grass, his home Swiss Open on clay, and this tournament on hardcourt. No jokes about Swiss clockwork, please. "Sometimes you get the feeling that people think this is normal," said Federer, who only dropped that one set all week. "It's something very different to do ... I think everyone on the Tour knows how difficult it is to actually just win three surfaces in one year. Now I've done it all back-to-back, and that's incredible." Oh, and the winning streak is the longest since Pete Sampras won 24 straight in 1999. Roddick is not exactly a patsy -- he has won 21 straight matches against non-Federer opponents, and. But as far as rivalries go, this one is decidedly tilted. Roddick is now 1-7 lifetime against Federer, with the lone win coming in this tournament in the semi-finals last year in Montreal. "That's normally the question you have before you play somebody: 'What do I have to do to beat this guy?'" said Roddick. "I just have to find answers." Yesterday, the reason became a little clearer. The two men were even until Roddick suddenly had three break points at 4-4 of the first set. The opportunity was there, waiting. But Federer, as has become his custom, rose gracefully to the moment. His first ace went down the middle, as did the second. The third, for variety, was directed to the outside. Federer delivered each one with near-metronomic consistency: the first was measured at 201 km/h, the second 203, the third 205. Having failed to get his racquet on any of them, Roddick instead applauded with it. He fell behind 5-4 two points later. "I'm not good with percentages," said Roddick, a little flippantly, when asked what the chances of those three aces were. "I try to do as little math as possible. That's why I decided to become good at tennis. Federer No. 1 on any surface << PREVIOUS | 1 | 2 CREDIT: Glenn Lowson, National Post Roger Federer had 14 aces to Andy Roddick's four. ...Continued "I keep trying to tell myself it's hard luck, but it happens a lot when I play Roger, for some reason. It's frustrating." You would be frustrated, too. Roddick, the world's hardest server, was out-aced 14 to four. Serving at 5-6, having been broken once all week, Roddick was one point from a tiebreak and rushing the net when Federer, on the dead run, smacked a preposterous cross-court forehand that had precise amount of topspin to elude Roddick's racquet and dive over the net, stopping only to kiss the line before bounding off. Roddick was then victimized by another perfect passing shot, this one an imperious, unreturnable cross-court backhand. After losing the set, Roddick rocketed his racquet past his chair into a photographer's bay. "I could care less about the numbers, and stuff," he said afterwards. 'The thing I care about is the titles, and the lost opportunities of winning those titles. Those are the things that you really can't get back." Count this as another opportunity lost to history. In the second set, they were again on serve -- at 1-1, one Roddick fan was reduced to yelling, "Go, Andy! He's human!" -- and remained so after Roddick needed an injury timeout for an aching back (he dismissed the injury's impact later). But with Federer leading 4-3, Roddick fell behind love-40 on two fantastic Federer winners and a double fault, and he was again teetering. The young American saved two break points, but on the third, Federer concluded a long rally as if he were late for his next appointment. His forehand flew by a charging Roddick, who turned around and raised both arms plaintively. In the next game, after Roddick had saved one match point, Federer ended with a cool backhand into open space. He bathed in sunshine, and applause. "First of all, congratulations to Roger," said Roddick in the post-match ceremony. "You're starting to become very, very annoying." Still exhausted after Wimbledon and the Swiss Open, Federer nearly skipped this event, but came at the last moment, hoping to play himself into top form as the tournament progressed. It worked -- yesterday was easily his best display of the week. Canada's hopes for a title died when Daniel Nestor and his Bahamanian partner Mark Knowles lost in the doubles semi-final to eventual champions Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupati, but still, this was a largely successful week for Tennis Canada in the new $38-million Rexall Centre. There were predictable problems with parking (which were mostly solved by Wednesday) and catering in a facility without a working kitchen. As well, much of tennis's target audience was spending the long weekend in cottage country, meaning the final, sparkling and in perfect weather, fell short of a sellout with 11,076 fans. Still, the tournament set a Toronto attendance record with 165,508, eroding the 2001 mark of 149,168; stadium revenues doubled thanks to luxury suites; and the field, with 45 of the top 50 players in the world, was the best in the tournament's history. And at the top of the pile sits Federer, the gentleman artist. It is, without a doubt, where he belongs. © National Post 2004 www.canada.com/
