Sep 27, 2004 from Independent:
Does Goran Ivanisevic subscribe to the widespread view that Roger Federer is destined to become the greatest tennis player of all time? "Yes," he says. "I hit with him when he was 15, during a tournament in Basle, and I knew then he would be good, but not this good. If he stays healthy, it will actually be a miracle if he doesn't win more Grand Slams than Pete [Sampras]. The way he picks his shots is unbelievable. He is fast, he has a great volley, a great serve, great backhand, great everything. If I was his coach, what can I tell him? He is a magician with a racket. Even when he is playing badly, which is rarely, he can still do things with his racket nobody else can do.

"I have played him twice, and lost both times. At Wimbledon this year I hit with him, because he was playing Bogdanovic and he wanted some practice with a leftie. I am much older but it was still an honour to practise with him. If I had a young player I was coaching I would take him first to watch Federer. But I would also take him to watch Henman, you know. The press in England is not fair to Henman. He is a great player. The way he plays volleys, he is like a professor of tennis."

Sep 25, 2004 from Maurice Lacroix Official Site:
Thailand’s newspapers were all abuzz with the news – the arrival of Roger Federer, the world’s number one tennis player, who also happens to be the newly-appointed Maurice Lacroix ambassador. Just a few days before the official start of the Thailand Open, an event was held at the Shangrila Hotel, Bangkok, to present the new brand ambassador.

VIP guests from business, diplomatic and entertainment circles, journalists, watch dealers and collectors from the region were invited to the party to meet the tennis superstar who explained the reasons why he chose to represent the young, dynamic Swiss watch brand. Guests were treated to true Thai hospitality, as they were welcomed by Thai mythical figure Hanuman, dressed in colourful garb. The main room was strikingly filled with a giant poster of Federer and one of his favorite watches from the Masterpiece Collection, the Double Rétrograde. Famous showbiz personality Woody introduced the new Maurice Lacroix Ambassador and welcomed him onstage. The chat was lively, informal and relaxed, thanks to the easy-going personality of the Swiss tennis player. Philippe C. Merk, CEO Maurice Lacroix, joined the conversation and explained how and why Federer was selected to represent the brand on the international market.

Two mini-fashion shows were held to display the Maurice Lacroix collection. The stunning models, dressed in tennis-inspired outfits, strutted the catwalk with two watches on their wrist. The first show displayed Limited Edition models and collectors’ pieces flown in for the occasion from the Maurice Lacroix Museum in Zurich, while the second one gave a striking glimpse of the current Maurice Lacroix watches on the market. Another highlight of the evening was the presentation of four Masters – a Sushi Master who skillfully prepared the Japanese delicacies; a Master Bartender who concocted a delicious tequila-based cocktail called Federer’s Ace on Ice; two Thai Craft Masters who demonstrated the centuries-old skill of creating traditional Khone dolls; and a Master Watchmaker, who jetted in from Hong Kong to show the public how a movement is painstakingly created.

Sep 14, 2004 from BBC:
Roger Federer has been confirmed as the year-end world number one. Victory at Flushing Meadows on Sunday took his points tally in the ATP Champions Race to 1087 points, 440 ahead of second-placed Andy Roddick.

from Thailand Open Official Site:
Roger Federer now has his eyes firmly on the Thailand Open. "As the 2004 US Open champion I look forward to playing my first event in Bangkok at the Thailand Open. I've never played in Bangkok but I'm sure it will be a huge thrill to be in the draw as the new US Open Champ"

If Federer wins the Thailand Open title it would add to an amazing year which has seen him win three Grand Slam titles in one season. Federer’s win at Flushing Meadows confirmed his status as the World No1, but Federer is still relishing the challenge of the Thailand Open.

“I will need to be on top form as so many great players have entered for Bangkok and they will all want to beat the U.S. Open Champion,” he said.

Sep 13, 2004 from ATP:
Roger Federer was up bright and early to begin his first day as the US Open champion and embarked on a whirlwind media tour of New York City.

Just hours after his three-set victory over Lleyton Hewitt at Flushing Meadows, Federer leaving the W Court Hotel at 7.00am to make his first stop 30 minutes later as a guest at ESPN for Cold Pizza. An hour after that, he was at the CBS Studios for the Early Show, and at 9.30, he appeared on Live with Regis and Kelly, where he accepted a challenge from host Regis Philbin for a game of ping pong.

