Resurgent Federer excited by prospects for 2012

Roger Federer says he is “very excited” about his prospects for next year after finishing 2011 riding a wave of optimism and with the mental scars of some painful defeats apparently healed.

The Swiss won his last grand slam title at the 2010 Australian Open and was overshadowed by Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal and to a lesser degree Andy Murray this year but after winning a record sixth ATP World Tour Finals title on Sunday, he looks primed for a new assault on major silverware.

Despite being the elder statesman of the “Big Four” at 30, Federer ended 2011 on a roll. He was unbeaten since the U.S. Open, claimed a hat-trick of indoor titles and stretched his winning streak to 17 matches.

His resurgence, he said, comes after having a long, hard look at himself in the wake of a series of shattering defeats.

He blew a big first-set lead in the French Open final against Nadal, squandered a two-set advantage against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the Wimbledon quarter-finals and then snatched defeat from the jaws of victory against Djokovic in the U.S. Open semi-finals.

“I think it was a mental thing,” Federer told reporters after fending off a Tsonga fightback to end the season on a high in London on Sunday. “Sometimes it’s about the other player. “Jo played better than me at Wimbledon. Maybe not much, but enough just to come through. Same as Rafa at the French Open in the finals, Novak in the semis of the U.S. Open.”

“It’s fine to respect that. But I feel when it happens maybe that often, I do have to question myself that maybe I did something wrong.”

“For me it was important to step back and sort of have that bird’s eye view from up top and say, ‘where am I right now in my year? It’s been a good year. I know I’ve been playing well, I’ve been healthy. When is all this hard work going to pay off?’

“I think I’m mentally good right now. There are a lot of times that goes by out on tour, during a match, you’re just trying to stay positive, but you can’t always be positive.”

“It’s just too difficult. That’s where maybe the doubts were just a bit too strong during certain important moments. I think I didn’t have those doubts now for the remainder of the season, which is what I wanted to get out of my system.”

During his two-year grand slam drought, Federer’s impending slide has been widely predicted.

Yet with a new season looming the doom-mongers may soon be eating their words.

GOLD MEDAL

After reversing a downward trend in the world rankings by reclaiming his place in the top three, it is not inconceivable that Federer could reclaim the No.1 ranking again in 2012. It is the prospect of adding to his record 16 grand slam titles and an Olympic gold medal in London, not ranking points, which motivates the Swiss though.

“This was the strongest finish I’ve ever had in my career, which I’m very proud of,” he said. “I’m looking forward to next year. I’m really excited.”

“To win grand slams would be nice (next year). I’ve missed out on a few occasions now this year, and maybe also some last year. So I feel like it might be around the corner. Maybe not. But I think the prospects are good.”

While Nadal revealed a dip in “passion” at the end of a long season, Murray was injured and Djokovic looked jaded after his romp through the first three quarters of 2011, all three will be firing on all cylinders again in a month, Federer said.

However, Federer is ready to go toe-to-toe with them for the forseeable future with his hunger to improve and meet the challenges undiminished.

“I love this game more than anybody, so I’m not all of a sudden going to wake up in the morning and say I don’t like it anymore,” he said.

Worryingly for his rivals, he thinks he can still get better.

“It’s interesting how you evolve as a tennis player. For me it’s only logical to improve,” he said. “I have been amazed how long I’ve been able to keep it up. But I’m happy my level is still very high and my body’s holding up.”

Date: 28.11.2011, Source: Reuters

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Federer wins record 6th title at World Tour Finals

Roger Federer has become the first player to win six titles at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. The fourth-seeded Swiss won his 70th tour-level trophy in his 100th final on Sunday after he defeated sixth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3, in two hours and 19 minutes, to become the oldest titlist at the year-end championship.

The 30-year-old Federer, who won all five matches he played this week, at The O2 in London, picked up a cheque for $1,630,000 and 1,500 South African Airways ATP Rankings points. He was also year-end champion in 2003-04, 2006-07 and 2010. The victory also tied Federer with Ivan Lendl's wins record at the tournament. Lendl compiled a 39-10 mark, with five titles, while Federer is now 39-7.

It was Federer's third straight indoor trophy, after title runs at the Swiss Indoors Basel (d. Nishikori) and the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris (d. Tsonga) two weeks ago. He also beat Tsonga last Sunday in Group B round-robin play and finishes the year unbeaten indoors with a 16-0 mark.

Federer, who had won the first set in his six previous year-end finals, turned up the heat on Tsonga at 4-3, when he hit three straight backhand winners to give his French opponent a headache at 0/40. Federer, who had looked second-best for much of the first set, broke serve and ultimately clinched the set in 35 minutes, despite the best efforts of Tsonga to break.

On Federer's first set point at advantage, Tsonga drew Federer to the net before ripping a backhand winner down the line. Federer then hit a forehand approach winner and on his second set point chance, Tsonga made a backhand error under pressure. Federer hit nine winners to Tsonga's 12, but took his chance in the eighth game. Tsonga, lost just five points on serve and his 12 winners, but came out second best.

Tsonga almost buckled under the pressure at 1-1 in the second set, after he hit two double faults, but he managed to salvage the game from 15/40. Two games later, however, Federer set up one more break point opportunity. Taking advantage of a second serve at 30/40, Federer ran around his backhand to lash a forehand winner downthe line for a 3-2 lead.

Federer served for the title at 5-4, but a lapse in concentration saw him face three break points at 0/40. He saved two when Tsonga hit a backhand return long and a forehand into the net, but he could not win the third as Tsonga attacked the net off a forehand to strike a smash winner. In the next game, Tsonga saved one break with with a powerful forehand approach, which Federer could not scramble back. The set was decided on a tie-break.

