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Post by RogiFan on Jun 5, 2005 21:38:50 GMT -5
Rogi vs. Rafa at RG05 SF This is how I saw Rogi in this match: Under pressure to win RG after not winning AO Rogi playing under pressure = a nervous Rogi who doesn’t play his best tennis Rogi had never played Rafa on clay Problems w serve, FH, BH, volleys Too many UEs, esp at important points Unable to convert breakpoints or hold even at 40-15 Trouble closing out games and sets Came out somewhat lost and un focused; unable to adjust his game Mentally distracted; let things bother him, incl. fading light Seemed rushed, didn’t move well, uncomfortable on the court Rogi let his obsession w the “lefty” Nadal take over By the 4th set, Rogi simply could not change his strategy or tactic to turn the match around and push it to a 5th set Rogi was on the defensive too much Rafa dictated play for most of the match Rogi had to WIN this match since Rafa was not going to lose it Rogi really had to play his best tennis in order to beat Rafa Rafa was mentally stronger, calmer and more composed, even after losing the 2nd set Rafa although he didn’t play his best tennis, played well enough to beat Rogi Rafa returned well and got back almost every shot, pulling Rogi fr side to side, back and forth In then end, Rogi lost to the worthy RG champion, the favourite, the King of Clay, who outplayed him in every area of his game. I am still feeling deflated and a little empty after Rogi’s loss because I think he had one of his best chances to win the elusive RG. For Rogi to win RG he had to pass the Rafa test. My consolation is that he lost to the champion who has been beating the best on clay this year, incl. Gaudio, Coria, Gasquet and he made his first SF at RG. I don’t think Rogi was quite prepared for the barrage that is Rafa on clay. Of the matches I saw, Rafa played his best tennis in the QF vs. Ferrer, showing his grit and tenacity to save set points at 4-5 to stay in the first set, win it and the amtch. This was an ominous sign for his SF match vs. Rogi. I believe that Rogi does better w a tougher draw. So he didn’t drop a set leading to the SF. So what? That only means that he wasn’t tested, leaving him without the necessary preparation for the biggest match of the tournament vs. the outright favourite. It is clear that the best man won this SF and sadly Rogi couldn’t play anywhere near his best tennis. However, considering the pressure he’s under constantly, we have to be happy for his best ever results at RG this year. Rogi still did better than Gaudio, Coria, Safin, Ferrero, Nalbandian and any other so-called claycourter. RG is by far the most difficult slam to win… even for the claycourters. You have to truly earn this title. Rafa has paid his dues by playing and winning 5 out of 7 clay tournaments, gaining a rhythm that peaked at the right time. What can Rogi do to win RG? Before RG I mentioned that Rogi, unlike many past RG champs, hardly played any matches on clay. Of the active players today, only AA managed to win RG with very little clay matchplay [but then he is AA]. In order to win RG, you need to get a rhythm, which can only be attained through playing many matches on clay. Another advantage of playing lots of tournaments on clay is that you encounter the top claycourters so that when RG arrives, you will most likely have already faced them on clay. Better to lose to these players in the smaller tournaments than in the slam. This is what players like Nadal, Gaudio, Ferrero, Costa, Moya and Guga have done. They target RG, make it their focus and do the necessary preparation. Bruguera said that to win RG you have to suffer – I don’t think Rogi suffered enough at RG this year. He’s getting there… the SF was his first real pain. In 2004, Gaston almost lost his first round 5-set match, not to mention that dramatic final; when Juanqui won RG in 2003, he had to overcome his nemesis, Gonzalez in an ugly 5-set QF; even Guga almost went out of the tournament in 2001 when Michael Russell pushed him to 5 sets in R16. Costa had to beat many tough players, incl. Canas, who had taken out Hewitt and Moya, and finally Juanqui, the favourite, to win his RG. Yes, I am sad that Rogi missed his opportunity to try and win his first RG this year as each year that goes by throws new obstacles in his [and other players’] way, w a constant set of young players to challenge for the title. You never know, perhaps when he is no longer No 1and the pressure lessens, he will feel more relaxed and freer about this slam and he will win it but he has to make it a priority. Although Rogi did not win either of the first two slams this year, he’s already won 6 titles, 2 of which are TMS, on different surfaces [in fact Rogi has won a title on 3 surfaces so far in 2005]. This hardly makes for a disastrous year. Think of other top players who have had amazing years and been unable to follow this up w another fantastic year [Safin comes to mind when he won 7 titles in 2000 – I thought that was incredible at the time ]. Not many players defend titles fr one year to the next, e.g., Coria, who has failed to defend TMS Hamburg03, TMS Monte Carlo04, and Pandy who didn’t defend his USO04. We thought that Rogi’s 2003 was great winning his first slam at Wimby along w 6 other titles; in 2004 he betters it w an unbelievable 11 titles incl. 3 slams and 3 TMS and a title on 4 surfaces [which he did in the previous year]. So as he said “I am No 1 by far”. I am sure that Rogi has learned from and can put this loss behind him and look forward to the grass and hardcourt seasons where he has the bulk of his points to defend.
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Post by RogiFan on Jun 5, 2005 21:49:37 GMT -5
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Post by RogiFan on Jun 5, 2005 21:50:00 GMT -5
Onto the grass now at Halle!!! HOPP, ROGI!!!!!
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Post by RogiFan on Jun 8, 2005 21:12:52 GMT -5
Well, he had one hell of a time vs. Soderling but he managed to scrape through to the second round of Halle Federer d Soderling 67 76(86) 64! eurosport.com: Federer flirts with disaster An out-of-sorts Roger Federer was given a stern test by Sweden's Robin Soderling before coming through his first round match at the Halle Open on Tuesday. The Swiss world number one and top seed, normally so dominant on grass, eventually beat the Swede 6-7 7-6 6-4. Federer was playing his first match since losing to Spaniard Rafael Nadal on clay in the French Open semi-finals last week. "It was harder than I expected and defeat was certainly very close today," Federer told DSF television. "I knew the match would be very tough but thankfully not so tough that I am out of the tournament." An inspired Soderling, ranked 35 in the world, took the first set and pushed Federer all the way, playing some thumping passing strokes and breaking the Wimbledon champion back in the third set to temporarily stay in contention. Federer, who could meet Nadal in the Halle semis, said he had trouble with his returns and was lacking match practice on grass. "There were definitely some good moments but I am pleased I have another match to play before Wimbledon," he said. "I think in general I need to come to the net more energetically and finish off the points more effectively." Play was interrupted in the sixth game of the final set with Soderling serving when the normally unflappable Federer complained that the Swede had stopped playing in the middle of a point after the ball appeared to land out. Soderling, 20, went on to win the replayed point and that game but Federer broke him again at 4-5 to extend his winning streak on grass to 25 matches. "Afterwards he won the point anyway by serving an ace and then jeered right into my face so it's certainly a problem with him right now," Federer said of the incident. The Wimbledon champion will play Germany's Florian Mayer in the second round. Earlier on Tuesday, former French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero beat Vladimir Voltchkov of Belarus 6-7 6-4 6-4. Interview with Roger FedererDienstag, 07.06.2005 Press-Conference with Roger Federer (SUI) after his win against Robin Soderling (SWE). ? Roger, compared with last year this was a more difficult start on grass, wasn't it? ! Yes, you're right, of course. There was obviously much less time this year than the last two or even three years, when I lost early at the French Open. I remember I was arriving here on Wednesday before the tournament started, then having five or six days to get ready for the season. Now I was coming from a tough French Open-weekend and I was not as fresh that I was like to be. This year it was basically one and a half day. It was tough, but I'm really happy to have come through today. It was, as expected, a tough match. ? Did you expect such a tough match? ! Well, you expect a tough match, but this one was obviously a bit scary, because he was two points away from beating me. Anyway, I made it, and these kind of matches are very important. I had a couple of matches like this and won the tournament in the end, so these can be crucial matches. Of course during the match you hope it's gonna be easier. If I had lost, I would have sit here and had no more matches to play almost before Wimbledon, except the doubles tomorrow, things would be very different. But now I can look ahead, I'm confident, because every match I play here this week, I'm the favourite. I've to try to use that und try to get prepared well for Wimbledon. Not all things today were totally bad today, it was a great performance, but I think he played also really good tennis. I think, he did a good job returning my serve, keeping me on the back, playing aggressive - today's tough match had a lot to do with him. ? What happenend when you sat down in the third and the supervisor came on the court? A problem with the linesman? ! No, there was no problem with the linesman. Well, when the ball bounced Söderling had already asked me for the call but continued playing afterwords, which I don't think is very fair from his side. Well, he continued the point after he hit the ball and was obviously also in disbelieve that they call it in. That again I think is not very fair. He played a stop, crowd got involved, I got to the net and he hit the winner. Too much things were going on just before around that one bounce. These are the reasons why I wanted to see the supervisor to see, what he had to say, because I didn't like the arguments the chair-umpire gave me. It's a tough call to make for the umpire, but I really thought he clearly stopped the point. But he gave me some weird arguments like "We're not on clay". Besides I asked the umpire if he saw that the other had stopped playing and the umpire said "Yes". For me that didn't make any sense. Anyway, I found this was a strange explanation they gave and wanted to replay the point. All in all it was an unfortunate situation. ? What do you expect from your next opponent Florian Mayer? ! He plays a completely different game than most other players, a very different technique. It'll be interesting to see how he'll finally play in a serious match because so far I just practiced with him last year in Wimbledon. He plays much better than he seems to be. I know how dangerous he is, because I saw him playing pretty good matches. After his fabulous last year he wasn't able to hold his level constantly now, but nevertheless he remains quite dangerous, especially in Germany. ? Do you think the duel Federer-Nadal will become the big competition in the following years? ! Yes, it could be, but there are some other players who have an other opinion. I think we should not forget Hewitt, Safin or Roddick. I don't see only Nadal, therefore it will be interesting in the future. www.gerryweber-open.de/1591.php
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Post by RogiFan on Jun 8, 2005 21:16:59 GMT -5
So Rogi plays that tall German guy Florian Mayer... he reminds me of a tall bird w a little beakie! HOPP, ROGI! VAMOS, JUANQUI! [time to avenge Rafa's loss to Waske today]
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Post by RogiFan on Jun 8, 2005 21:20:35 GMT -5
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Post by RogiFan on Jun 11, 2005 21:37:32 GMT -5
Gerry Weber Open Halle, Germany June 11, 2005 Top Seed Federer To Meet Second Seed Safin In Final Roger Federer advanced to his third Gerry Weber Open final in a row after ousting local hero and No. 7 seed Tommy Haas in a one-hour, 39-minute high-quality match 6-4, 7-6 (9). Federer broke Haas’ serve in the third game of the first set, the only break of the match. Federer won the first set in 35 minutes. In the second set, Haas saved four break points, while the Swiss didn’t have to save any during the whole match. Haas couldn’t take advantage of two set points in the second set tie-break. Federer won the match on his third match point, advancing to the Halle final for the third time in a row extending his grass court winning-streak to 28 matches. His last defeat on grass dates from June 2002 when he lost to Mario Ancic in the first round of Wimbledon. Second seed Marat Safin disposed the challenge from No. 4 seed Argentine Guillermo Canas with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 victory. Safin scored the only break of the first set, breaking Canas’ serve in sixth game. Before the beginning of the second set Canas had to take a medical time-out having problems with his left wrist. In the second set Canas made an early break, but Safin broke back immediately. The Argentine again went in front and won the second set. In the final set, Safin took an early lead breaking Canas in the very first game and added another break in the fifth game. The Russian qualified for his first career grass court final converting his third match point after one hour and 54 minutes. WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID: Federer: “I feel good. The first round here against Soderling was very tough. I played my best today, this is definitely how you want to feel just before Wimbledon. It’s good, I’m happy that I’m already on such a good level so early. I’m surprised about myself again, because I came here to Halle and after a few matches I’m already feeling great. I had fun today and I’m feeling quite convenient. Besides, it would be a little bit strange to say I don’t feel good, because I’m a two-time champion here and haven’t lost any grass court match for quite some time.” About Roddick being his toughest opponent in Wimbledon: “I would say so, perhaps together with Lleyton Hewitt. But anyway you’ve got to take care, because there are also some other dangerous hard-serving players around. I think the seeds are happy that it’s over five sets sometimes.” About the final: “With Marat you never know… Marat and me, we had some tough matches lately, so for the crowd and the tournament it’ll be of course interesting. Marat will be an exciting opponent tomorrow.” Safin: “I’m really satisfied with my match today, I played quite consistent. This was a very tough week for me, I had a lot of decisions to make, so I’m happy to have reached the final.” About his knee: “I stay in contact with the doctors regularly and there is this alternative: To rest immediately for a while or to try to go further for a while. Against Rochus I did two movements on the court and had such big pain, that I thought to retire. But after a little break it still worked. This is not easy for me, but I want to fight and want to pick up some more points on grass as long as it works.” About the final: “I’m pretty confident with my game, but of course you have to be confident and you have to play great tennis to fight Roger Federer in the final. Confidence is not enough to beat Roger. It’ll be nearly impossible if he plays such an amazing match like today and sometimes the earlier rounds. I don’t know if I’ll be able to play consistently and stay concentrated the whole match. Because that’s what you need to win against Roger.” FINAL PREVIEW In the final of the Gerry Weber Open, top-seed Roger Federer and No. 2 seed Marat Safin will meet for the ninth time in their careers. Safin won their last encounter, being in the semifinal of the 2005 Australian Open, where he saved one match point. 