Loss to Tomas Berdych in Dubai not major concern for FedEx

Tomas Berdych pulled off a surprising victory that will deny tennis fans a showdown between Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic at the Dubai Championships.

The Swiss legend will certainly be disappointed over the result, but the loss is not a reason to worry going forward.

The semifinal was a back-and-forth affair, and both Berdych and Federer had their chances to win. Ultimately, Berdych saved three match points and was on the right side of the 3-6, 7-6 (8), 6-4 score line.


After the contest, Federer said the following, via the BBC:

Obviously I leave this match with a lot of regrets - serving for the match, having chances in the beginning of the second when he wasn't quite in the match yet to go a set and a break up. There were a few points where things just didn't happen for me.

Berdych is a player who has given Federer trouble historically.

The 27-year-old Czech has now won five of the last eight meetings between the two players.

Still, Federer was very much competitive in this match, and if not for uncharacteristic errors - he had five double-faults compared to Berdych’s two - he likely would be in the finals.

The defending champion at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships experienced déjà vu with Berdych in Friday’s semi-finals, relinquishing three match points in a second set tie-break before ultimately losing to the sixth-ranked Czech in three sets. Federer also failed to lock up victory over Berdych when holding match point at the Sony Open Tennis in Miami three years ago, and in a Davis Cup doubles rubber with Yves Allegro in 2007, the two blew a match point and a two-set lead against Berdych and Radek Stepanek.

“It's just disappointing losing this way. I think it's the third time I lost [with] match points against Tomas, twice in singles and once in doubles,” reflected Federer. “It's just one of those matches you feel you should have won but end up losing. When you lose with match points, you always have a lot of regrets. That's one of these matches again tonight.”

The ATP Tour is long and grueling, and even the greatest player to ever lift a racket has off days.

That is exactly why he should not be overly concerned with the loss.

At 31 years old, he is not getting any younger, and the day when his body simply will not allow him to be an elite athlete anymore is not that far away.

When this moment arrives, Federer will give his best effort and possibly still lose.

If his shots were dropping against Berdych and he was not making errors, but he still came out on the losing end, this would be extremely concerning.

But the point in Federer’s career when his best will not be enough to beat a player like Berdych has not yet arrived.

Unable to retain his trophies in Rotterdam and now Dubai, Federer will look to make it third time’s the charm at next week's BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, the first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament of the season. In the 2012 final, Federer defeated John Isner to become the first male to win four trophies at the event.

Last year’s winning performance at Wimbledon and his climb back to the No. 1 world ranking was a powerful reminder that he is still capable of being a dominant player. It is not out of the question for him to deliver more matches like this during the remaining majors in 2013.

This was nothing more than a bad day for Federer, and he should not dwell on the loss for very long.

Date: 2nd March 2013, Source: Bleacher Report and ATP

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Berdych upsets Federer in Dubai semis

Tomas Berdych saved three match points before upsetting defending champion Roger Federer 3-6, 7-6 (8), 6-4 to earn a spot in the final of the Dubai Championships against Novak Djokovic.

Berdych came under pressure at 3-4 in the first set, dropping to 0/30, and went onto lose his serve after two deep forehands from Federer got the Czech off balance. Federer closed out the 38-minute set with a service hold to love.

In the second set, Federer was broken at 2-3, 15/40, when he snatched at a forehand, hitting the ball into the net. Berdych confirmed the break to love for a 5-2 lead.

Berdych, who has strengthened his core during the off-season and is a better mover around the court, served for the set a 5-3 but two forehand errors helped Federer get back into the pair’s 16th meeting.

Federer was able to convert three break point opportunities at 5-5 and was later forced to save one set point at 5-6, 30/40 en route to the second set tie-break.

The Swiss opened up a 6-4 lead, courtesy of Berdych errors, but some clever service placement got the Czech another set point at 7-6 in the tie-break. Federer’s third match point chance came and went at 8-7, before Berdych converted his third set point opportunity with a forehand return winner off a second serve.

Berdych broke Federer to 30 at 2-2 in the deciding set to silence the majority of the supporters. Under enormous pressure, Federer played aggressively in the seventh game and saved three break points.

