Jun 30, 2005 from ATP:
Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick and Marat Safin have been announced as candidates for the ESPY Best Male Tennis Player Award for the year 2004. Cast your vote now, the winner will be announced during the ESPY Awards on July 13 and during the telecast on ESPN, July 17 at 9 p.m. ET.

from ATP Insider:
Roger Federer took a tour around the BBC broadcast centre on-site at Wimbledon on Tuesday (June 28) prior to his quarterfinal match against Fernando Gonzalez. Accompanied by a camera crew, Federer was able to give in depth analysis of some his shots viewed on the BBC's 'super-loupe' slow motion camera. The camera, which records 1000 frames per second, has been used to analyse player's technique throughout The Championships. Federer also took a tour around the BBC engine room of operations and was able to see how the BBC beam their signal to millions of viewers worldwide.

The official ATP & Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Wimbledon Players' Party took place at the Hard Rock Cafe in central London on the Saturday (June 18) prior to The Championships. Among others, those in attendance were Roger Federer, RAFAEL NADAL, GUILLERMO CORIA, FELICIANO LOPEZ, FERNANDO GONZALEZ, MARIANO PUERTA, FERNANDO VERDASCO, JUAN MONACO, GAEL MONFILS and RICHARD GASQUET. Popular soul singer Beverly Knight performed live in concert while the BBC, ESPN and a Newsfeed service were present to capture the event and to get the thoughts of the leading stars ahead of the year's third Grand Slam.

Jun 29, 2005 from Reuters:
LONDON - Roger Federer swatted aside Fernando Gonzalez 7-5 6-2 7-6 on No.1 Court Wednesday, leaving only two players between the world number one and a hat-trick of Wimbledon titles.

It was a magnificent machine-like quarter-final performance from the Swiss grass master, who had already beaten Gonzalez once this month on the Chilean's favored clay surface in the third round of the French Open. The 24-year-old Gonzalez, with his big forehand and useful serve, was the only man to reach the last eight without dropping a set. But every time he looked like getting a foothold in the match, Federer simply selected another weapon from his armory.

Mostly the pair traded punches from the back of the court. Gonzalez even managed to break back in the seventh game of the first set after Federer had taken a 4-2 lead. The Swiss always had the advantage of serving first and he upped his pace, advancing to the net in the 12th game to take the set on his second set point when Gonzalez put the ball in the net.

The second set was something of a formality. Gonzalez turned up the volume on his explosive sighs and grunts of exertion as Federer pushed him round the court, breaking his serve in the second and last games. He needed only one set point.

The Chilean fought hard in the final set staying with the Swiss until the tiebreak. There was always the impression that Federer was playing within himself, however, and he wasted no time in the decider, winning 7-2 with an ace on matchpoint.

Jun 27, 2005 from Reuters:
LONDON - Wimbledon champion Roger Federer showed all parts of his game were in fine working order on Monday with an untroubled 6-3 6-4 7-6(8-6) win over former world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Federer, now unbeaten in 33 matches on grass, faltered only once when serving for the match at 6-5 in the final set. Ferrero took advantage of a rare double fault by the Swiss to seize the game and take the match to a tiebreak as dusk began to fall on Centre Court. With the score tied at 6-6 and the real possibility of the match spilling over into Tuesday, Federer broke the Spaniard and then threw in two vicious serves to move into a quarter-final with another baseline specialist, Chilean Fernando Gonzalez.

Federer needed only one break and 30 minutes to wrap up the first set, winning seven points in a row to take a 4-1 lead.

The second set was more competitive as Ferrero scrapped tenaciously from the back of the court. He recovered two Federer smashes in a row in the second game, although the Swiss still closed out the point with a balletic backhand volley. Federer drilled the ball repeatedly to Ferrero's backhand, mixing up his pace and length cleverly but the Spaniard was mostly equal to the challenge.

