Career Grandslam Champion Roger Federer [Archive] - Page 2

ajithfederer

10th September 2008, 10:56 PM

[tscii:b312dc991f]http://www.orkut.com/CommMsgs.aspx?cmm=78522&tid=5209805427595939659&na=1&nst=1

Quotes abt FEDERER frm other players
Here are some of the most memorable remarks made about federer from other players.
It alost covers all of legends ever to have played the beautiful Game Of TENNIS.

For me, in my prime, I felt unbeatable. In Roger's days, he's unbeatable.
It's really hard to put one guy over the other. Having said that,
I think Roger is dominating the game much more than I ever did.
I think he's going to go on and pass 14 and win 16, 17, 18 majors.
I think he's going to break all records.

* Pete Sampras, before playing his third exhibition match with Roger Federer, Macau, China, Nov. 23, 2007.

If he is playing very good, I have to play unbelievable. If not, it’s impossible, especially if he’s playing with good confidence. When he’s 100 percent, he’s playing in another league. It’s impossible to stop him. I fight. I fight. I fight. Nothing to say. Just congratulate him.

* Rafael Nadal, after losing to Federer in the Shanghai Masters Cup semifinal, Nov. 17, 2007.

I played unbelievable, and if it was not Roger Federer on the other side of the net I would have won, 400 per cent.

* Tomas Berdych, No. 10 in the world, Davis Cup tie, Sept. 23, 2007

He's an artist on this surface. He can stay back. He can come in. No weaknesses. Federer could win Wimbledon six, seven, eight times. He can play on any kind of surface, he is so complete. And if he continues the way he has been doing and stays away from injuries and still has the motivation, he will be the greatest player ever. I think the motivation is the key thing and he has the motivation to continue to play for another three or five years.

* Bjorn Borg, winner of 11 Grand Slams, at Wimbledon 2007.

He's the most gifted player that I've ever seen in my life. I've seen a lot of people play. I've seen the (Rod) Lavers, I played against some of the great players—the Samprases, Beckers, Connors', Borgs, you name it. This guy could be the greatest of all time. That, to me, says it all.

* John McEnroe, winner of 7 Grand Slams

He's probably the greatest player that ever lived.

* John McEnroe, BBC Wimbledon 2006 live broadcast.

He can beat half the guys with his eyes closed!

* John McEnroe, BBC Wimbledon 2006 live broadcast.

If you want to be a tennis player, then mould yourself on Roger Federer. I won three Wimbledon titles and I wish I could play like him.

* John McEnroe.

Federer is the best player in history, no other player has ever had such quality.

* Rafael Nadal, after winning French Open 2006.

Yes, I really hit with him when he was 15, during a tournament in Basel, and I knew then he would be good, but not this good. If he stays healthy, it will actually be a miracle if he doesn't win more Grand Slams than Pete [Sampras]. The way he picks his shots is unbelievable. He is fast, he has a great volley, a great serve, great backhand, great everything. If I was his coach, what can I tell him? He is a magician with a racket. Even when he is playing badly, which is rarely, he can still do things with his racket nobody else can do.

* Goran Ivanisevic on the question if Federer is destined to become the greatest player of all time.

Well, I think when I look at Roger, I mean, I'm a fan. I mean, I'm a fan of how he plays, what he's about, just the fact that I think he's a class—I don't know him personally, but seems like he's a class guy on and off the court. He's fun to watch. Just his athletic ability, what he's able to do on the run. I think he can and will break every tennis record out there.

* Pete Sampras, winner of 14 Grand Slams.

I don't see anyone with a big enough weapon to hurt him. They're just staying back and Roger is able to dictate well enough. You just have to serve well and attack him.

* Pete Sampras.

I really consider myself top 5 player in the world, which it doesn't mean that I am close to Roger.

* Ivan Ljubicic, at Indian Wells 2006

Oh, I would be honoured to even be compared to Roger. He is such an unbelievable talent, and is capable of anything. Roger could be the greatest tennis player of all time.

* Rod Laver, winner of 11 Grand Slams, considered by some the greatest player to ever play the game of tennis.

Roger's got too many shots, too much talent in one body. It's hardly fair that one person can do all this—his backhands, his forehands, volleys, serving, his court position. The way he moves around the court, you feel like he's barely touching the ground. That's the sign of a great champion.

* Rod Laver, after 2007 Australian Open semifinal

The best way to beat him would be to hit him over the head with a racquet. Roger could win the Grand Slam if he keeps playing the way he is and, if he does that, it will equate to the two Grand Slams that I won because standards are much higher these days.

* Rod Laver, speaking ahead of the 2007 Australian Open final against Fernando Gonzalez.

He's the best I've ever played against. There's nowhere to go. There's nothing to do except hit fairways, hit greens and make putts. Every shot has that sort of urgency on it. I've played a lot of them (other players), so many years, there's a safety zone, there's a place to get to, there's something to focus on, there's a way. Anything you try to do, he potentially has an answer for and it's just a function of when he starts pulling the triggers necessary to get you to change to that decision.

* Andre Agassi, at US Open 2005.

He hits that short chip, moves you forward, moves you back. He uses your pace against you. If you take pace off, so that he can't use your pace, he can step around and hurt you with the forehand. Just the amount of options he has to get around any particular stage of the match where maybe something's out of sync is—seems to be endless. His success out there is just a mere reflection of all the things that he can do.

* Andre Agassi, Us 2005

WhOpPiEe its 13
There's probably not a department in his game that couldn't be considered the best in that department. You watch him play Hewitt and everybody marvels at Hewitt's speed, as well as myself. And you start to realize, `Is it possible Federer even moves better?' Then you watch him play Andy [Roddick], and you go, `Andy has a big forehand. Is it possible Federer's forehand is the best in the game?' You watch him at the net, you watch him serve-volley somebody that doesn't return so well and you put him up there with the best in every department. You see him play from the ground against those that play from the ground for a living, and argue he does it better than anybody.

* Andre Agassi

He's a real person. He's not an enigma. Off the court he's not trying to be somebody. If you met him at McDonald's and you didn't know who he was, you would have no idea that he's one of the best athletes in the world.

* Andy Roddick, at Cincinnati 2005.

I think there's—he's the main guy and then there's probably four or five of us that are—I don't know. Maybe we need to do just a tag team effort or something, join forces, you know, like Power Rangers or something.

* Andy Roddick, after losing to Roger Federer at the final of Cincinnati 2005

He's probably the most talented person to ever carry a racquet around—the shots that he can come up with, the way he's kind of become a totally complete player. But I think off the court, it's huge. There have been a lot of good champions, but he's just classy. He is never high and mighty in the locker room or anything like that.

* Andy Roddick.

Roger is at the top, and he's the only person at the top, regardless of how much people want to make rivalry comparisons and this, that and the other. He's the best player in the game. There's no question in my mind.

* Andy Roddick, after losing to Federer in the Final of 2006 US Open.
9 Jun
WhOpPiEe its 13
[In the modern game], you're either a clay court specialist, a grass court specialist or a hard court specialist ... or you're Roger Federer.

* Jimmy Connors, winner of 8 Grand Slams.

He hasn't changed a bit. He hasn't been arrogant in the locker room. He never is. That's great to see someone that does it with class. He doesn't intentionally get in anyone's face. He doesn't put people down.

* James Blake, at Cincinnati 2005.

He is on his way to becoming possibly the greatest of all time. But he's still human.

* James Blake, before he faced Federer in the Quarterfinal at the US Open 2006.

He put tennis, the bar very high—very high. It's incredible what kind of game he can play.

* Marat Safin, at Australian Open 2005.

We have a guy from Switzerland who is just playing the game a way I haven't seen anyone—and I mean anyone—play before. How fortunate we are to be able to see that. If he stays healthy and motivated—and the wonderful feel he has stays with him—he is the kind of guy who can overtake the greatest.

* Boris Becker, winner of 6 Grand Slams.

I'd like to be in his shoes for one day to know what it feels like to play that way.

* Mats Wilander, winner of 7 Grand Slams.

Roger Federer is the most talented tennis player I have ever seen. He has the capacity to become the greatest in history.

* Nick Bollettieri.

Roger Federer is the only guy I watch for his strokes. He is just beautiful. He can hit every single shot you could ever think of. John [McEnroe] and Ilie [Nastase] were very talented but you always knew there were some shots they couldn't hit. Not with Federer. I would go and watch him practice, he's so good.

* Ivan Lendl, winner of 8 Grand Slams.
9 Jun
WhOpPiEe its 13
Roger is a complete player. What he has, and it's not luck, is the ability to change his game slightly as to what his opponent's doing to him.

* Jack Kramer, an all-time great of the game.

I've never enjoyed watching someone playing tennis as much as Federer. I'm just in awe. Pete Sampras was wonderful but he relied so much on his serve, whereas Roger has it all, he's just so graceful, elegant and fluid—a symphony in tennis whites. Roger can produce tennis shots that should be declared illegal.

* Tracy Austin

He's the best player I've ever played against, full stop ... and he was just too good today.

* Tim Henman, after losing in the 2nd round of Wimbledon 2006 6-4, 6-0, 6-2.

I'm not sure if he has any weakness in his repertoir.

* Jonas Bjorkman, after losing in the semifinal of Wimbledon 2006 6-2, 6-0, 6-2.

Maybe Roger Federer will rescue tennis. He plays like we did in the past.

* Ilie Nastase, first ever World No.1 when rankings were introduced in 1973.

He is capable of hitting shots which other players don't even think about trying. He has so many skills.

* Ivan Lendl, on the 25 Birthday Party of Federer in Toronto.

Maybe I could win more championships and prize money if Federer was not in the same age with me, but you have to know that there is something money can not buy—that's playing against Federer.

* Ivan Ljubicic.

He is the best man in the game, on and off the court, and he has a great personality. I enjoy so much having opportunities to compete against him.

* Ivan Ljubicic.

I am so proud to have him around. It is very pity that I am not able to play with Pete Sampras, but it's OK, I can see Federer on the tour. I could tell my grandson someday that I have competed against the greatest player on the planet.

* Ivan Ljubicic.
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ajithfederer

10th September 2008, 11:08 PM

[tscii:3b1253433e]Today I was playing my best tennis, trying lots of different things, but nothing worked. When you're playing like that and he still comes up with all those great shots you really have to wonder if he's even from the same planet.

* Novak Djokovic, after Davis Cup match.

He's Roger. What can you say?

* Mario Ancic after their quarter final at Wimbledon 2006.

Just about everything he does is pretty impressive. So, yeah, 50 titles at any age is impressive. 50 titles at 26 is incredible. 50 titles with 11 of them being Grand Slams, and I think now 14 being Masters Series, that's just phenomenal.

* James Blake after their final in Cincinnati 2007, when Federer won his 50th title in the ATP circuit.

He's not just number one, he's the best in history. He has 12 Grand Slams and I'm sure he'll get the record (14). He can do it all. He serves very well, he has a very good forehand and backhand. He has no weak points.

* David Ferrer after his loss in Shanghai 2007

"Roger can produce tennis shots that should be declared illegal" - Tracy Austin

I really consider myself top 5 player in the world, which it doesn't mean that I am close to Roger.

* Ivan Ljubicic, at Indian Wells 2006

"I’d love to cook an egg on rogies head." - Tiger Woods

"you're either a clay court specialist, a grass court specialist or a hard court specialist ... or you're Roger Federer." - Jimmy Connors

From Ginepri after Cincinnati
"I think guys have seen that he's, you know, human. He's had such a stellar career that it's hard to keep that up. Maybe he's not as steady as he used to be. I think guys are feeling that a little bit more now, especially in the last couple of weeks. But if he doesn't stay No. 1, he'll find his way back to the top. He's such a tremendous athlete."

BLAKE AFTER WIMBY:

we all know federer is going thru a slump.. nd just watch out his slump.. 2GS finals nd a SM!!

"Of course, I've created a monster, so I know I need to always win every tournament,"
federer himself.

"i have only 3 words for roger federer, he's going down"-novak joko
it was said in 2007, i wonder wat wud joko say now abt federer

"He's a real person. He's not an enigma. Off the court he's not trying to be somebody. If you met him at McDonald's and you didn't know who he was, you would have no idea that he's one of the best athletes in the world."
-roddick

I still can win 2 or 3 more slams if Federer doesn't play- Marat Safin

"I saw Andy in the locker room, running around playing cards and he was loose. If you don't get on Federer early, it's trouble because no one comes back on him. Once he starts hitting those sweet shots, he took a little belief out of Andy. I saw Andy's face and I said 'Oh s***.'"
-- Bob Bryan on Andy Roddick's dismantling at the hands of Roger Federer at the Australian Open.

I've probably run out of adjectives to describe him on the court to talk about his excellence. He's just unbelievable."
- James Blake, 2006

To say he is the essence of calm and relaxation understates the mood of serenity in which he lives his life. He had enough time for everyone, a word for everyone; he not only has the potential to be the greatest player the sport has seen but he is its finest salesman as well. What more could tennis want? How much more will tennis get?

— Three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker, on Roger Federer, in his column in The Times (UK).

Nadal, who recently won a gold medal for Spain at the Olympics in Beijing, said that he has been inspired to perform at his best over the years because of Federer.

“All these years I’ve always had one person ahead of me and better than me,” said Nadal.

This guy loves the sport too much. He's NOT gonna go away without a fight, for sure.....
Federer has a lot more in the tank and anyone who says otherwise about Federer, just doesn't know tennis!"
-Jim Courier

Yeah, I mean, the guy has only made two Grand Slam finals this year. I would love his bad year.
I would love it. It would be great. I'd be really happy with right now.
I mean I guess at a certain point, the guy has the best four year run ever, and we're all sitting here in shock that it's not the best five year run ever.
We have to use a little bit of perspective here as far as how good he's been.
I've said it before, and I think he's said it, he's created a little bit of a monster for himself, and I don't think you know,
I remember reading a lot of stuff after, you know, Tsonga beats Nadal in Australia, and everyone's like, okay.
It was Djokovic for two months and you guys were like, going off, and then Nadal now and you guys are all jacked up.
You know, you got to give it some time.
One big result and he's just clicked in.
-Andy Roddick

It's unbelievable for me.....It was like a dream. I was so happy …
I played so good, he played unbelievable, I think, all the time.
For me, he's No.1 always.
-Maximo Gonzalez

I'm happy, I did my best there and was happy to play with the great Federer. I lost to the man who'll be holding the trophy this year, just wait and see....
....When Federer slips a little bit, he reaches the finals of the Grand Slams every time. He is the biggest player for sure.
Nadal is playing good tennis this year but for me, Federer is the best one.
-Thiago Alves

Everybody know what level he can play.
......for me, he's still a great player. He created also a monster, like he said a couple years ago. He won everything.
And now everybody expects him to win everything, and, I mean, he's also just human.
I think even today, like I said, you could still see why he was No. 1 and still No. 2 now.
Every time he was tied, the score was tied, he came up with a better shot.
-Gilles Muller

But Roger is still there, you know.
And even though people are talking about him not playing so well this year, he's still very consistent, you know.
All Grand Slams he was semis, finals, you know, semis at minimum….
…..that's his strength, you know. Whenever he needs to play well, he plays his best.
-Novak Djokovic

I told him that he had, you know, a phenomenal year, regardless of what anyone said. I had a lot of respect for him....
....That's why I think that, you know, there's a very strong argument for him being the best player (of all time)
-Andy Murray

I liked what murray said after he lost to federer

"I was beaten by the best player of the game today. beat him a couple of times but he's set the records straight today. I gotta play a lot better if i have to win one of these tournaments"

[/tscii:3b1253433e]

MADDY

11th September 2008, 07:43 AM

federer has made me eat my words that he is too weak a guy to make a comeback......... :D

(sampras's record is just a year away....probably i will stop watching tennis completely, once that is broken :( )

HBK

11th September 2008, 08:38 AM

Yey.. HaPPy for Roger as i just can't stand Nadal. He looked more comfortable than usual (maybe because he faced MuRRay instead of nadal? Lol). Great celebration as well.

He was right on target with post match interview. Those columnists and so caLLed pundits have to stop their negative thoughts on Roger (Vijay Amritraj is a great coMMentator, btw), because he is the best.

MuRRAy has a great future. Now those British guys have someone to suPPort other than Henman. Lol. he lOOked like he is belong to the main event at times, but he can count on valuable experience nonetheleSS.

Sanguine Sridhar

11th September 2008, 09:51 AM

Federer :thumbsup: 8-) :notworthy:

What a way to finish this year! Experts are saying that he will be Number:1 next year.

ajithfederer

11th September 2008, 10:09 PM

Time to revisit how the legend was born

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/in_depth/2001/wimbledon_2001/1418928.stm
Monday, 2 July, 2001, 18:40 GMT 19:40 UK
Federer ends Sampras reign

Sampras will not be claiming an eighth Wimbledon title
Roger Federer beat Pete Sampras 7-6 5-7 6-4 6-7 7-5

Swiss prodigy Roger Federer ended the reign of Pete Sampras at Wimbledon beating the seven-time champion in the fourth round.

Sampras, gunning for his fifth straight title, which would have equalled Bjorn Borg's record, was silenced in a five-set thriller by a composed teenager with a tantalising array of shots.

The American, who had not lost at Wimbledon in a 31-match streak stretching back to July 1996, vowed he would be back.

"Let's not get carried away. I plan on being back for many years. The reason I play tennis is to play in these big tournaments.

There are a lot of young guys coming up but Roger is a bit extra-special - he has a great all-round game, like me doesn't get too emotional and is a great athlete.
Pete Sampras
"And the reason I stop playing will not be because of my ability but because I do not want to do it anymore. There is no reason to panic and think I cannot comeback and win here again."

It was Sampras' earliest exit in ten years of Wimbledon Championships.

And he paid tribute to his young conqueror, who was 11 years old when he won his first title.

Roger Federer
Federer shocked the champion
"There are a lot of young guys coming up but Roger is a bit extra-special. He has a great all-round game, like me doesn't get too emotional and you have to give him a great deal of credit."

Federer, a former Wimbledon junior champion, showed remarkable composure on his Centre Court debut.

He claimed the first set but Sampras twice drew level before he clinched the five-setter, sinking to his knees in awe at his achievement.

It was the first time Sampras had lost a five-set match at Wimbledon.

For once someone other than Sampras had the right combination of nerve, skill and fortune.

I have won a lot of close matches here but this time I came up short
Pete Sampras
Federer took the first set on a tie-break in which the number one seed was undone by a combination of bad umpiring and bad luck.

Firstly, a serve by Federer appeared out but was allowed to stand, then a backhand by the Swiss teenager struck the net-cord and looped over.

But afterwards Sampras appeared happy to accept his lot.

"I have won a lot of close matches here - last year's final for one - and fortunately over the years I have managed to come up with the big shot but this time I came up short.

Big scalp

"Against Roger I had my chances but did not convert them whereas he played really well at the right time which is the key on grass."

Sampras believed he had weathered the storm when he overcame six break points to draw level at a set apiece.

But the 29-year-old twice allowed himself to be broken - and when he put a simple overhead long, Federer was once again ahead.

A lot of friends and players told me, "This year I think you can really beat him (Sampras)"
Roger Federer
But from a set behind, the pendulum swung towards Sampras again.

He rattled through a tie-break 7-2 to send the match into a deciding fifth set.

Federer's big chance came in the 12th game as the teenager took Sampras to two match points.

Federer only needed one of them, a forehand winner to claim Wimbledon's biggest scalp.

"It feels unbelieveable, of course," said Federer. "I knew it was not going to be easy. I'm very happy about my performance today, from the first to the last point.

And he admitted he was not the only person who thought that Sampras could be fallable.

"A lot of friends and players told me, "This year I think you can really beat him." I've played a great year so far - better than him."

ajithfederer

13th September 2008, 08:44 AM

[tscii:b399d1c1a1]http://www.sportingo.com/tennis/a10240_smile-back-roger-federers-face-after-year-struggle

Smile is back on Roger Federer's face after a year of struggle
The Swiss master captured his 13th Grand Slam title by thrashing Andy Murray in the US Open final. Is he finally back to his invincible best?

''I would hope to go a step further and have that invincibility factor again.'' That was Roger Federer, addressing the media after his third-round win at the US Open.

One week later he had vindicated the seemingly incongruous statement he had made at that time. And, as he stood clutching his fifth consecutive US Open men’s singles trophy, a shy smile was visible on his face. It was a smile that said a lot, a smile that was more due to relief than the mere jubilation of having won another Grand Slam.

It once again reinstated the belief and faith in himself - and probably quietened his critics who were insistent on bashing him to no end. It was a smile which bore testimony to the fact that it was a reprisal completed, a smile that said indemnity had been done.

Yes, Roger Federer was a man on a mission for the past fortnight at the year’s final Grand Slam. It was evident in his attitude as he kept on battling his way to the end. A yell of frustration on committing an unacceptable error or the emotional outburst on winning a tough match or even a closely-fought set was so unusual from the normally stoic figure, and yet it proved that the fervour and the hunger were still very much there.

One by one he took out his opponents who had defeated him this year - Radek Stepanek in the third round, Novak Djokovic in the semi-final and, ultimately, Andy Murray in the final. It was a final in which Federer was irrepressible, slamming 36 winners to Murray’s 16.

With booming serves and deep returns, he kept Murray rooted behind the baseline. He also volleyed spectacularly with 44 net approaches to Murray’s meagre 11. A listless Murray simply had no answer to Roger’s impervious game. This was the vintage Federer.

Obviously, this was his last big opportunity to prove himself in a year which had given him a litany of woes, a year that started with him battling a strength-sapping mononucleosis virus during the Australian Open, resulting in his losing the semi-final to eventual champion Djokovic. He was then decimated in the French Open final by his determined and resurgent nemesis, Rafael Nadal, and heartbreakingly lost a pulsating Wimbledon final to Nadal yet again. Surely this one last chance of Slam glory Federer never wanted to let go of.

For any other player, reaching two finals and a semi-final in the first three Grand Slams of the year would have been considered a resplendent and awe-inspiring record. But it wasn't for Federer, a winner of 12 Grand Slams in the last five years, who has been regarded by many to be one of the greatest to have ever held a racquet.

Not only this, Federer also saw his staggering 237-week stay atop the rankings come to an abrupt end. A man who has dominated almost every opponent for the last few years - except a certain Spaniard - saw himself managing to win only two relatively low-key, star-starved tournaments, as well as an Olympic doubles gold. He got hammered 12 times in total by nine different opponents.

Quite expectedly, this was enough to send shockwaves through the sport. Either it was the mono effect or his age, or maybe his game simply declining. Critics inexorably started pounding him, almost writing him off. He was flooded with post, emails from former players, coaches, doctors, fans giving their advice from all over the world.

On Monday night, as Federer stood placidly at the Arthur Ashe Stadium having taken the first step to reviving his battered image, the view of his father Robert up in the stands wiping tears from his eyes proved that it was not only the man himself suffering, but also his family. This was surely a battle won more mentally than physically.

With this latest Major title, Federer stands just one short of Pete Sampras’s record haul of 14 Grand Slams as well as becoming the only man in the history of the game to have achieved five consecutive titles at two different Grand Slams – Wimbledon and the US. It's certainly a record good enough to make anybody speechless.[/tscii:b399d1c1a1]

ajithfederer

13th September 2008, 10:51 PM

http://www.hinduonnet.com/tss/tss3006/stories/20070210011000800.htm

From the publishers of THE HINDU

VOL.30 :: NO.06 :: Feb. 10, 2007
FEATURE

Geniuses similar, but vastly different

Roger Federer battled only his genius on his way up, learning which shot to select; Tiger Woods battled prejudice, the first African-American star in a lilywhite, spoilt, country club sport, writes Rohit Brijnath.

Both want to win every tournament they enter. Both often win every tournament they enter. Both wept last year on victory. Both make opponents weep. Both have CVs the size of novellas, the recitations of which before matches causes rivals to consider alternative employment.

When a rueful adversary once said, "We're all human beings here, but there is no chance humanly possible he is going to lose," it's hard to say who has been spoken of. Roddick on Federer? Close. Montgomerie on Tiger Woods.

But as much as there is similarity between Tiger Woods and Roger Federer there is difference, brilliant twins, yet fraternal ones.

The golfer owns an accountant's blank face but it comes with an interrogator's menace. On the tee, he could melt stone. The tennis player enters court like a man visiting an art exhibition and no one has yet told him it's his. Federer scowls every new moon, Tiger in his sleep.

The czar of the clubs intimidates, but appears like he seeks to; the racquet-master intimidates, but it appears a by-product of how he plays. Of Tiger, it is regularly said, that he practices more dutifully than anyone, ignoring even a dipping sun's signal to go home; no stories abound of Federer's work ethic, as if it is unseemly for him to be seen sweating.

The golfer's power is so striking that it occasionally obscures his majestic touch; the tennis player's feel is so delicious that it occasionally conceals his considerable power. Tiger is physically commanding, owns a fashion sense (red T-shirt on the final day is his signature) and looks an athlete; Federer is actually an athlete but doesn't always look like one, and his clothes appear designed by a colour-blind banker.

The tennis player battled only his genius on his way up, learning which shot to select; Tiger battled prejudice, the first African-American star in a lilywhite, spoilt, country club sport. It may account for Tiger's resolve, or as Federer said last fortnight: "He is more driven than me."

