Sep 30, 2007 from Globe and Mail:
By Tom Tebbutt - Kudos to Roger Federer for pulling out of the Japan Open, which starts Monday.

Citing fatigue after playing four out of five weeks in late summer and then three tough Davis Cup matches in the Czech Republic from September 21-23, less than two weeks after beating Novak Djokovic in the U.S. Open final, Federer made a wise decision.

Everyone knows the yearly (48-week) tennis schedule is ridiculously over-crowded – and not about to change anytime soon – so it is up to players to look out for their own best interests.

Federer, with 12 Grand Slam titles, is invaluable to the sport as he continues his quest to break Pete Sampras’s record of 14. Keeping him healthy should be his own and everyone in tennis’s primary concern. So if he decides he should take a rest at any time during the year, he should be applauded.

Swedish great Bjorn Borg did not play a Grand Slam tournament after age 25 and John McEnroe did not win one after that same age.

Sep 28, 2007 from Reuters:
TOKYO - Roger Federer has pulled out of next week's Japan Open due to fatigue. Federer said he had yet to recover after winning his fourth consecutive U.S. Open title and playing for Switzerland in the Davis Cup earlier this month.

"I am so disappointed that I have to withdraw from the Japan Open," Federer said in a statement. "At this point I have still not physically recovered 100 percent from the U.S. Open and Davis Cup.

"Thus my doctor advised me that in an effort to avoid the risk of serious injury, I should not play a tournament for at least 10 days."

from Roger Federer Official Site:
Dear fans

I am really disappointed to have to withdraw from the AIG Japan Open, starting next week. I was very much looking forward to returning to Tokyo as the defending champion and seeing all the great fans at Ariyake stadium. Unfortunately I have still not fully physically recovered from the US Open and Davis Cup. I have been working hard with my team, especially my physiotherapist, in order to make it in time for the tournament in Tokyo . I am sorry to say that at this point my body is not ready yet and I need to rest for these extra days in order to avoid the risk of serious injury.

I hope you can understand my decision and I am looking forward to making up for it in the future!

Kind regards

from Gulf News:
Dubai: As part of the Dubai Cares initiative, the Dubai Sports Council will be auctioning off time with some of the world's top sports stars including Roger Federer and Sachin Tendulkar.

The auction, due to be held on October 22, will also include sports memorabilia, according to Rashid Al Kamali, marketing manager at the Dubai Sports Council.

Sep 26, 2007 from Khaleej Times:
DUBAI - Indian cricket star Sachin Tendulkar, Argentine football legend Diego Maradona, ex-heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson of the US and Swiss tennis ace Roger Federer will lead the support of the sports community to the global campaign ‘Dubai Cares’ launched by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, it was announced yesterday.

"We are still waiting for confirmation from French football legend Zinedine Zidane," said Dr Ahmed Al Sharief, secretary-general of the Dubai Sports Council. Speaking to newsmen at the council offices, Al Sharief said the move comes under the directives of Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, to bring together sportspersons from all over the world to interact with schoolchildren, local residents, young cricketers, footballers and communal groups, to further boost this humanitarian cause.

The programme will target the sports sector, including athletes, stars at the UAE, regional and international levels along with the general public.

The events, which started yesterday will continue till October 26 and culminate in a ceremonial dinner on October 22. At this dinner, gifts and memorablia donated by sportspersons will be auctioned off to support the campaign. These will include T-shirts, tools, rare coins, valuable shields, medals and photos from prominent UAE sporting figures as well as international sports celebrities.

A public auction will focus on leading personalities and strategic partners of the sports community, top officials and board members as well as international players and athletes, supporters, business persons, prominent families affiliated with sports clubs and officials of the General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare and the National Olympic Committee.

from Telegraph:
Tiger Woods and Roger Federer are both with the IMG stable and both endorse Nike, and have become close friends.

"It's been great for both of us," Woods explained. "We needle each other all the time with text messages or voice messages. The positions we're in, what we're trying to do in our sports. We're in the same time frame in our careers. We're right in the middle of our prime years. To get to know one another, how we think, how we train, it's been a lot of fun."

Sep 25, 2007 from AP:
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Pete Sampras decided to return on a limited basis this year on the senior circuit formed by former rival Jim Courier. Sampras committed to play in Boston, Athens and Charlotte, and has enjoyed it so much he's agreed to play a handful of exhibitions, including a November match in Malaysia against top-ranked Roger Federer.

"I've got Federer in the back of my mind in November, so I've been spending a little bit more time in the gym, trying to get in shape," Sampras said. "I've been hitting the ball pretty good."

Federer, after winning the U.S. Open earlier this month, is only two Grand Slam titles shy of Sampras' record. And like Sampras, Federer has never been able to win on clay at the French Open. Sampras has already conceded Federer will eclipse his Grand Slam title - and he believes the 26-year-old Swiss star will eventually win at Roland Garros.

