A few thoughts as the season comes to an end ...
When I was young, I used to practice tennis trick shots. It was my way of handling the monotony of tennis practice. Well, I was never good with monotony. I would stand in the supermarket parking lot, and hit shot after shot after shot after shot into that brick wall, and I would imagine being on Centre Court facing John McEnroe. Then I would imagine being at the U.S. Open facing Jimmy Connors. Then I would imagine hitting the ball so hard that it would knock back the bricks, a millimeter at a time -- WHACK! WHACK! WHACK! WHACK! -- until finally I hit the final ball so hard that it would break through the wall and come out the other side, right into the produce section where it would hit the guy spraying lettuce with a water bottle. These reveries would usually sustain me for as long as 15 minutes. Then I would practice trick shots.
But the 15-time Grand Slam champ still finds changing his twin girls' diapers "hard"
Instead of the Ad-In, Ad-Out format, we're going to try something new on Monday, a "best-of-three" recap of the week plus other random thoughts:
I am a Roger Federer fan, but it gets harder to support him after postmatch interviews where he bashes his opponents and fails to credit them with good play. Case in point: the interview after his loss to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the Rogers Cup. Federer choked, and Tsonga stepped it up. Enough said. At what point does greatness turn into arrogance? -- Jose, San Antonio
The tennis ace decided to "play along" with the media until his daughters' arrival July 23
Daughters Charlene and Myla arrived Thursday night in Switzerland, the tennis star announces
It's always struck me as shabby when a commentator or columnist ignites controversy and then slips away like Laura Dern in the last scene of Citizen Ruth. Last week, I took issue with Roger Federer's Wimbledon attire -- and, more specifically, the Nike taste-makers who determined Federer's dignity and humility required more edge.
It's always struck me as shabby when a commentator or columnist ignites controversy and then slips away like Laura Dern in the last scene of Citizen Ruth. Last week, I took issue with Roger Federer's Wimbledon attire -- and, more specifically, the Nike taste-makers who determined Federer's dignity and humility required more edge. The responses, pro and con, were as intense as they were numerous.
While mourning Mathieu Montcourt and thinking how downright creepy it is that two players penalized recently by the ATP for petty gambling infractions --Federico Luzzi is the other -- have died ...
A few thoughts as the season comes to an end ...
When I was young, I used to practice tennis trick shots. It was my way of handling the monotony of tennis practice. Well, I was never good with monotony. I would stand in the supermarket parking lot, and hit shot after shot after shot after shot into that brick wall, and I would imagine being on Centre Court facing John McEnroe. Then I would imagine being at the U.S. Open facing Jimmy Connors. Then I would imagine hitting the ball so hard that it would knock back the bricks, a millimeter at a time -- WHACK! WHACK! WHACK! WHACK! -- until finally I hit the final ball so hard that it would break through the wall and come out the other side, right into the produce section where it would hit the guy spraying lettuce with a water bottle. These reveries would usually sustain me for as long as 15 minutes. Then I would practice trick shots.
But the 15-time Grand Slam champ still finds changing his twin girls' diapers "hard"
Instead of the Ad-In, Ad-Out format, we're going to try something new on Monday, a "best-of-three" recap of the week plus other random thoughts:
I am a Roger Federer fan, but it gets harder to support him after postmatch interviews where he bashes his opponents and fails to credit them with good play. Case in point: the interview after his loss to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the Rogers Cup. Federer choked, and Tsonga stepped it up. Enough said. At what point does greatness turn into arrogance? -- Jose, San Antonio
The tennis ace decided to "play along" with the media until his daughters' arrival July 23
Daughters Charlene and Myla arrived Thursday night in Switzerland, the tennis star announces
It's always struck me as shabby when a commentator or columnist ignites controversy and then slips away like Laura Dern in the last scene of Citizen Ruth. Last week, I took issue with Roger Federer's Wimbledon attire -- and, more specifically, the Nike taste-makers who determined Federer's dignity and humility required more edge.
It's always struck me as shabby when a commentator or columnist ignites controversy and then slips away like Laura Dern in the last scene of Citizen Ruth. Last week, I took issue with Roger Federer's Wimbledon attire -- and, more specifically, the Nike taste-makers who determined Federer's dignity and humility required more edge. The responses, pro and con, were as intense as they were numerous.