The tennis player is rich, the golfer is loaded. Federer made roughly $22 million or so last year; Tiger made roughly $90 million. America, the biggest market, is, incredibly, cold to the tennis player; in America, the golfer, is the hottest athlete in the market.

The course guru faces greater scrutiny and pressure from the US media; the court magician gets a free ride from everyone. Tiger's every move is analysed; Federer's every movement is deified. Tiger did not respond happily to questions about his slump: Federer has yet to be in a slump.

Tiger is more recognisable, probably the planet's most famous sportsman, which defies immediate logic considering golf is an elitist sport, beyond the reach of much of the planet; Federer is better loved, both by public and peers, his fame limited perhaps only because he is not born American, or English.

Tiger has opponents, Federer, clay aside, does not. Federer's opponents send him virtual valentines, like Roddick who once said: "I told him, `I'd love to hate you, but you're really nice'." No one sends Tiger a valentine except Elin.

Tiger is known to spit invective; Federer told us he threw racquets once else we would have never believed him. Tiger faces enormous distractions in his workplace; Federer does not. Tiger, as an African-American role model, an American icon, has to be more careful of what he says; Federer can call himself "magical" and everyone nods in agreement.

Golfers seem aloof, isolated, locked away in country clubs, men viewed from a distance, not given to demonstration. Tiger, wearing a mask most days, appears even more remote, a distant God, an inaccessible icon, evoking respect, but rarely affection.

You would not readily hail Tiger should you bump trolleys in a supermarket. With Federer you might discuss backhands. His smile is gentler, his manner less daunting, yet also his faithful less demanding. He is not bereft of ego, or Mother Teresa on the court, but appears to understand that for all his super gifts he is no superman.

The golfer is an idol on a pedestal; the tennis player is a more human hero.

ajithfederer

16th September 2008, 12:06 AM

Videos of roger's welcome party at basel today!!!
http://www.sf.tv/sfsport/manualx.php?docid=federer-empfang&catid=sfsportmanualx

enjoy!!

ajithfederer

18th September 2008, 09:32 PM

Federer Backhands
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=fhaxKLMDW7s&feature=related
great backhand passes from Federer

Federer-spirit of a champion -part 1
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=3nO9Qt97O-g

Federer the spirit of a champion-pt 2
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=9xacz92iToY&feature=related

Federer-the spirit of a champion part 3
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=V6FlUHVu3No&feature=related

ajithfederer

18th September 2008, 09:47 PM

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=jackson/070611_tennis
What if Rafael Nadal didn't exist?

What if the player considered possibly the best ever didn't have a nemesis? A tormentor? An obstacle in his path, a thorn in his side, a pain in his ass? Would Roger Federer be considered as great if there was no Nadal? Or is he considered so great because Nadal exists?

Roger Federer

AP Photo/Michael Spingler

Federer is left to wonder, will he ever win the French?
Greatness is often defined by adversity, by what interrupts a person from achieving it. When you have an entire sport at your feet, in your hands -- at the end of your racket -- what meaning does the person who halts you from achieving unconditional greatness hold?

Think of tennis without John McEnroe interrupting Bjorn Borg, or basketball without the Pistons interrupting MJ. Think of boxing without Joe Frazier. Before Sunday's French Open men's final, Mary Carillo compared Federer-Nadal to Ali-Frazier -- one floats, the other counters. But her words reach far deeper than a simple analogy.

The French Open is the only thing in tennis Federer doesn't own. The one title that separates him from being Tiger, or Jordan, or Ali. Or Rod Laver.

That damn clay.

Federer finally beat Nadal on clay one month ago, at a tournament in Hamburg, Germany, ending Nadal's 81-match winning streak on the surface. That gave Federer, and his fans, hope. When both Federer and Nadal reached the French Open final again this year, the tennis world knew there was a decent chance that "Frazier" would lose.

But "Frazier" had other plans.

"I feel sorry for Roger," Nadal said after his 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win on Sunday. "He's a friend, a good person and a great champion."

By fighting off 16 of the 17 break points he faced, and winning five break points of his own, Nadal reminded Federer on Sunday that the entire tennis world is not his -- not yet.

Nadal reminded him by repeatedly attacking Federer's backhand with shots that -- almost every time -- had Federer making contact with the ball at eye level behind the baseline. He reminded him with a running forehand at deuce in the sixth game of the first set -- a shot that curved in the air as if it had left Josh Beckett's hand, hovering over the white chalk that divides the red clay -- a shot that Federer never recovered from (he lost five consecutive points after that). He reminded him by assassinating his confidence, by demoralizing his ambition, by crushing his thoughts of victory.

Since January, when he won his third Australian Open, this was all Federer had been thinking about. He said he was "almost" obsessed with the French Open and winning this title (the only Grand Slam title he hasn't won) this year. And after that win in Hamburg, Federer thought he had a great shot.

"Spin it anyway you want," he told the press afterward. "I'm disappointed to have lost. I could care less how I played the last 10 months or the last 10 years. At the end of the day, I wanted to win [this] match."

Nadal crushed Federer's heart. Interrupters of greatness do that. Somehow, they just know how.

Nadal has now won three consecutive French Opens. At 21 years of age, he is tennis' LeBron James -- only better. Nadal has never lost at the French. He's 21-0. And he has never even played in a fifth set. That might be the sickest stat in sports right now. He's never come close to losing in Paris. He hasn't even been pushed.

That damn clay.

That damn clay covered Nadal's back and long shorts when it was all said and done. Covered him while he hoisted the Coupe des Mousquetaires trophy over his head. Covered him just like he covered it during the 3-hour, 10-minute autopsy he conducted on Federer's hopes and dreams.

Like Frazier covered the former Cassius Clay in Madison Square Garden.

Over the last four years Roger Federer has amassed a record of 277 wins and 19 losses. Read that again, please. 277-19.

But of those 19 losses, seven have come by the racket of Rafael Nadal. Two (and counting) in finals at Roland Garros.

Yes, greatness loves company. But not when it's a clay-covered pain in the ass.

m_23_bayarea

18th September 2008, 11:51 PM

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=jackson/070611_tennis
What if Rafael Nadal didn't exist?

I'm not sure if Nadal deserves all this accolade! His presence or absence has nothing to do with Federer's game or acheivements. The only good thing I can see with Nadal is his ability on clay. Maybe cos Federer is not good on clay, this looks as a great positive for Nadal! :oops:

They're trying to create this "unreal" rivalry between the champion and someone who's second but way far behind! This is not even close to a Borg-McEnroe or Becker-Edberg or Sampras-Agassi at all... :twisted:

ajithfederer

19th September 2008, 09:18 AM

Bay :shock: :notthatway:

You are grossly under estimating a GREAT talent. Nadal is just 22 and he has 5 grandslams. Please have a look at his career graph. To say he has improved leaps and bounds is an understatement of gigantic sorts. He has just leapfrogged any other tennis player excluding Roger. His learning curve is just amazing :notworthy:. And what is that fuss about being a clay court specialist. At the end of the day it is also a surface like grass and hard court. Speaking of clay, he has an unbelievable 81 match winning streak and hands down easily the best ever clay court player and hey he has won the Olympics gold medal as well. To beat roger in wimbledon and push him to number 2 spot(Mind u roger was number one for 4 and a half years) is by all means a great achievement and I have to admit I am all but awe about this man's prowess :).

ajithfederer

19th September 2008, 08:57 PM

Andre Agassi vs. Roger Federer - Dubai Game Show! - Playing on a helipad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teNjhtmOLpI&NR=1

:rotfl:

ajithfederer

19th September 2008, 09:02 PM

federer vs. safin AO 2005 semi final - full match

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LARt3_KMWFY 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpnUjSZ7R6w&mode=related&search= 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZO-4IBqQF0w&mode=related&search= 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztb5FCm7kYw&mode=related&search= 4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mOv6OwBRqs&mode=related&search= 5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnPKLQfrz0A&mode=related&search= 6

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXxH26ZNhJs&mode=related&search= 7

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnPqKPv2KSY&mode=related&search= 8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KY4Nw6aRc3A 9

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK75J-Hj2tg 10

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab5Raryw4sM 11

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4mr4p3MJhg 12

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-NJKYowGEE 13

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DceMgiPU7A 14

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGEcK-s5Q9w 15

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QWMCjycz8o 16

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efQ8dmJZDWk 17

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS0Cl-FQ7yU 18

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwBqbPnK8Uc 19

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQnQv0ovcKw 20

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSlxRQLUWec 21

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78ZV7G5dNro 22

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noz37_6xMUY 23

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3lEDE9cerw 24

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwxGPQEIKi8 25

omega

20th September 2008, 06:25 PM

Federer puts Swiss up 2-0 in Davis Cup...

http://msn.foxsports.com/tennis/story/8582086/Federer-puts-Swiss-up-2-0-in-Davis-Cup

ajithfederer

21st September 2008, 09:20 PM

Roger Federer: Spirit Of A Champion - The Man (Pt 1)

http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=ApECbBeJXcs&feature=related

Roger Federer: Spirit Of A Champion - The Man (Pt 2)

http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=1Plfzj8V6b8&feature=related

Roger Federer: Spirit Of A Champion - The Man (Pt 3)

http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=HH8BR_6xc2s&feature=related

A journey through the Great man's grandslam wins, His humanitarian side on being a UNICEF Ambassador, his role in tsunami relief, his visits to India and the exhibition matches between him and sampras and a lot more....

MUST WATCH :notworthy:

ajithfederer

24th September 2008, 07:26 AM

Some Roger federer shots of greatness in no particular order

Roger Federer Magic -- Inside-Out BH Winner

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=vuw8zHKesHI

Roger Federer Show: Super-get by Federer

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=SuTZHI7AXuA&NR=1

Roger Federer Show: Exceptional defence by Federer

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=rxI0cruwNjg&feature=related

Roger Federer Show: Great half-volley backhand down the line

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=TgZhsGqcM60&feature=related

:notworthy:

Roger Federer Magic -- Running IO Drop Shot Winner

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=8TJZ1ImU__c&feature=related

Roger Federer Magic -- Never-Before-Seen Angle!

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=r8YRsca93KI&feature=related

roger federer hits a shot around the post

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=ll7SCg-tZ08

Federer returns a 140 mph Roddick serve - Roddick scud missile

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=RxzFlrFfUrg&feature=related

Roger Federer Magic -- Monster Kick Serve Ace

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=WDUHcAwOp5E&feature=related

No look shot

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=7hZx8IwtW1o&feature=related

ajithfederer

26th September 2008, 01:58 AM

Agassi vs Federer Basel 1998
Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7F-Q9_bcaJU
Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8RqxLjk_mc&mode=related&search=
Part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GipXOIxjXA8&mode=related&search=
Part 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azwIXsUasrM&mode=related&search=
part 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SjZ51lXZs4&mode=related&search=
Part 6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRZbKVFlI7Q&mode=related&search=

ajithfederer

26th September 2008, 02:03 AM

From the Charlie Rose show after Roger won the US Open in 2004.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=681789294147018607&q=Roger+Federer

ajithfederer

26th September 2008, 02:05 AM

http://youtube.com/watch?v=3-HKMhH7PgA

Best shots of roger federer from 2007!!!

ajithfederer

26th September 2008, 02:12 AM

Federer & Mirka playing Mixed Doubles
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=QoEpkZyPo0k
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=jpczVU-4keA
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=b0BAh_pRRTo

ajithfederer

1st October 2008, 10:28 PM

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/62545-roger-federer-and-the-meaning-of-life

There isn't much happening in tennis but the Davis Cup. Federer, having said that the 'Olympic Gold' was his inspiration for the US Open, is probably seeking out some more inspiration.

For the "Fed" fans out there, our lives are perhaps also in need of some inspiration.

What is it about Roger Federer that makes someone want to pick up a pen? Is it the fact that we must go through an arduous effort to come up with superlatives? Probably. It is a challenge for any writer to write about something that is perhaps beyond words.

Having inspired us all with his US Open win, "Fed" fans are all looking for that next jolt of inspiration. I will attempt to provide some here. Let's face it, "Fed" fans, we all had that element of doubt about him winning that US Open.

Whether we had to watch him on television or Google him, didn't we all just fear that a title would read "Federer bows out of the US Open!" Along with writers emphatically carving his gravestone.

However, he conquered the young ones, and we "Fed" fans all once again firmly, believed, yes, we had made the right choice. We gave hope to what's still valuable in this world.

Our world is corrupted by many things. Tennis is a wonderful escape from it all; the same way music is or a great novel.

When someone like Federer comes along, we literally have the archetypal hero in the midst of that kingdom. His story is so captivating it draws millions of people in and somehow gives us some meaning.

We can all learn from Roger Federer's US Open win. There may be dry bouts in our lives; but if we are already complete as artists or sportsmen or whatever it may be, nothing can take away our ability to once again compose a masterpiece. The trouble of course, is completing ourselves; but that comes from within.

Federer is leaving a cliffhanger for us all. We are in the 13th chapter. Might there be an 18th or 19th chapter? Who knows? But, whatever happens, he will keep inspiring us all to write the next chapter of our own, personal lives.

ajithfederer

1st October 2008, 10:29 PM

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/62767-roger-federer-the-reason-i-am-watching-tennis-again

[tscii:44442d4527]Roger Federer: The Reason I Am Watching Tennis Again

I know about "emotionally moving" incidents and how they can create fans faster than any years of achievements can. It has been the same for me.

As a kid, I remember watching a video of Abebe Bikila running 1960 marathon barefoot. He wanted the world to know his country, Ethiopia, could win with determination. Only one time did he finish a marathon and not win. On his last Olympic marathon he ran 11 miles on an injured knee before he was pulled away. Watching someone with pure determination is always moving, even if they lose at the end. Crowds love it and that can turn them into fans.

But with Federer it was different. He did not have any drama or tragedies to overcome.

I was not a tennis fan, but the man is the reason I am watching it right now. I used to play as a kid but then somehow it got lost in my world, until only few years ago when I saw Federer play and I was hooked.

He appeared to be different from the rest, who I got to know one by one. Like the one that puts one step forward and with his sleeveless shirt pumps his fist to the ground. He looks angry after winning a point, his upper lips pulls up on one side as if saying you might as well not have tried. He looks like a panther defending his family's territory.

I like the kid though. Because of him, now we cannot say Federer did not have real competition.

And the other one who pointed to his legs and head after winning the game, so we all know how he won. And better yet, his father pointed to him and then to himself to get credit where it's due.

Then there's the one with facial hair, who flexes his biceps while walking to the net to shake his opponent's hand. He’s been called a bad influence on school kids because he swears often.

For me, the differences are stark. Federer is defending tennis's own territory. If tennis as a game could talk I think she would tell us, "I love Roger, he makes me look so beautiful. He pays lots of attention to me. Several times a year he seats me down and gives me a new hair style. He always applies some Botox shots, also. At the end, when I look in the mirror I feel younger, fresh, anew."

Federer is serving lady tennis better and longer than anyone else before. That is why he cannot vomit on its courts. He cannot chest pump or flex biceps. It's not about him; it's about the game he is serving. He has to stay calm like a good servant does and focus on the beauty of the game.

Where most of other players use a two-handed backhand, which is presumably stronger, he uses the nicer to watch one-handed, opening both arms after hitting the ball like an eagle touching down.

Where most others roar over each shot he stays quiet. This creates huge presence for him in the court. Sometimes silence speaks the loudest.

I am afraid tennis will be lost in my world again after the eventual departure of Roger Federer. Until that day, I am not going to miss a moment. I can only wish that it lasts longer.

Abebe Bikila once said men of success meet with tragedy. I tend to think when Roger Federer meets with tragedy he will have already achieved all the successes he possibly could.[/tscii:44442d4527]

ajithfederer

1st October 2008, 10:31 PM

[tscii:d1ef8c35b0]http://bleacherreport.com/articles/63555-federer-killing-tennis-softly

Federer: Killing Tennis Softly

Today the world can be classified into two distinct sections—Federer fans and non-Federer fans. I am myself a Roger Federer fan but I wonder if there is anyone who isn't trapped in the enigma of the mythical web of an embodiment of perfection within the human limitations called Federer.

There were many great players before Roger Federer began his epic world conquest on the tennis courts, who played brilliantly and left a lasting impression on every tennis fan's mind. Till then, we had seen tennis evolve as a sport in its style as well as in the players. From Bjorn Borg to Pete Sampras, the sports had evolved slowly and gradually.

But then arrived Roger Federer and suddenly everything changed. Federer marked "an evolutionary end point in tennis". Tennis was no longer a sport, rather a religion in which Federer was God.

His magical dominance on the tennis court with his awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping game and stoic yet humble nature conjured up a mire of disbelief and admiration. He wasn't playing tennis anymore, he wasn't a tennis player anymore. He was defining tennis in his own special way.

"His intelligence, his occult anticipation, his court sense, his ability to read and manipulate opponents, to mix spins and speeds, to misdirect and disguise, to use tactical foresight and peripheral vision and kinesthetic range instead of just rote pace — all this has exposed the limits, and possibilities, of men’s tennis as it’s now played."

Even after being dethroned by Rafael Nadal, the enigma of Federer doesn't end there. In an emphatic, mystical, dominating way, he has shown that the speed and strength of today’s pro game are

He has, figuratively and literally, re-embodied men’s tennis, and raised it to such incredible heights in terms of technicality and beauty that looks very unreachable.

The difficult part of attaining perfection is to find someone to do an encore. The realisation that one day Roger Federer will be gone from the tennis arena and will leave such a huge void that I fear no present player can fill.

I have seen Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, and others play intensely fought matches among themselves but sorry, none captured my imagination or met my expectations that Federer has set.

Rafael Nadal is a great player too but he awes me more with his stamina and brute force rather than with his subtlety, touch, and finesse. He perspires, he yells, he pumps his fist after winning an important point. Roger is effortless even in his hard fought victory, he is graceful, he is stoic to every decision.

This is what that is troubling me as a tennis fan. The realisation of the fact that after Federer is gone, tennis will no more be magical, stylish, technically polished, and graceful. Tennis will no more be perfect.

Every time I watch tennis without Federer, it is imperfect, real and missing the magic. It saddens and troubles me that Federer has raised the bar of excellence in tennis to such heights that anything less is a disappointment to me.

What captivates me in sports that unique moment of perfection where thing falls into place, the perfect players , the perfect play, the perfect timing. It is in anticipation of these moments that I watch sports.

But the regularity of Federer displaying perfect tennis is somehow satiating my appetite for tennis. He may be struggling now and never be able to be perfect again, but the damage is done.

He has shown perfection in every area of the game and now, even if some other player achieves it, the uniqueness is gone. "Been there, done that" kinda feeling is growing at an increasing rate in me.

After witnessing those magical doses of "Federer moments", no other player awes or inspires me. Every time some other player hits a winner, it automatically raises comparison with Federer and the faults with the play are glaring at me. Its like I have seen everything that this sport has to offer to me in its entire technical and visual brilliance.

I know no player is bigger than the sport but after Federer, will the sport be scale any further heights than where Federer left it? Will the sport get any more beautiful and stylish than what Federer made it? Can the sport get any more perfect than what Federer made it?

A resounding NO echoes in my ears.

There is nothing more left in the game itself to interest me because the perfectionism of Federer has grown larger than the game itself.

You are killing tennis for me Roger. Every match that I watch you playing now on will be an eulogy of tennis for me.

For every moment of thrill, excitement, awe and disbelief, I can never thank you enough Roger but for killing tennis gradually, I will never forgive you Roger.[/tscii:d1ef8c35b0]

ajithfederer

4th October 2008, 07:43 PM

25 Most Powerful Global Sports Fig - Federer 9th
Federer is ranked 9th in the 25 most global sports figure

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/08/10/1002_power100_global/9.htm

:clap:

ajithfederer

20th October 2008, 07:08 PM

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/10/17/2393718.htm?section=sport

Federer the richest tennis player in history

Posted Fri Oct 17, 2008 9:23am AEDT

Roger Federer has become the richest tennis player ever, with career prize money earnings listed as a staggering $US43.29 million ($A63 million).

Federer's passage into the third round of the ATP Madrid Masters event saw the Swiss player edge past former number one Pete Sampras of the United States.

Federer will take his earnings to $US43.5 million should he win in Spain. Sampras earned $US43.27 million in his career.

Federer and Sampras, with 13 and 14 grand slams win each, stand almost $US12 million clear of third-placed Andre Agassi.

Current world number one Rafael Nadal stands eighth in the list with $US20.5 million in earnings, while legends Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors do not even make it into the top 10.

Nadal and Federer rolled over outclassed opponents in Madrid as the top two seeds edged closer to a title showdown.

Nadal, aiming to lift his second trophy following his 2005 triumph, stopped Richard Gasquet for the sixth time in as many meetings, his 6-4, 6-2 victory powering the top seed into the quarter-finals.

Reaching the final will insure the Spaniard the world number one year-end ranking for 2008 after taking it from Federer in August.

Federer faced Australian Open finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga for the first time and floored the Frenchman 6-4, 6-1.

However third seed Serbian Novak Djokovic was knocked out in straight sets by giant Croatian Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5).

Federer will play for the semi-finals against Argentine Juan Del Potro, who knocked out defending champion and Davis Cup team-mate David Nalbandian 6-4, 6-2.

Andy Murray was hoping that a jolt to his chronically weak knee would not prevent him from continuing this week after defeating Marin Cilic 7-5, 7-6 (7-2).

The Scottish fourth seed advanced after reversing an early break when trailing 3-5 in the first set against the Croatian.

Murray said he will hope to make his Friday match against Gael Monfils, who defeated Andy Roddick 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

"As long as the pain is bearable, I'm ready to play," US Open finalist said.

-AFP

ajithfederer

22nd October 2008, 09:09 PM

[tscii:8d85d0dde9]for those who doesn't visit his official site:

Dear fans

An amazingly successful year is coming to an end. I would like to take a moment to thank each and every one of you out there for your loyal support. Time after time all of you fans have cheered for me in great moments – and also stood behind me in difficult situations. You are a part of my whole success and it is hard to express how much this means to me. Thank you so much for all the presents, letters, poems, Christmas cards and wishes you have sent me.

My Foundation is something I am focusing on more and more. Thanks to your help and your donations we have been able to make a difference in the lives of children who are less fortunate than us. Furthermore, I want to thank my sponsors for the great partnerships and cooperation and I sincerely hope that we can celebrate many more victories together.

My family, Mirka and myself, we all wish you a very merry Christmas, a great portion of luck and prosperity for the New Year. We are already looking forward to your great support and an exciting 2007.

