Jan 31, 2008 from Herald Sun:
Twelve-time grand slam winner Roger Federer will win another six majors and is far from a spent force in men's tennis after losing the Australian Open semi-final.

That is the ominous warning from Australian Davis Cup coach Darren Cahill, who said it was premature to write off the "Fed Express".

Cahill, who coached Andre Agassi and Lleyton Hewitt, said Federer would bounce back, beginning at the one grand slam title to elude him, the French Open.

"He's the best that I've seen and it would be extremely foolish to say Roger is gone and on the slide," Cahill said. "He missed out (in Melbourne) this time, but he can win at least six more grand slam titles."

There have been question marks raised over Federer since his Australian Open semi-final loss to eventual champion Novak Djokovic on Friday night. But Cahill said Federer would surpass Pete Sampras's record of 14 grand slam singles titles.

"He's in a class of his own and deserves the record," Cahill said. "I won't say he's the greatest because he hasn't won the French yet. Roger must win in Paris and he has the game to do it on clay."

from People:
Entourage star Kevin Connolly, ordering a glass of chardonnay and a Diet Coke with his fried chicken and spaghetti at Mauro's Café at Fred Segal in L.A. Several hours later, dad-to-be Gavin Rossdale and tennis champ Roger Federer walked in for a coffee break. Both had lattes.

from Peter Bodo's TennisWorld:
Andre Agassi's respect for Roger Federer hasn't dimmed since he left the tour. he told me: "Fed has a strike zone that goes from the ankles above his head, but it also goes from just behind his body to a foot and a half in front. I had a strike zone from my ankles to my shoulders, but I always hit the ball just in front of me, and when it got behind me, I hit an entirely different kind of shot. The question is, can you teach what Fed does? The only thing I know for sure is that he’s making the game better."

Jan 30, 2008 from Tennis Week:
Tennis Week: When I talk to guys who played you or saw you play — like Vic Seixas, Stolle, the Aussie champions — they always talk about your toughness, sportsmanship and class on the court. Some of the greatest champions: Laver, Borg, Edberg, Sampras were either gentleman or quiet on court and then you've seen enormously successful champions like Connors and McEnroe and Nastase who were much more vocal. The NFL came under criticism from some fans when they limited the touchdown celebrations as trying to eliminate personality from the sport. Do you think it's good for tennis when players tear their shirts off, argue with the chair umpires and show emotion and personality? And do you think the Djokovic ball bouncing and the Sharapova shrieking and the Ivanovic sneaker squealing is a form of gamesmanship or is it just every player has their own style and these players are doing what they need to do to play their best tennis?

Tony Trabert: I think Djokovic bounces the ball way too many times and when you see he bounces it more depending on the point I can see why people would say it is gamesmanship, but there is no rule against it. So unless they make it a rule, you've just gotta deal with it and adjust. I don't mind seeing someone arguing a call though now with the Hawk-Eye at majors you can just challenge that call. I know a lot of people liked when McEnroe or Connors argued, but I didn't like it when they made it personal against the lines people who are out there doing their best and make mistakes sometimes just as players do. I would think the true tennis fan would like and appreciate some decorum on court. And when you see Federer in tears after he won Wimbledon or fall to his knees that is true emotion and you appreciate it because it shows how meaningful it is to Federer. What I don't like is players showing another player up with too much celebrating after they win. Like [Penn State football coach] Joe Paterno said "When you're fortunate enough to get in the end zone and score a touchdown, act like you've been there before." I never threw a racquet up in the air in my life after winning a match or a tournament. If you win, you will get all the accolades anyway and the other guy already feels badly having lost so why make him feel worse with excessive celebration? It bothers me when someone loses and they give the opponent the dead fish instead of looking him in the eye and giving a real handshake or when the loser grabs his bag and just hustles off the court. We were taught, ethically, there is a right way to conduct yourself. If you lose, look the man in the eye and give him a real handshake and wait until the winner is ready to leave before you pack up your bag and walk off the court. Federer conducts himself well after a loss, but then again he isn't losing all that much.

Tennis Week: Reviewing the Australian Open, do you view Djokovic's victory — and the fact he's now beaten Roger in two of the last three meetings — as a sign he is truly closing the gap and is the eventual successor at number one? Or do you view it that Roger is human, he was sick the week before and played the Australian Open without any tune-up tournament for the first time. In other words: what should we take from the results at the Australian Open?

Tony Trabert: Roger was ill the week before so I don't believe he was at his best and he didn't look that comfortable to me on court nor was he playing great tennis and remember he had that tough five-setter with Tipsarevic that went 10-8 in the fifth. It's a phenomenal feat for Roger to reach 10 straight Grand Slam finals and as he said after "I created a monster" in that he will always be compared to his past success and no one can live up to that and reach every single final all the time. I read some article that said "Roger is 26 now so it's all down hill from here...." and I think that's a lot of baloney. He might not win the French, if Nadal is playing well, but he can still win Wimbledon and the U.S. Open and tie Sampras' record for most career majors. Certainly, Djokovic is a very talented player and has a great future ahead but when I read people writing Roger Federer off I don't understand that at all.

Tennis Week: Between your playing days and commentary work you've probably seen 50 French Opens transpire. You won Roland Garros twice. If you were Roger or Roger's coach, do you think Roger should alter his game, tactically, at the French Open or do you think he should play the way he always plays and hopes Nadal gets picked off before the final since he's beating almost everyone except for Nadal on clay anyway?

Jan 29, 2008 from ATP:
Favourite player profiles among the fans on www.australianopen.com saw World No.1 Roger Federer and this year’s women’s finalist Ana Ivanovic top the poll ahead of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Maria Sharapova. Federer also leads the men’s competition for aces served at 91, with Serena Williams topping the women’s at 40.

from The Times:
By Matthew Pryor - The 23 modern wonders of sport:

1 Roger Federer’s top-spin forehand.

Jan 25, 2008 from BBC:
MELBOURNE - Roger Federer's streak of 10 straight Grand Slam finals came to an abrupt end as No. 3 Novak Djokovic advanced to the Australian Open championship match with a 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (5) victory Friday night.

Djokovic now will face unseeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who beat No. 2 Rafael Nadal in the semifinals Thursday, in Sunday's final.

Serving for the first set at 5-4, Federer produced some uncustomary unforced errors and did not win another game as the opener went to Djokovic in 45 minutes.

Djokovic reached his volley and threaded a backhand down the line from an acute angle to break in the fourth game of the second set. Federer was broken again and found himself staring at a 5-1 deficit.

Having retrieved one of the breaks, the top seed saved one set point with a trademark thumping forehand into the corner but Djokovic was not to be denied and clinched the second set in 40 minutes with an ace.

Federer created three breaks points in Djokovic opening service game of the third set. But the 20-year-old from Belgrade rallied, sealing the game with an ace, and then carved out two break point chances of his own in the next. He was unable to take those and the third set continued to go with serve.

