Dec 31, 2004 from ATP:
Tennis Masters Cup Uncovered II: Facing Federer is set to air today and throughout the weekend in the U.K, Australia and Asia. Please check local listings for exact dates and times. Facing Federer not only features the eight elite ATP players who qualified for the prestigious season finale but also the fans, journalists, photographers, umpires, organizers and others at the tournament.
Roger Federer opens his private locker room to the cameras, and the documentary also features a rare interview with Federer’s girlfriend Mirka Vavrinec, who speaks about her role in Roger’s off-court affairs. “The documentary is in large part a tribute to the level of excellence that Roger has achieved over this past year,” says David Higdon, the film’s Executive Producer for the ATP. “It captures the acceptance among the world’s best players that one man currently sits on top of the mountain, and what they all are doing to try to solve the riddle of how to knock him down.”
In March 2005, there will be a special DVD release packed with bonus features including outtakes, the thrilling 20-18 tie-break between Federer and Safin during their semifinal match, and an exclusive locker room interview with Federer immediately following his victory. Pre-orders for the DVD will be available soon via ATPtennis.com.
Dec 30, 2004
Roger Federer signs autographs for two Young Qatari tennis players Feras Al Nama, left, and Faisal Talib, right, after a practice session at the Khalifa Tennis Complex in Doha, Thursday, Dec. 30, 2004. Federer is in Doha to participate in the Qatar Open Tennis Championship scheduled from Jan. 3 to 8, 2005. (Photo by AP/Str/Polfoto) |
Dec 29, 2004 from Reuters:
DOHA - Roger Federer says he is baffled by incidents of drug-taking in tennis such as the positive test returned by Austrian Stefan Koubek last week.
"It doesn't make any sense to me, people taking drugs to play tennis," the Swiss said on Wednesday. "We all would like to see our sport remain clean. But there are reports of several substances being used by players. Some of them may be energy supplements, but being professionals, the players should know what to use and what not to use. It's hard to believe some of them saying that they didn't know what the substance was."
Koubek, the world number 60, claims he was given the banned substance triamcinolon acetonid in an injection administered by an Austrian doctor for a wrist injury, despite being assured by the doctor that the injection contained no illegal substances. He plans to appeal to against a three-month suspension. Earlier this year Briton Greg Rusedski escaped punishment after testing positive for nandrolone by arguing successfully that contaminated supplements provided by the men's ATP Tour were responsible.
Roger Federer is escorted by Qatar Tennis Federation President Shaikh Mohammed Bin Falah Al Thani as he arrives at Doha International Airport to participate in Qatar Open Tennis Championship, Wednesday Dec. 29, 2004. The Qatar Open starts on Jan. 3. (Photo by AP/Str) |
Dec 23, 2004 from Eurosport:
One of the (many) reasons world number one Roger Federer had such a dominant 2004 was his relaxed manner: smiling before each match, joking on the practice courts, playing video games... but let me tell you, one hour before his semi-final encounter with Tim Henman, it was no more Mr Nice Guy.
Federer was already into his match, tight-lipped and visibly playing out the points in his head. When the match started, the 23-year old knew what he had to do on the court. It wasn't the joking, but his intense concentration that enabled him to block out the stress.
After the match it took Federer a good hour to enter the press conference room. By that time, Mr Nice Guy was back sharing his emotions with reporters in three different languages; German, English and French. Pretty impressive stuff.
Dec 22, 2004 from ATP:
Roger Federer has won the ATP European Player of The Year Award for 2004 as voted by the European ATP tournament directors. Federer claimed the honor for the second consecutive year after a stellar season that included winning the INDESIT ATP 2004 Race, three Grand Slam titles, the Tennis Masters Cup and three ATP Masters Series crowns.
The ATP European Player of the Year Award is based on diverse criteria such as the final INDESIT ATP Race position, attitude towards media and sponsors, cooperation with, and support of, the European events. Spain's Carlos Moya won the inaugural award in 2002.
Federer said: “ It has been an incredible year and receiving all this recognition makes me realize even more what I have achieved. This is my second consecutive European player award and I would like to thank all for their support."
Federer has collected several awards after his banner season. Recently he was named BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year, Switzerland's Athlete of the Year and Swiss of the Year as voted by viewers of Switzerland's equivalent of the Oscars.
Dec 21, 2004 from Reuters:
LONDON - World tennis number one Roger Federer has been voted Reuters sportsman of 2004 after winning three grand slam tournaments this year.
Thirty-three sports editors and journalists in over 20 countries nominated up to three leading sportsmen of this year. Each first place choice was awarded three points, second place got two points and third place received one point. Federer topped the poll with 53 points out of a possible total of 99.
"Three slams, plus the Masters, and already one of the finest players to ever hold a racket," said Ondrej Foltin at The Herald Sun in Melbourne.
Described as "the best tennis player the world has ever seen" by one journalist, Federer was also unbeaten against players in the top 10, matched Pete Sampras' 23-match winning streak and set a record of 13 consecutive wins in finals. And all this achieved without a coach.
"If you win only one grand slam you're a candidate but if you win three in a year with technical tennis and not power tennis you deserve to be the best sportsman of the year," said Valentijn Driessen at De Telegraaf in The Netherlands.
from AAP:
Roger Federer and French Open champion Anastasia Myskina are the 2004 world champions of tennis. Announcing the awards on Monday, the International Tennis Federation said Federer was the overwhelming winner among the men with 11 titles in the year and an 18-0 record against the other players in the top 10. He had 74 match victories and 6 losses.
"Roger Federer was the clear choice for the ITF World Champion based on his extraordinary performance in 2004," ITF president Ricco Bitti said of the 23-year-old Swiss.
Dec 18, 2004 from Reuters:
BERN - Roger Federer has added a final trophy to his 2004 haul, after being named sportsman of the year in his native Switzerland. It completed a hat-trick of honours within the space of a week for the 23-year-old, who was also named overseas sports personality by the BBC and European sportsman of the year by the European Sports Journalists Association.
Federer who is already in Australia preparing for the start of the next tennis season, thanked his home supporters via a satellite broadcast on Saturday.
"It's a great honour for me at the end of a fantastic year," he said, after picking up the Swiss title for the second time in a row. "I would rather be in Switzerland with you all now but I have to be here for professional reasons." Federer did not comment on media reports that he has been busy in Australia securing the services of coach Tony Roche.
Dec 12, 2004 from BBC:
Roger Federer was named BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year.
|
)
)