Roger Federer meet Kaká in Basel for Gillette Ad

Two idols of the sports world had a meeting on Monday in Basel, Switzerland during the Gillette advertising campaign. Kaká , who was named the best player in the world in 2007, literally hit the ball with the tennis player Roger Federer , who was the World No. 1 for a record 302 weeks in his sport.

Kaka signed in Federer’s racquet as “To Roger. Wish you only the best”.

The number one player in the ATP rankings dropped his racket and took a Football ball, showing aptitude in the most popular sport in the world. "Lets make Kaka the tennis ball, because he is better than me," Federer joked.

The two confessed an admiration and exchanged mutual compliments. "I really like tennis and I always wanted to meet him. So, I went to the Madrid Open and had that first contact. I admire Roger Federer a lot," said Kaka.

Federer, meanwhile, revealed that football is his favourite sport and he is a fan of Brazilian football. "In Madrid we talked a little and it was cool because I always liked football, even more than Brazil because grew up watching a generation of talented players. And Kaka is one of those quality players," said Federer.

Who sees the player by far not realize the simplicity it brings in gestures and words. "Thanks for coming to my city. Did you like? I grew up here. A nice and quiet place," said the tennis player on the small town on the banks of the river Rhine.

Currently he lives in Zurich, but that can always gives a last in his homeland. "They are 100 miles away. For Brazilians it is not nothing, but here in Switzerland is like crossing the country," he says, laughing.

"We have pretty much the same size, the same age and I think some similarities. But he is more beautiful than me," says Federer.



Link: Roger Federer and Ricardo Kaka photo gallery

Date: 30th October 2012

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Roger Federer's Nike Outfit for ATP World Tour Finals 2012

Date: 29th October 2012

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Federer to skip Paris Masters, rest for World Tour Finals

Defending champion Roger Federer has decided to withdraw from next week's Paris Masters, the world number one said on Sunday after the Basel final to rest for the ATP World Tour Finals in London.

"It's just too much, I was trying to make up my mind and I had some little niggling stuff I didn't want to take a chance obviously before the World Tour Finals. I need some time to prepare," he told reporters.

"I feel very disappointed. I had one of the best weeks of my life there last year, but this is just a last-minute decision. The fans were amazing there."

Next Roger Federer will play in ATP World Tour Finals which is held in London from 5th November 2012 to 12th November 2012.

Date: 28th October 2012, Source: Reuters

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Del Potro beats Federer to win Swiss Indoors title

Juan Martin del Potro took Roger Federer's Swiss Indoors title on Sunday, beating the hometown favorite 6-4, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (3) in the final.

Del Potro showed an impressive all-around game to help avenge a heartbreaking loss to Federer in the Olympic semifinals at Wimbledon in August.

''It's amazing for me,'' Del Potro, who never dropped serve, said in an on-court interview. ''Always, playing against Roger is a pleasure. We know he's the best player ever in this sport.''

Federer, who had won the event in five of the past six years, was seeking his 77th career title to tie John McEnroe at fourth on the Open Era list.

Del Potro ended a six-match losing streak against the top-ranked Swiss this year, which also included a five-set defeat at the French Open.

''You deserved it,'' Federer told his opponent on court. ''You had a couple of tough losses against me this year and I'm really happy for you.''

The 24-year-old Argentine won for the second straight week after taking the Vienna title. His fourth title of the season is the 13th of his career.

Del Potro's victory came in 2 hours, 44 minutes compared to his 4-hour, 26-minute defeat at the Olympics - the longest three-set match in history - when Federer won the decider 19-17 on Centre Court at the All England Club.

As he did at Roland Garros and the Olympics, Del Potro took the first set, breaking Federer's serve in the fifth game. Federer struggled briefly with his ground strokes, netting two forehands and a backhand to give Del Potro the lead.

The second-seeded Del Potro relied on solid serving and unleashed blistering forehands when needed. He took his first set point chance when Federer sent a backhand wide.

Both players wasted their only break chances in the second set, which hinged on a tense Federer service game at 5-5. Facing break point, Federer struck a forehand crosscourt winner then saw Del Potro slip up by netting a sliced backhand on the next point.

Federer controlled the tiebreaker and punched the air when he leveled the match, as Del Potro let a backhand drift wide. Federer then held three break points at 1-1 in the deciding set, but Del Potro saved them before firing an ace to win the game.

A wild Federer forehand let another break chance slip in the seventh game, which Del Potro clinched with another ace.