Jan 24, 2008 from AP:
LONDON - Roger Federer and Tiger Woods were nominated Thursday for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award.

The other contenders are American sprinter Tyson Gay, Brazilian soccer player Kaka, American swimmer Michael Phelps and Finnish race car driver Kimi Raikkonen.

Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva, who won the women's award last year, was again nominated for 2008. The other women nominees were: Belgian tennis player Justine Henin, Swedish heptathlete Carolina Kluft, Australian swimmer Libby Lenton, Brazilian soccer player Marta and Mexican golfer Lorena Ochoa.

The nominees were chosen by international sports journalists. The winners will be selected by members of the Laureus Sports Academy and announced in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Feb. 8.

AC Milan, Ferrari and Iraq's national soccer team were among the contenders for world team of the year.

In the breakthrough of the year category, double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius of South Africa was nominated along with U.S. Open tennis finalist Novak Djokovic of Serbia.

Two-time U.S. Open winner Pat Rafter says he's glad that Roger Federer was so young when the pair played on the tour. Former No. 1-ranked Rafter retired from the ATP Tour in 2002 with a 3-0 record against an up-and-coming Federer.

"Roger was still in his nappies when I was playing him. It was great," Rafter joked Thursday. "He wants me to come back so he can beat me."

Rafter, who on Saturday will be inducted into Australia's Tennis Hall of Fame, acknowledges that Federer is a very different player to the one he last beat in 2001.

"Oh, his game's changed completely since I played him. It's a different game, different player," he said. "He's got a big serve, great returns ... a great athlete like all of them are now. I don't see a lot of weaknesses in his game. I wouldn't like to play him."

Rafter can see the gap closing between Federer and the latest crop of young stars, but expects the Swiss star to remain dominant.

from Gulf Times:
Boris Becker has been keeping an eye on the Australian Open and has tipped Roger Federer as the hot favourite for title.

“I’m keeping a watch on the happenings in Australia. I keep a track of who is winning and losing. I am obviously a tennis follower. I think the battle for the title will be between Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Federer should stand out.”

Federer was pushed to the wire last week by 49th-ranked Serbian player Janko Tipsarevic and Becker feels such tests are a must for a player of Federer’s calibre.

from The Age:
By Ana Ivanovic - Last night I had a room-service dinner and watched Roger Federer. He is my favourite player to watch: we can all learn a lot from him. I understand he is a very specific player when it comes to racquets and surfaces. I am the opposite: I am not very good at describing court conditions, and I'm not particularly fussy when it comes to string tensions, etc.

Jan 23, 2008 from AP:
MELBOURNE - Roger Federer ran his record against No. 12 James Blake to 8-0 and advanced to the Australian Open semifinals with a 7-5, 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory Wednesday.

The two players exchanged early breaks in the first two sets. With a tiebreaker looming in the first, Federer set up a break point as Blake served at 5-6 with a forehand volley winner, and Blake then sent a forehand long on the next point.

The second set followed the same pattern as Federer broke early and Blake struck back. Blake saved two set points while serving at 4-5 and three more after falling behind 6-2 in the tiebreaker. But there are only so many escapes possible against Federer, who finally cashed his sixth set point on a service Blake couldn't get back.

Federer was cruising at 5-1 in the third set when Blake, refusing to yield, ran off three straight games. Federer finally held to finish it off.

In beating Blake, Federer reached a record 15th consecutive Grand Slam semifinal and secured the number one ranking for a record 209th week.

from New York Times:
Even after winning 12 Grand Slam singles titles, Federer can still catch spectators off guard. It happened when Federer was down by 1-2 in the second-set tie breaker. He had just played a poor defensive point, looking off rhythm and in a mood almost dark enough to match his black socks.

Up he trudged to the service line and then, out of his funk, came nothing less than tennis magic. He half-volleyed a typically huge return from Blake, then easily handled the next parry, a blistering approach shot. Finally, he whipped a forehand passing shot crosscourt for a winner.

“Those are the points you like to see on replay later,” Federer said.

With no time to think or fret, it had all been about instinct, and just like that, Federer was on his way to a higher level, as if some one had pushed the fast forward button on a DVR. He took the next point, another extended delight, with an overhead winner off a high bouncing lob from Blake that landed near Federer’s baseline. Blake put hand to strings and clapped, not nearly as stunned as the 15,000 fans at Rod Laver Arena.

from Australian Open:
Q. On TV they talked a couple times about how intimidating Federer is. Does that intimidation come to you in any other way than his play?

JAMES BLAKE: No. And I think that's something that's very unique about him, is that it comes from his play. A lot of the veterans or retired players are kind of shocked that he is as nice as he is. Honestly, I saw him at dinner last night. We said, Hi, how's it going? The waitress came over and said, Do we need to move you guys apart? No, we don't care. We can be friendly.

So he doesn't try to, you know, make himself somewhat unknown or mysterious to the rest of us, what he's doing. He's genuinely a friendly guy. He's just -- I don't know. He seems like one of the guys in the locker room. Then you go out there, he beats the crap out of you, you come back in the locker room and he's one of the guys.

from The Hindu:
Mumbai - The government of Switzerland and National Basketball Association of US have approached the BCCI for using Sachin Tendulkar and some other Indian cricketers for furthering social causes through advertisements.

"The Swiss government approached us and wanted Sachin to do an ad with Roger Federer for a social cause. Sachin was thrilled and agreed to it immediately", said BCCI CEO Prof. Ratnakar Shetty here.

Jan 22, 2008 from Roger Federer Official Site:
Get your ultimate Roger-fan-equipment now: the Nike-cap held entirely in red and white - the colours of the Swiss flag! The 'RF' logo is stitched on the front of the cap in large letters in white, a little Nike swoosh is featured on the side and it says 'ROGER FEDERER FOUNDATION' in the back. This red cap is exclusively on sale by the Roger Federer Foundation and is the same as Roger wears.

The Nike cap is available in one size and in red only. The proceeds from the sale of the caps go into the Roger Federer Foundation.

from ESPN:
...Despite the differences in their tennis résumés, Federer and Blake share a certain grace not always easy to find at the top level of sport. At the trophy ceremony at Indian Wells in 2006, runner-up Blake told the crowd that Federer was the only player who sent him a note when he was in the hospital two years before, recovering from a scary practice accident that left him with a cracked vertebra in his neck.

Both are much appreciated by reporters and tour handlers who often have to coax players to do any more than the minimum off the court. They're both legendary in press conferences, for slightly different reasons.

Federer, clearly committed to his unofficial role as ambassador for the sport, spends twice as long as most other players speaking with the press after matches, first holding an English-language session, then a mixed French, German and Swiss-German session, then recording radio interviews.

