May 31, 2007 from Telegraph:
...Despite his warm words, however, Borg has predicted that the winner a week on Sunday will not be Nadal, but Federer, a Swiss he now calls his friend.
"I know that a lot of people think that Rafa is still the big favourite, but I disagree. I am going to pick Roger as the winner. I watched his first match of the tournament on television, and he looked really sharp, he was playing some fantastic tennis, and I think it would be great for the sport if Roger won this year and beat Rafa.
"Roger's win in Hamburg was huge as it showed that he can beat Rafa on clay, and he will now have such great confidence if he plays Rafa in the final."
Borg had one of the sport's great rivalries with John McEnroe, and he said that he has been pleased to see Federer and Nadal becoming the new serial thrillers.
"The rivalry between Roger and Rafa is what tennis needs," he said. "I had my rivalry with John, and we had a lot of great matches, and I have been enjoying theirs - everyone gets psyched up when Roger and Rafa are playing. It's like a big fight when they are on court.
"Roger and Rafa have different characters, and also Roger is more of an attacking player, while Rafa is more defensive, staying at the baseline and hitting with a lot of topspin, so there is a lot of variety. I know some people have been saying that maybe they are too friendly but that's just off the court. They have a lot of respect for each other. But on the court, you can sense the atmosphere, and they are totally focused on beating the other guy. They love to win and hate to lose.
"John and I always respected each other. I am still in touch with John a lot over the telephone, and when we see each other we don't really talk about tennis that much - we chat about our kids, about the other things going on in our lives. It's really nice, though, to have had that rivalry with John. I hope that Rafa and Roger meet in the final. I definitely wouldn't miss that. If Roger stays strong he can beat Rafa."
Borg is also convinced that greatness now beckons for Federer. "A French Open win would definitely put him on the way to being the greatest player of all time," he said. "That would complete his set of grand slams, he would then have 11 majors, like me, and he would still be only 25.
"If Roger wins in Paris I believe that he will go on to do the grand slam this year. The French Open is the toughest one for him to win, but I am not sure who could stop him at Wimbledon and the US Open. It would be great for tennis if Roger does the grand slam, as it hasn't been done since Rod Laver in 1969, and I hope that he does it. That would be such a huge effort - and from such a nice person as well."
from South Florida Sun-Sentinel:
Ivan Ljubicic, who is president of the Players Council, says he has no clear idea whether ATP president Etienne de Villiers is going to remove Monte Carlo from the Masters Series list, as he proposed, or change his mind after heavy lobbying from players.
"It is still in the air. The board still has to make a decision, so this is absolutely unclear whatsoever at the moment. But I think at Wimbledon, we're going to make some decisions," Ljubicic said.
He met with de Villiers along with fellow players Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Carlos Moya. "We slowed down the process a little bit, but not much is done, honestly," he said.
May 30, 2007 from Reuters:
PARIS - Roger Federer rolled into the third round of the French Open on Wednesday with a 6-1 6-2 7-6 (8) defeat of wildcard Thierry Ascione.
After another day of gloomy skies and intermittent drizzle at Roland Garros, the Swiss top seed only got on court after 1900 local time and was clearly in a hurry to get the job done.
Ascione, ranked 168th in the world, was simply outclassed in the opening two sets as Federer unleashed his full repertoire of strokes. He broke his opponent twice to open both of the first two sets and added another break in the third set. Things got a little more complicated for the top seed, however, as Frenchman Ascione provided some stubborn resistance to prolong the contest.
Federer squandered two match points at 5-4 in the third set as he was broken for the first time and he saw another three go begging in the tiebreak as Ascione played some inspired winners to come back from 6-3 down. Federer then had to save two set points before clinching victory at the sixth attempt in one hour 51 minutes.
from AFP:
PARIS - Roger Federer was furious with French Open officials who scheduled his second round match to start and finish in the murky Paris gloom on Wednesday.
The world number one rounded off his win over Thierry Ascione just before 9:15 pm (1915 GMT) with Court Suzanne Lenglen almost in darkness. "When we shook hands, I told him I couldn't see him anymore it was so dark," said Federer.
"The conditions were shocking. I know they want to get the matches over and done with but what I don't like is that they know I'm the favourite and they think I should win in straight sets. 'Let's get Roger's match over and done with, then he's happy, he has a day off'. But what if it doesn't turn out this way. I would be very upset. I already wasn't happy playing so late.
"I hate playing into dawn. I can hardly see the ball. You start stressing out. I can't believe other players were still playing after me because it was so dark." Federer was referring to France's Edouard Roger-Vasselin's five-set win over Radek Stepanek which didn't finish until 9:30 pm.
The Swiss star said the situation reminded him of his semi-final defeat to Rafael Nadal in 2005 which was played in similar dismal conditions. On that occasion, Federer wanted the match called off for the day.
"I wanted to stop that match, but there was pressure from the crowd, from television, from my opponent and if you don't agree with your opponent you're stupid."
from Bloomberg:
"The win (in Hamburg) was, for me, very important. I'm feeling good with my chances,'' Federer said during an interview. "I really feel like this might be the good year.''
That's the closest thing to a guarantee you're going to get from Federer, who also said "when'' he and Nadal meet in the final before correcting himself to consider the possibility that one of them -- or both -- might fall short of the championship match.
In a promotional video for his new Wilson racket, dubbed ``K Factor,'' Federer is interviewed by himself. It made me wonder what Federer, the journalist, at this point in his career would ask Federer, the tennis player. So, Roger, what would you ask?
"I probably think I would like to know a lot more about my, or his, personal life,'' he said. "What he does, especially away from tennis.''
