Smooth Federer ends Dzumhur's dream day

For Bosnia's Damir Dzumhur it was the day he had dreamed of while for Roger Federer it was just another day at the office.

The two, from vastly different tennis backgrounds, met across the net for the first time on Friday when Federer's class told in a 6-4 6-3 6-2 win to continue his smooth progress at the French Open.

Federer, 33, is yet to drop a set in three rounds as he tries to win the title for a second time after his 2009 triumph.

Dzumhur, born in Sarajevo in 1992, the year the city was besieged in a bitter civil war that killed thousands, played his part in an entertaining contest.

The world number 88, the first Bosnian man to contest a grand slam at the 2014 Australian Open, impressed the 17-times grand slam champion with his drop shots and was not overawed on Court Phillipe Chatrier, the biggest stage he has played on.

"When I was warming up, I was still not believing that I was playing Roger Federer," he told reporters.

"Really, it felt so strange for me, like I'm dreaming... But then, suddenly, I switched when I started to play."

Federer broke serve in the fifth game, which was sufficient to bag the first set, and a majestic backhand pass gave him a break at the start of the second.

The agile Dzumhur stuck to his task, earned some chances himself and even broke Federer when the Swiss served for the second set at 5-2, flashing a stunning backhand down the line.

The end came quickly in the third set but Dzumhur walked off with his head held high and 85,000 euros richer, a lot of money for a player who has virtually no financial support from his hard-up home federation.

Federer had some kind words for his opponent after notching his 64th career victory at Roland Garros and recalled when he walked out on court to play against his idols.

"It was the most exciting time almost in my playing career, going from that phase from juniors to pros, and then rubbing shoulders with those guys," said the former champion.

"Seeing them prepare, joke around, being one of you, basically, and all of a sudden you become friends with them. I think it's very cool.

"I thought Damir played well. I think he played drop shots well. He moves well. So I thought it was an entertaining match. I wish him all the best for the year and for the future."

Dzumhur was contesting the third round of a Grand Slam for the second time, having also reached the last 32 at the 2014 Australian Open as a qualifier. He is the only man from Bosnia/Herzegovina ever to play at a Grand Slam championship.

"I guess it was entertaining," said Dzumhur. "I really was excited before the match. I didn't feel that much pressure like I felt with Berdych last year, or with Ferrer. So I came a bit more relaxed on the court and started good. That was okay. So I feel that everything was okay. My game was good. I just can say that Roger played really too good today. He was playing so aggressive with all kind of shots. Big congratulations to him. Of course I was always saying that he's the best tennis player for me, and today he show why."

Federer will face either French showman Gael Monfils or Uruguay's Pablo Cuevas for a quarter-final place.

Date: 29th May 2015, Source: Reuters and ATP

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Federer eases into French Open third round

Roger Federer continued his seamless progress at the French Open on Wednesday by ousting Marcel Granollers of Spain 6-2, 7-6(1), 6-3 to reach the third round.

The Swiss second seed got the job done in one hour, 47 minutes before a packed crowd on Court Suzanne Lenglen, although he was broken twice and his opponent made life tough in the second set in particular.

"I think I was actually playing very well," said Federer. "I wasn't nervous really. I think things went well for me for the first couple of sets. I think I was in control. Even though I was down a break in the second set, I still felt the match was in my racquet. And when you feel that way, obviously you're always going to feel more confident, more comfortable, not nervous.

"But the thing you don't want to do is you want to start off badly sets, and that's what happened in the beginning of the third. I played a horrible game. It was just very disappointing and frustrating. But after that, I must say, it was probably my best spell of the match right after that... I was offensive. I was successful at net. So overall, I was very, very pleased."

Federer will next face Damir Dzumhur as he continues his quest for an 18th Grand Slam championship. A three-time ATP World Tour titlist in 2015, the Swiss has a 27-5 match record.

Federer broke Granollers twice in the opener of their fourth meeting, but came close to falling 2-5 down in the second set. He regrouped and went on to lose just two more of his service points in the 50-minute set.

Granollers jumped out to a 2-0 start in the third set, but Federer fought back, clinching his third break point opportunity in a 12-point seventh game. Overall, Federer hit 38 winners, including three aces.

Granollers, who won just 17 of 77 points on return of serve, has a 1-12 record against opponents in the Top 10 of the ATP Rankings.

Dzumhur knocked out Marcos Baghdatis 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 mid-afternoon.

"I don't know him very well," said Federer. "I might even go so far to say I have actually almost never seen him play maybe before. It will be an interesting match-up clearly, and a different approach to the match I played today."

There were no unwanted court invaders this time around like the teenager who ran onto Court Philippe Chatrier to take a selfie with the Swiss star after his first-round win against Alejandro Falla on Sunday.

However, Federer was watched by Angus Young, the guitarist of veteran Australian rock band AC/DC who was soaking up the Paris sunshine having performed in the French capital on Saturday.

