Tim Henman says Federer is the best player that has ever lived

Former British No. 1 Tim Henman insists Roger Federer still has plenty more to give and has called on fans to back the Swiss.

Federer has struggled in 2013 with only one trophy to his name and early exits at Wimbledon and the US Open, leading many to suggest the record 17-time grand slam champion may call it quits sooner rather than later.

However, Henman has hit out at those suggestions and believes the 32-year-old will bounce back.

"A lot of people question Roger and ask 'is he going to retire soon?'" Henman told the Metro.

"But I think we should just enjoy watching him while we can. He's the best player that has ever lived and it's going to be a long time before we see another player like him."

Federer has slipped to fifth in the world rankings, but was as low as seventh not so long ago. Henman though says the greatest player of all-time cannot be disregarded in future events.

"Roger is 32 now and it doesn't get any easier to bounce back," Henman said.

"However, he's won so many titles and has so much experience, it's far too early to be writing somebody like that off. He hasn't had the best year but he's still motivated and he loves playing the game. He'll be back soon."

Date: 22nd September 2013, Source: ESPN

Read More

Federer will team with Zhang for doubles at Shanghai Masters

Former world No. 1 Roger Federer will play doubles with Zhang Ze, China’s top-ranked men’s player, next month at the Shanghai Masters.

Zhang, who lists Federer as his idol, said he was excited about the chance to play with the winner of 17 grand slam titles.

“Thanks to him for this oppertunity. I was surprised when first told about it,” the 23-year-old Nanjing native said. “But I’m looking forward to it and will try to learn something from the matches.”

“I know I am going to be quite nervous to be the doubles partner of Roger,” said Zhang. “He is such a big name all over the world and has achieved so much success, he is very, very popular in China and I see this as a big chance for me to get very good experience. I am very excited and I think my whole family will come and see the match.”

Federer said these types of matches may help men’s tennis develop further in China.

Zhang is ranked 182nd on the ATP Tour, the highest among Chinese players. He reached the semifinals of the ATP International Challenge in Shanghai last week.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for Zhang and we are truly delighted that Roger agreed to play with him,” said Michael Luevano. “The atmosphere will be quite special at Qi Zhong and will definitely prove to be a lot of fun for the fans and I am quite sure the two players as well.

“We know that Roger does not play a lot of doubles through the year so having him take to the doubles court in Shanghai is a wonderful addition to what is already shaping up to be a fantastic week of tennis.

“I have talked with Roger and Tony Godsick his manager, for a few years about playing doubles in Shanghai, it is just amazing that Roger has chosen to play with a Chinese player. It is a great testament to his affection with China and his Chinese fans, he really could have played with anyone.”

He received a wild card into the Shanghai Masters, which begins on October 5, by virtue of being the best Chinese player in the Challenge tournament.

Federer has always been a favorite among tennis fans in Shanghai.

He and Zhang almost faced each other in last year’s Masters event. However, with a second round clash on the cards, Zhang lost to Lu Yen-hsun of Chinese Taipei in the first round.

Ticket prices range from 160 yuan (US$26) to 1,580 yuan. The first day of the event is open to the public for free.

Date: 12th September 2013, Source: Shanghai Daily

Read More

Roger Federer: 'I self destructed'

Roger Federer said that he 'self-destructed’ during an error-prone 6-7(3), 3-6, 4-6 straight-sets defeat to 19th seed Spaniard Tommy Robredo at the US Open on Monday night. The loss means that the 17-time Grand Slam champion will finish a season without reaching a major final for the first time since 2002.

Federer made 43 unforced errors to Robredo's 26, including a litany of uncharacteristic errors from advantageous positions on his forehand wing.

“I kind of feel like I beat myself, without taking any credit away from Tommy,” Federer said. “Clearly he was making sure he was making many balls. It was up to me to make the difference and I couldn't. I kind of self destructed, which is very disappointing, especially on a quicker court. Your serve helps you out. You're going to make the difference somewhere. I just couldn't do it.  It was a frustrating performance today.”

The shock defeat, his first in 11 career meetings against Robredo, ended fan hopes for a quarter-final showdown with World No. 2 Rafael Nadal. “It’s not that much of a disappointment at the end of the day,” Federer said. “If I'm playing like this, I'm not going to beat Rafa, or Kohlschreiber, for that matter… I was fighting with other things in my match today. Not thinking too far ahead of myself, especially the level I was playing at."