For the record, Federer likes relaxation. And he likes when his girlfriend cooks.
May 29, 2007 from AFP:
Roger Federer got his French Open campaign off to a smooth start on by completing a comprehensive 6-4 6-2 6-4 win over Michael Russell.
The Swiss star had already done most of the hard work when he raced to a 6-4, 4-1 lead in the first round tie before rain brought an abrupt end to proceedings for the day.
On the resumption, he promptly wrapped up the second set with two quick service games as sunshine at last dappled the Philippe Chatrier centre court and brought some warmth to the long-suffering Parisian crowd.
The fleet-footed Russell stubbornly held his first two service games in the third set but his back was firmly to the wall and it was no surprise when Federer grabbed the final break he needed in the fifth game to move 3-2 ahead.
The American looked deflated and Federer simply had to hold on to his own serve three times which he did without any problem finishing off the tie to love with an under-pressure Russell netting a backhand drive.
"That was the prefect start for me as it was difficult stretching over two days and I had never played against him before," Federer said. The top seed will next play Frenchman Thierry Ascione.
from Reuters:
PARIS - French Open players tired of watching their favourites movies on their laptops to relax between matches now have another option. They can watch themselves play.
Shortly after their matches, Roger Federer, Justine Henin and company are being handed a DVD containing analysis of their own performance.
The product, developed by tournament long-time partners IBM, incorporates video supplied by the tournament's host broadcaster, France Televisions. IBM indexes the footage by point and combines it with statistical information to help the players and coaches analyse their match.
Players can, for instance, focus on watching just their aces or their forehand winners. They can also select important moments such as breakpoints or controversial line calls and watch a 3-D animation of their match.
France Televisions also uses the technology developed for the DVDs and notably one innovation this year showing where a player's serves land. The players love their DVDs, not because of oversized egos but because they help them review their strengths or weaknesses before their next match.
When the DVDs were introduced last year, in a less sophisticated version, Andy Roddick, dejected after retiring in his first-round match against Alberto Martin, was the only player to refuse taking his. The DVDs are made available only to the players and their entourage but the fans in Roland Garros are busy chasing them.
from Tennis Served Fresh:
Tennis Served Fresh got an advanced look into the biography of Roger Federer hitting the shelves in about a month.
Quest for Perfection: The Roger Federer Story covers his childhood, his days as a temperamental junior, and his early days at the top of the ATP tennis heap.
Here’s an excerpt on Roger’s life with girlfriend Mirka Vavrinec:
Roger and Mirka lead a quiet, harmonious life together and seem compatible with each other. “Mirka likes to cook and I like to eat. That’s a perfect arrangement,” he said. “I help from time to time, make the beds, vacuum or dry the dishes. We make sure that we divide the work evenly.” He knows that his girlfriend sacrifices a great deal for him and he tries to do something in return whenever the opportunity presents itself. He goes with her to the movies, to the theater, to concerts. He said that “on vacation, I’m willing to change roles. Then she’s the center of attention.”
Quest for Perfection: The Roger Federer Story, New Chapter Press, $24.95, by Rene Stauffer. Release date: June 25. Available for pre-sale through www.rogerfedererbook.com.
The fact that Mirka is three years older and is familiar with professional tennis from first-hand experience lends additional stability to the partnership. Since Boris Becker’s career, tennis years have acquired the reputation of being counted in “dog years,” one year multiplied by seven. “Sometimes Roger is like a twelve-year-old but then again, he can be like a 35-year-old,” said Mirka. “It’s not a problem for me that I’m three years older.”
She is not the type who overburdens her boyfriend with unrealistic demands because she knows what it means to be at the top. Above all, she’s terribly proud of him and is therefore willing to make compromises. “I’m not in a big hurry to get married,” she said in 2004. “When I consider that my parents married at 18 and had me at 21 — I can’t imagine that.” She added that she didn’t want to wait until she was 40 to have children “but when I have a child, I want the father to be around to play soccer, hockey and tennis with him or her instead of being away for 40 weeks at tournaments.”
May 28, 2007 from Sporting Life:
Roger Federer was in control of his French Open first-round clash with Michael Russell, ranked 68 in the world, when the rain returned to Roland Garros.
Russell, who famously held match point against eventual champion Gustavo Kuerten here in 2001, was broken in the third game and that proved to be the decisive factor in the opening set, which the Swiss took 6-4.
An early break in second set gave Federer a further advantage and when play was suspended he led the set 4-1 with a double break of serve. The match resumes Tuesday.
from ATP:
A poll of 10,000 ATPtennis.com fans found that Roger Federer is an overwhelming favorite to take the French crown ahead of Rafael Nadal.
More than one third of fans - 37 percent - declared Federer the outright favorite, with 28 percent of fans saying that Nadal is most likely to take the title.
Nine percent of fans said that Novak Djokovic would win the title, with eight percent picking Guillermo Canas and seven percent tipping Fernando Gonzalez.
May 27, 2007 from New York Times:
In the locker room after Federer beat him in Hamburg, Nadal asked Federer for his sweat-soaked shirt, a nod to the soccer custom of exchanging shirts with your opponent after the game. Then he asked Federer to autograph it. “I thought it was a nice gesture,” Federer said. “We know each other well.”
May 26, 2007 from AP:
Roger Federer beat Fernando Gonzalez, in a one-set exhibition 7-6 (1) on Saturday in front of a packed center-court crowd at Roland Garros.
Federer wasted several break points early in the set but finally converted in the eighth game - right after the Chilean had broken to take a 4-3 lead. Federer then easily won the tiebreaker, winning five straight points after a mishit had cut his lead to 2-1.