|
|
|
Post by RogiFan on Aug 4, 2004 13:37:33 GMT -5
TENNIS MASTERS CANADA Toronto, Canada August 1, 2004 Federer Unstoppable in Canada Getty Images Top seed Roger Federer captured his eighth title and third ATP Masters Series shield of the season with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over defending champion Andy Roddick in the final of the Tennis Masters Canada. With the victory, Federer extended his winning streak to 23 matches and became the first player since Bjorn Borg in 1979 to win consecutive tournaments on three different surfaces, having captured titles at Wimbledon (grass), Gstaad (clay) and Toronto (hard). Federer’s victory over Roddick – his seventh in eight meetings against the American – also was his 10th consecutive victory in an ATP final since his loss to Jiri Novak in five sets in Gstaad, Switzerland in July 2003. He also has won 31 of his last 32 matches, with his only loss in that span coming at the hands of Gustavo Kuerten at Roland Garros. In what was the first final at the new Rexall Centre, it also was the first final to be contested by the top two seeds in Toronto since 1979 when Borg defeated John McEnroe. Roddick came into the final having won his last 18 hard court matches since Indian Wells and his last seven finals on the surface. He also was the first player since Ivan Lendl in 1989. The 21-year-old US Open champion had three break points as Federer served at 0-40 at 4-4 in the opening set, but the Swiss star produced three consecutive aces before holding. Federer then broke Roddick in the 12th game to take the opening set, as Roddick began to show his frustration. It was only the second time he had been broken during the tournament. But Roddick had a fourth opportunity to break in the opening game of the second set, only to see Federer produce another ace. With Federer leading 4-3, he then broke Roddick for the second time in the match and clinched victory with his sixth backhand winner. Federer produced 32 winners and just 15 unforced errors in the 1-hour, 24-minute match, firing 14 aces to Roddick’s four. Federer now extends his INDESIT ATP 2004 Race lead to 329 points over Roddick, who is in second position. Federer’s 23-match winning streak is the longest on the ATP circuit since Pete Sampras won 24 consecutive matches in 1999. His eight titles in a season (Australian Open, Dubai, Indian Wells, Hamburg, Halle, Wimbledon, Gstaad, Toronto) also is the best since Thomas Muster won 12 in 1995. DOUBLES FINAL Indian duo Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes claimed their 23rd team title (from 32 finals) when they defeated second seeds Jonas Bjorkman and Max Mirnyi 6-4, 6-2 in the Tennis Masters Canada doubles final. Bhupathi/Paes have reunited to prepare for the Olympics. Their last title came in Mallorca in May, 2002. The Indians also defeated fourth seed Mark Knowles and Daniel Nestor in the semifinals. 2004 ATP MASTERS SERIES FINALS The Tennis Masters Canada final was the sixth ATP Masters Series final of the season featuring both players seeded among the Top 10. It also was the second straight ATP Masters Series final between the top two seeds: Indian Wells (1) Roger Federer d. (9) Tim Henman Miami (2) Andy Roddick d. (3) Guillermo Coria Monte Carlo (3) Guillermo Coria d. (4) Rainer Schuettler Rome (6) Carlos Moya d. (5) David Nalbandian Hamburg (1) Roger Federer d. (2) Guillermo Coria Toronto (1) Roger Federer d. (2) Andy Roddick Federer: “Well it is tough to, you know, push a button and say, okay, here is the final let me play well. It doesn't come automatic. You have to work at it. I think the reason why I played well today was because I was struggling throughout the week. I didn't play my best throughout the week but I still kept on winning. And I think when it came to the finals I knew that there is better left in me. So I really could actually turn up the up the gear and I had to because against Andy you have to, he is a great player. “Sometimes I get the feeling that people think it is normal or that I almost have to excuse myself for losing a set against Johansson, you know, I think it is something very difficult to do, to keep all those streaks going, if I would have lost