Federer then struck three straight aces when threatened at 5-6 down to force another tiebreaker.

Del Potro seized his chance after Federer netted a topspin forehand, and clinched on his first match-point chance on another wayward forehand from the top-seeded Swiss.

Date: 28th October 2012, Source: AP

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Federer, Del Potro to meet in Swiss Indoors final

Roger Federer and Juan Martin del Potro advanced to the Swiss Indoors final, setting up a rematch of their epic semifinal at the London Olympics.

Top-ranked Federer brushed aside Paul-Henri Mathieu of France 7-5, 6-4 in the semifinals after Del Potro eased to a 6-2, 6-2 win over third-seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet.

Victory for Federer saw him draw level with John McEnroe’s tally of 875 match wins, the fourth-best total in the Open Era. Should he win his 77th tour-level title on Sunday, he would also equal the American’s career haul.

The 31-year-old Federer will contest the final of this ATP World Tour 500 indoor hard court tournament for the ninth time. As well as victories in 2006-08 and 2010-11, he was also runner-up in 2000-01 and 2009. He is bidding to win his seventh tour-level title of the season.

Federer has beaten Del Potro all six times they have met this season on a mixture of clay, grass and hard courts, though he was pushed to his limits on Centre Court at Wimbledon in London Olympics. Federer won 19-17 in the decisive third set. Overall, Federer has won 13 out of 15 meetings with Del Potro whose only wins over the Swiss were at the U.S. Open final in 2009 and at the World Tour Finals the same year.

''I'm excited to see how he is going to come out and play,'' Federer said of Sunday's final. ''We have had a couple of tough ones, at the French Open and particularly at the Olympics. I had a really hard time breaking his serve. The margins are extremely small.''

''I was close in the Olympics and French Open but I never beat him this year,'' said the eight-ranked Del Potro, who rebounded from the tough Olympics loss to win his bronze-medal match. ''He has all the shots. He's a very, very complete player.''

Excellent anticipation at the net put Federer into position to hit a volleyed winner to create two set points in the first. He clinched with a forehand winner.

Federer moved his opponent around the court in the final game before putting away an overhead to earn match point, and sealed victory when Mathieu netted a two-handed backhand. Federer did not have to face one break point against Mathieu, converting two of the four that came his way to ease into the final.



Date: 27th October 2012, Source: AP and Reuters

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Federer reaches 10th Basel SF

World No. 1 Roger Federer remained on course for a sixth Swiss Indoors Basel title on Friday, dismissing Benoit Paire 6-2, 6-2 to reach the semi-finals at his hometown event for the 10th time.

"It was a good match for me and I'm pleased to be back in the semi-finals," said the world number one.

"It cannot have been easy for him playing a top 10 player. I had to play aggressive, but by the fourth game of the match, I knew what I had to do."

Federer took 24 of his 25 first serve points and broke the Frenchman twice in each set to advance in just 54 minutes. The top seed has won 32 of his last 33 matches in Basel and is aiming to get through to his seventh straight final at the ATP World Tour 500 tournament.

On Saturday, Federer will take on wild card Paul-Henri Mathieu. Federer has won all five of their previous meetings.

"I'm looking forward to playing Paul-Henri, he's from my generation. It's good to see him back as well after his knee problems. I'm looking forward to the match."

The Swiss has captured a season-leading six tour-level trophies in 2012. He won his 17th major title at Wimbledon (d. Murray) and triumphed at three ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells (d. Isner), Madrid (d. Berdych) and Cincinnati (d. Djokovic). He is looking to defend crucial points in the battle for the year-end South African Airways ATP No. 1 Ranking with Novak Djokovic. Last year, Federer finished the 2011 season on a 17-match win streak, lifting three straight trophies in Basel, the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris and the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.



Date: 26th October 2012, Source: ATP and AFP

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Roger Federer Foundation accepts ATP ACES for Charity grant

World No. 1 Roger Federer accepted a €10,000 ATP ACES For Charity grant for the Roger Federer Foundation during his hometown tournament, the Swiss Indoors Basel.

“It was very much appreciated, any size of donation to our Foundation,” he said. “It’s a big number and we thank the ATP very much.”

The Roger Federer Foundation aspires to enable as many children as possible to take control of their future, and to actively shape it. It promotes access to quality education, supporting projects operated by local nonprofit organisations primarily in Southern Africa and Switzerland.

The ATP ACES For Charity grant will help support a new project in Zambia, with the foundation’s partner People’s Action Forum, which seeks to improve the quality of education in 41 rural community schools.