ATP staffers still wax eloquent about an Australian Open broadcast that took place late at night U.S. time, in which they'd arranged for Andre Agassi to talk with Federer via satellite from Las Vegas before a match. When the telecast was delayed interminably because a college basketball game went to multiple overtimes, Federer calmly sat down and ate a sandwich rather than fretting.

from Brisbane Times:
Ana Ivanovic and Marat Safin are the hottest players at the Australian Open this year. That's the opinion of hundreds of brisbanetimes.com.au readers, who've had their say in an online poll in recent days.

Ivanovic was a clear-cut winner in the women's division - capturing 40% of the vote to beat Maria Kirilenko (26%) and Maria Sharapova (19%).

Jan 21, 2008 from Reuters:
MELBOURNE - Roger Federer came through his second tough battle in a row at the Australian Open on Monday, seeing off Czech 13th seed Tomas Berdych 6-4 7-6 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals.

The top seed, bidding for his 13th grand slam title and third successive Australian Open crown, saved two set points in the second before lining up a clash with American 12th seed James Blake.

Federer convincingly won the opener against Berdych. He lost just four points on his own serve before breaking The Czech at 4-4.

Federer slipped 3-0 down in the second before breaking back to force a tiebreak. The Czech led 5-2 in the tiebreak and squandered two set points, netting a terrible drop shot at 6-5 and sending a forehand long at 7-6 before Federer won it 9-7.

The Swiss upped his game in the third and was completely dominant on serve and Berdych finally cracked in the sixth game and was broken to love. Federer then held the rest of the way, dropping only four points in his five service games.

Federer was taken to 10-8 in the fifth set of his third-round match against Janko Tipsaravic, and was happier with a quicker finish.

"I like this one today better, after all," he said. "I'm quite pleased with the result, pulling up from a tough match. Tomas played well and is always a danger. Every time he hits a great ball."

"He was playing better (than me) in the second set, honestly," Federer said in a courtside interview. "He got an early lead, then played well in the breaker. In the end, maybe he made a wrong shot selection. It's unfortunate for him, but jeez, it's good for me to win in straight sets."

Federer revealed that he had stayed up late into the night to watch some of the third-round match between Lleyton Hewitt and Marcos Baghdatis, which did not finish until 4.33am.

from The Age:
He may have won almost $40 million in career prizemoney, but even world No. 1 Roger Federer had to start somewhere and he wasn't above getting his hands dirty. A new unauthorised biography on the Swiss champion, The Roger Federer Story — Quest for Perfection, refers to a mad moment during his training days in Biel when the young Federer's temper got the better of him. According to author Rene Stauffer, Federer personally recounted perhaps his most embarrassing story from his days at Biel. "There was a new curtain at the tennis centre (and) they said if someone were to wreck the curtain, they had to clean toilets for a week. I looked at the curtain and thought it was so thick that there was no way anybody could wreck it. Ten minutes later, I turned around and hurled my racquet at the curtain like a helicopter. It sliced through the curtain like a knife going through butter." According to Federer, everybody stopped playing and stared at him. "No, I thought, that's impossible, the worst nightmare." According to Stauffer, Federer hates nothing more than early mornings, but was up with the birds helping the grounds-keeper clean toilets and the tennis court for a week.

The book also touches on a period in 1997 when Federer's father, Robert, was offered a job in Australia and spent several months working in Sydney and Melbourne. The family spent some time holidaying in Queensland, but decided against relocating to Australia. The family decided to stay in Muenchenstein, according to Stauffer, because they were reluctant to give up their circle of friends and weren't sure if Roger would have the same opportunities to develop his tennis career as he had in Switzerland.

from Globe and Mail:
Stats-of-the-week: 42 and 39. Those are the number of aces – both career highs – hit in five-set matches last week at the Australian Open by Andy Roddick (in a loss) and Roger Federer (in a victory).

from The Times:
By Simon Barnes - Roger Federer’s serenity was put to the test by his five-setter against Janko Tipsarevic in the Australian Open at the weekend. Four times in the final set he had to serve to stay in the match; he won it 10-8. Last year he won the tournament without losing a set; this time he had to go slumming into the depths of his personality to reach the round of 16.

It was a match that could have gone either way and so the serial champion won it. That is what generally happens. And no, it’s not about “who wants it more”. Rather, it is that victory is the default mode of the champion. Even when less than his best, the champion is better than his opponent at winning.

This is the advantage that champions can only create for themselves. They acquire it in a hard school. They need skill, hunger and fitness to get there, to earn the right to this Champion’s Advantage. But once acquired, it is a dismaying weapon. It creates a sense of ownership of the space, even of the sport itself.

For the champion, victory is a kind of personal tradition; for the would-be usurper, victory would be the most incredible cheek, the most unheard-of audacity. It is the most wonderful advantage to possess and everyone in sport is waiting for the moment when the champion can no longer call it up as a matter of course.

Jan 20, 2008 from Tennis Week:
Roger Federer, who left the RLA a much relieved man at 9:14 p.m. after squeaking past Janko Tipsarevic 10-8 in the fifth, was spotted in the hotel restaurant with his friends at 1:30 a.m. still trying to relax and recover enough to get some sleep after a 4 hour 27 minute match. Judging by that example, Hewitt's chances of a bit of shut-eye before breakfast seemed slim.

Jan 19, 2008 from AP:
MELBOURNE - Roger Federer had a stunningly tough fight for survival against Janko Tipsarevic before rallying for a 6-7 (5), 7-6 (1), 5-7, 6-1, 10-8 victory at the Australian Open on Saturday.

Tipsarevic, ranked 49th and having never reached a singles final, played the match of his life and gave Federer everything he could handle with the packed crowd screaming on every point.

Federer needed every one of his personal-best 39 aces to fend off the third-round challenge from the 2001 boys champion at Melbourne Park in 4 hours and 27 minutes.

Federer had numerous chances to take control, but Tipsarevic saved 16 of 20 break points against him until Federer finally cashed No. 21 after rallying from 40-0 as the Serbian served at 8-8 in the fifth set.

While a few Serbian flags were scattered about Rod Laver Arena -- the roof was closed due to rain that postponed matches on outside courts -- Federer fans dominated, including one holding a sign reading "Federer Express."

The Swiss star was nearly derailed before extending his winning streak at Melbourne Park to 17 matches, a streak tied for fourth-best behind Andre Agassi's record of 26 in a row.

Federer started in top form again, ripping seven aces in his first four service games. He served for it at 5-3, but the Serbian broke back and forced a tiebreaker, where the only point that went against serve came with Federer facing set point at 5-6. Tipsarevic ripped a forehand crosscourt pass that dropped just inside the corner.

Tipsarevic fended off five break points in the second set before faltering in the tiebreaker. The pair exchanged service breaks early in the third set. Tipsarevic rallied from 15-40 while serving at 4-5, then broke in the next game as Federer lost two service winners to successful challenges by Tipsarevic, who then held for the set.