23-year-old Federer is looking for his 29th career title contesting his 37th ATP final. The Swiss has already won six titles this year. He is playing in his second consecutive final in Germany, having won the Masters Series Hamburg in May. Federer hasn’t lost a final since Gstaad 2003 (l. to Novak), and has won 19 straight finals since. If Federer wins today’s final he will extend his winning-streak on grass to 29 matches. Bjorn Borg has the all-time record in the Open Era with 41 successive wins. Safin plays his first final since winning the Australian Open final (d. Hewitt) in Melbourne in January. He is looking for his first title on grass and his 16th crown today, playing in his 24th ATP final. If Safin wins the final he would become the third active ATP player to win singles titles on all four surfaces, joining Agassi and Federer. 45 INDESIT ATP 2005 Race Points and €96,000 are up for grabs for the winner of the final. Both singles finalists will also appear in today’s doubles final. Federer teams up with countryman Yves Allegro, while Safin plays together with Swede Joachim Johansson. Federer and Safin are the fourth and fifth players to reach both singles and doubles finals this year: - Wayne Arthurs won singles, lost in doubles (w/Hanley) final in Scottsdale - Rafael Nadal won singles, lost in doubles (w/Lopez) final in Barcelona - Tommy Robredo reached singles and doubles (w/Chela) finals in Estoril The last time both singles finalists were in the doubles final was in Scottsdale on Mar. 9, 2003. Lleyton Hewitt defeated Mark Philippoussis in the singles final, then they teamed together in doubles, losing in the final. The last time Federer appeared in both finals was in Bangkok last year, winning the singles and losing in the doubles final (w/Allegro). Federer last won singles and doubles titles in the same tournament in Vienna (w/Allegro) in 2003. The last tournament double winner on the ATP circuit was Nikolay Davydenko in Moscow last year (w/Andreev). www.atptennis.com/en/newsandscores/news/2005/halle_saturday.asp
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Post by RogiFan on Jun 11, 2005 21:41:38 GMT -5
HOPP, ROGI!!! Win Halle for the third time! Won't be easy vs. Maraty... he fancies his chances despite a dodgy knee... [why he thinks he can't play on grass is beyond me... PL is surely teaching him how to play and win on the green stuff... nothing w give PL more pleasure or perhaps better revenge than to have his new charge win Wimby ]. Keep your cool, Rogi!
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Post by RogiFan on Jun 12, 2005 13:23:19 GMT -5
Well done, ROGI beating Marat in Halle 64 67(68) 64! Also w Yves to beat Marat/PPim in dbles 75 67(68) 63! Interview with Roger Federer Sonntag, 12.06.2005 Press-Conference with Roger Federer (SUI) after his win against Marat Safin (RUS) ? Please comment this second defending of the title in Halle? ! I’m pretty happy about this title, it’s a wonderful feeling and a kind of relief. Having dealt with the defeat in Paris so well, this is surprising for me, too. It’s not normal to come here with less grass preparation and win the tournament in the end. Marat was really hard to fight against, and it’s not normal for me to win such a match. You saw it when he served how much pace he can get on it – he’s so dangerous. This makes him very hard to return. I really thought I did a good job today, keeping myself cool even though I lost the second set and was quite close to win that set and the match basically. So I’m very pleased now: It was a good performance all week long, it’s exactly the way I want to feel heading into Wimbledon. ? Did you fear to lose the match after the tie break in the second set? ! Yes, of course. There is always a kind of respect for these situations, the same against Tommy in the semis. Tiebreak is always a kind of roulette: The one who gets the better start has big chances to win. You always need a little bit of luck to win tie breaks. Fortunately I was able to come through in the third. ? Do you think you can play any better on grass? ! I always feel like I can improve, I think there were moments when I could have done better, for example I can serve and return better. Grass court tennis depends on a few points and if you miss those like me in the beginning of the match, when I had some opportunities but missed a few shots, it shows I can definitely play better. ? You won here three times in a row, will you come back next year? ! It depends on how it goes in Wimbledon. But if I keep on winning Wimbledon after I won Halle every year I obviously come back. And if you lose first round then you put more thoughts in it, of course. But I usually always come back to the places where I have to defend titles, and especially in Germany I have some incredibly records as well concerning the matches I won in a row in Hamburg, Munich and Halle. It’s really been quite a run in Germany. ? Where did the high quality of the match come from? ! I think the high quality was the serving from both guys. It was really tough to get into the games. When you missed the opportunity almost on the first or second point, the game was over. It was sort of what I expected I would say, but it was quite tougher than I really thought it would be against Marat on grass. Although we’ve had some good matches the last three we’ve played, so I’ve always knew how tough Marat is. But my record is good against him, and that is always good to know by heading into those sorts of matches. I’ve beaten him so much times in a row now, so that’s given me more confidence against him than maybe against others. I had my chance to win in two, but also winning in three was anyway a good performance. ? How will Marat’s chances in Wimbledon be? ! Better than the last few years, because the last few years haven’t been quite good for him. He always went into Wimbledon already quite pessimistic. When he lost he was always relieved, he forgot about Wimbledon and concentrated on the American summer. I think this final will fence his chances well doing well and doing a breakthrough over there, because he has really shown some good performances on grass this week. ? How do you go into Wimbledon? Feeling pressure or being confident? ! I feel confident, but there can always be a tough draw, there can always be a shock loss in the first round. I don’t really think about it, that’s what I was more concerned abaout last year defending my first time Wimbledon title. Now it’s easier for me to deal with the situation than last year. Federer completes GERRY WEBER OPEN hat-trick 12 June 2005 Roger Federer continued his grasscourt supremacy with a 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-4 victory over Marat Safin in the final of the Gerry Weber Open.The two-time defending Wimbledon champion clinched his 29th career title, including his third straight in Halle by stretching his grass winning streak to a fabulous 29 matches. "It was very tough to beat Marat," Federer smiled. "I didnt expect him to do that well on grass and I´m very happy about the way I played. I wanted to take this good feeling into Wimbledon." The two top seeds pleased 11,500 jubilant fans with what many called the best final in 13 years of world-class tennis in Halle. "I played my best match on grass today," said Safin. "There is simply no stopping Roger -- I could not have played any better." The result allowed Federer to avenge his Australian Open semi-finals defeat earlier this year. Federer not only served well but also looked impressive on the volleys and long baseline rallies. He even managed to return Safin´s powerful serve, which often exceeded the 210-kilometer mark. Safin, on the other hand, displayed powerful baseline shots and even rushed to the net on several occasions. Federer was off to a flying start, grabbing an early 3-0 lead before Safin won the next three games. Down 4-5 and serving, however, the Russian committed two sloppy mistakes that gave Federer the first set. He fought back in the second set as both players impressed with sensational rallies all over the court. Both men saved break points, with Safin arguing with the umpire more than just once. At 6-6 in the tiebreaker, he gained a mini-break and then -- much to the delight of the crowd -- wrapped up the set with an ace. Federer recovered to break his opponent again in the third game of the final set, and neither player allowed any more break points in the following. Federer clinched his 29th career title when Safin faulted a back-hand after two hours and three minutes. "I continue surprising myself how well I play despite only limited preparation time. I am glad I kept my cool after losing the second set. I will take a lot of confidence into Wimbledon after a good overall week." (picture: pmk) www.gerryweber-open.de/1678.php
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Post by RogiFan on Jun 12, 2005 13:26:01 GMT -5
fr.sports.yahoo.com/ph/tennis_p.html?b=1Interview with Marat Safin Sonntag, 12.06.2005 Press-Conference with Marat Safin (RUS) after his defeat against Roger Federer (SUI) in the final. ? The match could also go the other way round, couldn’t it? ! Really, you’re right, I also felt like this. This was once again one of these matches, when only two or three points decide all the match. We both were playing pretty well, we were serving well, so one or two mistakes are decisive. Today I made one or two bad decisions by me, and that’s it, the match is gone. But the way I played I think, that was really good, I’m satisfied with it. It’s still a little bit unusual for me playing on grass, because you always have to stay aggressive and play powerful tennis. This match was a really good performance from me, I lost against the world number one but had my opportunities to win, and that’s an important step for me. This was probably my best match on grass I’ve ever played. ? What are your expectations for Wimbledon? ! Well, I hope I have enough confidence going into Wimbledon and be able to continue a high-level also there. Playing like this week and to continue the same level, would be good. But it’s always tough for a tall guy like me to move on grass. That’s why certain guys always make the final there in Wimbledon. Most of the game now is played from the baseline, and that makes it so hard for tall players, because you have to move faster than on other surfaces. Marat did v well on grass this week.
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Post by RogiFan on Jun 13, 2005 15:30:19 GMT -5
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Post by RogiFan on Jun 13, 2005 15:31:59 GMT -5
Federer relishing first taste of real thing By Sally Jones (Filed: 30/03/2005) World No 1 Roger Federer has revealed a novel element to his preparations for the defence of his Wimbledon title in June; a visit to Hampton Court for his first taste of real tennis, the royal, ancient and utterly dignified forerunner of that Johnny-come-lately game played amid huge hype and razzamatazz on the lawns of the All England Club each summer. On June 15, just five days before the start of The Championships, while most of his rivals will be fine tuning their games on grass in Nottingham or Holland, Federer, with a little help from former world champion Chris Ronaldson, will be manhandling a heavy, asymmetric wooden racket, thrashing solid, handmade balls over a drooping net and off the walls and wooden porches called penthouses as he attempts to master the all-important cut stroke plus arcane specialities like the giraffe, the boomerang and the railroad serve. Once he has absorbed the rudiments, the Swiss, partnering BBC sports presenter John Inverdale, will take on Ronaldson, the Hampton Court head professional and jeweller Neil Duckworth, both experienced players, in a doubles. The session was originally designed as a promotional appearance for Federer's watch sponsor, Maurice Lacroix, the traditional Zurich-based firm which signed him as their brand ambassador last year. Federer, whose defeat by Marat Safin in the semi-finals of the Australian Open in January ended an extraordinary 26-match winning streak, is adamant that his visit to Hampton Court is far more than just another corporate beano. "I am fascinated by the history of tennis and learning about the old champions so I'm really looking forward to trying the historic game that gave us modern-day lawn tennis," he enthused. "I've always refused to play in the typical pro-am tennis events that many sponsors organise as I feel it's easy to lose your competitive edge if you're not playing seriously, but this is different. To play this subtle, challenging game at Hampton Court, the most famous real tennis court in the world, and learn from the most influential of all the modern-day players should be an amazing experience.'' Several former champions have also tried their hand at the ancient game, among them Stan Smith, the Woodies [Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde], Martina Navratilova and even Gabriela Sabatini, in full Edwardian tennis gear. The world real tennis champion, Robert Fahey, a charismatic Aussie, was once a junior international and Tasmanian Open lawn tennis champion who gave Pat Rafter a run for his money. Though unlike his counterparts in the modern game, for whom a million is just loose change, even on a good year he would be hard put to clear £100,000. www.telegraph.co.uk/
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Post by freudo on Jun 17, 2005 8:28:14 GMT -5
"Bruguera said that to win RG you have to suffer – I don’t think Rogi suffered enough at RG this year. He’s getting there… the SF was his first real pain. " Thanks Rogifan, enjoyed the summary and your analysis of FO, agreed with much of it. Love the pictures, hoping/hopeful of a third "W"!!!