With the score at 2-2, the pair treated the spectators to two magnificent rallies with the ball flying deep to all parts of the court. A double fault by Ferrero at 30-30 gave Federer his chance. After the Spaniard had fought back to hold advantage twice, Federer clinched the game with a fierce backhand which Ferrero could only chip into the net.

Jun 25, 2005 from AFP:
LONDON - Roger Federer struggled to subdue 25th seed Nicolas Kiefer 6-2, 6-7 (5/7), 6-1, 7-5 on Saturday and now faces 23rd seed Juan Carlos Ferrero for a place in the quarter-finals.

But the crucial point of the tie came when Kiefer led 5-3 in the fourth set, was 30-15 and just two points from taking the world number one into a final set. As Federer approached the net to put away a forehand, Kiefer leapt in the air with his arms outstretched in an effort to put his opponent off his stroke in the manner of Liverpool's European Cup winning goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek.

Dudek had hopped from side to side, with his arms outstretched, to distract AC Milan's players in the European Cup final penalty shoot-out in Istanbul last month. It worked for the Polish footballer but it backfired on Kiefer as Federer clinched the next four games of the fourth set to take the tie.

Federer eased through the first set in only 28 minutes with breaks in the third and seventh games. The 27-year-old Kiefer, once the world number four, grabbed just six points off the Federer serve before the Swiss star clinched the set with a breathtaking backhand, hit from just behind him but timed to perfection to drop out of the range of the German.

It was a regal show although the Centre Court royal box voted with its feet. Packed with British Olympians such as Colin Jackson, Audley Harrison and Jonathan Edwards as well as injured British Lions rugby star Lawrence Dallaglio, lunch was called. As a result, the box was mostly empty as the second set was played out and the VIPs missed out on an impressive Kiefer fightback overturning a 2-5 deficit in the tiebreak to level the match when Federer netted a return after 77 minutes.

However, the misfiring Federer was soon back on top grabbing a break in the second game with a running forehand as he moved into a 3-0 lead and then broke again in the sixth before taking the third set 6-1 when Kiefer sent a lob long.

The German, who had won three of his seven career meetings with the Swiss going into Saturday's clash, refused to go quietly and carved out his break of the match to lead 2-0. Federer hit back immediately but he was to serve up two successive double faults in the eighth game to hand Kiefer the advantage again as the German led 5-3.

Jun 22, 2005 from Wimbledon Official Site:
The Roger Federer machine moves on at Wimbledon as impressively as ever. The two times champion advanced to the last 32 in the Championships with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-1 win over the Czech Ivo Minar. Minar was the 31st successive grass court victim for Federer. He has not lost on grass since the first round at Wimbledon three years ago when he was beaten by Mario Ancic.

Minar had never played at Wimbledon before. On top of that he is very raw on grass and despite some vigorous hitting he was never able to trouble Federer for long. If he thought he could mix up the champion he was wrong. As Federer pointed out, Minar suffered from bad shot selection. Federer broke Minar's serve in the 10th game in each of the first two sets - perfect timing for the No.1 seed to put extra pressure on his 99th-ranked opponent.

Jun 20, 2005 from Wimbledon Official Site:
Enjoying exactly the sort of brisk warm-up that he must have wished for, Roger Federer opened the defence of his Wimbledon title with a straightforward, straight sets victory over France's Paul-Henri Mathieu. The Swiss world number one and odds-on favourite to clock up his third straight title at The Championships needed just one hour 50 minutes to complete a 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 win in the sunshine of Centre Court.

The 23-year-old Mathieu opts these days to base himself in Geneva, so is entitled to consider himself a neighbour of Federer's. In the early stages of this match he must also have felt he was also close in the matter of ability. When Federer broke for a 2-0 lead in the first set it seemed he was striking the first blows for a formal annihilation of an opponent who had won just one match in two previous visits to Wimbledon. Any such thoughts were rapidly dissipated, however, as the hard-hitting Mathieu broke back to level the contest at 2-2, but the champion rapidly settled any worries about the quality of his pedigree by breaking Mathieu once more and settling down to serve out for the first set in 38 minutes.