As he has done so often, Federer seemed to find an extra gear, running off five straight games to take the fourth set and even the match.

Tipsarevic refused to yield, saving two break points while serving at 2-2 in the deciding set, then a match point at 8-8 before Federer nailed a sharply angled backhand volley to take the last break. Federer held to finish the match when Tipsarevic netted a backhand. Federer shouted in relief as he pumped his fist.

"What a great battle. Fair play, he's a nice guy -- pity somebody has to win, wish we could have draws sometimes too," Federer said in a courtside interview. "This is where you get grey hair early in life. Pity for him, but what a great victory for me."

"He was just going for his shots and kept making them," admitted Federer, "in the end, I just tried to block out all the chances I missed."

Jan 18, 2008 from The Age:
After breezing into the third round, Federer paused courtside to speak with Channel Seven commentator Jim Courier, who asked the world No. 1 about his interest in video games.

Courier: Do you play any tennis video games.

Federer: Sure, sure.

Courier: Do these tennis video games have, let's say, Rafael Nadal in them … or Andy Roddick or players like that?

Federer: Some games do have them.

Courier: Do they have Roger Federer in them also?

Federer: Absolutely.

Courier: So when you're playing these video games, do you play as you, or do you play as Rafael or someone else.

Federer: What do you think? Honestly, I do change, I like to play as Rafael to see what a muscle game feels like.

Courier: See what it's like to be a leftie maybe?

Federer: Or, you know, have the big bomb like Andy. I don't have those things, so it's a little way of feeling like them sometimes.

Courier: What do you have in these video games, what's your weaponry?

from New York Times:
Federer has looked anything but vulnerable this week. The defending champion and No. 1 seed was loose and imperious: showcasing the full range of his attacking skills for a change by producing sharp angles and deft volleys against Fabrice Santoro, the clever French veteran who is the all-time men’s leader in Grand Slam appearances.

But Santoro appearing in 62 major tournaments is not nearly as impressive as Federer winning 12 major tournaments, and it was never difficult to pick out which man held which record in a match that would have felt more like an exhibition if it had not been so lopsided. Though Santoro had dreamed of playing the Swiss champion here in what could be Santoro’s final appearance, he certainly did not dream of losing by 6-1, 6-2, 6-0.

"I spent more time applauding than playing," said Santoro after his eighth straight defeat against Federer. "What physical presence. What technique. There’s no room to play. Whenever I hit a mediocre shot, I paid the full price."

Santoro has played against all the best players of the last 20 years, including Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Boris Becker and Stefan Edberg. He considers Federer the greatest of all time, even without the French title that has thus far eluded him.

"I have a very good relationship with Roger; he’s a guy who is terrific on and off the court," Santoro said. "The reason he’s so great year in and year out is he respects all the guys he plays and takes them seriously. It would be better for me if he would take me lightly."

from Roger Federer Official Site:
Charged by the global community of rogerfederer.com with delivering fan mail in the “Red Envelope” to the no.1 tennis player in the world, a group of Australian fans are intent on creating a world first: a van converted into a mobile shrine to their hero, the "FedererExpress"!

A 1988 Tarago, doomed for the scrap heap, is to get a new life, wrapped in professionally designed vinyl lettering and photos of our champion. In case the message is not clear, balloons and pom poms in the Swiss colours red and white will finish the design. The FedererExpress is the brainchild of a group of die-hard Roger Federer fans desperate to attract the attention of their hero. They come from all parts of Australia, but met here on Roger's website. They share a common passion and are now friends for life.

The FedererExpress will be running everyday the group is at the Australian Open. So it has been en route for a few days already and the reactions from the media and the tennis fans have been wonderful.

Jan 17, 2008 from PA:
Roger Federer underlined once again why he will be the man to beat at the Australian Open with a comprehensive straight sets victory over Fabrice Santoro.

The world number one needed just 81 minutes to dismiss his 36th-ranked opponent 6-1 6-2 6-0 in their second-round clash in the Rod Laver Arena.

Santoro, whose appearance in the first round took him past Andre Agassi's record of 62 for most Grand Slam matches played, was expected to provide a far sterner test than Federer's first-round opponent Diego Hartfield.

But Federer set the tone early by sailing through the opening set. The Swiss star broke the Frenchman's serve at 2-1 and went on to take the first set in under half an hour. The second proved much the same story as Santoro dropped his serve in the opening game.

A 22-minute third set was little more than a practice session for the top seed as the outclassed Santoro ran out of ideas, if not endeavour. Federer did make 18 unforced errors to Santoro's four but produced 53 winners in comparison to the Frenchman's 11. The Swiss goes on to meet world number 49 Serbian Janko Tipsarevic in the third round.

Making his 16th appearance at the Australian Open, Santoro lost few friends with a wholehearted performance spiced with humour and the subtle touches for which he is renowned.

Without a win against Federer since 2002, the tour veteran chased down everything, raising his arms in triumph after producing one fantastic return that forced his rival into a rare error.

He also produced a between-the-legs shot, throwing his racquet in good-humoured exasperation when Federer still managed to win the point.

from Australian Open:
Q. You've seen Roger through almost a decade now. How does his game this year compare with other times you've seen him?

FABRICE SANTORO: He's still working hard. He's still improving. It's tough to say, because he was a tremendous player the past four years, and I think he's a better player today. He's a better athlete, too. He's moving unbelievably well.

Everything looks easy to him. There is no space to play. There is no space to hit some aces because he's returning everything. He has time when he's attacking. He has time when he's on the defense, too. He has always time to play. He's never in a rush or anything. When he's coming to the net, there is no space to pass him.

Q. As somebody who appreciates tennis history, is there any part of you that just enjoys the chance to play him, even if it is so difficult to beat him?

FABRICE SANTORO: I'd love to play him once again. I'd love to.

Q. Because why, in particular?

FABRICE SANTORO: Because it's so beautiful, what he's doing. I mean, you can't imagine. I hit sometimes the best shot. I mean, in the past three weeks, I played very well.

I mean, I beat some good guys. I beat very tall guys, the American Isner, two days ago in straight sets, and I was playing very well. Last week I beat three guys. One was James Blake, which is one of the best players in the world.

In November I beat Roddick. I beat Djokovic. I mean, I'm able to play some good tennis against the top guys.

But today I feel like he's coming from somewhere else. I mean, I tried a few things. I mean, you can say that maybe I could hit stronger, maybe I can... But when you look a little bit at the stats, I missed four balls, four unforced errors in the match I did. He did 58 winners in 58 minutes almost (laughter).

So I served quite good. I was moving well. I was fit physically. I was hitting the ball well. And I won three games, so it's not much (smiling).

Q. Is this a frustrating feeling or is it just like, Just two or three guys can beat him?

FABRICE SANTORO: On hard court, indoor or grass, not many guys can do that bad with me. Not many guys. Maybe the only one, I think.