Federer, who beat second-ranked Rafael Nadal last weekend in the Hamburg Masters final, has won 10 major titles but still needs a victory at the French Open to complete a career Grand Slam.
"Obviously the feeling's better now than it was two weeks ago,'' said Federer. "But in the end, I think I would have blocked all problems out for the French Open, for a big occasion like this.''
from Roland Garros:
Roger Federer’s fitness coach Pierre Paganini says the world number one is fit and raring to go at Roland Garros. "His preparation was the same as last year, comprising four periods during which he worked on his fitness. The last one was in Switzerland, before he went to Rome. Roger hasn’t played too many matches and has been able to recuperate in between. My role hasn’t changed since Tony (Roche) left. Those of us in Roger’s support team have closed ranks around him though. Roger was really pleased after Hamburg because he showed he was able to bounce back at a tough time. A tennis player’s life is a puzzle. The synergy between mental and physical form is incredible. When one improves, so does the other. Roger is feeling fine. His victory in Hamburg did him the world of good."
Viewers of France Television will be in for a treat next week. "Un jour a Roland" ("Today at Roland Garros") will be shown at 8.10 pm every evening on France 3, and will include such delights as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal singing up a storm at karaoke. The Swiss maestro reckons he's "Simply the Best", while the Majorcan will give his very own rendition of ''La Bamba''. Entertainment at its best…
from swissinfo:
On June 10, Roger Federer and Rafael Nada will slug it out on the clay of the central court at the French Open if all goes to plan. Most observers agree that it would surprising if anyone other than the top two seeds reaches the final.
"I'm confident ahead of the tournament," said Federer when he arrived in Paris a few days ago. "Everyone expects to see me in the final against Nadal. But that's not the best way of approaching a tournament."
The Swiss was a semi-finalist in 2005 and a finalist last year, but in 2007 he would like to go all the way and win his 11th grand slam title. He is certainly in with a chance. Last Sunday, he beat Nadal at his sixth attempt on clay. "It was an important win," Federer admitted. "But it doesn't give me a psychological advantage over him."
"I have had the keys to open the door for the past two years," he said. "But that doesn't mean I know how to get in. You have to be patient."
from Reuters:
PARIS - There are two reasons why teenager Jonathan Eysseric might make the world take notice at the French Open starting on Sunday. The young Frenchman, who will turn 17 on the first day of the Paris Grand Slam tournament, is the world number one junior player and he is Roger Federer's training partner. Federer picked Eysseric because he is a left-hander, like world number two Rafael Nadal, and has a power-based game similar to the Spaniard's.
"To have played with Roger on centre court for days takes some of the pressure off," said Eysseric. "I couldn't have dreamed of a better warm-up."
Eysseric said he felt relaxed ahead of his first French Open. "I want to have fun here and I will do my best to go as far as possible. Maybe I will feel some pressure when I play my first match but for the moment, no."
Eysseric started training with Federer in Switzerland earlier this month. "My game has certainly improved after working with him. Roger also taught me a few things off the court. What he wanted me to do was to play as much as possible like Nadal."
May 25, 2007 from AFP:
PARIS - Roger Federer was drawn against America's Michael Russell, the world number 71, in the first round of the French Open before facing either a qualifier or Frenchman Thierry Ascione in the second round.
Another qualifier or Potito Starace of Italy will be a third round opponent. He will face his first serious test here in the fourth round where former 2003 champion Juan Carlos Ferrero may wait.
Federer comes into the French Open having beaten Rafael Nadal for the first time on clay in the Hamburg Masters final last weekend.
"In Monaco, I had a bad approach. I went into the final saying to myself: 'I'm going to see what happens'," Federer told the French media on Friday.
"In Hamburg, that wasn't the case. I was certain I was going to beat him and I was sure of the way I was going to play him. It was very important for me mentally."
"I am happy with my clay season. I have played enough matches and I am ready physically and mentally."
"I feel good. I had a few days off after my win in Hamburg. Obviously the feeling now is better than two weeks ago," said Federer. "I've been working a long time for my French Open goal."
"My confidence is back where it was. I'm ready to play tough matches and put myself in the position to win tournaments. Confidence is key in winning a Grand Slam."
"I have to continue playing the right way. I have to play well from the baseline, I have to dominate and serve well."
from BBC:
Roger Federer says he has never felt more confident going into the French Open. He is in upbeat mood after beating Rafael Nadal in Hamburg.
"That's an excellent result for me and gets his streak to an end. It's maybe good for the entire field, especially, for myself."
It was just a good match for me. I played excellent in the second and third set, and I believed in my chance and beat him in the finals on clay. It was the first time he ever lost on clay-court finals."
"Obviously, I'm feeling better now about my chances than I was two weeks ago," said Federer. "I've never entered Roland Garros feeling so strong mentally."
Federer stressed that he knew Nadal still posed a major threat to his dream of completing the set of all four Grand Slam titles.
"I realise that I'm not going to beat him every time", said the Swiss star, who is the top seed in Paris. "To beat him on clay, you have to beat him from the baseline, play aggressively and serve well. That's not easy to do."
But the 25-year-old said the Roland Garros fear factor had disappeared. "I'm no longer afraid of this tournament. I'm not afraid of having to play five sets, I'm not afraid about being the favourite and I want to win here more than ever," he said.
Federer has been handed a tough draw and could face the likes of Juan Carlos Ferrero, Nikolay Davydenko and Guillermo Canas on his way to a possible final against Nadal on 10 June.
"My focus is not on Nadal at the moment," Federer said. "I've seen the draw and I knew even before that I would not have to face him in the opening rounds. I have to focus on different opponents right now."