Speaking on-court at the end of the match, Federer said: "I have seen them twice in concert. Once when I was 15 and I even met him.

"I still had long hair at the time. I don't know if he remembers. It is a real pleasure to see him here."

Date: 27th May 2015, Source: ATP and AFP

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Federer: I thought about retiring after the Davis Cup final

Roger Federer thought about retiring right after the David Cup final last year, but he decided it wasn´t the right time. Roger explains why he will continue even after the Olympic games of Rio 2016.

Federer is in Paris, relaxed and ready to start his quest for a second French Open title. No one expects him to triumph, considering how all eyes will be on the top half of the draw, where Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray will all go against one another to clinch a spot in the final. Roger clearly is the one who is having most fun playing tennis at the moment. Free of pressure, nothing to prove anymore to his fans and to himself, the Swiss has found his perfect mind status. Why would he want to change that? Why people keep asking him about his retirement right now that Roger is enjoying himself more than ever?

During an interview with French Le Monde, Roger Federer addressed a variety of topics ranging from his retirement plans to doping controls in the sport.The World No.2 revealed that repeating the success of 2009, in Paris, is still a goal for him: "On clay, I spend less time than in previous years, but the goal is still to win. You always have goals, and you don't forget defeats like the one against Seppi in Australia. In 2008, Rafa beat me sharply, but then the next year I came back and won. I am proud of this."

The Swiss said he thought about retirement after Switzerland's victory in the Davis Cup last November: "For a moment I thought about it, but then I said 'I'm not ready to do it'. I don't want to retire and then maybe come back again. I have to play a match in Davis Cup before the Olympic Games in Rio, although I think that the rule is ridiculous. It would have been nice to retire after the Davis Cup, but I have not made that decision."

The Swiss maestro currently has a Grand Slam record of 17 titles, however other players are closing in on his record. If Rafael Nadal should win in Paris this month, he would get Grand Slam title number 15. Despite this, Federer is staying relaxed about the prospect of his record being broken: "Rafa is very close, he can do it. The records are there to be broken, I'm very relaxed about this. I had my moment when I passed Sampras's record. You do not want someone to beat your record, but you are happy for the player who can do it. In the end no one will take away what you've done, just come and passed."

Finally, in regards to the controversial doping issue: "Maybe there should be more controls. It is important that players know that in every tournament, you get checked. I think the program of WADA is proceeding in the right direction, the biological passport is a good start. In 2004 I was checked 25 times a year. Now I think 15 times. Last year, during the weekend of Davis Cup, I was tested 3 times in 3 days".

Federer has so far reached the final of the French Open on five occasions. His only French Open title was in 2009 when he beat Robin Söderling in the final.

Date: 25th May 2015, Source: Tennis World USA

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Federer blasts French Open after security scare

Roger Federer blasted French Open organisers after a fan breached tight security and raced on to court to grab a 'selfie' with the Swiss great.

The 17-time Grand Slam winner had just completed a routine 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 win over Colombia's Alejandro Falla when he was shocked to see a young fan sprinting towards him on the showpiece Philippe Chatrier Court.

It was particularly embarrassing as security at this year's French Open has been tightened following January's deadly Islamist attack on Paris-based satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

Although the male fan was quickly manhandled away, 33-year-old Federer was furious with the lapse in security, claiming he had also been targeted in practice on Saturday.

"I am not happy about it. It happened yesterday in the practice, too. It's just a kid, but then three more kids came. And today on centre court where you would think this is a place where nobody can come on, just wanders on and nothing happens," said Federer.

"It happened during the finals in 2009 as well for me. So I definitely think this is something that something needs to happen quickly.

"Normally I only speak on behalf of myself, but in this situation I think I can speak on behalf of all the players, that that's where you do your job, that's where you want to feel safe. And so clearly I'm not happy about it.

"But nothing happened, so I'm relieved. But clearly it wasn't a nice situation to be in."

In 1993, former women's world number one Monica Seles was stabbed in the back on court during her quarter-final match against Bulgarian Magdalena Maleeva in Hamburg.

"We need to make sure that it's safe out there and people don't just wander on the court like a free pass, you know. That's how it's supposed to be," said Federer.

Two years ago in the final, which featured Rafael Nadal, was also held up when a spectator, brandishing a flare, leapt from the stands and onto the court before he was wrestled away by security officials.

Tournament director Gilbert Ysern admitted that Federer was right and that the youth, who had been sitting in the courtside sponsors boxes, had been banned from the event.

"But it's not the end of the world," said Ysern.

"It's embarrassing. It shows that we made a mistake and we have to correct it to make sure it doesn't happen again.

''There are other moments when people want to take photos, to sign a piece of paper. That's OK. We have time for that. Time slots for that,'' Ysern said. ''But on the courts, it's sacred, it's forbidden at any moment for whatever reason.''