But I don't feel like I missed my match. I don't feel like I should have done this or this better. I tried to attack. But when you attack, he pass well. Forehand, backhand. Even when you have the first volley, the volley is turning so much, so it's tough to volley.

And when he was changing side, doesn't matter to him with the wind or against the wind. Doesn't matter. Maybe he doesn't know it was windy (smiling).

Q. When you play him, you said it's a nice feeling, besides the score. But isn't it better than to watch him?

FABRICE SANTORO: It's good. I mean, sure, I mean, I'd love to win a set, win the match, to win more games. But it was good to be out there. I mean, to be against him for the record.

And at my age, you can be able to play your match and appreciate your opponent, too. And I think I did both today. I was trying many things. I did quite a lot of -- I mean, some forehand, topspin forehand a few times. It didn't help.

I served quite good. Didn't help. And when I hit some unbelievable passing shots, there was no space. The only space was out of the court, but I'm not allowed to (laughter).

from Globe and Mail:
MELBOURNE - The Australian Open's Garden Square at 7:15 in the evening, bubbling with young patrons drinking Heineken and taking in the beat of a rock band on the nearby stage, may not offer the most representative sample for an opinion poll.

On the other hand, a certain lack of inhibition might be conducive to more spontaneous responses. With the home country's Lleyton Hewitt and world No. 1 Roger Federer advancing yesterday to the third round, Australian spectators were surveyed on their thoughts about the two stars.

"I don't like Hewitt, but Federer is a brilliant player, a gracious player," one man said. "He's a person you think you'd meet in a pub and have a conversation with. I don't think Hewitt's like that."

"I don't care for Hewitt," another Australian said. "He's a bit of a jerk … a bit [full] of himself. I've never seen anything about Federer that would make me dislike him."

Chimed in a third, "I stand behind Hewitt, but I prefer Federer as a person and a player."

Anyone tiring of the constant glorification of Federer would have been better to miss his supreme 6-1, 6-2, 6-0 win over Fabrice Santoro in their second-round match yesterday. It was breathtaking and beautiful.

Santoro, who made only four unforced errors the entire match, seemed almost dumbfounded. "Everything looks easy for him," he said of Federer. "He always has time to play.

"He was tremendous the past four years, and I think he's a better player today, a better athlete, too. He moves unbelievably well. He's really perfection. I spent more time applauding him than playing him. I really went out there to win and it's astounding to be dominated to that extent. He smothered me."

Federer is also an ace off the court, as a prematch gibe he made to his friend Santoro in the locker room suggests.

Santoro stubbed his left pinkie finger warming up and was putting ice on it when Federer noticed and, as a smiling Santoro recounted, said to him, "Oh, oh, you're off to a bad start."

...Australians, though they harbour mixed sentiments about Hewitt, will mostly be "barracking" (cheering) for him against Baghdatis.

"It doesn't bother me, but it's probably better if Hewitt's in the tournament," a male patron in Garden Square said. "But Federer is really the only one I'd sit and watch."

from Examiner:
Q. Roger Federer currently has 12 Grand Slam titles, just two behind Pete Sampras. You’ve played against both. Can you compare them at all?

Tommy Haas: I’m pretty much going to have to go with what Andre Agassi said. It’s like when you’re playing Pete and you’re not playing maybe your best tennis, you’re still going to lose a little tight, 6-4, 6-4. Pete is only going to break you once in each set. That one time is enough to win the match for him. But if you’re playing Roger [and] you’re not playing that well, it looks like you’re going to lose pretty much 6-1, 6-1 or maybe even get a bagel ... but Pete definitely goes down in my eyes as probably having the best serve, especially second serve, ever.

Jan 16, 2008 from Globe and Mail:
MELBOURNE - The collective sigh of relief emanating from the Rod Laver Arena last night was from devotees of tennis's chosen one, Roger Federer.

Wary about how his recent bout of food poisoning would affect his Australian Open chances, they were reassured by a 6-0, 6-3, 6-0 first-round win of startling superiority against overmatched Diego Hartfield.

"I was really happy with the way things went," said Federer, dressed head to toe in his black tuxedo look. "I served especially well."

from AP:
This year, there are several revamped combinations at the top of men's doubles - Daniel Nestor and Mark Knowles are playing with new partners, as are Max Mirnyi and Jonas Bjorkman. It could be a case of others trying to find new combos in an attempt to cut into their success.

"Even Knowles and Nestor who won a Grand Slam (the French Open) and had one of the best years of their career, they split up," Bob Bryan said. "Bjorkman and Mirnyi had a bad year to their standards, so they decided to go different ways."

So would the Bryans consider playing with other partners in men's doubles? "No, no, no, no," they said, almost in stereo.

"If one of us got hurt tomorrow, we'd just shut it down," Mike Bryan said. "I don't think I'd want to find another partner. It's not the same, it's not fun. It's special playing with your brother."

Jan 15, 2008 from Reuters:
MELBOURNE - Roger Federer made a smooth start to his bid for a 13th grand slam title with a 6-0 6-3 6-0 win over Diego Hartfield in the Australian Open first round on Tuesday.

The Swiss world number one and defending champion showed few signs of rust in brushing aside the Argentine, breezing through the first set without losing a game and clinching victory in 74 minutes.

Federer was playing his first match of the year and fell break point down in his opening service game. He quickly took control, however, peppering Hartfield with a succession of rasping groundstrokes and pinpoint serves.

from Tennis Week:
As Roger Federer, looking anything but ill, swept majestically past his first round opponent, Diego Hartfield, two-time former Australian Open champion Jim Courier was offering some interesting insight from Australia's Channel Seven commentating booth. "I think we are seeing the effects of those exo's with Pete Sampras in Roger's game. Pete was never one to stay back and get into a baseline conversation with anyone and now we are seeing a more aggressive Federer than we normally do. He has such a huge tennis vocabulary and he's starting to use it in ways we haven't seen before. I think that's a Sampras influence we're seeing here."

Afterwards Courier interviewed Federer on court and entered into a little friendly banter with the world No 1. After Federer had related how he had practiced for three weeks in Dubai with his Davis Cup captain; fitness coach and a couple of hitting partners, Courier asked, "So they all stayed in one of your eighteen bedrooms?"

from Eurosport:
Roger Federer has started his Australian Open title defence in the best way possible, according to Eurosport expert Michael Stich.

The world number one crushed Diego Hartfield in his opening round match on Rod Laver arena, without appearing to break sweat.

And German legend Stich, who won Wimbledon in 1991, said that the Swiss player's tactics, especially on his serve, would stand him in good stead later on in the tournament.

"It was the perfect way to start," Stich told Eurosport. "He was never really tested, but he tried to mix up the play in quite a clever way. That probably made the match a lot easier for him than it could have been. He just has this way about him. He mixes up the play. Even his serve.