Federer took a 4-2 lead in the tie-break courtesy of a forehand volley, after both players made edgey starts. He then hit a drive volley winner for a three-point cushion. But Tsonga came back by winning three straight points, until Federer's sixth ace of the match took him to his first match point chance at 6-5. Tsonga kept his nerve and fired a mid-court forehand for a winner, then hit an unreturned serve for his first set point opportunity at 7-6. Tsgona jumped all over Federer's second serve, hammering a forehand return to the Swiss' feet. Tsonga hit 18 winners in the set and won 10 of his 15 net points.

The quality of tennis in the deciding set improved with every game. Tsonga came through hold for 3-3, with his never-say-die brand of tennis, when he hit three forehand winners, while Federer continued to clinch routine service holds.

The presure, of serving second in the set, looked to weight heavily on Tsonga's shoulders at 3-4. He fought back from 0/30 with three straight points, but then committed two forehand errors to gift Federer a break point opportunity. Tsonga saved it by following a forehand to the net and hitting a volley winner. Two points later, facing break point again, he came to the net and executed a perfect back cross-court angle that left Federer motionless. Federer made it third time lucky for a 5-3 lead, when Tsonga over-balanced while running for a forehand that he hit wide.

Federer closed out his 64th match win of the season (64-12 overall) with a hold to love, finishing with a forehand volley winner, and leapt in the air in celebration. He has a 6-1 record in year-end finals, losing only to David Nalbandian in the 2005 title match.

“I couldn’t be more happy and I couldn’t be more exhausted because Jo sucked all the last energy out of me today,” Federer said on court after sealing the $1.63 million jackpot for going through the tournament undefeated.

"For me, it was the strongest finish I’ve ever had in my career, which I’m very proud of. I’m looking forward to next year. So I’m really excited." said Federer.

The final was watched by the Mayor of London Boris Johnson and Real Madrid footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, among other well known names, in a capacity 17,500-strong crowd.

Date: 27.11.2011

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Federer beats Ferrer to reach 100th final, Aims for 6th year-end title

Roger Federer reached the 100th tour-level final of his career to guarantee he will finish in the Top 3 of the year-end South African Airways ATP Rankings for a ninth straight season.

Third seed Federer beat fifth-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer 7-5, 6-3 at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals for a place in his seventh year-end championship final. It was Federer's 806th win, which draws him level with his childhood idol, Stefan Edberg, at No. 6 overall for most match wins in the Open Era (since 1968).

"I thought it was a tough match," said Federer. "I could clearly see why David beat Murray and Djokovic here - he takes the ball really early, is able to generate great angles off his plays and is super consistent. Obviously, it was a key 5-4 game for me to hold and then break the next game. Then, actually, break again early on in the second set. That was a crucial sort of 15-20 minutes for me. I'm happy I was able to decide the match right there."

The five-time champion will now look to lift his 70th trophy (69-30) against either No. 6 seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or seventh seed Tomas Berdych in Sunday's final. Federer has a 15-0 indoor record this year and is looking to lift his third straight indoor title.

"It's obviously a special occasion for me tomorrow playing my hundredth final, possibly winning my 70th title and winning my sixth at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals," said Federer. "That would be a record."

Federer sensed blood when Ferrer hit two double faults at 2-2 in the first set, but the speedy Spaniard worked his way back into the game, until he handed Federer a break point opportunity with a mis-timed forehand. Ferrer attacked the net, rushing Federer into a backhand error. Federer survived an eight-minute, five-deuce, service game for 5-5, before he raised his game to create two break point chances on Ferrer's serve.

Ferrer saved one as a Federer return went long, but dragged a forehand wide one point later. Federer, who committed 19 unforced errors in the first set, was not at his best, but he managed to clinch the 50-minute set with a hold to love. He won 19 of his 25 first service points and nine of his 10 net points. Ferrer committed 11 unforced errors.

Right at the start of the second set, Ferrer's forehand mis-fired to give Federer a break point opportunity at 30/40, which the Swiss took with a powerful forehand return winner. He won his fourth straight game with a hold to love, ending with a forehand winner down the line. At 2-3, Ferrer was lured to the net at 15/30, only to mis-hit a forehand. It handed Federer two break point chances, but the 16-time major champion hit two groundstroke errors.

Federer got to match point, following a net cord winner, on Ferrer's serve at 3-5, 30/30. He squandered the opportunity with an overcooked forehand, but converted his second match point opportunity two points later when Ferrer could not return a forehand for victory in 86 minutes.

Federer hit 24 winners and did not commit a single unforced error on his backhand. He dropped one point on serve in the second set to improve to 12-0 lifetime and to 25-3 in sets against Ferrer, who finished runner-up to the Swiss in the title-match four year ago, when the tournament was played in Shanghai.

"I've maybe had some easier matches against him," admitted Federer. "But lately, they've all been very tough, very physical. He's improved a lot. He's really cemented himself into the Top 10, now even into the Top 5. I expect him to have another very solid and good season if things fall in place for him. He's one of the best returners we have in the game. He's got great mental toughness. He's extremely fit."

Federer, who has a 38-7 overall record at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, is looking to win his third straight indoor title after lifting silverware at the Swiss Indoors Basel (d. Nishikori) and the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris (d. Tsonga). He has a 63-12 match record on the season.

Date: 26.11.2011, Source: ATP

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Federer beats Fish, Finishes Group B with perfect record

Roger Federer completed Group B play with a perfect 3-0 record on Thursday after beating eighth seed Mardy Fish 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.

Federer hit 28 winners and won 10 of his 12 net points to improve to 14-0 indoors this year. Fish committed 32 unforced errors in the pair's eighth meeting (Federer 7-1), which lasted one hour and 49 minutes.

