May 31, 2006 from Roland Garros:
Roger Federer blew out lucky loser Alejandro Falla, 6-1 6-4 6-3, on Court Suzanne Lenglen. Falla, No139 in the world, was outclassed during the one-hour, 28-minute match. Federer's biggest nuisance on this day was the rain that interrupted play twice.

Federer led 5-0 after 14 minutes on court and closed out the first set shortly thereafter with a forehand crosscourt winner.

In the second, Federer was serving 2-3 when the first rain delay came. After just over an hour's wait, Federer returned to the court, held serve and then broke with another forehand winner to grab control of the set.

The Swiss broke with a backhand volley winner to open the third set. After four relatively easy holds, he put away Falla with another break, converting his fourth match point with a heavy topspin backhand return down the line.

Federer hit with pace, spin and accuracy off both wings from the opening point of the match. When he stayed at the baseline, he was able to drive the ball through Falla. And when the No1 seed approached the net, his volleys were stellar. Federer won 14 points on 22 trips into net.

Federer had six love games in the match. He posted 41 winners, but committed 39 unforced errors, including two horribly framed forehands that cost him two match points.

May 27, 2006 from Sporting Life:
Roger Federer dispatched Diego Hartfield in straight sets, 7-5 7-6 (7/2) 6-2, to advance to the second round of the French Open on Sunday.

Federer struggled throughout the opening set and was made to battle back from 3-0 down before levelling at 5-5. The Swiss then broke his opponent before wrapping up the first set 7-5 following a superb crosscourt backhand.

In the second set Hartfield continued to press the top seed as the Argentinian fought back from 3-1 down before pushing Federer to a tie break where the Swiss prevailed 7-2 following Hartfield's missed forehand.

Federer again broke his rival in the third set to take a 2-1 lead before Hartfield called in the trainer because of pains to his right thigh and left calf. Federer raced out to a 5-1 lead before eventually sealing the set 6-2 and the match.

"I prefer easy matches," Federer said. "It's always easier when you aren't under pressure, which was my case today, as everybody expected me to win."

from Roland Garros:
The world No1 was a relieved man when he came off court after his tough first round match against Diego Hartfield. Here's what Roger Federer had to say after the match...

You made 49 unforced errors, which is very unusual for you. How do you rate your own performance?
"I'm just happy to have got through this potential hazard. I was under real pressure and I knew that it wouldn't be easy, even though I'm very satisfied with the way I've been training. The weather didn't help me either as it was very windy. As regards the number of errors you've just mentioned, well that's obviously not great, is it? (smiles). But which errors are unforced and which aren't? It's all rather subjective, not like when you hit a winner. Sometimes, the stats don't reflect what I think happened during the match."

Were you surprised by Hartfield's level of play?
"I hadn't heard of him so I didn't know what to expect, a little like when I played Istomin in the first round of the Australian Open. I had never heard of him and I only found out the day before who I'd be playing. I didn't know anything about Hartfield, so I tried to size him up, to work out as much as I could about his game, and that may have been why I struggled early on. He was very impressive, he really was. He's got a good backhand, moves well, has a solid level of play and a good on-court attitude."

What did you think when you were 0-3, 15-40 down in the first set?
"I just tried not to panic. I really got off to a bad start, but it would have been even worse if I had lost the first set, which I didn't. I found it hard to get going and he was playing so well. When I broke at the start of the second set, that really did me some good and gave me some confidence."

from News24:
Roger Federer will be keeping an eye on the build-up to the World Cup during the French Open. With Switzerland and France opening group G on June 13 in Stuttgart, Federer does not rule out a possible trip to the stadium if his tennis schedule on grass at Halle, Germany, permits it.

"I'm not sure where I'll be at the time of the match, but I'll try to feel the atmosphere of the World Cup. After Germany, I'll go to England. I think it will be nice over there, as well."

from Reuters:
Roger Federer criticized organizers of the French Open for making him play on the opening day in Paris, the first time a grand-slam event has begun on a Sunday.

Federer said he had asked not to play on the opening day but his requests were rejected by organizers who have extended the event to 15 days in order to increase its exposure, particularly on television.

"I requested not to play Sunday, so I wasn't happy to play today," Federer told reporters. "I heard I was going to play Sunday a couple weeks ago. I was never happy about that idea. I told everybody that I didn't want to play Sunday.

"Anyway, they decided to do it that way. That's grand slams. They don't listen to us as much as the other tournaments, which is unfortunate sometimes.

"I asked when I was going to play my second-round match in case I win. They said Wednesday. I wasn't happy the last time I had a Monday-Thursday in any tournament. It's been ages ago."