"Look at another great player like Pete Samprass. His serve was always like a bullet. With Federer you never know, as an opponent, what's coming at you. Sometimes he puts spin on it, sometimes slice. The power alters. It's so difficult to play against a player like that."

Federer's constant striving to improve his all-round game is what differentiates him from the other players in the world's top echelon, according to Stich.

"He's the best in the world, but he is still trying to improve in every area. Look at how much work he is putting into trying to make his backhand a real weapon. He's the best backhand slicer in the game, but he's still trying to master the knife backhand too.

"That attitude of always trying to make yourself better, that's what makes him such a great champion. He keeps on doing that and nobody will get close to him on grass or hardcourts for a few years yet," he added.

Stich believes that Federer's second round opponent Fabrice Santoro, the world number 36, will be a tougher opponent, but that his class will still shine through.

Jan 14, 2008 from AAP:
Roger Federer admits it was a "tough blow" splitting with Tony Roche and says the Australian coaching guru is an obvious asset for Lleyton Hewitt.

The career rivals commence their Australian Open campaigns at Melbourne Park on Tuesday and Federer says Hewitt can only benefit from having Roche in his box.

The now-coachless Federer split with Roche before last year's French Open after a two-and-a-half-year partnership which yielded six grand slam trophies for the Swiss superstar. While it was Federer's call to end their union, he said it was no easy decision.

"Of course it's a pity that we're not together anymore," the world No.1 said. "It was a tough blow in some ways, the way it didn't work out. But sometimes that's the way it goes.

from Globe and Mail:
Yesterday, Federer spoke to the media for the first time since arriving in Australia on Jan. 4. On Jan. 5, he was ill and went to hospital and was eventually told he had food poisoning.

He revealed he was not completely bed-ridden during his recovery, but described his stomach as having felt "totally bizarre."

A Swiss reporter wryly suggested that maybe he should employ a "taster" as protection against eating dangerous food. "Oh, you mean like Cleopatra," Federer joked in reply.

from Daily Mail:
It was Roger Federer who coined the description of the Australian Open as the Happy Slam, showing a talent for words as well as tennis.

His phrase neatly sums up the season's opening major as Melbourne Park hosts the most festive of tennis's grand quartet, at a time of year when everyone is fresh and there is much to look forward to.

from Reuters:
David Fewtrell is a senior lecturer in sport biomechanics at England's University of Central Lancashire, one of the experts who add the latest biomechanical research to the nutritional and conditioning advances which make today's athletes stronger and faster.

Fewtrell helped to construct an imaginary bionic tennis player during the ATP Masters Cup in Shanghai last year, combining elements such as world number one Roger Federer's hand-eye coordination, number two Rafael Nadal's determination and aggression and Andy Roddick's serve.

"Tennis is one of the most dynamic sports on earth," Fewtrell said in a statement. "The top players use every part of their minds as well as their bodies and they are fitter, faster and stronger now than ever before.

"Today's players are in a league of their own compared to the likes of Fred Perry in the 1930s so, with sports science leading the way, it is very possible that a player such as this will be around in the next 50 years."

Jan 13, 2008 from TIME:
TIME: So much has been written and spoken about world No. 1 Roger Federer's attributes. What part of his game most impresses you?
ROD LAVER: Well, he's got all the shots, but it's his court coverage and anticipation. He has this sense of where the ball is going to come back. Quite amazing. He's facing these big-hitting guys, but he has what seems to be a ton of time. No one's able to rush him that much. There's also his concentration: it doesn't waver. He looks like he's always up for any match. He's aware of the game's history, which I think he respects very much. He wants to leave behind a record.

TIME: When Federer cried on your shoulder as you presented the trophy to him at the Australian Open two years ago, there seemed to be a kinship between you. Do you two talk much?
ROD LAVER: Yeah, we've chatted. Whenever I get to any of the tournaments where he's at, I try to make a point of finding him — not bothering him, but to chat with him. There's no ego in Roger. The way he seems is the way he is, and I think that's unbelievable in someone who's done so much.

TIME: Have you ever thought about how you might have played him in your prime?
ROD LAVER: Not really. Because of the equipment differences [between our eras]... there's not much point. He doesn't have a weakness, so it becomes more of a mental game. You'd have to tell yourself, "Well, maybe I'm mentally stronger."

TIME: What are your thoughts on where Federer stands among the all-time greats of the game?
ROD LAVER: Well, he's one of them already. But I don't know that anyone can wear the title of "best ever." I mean, [Andre] Agassi and [Pete] Sampras played some unbelievable matches. The most you can say is, "I was the best in my era." Roger can say that.

from DPA:
Roger Federer fronted up on Sunday after getting past the bug which prevented him from playing any of his normal tune-up matches at Kooyong club during the week before the Grand Slam.

"I'm not sick very often, it just took me five days, a week," he said after doctors blamed the bug on a dodgy chicken dish.

Quipped Federer: "I honestly don't remember eating any chicken recently."

from Channel NewsAsia:
24-year-old Dunstan Lee was chosen among 500 Singaporeans to meet Roger Federer in Melbourne after winning the Gillette "Challenge the Champions" contest.

Lee was joined by other contest winners from Malaysia, Thailand and India as well as 20 from Australia. And for them, meeting the world’s top tennis player is a dream come true.

Lee said: "A lot of my friends couldn’t believe it at first and even my parents also did not think it was a real prize until they saw my name in the papers and I was the winner."

And there was more in store for the winners. Besides their session with the tennis ace, they also got personalised autograph posters of the star.

Jerry Chieng, Malaysian Contest Winner, said: "I think I will frame it and then probably put it in the living room to show it to everyone so that everyone would be jealous."

And ever the perfect gentleman both on and off the court, Federer also posed with members of the visiting media.

The contest winners were supposed to catch the Swiss Master in action at Kooyong but that did not happen. But the planned trip around the Australian city more than made up for it.

Jan 12, 2008 from The Age:
Federer is in the draw's top half, and the top seed's quest for a 13th grand slam singles title starts against Argentina's 106th-ranked Diego Hartfield. The bad news for Federer's rivals is that he is getting better by the day.

"He is not going to play a practice match tomorrow at Kooyong and instead use the weekend to try and recuperate so he can try his best to defend his title," his agent, Tony Godisck of IMG said.

Jan 11, 2008 from ESPN:
Pete Sampras spoke with reporters on a conference call Wednesday to promote his March 10 exhibition with Roger Federer in Madison Square Garden -- the first time the two have played in North America and the first tennis event at the Garden since the women's year-end championships ended their run there in 2000.

Sampras knows he's in for a lot of questions about Federer and the Grand Slam record in the coming months: "I've had more interview requests this past year than I have in my prime,'' he noted.

