Federer beats Hewitt in short-form exhibition

Roger Federer fought his way to a tough win over old rival Lleyton Hewitt in the "One Night With Federer and Hewitt" exhibition in Sydney on Monday.

The Swiss world number two continued his unbeaten run into the new season with a 4-3, 2-3, 3-4, 4-0, 4-3 win over the Australian in the short-form contest.

Coming off a four-match winning run in Brisbane, where he took the title in three sets over Milos Raonic on Sunday, Federer started where he left off.

The match featured an experimental style of play, with sets being won after four games, no deuces and play allowed to continue after lets on serve.

The shorter breaks between the changes of ends certainly worked, speeding up the pace considerably.

The format has been piloted at clubs across Australia and is being billed as the Twenty20 of tennis, a reference to the fast and furious form of cricket that has proved a huge hit.

Great friends off the court, Federer and Hewitt have one of the most enduring rivalries in tennis. The pair, both aged 33, have faced each other 27 times since 1999, with Federer winning 18 of them.

Federer was pushed all the way by his evergreen rival, the contest going its full allotment of five shortened sets.

Both players looked in good touch. On plenty of occasions in the first set and a half Hewitt told Federer his shots were "too good" before the world number 86 found some rhythm to get back into the contest.

Hewitt, who lost in the opening match of the Brisbane International against compatriot Sam Groth in his only other hit-out of the year so far, will now head to his home town of Adelaide to play an exhibition match against Czech Tomas Berdych.

This will round out his formal preparations for the Australian Open.

Federer is expected to head straight to Melbourne for the year's opening grand slam.

Photo Gallery: One Night With Federer and Hewitt

Date: 12th January 2015, Source: AFP

Read More

Federer tops Wawrinka in The Match for Africa 2

Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka put on a show in front of the home faithful at a sold out Hallenstadion in Zurich, contesting The Match For Africa 2 presented by Rolex on Sunday evening.

The Swiss stars catered to the 11,000 fans throughout the 93-minute affair, providing plenty of laughs and high-quality tennis. Federer prevailed 7-6(4), 6-4.

"The evening was a great experience for me," said Federer. "Stan and I were given a wonderful reception in the stadium. The fact that we were able to raise such a large amount for the foundation makes the evening even more special. A hearty thank you to Stan that he made this possible."

The event, which raised 1.3 million Swiss Francs, was in support of the Roger Federer Foundation, an organisation that promotes access to quality education, supporting projects operated by local nonprofit groups primarily in six countries in southern Africa and Switzerland. This year it is already reaching out to 136,000 children, with the goal of reaching a total 1,000,000 children by 2018.

The lone break of serve came in the third game of the second set, after the World No. 2 claimed the opener in a tie-break. Wawrinka pressed to level the set when he earned a pair of break points trailing 4-3, but Federer held his nerve and would close out the match on an overhead smash.

The crowd was entertained with traditional African dance and song during the changeovers.

Link: The Match for Africa 2 photo gallery

To learn how to donate and for more information, visit the official website.

Date: 22nd December 2014, Source: ATP

Read More

Roddick stuns Federer in MSG exhibition

Andy Roddick may have found the spark to rejuvenate his 2012 season after stunning Roger Federer 7-5, 7-6(7) in Monday night’s BNP Paribas Showdown exhibition in front of 18,000 fans at Madison Square Garden in New York. The former World No. 1, who has slipped to No. 31 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings, saved two set points in the second-set tie-break before capitalising on his first match point.

Roddick came into the match with a modest 4-4 record on the season. Last week he showed some encouraging signs at the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships, winning two matches before falling in three sets to eventual champion Kevin Anderson, who fought off three match points against Roddick in the quarter-finals.

In his post-match interview, Roddick made fun of his 2-21 career record against Federer. “I’m obviously in Roger’s head,” he joked. “He had no idea how to play me and I capitalized on that… The whole night felt surreal. I could feel Jeremy Lin wanted me to win tonight. I felt his energy in the building.” Monday’s victory does not count towards Roddick’s official FedEx ATP Head 2 Head record with Federer.

Federer said: “I loved my time at Madison Square Garden with Pete and to do it here with Andy, one of my greatest rivals, was great. We’ve had some great battles in great stadiums, and this is one of them.”

Roddick uncorked his booming first serve on the fast indoor hard court at Madison Square Garden and played aggressively from the back court and net to take the fight to Federer, who just two days earlier had flown in from Dubai, where he had won his second consecutive title (Rotterdam). Roddick was also sharp on return. Earlier on the exhibition card, Maria Sharapova defeated Caroline Wozniacki 6-3, 6-4.

The evening is part of Tennis Night in America, an annual celebration of tennis in collaboration with  the USTA, with over 1,400 facilities hosting youth tennis events featuring 10 and Under Tennis throughout March, from youth registration sign-ups to Kids’ Tennis Clubs and Play Days. It is part of  an effort to encourage more children to start playing the game and have fun with it with equipment sized right for them, including smaller racquets, foam balls and shorter courts.

 The Showdown was played on a court with blended lines, featuring the shorter court lines for 10 and under Tennis for a pre-match demonstration, as well as the regulation professional lines.

Roddick and Federer both now head to the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, the season's first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament, where men's main draw play begins Thursday.

Link:  BNP Paribas Showdown Exhibition photo gallery

Date: 06.03.2012, Source: ATP

Read More

Federer - Nadal exhibition match in Santiago Bernabéu stadium?

Rafael Nadal is a big fan of Real Madrid. Now the Spaniard wants to fulfill a dream and play a tennis match at the Santiago Bernabéu against Roger Federer?

According to Spanish media and the radio station "La Cope" could this summer at the venerable Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid held a classic of tennis. Rafael Nadal is planning an exhibition of the stadium of his favorite football club Real Madrid - on grass.

