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Aug 29, 2008 from PA SportsTicker:
NEW YORK - Roger Federer reached the third round of the U.S. Open on Friday with a tougher-than-expected win over Thiago Alves of Brazil.
Federer posted his 29th consecutive victory in the hardcourt event, holding off the stubborn Alves, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4.
Federer recorded one break in each of the first two sets and two in the third to set up a third-mound meeting with either No. 28 seed Radek Stepanek or Chris Guccione.
Federer was pushed in the second set and again in the third by the 26-year-old Alves, who is ranked 137th in the world. Alves' previous best showing here was a second-round effort in 2006.
The players remained on serve in the second set until Federer broke in the 11th game. He then closed out the set with an ace down the middle.
Federer also broke in the first game of the third and appeared to be control, jumping ahead, 3-1. But Alves did not go quietly, winning three straight games, including his only break of the match, to go up, 4-3.
Federer regrouped by winning the next three games to close out the match in two hours, 17 minutes. He won the final game at love, registering two of his 19 aces.
Federer converted only four of his 15 break opportunities and committed 46 unforced errors, compared to 54 winners. Alves had 23 winners and 30 unforced errors.
from AFP:
Roger Federer clinched Friday's match with a forehand flick from the baseline that sailed crosscourt, just catching the line.
"I served really well which is a big bonus," Federer said. "I am concentrating on my own game and physically I am fine."
Thiago Alves challenged the call. He joked about it at the net with Federer while they waited for the replay. Alves didn't get the call he hoped for, but it kept him on the court for a few extra seconds with the man many considered to be one of the greatest players of all-time.
from Eurosport:
Roger Federer on beating an unfamiliar foe in Thiago Alves: "He did well. It was a really difficult match. I'd never heard of him before and that's what sometimes makes it difficult. I haven't had the best year so far... wish I had won the French or Wimbledon but hopefully this will be the big one."
Alves on who he thinks is the best in the world: "When Federer slips a little bit, he reaches the finals of the Grand Slams every time. He is the biggest player for sure. Nadal is playing good tennis this year but for me, Federer is the best one."
Aug 27, 2008 from Queens Gazette:
Thousands of kids gathered with their families at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park on Saturday, August 23 to participate in the Arthur Ashe Kids Day.
Visitors were able to participate in a number of different fun events, including face painting, tennis clinics and demonstrations, concerts and new product introductions by many sports product vendors.
A number of touring tennis stars, including Lindsay Davenport, Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, James Blake and Ana Ivanovic signed autographs and posed for photos for the fans.
Blake and Ivanovic ran a tennis clinic and Davenport, Williams, Federer and Nadal participated in a challenge in which they had to hit signs to win money for their favorite foundations. Federer hit the most signs, earning more than $18,000 for the Roger Federer Foundation.
A special match between Novak Djokovoc and Andy Roddick got the crowd ready for the upcoming US Open.
Aug 26, 2008 from Reuters:
NEW YORK - Roger Federer launched his U.S. Open title defense with a comfortable 6-3 6-0 6-3 win over Argentine Maximo Gonzalez in the first round on Tuesday.
The Swiss master shrugged off an untidy start with a polished performance on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court in an evening match.
Federer broke Gonzalez in the eighth game before taking the opening set in 25 minutes. He then swept through the second with three further service breaks.
The 118th-ranked Argentine, playing his first hardcourt match on the ATP Tour, raised his game in the third to break Federer and lead 3-2 before his opponent regained control to wrap up victory in 82 minutes.
"I am very happy to be back healthy, playing well and winning the first round is always great fun," Federer said in a courtside interview. "I am looking forward to more like that.
Federer won 10 successive games from 3-3 in the first set before Gonzalez broke the Swiss for the only time in the match in the second game of the third.
The 27-year-old was weakened from mononucleosis early in the season but said his health issues were now behind him.
"The tests are showing a complete recovery," Federer added. "But it's been a hard year, especially the beginning, and it was difficult trying to get back into rhythm.
"I played really well on clay and grass but not so good early on in the hardcourt season. I think the Olympics doubles gold gave me a great lift and I am really inspired to do well here."
Federer will next play Brazilian qualifier Thiago Alves.
from AP:
Roger Federer, who last year played night matches in a tuxedo-style outfit with a blue-and-white ensemble for day, this year was switching between a polo shirt with an emblazoned RF logo in red for day and a smoke-gray color at night.
from CNN-IBN:
Gaurav Kalra: What do you make up this? Nadal vs Federer, the first one is the big tennis rivalry that everyone is talking about. We got a sense from the viewers listerning to you that you kind of preferred Roger Federer over Rafael Nadal?
Sania Mirza: I think Roger doesn’t matter if he is number 2 in the world today, it does not matter if he becomes 100 in the world, he is still going to be Roger Federer, he has been Roger Federer. I am very bias so I am going to say Roger Federer will win.
Gaurav Kalra: Look at the records Sania.
Sania Mirza: He (Federer) is a genius and like you said he surprised everyone in the Olympic by winning the doubles gold so you don’t know he might again come up and win it again but on a serious note Rafa is playing really well and probably he is playing the best he has ever played and yes it is going to be really hard for Roger to beat him but at the end of the day he is the King.
from MSNBC:
Rafael Nadal, who recently appeared on the cover of New York magazine, is said to be upset with how the cover turned out. "He is fine with being a sex symbol," says a source close to Nadal, "but New York took it a bit further than he was comfortable with."
There's a trickle-down effect to the Nadal cover that he probably never anticipated: Other celebrity athletes are rethinking their commitments to appearing prominently in magazines outside of their niche. One editor of a celebrity weekly said, "Roger (Federer) was supposed to do our magazine, but he pulled out after the Nadal cover. Athletes aren't used to getting the celebrity treatment when it comes to their bodies. It can be a bit of a gamble if you don't have control over the images."