Date: 24th May 2015, Source: AFP and Reuters

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Federer begins quest for second Roland Garros title

Roger Federer got his quest underway Sunday for a second Roland Garros title and 18th Grand Slam crown.

Second seed Federer improved to 8-0 lifetime against lucky loser Alejandro Falla with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 at the start of his 62nd straight Grand Slam championship.

Federer hit 42 winners, including eight aces, converting three of his 15 break point opportunities for victory in one hour and 49 minutes. He is now 62-15 at the clay-court major in Paris, where he lifted the trophy in 2009 (d. Soderling), and he will next challenge Marcel Granollers in the second round.

Granollers, a 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(7) winner over qualifier Matthias Bachinger, equaled his best result at the tournament last year in reaching the Round of 16 (l. to Raonic). Federer leads the ATP Head to Head series 3-0.

"I'm not sure that the first round is any different," Federer said. "I think that as we go through the tournament, then we probably feel that we are more and more satisfied. But the first round is a bit like I want to win the first round, to be in the tournament and not to go back home immediately, to be one of the first ten players to go back home. So that's the whole idea about it. That is, you want to play a good match and then focus on the future. That's when I will start enjoying this moment."

Federer has a 26-5 match record on the season, which includes three titles at the Brisbane International presented by Suncorp (d. Raonic), the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships (d. Djokovic) and the TEB BNP Paribas Istanbul Open (d. Cuevas).

Date: 24th May 2015, Source: ATP

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Federer: "Whether its the semis or the finals, we're all in the same tournament"

He may not be the top favourite, but he is certainly the man to beat on the "other" side of the brackets. 2009 champion Roger Federer managed to escape the "half of death" when the draw was made on Friday morning, but that was no reason for him to get carried away with his chances of a second French Open success and 18th Grand Slam title.

"Clearly having Rafa in Novak's section is the biggest news," he said during his "media day" stint on Friday. "But you don't want to disrespect all the players that are in between those two. We the players are very careful, because there are tour professionals that are unbelievable players, and they get forgotten in the process, which I think is a bit of a pity."

"Nadal and Djokovic are not on my side of the draw, but they are, because at the end of the day we are all playing the same tournament. Whether it's in the semis or in the finals, if you lose, you lose at one point or another. So my objective is to not lose. I may not play these players right away, but I may have to play them later. It will be interesting to see Rafa play Novak. Rafa is very difficult to beat. Except for Soderling, I don't really know who else can do it."

With so many players in with a genuine chance of going deep in the tournament this year, court conditions will play a critical role throughout the fortnight. "When it's a little slower it's better for Nadal," the 33-year-old Swiss explained. "That way he is even less impressed by big servers. The same thing is true of me. Typically we play more on the baseline. That's where he's really strong physically, and mentally he knows how to find the right angles. With five sets he has even more leeway and margin and the confidence that no one else has here at Roland Garros. I think the players are fully aware of this, but of course every single time he's back he has to prove it again. His record is very incredible."

Talk moved to Nadal's low (by his standards) ranking of No.7 and seeding of No.6 (due to the withdrawal of Milos Raonic), but for Federer, changing the seedings to reflect Nadal's dominance at Roland Garros over the past decade is "the wrong debate. I don't think it was going to be bad for Rafa because he's looking at defending his title whoever he has to play through. It's going to affect Novak more in my opinion."

And while Rafa and Novak are battling away in the top half, Roger will be bidding to tip-toe his way through the bottom half, with no pitfalls in his side of the draw until the likes of Gael Monfils in the fourth round and compatriot Stan Wawrinka in the quarters. With a 61-15 record at Roland Garros, Federer has the second most wins here (behind Nadal, who is 66-1). It would take quite an upset for him to overtake Nadal, but few would bet against him getting into the late 60s by the end of the fortnight.

Date: 22nd May 2015, Source: Roland Garros

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Roger Federer's Roland Garros 2015 Outfit

Roger Federer's French Open 2015 Nike Outfit.

Date: 20th May 2015

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Federer lost the Rome final to Djokovic

Top seed Novak Djokovic warmed up for the French Open with a comprehensive 6-4, 6-3 victory over Roger Federer to claim his fourth Italian Open title on Sunday.

"I know I can play better," said Federer. "Novak was rock solid today, he played great throughout. He made very few unforced errors. I'm happy, feeling good and healthy.

"It's a little bit frustrating, but in general I'm satisfied with my performance. I played a good match but Novak was just a little bit stronger than me.

"Physically, I know I'm in good form and I hope I give myself the chance to play better in Roland Garros than I have in recent years."

In the absence of seven-time champion Rafael Nadal, ousted in the quarter-finals, the Serbian produced a near flawless performance on centre court to defend his title and hand Federer his fourth final defeat in Rome.

With Roland Garros a little more than a week away, Djokovic could emerge as the favourite to claim what is an elusive title in the French capital, especially in light of Nadal's current woes on clay.