Thank you
Roger

http://www.rogerfederer.com/en/rogers/news/newsdetail.cfm?uNewsID=474[/tscii:8d85d0dde9]

ajithfederer

23rd October 2008, 10:05 PM

Wimbledon 2008 final - rapidshare links

Wimbledon Final........
http://rapidshare.com/files/134967354/WIMBLEDON.part01.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/134970205/WIMBLEDON.part02.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/134973189/WIMBLEDON.part02.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/134976023/WIMBLEDON.part03.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/134979037/WIMBLEDON.part04.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/134981721/WIMBLEDON.part05.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/134984670/WIMBLEDON.part06.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/134987482/WIMBLEDON.part07.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/134990361/WIMBLEDON.part08.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/134993208/WIMBLEDON.part09.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/134996060/WIMBLEDON.part10.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/134998968/WIMBLEDON.part11.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/135004516/WIMBLEDON.part11.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/135001847/WIMBLEDON.part12.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/135007032/WIMBLEDON.part12.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/135009978/WIMBLEDON.part13.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/135012915/WIMBLEDON.part14.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/135016173/WIMBLEDON.part15.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/135019277/WIMBLEDON.part16.rar

http://rapidshare.com/files/135022405/WIMBLEDON.part17.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/135025555/WIMBLEDON.part18.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/135028760/WIMBLEDON.part19.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/135129586/WIMBLEDON.part20.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/135134845/WIMBLEDON.part21.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/135144836/WIMBLEDON.part22.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/135147531/WIMBLEDON.part23.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/135151052/WIMBLEDON.part24.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/135153541/WIMBLEDON.part25.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/135155893/WIMBLEDON.part26.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/135158160/WIMBLEDON.part27.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/135160353/WIMBLEDON.part28.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/135162555/WIMBLEDON.part29.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/135164856/WIMBLEDON.part30.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/135167050/WIMBLEDON.part31.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/135168214/WIMBLEDON.part32.rar

Another Set Of Links
First Set

http://rapidshare.com/files/128623260/ATP.2008.Wimbledon.FINAL.Federer.vs.Nadal.1st.Set. ENG.x264.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/128624281/ATP.2008.Wimbledon.FINAL.Federer.vs.Nadal.1st.Set. ENG.x264.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/128625101/ATP.2008.Wimbledon.FINAL.Federer.vs.Nadal.1st.Set. ENG.x264.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/128626025/ATP.2008.Wimbledon.FINAL.Federer.vs.Nadal.1st.Set. ENG.x264.part4.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/128627007/ATP.2008.Wimbledon.FINAL.Federer.vs.Nadal.1st.Set. ENG.x264.part5.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/128627228/ATP.2008.Wimbledon.FINAL.Federer.vs.Nadal.1st.Set. ENG.x264.part6.rar

Second Set

http://rapidshare.com/files/128628094/ATP.2008.Wimbledon.FINAL.Federer.vs.Nadal.2nd.Set. ENG.x264.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/128629070/ATP.2008.Wimbledon.FINAL.Federer.vs.Nadal.2nd.Set. ENG.x264.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/128630004/ATP.2008.Wimbledon.FINAL.Federer.vs.Nadal.2nd.Set. ENG.x264.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/128630906/ATP.2008.Wimbledon.FINAL.Federer.vs.Nadal.2nd.Set. ENG.x264.part4.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/128631373/ATP.2008.Wimbledon.FINAL.Federer.vs.Nadal.2nd.Set. ENG.x264.part5.rar

Third Set

http://rapidshare.com/files/128632359/ATP.2008.Wimbledon.FINAL.Federer.vs.Nadal.3rd.Set. ENG.x264.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/128633363/ATP.2008.Wimbledon.FINAL.Federer.vs.Nadal.3rd.Set. ENG.x264.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/128634430/ATP.2008.Wimbledon.FINAL.Federer.vs.Nadal.3rd.Set. ENG.x264.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/128635544/ATP.2008.Wimbledon.FINAL.Federer.vs.Nadal.3rd.Set. ENG.x264.part4.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/128636483/ATP.2008.Wimbledon.FINAL.Federer.vs.Nadal.3rd.Set. ENG.x264.part5.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/128637393/ATP.2008.Wimbledon.FINAL.Federer.vs.Nadal.3rd.Set. ENG.x264.part6.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/128637619/ATP.2008.Wimbledon.FINAL.Federer.vs.Nadal.3rd.Set. ENG.x264.part7.rar

Fifth Set

http://rapidshare.com/files/128645660/ATP.2008.Wimbledon.FINAL.Federer.vs.Nadal.5th.Set. ENG.x264.part01.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/128646762/ATP.2008.Wimbledon.FINAL.Federer.vs.Nadal.5th.Set. ENG.x264.part02.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/128647885/ATP.2008.Wimbledon.FINAL.Federer.vs.Nadal.5th.Set. ENG.x264.part03.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/128649035/ATP.2008.Wimbledon.FINAL.Federer.vs.Nadal.5th.Set. ENG.x264.part04.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/128650207/ATP.2008.Wimbledon.FINAL.Federer.vs.Nadal.5th.Set. ENG.x264.part05.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/128651316/ATP.2008.Wimbledon.FINAL.Federer.vs.Nadal.5th.Set. ENG.x264.part06.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/128652386/ATP.2008.Wimbledon.FINAL.Federer.vs.Nadal.5th.Set. ENG.x264.part07.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/128653652/ATP.2008.Wimbledon.FINAL.Federer.vs.Nadal.5th.Set. ENG.x264.part08.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/128654760/ATP.2008.Wimbledon.FINAL.Federer.vs.Nadal.5th.Set. ENG.x264.part09.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/128655268/ATP.2008.Wimbledon.FINAL.Federer.vs.Nadal.5th.Set. ENG.x264.part10.rar

Fourth Set

http://rapidshare.com/files/128638557/ATP.2008.Wimbledon.FINAL.Federer.vs.Nadal.4th.Set. ENG.x264.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/128639659/ATP.2008.Wimbledon.FINAL.Federer.vs.Nadal.4th.Set. ENG.x264.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/128640839/ATP.2008.Wimbledon.FINAL.Federer.vs.Nadal.4th.Set. ENG.x264.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/128641951/ATP.2008.Wimbledon.FINAL.Federer.vs.Nadal.4th.Set. ENG.x264.part4.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/128643070/ATP.2008.Wimbledon.FINAL.Federer.vs.Nadal.4th.Set. ENG.x264.part5.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/128644235/ATP.2008.Wimbledon.FINAL.Federer.vs.Nadal.4th.Set. ENG.x264.part6.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/128644560/ATP.2008.Wimbledon.FINAL.Federer.vs.Nadal.4th.Set. ENG.x264.part7.rar

Raikkonen

23rd October 2008, 10:36 PM

enna boss..

roger federer kolgai parappu seyalalar level-ku ipdi work panreenga...
anyway keep the good work. i will download it for my girlfriend. She loves him so much (maybe that's why i'm not a big fan of him) :lol:

ajithfederer

25th October 2008, 03:13 AM

Roger Federer interview talk asia part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ui9SO0fviIs

part2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlYwB02kHsQ&feature=related

part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9WhIqmYP1I&feature=related

ENJOY!!!!

ajithfederer

25th October 2008, 06:25 AM

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/rogerfederer/3223973/Roger-Federer-no-longer-being-taken-for-granted-Tennis.html

Roger Federer no longer being taken for granted
Roger Federer looked blankly at the interviewer, probably thinking he was either mad or had been at the sangria.

By Clive White
Last Updated: 7:27PM BST 18 Oct 2008
Roger Federer no longer being taken for granted
Still fighting: Roger Federer didn't even realise that he had overtaken Pete Sampras in career earnings with his run to the Madrid semi-finals Photo: AP

"Pardon?" he said. The interviewer repeated himself: "So, you'll be No 1 in the world again this week."

His friend Tiger Woods would probably have got it in one, but tennis players, bless them, still aren't quite that materialistic: last week at the Madrid Masters, Federer overtook Pete Sampras as the biggest prize money winner of all time.

"Oh, that," he said eventually. It was, after all, a foregone conclusion. The man who breaks records with greater regularity than Sergey Bubka had only to turn up to overtake at least one of Sampras's records, since the second round loser's cheque of €15,000 alone was enough to put him ahead of the American's haul of $43,280,489. Besides, in the present economic climate it was not something to brag about.

Of course, you don't get to make $43m plus in prize money alone without being pretty cute on and off the court, but his decision to pull out of the Stockholm Open recently, thereby forfeiting €700,000 in appearance money, is proof that the man isn't greedy. "Suddenly tournament directors everywhere started calling me up, asking "Are you coming to our tournament?'," said Federer. "It was a sign of respect that they no longer took it for granted I would come."

Being taken for granted, unfortunately, is what tends to happen when you win 13 grand slams, four Masters Cups, 14 Masters Series titles and remain No 1 for a record 237 weeks. "People expect me to win every break point, every match point, every championship point, but sometimes it's just not possible," he said.

He may no longer be No 1 but the great expectation was there even on Saturday in Madrid against the No 4. Andy Murray may have won but Federer handled the pressure situations superbly as ever and no doubt some will be writing him off again – a little over a month after winning a grand slam.

"It took just two or three months for them to start writing funny things," he said. "I mean, I was playing sick at the Australian Open [he was suffering from mononucleosis], but that was almost forgotten. People were saying, "Now we have two new guys, Rafa [Nadal]and Novak [Djokovic]. Suddenly its Rafa and me again. Then I lose against Rafa, by a couple of points at Wimbledon, and I have the feeling I've lost to him in straight sets again instead of thinking of the great match we've just played."

A Spanish newspaper last week ran a headline which read: "Maybe Federer has forgotten how to suffer". Watching him dismiss Radek Stepanek and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in straight sets it was easy to see what they were getting at, but it's not Federer's fault he purrs along like a Rolls. Sometimes he actually enjoys going the distance because it tells him where he is at physically.

"At the same time, Rafa has never had to go five sets in Paris, but of course he looks like he's suffering all the time because he sweats like crazy and makes a lot of noise," said Federer.

When it comes to bad mouthing one another that's about as nasty as it gets. Tennis has never known a No 1 and No 2 with such a cosy relationship as that between Rafa and Roger. John McEnroe would rather have bit his lip on court a thousand times than say "Jimmy Connors deserves to be No 1," which is what Federer said of Nadal, although he did add mischievously, that in taking over the No 1 mantle he had "only earned more pressure – should be interesting to see how he handles it".

But since they swapped rankings had the relationship changed? "No, he's still treating me with respect, I don't feel he's looking down on me in any way. I'm the president of the players' council, so in fact I'm looking down on him, he has to report to me…no, I'm just kidding."
[/tscii:25bf464d00]

ajithfederer

27th October 2008, 07:04 PM

[tscii:a8dab6477c]http://www.usatoday.com/sports/tennis/2008-10-26-3232662893_x.htm

Federer to cut exhibitions, focus on Slams in 2009

By Graham Dunbar, Associated Press Writer
BASEL, Switzerland — Roger Federer will cut exhibition matches from his 2009 schedule as he pursues Pete Sampras' record of 14 Grand Slam singles titles, his agent said Sunday.

Federer and Sampras played three exhibition matches across Asia last November and again in New York City last March.

Such commitments won't be repeated in 2009, agent Tony Godsick told The Associated Press.

"Roger will only play a schedule that works for him physically," Godsick said after Federer won his hometown tournament at the Swiss Indoors on Sunday.

"The next couple years you will see him put his seatbelt on and focus for the big ones, the Grand Slams and the big tournaments," Godsick said.

Federer is within sight of history with 13 Slams after a fifth straight U.S. Open victory last month.

The win at Flushing Meadows was defined as a defiant comeback in a year when Federer fell sick with mononucleosis, suffered untypical losses to players outside the top 10 and lost his number one ranking to Rafael Nadal after a record reign of 237 weeks.

"It was tough for him when people were writing him off," said Godsick, who guides Federer's off-court activities for the IMG agency.

"For him to do what he did (at the Open) was good for him, good for his confidence and I think really silenced the critics."

Godsick dismissed the idea the 27-year-old Swiss is old in tennis terms, but says that after his rise to the top, and his seasons of sublime domination, Federer is entering a new phase.

"I think it is the third stage of his career, but it is just the beginning of the third stage. I think he has got many years to come."

Federer is already nursing his body more carefully through a successful Fall schedule after his usual training calendar was wrecked this season by the illness and timing of the Olympic Games in August.

He skipped a tournament in Stockholm, Sweden, earlier this month and has yet to commit to the Paris Masters beginning Monday.

His agent believes Federer must have time to build up to the Slams in '09.

"He is not going to overplay next year," Godsick said. "He is just going to try to make sure that he peaks for the tournaments that mean the most to him."

The exhibition tour against Sampras visited Seoul, Kuala Lumpur and Macau inside five days, then drew a sold-out audience of 19,690 at Madison Square Garden.

"The Sampras thing was fun," Godsick said. "Roger got to spend some time with Pete, who was a childhood idol. He learned a lot from him."

Now Federer wants to take Sampras' prized record, and show his lighter side off-court while marking the moment in tennis history.

"You will probably see some fun set of commercials that help celebrate what is potentially going to take place," Godsick hinted.

"For him, it can't all be serious. Off the court he is just a kid."
The Associated Press[/tscii:a8dab6477c]

ajithfederer

1st November 2008, 10:12 AM

http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=SgDncDs2h5o&feature=related

A kid's day out!!

ajithfederer

1st November 2008, 10:24 AM

http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=8g1Ih8F9GLM

8 minutes of pure rally stuff from US open 2005 2nd round

ajithfederer

3rd November 2008, 09:58 PM

http://www.rogerfederer.com/en/rogers/news/newsdetail.cfm?uNewsID=827

OFF COURT - 200'000 USERS!

Dear Fans

We have just passed the 200'000 mark of registered users - an almost unbelievable number!

I would like to thank you for your interest in my activities the whole year through. It is important for me to see and also feel that you are always here for me. Celebrating a great victory together is awesome. And working together - sometimes only making slow progress, in order to get back to the top - is most important.
The number of people visiting my website jumps to amazing heights after Grand Slam victories. But you also come to my website when I am experiencing difficult times. Thank you very much for this loyal support. It is terrific to have a global community coming toghether here.

We have had to extend the capacity of the server several times so that it can cope with the enormous volume of data being exchanged during peak times. The number of visitors on the website has grown continuously over the years; I find it most interesting to look at the development of the amount of registered users:

October 2004: 13’000
October 2005: 40’000
October 2006: 90'000
October 2007: 143'000
October 2008: 200’000

I have often asked myself whether this increase would calm down at some point. But hey – the opposite is happening! This is a great motivation for me as an athlete and I am happy to provide you with a platform that you use actively.

Once again, thank you for your great support.

Kind regards
Roger[/tscii:6e7c455b52]

ajithfederer

9th November 2008, 12:33 AM

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jqys3OMyVgkptgfLNEQwSFOCnYjg

Federer still on painkillers, cautious over Masters Cup

5 hours ago

SHANGHAI (AFP) — Top seed 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, who pulled out of last week's Paris Masters quarter-finals with the problem, 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."

The Swiss world number two opens against Britain's Andy Murray on Monday as he bids for his third consecutive Masters Cup title and his fifth overall.

The 'fifth Grand Slam,' featuring the top eight players, has already lost world number one Rafael Nadal, who pulled out citing fatigue and tendinitis, while Argentine seventh seed Juan Martin del Potro is nursing a chronic big toe injury.

Chinese organisers voiced anger in 2005 when Nadal, Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, Lleyton Hewitt and Marat Safin all withdrew.

Serena Williams and Ana Ivanovic have both pulled out of the equivalent women's tournament in Doha with a stomach injury and virus respectively.

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."

Federer has a superb record at the Masters Cup, reaching the last five finals and losing only one, when he was struggling with an ankle injury against David Nalbandian in 2005.

Victory here would complete the first year-end title hat-trick since Ivan Lendl in 1985-1987 and bring a positive end to a season in which he lost his number one ranking and five-year Wimbledon streak.

"I've been able to practice without pain. I'm just being cautious as normal. I don't want to have any set-backs I'm just trying to keep myself in shape so I'm ready for Monday," Federer said.

World number three Novak Djokovic and del Potro play the first match on Sunday with Nikolay Davydenko facing Jo-Wilfried Tsonga later. Andy Roddick is against Gilles Simon in Monday's second match.

The Masters Cup is making its fourth and final appearance at Shanghai's futuristic Qi Zhong Stadium before moving to London as the ATP World Tour Final.
[/tscii:9e7b8e7a3b]

ajithfederer

13th November 2008, 08:55 AM

Some of THE BEST backhands in the business (http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=yUM34yo97iA)

:shock: :clap:

ajithfederer

13th November 2008, 11:08 PM

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/andymurray/3452766/Andy-Murray-v-Roger-Federer---story-so-far.html

The first of many: Andy Murray and Roger Federer share the spoils at the Bangkok Open in 2005 Photo: REUTERS

Bangkok, 2005: Federer beat Murray 6-3, 7-5

During the autumnal Asian swing, Murray went on a run at the Bangkok tournament, where his results gave him the points to break into the top 100 and also took him into his first main tour final.

He didn't look at all intimidated against Federer, and put in a respectable performance, but the Swiss had too much class.

Cincinnati Masters, 2006: Murray beat Federer 7-5, 6-4

Murray registered his first victory over Federer when they met in the second round in Cincinnati.

Some would suggest that there should be an asterisk next to Murray's win as Federer had been considering pulling out of the Ohio tournament because he was feeling drained of energy. But that is to ignore the fact that Murray still had to hold it all together as he closed in on a win against the then world No 1.

Dubai, 2008: Murray beat Federer 6-7 (6-8), 6-3, 6-4

When Murray played Federer in Dubai in March this year, it was in the first round of the desert tournament, as Murray was unseeded - remember those days? And Federer was playing his first event since losing to Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals of the Australian Open, so he probably still wasn't quite over the effects of glandular fever.

US Open final, 2008: Federer beat Murray 6-2, 7-5, 6-2

When Murray appeared in the final at Flushing Meadows, he was the first British man to compete in the title-match of a grand slam since Greg Rusedski had finished as the runner-up in New York in 1997.

Perhaps Murray's semi-final win over Rafael Nadal, which was the first time he had beaten the Spaniard, had taken a bit too much out of him, as he could not win a set. But there is no debate that he had faced Resolute Roger, with Federer determined in his quest to win his first slam title in a year.

Madrid Masters, 2008: Murray beat Federer 3-6, 6-3, 7-5

At Murray's first tournament after the New York slam, Federer remarked that the Briton had become a man. To underline that Murray beat the great Federer for the third time, coming from a set down in their semi-final on his way to winning a second consecutive ATP Masters title.

Overall: Murray 3, Federer 2

omega

14th November 2008, 07:48 AM

Some of THE BEST backhands in the business (http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=yUM34yo97iA)

:shock: :clap:

Amazing!! Unbelievable!! Breathtaking..............He makes it look ridiculously easy.. Actually I had watched that match (2006 Tennis Gold Masters Final), never realised he had that many backhand winners. Looks even more impressive @ a time when Roger is struggling even with his Forehand these days.......

Big match tommorrow for Roger against Murray. Must win to stay in contention for SF berth. Struggling with his stomach, I am not sure how
much of a fight he could give. Hope he could do some of his magic tommorrow...........

omega

14th November 2008, 05:58 PM

The match between Roger & Murray has started. Roger is definitely feeling his touch. He is already up a break....serving 30-30 leading 3-1...

wrap07

14th November 2008, 10:03 PM

brilliant match. Fed in spite of his back problem played unbelievable and scintillating shots. As always the backhand stunning. :D It all boiled down to fed's fitness or else it would have been a clear two setter for fed. pleasure to watch him in full flow. Murray prevailed in three sets.

crajkumar_be

14th November 2008, 11:10 PM

Fed in spite of his back problem played unbelievable and scintillating shots.
:exactly: but couldnt bear to watch beyond a point...

ajithfederer

16th November 2008, 02:11 AM

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24657284-3162,00.html

Roger Federer vows to return

November 16, 2008 12:00am

ROGER Federer yesterday put his aspiring young rivals and off-court detractors on notice ahead of January's Australian Open.

The star declared he was far from finished despite his worst Tennis Masters Cup result in six years.

Eclipsed 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 7-5 by Scot Andy Murray at Qi Zhong stadium, Federer failed to reach the season-ending championship's semi-finals for the first time since losing to Lleyton Hewitt in 2002.

Irked by suggestions he had under-performed this year, despite winning the US Open and Olympic doubles gold medal, finishing runner-up at Wimbledon and the French Open, and being an Australian Open semi-finalist, Federer is relieved his season is over.

And, with the emergence of Murray, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Ernests Gulbis as grand slam contenders behind Federer, Novak Djokovic and world No. 1 Rafael Nadal, Federer yesterday applied the blowtorch to the sport's fresh-faced contenders.

"They're doing well, it's exciting for tennis at the moment," he said. "I'm excited to see how they'll handle next year under the pressure, because they've had a good year now. It will be interesting to see if they can back it up."

Weakened by the viral infection mononucleosis at the Australian Open in Melbourne in January, Federer was stripped of the Australian and Wimbledon crowns, the No. 1 ranking and his cloak of invincibility as the year wore on.

And he finished the year with 14 losses, the most since his breakthrough 2003 campaign, with some of those defeats coming against pluggers such as Radek Stepanek and Mardy Fish.

Troubled by back soreness, Federer will take a short break before preparing for the Kooyong Classic in January.

"It's been a good year, you know. But tough to start off with. Tough to end," he said.

"So obviously a little bit of mixed feelings. But I think it gives me the opportunity to start over all new again next year."

ajithfederer

16th November 2008, 02:20 AM

Sachin for cricket and Federer for Tennis.

Check this (http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24657284-3162,00.html)
Federer against Safin in Aus Open (2007???) semi finals.

Some of THE BEST backhands in the business (http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=yUM34yo97iA)

:shock: :clap:

Amazing!! Unbelievable!! Breathtaking..............He makes it look ridiculously easy.. Actually I had watched that match (2006 Tennis Gold Masters Final), never realised he had that many backhand winners. Looks even more impressive @ a time when Roger is struggling even with his Forehand these days.......

ajithfederer

17th November 2008, 10:46 PM

[tscii:8c80e6e202]http://cornedbeefhash.wordpress.com/2007/06/24/why-roger-federer-is-the-best-player-ever-to-swing-a-racquet-even-if-he-never-wins-the-french/

Why Roger Federer is the best player ever to swing a racquet, even if he never wins the French

As Wimbledon commences today, and Roger Federer walks out to defend his title, which if he does would make it five straight — equaling Bjorn Borg’s five in a row from ’76-’80 — there will still be some scattered chatter about Federer’s place in tennis history. With the French Open title still eluding him after this year’s loss to Rafael Nadal, his one and only nemesis, the pundits (it’s specifically the ones on the telly that I’m thinking of), in their infinite wisdom, will hesitate bestowing him the honor of “Greatest of All Time”; the talking heads currently believe that Australian Rod Laver currently holds this distinction.

Many would argue, myself included, that this year was Federer’s best opportunity to win at Roland Garros: he’d had two past experiences of playing (and losing to) Nadal on this big stage; he was in perfect health and relatively fresh; and he got a confidence boost by beating Nadal on clay for the first time, in the final of the ATP Masters event in Hamburg the week prior to the French. But all that wasn’t enough to overcome Nadal.

Even with this most recent loss, there’s no question that thus far Federer is the greatest, and here’s why: he is and has been dominant in a field of insane depth, on all surfaces except for one, one which is being dominated by the greatest player to ever play on that surface.

Allow me to elaborate. Currently, there are at least 1500 players who have an ATP ranking. In 1968, when the Open Era began and the professionals finally got to join the amateurs, the Wimbledon draw had 128 players, just like this year. However, the pool of tennis players to draw from at that time was infinitely smaller, and, while tennis even then was international, the countries represented in ‘68 were for the most part the usual suspects: the top 16 seeds at that year’s tournament were represented by six Aussies, four Americans, two Spaniards, a Dutchman, a Croatian, and a South African. This year, the top 16 seeds (mind you, now 32 players are seeded) include two Americans, two Spaniards, two Russians, a Swiss, a Serbian, a Chilean, a Czech, a Scot, a Cypriot, a French, a German, a Croatian, and an Aussie. Tennis’ global march has spread the talent far and wide, and you don’t have to be an expert in trickle-down Reaganomics to recognize that tennis depth runs from the community courts and the clubs to the junior tournaments and all the way up to the top. So I guess in this case it’s “trickle-up.”

This year’s Wimbledon qualies not only includes familiar names, but players with current and/or past grass street cred: Niclolas Mahut, who just lost in a tight final with Andy Roddick at Queen’s Club, made it through; as did Dick Norman (Belgian) and Wayne Arthurs (Aussie), both dangerous on grass; Arthurs made it to Wimby’s fourth round in ’99. Pick any given year in the last five, maybe ten years, and you’ll find this kind of depth on display on all surfaces. Not so in the 60’s or 70’s.

The name that always comes up when it comes to Federer and history is of course Rod Laver. Laver was dominant in his era, too, and carries the mantle of ‘greatest ever’ in the eyes of the media. He pulled off the Grand Slam in 1962 as an amateur, went professional (which meant he was prohibited from playing the Slams, which at the time were for amateurs only), was invited back to Wimbledon at the start of the Open Era in ’68, and then proceeded to win the Grand Slam again in ’69 as a pro. Who can touch a record like that? Federer never will. But as great a player as Laver was (you can get an idea of Laver’s style of play from this YouTube clip, there was no Guillermo Vilas, no Mats Wilander, no Ivan Lendl, let alone a Bjorn Borg or a Nadal, standing in his way. Rod Laver won 11 Grand Slam titles and two calendar Grand Slams, but I’ve never hear the pundits say much about his competition — have you?

Speaking of domination: can one imagine a more dominant clay court player than Rafael Nadal? And he’s been even more so at the French. Now, many won’t be surprised if Federer never wins the French, myself included. If you’re one of those types who like to ponder fantasy matches between the top players of today and those of the past, then go ahead, be my guest: Nadal against Vilas? Sure, put a wooden racquet in Rafa’s hands. Nadal vs. Borg? Ditto. How about Wilander, Lendl, Courier, Kuerten? You’re kidding, right? I’ll take those odds. The point then, is that player who’s keeping (and has kept) Roger Federer from holding all four Slams at once (and arguably holding them twice, a la Laver) is simply the best clay court player of all time. But please don’t call Nadal a clay court specialist: you’ll feel like a fool when he gets back into the Wimbledon final. Okay, maybe those aren’t the best odds. But I’ll take Federer as greatest player ever at 1:1. Now can we move on please?

Michael Shaw writes about tennis and other subjects for the Los Angeles Times, and is also an artist. He can be reached at michaelshaw_sar AT yahoo DOT com[/tscii:8c80e6e202]

ajithfederer

18th November 2008, 02:09 AM

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24666843-3162,00.html

Fitness first for Roger Federer
Article from: Herald Sun
Leo Schlink

November 18, 2008 12:00am

THE facts are overwhelming. Roger Federer had his worst grand slam season since 2003, winning a solitary major.

The Swiss genius lost the world No. 1 ranking after a record 237-week residency.

The man celebrated as the best the sport has seen claimed just four titles in 2008, his leanest haul since 2002.

And Federer racked up almost as many losses (15) in a single year as he had in the previous three seasons combined (18).

Worse, some of those defeats came against players outside the top 20 -- notably American Mardy Fish, ranked 23rd, and Czech plugger Radek Stepanek (26).

Even Andy Roddick, usually a pushover rival, managed to get in on the act, registering only his second win in 17 starts against Federer.

And, after Novak Djokovic's 6-1 6-4 Masters Cup triumph against Nikolay Davydenko in Shanghai on Sunday night, Federer is only 10 points from slipping to No. 3.