Aug 25, 2008 from Reuters:
NEW YORK - Twenty-four former champions -- from Rod Laver to Roger Federer and Virginia Wade to Maria Sharapova -- launched opening night at the U.S. Open on Monday to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the professional era.
In 1968, Arthur Ashe became the first African-American man to win a grand slam title when he triumphed at the first U.S. Open at Forest Hills while Wade raised the women's trophy and pocketed the tournament's first prize money as champion.
Also gracing the Arthur Ashe Stadium court were the likes of John Newcombe and John McEnroe on the men's side, and Billie Jean King, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova among women who triumphed after professionals were allowed to play the grand slam events four decades ago.
McEnroe, the tempestuous local hero who won four Opens, and four-times defending champion Federer drew the loudest roars from the crowd.
A festive programme full of music from gospel singers to period band Earth, Wind and Fire livened up the "Showtime" opening and the band serenaded the champions with their hit, "Shining Star."
A montage of great moments played on the jumbo television screen, along with excerpts from an interview with Ashe, who talked about the political upheaval of the times, from U.S. race riots in the cities, to Vietnam War protest and the assassinations of Dr. Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy.
Some lustre was lost on Monday night by the absence of crowd favourites Jimmy Connors, Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras and Steffi Graf.
The champions in attendance, however, were aglow over the occasion, entering the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on a red carpet with cameras flashing and reporters in wait.
from New York Times:
Rod Laver, who won here in 1969, was the third player introduced Monday after Arthur Ashe — represented by his widow and his daughter — and Virginia Wade. Only three former champions received standing ovations: Billie Jean King, who won 13 singles and doubles titles here and for whom the entire facility is now named, and the four-time men’s champions John McEnroe and Roger Federer.
The players were only on the court for a matter of minutes, long enough to pose for a group picture and parade once around the court. Still, it was enough to thrill the crowd and, it seemed, the players.
from Globe and Mail:
NEW YORK - The Stars and Stripes rippled high atop Arthur Ashe Stadium in a fresh breeze late yesterday afternoon as two players who had faced off for a doubles gold medal at the Olympics exactly a week earlier, Roger Federer and Thomas Johansson of Sweden, were practising.
The Swiss star and good friend Johansson were having a fairly relaxed hit yesterday, with Federer at one point trying to serve left-handed. (For the record, two serves plopped pathetically into the net and the third was long.)
from ESPN:
The widespread hysteria over Federer's sudden fall tends to obscure just how dominant he was for four years. Between 2004 and 2007 he won 11 of the 16 Grand Slams contested. Sampras' best effort over a four-year span was seven major titles. Even Steffi Graf -- who won 10 Grand Slams from 1993-96 and another nine from 1988-91 -- never equaled Federer's feat.
from Bloomberg:
By Scott Soshnick - There are countless athletes worthy of the winner label, medal around their necks or not. I met many of them, wrote about some.
Take Polish swimmer Otylia Jedrzejczak, who was behind the wheel when her younger brother was killed in a car crash two years ago. These Olympics were another step in the healing process. She smiled. Made new friends, made new memories. She won, all right.
Or Lebanese shooter Ziad Richa, who finished 29th in men's skeet. Nowhere near a medal. You should've seen his joy after meeting Roger Federer.
Costa Rica's Nery Brenes didn't win a medal. Didn't even reach the final of the men's 400 meters. Still, whatever notoriety and monetary gain he enjoys from the Olympic experience will go toward his goal of building a school for the poor children of his town. Not a winner? C'mon.
Aug 24, 2008 from Newsday:
Though born in England, Virginia Wade learned to play tennis in South Africa, where she lived most of her childhood while her father served as the Anglican Church's Archdeacon of Durban, and where her early tennis success was observed by none other than Robert and Lynette Federer. (Robert, a Swiss, met South African native Lynette on a business trip and settled for a while in South Africa.)
Their son, Roger, "is my current favorite among the men," Wade said, "although I used to watch Rod Laver play and he was so good you would think, 'Why do I bother?"'
from Sacramento Bee:
Dmitry Tursunov has a message for tennis fans about Roger Federer.
"A lot of people write him off," the Folsom resident, ranked 26th in the world, said Friday from New York. "It's the wrong thing to do."
The slumping Federer eventually will add to his list of 12 Grand Slam singles titles, two short of Pete Sampras' record, Tursunov said.
"I'm sure of it. He's too great a player not to win Grand Slam titles," said the Russian Davis Cup star, who lost to Federer early in singles and doubles in the Beijing Olympics.
Tursunov hedged, though, when asked to pick a winner in the U.S. Open, which begins Monday in New York.
"I'd like to pick myself," said Tursunov, whose best Grand Slam singles showing is the fourth round (twice at Wimbledon). "The top three (Rafael Nadal, Federer and Novak Djokovic) is a fairly safe bet, but a lot of others could."
Tursunov lost to Federer 6-4, 6-2 in the first round of the Olympics to fall to 0-3 lifetime in singles against the stylish Swiss star.
"I can't say he played worse than before," Tursunov said. "He's still a great player. He just happened to lose a couple more matches than before. There's a fine line between being a great player and not doing well."
"His bad days are more evident than before because he wins matches by creating shots," Tursunov said. "It comes with the territory. It's hard to stay on top for five years. It's hard to stay hungry."