Federer, who took a short break at home in Switzerland after winning Hamburg and arrived in Paris on Wednesday, said Wimbledon, where he has won the last four years, was still his favourite tournament.
"Wimbledon has given me everything," he said. "That's where all my dreams came true. It will remain the number one tournament for me. That said, winning the French Open would be really nice. I'm feeling good and I'm ready to give it my best shot."
May 23, 2007 from AFP:
HONG KONG - Roger Federer and Pete Sampras will clash in a three-city Asian exhibition tour in November. They will meet in Kuala Lumpur, Seoul and then at the soon-to-be-launched Venetian Macau resort.
"It will be a dream come true for me to play Pete again," Federer said in a recorded video message at the series' launch in Hong Kong.
"Playing Roger will be so special. He's dominating his generation as I had dominated mine but he's doing it much better than I ever did," Sampras told reporters in a telephone interview from Los Angeles.
"I've been number one for a long period of time. He's probably going to break that record, he's on his way to winning more than 14, at least 17-18 majors the way he's playing," he said.
Sampras also tipped Federer to win the French Open after his breakthrough victory over Rafael Nadal on clay. "I think Roger has a good shot to win the whole thing, there is no reason why he can't."
"He just proved that he can beat Nadal on clay, he just beat him the other day. Nadal has had a great run and probably just ran into a wall at Hamburg," said Sampras.
The series kicks off in Seoul on November 20, moves to the Malaysian capital on November 22 and concludes at the 15,000-seater Venetian Macau arena on November 24.
The Sampras-Federer showdown is part of a series of sporting exhibition events to mark opening of the Venetian, which will be the world's largest hotel and casino, this summer.
Nick Freyer, senior vice president, IMG Tennis, Asia, revealed how this Tennis Showdown first became a reality. "Roger contacted Pete in Los Angeles, and Pete invited him to play at his house. They hit a few balls, played some points then some sets. The scores were close and Pete was thrilled with the way he played. From this game the idea of a Tennis Showdown was born."
Said Pete Sampras of the recent meeting: "I was very happy that I held my own. It was great to play Roger and it was terrific fun." For Federer it was also a memorable occasion: "The game was close and Pete was playing great tennis, but not good enough to beat me. I won't be telling you the score though!"
Federer continued, "The tennis was so good that we felt it was a pity not to share the shots, energy, and excitement with the world one more time. We are both delighted to be visiting Asia and Macao and putting on a great game for our many fans in the region."
The two players will play best of three tiebreak sets in Macau and Kuala Lumpur. The format for the third stop wasn't immediately clear. They will play on indoor carpet in Macau at The Venetian Macau resort. The surfaces for the two other matches wasn't immediately known.
from Reuters:
KUALA LUMPUR - Roger Federer will play Pete Sampras in an exhibition match billed as the 'Clash of the Times' in Kuala Lumpur in November to celebrate Malaysia's 50th year of independence.
"I hold the record for most Grand Slam titles ever but I am confident that Roger will break that record some day," Sampras said in a statement. "For us to play each other while I am still young enough to play very competitively is truly special. Having this take place in Asia is remarkable for tennis."
"To play against Pete is a dream come true," Federer said in a statement. "I am so excited to play Pete and I am really looking forward to visiting Malaysia for the first time. There is no doubt that we will play some great tennis."
The exhibition match on Nov 22 is part of the Merdeka (Independence) Tennis Challenge that includes the inaugural Malaysia Open Championship and a second-tier Challenger tour event.
from Roland Garros:
Roger Federer had his first training session at Roland Garros on Wednesday afternoon on centre court. The Swiss maestro knocked up against Jonathan Eysseric, a young Frenchman who was a finalist at the recent Australian Open junior tournament and has been given a wild card to compete at this year's French Open. The world No.1 has already used Eysseric as a practice partner, since the latter is a lefty, and if Federer's win last Sunday over his clay-court nemesis Rafael Nadal in the final of the ATP tournament in Hamburg was anything to go by, it would appear that practice makes perfect…
May 22, 2007 from USA Today:
Before beating Nadal in Hamburg, Federer admitted he was growing tired of all the advice coming in about the 20-year-old Mallorcan. "It seems like the whole world wants to help me (on) how to beat Nadal on clay," Federer says, "but I know how to do it, seriously."
Federer arrives in Paris having played far fewer matches than in previous seasons and with a change in his entourage. He will play Roland Garros coach-less, as he did when he won three majors in 2004, and is "very positive" about his chances.
from Javno:
Ivan Ljubicic commented on the final end of Nadal's line of 81 wins on clay: "I was not surprised by Nadal's defeat by Federer. I was more surprised by the fact that Roger did not win before, and he failed to do so because he had a poor approach to these matches. Now, for the first time he had nothing to loose and it seems that it helped him a lot, psychologically."
May 21, 2007 from BBC:
Roger Federer said he had finally "cracked the code" needed to overcome Rafael Nadal on clay after beating the Spaniard in the Hamburg Masters final.
"To come through is excellent, I played fantastic, and I really got the feeling in the end I had figured out how to play him," Federer told Five Live.
"But I have to be very careful here not to get too carried away," he added. "I've won Hamburg for the fourth time but I've never been able to win the French Open."
Roland Garros is the focus now and Sunday's result has cast an element of doubt over the second Grand Slam of the year, as Federer has proved Nadal is not invincible on clay.
"This is the position I wanted to put myself in over and over again and finally I could beat him on clay in a final," Federer said.
"I'm not going to play Nadal in the quarters or the second round because of our rankings - we're always going to play in the finals and I think he hasn't a lost a clay-court final in his life, so it was always going to be very, very difficult for me."