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Post by RogiFan on Jun 21, 2005 11:43:53 GMT -5
WIMBLEDON is here! Federer starts defence in style By Piers Newbery BBC Sport at Wimbledon Roger Federer began the defence of his Wimbledon title with a straight-sets win over Paul-Henri Mathieu. In keeping with tradition, the reigning men's champion opened play on Centre Court, but he had a difficult start. The pair swapped early breaks of serve before two superb backhands helped Federer go 4-2 up and take the set. After a tight start to the second the decisive break went Federer's way in game five, and he eased through for a 6-4 6-2 6-4 victory. "I feel relieved after this start and I'm into the tournament now," said Federer. The Swiss admitted that last year he had been too focused on beating Briton Alex Bogdanovic to enjoy his opening match. This time Federer was determined to enjoy the feeling of stepping back on to Centre Court as the defending champion. "I thought it was great applause - it was definitely a nice welcome," he said. "I didn't really enjoy it last year but I did this time." Federer goes on to face Ivo Minar, who beat fellow Czech Michal Tabara 6-4 6-4 6-4. Story from BBC SPORT: news.bbc.co.uk/R.Federer - Day 1Monday, June 20, 2005 Q. Happy? That was the one you feared most. ROGER FEDERER: Well, yeah, it's definitely a good start to the tournament. I think there's always something special, you know, when you come back and defend - try to defend the Wimbledon championship. So I'm definitely very happy to have done that. Very important first step. Q. Has the tension you said you'd feel gone now or will it come back at the start of your next match? ROGER FEDERER: I definitely got more pressure off my back now. Luckily I've played my next opponent, as well. I played him in Dubai this year. Looking forward, you know, to play him again. But definitely feel sort of relieved, you know, after this start. Looking forward to the rest. Now it's sort of getting interesting. You're into the tournament, you've seen the fans, you don't have to leave right away, so that's nice (smiling). Q. Was it nice coming on? You got a good cheer as you walked out. Gave them a little wave as you walked on. ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I thought it was a great applause I got, you know, from the fans and from the crowd. That was definitely a nice welcome. Also nice walking off, which I said yesterday was going to be nicer, you know, especially in case I win. Q. How did the court play? Was it slow‑ish, soft‑ish? Was it what you expected? ROGER FEDERER: Uhm, yeah, I think it's very similar to the outside courts. I didn't have to adjust that much. Obviously, in a match situation ‑‑ matches are always different than practice. Right away you feel different. But I really thought the grass was beautiful. When I started to warm up, everything was just perfect. Once the match went on, you saw little holes coming. But I thought it was a beautiful court because ‑‑ honestly I don't quite remember my match too much against Bogdanovic last year. I just remember being really focused and trying to get the match over and done with. Didn't really maybe enjoy the moment so much, where I thought this year I could do it much more. Q. You played five minutes before anybody made a volley. I kept thinking, "Maybe they've forgotten they're on grass." ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, well, I didn't want to storm too much to the net too quickly. I also wanted to definitely get my rhythm first. Yeah, I think I came in on a return, wasn't it? Q. Yes. ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, we didn't play much serve and volley ‑ especially him. I had the feeling on first serves he wasn't making many returns, you know. When I was serve and volleying, I wasn't even getting the volley. But you're right, I think we definitely could have played more serve and volley, but I won the way playing from the back. Who knows, maybe next match. It's a different opponent and I'll play totally different. Q. Do you sort of feel loved here now when you come? People give you a good reception when you're wandering around? Anything unusual at all? ROGER FEDERER: I warmed up this morning at 11 on the outside courts. Everybody just came into the gates, into the grounds. Everyone you meet was, "Good luck, good luck, good luck." It was a lot of fun. I was really surprised how many gave me ‑‑ you know, they cheered for me. But I guess, you know, in England they are very friendly and very nice to you. Really definitely enjoyed that. Q. You used the word "relief" to win this match. I remember when Arthur used to say he wondered when he went out there if he could hit the ball over the net. He found out, of course. ROGER FEDERER: Of course. Q. Even you, do you have moments of uncertainty? ROGER FEDERER: I always hope for a good start, you know. So I always hope that I can make those serves. I don't get as nervous any more like when I played Sampras, for instance, where I remember I came on court and, like you said with Ashe, at least you hope you're going to win a few points. You enter the match - now I enter the matches knowing hopefully my opponents are going to feel this way where I can take advantage of that. I had a feeling at the beginning he was quite nervous. He missed a few shots. He had trouble reading my serve in the first game where I served four aces. That shows also maybe how nervous he was. But I definitely get tense, too, especially here at Wimbledon. Q. Any special plan of attack because it was a brand‑new court? ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, because of the rain this morning, it definitely maybe played a little quicker than the last few days where it was extremely hot and there was quite a high bounce, where I even thought you could even kick serve, which I was quite surprised to see the last few days. But I had the feeling this was playing like the years before. Q. Your serve, you seem to be right back on the Wimbledon pattern, hitting the lines, hitting the corners ‑ what you didn't do against Nadal, did you? It just seemed that you're such a different player here today. ROGER FEDERER: Well, you know, I think you always serve different on different surfaces, especially clay and grass are so different. You use the slice serve much more than you use the kick, where on clay you're not going to try to kick the ball up high or it's going to be carried out of the court. On grass you have to use different techniques. Maybe the technique with the slice favors my serve more than the kicking serve. But definitely the serve let me down in the Nadal match. I'm happy it's back for now. Q. Does the Nadal loss stay with you at all or is it gone a day later? ROGER FEDERER: No, I didn't think of the match at all today during the match. I'm happy about that. I guess because I know how different, you know, clay and grass is, it's not even worth it, you know, thinking about that. But maybe when I come back on clay next year or for Davis Cup against the Brits, then I'll maybe think about it quickly. But not for now. Q. How would you compare the burden of defending the title and being the big favorite with the confidence that it gives you? Which is stronger in your mind? ROGER FEDERER: I think in the beginning it's the pressure which you feel more. And then once you get underway, I think it's the confidence which totally dominates. So I think that's how it goes. Q. Did you watch a tape of the Nadal match from Roland Garros? ROGER FEDERER: No time (smiling). Q. Would you be able to at some point in the future? ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, maybe I would, if I would have time. But, I mean, Tony saw the match. We sort of analyzed it. It's definitely a point to take things out of that match, too, because I haven't played many, many matches where I thought I played all right the last few matches, and normally if I play all right I've won them. But that day, an okay performance wasn't good enough to beat Nadal. Maybe I would have to look into it, even though right away I knew what went wrong, what went right in that match. So don't feel the need to actually watch it, that match. www.wimbledon.org/Not crazy about the outfit, Rogi, nor the shorter hair but whatever! Go and beat Minar in R2!! ;D
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Post by RogiFan on Jun 21, 2005 11:46:00 GMT -5
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Post by RogiFan on Jun 21, 2005 11:49:55 GMT -5
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Post by RogiFan on Jun 21, 2005 11:51:06 GMT -5
R. Federer - Day 3 d Minar 64 64 61 R2 Wednesday, June 22, 2005 Q. How would you describe that match today? ROGER FEDERER: Uhm, I think consistent. Didn't get any breaks, so that was good. Thought, you know, I played all right. Just hang in there to wait for my chance, and it came always at the end of the ‑‑ the end of the set, when he was serving against the set, so that was obviously a good time. Then I broke him straight early in the third. So the breaks were definitely at the right time. From the baseline was tough. He was hitting hard and was tough to stay ‑‑ get the rallies going. Q. Were you surprised to see those dropshots at the end of the first set? ROGER FEDERER: He didn't make them. There were no dropshots, so... Well, his choice of shot, you know, definitely the wrong one. He missed them all. I guess he was a little confused and felt the pressure a little bit. You come up with some weird stuff. But was definitely bad shot selection. Q. Were there one or two moments of slight frustration from you today? ROGER FEDERER: Well, he didn't give me much chance early, you know, in the first and the second set. When I had a little opening, you know, I thought I could have done better. Once, he also came up with some good shots as well, obviously. But still I would have wished to maybe have had more chances. I mean, I'm used to it, you know, to wait for my occasion. But I wish I would have had one earlier. But then, you know, to get it still at 5‑4 is still a good one. Q. You had a tough match against him in Dubai. Going into the match, were you aware you wanted to kind of avoid that situation again? ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, in Dubai was obviously different setting. I didn't know him at all then. I was really struggling. Even though I came with a lot of confidence just from winning Rotterdam, I came there, was really strong with the rhythm from the baseline, also making just a simple second‑serve return. So I really start to ‑‑ I remember chip and charge a lot, come to the net, try to shorten the rallies. From the baseline, I was hopeless. Obviously I knew today it was going to be different, I was going to get more chances off the baseline, because I feel better here. I know what it's like. I've been here for a long time. But still, you know, I was waiting for a tough match because I knew he was serving pretty good from Dubai, because I had my difficulties of breaking him. I knew that if I just stayed tough, you know, he's going to make maybe some shots he shouldn't do, like the dropshot, you know. So I was just hang in there and hoping for those moments really. Q. As two‑time defending champion, long‑time No. 1, being in a dominant position in the game, how does that play in a match‑to‑match situation? How does that benefit you? ROGER FEDERER: Well, I think it helps at occasions. But really you've got to ask the other players, you know, what it does. I've only played against a few No. 1's in the world. You always sort of feel the pressure. You always feel like, well, the other guy, if you give him a chance, he'll take it, or eventually he's going to lift up his game and make it hard for me to either hold my serve or, once he's in front, he's not going to give it away. Sort of these moments I think make it ‑‑ make the best players, you know, to be up there. So that's my feeling. Q. Do you look at your opponent's body language or his expressions on a point‑to‑point basis or during the match? ROGER FEDERER: I have the feeling I think a lot during the match, try to understand what has been going on and what I think ‑‑ how I should continue to play. Obviously, I check out my opponent a little bit. But, honestly, I'm a guy who turns around quite quickly, you know, and focuses on my own game than checking out my opponent too much. Q. Today we saw Marat Safin beat Philippoussis in three straight sets in a high‑quality match on Centre Court. Are we seeing the emergence of a new contender here? ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, I had a tough match against him, you know, in Halle in the final. You know, he showed how good he can play on grass. That obviously, now that he's beaten two really good players on the grass, definitely puts him in a good position. I think he's got a really tough draw from the first round on. But he's shown he beat them both in three sets. He can definitely keep it up. He's got a big game. I think on the grass he just hasn't showed enough what he can do yet. Maybe it's a good year for him. Q. Can he be a bit of a joker in the pack, given that people haven't given him much on grass, but he has that massive game? ROGER FEDERER: I think he's more relaxed because of his knee. That's the thing I felt in Halle, because he just played. If he loses, I guess it's because of the knee. If he wins, you know, it's sort of like sort of a surprise. So he's playing pretty relaxed, I have the feeling. That maybe helps him, especially on the grass, not to get too frustrated. But no matter what, you have to come up on big points. I think that's what he was able to do today, because he was down I think a break in the second set, should have almost lost the first. So, you know, he could have been also down two sets to love. His reactions were good. In big matches, you know, he's also a guy who can raise his game, like all the other top players. Q. Did you see much of Henman? I know you think he's one of the main rivals for the tournament. Did you think he might have been on his way out? ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I was a little worried for him for a second (laughter). But sort of knew that once he gets back, maybe just gets the third set, you know, that obviously it's going to be tough also for the opponent, you know, to close it out because always he has to start the set from zero. He should have taken the momentum, you know, from the second set over to the third, and he couldn't. And Tim, obviously, turned the tide and started to play really good after. But for a second there, I was worried, too (smiling). Q. If you end up playing Lleyton Hewitt, how confident would you be? ROGER FEDERER: Well, we played in Indian Wells, but I hardly count that because he wasn't ‑‑ far from his best. We haven't played in a while since basically the Masters. He hasn't played many tournaments. Obviously, if he gets through and I get through, it means we're both in good shape. We will have to beat good players. This reason I would feel confident going into that match knowing I've beaten him the last few times. I expect a tough match. Q. Are you at an advantage if he hasn't played so much recently? ROGER FEDERER: Well, once he's into the semis, it doesn't really matter how much he played before. Q. What has Tony Roche brought to your game? ROGER FEDERER: Well, I think more experience, just a little bit different angles to the game, where I have the feeling, you know, he sees the game is different, you know, from the outside a little bit. And that helps me. I really enjoy the time practicing with him on the court, when he's drilling me like real good old school, I would say. I think just by playing with him, I've just improved. Q. Is your father still over here watching you? ROGER FEDERER: Who? Q. Your father. ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, but he's leaving. Q. He said he's thinking of taking up the game himself. Are you going to maybe coach him a bit? ROGER FEDERER: He said he wants to play? Q. Yes. ROGER FEDERER: I'm surprised. He wants to play golf. Yeah, his physique doesn't allow it any more. Too much running in tennis. Q. Are you saying that Safin is using the knee as sort of a psychological crutch? ROGER FEDERER: Could be. I'm not saying he is. I haven't spoken to him when he said, you know. But I had the feeling he was very relaxed in Halle. Played ‑‑ you know, also his attitude, of course, he still gets irritated and he throws his racquet. But still I feel like he was more relaxed just overall in a match than maybe I've seen him. But maybe I'm mistaken. I'm looking at Marat maybe very wrongly. Q. How much do you watch during a tournament, other matches? Will you look at people on your side of the draw, for example, potential next opponents? ROGER FEDERER: Well, honestly, I look more at tennis from the other side of the draw, because it's a day when I'm not playing and I have more time. Because the days I'm playing, I'm either sitting here or playing myself and I don't get to see much. I mean, I love this time because you get to see many, many matches ‑ many great matches. The best‑of‑five are always the best. Honestly, I look a lot of tennis. Maybe too much, you know, for the taste of my girlfriend. Q. When was the last time you lost your temper on or off the court? ROGER FEDERER: Off the court, I don't remember. On court, maybe Miami finals. I don't know. I remember there that I threw a racquet. www.wimbledon.org/The making of a champion By Mark Hodgkinson (Filed: 20/06/2005) It was at the Old Boys Tennis Club in Basle that Roger Federer first received proper instruction on how to apply pace and spin to a tennis ball. And it was also on the club's red clay courts, and not on Wimbledon's Centre Court two years ago, that the Swiss first cried over the result of a tennis match. "It was so funny when Roger won Wimbledon for the first time and then started crying," recalls Madeleine Barlocher, one of his first coaches. "I remember when he was little and lost a match, and he would try to hide behind the umpire's chair and would not stop crying for more than 10 minutes. The next time I saw Roger after that I said to him, 'You used to cry when you lost a match, and now you cry when you have won a match.' Roger laughed when I reminded him of that." It may be strange to recall now, given his calm and measured exterior, but, as a pre-teen and young teenager, Federer found it difficult to control his emotions. There were more to his tantrums than sniffles and games of hide-and-seek behind the umpire's chair. He often threw and kicked his racket around the court, yelped like an alley cat, and occasionally swore. Federer has said that there were times when his parents would watch from the balcony of the Old Boys club, calling out for him to be quiet, and he would respond by shouting at them to, "Go and have a drink, leave me alone". Federer said that the family would then drive home "in a quiet car, with no one speaking". "I would carry on like an idiot," he has admitted. "This stage was part of his growing up," his mother, Lynette, said. "But when his behaviour was bad, we told him that it was bad and that it upset us. We used to say, 'Come on, Roger, get control of yourself, pull yourself together'. He says that he can't remember crying when he played tennis, but he also cried when he played football. I remember saying to him once, 'Is it such a catastrophe if you lose a match?' But the tears just showed how ambitious Roger was, how determined he was to succeed." A couple of days spent in Basle, his home city, provided plenty of insight into the making of Roger Federer. His balanced and well-mannered outlook on life is said to be typical of Switzerland's second city, which is polite, overly-ordered and introduced to tourists as the place where a local scientist became the first man ever to take an LSD 'trip'. Federer, who was born on Aug 8 1981, spent his childhood in the suburb of Munchenstein, with the family home just a short walk from the football and tennis stadiums. His early life was dominated by sport and he was four when he first picked up a tennis racket, having watched his parents on the local courts. The earliest surviving photograph of Federer playing tennis, borrowed from the family's private album, shows him swinging at a forehand with great enthusiasm and no little skill. "We would go to play tennis, and Roger just picked up the racket and started playing. He loved the sport from the beginning," his mother said. His first strokes were played at the Ciba Tennis Club, a private venue for the employees of a chemical company, where his parents were both working at the time (Robert and Lynette met on a business trip to South Africa for Ciba). Both are avid social players, and his father still plays regularly at the club, but his mother is said to have been the more accomplished of the two, with a smoother and more stylish game. The club is suburban, friendly and unassuming. The courts are surrounded by greenery, with tree branches overhanging the red clay, ferocious games of volleyball on the lawns, and men drinking beer at the tables on the terrace. The club has apparently not changed much, but Federer's first racket, given to a friend but never returned, has vanished. Federer, whose boyhood hero was Boris Becker, spent countless hours at home walloping the ball against the garage door, determined in his pursuit of perfection. "I remember always loving to play against the garage door, or against the cupboard doors inside, with any kind of ball. My mum got fed up because it was bang, bang, bang all day," he said. His parents quickly saw how gifted Federer was with a racket in hand, and when he was eight he started playing at the Old Boys club, surrounded by blossoms and suburbia. Barlocher was then running the junior programme, as she still does now in her sixties. She remembers Federer as one of the more talented players in his age group, as a fast learner on the club's seven clay courts, but she would never have predicted what her pupil would go on to achieve in the sport. Federer's first individual lessons were with Seppli Kacovsky, a Czech coach who also still works at the club. They trained on Court Five, the furthest from the wooden-slatted clubhouse. "Roger didn't always concentrate during the sessions - sometimes he would hit some shots and then shout, 'Whack! Pow! With this shot I win Wimbledon!' Some of those shots would hit the back fence on the full. Roger remembers those times, and we still speak about it," Kacovsky said. "Roger always had dreams of being a professional tennis player. He would tell me that he was going to become the world No 1. A lot of other kids would say that, but it was like Roger was born with a racket in his hand. He had such natural talent. I've coached for over 40 years and never seen such a gifted player. I would tell him how to hit a shot and he would get it straight away. Other kids might take several hours. Roger was exceptional even then." Federer had a natural eye for a ball, and as well as his precocious skill as a tennis player, he won skiing trophies, impressed on the basketball court, and fancied himself as a striker on the football field. At the age of 12, he had to decide between tennis and football. "He enjoyed all sports at that time, and probably liked football as much as he liked tennis. Roger was into anything that was outdoors and sporty," his mother said. Barlocher said that Federer was impeccably behaved off the court at the Old Boys club. Only once did he cause any trouble, when she was waiting for him to play a club match and he had seemingly gone missing. The future world No 1 found the confusion and panic beneath him absolutely hilarious: he had climbed a tree and was sitting proudly on one of the branches. "Roger was laughing so much. That was one of his favourite jokes," Barlocher said. Federer was well liked, both at the tennis club and his primary school, the Schulhaus Neue Welt (the New World School). One of his teachers, Theresa Fischbacher, recalls: "The only problem was that he was in a classroom with a good view, so it was tempting just to look out of the window and start daydreaming." He would often work as a ball-boy at the club. One of the coaches produced a fading and crumpled photograph which showed him on duty during a girls' singles match, fetching the stray balls and folding the towels for Martina Hingis. She would go on to become the youngest women's world No 1 in history, reaching the top of the rankings at the age of 16. At 14, Federer's parents were shocked to discover through a tennis magazine article that he might be prepared to leave home and join the Swiss national centre at Ecublens, near Lausanne. They were surprised because they knew that Federer did not like being away from his family, and sensed that he would be homesick in Ecublens, which is in the French-speaking part of Switzerland and a long drive from his German-speaking friends and family in Basle. His mother emphasised that she and Federer's father did not force the decision on him. "We are a close family, but Roger took the decision at a very early age that he wanted to play tennis away from home. We never forced him to do anything, we let him develop on his own," said his mother. "He made a lot of important decisions himself when he was younger and that was key to his success because he had to learn how to do things for himself. He learned to be very independent." As his parents had predicted, Federer was not always happy in Ecublens. He struggled with his broken French and has recalled other pupils being "mean" to him. His frustration would often manifest itself in bad behaviour, such as more racket-hurling, and it has been said that when they installed a new backdrop on one of the courts, Federer was the first to put a hole in it. He was punished by being made to sweep the courts at 7am. But Federer's mother said that he quickly matured at Ecublens. "It was a great lesson in life for him - that things don't always go your own way, and that you don't get anywhere in life with talent alone. You have to work at things," she said. "I know that that it wasn't always fun and games for Roger there, and that many days he wasn't that happy. But those struggles were good for him. Overcoming those ups and downs was a challenge for him, and it helped him to develop as a person." Federer, who combined tennis and schoolwork, spent two years at Ecublens and also at Biel when the Swiss national centre moved there. He was starting to form a close working relationship with Peter Carter, an Australian coach whom he had originally met at the Old Boys Tennis Club. Carter taught Federer to use his emotional energies more wisely, and to think through exactly what he was doing on court. He was ranked the world's top junior in 1998, winning Junior Wimbledon in the same year, though sadly Carter would never witness his protege's Wimbledon singles triumphs, as he died in a car accident in 2002. The only visible sign of teenage rebellion for Federer was the peroxide stage he went through. He turned his hair an unflattering yellow-white, which amused Barlocher. "He came back to see us once at the Old Boys Tennis Club and at first refused to take his hat off to show me his hair. But we have the photos of it, so he will not be able to forget that particular hairstyle," she said. Federer has not forgotten his early years, and still lives in Basle, in the suburb of Oberwil, occasionally training at the Ciba Tennis Club. He is usually left alone in a city that does not have a fawning obsession with celebrities, and he feels able to mingle with the amateur players in between training sessions at the club. He still visits the Old Boys club and has been known to return to the small bar, which has a colour painting of him hanging on the wall, to play cards with his friends. He is still in contact with Barlocher and Kacovsky, sending them text messages with updates of his progress around the tennis globe. "Roger used to send me a telegram whenever he won a title," Barlocher said. "It was a real pity when they stopped doing telegrams." A few weeks ago Federer returned to the club for a fund-raising exhibition match. He was delighted when, just before the match started, a sign was unveiled showing that the old Court One had been renamed 'Roger Federer Centre Court', a tribute to his two Wimbledon titles. "It was a lovely surprise for Roger," Barlocher said. "It is our little joke at the club, that there is now a Centre Court where it all started for Roger." Federer's friends and old coaches watched the 2003 Wimbledon final on the clubhouse television. "I was so nervous that I could hardly watch that match, so nervous that I popped the champagne cork too early," Kacovsky said. "It was his first match point, and suddenly there was champagne everywhere, and then Roger didn't win the point. Everyone was laughing at me. Luckily Roger finished the match a little later. That was a great day at the club. We were so proud. We drank champagne and we cried." More tears may be expected over the next fortnight, from both Federer and the city of Basle. www.telegraph.co.uk/