Federer was concerned that he could lose his rhythm before his second-round match on Wednesday. "I think it's just tricky," Federer said. "You play Sunday, first up. You feel like the tournament hasn't started and right away you're challenged.

"Full stadium, pressure. Then you have to wait. I think if you pass the first two rounds, then obviously it's okay because you're in the rhythm. I think it needs the first two days to get over."

"It was very similar to the match I played in Australia in the first round (against Denis Istomin)," Federer said. "This time around it was even more difficult because I only knew one day ahead who I was going to play, and I never heard of his name. First time I saw him was five minutes before the match."

Seventh seed Tommy Robredo also criticized the Sunday start. "If my match had been a five-set match in five hours, I would have had two days to rest," said the Spaniard, who beat Tomas Zib 6-4 6-2 6-2.

"If you have a two-hour match with three sets, then you have two days off, it's a bit unfair really. I need to be able to manage those two days because it's like starting a new tournament. When you have two or three days off, it's a bit dangerous sometimes."

Maria Sharapova also said she had been asked to play on Sunday despite making a request to delay her first round game. Some first round matches will not be played until Tuesday.

"I asked them if I could play later. The answer was, 'You're playing Sunday fourth match.' Obviously, it's not in their best interest," the Russian said.

May 27, 2006 from Reuters:
Roger Federer will play qualifier Diego Hartfield of Argentina in his French Open first round match on Sunday. Hartfield is ranked 156th in the ATP standings.

from Roland Garros:
Despite the cloudy skies, the fans turned out in force for this year's Benny-Berthet day, brought forward to Saturday in a departure from the norm. Fabrice Santoro, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal played to a capacity crowd on the Philippe-Chatrier court.

Tony Roche is delighted to confirm that his protégé is firing on all cylinders. 'Roger has enjoyed a perfect build up to the French Open' he says.

What kind of form is Roger in at the moment?
"Very good. He has prepared well and he has played two good warm-up tournaments in Monte Carlo and Rome. He has been training here in Paris for a few days and we could not have wished for things to go any better."

You joined him in Europe a week earlier than last year on the eve of the Rome tournament. Do you think that was necessary?
"No, but let us just say that it is important to prepare for a Grand Slam in the best way possible. You have to use every advantage available to you. Roger is heading into what is a crucial tournament for a variety of reasons, so it is vital to cover every base. Arriving a week earlier can not harm his preparation even if I do not think it will make a significant difference."

Can you detect any difference in his form compared with last year?
"No, not really. Last year he prepared by playing Monte-Carlo and Hamburg and this year he has played Monte-Carlo and Rome. So preparations have been slightly different but I can tell you he is feeling good. The week in Rome was excellent preparation for the fortnight ahead in my opinion."

He felt the need to cut back by missing Hamburg.
"Yes, it was important for him to take a breather after a testing week in Rome. I think he was right. He took the time to recharge his batteries and rightly so, because he will need all of his physical and mental strength to win in Paris."

from Eurosport:
In an exhibition match played on the centre court, Roger Federer had re-introduced himself to the Roland Garros crowd with a tie break win over James Blake.

May 26, 2006 from Reuters:
Roger Federer is playing down talk of a great rivalry between him and Rafael Nadal. "Let's take it slow with this rivalry thing," Federer said ahead of Roland Garros.

"When you have a rivalry, one wins a match then the other one wins the next match, and so on. That's not the case as he has won our last encounters. And he's been on the circuit only for a couple of years."

Federer thinks he has what it takes to win the only grand slam missing from his trophy room this year. "I'm feeling good. I've had a very good preparation and played well in Monaco," he said. "I'm pleased with my level of play.

"Maybe I feel a little bit of extra pressure. But in any grand slam, you feel a bit of tension a couple of days ahead of your first match."

Federer was due to start his tournament against Arnaud Clement but the Frenchman withdrew on Friday with a groin injury and the Swiss will now face a lucky loser.

from AP:
"Many people take away things from Sampras because he never won the French, saying his career was not complete, which I totally don't agree with. I think he had the best career of any player ever, you know? So to say his career is not complete, that is not fair," Roger Federer said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press this week.

"But it still leaves the door open for attacks on him. Because they say he was maybe the best on grass, hard courts and indoor, but not the best on clay. I really don't think it's fair. That's why I really hope one day I can win the French and be one of the elite group who won all four."

from Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Mary Jo Fernandez: "When I watched when I was little, I watched Chris Evert. When you have that person to look up to, it makes it more exciting. On the men's side, the No. 1 player in the world is Roger Federer. You couldn't ask for someone better -- what a great role model he is."