The facts appear to say Federer is on the slide. And is possibly gone.

But the locker-room consensus disagrees with the broader view. Resoundingly so.

Andy Murray, who beat Federer three times this season, is among the Federer defenders.

"I don't see a whole lot of weaknesses with Roger," the Scot said.

"Federer is, I'm sure, going to want to get his No. 1 back and I'm sure he's going to try and regain his Wimbledon trophy."

Murray is more aware than most of Federer's 2008 season.

A season that began with an energy-sapping bout of glandular fever ended with serve-inhibiting back problems.

Tennis history is littered with champions struggling for fitness or health.

Federer's health between 2004-07 was rarely an issue.

The result? An era of virtual invincibility, capped by 315 wins, just 24 losses and 11 grand slam titles.

Questionable fitness is now intruding into a game still the best, but no longer clearly superior to the rest.

Federer's 2008 proved as much. His grand slam season was hardly shabby - semi-finalist at the Australian Open, runner-up at the French Open and Wimbledon, champion at the US Open.

But he was suddenly beatable. It started with a semi-final defeat to Djokovic in Melbourne and a sense of change at the top took hold.

Federer, for reasons then unknown, was not at his peak.

James Blake, Murray, Ivo Karlovic, Gilles Simon, Rafael Nadal (four times), Stepanek, Roddick and Fish all lowered his colours.

All the 2008 season has proved, according to Murray, is that no player, no matter how illustrious, can play hurt or sick.

Murray knew Federer was injured at the Masters Cup.

He flayed Federer's serve, realising the winner of 13 majors was unable to use his withering kicker because of his sore back.

Murray went for the jugular because he didn't want Federer to reappear in the final of the round-robin event, such is his respect for the Swiss.

Federer admitted later to compensating his power output to protect his body.

Consequently, his movement suffered and then so did the foundation stone of his game: the forehand. Yet he almost beat Murray.

The match was a cameo of the Federer season.

Attacking and in control, if patchily, at the start, Federer hit a flat spot mid-match before trying to bluff his way through.

And just when it seemed his heart, the most underrated part of his game, would pull him through the crisis, a younger, more powerful opponent came over the top with a knockout punch.

In the past four seasons, Federer would have ducked, grinned and survived.

Not this year.

Federer has 62 days before the January 19 start of the Australian Open to heal his body. If the remedial process works, he will start favourite and probably win a record-equalling 14th major.

But if his body continues to protest, he is in big trouble.

Tennis rarely allows its champions the luxury to bow out on their terms.

At 27, Federer has already outlined plans to play until the 2012 London Olympics. But the facts say he will struggle.

Whether he finishes as the greatest, statistically, depends on one thing: his health.

ajithfederer

18th November 2008, 08:42 AM

[tscii:8059983cf0]http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5ii7BFCMIb__UrvAvK0ditsjkur4A

The Canadian Press

Wimbledon more important to Swiss star Roger Federer than No. 1

11 hours ago

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Swiss star 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."

Others playing Tuesday night are James Blake, ranked 10th, and two former Wimbledon champions, John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg. The quartet will play two singles matches and one doubles.

Federer is currently ranked No. 2 behind Spain's Rafael Nadal, after spending a record 237 consecutive weeks at the top. He lost to fourth-ranked Andy Murray in the Masters Cup in Shanghai on Friday, hampered by the sore back that had forced him out of the Paris Masters two weeks ago.

Federer began the year recovering from a bout of mononucleosis. He lost the French Open and Wimbledon finals to Nadal, who overtook him for the No. 1 ranking. But Federer won the Olympic doubles gold, then his fifth straight U.S. Open to pull within one of Pete Sampras' Grand Slam record.

"While I would also love to beat Pete Sampras's Grand Slam record of 14 titles, and also to regain my No. 1 ranking, I place winning another Wimbledon title above all else," said Federer.

McEnroe, who also attended the news conference, said he is excited to be playing in a match that will showcase "two generations of players in action."

"Players nowadays are so fast and hit the ball even more powerful than during my time," said McEnroe, also a former world No. 1, and winner of seven Grand Slam singles titles.

"I also believe that there are personalities in the men's game, much more than in the women's. We must capitalize on this as we can bring more fans to the game," said McEnroe.
[/tscii:8059983cf0]

ajithfederer

18th November 2008, 09:08 PM

http://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=53341

Well, nobody's unbeatable. That's a fact. But, again, the fact is that he's one of the best - maybe even the best player - that this sport ever had. I have a lot of respect. I think all the players have a lot of respect for him. He's been so dominant in last four, five years, playing his best tennis when it matters, in the Grand Slams especially. It looks very easy when you look at him. He's an artist on the court.
But, you know, he reached a certain point, you know, when certain players start to win against him, and then you lose a little bit of the confidence within the loss. The other players start believing more that they can win, so I think it's a natural process. It's nothing strange that he's losing a little bit more than often.
But for him it's a big challenge to come back next year. It's still not over. Roger is the second player of the world, and he's intending of getting the top spot next year.

Djokovic on Roger

Sourav

19th November 2008, 06:37 AM

[tscii:4281af2e1b]WARRIOR WITHIN
The Key To Roger Federer’s 2009 Campaign Will Be In Giving New Life To The Fighter In Him
Prajwal Hegde | TNN

Somebody won tennis’ season-ending Masters Cup.That probably happened when we were looking the other way, perhaps in the direction of Roger Federer as he was brought down early in the season’s finale in Shanghai last week. Who would wear one of the calendar’s biggest crowns was no longer the point of contention. The big question facing tennis today is where the peerless 27-year-old, with 13 Grand Slams titles, a record 237 weeks atop the world rankings, and almost $45 million in prize-money, will be next season?
Invincible is no longer the adjective used to describe the amiable Swiss. His name doesn’t invoke fear among rivals any more, its healthy respect these days. And it’s showing in the statistics. This was Federer’s worst Grand Slam season in five years, he won just one major. His total haul of titles was a mere four, his leanest streak since 2002. This year alone he has had almost as many losses (15) as he had in the last three seasons combined (17). In August his streak as the game’s top gun was snapped.
The slip may have been triggered by his physical condition. Federer was never at his best this season. At the start of the year, he was suffering from mononucleosis, later he was laid low by a bad back and in Shanghai he caught the stomach bug. While it’s hard to say if a fitter Federer could’ve staved off the challenge, there’s no denying that his rivals have been growing in stature.
Nadal, the man with the inflated muscles and cut off trousers, who wears his guts on his racket strings, was the first to nail a weakness in Federer’s enviable repertoire. He found a way to bore (pun intended) through the genius Swiss’ silken skills. He first did it on a surface most conducive to his tireless legs and relentless backcourt game and then carried the strategy over to Federer’s beloved
lawns at SW19 and took away the title the
Swiss valued more than any other.
The door had been opened, the champion considerably weakened. Novak Djokovic,
Federer’s Australian Open conqueror, made a charge, finishing the year just 10 points behind the Swiss. Then almost unannounced, Andy Murray, the thinking, teasing Scot, arrived, drawing from Nadal’s strategy he found a way to sneak the extra ball past Federer, finishing the season with three wins from four meetings with the master.
Federer, however, will look to turn it around next season. “When they (court announcers) say, ‘This is the world No. 2’, it just doesn’t sound right to me,” Federer had said in an interview. “I’m not world No. 2. I just don’t like the ring of it. It just sounds awkward to me because I’ve been up there for so, so long, it sounds unfamiliar.”
There are many theories floating on what Federer needs to do to reclaim the No. 1 ranking. The most popular being adding greater venom and variety to his attack. Multiple Grand Slam champion Stefan Edberg said, “Federer must have realised the need to be more offensive in his game. He has to play more serve and volley and get in more variation.”
The key to Federer’s 2009 campaign will be in striking a balance between offence and defence. When he started out he basically hung around the baseline, waiting for his chance. A mental battle in his late teens, in which he set the aggressor in him free, is what led to his breakthrough season in 2001. The range and rage of the artist-warrior combine was more than a handful for most opponents. He won his first Grand Slam title in 2003 and went from strength to strength. His domination was total and complete. He didn’t need to fight, he was winning at will.
The tide has turned and Federer will have to awaken the warrior within if wants to win more Grand Slams. Whether he’ll ever be number one again though is another matter. He’s only 27 and has another couple of years at least at the top, but week-in and week-out dominance may have passed him, just as his dream to win the French Open, the only major he hasn’t won.
No matter how close Nadal had come to beating Federer at Wimbledon in 2007, the Swiss never fully expected the Spaniard could pull it off on the courts he had made his own over the years. His 2008 loss at the All England Club shook Federer at the core. Clearly, he needed to do more. He needed to go to battle.
If anything that should serve as a warning for the coming season. Federer has almost two months before he kicks-off the next year. There’ll be time enough to recoup and reinvent. A blast from the past may well be the story of 2009.
REIGN OF TOUCH 2008: Federer’s four-year reign as No. 1 came to an end. Won four titles in eight finals, including his fifth straight US Open crown. Year-end ranking 2.
2007: Finished No. 1 for a fourth straight year. Won eight titles in 12 finals, including three Grand Slam crowns. Yearendranking 1
2006: Finished No. 1 for third straight year. Won 12 titles, including three Grand Slam crowns. Year-end ranking 1.
2005: Finished No. 1 for second straight year. Won 11 titles, including two Grand Slams. Year-end ranking 1.
2004: Won 11 titles in as many finals, including three Grand Slam titles. Year-end ranking 1.
2003: Won seven titles in nine finals, including his first Grand Slam crown at Wimbledon. Year-end ranking 2.
2002: Opened the season with a title in Sydney and earned first Masters title in Hamburg and another in Vienna. Year-end ranking 6.
2001: Won first ATP title in Milan. Year-end ranking 13. 2000: Reached first ATP final in Marseille and also in native Basel. Lost in bronze medal match to Di Pasquale at Sydney Olympics. Year-end ranking 29.
1999: Youngest player (18 years, 4 months) to finish in the top 100 and advanced to his first ATP semifinal in Vienna. Year-end ranking 65.
1998: Best result was reaching the quarterfinal in Toulouse. Year-end ranking 301.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOI&BaseHref=TOICH/2008/11/19&PageLabel=22&EntityId=Ar02200&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T[/tscii:4281af2e1b]

ajithfederer

19th November 2008, 10:31 PM

[tscii:2013bf3812]http://bleacherreport.com/articles/82432-roger-federer-a-fan-looks-back

Roger Federer: A Fan Looks Back

Tennis—the beautiful sport of balls, nets, and racquets—has seen some of the most glorious and glittering careers in the world of sports.

It has seen the legends like Bjorn Borg, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, Ivan Lendl, Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras, Andre Kirk Agassi, and countless other sparkling performers, players who have written the stories of their unreplicable journeys of disappointments and exhilarations in indelible ink in the history books of this great sport. And more importantly, they've written it in the hearts of millions of Sport-Lovers who have seen and fallen into raptures at the sight of Great Victories, Broken into tears at the sight of heart-wrenching falls.

With each passing era came its own unique excitements and styles. From Laver's Grand Era to Borg's 'Ice-men' kind, from McEnroe's temperamental style to Sampras' serene kind, From serve and Volley to the pukka baseline play—the sport and players had always only evolved with time and for good.

The process has been slow and steady.

And then, a little after the fall of the new Millennium, the world witnessed one of the most astonishing eras of the Great Sport, An Era which dawned at the Holy Grail of Tennis—the Lush Green Lawns of The Championships. The birth of a Champion who is today, probably the Greatest ever to play this sport (and saying 'Probably' may be being unfair to him).

A man who has given this wonderful sport the kind of Meaning and Definition like none before him had. A certain Genius hailing from the Alpine hills of the Playground of Europe. A guy who could do practically anything with a Tennis Racquet.

It may have actually begun one fine Monday afternoon in mid-2001, when the world sat back expecting another Pete Sampras win at the Center Court of Wimbledon. Instead, what they witnessed was a Lawn Tennis Masterclass from a virtually unknown Swiss Teenager (Not many really remembered and recognised this Young boy who had broken down uncontrollably during the presentation at the Sydney Olympics, where he had ended up in the agonising fourth position).

Sampras had had a Poor year, but this was Wimbledon, his Private Property, he couldnt lose here, right?...Wrong. In a memorable five-set thriller, a 19-year-old Swiss prodigy dethroned the King of Wimbledon, the winner of seven of the last eight Championships.

The Most significant implication of this match at that time to the Tennis World might have been the now un-ignorable signs of the impending fall of curtains in the career of Pistol Pete.

But today, on retrospection, one feels that what was most remarkable about this match was the manner in which this young man had 'served' and 'returned' out the Great Sampras, the astonishing similarity in the styles of play and the tantalising array of shots. He lost his very next match in the tournament. But Tennis lovers knew they had just witnessed the Birth of a New Champion, who had played and outplayed the Master, who had just passed the ultimate test as far as Lawn Tennis is concerned.

The Era took its time to unfold, and in that interval, a good many had started questioning this man's ability to really 'Get there, where he truly belongs'. He had a quick Temper, he used to abandon his strategies on court a bit too soon if they didn't work out right, he used to get frustrated too quickly.Simply put, he just was yet to become the Champion he had the potential to, but the makings were evident.

Then 2003 happened, The Breakthrough year of this Promising player. Coming from some First-Round losses, bearing the memory of his disastrous Opening Round Exit at Wimbledon the year before, he came into The Championships determined to make a few amends. And what we saw was one of the most masterful Grand Slam Campaigns ever, winning the most coveted Silverware in the world of Tennis dropping just a single set throughout the Tournament.

Finally he had arrived.

And he was different. He didn't have height that casts a long shadow or muscles that shouted at you. And he played the sport which is yet to be given the sporting credit it deserves.

In the new era of Power-Hitters, of double handed backhanders, this man played elegant, Swift, Graceful, creative and 'beautiful-looking' Tennis. His Forehand Looked and WAS Devastating. His Serve looked unpredictable. His half Volleys always hit the bull's eye, and his baseline play was most impeccable. And of course, The pleasure of watching the Single Handed Backhand, a quality one at that, in action is one of its kind..

This man was fast becoming one with no seeming weakness at all. He was Destiny's Child.

He was Roger Federer.

Before we realised it, an unofficial Rule had been written down to the guidelines of Tennis: No one beats Roger Federer, especially and most importantly, on the big stages. For that, the Swiss needed to have a Big off day (and he didn't have many of those) or it was the Matador of Spin, Rafael Nadal on Clay.

And Losing to Nadal on Clay was very soon to be acknowledged as 'No Crime', even for a Superhuman, as the Spaniard was to become (and still remains) a 'yet to be recognised' species on Clay. So It became the Fact of the Game - Federer = unbeatable on any surface barring the red Clay.

He would win 10 of the 15 tournaments he participates in, and those he doesn't win are either on Clay against Nadal or it is because of exhaustion.

But Roger Federer cannot, will not and doesn't fail.

He would ghost past opponents in a flurry. He had an answer to every question you could possibly throw at him. Even as you marvel a shot you have just made, something whizzes past you and you hear 'Game, Set, Match Federer'. You say, 'Uh what just happened? What did he just do?'...Yeah That was a winner from him, he got to that ball, he hit that ball in that angle, That is a winner and the Match is over.

Every time a Challenger came close to threatening his throne, The Swiss was quick to fend him off by starting some 40-match winning streaks.

Every time he entered a rare dry patch, he would bounce back at the most unlikely of Tournaments, beating the Most unlikely of Opponents—for example, the Title-less three months post AO '07 which was to be followed up with a thumping victory of Nadal on Clay at Hamburg.

Every time critics started raising their eyebrows - take for example the surprise back-to-back defeats in 2007 at Paris and Shanghai(Rob Rd 1), He would follow it up with a most masterful and comprehensive performance in the Showdown of the Year.

He had all the Gears: A, B, C, D, E...You name it. Other players in the circuit couldn't stop praising the man, The Lovers of the sport couldn't get enough of him, The Media was left wanting more and more.

He was The Mighty Federer. The Man to Beat.

And at some point or the other, he himself started believing, not just in his greatness but also in his infallibility.

And then happened...2008. And things changed.

This was supposed to be THE year..The Year Federer was to Break Sampras' Big Record of Slams. But Things didnt work out as planned.

He was outplayed at Melbourne by a most deserving Novak Djokovic, humiliated on the Red dirt of Roland Garros by the man who was becoming the biggest Nightmare for the man and his fans alike. Then, the big blow—robbed at his own backyard, the place he had virtually owned, in that agonisingly incredible and immortal match in SW19, stunned at the Quadrennial Extravaganza by a player who had never beaten him in their past some eight clashes.

He suffered disappointment after disappointment and to punctuate these hard losses were...well...losses again to players who had seemed peanuts in front of him just a few months ago.

And finally, after fondling his beloved crown for a mind-boggling Number of 237 straight weeks - Now even thinking that someone will break such kind of a record seems crazy- he was stripped of the No. 1 status.

The Ever so pleasant faced Federer slowly seemed to acquire a haunted look on-court.
Detractors began opening their mouths wide and loud, fans began to shiver, and he himself was unable to understand what was going wrong with him this year...It wasn't supposed to turn out this way, right?

There was no respite for the infallible Fed - because he had finally fallen. He was no longer the Numero Uno, He was no longer the Man to Beat.

And he took it very hard, It hurt him terribly, this.

Coming into the US Open, he was, for the first time since February 2004, The second seed. The Defending Champion wasn't expected to pull off 'great things' this year in the Land of Apples.

But come the Flushing Meadows, The fallen King was determined to set a few things right. Against all the odds stacked against him, he survived Dogfights to reach his 5th straight final where he met a first timer in Slam Finals. But he had met even a veteran of Slams, on that fine Monday evening at New York, it would have been difficult to deny this man who was looking more desperate, more stubborn and more determined than ever. It just meant that Andy Murray was destined to learn what these 'Big maches' take, the hard way.

The Swiss Express was back to being on top of the world, If only for a short time. But this victory was a clear message from the man. He was nowhere close to being done with winning Tennis matches and Tournaments.

It has been a long, punishing and unforgiving year for the Great man, and on retrospect, has indeed been a poor year - and I don't add 'by his lofty standards' for the sake of it, because we are talking about a man who makes history for a living, who lives in a planet to which we are denied visiting rights, a man whose ego has been the fountainhead of his success.

He has had ups and downs in this troubled season, But there have been bright spots and this time around, both he and his fans have celebrated them more heartily than before.

And the final image that he has left to his fans this year has been one to be proud of—The Image of a Man who was plagued with a Stiff back but refused to show the disrespect to the sport of quitting halfway through the match.

The Parting words have been "I don't quit once I step on court. Guess you got to drill me one in the eye, then maybe. But otherwise I don't quit."

The Last impression has been one of resilience.

After all, its times like these we learn to live again...

A tough year to start with, a tough year to end, now the man will have a richly deserved break from the marathon to keep his ranking intact (and Improve it). He will return fitter, stronger, motivated and finer when 2009 comes calling and there is nothing that he would love more than take flight yet again...The Great Federer Flight...

While his wings may no longer flap as easily and effortlessly as before, and may flutter now and then, at the end of the day it would do to remember that this is a man who ran towards fame, grabbed his glory, hugged his victories with tears - no one who has witnessed it are likely to forget his 'On the rough' speech at the Melbourne Park in 2006 - and had to be, quite literally, wrestled off his throne, A man who has an indomitable spirit, the Heart of a Champion...

And as someone rightly said, there may never be another in this sport (or any other for that matter), to fly so far, so ahead, and so close to the sun as Roger Federer.
Viva La Roger.

[/tscii:2013bf3812]

ajithfederer

19th November 2008, 10:39 PM

Fed vs Murray TMC 2008
Part1. http://www.megaupload.com/?d=VOQGUS1J
Part2. http://www.megaupload.com/cn/?d=TY9TPK1Q
Part3. http://www.megaupload.com/cn/?d=CLLFFJFI
Part4. http://www.megaupload.com/cn/?d=WC6G8BCU

ajithfederer

24th November 2008, 01:16 AM

[tscii:ea74cf950d]http://bleacherreport.com/articles/84658-roger-federer-vs-novak-djokovic-the-battle-for-no-2

Roger Federer Vs. Novak Djokovic: The Battle for No. 2

He was down love to three in the third set. He sat down pondering and the watching world wondered whether this would be the first time in 766 career matches that he would retire from a match. His back seemed to be killing him. But he decided, he would play on. He would give it his all to win this one no matter what.

He fought, he fought and he fought. He refused to let his fans down, let the sport down, let himself down. He saved one match point after the other, but alas, eight was all he could manage.

He almost pulled off the miracle he wanted to, but the bottom line—he had lost. To the subdued applause of the crowd, his opponent got his first wish - Send Roger Federer packing from the tournament. And the Swiss left the court after playing his final match of the year, a year in which the great man had to sit through much nonsense, to the loud and clear standing ovation of the Chinese.

So much about "A True Champion" who had lost.

But now onto the new 'Master of Masters.'

He was the clear No. 1 player in the world for the first quarter of the year. And soon, he became the forgotten of the Top Four as the season approached its end. Another was already being touted The No. 3 man.

While a certain Spanish sensation hogged all the limelight, while the focus turned to a Swiss Star's 'fall' and a Serbian Gun started to flounder, a new face appeared—Andy Murray.

The Scot had an impressive second half to the season which saw his rise to the fourth spot in the rankings. With the culmination of the 'slams fever', the talk was about Federer's return, Murray's rise and Nadal's conquests. Novak Djokovic seemed the lost of the 'Big four'.

And the young Serb had a point to prove. And That he did - the reigning King of Melbourne stunned a lot of people by becoming only the second man in the current Top 10 to claim the prestigious YEC.

The Year end Rankings do not lie.

Rafael Nadal has been the undoubted Tennis Star of the year. With the beginning of the 'Nadal' season (read 'Clay'), The Majorcan started murdering opponents left and right, and this time around, not just on his favourite surface. Winning a whooping eight titles this year, including Two Grand Slams and an Olympic Gold, the Spaniard sits pretty on top of the mountain as the World's best Tennis player.

On his way to glory, Nadal dethroned a certain Swiss gentleman who had so far seemed naturally affixed to the Title of Numero Uno.

And so we had it, after nearly four years and a half, Roger Federer was to play the unfamiliar role - one he clearly does not like -of the World No. 2. But for how long?

With his first ever Robin Round exit in the Season ending Masters Cup, Roger Federer now stands in serious danger of being relegated into the spot below. Yes, the Swiss star would be thanking his lucky stars that after starting the year some thousand points ahead of his nearest competitor, The World No. 2, he has not ended the year as the third best in the world.

Aided by Federer's early exit, Djokovic's Shanghai triumph has brought him menacingly close to snatching the Swiss' sleep. Federer may end the year as the World No. 2, but Djokovic is closer than ever to the spot now, trailing by a mere 10 points - yes Razor thin, the difference, but still a difference. And it is by the skin of his teeth that Federer hangs to to the No. 2 spot. He knows it, and so does Djokovic.

And this makes things interesting come Australia 2009, for the seeding itself is not predictable at this moment. Will Federer be able to cling on to his No. 2 spot, or will Djokovic go for the kill and get to lead the Bottom half of the Draw for the first time in his career?

The Difference in points can be easily covered and extended by either player at Doha prior to the Battle for supremacy at the Melbourne Park. Either which way, Federer knows he has got his work cut out and so does Djokovic at the first Major of the year.

But irrespective of how the ranking may possible change when the season kick-starts next year, as the Swiss and the Serb mentioned recently, both of them will have their eyes and hearts set on the Numero Uno spot, not the one beneath. It remains to be who will finally get to bite the apple - and of course a Brit and a Spaniard, among others, may have something to say on their part!

With the Winds of Change sweeping the Tennis world Now, 2009 will be a year looked forward to with much anticipation and not for just a couple of reasons.
All we can say is...Bring it on![/tscii:ea74cf950d]

ajithfederer

25th November 2008, 02:39 AM

omega

25th November 2008, 04:41 AM

Federer Backed By Fans To Regain No. 1 Ranking
http://www.atptennis.com/1/en/2008news/no1_battle09.asp
Rafael Nadal may have ended the season as ATP World No. 1 but ATPtennis.com fans believe that his great rival Roger Federer (pictured) will reclaim the year-end No. 1 ranking in 2009.
2008 Year-End ATP Rankings
Forty two per cent of ATPtennis.com readers believe the Swiss will join Ivan Lendl (1989) as the only player to regain the year-end No. 1 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings. Lendl finished No. 1 in 1985, '86, '87 - No. 2 in 1988 behind Mats Wilander - then regained the year-end No. 1 in 1989.
Player Percentage of Vote
1 Roger Federer 42%
2 Rafael Nadal 35%
3 Novak Djokovic 12%
4 Andy Murray 8%
5 Other 3%
********************

I too believe, he would have a much better year in 2009 (should win atleast 2 GS to break Pete's record). Everything would depend on his fitness though. If he wins AO (which I think he will), then he would gain points, thereby making Novak to lose some (as he has to defend his points there) which is the need of the hour (the gap between him & Novak is thin as a hair).