today a lot of streaks would have been broken. I wouldn't have had the chance to win the three surfaces, the ten finals would have been broken and the winning streak would have been over. So I am very glad to have one this match especially against the second best player in the world. So I knew what this match was all about. “I feel like every time I step on the court, you know, there is a chance I might lose against – not against anybody but especially against Andy because everybody knows he has got a lot of strengths in his game more and more. His forehand has always been good, his backhand is more consistent, his serve is always a weapon. So he is a tough player but I would think it is wrong if we with just speak about me and him. There are a lot of lot of other great players around. And there has been players dominating the clay court season where we haven't been that dominant. And so we will see what after the US open if you can still keep up talking about me and Andy.” On becoming the first player since Borg in 1979 to win consecutive titles on three different surfaces: “It is nice. That is the first thing I was really proud about also when I won Wimbledon for the first time to be side-by-side with Bjorn Borg. Even though he has won it many more times but at least, you know, I have won it once. But obviously I didn't know about this streak a few days or a few weeks ago, but he was the last player to do so. I think everyone on the tour knows how difficult it is to actually just win, you know, a few surfaces in one year and I have done it all back to back so that's, that is incredible. And he wasn't my hero when I was growing up, because he was before my time. But I was lucky enough to meet him and to speak to him a little bit and I know a lot of stories through Peter Lungdren. So I really like him very much. I hope I can meet him again and chat about it because this is -- these are history books and these mean a lot to me.” Roddick: (On the three break points at 4-4 in the first set): “They were important, but I didn’t get a racquet on the ball. You know there is only so much you can do when you get aced, I mean, it is not like they were aces where, you know, I lunged. I mean, I was standing still. I mean, he just came up with great serves. “I thought I served really badly when I walked off the court but then I looked at the stats it said I had 67 percent first serves in. I don’t know, I mean I felt like I did everything—I missed a couple of volleys but those ended up being pretty irrelevant, you know, I got through those games where I missed the volleys so, I am not sure. Just go back to the drawing board I guess. “I just have to find answers. I mean, it is frustrating but, you know, I feel like—I still feel like I am getting better. You knock on the door enough times hopefully it’ll open.” Federer Breaks into History Books Thursday: Federer and Roddick Survive Marathon Day www.atptennis.com/
|
|
|
Post by RogiFan on Aug 4, 2004 13:38:11 GMT -5
TENNIS MASTERS CANADA Toronto, Canada August 2, 2004 Federer Breaking Into the History Books with Win in Toronto Getty Images Top seed Roger Federer captured his eighth title and third ATP Masters Series shield of the season with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over defending champion Andy Roddick in the final of the Tennis Masters Canada. 2004 ATP TITLE LEADERS Federer leads the ATP circuit in titles won this year: Roger Federer 8 Andy Roddick 4 Dominik Hrbaty 3 Carlos Moya 3 Canas, Coria, Haas, Hewitt 2 WINNING MULTIPLE ATP MASTERS SERIES TITLES Federer became the fifth player to win three ATP Masters Series titles in one year, and is the first player to accomplish the feat since Andre Agassi in 2002: Player Year ATP Masters Series Titles Roger Federer 2004 Indian Wells, Hamburg, Toronto Andre Agassi 2002 Miami, Rome, Madrid Marcelo Rios 1998 Indian Wells, Miami, Rome Andre Agassi 1995 Miami, Montreal, Cincinnati Thomas Muster 1995 Monte-Carlo, Rome, Essen (now Madrid) Pete Sampras 1994 Indian Wells, Miami, Rome ATP LONGEST MATCH WINNING STREAKS (since 1990) Federer has the longest match winning streak since Pete Sampras won 24 in a row five years ago: Player Matches 1. Thomas Muster 35 (1995) 2. Pete Sampras 29 (1994) 3. Andre Agassi 26 (1995) 4. Jim Courier 25 (1992) 5. Pete Sampras 24 (1999) 6. Roger Federer 23 (2004) 7. Stefan Edberg 21 (1990, ’91) 8. Ivan Lendl 21 (1990) 9. Pete Sampras 21 (1996) 10.Pete Sampras 20 (1996-97) FEDERER ON A ROLL IN FINALS- Federer is now unbeaten in his last 10 final appearances going back to last year: 2004 Toronto: d. Andy Roddick Gstaad: d. Igor Andreev Wimbledon: d. Andy Roddick Halle: d. Mardy Fish Hamburg: d. Guillermo Coria Indian Wells: d. Tim Henman Dubai: d. Feliciano Lopez Australian Open: d. Marat Safin 2003 Tennis Masters Cup: Houston d. Andre Agassi Vienna: d. Carlos Moya Toronto Final: Federer Unstopppable in Toronto www.atptennis.com/