May 25, 2006 from Roland Garros:
The courts were packed as early as 9am, with world number ones Roger Federer and Amélie Mauresmo joining James Blake, Marcos Baghdatis, Marat Safin, Daniela Hantuchova, Ana Ivanovic, Paul-Henri Mathieu, Andy Murray, Gaël Monfils and Fabrice Santoro on the Parisian clay.

The more Roger Federer plays at Roland Garros, the more he gets to like the Philippe Chatrier court, a fact he confirmed on Wednesday after receiving the Grand Prix from the French Academy of Sports at the National Assembly. "I'm happy with my timing and particularly with how comfortable I feel on centre court," the world n°1 said. "That's perhaps the most important aspect as far as I'm concerned. Before, I used to find the court huge. I could never settle on it. It's strange, but that feeling's gone now. For the first time, I feel comfortable there."

from Reuters:
PARIS - Roger Federer has said it is too early for him to even consider a possible showdown with Rafael Nadal at the French Open.

"The rivalry with Nadal is a wonderful story," Federer told French sports daily L'Equipe on Thursday. "But right now, I am focusing on the early rounds and on my own game," the Swiss added. "Because the first players I'm going to meet are very different from Nadal."

May 24, 2006 from Roland Garros:
Roger Federer is going to be honoured with the French Sporting Academy (l'académie française des sports) 2005 Grand Prix on Wednesday night. The award ceremony will be held in the Hôtel de Lassay - part of the French National Assembly building - and presented by the Assembly's President Jean-Louis Debré. Last year's recipient was Lance Armstrong, seven times winner of the Tour de France.

One by one, the stars are coming to Paris, and the first thing they do after checking into their hotels is to practise at Roland Garros. Tim Henman was out on court on Wednesday, as was Venus Williams, who was practising in the afternoon. As was the case yesterday, world number ones Roger Federer and Amélie Mauresmo were both on court twice today, as were Paradorn Srichaphan, Mikhail Youzhny, Gaël Monfils and Paul-Henri Mathieu.

from AFP:
PARIS - Roger Federer insists he is in the form of his life on clay and can win the French Open. "I am really happy with my preparation," said Federer, who has got over a cold and sore throat.

"I have beaten good players on clay and, even if I have not won a tournament, it has given me a lot of confidence." Federer said that he had fully recovered from his illness. "I feel well again."

"The French Open is really a huge target for me. It is not far from me (Switzerland bordering France), I grew up on clay and even if I didn't like the tournament (he crashed out three times in the first round) now it is beginning to please me."

Federer said that while some players were bound never to win a particular Grand Slam event, because they were patently not suited to the surface, he did not feel that he was one of them.

"For some players it is impossible to win Wimbledon, for others to win the French Open. Me, however, I am capable of winning all four Grand Slams."

from USA Today:
Roger Federer says he couldn't imagine quitting at that young an age. But he understands how it could happen. "You cannot forget he (Bjorn Borg) was probably the best teenager we've ever had in men's tennis," he says. "He had much more success and was much earlier in the limelight (than Federer). I guess you get exhausted after a while. That's what happened to him, and that's maybe why he quit early."

May 23, 2006 from Roland Garros:
Roger Federer and Amélie Mauresmo have been training hard at Roland Garros. On Tuesday, Roger made his first appearance this year on the Paris clay, trying out n°2 court for size around midday before moving onto the Suzanne Lenglen court, under the watchful eye of Tony Roche.

from Daily Mail:
Advice for Andy Murray has come from all corners of the tennis world in the past 12 months. Yesterday the words of wisdom came from its core. Roger Federer understands Murray's concerns in his first full year on the main ATP Tour when steps backward have been almost as plentiful as his paces forward.

Federer insists lessons learned young are sometimes hardest to absorb. He said: "The breakthrough is always tricky because everybody talks about you. You make your first money. You make your first impressions. The media are all over you.

"When you're winning, you're on fire — when you're losing, you're in a hole. Your emotions vary so much. As a person you become older very quickly, travelling the world, winning or losing.

"If I look at Andy, maybe physically he's not where he could be or should be. That's a great challenge for him to improve in that area.

"I had to do the work and then the results came. I think Murray's going in the same direction as I did."

He added: "I definitely had milestone moments. Beating Sampras at Wimbledon gave me confidence but in the end it hurt me a bit, too, because every time things didn't work out, I said: 'Hey, play like you did against Sampras'. Yeah, right.

"Eventually it came through practising more physically. It made me stronger mentally, knowing I could handle tough matches.