Aug 23, 2008 from amNY:
Roger Federer, serving and smiling, hit with Rainer Schuettler for an hour and a half at Arthur Ashe stadium yesterday. Following Federer at 1 p.m. on Ashe were Andy Roddick and James Blake.
from ASAP Sports:
Q. As an astute observer of the game as you are, can you talk by a little bit about Roger? He's is the three-time defending champion. I know Nadal is playing as well as he is. But can you assess Roger a little bit coming into this tournament, and what kind of chances do you give him?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, I think he's got as good a shot as anybody. I think it's tough to play perfect for five years in a row. He's only done it four years in a row. You know, I think the biggest thing -- I don't know if he's thinking sometimes out there, but it's a tough situation when you feel like you're getting -- you've made 17 straight semifinals in Slams or whatever it is now, and if you're not thinking about it, being asked about it every day, it's bound to go into your head a little bit. But I think one big result and it's turned right around for him. I know pretty much every player except for one that would take his bad year. So I think you have to use a little bit of perspective. He's created a bit of a monster for himself.
from Sacramento Bee:
Monarchs guard and Kings/ESPN analyst Kara Lawson, in Beijing with the U.S. women's basketball team that will play Australia for the Olympic gold medal on Saturday, spoke with Bee sports columnist Ailene Voisin before the team's semifinal victory over Russia.
Q: How else have you spent your time?
A: I have been going to other events, which has been cool. I saw (Michael) Phelps swim the 100 butterfly. It wasn't the final, but it was still great. I went to tennis. I saw the end of the James Blake/Novak Djokovic match. And I got to see Roger Federer win the gold in doubles.
Q: I hear you're a huge Federer fan.
A: (Laugh) If there was anybody I wanted to meet here, it was Roger Federer. He is like my favorite (sports star). I didn't get to meet him, but at least I got to see him in person.
Aug 22, 2008 from Teen Vogue:
Last night, several city blocks around 21 Mercer Street in NYC's Soho neighborhood were shut down for a festive sports-themed party celebrating the opening of the first Nike Sportswear store. Giant electronic billboards counted down to the store's opening festivities, which culminated with a fabulous marching band and the arrival of tennis stars Roger Federer, Maria Sharapova, and Serena Williams.
Yet, despite the athletic ambiance, there was no shortage of fashion industry heavyweights in attendance. Alexander Wang, Internet It Girl Cory Kennedy and slew of lanky models including Lily Cole relaxed in plastic stadium seats while being plied with a plethora of half-time snacks including hot dogs, popcorn, and ice cream served in miniature baseball helmets.
from Seattle Times:
"The Open Book: Celebrating 40 Years of America's Grand Slam" edited by Rick Rennert, Triumph Books, 206 pp., $34.95.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the "Open Era" in tennis. This coffee-table book celebrates 40 years of the U.S. Open. With 270 photos, many of them full-page.
The book is divided into decades and includes highlights; charts showing year-by-year singles winners; short items on famous matches and events; and articles, many from U.S. Open programs or tennis magazines in each decade.
From Arthur Ashe, Rod Laver and Roger Federer to Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova and the Williams sisters, Serena and Venus, the gang is all here. Action shots, practice shots, crowd shots. The final 55 pages are devoted to photos of players who have won U.S. Open singles titles.
The book also comes with a 34-minute DVD that concentrates on inductees into the "Court of Champions" at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, where the Open is played.
Aug 20, 2008 from USTA:
The Opening Night Ceremony of the 2008 US Open on Monday, August 25, will commemorate the 40th anniversary of the founding of tennis’ Open Era with a parade of more than twenty-five former US Open singles champions. The on-court ceremony will be hosted by Forest Whitaker and will feature special musical performances by Earth, Wind & Fire and Jersey Boys. USA Network will carry the ceremony live. Throughout the tournament, the US Open will feature additional celebrations and special tributes to past champions.
Among the tennis greats expected to be on-hand for Opening Night are Billie Jean King, John McEnroe, Rod Laver, Ivan Lendl, Tracy Austin, Martina Navratilova, Stan Smith, Boris Becker, Gabriela Sabatini, John Newcombe, Ilie Nastase, Guillermo Vilas and Mats Wilander. The celebration will include a look back to the very first US Open in 1968 and will include Virginia Wade, the first women’s singles US Open champion, and Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe and her daughter Camera Ashe, who will represent their late husband and father Arthur Ashe, who won the 1968 men’s singles title. Additionally, present day players expected to appear in the celebration include Roger Federer, Lindsay Davenport, Venus Williams, Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Marat Safin and Andy Roddick. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg will participate in the opening night festivities as he welcomes the tennis world to New York.
from Times:
It might interest you to know that Roger Federer has garnered a nickname among the locals. They are calling him Nainia, or "Milk Cow". To say the tennis star was bemused does not quite cover it, until he was told that the Chinese were very impressed that he was given an 800 kilo cow as a gift from his Swiss countrymen to celebrate his first Grand Slam victory.
from San Francisco Chronicle:
Not that Chinese fans don't appreciate some of the visiting Olympians. No player in the basketball arena has been getting more applause than Kobe Bryant of the U.S. team. The whole U.S. men's team is fawned over by Chinese fans whenever it makes a public appearance.
And though Michael Phelps is a distant second to Liu Xiang in oomph-factor, he was still a standout to the appreciative local crowd. "Even though he's not Chinese, he made history in China," said Cherry Ma, 21. "We're happy for him, too."
"On the street, people say he's not from this Earth, he's from another world," said Zhang Xiangdong, an Olympic worker. "He's the one all the young girls admire - him and (Roger) Federer."
Aug 18, 2008 from Metromix:
It's a simple idea: Pair 18 top New York chefs with 18 of the world's top tennis players, in town for that little tourney in Queens called the U.S. Open. BNP Paribas Taste of Tennis ticket holders walk from table to table, eating and greeting with top-seeded players like Andy Roddick, Lleyton Hewitt and Jelena Jankovic.
But the chefs are no side dish and include Alfred Portale (Gotham Bar and Grill), Chris Santos (The Stanton Social) and John
DeLucie (The Waverly Inn). We spoke with DeLucie about cooking for Federer, sharpening his tennis game (via osmosis) and how to get a reservation at his uber hot spot-it's supposedly not as tough as you'd think.
Q: What are you making for the event?
