Aug 29, 2009 from The Times:
John McEnroe says now that he never bought into the premise that a sport — football, in the legendary case of Bill Shankly — was more important than life or death, but those who lived through his pomp — accumulating seven grand-slam singles titles (he says it would have been more if he had taken care of himself the way he does as a 50-year-old father of six) — could have been forgiven for suspecting it consumed him.

Which is why he looks at Roger Federer, new father of twins and unmatched accumulator of grand-slam titles with 15, and is filled with wonder. "The guy is unbelievable," McEnroe said. "Where is the tiredness, what about lack of sleep? The way the guy played in Cincinnati last week, he's even hungrier than before. If he keeps this going for the next three years, he's going to get 20 slams for sure.

"One of the important things he has over everyone, and he has it more than any other player I've seen since [Jimmy] Connors, is his love for the sport. Real love. He loves to be out there, to be around tennis, everything about it. There is none of the angst that I had, no demons playing with him. [Pete] Sampras used to look up every once in a while, serve and win titles. He was never 'hey, this is great!' Connors relished it, he got into it so much, the kind of people who drove me crazy — he'd throw his arms around them, play up to them.

Aug 27, 2009 from New York Times:
Roger Federer was calm and cheerful before the United States Open draw Thursday afternoon, and he was still calm and cheerful afterward. The 10-minute unveiling of this year's bracket clearly did not worry him, even if the path to his 16th major title could take him through Andy Roddick or Novak Djokovic in the semifinals, and Andy Murray or Rafael Nadal in the final.

Federer arrived in New York after a momentous summer in which he finally won the French Open, surpassed Pete Sampras's record for most men's major titles and became a father to twin girls. With his charge to victory in suburban Cincinnati last week, it seems that changing diapers has not hurt his form.

"It was an amazing summer," said Federer, who will open the tournament against Devin Britton, an American wild card. "I'm still playing well. I played great in Cincinnati, and I hope to do well at the Open."

For Federer's chief rival, the third-seeded Nadal, the tournament could be tricky from the outset. Until this week, Federer and Nadal had been the top two seeds at every major tournament since the 2005 Open. But Murray, who lost in the final last year, earned this year's No. 2 seed behind Federer at Nadal's expense. Nadal will face Richard Gasquet, who returned to the ATP World Tour last month after failing a drug test earlier in the year. And it will not get easier for Nadal if he advances, with potential matchups against the Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Murray and Juan Martín del Potro.

For the top five men's seeds, the draw seemed most generous to Djokovic and Roddick. They probably have little to worry about until the second week. Roddick, seeded fifth, will start his run against Bjorn Phau of Germany and hope to build on his run at Wimbledon, where he fell to Federer in the fifth set of an epic final.

Aug 26, 2009 from Business Wire:
BEAVERTON - NIKE today unveiled its US Open apparel and footwear for Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams at a Nike-built, regulation-sized tennis court in the heart of Manhattan.

At the temporary court, located at 23rd Street and Broadway, tennis fans and youth from New York Junior Tennis League, Athletes for Charity, New York City Parks Foundation and Mentoring USA were treated to inspirational tennis tips and guidance from Federer, Nadal, Williams, and McEnroe. A youth representative from each organization had a chance to win a donation for their local group by returning balls from a tennis simulator set to mimic pro shots. The chance to hit against the simulator was also open to the public.

On site, Nike also unveiled the much anticipated apparel and footwear looks for Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal, and Maria Sharapova.

Aug 23, 2009 from ATP:
CINCINNATI - Top-seeded Swiss Roger Federer captured his fourth ATP World Tour title of the year and his third trophy at Western & Southern Financial Group Masters in Cincinnati on Sunday, after defeating fourth seed Novak Djokovic 6-1, 7-5 in one hour and 31 minutes. It was Federer's eighth win in 12 meetings against Djokovic, but his first win against the Serbian since the 2008 US Open.