"I had to work out why I worked hard physically on the court. In the beginning I was doing it because somebody told me to. But you have to know why you're doing it yourself because then maybe in that fifth set you won't become so nervous."

Federer also believes Murray must decide what qualities he is seeking in any new coach he hires. He said: "A player needs to know for himself if it's more important to work with a conditioning coach, a physio, a coach, a friend. He needs to figure that out for himself.

May 22, 2006 from AFP:
BARCELONA - Roger Federer was named Laureus World Sportsman of the year for the second straight year. Federer was present in Barcelona to accept his reward flying in from Paris where he is preparing for next week's French Open.

"It's a very proud moment for me and a very emotional moment. Winning it for a second time in a row is something special," he said paying tribute to Tiger Woods and Michael Schumacher the only other two times winners of the award.

John McEnroe, who is a member of the Laureus World Sports Academy, said that Federer was the outstanding tennis player of this generation.

"In fact he is probably the outstanding individual sportsman of this generation across all sports. Maybe only Tiger Woods of the sportsmen who are competing today week-in, week-out is on a par with him.

from AP:
BARCELONA - Roger Federer joined Tiger Woods as the only back-to-back winners of the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year honor.

"It's nice when I can be that person, let's say that tractor, that can pull tennis maybe to the next level," Federer said. "If I can do that, I'm very happy to do that."

"That's what's so incredible about this award — look at the other nominees. It is quite incredible every time," Federer said. "It hits you once in a while. You think: You started playing tennis at a very young age, and the next thing you know you're playing on wonderful center courts around the world and being up for these beautiful awards."

from Telegraph:
Having travelled from Paris to attend last night's lavish awards ceremony here, Roger Federer was heading straight back there for some more fine-tuning. "I have put myself in the best position," Federer said. "Last year I felt that I was ready to win the French Open. This year I am almost asking myself to. The year could go in a great direction or a little more disappointing one."

"I'm a very confident player now," the Swiss said. "I know my own game so well that Nadal can't break it down with a few victories against me. I definitely have the tools to dismantle any player."

from Reuters:
BARCELONA - Roger Federer believes he is on the verge of beating claycourt rival Rafael Nadal but still rates the Spaniard as favourite for the French Open.

"I've never beaten him on clay but every time I've played him I've got closer and closer and I should have won in Rome... I really hope we do play (in Paris)," Federer told reporters at the Laureus World Sports awards on Monday. "He's going to be the big, big favourite for the French Open," he added.

Asked what more he needed to do to beat Nadal, Federer said: "Nothing more. I should have won. I was one shot away."

"It (Rome Masters final) was one of the most memorable matches in my career, playing for such a long time against a player like Rafael who plays so well on clay. That was a big boost knowing that I can handle him," Federer said. "I need to play him a little more often to figure him out, and that's what I've had."

Federer is up for the Laureus Sportsman of the Year award in Barcelona after winning the same title in Estoril 12 months ago. He holds the U.S. Open, Australian Open and Wimbledon titles, but has never won the French Open which starts on Sunday. Nadal is likely to be his greatest obstacle to glory at Roland Garros.

"I would think it's between the two of us, maybe Nalbandian as an outsider ... or the ones who won other tournaments on clay like Robredo in Hamburg," Federer said.

Federer said he was glad of the rest after pulling out of Hamburg. "I was defending champion and really ready to play but after the final against Rafael, the five hours we played plus the semis ... it really took too much out of me.

from Sporting Life:
"My mind is not focused on him (Nadal), it's focused on the early rounds of the French Open," Roger Federer said. "If you can get through those early rounds then you can think about meeting the top players."

"At the French, you have to play seven best-of-five matches, which is tough. I am only thinking about my section of the draw, not him, but hopefully we can play each other at the French."

"I win so much I can handle a defeat every now and again," Federer added. "Nadal's a very good player, and still young, and I think it will be between the two of us at the French Open."

Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Roger Federer is interviewed by Laureus Academy member Michael Johnson during the Laureus World Sports Awards. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images/Laureus)

Ernie Els and Boris Becker present Roger with the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images/Laureus)	Roger hold his trophy after winning the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award. (Photo by Manu Fernandez/AP)
Roger and Mirka with Sepp Blatter as they arrive for the Laureus World Sports Awards held at the Parc del Forum in Barcelona.	Roger attends a press conference prior to the Laureus Sports Awards at the Centre Convencions Internacional Barcelona (CCIB). (Photos by MJ Kim/Getty Images/Laureus)

May 21, 2006 from Telegraph:
On the match vs. Nadal in the semi-finals of last year's French Open, "I don't remember his ranking - obviously I was No 1 and hardly losing matches - and everybody knew it was going to be a close match because he was the sort of dominant player on clay," Federer said. "I think a lot of people were hoping maybe for me to beat him because he was up-and-coming. I know I didn't play my best - it was maybe one of my worst matches in 2005 - but I still thought I was very close. You think about it a lot of times because you get asked about it many times and you have to wait one year to actually prove yourself again."