While mourning Mathieu Montcourt and thinking how downright creepy it is that two players penalized recently by the ATP for petty gambling infractions --Federico Luzzi is the other -- have died ...
These lists are not mere compilations of all-time bests in their respective sports but all-time bests at quickening the pulse and evoking a visceral response from those fortunate enough to have witnessed their artistry.
The Wimbledon grass has always been a bit of a yoga mat for Roger Federer, who routinely moves around Centre Court at mental and physical ease while his more bruiser-like counterparts clip-clop on its blades.
So, Roger Federer has passed Pete Sampras, which means I now will make a statement -- of somewhat sound mind, with a good night's rest behind me -- that is inarguable, indisputable and incontrovertible:
While raising an eyebrow at Novak Djokovic's play today...
He marries girlfriend Mirka in a small ceremony in his hometown of Basel
Has there been a more fun time in men's tennis than now? Rafael Nadal is definitively on top, Roger Federer is still in the mix with a will to regain his form, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray have officially arrived, Juan Martin del Potro is continuing to make strides, and Andy Roddick seems to be right on the verge this season. With variations for surface, there seem to be six players in the mix to some extent for any major tournament right now. Let's hope they all stay healthy. -- Dan, Atlanta
"We will be parents this summer," the tennis champ says. "This is a dream come true"
Five things we learned from the Australian Open men's final while most of America slept:
Here I thought we had closed the retractable roof on the 2009 Australian Open. But after the remarkable men's final and even more remarkable trophy presentation, the questions/comments/laments keep pouring in. So a special edition Mailbag.
I know how Roger Federer feels. For years, I could not beat Priest Holmes in chess. You might remember Holmes, the star running back for the Kansas City Chiefs, the guy who led the NFL in rushing in 2001, the guy who seemed to score three or four touchdowns every week when you were playing against him in fantasy football. We had a weekly chess match for a while.
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have battled for tennis supremacy on the clay and grass courts of the French Open and Wimbledon for three years. On Sunday, their rivalry will break new ground when they meet on a hard court for the Australian Open title.
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have battled for tennis supremacy on the clay and grass courts of the French Open and Wimbledon for three years. On Sunday, their rivalry will break new ground when they meet for the Australian Open title on a hard court. A few thoughts:
• WERTHEIM: Dementieva looking to make long run
Our guest today is widely regarded as the greatest player ever to set foot on the tennis court. He's Roger Federer, I'm Anjali Rao, and this is Talk Asia.
It was the match of the year. It was the match of the decade. It was, one could certainly make a credible case, the greatest match in tennis history. On the first Sunday in July, Rafael Nadal beat Roger Federer 6-4, 6-4. 6-7, 6-7, 9-7 in the finals of Wimbledon, the most important match of the most important tournament.
The most amazing thing I saw in this most amazing sports year was not especially important or historic or even decisive. No one won a medal at the end of it, no trophy, no championship, no world record. There were no playbooks involved, no chalkboards, no swimsuits, no balls, no bats, no clubs, no rackets. The man who performed the miracle was only doing what every child does, and at the end of it he seemed utterly unimpressed with himself. He would become world famous, but that was later.
Few folks are likely to describe 2008 as a gilded year. Oh, for the days, when "bailout" was something done to a wayward rowboat, homes were worth more than mortgages, and Iceland was best known as a quirky (and solvent) vacation destination. Fortunately, tennis was there to provide us with diverting entertainment and some welcome escapism. The sport up to its usual tricks this year, serving up jarring plot twists (Justine Henin, the top WTA player, abruptly retiring), relentless melodrama, and enough mutually destructive in-fighting and finger-pointing to shame the post-election McCain and Palin camps.
Exhibitions during the offseason are a double-edged sword, no matter how you look at them. You answered a question about players complaining of the long season, yet booking numerous exhibitions during the offseason. While I lean towards the argument of players losing credibility for this phenomenon, I have to think they are acting partially as ambassadors of the sport and taking the sport (and themselves) to places that have little tennis exposure. -- J. Duncan, Flagstaff, Ariz.
What do you make of Roger Federer's withdrawal from Stockholm (citing fatigue) and, more importantly, his possible closing of the door on the remainder of his 2008 season (per his noncommital, vague press release)?