Had Federer won tonight he would have reached his 41st Grand Slam quarter-final, a record held by Jimmy Connors.

From the first of his five consecutive title runs in 2004 through to his runner-up finish to Juan Martin del Potro in 2009, Federer amassed a 40-match winning streak at Flushing Meadows. But he has not returned to the final in his past four outings and his fourth round exit to Robredo is his earliest US Open exit since 2003.

Federer, 32, who converted just two of 16 break point chances against Robredo, said that he would not dwell on the defeat. “I've definitely got to go back to work and come back stronger, get rid of this loss now as quick as I can, forget about it, because that's not how I want to play from here on. I want to play better.  I know I can. I showed it the last few weeks, that there is that level. So today was pretty frustrating.

“When I lose, people are shellshocked to see me play this way… But there's no doubt about it, I'm trying hard out there trying to make it work. Sometimes it just doesn't happen.”

"Nothing goes past the hard work," he said.

"I'll make sure I put the work in. I'll believe in it and go after it. In some ways, as a player, you're always excited about that prospect because there's always something to look forward to, even in a big disappointment like the match today."

Federer has work to do to qualify for the ATP World Tour Finals, the season-ending tournament that he has won a record six times. He is not scheduled to play again until the Shanghai Rolex Masters, which begins October 6. He is then slated to play the Swiss indoors Basel and the BNP Paribas Masters in the final two weeks of the season.

“I don't think I'll change my schedule,” Federer said. “I believe if I do play well, I'll make good results.”

Date: 3rd September 2013, Source: ATP

Read More

Federer downs Mannarino to reach fourth round

Five-time US Open champion Roger Federer has cruised into the fourth round, crushing Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 6-0, 6-2 on Saturday night.

The left-handed World No. 63 saved three match points, including one courtesy of a double fault from Federer, but was unable to hold off the 17-time major winner.

The Swiss seventh seed needed just one hour and 21 minutes to post the victory, during which he saved the only break point he faced.

"There's always a lot of pressure coming out here on this court to perform, because you never know if you're going to play well," Federer said immediately after the match, to the crowd on Arthur Ashe Stadium. "Tonight was one of those nights."

"I think I was able to really use my serve well. Because it was breezy tonight again, I used the wind a bit better and I had more variation than him, which gave me more margin in my game," said the right-hander, who lifted his win-loss record in Arthur Ashe night matches to 22-1. "I won the first set and I was able to play with the lead...that makes things easier."

The former World No. 1 acknowledged that he imposed his game and power against his younger opponent. "He plays quite unusual...he's got a very short take-back and he hits extremely flat, as flat as anybody out there, especially on the backhand side," observed Federer.

The father-of-two said his back is no longer troubling him.  "I'm not scared of getting injured anymore," Federer told Jim Courier in a post-match television interview. "I'm happy to take full flight and chase every ball, which is key if you want to win this tournament."

It sets up a round of 16 clash against 19th seed Tommy Robredo, who ended the run of Great Britain's Daniel Evans, 7-6(6), 6-1, 4-6, 7-5.

"I think he's a very good player, mentally and physically really tough. I think he showed that in Paris this year, I think he won three five‑setters in a row," said Federer, referring to Robredo's consecutive victories over Igor Sijsling, Gael Monfils and Nicolas Almagro. "He's also a player I've known since a long time, he came through the juniors with me...I know his game well, he knows mine really well."

Federer holds a 10-0 Head ot Head lead over the 31-year-old Spaniard, though the pair haven't met since the 2011 Australian Open.

"Usually when you play against one of the best players ever, it's normal that your head-to-head is down," said Robredo. "It's a good opportunity to try to change it. I will try everything, I will try to recover as well as possible to see if I can have a great battle against him."

Should Federer maintain his undefeated record against Robredo, he could meet World No. 2 Rafael Nadal in a highly anticipated quarter-final.

''I don't look ahead, even though I understand the urge of the press to try to go there already, which is entirely normal. I have gone through that my entire career, people talking about our matches even before the tournament started,'' Federer said. ''We're used to it. We know how to handle it. Clearly I think we both hope it's going to happen this time, for the first time in New York.''

Federer was asked whether he was disappointed at all that Saturday's match was so short, depriving him of a chance to enjoy the electric atmosphere that often accompanies night sessions in Arthur Ashe Stadium.

''I like it like this, you know,'' Federer said with a smile. ''I like three hours, five hours, too - as long as I end up winning them.''

Date: 1st September 2013, Source: ATP and AP

Read More