"The first set wasn't as one sided as the score suggested, and the second set he played great," said Federer. "He really started to zone in on many shots. I thought he was able to keep that up in the third set. So I was happy to get the crucial break early in the third and maybe cruise a bit more. I definitely struggled a little bit more today, but I thought that was more due to the circumstances, like you mentioned, and Mardy playing well for most of the match."

Federer could overtake Andy Murray to become year-end No. 3 in the South African Airways 2011 ATP Rankings, if he reached the final at The O2. Federer has a 5-1 record in year-end championship finals, finishing runner-up to David Nalbandian in the 2005 title-match.

Defending champion and five-time titlist Federer, who had already qualified for the semi-finals by virtue of beating his great rival Rafael Nadal on Tuesday, broke Fish's serve in a 14-point second game on his fourth break point opportunity when Fish hit a backhand long. Though Federer was immediately broken back, to 30, Federer raised his game with two more service breaks in the fourth and sixth games. At 5-1, he battled back from 0/40, winning six of seven points to clinch the 32-minute opener.

In the second set, Fish broke Federer to 30 for a 3-1 lead and could have clinched the set 6-2, but failed to convert two break chances in a 12-point game. Fish coolly held to 30, to level the score, when Federer hit a backhand into the net - one of 11 errors in the set. Fish, attacking at every opportunity, struck 16 winners.

A forehand pass from Federer, saw Fish lose his serve to 30, in the second game - a break the Swiss confirmed with a hold to love, ending with two straight aces. Fish saved one break point at 0-3, but Federer's proved too strong as he improved to 62-12 on the season.

The Swiss superstar is now two wins shy of equalling Ivan Lendl's year-end championship 39-10 record. Federer is 37-7 with five titles, won in 2003 (d. Agassi), 2004 (d. Hewitt), 2006 (d. Blake), 2007 (d. Ferrer) and 2010 (d. Nadal).

"I'm happy I was able to win today just because of momentum for the semis in a couple of days. I'm surprised how well it's gone always at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals-level for me because these are maybe almost the toughest and most dangerous matches to play during the year because it's best of three sets, against fellow Top 10 players indoors, where a few shots usually do decide the outcome of the match."

Roger will now play the runner-up from Group A in Saturday's semi-final.

Date: 24.11.2011

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Federer stuns Nadal, Qualifies for SFs

Five time titlist and defending champion Roger Federer qualified for the semi-finals at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals on Tuesday with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over his great rival, second seed Rafael Nadal.

Federer won his first match over Nadal since last year's final at the year-end championship, by hitting 28 winners to four in a 62-minute win. It was their fifth meeting in England. Nadal leads 17-9 in their series.

"It was a great match for me basically from start to finish," said Federer. "I was able to do what I was hoping to do:  dominate from the baseline, play close to the baseline, serve well, take his time away. [It] hasn't always worked.

"I always knew I could beat Rafa. The question is sometimes it was hard to do because he has a big say, as well, in how the matches go. The quicker the court, the more I favour myself.  Maybe Rafa didn't play his very best tonight. But on an indoor court, it all happens very quickly as we saw at the end. For me it was an exciting match to play."

Federer broke Nadal's serve to love for a 4-2 lead and went onto close out the first set in 32 minutes, having hit 12 winners - including nine off the forehand wing - and winning 17 of 21 first service points.

Federer ran through the second set, as Nadal won just nine of 35 total points. The 30-year-old Swiss committed just eight unforced errors and hit seven aces to improve his perfect indoor record to 13-0 in 2011.

It was the third time Federer had won a 6-0 set against Nadal in 26 meetings (also 2006 Wimbledon and 2007 Hamburg). Nadal recorded a 6-0 set over Federer in the 2008 Roland Garros final.

"The score is true, and today he played too good for me," said Nadal. "Just accept that today when you play against Federer and he's playing like this, the only way to stay in the match is have free points with the serve, because for the rest his level was too high in this surface. And I didn't had these free points as usual."

Federer could overtake Andy Murray as year-end No. 3 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings by reaching the final at The O2.

He has a 61-12 match record on the season, highlighted by three ATP World Tour titles at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha (d. Davydenko), the Swiss Indoors Basel (d. Nishikori) and the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris (d. Tsonga).

Date: 23.11.2011, Source: ATP

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Federer receives two ATP World Tour Awards

Roger Federer was honoured in a special, on-court presentation Monday at The O2, as the winner of the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award and ATPWorldTour.com Fans’ Favourite presented by RICOH in the 2011 ATP World Tour Awards.

The 30-year-old Swiss accepted his two trophies, crafted by Tipperary Crystal, from ATP Executive Chairman & President Adam Helfant and RICOH Europe’s Director of Corporate Communications Javier Diez-Aguirre.

“Many awards now. It’s 22 from the ATP [World Tour Awards] and nine straight Fans’ Favourite,” said Federer. “I can only thank them as many times as I already have, through the TV, through websites and when I see them and sign autographs and speak to them, how friendly they always are with me, and how nice it is to be well-liked, really. It’s nice to have so many fans all around the world.

“And then the Stefan Edberg award is very special to me because he was an idol for me growing up. Sort of being popular like him and being regarded from my fellow peers, and my rivals really at times, as a fair player... This is already my seventh award in the fair play category, so it’s very nice and I’m very proud of those achievements.”



Date: 21.11.2011, Source: ATP

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Federer starts title defence with Tsonga win

Five-time champion Roger Federer began his title defence at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals on Sunday with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 victory over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the first round-robin match of Group B at The O2 in London.

Making his 10th straight appearance at the season finale, Federer improved to a 35-7 event record with his sixth win in 10 meetings against Tsonga. Seven days ago, Federer also beat Tsonga in the BNP Paribas Masters final in Paris.