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Post by RogiFan on Jun 25, 2005 15:27:57 GMT -5
June 25, 2005 Federer continues grass-court dominance By Times Online and PA Sport Roger Federer, the defending champion, dropped his first set of the week but stayed on course to complete a hat-trick of Wimbledon titles when he overcame stubborn resistance from Nicolas Kiefer. The world No 1 and top seed lost a tie-break and twice dropped his serve in the fourth set but they were only minor hiccups as he gained a 6-2, 6-7, 6-1, 7-5 victory in two hours and 35 minutes to extend his winning run on grass to 32 matches. Federer, who has not lost on grass since Wimbledon in 2003, will now meet Juan Carlos Ferrero, the former French Open champion, who today came from a set down to beat another German, Florian Mayer, 3-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-1. Federer, forced to give up a weekend off after his third-round match was held over from Friday because of rain, looked to be making up for lost time when he breezed through the first set in just 28 minutes. But Kiefer, the 25th-seeded German, is one of the few men to beat Federer on grass and his serve-and-volley game asked plenty of questions of the champion. The 27-year-old Kiefer, who has beaten Federer in three of their previous seven meetings, made an impressive start to the second set, holding his opening service game to love, and that gave him the confidence he needed and he made the two-time champion fight for every point. Kiefer came up with a 136mph ace to remind the title holder of his threat and the set went with serve until the tie-break. A crashing return from Federer earned him a mini-break and he then produced a wonderful array of winners to surge into a 5-2 lead. But Kiefer hung on and seized his opportunity when Federer put a forehand into the tramlines. The German then won five points in a row to take the tie-break 7-5 and level the match. Stung by the loss of his first set of the tournament and only the eighth out of 86 during his 31-match winning streak, Federer roared back in emphatic fashion. Kiefer had no answer to the champion's power and precision as he dropped his serve at the start of the third set. Federer opened up a 3-0 lead and, although Kiefer gained his first break point - after almost two hours - the world No 1 served out to take the set 6-1 in just 29 minutes. But, if the Centre Court crowd thought the one-sided third set would herald a quick finish to the match, the Kiefer made them think again when he broke Federer for the first time. The world No 26 served for a 3-0 lead but the champion bounced back decisively to level matters, breaking his opponent to love in the process. The unthinkable happened in the eighth game when Federer doubled-faulted twice, doubling his tally for the match, to drop his serve for the third time this week. That gave Kiefer the opportunity to serve for the set and level the match but he was unable to capitalise, double-faulting on break point. It proved to be his last chance, with Federer achieving a crucial break in the 11th game and serving out for the match. Federer was happy to get the better of a long-standing rival and avoid a potential banana skin. "It was tough but I expected it really," he said. "We've played on several occasions and he beat me a few times. We know each other's game pretty well and at times you could see that. "I had to survive some tough moments. I had the feeling I should have won in three but, in the end, I'm happy to win in four." www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2641-1669278,00.html Rogi does have a lot of respect for Juanqui both tennistically and as a person it seems! He said something similar when Juanqui nearly beat him in Dubai this year. On ESPN today, Rogi was interviewed in the studio by Chris Fowler after his R3 win: RF: He's won the French Open before so he's used to the big matches. And I'm really happy really to see him back because... CF [interrupting ]: He won't be scared of you--he's beaten you before. RF: He's beaten me too before, obviously he's a great player. He was number one in the world as well. On grass it's an interesting match, I think, because these days you can also play from the baseline, and this is why he's not to underestimate at all.
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Post by RogiFan on Jun 25, 2005 15:33:44 GMT -5
Federer overcomes stubborn Kiefer By Caroline Cheese and Ian Westbrook BBC Sport at Wimbledon Top seed Roger Federer dropped a set for the first time in the tournament before seeing off Nicolas Kiefer 6-2 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 7-5 to reach the last 16. Federer won the first set easily but Kiefer matched the world number one in the second and took it to 6-6. Federer looked to have the tie-break won when he took a 4-1 lead but a lapse in concentration let Kiefer snatch it. Kiefer was outclassed in the third but came within two points of forcing a fifth set before Federer fought back. It was a patchy display from the world number one, who netted a backhand to hand Kiefer the second-set tie-break. Matters got worse for Federer when he threw in two straight double faults to gift Kiefer a break of serve and a 5-3 lead in the fourth set. But Federer found an extra gear when it mattered to see off the danger and record his 32nd straight win on grass. The 23-year-old said later he will not be happy unless he walks away from Wimbledon with his third straight title. "Only the title would be satisfying," he said. "With the way I'm playing, and with missing at the Australian and French Open, I'd be upset if I didn't win." Andy Roddick eased past Igor Andreev, beating the Russian 6-2 6-2 7-6 (7-4). After being taken to five sets over two days by Daniele Bracciali, the US second seed was in no mood to hang around on a cold, overcast Court One. His overall game had moved up a gear on his last match, and Andreev failed to really get going until the third set when he pushed Roddick to a tie-break. But Roddick, winning on nearly 90% of his first serves, wasn't to be denied. He said afterwards: "It's mission accomplished for the first week, and now it's time to get down to business in the second." Federer will now meet Juan Carlos Ferrero after he reached the fourth round for the second time with a 3-6 6-2 6-1 6-1 win over Florian Mayer. The former French Open champion was not quite on his game early on - and an early break gave Mayer the initiative. I'm doing well on grass and if I play well, I will have chances during the match Juan Carlos Ferrero on facing Federer But Ferrero hit back and started controlling the game from the baseline. Mayer could not maintain his first set momentum and Ferrero, loudly cheered on by the Court Two crowd, raced through the final three sets to seal victory. On facing Federer, the Spaniard said: "There is a lot of motivation to play him as he is number one in the world and has won the title here two years in a row. "But I am doing well on grass and if I play well against him then I will have chances during the match." Argentine 15th seed Guillermo Coria survived a major scare, coming back from two sets down to beat Austria's Jurgen Melzer 3-6 3-6 6-2 6-2 6-4. Ninth seed Sebastien Grosjean moved into the fourth round with a 7-5 6-4 5-7 6-4 win over Serbian qualifier Novak Djorkovic. The two-time SW19 semi-finalist had been expected to stroll past his 18-year-old opponent - the youngest player in the men's main draw. But Grosjean was out-gunned in the third set and had to dig deep to avoid being taken into a fifth-set decider. The Frenchman now faces Russian Dmitry Tursunov for a place in the last eight. Tursunov, the man who ended Tim Henman's hopes in the second round, battled his way through with a hardfought 5-7 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 6-2 win over German Alexander Popp on Court 14. Tursunov turned the match in his favour by taking the second-set tie-break and now plays ninth seed Sebastien Grosjean. French 27th seed Richard Gasquet booked his place in the next round with a 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 6-3 win over Luxembourg's Gilles Muller, who upset fourth seed Rafael Nadal in round two. Russia's Mikhail Youzhny will play Chile's Fernando Gonzalez in the last 16 after beating unseeded Swede Jonas Bjorkman 7-5 6-3 3-6 7-6 (11-9) . Max Mirnyi of Belarus became the first man from the bottom half of the draw to reach the fourth round when he sank Jiri Novak 5-7 7-5 6-4 7-6 (7-2). Story from BBC SPORT: news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1/hi/tennis/4622421.stmPublished: 2005/06/25 13:49:19 GMT © BBC MMV
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Post by RogiFan on Jun 25, 2005 15:44:00 GMT -5
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Post by RogiFan on Jul 1, 2005 22:06:35 GMT -5
R.Federer - Day 7 Monday, June 27, 2005
Q. You feel motivated by some kind of words that Juan Carlos said in the newspaper this morning, like say, "I can stop the champ"?
ROGER FEDERER: Didn't see it. Didn't see the news, no.
Well, I mean, he's right. He has to be motivated and believe in his chance. I think once you've been No. 1 in the world, your whole career you believe in a chance. I think it's a fantastic player. Maybe grass, of course, is not his favorite surface. But he showed on occasions that he can play really well. I think I had to play a really solid match.
I'm not sure if he's happy with his performance. But it's always interesting to play him, any surface.
Q. How did you feel about your performance tonight?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I thought it was pretty good. You know, was tough in the beginning with the sun, to be honest. On the one side, it was almost impossible to see the serve. But I got the early break and actually served all the way through solid except maybe the last game, you know, where maybe I missed a volley, double‑faulted, gave him an opportunity there. That was a pity.
But all in all, I'm quite happy. He played tough off the baseline, especially in the third I thought. Was getting tough to break him. I'm pretty happy with my performance.
Q. Pete Sampras would say later in his career that he would admit openly, "I choked in the situation." Did you feel nervous at all? Do you get nervous in those situations?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, always. Breakpoint for me or against me, the pulse goes higher. You're a little worried, you know, because you've just played long rallies. On a breakpoint, you're not allowed to miss any more. So I definitely feel the pressure then, too, in those moments.
I thought I didn't play that bad of a game. I just think he played a real consistent, solid game.
Q. How would you compare today's weather conditions on Centre Court with Saturday conditions?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, today I thought it was extremely slow somehow. That was my feeling. Maybe it's because of him. He was not missing. He was making me ‑‑ playing me left to right, as well. Never really had the ‑‑ it was very hard to overpower him, I thought, where normally this is really my strength. I really had the feeling I really had to go for an outright winner to finish the point or take chances.
He was very good I thought also off the defensive side. Where I came to the net on dodgey balls or pretty okay balls, and he passed me it seemed without a problem.
I had the feeling the conditions were slow, so maybe it's going to be different again next time.
Q. Gonzalez is your next opponent. He hasn't lost a set. He seemed to be surprised about that. What about you, are you surprised, too, or not?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, looking at the players he beat, in a way yes, in a way no. He is a good player. You know, with his serve and forehand, you know, he can be a danger for anybody, but that he puts it together consistently for four matches, it's a good result for him.
I thought Youzhny could be a problem for him. But, then again, I'm not surprised he beat him. Maybe straight sets is quite solid. But I think he had two breakers in that match today.
But, you know, I was close of losing a set to him at the French. But grass should favor me. I'm looking forward to play him. He's always got good shots for the crowd. I think we'll see some good tennis.
Q. What has been the best part of your game through the tournament? Has there been different aspects in each match?
ROGER FEDERER: I think I'm serving really consistent. You know, if I look to serve, first serve percentage, I think that's pretty good. Just a little hiccup in the match against Kiefer where I served two double‑faults at 30‑All which I didn't like to see. But other than that I'm really happy with my serving so far.
Movement has been pretty good, as well. I wished I could have served and volleyed a little bit more. But as long as I keep on winning also from the baseline, that's okay. Obviously, I would wish I could come to the net a little more.
Q. You're very much the dominant force in the modern game. What career targets do you set yourself?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, I always have goals I set myself for beginning of the year. Last year I definitely played much better than I ever expected because the year before that was already fantastic itself.
My goal for this year is, you know, Wimbledon, No. 1 in the world. I'm right in it now. I have to prove it ‑ to myself especially. Other than that, I've got many dreams left which I would like to chase.
Q. It was often said that Sampras had a kind of aura or presence, intimidation factor. You may not want to answer this, but would you like to get that quality stronger than you have it now? Do you sense you have a little bit of that now?