Sep 24, 2007 from Tennis Week:
Danai Udomchoke on Roger Federer: "I want him to make the record (for total Grand Slams). I want him to win the French Open also. He's a good guy. He's a very good guy. He's very nice guy and he talk to everyone and he remember everyone. We are same age and then we play junior together. Once I play him, but in doubles, when we were like 16, 17. (Who won match?) He won."

from Telegraph:
Calcutta - Fabrice Santoro, after having spent 19 years on the tour, is entitled to think that he has seen it all. The second oldest player in the ATP top 100 is extremely popular with the crowd.

A day before the start of the ATP meet, the Frenchman averred that the game has changed a lot since he first played at the age of 16. "The game has become so fast, everybody’s fit, everybody’s got a big serve and everybody hits the ball so hard."

Another important development, says Santoro, who is seeded fifth in the singles draw, is that the modern player is good in every facet of the game. "In the old days, you could say that this player had a weak backhand or a weak serve so you could attack that area… Not any more, everybody is good in every area."

Santoro, who is scheduled to meet countryman Edouard Roger-Vasselin in the opening round here, is emphatic about Roger Federer.

"Federer is dominating more than Pete Sampras... Since just 2003 he has won 12 Grand Slams and in those 12 wins he has won so many in straight sets.

Sep 23, 2007 from Davis Cup:
Roger Federer won a tight three-setter against Tomas Berdych to bring Switzerland level with Czech Republic in their Davis Cup World Group Play-off in Prague. The world No. 1 took the first two sets on tiebreaks before winning 7-6(5) 7-6(10) 6-3 in two hours 27 minutes.

Federer started off the match with an ace. His Czech counterpart was not a bit impressed, forcing the Swiss to defend an early break point. Defended but not conceded. Federer certainly had his game face on. Berdych on the other hand only dropped two points on his opening game. In game three, a long high-speed exchange was ended by a backcourt half-volley backhand passing shot by "Fed." Despite that, Berdych was once again offered a break opportunity. The 21-year-old did not miss twice in a row. At 2-1 up and serving, Berdych was able to let his forehand do the talking for the break consolidation.

Berdych was not satisfied with that though. In the following game Federer was once again down, this time at 15-40, but the world No. 1 stood tall and avoided the handicap of a double break.

The first set point of the match came for Berdych after an impressive backcourt rally. Federer, however, saved it with a one-two combo, putting his forehand out of reach for the Czech. The Sazka Arena was definitely feeling that their player might have what it took to reproduce his exploits in upsetting Federer at the 2004 Athens Olympics – they were literally banging pots and pans.

Federer shouted "C’mon!" as he gave himself two break opportunities. The first was secured by a "big serve!" as the Swiss squad likes to say, and so was the second. After a let ball, a third chance was handed to the "governor." He took it, tying the set at 5-5.

Federer then went up 6-5 and had a second set point, but Berdych came up with some serious heat to prevent the break. The tiebreaker started off with Federer losing his serve immediately on an unforced error. The mini-break was consolidated by Berdych to go 2-0 up, and then 3-0 up with an ace. Federer then served twice and won those points to come back 3-2.

That is when Berdych served his second double fault of the match. He lost the next point on a forehand unforced error, setting Federer up with a mini break and two serves to get to a 6-3 lead, which he took. The first of Federer’s three set points was saved by a cross-court forehand volley, the second by a backhand down the line. The third, on the Swiss’s serve, was put away by Federer with a textbook forehand down the line. After losing the set, Berdych received a code violation for smashing the net banner with his racket in disgust when going to back to his chair.

The home player had the early chances in the second set, going up 40-love when leading 3-2, but Federer saved the three break points with some solid serving. Another followed for the Czech, and was also sent home with a serve and volley by the Swiss. Both men held serve until 6-6, even though Berdych had further two break points on the Federer serve. Federer also had a break point himself at 5-5 cancelled by a quality first serve from the Czech.

The second set tiebreaker was the reverse scenario of the first, with Berdych serving first and losing that advantage. Federer jumped to 3-0 up but dropped the minibreak as Berdych went on to lead 4-3 and serving. But unlike in the previous tiebreaker, Federer was able to steal one of Berdych’s serves. He followed up with his two points, setting up set point number one for Switzerland. Yet again this was saved by the Czech and his big gun.

It was now Federer facing a set point against him, which he saved, but he immediately handed Berdych a set point on his serve. Things were still level at 9-9 and finally a Federer serve that was too much for Berdych to handle gave Switzerland the second set after an hour of play in it.

The third set was a walk in the park for Federer, who waited for the eighth game to break a disgusted Berdych who was still thinking of his missed opportunities in the first two sets. Up 5-3, Roger was not about to let the opportunity go by, and being the champion that he is, he sealed it off 6-3 with two aces in the final game.

"I played unbelievable, and if it was not Roger Federer on the other side of the net I would have won, 400 per cent. He was luckier than me on a few points which made the difference," regretted Berdych.

from Reuters:
PRAGUE - Switzerland were knocked out of the World Group for the first time since 1994 after they were beaten 3-2 by the Czech Republic in their Davis Cup playoff tie on Sunday.