Sep 12, 2004 from ATP:
Roger Federer became the first player since Mats Wilander in 1988 to win three Grand Slam titles in a year when he defeated Lleyton Hewitt to capture the US Open Championships at Flushing Meadows. Federer's 6-0, 7-6(3), 6-0 victory over Hewitt ensured the Swiss star added the New York title to his Australian Open and Wimbledon crowns earlier in the year and also helped increase his already impressive lead in the INDESIT ATP 2004 Race.

Federer now remains undefeated in his last 11 finals on the ATP circuit going back to his loss to Jiri Novak in Gstaad in July 2003. The US Open title was his ninth on the circuit this year and the 20th of his young career. He now has a 64-6 record this year and his win over Hewitt was his 17th consecutive over Top 10 opponents. With the victory, Federer also became the first player in the Open Era to win his first four Grand Slam finals, a feat he has achieved in his last six Grand Slam tournaments.

Federer, who recorded his 300th career victory over Marcos Baghdatis in the second round, made an impressive start to his first US Open final. He took the opening set in just 18 minutes without dropping a game, making just two unforced errors.

Federer also led 2-0 in the second set, but Hewitt began to find his game. The Australian had a break point on Federer's serve at 3-2 only to see the Swiss star fire three consecutive aces. Hewitt had another break point erased two games later but finally made his mark on the final in a dramatic 10th game. Hewitt saved three set points and finally broke Federer on his fourth break point to take a 13-minute game and eventually force a tie-break. But Federer held his nerve, turning a 4-0 lead into three more set points at 6-3 when Hewitt netted a backhand to hand the initiative back to the Swiss.

With the tension gone, Federer again began to show his dominance, breaking Hewitt to lead 2-0. At 5-0, the title was in sight, and another forehand winner by Federer sent the Swiss to his knees in celebration.

Federer's 1-hour, 51-minute victory ensured his place alongside Wilander, Rod Laver (1969) and Jimmy Connors (1974) to win three Grand Slam titles in one year. After winning Wimbledon earlier in the summer, Federer also became the first man to capture consecutive Grand Slam titles from any major since Andre Agassi won the 1999 US Open and 2000 Australian Open.

Hewitt, who had only ever lost a set 6-0 three times in his career before this year, has lost five sets against Federer by that scoreline in their four meetings in 2004.

Sep 11, 2004 from Reuters:
NEW YORK - Roger Federer was at his dismissive best on Saturday, breezing to a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Tim Henman to reach the final of the U.S. Open for the first time. The Swiss was rarely troubled by the fifth-seeded Briton as he set up a final against Lleyton Hewitt.

"Obviously I'm really pleased to be in my first U.S. Open final," Federer told reporters. "It's going to be tough against Lleyton, we always have good matches, but I think I've won my last 10 (finals) so I hope I can keep it up. Lleyton's had the most solid summer of all the players, he hasn't lost a set, so he deserves his place in the final. He's also been in the final of the U.S. Open before, and I haven't, but I'd say it is pretty even."

After a cagey opening, Federer ripped a forehand pass to break his opponent in the sixth game, only to immediately drop his own serve. But the Swiss bounced back to break again in the following game and served out for the opening set.

Henman lifted his game at the start of the second set and Federer had to dig deep to hold serve in the fourth game. The Briton tried to keep Federer off balance by mixing sneaky forays to the net with hard-hit groundstrokes. But Federer had an answer for everything and Henman's first double fault gifted him a break in the seventh game of the second set.

Federer then served for the match at 5-2 in the third set and though Henman broke back, the 23-year-old made no mistake second time round.

Sep 9, 2004 from AP:
Roger Federer posted a huge win in the howling wind, beating Andre Agassi 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 Thursday in a U.S. Open quarterfinal match suspended the previous night because of rain. Playing in gusts up to 39 mph that made the ball sail in silly fashion, the top-seeded Federer advanced to the Open semifinals for the first time.

"It was very difficult. It was one of the worst conditions I've played in," Federer said. "It's like playing warmup tennis and trying to keep the ball in play."

After an early 45-minute rain delay at the National Tennis Center, Agassi and Federer took over the court and the weather took over at Arthur Ashe Stadium. "Wind like this, everybody can stay home and flip coins," Agassi said.

In fact, almost every shot became a 50-50 proposition. One of Federer's lobs got caught in a gust and floated funnily into the sideline seats, and even routine returns curved crazily. Both players paused for time before serving, and then sometimes had to hold up when their tosses blew off-course. The net also puffed out, Agassi said things were mostly blowing in one direction out there.

The match resumed with Agassi serving in the first set of the fourth set, and it was an adventure at each end as both players' shirts flapped wildly in the breeze. They weren't the only ones having trouble. Time was held up as ballboys scrambled to retrieve loose balls, and the attendants holding umbrellas to shield Agassi and Federer from the sun during changeovers often needed help to stand still.