DeLucie: We're doing a mini chicken pot pie with poached chicken, crimini mushrooms, peas, pearl onions, carrots, with a delicious puff pasty ring on the top.
Q: Do you really think these tennis players are going to eat pot pie before their U.S. Open matches?
DeLucie: Yes, I fully expect them to. Athletes, and everybody else who visits the Waverly, eats with a little bit of reckless abandon, so I really don't see anybody holding back that much. Plus, athletes can totally burn it off easily.
Q: How's your tennis game?
DeLucie: I have no backhand and pretty much zero game. Hopefully I will gain some game by osmosis at the event. Andre Agassi was always my favorite player, but I really like the last champion, Roger Federer. He's had dinner at the Waverly.
Q: Was he rocking one of those fancy tennis cardigans he's been known to wear?
DeLucie: I think he was! He was really chill and nice and with a very good looking group of people. You wouldn't have known he was a champion tennis player. The group behaved really well. Maria Sharapova has also been in. She was so hot.
Aug 16, 2008 from AP:
BEIJING - Roger Federer extended his arms in triumph and began to hop. Then he embraced his doubles partner and they hopped together.
Federer had waited awhile for a big victory to celebrate, and when the chance came he was ready. He added a gold medal to his extensive trophy collection by teaming with Stanislas Wawrinka to win the Olympic doubles Saturday.
The Swiss duo beat Simon Aspelin and Thomas Johansson of Sweden 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-3.
"Sort of a dream-come-true moment," Federer said. "Maybe it comes around once in a lifetime. It's almost disbelief, to some degree."
Federer showed some brilliant shotmaking in the doubles final, especially at the net. Serving for a gold medal brought out the best in him. At 5-3 in the final set, he hit a service winner on the first point, then a reflex volley for a winner and another service winner. On championship point he curled in a second serve that Johansson couldn't handle, and the Swiss were gold medalists.
"It's not the first time this tournament or in my life I had to serve for a big match," Federer said. "It's basically the moment you dream of being in, even though there is so much pressure to it."
Aug 15, 2008 from swissinfo:
BEIJING - Roger Federer's dream of an Olympic medal is certain to be fulfilled, after he and Stanislas Wawrinka won their semifinal doubles match on Friday against the top-seeded pair.
Federer and Wawrinka beat the US twins Bob and Mike Bryan 7-6 (6), 6-4, in the second game of the day to win a place in the final and a guaranteed gold or silver medal.
The Americans lost the first-set tiebreak and then Mike Bryan's service was broken in the seventh game of the second set. Wawrinka collapsed on the court in relief afterwards and an ebullient Federer was quick to give him a victory hug.
"He's a genius with the ball," said a worn-out looking Bob Bryan. Brother Mike added: "He plays loose, relaxed and comes up with the shots. That's why he's the best."
In Saturday's final they meet the Swedes Thomas Johansson and Simon Aspelin, who battled their way through against the French pair Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra, finally winning 7-6 (6), 4-6, 19-17.
from Reuters:
BEIJING - Roger Federer advanced into the last four in the Olympic doubles on Friday.
Federer and fellow Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka, who resumed their quarterfinal with a 4-1 overnight lead, will face US twins Bob and Mike Bryan for a spot in the gold medal match.
Playing on a sun-kissed court after their match had to be postponed on Thursday due to torrential rain, Federer and Wawrinka scored an impressive 6-2 6-4 victory over India's Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes.
Federer revelled in the doubles, firing off winners and duelling fast and furiously in the rallies.
Paes was dazzled by Federer's artistry, telling reporters: "Federer is the best player in the world. Unfortunately we got stuck with him playing unbelievably well. I am still trying to figure out what we could possibly have done."
Bhupathi said: "It's just too bad that we couldn't pull through on what is (India's) Independence Day today."
from DPA:
The Liverpool midfielder Lucas expressed his wish to meet US superstars like the members of the basketball Dream Team and swimming king Michael Phelps.
However, the Brazilian has already suffered a disappointment in the results of his greatest idol in sport.
"The sportsman I most wanted to meet has already been eliminated. It's Roger Federer. It's a pity," he said.
Lucas will be pleased to find out that Federer - although out of the singles tournament - qualified for the doubles final Friday, in a Swiss team with friend Stanislas Wawrinka.
Aug 14, 2008 from Reuters:
BEIJING - Roger Federer was beaten 6-4 7-6 by American James Blake in the quarter-finals of the Olympic men's singles on Thursday.
The Swiss produced an error-strewn display under the Centre Court lights after a long rain delay and was outplayed as Blake claimed his first victory against Federer in nine meetings.
Eighth seed Blake played two superb baseline rallies to close out the first set as Federer served at 5-4 down. Federer then fell 3-0 down in the second set before battling back to 3-3.
Luck looked to be on Federer's side when a nervy volley dribbled over off the net tape when Blake was two points away from victory in the 12th game of the second set.
However, the inspired American would not be denied, surging 6-2 ahead in the tiebreak and sealing victory on his first match point.
from ASAP Sports:
Q. You've had a lot of respect for Roger, and you still have. You've praised him very often, as well. Now, of course, this year his results haven't still been that awesome as they have been in the previous few years where they were on the top of the top. How do you see that? Is that a good sign on one hand? But on the other hand, with all the praise you have for him, do you feel a little bit sorry for him or...
JAMES BLAKE: I think his results, considered being bad this year, is a product of how high his level has been. Similar to Tiger Woods. When they don't win every single week, it's called "a bad year." And Roger's been in two finals of a slam, semifinals of a slam, I think about 17 or 18 straight Grand Slam semis, and won two titles this year. And to consider that a bad year is just proof that he's been the best in the world for so long that we expect great things out of him every single time he steps on the court.