"Now the times we play each other it's a final," he said, "but I'm more looking forward to the final than actually playing him. Whoever I play it's nice. Playing the No 2 in the world adds something to it, but he's not the No 1. The No 1 would make it more special."

According to Federer, he accepts defeat much better than he used to and better than most players. "With all the success I've had, you start to take losses like it's no problem because I've won so much. And I always try to draw the positives out of losses, anyway. There are some losses I'm disappointed about, I feel I could have played better, but I have the feeling even though my level of play is so high I can't expect to win all the time. I remember being very sad and frustrated after I lost matches five years ago. Now I'm happy I've gotten over that."

His relationship with Tony Roche is informal and relaxed. Roche doesn't want to travel with him to every tournament and that suits Federer fine. "I don't need a coach any more who travels with me 40 weeks a year, tells me what to do all the time," he said. "I think I've gotten experienced, too. I could basically stop playing tennis today and be a coach myself."

Roche joined Federer in Rome and will stay with him through to Wimbledon. "I think it gives me a level of security if I know that Tony's there," he said. "If he's at a tournament with me it's obviously great but if not I can always call him and say, 'What happened to my forehand or what's wrong with my volleys?' He maybe saw the match and if not we can just talk. Just in case that moment would ever come when I lose my confidence and I don't feel quite right - I don't really feel that it's coming but you never know - you know you've got somebody to call."

Not that Federer appears to be in much need of encouragement, less still coaching. He senses that this could be his year in the French Open. "It's looking excellent after a great start to the clay-court season. I think this year is a big opportunity for me to win. I would obviously wish I could win the French one day so I would have all four titles. And if I win this year it will keep alive the possibilities of a calendar grand slam."

May 18, 2006 from New York TImes:
With the anticipation of a high-stakes rematch in the French Open final next month, Federer-Nadal may be the most compelling rivalry in sport. "Just what tennis needs," said Rod Laver.

"It's always been a harder surface for players used to winning easy points; harder work, and you just have to learn to play on it," said Laver. "I'd say the French was probably my hardest, too, when I won the slams."

"When I was on the pro circuit, I hadn't seen many lefties," Laver said. "Tony [Roche] was tough for me. He probably beat me more than I beat him that year, but I won the two that counted."

For the record, it was 5-3 for Roche over Laver, but Laver beat Roche in an Australian Open semi-final that included a 22-20 set and again in four sets to complete the slam in the US Open final at Forest Hills.

Thirty-seven years later, here is Roche serving as Federer's coach, trying to help him deal with Nadal's topspin. Laver said: "Nadal's forehand goes over on Roger's backhand and bounces so high that he can't do much with it."

"Roger has the game to beat Nadal on clay, don't you think?" Laver said, conceding that until he did, it was a good question. Before basing an answer on the record, Laver cautioned us to remember that all great players take time to deconstruct their primary challengers.

May 16, 2006 from News24:
Hamburg (SA) - Roger Federer on Tuesday apologised to the fans that fatigue forced him to withdraw from the Hamburg Masters Series tennis tournament.

"I am exhausted and have no energy left to do well. It makes no sense to lose in the first round," Federer told a centre court crowd. Hamburg is special for Federer, because the title in 2002 was his first of now 10 at the prestigious Masters Series level. He also lifted the Hamburg trophy in 2004 and 2005.

"I love this tournament, it means a lot to me," said Federer. He got a standing ovation from the crowd although he only held a microphone and not a racket.

May 15, 2006 from Reuters:
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have pulled out of the Hamburg Masters tournament due to fatigue, organizers said on Monday. The pair will travel to Hamburg for medical check-ups as tour rules dictate and will be replaced in the draw by Robin Soederling and Lukas Dlouhy. Ivan Ljubicic is now the highest ranked seed in the tournament.

from AP:
Roger Federer is untouchable in the men's tennis rankings. The Swiss star, the undisputed No. 1 since Feb. 2, 2004, had 7,010 computer ranking points on Monday, compared to No. 2 Rafael Nadal's 4,635. Federer has more than twice as many points as third-ranked David Nalbandian.