When it was ESPN.com's turn, we asked him about Federer's personality, and fan speculation about the competitiveness of their three-match series in Asia last year. Here is a lightly edited transcript of the exchange:

Bonnie D. Ford: I was curious that you would say [Federer] is a jokester or prankster, etcetera. You're right, that's not a side of him we see. And the rap that he is sort of boring or not the most compelling personality, that's certainly something you're familiar with. Did you encourage him or do you think that he should kind of try to show that side of himself more to the tennis public and the public at large?

Pete Sampras: Not if he doesn't want to -- you have to understand, it is hard to do both. It is hard to be this sort of jokester, prankster, charismatic sort of personality and be the best player in the world. It's very hard to do. It's something that, you know, what he's doing and how he's doing it, I respect. Every media person, every fan has a different sort of athlete. He's sort of my guy. He's not brash, he's not abrasive, he lets his racket do his talking. I don't think that's a negative. I think if anything that's positive. And so to hear someone say he's boring is: I'm so tired of hearing that s--- it's nauseating. So just respect what he's doing.

Q: And last, there was a whole round of speculation on the Internet after your series in Asia that you guys sort of had a prearranged (at least kind of) attitude, about we gotta keep this balanced. If Roger wins the first two, Pete's gotta win the third.

Sampras: Not true. We played. We didn't talk about any first set, second set, you do this, I'll do that. But exhibitions are a tricky sort of deal. Like you want to entertain and, you know, and have a lighter side, but you also want to play well. I think people want to see both, and I think we were able to pull it off a little bit in Asia ,and I think we'll pull it off again at the Garden and at the time where we're not holding on quite as tight. But, you know, with 10,000 people in there, we're going to want to play well. And he's not going to want to lose; I'm not going to going to want to lose. So that's what people are coming to really see. It's not us kind of doing cartwheels. It's about me serving 130 on the line.

Jan 10, 2008 from AP:
MELBOURNE - Without the glare of the cameras, or the roar of an appreciative crowd, Roger Federer shanked forehands and hit some backhands long on Rod Laver Arena.

His girlfriend, Mirka Vavrinec, was with him at Melbourne Park's center court, wearing flip-flops in the intense heat and collecting wayward balls as Federer hit with Swiss Davis Cup captain Serevin Luethi.

from Star-Ledger:
Roger Federer and Pete Sampras will face each other in a unique exhibition match at Madison Square Garden on March 10, a continuation of the three-match series they played in Asia at the end of November.

Federer will be in the middle of the spring circuit when the match takes place in March. But Sampras, who is 36, said he plans to tune up against recently retired Livingston native Justin Gimelstob in California, as well as the hard-hitting young American Sam Querry.

Sampras said that even though the fast surface contributed to his victory in Macau, the surface will be slower at the Garden for what is being called the NetJets Showdown.

During their tour of Asia, Sampras and Federer got to know each other on a personal basis, traveling together and socializing at night, which is unusual for current players on the tour. Before the first match in Seoul, Federer called Sampras and asked him to come up to his room to hang out, which kind of surprised Sampras.

Jan 9, 2008 from StarGames:
New York - The world’s top ranked male tennis player, Roger Federer, will take on the most decorated Grand Slam player ever, Pete Sampras in the NetJets Showdown presented in association with The Marquis Jet Card and Men’s Vogue magazine at Madison Square Garden on Monday, March 10.

"I have always wanted to play a match in Madison Square Garden,” said Federer. “To have a chance to take on Pete once again at the NetJets Showdown is very exciting."

"I am extremely excited to compete against Roger in the United States,” said Sampras. “And to have it take place in New York at The Garden will make it an extra special night."

The NetJets Showdown is a StarGames production in association with eight-time Grand Slam Champion Ivan Lendl and Madison Square Garden. This match will mark the first time since 2000 that tennis will be played at the World’s Most Famous Arena.

“Madison Square Garden is the worlds' greatest stage, every top performer in every profession has performed here,” said Joel Fisher, executive vice president, MSG Sports. “We are excited to have Pete and Roger perform on this great stage in front of the greatest fans.”

“NetJets is proud to sponsor this match where two of the greatest tennis players of all time will face off,” said NetJets Chairman and CEO Richard T. Santulli. “It was a natural fit for us. Pete and Roger are both NetJets owners and great friends, it is a historic occasion and it’s at the Garden.”

Both champions fly with NetJets. Pete Sampras has been a NetJets Owner since 1996 and Roger Federer since 2004.

Limited VIP tickets priced at $1,000.00 and additional tickets listed at $500.00, $250.00, $125.00, $75.00 and $50.00 will officially go on sale Thursday, January 10 at 12 noon and can be purchased at the Madison Square Garden box office and all Ticketmaster outlets.

from ATP:
London - The complete set of Chinese Terracotta Tennis Warriors featuring last year's eight Tennis Masters Cup singles qualifiers are now on display at the All England Club, Wimbledon, home of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum. The Museum's Wimbledon Tour provides tennis fans with one last opportunity to see all eight of the impressive seven-foot statues in one place.

The Terracotta Warriors statues were created for the Tennis Masters Cup, Shanghai, in November 2007 by French sculptor Laury Dizengremel and her team consisting of Shen Xiaonan and Zhang Yaxi. They worked closely with the tennis stars, measuring their faces and taking photographs in order to recreate accurately their busts in clay, which were than added to the huge bodies.

The arrival of the Tennis Terracotta Warriors at Wimbledon gives visitors a foretaste of the Tennis Masters Cup, which will be coming to London's O2 Arena in 2009.

from AP:
MELBOURNE - David Nalbandian injured his back and withdrew from the Kooyong Classic on Wednesday, leaving a slim chance Roger Federer could yet play at the Australian Open tuneup.

Nalbandian complained of muscle spasms in his back in a hitting session at Melbourne Park, the Australian Open venue. He was advised to take two to three days off and he would assess his condition this weekend before deciding whether he would play next week at the season's first major.

Top-ranked Federer withdrew from the Kooyong event on Monday, but was back in practice Wednesday at Rod Laver Arena. He moved freely and showed no signs of discomfort in a short hitting session after exercising on the new, blue Plexicushion courts.

Tournament director Colin Stubs said there was a possibility of Federer having a match later this week should a vacancy become available. Nalbandian was replaced in the field by young Australian Brydon Klein, but Federer could be brought back if there was a further withdrawal.

"He said he would like the match practice," Stubs said. "We can slot a match outside the format. Federer, (James) Blake, (Novak) Djokovic are not out of the equation for a fourth match outside the bracket."

Kooyong has installed the same Plexicushion surface that the Australian Open is using this year for the first time, so a chance on the new surface in match conditions would suit Federer, who had declared himself fit to defend his Australian Open title.

"I hung around and I definitely think it's going to turn for the good and I'll be 100 per cent, really, before the (Australian Open) starts," he said at a sponsor's promotion late Tuesday.