I hope he gets enough rest the next 5-6 weeks, rather than playing some exhibition matches...

ajithfederer

25th November 2008, 05:24 AM

[tscii:4db2f37ba1]Omega :yes:

A gist of the article

ATP QUICK POLL
Battle For No. 1 In 2009

November 24, 2008
Federer Backed By Fans To Regain No. 1 Ranking

© AFP/Getty Images
Roger FedererRafael Nadal may have ended the season as ATP World No. 1, but ATPtennis.com fans believe that Roger Federer (pictured) will reclaim the year-end No. 1 ranking in 2009.

In a poll of more than 55,000 fans, 42 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?

Player

Percentage of Vote
1

Roger Federer

42%
2

Rafael Nadal

35%
3

Novak Djokovic

12%
4

Andy Murray

8%
5

Other

3%

Federer, who lost the No. 1 ranking to Nadal after a record 237 consecutive-week stint on August 18, polled seven per cent more votes than his Spanish rival. Federer ended the year with a 66-15 match record, highlighted by a 13th Grand Slam trophy at the US Open (d. Murray).

Nadal finished the 2008 season with a 1,370 points lead over Federer. The 22-year-old Mallorcan captured eight titles – including Roland Garros, Wimbledon and Olympic gold – and had an 82-11 match record.

DEUCE: Rafael Nadal – Making History In a Hurry

But he will face stiff competition, not only from Federer, if he is to repeat his stellar year.

By capturing the Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai title, Novak Djokovic of Serbia moved within 10 points of Federer in the South African Airways ATP Rankings. The 21-year-old Australian Open winner received 12 per cent of the votes.

Andy Murray, who this year became the first British player to win five titles in the Open Era, could make it a four-way battle for No. 1 next year. The Scot attained the No. 4 ranking following his run to the US Open final in September.

The 21 year old gained eight per cent of the poll that received more than 55,000 votes.

DEUCE: Murray Muscles His Way Into ATP Elite

FOCUS ON ATP'S TOP FOUR IN 2008
Year-End Ranking Player ATP Rankings Points Match Record Titles
1 Rafael Nadal 6,675 82-11 8
2 Roger Federer 5,305 66-15 4
3 Novak Djokovic 5,295 64-17 4
4 Andy Murray 3,720 58-16 5

2008 Year-End South African Airways ATP Rankings [/tscii:4db2f37ba1]

ajithfederer

27th November 2008, 12:17 AM

Roger Federer Show: The half-volley (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWS8YgYUehg)

P.S: Is it just me or did anyone else has observed that the youtube video has been enLARGED :huh:

ajithfederer

27th November 2008, 12:22 AM

Roger Federer - beauty shots - drop shots part 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVJPLCcjyr8)

omega

27th November 2008, 05:47 AM

Roger Federer Show: The half-volley (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWS8YgYUehg)

P.S: Is it just me or did anyone else has observed that the youtube video has been enLARGED :huh:

Yes, it indeed has been enlarged..........I am not sure from when though. I did notice it today morning.

ajithfederer

27th November 2008, 06:39 AM

Thanks omega.

ajithfederer

27th November 2008, 07:08 AM

Roger Federer - beauty serves, aces against J.Tipsarevic (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Pm1Azmifvs)

AUS OPEN (2008??)

ajithfederer

29th November 2008, 09:46 AM

Montage of Agassi/Federer Duels (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khAF-dPEUUY)

ajithfederer

29th November 2008, 11:16 AM

http://federermagic.blogspot.com/2007/10/roger-federer-vs-rod-laver.html

Roger Federer vs. Rod Laver

Laver and Federer were both born in August 43 years apart. Federer's birthday is August 08, 1981, while Laver's is August 09, 1938. It makes comparing them straightforward as the grand slams make up this way too. For example, Federer won his second Wimbledon in 2004 at the age of 22, while Laver won his first Wimbledon 1961, at the same age of 22. And so on.. get the drift?

Green shaded boxes represent Rod Laver playing in Pre-open Era amateur division. Blue boxes represent Rod Laver playing in Pre-open Era under Pro division, whose 3 Grand slam equivalents were French Pro, Wembley and US Pro. These divisions were eliminated in 1968 French Open with the beginning of the Open Era, represented in White boxes.

Note: RF/RR age is the age of both Roger Federer and Rod Laver when the tennis season starts (Jan 1). By the time they play US Open, they would have had their birthday and older by one year. (Like Federer won his first US Open at age 23, though he was 22 when the tennis season started).

ajithfederer

29th November 2008, 11:22 AM

[tscii:f6d5479f6f]http://federermagic.blogspot.com/2007/10/roger-federer-vs-bjorn-borg.html

Similar to Roger Federer vs. Pete Sampras summary, here's an attempt to match the Swedish ice-man, Björn Borg's achievements against Roger.

Federer's birthday is August 08, 1981, while Borg's is June 6, 1956. So, they are 25 years apart, which makes it convenient to compare them. Some similarities include Borg is 0/9 at US Open where Roger has won four straight times, like Federer is 0/9 at French Open where Borg has won six including four straight. Borg and Federer were known to be brats during junior days and then developed an ice-cool demeanor later on. Also, both Borg and Federer has won Wimbledon five straight times, an all-time record and both are junior Wimbledon champions as well.

Also, during the era when Borg played, Australian was not considered a serious slam and most of the pros never played them, at least not consistently like modern pros do.

Note: RF/BB age is the age of both Roger Federer and Bjorn Borg when the tennis season starts (Jan 1). By the time Borg played Wimbledon and Federer play US Open, they would have had their birthday and older by one year. (Like Federer won his first US Open at age 23, though he was 22 when the tennis season started).[/tscii:f6d5479f6f]

ajithfederer

29th November 2008, 11:25 AM

http://federermagic.blogspot.com/2005/07/roger-federer-vs-pete-sampras.html

I am not a big believer of stats. That said, there are several interesting coincidences about the careers of Pete and Roger. And unsurprising it is. Though they have vastly different approach to tennis as well as slams, here is an attempt to celebrate the coincidences rather than as a comparison between them.

Sampras and Federer were both born in August ten year apart. Federer's birthday is August 08, 1981, while Sampras's is August 12, 1971. So, at the time of writing, Sampras is 33, while Federer is 23. And the grand slams make up this way too. For example, Federer won Wimbledon 2005 at the age of 23, while Sampras won Wimbledon 1995, at the same age of 23. And so on.. get the drift?

Sampras won his half of his 14 slams (7), at his mid point, at his 8th year as a pro (of his 15 year career).

Note: RF/PS age is the age of both Roger Federer and Pete Sampras when the tennis season starts (Jan 1). By the time they play US Open, they would have had their birthday and older by one year. (Like Sampras won his last US Open at age 31, though he was 30 when the tennis season started).

Sampras vs Federer on Wimbledon 2001:

Some stats about the historic match in the Round of 16. It was the only time they both met and since Sampras has retired, Federer holds a 1-0 lifetime head to head against him. Going into the match,

* Pete had never lost a 5-set match at Wimbledon before he lost to Federer 7-6, 5-7, 6-4, 6-7, 7- 5.
* He had a streak of 31 straight wins at Wimbledon, tying him with Rod Laver.
* Pete had won the seven of the last 8 Wimbledons going into the 2001 Wimby.
* Pete was looking for his 100th win at Wimbledon when he met Federer. He got his 100th win at Wimbledon with his 3-set win over Martin Lee in R128 the next year. It was also his last win at Wimbledon.

For the record, you can get the 2-disc DVD of the match from Adrian. He sells it for US $7.50 [See more]. It is nice to Roger that young and playing a heck of a great match.

ajithfederer

29th November 2008, 12:15 PM

http://federermagic.blogspot.com/2005/05/fed-mojo-aka-federers-serve-analyzed.html

1. When preparing to serve, first visualize the delivery you wish to hit. (Federer already knows which serve he'll use as he steps to the line.) His weight is off the front foot, and he has a slightly open stance for a serve. His front toe is angled to ease his hip and shoulder rotation. But this is more a matter of style, not fundamentals.

2. Federer keeps his weight on his back foot as his tossing arm goes out to the side of his body, facilitating shoulder and hip rotation. For his serve, it's imperative that he not let the toss get behind his body. Your toss can often determine the success of your serve. Federer's weight begins to move forward as his arms goes up. His racquet and palm are facing downward, which keeps his shoulder muscles relaxed and enables him to achieve a whip-like motion.

3. This is Federer's power position. His tossing arm is fully extended and his body is prepared to explode into the serve. His shoulders are tilted, and he's leaning forward. Notice, too, how the hitting elbow is in line with his shoulders. This will give Federer excellent throwing action. His flexed knee and hip and shoulder rotation make his serve extremely difficult to read. From this same service position and toss Federer can hit his flat, kick and slice serve to any area of the box.

4. To push off into the serve, Federer has his weight completely on his front leg. As his legs thrust upward, the racquet drops down behind his back with the face perpendicular to the ground and away from his shoulders. This will help him generate power. His non-hitting arm also drops down for the racquet to come through. And Federer's balance is perfect. Recreational players tend to break the sequence at this point by losing their balance.

5. Federer makes contact with the ball slightly to his left. Any inconsistency he has with his serve is due to letting the toss drop too far. Here, all his power has propelled him off the ground as he gets full vertical extension into the court. Good extension and natural forearm pronation are both crucial. Federer doesn't pull his head down prematurely, which is another common mistake. His tossing arm tucks in, slowing down his torso, which creates a whipping action at the top of the motion.

6. After Federer makes contact with the ball, the momentum of his swing carries him into the court. His eyes are looking forward, and his head is up for balance. His hitting arm has fully pronated while his other arm continues the stabilization process. This allows his shoulders to face his opponent head on so he can react quickly for the return. Federer, like all big servers today, lands on his front foot, which lets him either follow the serve to net or get set for a ground stroke.

ajithfederer

30th November 2008, 12:23 AM

[tscii:914b7d14b2]http://bleacherreport.com/articles/86836-roger-federers-strange-days

What a year—2008 was singular in its drama and painful in its resolution as the year bore on like an awl through metal, scraping nerves raw and torturing psyches unendingly in anticipation of the next bitter blow to be dealt the chosen one...Roger Federer...or so it seemed to Federer fans.

You can bet that every tennis pundit worth his or her salt is pacing unmercifully, measuring, trying to identify that final piece of the puzzle—the one unique, sharply articulated and perfectly angled piece detailing 2008’s biggest story of the year in men’s tennis...

Subtle shades of interpretation need assimilation into your argument when it comes to presenting your particular point of view—that is, if you wish to convince people that your opinion—and yours alone—is spot on.

The year began with an explosion of the unexpected in Aussie land and as reporters descended we must consider—what was more stunning—Novak Djokovic winning the Australian Open or Roger Federer not winning it? Subtle shades of difference abound depending where you stand and how you interpret the results.

There were many, many firsts this year that received heavy press coverage including Andy Murray’s first round dismissal of Roger Federer in Dubai...the real beginning of Roger’s strange days...

Take that one step further down the calendar and consider the 2008 French Open Final—what was more significant, Rafael Nadal winning the French Open for the fourth consecutive time or Roger Federer losing it in straight sets with barely a whimper of resistance?

It was a stunner from all aspects. In fact many articulate sportscasters were left speechless—at a loss to explain the strange final.

The piece de resistance could very well be the regal restructure that culminated at Wimbledon—what was more astonishing – Rafael Nadal winning his first major NOT on clay or Roger Federer losing on the sacred grounds of Wimbledon as he tried to capture his sixth consecutive crown and overtake the Iceman, Bjorn Borg?

It gets progressively more difficult to decide which focus and what event merits that ultimate designation as best of the year.

As we move forward, we cannot overlook the 2008 Summer Olympics—the grand stage for all major athletic competition on display in Beijing.

What event captured the headlines and the imagination of athletes and fans alike—Rafael Nadal winning the Olympic Gold in singles or Roger Federer and fellow countryman Stanislav Wawrinka coming back from defeat in singles to win the Gold Medal in doubles for Switzerland?

The unrestrained joy of the Swiss duo seemed to reign supreme but Nadal fans felt equally blessed and equally vindicated by his win.

On to the US Open and New York—what was more remarkable—that Roger Federer captured his fifth consecutive U.S. Open Championship in New York by defeating Andy Murray in straight sets or that Andy Murray made it to his first grand slam final?

Overall, what struck the press as more significant—the fact that Roger Federer did not win a Master’s Series Shield in 2008—the first time since 2003 he has not won at least one or that Rafael Nadal won three—as did Novak Djokovic, including the year-end championship with Murray winning two and Nikolay Davydenko and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga each winning one.

This is a fait accompli—the young guys are no longer content watching from the play pen as the big guy demonstrates his special brand of ball...they want in on the action and they plan to win.

Patently obvious in this litany of high points during the 2008 season—is the constant presence of Roger Federer...no matter what story you select, he remains solidly a part of it.

Finally, we arrive at the particular point in time where the season was defined. What made reporters scramble to their laptops faster—to announce to the world that after 237 weeks at No. 1, Roger Federer lost his vaunted top ranking? Or that after three years of chasing it, Rafael Nadal finally achieved the number one spot?

The No. 1 story is this seismic shift at the top of the men’s tennis as Federer’s game faltered and failed at inopportune times—staggering the mighty man and his legion of fans. His detractors are loath to revisit the illness that plagued him all year...but it remains a factor—a piece of the puzzle.

The rise of Nadal is extraordinary because he overcame Federer to get to the top.

Federer never had to mount such a campaign or wrestle such an opponent to reach the apex of the men’s game. Nadal fought Federer, for many the best to ever play the game, for three long years...

The battle waged between the two during the clay and grass seasons was epic in proportion and spectral in consequence. When Federer was able to re-embody his game, he fought ferociously to retain the keys to his kingdom...

Nadal was not only fighting to gain the No. 1 ranking, he also had to fend off a charge by Djokovic for the No. 2 spot. That he was able to hold on and advance was the true mark of a champion.

So whether you choose to side with Federer fans who see the loss of the number ranking only from Federer’s perspective or whether you choose to see Nadal’s ascension to the top of the men’s game as Nadal and his fans see it…the event was the focal point of 2008 and its final resolution turned the season around—as Nadal began to fade and Federer found enough game to win his 13th grand slam in New York.

Will 2009 be equally as compelling? It can’t fall far behind. There is much to settle in 2009. Will Nadal retain his ranking or will Federer regain it? Or will Djokovic or Murray step into the slot? Will Federer win No. 14 and tie Pete Sampras? If he does, when and where?

Ah, there is much ahead tennis fans...rest up, take a deep breath and get ready to be dazzled because it all starts again in a month![/tscii:914b7d14b2]

ajithfederer

2nd December 2008, 11:41 PM

Roger Federer Pure Class (http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=8noovHBDZ_Q)

Listen with loud volume - :notworthy:

ajithfederer

2nd December 2008, 11:46 PM

The King of Grass -- Roger Federer vs Ancic (http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=b9MuA9K_w8Y)

ajithfederer

2nd December 2008, 11:49 PM

Roger Federer's Five US Open Titles (http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=f79hfHXtr6M&feature=related)

Its extremely funny for me to see him fall down on the ground whenever he wins a title :lol:

ajithfederer

2nd December 2008, 11:52 PM

Roger Federer 2008 - The Backhand - PT1 (http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=Nc-N5687UV0)

ajithfederer

2nd December 2008, 11:59 PM

[tscii:48b0bb4f34]2009 Schedule..
2009 Schedule for Roger...
http://www.rogerfederer.com/en/rogers/schedule/index.cfm
01.01.09 Capitala World Tennis Championship Other Abu Dhabi (UAE) hard [o]
05.01.09 Qatar ExxonMobil Open 250 Doha (QAT) hard [o]
14.01.09 AAMI Classic Other Kooyong (AUS) hard [o]
19.01.09 Australian Open GS Melbourne (AUS) hard [o]
23.02.09 Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships 500 Dubai (UAE) hard [o]
06.03.09 Davis Cup, World Group First Round DC n/a (USA) hard [o]
09.03.09 Indian Wells 1000 Indian Wells (USA) hard [o]
23.03.09 Sony Ericsson Open 1000 Miami (USA) hard [o]
27.04.09 Internazionali BNL d'Italia 1000 Rome (ITA) clay [o]
11.05.09 Mutua Madrileña Masters 1000 Madrid (ESP) clay [o]
24.05.09 Roland Garros GS Paris (FRA) clay [o]
08.06.09 Gerry Weber Open 250 Halle (GER) grass [o]
22.06.09 Wimbledon GS Wimbledon (GBR) grass [o]
10.08.09 Rogers Cup 1000 Montreal (CAN) hard [o]
17.08.09 Western & Southern Financial Group Masters 1000 Cincinnati (USA) hard [o]
31.08.09 US Open GS New York (USA) hard [o]
05.10.09 AIG Japan Open Tennis Championships 500 Tokyo (JPN) hard [o]
12.10.09 Shanghai 1000 Shanghai (CHN) hard
02.11.09 Davidoff Swiss Indoors 500 Basel (SUI) hard
09.11.09 BNP Paribas Masters 1000 Paris (FRA) hard
23.11.09 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals WTF London (GBR) hard [/tscii:48b0bb4f34]

ajithfederer

3rd December 2008, 12:10 AM

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12110_4580587,00.html
Pete Sampras has backed Roger Federer to break his record number of grand slam wins and has questioned Rafael Nadal's future at the top level in the process.
Federer is just one major short of equalling Sampras' record of 14, but endured a disappointing 2008 by his exceptional standards adding only the US Open to his tally.
Nadal captured the 27-year-old's Wimbledon crown and his world number one ranking simultaneously meanwhile, but Sampras has no doubt the Swiss will come back even stronger in 2009.
"There's a lot left in him," Sampras said. "I think he'd like to get back to number one and he's looking forward to breaking my record soon. He'll probably break it over the next couple of years.
"He's a credit to the game, he's a friend and there's nothing I can do about it apart from sit back and watch him do it and respect it."
Doubt
Five years Federer's junior and already with five grand slam titles to his name, Nadal also looks on course to push the American great's record close but Sampras has raised doubts over the Spaniard's sustainability.
"It will be interesting to see what happens with Nadal next year," added the
37-year-old.
"The amount of work he has to do to stay on top and stay healthy - I think
that's where Roger has a bit of an advantage because it takes a lot less
energy for Roger to stay on top than Nadal.
"Rafa's strung so tight and the guy is an absolute animal. He puts so much effort into each point that eventually something will break.
"There's a certain grind that he goes through, unlike Roger who is a lot more
fluid and wins matches a lot easier.
"But when you're the best player in the world and people are gunning for you
year after year, that's when it takes its toll and it'll be interesting to see
how he handles that."
The US legend, who retired from professional tennis at the age of 31, is currently competing in London at the BlackRock Masters.

ajithfederer

3rd December 2008, 09:44 PM

Roger Federer Magic -- SHHH!!! GENIUS AT WORK!!! (http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=TaqC8M6idiM)

ajithfederer

3rd December 2008, 09:46 PM

Roger Federer 2008 - The Backhand - PT2 (http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=7VjMznugeKs)

Roger Federer 2008 - The Backhand - PT1 (http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=Nc-N5687UV0)

ajithfederer

3rd December 2008, 09:52 PM

Federernation HL: Fed v Nalbandian AO 2004 (http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=13DmOjCbfRA)

ajithfederer

4th December 2008, 01:06 AM

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24747200-2722,00.html

TENNIS great Pete Sampras has predicted a short-lived reign at the top for Rafael Nadal as his chief rival Roger Federer vowed yesterday to regain the Australian Open crown next month.

Federer, who ceded his position at the top of the rankings to Nadal after falling to the Spaniard in the French Open and Wimbledon finals last year, will equal Sampras's record of 14 grand slam titles if successful at Melbourne Park.

The 27-year-old, who has claimed three Australian Opens but fell to reigning champion Novak Djokovic this year when ill with glandular fever, said reclaiming the title was a major goal for 2009.

"The Australian Open 2009 takes on a major significance for me, even more so after my illness last year," Federer said.

"There is no better way to start the year than with a win in the men's final on Rod Laver Arena. I am very comfortable there and have had some of my best tennis memories in that building."

Djokovic's defeat of Federer in the semi-finals in Melbourne started a mini-slide for the Swiss star, who could drop to third in the rankings by the Australian Open depending on how he fares in the season-starting Qatar Open, beginning on January 5.

While Federer salvaged his year by winning the US Open in dominant fashion over Scotland's Andy Murray, he failed in all four meetings with Nadal and lost 15 matches during 2008 as he struggled with illness and injury.

Despite the slip, Sampras believes Federer will claim his grand slam record and set a target Nadal, who is five years younger at 22, will be unable to reach.

The American, who won his last grand slam title in New York in 2002, believes Nadal's physical style could force the Spaniard into a premature retirement.

"The amount of work he has to do to stay on top and stay healthy, I think that's where Roger has a bit of an advantage because it takes a lot less energy for Roger to stay on top than Nadal," Sampras said.

"Rafa puts so much effort into each point that eventually something will break. There's a certain grind that he goes through, unlike Roger, who is a lot more fluid and wins matches a lot easier."

Sampras, who has returned to the seniors tour on a part-time basis and will play John McEnroe in London in the BlackRock Masters at Albert Hall this week, has no doubt Federer will also claim his record for the most wins at Wimbledon.

Federer, who lost this year's Wimbledon final to Nadal in a five-set thriller, trails Sampras's record of seven wins in the All England Championship by two.

"There's a lot left in Roger. He can win as many Wimbledons as he wants, he's got the game," Sampras said. "I think he'd like to get back to number one and he's looking forward to breaking my record soon."

While Federer and Nadal's pre-Australian Open programs are finalised, rising French star Gael Monfils' plans are still in the air.

While Monfils is committed to the maiden World Tennis Challenge in Adelaide a week before the Open, his name was missing when entries closed for the inaugural Brisbane International, beginning on January 5, despite a verbal confirmation.

It is believed a change in his management resulted in a failure to lodge the entry, which means the world No14 will require a wild-card if he decides to play.

ajithfederer

4th December 2008, 01:07 AM

[tscii:bc0e8ac6d0]http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5hq7h2lIZU4i4ZOw8GUAmSgWVOXyw

Tennis star Roger Federer cuts back clay court schedule for 2009

5 hours ago

BASEL, Switzerland — Roger Federer will play only two clay-court tournaments in 2009 before the French Open, the only Grand Slam tournament he has never won.

Federer will head to Paris on May 24 after playing Masters series events on his least favourite surface in Rome and Madrid, according to a schedule published on his official website.

Federer played four clay-court events this year ahead of the French Open: Estoril, Portugal; Monte Carlo; Rome; and Hamburg, Germany. He lost to Rafael Nadal in the French Open final.

"I am really pleased with the season the way we have planned it and I am looking forward to an exciting year," Federer said.

The Swiss star had a tough 2008 season marred by illness and a back injury. He surrendered his Wimbledon title and No. 1 ranking to Nadal, but won the U.S. Open for his 13th Grand Slam title.

Federer's agent, Tony Godsick, told The Associated Press in October that the Swiss star would play a 2009 schedule "that works for him physically."

"He is not going to overplay next year," Godsick said. "He is just going to try to make sure that he peaks for the tournaments that mean the most to him."

Federer has won five U.S. Opens, five Wimbledons and three Australian Opens but never captured the French, where he has lost to Nadal in the final three straight years.

Federer will start the year on hard courts at an invitation tournament in Abu Dhabi then play events at Doha, Qatar, and Kooyong, Australia, before the Australian Open starts Jan. 19 in Melbourne.

His grass-court schedule is unchanged with a single warmup for Wimbledon, at Halle, Germany.

Federer will defend his U.S. Open title from Aug. 31 after playing Masters events on hard courts at Montreal and Cincinnati.[/tscii:bc0e8ac6d0]

ajithfederer

4th December 2008, 07:14 AM

Federernation HL: Baby Federer v Kafelnikov (http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=W8afX0wRdtw) :lol:

ajithfederer

4th December 2008, 11:01 PM

[tscii:a3f943d30e]http://www.rogerfederer.com/en/rogers/news/newsdetail.cfm?uNewsID=837

OFF COURT - MY 2009 SCHEDULE

Dear Fans

It is my pleasure to inform you that my schedule for 2009 has been finalised and I am glad to share it with you. You can find it under 'schedule' or just follow the link below. I am really pleased with the season the way we have planned it and I am looking forward to an exciting year!

I am still enjoying a few more days on holiday. It is such a treat to just enjoy the sun and the sea together with Mirka. After that we'll start the preparations for 2009 with a training camp in Dubai. That is always very intense, but it's a vital part to a successful start of the new year - which begins very soon!