Federer will dip below 7,000 for failing to defend his Hamburg title this week, but Nadal will be under the most pressure rankings-wise when he has to defend his French Open title. Federer has reached the final of all of his tournaments this year, and won four of seven. Nadal has won his last 13 finals. Federer owns the all-time record with 24 straight from 2003-05.

from USA Today:
Roger Federer: "I've been sort of preparing for the French Open since the Australian Open."

"I just have the feeling that every time I play Rafael that it helps me to find out more about his game. OK, maybe he can say the same the other way around. But I believe I have more tools to dismantle him than he can do against me."

"I haven't come out of any of our matches thinking, 'Oh, my God, I have no clue how to play this guy. He gives me so many chances to attack and to play my game that I don't feel totally out of place (like) how I used to feel against (Lleyton) Hewitt or (David) Nalbandian. I'm at a stage in my career where there is no need to panic."

from Herald Sun:
Roger Federer claimed Rafael Nadal's uncle and mentor Tony was guilty of illegal coaching during the Rome Masters series final. "I caught him in the act," Federer said. Umpire Romano Grillotti spun around at least three times in his chair to look at Tony Nadal, but took no action. Illegal coaching carries the potential for point and game penalties if done to excess.

May 14, 2006 from SportsTicker:
Rafael Nadal saved a pair of match points late in the fifth set before triumphing 6-7 (0-7), 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-5) in a thrilling final against Roger Federer in 5 hours, 5 minutes to capture the ATP Master Series Rome.

After the players traded breaks in the fourth and fifth games of the first set, Federer had a pair of set points against Nadal's serve in the 12th game before the Spaniard managed to hold. But Federer played a perfect tiebreak, recording five winners en route to claiming all seven points.

Federer saved a set point in the 10th game of the second set and held a 4-2 lead in the tiebreak. But he lost five of the next six points, allowing Nadal to even the match when he hit a backhand into the net.

Nadal broke Federer in the fifth game of the third set and maintained the advantage to go up a set. But instead of wilting, Federer stormed back, saving a pair of break points in the opening game of the fourth set and breaking Nadal in the fourth and eighth games to send the match to a decisive set.

Federer broke Nadal in the fourth game of the fifth set and saved a pair of break points the following game - the latter with an ace - for a 4-1 advantage. But Nadal held at love, then broke Federer after the Swiss star was a point away from a 5-2 cushion.

Serving at 5-6, Nadal fell behind, 15-40, but Federer hit a forehand long on his first championship point and another well wide on his second. Two points later, Nadal forced a decisive tiebreak with a crosscourt forehand winner.

from AP:
Roger Federer employed more aggressive tactics than he did in the Monte Carlo final, where he lost serve seven times. He served-and-volleyed sparingly, but aimed for the corners and followed his baseline shots into the net at every opportunity. He lost serve only three times. Federer won 64 of 84 points at the net. Rafael Nadal came forward only 30 times, and won 18 points.

Federer hit 70 winners to Nadal's 46, but had 89 unforced errors to the Spaniard's 60. Federer was coming off two long three-set matches. Nadal hadn't dropped a set since his first-round win over Carlos Moya. Rome remains one of only four Masters Series events that Federer has not won. Monte Carlo, Madrid and Paris are the others.

May 13, 2006 from Internazionali d'Italia:
Roger Federer has reached the final of the Rome masters after a three set victory over David Nalbandian 6-3 3-6 7-6 (5). He will play Rafael Nadal on Sunday. The post-match statistics showed a very even match, with Federer winning just one more point.

In the first set, the players exchanged breaks for the first four games before Federer pulled away. Nalbandian had his chances to break back and was clearly frustrated at not having taken them, thowing his racket to the ground when Federer served out the set. Both players went for their shots, often hitting the lines over the three hours they were on court. In the second set, Nalbandian broke to 3-1 by attacking Federe's serve, both first and second. He pulled away to 4-1 and then held his serve to close out the set, after which Federer threw down his racket in frustration.

By the third set both players were hitting winners from all parts of the court. Nalbandian broke immediately but Federer broke back to 2-2 and then again to 4-2. He had several chances to hold his service, which would have put him into a 5-2. But he missed a smash and the Argentine broke back before levelling 4-4. The following games went with service amid high quality tennis. Federer edged out the tie-break on his second match point.

May 12, 2006 from Internazionali d'Italia:
Roger Federer had a fright in his quarter final match, which he won in three sets 6-3 6-7 (2) 7-5 against Spanish qualifier Nicolas Almagro.

Federer saved break points in the first game and then raced off to a 3-0 lead. He intelligently chose to avoid Almagro's whippy forehand, a tactic which saw him through the first set to within striking distance of the semi-final.