Federer is the fourth player to win at least three titles at the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters in the Open Era (since 1968). He has now won 16 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles (16-9 overall), second only to Andre Agassi's 17, and 61 tour-level titles during his career (61-22 lifetime).

Federer cruised through the 33-minute first set, which included a 13-minute second game. Djokovic saved six of seven break points but Federer made the breakthrough and went on to secure a second service break in the fourth game. Federer won 16 of 19 service points, while Djokovic clinched his third service game to avoid a 6-0 set.

But Djokovic bounced back by storming into a 3-0 second-set lead, courtesy of a service break in the second game. Federer regained his composure and almost won four games in a row but at 3-3, the World No. 1 could not convert two break point opportunities.

Federer saved one set point at 4-5, 30/40 and crucially converted his fourth of 15 break point opportunities in the 11th game, before serving out his 47th win of the 2009 ATP World Tour season (47-7 record) with a love service game. Federer won 43 of 60 total service points, including seven aces, in the final.

Aug 22, 2009 from Cincinnati Enquirer:
MASON – Roger Federer defeated defending champion Andy Murray 6-2, 7-6 (10-8) Saturday afternoon in the first of two semifinals at the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters and stopped a four-match losing streak to the 22-year-old Scot.

It was the first time the world's top two ranked players matched up at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason.

To beat Murray, Federer had to save two set points in the second set tiebreaker and outlasted him 10-8, winning on Murray's double-fault.

Federer failed to win the match in his first match-point when he was ahead 7-6, but then rallied from down 8-7.

Federer was in control during the first set, breaking Murray's serve twice and nearly breaking it a third time when the Scot saved three break points to win his second game.

Federer closed the first set with a successful challenge along the right sideline.

Murray never led in either set, but kept the second set within a game at all times and was able to force the tiebreaker.

Aug 21, 2009 from Eurosport:
CINCINNATI – Roger Federer eased into the semi-finals of the Cincinnati Masters with a straightforward 6-3 6-4 win over Lleyton Hewitt.

Federer was rarely troubled by Hewitt, who was struggling with a knee injury, and needed just the one break of serve in each set before wrapping up the win in just over an hour.

Hewitt managed just three points against the Federer serve in the first set and the world number one broke in the sixth game when the Austrailan netted a forehand.

Aces number two and three in quick succession then helped Federer hold to serve out the set three games later.

It was a similar story in the second set with Federer pushing Hewitt to both corners of the court to break in the fifth game to effectively seal the match.

from ATP:
Federer reached another career milestone as he clinched his 200th win at ATP World Tour Masters 1000 level. The Swiss' record is second only to Andre Agassi's, who retired with 209 wins.

Aug 20, 2009 from DPA:
CINCINNATI – Roger Federer dropped only his second career set to David Ferrer before fighting back for a 3-6, 6- 3, 6-4 victory into the quarter-finals of the Cincinnati Masters Thursday.

The pair took to the hardcourt in hot, windy conditions after morning rainstorms, with Ferrer getting the early jump on the world number one.

Federer's 8-0 record in the series counted for little in the first set, with Ferrer recovering from an opening-set break and re-breaking the Swiss for 5-3.

The Spaniard closed out the set as Federer produced 16 unforced errors, a display which was quickly corrected as the top seed won the second set to level and recovered from a break down with an immediate break-back in the third before finally advancing on the first of three match points.

"I'm happy with how I played," said Federer. "It was tough, conditions were tricky.

"David didn't make many mistakes. This was one of those matches I had to win.

"I played well at the end to come through. I'm happy to get an opportunity to return tomorrow."

Aug 19, 2009 from PA:
CINCINNATI – Roger Federer held off a challenge in the second set to defeat Jose Acasuso 6-3 7-5 in the third round of the Cincinnati Masters.

Despite Acasuso's relentless attack, it was Federer's all-round game of both defence and attack that saw him triumph in one hour and 10 minutes to earn a tie with David Ferrer.

The game went with serve with Federer cruising on his own delivery - with seven aces in the first four games alone - and it appeared a matter of time before the top seed broke through after playing his opponent around the court.