ROGER FEDERER: I think now over the last two years with the little matches I've lost, right away you start to feel that. It's like when you see other players, like Roddick there for a while on the American hard court circuit, where he hardly lost a set, or he doesn't lose a match, you see that from far away. If you're up to play him, you expect an incredibly tough match. Maybe it makes you go for more.
Maybe as Nadal on clay. When you see as much as he won, when you're going to play him, you have the feeling you have to do something special.
I think I definitely created the same thing around me also for a while, say if it's indoor or hard court, especially the grass, too. I think it's all about getting it done on the clay, but it's sort of difficult because I hardly play any tournaments.
Q. It affects your point, but also gives you more confidence, would you say?
ROGER FEDERER: Yes, definitely.
Q. When you do have that sense about yourself, during a match do you have the sense that an opponent thinks there's going to be very few chances against you? Do you get that feeling?
ROGER FEDERER: I don't like to think too much this way, that anyway everything's going to fall in place sort of thinking, because I got to come up with maybe the ace on the breakpoint or I've got to come up with the good shot in the breaker. So it's not just going to be handed over to me either. So I always take every match from zero. Once I'm in a tough position, I always try to prove it to myself and to the people that I can do it over and over again. And sometimes, of course, it's impossible. It's hard, you know.
But I'm really happy the way I've handled all the pressure and situations over the last few years.
Q. How hard does Gonzalez hit that forehand compared to other players? How difficult is it to read?
ROGER FEDERER: I mean, reading...
I mean, he definitely gets in play quite quickly. He gives himself time to set up. He goes for broke on every forehand, so it doesn't really matter. I can also go for broke on every shot, but it's just not my philosophy from the game, you know.
But he's quite consistent of it, too. I mean, you can sometimes see where it goes. But even if you're the right way, it's so quick that you can't really handle it. That's his dangerous part of the game, that he just goes for outright winners.
I think his serve has improved over the years. Sets himself up nicely for the forehand. Other than that, I think maybe mentally he's become stronger. I don't know. I haven't played him enough.
Q. When was the last question you didn't expect and what was the question and what did you answer and when? Do you remember?
ROGER FEDERER: Don't know. Maybe one of yours. I don't know.
Q. There's been a lot of talk about the slow conditions here. You're obviously not coming in behind your serve as much as you did two years ago. Henman says a serve‑volleyer is not ever going to win here again. Do you think it's impossible for a pure serve and volleyer to win here at Wimbledon?
ROGER FEDERER: I think the players don't work on their volleys enough these days any more. It's as simple as that. When you have an hour of practice, I think we play 40 minutes from the baseline and 10 minutes at the net and serve 10 minutes. That's how the practices are now. Especially being with Tony now, they would only be the net. I think that makes a big difference because we're half good as they used to be. If I still hit with Tony, I can see why they came to the net and why we cannot. One is because we don't volley that well and we don't cover that well, plus the conditions have slowed down.
I think it's got a lot to do with circumstances and the way tennis has progressed. But I think if you are brought up, especially as a youngster, to improve your volleys and become a better volley player, then you definitely can win Wimbledon again.
The way kids are brought up these days, it's just almost impossible.
Q. What has been the key thing that Tony has conveyed to you about grass court player?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, it's the same almost for the hard court or for the clay. Just got to, you know, use my strength, which is my game in a hole. How should I say? I've got many options. I've got to use that, but use it right. I think it's just been trying to improve little things, if it's on the serve, on the volley, also on the baseline, you know, the way of playing. It's very important to play right.
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Post by RogiFan on Jul 1, 2005 22:07:09 GMT -5
Federer Moves Closer to Title ©EPA/ F.Coffrini Monday, June 27, 2005
Four down and three to go. Roger Federer's 6-3, 6-4 7-6 win over Juan Carlos Ferrero pushed him into the quarter-finals, just three more matches away from the title. But it does not get any easier from here.
Next up is Fernando Gonzalez. Lleyton Hewitt or Feliciano Lopez are waiting for him after that - and we have not even started on the bottom half of the draw. All this and Federer has not even got out of third gear yet.
Ferrero was once the world's best player, a feat he achieved by winning the French Open and then roaring through the summer hard court season to reach the semi-finals of the US Open. There he beat Andre Agassi and claimed his place at the top of the hill. After fulfilling his lifelong goal, he had nothing left to give in the final against Andy Roddick.
But from there, Ferrero thought he was firmly cemented into the top 10. With a powerful forehand, he was ready to batter the biggest and the best into submission and, for a while, he was able to do just that.
It all started to go wrong at the start of last year when a bout of chickenpox left him sitting at home, covered in calamine lotion, kicking his heels. After that, a succession of injuries, including a broken rib, sidelined him.
His ranking plummeted and, from being in with a shout of ending the year as the world No.1 in 2003, he was lurking in the 30s by the end of 2004. Now on his way back, Ferrero can be a dangerous customer - but nowhere near as dangerous as Federer in pursuit of his third successive title.
The trouble with Federer is that better he gets, the nearer to perfection we expect him to be and he is only human, after all. That said, he is that rare human who seems able to play stupendous tennis whenever he feels like it. He makes it look so easy, disguising the years of mind-bogglingly hard work that have gone into making him what he is now. But, by being so good, the occasional error, the odd missed backhand, fluffed volley or - heaven forfend - double fault (not that there were many yesterday), brings gasps of horror from the crowd.
If Ferrero tried to play with Federer from the back of the court, he was forced to play so well that often overcooked the shot and made the error. Best to keep the ball away from the Federer forehand, then. But if he did not keep Federer pinned back and allowed to him to lope towards the net, Ferrero was toast. So, stay away from the Federer volley, too. There was not a lot left to play with, really.
Ferrero roars when he is winning, Federer roars when he is frustrated. All in all, it was quite a quiet match. Only in the third set did Federer start to grumble and growl. The chances were as rare as hen's teeth and when, finally, the Swiss found himself with the hint of a chance and he missed it, he was not happy. No matter, when the opportunity presented itself again, he broke Ferrero.
That just left the small matter of serving out the match - and that is when it all got slightly messy. Ferrero broke back, Federer took the early lead in the tie-break, Ferrero came back and then, at last, the champion exerted his authority to win it 8-6. That's what champions do. Written by Alix Ramsay
Federer's Form Begins to Flow ©EPA/ F.Coffrini Monday, 27 June, 2005
Timing is everything for Roger Federer at Wimbledon and no one can argue that he is now in position to retain the title, win for a third year running, and from that base start to challenge the deeds of some of the previous legends of the game.
Three championship victories, if that is to be his achievement next Sunday, would put him one title short of the best run of success enjoyed by his favourite player Pete Sampras, whose total of seven Wimbledon crowns was composed of three Championships between 1993 and 1995 and then four from 1997 to 2000.
This is the territory which Federer can now enter as he stands in the quarter-finals of the 2005 Championships with Fernando Gonzalez of Chile as his next opponent. Gonzalez, like many others, has been unable to make much impression on Federer having taken one set from him in four matches - that in Monte Carlo at the start of the European clay court season this year. In the French Open subsequently, Federer beat Gonzalez in straight sets.
So Wimbledon is beginning to take shape for Federer. His next match should be the semi-final against Lleyton Hewitt in a match of former champions and there seems little doubt that both players are moving into the kind of form which will mean a high tension clash between them.
Hewitt is short of match play at the highest level in Europe this summer because injuries ruined some areas of his normally well planned run to Wimbledon. He missed some of the spring tournaments and did not play the French Open. Only Hewitt would know if it makes any difference now but he knows he is "a long way from holding up the trophy."
Federer has had a different year in that it has been structured exactly as he has wanted in playing terms even if results occasionally did not fall his way. He is the world No 1 and continues to cherish that placing and enhance it as often as possible. Defeat in the French Open semi-final to Rafael Nadal acts as another driving force behind his Wimbledon campaign.
Federer is in his seventh Wimbledon Championships. So far he has had more first round defeats than title wins, three against two, but he has good odds at correcting that balance.
So now, the last eight men are in place at Wimbledon. Seven of them will be looking at Federer's commanding position and assessing where they stand in relation to that. But they know the task of unseating him is becoming increasingly difficult. Written by Barry Newcombe
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Post by RogiFan on Jul 1, 2005 22:08:20 GMT -5
Federer Learns His Lessons Well ©Getty Images/ C.Brunskill Wednesday, 29 June, 2005
Roger Federer today "weathered the storm" that was Fernando Gonzales and prepared himself for a Wimbledon semi-final against Lleyton Hewitt. Federer defeated Chilean Gonzales 7-5, 6-2, 7-6 to keep his hopes of a third successive title alive. But he had to prove his defensive qualities matched his attacking ones against the 21st seed.
Gonzales claimed there are no grass courts in his homeland, but he made the most of his odyssey at the All England Club this year. Against Federer he stepped up to the plate and all his guns were blazing against the champion. It was all or nothing as the baseliner let rip his thundering groundstrokes and blistering serves. The champion, though, was ready.
He says: "It is always interesting to play against him because you have to weather the storm against him. He hits the ball with so much pace. There's not much you can actually control in a match against him because he always takes the first swing but I still enjoy it because you get good rallies.
"I really had to work hard on my defence and do things I don't usually have to do too often. He's different, quite unique. He dominates from the baseline and you are just trying to get his serve back. But even then he covers his serve with incredible forehands and backhands.
"I'm happy to be through to my third consecutive semi and I am looking forward to playing against Lleyton. This time he is fit, not like in Indian Wells when I beat him in our last match."
Federer has won his last seven matches with the Australian, who was Wimbledon champion three years ago. But he revealed it was his last defeat by Hewitt which sparked the winning run which puts him in the driving seat for the semi-final match on Friday. It came during a Davis Cup tie over five sets in 2003.
Federer says: "That match gave me a lot of confidence because he had beaten me on many occasions before that (seven). I really had the feeling I could almost dominate him for three entire sets. And I had never had that feeling before against him.
"I was two sets and a break up and serving for the match. Although it was a killer to eventually lose, it gave me a lot of confidence knowing that against Lleyton I can actually get my act together. I think that is why I have been able to turn around the series in my favour (9-8)."
Meanwhile, Federer defended the Wimbledon seeding committee against suggestions that Hewitt should have been seeded two and not three to reflect his world ranking. He says: "It is a tough call. The rules are the way they are. It is the only tournament in the world where it is like this (seedings not necessarily following the rankings to allow for grass court records). But it is understandable. We're at Wimbledon. I understand everything that Wimbledon decides because this is where it all started."
Written by Mike Donovan
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Post by RogiFan on Jul 1, 2005 22:08:41 GMT -5
R. Federer - Day 9 Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Q. How much fun was that? How much fun is it to play a player like Fernando who hits the ball so hard?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, it's always interesting to play against him because sort of have to always weather the storm against him. He hits the ball with so much pace. Not much you can actually control in a match like this because he always takes the first swing at the ball.
But I still enjoy it because, you know, you get good rallies. I have to really work hard on my defense. Sometimes things I don't do so often.
Q. Is he completely unlike any other player out there?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, he's different, you know, because he dominates from the baseline where he can play against a big server. You're just trying to get the serve back. But with him, I always have the feeling I can get the serve back. But then right away he covers his serve very well with incredible forehands. And also backhand, he takes big swings at the ball.
He's quite unique, I would say.
Q. What did you think of the shot he put at you at 4‑All in the first set, huge wind‑up and slice? Do you know the one I'm talking about?
ROGER FEDERER: (Looking quizzical.)
Q. You got it back.
ROGER FEDERER: Hit a reflex volley?
Q. Yes.
ROGER FEDERER: Well, the ball was very low. Of course, to take a swing at such a ball is a little weird. But, you know, it comes back with a lot of spin, so you have to watch out because you know the ball's going to bounce different.
He hit a good reflex volley, because I went sort of at the body, but with a lot of spin. He hit it well to win that point. But I think we had some other good ones, as well.