World number one Roger Federer beat Tomas Berdych 7-6 7-6 6-3 to bring Switzerland level but Radek Stepanek beat Stanislas Wawrinka 7-6 6-3 7-6 in the final rubber to give the Czechs the winning point.

from The Times:
...This time there was no kissing of the turf and Henman’s voice never once showed any sign of faltering as he was quizzed about his feelings. "I got a telephone call from Roger Federer just before the [Davis Cup] tie and he told me about the pitfalls of get choked up during a Sue Barker interview," he joked.

Sep 22, 2007 from Davis Cup:
Everyone in the stadium, aside from chair umpire Carlos Ramos, was surprised to see Radek Stepanek and Tomas Berdych team up to defend the Czech Republic’s chances in today’s doubles rubber of the 2007 Davis Cup World Group Play-off tie versus Switzerland.

Unlike the Czechs, the Swiss stuck with their original nominations, Roger Federer was paired-up with friend and usual doubles partner, Yves Allegro. The first set got off to a nervy start, with the games going on serve. However, with the score tied at 2-2, the Swiss team broke, consolidated it and stormed on to win the first set 6-3, Federer finishing it off with three aces.

In the second set, servers held their own until 5-5, then Federer hit a huge backhand down the line past Berdych, giving his team a 6-5 lead. Allegro served out to give his team a two sets to love lead.

In the opening game of the third set, the Swiss kept the pressure on, but the Czechs stayed solid, particularly at the net. After having three set points at 5-4, they couldn’t manage to close out the set, due to some magic stroke play from Federer and so it went to a tie break. The first point lost on serve was down to Allegro hitting a smash in the net, but he quickly redeemed himself by putting away a winning volley down the middle forcing both Czech players to look at each other with no reaction.

It then got to match point, when Federer flicked a forehand around the side post of the net past Berdych. However, they didn’t manage to convert this and Berdych stepped up to serve, negotiating a couple of tense points, but eventually won the set with an exquisite volley 9-7.

At the beginning of the fourth set, the Czechs got an immediate break, going on to successfully hold serve all the way through the set, Radek serving out to clinch it 6-4.

The fifth and final saw Federer serving first, winning the game, forcing the Czechs to play catch up tennis once again and they didn’t falter at any stage. And so it got the seventh game, which proved to be the decisive point in the match. With Allegro serving, Berdych upped his quality of return, forcing the Swiss into an error at the net. The crowd then came to life and after just over three hours play, Stepanek had the chance to give the Czechs a commanding 5-3 lead, which he dually did. Federer brought Switzerland back to 4-5, but it was all in the hands of Berdych to give the Czech Republic the final game. Down 0-30, the Czech got his serve going, finishing up the game, set and match.

"I thought both teams played great, and it wasn’t a case of them dominating the last three sets. They got some lucky breaks when I was not able to convert the break points in the fourth, and the fans were amazing on either side" said Federer. "We were one volley, one serve away. We were able to dominate for threes sets, just not win in the end."

So the Czech Republic go into the final day with a 2-1 lead after today’s epic. Tomorrow sees Federer take on Berdych and then it will be up to Stanislas Wawrinka and Stepanek to take center stage.

Sep 21, 2007 from Davis Cup:
Roger Federer beat Radek Stepanek 6-3 6-2 6-7(4) 7-6(5) to give Switzerland a 1-0 lead over Czech Republic in their Davis Cup World Group playoff.

In the sixth game of the first set, Federer got the first break thanks to two fine passing shots and a Stepanek double fault. This was followed up with a determined "C’mon" from the Swiss.

Federer saved two break points with aces in the next game, the set points quickly followed as yet another backhand passing shot put the Czech off balance and Federer closed out the set 6-3.

In the second set the world No. 1 broke in the third game. At 3-2, 15-all on Federer’s serve, Stepanek won a long rally, but the Swiss responded by three consecutive points, none of which went more than three exchanges. Stepanek missed several chances at 2-4 and Federer broke again on his second break point, rifling a backhand cross court that the Czech couldn’t handle. Federer quickly served out for a two-set lead.

"I really played great in the first two and a half sets, and it’s a pity that I was not able to win in three, but only the W counts. Switzerland is ahead now and I hope Stan give us a second point."

In the third set, the Czech dropped his serve at 1-1. At 2-4 0-15 on Stepanek’s serve, Federer defended two smashes with quality lobs and then ran down a drop shot for a winning crosscourt backhand passing shot. At 5-4 Stepanek saved a match point and then broke back to 5-5. The Czech proceeded to go ahead 6-5. And "Fed" tied at 6-6 apiece to set up a third set tie breaker. An unforced error by the Swiss on the forehand gave Stepanek an early mini break and the Czech garbbed another to lead 5-2. The next two points were dominated by Federer, but the Swiss followed up by a double fault and an unforced error on the backhand, literally giving the set to Stepanek.

One has to go back to Melbourne Park 2003 to record the last loss of a set by Federer in Davis Cup; Lleyton Hewitt storming back that day from two-sets-to-love down to win. As a matter of a fact, Federer had won 15 Davis Cup singles matches in straight sets since 2002 aside from the Hewitt match.