"I thought it was a good first set and even the second set was fine," said Federer. "But he did well to serve bigger and better as the match went on. Once he got the upper hand in the second set, he started to swing more freely and got more dangerous. With me, it was just trying to stay calm, trying to wait for my chance, trying to create chances when he was not serving as well as he did at times.

"It's really hard to get into any sort of rhythm against him from the baseline because he's a very good 1-2 puncher, which he proved over four and a half sets against me at Wimbledon. I think that makes him particularly hard to return sometimes.

"Overall I think I've been trying to do different things this year on my returning, at times a bit more offensive, sometimes a bit more, sort of normal the way I return. But recently I've played well."

Fourth seed Federer swept through the first set in 21 minutes, dropping just three of 19 points on serve. In the 30-minute second set, sixth seed Tsonga lost two points on serve and converted both of his break point opportunities.

The pair's seventh meeting of 2011 went with serve in the deciding set, before Tsonga fell to 0/40 at 4-5. He saved one match point, but Federer was not to be denied as he wrapped up his 60th match win of the season (60-12 overall) in 89 minutes.

Federer is attempting to win his 70th tour-level title this week and third trophy on the bounce after back-to-back wins at the Swiss Indoors Basel (d. Nishikori) and in Paris.

Date: 20.11.2011, Source: ATP

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Federer targets record in London

Roger Federer will aim to finish an off key year on a high note by winning a record sixth title at the ATP World Tour finals which start on Sunday at London’s O2 Arena, a venue more famous for staging the biggest acts in the music business. The world number four, who opens round robin action in the defence of his crown on day one against dangerous Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, is level in the season-ending tournament’s roll of honour with Ivan Lendl and Pete Sampras.

Despite being the oldest player in the eight-man draw, and arriving with his lowest ranking since 2003, few would bet against the Swiss 16-times grand slam champion supplying a show-stopping end to a year dominated by Serbia’s Novak Djokovic.

Now in its third year beside the River Thames, the appeal of the tournament has never been higher with more than 250,000 people set to watch eight days of action at the event often dubbed the “fifth” grand slam. “That’s like the equivalent of 15 back-to-back sold-out Beyonce concerts,” managing director Chris Kermode told Reuters by telephone on Thursday as work continued to turn the O2 into one of the most spectacular venues for tennis in the world.

“We have set the bar every high and we are lucky that we’re hosting the tournament in the golden era for men’s tennis. “Often generations have one star player and a supporting cast but we are blessed with four marquee names in Federer, Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Ands Murray and then players like Tsonga who is very popular with British fans.

While Federer, like American soul diva Beyonce, just turned 30 and has fallen behind Djokovic, Nadal and Murray in the rankings after a rare year without a major, he is still the biggest draw in the sport.

Successive titles in Basel and Paris in the run-in to London, surprisingly the first time he has won back-to-back tournaments since 2006, proved Federer’s mercurial game and remarkably injury-free body are in good shape as he prepares for his 10th consecutive appearance at the season-ender.

With serious questions over the state of Djokovic’s serving shoulder and Nadal, who is also in Federer’s group along with American debutant Mardy Fish, not enjoying his best year away from his beloved European claycourts, the Swiss is arguably the favourite to claim the title again.

Djokovic, who is a group with Murray, Czech Tomas Berdych and Spain’s David Ferrer, looks to have hit the wall after lifting three of the year’s four grand slam titles and seizing the number one ranking.

Date: 18.11.2011, Source: Reuters

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Roger Federer: The Renaissance Man

Defending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals champion Roger Federer often makes success look easy, embracing and excelling in his roles as player, family man, philanthropist, ambassador and global celebrity.

Earlier this year a major poll was carried out to discover which global celebrities were most respected, admired and trusted. Unsurprisingly, it was Nelson Mandela who topped the list. But guess who was in second place? It wasn’t anyone from politics, culture or business. No, number two on the planet-wide poll carried out by an organisation called the Reputation Institute was none other than Roger Federer.

It’s a lofty accolade, even by this Swiss champion’s standards. Ahead of Bill Gates in third place, Roger was the only sportsperson in the top 15, finishing comfortably ahead of baseball legend Derek Jeter, basketballer LeBron James and football star David Beckham.

One of the rare bits of criticism that tends to come Roger’s way is that he can be a little too concerned with his image. But when you have a halo burning as brightly as his, it’s understandable you would wish to protect and enhance it.

Roger is a global figure in a global sport and, for well-documented reasons, his reputation now stands well ahead that of Tiger Woods, to whom he is now rarely compared. The combination of supreme athletic ability, an astonishing record, worldliness, good deeds, a willingness to show emotion and an easy, metrosexual charm all makes for an irresistible combination.

“When you have a halo burning as brightly as his, it’s understandable you would wish to protect and enhance it”

Roger turned 30 in August and, although he will not hear a word of it, the reality is that he won’t be at the top of the sport forever. There’s no doubting that one reason why the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals has drawn such huge crowds to The O2 is that all self-respecting sports fans want to be able to say that they saw the Swiss master play in the flesh.

And for those who have seen him, what will they remember as his greatest attribute? It could be those technically perfect groundstrokes delivered with a God-given sense of timing. Or maybe the ease with which he glides across the court. In an age when tennis has become such a physically demanding sport, perhaps it is his ability to dominate opponents with such extraordinary regularity over a long period.

Roger made his Grand Slam debut in 1999 at Roland Garros as a then somewhat irascible teenager against Australian Pat Rafter, losing in four sets. As we now know, it was to be the start of an incredible career in the sport’s four major tournaments which, for sheer consistency, may never be matched. Just over five years later he won his second Wimbledon singles title, heralding the start of what, for many observers, is the most remarkable sequence the sport has ever seen.