You know, I've been unbelievably impressed at how he's handled that for four straight years, that every single time he goes on the court, he's battling history. He's not just facing an opponent that has absolutely nothing to lose; he's facing Pete Samprases, Bjorn Borgs, the records of so many before him. I honestly don't know how he's dealt with that for so long. I think almost anyone in the world would crack under that pressure, and he never has.
But after all this time, to be considered a bad year, that he's having at No. 2 in the world, is just amazing. You never see him lose his cool. Never see him break a racquet. Never seen him berate an umpire. So I still have a ton of praise for him. I still have a ton of respect for him as a man. And as a player, he's still one of the best in the world for sure.
As far as if I feel sorry for him, I'm sure he's flying home on his private jet and he's doing okay for himself, seems to have his family happy and healthy around him. So I don't feel too sorry for him. And I think he's still gonna probably go down as the greatest of all time. I can't cry myself to sleep over Roger Federer (smiling).
Aug 13, 2008 from AP:
BEIJING - Roger Federer avenged a defeat four years ago at the Olympics by beating Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic 6-3, 7-6 (4) Wednesday to reach the quarterfinals.
Federer was shouting "Yes!" and punching the air after he smacked a service winner on match point. He will next face No. 8 James Blake, who is 0-8 against Federer and has won only one of their 22 sets.
Federer broke for a 4-2 lead in the first set and let out a guttural "hmmmpf." He hit three aces in the final game of the first set, but his serve briefly went haywire two games later. He had three double-faults — more than he often hits in an entire match — and fell behind 3-0.
But those were his only double-faults, and he otherwise served well, breaking back in the fifth game and holding the rest of the way. In the tiebreaker he rallied from 3-1 down while hitting three service winners and his 11th ace.
Since losing to Berdych in Athens, Federer has beaten the Czech seven consecutive times while losing only one set.
Later, Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka won their doubles match, which finished at 11 p.m.
from Guardian:
Roger Federer walked through our hotel foyer after his press conference the other day and one of the waitresses asked to have her picture taken with him.
from National Post:
Though Federer didn’t actually kill it while he was in Toronto not long back for the Rogers Cup, he did garner a victory of sorts in the shadows. When he was at the well-travelled Tastemakers Lounge for players set up at Rexall Centre, the well-maned Swiss battled Canada’s own David Nestor in a game of table tennis and apparently won!
It happened, our spy says, during a “rain delay.” His epic opponent, Rafael Nadal, meanwhile? He wasn’t so into the ping pong. He, we hear, “seems to prefer foosball.”
Something that Nadal and Federer do have in common? Both athletes prefer to let their ladies pick out their swag. Each respective racquet babe did her bit in sifting through the many goodies available, which included items from Swiss men’s label Strellson as well as accessories from our own Joe Fresh.
Aug 12, 2008 from Vancouver Sun:
BEIJING - Roger Federer defeated 447th-ranked Salvadoran Rafael Arevalo 6-2, 6-4 in the second round of the Olympic men's singles tennis competition.
"It was a very interesting match in such an important tournament in my life, to be playing a player with a very low ranking in a big pressure situation," the Swiss-born Federer said after the 77-minute match, played on centre court at the Beijing Olympic Green Tennis Centre.
"I have nothing to win, only to lose, so it wasn't easy today, but I think Rafael did well. I think he played like a clay court [player] to me. He kept the ball in play with little spins and really felt like he believed in his chance, which I think was key in terms of mental approach in a match like tonight. He could also easily go into this match and say, 'okay, I hope I play a good match and [win] a few games and I'm happy,' but I think he wanted more and I hope for him that I will see him more in the future and he will make the big men's tour."
Arevalo was invited to play in the tournament to compensate for El Salvador's dearth of Olympians.
from Times:
By Kevin Eason - Roger Federer looked at ease after his first-round match, enough to giggle at himself when he tripped over the rule of interpreting at his press conference. The rule is: question asked in English, Chinese interpreter, er, interprets, Federer replies, Chinese interpreter again, everybody happy.
But Federer was so keen to speak, he intervened to answer the first question before the poor interpreter had a chance to have her go. "She speaks for me, no?" he asked, smiling, as she launched into her translation. One error was unfortunate, two is forgiveable but on the third occasion he butted in, even he decided he was struggling with the concept. "It always takes me three questions," he said. "But then I forget." And he did.
Can't speak for the Chinese version, but the quality of the English translation by the Chinese interpreters appears to be excellent, beautifully grammatical and quite full with detail. How they cope with some of the questions and answers, though, I can't even imagine. Serena Williams can't get through a single sentence without it being littered with "I mean, you know". And some of the journalists are not much better.
With the benefit of a transcript, I present this rambler from one American hack to Federer for your consideration: "I thought I read somewhere that the ranking officially changes with the 11th. I could be mistaken. My question is: the time that you spent with Pete Sampras last fall on tour, I was wondering if the subject ever came up about when a player who has had tremendous success in winning Grands Slams gets to that point in their career where the ranking becomes less important than winning the big events, and, therefore, the focus shifts, whether" ... (bored yet?) ... "it's which tournaments you play, maybe even skipping the way Pete skipped a couple of Frenchies (eh?). Did you ever discuss that with him or if you've played it around in your head a little bit?"
Sampras had time for lunch during that one. And I couldn't even put that lot into concise English, never mind Mandarin.
Aug 11, 2008 from AP:
BEIJING - Roger Federer was winner in singles and doubles in the opening round of the Olympic tennis event on Monday.
The top-seeded Federer beat Dmitry Tursunov 6-4, 6-2, then received congratulations from one of the spectators, U.S. basketball star LeBron James.
Next came doubles. Federer leaped to whack an overhead slam on match point, sealing his win with Swiss teammate Stanislas Wawrinka over Simone Bolelli and Andreas Seppi of Italy, 7-5, 6-1.