"But I've come into the French Open feeling unbelievable so many times because of Hamburg and I could never really deliver after."
"Everything starts again at zero at the French Open. I have to go step by step, it's best-of-five set matches, that's a big difference, and I have to check out the draw and see who I play."
Federer had been struggling to find his best form heading into Hamburg and dispensed with coach Tony Roche two weeks ago following a shock loss to Filippo Volandri in Rome.
"It was a hard decision," said Federer. "It definitely knocked me down a little bit, that loss in Rome - especially the way I lost. I don't mind losing in two or three sets but the fighting spirit's got to be there."
"Mentally I wasn't really in the match and that's so disappointing. To be there with seven, eight thousand screaming people and I'm playing like 'it's OK I'm losing' - that's the attitude I hate."
from DPA:
Hamburg - Rafael Nadal asked Roger Federer for his autographed shirt, in a gesture more typical of football than tennis, after losing to the world number one in the final of the Hamburg Masters Series.
"Roger signed it in the changing rooms. Both were very happy," a source close to the Spanish player told DPA.
The gesture of asking for a shirt as a souvenir is not very common in tennis, but Nadal and Federer - who as children both dreamed of playing football professionally - are comfortable with the ways of the most popular sport in the world, where exchanging shirts at the end of a game is a frequent habit.
May 20, 2007 from DPA:
Hamburg - World number 1 Roger Federer ended the clay court winning streak of Rafael Nadal after 81 matches when he beat the Spaniard, 2-6, 6-2, 6-0, on Sunday for his fourth title at the Hamburg Masters.
"If I have to lose against someone then he is the man," said Nadal. "I congratulate Roger and wish him good luck at the French Open."
"Eighty-one matches is an amazing series and I have a lot of respect for him," said Federer. "It is great to be here again and win again. I've fallen in love with this tournament."
Federer won the last eight games as he beat Nadal for the first time in their sixth meeting on the surface. He added the 2007 Hamburg title to the previous ones he won in 2002, 2004 and 2005. No other player has won the event so many times in the Open Era since 1967.
Federer has a 9-0 record in finals played in Germany and now stands 17-0 in Hamburg, having not played there in 2006. He got 340,000 euros (459,000 dollars) for his 48th career title - and the 13th at the prestigious Masters Series.
Things didn't look good for the Swiss at first in the latest duel of the world leaders as Nadal controlled the opening set, which he took with breaks for 2-1 and 4-1.
But Federer raised his game to stage a remarkable comeback. After fighting off two break points in the third game of the second, he broke Nadal's serve for the first time in the next game with three forehand winners. And then he broke Nadal again in the last game of the set.
Federer wrapped up matters on his first match point when Nadal hit a ground stroke into the net. He won a set at love against the Spaniard for the second time since beating him in the final at Wimbledon last year.
May 19, 2007 from AP:
HAMBURG - Roger Federer rallied past Carlos Moya 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 Saturday to advance to the Hamburg Masters final.
Federer saved three set points before losing the first set. Serving for the second at 5-3, he allowed Moya to save three set points and then dropped his serve. But a forehand winner in the next game put Federer even. Federer broke serve for a 4-2 lead in the third and was on his way.
He takes a 16-match winning streak in Hamburg into the final, where he will play Rafael Nadal or Lleyton Hewitt. This is his fourth final of the season.
"It's nice to come back from one set down," Federer said. "I came out of it but I am still missing too much. You have to believe that you can come back."
Moya was ranked No. 1 in 1999 but has dropped to No. 36. The Spaniard had never beaten Federer in six previous meetings, but troubled him early on. "Today was the day to beat him; I had a feeling I could beat him. But at important moments, he brings out his best."
"I felt I was controlling the match," Moya said. "But with Federer, you can't expect to beat him until it's over. I had some break points but he came up with some great shots."
May 18, 2007 from Reuters:
HAMBURG - Roger Federer came through a worrying second-set slump to beat David Ferrer 6-3 4-6 6-3 and reach the semi-finals of the Hamburg Masters on Friday.
The world number one was in dazzling form at the start of the quarter-final as he broke the Spanish 12th seed in his first and last service games. He edged into a 4-2 lead in the second only to throw that commanding position away, losing his next two service games as he suddenly seemed unable to get his forehand on target.
The Swiss, who had never lost so much as a set in six previous meetings with Ferrer, pulled his service game together for the decider but with his opponent gaining in confidence he had few chances to break.
The turning point came when Federer, serving at 3-3 and 30-30, saw a scooped forehand hit the top of the net and dribble over. It brought a relieved smile from Federer, while Ferrer threw his racket down in frustration on the red clay. Federer duly held and took a decisive 5-3 lead when he converted a fifth break point in Ferrer's next service game.
Federer had 36 winners but also 39 unforced errors, with Ferrer on 14 winners and 35 errors. He will play either fourth seed Novak Djokovic or Carlos Moya in the semi-finals.
May 17, 2007 from Eurosport:
Roger Federer produced arguably his best performance of the clay court season to move into the quarter-finals of the Hamburg Masters with a 6-2 6-3 victory over Juan Carlos Ferrero.
After the first four games went to serve, the Swiss master then reeled off seven games in a row to take control of the match. Federer got rid of the errors that have plagued his recent performances on the surface, with his sliced backhand proving a potent weapon, while his power forehand was at its lethal best.
In the first set Federer was near faultless against former world number one Ferrero, and while a few loose shots crept into his game in the second set - he was still far too good for the Spaniard. He will go on to face David Ferrer in the last eight.
