Federer wins sixth Dubai Championships title

Roger Federer won the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships for the sixth time on Saturday as he rallied from a set and a break down to defeat Tomas Berdych 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

"I was happy I was able to use momentum, win that second set, and then it was a tough opening period in the third, wasting the Love-40 game on Tomas' first service game," said Federer. "Then saving break points myself. Anything could have happened there.

"Things definitely went my way out here tonight, but I have had a lot tougher matches in the last one and a half years, so this is nice to get a lucky break again."

''He's the greatest player of all time and he'll never give up and give you anything for free,'' Berdych said. ''I knew that and thought I was ready for it, but my execution wasn't good enough to hold it to the end.''

Federer won his 78th tour-level title, taking him above John McEnroe to standalone third in the all-time title leaders list. The Swiss has won at least one ATP World Tour title every year since 2000, equaling Ivan Lendl’s record. Saturday’s victory saw him pass the $80m mark in career earnings.

Federer received 500 ATP Rankings points and $465,830 as he improved his Head to Head lead over Berdych to 12-6. Federer has a 42-5 event record in Dubai, previously lifting the trophy in 2003-05, 2007 and 2012. He improved to a 14-2 record through the first two months of the season, finishing runner-up in Brisbane (l. to Hewitt) and reaching the semi-finals at the Australian Open (l. to Nadal).

Federer now holds 4-1 match record against Top 10 players in this season.



It was a tense battle from beginning to end, with Federer having to rally from a set and break down to overcome Berdych. Berdych was on an 11-match winning streak, the best of his career, and he was chasing his second title of the season after recently winning in Rotterdam.

Breaks were exchanged in the opening stages of the match before Berdych broke decisively in the sixth game to ultimately take the opener. Federer found himself deeper in trouble when he was broken again at 2-2 in the second set, but he responded by once again breaking back immediately. Seizing the momentum, Federer then broke to love in the 10th game to level the match.

The Swiss went all out at the start of the third set, looking to capitalise on his change in fortunes. He had a 0/40 opportunity on Berdych’s serve in the second game, but the Czech reeled off five straight points to level. Federer then saved a break point of his own in the following game before finally getting his break in the fourth game as a Berdych forehand landed long.

Berdych was able to save two match points on his own serve in the eighth game. But the Czech couldn't stop Federer from serving out. Then Federer went on to claim the victory in just under two hours.

"It's like one of those things you just kind of hope it turns for the better," said Federer of being down in the second set. "At that point you're just telling yourself to serve well, give yourself maybe a few good opening points on Tomas' serve, and then you hope the points play out the way they need to be played out at that very moment, because it's basically in his hands. If he serves well, it's difficult, or the margins are extremely slim at that point.

"So once you do get back, it's important to not then relax and think, oh, the hardest part is done, it's only about the beginning actually. So I was happy I was able to use momentum, win that second set, and then it was a tough opening in the third, you know, wasting the Love- 40 game on Tomas' first service game. Then saving breakpoints myself. I mean, anything could have happened there.

"I was able to stay calm and once I got back on even terms I started to play better. I really enjoy playing against Tomas, who is a great player"

"I would say many things went wrong," lamented Berdych. "The match started pretty well. I had really many chances, and then I basically just gave him the game and that's it. It's very disappointing for me the way I handled that situation. I was in the better shape and playing really well and made my chances, but unfortunately I didn't execute it in the end."

"Roger Federer proved once again what a truly great champion he is, overcoming a very strong performance from a player who just last month reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open and then earlier this month won his ninth career title in Rotterdam," said Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman of tournament owners and organisers Dubai Duty Free.

"The final between Roger Federer and Tomas Berdych was a fitting end to what has been a wonderful festival of tennis that has thrilled not only the many thousands of fans who have flocked to the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, but millions around the world who have watched some fantastic competition on television and other media," said Tournament Director Salah Tahlak.