The Argentinian finally succumbed in the eighth game and the Swiss was imperious, serving out to take the first set.

Federer was gliding through his service games until the sixth when Acasuso had break point for a 4-2 lead but he put the ball into the net and then lost his control, smashing his racket against the ground, as his opponent held.

The match went with serve although in the ninth game a wild shot by Acasuso gave Federer three break points.

The 26-year-old saved them all, then successfully challenged a double-fault ruling before forcing Federer to put the ball into the net.

Federer levelled at 5-5 and then brought up break point by defending from the net as Acasuso attempted to go down the line rather than cross court before the world number 51 went wide for the Swiss to claim a vital break.

from Reuters:
TORONTO – Tennis Canada is considering a plan to combine ATP and WTA events in Toronto and Montreal into one tournament featuring men and women playing at both venues in the same week, starting in 2011.

Under the plan, each city would stage one half of the men's main draw and one half of the women's.

Montreal and Toronto would stage one final apiece, meaning one of the men's and one of the women's finalists would switch cities, making the one-hour trip by private jet. The idea has been met with mixed reaction by players.

Aug 18, 2009 from Cincinnati Enquirer:
Although it perhaps doesn't rank with mid-court seats for Sunday's men's final, the areas around the thin slits in the green wind-control netting surrounding one of the complex's practice courts were the place to be Tuesday for those wanting to get as close to the world's best tennis player as most are ever likely to be.

With fans hoping to get a glimpse of Roger Federer outnumbering by hundreds the available seats, people contorted their bodies and craned their necks to peer through the roughly six-inch wide openings, creating a tennis equivalent of baseball's stereotypical vintage images of kids peeking through knotholes in ballpark fences.

People crawled through bushes, stood on their toes and tried to squeeze five bodies into spaces where two normally would feel crowded to get an unobstructed, if brief, look at Federer as he zipped groundstrokes while tuning up for his opening match today. Some held their cameras and cell phones high above their heads, hoping to angle them just right to get a photo through the narrow slots. Others had to content themselves with the shadowy images visible through the mesh netting.

Even with those obstacles, though, everyone seemed thrilled to be so close to tennis greatness.

"Where are you?" one woman shouted to her husband as they navigated through some large bushes about 25 feet from Federer.

"Back in the wilderness," came the chuckling reply.

from Mansfield News Journal:
There's a chance Roger Federer's defense of his U.S. Open tennis championship will have to go through Mansfield -- in a roundabout way.

New Albany's Chase Buchanan, son of Mansfield native Melissa (Bradley) Buchanan, defeated Ryan Lipman of Nashville 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 in Sunday's best-of-five boys 18s final of the U.S. Tennis Association National Championships at Kalamazoo (Mich.) College.

The victory earned Buchanan a wild card into the main draw of this year's U.S. Open. He made it to the Open last year in the main draw of men's doubles and also reached the quarterfinals in the boys 18s.

In Monday's editions of the Kalamazoo Gazette, Buchanan said that playing Federer in the first round of the U.S. Open would be "unbelievable."

"You've got to be wanting to play somebody like (him), whether you do well or you don't," Buchanan said.

Technically, it wouldn't be their first meeting. Melissa Buchanan said Monday her son got to hit with Federer for two hours on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court last year before Federer's semifinal match with Novak Djokovic.

from Metro Canada:
Los Angeles-based hair stylist Mitch Stone, whose clients include Ewan McGregor in Angels & Demons and Ben Stiller in Tropic Thunder, says not to be afraid of gel, at least not Gillette Flex Gel, which delivers a softer, matte look that is "less Alec Baldwin, more Roger Federer."

Aug 17, 2009 from ASAP Sports:
Q. You've had your motivational ups and downs in your career. What do you think keeps someone like Federer so motivated all the time?
MARAT SAFIN: Being a fanatic.

Q. About what?
MARAT SAFIN: About tennis. In a nice way. I think you have to really love what you're doing. You have to love it and you have to be a very great competitor, otherwise there is no -- I cannot understand him.