|
|
|
Post by RogiFan on Aug 4, 2004 13:38:52 GMT -5
Canadian Masters -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Federer does the 'impossible' in extending winning run Richard Jago in Toronto Saturday July 31, 2004 The Guardian Roger Federer is either unusually modest for a professional player or he simply does not know how good he is. "If someone had told me after the French Open that I would not have lost another match up till now I would have told them, 'Well, this is almost impossible,'" he said after extending his longest winning streak. Most would disagree. Even before this week Federer had become the fastest man to 50 wins in a year since Ivan Lendl in 1989, and the unbeaten sequence earned another connection with an all-time great, for it became the longest since Pete Sampras's 24 successive wins in 1999. Federer has developed the knack of playing well while not at his brilliant best. Two victories in one day on Thursday - over Robin Soderling, a promising teenaged Swede, and Max Mirnyi, his former doubles partner - produced a stroke-making vocabulary sufficiently wide for his style of play to be dubbed here as "Roger's Thesaurus". Even while admitting to near-exhaustion, Federer managed to follow it with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Fabrice Santoro, carrying him to the semi-finals of the Masters Series, and keeping alive a chance of revenge on his nearest rival, Andy Roddick, who beat him en route to this title last year. Federer also scored a small status point over Roddick, because the Wimbledon champion's successes have taken him past the US Open champion's career-best run of 19, racked up by Roddick on this same North American hard court circuit nearly a year ago. But the champion has arguably been in better form than the top seed, Roddick beating Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina, 6-1, 6--4. "Neither of us is the same as we were a year ago. I feel pretty good," he said afterwards. The second of those statements has been the biggest difference between Roddick and Federer this week. Greg Rusedski, meanwhile, who a few short years ago was harbouring realistic ambitions of the US Open title himself, was glad merely to be among the wannabes for a Masters Series again yesterday. Rusedski's improved ranking of 98 has earned him a place in the qualifying competition for next week's Cincinnati Masters. Even such modest progress is crucial to regain a foothold on the main tour, especially after having been denied a wild card. sport.guardian.co.uk
|
|
|
Post by RogiFan on Aug 4, 2004 13:39:39 GMT -5
Richard Jago in Toronto Monday August 2, 2004 The Guardian Even at the age of 22 Roger Federer is being described as the most complete player of all time. Yesterday he added substance to that accolade by becoming the first player since Bjorn Borg to win successive titles on three different surfaces - clay, grass and hard. Federer did that by avenging himself in the final of the Canadian Masters upon Andy Roddick, who had beaten Federer en route to winning the title last year and to becoming world No1 first. He did it with a 7-5, 6-3 victory, a performance which was a couple of classes better than anything else he had delivered during the week. "Bjorn Borg is also my hero a little bit," said Federer. "And I would like to meet him again soon." If so, he should meet with other tennis greats too before long. This superbly constructed triumph carried him to within one of Pete Sampras' achievement of lasting 24 matches without defeat five years ago. Federer knew that a repeat of his slow semi-final start could lead to disaster against a speedster such as A-Rod. And he responded with a statement on his first service return. It contained the champion's best shot and set up a chance for a forehand drive which flowed across court like hot lava. "It's all about handling his serve," Federer had said before the final. He allowed Roddick a mere four aces, while Federer, with his slower but immaculately placed delivery, unleashed 14, including three in a row from 0-40 at four-all and another when he was break-point down in the opening game of the second set. That was another, even bigger statement. The Wimbledon champion was supremely confident on the big points. And it forced Roddick to change his ways. Roddick tried to compensate for the blunting of his best weapon