Date: 1st March 2014, Source: ATP and Dubai

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Brilliant Federer defeats Djokovic to reach Dubai final

Roger Federer will bid for a sixth title at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Saturday after claiming a thrilling 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over defending champion Novak Djokovic in one hour and 46 minutes. Federer was hyper aggressive, hitting his backhand with conviction and backing up big serves with a lot of net approaches.

He will face Tomas Berdych, who reached his second straight Dubai final with a 7-5, 7-5 win over Philipp Kohlschreiber.

Federer, who had not beaten Djokovic since the final of the 2012 Cincinnati Open, denied Djokovic the 550th match win of his career. Federer now leads Djokovic 17-15 in their Head to Head series.

The opening set between Federer and Djokovic was as close as it could get, with Djokovic making the better start by breaking Federer in the second game but then having to fight off a break point against him when up 3-1. Djokovic then had an opportunity to take charge when he held a break point to lead 3-2 in the second set, but Federer held off the threat and then earned his first break of the match to lead 4-2.

Federer increasingly looked the stronger player from then on. He led 1-0 in the final set when Djokovic doubled-faulted, saved a break point in the next game and then broke again in a lengthy fifth game to lead 4-1. In a final act of defiance Djokovic held two break points as Federer served for victory, but Federer held on to claim the match.

"It's nice to be in the finals here in Dubai again. I think I was able to play a bit more aggressively as the match went on," said Federer. "He got the crucial first break, which is always big when top guys play each other, and he's better than anybody with the lead. So I knew I was in a bit of trouble after the first set and not looking good at all, because he has a tendency to really run with it and play more freely on your serve. He plays very dangerous.

"It was just a matter of trying to play consistent but remain aggressive. Sometimes being also overly aggressive to see if it works. If it doesn't, then you can always pull back a little bit. Clearly it was close, but I think I got the right balance, just the right balance. Then I started to serve very well, something I haven't been able to do really this week yet. I knew to have a chance today I needed to serve well. So I'm just very happy I was able to deliver that."

The sell-out crowd were noisy in their appreciation of both players, and Federer soaked up the atmosphere.

"I think it was a very enthusiastic crowd, polite crowd, and it was a dream playing in an atmosphere like this," he said. "I mean, they were already trying to create a Mexican wave sort of five games in. I don't know if that was because Novak was leading or it tried to pump me up. But anyway, I thought it was a great atmosphere out here tonight and I hope for something similar tomorrow."

Djokovic admitted that Federer had been the better player in the latter part of the match and that he deserved his victory.

"Well, great to him for coming back in the match. Congratulations," said Djokovic. "I lost to roger, it's not a bad loss. He deserved to win. He played in the second part of the match better and was more aggressive and played all around the court really well."

Later the 32-year-old was asked when he might be back to his best again, after a difficult 2013.

"I hope it's now," he said. "It's all happening. Beating Novak on the hard courts here in Dubai, it's tough. This is a big step in the right direction for me. It gives me a lot of confidence."

Berdych enters the final on a 11-match winning streak. He arrived in Dubai having won his first title in over a year at Rotterdam two weeks ago.

''I think he's playing very well right now,'' Federer said. ''This is a big match for him tomorrow as well. I will try to stop him and play a good match myself.''

The Basel native began working with Stefan Edberg as his coach at the start of the season, as well as using a larger racquet head. The changes saw him reach the Brisbane final and the Australian Open semi-finals and have given back to Federer some of the belief in himself he felt he was lacking on the big points in matches.

"The close moments sometimes that decide matches, that's where you just need that extra confidence or that extra mental belief that you're going to win instead of lose. I think that's what I've got back right now. That's why I think I have been playing consistently well for some months again.

Physically I'm doing very well again, still holding up perfectly, and clearly it's been a lot of tennis now again this week. I just hope I can finish it well tomorrow."

Federer has not been joined in Dubai by Edberg this week and said they did no more than exchange text messages in the lead up to the semi-final. Federer is accompanied this week by Swiss Davis Cup coach, Severin Luthi.