Though he won only two games in the second set, Mathieu made much more of a fight of it. The first four games went with serve and then the Frenchman fell 15-40 behind as Federer dispatched a forehand volley into an empty court. Two errors from the titleholder helped Mathieu back to deuce but his tendency to commit unforced errors once more brought him into peril and eventually spelled his downfall. Having saved three break points, Mathieu directed a backhand down the line well wide. It was his 19th unforced error of a match in which he was guiltyof 33 altogether. The 20th error from Mathieu's racket, a forehand into the net, permitted Federer a second break and he served out comfortably for the second set after one hour 13 minutes.

from Telegraph:
His family are with Roger Federer at Wimbledon, the first time his father, Robert, has ventured beyond Switzerland to watch him play. When his son first won Wimbledon in 2003, Federer Snr said that someone had to stay at home to feed the cat. He is growing a little more adventurous with this debut trip to south-west London, but still preferred the anonymity of any old seat in the crowd rather than the spotlight of the players' box. If Federer gets his sports prowess from his mother, Lynette, plainly he inherits modesty from his dad.

from Yahoo! News:
BEAVERTON, Ore. (PRNewswire-FirstCall) - Sometimes, for the creme de la creme of court royalty, only gold will do. Every time Wimbledon defending champions Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova take the court at this year's tournament, Nike is honoring their achievements with regal, one-of-a-kind gold footwear.

In their quest for another Wimbledon title, Federer and Sharapova will play on the grass courts at the All England Club wearing an exclusive golden version of the Nike Air Zoom Vapor Speed. The distinctive look comes from a rare gold material that contains 24-karat gold droplets surrounded by micro- prisms for strength and ultimate reflectivity.

The same 24-karat gold material was used to make the golden track spikes made famous by Michael Johnson during his historic run to set the World Record in the 400 meters at the Sydney Games in 2004. The remaining material had not been used until now.

The golden material appears on the all-white Nike Air Zoom Vapor Speed throughout the upper and on the back heel, where Federer and Sharapova's names are featured. In the spotlight and in the flash of photographer's cameras, the unique Nike Air Zoom Vapor Speed will deliver a glittering 600 candle-watts of power.

Nike innovation and the regality of gold -- only fitting for two of the brightest stars in tennis.

Jun 18, 2005 from The Independent:
Kim Clijsters: "Winner of the men's singles championship this year? I keep my fingers crossed for Roger [Federer]. I've known him for a long time. I played with him in juniors. Roger is very down to earth, and I just love how much he's stayed himself after his success and how much he's involved in charity work. I think he's the best thing that could have happened to men's tennis."

Jun 17, 2005 from The Times:
ALAN MILLS, conducting his final draw as the Wimbledon referee yesterday before retirement, was asked to slow down by the women operating the computers as the players’ names gushed out. Even though Mills has seen it all before, he cannot wait for Monday. The same is true for Roger Federer, though maybe not for Paul-Henri Mathieu, the Frenchman with the task of stepping on to Centre Court a deferential half a pace behind the champion on the first day.

Arrogance is not Federer’s style; he is more casually sure of his status in tennis and thus, when he walked into the All England Club for a chat yesterday before hitting on Court No 8, it was impossible to be anything but in awe of him.

The Swiss world No 1 would have been even more assured had he scanned the draw, which places him in the same half as Lleyton Hewitt and Marat Safin and gives him a path strewn with few terrors to a seeded rendezvous with either of them in the semi-finals. Federer exudes calmness, though he admits he will feel a trifle nervous when the bell sounds at 1pm three days from now.

Jun 16, 2005 from ThisisLondon:
Wimbledon champion Roger Federer is confident of defending the men's singles title at the All England tennis club, starting next week. And he has good reason to be confident.

The world No1 has surprised himself with the form he has managed on grass this summer and he is out to break records. Federer's preparation for Halle was shorter than it has been for years, but he still won last week's German tournament - in singles and doubles. It has put him in confident mood and eagerly anticipating the possibility of his third consecutive title at the Championships, which start next week.