by coming forward much more than he has ever done before. There were one or two indignities - a forehand volley flailed over the baseline from close in and an attempt to prevent a ball from drilling a hole in his stomach that resulted in a comically mis-hit winner. While it worked well much of the time, it also assisted Federer in the killer thrust. Roddick, at 3-4, 0-40 in the second set, came in three times to repair the damage. It worked twice but in the third he came in on slightly the wrong angle and Federer's forehand went surging past him again. "I congratulate Roger," said Roddick. "He's certainly becoming very, very annoying." But he can atone immediately, at the Masters in Cincinnati which begins today. sport.guardian.co.uk/Federer follows Borg's lead with 'incredible' feat By John Roberts 03 August 2004 After winning Wimbledon for the first time last year, Roger Federer felt proud to be "side by side" with his hero, Bjorn Borg. Now Federer has kept in step with Borg by becoming the first player to win consecutive titles on three different surfaces, grass, clay and concrete, since the ultra-focused Swede accomplished the feat 25 years ago. "This is something for the history books," Federer said in Toronto after adding the Canadian Masters to his recent successes on the Wimbledon lawns and the red clay of Gstaad in his Swiss homeland. "I think everybody knows how hard it is to win on a few surfaces in one year," he added. "To have done it back-to-back is incredible." What is more incredible is that little more than a year ago, some observers doubted that Federer had the nerve to win a Grand Slam title - and here he is with two Wimbledons and an Australian Open to his name, continuing to set higher standards. Federer's victory last Sunday against Andy Roddick, the US Open champion, in the Toronto final, 7-5, 6-3, came a week before the Swiss world No 1 was due to mark his 23rd birthday. The latest example of Federer's maturity, enabling him to blend his glorious skills with a strength of will, brought him his eighth singles title of the year. With four months of the season still to run, incorporating the US Open at the end of the month, Federer's success rate is already the best since the extremely competitive Thomas Muster won 12 singles titles in 1995. Going into his first-round match against Dominik Hrbaty at this week's Cincinnati Masters, Federer had won 23 consecutive matches - the most since Pete Sampras's 24 in 1999. His win against Roddick was his 10th consecutive victory in an ATP final. Federer has won 31 of his last 32 matches. His only loss was against the Brazilian clay-court master, Gustavo Kuerten, at the French Open. The only negative aspect of Federer's superiority over Roddick on Sunday for the men's game as a whole was that it stretched the gap at the top of the world rankings between the two players expected to create the sport's next big rivalry. Federer has now won seven of his eight matches against Roddick. "I'd like to congratulate Roger," a good-humoured Roddick said, "but you are starting to become very, very annoying." The 21-year-old, whose power unsettled Federer at Wimbledon, knows he has time on his side but admits: "You have to win a few matches to have a rivalry." Sunday's final had its drama. The first set seemed destined for a tie-break until Federer managed to break in the 12th game. When a Roddick forehand return landed long, Federer pumped his fist and Roddick slammed his racket to the ground. Roddick, who had won his previous seven finals on concrete, made a determined effort to level the contest, only to find Federer growing in confidence. The Swiss lashed a cross-court forehand to break for 5-3 and then served out the match. "I'm exhausted," Federer said. "It has been another great week for me, but I think Andy and I will play many more matches and you, Andy, will definitely get your share." Along with his success on the regular tour, Federer would love to win gold for his country at the Olympics in Athens, remembering his compatriot Marc Rosset's triumph in Barcelona. "[In Sydney] I lost in the semi-finals and the bronze medal match [against France's Arnaud di Pasquale] and it was very hard for me," he said. "I remember crying a lot after that. This time I hope my girlfriend and I can celebrate our fourth anniversary with me getting a medal." sport.independent.co.uk/
|
|
|
Post by RogiFan on Aug 4, 2004 13:41:54 GMT -5