"I would like to focus on the work with Stefan," explained Federer. "In three days I will see him. He will be in Indian Wells, and that's what I'm looking forward to. When I'm with him, I'm really with him. When I'm away from him, I want him to enjoy his life.

"So I'm sure this victory makes him very happy. I hope he likes what he sees. From my standpoint, I'm just very happy things are working out with Stefan and Severin and everybody involved and that my results remain positive, which is important right now at the beginning of the season."

Date: 28th February 2014, Source: ATP and Dubai

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Federer to face Djokovic in Dubai semifinals

Roger Federer set up a blockbuster semi-final against Novak Djokovic at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships after he recorded his 40th match win at the Aviation Club, venue of the ATP World Tour 500 hard-court tournament, on Thursday night.

Fourth seed Federer, a five-time former champion, defeated Lukas Rosol, contesting their first meeting, 6-2, 6-2 in just 58 minutes. He now takes a 16-15 lead over top seed and four-time titlist Novak Djokovic into Friday’s clash. Novak Djokovic had a rest today when opponent Mikhail Youzhny became ill and withdrew from their quarterfinal. Djokovic will be attempting to register the 550th match win of his career.

Looking ahead to the semi-finals, Federer said, "We know each other very well, and we've played each other everywhere and on all the surfaces, you name it. I think we always play the match-up actually very good, because we play explosive, aggressive tennis, so there is always some shot-making going on. I'm looking forward to the match. One match, best of three sets on a court like this, it's a bit of ‘let's see what happens’, anyway. We both know that."

''He is in the semis, he's already played two matches, he's been here long enough for preparing, and he's fit enough for anything anyway,'' Federer said of Djokovic having a quarterfinal walkover. ''Every match you can get away from is a good one.

''For me, it was important also probably not to be out there for three hours. Then it would have been a disadvantage. But I think we're back on even terms for tomorrow.''

Federer bounced back from an 0-2 deficit against Rosol in the first set, which lasted 28 minutes, to lose just six points in the next six games. Federer broke Rosol to love in the third game of the second set and didn't looks back.

"When you play someone for the first time, you never quite know what his best level is or his normal level is," admitted Federer, when asked how he felt when Rosol took a 2-0 lead. "That's why you kind of keep pushing on, and that's also why I guess the score came out the way it did, because I never let go. I always kept making returns, made sure he had to work hard.

"Yesterday against Radek Stepanek, I think I actually played okay. I just didn't serve well. Maybe I could argue that Radek is a better return player than Rosol is and all these things, but still I did serve much more clutch today when I needed to, which didn't work at all yesterday."

Date: 27th February 2014, Source: ATP and AP

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Federer fights back to beat Stepanek to reach Dubai QFs

Five-time former champion Roger Federer staged a rousing comeback from an 0-2 deficit in the deciding set to beat Radek Stepanek at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Wednesday. Federer beat Stepanek 6-2, 6-7(4), 6-3 in two hours and nine minutes at the ATP World Tour 500 hard-court tournament.

“I started to understand what I was doing wrong,” said Federer. “Which made me maybe play a little bit tentatively from the baseline, what made me not make enough shots and why I wasn't playing as aggressively as I wanted to. I couldn't find the right balance between offence and defence.

“It was almost a bit too late for everything, but I kind of hung around and I took the positives out of the match. Radek did a good job of putting the pressure on me and mixing it up. From that standpoint, it was a really difficult match. I'm very pleased to come through.”

Federer sealed the first set in 33 minutes, hitting 10 winners and committing just four unforced errors. At one point the fourth seed won 10 of 12 points to draw clear of Stepanek, who was seeking his third win in 15 meetings over Federer.

Stepanek battled to win his first set against Federer since May 2008 at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia. He broke Federer for a 2-1 lead and served for the second set at 5-4, but Federer broke back to 15. Stepanek raised his game in the tie-break, opening up a 6-2 lead.