Amid the mountain of statistics you could apply to Roger, arguably the single most impressive is that between 2004 and Roland Garros of 2009 he reached the semi-finals or further of every Grand Slam. A similar run continues to this day in that he has now made the quarter-finals or further in the last 30 Grand Slams held.

It is all for debate, for there are so many milestones from which you could choose. Another is the fact that he has won the ATP’s year-end championship five times in all, including last year’s victory over Rafael Nadal.

He has also so often made success look so easy, both on and off the court. Many is the time when, in some pressured hothouse around the world, you have seen Roger’s opponent caked in sweat, on his last legs, while the man himself looks to be fresh as a daisy, such is his glorious economy of movement. It is this latter quality which has kept him so consistently out on the tour when rivals’ bodies have succumbed to the physical pressures.

“He appears just as comfortable sitting by the catwalk as he does chatting to impoverished children”

Another crucial factor is that Roger simply loves playing and living on the tour. At the same time he is a man of varied interests who has never been blind to life outside the rectangle of the tennis court.

The son of a Swiss pharmaceuticals manager and South African mother, he has now embarked on raising a family himself, and is the proud parent of twin daughters with wife Mirka, a former professional player herself. Many tennis players have found juggling the ATP World Tour with family life a difficult task, but Roger has embraced it and declared that it has made the whole experience better than ever.

The Federers have always tried to enjoy the places they visit and have made some high-profile friends along the way. Look at Vogue magazine editor Anna Wintour, for example, a regular guest in the player’s box. The 16-time Grand Slam champion enjoys the glamour of the fashion world, yet does not forget the opposite end of human existence, financing schemes to help the poor in Africa through his charitable foundation. It is not unknown for him to travel straight from Milan fashion week to east Africa to personally oversee projects which have benefitted from his organisation. Seamlessly, he appears just as comfortable sitting by the catwalk as he does chatting to impoverished children.

In a similar vein, it is not unusual to see him switching effortlessly from one language to another in interviews. He speaks four tongues fluently.

Roger generally keeps his ferociously competitive instinct well hidden unless it’s on the court, although there is no question that he hates losing, and has a tendency to see each defeat as an injustice. Yet nobody could have achieved what he has done without a burning desire to win. There is no obvious sign of that desire waning. When it inevitably does, however, he has little to fear from the tennis afterlife; probably less than most players. Such are the capabilities of his mind and the range of his interests, it may even appear to him that, when he has more time on his hands, life will only just have begun.

Date: 18.11.2011, Source: ATP DEUCE

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2011 World Tour Finals groupings announced

The ATP World Tour Finals will start this coming Sunday.

Roger, defending champion and five time winner of the tournament, is in Group B together with Rafael Nadal, finalist in 2010, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Roger's last opponent in Paris-Bercy as well as Mardy Fish.

The players competing in Group A are Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, David Ferrer and Tomas Berdych.

Roger will start the round robin match on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 pm against  Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Date: 15.11.2011

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Roger and the Lindt bear

At the opening of the LINDT Chocolateria in Kilchberg on 14 November, Roger signed five LINDT bears made of fine bone china, one of which can be exclusively auctioned here. The money will be entirely donated to the Swiss charity organization “Schweizer Winterhilfe”, who has its 75th anniversary this year. The auction of the five LINDT bears signed by Roger is the kick-off for a long-term cooperation of Lindt & Sprüngli and the Roger Federer Foundation in favour of the Swiss Winterhilfe for a support programme for underprivileged children and adolescents in Switzerland. The aim of this initiative is to countervail the social isolation of children who are suffering from poverty.

Date: 15.11.2011, Source: RF Official

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No sleep, no problem for Roger

Roger Federer shared that he didn’t have the best sleep coming into his first BNP Paribas Masters final, and it wasn’t just because he was anxious about winning the title at this ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament. The Swiss, a father to two-year-old twins, was given a 4am wake-up call by his daughter.

“It happened many times that she wakes me up in the night this year, but I was not 25 times in the final,” he said. “I was hoping that during the night it would go well, but suddenly I was running with Mirka in the room to see if everything was okay. And she said, ‘Let's take her in our bed.’  I said, ‘Okay, let's do that.’ I didn't even question this. I just said okay. I can't have a fight at 4:00 in the morning with her.”

All was forgiven after Federer went on defeat Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-1, 7-6(3) to win his second title in as many weeks. “In the end, it was all right. I am happy,” he said with a laugh. “It happened several times this week, so maybe it's a good sign.”

Federer also managed to find the strength to lift the heavy BNP Paribas Masters trophy.

“Almost cramped in my biceps,” he joked. “I have had like two or three other ones that have been very, very heavy. One was in Gstaad. I got a rock there. I could hardly lift it. I don't know where else, but there was some other place I could barely not lift the trophy. But this one I could. This is steel, so you can imagine how strong I am. (Laughter.)”

Date: 14.11.2011, Source: ATP

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Federer clinches first Paris title

Roger Federer will take a 12-match winning streak into the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, where is the defending champion, after claiming his first BNP Paribas Masters title with a 6-1, 7-6(3) victory over sixth-seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Sunday in Paris.

"I'm just really ecstatic to have played so well this week from start to finish," said Federer. "Basically from first ball struck against Adrian Mannarino all the way until the very end here. I couldn't be more happy. I have had many attempts trying to win Paris Bercy, and for some reason, I wasn't able to win it earlier. But this one obviously feels great and it's a special victory."

Federer, the first player to contest the final of all nine Masters 1000 tournaments, has now won 18 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crowns (18-12 in finals), second on the list of title leaders behind Rafael Nadal with 19. With his victory, it marks the first time in Masters 1000 history that all nine champions during the season were ranked in the Top 4.