Federer broke Stepanek at the start of the fourth set and quickly establish a 4-1 lead. But when serving at 4-2, Federer once again had to deal with hurricane Radek. The Czech No. 2 broke back to 4-4. At 5-6, Stepanek lost his range on the first serve and Federer held two more match points but was denied by two service winners. Stepanek saved a fourth and forced another tiebreak.

from The Times:
...And recently Tiger Woods has talked of his friendship with Roger Federer, the world No 1 tennis player, whom he describes "as a joy to watch".

Sep 19, 2007 from Indian Express:
Sania Mirza said that she admired Tendulkar for the way he handled pressure. Sania, who loves cricket, had grown up admiring Tendulkar play and she admitted as much today. She has heroes in her chosen sport too, and Roger Federer tops that chart. "He is a perfectionist and I think that is a difficult thing for a sportsman to be," she said.

Sep 18, 2007 from AP:
PRAGUE - Roger Federer is back to play for Switzerland this weekend in its bid to remain in the Davis Cup World Group.

Federer ruled himself out of previous Davis Cup matches so he could concentrate on keeping his No. 1 ranking, but when his country lost in the first round and faced a September playoff, Federer was on the team. "I decided in the last couple of years that Davis Cup is not my No. 1 focus," Federer said Tuesday.

Without Federer, Switzerland was relegated to the playoffs after losing to visiting Spain 3-2 in February. The Swiss now face the Czech Republic, which lost to the United States 4-1 in the first round, on indoor hard courts.

"It's very important for Switzerland, having the No. 1 player in the world," Federer said. "I think we should also be in the World Group."

"I'm really looking forward to the Davis Cup weekend again," Federer said. "I haven't had it for a year. I'm very excited.

Still, Federer admitted it wouldn't be easy against the Czechs, who will use No. 10 Tomas Berdych and No. 34 Radek Stepanek against the Swiss.

"We're playing away and playing away from home is always more difficult," Federer said. "They have a great team." In the doubles, Federer is to team up with Yves Allegro to face Lukas Dlouhy and Martin Damm.

from Estoril Open:
Roger Federer is to play at the Estoril Open, between April 14-20, 2008, tournament director João Lagos revealed on Tuesday, September 18.

For the first time in five years, the Swiss star will add an extra clay court event to his European spring schedule. The ultimate goal: getting the best competitive preparation possible on the surface in order to have a better shot at the Roland Garros title – the only Grand Slam crown that has eluded him.

“When I saw Roger win the US Open in 2004, I was pretty much sure he was already playing the best, most complete game I had ever seen in my life”, said João Lagos, a former Portuguese champion. “Since then, he has consistently proven that he is the greatest player ever. Statistically, he is yet to surpass Sampras' Grand Slam tally; tennis-wise, Roger is already the best and no-one can argue against the stratospheric level of play he’s shown in the past years. I hope the Estoril Open can help Roger get the Roland Garros title missing in his resumé, and I am proud that he chose our tournament to complement his schedule.”

The last time Federer participated in a non-ATP Masters Series event on clay was at Gstaad in July 2004, the week after he captured his second Wimbledon title.

The event is traditionally a cradle for future French Open champions: Sergi Bruguera, Thomas Muster, Albert Costa and Juan Carlos Ferrero won in Portugal before going on to succeed in Paris – even Gustavo Kuerten (1997) and Gaston Gaudio (2004) won the doubles at the Estoril Open the same year they lifted the Roland Garros singles crown.

Sep 17, 2007 from Tennis Masters Cup:
Shanghai, China - The ATP has commissioned a sculptor to create Terracotta Warriors of the best eight tennis players in the world to mark the Tennis Masters Cup.

The life-size warrior statues will be created by French sculptor Laury Dizengremel in China and will be unveiled all together as a group at the event in Shanghai. Players in contention to qualify for the tournament met with the artist at the ATP Masters Series event in Montreal where they were measured and photographed ahead of their casting.

The Terracotta Warriors are symbolic of China's history and internationally recognised around the world. The Terracotta Army were originally created to be buried with the Emperor of Qin in 210-209 BC and it is believed to have taken some 700,000 workers and craftsmen 38 years to complete. The Army was only rediscovered in 1974 and 8,099 figures have since been unearthed around the Emperor's tomb. The site in China has become a major tourist attraction with nearly two million people visiting annually.

World No.1 Roger Federer and No.2 Rafael Nadal qualified for the tournament following Wimbledon this year, while Novak Djokovic sealed his place during his recent run to the US Open final. The remaining five places will be determined as the ATP Race comes to a climax following the US Open, with the likes of Andy Roddick, James Blake and Nikolay Davydenko all in the running.

Federer said, "It's always one of the goals you set at beginning of the year, trying to be there with the other top seven or eight players, to battle it out. I've had some great Tennis Masters Cups in my career, it's always been one of the highlights of the year, and Shanghai is a terrific venue. I think that being sculpted as a Terracotta Warrior is an honour, I think the idea is fun, bringing together culture and sport, and I'm looking forward to seeing the final result."

from The Times:
By Simon Barnes - As Roger Federer collected his twelfth grand-slam title the weekend before last, working on Novak Djokovic in the US Open final in a way that was positively miraculous, it was clear why he was the best tennis player in the world. But is he the best player of anything?* If we use as the criterion a complete dominance of his sport, he is pretty close and if we add to this a reinvention of the sport as well, Federer is looking still better.