Sep 8, 2004 from AFP:
NEW YORK - Heavy rain that washed out the day session at the US Open on Wednesday struck again, bringing the anticipated quarter-final clash between Roger Federer and Andre Agassi to a halt. Swiss world number one was leading Agassi 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 when rain stopped play on the Arthur Ashe stadium court. After waiting about two hours, officials suspended play for the night.

Federer broke Agassi in the sixth game of the opening set to gain the upper hand. Agassi responded with two breaks in the second set to level the match, but gave up a break in the third to let the Swiss again take charge.

Sep 6, 2004 from AP:
Roger Federer reached the U.S. Open quarterfinals for the first time when No. 16 Andrei Pavel pulled out of their match Monday with a herniated disc. The top-ranked Federer, trying to be the first man since 1988 to win three Grand Slam titles in a year, had never been past the Open's fourth round. He'll play two-time champion Andre Agassi or Sargis Sargsian in the quarterfinals. Pavel missed six months last year with injuries to his back and right wrist.

Sep 4, 2004 from AP:
NEW YORK - Top-seeded Roger Federer moved a step closer to becoming the first man in 16 years to win three Grand Slam titles in a season, getting to the U.S. Open's fourth round by beating No. 31 Fabrice Santoro 6-0, 6-4, 7-6 (7) Saturday.

Santoro is not an easy player to figure out. He hits two-handed off both sides, changes speeds constantly with all sorts of spins and slices, and disguises it all so well. Yet Federer wasn't fazed until late in the third set; his mistakes started increasing a bit, and he reacted to one by chopping the net with his racket. He won on his fifth match point in the tiebreaker, an entertaining exchange in which both players hit shots that popped high off the net.

Federer finished with 56 winners to just 37 miscues, an impressive ratio. In comparison, Santoro had 16 winners, 27 errors. Federer erased the only break point he faced, while breaking the Frenchman four times. It's the fourth straight year Federer has made the round of 16 at Flushing Meadows, but he's never been past that stage. To get to a possible quarterfinal showdown against two-time Open champion Andre Agassi, Federer will have to beat No. 16 Andrei Pavel or unseeded Lee Hyung-taik.

Sep 1, 2004 from Reuters:
World number one and top seed Roger Federer was forced to dig much deeper than expected to hold off Cypriot qualifier Marcos Baghdatis 6-2 6-7 6-3 6-1 in a second-round match at the U.S. Open on Wednesday.

Bidding to become the first man since Mats Wilander in 1988 to win three grand slam titles in the same year, Federer had to produce some of his best tennis to overcome the 19-year-old and become the first man into the third round. The Swiss began in a hurry as he took the first nine points of the match and captured the first set with ease only for Baghdatis, the junior world number one in 2003, to hit back in the second.

from ATP:
The ATP drew inspiration from the world's top two tennis players—Roger Federer and Andy Roddick—to support a children's charity based near its International Headquarters in Florida. The governing body of the men's international tennis circuit today unveiled two large sculptures of manatees bearing the likenesses of Federer and Roddick in Jacksonville, Florida, where they will remain on display through February 2005 when the city hosts the NFL's Super Bowl.

Vote to Make 'Roger' and 'Andy' the most favorite sea cows

The ATP purchased the sculptures to aid the Sea Cows for Kids project, with proceeds to benefit the Otis Smith Kids Foundation. The latest project, which was showcased in a downtown ceremony, continues the ATP's consistently strong support of children's charities. The ATP also will serve as host during the Super Bowl for the “Taste of the NFL” event that will benefit America's Second Harvest, which addresses the needs of the hungry and homeless.

“Roger and Andy are generating enormous interest throughout the sports world not only for their on-court performance but also for the passion that they are bringing to their off-court charitable efforts,” said Chris Clouser, Chairman of the ATP Foundation. “We therefore felt it fitting and fun to showcase them in this fashion, continuing our on-going support of the Otis Smith Kids Foundation. The ‘Roger vs. Andy' sculptures will certainly be a big hit in Jacksonville before and during the Super Bowl.”

The Sea Cows for Kids project is modeled after the Cows on Parade concept first produced in Chicago several years ago. Local businesses and individuals "adopt" a manatee, each of which has been designed and created by a local artist or group. The ATP's sculptures were designed and produced by ATP graphic designers LeAnn Silva and John O'Toole, who work on ATPtennis.com and other ATP projects. Among other local organizations supporting the cause is the PGA Tour, also based in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.