NEW YORK -- Feted as the four-time and defending U.S. Open champion throughout the duration of his American fortnight, Roger Federer returned to the site of his past glories Monday evening.
A quick baguette before Williams-Williams. But if you haven't checked out Andy Roddick's transcript from last night, do so now.
Your latest mailbag really does scale unprecedented heights of xenophobia . Quite on top of your gloating about the downgrading of Hamburg (only the biggest tournament in a country that has given tennis Boris Becker and Steffi Graf) in favor of umpteen cookie-cutter events in the U.S., you then jump into the realms of total hysteria with your comments about the Olympics and the "U.S. Open Series." I am sure you are the only person on the planet who thinks the Olympic Games should defer to the Series, after all it really can't compare with the Series on prestige and longevity, can it? -- John Thompson, United Kingdom
BEIJING -- The cinematic Roger Federer played the part of No. 1 like no other for four years, with the forehand of Zorro and lyrical moves, as a metro man confident enough to wear crested blazers and monogram cardigans courtside. His elite ranking was a perfect fit.
Roger Federer's reign at No. 1 has ended after almost five years. I think it would be appropriate for you to dedicate a front thanking Mr. Federer for giving athletes and fans a five-year lesson on how to carry yourself when you're a champion. He's a class act on and off the court. In my case, I didn't follow tennis before him and now I love the sport. He's a real hero and inspiration for millions. I hope you honor him the way he deserves because even though his career is far from over, we don't know if he'll ever be number one again. Thanks. -- Alejandro Arias, Mexico
The stylish couple went courtside to root for pal Roger Federer – but to no avail
For Wertheim's audio roundup of today's matches, click here or scroll down below.
Roger Federer has some famous cheerleaders in the stands Wednesday at Wimbledon: Gwen Stefani and her husband Gavin Rossdale, took in the Swiss star's match (against Robin Soderling) from a private box alongside Vogue's Anna Wintour.
These are words I never thought I would utter: Roger Federer is being over-looked at Wimbledon.
SI.com's Jon Wertheim breaks down the men's and women's seeds at Wimbledon. Read on for the top first-round matchups, dark horses to keep an eye on and his predicted winners.
Michael Lardon figures it was serendipity. A top table tennis player growing up in New York, he had always been fascinated with the mental component of competition. "Who gets in 'The Zone?' How do they get in 'The Zone?' And most important, How do they stay there?" He enrolled at Stanford, took a pre-med science course and was paired with Olympic speedskater Eric Heiden as a lab partner.
KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. -- It's a grueling mental challenge for an athlete when he's been beaten by the same player 11 times in a row and isn't exactly favored in the 12th meeting.
What's going on with Roger Federer? -- Dallia, Sudan/Egypt
I just heard Roger Federer went out to Andy Murray in the first round in Dubai. Question: Is it because Roger doesn't have enough match play? Is he on a slip, which is normal considering you can't stay at No. 1 forever? I seem to think both. I also think Roger wouldn't mind doing well against Pete Sampras on March 10. A tired Federer wouldn't do the trick. I miss him winning, though. And I hope he finds a way to win the French. -- Adrienne Kostal, Bethel Park, Pa.
Ours is a youth-centric culture, and nobody is supposed to care about history anymore. But curiously, it's really quite amazing the attention that sports fans pay to legacy, to how their favorite has-beens rank for posterity.
MELBOURNE, Australia -- I snuck out to the indoor practice facility at Melbourne Park Tuesday during a break in my commentating responsibilities for the Tennis Channel when, of all people, Roger Federer was finishing up on my court. Typically, the greatest player of all-time was using his off-day to hit tennis balls.
So the ATP busted out a new marketing slogan last month: "Feel It."
Sports Illustrated will announce its choice for Sportsman of the Year this week. Here's one of the nominations for that honor by an SI writer. For more essays, click here.
The moment of consolation came late at the 2007 U.S. Open, but it was not for Roger Federer's latest victim. This one was for the crowd, for the 25,230 unsuspecting fans who had come to Flushing Meadows to take in a New York spectacle, watch some tennis and overpay for food and drink, and who suddenly found themselves lacking. This one was for those who'd tracked Federer's elegant ride into history for the last two weeks, who'd seen him rise to every challenge with otherworldly calm and brush aside all comers like lint off a lapel.