In the big team sports, there is nobody to touch him: if people are talking about Cristiano Ronaldo as the world’s best footballer, it is clear that there is no Pelé or even a Diego Maradona playing. Muttiah Muralitharan and Sachin Tendulkar have claims in cricket, but it is hard to dominate cricket. Only Don Bradman and, perhaps, Shane Warne have managed it.

Asafa Powell has just set a record for the 100 metres of 9.74sec and you cannot rule out the fastest human being in history from the discussion. But his recent failure at the World Championships excludes him; you need medals as well as records.

There is a strong contender in Kenenisa Bekele, the world and Olympic champion at 10,000 metres and the world record-holder at 10,000 and 5,000 metres. He has also done something nobody else has, winning the long-course and short-course World Cross Country Championships in the same year. He has done it five times, to show that it wasn’t a fluke.

As dominatrix of a single event, you cannot top Yelena Isinbayeva, the pole vaulter. She has set 20 world records and will set more.

But perhaps you require more than one event. In that case, I give you Carolina Klüft, the Swedish heptathlete, who, like Federer, conducts her business in courtesy and good vibes. She is world and Olympic champion, unbeaten in multi-events for five years. If Federer has a rival for the world’s leading athlete, it is she.

Sep 13, 2007 from Entertainment Group Limited:
It was announced today that admission tickets for the Clash of Times event featuring world #1 and 12-time Grand Slam title winner Roger Federer in a challenge match against all-time great Pete Sampras will go on sale on Saturday, September 15.

Since the announcement earlier this year that 14-time Grand Slam title winner Sampras would make a return to professional tennis challenging the supremacy of the all-dominating Federer who has just won his fourth US Open title over the past weekend, interest on the historic match has been tremendous with some referring to it as the greatest tennis match-up in history. The classic showdown will take place on November 22 at Malawati Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and organizers have confirmed to have received a massive influx of requests for purchase of tickets from a large number of countries.

"We are experiencing incredible demand for tickets for the Clash of Times. There is no question that it will be a complete sell-out. Tickets are not even on sale yet but we already have experienced incredible demand, especially for the best seats. This is understandable as to have the opportunity to watch Pete Sampras go head to head with Roger Federer live in person is truly a 'once in a life time opportunity'. They have only played once before with Federer prevailing in a fantastically close 5-set match at the Center Court at Wimbledon which marked the beginning of the end of the Sampras era and the early years of Federer’s domination of the sport," said Lincoln Venancio, Managing Director of Entertainment Group Limited.

Promoters, Entertainment Group Limited and First Events Promotions Sdn Bhd have confirmed that tickets will go on sale much earlier than initially planned as a result of the massive demand. Seven-time Wimbledon champion ‘Pistol’ Pete will confront the Federer ‘Express’ in a 12,000-seat arena on a medium speed indoor carpet at 8:00pm.

"Roger is a true class act. He is obviously a great player but his manners on and off the court set him apart just as much. He is a true gentleman of the sport of tennis and I am very much looking forward to playing him in Kuala Lumpur. I have been preparing for the match very seriously and I will definitely be up to the task by then," said Sampras.

"Pete and I practiced together earlier this year at his home in Los Angeles and the tennis was fantastic. Although I will not get into who won the practice tie-breakers and sets we played, I will say that the tennis was of very high quality. We both felt that for the good of tennis we should play in front of the tennis public and we are now putting this into practice. I am excited about playing Pete as he dominated tennis for many years but more importantly, he went about a decade of playing and winning matches, tournaments and Grand Slam titles demonstrating the utmost sportsmanship," said Federer.

The Clash of Times is one of three events which comprise the Malaysia Independence Tennis Festival – the second being a challenge match featuring world #2 and three-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal on November 20 against French top player and Wimbledon semi-finalist Richard Gasquet. The third element of the tennis extravaganza taking place in the city of the Twin Towers is the world’s richest ATP Challenger Series event which will be held from November 17-25. The Malaysia Independence Tennis Festival – is held in commemoration of Malaysia’s 50th Anniversary of Malaysia’s Independence.

from Bob Larson Tennis News:
Roger Federer has agreed to play Pete Sampras at New York’s Madison Square Garden next year. They will play on March 10, 2008 and then Federer will head to Indian Wells, California for the Pacific Life.

Jerry Solomon, president of StarGames, the promoter of the event, told Daily Tennis News that his client, Ivan Lendl actually brought the availability of Sampras-Federer to him, and he quickly arranged for the event to be held at MSG in New York. Solomon said the timing of such an event at the Garden is perfect, and he is negotiating with a proper warm-up event before Federer and Sampras take the court.

from Tennis Week:
Fashion fan Roger Federer and girlfriend Mirka Vavrinec joined Vogue's Anna Wintour in the front row for designer Oscar de la Renta's spring collection show the day after Federer swept Novak Djokovic in straight sets to capture his Open Era record fourth consecutive U.S. Open championship.