He would ask for a Tuesday start at the Australian Open, although as defending champion and No. 1 seed, he would normally be allocated a Monday slot.

Fernando Gonzalez received a walkover over Nalbandian into the next stage of the progression-relegation event. He won a warmup match 7-6 (3), 6-4 against Klein for match practice.

Jan 8, 2008 from AFP:
MELBOURNE - Andy Roddick backed world number one Roger Federer to mount a strong defence of his Australian Open crown despite pulling out of this week's Kooyong Classic with a stomach virus.

The American, who beat Federer in the final of the eight-man event last year, said the Swiss would recover for the year's opening Grand Slam, which starts on January 14.

"None of us are worried about his preparation for the Open," Roddick joked, drawing laughs at his press conference. "I'll sleep OK tonight."

He added: "It's impossible for me to say how he might go, I don't know how he feels. But Kooyong seems to be good preparation for Roger. This (illness) won't help, but if anyone can play his way into form, that would be Roger."

Word from the Federer camp suggested the 12-time Grand Slam winner was resting under doctor's orders as valuable training time for the Open slips away.

The Swiss fronted up later in Melbourne at a sponsor appearance, saying he hopes to begin light training on Wednesday.

"I've felt better. It's not terribly bad but I cannot take a chance. Something in my stomach didn't feel good and it hasn't really left me yet.

"I'm sleeping OK and trying to rest. The doctors told me to take it easy," said the player, who visited hospital at the weekend.

Federer said the illness does not diminish his drive for another Australian Open title. "Otherwise, I would have left already," he added.

"I'm hanging around because I think it will all turn out for the good. I will be at 100 percent by the time the event starts."

Jan 7, 2008 from Roger Federer Official Site:
Dear fans

After arriving in Australia last Friday, I came down with a terrible stomach virus on Saturday and it continued to get worse over the weekend. After trying to practise on Saturday afternoon, I went to see the doctors and they immediately performed a series of tests. The doctors have advised me that I should take a couple of days off and recuperate so that I am able to be 100% for the start of the Australian Open. Therefore, as a precaution, I will need to withdraw from Kooyong. I hope to resume practice by the middle of the week.

from Globe and Mail:
A highlight of Santoro's career was a 2005 U.S. Open night match in Arthur Ashe Stadium against Roger Federer. The Swiss won 7-5, 7-5, 7-6 (2), but the result was secondary to an enchanting display by two artists.

"To be truthful, more and more I think that spectators come to see a show," Santoro said. "Of course, when I play I want to win. [But] the people paid to see the match, and as a player, je me suis régalé [literally, I was regaled] and Federer had a good time. In the end, the loss was of no importance.

Jan 6, 2008 from Herald Sun:
The tennis elite rolled into Melbourne yesterday for their first look at the Australian Open's new plexicushion surface. World No. 1 Roger Federer arrived on Friday and was first to have a hit on Rod Laver Arena.

Federer said he was feeling fresh and excited about defending his grand slam title. He is without former coach Tony Roche, who has teamed with Lleyton Hewitt.

Buoyant defending champion Roger Federer, in Australia only two days, wasted no time putting Melbourne's new blue plexi-cushion courts to the test, giving it the thumbs-up.

from The Age:
"I'm seeing it fast now. I'm seeing it fast." Reigning Australian Open Women's champion Serena Williams took to the resurfaced Rod Laver Arena for the first time yesterday, and if her repeated comments to her two trainers as she traded blows on the new, blue Plexicushion court are any guide, it's quickly getting up to speed.

During a extremely hot Melbourne afternoon that also saw men's champion Roger Federer begin his quest to win his fourth Australian Open, Williams commented several times on the speed and hardness of the new Plexicushion court.

The three-time champion, who had just flown in from Perth where, with Mardy Fish, she won the Hopman Cup on Friday night, repeated her comment, adding that she thought the court was "even harder" at times.

Williams looked in ominous form as she smashed forehands, backhands and volleys to two male training partners who gave the impression of soldiers under fire.

In contrast, after having to delay his first practice session on Rod Laver Arena due to the intense heat, Federer took it very easy amid the on-court temperature of well over 40 degrees. The world No. 1 casually tested his forehands and backhands for a little under half an hour, periodically stopping to wish Australian acquaintances and colleagues a happy new year.

from Tennis Week:
Manhattan's Madison Square Garden will stage the next installment of the Roger Federer-Pete Sampras exhibition series on March 10 and you can buy tickets for the event in a pre-sale that starts at noon on Monday, January 7. The pre-sale ends on Wednesday, January 10 at 11 a.m. Eastern time.

To purchase pre-sale tickets, visit The Garden or Ticketmaster or call (866) 448-7849 and use the promotional code "HPSHOWDOWN" in order to participate in the pre-sale.

Jan 4, 2008 from Sportal:
Roger Federer has arrived in Melbourne and says he's rested and ready for the upcoming Australian Open.

"It's always exciting coming back, I've had some good time off, I needed some rest," Federer told Fox Sports at Melbourne Airport. "I'm happy to be back and hopefully I can play well again."

"I'm not playing the first tournament of the year, I'm starting off with Kooyong as usual so it's a good thing getting that extra week and it's a good thing (because) I really needed it to get ready and relax a little bit."

Still highly motivated despite the success that has brought him 12 majors so far in his career, Federer continues to work part-time with Swiss Davis Cup captain Severin Luthi following his split last year from Australian legend Tony Roche.

But with Roche now working with Lleyton Hewitt, who covets an Australian Open title more than any other individual trophy in the game, Federer says he won't be surprised if the former world No.1 and dual Grand Slam winner returns to his best form.

"Lleyton's a pretty good player already, he's been No.1 in the world, he's won his fair share of Grand Slams, the most important ones basically," he said. "He obviously hopes to win this one, it's a big goal of his every year, there's big talk around Lleyton every time."

Jan 1, 2008 from AIPS:
LAUSANNE - Tennis greats Roger Federer and Justine Henin have been voted the world’s top sporting champions, and Italian Serie A football side A.C. Milan was voted Team of the Year by the International Sports Press Association (AIPS). It is the third year in a row at the top of the poll for Swiss tennis legend and World No 1, Federer.

AIPS members from 94 nations voted in this year’s poll placing Federer overwhelmingly in the number one place beating Brazilian footballer Kakà (Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite) who plays for Italian Serie A team A.C. Milan and won this year’s Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards. 100 metre world record holder, Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell followed in third place.

World No 1 and 2007 French and US Open winner Justine Henin beat Swedish athletics star Carolina Klüft who has not lost a single heptathlon or pentathlon event since 2002 and Croatian World Champion high jumper Blanka Vlasic for the AIPS top female honour.

2007 Champions League trophy holders A.C. Milan were voted Team of the Year, followed by 2007 Rugby World Cup winners South Africa and Formula One Team Ferrari.