Federer came under pressure early in his first BNP Paribas Masters final, but fought off two break points on serve in the opening game and proceeded to break Tsonga in the next. "These two games maybe decided the outcome of the match," the Swiss admitted. "It gave me great confidence and a great direction for the match."

The No. 3 seed raced through the first set in 30 minutes, building a 5-0 lead before Tsonga managed to get on the scoreboard. After saving two break points in the second set, Federer quickly gained control in the tie-break; he rolled out to a 6-1 lead and clinched the title on his third championship point.
"Jo was always with the back against the wall, so I was really able to put him under pressure and play aggressive with myself," said Federer. "Couple of hiccups maybe midway through the second. I didn't serve so well anymore, but I saved the best for last. I played a good tie-breaker and got the win here, which is very nice."

The 30-year-old Swiss is unbeaten since the US Open semi-finals (l. to Djokovic), and will enter the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals with a 59-12 season record (41-7 on hard). He made a strong start to his 2011 campaign, winning the Doha title in the opening week of the year, and snapped a 10-month title drought last week at his hometown tournament, the Swiss Indoors Basel.

"I have played well for a few months now," he said. "Maybe I didn't win the US Open, but we all know I was one point away from making the finals and then who knows? But Novak was able to come back in that great match against me at the Open. And before that I think I had some really good moments, where I actually did play very well, such as Wimbledon and the French Open where I think more was possible, too.

"I have had some really tough losses this year, but I kept believing that still the year wasn't over, I can still finish this year on a high, which that proves to be the case. Now I still have a massive highlight coming up in a week's time."

Federer, a winner of 69 tour-level titles, will look to reach his 100th tour-level final when he makes his 10th straight appearance at the circuit finale, to be held from 20-27 November at The O2 in London.

Date: 13.11.2011, Source: ATP

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Federer beats Berdych to reach Paris final

Third seed Roger Federer beat fifth seed and 2005 champion Tomas Berdych 6-4, 6-3 on Saturday for a place in his first BNP Paribas Masters final in Paris.

Swiss superstar Federer, who now has 801 career match wins, advanced to his 30th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title-match (17-12 overall) with victory in 81 minutes. He will next meet either sixth-seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the 2008 titlist, or American John Isner.

"The way I played today was really nice," said Federer. "And then on top of that, getting the 800th win and today making my first Paris final and being the first player to do all of those nine ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments.

"I thought the match was tough. I took advantage of Tomas being a touch slow maybe in the first couple of games, because once that machine is warmed up he's a very dangerous player. But I really played great today. I didn't give Tomas much. I was able to play aggressive and serve good, so it was overall a wonderful performance."

In the pair's 15th meeting, Federer opened up a 2-0 lead and maintained the break advantage to take the first set in 46 minutes, having dropped just six points on serve.

Federer once again took a 2-0 lead in the second set and despite Berdych's best efforts to come back into the match his 30-year-old opponent proved too strong, breaking the Czech to love in the final game to advance to his fifth final of the year. Federer hit 34 winners and committed 13 unforced errors, while Berdych hit 10 aces and made 20 errors.

Last week, Federer lifted his fifth trophy at the Swiss Indoors Basel. He has a 58-12 match record this year (40-7 on hard). Berdych, 26, drops to a 51-21 season mark and will next compete at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London from 20 November.

Date: 12.11.2011, Source: ATP

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800th victory

Roger has reached the semi-finals of the Masters in Paris-Bercy for the second time in his career thanks to a 6-3, 7-5 victory against Juan Monaco today - and has clocked up his 800th career victory on the ATP tour.

"I struggled a bit today, I didn't play as well as I did in New York," Roger said afterwards. "I served really well and once you zone in it's really hard to get you out of it."

Roger didn't have a good start when Monaco grabbed an early break in the third game. But Roger soon found his rhythm, captured two breaks and clearly ended the first set 6-3. There was a chance for Monaco to level at the end of the second set, pushing Roger to deuce at 5-4, but our champ held on and served out the win with an ace.

Roger will now face Tomas Berdych (ATP 6) in Saturday's semis. Berdych had eliminated Andy Murray earlier today.

Date: 12.11.2011, Source: RF Official

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Federer defeats Gasquet for 799th win

Roger Federer defeated 16th-seeded Richard Gasquet 6-2, 6-4 Thursday in Paris to progress to the BNP Paribas Masters quarter-finals. The win marked his 799th career victory. He will look to become just the seventh player to reach 800 wins on Friday.

Meeting for the 11th time, Federer broke Gasquet to begin the match. A double fault in the seventh game by the Frenchman gave the Swiss a double break advantage and he quickly closed out the set.

Gasquet settled in the second set, breaking Federer back after going down an early break. But the Swiss continued to press with his return, and broke the 25 year old for the fourth time to lead 4-3. He would eventually seal the victory in one hour and six minutes to claim his ninth win in 11 encounters with Gasquet. The victory also avenged a loss to the 20th-ranked Gasquet in Rome earlier this season.

"I thought him coming back in the second set was something somewhat normal," said Federer. "He had some great shot making there, but unfortunate for me. Those were some incredible forehands he hit there, and he deserved to come back into the match then. For me it was key to stay calm and wait for my chance, and I was able to bounce right back. I think I made him work hard today and had good offensive plays, and I think that's what got me through today."

Federer is coming off of his fifth title at his hometown event in Basel (d. Nishikori) and is bidding to win his first Bercy crown. It is the lone ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event currently on the calendar where Federer has not reached the final.

"Draws are really difficult here and it's not so simple just to cruise to a final like you think it is," said Federer. "Just because I've done five or eight at other places, it doesn't mean I have to make a finals here. I hope I can make it this year. I feel like my game is good enough for it. But then, again, depends if Juan Monaco and all the other players agree with that."