“We just had a foundation meeting just before the tournament and took some good decisions,” shared the Swiss. “You can go see it on RogerFedererFoundation.org.”

Federer is among 14 recipients of the 2012 ATP ACES For Charity grants, supporting a range of causes worldwide, from children’s social services and youth enrichment programmes to healthcare, HIV/AIDS education and earthquake relief. The ATP ACES For Charity programme, launched in 2011, is a global initiative aimed at giving back to communities where ATP World Tour events are played, as well as recognising and supporting tournament and player charitable initiatives.

Date: 25th October 2012, Source: ATP

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Federer stays on course for title No. 6

Roger Federer advanced to the quarter-finals of the Swiss Indoors on Wednesday, beating Thomaz Bellucci as 6-3 6-7(6) 7-5 in Basel.

Federer broke at the first time of asking against his Brazilian rival, manoeuvring the ball around the court with ease to move into a 3-0 lead. As is typical of a Federer performance, a solitary break was all he needed to close out the set, although he did have to save two break points against him as he attempted to serve it out.

Bellucci mounted a response early in the second, taking Federer to 30-30 on the Swiss's delivery, but after losing that game he struggled to make inroads throughout the rest of the set - winning five points against the serve despite Federer operating below a 50% first-serve success rate.

It went to a tiebreaker, and Bellucci stormed into a 6-2 lead to create four set points. Federer saved all four but eventually relented as the Brazilian levelled the match.

Forced to a third set, Federer came out fighting, creating a break point in Bellucci's first service game. He failed to convert on that occasion but eventually made the decisive breakthrough as Bellucci served to stay in the match.

Federer will meet the winner of Lukasz Kubot and Benoit Paire in the last eight.

Date: 24th October 2012, Source: ESPN

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Federer opens bid for sixth Basel title with win

Roger Federer began his bid for a sixth title at the Swiss Indoors by beating substitute opponent Benjamin Becker 7-5, 6-3 on Monday to reach the second round.

The German ranked 83rd with one career title had replaced injured Frenchman Jeremy Chardy as the first opponent for the Swiss home hero and world number one.

Federer, who has won five of the last six editions at the St Jakobshalle where he got his start in tennis as a ballboy at the tournament almost two decades ago, needed to work to get past the persistent Becker, whom he beat in their last two meetings, the last in 2010.

"I was well-prepared to play Becker instead of Chardy," said Federer, bidding for his 77th career title this week and after more than 300 weeks spent as the ATP number one.

"You have to keep the game of these guys in mind, You don't play them that much but you need to know how they play,"

The winner advanced in just under 90 minutes after a first set which took an hour and fired 10 aces in victory.

But the Swiss didn't have it all his own way, missing on six break points in the opening set and going down a break in the second before finally settling in, taking charge and running out the winner.

"I don't know exactly how I changed it around," said Federer. "He broke me at 2-3 but I was able to get it straight back. It all went so fast at the end, but the first set was really tough."

Federer's win was his 65th of the season against nine losses. He owns an ATP-leading six titles in 2012.

"It is just so great to play at home as world number one after the season I've had," said Federer. "It's a wonderful feeling to be here playing at the top of my game. Sometimes things just all come together."

Federer is making his 13th appearance in his hometown tournament and now stands 44-7 at the event. Besides his five titles and also played finals in 2000-01 and 2009.

The winner will await an opponent from Brazilian Tomaz Bellucci, finalist at the weekend in Moscow, and Japan's Go Soeda.

Date: 22nd October 2012, Source: AFP

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Roger Federer and Nationale Suisse extend their partnership

International insurer Nationale Suisse and the # 1 tennis player in the world Roger Federer have extended their six-year-long collaboration for a further four years.

Roger Federer is the ideal brand ambassador for Nationale Suisse. Hans Künzle, CEO of Nationale Suisse, says: “We are proud to have been able to extend our successful partnership with Roger Federer for a further four years.” The global tennis star and philanthropist embodies the corporate values of the Swiss insurer: “personal, successful and caring”. Roger Federer adds: “Nationale Suisse has been a loyal partner and the collaboration with them has been amazing. They were one of the first companies that believed in me and I am excited to continue to work with them and be part of their family for the years to come.”