May 16, 2007 from Reuters:
HAMBURG - Roger Federer had to work much harder than expected to dig out a 6-3 2-6 6-4 victory over Argentine qualifier Juan Monaco and reach the third round of the Hamburg Masters on Wednesday.
The Swiss world number one started well but then saw his footwork desert him in the second set, as the Argentine took control. Crucially, Federer was able to save five break points to avoid going 2-0 down in the final set and, while the unforced errors kept on coming, he just managed to stay out of trouble.
He forced a break point almost by force of will for 5-4 in the decider, turning a desperate save into a winner down the line, and Monaco conceded defeat when he let a backhand drift wide on the first match point. He goes on to face either Marat Safin or Juan Carlos Ferrero in the third round.
ATHENS - Pete Sampras believes Roger Federer can break all of his records, including the 14 grand slam titles he lifted in his glittering 15-year career.
Sampras, in Athens to play in an over-30s tournament series organised by fellow American Jim Courier, said current rankings leader Federer could also win more than his seven Wimbledon crowns. "He is the best player in the world. He is going to go on and break all my records. He can win 16 grand slams."
Sampras won a record 14 grand slams including seven Wimbledon crowns, three more than Federer's current haul. Sampras' Wimbledon record ties Willie Renshaw's, a player in the 1880s. "Federer is phenomenal on the surface (grass). I think he can win seven or eight depending on how much he wants to go on."
Sampras said Federer's mental and physical strength would put him in a league of his own for the next few years, despite his split with coach Tony Roche last week. "He is the strongest for now and will be for the next couple of years."
May 15, 2007 from ATP:
ATP World No. 1 Roger Federer and Swiss countryman Stanislas Wawrinka attracted a huge crowd for their doubles match Tuesday at Masters Series Hamburg, but they did not walk away with a victory. Federer and Wawrinka fell to Americans James Blake and Mardy Fish 6-1, 7-5.
May 14, 2007 from AP:
HAMBURG - Roger Federer will compete in the French Open and Wimbledon without a coach. The top-ranked player said Monday he wouldn't be hiring another coach in the near future.
"I'm definitely not going to take a coach for the French Open and Wimbledon because I know what it takes and I don't want anybody interfering with my preparation and with my tournaments," Federer said. "Maybe down the road I'm going to look again for someone who's going to be able to help me out for practicing."
Federer insisted the defeat to Filippo Volandri in the third round of the Rome Masters last week was not the reason for his split from Roche. "It's something that's been inside myself for a few months. It was a decision that wasn't easy, of course, because we're good friends and get along very well and he's helped me a lot over the last couple of years."
"(But) in the end he was a part-time coach. We only were together for 15 weeks and distances were also not so easy ... I just thought the communication kind of changed and it was not going much further."
Federer, who needs to win the French Open to complete a career Grand Slam, said his recent losses did not worry him. "In Monaco, I reached the finals. I'm very happy the way I played there from the quarters on. Last week was obviously disappointing, and I wasn't happy with my performance there."
"But it's basically one tournament, because at Indian Wells I had a bit of a blister and then in Miami I think I played well but ended up losing. So nothing really happened in my point of view."
May 12, 2007 from Roger Federer Official Site:
Roger and Tony Roche have mutually decided to end their 2 1/2 year long part time coaching arrangement. "I thank Tony very much for his efforts over these last years, during which I appreciated the 12-15 weeks per season we would work together. I am also grateful for the sacrifice he made, traveling so far from his home in Australia and leaving his family."
from DPA:
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal return to the Hamburg Masters Series-seeking victory and also showing their support for the event.
Hamburg is seen as a possible victim and tournament officials, along with those from the Monte Carlo Masters, have filed a lawsuit against the ATP in order to keep their tournaments. Federer and Nadal lead a large number of players who also want to preserve the event.
"You should try to strike a balance between tradition and business, both is important for tennis," Federer told Saturday's edition of Hamburg's Abendblatt daily. "Reform is necessary, but it must be thought through."
"I hope there is a chance for the Rothenbaum because I love the tournament. Hamburg is the place where I won my first Masters Series. That's why I love to come here. The surrounding is perfect and the fans great. Only the weather could be better," he said.
The setting in the rich residential area gives the event with its 101-year history a unique flair, but there are fears that adverse weather expected at least for the first two days Monday and Tuesday could only make Etienne de Villiers more determined to scrap the event.
The rain won't affect Federar and Nadal, who like all eight top seeds have a first-round bye and will play on centre court which has a roof to allow matches in all conditions.
"I am even more motivated after poor games like in Rome," insisted Federer, whose first opponent is a qualifier or Dominik Hrbaty.
The 2007 Hamburg edition boasts nine top-10 players, with only Andy Roddick missing. More painful for fans and organizers is the absence of local hero Tommy Haas, who suffered a shoulder injury in Rome. But tournament director Walter Knapper insisted: "We have a sensational field."
May 10, 2007
ROME - Roger Federer lost to Italian wild card Filippo Volandri 6-2, 6-4 in the third round of the Rome Masters on Thursday.
Federer never found his rhythm against 53rd-ranked Volandri, dropping serve three times -- twice in the first three games -- on the way to surrendering the first set.
He rallied briefly at the start of the second set, but four unforced errors in the third game -- the last two a long backhand and another into the net played almost casually -- allowed Volandri to grab another break and serve out for the match. On Volandri's first match point, Federer hit a forehand into the net.
Federer often missed routine baseline shots and hit only two winners with his forehand and made 44 unforced errors to Volandri's 23. His defeat means he has gone four tournaments without a title -- his longest stretch -- since becoming world number one in February 2004.