In the quarter-finals, the 17-time Masters 1000 champion will play Juan Monaco.

Date: 11.11.2011, Source: ATP

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Federer beats Mannarino; Gasquet up next

Roger Federer continued his recent run of form with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over wild card Adrian Mannarino in the second round of the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris on Wednesday. "I thought it was a good match for me," said Federer. "I think Mannarino didn't play the best match, but for me it was a good way to find my way into the tournament."

Federer dominated on serve, winning 90 percent of his points to advance in just 56 minutes. He is coming off of his fifth triumph at the Swiss Indoors Basel, where he defeated Kei Nishikori to win his second title of the season. "I felt rested coming into this tournament, even though it's been busy the last few days," Federer said. "That's a good feeling to have, because now I've got to back it up day after day if I want to do well here. I was happy with my performance today.  It was great."

The Swiss is seeking his first title at the event. His best finish came last year when he reached the semi-finals before falling to Gael Monfils, after holding five match points.

The 17-time ATP World Tour Masters 1000 champion will take on 16th seed Richard Gasquet for a place in the quarter-finals. "I'm going to prepare as if I had the best Richard Gasquet ever against me," stated Federer. "I will need to play a good match, otherwise it is not going to be enough tomorrow.

"He didn't play for a while, but I expect Gasquet to be totally fit, otherwise he wouldn't be back in competition. It would have been easy for him just to go off on holidays and prepare for next year. So if he's here, it means he can play."

Date: 09.11.2011, Source: ATP

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Federer focused on winning Paris title

Roger Federer admitted at the BNP Paribas Masters on Tuesday that he'd "love to win here" and add to his 17 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles.

"I have attended this tournament many times and it's true I have never made it to the finals," said Federer, who reached the semi-finals last year. "For me not to make the finals here with all the success [I've had] is almost a bit disappointing, to be quite honest. Until maybe two, three years ago I didn't feel quite comfortable on the centre court."

Federer arrived in the French capital on Monday afternoon, having lifted his 68th tour-level trophy and fifth at the Swiss Indoors Basel on Sunday. He will play Adrian Mannarino in the second round on Wednesday.

"I'm obviously excited for hopefully a tough week ahead here, because obviously I want to do well here," he said. "I've got to play five matches in a row, which is a lot in five days, but I have done it many times before."

Federer has been drawn in the same half of the Paris draw as Andy Murray, the second seed, who has won 25 of his past 26 matches. The Swiss sees Murray as a threat for the title and at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, which begins on 20 November.

"He's probably going to be one of the favorites here and London, next to Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic and myself," said Federer. "I think Andy is definitely strong enough right now, and I think he's going to have a really good next year as well. That's the feeling I have."



Date: 08.11.2011, Source: ATP

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Federer wins historic 5th Basel title

Roger captured a record fifth title in his hometown Basel today, defeating Kei Nishikori 6-1, 6-3.

"It's great to win at home again," said Roger. "Kei put up a good fight,. I've known ever since I hit with him as a teenager that he could have a good future. He's had some injuries but he's playing well now. It was a good match and I'm very happy for the win. I’m feeling fit and ready for more. I am hungry and fired up and that is how you want to be at this stage of the season.”

“Next season will be packed with the Olympics, there will be a lot of tennis so I have to be prepared." said Federer.

Nishikori started strong on his own serve but Roger broke with three winners. He then dropped just one point in the opening set. Roger also raced through the second set and though Nishikori had come from a set down against Djokovic, our champ did not give him a chance of a comeback. He closed the match with his first matchball after one hour and 22 minutes.

Roger will now head to Paris for the last event of the ATP season -  the Masters 1000 in Paris-Bercy. After one week off, the ATP finals in London will end this year's season.

Date: 06.11.2011

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Roger books final spot

It took Roger 88 minutes to defeat Stanislas Wawrinka 7-6(5), 6-2 in the semi-final in Basel tonight. He is now just one more win away from a fifth home title at the Swiss Indoors.

"It's always tough to play Stan," said Roger. "It's never easy. We know each other's game so well."

Roger took a quick lead, breaking Wawrinka in his second service game. Wawrinka fought back, though, taking the set into a tie-breaker. It was a bit of a scare at times, but our champ eventually won the tie-break 7-5. He left no doubts in the second set and wrapped up the match on his second match-ball.

Roger will face Kei Nishikori (ATP 32) in Sunday's final. The Japanese knocked Novak Djokovic out of the tournament today with an impressive performance.

Date: 05.11.2011, Source: RF Official

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Federer claims 41st win in Basel; Faces Wawrinka next

Four-time champion Roger Federer notched his 41st win at the Swiss Indoors Basel on Friday as he dismissed long-time rival Andy Roddick 6-3, 6-2 in the quarter-finals of the ATP World Tour 500 indoor event. Defeat for Roddick ended the American’s outside chances of qualifying for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.

Hometown hero Federer broke serve in the eighth game of the first set, capitalising on a first serve percentage of 47 per cent from Roddick, to clinch the opener. He then raced through the second set with two breaks to clinch victory in 64 minutes. He improved to a 41-7 event record.

"We’ve played on so many occasions that sometimes you can’t play your best, and that’s what happened to Andy today," said Federer, who improved to a 21-2 career lead over Roddick. "He didn’t have a very good serving day and then once I get a chance to get into all his service games, it’s always going to be difficult for him to find a way."

Basel is the only non-Grand Slam event where Federer has won more than 40 matches. He won three successive titles from 2006-2008 and lifted the trophy for a fourth time last year with victory over Novak Djokovic; he has also finished runner-up on three occasions.