The Spaniard has won only one title on the surface this year, at Buenos Aires, and been beaten by Italian Fabio Fognini, Andy Murray, Djokovic and Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka in recent tournaments.

Djokovic, meanwhile, has brought his game to boiling point this week to claim his fifth title of the season and take his head-to-head record with the Swiss ace to 19-20.

On this performance, Djokovic will be hard to beat at the French Open, where Nadal's bid for a 10th title could be compounded by a lack of top seeding.

Djokovic is on a 37-match winning streak at the highest-level tournaments and after he took his winning streak this year to 22 matches.

The Serbian traded blows with Federer from the opening stages and, at 5-4 ahead, converted his first break of the set with a return winner that clipped the edge of the tramline.

Federer was not without some choice shots of his own, the classy Swiss powering a backhand winner down the line to save a second break point in the second game of the second set.

But Djokovic's precision, power and pace looked unstoppable. He took the early lead with a break for 2-0 and, after taking a three-game advantage behind a total of 30-12 baseline points won, was never in danger.

Djokovic secured his fourth Rome trophy in 76 minutes as Federer struck a forehand wide on match point.

The Swiss, who mulled skipping the tournament before making a last-minute decision to play, admitted Djokovic was simply too strong on the day.

Federer, the only man to break Nadal's formidable winning streak in Paris, in 2009, but who has lost four French Open finals to the Spaniard, hopes he will be among the challengers this year.

The Swiss walks away with 600 ATP Rankings points. He is now 85-44 in tour-level finals, including 23-18 in ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title matches.

Date: 17th May 2015, Source: AFP and ATP

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Federer and Djokovic to clash in Rome final

Roger Federer will renew his rivalry with Novak Djokovic in the Italian Open final on Sunday, giving the 17-time Grand Slam champion another chance to add an elusive title to his collection.

Federer dispatched Swiss countryman Stan Wawrinka 6-4, 6-2 in less than an hour in the semifinals on Saturday, while the top-ranked Djokovic delivered his best performance of the week, downing David Ferrer 6-4, 6-4.

Along with Monte Carlo, Rome is one of only two Masters series titles that Federer has never won.

''I just like winning a title. Now OK, this is Rome, and it's one I've never won so you might think it's extra special but for some reason it's not for me,'' Federer said.

Looking to replicate his dominant performance from a quarter-final upset of Rafael Nadal, Wawrinka sprinted to an early 3-0 lead on Sunday at the Foro Italico. The 30 year old dropped a mere four points in breaking his friend and rival in the second game and consolidating.

As was the key to success against Nadal, Wawrinka stepped into his shots from the baseline, taking his backhand early and not allowing Federer to find a rhythm off the ground. But the World No. 2 would have an immediate authoritative response, breaking back to 15 and pulling level at 3-all.

Federer maintained a swift response to Wawrinka's initial run, reeling off six of seven games to snatch the opening set. He would secure a second break for 5-4 behind a stunning backhand winner that clipped the far edge of the tramline.

With Wawrinka's quick start far in the rear-view mirror, Federer relinquished just six points in grabbing a 5-1 lead in the second set and the three-time finalist would claim victory in 55 minutes. The second seed reached his 41st ATP World Tour Masters 1000 final and 129th overall.

"I was happy with how I played, I was able to impose my game. Basically rock solid from the moment I got my game down," said Federer.

Federer had 18 winners to Wawrinka's 14, and won 12 of 14 points at the net.

This will be Federer's fourth final at the Foro Italico in 15 appearances: He was beaten by Felix Mantilla in 2003, by Nadal in a fifth-set tiebreaker in 2006, and by Nadal again in 2013.

''Tomorrow, I feel like I have a chance to play for it,'' Federer said. ''Novak is not Rafa on clay so it's a totally different situation. I've done fairly well against him in the past.''

So far this year it's one apiece between Djokovic and Federer, the former winning their last final at Indian Wells to make amends for Federer's win in Dubai.

Career-wise, Federer holds the advantage with 20 wins to Djokovic's 18.

The only truly worrisome moment for him came midway through the first set when his feet got stuck in a hole on the court that gave Djokovic and Sharapova trouble earlier in the day. Federer was wrong-footed when Wawrinka hit behind him and couldn't turn around.

Workers came onto the court during the middle of the game to smooth the clay over.

"The problem is, it kind of breaks away, so that's not ideal. When it happens once or twice, three times, you get a bit worried," said Federer.

"I don't think it's going to be an issue tomorrow it's the end of the tournament now and they'll do everything they can. It's clearly not ideal and I hope they can fix it to some extent for tomorrow."

Date: 16th May 2015, Source: AP, ATP and AFP

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Federer beats Berdych for Rome semifinals spot

Roger Federer advanced to the semi-finals of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on Friday in Rome with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Tomas Berdych.

