MADRID, SPAIN – Roger Federer won the ATP Madrid Open 13 May 2012 in a tournament where his biggest rivals cursed the blue clay courts. The Swiss star moved past Rafa Nadal into second place in the ATP rankings and matched the Spaniard’s record 20 ATP 1000 tournament wins. Nadal and Novak Djokovic had already lost so the final was played against Tomas Berdych. The Czech started well by storming to a 3-0 lead in the first set and holding serve to take the set. In the second it was Federer who took an early break but gave it back in the ninth game. He still took the set, on a double fault. In the third it looked like Federer would cruise to an easy win but Berdych repeatedly fought back before losing 3-6 7-5 7-5.
Serena Williams won the women’s event with a crushing 6-1 6-3 win over world number one Victoria Azarenka.
INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA – Roger Federer swept past his long time rival Rafael Nadal to go into the finals of the ATP tournament in Indian Wells, 17 March. The Swiss star, currently third in the ATP rankings, won 6-3 6-4, breaking Nadal’s serve on four occasions with a display of precision and power that Nadal could not match.It was Federer’s 251st win in an ATP 1000 event, a record.
John Isner beat top ranked Novak Djokovic 7-6 (9-7) 3-6 7-6 (7-5) to enter the top ten for the first time. The final will be at 21:00 Swiss time Sunday evening, shown on RTS.
In the final Federer edged past Isner in the first set tie-break and then sped through the second set to win 7-6 6-3, winning an incredible 94% of the points when his first serve was in.
DUBAI, UAE – Roger Federer swept away the challenge from Andy Murray in the final of the ATP tournament in Dubai, 3 March. The Swiss dominated the game with an aggressive forehand while the Scot was forced to run around behind the baseline. Murray beat Novak Djokovic in the semi-final to end the Serb’s run of three successive wins in the tournament. However in the final the Scot’s first serve failed him, dipping to 50% after being 65% earlier. Federer barely broke a sweat as he forced Murray on to the defensive, breaking the Scot’s serve three times while dropping his own serve just once to win 7-5 6-4 in a match that was more one-sided than the score suggests.
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – Saturday afternoon 3 March promises great tennis, with Andy Murray and Roger Federer facing off for the finals of the Dubai Open. Murray defeated the world’s number one player, Novak Djokovic Friday night in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5, in an impressive performance with strong serves that lead the Guardian to say “No early-season blues, then, for Murray in 2012, which may turn out to be his breakthrough year.”
Federer defeated Juan Martin del Potro 7-6, 7-6 in a far more tightly contested race.
ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – Roger Federer won his 71st ATP title while contesting his 101st final when he triumphed in the Rotterdam tournament, 19 February. He swept past the Argentinian Juan Martin Del Potro 6-1 6-4 in less than an hour and a half. The Basel player was in much better form than when he lost the recent Davis Cup encounter with the USA. Federer is currently third in the ATP rankings while Del Potro is tenth.
FRIBOURG, SWITZERLAND – The Swiss team of Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka were swept out of the Davis Cup when the US team won both the singles matches on Friday and then won the doubles on Saturday 11 February. In the first match Wawrinka went down in five sets against Mardy Fish, who won 6-2, 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 9-7. Roger Federer was then overpowered by the giant (2.06 metre, or 6ft 9in) American John Isner, who dominated with his serve, and won in four sets 4-6, 6-3, 7-6, 6-2. The Americans then rubbed salt into the Swiss wounds when Mardy Fish and Mike Bryan won the doubles against the Swiss Olympic doubles champions 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA- It took more than five and a half hours, ending after one thirty in the morning, 29 January. Novak Djokovic finally wore down Rafa Nadal in the men’s final of the Australian Open 5-7, 6-4, 6-2,6-7, 7-5. Nadal took the first set but Djokovic swept past him in the next two and looked like he would cruise to victory. That would have happened against any other player except Nadal, but the Spaniard battled back to take the fourth and then seemed to be grinding Djokovic down in the fifth. The Serb found more energy from somewhere to break Nadal’s serve in the 11th game and then had only to hold serve to win. Nadal twice played his get out of jail cards but eventually he could do no more. The longest Grand Slam final was finally over.