Kind regards
Roger

http://www.rogerfederer.com/en/rogers/schedule/index.cfm

ROGER'S TOUR SCHEDULE 2009

01.01.09
Capitala World Tennis Championship
Other Abu Dhabi (UAE) hard [o]
05.01.09
Qatar ExxonMobil Open
250 Doha (QAT) hard [o]
14.01.09
AAMI Classic
Other Kooyong (AUS) hard [o]
19.01.09
Australian Open
GS Melbourne (AUS) hard [o]
23.02.09
Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships
500 Dubai (UAE) hard [o]
06.03.09
Davis Cup, World Group First Round
DC n/a (USA) hard [o]
09.03.09
Indian Wells
1000 Indian Wells (USA) hard [o]
23.03.09
Sony Ericsson Open
1000 Miami (USA) hard [o]
27.04.09
Internazionali BNL d'Italia
1000 Rome (ITA) clay [o]
11.05.09
Mutua Madrileña Masters
1000 Madrid (ESP) clay [o]
24.05.09
Roland Garros
GS Paris (FRA) clay [o]
08.06.09
Gerry Weber Open
250 Halle (GER) grass [o]
22.06.09
Wimbledon
GS Wimbledon (GBR) grass [o]
10.08.09
Rogers Cup
1000 Montreal (CAN) hard [o]
17.08.09
Western & Southern Financial Group Masters
1000 Cincinnati (USA) hard [o]
31.08.09
US Open
GS New York (USA) hard [o]
05.10.09
AIG Japan Open Tennis Championships
500 Tokyo (JPN) hard [o]
12.10.09
Shanghai
1000 Shanghai (CHN) hard [i]
02.11.09
Davidoff Swiss Indoors
500 Basel (SUI) hard [i]
09.11.09
BNP Paribas Masters
1000 Paris (FRA) hard [i]
23.11.09
Barclays ATP World Tour Finals
WTF London (GBR) hard [i]

IS International Series ISG International Series Gold
MS ATP Masters Series GS Grand Slam
DC Davis Cup MC Masters Cup
Other Other J Junior
CH Challenger 250 ATP 250 Series
500 ATP 500 Series 1000 ATP 1000 Series
WTF ATP World Tour Finals [i] indoor
[o] outdoor

Please note the new official terms for the ATP tournament categories (ATP 250, 500 and 1000 Series).[/tscii:a3f943d30e]

ajithfederer

5th December 2008, 06:30 AM

Roger Federer Magic -- Shanghai Masterclass 11/17/2007 (http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=p9KdFDpaQLY)

ajithfederer

5th December 2008, 06:31 AM

Roger Federer - Season 2008 (HD) (http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=9rPzfZQCt2I)

ajithfederer

5th December 2008, 06:32 AM

Roger Federer ~ new year / 2009 \ new chance ~ HQ (High Quality !!) (http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=X7E8SBim4BQ)

ajithfederer

5th December 2008, 06:37 AM

Roger Federer sliced backhand - Not a foot off the ground (http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw7ObOsgojI)

:notworthy:

ajithfederer

5th December 2008, 06:39 AM

Ridiculous cross court backhand (http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=FWoKA21Bm4k)

ajithfederer

5th December 2008, 06:40 AM

Rf/Agassi - US Open 2005 Final (http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=1b0f3HBtOKQ)

ajithfederer

5th December 2008, 06:43 AM

Federer vs Nadal - Battle of Surfaces (http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=KnBMVRpeKHA)

ajithfederer

5th December 2008, 07:17 PM

Roger Federer Magic -- "Le Petit Pete" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQTMUryA_7A&NR=1)

ajithfederer

5th December 2008, 09:05 PM

[tscii:0e90aae603]http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/news/articles/2008-12-02/200812021228196253643.html

Federer preparing for assault on 14th Slam
Tuesday, 2 December, 2008
By Tennis Australia
Roger Federer

It may still be more than a month away, but the thoughts of world No.2 Roger Federer have already turned to one of his happiest tennis hunting grounds, Rod Laver Arena.

“The Australian Open 2009 takes on a major significance for me, even more so after my illness last year,” Federer said.

The Swiss star is chasing a world record equalling 14th Grand Slam title and has been buoyed by his success in New York earlier this year.

“I am very keen to continue my Grand Slam form from the US Open and add another ‘Happy Slam’ to my collection,” he said.

“There is no better way to start the year than with a win in the men’s final on Rod Laver Arena. I am very comfortable there and have had some of my best tennis memories in that building.”

Indeed, one of the most memorable moments in Australian Open history was the tearful presentation ceremony, when the then world No.1 became emotional as he was presented with the Norman Brookes Trophy by his tennis idol, the legendary Rod Laver.

Laver will again be in Australia in 2009 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of his 1969 Grand Slam effort in which he won all four Slams: the French, Wimbledon, US and Australian Open.

“We know Roger Federer is a supreme athlete with great respect for the game and its tradition. He has the dual motivation of wanting to regain the world No.1 ranking and also create some history of his own.” Australian Open Tournament Director Craig Tiley said.

“His preparation for our event is normally immaculate, so expect nothing less than a finely-tuned, incredibly-motivated world-class tennis player when he arrives in Melbourne in January.”

Whether Laver and Federer will again be on the podium on 1 February remains to be seen. For now, the Swiss champion’s focus is on getting into top condition for the new season

“I look forward to getting to Melbourne early in the New Year in top form and injury free,” Federer said.

Limited numbers of single session tickets for Rod Laver Arena, Hisense Arena and the popular $29.00 ground pass are available through Ticketek.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.ticketek.com.au or by telephone on 1300 888 104.[/tscii:0e90aae603]

ajithfederer

5th December 2008, 09:06 PM

[tscii:4f793df7ea]http://www.atptennis.com/1/en/2008news/federer_forbes.asp

Federer Among Best-Paid Young Celebs

© Getty Images
Roger Federer emblemRoger Federer ranked No. 5 in Forbes Magazine's list of Best-Paid Celebs Under 30, earning $35 million from on-court performance and sponsorship deals combined.

The 27-year-old Swiss, who made $10.1 million in prize money during the 2007 season backed by title wins at three of the four Grand Slam tournaments, took home an additional $25 million from his endorsements with Nike, Gillette, Mercedes-Benz, Wilson, and Swiss companies Emmi and Jura.

Maria Sharapova, the highest-paid female athletic endorser, joined Federer as the only other tennis player in the Top 10 with her reported earnings of $26 million placing her at No. 7. Serena and Venus Williams finished at No. 11 and 12 respectively.

Beyonce Knowles finished as the Best-Paid Celeb Under 30 with $80 million in earnings last year, nearly double the amount of Justin Timberlake at No. 2 ($44 million). NBA stars Kobe Bryant ($39 million) and LeBron James ($38 million) followed the two singers on the power list.

Earlier this year, Forbes placed Federer at No. 23 in its Celebrity 100 rankings recognizing the world's most powerful and highest-paid celebrities. Oprah Winfrey came in at No. 1, followed by Tiger Woods, Angelina Jolie, Knowles and David Beckham.

Federer is the all-time ATP leader in career prize money, having earned $44.5 million to date. He surpassed Pete Sampras's mark of $43 million this past October at Masters Series Madrid. [/tscii:4f793df7ea]

ajithfederer

6th December 2008, 11:56 PM

Roger Federer 2008 - The Drop Shot - PT1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Le88kvoN9vQ)

Roger Federer 2008 - The Drop Shot - PT2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgEC1x2S0Tk)

ajithfederer

7th December 2008, 10:16 AM

Roger Federer Part 2: 1999-2000, the talent emerges

12/3/08 10:30 PM | Jonathan Morgan
- After winning the Orange Bowl in late 1998, Federer was done with the juniors and ready to make a jump into the main tour.

Roger Federer began 1999 ranked just outside the top 300. He tried and failed to qualify for the Australian Open in January, and returned to Europe to try his hand indoors.

He qualified for a Challenger event in Germany in late January and reached the semis. The following week, he was granted a wild card into the Marseille event and did not disappoint. 17-year-old Federer, ranked 243rd, took out Carlos Moya in the first round. The same Moya who just the previous year had won the French Open and was ranked 5th in the world when Federer beat him. It was Federer's biggest win of his career. Although he lost in the quarterfinals to Arnaud Clement, he was improving very quickly.

Rotterdam offered Roger a wild card into the qualies there, where he qualified and again reached the quarterfinals. After this result his ranking jumped up to 129th. However, Federer was notorious in his youth for being a complete headcase and unable to string together some good results or keep up his level of play for extended periods of time.

After Rotterdam, the Swiss went 2-5 in his next few events, although one of his wins was a fine four-set victory over Davide Sanguinetti in his first Davis Cup appearance. Federer was bagelled by Vince Spadea in Monte Carlo that year, one of only four he has received in his entire career.

It was May before Federer got back to his winning ways. He qualified for a Challenger in Slovenia and made the semis, boosting his ranking up to a career high of 115th. He then competed in Roland Garros as a wild card and faced Patrick Rafter, the No. 3 player in the world at the time. Federer took a tough opening set but lost in four, including the second bagel of his career.

Federer got back on his beloved grass and made the semis of the Challenger event in Surbiton before losing to Sargis Sargsian in a very tight three-setter. The rest of his grass season and then some, however, was wretched. Byron Black crushed him in Queens, dishing him his third bagel of his career. He failed to qualify in Nottingham and lost in five sets at Wimbledon's first round. Losses in Gstaad, a pair of tight losses in Davis Cup against Belgium, second round at the Segovia Challenger, Washington, and failing to qualify for both Long Island and the US Open seemed to bring Federer back down to Earth.

He scored a win in both Tashkent and Toulouse following the US Open, but Federer just couldn't get any consistency. At that point, he had turned 18 and received a wild card into Basel. It was there where he got his mojo back. A quarterfinal loss to Tim Henman followed by a semifinal run in Vienna the following week got Federer back on track and his ranking shot up to 67th.

In Lyon, as a special exempt, he won the first round but lost another tight three-setter to Hewitt. With his confidence on high, Federer went back down to the Challenger tour and won the title in Brest, France. A failed qualifying attempt in Stockholm ended his year. His results were up and down and his ranking was 65th at the close of the year. It was a great first year on the tour for Federer, all things considered.

2000 opened with losses before the Aussie Open but his best slam result of his career with a third-round showing in Melbourne. Federer's game looked solid as he beat Mark Philippoussis in a tough four-setter in Davis Cup before once again falling to Hewitt in the reverse rubber. The Swiss was up 2-1 but lost the final two rubbers to lose the tie.

Federer's indoor season was once again fantastic. In Marseille he had a great run to the finals but lost in a third-set tiebreaker to Marc Rosset. Quarterfinals in London and semis in Copenhagen cemented this time of the year as Federer's best thus far in his career. After Copenhagen, Federer's ranking was up to 49th.

Like the previous year, Federer didn't make much of an impact in either the US or the clay season, going 1-7 until the French Open. He came out of nowhere to make the fourth round there, beating out fellow Swiss Michel Kratochvil 8-6 in the fifth for his first five-set win. He lost to Alex Corretja in the fourth round, and followed up this fine tournament with a quarterfinal run in Halle on the grass, bumping his ranking up to 35th.

With the young Federer, for every up, there was a down. After Halle, he went 1-6 until the US Open. The one win was over Vladimir Votchkov in five crazy sets to get Switzerland back into the World Group. One of the losses was to Hewitt in Canada in three sets. Federer then made the third round at the US Open before losing to fellow young gun Juan Carlos Ferrero in four tight and exhilarating sets.

Roger's next three events bumped the recently turned 19-year-old into the top 30. It was at the Olympic games in Sydney where he not only met his longtime girlfriend Mirka, but also made the semifinals, losing to Tommy Haas. A tough loss to Arnaud Di Pasquale meant Federer would go home without a medal. The hunger for wins seemed to get to Federer, as he returned to the Euro indoors with a semifinal run in Vienna and a finals appearance in his home Basel event. In the semis in Basel, Federer scored his first win over Hewitt, a tough three-set victory that ended 8-6 in a third-set 'breaker. He then went on to lose in the final to Thomas Enqvist in five sets. Reports allege that the young Swiss maestro cried profusely after the final.

Mediocre appearances for the rest of the season saw Federer finish the year ranked 29th. His first win over Hewitt, a few tour finals, and a bunch of five-setters marked his performances prior to turning 20. Federer would enter 2001 as one of the players many people pegged as a future star.

http://www.tennistalk.com/en/news/20081203/Roger_Federer_Part_2:_1999-2000,_the_talent_emerges

ajithfederer

7th December 2008, 10:55 AM

[tscii:872d5944ca]http://www.tennistalk.com/en/news/20081206/Federer_part_4%3A_2003-_The_year_end_%231_photo_finish

Federer part 4: 2003-
The year end #1 photo finish

- Federer ended 2002 with a rough loss against Lleyton Hewitt in the Masters Cup. Hewitt ended the year #1 again, but his 2003 was marred with injury and poor play. He finished that year at 17th. Federer came into 2003 ranked #6. It would be a new generation coming of age that year.
Federer went 2-2 before the Aussie Open and lost there in the fourth round to David Nalbandian. This would become a trend. He rebounded with yet another stellar indoor swing. After a pair of wins for Switzerland in Davis Cup, he won Marseille, made the semis in Rotterdam, and won Dubai. These results pushed him up to #4 in the world as he headed to the US for Indian Wells and Miami.
Federer actually won a match in Indian Wells, but fell in the second round. He was unable to defend his finals points from the previous year, losing in the Miami quarterfinals and dropping back to #5. He scored a pair of wins against France to send Switzerland to the Davis Cup semis that September. But the clay season was beckoning before.
Federer’s 2003 clay season was great to start, but got worse as it progressed. A win in Munich and a finals run in Rome were great results for Federer as he looked poised to make a good French Open run. Unfortunately, he was unable to defend his Hamburg title from the year before when he lost in the third round. He once against bombed out in the first round of Roland Garros, this time to Luis Horna. Juan Carlos Ferrero went on to claim the title.

Once Federer got back to the quicker surfaces, he looked more at home. He fought through a tough field in Halle to take his first grass title and carried that momentum into Wimbledon. The Swiss breezed through his draw, losing a single set as he arrived into the semis. Fellow young gun Andy Roddick blazed through his draw as well to set up a semi showdown with Federer on the 4th of July. Many saw the American winning, but Federer took it to his opponent, winning in straights before beating Mark Phillippoussis for the title.

Federer had finally won his first slam and his rank jumped up to a career high #3. The week after Wimbledon, he contested the Gstaad event in Switzerland, but lost in the finals to Jiri Novak in five. Federer just couldn’t win on his home soil.

Once he won Wimbledon, the race to #1 was heating up. Andre Agassi, then 33 years old, was on top after going 23-1 to start the year, winning the Australian Open, Miami, San Jose, and Houston. Ferrero was an Aussie Open quarterfinalist, won Monte Carlo, won Valencia, enjoyed semifinal runs in Barcelona and Rome, and won the French. Federer had won Halle, Marseille, Wimbledon, Munich, Dubai, and had a finals appearance in Gstaad and a semi run in Rome. Needless to say, all three men had great years.

That summer, Roddick thrust his name into the equation as well. After the finals in Gstaad, Federer didn’t play again until Canada. Meanwhile, the other three were hard at work. Ferrero had to defend from last year in Kitzbuhel and Sopot over the summer and came into Canada just over 200 points behind Agassi. The American only had a semifinal run in Los Angeles before Canada, and Roddick won Indianapolis before losing to Tim Henman in the Washington semis. Roddick was 1400 points behind Agassi but made it up pretty quickly.

In Montreal, Ferrero lost first, falling to Karol Kucera in the third round. Agassi lost the next round while the other two made the semis and faced off with each other. After Roddick got thumped in Wimbledon a month prior, the American was out for revenge. It was a crazy match and Roddick took it in a third-set 'breaker, his last win over Federer for another five years. Roddick then went on to win the event, getting himself to #4 in the rankings, just over 1000 short of Agassi. Federer jumped to #2 after a great week, just 120 points shy of Agassi. Had Federer won the match against Roddick, he would have had the #1 ranking. He later would remark that he wasn’t ready to be #1 at that point.

The following week in Cincinnati, all four men were again in action. Ferrero lost in the second round to Gaudio in a high-quality bout, while Agassi pulled out of the event before it began. Federer didn’t do much better, losing again to Nalbandian, this time in the second round. Roddick, with all three top rivals out before the third round, went all the way to the title, breaking the race wide open right before the US Open.

As the US Open was starting, Agassi had the top seed, but by a mere 95 points over Federer. Ferrero and Roddick were close behind. All four players were within 505 points of each other. Federer equaled his 2002 performance, losing to Nalbandian once again in the fourth round in almost a carbon copy of their Australian Open match. The other three made the semis. Ferrero beat Agassi while Roddick beat Nalbandian in the other semi in five sets. Right after Roddick dusted off Ferrero that Sunday, everyone knew the #1 race would go down to the wire.

Agassi ended up not playing again until the Masters Cup in Houston that year, effectively taking himself out of the equation. After Roddick won the US Open, he was within 100 points of Ferrero, who was top dog. Federer was over 400 points back but had some Davis Cup work to do.

Hewitt was still #7 when he and Roger battled in the Davis Cup semis that September. Federer and his team were down 2-1 in the fourth rubber when he and Hewitt took the court. Federer won the first two sets but lost the final three as Hewitt took the match. This would be the last time Hewitt beat Federer.

Ferrero had to defend some points that fall and made the finals in Bangkok to do so. Federer defended his Vienna title from the year before as all three men went into Madrid that year within 370 points of each other. Roddick lost to Nicolas Massu in the second round, a shocking result for the American. Ferrero and Federer made the semifinals and played a high-quality match. Ferrero won with the help of the Spanish crowd and went on to take the title. Ferrero was now 300 points clear of Roddick and 600 from Federer.

Ferrero took the next week off but Roddick and Federer were in Basel looking for points. Federer bowed out in the second round after a tight match with Ivan Ljubicic. Roddick made the semifinals before losing to Nalbandian. Neither man gained points that week.

Paris was the final event of the year, with the exception of the Masters Cup a few weeks later. Ferrero lost in the second round to Jiri Novak, while Federer and Roddick both fell victim in successive rounds to the run of Henman, who went on to take the title. With those results as well as the previous year’s Masters Cup points coming off, Roddick took the #1 ranking on November 3. All Roddick needed to do was have a better TMC than Ferrero to clinch. Federer was just about mathematically eliminated.

Ferrero ended up losing all three of his round-robin matches while Federer and Roddick went 3-0 and met in the semis. At that point, Roddick had already clinched the year-end #1. Federer went on to beat Roddick and destroy Agassi in the finals, landing a mere 160 points shy of #1.

Federer may not have ended 2003 as #1, but his dominating performances at Wimbledon and the Masters Cup would be a precursor to his next four years, during which he destroyed every player in his path and compiled the longest consecutive #1 streak in history.[/tscii:872d5944ca]

ajithfederer

7th December 2008, 10:58 AM

http://www.tennistalk.com/en/news/20081207/Federer_part_5%3A_2004-_The_first_year_of_domination
Federer part 5: 2004- The first year of domination

12/7/08 4:07 AM | Jonathan Morgan
- Federe may have gotten snuffed out of the #1 ranking at the end of 2003, but he made it clear very early in 2004 who the real #1 was.

The previous year, Andy Roddick, Juan Carlos Ferrero, and Federer had ended the year within 400 points of each other and many people believed the top spot would change hands quite a bit in 2004. Yeah, right.

The first big event of the year was the Australian Open. Roddick was top dog, Federer #2, Ferrero #3. Roddick made the quarterfinals and lost to a resurgent Marat Safin in five sets. Ferrero lost to Federer in the semis while Federer took his second slam over Safin in the finals. This bumped Federer up to #1 by almost 900 points over Ferrero, with Roddick right behind.

Ferrero came down with a case of the chicken pox in 2004 and has never really recovered to play anywhere near his 2003 level. The Spaniard was never the same while Roddick, on the other hand, still believed in 2004 that he could match Federer.

Both Roddick and Federer won a pair of Davis Cup matches before heading to their respective continents for tournaments. Roddick had some decent results in February but nothing too special. Federer lost for the first time that year in Rotterdam, but rebounded to defend his Dubai title before both men went to Indian Wells with Federer's points lead at 710.

Roddick made the quarters before losing to Tim Henman while Federer won the event dropping just a single set. Federer's game was really coming together. The next week in Miami, however, he lost to a young Spaniard by the name of Rafael Nadal while Roddick took the title. The gap was a mere 745.

Both men then advanced in Davis Cup, winning a pair of singles rubbers in straights as they set the standard for the rest of the tour. Roddick made the finals of the Houston event in mid-April, and both men lost early in Rome. The lead was now down to 350. Neither had done well in Roland Garros and both were defending massive points in the grass season. Federer knew this and did his best to take the Hamburg title, like he had done two years prior. Roddick lost in the second round at the French while Federer lost in the third to Gustavo Kuerten, the Brazilian's final great performance.

The gap coming into the grass season was 915. Federer easily defended his title in Halle while Roddick worked hard to defend his Queen's title. At Wimbledon, the Swiss had won it the year prior, beating Roddick in the semis. They knew the only time they'd meet this year would be in the final. And that is how it happened. Roddick made the final dropping a single set as did Federer, who lost one to a resurgent Lleyton Hewitt.

The 2004 Wimbledon final was where Roddick came oh so close to beating Federer and didn't get another close chance for over two years. After taking the first and being up a break in the third, Roddick lost it. Several rain delays which stopped Roddick's momentum also helped deliver the Swiss maestro a victory. Federer's play that day was impeccable; a great Wimbledon final from both men. Federer took it in 4 tight ones.

After the final, Federer led by 665, but with Roddick defending a bunch of points that summer and Federer playing better than the American, this was as close as Roddick got to getting back to #1. You couldn't fault him for trying, however, as he was still a contender.

Roddick won Indianapolis that summer again while Roger finally took Gstaad. Both made the finals in Toronto that year. Andy knew he was going to lose ground on Federer but wanted to stop the bleeding. It was 720 before that week and after Roger beat Andy in straights that day, it jumped up to 975. Andy caught a break the next week as Roger disappointingly lost to Hrbaty early in Cincinnati and then to Berdych early at the Olympics. These would be Roger's last losses for some time. Federer losses became much less common and Roddick's hope of somehow getting back to #1 seemed impossible.

Roddick only made the semis in Cincinnati and the 3rd round at the Olympics, so Roger's lead remained large. Roger led by 1390 going into the US Open. This was Roddick's last stand. He couldn't let Roger win 3 of 4 slams and take #1 so easily, especially after the previous year's tussle. Roddick was ruthless in New York, winning his first 4 matches in straights, including a bagel over a young Nadal. In his quarterfinal match against Joachim Johansson, he lost the first two sets, won the next two, but lost 6-4 in the 5th. Federer got to the quarters and had a 5 set, 2-day wind-war with Agassi that Roger took in 5 sets. He went on to beat Henman and Hewitt in the finals to take the title.

Roddick's spirit was crushed. Roger was on top of the world. Roger had nearly 3000 points over Roddick and even worse for the American, Hewitt was hot on his trails. Roger became a single entity after that US Open win, and the battle was only for second place. Federer, for fun it seems, went to Bangkok for a tournament in September, and ended up beating Roddick pretty soundly, including a bagel. Roddick looked fatigued and not his best while Roger was in full flight. The message was clear.

Federer, unfortunately, missed the indoor season with a slight injury and only came back for the Masters Cup in Houston. Fed's lead was 2230 after he lost a few hundred, but still a massive lead. Roger went on to win the Masters again, going undefeated. Hewitt and Roddick ended at 2 and 3, with Roddick finishing just 90 points ahead of the Aussie.

Federer ended 2004 with a 2680-point lead over Roddick and had won three slams of four that year. He looked untouchable.

ajithfederer

8th December 2008, 10:58 PM

Enjoy!!
its a must for any Federer fan.. just see the extraordinary talent of the greatest tennis player ever to have picked up a tennis racquet..
Roger Federer Points Part 4
http://www.megaupload.com/nl/?d=QJS02Q5A
Part 3 link - http://www.megaupload.com/?d=GHO2BDO6
Part 2 link - http://www.megaupload.com/?d=138V6RU3
Part 1 link - http://www.megaupload.com/?d=2M8FXWHC

ajithfederer

8th December 2008, 11:00 PM

Roger Federer 2008 - The Forehand - PT1 (http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=UDzc8VR-JUw)

Roger Federer 2008 - The Forehand - PT2 (http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=vBd5JP5Vwtk)

Roger Federer 2008 - The Forehand - PT3 (http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=yrDibFPRIHQ)

ajithfederer

8th December 2008, 11:02 PM

Roger Federer 2008 - The Forehand Passing (http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=OYLMFFycbbU)

ajithfederer

8th December 2008, 11:04 PM

Roger Federer - beauty points against A. Roddick (http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=j-H3btKJkHQ)

ajithfederer

10th December 2008, 12:24 AM

Not sure if its already posted,
Wonderful match between Federer n Tipsarevic Australian Open 2008 highlights
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=zHkSU-vklfU

ajithfederer

11th December 2008, 12:38 AM

[tscii:32f0cffd58]http://www.tennistalk.com/en/news/20081210/Federer_No._5_on_Forbes
Federer No. 5 on Forbes
World #2 Roger Federer earned a his place in Forbes Magazines illustrious list of “Best-Paid Celebs Under 30”. The swiss superstar came in at #5, raking in an estimated $35 million dollars from a successful combination of endorsement deals and on-court victories.
Federer, who turned 27 this summer, surpassed the $10 million dollar mark in 2007, his season marked by a trio of Grand Slam titles in Melbourne, London and New York. Endorsements deals inked with companies like Emmi, Gillette, Jura, Mercedez-Benz, Nike and Wilson helped the star bring home an extra $25 million dollars in earnings.
The magazine included Federer on their “Celebrity 100” list earlier in the year. Forbes editors gave Federer the #23 spot, counting him among the worlds most richly compensated and most powerful public figures.
To date, Federer tops the list of all-time ATP tour money earners. As of the Masters Series tournament in Madrid, he had collected more than $44 million in prize money, surpassing Pete Sampras's previous tally of $43 million.[/tscii:32f0cffd58]

ajithfederer

11th December 2008, 12:44 AM

[tscii:41ef4d6203]http://www.tennisgrandstand.com/archives/2435

The following is the Prologue for the book “THE ROGER FEDERER STORY, QUEST FOR PERFECTION” ($24.95, New Chapter Press, www.rogerfedererbook.com) written by Swiss tennis journalist Rene Stauffer, which documents Stauffer’s “Encounter with a 15-year-old” who would go on to become who many consider the greatest tennis player of all-time. THE ROGER FEDERER STORY, QUEST FOR PERFECTION makes for an ideal gift for the Holidays. To order the book, go to www.tennistomes.com.