Stepanek came close to taking a 3-0 lead in the decider, before Federer staged a rousing comeback to win five games in a row en route to recording his 39th win in 44 matches at the Aviation Club. Federer will next play Lukas Rosol, who overcame eighth seed Dmitry Tursunov early in the day.

“Today was quite frustrating,” Federer said. “I had momentum on my side at the beginning, but it was tough to keep it going.

“After the first set I was under pressure the entire match.”

Federer could meet second seed and four-time titlist Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals.

Date: 26th February 2014, Source: ATP

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Federer welcomes Sampras' backing; Confident on Dubai return

Pete Sampras recently said he could see Roger Federer adding to his record haul of 17 Grand Slam championships, with Wimbledon the most likely stage for another major triumph. Another victory at the All England Club would see Federer surpass Sampras’ record of seven Wimbledon titles, but the Swiss also feels it is in reach.

Speaking after his first-round win at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Monday, Federer said, “I'm happy he's being positive about my game. I think it does say something. It counts. It gives me extra confidence to know that someone like him believes in me, is in my corner, and I can always call him up and ask him for any advice. I don't want to break his records necessarily. That's not what I'm playing for. I'm playing for myself, for my team, for my country, you name it.

“I'm happy things are going better now again this year.”

Indeed, one of the reasons Federer has enjoyed so much success at the start of 2014 - reaching the Brisbane final and the Australian Open semi-finals - is credited with his new racquet. Federer began playing with the new frame at the start of the season and is reaping the rewards.

“I did have times in the past where maybe I didn't serve so well or I struggled with my backhand, with the timing and so forth. Now, I feel like even on a bad day, I have the power on the serve, and I do hit my backhand easier. It's just important that I can do it consistently at the most important stages of the match in the biggest matches and that my forehand is clutch when I need it. I think that's really what I expect from the racquet, and so far it's been very good.”

Confidence in his body and the new racquet have also delivered to Federer a new-found freedom on the tennis court. Travelling the world with his family, Federer revealed he is enjoying his tennis more than ever.

“In the beginning it's kind of nice being the outsider,” reflected the Swiss, when asked about the pressure of playing as favourite in nearly every match he approaches. “Then it's nice being the guy everybody is sort of chasing. Now my situation is comfortable too. I feel like I am enjoying myself out on the court. I don't get too carried away or too nervous necessarily every single match. I don't get stomach cramps like I used to when I was younger. It's a bit more enjoyable now these days.”

Confident on Dubai return

“Physically I'm really fit, which is very encouraging. I must say, I'm very confident about how I'm feeling. I can run for every ball. I'm waking up in the morning with no pain. I think this is as good as I've felt in probably a year. That's good a good sign looking ahead and now I just have to stay injury free.

“It's always been an important tournament because usually when I've played well in Dubai, I've played well the rest of the year,” Federer told Dave Luddy for the DTC Radio Show. “Clearly it's not always that way, and I don't want to become crazy superstitious about it. It's a tough draw here, so there's pressure trying to win this and play well here.

“The conditions are rather quick, so it's hard to control the ball well. So when you can play good tennis here, it feels like you can play good tennis anywhere else. I've struggled in the early rounds here in previous years sometimes, but overall it's been a very successful hunting ground for me and I hope for another good run this year.”

The 32-year-old Federer is one of five Top 10 players competing in Dubai. Defending champion Novak Djokovic is looking to lift the trophy for the fifth time, while Tomas Berdych, Juan Martin del Potro and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga are also in the hunt. Seeded fourth, Federer would need to go through Djokovic to reach the final.

“It's going to be tough,” said Federer. “I think Berdych is playing really well. Jo-Willy is always very dangerous. Clearly the favourite for me is Novak. He had a great end to last year, and then had a solid start to this year. Could have won against Stan at the Australian Open and who knows, maybe gone on to win the tournament there. I see him as the favourite for this tournament, plus he's played really well here. The victor is going to go through him at this tournament.”