In the women’s final Victoria Azarenko, from Belorussia, swept past the Russian Maria Sharapova 6-3, 6-0 in one of the shorter finals. The win also took Azarenka to the top of the WTA rankings, taking over from Caroline Wozniacki, so at last we have a Grand Slam winner who has won a Grand Slam tournament.
Links to other sites: Australian Open, Guardian, Sydney Morning Herald
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – Rafael Nadal is back in form, at Roger Federer’s expense, with the former winning their Australian Open semi-finals match 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4Thursday morning 26 January, Swiss time. The match had some fine moments, but Federer failed to rise to the challenge at times, and at one point lost 11 straight points. But he also came to net 57 times and won 35 of those points.
In the end, it was Nadal’s increased aggressiveness that wore down Federer, who has not won a Grand Slam match against the younger player since 2007.
The pair have been playing another match in the background, according to the Australian Open, a feverish social media popularity competition.
Nadal now plays the winner of tomorrow’s match between Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic.
Links to other sites: Australian Open, ESPN, Sydney Morning Herald
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – Rafael Nadal defeated Tomas Berdych Tuesday 24 January in the Australian Open, 6-7 7-6 6-4 6-3 , giving himself an invitation in the process to face off against Roger Federer in the semi-finals. Berdych made Nadal work for the win, which took 4 hours 16 minutes.
The Nadal-Federer match, with both players in top form, is Thursday morning Swiss time.
Federer for his part played his 1,000th match Tuesday morning and showed no signs that being 30 is slowing him down, commented TSR (Fr). He won solidly against Juan Martin Del Potro, 6-4 6-3 6-2.
LONDON, ENGLAND – Roger Federer played his 100th ATP final and notched up a record sixth title in the end of year ATP World Tour Final 27 November, defeating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3 6-7 6-3.
The Swiss master also moved past Stefan Edberg in his total number of wins but still has some way to go to match Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl. Federer won the first set against Tsonga and looked like he would finish a routine win in two sets when he only had to hold his serve to take the trophy. However, Tsonga then won his first break of serve to take the match to a tie-break, which the French resident of Gingins in the Canton of Vaud won 8-6.
The third set went with serve till the eighth game when Federer broke serve and this time he had no problem holding his serve to win 6-3 6-7 6-3.
Federer’s wins in the final three tournaments of the season, in Basel, Paris-Bercy and London, moved him past Andy Murray to reclaim third place in the ATP rankings, behind Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. He also picked up a £1 million for his week’s work.
LONDON, ENGLAND – Jo-Wilfried Tsonga survived a dip in form in the second set to send Rafael Nadal back to Spain by eliminating him from the ATP World Tour Finals 7-6 4-6 6-3 in London, 24 November. The Spanish star, currently second in the ATP rankings, can now prepare for the final of the Davis Cup against Argentina. Tsonga won almost all the points when his first serve was in, generally with a serve and volley game that was perfect for the fast courts.
In the earlier match Roger Federer won again to top the group but lost a set before coming through against Mardy Fisher 6-1 3-6 6-3 .
In the other group David Ferrer has qualified after beating Novak Djokovic. The other place will go to either Djokovic, Tomas Berdych or Janko Tipsarevic.
Links to other sites: ATP World Tour, BBC
LONDON, ENGLAND – It was just like old days as Roger Federer gave a masterclass in controlled aggression to sweep past Rafael Nadal in the World Tour Finals 22 November. Federer’s tennis was close to perfection as he won 6-3 6-0 without breaking a sweat: even winning more than half the points when Nadal got his first service in court. Nadal is coming back from injury and his play was lacking the usual energy and power as Federer dominated all sectors of the game.
Nadal can still make the final four if he wins against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who overpowered Mardy Fish 7-6 6-1. On present form, the Frenchman, who lives in Gingins, near Geneva, looks the favourite.
In the other half Andy Murray has withdrawn with an injured groin. Novak Djokovic and David Ferrer head the group with Tomas Berdych and Janko Tipsarevic, who replaces Murray, fighting to reach the final four.
Links to other sites: ATP Masters, BBC
LONDON, ENGLAND – The opening match of the ATP World Tour Finals in London Sunday 20November will have a familiar look as it offers Jo-Wilfried Tsonga another chance to meet Roger Federer. The Swiss star breezed past Tsonga to win the final at the Paris-Bercy Masters. Rafael Nadal and Mardy Fish complete the B Group.