"I always liked Oscar's show," said Federer who received loud applause from those in attendance as he walked in to take his seat. "This is my second one — I went last year. I think he's got beautiful dresses."

Sep 12, 2007 from Houston Chronicle:
Roger Federer's record payday at the U.S. Open on Sunday is more than Tiger Woods received for winning the BMW Championship earlier in the afternoon. It also exceeded any of Woods' single-tournament checks in 2007.

But Woods remains way ahead for the year ($9.6 million to $7.06 million and has earned more than double Federer for their respective careers ($75.3 million to $35.6 million).

Sep 11, 2007 from New York Daily News:
U.S. Open champ Roger Federer was spotted at MercBar on Sunday night, celebrating with friends (including Gavin Rossdale) until 4 a.m. and closing down the iconic SoHo bar.

Sep 10, 2007 from AP:
The words "classic with a modern twist" might very well be the most overused phrase in fashion. But it also may be the only way to describe Oscar de la Renta's spring collection. De la Renta put on a real show in a former church with The Polyphonic Spree, a funky choir, providing background music. Victoria Beckham and tennis star Roger Federer were in the front row. (When Federer took his seat next to Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour, the rest of the crowd gave him a round of applause for his latest U.S. Open championship.)

Sep 9, 2007
NEW YORK - Roger Federer defeated Novak Djokovic 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 to claim his fourth successive U.S. Open crown on Sunday.

The Swiss world number one clinched his 12th grand slam title and became the first man since Bill Tilden, who won six in a row from 1920 to 1925, to win four consecutive titles at the Open.

Federer, who has won three Slam titles in a year for the third time in four years, matched Roy Emerson for second on the all-time Slam title list. He improved to 12-2 in Slam finals, losing only at Roland Garros in 2006 and 2007.

Federer's US Open win streak equals the 27-match run of Ivan Lendl from 1985 to 1988 as the longest in the Open Era. The last time he lost a match was a fourth-round defeat in the 2003 US Open.

Federer won 2.4 million dollars for the triumph, the biggest prize from a single event in tennis history, after his total boosted by a one million-dollar bonus from his results in US Open tuneup events.

Together with Justine Henin's victory in Saturday's women's final, it marked the first time since 1996 that both US Open singles titles went to top seeds.

With Maria Sharapova and Robert De Niro sharing a box with his parents in the stands, Djokovic broke Federer for a 6-5 lead in the first set after the Swiss star hit two forehands long. Djokovic served for the set and raced out to a 40-love edge.

The 20-year-old Serb missed five set points and then double-faulted to give Federer his first break of the match. That sent the set to a tiebreaker, where Djokovic made two more double faults including one on Federer's second set point.

Djokovic broke in the fourth game of the second set and went ahead 4-1. But Federer broke at love in the seventh game and finished a run of 10 points in a row holding at love to level at 4-4.

When Federer served while trailing 6-5, Djokovic earned two set points. Federer took care of the first with a 126 mph ace, and Djokovic blew the next with an errant forehand.

Federer held to the tie-break, in which he scored the final five points. When he ended it with a backhand passing winner down the line, Federer skipped toward the sideline, screamed and punched the air.

from Sports Illustrated:
Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania, best known as Roger Federer's practice partner, took the US Open boys' title.

from ASAP Sports:
Q. Have you practiced a lot with Federer these past two weeks during the Open? I know you're practicing with him today a little later.
RICARDAS BERANKIS: Yeah, that's right. Half an hour.

Q. Have you done it before?
RICARDAS BERANKIS: No. Only in Dubai one month ago.

Q. How did that help your game?
RICARDAS BERANKIS: I think it give me confidence, you know, when you see the No. 1 on the other side you're playing yourself. I think that gives you a lot of confidence.

Q. Did he ask you? How did that come about?
RICARDAS BERANKIS: His manager talked to my coach, my manager, decided.

Q. Can you describe how it's different to hit with him than to hit with juniors?
RICARDAS BERANKIS: Just different at all. Just completely different.

Q. Completely different?
RICARDAS BERANKIS: Yeah.

Q. Because you feel different or because of the way he hits the ball?
RICARDAS BERANKIS: Because there is No. 1, you know, Roger Federer. Of course, it's different, yeah.

Q. Does he hit the ball differently than what you're used to?
RICARDAS BERANKIS: Like he hits the ball solid and fast. But, you know, he's like the God of tennis right now. So when you see the other person standing on the other side, of course it's different for you.

Q. Do you find it hard to get your game going when you have Roger Federer on the other side of the net?
RICARDAS BERANKIS: First few days, yeah. First few days, yeah. But after he treat us like good friends. We relaxed also. After it was okay.

Sep 8, 2007 from Reuters:
NEW YORK - Roger Federer moved to within one win of his 12th grand slam title after he battled to a 7-5 6-1 7-5 win over fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko to reach the U.S. Open final on Saturday.