Berdych recovered from 0/30 at 4-3 and then squandered his first match point opportunity in the next game with a forehand into the net. Federer saved a second match point with a powerful first serve.

Minutes later, when serving, Berdych closed out his 14th match win of 2013.

''Pity to lose that one, but Tomas did well to hang in there,'' Federer said. ''Obviously, I leave this match with a lot of regrets.''

Federer only converted 2 of 11 break points and his serve waivered in crucial moments, especially in the tiebreaker.

''The match was in my racket. You do all the right things for so long, and then at the end you've got to explain why you didn't hit two shots decent,'' he said. ''So it's disappointing.''

Federer is now 11-6 against Berdych in head to head.

Date: 1st March 2013, Source: ATP and Reuters

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Federer to play Berdych in Dubai semis

Roger Federer, a five-time titlist in Dubai, beat fellow 31-year-old Nikolay Davydenko of Russia for the 19th time in 21 meetings, 6-2, 6-2 in 54 minutes, to conclude play on day four. Federer is now 37-4 at the ATP World Tour 500 tournament and goes onto face third-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych in the semi-finals. The Swiss is bidding to win his 77th singles title this week.

“I was very happy, it was a good match for me,” said Federer. “I served well from the start. Then, also, I thought I had good timing on the return in particular after missing a lot of returns in the first match versus Malek Jaziri. And the second match, obviously, he was serving bigger, [Marcel] Granollers. Today, I thought I was really striking it well, and then [the] virtue of that, was that I getting the first strike in and then I was able to control the baseline more.”

“I haven't seen Berdych play much this year,” admitted Federer. “He's obviously a good player. He's got amazing power, one of the strongest guys out there on tour. We'll see tomorrow how it goes. I haven't seen him play at all here this tournament. I need to just focus on my game, I guess.”

Date: 28th February 2013, Source: ATP

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Maradona meets Federer and Del Potro

Argentine footballing legend Diego Maradona met Roger Federer and Juan Martin del Potro on Wednesday at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. Maradona, an Ambassador for the Dubai Sports Council, is a big tennis fan, and was a keen observer at the 2011 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.

"Tennis can't be amazing without Roger; The balls which come out of his racket make all people happy." said Maradona.

In meeting with Federer, Maradona declared, “You are the No. 1”. The 1986 World Cup winner had earlier played a few points on court with countryman Juan Martin del Potro.

"It's a pleasure to share moments with Diego," said del Potro. "All the Argentinian people love him, and he's our No. 1 sports representative in the world. To hit some balls with him here in this stadium, it's amazing for me."

"He played really well, not like football, but he can hit the balls with me. It was a funny moment for both of us. He loves tennis. He knows also Federer and Djokovic."

Date: 27th February 2013, Source: ATP

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Federer reached Dubai quarterfinals

Roger Federer inched closer to a sixth Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships title on Wednesday as he advanced to the quarter-finals with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Marcel Granollers. The Swiss’ backhand and reflexes were razor sharp as he broke serve once in each set to prevail in 71 minutes.

World No. 2 Federer is chasing his first ATP World Tour title since August, when he won his 76th tour-level crown at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati defeated Djokovic as 6-0, 7-6. Federer has a 36-4 record at this ATP World Tour 500 hard court tournament, having lifted the trophy in 2003-05, ’07 and last year, beating Andy Murray in the final.

“I think I was sharper today,” said Federer. “I had a clearer plan. I knew what I could and couldn't do.  So that automatically carves out sort of the things you might want to attempt. I was a bit more confident overall.  I knew what I wanted to do and I was able to do it, so I'm happy.”

On Thursday Federer will resume his rivalry with Nikolay Davydenko, over whom he holds an 18-2 Head to Head record. The Russian, a finalist at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha at the start of the season (l. to Gasquet), defeated Victor Hanescu 6-4, 7-6(2) in one hour and 48 minutes.

“I'll never disrespect a guy like Nikolay,” said Federer of Davydenko, who has dropped from a career-high No. 3 to No. 46 in the ATP Rankings. “He's done too much in the game. That's why I know it's a dangerous round next match. I know what he can do on his absolute best day because I was one of the guys that got crushed by him as well during that time. I expect him to come out and play that way.”