Federer will play either Rafael Nadal or Stan Wawrinka in a blockbuster semi-final on Saturday at the Foro Italico.

The Swiss trailed by an early break in the first set, but reeled off four straight games from 2-3 down to seal the opener. Federer then broke through decisively in the seventh game of the second set and captured the final two games for victory in 67 minutes, hitting 15 winners to 11 unforced errors.

"From the baseline I was playing very well," said Federer. "My serve was not quite there in the beginning. I had to go through too many second serves and he was able to take advantage of that and break early. For me, it was important to pick it up on the serve, which is maybe the easiest thing to do.

"I felt good again on the return, moving well. As it went on, I think I got into the match better and better. The wind picked up in the second set. That's why I think Tomas didn't play so well anymore and I was able to get the job done. So I'm very pleased how the match went."

A hard-fought win over Fabio Fognini seemed to take its toll on Berdych who grew more and more frustrated as the match progressed. Federer handled the windy conditions better and was almost untouchable on first serve, winning 86 percent of points.

"Thomas can play much better than this," Federer added. "He struggled with the wind even though it picked up in the second set."

It was Federer’s 14th win in 20 meetings with Berdych and his second victory over the Czech this season, having also prevailed when they met in the Indian Wells quarter-finals in March.

Date: 15th May 2015, Source: ATP and Reuters

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Federer stays on course in Rome bid; Plays Berdych next

Second seed Roger Federer stayed on course in his bid to lift the Internazionali BNL d’Italia trophy for the first time, defeating Kevin Anderson 6-3, 7-5 on Thursday to reach the quarter-finals in Rome.

Federer stumbled towards the finish line, but recovered his poise in time to close out victory in 76 minutes. The Swiss squandered a 5-2 double-break lead in the second set as Anderson staged a fightback, but Federer broke again in the 12th game before serving out at the third time of asking.

"I had to adjust and react differently in today's match than yesterday's match," said Federer. "It was so different, because it's Kevin and his amazing serve. There's only so much you can do on the return games. The first thing was not to get frustrated, because I was not seeing where he was serving.

"But thankfully, I got off to a really good start in both sets. From then on, I could relax almost. I was able to break him four times, which was a really good effort in the quick conditions here in Rome."

The Swiss is making his 15th appearance at the Foro Italico and has reached the final three times, finishing runner-up in 2003 (l. to Mantilla), 2006 (l. to Nadal) and 2013 (l. to Nadal).

For a place in the semi-finals, Federer will face Tomas Berdych, who defied a raucous atmosphere on Pietrangeli to edge home hope Fabio Fognini 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(2) in two hours and 35 minutes.

Federer takes a 13-6 Head to Head advantage over Berdych into the pair’s 20th meeting, but they have split their past four contests, all on hard court. The 29-year-old Berdych will contest his ninth straight quarter-final in nine events in 2015 and is looking to reach the semi-finals in Rome for the second time (l. to Nadal 2013).

Date: 14th May 2015, Source: ATP

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Federer moves into Rome third round

Roger Federer defeated Uruguay's Pablo Cuevas for the second time this month as the Swiss legend began his campaign at the Italian Open with a 7-6(3), 6-4 win on Wednesday.

The second-round success in 81 minutes came just over a week after Federer beat the Uruguayan on clay in the final in Istanbul.

Federer was tested all the way by Cuevas, ranked 24th in the world, with the second seeded 33-year-old winning a tiebreak to seal the opening set in 45 minutes.

A break for 3-2 in the second gave Federer - seeking his first title in Rome after losing three times in the final in 14 previous appearances - the lead which he never surrendered.

"I know I'm not the favourite like I've been in other years for the title here - but who cares, really?," said Federer.

"I was focusing on getting through this round and I'm happy I won it. I lost last week in Madrid (to Australia's Nick Kyrgios) and here a year ago holding match points both times.

"So right now I'm glad to go through. It was nice to get the victory tonight."

Date: 13th May 2015, Source: AFP

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Kyrgios saves 2 match points in dramatic win over Federer

Top-seeded Roger Federer made an early exit from the Madrid Open on Wednesday after a narrow, second-round loss to Nick Kyrgios.

The 20-year-old Australian ended Federer's hopes of a fourth title at the Spanish tournament by rallying for a 6-7(2), 7-6(5), 7-6(12) victory.

Kyrgios saved two match points on his serve at 6/7 and 10/11 in the third set tie-break. Federer made Kyrgios sweat, saving five match points at 5/6, 7/8, 8/9, 9/10 and 11/12. At 12/13, Federer mis-timed a forehand wide.

Kyrgios is in form, having reached the final at the Estoril Open before losing to Richard Gasquet. The 2014 Wimbledon quarterfinalist also relinquished his status as the ATP's highest-ranked teenager by turning 20 last week.