Russian Davydenko had two set points in the third set but three-times champion Federer hit back to clinch victory and set up a final against third seed Novak Djokovic.

"It was tough and I thought it was quite windy today," the Swiss world number one said. "When I came back in the first set I started to play really well. Then I had some chances early in the third set but after that he started to play much better and made it tough. In the end, I am relieved to get through."

In a repeat of last year's semi-final, Davydenko broke in the first game and led 3-1. The Russian had lost all nine of their previous meetings but came out of the blocks fast, making Federer look almost human.

Top seed Federer broke back in the sixth game and then again in the eighth only to falter when serving for the set at 5-3. However, the Swiss recovered to take the set and then cruised through the second as Davydenko wilted.

The Russian then lifted his game impressively in a roller-coaster of a third set that included seven breaks of serve. Three times he led by a break and at 5-4, he forced two set points on the Federer serve only for the world number one to shut the door. Federer clinched victory to secure a place in his record 10th consecutive grand slam final.

Sep 7, 2007 from Globe and Mail:
In what may could be ominous news for the rest of the men's tour, world No. 1 Roger Federer, speaking on Wednesday, appears to be revising upward how much longer he may play. In the past, he has cited the 2012 London Olympics, with the tennis event at Wimbledon, as a possible time frame for ending his career.

"I'm thinking of 35 as a goal," said Federer, who turned 26 last month. "At a minimum, I'd like to continue up until the 2012 Olympic Games. But basically, I would like to play tennis as long as possible. I believe that it is realistic to play until 35. Maybe I won't play 20 to 25 tournaments but only 10 to 15. Of course, I need to stay healthy as well."

Sep 5, 2007 from AFP:
NEW YORK - Roger Federer maintained his dominance over Andy Roddick to reach the semi-finals of the US Open on Wednesday.

The top seed and defending champion defeated the home favourite 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 in an intense night-time encounter that turned on two tie-breaks which brought out the brilliant best from the world's top player.

Federer made it 25 wins in a row at the US Open and he is now just two games away from emulating the four-in-a-row feat of Bill Tilden in the 1920s.

In Saturday's semi-finals, the Swiss star will play fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko, against whom he has a 9-0 winning record. Davydenko defeated Tommy Haas 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 sending him into the last four as the only player not to have dropped a set.

Roddick's defeat means that the winless stretch for American men in Grand Slam tournaments extends to 16, one short of the record between 1984 and 1989. It was also his 14th defeat in 15 games against Federer, including the last 10 in a row.

Both Federer and Roddick were dressed in black for their much-anticipated prime-time showdown. Roddick was pumped up for the challenge and with his serve operating at full blast, the first set raced towards a tie-break.

Federer made the mini-break with a marvellous backhand pass beating Roddick's charge to the net and then he blasted down an ace on set point.

Roddick had the first break point in the match for either man in the eighth game of the second set but he hit long on a backhand service return. The American was taking most of the initiatives and was comfortable on his own serve.

But once again he came off second best in the tie-break, Federer hitting a fabulous blocked return winner off a 140 mph Roddick first serve to grab the mini-break and then blasting a service winner to go two sets ahead.

from Telegraph:
"I think Roger will definitely break the Sampras number," Roy Emerson told The Daily Telegraph. "I think records really matter to Roger. He wants to be the big leader, with the most grand slams won. He definitely wants that on his resume."

Emerson has no great love of the 'wham-bam' school of modern tennis. During his era, the Sixties, rackets were made from trees, but now they are made from materials you would find in a NASA laboratory.

He has suggested that the advances in racket technology have led to one-dimensional tennis, with players crashing and thrashing the ball from the baseline, while grace and variety are going the same way as white tennis balls and gentlemen sipping lemon barley water during the change of ends.

from HotelChatter:
Roger Federer is staying at the Carlyle Hotel on the Upper East Side during the US Open. For Four Seasons employees this is quite a shock. We hear that Swiss tennis god Roger always stays at Four Seasons but this time people kept recommending the Carlton. So he switched his reservation and is staying on the same floor as the hotel's general manager, James McBride, who has an apartment there.

Sep 4, 2007 from US Open:
Roger Federer may have a complete game and he may have won 11 majors, but the two-time Olympian has never won a medal at the Games.

In his Olympic debut at the 2000 Sydney Games, Federer lost the bronze medal match to Arnaud DiPasquale. But it wasn't a total loss. Federer met his girlfriend, Mirka Vavrinec, a teammate on that 2000 Swiss Olympic team.

At the 2004 Athens Olympics, Federer had already won three majors and was chosen by his teammates to carry the Swiss flag at the Opening Ceremony. But he lost in the second round against Tomas Berdych.

Sep 3, 2007 from AP:
NEW YORK - Roger Federer was scuffling against Feliciano Lopez at the U.S. Open on Monday night. He lost the first set, barely won the second, then trailed love-40 to start the third.

And then Federer did the sort of remarkable thing that only Federer does: He won the next 35 points he served. That allowed him to take control of the third set and the match, coming back to win 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-4 in the fourth round at Flushing Meadows.