Almagro, ranked 54, came close to breaking serve at the beginning of the second set but became frustrated at the lack of a breakthrough. The frustration cost him his own serve at 3-3. Federer then served for the set at 5-4 and reached match point, which he double faulted. Almagro sensed an opening and forced the tie break, which he won in typical fired up fashion.

The third set went with serve, though Almagro was under more pressure than his opponent, saving three break points before the final game, and four more match points before the final break cost him the match.

from Eurosport:
While David Nalbandian holds a 6-4 series lead, Roger Federer insists that his opponent is "not his bogeyman".

"A bogeyman is someone you can't beat," Federer told French newspaper L'Equipe. "He's leading in head-to-head competition, but I've beaten him four times. So he's not my bogeyman." The two have faced each other since the junior level and know each other's game well.

As Federer hones his clay court skills in his quest for the French Open title, he says he's happy to rack up the hours of play. But even though it's clay, Federer vowed not to sit back against Nalbandian.

May 11, 2006 from AP:
Roger Federer dispatched 14th-seeded Radek Stepanek 6-1, 6-4 in 56 minutes and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Rome Masters on Thursday. He will play 54th-ranked Nicolas Almagro, who advanced when Nikolay Davydenko retired with a left calf injury.

Federer rallied from 0-40 while serving for the match. Federer hit a big first serve down the middle that Stepanek couldn't return to get to 15-40. Stepanek then missed a forehand to end a long rally and Federer served an ace out wide to reach deuce. Federer forced Stepanek into two more errors and the match was over. He improved to 36-2 this season and 8-1 on clay.

Federer finished the first set in 22 minutes with just two unforced errors and broke Stepanek's serve in the third game of the second set. "That was really pleasing. That was the idea, to keep the error count down and be aggressive on my service. I didn't serve particularly well in the second set, but it was hard repeating what I did in the first set."

from ATP:
All the action of Stars for Stars, from the red carpet to the winners celebrations, can be seen starting this weekend in a special edition of The Tennis Channel's "Open "Access" program. The episode will debut at 7 p.m. ET Sunday on the U.S. cable network and will air a total of 10 times during the month of May.

Murphy Jensen and Mieke Buchan are the hosts as the program take viewers to the red carpet to hear from all the tennis stars. Then it’s front row center as the awards are handed out before heading backstage with exclusive interviews with the winners.

from Thomas Johansson Blog:
I began today with a long breakfast with Jonas. Despite all the time we spend together off the court we never run out of conversation. Our wives are really good friends also. The ATP Chairman Etienne de Villiers came up and we spoke about different tournaments and about what we could all do better to improve the game. All the players are pretty excited about the the future of the sport and a lot of things seem to be happening with the new leadership of the ATP. But I couldn't let our meeting pass without getting something personal off my chest. I was still a little disappointed that I was scheduled to play two matches under lights in my first tournament back from the eye injury. So I made my point known!

Later, we went to the club and had a little lunch with Roger [Federer] and Tony [Roche]. Roger told us about his meeting with the Pope. The aide who introduced him said that 'This is the World No. 1 in tennis." "Tennis is a powerful sport," the Pope said to Roger.

May 10, 2006 from AP:
Roger Federer was tested by Italian wild card Potito Starace before closing out a 6-3, 7-6 (2) win Wednesday in the second round of the Rome Masters.

The 81st-ranked Starace broke Federer's serve twice in the second set and Federer needed seven game points to hold serve and move to 6-5. In the tiebreak, he had his first ace of the match on the opening point, followed by a crosscourt backhand to end the match. Federer made 35 unforced errors - 26 in the second set.

Roger Federer with his girlfriend Mirka and coach Tony Roche attend the weekly general audience by Pope Benedict XVI in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican May 10, 2006. Federer met briefly with Pope Benedict XVI, shortly before his second-round match at the Rome Masters. Dressed in a dark shirt and suit, Federer shook the pope's hand.

from Thomas Johansson Blog:
I had a little panic attack before I went out to play tonight. I was watching Marat Safin's match in the locker room with Roger Federer and Tim Henman and the television started to play up. The lines were going up and down and then they weren't even straight. I asked Roger and Tim if it was the TV or my eyesight and they said "The TV is perfectly okay." Of course, they were just having a little fun at my expense.

A lot of fans probably don't know just how loud and funny Roger can get. He has a really, really good sense of humor. People think of him as very quiet and calm but watching the Safin match he was screaming and yelling along with the rest of the players as the big Russian let a 6-1, 4-1 lead slip away against Ruben Ramriez-Hidalgo. I hope Roger controlled himself a little better when he met the Pope earlier in the day. Roger is also a genius with languages. He used to be coached by Peter Lundgren, so I can almost speak Swedish with him.