I lost them all, so... (smiling).
Q. Considering Gonzalez would probably climb into the stands to hit an inside‑out shot, you did a good job of getting on his backhand and staying there today, didn't you?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I think I especially also returned pretty good. Which gave me quite a few chances always to break. I thought in the third I was playing really good. Then I lost those two points which would have given me breakpoint, which would have given me a chance.
But all in all, I'm really pleased. I really got to his backhand well and thought, you know, it was a really ‑‑ a match like I wanted to, you know, to play against him.
I know he can't play through the entire five‑setter, you know, hitting just incredible forehands. He's going to have his lapses. That's when I had to take advantage of it.
Q. How did you find playing on No. 1 court as opposed to Centre Court?
ROGER FEDERER: I made against Minar on 1, I found it was very similar. So today, I had the same feeling again.
Q. Have you watched any videos of Hewitt's games here or anyone telling you how he's playing or is he a known quantity and also you've beaten him in the past?
ROGER FEDERER: No, I mean, I don't need to watch his match on a tape, you know. I've seen him enough live this week because we're in the same section of the draw, if you like. So you always wait around, or if you're already at home and he's going to play, you're going to watch him play.
We've played on so many occasions now that I think we know each other's game so well. We don't need to have more spies around because we're not going to change our games very much. So I think we're both looking forward to that.
I mean, I'm very happy to be through my third consecutive semis, you know, to be honest. Now against Lleyton, I'm really looking forward because this time he's fit, not like in Indian Wells, you know, where I don't really count that match. It's going to be interesting to see.
Q. The last time he beat you was in that fairly famous Davis Cup match.
ROGER FEDERER: I don't remember (smiling).
Q. I was wondering if that match and what happened in that match has been a factor in the way you've played against Lleyton ever since? Does it fire you up to not let that happen again?
ROGER FEDERER: I think what really ‑‑ that match in a way gave me a lot of confidence because he beat me on many, many occasions before that. I really had the feeling I could dominate almost for three entire sets against him. And that feeling I never had before against him. I was up two sets to love, a break, serving for the match, you know, and I was really playing incredibly well. Then he fought back and we all know what happened.
But I think that match in a way, you know, of course it was a killer for me, but in that moment it gave me a lot of confidence knowing that against Lleyton I can actually get my act together for three or even more sets, you know, in a row. I think that's why I could turn around the series for me.
Q. Your defensive game now looks as good as your offensive game. Maybe that's your biggest improvement in the last months, maybe not a good news for your opponents if you're still improving.
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, I think today I've been pushed very much into the corners. I have to come up with something. I thought I really did well. My slice is working well, you know, like I want it to.
But I've always been relying on my defensive game as well because, like this, don't only have to attack all the time. It gives me sort of two options. I always thought I'm good at it. You know, today I just have to prove it once again.
Q. Your streak against Hewitt is now seven matches in a row. Can you remember ever being on the wrong end of that kind of a streak against a player and what it's like walking out on court that you've tried so many times and haven't been able to beat this guy?
ROGER FEDERER: No, I never lost seven consecutive matches I think against a player. Very few bad records against players, you know. Maybe the most, maybe four, max maybe five I would reckon. I don't know how it is.
He's beaten me enough to believe in his chance. He knows. He hasn't been playing any tournaments. We don't know how hard he worked, how much he's changed really his game, and what he's got. And on grass I think anything can happen against him. He knows how to win the title here.
I'll just take it a match at a time. I think it's a tough match ahead of me.
Q. Tony has obviously worked a lot with Lleyton previously early on in Davis Cup. Does that help? Does he give you much in regard to Lleyton?
ROGER FEDERER: No, not at all. We have hardly spoken about Lleyton's game, to be honest, with Tony. It's more concentrating on my own game and actually preparing for how the other opponent's going to play.
You take that in consideration, of course. But most important is how I play. Because at the level I'm playing, you know, over the last few years and the confidence I have, I can allow myself to think this way, you know. But I don't think we'll go into this match any different just because he worked with Lleyton. I didn't even know that he did sort of. So I don't think that's going to play any role.
Q. If form holds and you beat Hewitt, you would face Andy Roddick. What do you respect most about Roddick's game?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, we're not there yet. But Andy, I think on the grass with his serve, you know, he's so dangerous. I like his humor on/off court. We get along well. We've had some good match over the years. I've got a great record against him. No matter what, I always enjoy playing against him. He's always fair. Especially in the States, he's very, very well‑liked. It's good to have a great American now that Andre, Pete, Chang, Courier, they all sort of ‑‑ some are leaving and some are gone.
It's great to have Andy.
Q. We've seen a lot of Andy's American style humor this week. How would you describe it?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I saw him today in the locker room. He was nice, so... I don't know what else.
Q. There's been a bit of controversy about the seedings. Who do you think you should be seeded to play in the final?
ROGER FEDERER: Oh, it's a tough call, you know. The rules are the way they are. It's the only tournament in the world where it is like this. But I think it's understandable. We're at Wimbledon. I understand everything what Wimbledon decides really because this is where it all started.
Now that Lleyton is through to the semis and maybe Andy is also going to be there, of course these questions are going to come up again. But I think the way Andy played the last two years, I think he deserves to be No. 2. But also Lleyton deserves to be No. 2 because he's No. 2 in the world.
It's a tough call. You know, I hope that neither of those two guys is angry about it. Maybe, of course, Lleyton is more. I don't think it's going to play a role in our match.
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Post by RogiFan on Jul 1, 2005 22:09:18 GMT -5
July 02, 2005 Federer still serving up slices of perfection By Simon Barnes, Chief Sports Writer ROGER FEDERER has done one of the most amazing things in sport: he has enlarged the vocabulary of the Centre Court crowd. If you ever wanted proof of his quite extraordinary talent, this is it, for they had to expand their vocabulary to encompass his excellence. They had plenty of chance to practise these new sounds yesterday as the Swiss moved into the Wimbledon final for the third year in a row, defeating Lleyton Hewitt 6-3, 6-4, 7-6. Hewitt played very well, please understand that. Very well indeed. Now ask what that says about Federer. The Centre Court is famous for its oooh! and aaah! in the middle of long rallies. Then, apart from the clapping and the “C’mon Tim!”, there is the silly titter when a line judge dodges a hot serve and the groan that greets a double fault. There is the roar that acclaims a great point. There is also the quality of silence, deafening before the serve on championship point. It doesn’t sound much, I know, but it really does add up to one of the most thrillingly volatile arenas in sport. Now Federer has expanded its range. He has caused Centre Court to add two new sounds to its repertoire. The first is a gasp of astonishment, an exhalation of complete wonder and disbelief. It means, basically, I am not seeing that. We heard it as Federer made the decisive break in the first set with a skimmed slice shot that hung in the air, heedless of gravity, cleared the net by a micron or two, hit the grass and died. No one else in tennis could have made that shot. No one else in tennis would have thought of trying. A word on the Federer slice while we are here. For most players — normal players — the slice, undercut and backspinning, is used tactically, for defence, for control, for manoeuvring your opponent or for exasperating him. Young Andy Murray uses it very well in the traditional way. Federer is more or less alone in using the slice, on either wing, as a means of hitting clean winners. The second Federer-specific Centre Court sound is a sigh of satisfaction, almost of repletion. It is close to being an aesthetic judgment, an acknowledgement of the final, perfect shot that completes the construction of a perfect point and does so with profoundly pleasing inevitability; the sort of sound you make to yourself after a movement of the Goldberg Variations: yes, yes, how perfectly perfect. And that sound was heard more and more as Federer played his perfect tennis and made Hewitt, a Wimbledon winner, resemble a tyro. “I feel like I’m the second-best player going around right now,” he said as he contemplated defeat. “It’s just that the best player going around is pretty bloody good.” No error. Hewitt has been grousing all fortnight that he should have been seeded No 2, rather than No 3. Now we know why — he’d sooner lose to Federer in the final than the semi-finals. Those, after all, are the only options available to him. Federer has now beaten him eight times in a row. As for the defending champion, he has no complaints. He is happy to take them in any order they come. Well, what can you do about an opponent who plays a top-spin drive winner off a full-blooded smash? I was reminded of Butch Cassidy, who says to Sundance: “I coudn’t do that. Could you do that? How can they do that?” A pause. “Who are those guys?” Who is this guy? No one knows. He resists characterisation, he has a million different ways of playing tennis. Sometimes he will be Smokin’ Joe and do the toe-to-toe, blow-for-blow stuff. Then he will turn into Shane Warne, spin a web and tie you up in it. Then he will suddenly turn into Mephistopheles and lead you, tempt you, inch by inch, into error. It is glorious to watch, glorious to contribute to the Centre Court sounds, for, though clapping is frowned on in press boxes, gasping and sighing are acceptable and, for that matter, unavoidable. But despite Federer’s habit of the miraculous, the Centre Court have not really taken him to heart. And that’s a good sign, believe me. They never took Pete Sampras to heart until the end, when there were signs of fallibility, and they didn’t care for Martina Navratilova until she was past her own Himalayan peak. The Centre Court prefers drama to excellence, giant-killers to giants, five-set wobbles to three-set certainty. For Federer, they have admiration rather than affection. It is possible that Centre Court will not warm to Federer for half a dozen years. If so, what a legend we will have been part of. But let us not get ahead of ourselves. Federer has a final to play tomorrow, so let us try to help his opponent by pointing out his weaknesses. I have watched Federer a great deal in this tournament, lucky me, and I have come up with a conclusion. It’s that ball-bounce before he serves. It’s pretty bloody ordinary, if you ask me. www.timesonline.co.uk/
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Post by RogiFan on Jul 1, 2005 22:14:55 GMT -5
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Post by RogiFan on Jul 1, 2005 22:19:03 GMT -5
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Post by RogiFan on Jul 1, 2005 22:20:28 GMT -5
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Post by RogiFan on Jul 1, 2005 22:21:11 GMT -5
OK, Rogi, 6 down, one to go... don't stop until you hoist that golden champion's trophy aloft in the Final!
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Post by RogiFan on Jul 4, 2005 16:38:07 GMT -5
WOO HOO! Rogi did the hat-trick at Wimby05 beating Pandy 62 76(2) 64!
Federer the Flawless ©EPA/ F. Coffrini Sunday, 3 July, 2005
Roger Federer said after beating Andy Roddick in straight sets in the Wimbledon final today: "It is a pity for him. I really did play my best tennis. This is very special to me. This was easier than defending the title a second time."
When BBC TV presenter Sue Barker pointed out to Federer after he received the trophy that he had now joined a group of three-times Wimbledon Champions that included Fred Perry, Pete Sampras and Bjorn Borg, the Swiss said: "That's a nice group. To be in with those guys is very special. But I hope it will not stop at three. Grass is good for me. I was quite confident before the semis and final. This is huge for me."
Federer admitted that he was very tense as he headed into the Wimbledon final as he tried for that third title. "This was a very big tournament and match for me today - to get the fifth Grand Slam and also the third Wimbledon. I knew the importance of this one so I was pretty tense going into it. After the first set I started to feel so good that I got so confident. Obviously for the next few years I'll definitely be a huge favourite for the tournament."
He paid tribute to Roddick, saying: "It's hard for him because I really played a fantastic match - one of the best of my life. The biggest most important moment is in a Grand Slam final and I would consider this even bigger than the US Open final I played. So this is my best match maybe I ever played. Today it seemed like I was playing flawless. Everything was working.
"I can't answer how consistent I am playing. I amaze myself how I use my talent to win. Those who followed me since I was a youngster knew I had potential. But I don't think anybody would have thought it would be this extreme, basically dominating the game, winning three Wimbledons. One you think, wow, that's fantastic. When you end up winning three, you are really starting to wonder. What have I done right in my career that this has happened to me? I'm very, very proud because this is the most important tournament."
