Nov 27, 2008 from The National:
ABU DHABI - Community clubs all over the country are set to host the Capitala Community Cup on Nov 28-29.

The tournament is to be part of a series of initiatives in the weeks leading up to the Capitala World Championship – a three-day event in Abu Dhabi from Jan 1-3 next year.

Six of the world’s best male tennis players including Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray will be involved in the initiative, which will include private clinics, children-player interactions and inter-school competitions.

Nov 26, 2008 from AP:
DOHA - Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will open the 2009 ATP season by playing at the Qatar Open. Qatar tennis federation president Nasser al-Kholiafi says Andy Murray and Andy Roddick will also take part in the hard-court tournament, which begins Jan. 5.

Nov 24, 2008 from ATP:
Rafael Nadal may have ended the season as ATP World No. 1, but ATPtennis.com fans believe that Roger Federer will reclaim the year-end No. 1 ranking in 2009.

In a poll of more than 60,000 fans, 43 per cent of ATPtennis.com readers believe that the Swiss will join Ivan Lendl as the only player to regain the year-end No. 1 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings after losing it. Lendl claimed the year-end No. 1 ranking in 1985, '86 and '87 before finishing No. 2 behind Mats Wilander in 1988. He then regained the year-end No. 1 in 1989 and remains the only player in the history of the South African Airways ATP Rankings (since 1973) to achieve that feat.

Quick Poll: Who will finish No. 1 at the end of 2009?

• Roger Federer 43%
• Rafael Nadal 35%
• Novak Djokovic 11%
• Andy Murray 8%
• Other 3%

Nov 20, 2008 from AFP:
MACAU - Roger Federer wrapped up his season with an easy win over James Blake in an exhibition match here Thursday before turning his thoughts to getting his 2009 season off to a flying start.

Federer showcased his full shot-making repertoire in a 6-4, 6-4 win in front of an enthusiastic crowd.

The Swiss broke Blake in the third game of the opening set to establish an early advantage over the 10th ranked American and went on to take the set 6-4.

Federer broke Blake in the fifth game of the second set and clinched the match, despite wasting a clutch of match points.

Federer, who has huge support in Macau and elsewhere in China, said: "I think people remember that I lost here last year (to Pete Sampras) so they figured they needed to support me to come through against James."

"I've actually been feeling better and better even though I got a little sick again at the beginning of the week. But I felt like my body has been recovering since the last match against (Andy) Murray."

Federer said he was looking forward to a break before gearing up for the new season and January's Australian Open.

"The season starts early. You have got to be ready. You don't have like a month to feel your way into the year. You will be judged right at the end of January.

"Some predict sometimes stupid things, that the season won't be good if you don't win the Australian Open. That's a little bit unfair. I definitely have high hopes. I've been very successful at the Australian Open."

Nov 18, 2008 from AFP:
KUALA LUMPUR - Roger Federer scraped past James Blake Tuesday in a one-set exhibition game, showing no signs of the back strain or stomach bug that hampered him at last week's season-ending Masters Cup.

Blake broke first for a 3-1 lead with some powerful groundstrokes and pinpoint serving, before Federer clawed a game back for 3-2 and served out to level the match at 3-3.

It went to a tiebreak where Federer showed his mettle to emerge a 7-6 (10-7) winner in a hard-fought match-up interspersed with some lighthearted moments.

"There was some fantastic tennis tonight. I was very confident coming into the match today and I played pretty well so I'm happy," said Federer. "James is a great friend of mine on tour and I love playing him."

"It was a good match as both of us played hard. And, the fans enjoyed it," said Federer.

"It has been a tough season with lots of traveling and I could just sleep for a month," he said. "I felt fine during the game, but obviously after a hard season I would need some time off. I'm glad we are at the end of the season and I will take it easy for a few weeks."

The pair play another exhibition in Macau on Thursday before Federer takes a well-earned break before the 2009 season which he gets underway in the Middle East ahead of the Australian Open in Melbourne in January.

"I couldn't quite get him today but he proved why he is a true champion," said Blake. "There were some exciting points tonight but in the end he got the better of me."

On the same bill, John McEnroe won the battle of the old timers when he beat Bjorn Borg 7-6 (13-11).

from Reuters:
Roger Federer said on Tuesday he was not that bothered about Novak Djokovic closing in on his ranking as world number two.

"I'm going to sleep well for a month. He (Djokovic) is not going to pass me anytime soon," Federer told a news conference.

"For me, honestly, ranking two, three, four, five, 25, it doesn't really matter a whole lot, you know. For me it is either number one or being in the main draw," added the Swiss.

Djokovic, who won the Masters Cup in Shanghai on Monday, is just 10 points shy of Federer in the world rankings.

Nov 17, 2008 from AP:
KUALA LUMPUR - Roger Federer says winning Wimbledon is more important to him than regaining his No 1 ranking.

"Wimbledon is something special. There is no substitute for it," Federer told reporters Monday, on the eve of an exhibition match in Kuala Lumpur, billed as the "Showdown of Champions."

from New Straits Times:
Roger Federer aims to come back with a vengeance next year and regain his World No 1 ranking besides breaking Pete Sampras' grand slam record of 14 singles titles.

"It has been a difficult season this year. It was gruelling as the focus was on the Beijing Olympic Games. However, next year would be better and I'm looking forward to it," said Federer in a press conference at a leading hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

"Of course my target is to regain the World No 1 ranking and win more grand slam titles than Sampras. I think it goes hand-in-hand in terms of achieving both targets next year."