It was September 11, 1996. I was on assignment for the Tages-Anzeiger and was supposed to write a story about the World Youth Cup, a sort of Davis Cup for juniors that was being played in Zurich, the location of our editorial office. I was skeptical. A story about a team tournament involving obscure 15 and 16-year-old tennis players-who would be interested in that? I viewed this assignment as a tiresome task, thanks to the Swiss Tennis Federation since they had charitably taken on the tournament for its 100-year anniversary. No, this certainly would not be an interesting assignment.

05 Roger Federer as a 15-year-oldOn this day, I met Roger Federer for the first time. He played on a far away court surrounded by wire mesh at a tennis and recreation facility called Guggach. Officials from the Swiss Tennis Federation told me that Federer was a pretty good player and that there was little to criticize except that he was sometimes very temperamental. He just turned 15 and was actually too young for this tournament, but his credentials were impressive-he had already won five Swiss national junior championship titles, was the best Swiss player in the 16-and-under age bracket and was already ranked No. 88 nationally.

On this day, he played against an Italian named Nohuel Fracassi, who since this encounter with Federer, I never heard from again. Fracassi was more than a year older, bigger and stronger than Federer and he had already won the first set when I arrived. The mood was reminiscent of an insignificant club tournament. There were three or four spectators, a referee and no ball boys. The players fetched the balls themselves. However, I was instantly fascinated by Federer’s elegant style. I had already seen some players come and go in my fifteen years as a tennis journalist but it appeared to me that an extraordinary talent was coming of age here in front of me. He effortlessly put spins on balls so that the Italian-even on this slow clay court-would often just watch the ball fly past him for winners. With hardly a sound, he stroked winning shots from his black racquet, moved fast and gracefully. His strokes were harmonious and technically brilliant.

His tactics were also quite unusual. There were no similarities to the safe and consistent “Swedish School” of baseline tennis that was very common back then and usually resulted in promised success on clay courts. Federer would have nothing of that. He looked to end points quickly at every opportunity. He appeared to have mastered every stroke, which was quite unusual for juniors in his age group. He dominated with his serve and his forehand, but his powerful one-handed backhand and the occasional volley also looked like something taken from a tennis textbook.

Roger Federer was a diamond in the rough, no doubt. I was astonished and wondered why nobody had yet seen him or written about him. Was it perhaps because the media had so often prematurely written in superlatives about talented young players only to discover later that they did not measure up to the task of international tennis? Not every Swiss tennis player could be a new Heinz Günthardt, Jakob Hlasek or a Marc Rosset, perhaps the three best Swiss men’s players ever. Perhaps because hardly anybody was scouting for new talent in Switzerland since our little country was already over-proportionately well-represented in professional tennis with Rosset, the 1992 Olympic champion, and the up-and-coming 15-year-old Martina Hingis, already a Wimbledon doubles champion and a semifinalist in singles at the US Open.

But perhaps the reason was also that Federer’s athletic maturity stood in stark contrast to his behavior. He was a hot-head. On this September afternoon, his temper exploded even from the smallest mistakes. On several occasions, he threw his racquet across the court in anger and disgust. He constantly berated himself. “Duubel!” or “Idiot!” he exclaimed when one of his balls narrowly missed the line. He sometimes even criticized himself aloud when he actually won points but was dissatisfied with his stroke.

06 Roger Federer as a 15-year-old

He didn’t seem to notice what was going on around him. It was only him, the ball, the racquet-and his fuming temper-nothing else. Being so high-strung, he had to fight more with himself than with his opponent across the net this day. This dual struggle pushed him to the limit and I assumed he would lose despite his technical superiority. I was wrong. Federer won the match 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.

I found out later that Federer already won a hard-fought, three-set match the day before against a tenacious young Australian player by the name of Lleyton Hewitt, with Federer fighting off a match point to win by a 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 margin. This Federer-Hewitt match occurred in front of a crowd of 30 people who purchased tickets for the day-plus the four people who bought a tournament series ticket for all sessions. Nobody could have known that these two players would become two of the greatest players-both earning the No. 1 ranking and going on to compete on the greatest stages of the sport in packed

stadiums and in front of millions of television viewers around the world.

I wanted to know more about Federer and asked him for an interview. He surprised me once again as he sat across from me at a wooden table in the gym locker room. I feared that the young man would be reserved and taciturn in the presence of an unfamiliar reporter from a national newspaper and he would hardly be able to say anything useful or quotable. But this was not the case. Federer spoke flowingly and confidently with a mischievous smile. He explained that his idol was Pete Sampras and that he had been training for a year at the Swiss National Tennis Center at Ecublens on Lake Geneva. He

also said that he probably was among the 30 or 40 best in his age class in the world and that he wanted to become a top professional but still had to improve his game-and his attitude.

“I know that I can’t always complain and shout because that hurts me and makes me play worse,” he said. “I hardly forgive myself on any mistakes although they’re normal.” He looked in the distance and said almost to himself-”One should just be able to play a perfect game.”

Playing a perfect game-that’s what motivated him. He didn’t want to just defeat opponents and win trophies, even if he liked the idea of becoming rich and famous or both, as he admitted. For him, instinctively, the journey was the reward and the journey involved hitting and placing balls with his racquet as perfectly as possible. He seemed to be obsessed with this, which would explain why he could become frustrated even after winning points. He didn’t want to dominate his opponent in this rectangle with the net that fascinated him-he wanted to dominate the ball that he both hated and loved.

Federer had great expectations-too many at that time that he would have been able to achieve them. His emotions carried him away in this conflict between expectations and reality. He seemed to sense his great potential and that he was capable of doing great things-but he was not yet able to transform his talents into reality.

03 Roger Federer as a 15-year-old

His unusual attitude towards perfection had a positive side effect in that he did not consider his opponents as rivals who wanted to rob the butter from his bread, as the sometimes reclusive Jimmy Connors used to say. His opponents were more companions on a common path. This attitude made him a popular and well-liked person in the locker room. He was social and someone you could joke around with. For Federer, tennis was not an individual sport with opponents who needed to be intimidated, but a common leisure activity with like-minded colleagues who, as part of a big team, were pursuing the same goal.

He became terribly annoyed at his own mistakes but he had the capacity to question things, to observe things from a distance and to put them in the correct perspective after his emotions had abated. He was also willing to admit weaknesses. “I don’t like to train and I also always play badly in training,” he casually observed during this interview. “I’m twice as good in the matches.”

This sentence surprised me as well. While many players choked under pressure, he apparently maintained a winning mentality. This strength that abounded in the most important matches and game situations really drove many opponents to distraction and enabled Federer to escape from apparently hopeless situations. It also helped Federer establish one of the most unbelievable records in sports history-24 consecutive victories in professional singles finals between July of 2003 and November of 2005-double the record held by John McEnroe and Björn Borg.

Federer’s triumphs at this World Youth Cup were in vain. The Swiss team, lacking a strong second singles player and an experienced doubles team, finished the tournament in defeat in 15th place. Roger Federer won but the Swiss lost-a scenario that was to repeat itself many times over years later at the actual Davis Cup. The hot-head nonetheless received a compliment from the coach of the Australian team at the World Youth Cup, Darren Cahill, the former US Open semifinalist, who was in charge of Lleyton Hewitt at the time. “He’s got everything he needs to succeed on tour later,” said Cahill.

I was able to return to the office with enough material for a nice story. It was to be my first about Roger Federer-but it would not be the last. The story’s title was “One Should Be Able To Play A Perfect Game.”[/tscii:41ef4d6203]

ajithfederer

11th December 2008, 12:50 AM

[tscii:e05d58d4d5]http://www.tennistalk.com/en/news/20081210/Federer's_armor_and_weapons

Federer's armor and weapons

12/10/08 4:46 AM | Jonathan Morgan
- Every tennis warrior needs his gear, and Roger Federer's company of choice has always been Wilson.

Federer used to play with Pete Sampras' old racquet, the classic ProStaff 6.0, in the 85 square inch version. Federer used to spend a large amount of time at the net in his younger days and this racquet was perfect for him.

As the Swiss matured, his game reverted more to the baseline and a racquet upgrade was necessary. In Munich 2003, he made the switch over to the Wilson nCode nSix-One Tour 90, which was for a time, the best-selling racquet in the world. This new racquet expanded his head size from 85 to 90, giving him more margin for error and thus allowing him to be more competitive from the baseline. It was at that point that Federer really began to put his game together and within a year he was #1.

In January 2007, Federer switched from the nCode to the K-factor racquet. It is Wilson's basic “sequel” racquet to the nCode. However, some insist that Federer is simply using a paint job over his nCode in order to appease Wilson sponsors. Whatever the case, something has changed.

Federer's game is based on speed, precision, and accuracy. He is all about neutralizing an opponent's big serve with a perfectly timed return. From the baseline he is one of the best ever. His forehand is lethal; one of the most varied and powerful in the history of the game. His backhand, while certainly the weaker side, is no joke. Federer has hit some absolutely gorgeous backhands at very crucial times in tight matches (Wimbledon 2008, saving match point for instance).

He is prone to coming out and playing great in the first set before experiencing a focus dip in the second set, allowing his opponents to stay close and possibly take the set. Players with great defense also cause him problems, as Federer must constantly hit lines to beat guys like Rafael Nadal, Gilles Simon, Andy Murray, or Guillermo Canas. Federer's serve is one of the best and has gotten better over time. In recent years when his baseline game has dipped, his serve has starkly improved.

Federer has hit tons and tons of simply insane shots as well; the overhead curl smash lob against Novak Djokovic at the US Open this year, the famous shot against Andy Roddick in Basel in 2002, and several others that can be easily accessed via the internet.

Federer's game is the most complete the game of tennis has possibly ever seen. His career isn't finished yet, but there is a very good possibility that he will end up being the greatest tennis player of all time. :clap: :clap:

An excellent article, IMO.[/tscii:e05d58d4d5]

ajithfederer

11th December 2008, 01:07 AM

[tscii:1a5996f372]http://www.tennistalk.com/en/news/20081210/Federer_vs._Nadal_-_2008_Wimbledon_Final,_Second_Set

Federer vs. Nadal - 2008 Wimbledon Final, Second Set

12/10/08 4:09 AM | Ricky Dimon
- TennisTalk is recapping the epic 2008 Wimbledon final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in a seven-part series throughout the current week. It continues with set two.

Nadal took a quick bathroom break in between sets, perhaps giving Federer just a little bit extra time to regroup and think about what could be done differently in set two.
Apparently winning the first six points of the set seemed like a good idea to Federer.
He held at love with lightning speed and promptly seized a 0-30 lead on Nadal’s serve. This time, Federer would not be denied at break point. With the Spaniard serving at 30-40, Nadal sent a lifeless approach shot to his opponent’s forehand and Federer ripped it cross-court for a winner to secure the break.

Six points later, a more emotional Federer (than what we saw in the first set) had a commanding 3-0 advantage. An extremely easy hold at love in his next service game secured a 4-1 lead.

It was lead that quickly evaporated.

Nadal held comfortably before Federer served with new balls at 4-2. Normally a new round of projectiles is advantageous to the server; not so this time around. A ridiculous on-the-run forehand pass and two wild errors off the Federer forehand gave Nadal break point at 30-40. When Nadal failed to do a lot with Federer’s second serve, the Swiss approached with a down-the-line backhand, only to see it come whizzing back in the form of a Nadal backhand heading for the ad corner on Federer’s side. The reigning champ flailed at it, but could just barely get a racket on the ball and his volley sailed out. Suddenly, Nadal was back on serve in set two with a set lead still in hand.

A long and pivotal game ensued, going to deuce for Federer earned an opportunity to break point. At ad-out, however, Nadal came up with a big first serve down the tee that Federer could not handle. Federer had another chance for a break point, but on the following deuce point he sent an easy swinging volley beyond the opposite baseline. A rare scream of rage from Federer showed the importance of that point. Nadal held with one more well-positioned first serve on the next point.

Having lost a significant amount of steam, a visibly upset Federer could not recover in time for his 4-4 service game. Two forehand errors and flurry of huge Nadal forehands gave Nadal triple-break point to go up 5-4. The challenger capitalized on his second chance at 15-40 by dictating yet another baseline rally, driving home the exclamation point with a devastating inside-out forehand.

Nadal had to deal with several distractions while serving out the set. At 30-30, chair umpire Pascal Maria hit Nadal with his first time violation. How did Nadal respond? With a slice backhand stab off a perfect Federer approach shot, sent back for a stunning cross-court winner. After missing a set point, a brutal wind gust during the deuce point contributed to Nadal missing a forehand. Federer had a break point and seemed to have the break in hand when he fired a huge cross-court forehand approach shot. In response to a shot that would have been an outright winner against many players, Nadal returned a backhand pass down the line. Federer managed to get a lunging volley back in play, but Nadal was now in control and he went on to win the point.

Two Federer errors later, the set was over. Nadal 2, Federer 0.

Although Nadal needed just one more set, questions remained as to whether or not the weather would allow the action to be completed on this super Sunday. The winds were howling. The skies were dark.

Federer’s chances to break the record of five straight Wimbledon titles (shared with Bjorn Borg) were even darker.[/tscii:1a5996f372]

ajithfederer

12th December 2008, 01:51 AM

[tscii:4197e3b177]Federer vs. Nadal - 2008 Wimbledon Final, Third Set

12/11/08 12:06 AM | Ricky Dimon
- TennisTalk is recapping the epic 2008 Wimbledon final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in a seven-part series throughout the current week. It continues with set three.

The first two games of the third set seemed to be the calm in between storms. In terms of the actual weather, however, it was the calm before the storm.

Federer and Nadal both took care of their opening service games easily, with little drama and few captivating points. The first potentially crucial moment in set three took place with Federer serving at 1-1, 15-0. Nadal thought Federer was going cross-court with an inside-out forehand approach shot so he moved to his left. The Swiss, however, sent it up the line and Nadal crumbled amidst a buckling knee as he tried to change direction. He stayed down for a few seconds then limped to the sideline before asking the chair umpire to call for the trainer at the upcoming changeover.

The Spaniard got a little bit of work done on his right knee during the change of ends, but it did not require more than the normal allotted time so an officially injury timeout was not called.

Nadal somewhat put an end to everyone’s worst fears by holding serve in the next game. The hold, however, came not without a struggle. Federer earned two break points at 15-40 despite losing the first point of the game when he failed to challenge an out call at the opposite baseline that shot-spot showed was on the line. Nadal, on the other hand, used the challenge system to his advantage when he stopped play during the 30-40 point. In and Federer would have the break. Out and it would be deuce. Federer’s shot ended up being out by no more than one or two centimeters beyond the baseline. Two points later, Nadal had evened the set at 2-2.

A total of seven break points were squandered as the set progressed to a 4-3 Federer advantage. Nadal saved four break points at 2-3, making Federer a dismal one for 12 on break opportunities. At 3-3, Federer went down 0-40 to escalating murmurs of the crowd. A break would have left Nadal two games from the Wimbledon championship, but Federer won the next five points in a row.

The skies that had been teasing the players, linespersons, tournament officials, commentators, fans, and TV viewers finally opened up during a changeover with Federer leading 5-4. As the umpire’s chair was wheeled away and the tarp was pulled over the court, Federer and Nadal retreated back to the locker room.
After one hour and 21 minutes, play resumed.

Have spectators ever been more ecstatic to see two competitors walk onto a tennis court? If so, I’d like to know when that was.

With a two-set lead, Nadal obviously emerged from the locker room in a far more favorable position than Federer. Nadal, at the same time, faced the unenviable task of having to serve to stay in the set following a significant break.

Federer took him two deuces in the first game back, but Nadal managed to hold. Two routine holds later, it was a 6-6 and a tiebreaker had to settle the third.

The No. 1 seed opened the ‘breaker with an ace and he never looked back. Federer secured a mini-break at 3-2 with a punishing forehand return that sent the crowd—by Wimbledon standards—into a frenzy. One more wicked forehand winner gave Federer a 5-2 advantage and two serves. Nadal got one of the mini-breaks back for 5-3, but Federer closed out the set with his third ace of the tiebreaker.

Bedlam engulfed the All-England Club as the ball whizzed past Nadal. The fans had what they wanted: more tennis.

Little did they know just how much more.

http://www.tennistalk.com/en/news/20081211/Federer_vs._Nadal_-_2008_Wimbledon_Final,_Third_Set[/tscii:4197e3b177]

ajithfederer

12th December 2008, 12:33 PM

Roger Federer 2008 - The Overhead Smash (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbEaoffkbZo)

ajithfederer

12th December 2008, 12:37 PM

Roger Federer - beauty points against I. Andreev part 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud7ZhoF9flg)

ajithfederer

17th December 2008, 06:18 AM

Roger Federer - beauty points against N. Djokovic (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwhO4IluuxE)

ajithfederer

17th December 2008, 06:19 AM

Roger Federer Show: My personal play/shot of the year 2008 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RHgK7rbBgM)

ajithfederer

17th December 2008, 06:20 AM

2003 US Open Federer vs. Blake - Hardcourt Havoc (http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=5afGS6mDsrs)

ajithfederer

17th December 2008, 06:25 AM

HQ - Federer v Djokovic - US Open 2007- FI (http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=Ivfrbx_Uweo)

ajithfederer

17th December 2008, 06:26 AM

Federer vs Baghdatis Australian Open 2006 Final (http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=sv1AgSIDsCo)

ajithfederer

17th December 2008, 06:26 AM

Federer/Hewitt vs Bjorkman/Rafter Wimbledon 1999 (http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=4jn_rNX6nHU)

ajithfederer

17th December 2008, 06:28 AM

Federer vs Agassi US Open 2004 QF (http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=UtL7UsvknPU)

ajithfederer

18th December 2008, 07:21 AM

Roger Federer Magic -- Grand Slam No. 13 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZlvqKKtOnk)

ajithfederer

18th December 2008, 07:22 AM

Roger Federer Magic -- Grand Slam No. 10 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ImvZn07HaU)

ajithfederer

18th December 2008, 07:22 AM

Roger Federer Magic -- Grand Slam No. 6 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCLVh5G0VjU)

ajithfederer

18th December 2008, 07:28 AM

Roger Federer Magic -- Court Geometry 101- Sampras/Roger Wimbledon Epic (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nj_YC5mV3zo&feature=channel_page)

:notworthy:

Video Description : A basic course on court geometry.

Course offered by professors TMF and Sampras, Summer Session 2001.

:lol:

ajithfederer

18th December 2008, 07:37 AM

How do you take two all-time greats and make them look a little like weekend hackers? You make them play tennis in a wind tunnel.

That's precisely what happened in this match between Roger Federer and Andre Agassi: their match was suspended from the previous night due to heavy rainfall in the New York area. The next morning, they resumed their quarterfinal in winds that at times exceeded 50 mph (80 kph).

This match was a benchmark in TMF's career, as he defeated Agassi on Agassi's home turf under conditions favorable to Agassi, in a tense five-setter, en route to TMF's first of five consecutive US titles.

Roger Federer Magic -- Hurricane Tennis (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aeYxNzZ7L8&feature=channel_page)

omega

18th December 2008, 06:20 PM

AF :notworthy: great links :2thumbsup:

ajithfederer

18th December 2008, 11:55 PM

Roger Federer Magic -- American Hardcourt Classic 09/08/2006 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVfYeTKfdwQ)

2006 United States Open Quarterfinals
(1)Roger Federer (SUI) def. (5)James Blake (USA)
7-6(7), 6-0, 6-7(9), 6-4

Omega, Thanks :).

ajithfederer

18th December 2008, 11:56 PM

Roger federer vs Tommy Haas Halle 2005 SF (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5CLzLKiUuQ)

Roger federer vs Tommy Haas Halle 2005 SF... roger won 6/4,7/6

ajithfederer

18th December 2008, 11:57 PM

Roger Federer - beauty points against R. Nadal part 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50Xvh4CR8Hg)

ajithfederer

18th December 2008, 11:57 PM

Roger Federer - beauty points against R. Nadal part 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nd0QPuxrRqc)

ajithfederer

19th December 2008, 09:01 AM

federer: anticipation and control (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFkEUUNZ8eg)

Federer and Hewitt, IV round Australian Open 2004, a wanderfull match, rich of unforgettable shots..... watch it in high quality.

ajithfederer

19th December 2008, 09:06 AM

The GREATEST Roger Federer Tribute (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Smo-XHQtWE&annotation_id=annotation_838749&feature=iv)

The GREATEST Roger Federer Tribute 2 (High Quality) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR1uOOSDUdM&feature=related)

The GREATEST Roger Federer Tribute 3- Wimbledon Final 2008 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqrprehFoWc&feature=related)

The GREATEST Roger Federer Tribute 4 (FINAL TRIBUTE IN HQ) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldRbHpoYKB4&feature=related)

ajithfederer

19th December 2008, 09:13 AM

Roger Federer Magic -- The Origins of Darth Federer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WWQZ306dqw)

ajithfederer

19th December 2008, 09:19 AM

Roger Federer v Lleyton Hewitt: 2004 TMC Final Part 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLCKe1TRieU&feature=related)

Roger Federer v Lleyton Hewitt: 2004 TMC Final Part 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rguExAS7YD8&feature=related)

ajithfederer

19th December 2008, 09:22 AM

Roger Federer Fundamentals: Attack the Forehand

One little tactical trick Roger Federer uses to great effect is to attack the forehand of his opponent.

Tennis strategic dogma dictates that a player will primarily attack an opponent's backhand, and many players stubbornly try to attack strictly to the backhand side.

If you wish to improve your attacking game, observe Roger Federer and how he chooses to attack an opponent's forehand instead.

Federer chooses often to attack an opponent's forehand for several reasons:

1. Most players will typically "camp" slightly to the ad court and are therefore vulnerable to having their time taken away to the forehand side.
2. The forehand cross-court can have side-spin imparted more easily than an inside-out forehand; a well-timed cross-court forehand can pull an opponent far off the court to the deuce court side.
3. An opponent stretched into the forehand corner typically has fewer options, as most forehands are hit topspin or, in a defensive position, without spin.
4. An opponent stretched to the forehand side must then be faced with the follow-up shot--a backhand passing shot on the dead run against a net-closing aggressor.

Federer's insight is this: he knows that players are conditioned to defend their backhands, and they are also inclined to attack with their forehands, even from disadvantageous positions on the court. The rationale then becomes to be able to hit a shot into the forehand corner so that the player attempts an offensive-minded shot from a compromised position, but cannot have enough weight of shot to truly hurt the attacker. From there, it is just a matter of cutting off the proper angle, taking the ball on the rise, and moving into the court, thereby exploiting the opponent's poor position and blowing open the point.

Observe the following video and note that while Federer will APPROACH to either wing, the shot that often precedes the approach is a Federer cross-court forehand INTO the opponent's forehand corner.

Roger Federer Fundamentals Lesson #2: selectively choose to attack the opponent's forehand.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Roger Federer Fundamentals -- Attack the Forehand (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=151rVtXSmho)

ajithfederer

19th December 2008, 09:24 AM

Roger Federer v Andre Agassi Dubai 2005 - amazing point! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yidqJM1Xl4U)

ajithfederer

19th December 2008, 09:29 AM

HD Roger Federer vs Lleyton Hewitt Semifinal Cincinnati 2007 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0x2OGj_BSA)

ajithfederer

19th December 2008, 09:30 AM

Roger Federer Vs Pete Sampras Highlights (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPO5b4Rkd2c)

Seoul, Macau and Kuala Lumpur Highlights.
November 2007.
Federer 2-1 Sampras.

ajithfederer

19th December 2008, 09:34 AM

US Open 2008 Final Roger Federer vs Andy Murray 1/4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwCDdK1iEuo&feature=channel)

US Open 2008 Final Roger Federer vs Andy Murray 2/4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8xkkVOcNxM&feature=channel)

US Open 2008 Final Roger Federer vs Andy Murray 3/4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7rqBdNct-A&feature=channel)

US Open 2008 Final Roger Federer vs Andy Murray Prize Giving/ Premiacion 4/4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT512xRuCu4&feature=channel)

ajithfederer

19th December 2008, 09:38 AM

Roger Federer history part 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jsjiGSX-uU&feature=related)

Roger Federer history part. 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KduDyZMZTN4&feature=related)

Roger Federer history Part. 3 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGsrxH43M6o&feature=related)

Roger Federer History, last part. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZTSkgfaHRc&feature=related)

ajithfederer

19th December 2008, 09:42 AM

HD Roger Federer vs James Blake QF Australian Open 2008 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZlKTzkpWC0)

ajithfederer

19th December 2008, 09:43 AM

HD Roger Federer vs David Ferrer Final Shanghai 2007 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4GcCffJ_as)

ajithfederer

19th December 2008, 09:46 AM

Roger Federer v David Nalbandian Basel 26th Oct 2008 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CBTA3G9tIU)

First games in the final at Basel Switzerland, Federer's home town. Having met 18 times before, with second seed Nalbandian winning the last two meetings, Federer battles to gain vital winning points to help towards him reclaiming his number one ranking.