Federer said he was impressed with his start in the final. "I remember the way Andy came out in the finals last year. Now it was me this time because I felt really good on the serve, and on the return as well. I think that was definitely big, big for me to get that under way. Even though I was down a break in the second, I knew I would have my chances again to break against Andy."
Looking ahead, Federer said: "I'll take match by match, day by day, year by year. So far I have been lucky not to have any injuries, to be able to play at the level I am. But it is very draining and hard to keep that up all the time. Wimbledon and the grass have definitely been very good to me over the last few years. I'll try to carry that even longer the next year." Written by Barry Newcombe
Federer Wins Third Crown ©Getty Images/ C. Brunskill Sunday, July 3, 2005
Roger Federer claimed his place in tennis history when he won his third straight men's singles title at The Championships by defeating Andy Roddick 6-2, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 in one hour and 41 minutes. The 23-year-old Swiss has now won 36 consecutive matches on grass and this brilliantly worked victory was even clearer cut than his four-set win over the American a year ago.
As Roddick, a sporting and gallant loser, admitted: "He has become such a complete player." A truer sentence was never spoken of the astonishing Federer, who buried his face in a towel to conceal his tears of joy at his achievement of joining such modern-era greats as Fred Perry, Bjorn Borg and Pete Sampras in collecting a Wimbledon hat-trick. "And I hope it is not going to stop at three," he told the Centre Court crowd after collecting the golden trophy from the Duke of Kent.
The outcome of this match was never in doubt from the opening moments. Federer went into the final leading Roddick by eight victories to one in their career head-to-head record and it was rapidly clear why. Roddick, the second seed, held serve twice in a crash-bang start to the match in which only one point was conceded on serve in the first five games.
Then Federer struck. Roddick fended off danger by saving one break point with a full-blooded forehand winner but when Federer conjured a second opening, that Roddick forehand let him down, projecting the ball over the baseline. Federer cemented the advantage by holding serve to love. With the 22-year-old American struggling to stem the flood tide, the champion reached set point as Roddick sent a forehand wide. Federer clinched the first set in just 22 minutes with a backhand cross court which, although not cleanly hit, fell in for a winner.
Roddick was faced with digging himself out of a hole earlier than he had expected. To his credit, his response was positive. He broke Federer for what was to be the only time in the match to lead 2-1 in the second set as the Swiss dumped a forehand volley into the netting.
The American's hopes of holding on to the second set lasted for only three games before Federer broke back, the brilliance and pace of his ground strokes forcing Roddick into error. To his credit, Roddick battled marvellously against the flood tide, even saving two set points at 4-5 and taking the set into a tie-break.
This was the time for Federer to put his foot on the pedal and he duly did so, taking a 3-0 lead with a double break of serve. He conceded only two points in the tie-break to move two sets clear after one hour and 11 minutes, at which point rain forced the players off court for 25 minutes.
When they returned, the man British Davis Cup player John Lloyd calls "the only complete tennis player on the planet" was rapidly back into his stride on a court he rightly feels is his home. A determined Roddick traded strokes and points for the opening six games, but any hope that he might take this final into a fourth set was wrecked when Federer broke serve for a 4-3 lead with one of his specialty "miracle" shots, a stunning backhand cross-court winner.
Serving for the match at 5-4, Federer emphasised his genius with two aces, his 10th and 11th, and closed it out on his first match point with a service winner. He fell forward on to his knees and then rolled on to his back. The best player in the world had gained a deserved reward. Written by Ronald Atkin
R. Federer - Day 13 Sunday, July 3, 2005
Q. You're only 23 years old. Do you feel now if you stay fit and healthy that you can eclipse the records of Borg and Sampras here at the All England Club?
ROGER FEDERER: I feel like I put myself into position. This was very, very big tournament and match for me today. Obviously to get the fifth one, fifth Grand Slam, but also the third Wimbledon. I knew the importance of this one, so I was pretty tense going into it.
After the first set, I really started to feel so good, you know, that I got so confidence. Obviously, for the next few years I'll definitely be a huge favorite also for this tournament. Doesn't mean necessarily I'll take them all.
Q. Andy said he hopes you get bored now so you can give him a chance. That is likely to happen?
ROGER FEDERER: It's hard for him, you know, because I really played a fantastic match ‑ one of my best in my life. Again, you know, the biggest, most important moment, you know, in a Grand Slam final, and I would consider this even bigger than the US Open final I played, so this is my best match maybe I've ever played.
I won't get bored so quickly, so I'm sorry.
Q. Where does it rank for you in the three? You cried the first, you cried this time, but not the second one.
ROGER FEDERER: I did then, too. I cried the second one, too, for sure (smiling).
Somehow ‑‑ well, the second one was a huge relief. The first one is the first one. Obviously, the second one was like some huge relief. I really had to fight really hard to get through. In the end, you know, I'm just like, "Wow, you know, how did I come back into this match?"
And today, it seemed like I was playing flawless. Everything was working. In a way, I think this one will actually take me longer to realize. I remember during the match and during the rain delay, and then when I came back, I never really felt like I'm actually playing. It's like I'm not living this correctly.
So, I don't know, it's a very strange feeling I have. It's probably going to take me days, months, weeks, years, I don't know, to realize this one, so...
Q. It's not your responsibility if your opponents don't turn up on the court and give you a hard time, but would you like them to push you a bit more?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I feel they push me. That's all there is sometimes. I played such good tennis I thought today that I didn't allow him to come into the match. I just need to play just a little bit less good, and right away the match is totally different.
I think all of them are trying as hard as they can. But it has worked. You know, you look at the Australian Open, you look at the French Open. It worked to beat me. Now, again, I'm very happy that semis and finals I didn't lose a set. That's fantastic. But most important of all is now the Wimbledon, because this is what means most to me.
Q. What was going through your mind when you knew you'd won? You collapsed on the floor, rolled around. What kind of emotions were running through your mind there?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, everything sort of started when I ‑‑ let me think. 4‑3, I was serving. I just broke, I think. I started to feel like, "Wow, eight more points on my serve and I'm all right." I started to really shake my head, like, "I'm so close again, you know. It's all in my power now. There's no more really Andy can do, except if I mess up here."
Then I held and I was sort of calm. He held easily, too. Then when I started to serve for the match, I mean, obviously the first point was big, was an ace. I really got nervous, you know, just hoping to make the first serve. Missed it, okay. Hit an ace on the second serve because he took the wrong side.
I felt my arm shaking, and I was just like, after he came back to 30‑15, I was like, "Why now? 30‑15? I want 40‑Love here." I was really getting nervous. I just tried to hit it as hard as I could at 40‑15, you know.
Obviously once it all happens, you don't know the reaction. And I think at 4‑3 I started to think, "How will it be with the trophy? How will it be my reaction? How is this? How is that?"
I'm like, "No, no, no, no, we're not there yet." I always have to calm myself down. Once it all happens, you don't know what happens. It's really strange.
Q. You're admitting you do get nervous. Visually it looks like a day in the park for you.
ROGER FEDERER: Oh, yeah. Heart rate starts going up.
Q. You don't show it.
ROGER FEDERER: Well, then I guess I don't show it. It's good, poker face.
Q. What is the key to going out and playing at the level you play so consistently? A lot of players have talent, but they go out and blow up, have a bad day. Why do you feel you can play at the level you do so regularly?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, maybe I lost too many matches which I should have won when I was younger, you know. So now it's turned around for me. Now I'm winning matches I maybe should lose sometimes.
I can't answer, you know, how consistent I'm playing. I amaze myself how incredible actually I use my talent to win. For those who follow me since I'm a youngster, they knew I had potential. But I don't think nobody would have ever thought it would be this extreme, basically dominating the game, winning three Wimbledons. One, you think, wow, that's fantastic. When you end up winning three, you're like really starting to wonder, "What have I done right in my career that this has happened to me?"
I'm very, very proud, because this is the most important tournament. To really now for the last I would say two, three years, I've put it together so consistently, I have a lot of pride in that, too.
Q. What impressed you most with yourself today?
ROGER FEDERER: The way I came out because I remember the way Andy came out in the finals last year. Now it was me this time, you know, because I really felt good on the serve, from the baseline, right away on the return as well. And I think that was definitely big, big for me, you know, to get that underway.
Even though I was down a break in the second, I know I will have my chances again to break against Andy.
Yeah, I mean, I think the rain delay was not really necessary, but it happened. Of course, it makes you wonder, you know, is this sort of payback time now to last year?
I'm happy with every aspect of my game, so...
Q. Tony Roche has had a lot of heartache here over the years particularly in that player's box in finals. Was it special for you to know he could be part of a winning partnership here in a Wimbledon final?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, he's won here more times than I have.
Q. In singles.
ROGER FEDERER: Doubles. I count that, too.
It's definitely special for him, I guess. You know, you have to ask him. For me, of course, I'm so happy for myself. But really happy that it also has worked out, our partnership. It's sort of not paid off, but after the semis in Australia which I thought it was fantastic, and the French was good, too, he was part of that, too. Now finally we get the win together.
I think we're very excited and happy. He's not a guy who shows too much emotions, but I felt like he's very carried away, too, in the moment itself when we saw each other. I think tonight at the champions dinner we get a chance to reflect more on that.
Q. How important is he now becoming, even though it started on a gradual basis, for your preparation?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I knew from the start that he might be a big help in my game. I'm happy I start to understand what he's trying to teach me. Even though maybe, you know, he's not traveling 30, 40 weeks a year, I still feel he gives me enough weeks and time together.
We've just been together about eight or nine weeks, which is a lot. You start to really know each other and start to understand each other. The language we actually talk, in tennis, that we actually know what we want to do. If he wants to walk away tomorrow, I have no problem. He's very easy in the relationship we have in tennis, in coach, you know. I just want him to know that. Every day and every week he gives me, I'm very thankful because I know how old he is, what he's been through, as a player, as a coach. He doesn't need it any more. So I'm very thankful to him.
Q. How would you react today if your name was Roddick and not Federer?
ROGER FEDERER: If what?
Q. If your name was Roddick, how would you react to a situation like that, someone dominating?
ROGER FEDERER: I think it would be ‑‑ in a way it makes you wonder, I guess. In another way, it's easy to accept because the other opponent played really well. That's the feeling I get. And I don't think Andy will look back too much with regrets on this match because I really thought I played as good as I could.
I think if he could have maybe played a little bit better, gotten off to a better start. You know, the score looks very one‑sided, but let's imagine he wins the second set, after saving the three set points, then the match looks totally different.
I think it's like Lleyton, as well. They played a good tournament. Semis or a finals in a Slam is always I think a good result, too. They'll go into the next tournament knowing that they'll need really some exceptional play to beat them. I think that's going to help them all the way through to the end of the year.
Q. Andy spoken about how proud he was to play in an era against somebody as great as you. He's going to have to deal with you for as long as you both play. Do you have any sympathy for what he faces over the next several years?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, be nice to him. He's a great player himself, too, and I respect him very much. I enjoy playing him and Lleyton I think almost the most because we are the ones who got to the sort of ‑‑ up to the highest positions, you know, all sort of together. We've always had good matches, even though of course our series are one‑sided.
I always enjoy playing him very much because he's very fair play. He's funny off court, on court. I always look forward to play him. The challenge of that big serve and the challenge of his game makes me play really good tennis, you know. I know how hard and how difficult he is to beat on the court. So for me this is definitely a very special moment, to be able to play like this in the finals of Wimbledon against him.
Q. If you continue to dominate at Wimbledon the way you are now, do you think your greatest opponent might end up being yourself?
ROGER FEDERER: No, no. Not quite there yet. No, I mean, I'll take match by match, day by day, year by year basically, next few years. So far I've been lucky not to have any injuries, to be able to play at the level I am.
But it's very draining and hard to keep that up all the time. Wimbledon and the grass has definitely been very good to me over the last few years. Of course, I'll try to be able to carry that even longer the next year.
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