Even though he's on top of his game, and the tournaments he's got, he wanted to be the best of all-time, so he achieve. Obviously he gonna go for it and try to win a couple more. He's playing great tennis and he enjoys it on the court. He's a player. He's a real player deep inside of him.

Q. More than a lot of other people that are playing?
MARAT SAFIN: Well, he has more ability than others. Maybe a lot other players. Like Murray, he's a player. You can see that he knows what he's doing on the court and he knows exactly at what moment what's he gonna do, and he reads the point pretty well.

Same. They're pretty similar to each other. Federer probably he has a nicer technique, but the rest is very similar to each other.

Q. But Murray is young 20s and Roger is 28.
MARAT SAFIN: That is what I'm saying. They love to play and participate in the game. It's like they enjoy the moment. They enjoy being on the court.

from Globe and Mail:
David Feherty noted Roger Federer's comment that the only fault with Tiger Woods is that his pants are too big.

Aug 16, 2009 from Cincinnati Enquirer:
TENNISVILLE – The world's best arrived just before 4 Sunday afternoon, a couple of tennis courts apart. As Roger Federer practiced on Court 5, Dinara Safina was on Center Court, playing for a title.

In the midst of Sunday's final championship match between Dinara Safina and Jelena Jankovic, the fans had a difficult choice – watch the women's final or watch Roger Federer warm up in a practice session.

"I think it's awesome. It's great to be so close to the top-ranked players in the world and amazing to watch how crisply they hit the ball," said Debbi Smeija, who traveled from Eau Claire, Wis. in her first trip to the tournament.

Smeija was courtside while James Blake played Novak Djokovic in a practice set. The practice courts were so filled with spectators that, at times, it was hard to tell there was even a match being played on Center Court.

from CP:
MONTREAL — The Rogers Cup sold more than 200,000 tickets at this year's tournament in Montreal, breaking its own ATP record for a week-long event.

The event eclipsed its 2007 mark of 185,252 by selling 200,077 tickets for the event, which wrapped up Sunday at Uniprix Stadium.

"A world record for a one-week event, we're very, very proud of that," tournament director Eugene Lapierre said Sunday after the singles final.

Lapierre credited appearances by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for the spike in ticket sales.

Aug 14, 2009 from PA:
MONTREAL - Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beat Roger Federer 7-6 (7/5) 1-6 7-6 (7/3) in their quarter-final at the Rogers Cup.

Tsonga took the first set on a tie break after saving two break points, but Federer looked on course for victory when he raced through the second for the loss of just one game and moved 5-1 ahead in the third.

The seventh seed dug deep to reel off five straight games though, and had three match points at 6-5 and 40-0 against the Federer serve, only for the Swiss to save them all.

from Globe and Mail:
"You should not really try too hard to explain it," he said about not putting away the match. "You could say I should have got my first serve in at 30-all [late in the third]. But you have to give credit to the opponent that he fought hard and put you in difficult positions near the end.

"That's why I don't have too many regrets, even though I really should have won the match," Federer said.

Playing his first event since winning his record-setting 15th Grand Slam title at Wimbledon last month, he could take consolation that he is adjusting well to life with his 23-day-old twin daughters Charlene and Myla.

The Montreal Canadiens are a vital part of Quebec lore and officials at the Rogers Cup are always anxious to share it with the tennis players. When Roger Federer won his record 15th Grand Slam title at Wimbledon last month, Tennis Canada sent him a Canadiens jersey with No. 15 on the back. In the past, Martina Navratilova and Andre Agassi were sent hockey jerseys - but there was some confusion with Agassi and he did not get his. Navratilova's is currently framed and hanging in Tennis Canada's Montreal offices.

from Cincinnati Enquirer:
Q: Who have you enjoyed covering, either for their personalities or their prowess, over the past 30 years?