Roger Federer - August 1 (partial transcript) Q. Okay Roger has won ten finals in a row going back to last year. He wins his ATP best eight title this season and he has also won now 23 matches in a row and the first player to win consecutive titles on grass, clay and hard since Bjorn Borg in 1979. All right, questions for Roger? Q. Roger, that was a fantastic performance far better than anything else you have done throughout the week. What enabled you to do it, is it the adrenaline or just your experience of the big finals or what? A. Well it is tough to, you know, push a button and say, okay, here is the final let me play well. You know, it doesn't come automatic. Umm, you have to work at it, you know, I think the reason why I played well today was because I was struggling throughout the week, you know. I didn't play my best throughout the week but I still kept on winning. And I think, you know, when it came to the finals I knew that, I think, there is better left in me. So I really, umm, could actually turn up the up the gear and I had to because against Andy you have to, he is a great player. Q. You listen the all the accomplishments that you have had, you know, the three different surfaces, the streak you are on, does it ever amaze you just how much you have been able to accomplish over the last little while? A. Well definitely, you know, sometimes I get the feeling that people think it is normal or that I almost have to excuse myself for losing a set against Johansson, you know, I think it is something very difficult to do, you know, to keep all those streaks going you know, if I would have lost today a lot of streaks would have been broken. You know, I wouldn't have had the chance to win the three surfaces, the ten finals would have been broken, you know, and the winning streak would have been over. So, you know, I am very glad to have one this match especially against, you know, the second best player in the world. So I knew what this match was all about. Q. Roger, 14 aces today, where did you find the reserve to come up with so many aces? Were you surprised ‑‑ A. Well that was the one thing I was doing well this week, you know, serving well. Especially when I had to, that saved a lot of trouble for me this whole week. Q. Roger, you obviously the three wins on three different surfaces, the last player to do that was Bjorn Borg, I heard you say that that is somebody that you looked up to, does it give you exa meaning to know that now you are alongside Bjorn? A. It is nice. That is the first thing I was really proud about also when I won Wimbledon for the first time, you know, to be side‑by‑side with Bjorn Borg. You know, even though he has won it many more times but at least, you know, I have won it once. But obviously I didn't know about this streak a few days or a few weeks ago, but he was the last player to do so. I think everyone on the tour knows how difficult it is to actually just win, you know, a few surfaces in one year and I have done it all back to back so that's, that is incredible. And, you know, he wasn't my hero when I was growing up, you know, because he was before my time. But I was lucky enough to meet him and to speak to him a little bit and I know a lot of stories through Peter Lungdren. So, you know, I really like him very much. I hope I can meet him again and chat about it because this is ‑‑ these are history books and these mean a lot to me. Q. Roger, can you remember, does it happen very often love‑40 and then you save three break points all with aces, I mean, in a big situation like that, you ever A. Well I remember, you know, serving aces three in a row on a few occasions. But I don't know if I have done on break points, this is up to you to find out, I think so, umm. But, I don't remember a match where it happened. So. I was definitely the right time, you know, to come up with big serves because up until that love‑40 I don't remember making a first serve, you know, in that game and it came at the right time. It was good luck in the game. Q. Do you have any idea how you did it? A. Well like I said this whole week my serve has been good. I could rely on it and I knew that if I make the first ace or a first good serve then, you know, you have to feel the groove and, you know, to take the confidence but you hit a second and you think oh, man, there is one more to go. So it is tough, but, my serve was there when I needed it this whole week and most important it was here in the finals and never been broken, so, against Andy and that is a good effort because I have the feeling he is returning much better than in past and, you know, he makes you work hard so, it is good. Q. Roger, one of the things that struck me was your composure and consistency out there. What do you do to keep your head clear? A. I didn't, I missed the beginning. Q. Just how composed