Then Pete Sampras' seven Wimbledon titles or Bjorn Borg's 41 consecutive wins on the SW19 courts would edge closer into view. Federer said: "Everything is possible. The grass court season is short and I showed in Halle that it can also work out with little preparation.

"Records are nice. I like to talk about 29 matches, that I have 29 titles and have won the last 20 finals I have reached.

"The streak I was very proud of was when I won more than 20 matches against top 10 players before I lost to Marat Safin at the Australian Open in January. My defeat by Ancic was a long time ago and it is not stuck in my mind.

Jun 15, 2005 from Roger Federer Official Site:
After having spent a day at home on Monday, Roger travelled on to Wimbledon yesterday in order to prepare on the ‘holy lawn’.

from Maurice Lacroix Official Site:
"I can hardly wait to defend my Wimbledon title. I love the atmosphere and the tradition of this tournament. But to be able to play Real Tennis in Hampton Court Palace was also a unique moment and a great experience." Just before the annual highlight of the modern tennis season, Roger Federer tried the classic form of his sport: For his sponsor, Maurice Lacroix, the world’s number 1 men’s player tried Real Tennis for the first time before the packed galleries in London’s Hampton Court Palace, where Henry VIII tested his skills in his preferred game almost 500 years ago.

Supported by the former Real Tennis world champion, Chris Ronaldson, he used a heavy, asymmetric wooden racket to hit the solid, handmade balls across the net in the oldest tennis court still in use. In a doubles match, Federer and passionate Realers, one of whom was the well-known BBC sports reporter, John Inverdale, were matched against Ronaldson. Inverdale also interviewed the Swiss sports star after the match. This event, organized by Maurice Lacroix for selected British partners and media representatives, was more than just another sponsoring appearance for Federer and the invited guests.

Jun 14, 2005 from Roger Federer Official Site:
Ralf Weber, the tournament-director of the Gerry Weber Open, handed Roger a cheque over 20’000 Euros for the IMBEWU project in South Africa last weekend. "We are more than glad to make use of our tournament in order to help promote and support Roger’s social commitment", Weber said.

Roger supports children in the township of New Brighton close to Port Elizabeth by means of his partnership with the IMBEWU project. "I am really glad and thankful for the help offered by the guests and responsibles of the Gerry Weber Open", Roger explained, "I can help the children build their own future with the money". The sum had been gathered by selling raffle tickets during the Gerry Weber Open party last weekend.

Jun 12, 2005 from Gerry Weber Open:
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.

Roger Federer receives a cheque from Andreas Brandt of Credit Suisse after winning the Gerry Weber Open final in Halle.

Roger poses with the trophy after his victory against Marat Safin in the final. (Photos by Christof Koepsel/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Roger Federer doubled his GERRY WEBER OPEN success by clinching the doubles title alongside countryman Yves Allegro. They edged Marat Safin and Joachim Johansson 7-5, 6-7 (6), 6-3, with Federer delivering an ace on the final point of the match. It was Federers' second win against Safin during some hours.

Roger Federer and Yves Allegro hold their trophies after their Gerry Weber Open doubles final match in Halle. (Photo by Jeff Davies/tennis.info)

Jun 11, 2005 from Gerry Weber Open:
Roger Federer reached the GERRY WEBER OPEN final for a third straight time with a 6-4, 7-6 (9) win over Germany´s Tommy Haas. The two-time defending champion clinched the first set after 33 minutes before both were engaged in a nerve-wrecking tiebreak that lasted 20 points. Federer saved two set points while Haas starved off two match points. He eventually double-faulted to give his opponent the final point of a close match.

"I really hung in there and was very pleased with my performance," said Haas. "I am glad I could keep up with the world´s best tennis player following my long injury problems. After our last match more than two years ago, I disappeared and he started his rise to the top spot in tennis. I´m very happy to be back."