Cliff Drysdale: Start with Laver, Agassi, Becker, Edberg, Sampras, Federer. Those are player's players. When I was playing alongside of (Rod) Laver, he was the first one that the players used to watch. If Becker was playing, the players wanted to go and watch him. The same thing was true of Laver and now (Roger) Federer he is the players' player to watch. The players themselves, in the locker room, marvel at his ability to do all the things that he does.

Q: What impresses you about the younger generation of players today, in both men's and women's tennis?

Aug 13, 2009 from ATP:
MONTREAL - World No. 1 Roger Federer is accustomed to rewriting history books, but his newest achievement was a collaborative effort shared by the Top 8 in the South African Airways 2009 ATP Rankings. With all of them winning their third-round matches Thursday at the Rogers Cup in Montreal, it marked the first time since the ATP Rankings were introduced in 1973 that the top eight players had advanced to the quarter-finals at an ATP World Tour or Grand Slam tournament.

Federer fittingly held the honour of completing the historic quarter-final line-up, defeating fellow Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka 6-3, 7-6(5) just moments after World No. 7 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga had cemented his 6-3, 6-3 win over World No. 9 Gilles Simon in an all-French third-round match.

Three-time Olympian Alexandre Despatie fulfilled one of his goals Thursday, when he met Roger Federer at the Rogers Cup, in Montreal.

Despatie, Canada's most famous Olympian, started his Olympic diving career in Sydney at the 2000 Olympic Games where he finished fourth in the 10-metre platform, before winning medals at the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Games.

Last month he collected another two medals at the World Championships in Rome at the Foro Italico that is the same venue as the Internazionali BNL d'Italia, an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 clay-court tournament.

Despatie has long admired Roger Federer and met the ATP World Tour No.1 following his straight sets victory over fellow Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka. "He is an amazing guy, said Despatie, 24, who was blown away by the experience of meeting the world's best tennis player. "It gives me something more to motivate me to become a better athlete."

Not content with just being No. 1 in the South African Airways 2009 ATP Rankings, Swiss superstar Roger Federer is also the No. 1 most popular athlete on Facebook.

Federer's official page on the social-networking site had 2,691,654 fans at last count, while his closest rival – American swimming sensation, Michael Phelps – had 2,687,346 followers.

The 28-year-old Federer regularly posts on his Wall and used the site to break the news of the birth of his and wife Mirka's twin girls, Myla Rose and Charlene Riva, before also opting to share the first photo with his fans.

Aug 11, 2009 from CP:
MONTREAL - Roger Federer returned to the court just in time to say goodbye to an old friend and opponent - Frederic Niemeyer.

The world No. 1 took a set to find his range and then put away the low-ranked Canadian 7-6 (3), 6-4 in second round at Uniprix Stadium on Tuesday night.

He then stepped aside to let Niemeyer bask in the applause from the full house of 11,490 on centre court for the Deauville, Que., resident's last match at his home tournament.

Niemeyer, 33, who is to retire at the end of this season, first played Federer in a small tournament 11 years ago in Switzerland and since then the two have got together to hit balls or chat whenever they meet up.

from Globe and Mail:
The world's No. 1 tennis player has been travelling around the last few months with a Cookie Monster doll in is kit bag.

"We got it in Madrid and then we started to fool around a little bit," said the new father of twins, Roger Federer.

Aug 10, 2009 from Montreal Gazette:
The top four players did some round-table media interviews Sunday in a large loge above Centre Court.

And while the media were many in attendance, the fans also crowded to get a glimpse – particularly of Roger Federer.

The world No. 1 had people with their noses pressed up against the glass, behind the last row of the first tier of seats. Cameras handing over plexiglass, kids pressed up against the window, the whole nine yards.

It gave you just a slight insight into what it must be like living your life in a fishbowl.

But the players were very good. They're used to this drill. And in this slightly more intimate setting than a full-scale Grand Slam press conference, they're a little more relaxed. Even the women at the WTA event last year - in small groups of two or three, were very very good: charming, forthcoming.