"What I need to do is to take a good rest and plan things for next year. I need to prepare well and I believe I will get better," he added.

"I need to get things in order right from the Australian Open next year. A great start would boost my confidence but it will be a tough tournament as others will also be gunning for a good start too."

"I love Wimbledon. It's every players' dream to win it. I've been there since I was a junior and I am honoured to have won it five times. It's one of my main goals for next year," said Federer.

When asked about life after tennis, Federer said he would probably continue being involved in the sport. "I will contribute to tennis when I hang up my racquet. I don't know in what way yet but it's the likely possibility. But I'm not thinking about retirement just yet as I still have many more years in the sport."

Federer is winding down his year with an exhibition billed the 'Showdown of Champions' at Stadium Putra in Bukit Jalil tomorrow.

The format will see one set played between Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe followed by another featuring Federer and James Blake. This will be followed by a one-set doubles match pitting Federer and Borg against the Americans.

from Bernama:
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor hosted a dinner for four past and present tennis greats at their residence in Jalan Langgak Duta here tonight.

The stars were Roger Federer, James Blake, John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg. They are here for the Showdown of Champions exhibition match at Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil tomorrow.

from The Star:
PETALING JAYA - Roger Federer has shrugged off a back injury that saw him make an early exit in Shanghai and has promised to give Malaysian fans a treat in the Showdown of Champions at the Putra Stadium in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow night.

The former world number one said that the three-day break he had since losing to Andy Murray has helped him recover for the event.

“There is no miracle cure but the short break means I will be back to my best for the event,” said the US Open champion in a tele-conference held here yesterday.

“I’m looking forward to my trip to Kuala Lumpur as I enjoyed my time here last year. Obviously, it is going to be different this time as then the focus was on Pete Sampras and myself.

“This time, there are two legends, John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg in the picture, as well as James Blake. I have never played against McEnroe before and I am certainly looking forward to it.”

Federer will also be taking part in a meet-the-fans session at the lobby of the Petronas Twin Towers between 11.45am and 12.25pm tomorrow.

The Showdown of Champions will see Federer facing off with Blake while Borg and McEnroe will meet in a singles match. The quartet will then play a doubles match with Federer and Borg taking on the two Americans.

Federer said: “I used to play doubles when I was younger but the focus has been on singles and the Grand Slams events.”

Nov 8, 2008 from AFP:
SHANGHAI - Roger Federer on Saturday said he was still taking painkillers and limiting himself in training as he battles to shake off a back injury that could jeopardise his Masters Cup defence.

Federer said his condition had improved but he didn't know if he was 100 percent fit.

"I haven't been pushing it to the very limits because I want to give my back the maximum time of recuperation," he said.

"Then we will see on Monday what's going to happen. But so far I've been serving without pain, I've been playing without pain and that's definitely a very good sign."

Federer said he was hopeful that he would recover but admitted he was concerned the problem could flare up again if he pushed too hard in training.

"Maybe if I push too early in practice then I'm back to where I was last Thursday and then things are not looking good at all," he said.

"I think this problem I have with my back needs as much time as possible. Hopefully I'm just going to get ready for Monday and then things are going to be fine."

from AP:
Roger Federer doesn't like hearing himself announced as the world's second-ranked player, and hopes his aching back doesn't hamper his pursuit of regaining top spot.

"I just don't like the ring of it," the defending champion said Saturday with a smile on the eve of the season-ending Masters Cup. "It sounds a bit awkward to me. It is a challenge to get back to No. 1."

"I haven't been thinking about it much," Federer said. "Once I go on vacation, I'll have plenty of time for that."

The biggest question is his back. Federer withdrew from the Paris Masters last week. He has been getting daily treatment and taking painkillers.

"It's way better than last Friday," Federer said as the eight Masters Cup players, dressed in matching gray suits and black silk shirts, met with reporters. "I've been able to practice without pain."

Still, he doesn't know quite what to expect when he faces France's Gilles Simon on Monday in round-robin play at the tournament for the world's top eight.

"I'm not sure because I haven't been pushing it to the very limit," the Swiss star said, adding that he's worried he could tweak his back again. "It just needs as much time as possible."

Still, he declared himself the favourite, an opinion echoed by other players, even though some of them have been in better form in recent weeks.

"I'm here to win," Federer said. "I'm not here just to participate."

Top tennis players make a good living through tournament winnings and endorsements. That doesn't mean they aren't worried about the global financial crisis.

"Absolutely," Andy Roddick said, pointing out that the U.S. Davis Cup team already has lost one of its top sponsors, AIG, as a result and that players are worried about more fallout.

Roger Federer pointed out one clear effect: fewer journalists have travelled to Shanghai for the Masters Cup as media are getting hurt by a drop in advertising.

Nov 5, 2008 from Reuters:
SHANGHAI - Roger Federer will open his bid for a third successive Masters Cup title, and a fifth in all, against Gilles Simon after being grouped with the Frenchman in Wednesday's draw for the $4.45 million tournament.

The Swiss is top seed in the absence of world number one Rafael Nadal, whose withdrawal through injury allowed Simon to take his place in the season-ending event for the top eight men in the world.

In-form world number four Andy Murray and Andy Roddick complete the Red Group, from which the top two players advance to the semi-finals after the round robin stage.