Kyrgios broke serve in the first game, but Federer did not panic. With the young Australian serving for the set at 5-4, Kyrgios dropped to 0/40. Although Kyrgios saved two break points, Federer's depth of groundstroke reaped dividends to level the scoreline. The top seed went on to run through the tie-break to end a 42-minute set.

Federer maintained his momentum, breaking in the opening game and began to expose Kyrgios' strategy for returning serve. But Kyrgios responded to lead 3-2 and continued to play with greater aggression.

There were no break points in the deciding set. Kyrgios hit 22 aces to Federer's 16 and both players won 78 per cent of their first service points.

Federer said his problem was that ''I couldn't return his first serve,'' adding: ''Just a horrible performance on the return.

"As the match went on it got so bad that I just couldn't get into decent positions on the return, so it made it very difficult to get any sort of rhythm after that.

"But credit to him for serving well and keep doing what he was doing. But I'm very disappointed by that. That's what cost me the match, in my opinion."

Kyrgios said he had been excited at the prospect of playing his childhood hero.

''Last night it was a bit tough to get some sleep,'' he said. ''I've been playing well recently on the clay, so I knew I had a good chance to go out there and do well. I stuck to my game and served well and I got the win.

"I think he's the greatest of all time. I knew before the match that I would have to play one of the greatest matches I have ever played, I wasn't intimidated at all," the remarkably composed 20-year-old said courtside following his victory in two hours 37 minutes.

"It doesn't really feel real at the moment. It's a strange feeling. It's pretty exciting."

Three-time former Madrid champion was full of praise for Kyrgios, admitting, "He's got a wonderful serve and good potential, so I hope he keeps working hard and that he can compete for the best spots in tennis.

"It was a fast paced match in terms of we don't take much time between points. I expected it to be difficult match.

Federer and Kyrgios both trained together prior to last year’s Roland Garros.

"He likes the big stage," added Federer. "He's got nothing to lose, no fear, and he's got a great game. He can rely on his serve so much. It keeps him in the match regardless of he how he plays from the baseline."

Federer drops to 21-4 on the season, which includes three ATP World Tour titles at Brisbane (d. Raonic), Dubai (d. Djokovic) and Istanbul (d. Cuevas).

It was the first time that Federer had lost to a player aged 20 or under since the 2009 US Open final (l. to del Potro, 20 years, 11 months).

Date: 7th May 2015, Source: AP and ATP

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Federer confident for French Open after 85th title

Roger Federer said winning an 85th career title at the Istanbul Open had given him a boost in confidence on clay ahead of the French Open later this month.

Federer beat Uruguay's Pablo Cuevas 6-3, 7-6 (11) to end a drought of tournament victories on clay dating back to 2012, with both players thrilling the crowd in a nail-biting second set tiebreak.

"It's been a tough week with four tough matches. I am very proud to be the first champion here. It's been a while since I won a title on clay," world number two Federer told reporters after Turkey's first ever ATP World Tour event.

"I picked up confidence and I picked up another title," he said. "I feel really good about my game now. It's been a fitness test and a mental test."

The title was Federer's first tournament win on clay since his victory on the blue clay of Madrid in 2012 and his first on the traditional red clay since his sole French Open win in 2009.

Federer said his recovery would be important after the series of testing matches in Istanbul as "you don't want to roll into the French Open tired".

He said he would take some days off ahead of the upcoming Madrid Open and would then decide whether to play in the Rome Open in the subsequent week ahead of Roland Garros.

Federer expressed satisfaction he had come through the final in the dramatic tie break on Sunday when both players suffered mini breaks, squandered chances and made brilliant winners.

"The tie break was crazy.

"There was a good atmosphere and winning 6-3, 6-3 would not have been the same thrill. It was tough and Pablo played really well. I tried to stay aggressive," said Federer.

Federer has been given celebrity status in Istanbul over the last week on his first ever appearance in the country with banners around the court reading 'Welcome to Turkey, King' and the crowd chanting his name.

Date: 3rd May 2015, Source: AFP

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Federer wins inaugural Istanbul Open crown

Roger Federer won his 85th ATP World Tour title at the inaugural TEB BNP Paribas Istanbul Open, beating third seed Pablo Cuevas 6-3, 7-6(11).

"It's been a tough week; four tough matches," said Federer. "I thought the final was my best one. I'm very happy. I'm very proud to be the first champion here at the first-time tournament here in Istanbul. In Turkey, I've had a wonderful week. On and off the court, I was able to visit the city a little bit, meet a lot of people, enjoy the crowd support and experience Turkey.

"It's been crazy, in a good way, and I hope I can do it again one day. Right now, I'm just happy I was able to win the tournament. It's always the best feeling for an athlete to be the champion at the end of a long tough week."

The World No. 2 improved to 85-43 in tour-level finals and added to his two other titles already this season (also Brisbane, Dubai).

With the win, Turkey became the 19th different country in which Federer has won an ATP World Tour title.