Aug 9, 2009 from Canwest:
If you thought Federer, who became the father of identical twin girls July 23, would arrive distracted, sleep-deprived, or somehow off his game, you thought wrong.

From what he said Sunday, the 15-time Grand Slam champion was champing at the bit to get here, to compete, after being idle since the Wimbledon final in early July.

"I didn't want to be home another week without playing a tournament," he said. "I'm happy to be back on Tour -- happy Mirka allowed me to -- and was willing to join me on the big trip.

"Otherwise I don't think I would have come. Mirka was completely cool with my coming over here," he said.

The twins left the hospital only Tuesday. Everything checked out, and the entire family wisely took a private jet (at his own expense, not the tournament's) to get to Montreal. Federer also turned 28 Saturday.

"I'm coming off my birthday, being here with the kids and trying to be organized, and being back on Tour after not losing for a few months," he said.

Aug 8, 2009 from Roger Federer Official Site:
Dear Fans

The lucky numbers are here again: 8.8.! It’s great to be celebrating my birthday, especially now as my family has grown and there are so many precious moments we can share. There’s quite some celebrating to be done over these weeks of the year!

I must admit that I am quite simply overwhelmed by all the letters, postcards, presents and personal greetings that I have received from all of you. I would like to thank you so much for your support. It is fantastic to be given so much from all the corners of the world and being able to see what a close community we have become over these years. Wonderful!

Aug 7, 2009 from Roger Federer Official Site:
Dear Fans

After the wonderful experiences over the past days it is my pleasure to inform you that I will be participating in the Rogers Cup in Montreal which starts on Monday. As I was able to find enough time to practice these past weeks I must say that I feel fit and full of energy. It is always a bit strange not to have played for a longer period – five weeks in total this time – so I am happy to be back competing and sharing my passion with all of you! Thank you so much for all your support.

from ATP:

Prior to his return to the ATP World Tour at the Rogers Cup in Montreal, World No. 1 Roger Federer and wife, Mirka introduced their twin girls, Myla Rose and Charlene Riva to fans via Federer's official Facebook page. Federer, who used Facebook and his official web site to break the news of the twins' birth on 23rd July, wished to share the first photo to be released with his fans via the social networking site instead of selling it for an exclusive feature elsewhere. "As promised, here is a family picture that my dad took," wrote the Swiss superstar on his Wall. "He thinks he's becoming a professional photographer. It was very funny as both girls had the hiccups while we were trying to take a decent picture. The girls and mom are doing great. Thanks for all your warm wishes."

Aug 5, 2009 from ESPN:
After the brief hiccup of 2008, Federer is tennis's best answer to the constancy of death and taxes.

"With the improvement of all the young guys, Roger had to get better -- and he did," said Paul Annacone, head coach of men's tennis for Britain's Lawn Tennis Association. "That, to me, is very impressive. Now we're seeing how great Roger truly is."

The Wimbledon title was Federer's 15th major, breaking Pete Sampras' record. The U.S. Open offers another tantalizing slice of history.

On eight occasions in the Open era, men have won the same ATP-level tournament five years in a row, but no one has won six successive times. Federer is eyeing the never-accomplished six-peat. Nadal, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Roddick and Juan Martin del Potro may have other ideas.

from Sports Illustrated:
Q: As an enthusiastic but now concerned Federer fan, I ask you: Is Federer deluding himself when he says fatherhood won't really affect his tennis game? History has shown that for the most part, a baby suddenly changes a player's (and person's) view of life because the focus is no longer on the game, but on the child and wife.
-- Grace Lin, New York, N.Y.

Sam Querrey: I don't think Federer is deluding himself. The guy has won 15 Grand Slams with plenty of other distractions in his life. He is not your average tennis player; he is such a tremendous champion that I feel like he could keep playing at a championship level throughout fatherhood.

Aug 3, 2009 from Tennis Week:
Q: Favorite Players To Watch?

Frank Dancevic: "I've obviously admired Federer. His game is more towards what I want to lean my game's style toward."