Federer is not at his best, many unforced errors, he is not playing for entertainment value which is a shame.

Prefer the full background noise, here they have dumbed it down which makes the experience less enjoyable. The commentary needs to blend in with the match not overpower it.

ajithfederer

19th December 2008, 09:48 AM

Advanced Court Geometry
Summer Session II, June 2001
Professors Roger Federer, Pete Sampras

Basic skills of serve, serve-and-volley, drop shot, and transition covered and expanded; topics of short angles, backhand overheads, reflex and stop volleys, flick backhands, and advanced passing shots for both forehand and backhand introduced. Mobility, dexterity, and creativity required. Prerequisites: Court Geometry 101

Prof. R. Federer: 5-time Wimbledon Champion (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)
Prof. Emeritus P. Sampras: 7-time Wimbledon Champion (1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000)

Roger Federer Magic -- Advanced Court Geometry (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76phgh3Grjc)

ajithfederer

19th December 2008, 09:50 AM

Showdown of Champions Macao : Roger Federer vs James Blake (HL Pt1) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ns9mgRb4Qiw&feature=related)

Showdown of Champions Macao : Roger Federer vs James Blake (HL Pt2) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zD_MEzrMFD8)

Highlights of the exhibition match between Roger Federer and James Blake in Macao .Rog won 6:4,6:4.
Very entertaining stuff,enjoy it ;)

ajithfederer

19th December 2008, 09:51 AM

Roger Federer vs Feliciano Lopez - Us Open 2007 (1/2) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfWRmlarBks)

Roger Federer vs Feliciano Lopez - Us Open 2007 (2/2) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAyh1zB4AwA&feature=related)

ajithfederer

19th December 2008, 09:52 AM

HD Roger Federer vs Andy Roddick RR Shanghai 2007 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yhSOx-plgY)

ajithfederer

19th December 2008, 09:55 AM

Laureus Sports Awards Roger Federer & Rafael Nadal (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGL1vpoQ5g0)

Coverage from the prestigious 2006 Laureus Sports Awards show. Roger Federer won his second consecutive Sportsman of the Year Award and Rafael Nadal won Best Newcomer of the Year.

ajithfederer

19th December 2008, 11:19 PM

http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/50923

For the record

'm a big fan of Roger Federer, Sachin Tendulkar: Aamir Khan
National,Entertainment, Fri, 19 Dec 2008 IANS

New Delhi, Dec 19 (IANS) Bollywood
superstar Aamir Khan is a big fan of Roger Federer and Sachin Tendulkar.

'I admire these two men for what they have achieved in life and look up to men who have that immense drive to succeed in life,' Aamir revealed to his host Farhan Aktar on NDTV Imagine's 'Oye! It's Friday'.

ajithfederer

19th December 2008, 11:31 PM

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/othersports/article-1096993/Being-world-No-1-does-make-better-Federer-insists-Nadal.html

Being world No 1 does not make me better than Federer, insists Nadal

By Alex Kay
Last updated at 9:20 AM on 18th December 2008

World No 1 Rafael Nadal has praised arch rival Roger Federer, saying winning Wimbledon and becoming the world's top player does not make him better than the Swiss master.

The Spaniard, who ended Federer's run of five straight Wimbledon wins in a pulsating final in July and knocked him off the world No 1 spot, praised Federer and also dismissed fears that his body was struggling to deal with his high-octane style of play.

'One number and one match doesn't make me better than Roger,' he said. 'Roger carries on being Roger: a champion who has showed everyone how to be a normal person and have normal relationships with people.

Humble champion: Nadal still believes he is no better than Federer despite overtaking him in the world rankings

'I have improved and I hope to carry on improving, but I will always be the same. I don't think about records or what's happened in the past but about playing well.'

Nadal edged out Federer in an epic five sets in the longest final in the history of the tournament and the 22-year-old from Majorca admitted his previous Centre Court bouts with Federer made him determined to come out on top this year.

'I could have got scared playing against the best grass court player of all time or when he levelled the match at two sets all but I had to tell myself: I want to win this match so much that I can't let him beat me.

'I had to be sure I was going to give 200% as my first final was a shock to me and the second was so hard - I cried for half an hour in the dressing room after that match.

'This year I had a tough draw but I got to the final and won an incredible match. I realised a dream but it was my career, not my life, which changed.'

Overthrown: Federer had to come to terms with a new King of the court after Nadal ended his Wimbledon winning streak

As for accusations that the intensity of his game could see him retire early, Nadal complained: 'I've been hearing this for five years and I've been on the circuit for seven, which in itself is not a short career at this level.

'Sometimes people talk without knowing what they are talking about and they don't see that I have changed. For example, I run a lot less than three years ago because I play much more within the court.'

My respect towards Nadal is increasing day by day. Hope 2009 is a cracker of a season. :clap:

ajithfederer

21st December 2008, 12:47 AM

Roger Federer Orkut Community Crosses 100k members

:clap: :clap: :notworthy:

ajithfederer

22nd December 2008, 09:05 PM

Roger Federer vs Andy Roddick AO 2007 SF (HQ) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IaMpwJSh1g)

ajithfederer

23rd December 2008, 11:30 AM

Aptly titled havoc :notworthy:

Scud stuff from both Blake and Federer !!!.

2003 US Open Federer vs. Blake - Hardcourt Havoc (http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=5afGS6mDsrs)

ajithfederer

28th December 2008, 01:25 AM

http://federerfundamentals.wordpress.com/

ajithfederer

28th December 2008, 01:35 AM

Roger Federer - beauty points against M. Youzhny (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFtP3-Hf_Yc&feature=channel_page)

ajithfederer

28th December 2008, 01:37 AM

Roger Federer - beauty points against I. Ljubicic (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBzXX0o-Y1k&feature=channel)

ajithfederer

28th December 2008, 01:39 AM

Roger Federer - beauty shots - aces - part 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPeufhkp-k0&feature=channel)

ajithfederer

28th December 2008, 01:41 AM

Roger Federer - beauty points against G. Kuerten (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nr925dckbhA&feature=channel)

ajithfederer

28th December 2008, 01:45 AM

Roger Federer - 3 points with fh against R. Gasqet (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xT0aE9S9lk&feature=channel)

ajithfederer

28th December 2008, 01:46 AM

Roger Federer - beauty points against Andy Roddick, New York 2006 (short v ) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=di7bz6IK3RA&feature=channel)

ajithfederer

28th December 2008, 02:53 AM

Roger Federer Magic -- "In the Presence of Greatness" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6JDsJmILkc&feature=channel)

ajithfederer

28th December 2008, 02:54 AM

RF Masterclass -- Federer v. Ancic 06.02.08 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhrkPLE6amE&feature=channel_page)

ajithfederer

28th December 2008, 02:56 AM

RF Masterclass -- Hardcourt Masterclass (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wz8i-dK2f2s&feature=channel)

ajithfederer

28th December 2008, 02:57 AM

RF Masterclass -- Federer v. Nalbandian, 2007 Madrid (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oU5IMMTU4BY&feature=channel)

ajithfederer

28th December 2008, 03:08 AM

HD David Nalbandian vs Roger Federer Paris 2007 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRiFVNscsXI&NR=1)

ajithfederer

28th December 2008, 03:12 AM

HD Roger Federer vs Marat Safin 3R Wimbledon 2007 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzziprtZYSI&feature=related)

ajithfederer

28th December 2008, 03:29 AM

HD Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal Shanghai 2006 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qshu9MljLXM&feature=related)

ajithfederer

28th December 2008, 09:22 AM

Federer vs. Roddick Shanghai 2006 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BA9om9iy0c&feature=related)

ajithfederer

28th December 2008, 09:25 AM

Federer vs Roddick: Shanghai Masters Cup 2007 (Highlights) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKnURhE6wwk&feature=related)

ajithfederer

28th December 2008, 09:29 AM

Federer vs Gonzalez Highlights
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byjh_aRqVT0&feature=related)

ajithfederer

28th December 2008, 09:36 AM

Roger No.1 presentation (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lA68j_K2BKE&feature=channel)

:notworthy: :clap: :clap:

ajithfederer

28th December 2008, 10:04 AM

ATP players talk about Rog (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yqiYybe89g&feature=related)

ajithfederer

28th December 2008, 10:06 AM

Borg about Federer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0qxu1XYuhQ&feature=related)

ajithfederer

31st December 2008, 06:47 AM

Roger Federer - beauty points from Roger against Andre Agassi, Melbourne 2005 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJlennSRK3k)

High Octane serves, brutal forehands and magical backhands.

:notworthy:

ajithfederer

31st December 2008, 06:48 AM

Federer Vs Roddick Cincy 2005 Final highlights (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrVnpvHWyVI)

ajithfederer

31st December 2008, 06:48 AM

Federer Vs Kafelnikov R1 Wimby 2000 some highlights (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys-hbuMGsKs)

Watch sumal boy federer in action above.

ajithfederer

31st December 2008, 07:14 AM

RFT93 MV - Roger Federer - The Genius at Work (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgflZMR5eOs&feature=channel_page)

ajithfederer

1st January 2009, 05:34 AM

Tennistalk 2009 GS Predictions
2009 is just days away and the 2009 ATP season is just one week away. It's time for the first installment of predictions; this one looks at the Grand Slams.
Australian Open: Roger Federer (over Andy Murray)
Federer was under the weather Down Under this year and still reached the semifinals. He endured a slump for much of the season, but gained momentum heading into 2009 by winning a gold medal in doubles at the Olympics and capturing his fifth straight U.S. Open title.
French Open: Rafael Nadal (over Roger Federer)
Federer seemed to be getting closer to his elusive career Grand Slam back in 2007, when he scored a victory over Nadal on clay (6-0 in the third) and then played the Spaniard close at Roland Garros. In 2008, however, Federer took a giant step back on the dirt, a step that culminated with a straight set blowout at the hands of Nadal in the French Open final.
Wimbledon: Roger Federer (over Rafael Nadal)
Revenge will be sweet. Not just for another (predicted) loss in the French Open final, but especially for the epic 2008 battle. Federer was just points away from winning a sixth straight title, and you can
bet he will be in much better form in 2009 than he was throughout 2008. Could there be a more perfect setting for Federer to surpass Pete Sampras' Grand Slam record?
U.S. Open: Andy Murray (over Novak Djokovic)
With 15 Grand Slams in the bag, Federer will deserve a bit of a letdown in New York. Nadal is usually fading at this point in the season, so look for Murray and Djokovic to step up and walk through the open door. The No. 3 world ranking could be on the line here. Still lacking a Slam title, Murray might want it just a little bit more. That could be the difference.
Link: http://tennistalk.com/en/news/20081228/2009_Predictions:_3_Slams_for_Nadal,_Federer

ajithfederer

1st January 2009, 05:45 AM

RFT93 - Federer Forehand Pass..From 10 FT BEHIND THE BASELINE!! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGKE4qTYwi4)

ajithfederer

1st January 2009, 05:48 AM

Roger Federer - beauty points against Andy Roddick, Melbourne 2007 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQdZmEHKwmc)

ajithfederer

1st January 2009, 05:50 AM

Roger Federer Passing Shots !! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YT5Wq24mY8)

ajithfederer

1st January 2009, 05:51 AM

Federer vs Blake 2007 Cincinatti Masters Finals (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIEPRaMkaNk)

ajithfederer

1st January 2009, 05:53 AM

Greatest Points won by Roger Federer in 2008 Part 1 (HQ) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9dIg96qwYg&feature=related)

Greatest Points won by Roger Federer in 2008 Part 2 (HQ) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBKevt7VoyY&feature=related)

ajithfederer

1st January 2009, 06:12 AM

Federer vs Sampras Madison Square Garden 2008 Exhibition Match (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt3VypnNgMM&feature=related)

ajithfederer

2nd January 2009, 06:35 AM

Federer's all-round game: Australian Open Final 2007 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJQnV-JPQtA)

ajithfederer

2nd January 2009, 10:38 PM

Roger Federer - Master of the Legends (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTEecPb2ltA)

ajithfederer

2nd January 2009, 10:44 PM

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ggdmQdcyQpHchW7RPlByLDBeM2rA

Murray downs Federer again

1 hour ago

ABU DHABI (AFP) — Former world number one Roger Federer produced some magical moments, but that wasn't enough to prevent a fourth loss in his last five matches to the fast-improving Andy Murray here on Friday.

In the semi-finals of the Capitala World Tennis Championship, an exhibition shootout being played at the Zayed Sports City tennis stadium, Scotsman Murray prevailed in three sets 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (8-6).

The world number four next takes on the top-ranked player in the world, Rafael Nadal in the final after the Spaniard's explosive powerplay proved to hot for Russian world number five Nikolay Davydenko to handle. Nadal won 6-2, 6-3.

The winner of the Nadal-Murray final takes home the entire purse of $250,000 in the shootout tournament.

Murray, who seemed in pain and clutched his back after the second set, said:

"It's always a challenge playing Roger. I've got the better of him on a few occasions, but in the big one we played, at the US Open final, he beat me pretty badly. Hopefully, I'll get him in a Grand Slam one day.

"It will be nice to become the number one player in the world, but my aim for 2009 is to win a Grand Slam event, and I feel the Australian Open is my best chance. So, this is a really nice preparation for that."

Nadal also revealed his ambitions for 2009, saying: "The aim really is to be a better player than I was last year and to keep improving. Obviously, I like the position I am in right now and would like to keep it this way as long as possible."

On his match against Davydenko, the Spaniard added: "I have been working hard on my game lately even though I haven't been playing competitive tennis for the past two months or so. I was delighted with the way I played today and am looking forward to the rest of the season."

Federer began well, racing to 3-0 in the first set. Murray broke back in the fifth game when the Swiss maestro twice failed to pull of easy drop shots on the net. A double fault by Murray on break point in the 10th game sealed the set for the 13-time Grand Slam champion.

Federer struggled at the net and with his forehand shots in the second set, which was easily won by Murray, who then raced to a 4-1 lead in the third.

It was then that Federer turned on his magic. Suddenly, it looked like he could do no wrong. Some lethal serves and blistering returns saw him win the next four games in nine minutes.

However, Murray held on to his serve in the 10th game and pushed the set into a tie-breaker, where several Federer unforced errors gave him three match points at 6-3.

The Swiss star saved all three match points, but two more unforced errors ensured the result in favour of the Scot.

Federer, who won the US Open last year, said: "It was quite a good start to the year, but I just could not pull through. Andy has been playing some very good tennis and he carried his form from the end of last year."

In the other semi-final, Davydenko started in brilliant fashion by breaking Nadal in the first game without giving him any point.

But Nadal regrouped within no time and completely dominated the Russian to take the first set 6-2.

In the second set, Davydenko broke Nadal in the first game again, but the reigning French and Wimbledon champion broke right back. Another break in the sixth game and it was all over for Davydenko.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1BWtGQL0eY
[/tscii:342b099a0f]

Sanjeevi

2nd January 2009, 11:05 PM

good start for Murray
bad start for Federer

ajithfederer

2nd January 2009, 11:06 PM

Dude, this is just an exhibition match.

good start for Murray
bad start for Federer

Sanjeevi

2nd January 2009, 11:12 PM

Dude, this is just an exhibition match.

good start for Murray
bad start for Federer

oh unaccountaa

ajithfederer

2nd January 2009, 11:15 PM

appadintu illa. Perusa eduthutu velayandiruka maatarnu thonudhu. but it is just my impression.

Dude, this is just an exhibition match.

good start for Murray
bad start for Federer

oh unaccountaa

ajithfederer

3rd January 2009, 08:42 AM

Roger Federer - beauty points against James Blake, Cincinnati 2007 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a00S7RrItjQ)

ajithfederer

5th January 2009, 11:59 PM

Roger Federer - beauty shots, points against Rafael Nadal, Shanghai 2006 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl8IeIjq13o)

ajithfederer

6th January 2009, 10:45 AM

[tscii:5a33001168]http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=264923&version=1&template_id=49&parent_id=29

Federer adding more tricks to his repertoire

Roger Federer poses with kids after holding a clinic for them at the Khalifa Complex yesterda. Picture by Jayan Orma
By N.D. Prashant

WHEN it comes to a sound technique in tennis, there is none better than the 13-times Grand Slam winner Roger Federer. However, the master, who lost his No 1 billing to Spaniard Rafael Nadal, is keen to bring some more variation to his play in order to recapture the top ranking.
The Swiss ace will be trying out a few new things this season starting with the Qatar Open after having already experimenting with them at the recently concluded exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi.
“I don’t know how the rest of the guys approached that tournament but I just tried some volleys, chip, charge, ran to the net, played aggressive and even tried defensive. Saw how it goes and played the moment as well; it was the first tournament of the year. I wish I had won but it was a close tournament so it didn’t hurt at all,” said Federer.
He was of the view that the new tricks can only do a world of good to his already deadly repertoire.
“Why I try these things is because practice is one thing but doing it on court is different. In these exhibition matches, I can try certain things which I can’t do for four months as I’m playing Grand Slams. At the big stage, you don’t want to give away any point that easy.
“If it doesn’t work, then I will go back to my original game. But if it does, you have a few more tactics in your pocket which is what I’m looking to add this year.”
And with this being the preparatory tournament ahead of the Australian Open, Federer is keen to give his best.
“This is an important week for me to see where my game is. I would like to get through the first few matches solid and see where it takes me ahead. Then only I can prepare better for the Australian Open.”
Despite Scot Andy Murray steaming up the ranks, Federer still rates Nadal as his prime rival.
“I still consider Rafa as my main rival. It’s logic, after all that we’ve been through in the last four years. So there is no question of putting Rafa away. There are lots of possibilities of a change in the rankings season and that will be interesting.”
Federer warned his opponents that he won’t be lowering his guard by any means this season.
“I will still be trying to dominate tennis the way I’ve been doing it for the last five years. I didn’t win as many titles last year but there was a certain reason for that. But I would say it was a very good year. I expect the same this year. The pressure would be on other players which would be a good thing. Last year, four titles was not so bad.”
Federer justified his decision of playing lesser clay court tournament by saying, “It was the decision that I took to concentrate on the Masters Series except the one in Monaco which I don’t have to play. I didn’t want to say no to any but I don’t have lot of time to get ready for the clay court season. If I play Monaco, I’ve no time to practice for clay.”
Federer is well aware of the fact that any Grand Slams this season will only add to his elite distinction.
“Every Grand Slam that I win this year will be very meaningful one because I would equal Pete Sampras’ record. Everybody also knows it will be Wimbledon as well; there will be no change about it. I’ll try for my first French Open and sixth US Open because they are all special. But my focus first and foremost is now to start the season well here in Doha and hopefully play well at the Australian Open.” [/tscii:5a33001168]

ajithfederer

6th January 2009, 11:30 PM

[tscii:586cc5cbbe]http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jsA-LiERh8tCMdgIpQZIXMKkC3sA

Roger Federer says he's capable of dominating men's tennis again
1 day ago

DOHA, Qatar — Former No. 1 Roger Federer believes he can dominate men's tennis again.

The 27-year-old Swiss star, who is one short of Pete Sampras' record of 14 Grand Slam titles, said Monday he is looking forward to a big year in 2009.

"This could be a very meaningful season for me," Federer said. "I can equal Pete Sampras' record. I can add another Wimbledon title and this is something that is very dear to me. I can also win my first French Open title, so I am looking forward to my season."

Federer was slowed by mononucleosis last year and lost his No. 1 ranking to Rafael Nadal.

"I feel much better this year," Federer said. "Last year, I couldn't practice the way I wanted to because of health reasons. But this year I have trained really well and I feel very confident about myself. I have less pressure now and it is not a bad thing."

Federer plays Potito Starace of Italy in the first round at the season-opening Qatar Open on Tuesday as he builds toward the Australian Open, which starts on Jan. 19.

"Obviously, I can dominate the game," he said. "I have worked hard at my game and when you do that, things become easy for you. If I can play two good matches then I will feel really good going into the Australian Open."

The second-ranked Federer was eclipsed last year by Nadal, who won Wimbledon, the French Open and the Beijing Olympics gold medal.

"Rafa is my main rival," Federer said. "We have been doing it for so many years and have had great matches."

Andy Murray beat Federer and Nadal last week at an exhibition tournament in the United Arab Emirates. Federer could face Murray in the semifinals here after having defeated the Briton in the U.S. Open final for his only Grand Slam title of 2008. [/tscii:586cc5cbbe]

ajithfederer

8th January 2009, 08:50 PM

[tscii:3ab5534866]http://tennisworld.typepad.com/thewrap/2009/01/09-picks-rogers.html

'09 Picks: Roger's Career Year
Posted 01/06/2009 @ 3 :45 PM

Fed_2Prediction No. 2: Roger Federer Will Win Wimbledon and Make Us Learn to Love Davis Cup Again

Thinking about Roger Federer’s status as he heads into 2009, I keep returning to his win at the U.S. Open last September. In retrospect I'd call it a clarifying victory.

All through last summer, after Federer had been whacked upside the head in Paris, had his Wimbledon crown taken, and lost his No. 1 ranking—each time at the hands of the diabolical Rafael Nadal—many of us wondered which former champion Federer would resemble in the future: would he become Bjorn Borg, or would he become Pete Sampras? Going Borg meant flipping out about being No. 2 and never winning anything again; going Sampras meant accepting that even gods slow down and plugging away for four or five or six more Slams.

Federer’s routine win at Flushing Meadows settled it: He’s going the Sampras route. While he may hate being announced as No. 2 in the world, he respects the current No. 1 player, accepts that he will lose to him sometimes, and knows that it is no longer a given that he’s superior to all who stand across the net from him. This is healthy. Knowing Federer’s basically sane mind-set, it seems absurd that anyone ever thought he might not win big again. Burnout just doesn’t seem to be an issue with Federer; he’s always played a lot of tennis and rarely seemed to feel the effects. I probably wouldn’t either if I won everything in sight.

So Federer is going to be with us for a while, and he’s going to break Sampras’ Slam record either this year or next. (I’ll say he’s going to finish his career with 17 or 18 majors.) The three-Slam seasons are likely over, but I doubt that will keep him up at night. The French Open is also getting less likely each year—this may be the season when Federer backtracks and loses before the final—but that doesn’t seem to weigh on him the way not winning the U.S. Open seemed to weigh on Borg.

What Federer loves is to compete on a tennis court, an in-born trait that will serve him better as he ages than any conditioning program anyone could devise. The Swiss is unlike Borg, and even unlike Sampras, in that traveling and playing tennis has never been a chore for him. As always, Federer is focusing on winning Wimbledon in 2009. It’s a rote statement he makes at the beginning of each year, a way of keeping his goals manageable. But he also means it—as with Sampras, that tournament is his Holy Grail. Last year's final aside, when I think of Federer at Wimbledon, I see him holding the winner’s trophy, not that lame runner-up plate. (Is there a bigger letdown in sports than to have to hold that little thing up rather than the big golden cup?)

I think Federer will reclaim Wimbledon this year, that it will tie him with Sampras at 14 majors, and that it might lead him to No. 15 at the Open (my crystal ball is fuzzy on that one). It’s not that Nadal’s Wimbledon win in 2008 was any kind of fluke; he’d been to the final the previous two years. But it took more of a special effort, a major build-up of momentum that had begun two months earlier, to get Nadal that golden trophy—and he still almost fell short. For Federer, winning Wimbledon is part of life, an annual rite, a pilgrimage by which he sets his yearly schedule. Plus, grass is still a more natural fit for his game than it is for Nadal’s.

This would obviously be a highlight of the year for many fans, and a moment we'd see replayed forever, but there's another intriguing possibility involving Federer in 2009 that should be mentioned. As you know, he has added Davis Cup back to his schedule. He and Stanislas Wawrinka will be a formidable team, but they'll begin with a tough tie against the U.S. in Alabama. It should be a barn burner of a weekend, right down to the doubles, where the Bryan brothers will want to avenge their loss to Federer and Wawrinka in Beijing.

If the Swiss get past the Americans, they would play the winner of Chile and Croatia, then perhaps the winner of Argentina and France in the semis. If it's Argentina, Federer would get a chance to enter the clay cauldron of Buenos Aires for the first time on September 18. (As you probably already know, the last tie between the countries took place in 1952 in Lausanne, so this one would be in Argentina.) I won't predict that the Swiss team will win down there—despite last year's debacle, the Argentines haven't lost at home on clay for more than a decade. For now, I'll just will say that the thought of Federer, suddenly a fish out of water, digging into the orange clay and fighting the whistling fans, the wild atmosphere, Nalbandian, del Potro, and Maradona is enough to make this tennis fan relish the 2009 season just a little bit more.[/tscii:3ab5534866]