The partnership between Nationale Suisse and Roger Federer began 2007 and is more than just an ordinary advertising contract. For instance, besides being used in TV, print and digital advertising campaigns, Roger Federer has also lent his name to the Nationale Suisse locomotive, which has been transporting passengers around Switzerland for a year now. For every kilometre travelled, Nationale Suisse makes a contribution to the Roger Federer Foundation which focuses most of its efforts on educational projects for children in Africa.

Date: 22nd October 2012, Source: Nationale Suisse

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Spotlight on hometown hero Roger Federer in Basel; Draw released

Roger Federer will claim the bulk of the spotlight when the Swiss Indoors Basel begins on Monday with his opening showcase match.

The hometown tennis hero and world number one will miss the chance at possible revenge against Andy Murray after a Shanghai semifinal defeat a week ago as the Scot withdrew with back pain before the draw.

It was Murray's second straight Basel pullout after he quit prior to his first match a year ago with a muscle injury. He has not actually played a match at the venue since his only appearance in 2005 as a teenager.

Federer, as usual, is scheduled for prime-time Monday evening at the St Jakobshalle, the iconic local venue where he got his start in tennis two decades ago as a ballboy at the tournament.

He will face 32nd-ranked Frenchman Jeremy Chardy for the first time.

The world number one will be fighting during the week to protect his top season ranking, with pressure on from number two Serb Novak Djokovic, who is taking the week off from competition.

Federer is defending champion's points over the next three weeks after a stunning finish to last season.

The 31-year-old has won five of the last six editions in Basel, defeating Japan's rising ace Kei Nishikori in the 2011 final.

Argentine Juan Martin del Potro, chasing a spot in the ATP World Tour Finals in London for which Federer has already qualified, takes the second seeding, ahead of Richard Gasquet of France.

Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka is seeded fourth and begins against Russian veteran Nikolay Davydenko. The "junior" Swiss is seeded for a semifinal meeting with Federer.

Italian Andreas Seppi takes the fifth seeding, ahead of Mikhail Youzhny, Florian Mayer and Viktor Troicki.

Wild cards go to a pair of Swiss, hometowner and longtime Federer friend Marco Chiudinelli and youngster Henri Laaksonen.

Seeds:

Roger Federer (SUI x1)

Juan Martin del Potro (ARG x2)

Richard Gasquet (FRA x3)

Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI x4)

Andreas Seppi (ITA x5)

Mikhail Youzhny (RUS x6)

Florian Mayer (GER x7)

Viktor Troicki (SRB x8)

Full draw:

Date: 20th October 2012, Source: AFP

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Federer's press conference ahead of Basel

Yesterday, Roger Federer met the press to talk about the next tournament in Basel, but not only. Of course they could not miss any questions concerning the closing of the year by the 'King' of the ATP: "I do not know what are the chances that I have to finish the year as number one, is a big mountain to climb, it is no longer only in my hands. Firstly I want to finish the year off with tournaments in Basel, Paris and London. Later we will see how it goes. If you do not manage to finish the year as number one, at least I hope I can win some tournaments. I was surprised at the speed with which I have taken the top spot. I won Wimbledon, the Olympic medal, I would say that I have achieved what I set for myself. I’m glad to feel good. "



A very tiring 2012 when Federer has traveled and played a lot, "I played a lot of games. To do this I had to plan my life alright. I also tried to do a little preparation ahead of the 2013."

"I'm glad I managed to best this season. Madrid From the land of blue to red in Amsterdam, has flown by so quickly, like an express train. I can’t do this every year. I have to say that it is difficult to manage workouts and tournaments together, but need to find a balance. If you train a little and then get in the game might not play your best. It’s what I did in Shanghai. I tried some tactical solutions during workouts. Once in camp I decided to risk some extra ball to see if worked and I've gotten only losing in the semifinals. Of course I knew that attempts could go wrong. I did not play my best tennis but now there's a new tournament, a point of departure. "

On Thursday, Roger Federer visited his tennis school in Biel where he trained in his childhood days.

There are so many memories that bind him in Basel: "I was a ball boy. Unfortunately I've never been in a final since I got injured in the leg. In 1997 I played the qualifiers. It 's always nice to play at home. I remember the game against Andre Agassi, was obviously a match almost impossible for me, but I was happy to be on center. Basel gave me joy and pain. The most difficult time I have lived in the final against Enqvist, I played a good match but he was amazing . When I lost, during the awards ceremony began to see all black in front of me, I thought that I would never won a tournament. in 2006 against Fernando Gonzalez finally was able to realize my dream. "



Although he has reiterated several times that Bercy in his programs, there is still doubt about his participation: "I hope to be able to play three tournaments in three weeks. Certainly after Basel I will think about what to do regarding Bercy. I have to evaluate my form. "

Nothing official on Davis Cup 2013: "I have not any clear program. I have my own idea on Davis but nothing official. I want to play in the coming years so I manage in the long term. I'll try to train a lot."