Date: 24th February 2014, Source: ATP

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Federer breezes past Becker in Dubai opener

Fourth seed Roger Federer opened his bid for a sixth Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships crown on Monday with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Benjamin Becker in just 62 minutes.

The Swiss improved to a 38-5 event record as he broke Becker on three occasions and won 76 per cent of his service points. He has a 4-0 Head to Head record over the No. 90-ranked Becker.

"I'm extremely happy with today's match," said Federer. "Coming out and playing free tennis like that right off the bat is a good feeling. I know probably Benjamin has been doing a lot of travelling back and forth, Australia, Europe, America, back to Dubai, back for Indian Wells and Miami, but you've got to take advantage of that. I have been here for some time. I had a good preparation. I'm happy it paid off thus far."

Federer raced through the first set against Becker in 22 minutes.

''Things can run away very quickly here,'' Federer said. ''If you look at the winner list from here, it's guys who play well on grass courts.

''It's worth it to go for your shots and you feel like risky tennis will be rewarded.''

In the second set, Becker challenged better by playing himself into points. The match highlight was undoubtedly an audacious shot through the legs from Federer at 3-2 in the second as he set up a clash with either Radek Stepanek or Michael Russell.



The 32-year-old Federer lifted the Dubai trophy in 2003-05, 2007 and 2012. The Basel native is looking to win his first ATP World Tour title of the season, building on the strong start he made in January by reaching the final of the Brisbane International (l. to Hewitt) and the semi-finals of the Australian Open (l. to Nadal).

Date: 24th February 2014, Source: ATP

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Roger Federer in Dubai to show revival is real

Roger Federer's performance in reaching the semifinal of the Australian Open last month is the first step in a mini-revival of tennis' great legend. This week could see the second.

That is the scenario Federer intends pursuing when he returns to the ATP Tour and tries to win back the title at his adopted second home at the Dubai Open.

Victories over Andy Murray and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Melbourne will be followed by a chance to challenge Novak Djokovic, the top-seeded titleholder, here.

Although the formidable Serb is seeking a record fifth Dubai title, Federer has a better record against Djokovic than against Rafael Nadal, the man who halted him last month, and he feels encouraged by his performances in the first Grand Slam of the year.

"I think it has been a very good start to the season for me overall," Federer said.

"I have played some really good tennis. I still feel my best tennis is ahead of me right now.

"So I'm looking forward to the coming months, and how they're going to play out, and hopefully by April I feel like I'm going to be a hundred percent again."

Federer believes his moderate 2013 results were caused partly by fitness problems, triggered by a persistently troublesome back, and that he is in significantly better shape this year.

He also has a new racket, reportedly with a frame of 98 square inches, which means he is no longer experimenting with what is best. On-off equipment changes may also have contributed to some of his 2013 problems.

Most conspicuously he has a new coach. Some pundits think that his decision to team up with Stefan Edberg, an outstanding volleyer when he was world number one, is a master stroke, especially as this an area of the game which Federer is trying to develop.

"Technically Roger is strong," says Edberg. "But I also think it would be good if he would vary his game a bit more than he does at the moment."

This may actually be crucial if he wants to achieve an 18th Grand Slam title, which is more likely to happen than anywhere on the grass of Wimbledon, where volleying can be more effective.

None other than Pete Sampras, who shares the record of seven open era Wimbledon titles with Federer, believes in the Swiss genius' enduring potential at the age of 32.

"I thought his level (in Australia) was quite good," Sampras said. "I do see Roger building from that. I think he's going to do well this year. Things need to fall into place and he needs to play well but I do think he can do it (win a Grand Slam), and I think it is what he's playing for."

The Wimbledon ambition and the need for a next step in Dubai means there should be different tactical emphases.

"This year in the bigger matches I have decided to take it more to my opponents, instead of waiting a bit for mistakes," Federer emphasises.

That means we may see an increasing the ratio of moves into the forecourt, something which was evidenced in Melbourne and which may developed further here.