and how consistent you are out there. What is your head space like, how do you train yourself? A. Well it is all through experience. I was very, I would say, wild before on the court. It took me a long time, you know, actually to get, to find peace with myself because I was, I would get so frustrated and so disappointed and so sad about my game sometimes. Now I can handle it. If I miss shots, you know, I say okay, I hope the next one goes better. If it goes bad again, I hope the next one goes better. So I can just always see something positive in my game especially now that, you know, I don't have to think or hope too much about my serve because it comes very naturally and good. In the paste, you know, I always hope my first serve comes because if my serve doesn't work, I have got nothing else. That is the way I felt a little bit a few years ago. And this it is all a combination that I could, you know, get the mental strength, the physical strength, you know, the whole game plan. I start to understand tennis better and better, and that makes me much more calm inside and especially on big occasions now. I went through a lot of them lately so I am used to it. Q. Roger, were you forced to make any major adjustments during the match or is it safe to say you executed fully you game plan going in? A. Well, you know, first you have to get the ball back on his serve. Then before that, I first have to focus on my own serve so I can stay level with him and then you know take chances. I missed a few, you know, in the beginning and suddenly, you know, he had huge chance at love‑40. But I really have to say I didn't have change much of my game plan. It is what I expected, I knew he is not going to come out hitting full swing like in Wimbledon, because I thought about it. You can't play that tennis he played in Wimbledon on a hard court or on a clay court, you have to ‑‑ and so I thought that he would play much more patient because this is the way he played me in Montreal last year. You know, stood very far back on the return and, you know, made me go into longer rallies and that is exactly what I did and that is what I've actually was looking forward to. So I was prepared for that and so I didn't had to change my game plan.
|
|
|
Post by RogiFan on Aug 4, 2004 13:42:17 GMT -5
Q. You have had great success against him, you have 7‑1 lifetime. Do you think if somebody is going to beat you he has probably got the best chance of anyone to be able to do that? A. Well he hasn't beaten me this year, you know. But so you have to ask the other plays how they did it, you know, the ones he who beat me, there is only a few. But I feel like every time I step on the court, you know, there is a chance I might lose against – not against anybody but especially against Andy because everybody knows, you know, he has got a lot of strengths in his game more and more. His forehand has always been good, his backhand is more consistent, his serve, you know, is always a weapon. So he is a tough player but, you know, I would think it is wrong if we with just speak about me and him. You know, because there is a lot of lot of other great players around. And, you know, there has been players dominating the clay court season where we haven't been that dominant. And so we will see what after the US open if you can still keep up, you know, talking about me and Andy. Q. Roger, he came into the net a lot. I think probably more than usual, was that an unexpected thing for you and does it suggest – A. He did, you mean? Q. He did, yes, he came into the net – A. No, he always plays like this against me because I allow him to do so because, you know, I just chip back my return so. Umm, he always gets ‑‑ he can always run around his backhand, he can always put me on back foot, and if he doesn't come in, you know, then he has got no clue about tennis so. But, you know, he did it right and, yeah, he puts me under lot of pressure with his forehand so I am not surprised at all. Because if you look at all the matches we have played, they have have always been quite similar, you know, in that respect. Q. Roger, Andy said I thought I served really badly until I looked at the stat sheet and saw 67 percent. Is that a tribute to your return of serve that he thought he served badly? A. Well I had the feeling he wasn't serving as hard as in Wimbledon. In Wimbledon I had the feeling it was just incredible how hard he was hitting the ball. Obviously we were on grass but still, I thought that first serve really was very difficult to control, you know, I had to sometimes didn't even have to time really change my grip, you know, (inaudible) one grip