Federer allowed Haas only three points on his serve in the first set, which he comfortably won after 33 minutes following a break in the third game. Haas saved four break points in the second as a frenetic crowd of 12,000 fans witnessed an epic tiebreak during which the two exchanged several spectacular baseline rallies.

Jun 10, 2005 from Gerry Weber Open:
Roger Federer continued his grass court supremacy by defeating Germany´s Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-4 in just 62 minutes.

In the first set, the Swiss saved two break points in the third game before breaking his opponent in the eighth. The pattern remained the same in the second set, with the two-time defending Wimbledon champion winning Kohlschreiber´s second service game and also helding two break points in the seventh. The 23-year-old Swiss is slowly but surely shaping up for Wimbledon. Today´s result spelled the 27th straight victory on grass, and he is only two wins away from completing the GERRY WEBER OPEN hattrick.

Jun 9, 2005 from Gerry Weber Open:
Roger Federer cruised into the GERRY WEBER OPEN quarter-finals with a 6-2, 6-4 defeat of German hopeful Florian Mayer. The two-time defending Wimbledon champion wrapped up the first set after just 25 minutes. He lost his service twice in the second set but gained immediate re-breaks. He broke Mayer again in the last game of the match to clinch his 26th consecutive victory on grass.

Federer, who claimed he "starts feeling comfortable on grass", stumbled early in the second set. Mayer hit a strong forehand to go up 2-1. "A break is not a break unless you win your next service game," said Mayer, who managed to break Federer twice in the second set. Up 4-3 and serving, however, he committed two double-faults to allow Federer back into the match. "That really cost me," Mayer mourned. "Those were my only two double-faults of the match and they could not have come at a worse time."

Federer then cruised past his final service game before sealing the issue after 58 minutes. At 30-30, Mayer missed what looked like an easy smash and also netted a forehand. Federer feels he "gets into swing for Wimbledon".

from ATP Insider:

Roger Federer was presented with the Michael Westphal award from the German Tennis Magazine for the second consecutive year, after his first round win against ROBIN SODERLING. Later, the Swiss was interviewed at the strawberry stand by BORIS BECKER with the German slipping into the role of the strawberry seller.

The following players attended sponsor visits, interviews and autograph sessions at the sponsors of the Gerry Weber Open: MARAT SAFIN, RAINER SCHUETTLER, ALEXANDER WASKE, Roger Federer, GUILLERMO CANAS, FELICIANO LOPEZ, ROBIN SODERLING, JOACHIM JOHANSSON, TOMMY HAAS, JUAN CARLOS FERRERO, NICOLAS KIEFER and RAFAEL NADAL.

Jun 8, 2005 from Yahoo! News:
Roger Federer is featured in June issue of Melroze Web Magazine and June 20 issue of ESPN The Magazine.

from Roger Federer Official Site:
Roger was awarded the "Michael-Westphal-Award" by the German "tennis magazin" at the "Gerry Weber Open" in Halle yesterday. It is given to personalities who have made a special effort for tennis within the last 12 months. It is the second time after 2003 that Roger has received the award.

A top-class jury including tennis celebrities such as Steffi Graf, Boris Becker and Michael Stich had nominated five candidates. It was then up to the readers of the magazine to decide - with 48% of the votes going to Roger. Tommy Haas came second with 21%, followed by Maria Sharapowa with 15%.

Jun 7, 2005 from Gerry Weber Open:
Roger Federer might have won all of his last 25 matches on grass, but unseeded Swede Robin Soederling gave him a major scare in 139 closely contested minutes. Federer returned from one set down to score a close 6-7 (5), 7-6 (6), 6-4 victory that pleased the fans at the GERRY WEBER Stadium.

The world-number one raced to an early 3-0 lead before Soderling drew level. The first set went into a tight tiebreaker which Federer lost on a sloppy forehand error that flew out of bounds. The 23-year-old Swiss shook off tremendous pressure in the second set. Down 4-5 and serving, he survived a 15-30 scare as well as a deuce. Pressure culminated at 5-5 in the tiebreaker when both players exchanged an exciting baseline rally. Federer prevailed and eventually took the set on a double-fault.