May 9, 2007 from inter.it:
ROME - Last night, after arriving at their hotel ahead of the Coppa Italia final clash with Roma, Roberto Mancini and the Nerazzurri met tennis stars Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Gaston Gaudio, who are currently in the Italian capital for the Rome Masters tournament.
May 8, 2007 from Reuters:
ROME - Roger Federer began his bid for a first Rome Masters title with a 6-3 6-4 victory over Nicolas Almagro in the second round on Tuesday.
The world number one raised his game to break the Spaniard in his opening service game and then again in the first game of the second set. When Almagro created his sole break point of the match in the fifth game of the second set, Federer saved it with an unreturnable serve.
"I think it was a good performance. Nicolas is a good player, especially on clay, and the first round is always difficult. I hope I can play even better in the second round," said Federer.
"Yeah I feel much better too now. Two weeks of hard practice, one tournament already in Monaco where I played tough matches so I know the way I need to play. I still believe I can make less unforced errors - especially on the backhand side - but my serve I thought was more consistent today. Didn't get broken once, I think faced one break point which is always a good sign you know first up in a tournament," Federer later said.
May 7, 2007 from AP:
ROME - Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka were edged out by Rafael Nadal and Carlos Moya 6-4, 7-6 (5) Monday in the first round of the doubles at the Rome Masters.
The Federer-Nadal doubles match took place on Foro Italico's second stadium and the seating section was overflowing with fans. Many also stood behind the stands to get a glimpse of the two top players.
Nadal and Moya broke Federer's serve to win the first set when Wawrinka netted two backhand volleys. In the second set, Federer and Wawrinka went ahead with an early break. Wawrinka had a chance to serve out the set at 5-4 — but made two errors to let Nadal and Moya draw even. The match ended when Federer returned Moya's serve into the net on the first match point.
May 6, 2007 from AP:
ROME - Roger Federer and Davis Cup teammate Stanislas Wawrinka were drawn against Rafael Nadal and Carlos Moya in the first round of doubles in the Rome Masters.
"It's nice to play against Rafael, and Moya, too, but in the end I'm playing doubles this week because Wawrinka is coming back from injury," Federer said.
Wawrinka was a late withdrawal from Switzerland's Davis Cup loss to Spain in February. "We've never played together and he's a very good friend of mine. I feel sorry for what happened to him with his knee during Davis Cup. I'll try to help him back."
Except for a brief trip to Mallorca, Federer has been training in Rome since last weekend. "I'm practicing very hard. A lot of points from the baseline, a lot of hard work, getting into the best shape possible."
Federer stopped practice short Saturday with an apparent injury. "I just hurt my leg a little bit. Today it's better again. I just didn't want to take a chance."
"My hip blocked. It's very strange. I don't know what happened. It's the first time it's happened in my life," Federer said Sunday. "I had already practiced 1 hour, 20 minutes and in the morning for two hours so I decided it was enough, take treatment and today I feel much better."
from DPA:
Rome - Roger Federer says that he's sorry to see the end of the five-set final at the Rome Masters, but admitted that eliminating the possibility of draining marathons may help players in the long run.
"It's a bit disappointing for the live audience and for the players too," said Federer. "But for the television audience and the players' health over the course of the year it might be the right thing to do."
Federer and Nadal, who made separate appearances on Italy's major football programme on Sunday prior to Monday's start of the event, both agreed that the Foro final of 2006 was a classic.
"That one was the best of the year," said Federer. "I'm disappointed that it going back to best of three but it's not like there will not be a final - women play them all the time. But in best of five, you definitely see more fight. In Monte Carlo, the match was over before it began."
Federer, who will benefit from a first-round bye along with other leading seeds, has promised to take full advantage of the Rome restaurant scene. "This is one of the events where I hardly ever get room service, there are too many good restaurants around," said Federer.
But with coach Tony Roche putting in his spring hours during the crucial clay season and leaving Federer to his own devices for Wimbledon, the Swiss has been making every pre-tournament day count. "The focus is to be as professional as possible. In the end, it's all leading to the French and Wimbledon."
"I was happy with how I played during the Monte Carlo week but my forehand collapsed against Rafa and that was very disappointing. It happens very seldom - or never."
"Losing was a letdown, but it gave me information. I knew I was so close to playing well against him and beating him. I just have to wait for the right moment - again."
May 5, 2007 from AP:
ROME - For this season, the ATP tour introduced best-of-three set finals for the Masters Series. The ATP said the Rome final spurred the change.
"It was great for Rome, but not fair to Hamburg," Roger Federer said. "I like battling for five sets, but it's too tough on your body. Now all the tournaments will have the chance to see the best players."
"The players' health is really important for us and we're trying to do everything possible to protect them," said tour spokesman Nicola Arzani.
Federer has bye for the first round of this year's Rome tournament, which begins Monday. He will face either Nicolas Almagro or Tim Henman in the second round.
Federer arrived in Rome last weekend and has been practicing on the clay courts all week with coach Tony Roche. He made a brief trip to Mallorca for Wednesday's exhibition match.
The Rome tournament is an important clay-court tuneup for the French Open, which begins May 27. "I don't necessarily want to become No. 1 on clay as much as I want to win Roland Garros," Federer said. "That's my goal."
May 4, 2007 from ATP:
Roger Federer has been named one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World. The list will appear in the May 14 issue, on sale next Monday. The ATP World No. 1 and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador is featured in the section 'Heroes & Pioneers.' The magazine features a tribute to Federer by Australian tennis legend Rod Laver.
from South Florida Sun-Sentinel:
WESLEY CHAPEL - Roger Federer approached the Bryan twins in the locker room at Monte Carlo a week and a half ago with his usual question. "How many titles have you guys won now?"