Roger Federer's timing was a little off Monday at the Olympics. He easily won, but at a postmatch news conference he kept stepping on the interpreter translating questions and answers into Chinese.
Federer milked the situation for laughs, belying his image as a stoic Swiss.
Following the first question, Federer and the interpreter began talking at the same time. Then, he again tried to answer before she was done translating the question. When she finally finished he smiled and said, "She answered for me."
Federer stepped on the interpreter again after the second and third questions. "Excuse me," he said sheepishly.
Following the fourth question, he finally had the routine down, and gestured grandly toward the interpreter as she began to translate. After another question, Federer leaned into the mike and feigned speaking as the interpreter began.
And after the translation of one question, he let several seconds pass in silence, then looked at the interpreter with a grin. "Just giving you time," he said.
Despite being lost in translation, Federer was in a good mood because he successfully began a bid for his first Olympic medal by beating Dmitry Tursunov 6-4, 6-2.
from National Post:
"I guess he's going to be No. 2, but I don't think that he's No. 2," said Tursunov. "I still think he's a better player [than Nadal]. Not a better athlete, maybe, but a better player."
Aug 10, 2008 from PA:
BEIJING - Rain played havoc with the opening day's action in the Olympic tennis tournament in Beijing with Roger Federer among those players unable to set foot on court.
Only nine matches were completed as heavy rain caused numerous delays throughout the day, and play was eventually called off at 7pm local time.
Aug 8, 2008
from Detroit News:
BEIJING - China's coming out party to the world is offically on, delivered in spectacular style through today's Opening Ceremonies.
The Beijing Olympics began with a 3 ½- hour festival laden with fireworks, acrobats, and a celebration of Chinese culture told in elaborate and expansive staging in the National Stadium.
The torch, which is attached to the curved inner roof of the "Bird's Nest", was lit in an incredible and unforgettable fashion. Former Olympic gymnastics gold medalist Li Ning, one of China's most famous sports figures, was hoisted on cables from the floor to the top of the stadium.
He then turned sideways with help of the rigging, appearing to "run" across the inside facade of the Bird's Nest. Li nearly completed a lap around the stadium, stopping in front of the torch. He reached up, lit a gas-filled tube, and the Olympic flame was carried up into the cauldron for large-scale ignition.
The ceremony started with the invocation of a famous Confucious saying, "Friends have come from afar, how happy we are". A crew of 2008 drummers rhythmically chanted the saying, and counted down to the start of the proceedings.
An estimated global television audience of four billion, along with the in-stadium crowd of 91,000, took in the spectacle.
There were 204 countries participating in the parade of athletes. It was a hot and humid atmosphere, around 88 degrees at the start, with Beijing's infamous haze hanging low in the air.
There were a few internationally famous flag-bearers, such as Dirk Nowitzki (Germany), Manu Ginobili (Argentina), Roger Federer (Switzerland) and Chinese superstar Yao Ming.
The crowd gave the American athletes a big roar, even cheering twice when President George Bush and First Lady Laura Bush were shown on the video boards waving to the team.
The crowd also cheered loudly when Cuba, Pakistan, North Korea, Taipei, Australia, Germany, Italy, Hong Kong and Iraq entered the arena. Interestingly, Nowitzki, Federer and Kobe Bryant -- when shown on the video boards -- received larger ovations than most countries. The stadium, understandably, practically shook when the Chinese team finally entered.
from Sun.Star:
How about Roger Federer? From where we sat, no louder applause was heard than when his face was shown, carrying the Swiss flag.
from Vancouver Sun:
Best dressed: Now, it could be because Roger Federer was carrying their flag, but my pick is Switzerland. Formal enough, yet still casual - in red capris for the men and red skirts for the women, cream tops and beige jackets - they easily maintained their place amongst the best-dressed nations. They had nice walking sandals and their bags were appropriate for both sexes. Plus, Federer proved he looks as good in short pants as his rival Rafael Nadal.
from Reuters:
BEIJING - Roger Federer will come back even stronger from his recent slump and reclaim the world number one spot, according to his close friend and fellow player Dominik Hrbaty.
Hrbaty is one of Federer's closest friends on the Tour, memorably sitting and chatting with him on the same side of the umpire's chair during their first-round match at this year's Wimbledon.
He thinks the Beijing Olympics is the moment for Federer to strike back at those calling him a spent force.
"If you are number 10 but you drop to 15 nobody cares but if you are one and you drop to two, it's like 'Oh he's playing bad, maybe it's the end of his career'" Hrbaty told Reuters.
"Many great players like Pete Sampras, Ivan Lendl they had the same. If you look at Sampras he was for so long number one then he came back to number one.
"Roger is going to be more relaxed, there is less pressure on him. I don't say he will come back in one or two weeks but for sure he will get back to number one.
"There was huge pressure on him to win Wimbledon, then to stay number one in the world. Nobody else had to experience that kind of pressure. There will be more pressure on Rafa now."
Federer has been putting in intense practice sessions since arriving in Beijing but Hrbaty believes the key is for the Swiss to start playing with freedom.
"The danger is when you start to think too much, then it gets self destructive," added Slovakian Hrbaty, who like Federer is competing in his third Olympics.
"I think he's going to start enjoying the Tour again. With his tennis and talent, he just plays with a feeling, with an impulse. I think he will get even better.
"People say Nadal and Djokovic are the favourites here but I think this is going to be his chance. In my mind I think he is going to win it."
from AFP:
LOS ANGELES - Former number one Carlos Moya believes that Roger Federer's spirit will not be crushed when he officially loses the top ATP ranking a week from Monday to Rafael Nadal.
"I don't think Roger will have any problems staying motivated," said the 31-year-old Moya, who held the top spot briefly in March, 1999. "He will keep fighting and move forward. He knows he has chances to get it back."
Aug 7, 2008 AFP:
BEIJING - Roger Federer faces a tricky Olympic opener against Dmitry Tursunov after the draw was made on Thursday.