The world number two is already in negotiations with the real bosses. As an opponent of Nadal Roger Federer as a hot candidate is up for debate. One of the greatest tennis duels in recent years would thus further reissue.

Federer and Nadal have already played against each other sometimes more in Exhibitions, most recently in December 2010 in Zurich and Madrid. The proceeds of the game in the stadium of Real would benefit the charitable foundation of the Mallorcan.

Nadal holds a deadline of the month of July and the time between the Wimbledon final (July 8) and Olympic in the eye. Both tournaments will be played on grass, so that the two stars do not need to change.

Comes into the match, well, the audience-world record for a tennis game have about 82 000 fans at the Bernabeu.

Date: 23.02.2012, Source: Blick

Read More

Nike Clash Of The Champions

• Nike Clash Of The Champions photo gallery

Date: 09.03.2011, Source: Facebook

Read More

Roger defeated in high class final

Roger was defeated 6-7(4), 6-7(3) by Rafael Nadal in the final of the World Tennis Championships exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi today.

Roger took a 3-0 lead in the first tiebreaker, but then simply committed too many unforced errors and eventually dropped the set. The second set also proved to be a tough fight as neither of the two players was able to score a break. Eventually it was Nadal's serve that helped him clinch the match in the second tie-breaker.

Roger will now make his way to Doha for the Qatar Exxonmobil Open which starts on Monday.

Date: 01.01.2011, Source: RF Official

Read More

Roger Federer to play Rafa Nadal in final

Roger will play his first final of the new year in Abu Dhabi against Rafael Nadal.

Roger defeated Robin Söderling 6-7 (3/7), 6-3, 6-3, sending down a total of 16 aces. Roger had lost to the Swede precisely a year ago in Abu Dhabi.

Rafael Nadal celebrated a 6-4, 6-4 victory against Tomas Berdych. The numbers one and two of the world will play the final on Saturday.

Date: 01.01.2011, Source: RF Official

Read More

Roger Federer opens 2011 season

Roger will open his 2011 season tomorrow at the high-profile exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi. Only 6 players will be in the event which takes place this week between Thursday and Saturday: Roger, Rafael Nadal, Robin Söderling, Tomas Berdych, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Marcos Baghdatis. On Friday, Roger will play the winner of the match Söderling against Tsonga.

Date: 30.12.2010, Source: RF Official

Read More

The Match for Africa - video

Watch the highlights of Roger's busy day around the Match for Africa in Zurich.

Date: 24.12.2010, Source: YouTube

Read More

Unidos Por La Infancia

The Caja Magica is familiar to both Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. Two of their past three tour-level meetings came at this venue, home of the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open, with Federer winning the final in 2009 and Nadal this past May.

On Wednesday night, it once against provided the stage for a meeting between the world’s top two players, but this time as a charity exhibition match – “Joining Forces For the Benefit Of Children” – to raise money for the Rafa Nadal Foundation.

“To me, today is a very special day,” said Nadal, who along with Federer was escorted onto the court by children. “I am lucky enough to be able to do what I love to do, which is to play tennis, but at the same time, through my Foundation, I get the opportunity to help hundreds of kids who are not as lucky.”

Spectators at the Caja Magica – including recently retired former World No. 1 Carlos Moya, Spanish director Pedro Almodovar and the royal family – were treated to another high-quality match Wednesday night, won by Nadal 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-1.

After trading breaks to start the match, the set headed to a tie-break after Federer faced down three break points at 4-all and Nadal saved a set point in the next game. The 24-year-old Mallorcan took the mini-break to go up 3-1 in the tie-break and sealed the set with an ace.

Federer secured the only service break in the fifth game of the second set, but Nadal quickly took control in the third, racing out to a 3-0 lead. He converted on double break point opportunity to go up 5-1, and closed out the match on serve with a forehand winner.

The pair faced off in Federer’s home country for the first of two charity exhibitions Tuesday night – the ‘Match For Africa,’ won by the Swiss in three sets – raising $2.6 million for the Roger Federer Foundation.

“I just can say thank you very much to Roger to come here to Madrid and support my Foundation today,” said Nadal. “I did yesterday, and both of us are very happy that we can finally have this event and raise a lot of money for these kids. I know with what we’re going to raise yesterday and today, it’s not going to be decisive for that, but it will be a help and if everybody is convinced that everybody can help, it’s going to be important to improve a little bit this world.”

Date: 23.12.2010, Source: ATP

Read More

Match for Africa - A great success !

Roger and Rafael Nadal came together in Zurich today for the 'Match for Africa'. The world numbers one and two competed in front of a great crowd in the Hallenstadion in order to raise money for the Roger Federer Foundation.

The two friends showed most entertaining tennis, earning applause and Mexican waves. Roger lost the opening set, but eventually defeated Rafa in his home-match 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.

A lot more important than the result on court is the fact that with the event a total of 2.5 million Swiss Francs were generated! The money will be used for education projects in Africa supported by the Roger Federer Foundation.

“This is a special match for me, which I will remember forever,” Federer said. “I’m just so proud and so happy that we all made it work.”

“It was an unforgettable experience. I’m very happy to be part of this event,” Nadal said.

Roger experienced a day full of different activities. He picked up Rafa at the airport in the morning and personally drove him into town. After having lunch together, they made their way to a kids-clinic, various activities with sponsors and eventually the big finale. Tomorrow Rafa will be the host as they will be meeting again the same way in Madrid, this time to support Rafa Nadal's Foundation.

• Photo Gallery

Date: 22.12.2010, Source: RF Official

Read More

Charity Exhibition 2010 - Federer Promo

Watch live on TennisTV.com as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal play for their foundations on 21st and 22nd December.

Date: 12.12.2010, Source: YouTube

Read More