The top seed capitalised on one one of his three break point opportunities to easily take the first set in 33 minutes. The Swiss broke again in the seventh game of the second set and looked to be in cruise control until the 29-year-old Uruguayan broke back to level the set at 4-all. Federer then earned triple break point on Cuevas' serve before the World No. 23 was able to hold at 5-4.

In the eventual second set tie-break, Federer saved three set points and needed five match points to finally seal the victory in one hour and 36 minutes.

Cuevas was attempting to capture his second ATP World Tour title of the season, having won the crown in Sao Paulo in February.

"It is an amazing week for me playing the final with the best in the world. It's difficult to face Roger, not only because of his game but also to stay focused on the game and not get distracted," said Cuevas. "It was a very good experience for me, and I think it will help me in the future."

As winner, Federer took home 80,000 Euros and 250 ATP Rankings points. Cuevas earned 42,100 Euros and 150 ATP Rankings points.

Date: 3rd May 2015, Source: ATP

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Federer reaches Istanbul final

Top-seeded Roger Federer rallied past Diego Schwarzman 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 to reach the Istanbul Open final after a near two-hour match on Saturday.

Federer reached his fourth ATP World Tour final of 2015 (2-1) and his 128th career final (84-43) as he looks to win a tour-level title in a 19th different country.

"I think what was important in the third set was to keep working hard," said Federer. "I needed to put in a lot of effort to stay with Diego.

Federer struggled with his serve during the first set but finally took advantage of Schwarzman's mistakes to break him for a 3-1 lead in the second after wasting four break points and receiving a warning for hitting a ball toward the stands as his frustration showed.

Schwarzman, playing in his first ATP Tour semifinal, dropped his serve again in the eighth game when Federer unleashed a crosscourt backhand return.

Schwarzman put up strong resistance in the decider and saved a match point with a backhand down the line in the 10th game.

But the Argentine showed his nerves when serving to stay in the match two games later. He missed an easy forehand volley then handed Federer two match points with a forehand in the net. Federer converted the first one, and Schwarzman received a standing ovation as he left the court.

Federer fired six aces in the one hour, 55-minute match. The crowd was appreciative of the strong effort from Schwartzman, who saved eight of the 11 break points he faced, chanting "Diego!" as he left the court.

''Diego played very well, and people liked it, too,'' Federer said.

"I had a slow start maybe, yesterday was tough so it took me a little bit of time," said Federer, who also needed three sets to reach the semi-final.

"I am still here, I am hitting the ball well. I am playing against opponents who have nothing to lose. As long as I find a way to win it's great."

The 17-time Grand Slam winner will face third-seeded Pablo Cuevas in the final after the Uruguayan upset second-seeded Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-4 at the clay-court tournament.

"Cuevas is playing very, very well… I think it's going to be a tough match. Cuevas has obviously played a lot on clay," said Federer.

The 29-year-old Uruguayan captured his third career title in Sao Paulo (d. Vanni) earlier this year. He is 3-0 in ATP World Tour finals.

"I come from a small country, and I'm used to having the crowd against me," said Cuevas. "Playing Roger tomorrow will be like playing Roger in his hometown."

Date: 2nd May 2015, Source: AP, ATP and Reuters

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Federer, Nadal on Madrid semi-final collision course

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal could renew their rivalry in the semi-finals of the Mutua Madrid Open after Friday’s draw pitched them both in the top half of the 56-player field.

Federer is the top seed in Madrid, the fourth ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament of the season, but it will not be a straightforward path for the Swiss. After a first-round bye, the 33-year-old Federer, who is through to the final in Istanbul this weekend, could face rising Australian star Nick Kyrgios in the second round. Kyrgios is also enjoying success on the clay this week, through to his first ATP World Tour final in Estoril.

The third round could see Federer face Jeremy Chardy, whom he lost to on clay at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome last year, while 16th seed John Isner also features in that section and boasts a clay-court win over Federer in Davis Cup action three years ago.

Federer, who is chasing his 24th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crown next week, is seeded to face No. 6 Tomas Berdych in the quarter-finals. Berdych was present at Friday evening’s draw at the Caja Magica. The 29-year-old Czech finished runner-up at the Monte Carlo Country Club last month and lost to Federer in a tight three-set final in Madrid three years ago.

The third-seeded Nadal is looking to win the Madrid title for the third year in a row, after beating Stan Wawrinka in the 2013 final and Kei Nishikori (retired due to injury in 2014) last year. The Spaniard comes into Madrid eager for a return to top form after a shock third-round exit to Fabio Fognini in Barcelona last week.

The left-hander opens against either Steve Johnson or a qualifier and is projected to meet 15th seed Kevin Anderson in the third round. But before any potential meeting with Federer, Nadal is likely to have to play either eighth seed Wawrinka or 10th seed Grigor Dimitrov, who is competing in the Istanbul semi-finals this weekend. Also in that section is Fognini.