NEW YORK -- While their global campaign for Gillette may revolve around beauty, the relationship between Roger Federer, Thierry Henry and Tiger Woods clearly isn't skin deep. Among the 40 text messages Federer received following his fourth consecutive U.S. Open victory were from sports supernova pals Henry and Woods.
NEW YORK -- Dominated. Owned. No matted the adjective you choose, Roger Federer had ample reason to feel confident heading into his quarterfinal meeting with Andy Roddick on Wednesday night.
NEW YORK -- This we know: Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will not meet in a third straight Grand Slam final. But there are still plenty of intriguing matches in the men's draw. Most immediately, Federer takes on Andy Roddick Wednesday night.
NEW YORK -- Does the greatest tennis player in the world need the help of a coach to get even better?
As the U.S. Open gets under way, a few tips on how to have a chance at upsetting the three-time defending champ
The kid assumed he was being punk'd. After a fine freshman season as Florida's No. 1 singles player, Jesse Levine was luxuriating at home in Boca Ratonlast month when his cellphone chirped. An IMG agent was calling in search of a practice partner for Roger Federer, a few days removed from winning Wimbledon for the fifth straight time. Would Levine meet Federer at his training base in the United Arab Emirates? "When I realized it wasn't a joke," says Levine, "I was like, 'Yup. That works for me.'"
OK, so after Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, who are your next five best men's players? -- Daniel, Los Angeles
Roger Federer is probably the most dominant athlete active today, yet there are two places he hasn't been able to win -- the French Open and Madison Avenue.
Roger Federer moaned, and everyone knew: It would end soon. Grunting and screeching are tennis staples, of course, but not for Federer. Usually he embodies the quaint notion of striving quietly. But he had just made his final desperate run at Rafael Nadal and the 2007 French Open title, muffing the last of 16 break points he'd let slip this day. It was 5:50 p.m. on Sunday, in the second game of the fourth set, and after Federer rolled a backhand wide, his first groan echoed across the clay. On the next point Federer shanked another stray backhand and yelled in despair, and the 15,166 fans jammed into Court Philippe Chatrier knew it was done. Nadal had cracked him open for all to hear. Again.
What has all that winning taught us about Roger Federer? We know he isn't a loudmouth. We know he likes the release of a good cry. We know he values good manners and the debatable virtues of a cream sports coat. He's capable of great toughness, but we also know he's fastidious -- what with that constant tucking away of his hair -- and foppish because he doesn't just hack it off.
Your thoughts on Roger Federer's split from his coach? I say good! -- Natasha, Toronto
The French Open begins in exactly a month, and inevitably, the speculation over the Holy Grail of tennis -- the Grand Slam, where the same player wins all four major championships in the same calendar year -- will heat up.
That's twice in a row now that Guillermo Cañas has mowed down Roger Federer, and the Argentine has blazed a trail through the rest of the Sony Ericsson Open field in the process. But let's get a few things straight before we declare Cañas as the player who will keep Federer from achieving Pete Sampras' records and "Greatest Player Ever" title.
You want your constant foil to Roger Federer? I think Guillermo Canas is making a strong statement. This guy has helped make tennis more exciting for me. Give this guy his props! -- Chris Rodgers, Omaha, Neb.
David Cannon/Getty ImagesTiger Woods invited Roger Federer to join him inside the ropes at Doral on Wednesday. MIAMI (AP) -Tiger Woods and Roger Federer go about their business in different ways.
Upsets are a common, but great, part of tennis. During the past week at the Pacific Life Open, we've seen a fair share.
Five things we learned after watching Roger Federer beat Fernando Gonzalez to win his 10th career Grand Slam.
In your last column you said Andy Roddick-Roger Federer would be a serious popcorn match. The match was over before I even finished my popcorn! If this is the best opposition Federer can possibly face, we might just as well find some other sport to watch, eh? -- J. Matahelumual, Leiden, Netherlands
Who do you pick in the semis: Andy Roddick or Roger Federer? Roddick's recent successes notwithstanding, I say Federer in four. -- Kevin Knudson, Starkville, Miss.
As we look back on 2006, one question: Where did all the good teams go? What an ordinary bunch of pseudo-winners. Never mind even a wannabe dynasty. Oh, what I would give for another bully of a team, a juggernaut, a steamroller. Where are the monsters of yesteryear?
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