to return and that was not the case today. Umm, but, you know, that is how it goes. There is days where we serve better, there is some where I have absolutely no clue what is going on. And important was, you know, to always get the ball back against him that is how I look at it. You know, not to actually return it hard and deep and try to hit winners off it, you know, because I think that would be wrong approach with my game and that has worked well for me and I have always sticked to that game plan since I have really dominated him in Wimbledon last year and since I haven't been changing my game plan too much. Q. Roger, is your next big goal to win a gold meddle in Athens? A. Well, I hope, you know, I will play well. A medal is a goal for me, gold would be what I would hope for, but, again, you know it is knock out system. Like in every other tennis tournament, that is extremely difficult, you know, to maintain that level of play all the time and I have already won eight tournaments you know, I think these days in men's tennis that is very difficult to to do so that would be my ninth or tenth see about Cincinnati. But I am not planning on winning the gold medal. I go there and give my best and if there is a medal in it I am happy, if there a gold I come back home to Switzerland a hero, so we will see what happens. Q. Roger, you said on the court right after the match that you were exhausted. Can you expand on that a little bit? A. Well exhausted. The tournament is over, you know, I am relieved, I am happy, you know, everything is over and I can relax for a day. Q. Is it just the one tournament that has wiped you out or you are still feeling the lag effect, you talked a little bit about your mental fatigue this week? A. I am very surprise, I honestly do. Because I came here, and I was like, I hope I can get through the early rounds and then, you know, I can get my feel back for the game because I was very tired I wasn't sure if I should come here at all or to Cincinnati because if I thought if I keep this pace up, you know, by playing all the time, you know, I might overdo it at one stage and I get sick like, like in ‑‑ when I was in Miami you know after I won Indian Wells. But when I started practicing and I started to feel like, no, I am ready to go and also if Toronto goes well, you know, I am also fine for Cincinnati. So I play Cincinnati and try to do my best there. Because before and after the Olympics we still have a week, you know, so that is okay. Q. Roger, you mentioned the possibility you are thinking about coming to Toronto, when did you sort of finally make up your mind or were you think about possibly not playing in both Toronto and Cincinnati? A. That is what I just said. That is what I just said, yeah. That when I was on holiday I felt so good, you know, I didn't want to leave that place, so. I was ‑‑ I spoke to my, you know, condition trainer and I asked him what do you think. He said well just, you know what, go there and, you know, actually try your best because you know they are big events and at the same time I also didn't want to give the other guys a chance, you know, to either catch up on me or, you know, just play a tournament without me there. And once I came back and I decided actually then to play Toronto Cincinnati a week before, and I decided to leave one or two days later than actually planned. And that gave me a few extra days back in Switzerland which were very important for me and. But at the same time I knew it is going the make it for difficult to win the first round. But once I got through it, you know, with the rain helped also a little bit. I took advantage of it, it was good. canada.masters-series.com/
|
|
|
Post by RogiFan on Aug 7, 2004 10:02:36 GMT -5
Yay, it's official, Rogi will be carrying the Swiss flag at the opening ceremonies in Athens!!!! I guess I'll be taping it then!!
|
|
|
Post by RogiFan on Aug 7, 2004 10:05:04 GMT -5
Roger Federer will carry Swiss flag (official news from the Swiss Olympic Association) Swiss tennis player Roger Federer will carry the flag with the opening celebration on 13 August 2004 in the olympia stadium of Athens. The current number 1 of the tennis world rank list assured to take over this honorable office. Roger Federer one inquired by the guidance team for this task. With joy the guidance team took Federers knowledge today from the decision that it will march with joy in the point of the Swiss Olympic team into the Oaka stadium of Athens. Federers predecessors in the task as color bearers were Thomas's fresh farmhand (MTB, 2000 Sydney) and Stefan Schaerer (hand ball, 1996 Atlanta). 07.08.2004
|
|