Federer may feel he can attempt that from early, given that he has a first round against Benjamin Becker, the world number 93, and could go on to play Radek Stepanek, the world number 47 from the Czech Republic - though his Davis Cup form suggests Stepanek is more dangerous than that.

Then Federer might have a quarter-final with Dmitry Tursunov, the world number 28 from Russia, and a semi-final with Djokovic.

The other semifinal should be between Juan Martin del Potro, the second-seeded former US Open champion from Argentina, and Tomas Berdych, the former Wimbledon finalist from the Czech Republic.

However Berdych may have to beware of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the former Australian Open finalist from France, at the quarterfinal stage.

Date: 23rd February 2014, Source: AFP

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Dubai draw puts Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in same half

Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, winners of nine of the last 11 men’s singles titles here, will not be meeting in a dream Dubai final next week after being drawn in the same half of the draw.

Federer, a five-time winner here and Djokovic, a four-time champion and the top seed, have been drawn to meet in the semis, but getting there could be a tricky route for both in a top-half that includes unseeded players like wildcard James Ward, Radek Stepanek, Lukas Rosol and Daniel Brands.

Seeded No. 4, Federer figures in the upper half of the draw and will open against a tricky opponent, Germany’s Benjamin Becker, and could find himself playing Czech veteran Stepanek in the second round. Then, he is expected to meet Russian No 8 seed Dmitry Tursunov.

The Serb defending champion starts his campaign against Uzbek Denis Istomin and could meet Spaniard Roberto Bautista-Agut, who knocked Juan Martin Del Potro out of the Australian Open last month, in the second round. Seed No 6 Mikhail Youzhny, who has reached two finals in Dubai, could be his opponent in the quarter-final.

In the bottom half of the draw, No 2 seed Juan Martin del Potro will take on Indian wildcard Somdev Devvarman in the opening round and is scheduled to face No 7 seed Philipp Kohlschreiber in the last eight.

Tomas Berdych, winner at Rotterdam last week and the No 3 seed, will meet a qualifier in the opening round and could face No 5 seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarter-final.

“During the past 22 years of this tournament, we’ve had as many as 17 world number ones participating in our tournament,” Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice-Chairman, Dubai Duty Free noted before the official draw for the men’s tournament was held at the Majlis of the Dubai Tennis Stadium, on Saturday.

“This tournament has been voted by the players as the best 500 ATP event for the past nine years and we are keeping our fingers crossed for a record tenth,” he added.

“We have two of the greatest men who have ever played the game once again competing here at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. Their semi-final would be one to savour, but the field here is so strong that neither are guaranteed their place in the final four.

“Djokovic could well meet Roberto Bautista Agut in the second round, a player who produced one of the biggest upsets at the recent Australian Open when he beat our number two seed, Juan Martin del Potro, and Federer could meet the wily Radek Stepanek, who has played a pivotal role in the Czech Republic winning the Davis Cup for the past two years.”

Tournament Director Salah Tahlak announced Arab’s top player Malek Jaziri of Tunisia, Indian Devvarman and Great Britain’s James Ward as the three wild cards in the main draw of the competition.

“We look at various criteria like their rankings and how they have been playing before making a decision on the wild cards. We believe that these three players will be good for our tournament,” Tahlak said.

Now in its 22nd year, the Dubai Duty Free Men’s Open has attracted five of the top ten men.

Sunday will be the final qualifying round to decide which four advance to the main draw, while the main competition will begin at 2pm on Monday.

The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships is owned and operated by Dubai Duty Free and held under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

For further information about tickets, prices and the tournament, visit www.dubaidutyfreetennischampionships.com or phone the call centre on +971 4 4172415.

Roger Federer's draw:

R1: Benjamin Becker

R2: Radek Stepanek / Michael Russell

QF: Lukas Rosol / Dmitry Tursunov

SF: Novak Djokovic / Mikhail Youzhny

Final: Juan Martin del Potro / Tomas Berdych / Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

Date: 22nd February 2014, Source: The National and Gulf News

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