Tursunov, ranked 35, won his fourth career tournament in Sydney this year and was runner-up in Indianapolis last month.
But Federer, who has made the Olympics one of his top priorities this season, will be familiar with his powerful game after they played a practice match here on Wednesday.
The Swiss star also holds a 2-0 career advantage over Tursunov, but he certainly won't be taken the American-based Russian lightly.
"He's a dangerous player, he hits the ball hard and serves well," said the Swiss. "I've known him since our junior days, we go way back. He's a good player so I'll have to play well."
from Arizona Republic:
BEIJING - You'll have to wait a few more minutes for your introductory press conference, U.S. women's basketball players were told Thursday, because world No. 1 tennis player Roger Federer is walking through the Main Press Center.
"I was like, (expletive), I want to meet him, can I walk through, too?" Mercury guard Diana Taurasi said. "He's an amazing athlete. That's the cool part about the Olympics. Not only do you get to play against the best, you get to see these great amazing athletes you only get to see on TV. To me, that's the best part by far."
from Reuters:
BEIJING - While tennis world number one Roger Federer and the NBA-studded U.S. basketball team have been surrounded by admirers, Michael Phelps has been relatively untroubled.
"I was sitting in the dining hall the other day and Federer was in there and he just got swarmed," said the man who stands to dominate the Games if he shatters compatriot Mark Spitz's 1972 record.
"Some of the basketball guys were in there last night and we had a chance to meet them and hang out with them for a bit and they got swarmed too. I've been fine. A few pictures here and there but nothing major."
Aug 6, 2008 from The Australian:
Roger Federer came under siege when he went to the Olympic village's dining room yesterday, with fellow athletes wanting to get his autograph and pose for photos.
Two members of the Hockeyroos, striker Hope Munro and Teneal Attard, who were in the dining room at the time, decided to keep a dignified distance, as did fellow Australians.
"You kind of feel sorry for the poor guy," Munro said. "He just wants to eat his lunch and he has a thousand people around him. I don't know if he actually got his lunch.
"We Australians are all pretty good like that. Obviously you are starstruck and you are in awe of them but I don't think it's appropriate to put him in that position."
from Fairfax Media:
New Zealand hockey player Dave Kosoof Playmaker David Kosoof was blown away by spending a couple of hours climbing up and down the cobbled pathways at the Great Wall of China.
"It's just amazing, you hear so much about it and it does make you stop and go "wow"," Kosoof said. "It still doesn't top my Roger Federer photo I got with him in the athletes village yesterday but then again nothing will."
from FIFA:
Q: Can you tell us what it is about the Olympics Games that makes them so special?
Javier Mascherano: It's the way you experience the event, especially as a footballer. Perhaps here in our hotel, you could say it's no different from a World Cup. But when you arrive at the Olympic Village, it's a real eye-opener and you see so much more. I had the good fortune to be in the Village in Athens, and I came across stars I never imagined I'd meet. That was a real delight and an aspect we thoroughly enjoyed.
Q: Can you recall any particular athletes you came across?
Javier Mascherano: I was next to Roger Federer and Yao Ming, people you don't expect to see up close. I suppose it's like the feeling fans get when they meet their idols. That's what so nice about the Village. There's a palpable party atmosphere there, and you can walk about the place without anyone bothering you. Everyone is equal. This year, I'd like to meet some of the USA basketball team, or at least get to see one of their games.
from Sporting Life:
Organisers of the Hamburg Masters have lost their court action against the ATP and the tournament will now lose its top-tier status in 2009.
When the ATP unveiled its revamped calendar for 2009 last year, the Hamburg event was no longer part of the top level of tour events, replaced by a tournament in Shanghai.
The Deutscher Tennis Bund, Rothenbaum Sport GMBH and Qatar Tennis Federation joined forces to mount a legal challenge, demanding millions of dollars in damages, but despite the pact having the support of a number of leading players such as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, their claims to keep the tournament's status was rejected by a court in Delware.
The ATP does want to keep the Hamburg tournament on its calendar and has reserved a 'second tier' spot for it in the week commencing July 20. It has taken place in May in recent years as part of the build-up to the French Open.
The new World Tour will rename its Masters tournaments to 1000 events in 2009 - the figure representing the number of ranking points available - while the second-tier tournaments will become 500 events.
Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Rome, Madrid, Cincinnati, Canada (Montreal or Toronto), Shanghai and Paris will stage the 1000 events.
The 2009 season will end with the ATP Tour Finals, the event currently known as the Masters Cup, at London's 02 Arena.
Aug 5, 2008 from Reuters:
BEIJING - Stanislas Wawrinka says he believes Federer can answer those ready to predict a long-term slide.
"For me he is the best player ever," world number 10 Wawrinka told reporters. "He is in good spirits and will do what he needs to get back to world number one. He is going to be ready, it's one of his favorite tournaments for the year."
Wawrinka said he had chosen to stay in the athletes village. "Roger's played twice before in the Olympics but this is my first one," he said. "I want to see how it is and enjoy it."
from TVNZ:
New Zealand hockey player Dave Kosoof's Olympic Diary: A minute with Roger Federer
There are sporting idols then there are SPORTING IDOLS!
You really do appreciate the Olympic environment and what we have become a part of when you see some of the world's icons wandering around. There have been the sprinters, basketballers, past gold medallists, but for myself and Hayden Shaw we really topped it all with a simple visit to the international zone.
After jumping on the bikes to drop our laundry off, there were rumours that Roger Federer had entered the village. So a photo with this great sportsman was the top of our list. Unfortunately Hayden thought it was funny to say "here he comes, quick get the camera ready" then for it to simply be our captain strolling along with his partner Kim Noakes.