May 9, 2006 from Tennis X:
Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Juan Carlos Ferrero are all tied with three career Masters Series titles on clay...Four players have reached the final or better of all three Masters Series events on clay: Roger Federer, Gustavo Kuerten, Guillermo Coria and Juan Carlos Ferrero.

May 8, 2006 from AFP:
Roger Federer barely broke into a sweat in his 6-2, 6-1 first round victory over Juan Ignacio Chela at the Rome Masters. The Swiss needed just 67 minutes to overcome the Argentine to whom he has never lost in four meetings. Federer claimed nine of 12 net points and hit 29 winners to Chela's eight.

May 7, 2006 from ATP:
The Internazionali d'Italia was launched on Sunday with a tennis exhibition involving four ATP stars on the soccer field of the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. The top three players in the world, No. 1 Roger Federer, No. 2 Rafael Nadal, No. 3 Ivan Ljubicic and 2004 Roland Garros winner Gaston Gaudio entertained the soccer crowd before the Serie A game between AS Roma and Treviso.

Earlier in the week, having arrived early in Rome to prepare for the Internazionali d'Italia, Federer and Ljubicic attended soccer's Coppa Italia Final between AS Roma and Inter Milan at the Olympic Stadium on Wednesday night.

Federer and his girlfriend Mirka, guests of Rosella Sensi, Roma team's owner and president, were greated by Walter Veltroni, Mayor of Rome, Giovanni Petrucci, president of the Italian Olympic Committee, Massimo D'Alema, former Italian Prime Minister and Marcello Lippi, coach of the Italian national soccer team.

After the match Federer and Ljubicic went to the dressing rooms and met with several players of both the Roma and Inter teams, including Julio Ricardo Cruz (Inter Milan) and Alessandro Mancini (AS Roma), who scored the two goals of the game, which ended with a draw.

AS Roma's captain Francesco Totti, who was back on the bench for the first time after ankle surgery, autographed one of his shirts for Roger who earlier in the year had donated one of his rackets to Totti.

from AP:
ROME - Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal got a quick tuneup on grass before the Rome Masters. The two top-ranked players joined Ivan Ljubicic and Gaston Gaudio for a doubles exhibition Sunday on the field at Stadio Olimpico before AS Roma's soccer match against Treviso in the Italian league.

"The grass wasn't exactly Wimbledon," Federer said. "I'm very excited to be back in Rome." Federer arrived in Rome on Wednesday for extra preparation on the slow clay courts. "So far the clay-court season has been good to me," he said. "Reaching the final in Monte Carlo was a good start."

"Last time at the Place de Paris in Monte Carlo, this time here in the super Olympic Stadium of Rome, this was great fun I thought, this was very special with the fans here in Rome and the other three players, we really had a blast. We are all soccer fans, you know, and this was a very special treat for all of us," said Federer.

from Internazionali d'Italia:
The crowds are swarming towards Rome's Foro Italico at midday on Sunday, but it's difficult to know which sport they are here to see. Could it be the final round of the qualifying tournament, now underway, or the football match between Roma and Treviso, which takes place in the neighbouring Olympic stadium? To confuse the issue further, an unusual match will take place on the football pitch at 1,30 pm local time: a tennis match that is. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal take on Ivan Ljubicic and Gaston Gaudio. Did you think that ball was out? The umpire's decision is final, or should that be the referee's decision: local football star Francesco Totti is in the umpire's chair!

May 6, 2006 from SuperTennis:
Roger Federer opens against Juan Ignacio Chela in the first round of the Rome Masters. Federer, who skipped Rome last year, was practicing on center court as the draw took place.

May 2, 2006 from Roger Federer Official Site:
Around 100 kids from Sierre (south-western part of Switzerland) had the chance to play mini-tennis on Saturday morning (Apr 29) with Yves Allegro and Severin Lüthi (Captain of the Swiss Davis Cup team). Much to the joy of the children present, the world's number one, Roger Federer, showed up just before lunchtime to spend some time with the kids.

The regional tennis association, TC Sierre as well as Swiss Tennis invited all interested kids to a game of tennis. They had great fun competing against Yves Allegro or Severin Lüthi on mini-tennis fields. Fun clearly was the main goal, guaranteeing for a terrific time - clearly to the amusement both of the kids and the tennis players.

Roger's visit to the event is a result of the close friendship between Yves Allegro and Roger. The children had the possibility to meet Roger and have their picture taken with him. Roger addressed all the kids in the end, inviting them to play tennis - he had, after all, just begun with it some time ago - and now we can all see where he has come.