Asked about that 35-point run, Lopez rolled his eyes and said, "I mean, it's tough. I'm playing against Roger Federer." His voice then trailed off, as if that should be explanation enough. Federer's response when told of the stat: "That's awesome."

Next up for the No. 1-ranked Federer: a quarterfinal against No. 5 Andy Roddick. Federer is 13-1 against Roddick. "It's a great record, but it doesn't help me," Federer said. "We'll see how it goes. Andy's always tough at the U.S. Open."

Lopez, ranked 60th in the world, was spectacular at the start, he hit well-angled serves that caught Federer flat-footed and volleyed brilliantly, including one right to a corner to earn a quick break and a 3-1 lead. Lopez blew a set point by missing a backhand on a 25-stroke exchange, but then used a 118 mph service winner to take the opening set.

Lopez was right with Federer in the second set, too, getting to 4-all with another nice volley winner. But while serving in the 10th game, Lopez faltered ever so slightly, and when he dumped an over-the-shoulder volley try in the net, Federer broke to even things. "He was playing fantastic for the first two sets," Federer said. "I really had to struggle."

And then Lopez won the first three points of the third set on Federer's serve, setting up three break points. Lopez put a forehand in the net on the first. Federer delivered an ace on the second. Lopez hit a forehand that clipped the net and fell back on his side on the third.

from New York Daily News:
Top-ranked Roger Federer faces Spain's Feliciano Lopez in a round-of-16 match today, and don't be surprised if it evokes strong memories for Federer, who played Lopez in the same round at Wimbledon four years ago. That was before Federer had won a single Grand Slam and was widely seen as a promising player who was not honoring his talent.

In Rene Stauffer's new book, "The Roger Federer Story: Quest for Perfection," Federer recounts that minutes before the match, while taking a warmup serve, he felt a stabbing pain in his lower back. "I thought, 'My God, what's this?'" Federer recalled. "I couldn't move anymore. Everything had seized up."

He called for the trainer early in the match and as he received treatment, he lay on the grass and looked skyward. He hoped for rain, or a miracle. It didn't rain. The miracle came in the form of a loosening back, and the help of painkillers. He couldn't serve his hardest, and found it hard even to sit for changeovers, but Federer earned a hard-won, straight-set victory. Three rounds later, he defeated Mark Philippousis of Australia for the first of his five straight Wimbledon titles.

Sep 2, 2007 from DPA and Tennis X:
Stanislas Wawrinka, supported in his box by Roger Federer's parents, knocked out Robby Ginepri 5-7, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in three and a half hours. It gave Switzerland two male representatives in the last 16 of a Slam for the first time in the Open Era.

"I’m pretty close with Roger," the 22-year-old said, "and his parents come to almost every match of mine to support me, and that’s very nice. I am good friends with Roger. It’s always nice to practice with the No. 1 and to talk with the No. 1 player."

from AP:
Another new touch: The lockers of past champions entered in this year's US Open have silver plaques engraved with a name and title years. So, for example, tucked in about as private a corner as there is, sits one wooden locker door decorated with, "R. FEDERER, 2004, 2005, 2006."

There doesn't appear to be room for "2007," but I'm sure they'll figure out a way around that should Federer claim his fourth consecutive championship here in two weeks.

Sep 1, 2007 from AFP:
NEW YORK - World number one Roger Federer answered the challenge of big-serving US giant John Isner to reach the fourth round of the US Open, rallying Saturday for a 6-7 (4/7), 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 triumph.

The 26-year-old Swiss legend overcame 18 aces by the American newcomer and advanced to a matchup in the round of 16 with Spain's 62nd-ranked Feliciano Lopez.

"It's so hard to play against players like him," Federer said. "I started to pick up on his serve from the second set. It was unbelievable how he was serving in the first set."

Federer could not solve the firepower serves of 6-foot-9 (2.05m) Isner in the first set and needed a forehand winner to deny him on a break point in the fifth game.

Isner smacked a forehand winner to seize a 5-4 lead in the tie-breaker and blasted his way to the set with a forehand winner and a Federer forehand beyond the baseline.

But that was the last unforced error for Federer until the final set as the Swiss master broke Isner, 22, to open the second set, in the seventh game of the third and in the first game of the fourth set thanks to a netcord winner.

"You hope he's not going to keep serving aces," Federer said. "He's the big guy. He's controlling the match. That's why I didn't have any unforced errors. I didn't get the ball back."

Federer, who fired 10 aces, finally ended it with a forehand winner after two hours 15 minutes, taking advantage of 42 unforced errors by Isner against his 49 winners.

from Charlotte Observer:
STAT OF THE DAY: Roger Federer played a 105-point error-free stretch against John Isner.

from US Open:
Musician Gavin Rossdale was sitting next to Federer’s girlfriend Mirka Vavrinec during his third-round match against John Isner on Saturday.

from Los Angeles Times:
Wednesday night, Isner and Federer finished about the same time and crossed paths in the locker room. "I had never met him," Isner said, "but he stopped and congratulated me, so I kind of got to meet him then."