"That was the turning point," the Swiss star said afterwards. "There were a lot of ups and down for me and he gave me a major scare." Federer raced to a 3-0 lead again in the third -- only to Soederling levelling scores once more. The two-time defending Wimbledon and Gerry Weber Open champion caused a four-minute break when he called for the supervisor. "I wasn´t happy with a decision after a long rally which should have been replayed," Federer explained.

Roger Federer disagrees with the referee during the Gerry Weber Open first round match. (Photos by Christof Koepsel/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Roger contends a ruling with the ATP-Supervisor Ed Hardisty during the match between him and Robin Soderling in Halle.

Jun 3, 2005 from Sportal:
Rafael Nadal has stunned Roger Federer in the semi-finals of the French Open at Roland Garros. Celebrating his 19th birthday, Nadal advanced with a 6-3 4-6 6-4 6-3 win, setting up a clash with unseeded Argentine Mariano Puerta.

Nadal was on top from the start, with Federer dropping his serve four times in the opening set as Nadal took it 6-3. The Swiss fought back to take the second, but Nadal soon regained control, taking advantage of Federer’s 62 unforced errors.

Jun 2, 2005 from Los Angeles Times:
PARIS - The photo op was staged. That's why it's called a photo op, of course. But Rafael Nadal usually manages to give a little extra. Dozens of photographers were perched in various positions Thursday at the French Open, aiming their cameras up at Nadal, who was on a walkway outside the players' lounge. He was eating ice cream, playing around with it, and waiting for Roger Federer.

Federer showed and they posed together, chatting amiably. Federer, who speaks English, French and Swiss German fluently, was asked if he'd spoken Spanish to Nadal. "My Spanish is still average," Federer said, smiling. Always polite, he made sure to say goodbye to Nadal. They smacked hands and Federer said, "See you tomorrow."

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal look on during a photo call at the Roland Garros stadium June 2, 2005. (Photo by Jacky Naegelen/Reuters)

from ATP Insider:
IN PARIS: Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal posed for dozens of photographers and TV crews the day before their highly anticipated clash in the Roland Garros semifinal.

The week before Roland Garros was a busy time for world No. 1 Roger Federer. The Swiss star received the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award on Monday night in Portugal, celebrated until 4am and then flew to Paris to get as much practice as possible on the Roland Garros Philippe Chatrier court, the main arena of the French Open. Federer also kept busy off the court with several media opportunities, doing interviews and photo shoots for publications such as Men's Vogue, The New Yorker, Paris Match, Le Figaro, L'Equipe and Le Parisien.

Roger Federer received the Orange Prize for the fair play as voted by the public during Roland Garros while Rafael Nadal earned the Bourgeon Prize for the most promising player.

Roger Federer, MARAT SAFIN, ANDRE AGASSI and RICHARD GASQUET took part in the inaugural Roland Garros media day at the Tenniseum on Saturday before the start of the tournament.

Big tennis fan and Juventus Turin goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon visited Roland Garros right after his team earned the Italian Serie A championship and met with several ATP players including Roger Federer, RAFAEL NADAL, CARLOS MOYA and FILIPPO VOLANDRI.

from Roger Federer Official Site:
After his most intense start into this season Roger has taken his time to decide on his further tournament schedule for 2005.

Last week Roger informed the tournament director of the Allianz Swiss Open in Gstaad that he will not be taking part in the tournament held in Gstaad from July 2 to 10, 2005. It was certainly a hard decision for him, particularly since he would have entered as titleholder. The decisive factor in the end was Roger’s focus on defending his number one position and the associated focus during the second quarter of 2005 on Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

Jun 1, 2005

Top-seeded Roger Federer drinks as his coach Tony Roche walks past, during a training session for the French Open tennis tournament, at the Roland Garros stadium, Wednesday June 1, 2005 in Paris. (Photo by Lionel Cironneau/AP)