Hayden then did this several times so I eventually gave up. And when we were simply shopping for gifts in the shop Hayden again yelled out "Dave, its Federer". "Yeah whatever Shawry" and I continued to search the shelves. However as the head rose, I could not believe my eyes, there was Roger Federer.
Of course surrounded by media, athletes, volunteers taking photo after photo. So up we went, "excuse Roger, mind if we get a photo?" "For athletes, no problem" was his reply. He was very freindly, called our sport 'land hockey', and he even seemed pretty keen on taking up our invite on coming to watch us. For some this may seem like nothing, but as soon as we got back to the NZ accomodation and told everyone who we got a photo with, everyone's reaction really did show how great the man is. A true legend!
Aug 3, 2008 from Beijing 2008:
BEIJING - In the Olympic Village, you don't need to visit every single apartment to find where the Swiss delegation lives. Once you come upon the apartment with pictures of Federer plastered on the windows, you know that you have come to the Swiss apartments.
We spoke with Swiss delegation head, Werner Augsburger, about his team and the Olympics after he had gone to the fitness room.
Augsburger reveals: "At the Olympics, we don't set our goal at how many gold medals, but how many total medals. We don't care what color the medal is; if we get five, we'll be very happy. A month ago, we were Europe's host. Now we are Beijing's guest. We weren't able to give our own countrymen an exciting match. I just hope that we'll make that up in Beijing."
Augsburger continues to say that events that could potentially win medals for Switzerland are tennis, archery, triathlon, marathon, men's 800 meters, and track cycling. Ironically, the only athlete to be featured on a poster in the Swiss apartments, Federer, will not be living in the Olympic village. Augsburger explains: "The star of the Swiss team is, no doubt, Federer because he has given us so much pride and joy in the tennis world. He is sure to draw a lot of attention."
Augsburger further explains, "It's not because Federer doesn't like living in the Olympic village. It's because he has his own habits and prefers to live by himself." It looks like this is the case for many star athletes, who in an effort to avoid harassment from the press and fans, are staying away from busy areas. "But Federer will definitely find some day to come visit everybody at the Olympic Village and walk around," Augsburger added.
The day of the Opening Ceremony (August 8) is also, coincidentally, the day of Federer's 27th birthday. Will Federer celebrate with his delegation after the Opening Ceremony, where he is the Swiss flag bearer? It has been a tradition in Olympic history that whenever it's an athlete's birthday, a simple birthday party will always be thrown and a special present given to the birthday man/woman. Will Federer enter the Olympic Village then? When asked, Augsburger only smiled but said nothing.
Aug 2, 2008 from Herald Sun:
"I like to do things as well as possible," says James Tomkins, three-time Olympic rowing gold medallist. "If I'm playing tennis, I want to play like Roger Federer."
Aug 1, 2008 from Reuters:
BERNE - Roger Federer will carry the Swiss flag at next Friday's Olympic Games opening ceremony in Beijing.
Federer, who will be celebrating his 27th birthday on the day of the ceremony, also led out his country at the opening of the Athens Olympics four years ago.
"It's wonderful that I can carry the flag for the Swiss delegation on my birthday," Federer said in a Swiss Olympic statement.
"It's well known that I still have a score to settle with the Olympics and being handed this honour for a second time will give me extra motivation."
from BlackRock Tour of Champions:
Seven years since he retired from the ATP circuit, Pat Rafter is back on court playing competitive singles tennis at the BlackRock Tour of Champions event in Graz, Austria this week.
Stuart Vallance: Where did you watch the Wimbledon Men's Final and what did you think of it?
Pat Rafter: I’ve been in France for a couple of months and I watched all the lead up for it. But unfortunately I had to travel on the day of the final. When I got to my destination they had no TV showing it so unfortunately I didn’t see it. But a friend of mine was texting me every f three or four games giving me an update on the match and the rain and so on. It would have been a great match to watch and it’s a shame I didn’t watch it.
Chris H, London, UK: Do you feel hard done by that Nadal has won Wimbledon on a hard, high bouncing court playing with a western forehand with no net play while you played the perfect grass court game and never won?
Pat Rafter: No, I certainly don’t feel hard done by. He (Nadal) is an amazing player. I just spoke to some of the players here [at the s Tennis Masters in Graz] and Goran said it’s incredible how slow the grass is now. He spoke to Federer about it and told me that’s why Federer doesn’t serve and volley, it’s just too slow. I think Wimbledon needs to change its grass and make it quicker because to me, watching grass court tennis from the baseline is not how it should be played on grass. It’s fine for clay but not for grass. I think they should make it quicker.
Martin I. Jones, Edmonton, Canada: What is more important in tennis – natural talent or mental toughness?
Pat Rafter: You need a certain amount of talent to get to a certain level. But natural talent is not going to make you win every match. You still have to be mentally tough. You definitely need both of them. If you have got no talent you are obviously not going to be up there, you need to know how to hit a ball over the net and know what you are doing. And that comes with hard work as well. Once you are on the tour you need to develop mental toughness and that is one thing that Roger Federer did. He was not very mentally tough at all for the first three years he was on tour but he learned to be tough and he became a very good player
from Londonist:
Q: Many sporting celebrities past and present attend the Olympics. Which one would you ideally bump into?
Kate Walsh (Great Britain women's hockey captain): Roger Federer! He's an absolute legend and one of the sporting greats of our time.
from Los Angeles Times:
Greatness is a word sometimes tossed around casually in sports, but when it's right, it's right, and one of the greatest players in the history of tennis turns 87 today. So celebrate Jack Kramer.
He might have been the greatest of all time, but Kramer said the best he had ever seen was Don Budge, and lists Ellsworth Vines, Lew Hoad, Pancho Gonzales, and, yes, probably Roger Federer in the same group.
"It's hard to compare eras," Kramer says. "But I believe if you gave Don Budge modern equipment, a lighter racket instead of a wooden one, he'd more than hold his own."
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