Date: 20th October 2012, Source: Tennis World

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ATP World Tour Awards 2012: Roger Federer could make it 10 in a row

With the the year-end No. 1 still up for grabs by Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, the race to one of the top prizes in this year’s ATP World Tour Awards could go all the way to London in three weeks’ time.

The prestigious ATP World Tour No. 1 trophy is one of the 11 awards - the nominations for which have just been announced - that will be made during the World Tour Finals which take place at London’s O2 Arena between 5 and 12 November.

The favourite to become 2012’s player of the year for the second year in a row is Djokovic: He stands more than 2,000 points ahead of Federer with very few tournaments remaining. Indeed Federer faces the daunting task of winning the Basel 500 next week, the Paris Masters and then the World Tour Finals - with Djokovic performing poorly throughout. But then Federer did win those three titles last year: The race is still alive.

Both men are sure to be contenders for the Fans’ Favourite Award too. Last year they finished in the top two places in a category that is decided by the fans themselves. The popular Swiss took the 2011 honours, his ninth straight win, and could well make it No. 10.

Federer is also in line for one of the most sought-after accolades, the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award. The winner is selected by fellow players, and has also been dominated in the past by the Swiss. His win last year was his seventh - he was his colleagues’ choice from 2004 to 2009 as well - and he is one of the four nominees for 2012.

Federer is not the only one hoping to be a repeat winner this year. Americans Bob and Mike Bryan are clear of the field in the race to claim the ATP World Tour No. 1 Doubles Team Award. It would be their fourth in the row, their seventh in the last eight years. They must surely be in contention to take the Fans’ Favourite Award in the doubles category, too: They have won it for the last six years.

Vote at http://www.atpworldtour.com/Fans/ATP-Awards/Fans-Favorite-Voting-2012.aspx

Categories and nominees:

ATP World Tour No. 1:

The player who ends the year as World No. 1 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings.

ATP World Tour No. 1 Doubles Team:

The team that ends the year as World No. 1 in the ATP Doubles Team Rankings Race To London. 

Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award (Voted by Players):

The player who, throughout the year, conducted himself at the highest level of professionalism and integrity, who competed with his fellow players with the utmost spirit of fairness and who promoted the game through his off-court activities.

Nominees:

Marin Cilic

Juan Martin del Potro

Roger Federer

David Ferrer

Most Improved Player of the Year:

The player who reached a significantly higher ranking by year's end and who demonstrated an increasingly improved level of performance through the year.

Nominees (Year-end 2011 Ranking and 8 Oct, 2012 Ranking):

Jeremy Chardy (103-31)

Marinko Matosevic (203-58)

Juan Monaco (26-10)

Go Soeda (120-55)

New Comer of the Year:

The player who, based on his ranking move in 2012, has made the biggest impact on the ATP World Tour.

Nominees (Year-end 2011 Ranking and 8 Oct, 2012 Ranking):

David Goffin (174-48)

Jerzy Janowicz (221-80)

Martin Klizan (117-34)

Andrey Kuznetsov (222-72)

Comeback Player of the Year:

The player who has overcome serious injury in re-establishing himself as one of the top players on the ATP World Tour.

Nominees (Year-end 2011 Ranking and 8 Oct, 2012 Ranking):

Brian Baker (456-62)

Tommy Haas (205-21)

Paul Henri Mathieu (Unr-102)

Sam Querrey (93-26)

Tournaments of the Year:

The tournament in its category that operated at the highest level of professionalism and integrity and which provided the best conditions and atmosphere for participating players.

ATP World Tour Masters 1000

ATP World Tour 500

ATP World Tour 250

Note: Tournament awards will not be announced before the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals

Chosen by ATP:

Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award:

The person who has made outstanding humanitarian contributions. Previous winners include James Blake, Roger Federer, Carlos Moya, former South African President Nelson Mandela and Arthur Ashe.

Ron Bookman Media Excellence Award:

The journalist who has made significant contributions to the game of tennis.

Date: 18th October 2012, Source: ATP and The Sport Review

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Roger Federer's Childhood and Junior days photos

 

A collection of Roger Federer's childhood and junior days photos.

Date: 18th October 2012, Updated: 30th October 2015

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