Date: 27th February 2013, Source: ATP

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Federer begins title defence at Dubai Championships

Roger Federer opened his Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships title defence on Monday with a 5-7, 6-0, 6-2 victory over Tunisian wild card Malek Jaziri. Federer improved to a 35-4 record at this ATP World Tour 500 hard-court tournament, having lifted the trophy in 2003-2005, ’07 and last year with victory over Andy Murray.

The Swiss overcame a slow start, surrendering his serve in the 11th game as World No. 128 Jaziri, playing his first ATP World Tour match since October 2012, clinched the opening set with a backhand winner down the line.

Federer responded to losing the first set by sweeping through the second with ease, as Jaziri failed even to earn a game point until he trailed 5-0. Even so, it was Jaziri who earned the first opportunity in the final set, holding a break point to lead 2-1. But he made an error on his return and Federer recovered to win that game and then from 2-2 the number two seed gave up just three points in the last four games and won 12 of the last 14 games to prevail in 90 minutes.

"I had rocky starts to the tournament here in previous years," said Federer. "And, you know, I played somewhat fast so there was not much rhythm out there. I think we were both not playing really well in the beginning."

"We were both missing a lot of first serves, or him in particular. I think because I couldn't take advantage I went from not so good to really not so good, and then he got better naturally, which I was hoping to do as well."

"It important to sort of react and make sure I didn't panic," said Federer. "But, of course your mind starts to wander, especially in a match where there is hardly any rallies. He's going for broke on every return. All you're trying to do is get into some rallies, and you're missing a lot yourself."

"It was a difficult match for me out here tonight, but I'm happy I found a way and got a day off now so I can work a little bit on the game. Just maybe the pressure is off a little bit, and then automatically I will play a lot better in the second round."

''I give everything today. I did my best,'' said Jaziri.

Date: 25th February 2013, Source: ATP

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Federer: I have game to be World No. 1 again

As he prepares to defend his Dubai Championships title, Roger Federer said he is playing ''excellent tennis'' and is confident he can overtake Djokovic for the top spot.

It will be a challenge given that he plans to scale back his schedule in 2013. He wants to take several weeks off before the start of the clay season.

''Absolutely realistic, if you play great,'' Federer said of returning to No. 1, a spot he last held for 17 weeks until Oct. 29, breaking a record of 286 weeks at the top held by Pete Sampras.

''Time will tell,'' Federer said. ''I know it's possible. I know it's possible to win tournaments. But right now, a big focus is on making sure every tournament I enter that I'm perfectly prepared, like for here, for Australia, for Indian Wells.''

Federer also brushed aside talk of retirement, making it clear he remains healthy and hungry to win more trophies, including another Grand Slam title - preferably Wimbledon, which he has won seven times. He is going for his sixth title in Dubai.

"I strongly believe I have more Slams in me," he said. "Which Slam do I favour - does Wimbledon over-weigh the rest? Maybe, but looking back there have been amazing moments with each Slam."

"It depends how long I play. But I don't want to be depending on that. I am trying to be smart with my schedule. I am practicing more."

"Your prime is 23 to 27 or 28 so for me it's very challenging - and exciting. I need to make the right decisions. I have family and not many guys have that."

The 17-time Grand Slam champion added to his total with a Wimbledon title in 2012 but lost in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open and the semifinals of this year's Australian Open.

''I want to give myself the best possible chance to play as long as I can,'' Federer said.

''Eventually, it will be clear that it is time to stop, but the time is definitely not now,'' he said. ''But then again, things change very quickly. You have to be ready for it and open to it. I'm not naive that I can play for 15 more years, but I would like to give myself a chance to play for many more years to come. I'm happy with where my body is at.''

Federer said the recent focus on a Djokovic-Murray rivalry made sense to some degree. But with four different players winning the four Grand Slam events last year, he said it was premature to turn the men's game into a two-man competition.

''Yes, they have played more often than not, and they have played in some big matches and very often the matches have been very good. So naturally that is what the media looks at. I understand that,'' he said. ''It's all a question of how you see things. Rafa also has not been involved in this whole process the past seven months, so you don't want to jump the gun too quick.''

Date: 24th February 2013, Source: AP

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