Thirty-seven, Mike Bryan told him. Federer had 47, and by Sunday his edge was down to nine. "I'm on your heels, Roger. Can you feel the heat?" Mike asked him as they jousted with each other.
Today, they're locker room pals with Federer. They're off for Rome for the Masters Cup Italian Open seeking title No. 39. Federer will be there as well, trying to keep the twins from getting any closer.
May 2, 2007
PALMA DE MALLORCA - Rafael Nadal beat Roger Federer 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (12-10) to win "The Battle of Surfaces" in front of his home crowd on Wednesday.
The pair brought a sellout crowd of about 7,000 to the "Palma Arena" for an exhibition match on a half-grass, half-clay court between the world's top two players, though the occasion was marred by some of the blustery conditions sweeping across Spain during much of the afternoon.
Federer first did some warming-up at a local tennis club and then switched to the indoor court, which is normally used as a velodrome.
A hybrid court, which cost $1.63 million to build over 19 days, gave a clear advantage to the player on the clay side, with the higher bounce giving them more time to line up their shots and move their opponent around the court. The two players were at their most vulnerable when serving from the grass end of the court as the ball tending to sit up for their opponents and give them time to attack the serve.
The organisers had experienced problems with the grass side of the court after the original turf had failed to cope with the indoor location and then fell victim to a plague of worms. As a result they decided to lay a brand new surface the night before the clash, transporting in 400 square metres of putting green grass from a local golf club supplier.
The grass caused some awkward bounces throughout, especially as the match progressed. Changeovers were extended to two minutes instead of the usual 90 seconds to give players a chance to change their footwear for each surface.
Nadal, serving from clay to start, won the first point of the match after a rally of ground strokes ended with Federer hitting his forehand into the net. Another Federer shot into the net, a backhand, gave the Spaniard the first game.
Federer lost his serve on the grass to fall 3-1 behind before winning three games on the trot to level. But Nadal took full advantage of Federer's uncharacteristic unforced errors to break his serve when the Swiss was serving from the grass and go on to take the opening set 7-5.
In the second set Federer broke Nadal's serve in the opening game when the Spaniard was on the clay and found his rhythm to take the second set 6-4.
Nadal held on clay but Federer held on the grass and the pair traded breaks as they shared the opening six games of the third set before the Swiss forced the tiebreak by holding in the 12th game.
Starting out playing the first half dozen points on the green stuff, Nadal trailed 4-2 in the tiebreak but rallied strongly after changing ends. After the Spaniard double-faulted while leading 6-5, both players traded match points before the second-ranked Nadal finally edging home 12-10 in a two-and-a-half-hour match.
"I found the court to be excellent, especially the clay part. It was a big challenge because you have a lot of things on your mind," said Federer. "I had problems deciding on how to play on each side of the court. I felt I was moving well on the grass, but it was harder to get going on the clay although I did adapt as the match went on. I enjoyed the experience, although it was a bit stressful having to change shoes all the time."
"The ball bounced badly, and it cost both of us," Federer said. "We're used to playing long, hard games with a lot of tension involved, so it's fun to play on this half-grass, half-clay surface." Palma has reached an agreement to host "The Battle of Surfaces" at the same venue for the next two years.
from AP:
BOSTON - Pete Sampras hung out with Roger Federer when the current world No. 1 was in California to play at Indian Wells.
"Roger called me when he was on the way to Indian Wells and asked if he could stop by," said Sampras. "I didn't really know him. But I found he's a great guy. Very pleasant. We played on my court, and I'd say I held my own. But Roger has an extra gear, and that makes him so great."
On the first day, they had a friendly workout hitting balls back and forth for about three hours. "The next day," Sampras said, "he came to my house and we stepped it up a little bit. Two great players, playing on a practice court; just two guys going toe-to-toe. It was competitive (Federer won 7-5 in a practice set). I held my own. For me, at my stage, I felt pretty happy about that."
"Twenty-four majors on court was pretty cool," he said. "I was very competitive and it's nice to know that I can still hold my serve against the best guy in the world. He's down to earth and funny, and like me, reserved and business like on court, but off court, he’s pretty funny and has a dry sense of humor."
May 1, 2007 from Roger Federer Official Site:
In 2006 the Roger Federer Foundation determined a clearer positioning of its strategic orientation and public appearance. Attention was particularly aimed at the need for quality and professionalism in order to award projects more focussed and sustainable support.
It is our pleasure to supply you with detailed information on the projects, guidelines and our team on the new Foundation website: www.rogerfedererfoundation.org.
from Herald Sun:
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are in Mallorca in preparation for the Battle of Surfaces, which will take place at Palma Arena on May 2.
Spanish officials have laid a hybrid grass and claycourt for an exhibition match between the two best players on the planet. One side of the net is made of grass, the other of clay.
"It'll be fun to find out what it's like to play on a court with mixed surfaces," Federer said. "And it ought to be interesting to see who chooses the better tactic."
from The Battle of Surfaces:
It is all set to reveal the great uncertainty of tomorrow's event. Seven thousand fans will witness The Battle of Surfaces. This afternoon, the two contenders met with the president of Balearic Islands, Jaume Mattas. Pablo Del Campo, the mastermind of this unique experience was there as well. After the press conference, all of them gather in a private tour visiting one of the main icons of the city: the Palma de Mallorca Cathedral.
"I'm very enthusiastic; it's a great idea for tennis", Roger said. Rafa showed thoughtful respect for the world's #1, "I have a special feeling, I'm really proud of having Roger in Mallorca", he said.
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