Andy Murray and last year’s finalist Kei Nishikori headline the bottom half of the draw.

Murray, seeded second, opens his campaign against either a qualifier or Philipp Kohlschreiber and could face 13th seed Gael Monfils in the third round. The Scot, who could play two singles matches in Munich on Saturday as he chases his first ATP World Tour clay-court title, is challenged in his quarter of the draw by fifth seed Milos Raonic and home favourite Feliciano Lopez.

Fourth seed Nishikori enters Madrid in a rich vein of form, having repeated as Barcelona champion last week. The Japanese star has a tricky opening match against either Ernests Gulbis or David Goffin and is projected to meet 14th seed Roberto Bautista Agut in the third round.

There is a strong Spanish contingent in the third quarter of the draw, with seventh seed David Ferrer, Tommy Robredo, Fernando Verdasco and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez all vying for a potential third-round clash with ninth seed Marin Cilic.

Main draw play begins on Sunday at the Caja Magica.

Date: 2nd May 2015, Source: ATP

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Federer turns tourist in Istanbul

Even with 17 years of travel on the ATP World Tour under his belt, there are still exotic locales Roger Federer has yet to explore. Istanbul was on that list of uncharted territory until Thursday when the 33-year-old took advantage of a day off at the TEB BNP Paribas Istanbul Open to soak in his surroundings.

The World No. 2 and his team visited the beautiful Hagia Sophia museum and enjoyed a boat ride on the Bosphorus, visiting both the European and the Asian sides of Turkey's largest city.

“For me, it’s been a joy traveling and going to see new places,” Federer said. “I felt like a tourist. I still feel like I’m so young, and still able to discover new places. I think it’s probably one of the reasons I’m still playing tennis today.”

Even the weather seemed to be on its best behavior to welcome the Swiss star. Mild temperatures and low humidity provided the backdrop for his two-hour, 27-minute quarter-final victory over Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver on Friday.

“They were perfect playing conditions today,” he said after his 7-6(3), 6-7(5), 6-3 win. “Almost no wind, beautiful sunshine; not to hot, not too cold.”

Despite coming back from a 2-5 deficit in the second set, Federer was forced to go the distance before closing out his Spanish opponent.

“Just because it’s nice weather doesn’t mean you’re going to play nice,” he said with a laugh. “I wish it was like that, but it’s not as simple as that. It was a good fight today, so I’m happy I was able to find a way.”

When asked about converting on just three of 13 break opportunities, Federer again chose to dwell on the positives.

“When you have stats like this, there are many ways you can look at it,” he said. “I created a lot of opportunities, and that’s good. I also missed a lot of opportunities, and that’s not so good. I’m not too concerned about things like this. It’s important to learn from them and try to do it better next time.”

Federer will face Argentine Diego Schwartzman in the semi-finals.

Date: 2nd May 2015, Source: ATP

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Federer battles past Gimeno-Traver to Istanbul semis

Swiss world number two Roger Federer on Friday survived a serious challenge from Daniel Gimeno-Traver of Spain to edge into the semi-finals of the Istanbul Open after a three set battle lasting two and a half hours.

Gimeno-Traver, 29, the world number 62, was in no way overawed by the occasion as he met Federer for the first time with the Swiss eventually pushing through to win 7-6(3), 6-7(5), 6-3.

Federer showed exquisite touch at times but the Spaniard put up strong resistance.

The 17-times Grand Slam winner was kept in place in a tight first set, only moving ahead in the tie break which he took with a gorgeous backhand crosscourt dink that ravished the crowd.

Playing with aggression and abandon, Gimeno-Traver raced to a 5-2 lead in the second set but Federer pegged him back to force another tie-break.

Against the odds, Gimeno-Traver raised his game once more with some impressive shot making, taking the breaker 7-5 when Federer tamely pushed a service return into the net.

But Federer showed his class in the final set, taking it 6-3 despite showing signs of frailty on his serve which forced him to save four break points.

Federer - looking to fine tune his skills on the red clay of Istanbul ahead of the French Open later this month - said he was happy for the tougher-than-expected encounter.

"The point was to win the match," said Federer. "It was a good match, although maybe I could have won it in two sets".

"He played well and fought hard. It gives me confidence to have played in a match like this," he added.

But Federer admitted he had been "frustrated" with some of his play.

Federer will be looking to toughen his serve, which was broken twice by Gimeno-Traver and had a first serve percentage of just 64 percent.

In Saturday's semi-final, Federer will meet Diego Schwartzmann of Argentina who overcame fourth seed Santiago Giraldo of Chile in a bizarrely upside down match 0-6, 6-2, 6-2.

He remains on course to meet second seed Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria in Sunday's final after the world number 11 overcame Ivan Dodig of Croatia in straight sets 6-4, 6-3.

While Federer is chasing his 85th career title and third this year, Schwartzman reached his first career semifinal.

Date: 1st May 2015, Source: AFP

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