"It’s one of the highlights of the year for me to be playing here in Basel," said Federer. "I grew up here and spent over 20 years in this city. I know my way round, it feels very special and I see so many familiar faces when I look around the stadium.  My dream was to maybe play once in qualifying or on centre court, back in the day, now here I am playing and getting the best player of all time award here in Basel."

"This is the first time I’ve played Stan here in Switzerland," remarked Federer. "We’ve faced off together 10 times and playing back in Switzerland is particularly special because I come from this town and Stan’s not too far away either. I think it’s a special occasion for Swiss tennis and the Swiss fans. He played incredibly well today, so I think this is going to be the test of the tournament for me so far."

Date: 05.11.2011, Source: ATP

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Federer reaches quarterfinals

Roger Federer let slip his record of never losing a set (24-1) in 12 matches against Finn Jarkko Nieminen on Wednesday, when the third-seeded Swiss and four-time champion reached the Swiss Indoors Basel quarter-finals with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 victory in one hour and 36 minutes.

Federer looked in complete control when he won the first set in 24 minutes, hitting four aces and winning 75 per cent (12 of 16) of his service points. But Nieminen broke serve in the first and fifth games of the second set and despite a mini comeback by Federer, the World No. 66 kept his nerve. It was one-way traffic in the third set as 30-year-old Federer raced to a 3-0 lead and eventually sealed his 26th win in his past 27 matches at the ATP World Tour 500 indoor tennis tournament.

“He was obviously finding his range better, playing a bit better and getting better rhythm as the match went on since he’s a baseliner,” said the Swiss. “It was due to my ups and downs that he found a chance in the second set, but then I found my range again on the serve in the third set and was basically in control. It was still a good match, I thought, for me to come through and I had some very good moments. All in all I’m pretty pleased.”

Federer added 45 points to his South African Airways 2011 ATP Year-To-Date Ranking with the win over Nieminen and is now 1,950 points behind Andy Murray, who is bidding to finish the year as World No. 3. He has a 51-12 match record on the season, which includes one title at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha (d. Davydenko).

Date: 03.11.2011, Source: ATP

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Federer named Basel's best

Roger Federer was honoured in front of his hometown crowd Tuesday, celebrated as the best player to ever compete at the Swiss Indoors Basel.

Tournament Director Roger Brennwald presented the 30-year-old Swiss with a trophy bearing the names of the different nominees in the shape of the number one. Federer received 78.5 per cent of the 40,000 votes cast in the online poll, far outdistancing 2009 champion Novak Djokovic, who finished second with 3,233 votes

“Obviously everyone knows how much the tournament here in Basel means to me,” said Federer, a four-time champion at this ATP World Tour 500 tournament. “There’s a big voting going on here in Switzerland for this award. I haven’t seen so many people vote for a sporting award in a very long time. I’m happy so many people took part in it.

“That I was able to get the award was maybe not the biggest surprise because I’m the record holder of titles here in Basel after all and I am from here, so it was a bit of a home court advantage, but still it’s nice to go out and greet the Swiss fans. Roger Brennwald did a really good job. It was very emotional and very nice.”

Federer will be going for his 40th match win in Basel when he plays Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen in the second round. He has reached the final seven times, including the past five years.

Date: 02.11.2011, Source: ATP

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Federer opens hometown title bid

World No. 4 Roger Federer began his campaign for a fifth title at his hometown tournament, the Swiss Indoors Basel, with a 7-6(3), 6-4 win over Italian Potito Starace on Monday evening.

Starace held the only break point chance of the opening set, but was unable to capitalise. The third-seeded Federer won the tie-break and immediately broke his 54th-ranked opponent to start the second set. He claimed the victory after one hour and 18 minutes, improving to a 6-0 record against Starace.

Federer, who was playing his first match since representing Switzerland in the Davis Cup World Group play-offs against Australia in September, notched his 50th match win of 2011 - marking the 10th straight season he's reached that mark.

"Rust showed more on the returning side, trying to see the pace of the ball or being there and anticipating maybe was just missing a bit today," said Federer. "Instead of getting me 30-all chances, I was stuck at 40/15 very often and that’s a tough place to make breaks.

"In the second set I started to feel a bit better with confidence, first set in the pocket, but I still thought Potito played a good match and made me work extremely hard today."

He will go for his 40th match win in Basel (39-7 tournament record) when he plays either Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen, a recent finalist in Stockholm, or Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci in the second round. Federer has reached the final the past five years at this ATP World Tour 500 tournament, only failing to win the title in 2009 when he finished runner-up to Novak Djokovic, the top seed this week.

Federer Focused On Strong Finish

“I don’t even know what it takes [to regain the No. 3 position],” admitted the 30-year-old Swiss, who has finished in the Top 2 for a record eight years. “My goal is trying to win when I’m playing the next few weeks.

“The focus right now is trying to play well here in Basel. The next round is my priority, but clearly after winning here, semis in Paris with match points and winning London, I know I can do extremely well. And if I’m three or four at the end of the year, we’ll see, but if I’m going to make a move I need to win tournaments and that’s what it’s going to take.”

Federer enters the final stretch of the season more than 2,000 points behind Andy Murray at No. 3 in the South African Airways 2011 ATP Year-To-Date Rankings. Murray has been vocal about his goal of finishing in the year-end Top 3; he backed up his intention with a trio of titles during the Asian swing to overtake Federer in the leaderboard earlier this month.

The two players are both competing in Basel and at next week’s BNP Paribas Masters in Paris before concluding the season at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, where Federer is the returning champion. A total of 3,000 South African Airways ATP Rankings points will be up for grabs over that stretch.

“Expectations are great everywhere I go and play, but particularly here I want to do well and that’s why I was also slightly nervous going into my first round today,” he said. “Then obviously that’s all gone after two or three games, but I thought I did well today and I’m happy to be in the second round.”

Date:01.11.2011, Source: ATP

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