The A Group is headed by Novak Djokovic, along with home favourite Andy Murray, David Ferrer and Tomas Berdych. Berdych beat Murray in Paris, while Djokovic withdrew to recuperate from shoulder strain. The top two from each group will face each other in the semi-finals. The final will be 27 November. An undefeated champion picks up 1500 ATP points plus $1 630 000. Roger Federer has won the ATP Tour Finals a record five times, equal with Ivan Lendl and Pete Sampras.
PARIS, FRANCE – Roger Federer won his first Paris Open when he swept past Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6 -1 7-6 at Paris-Bercy, Sunday 13 November. The Swiss star has had a fine few weeks, winning in Basel and Paris in preparation for the big end of season World Tour Finals in London. Federer swept to an early 5-0 lead despite being under pressure in his first service game. The second set was far closer, going to a tie-break before Federer again accelarated away. Novak Djokovic withdrew after winning his first match to recuperate, and picking up a huge bonus. Rafael Nadal is also recovering from injury and did not compete. Andy Murray lost in the quarter-finals. Federer went through the tournament without losing a set. It was his 69th title and his 99th ATP final.
Links to other sites: BNP Paribas Masters, TSR
BASEL, SWITZERLAND – Roger Federer won his fifth Swiss Indoors title, and his first tournament since winning in Doha in January, 2011 when he brushed aside the challenge of Kei Nishikori, Sunday 6 November. The Swiss star won his home-town tournament with a convincing display, outplaying the young Japanese in all aspects of the game to win 6-1 6-3. It was still a fine tournament for Nishikori (ATP 32), who pulled off the shock of the week with a win over Novak Djokovic, who is the top of the ATP rankings.
The Czech Republic beat Russia 2-3 in the final of the Fderation Cup, the women’s equivalent of the Davis Cup, in Moscow.
BASEL, SWITZERLAND – A major upset at the Swiss Indoors Basel tennis tournament has the sport reeling Saturday night 5 November: number 32 in the world, Japanese wild card Kei Nishikori, defeated Novak Djokovic, who praised the winner’s game, saying his opponent was “getting impossible balls back”.
Djokovic, top player in the ATP rankings, won the first set 6-2 and was only two points from victory in the second when Nishikori won a long rally to reach a tie-break, which he won. The final set saw the Japanese rush through to win 2-6 7-6 6-0. Djokovic was playing in his first tournament since taking time off with back strain, and was twice treated for shoulder strain. Djokovic now has a 68-4 record this year, having lost to Roger Federer in the French Open and twice retiring with injury.
Roger Federer defeated his Olympic doubles partner Stanislas Wawrinka in the other semi-final 7-6 6-2 and will meet Nishikori in the final, Sunday 6 November.
Links to other sites: TSR, Seattlepi
BASEL, SWITZERLAND – Roger Federer has moved on to the next round of the Swiss Indoors Basel tennis tournament in his hometown, but upcoming matches have been sweetened by the “best player ever” award awarded to him by the tournament Tuesday.
Federer received 78.5 percent of the 40,000 votes cast online for him, well ahead of Novak Djokovic, who received 3,233 votes for second place.
Federer conceded there might be a home court advantage. “That I was able to get the award was maybe not the biggest surprise because I’m the record holder of titles here in Basel after all and I am from here, so it was a bit of a home court advantage, but still it’s nice to go out and greet the Swiss fans.”
Roger Federer and the Swiss passenger train locomotive named after him (photo, ©2011 Nationale Suisse, may not be reproduced without permission)
BASEL, SWITZERLAND – Roger Federer and other tennis champs might be in training in Basel for the upcoming tournament there, but the Swiss star took time out Friday afternoon 28 October to train in a different way: he baptized a Swiss locomotive.
“I have never named a locomotive before, let alone one bearing my own name,” he said at the ceremony.
The train engine has been carrying passengers on Swiss trains since the start of September. It was named after the tennis star, with whom the company has had a sponsorship agreement for several years.
Federer says he is particularly pleased that, for every kilometre travelled by the locomotive, Nationale Suisse will make a contribution to the Roger Federer Foundation in Africa.
Nationale Suisse, an insurance company heavily involved in the new Gotthard rail tunnel project, and the CFF rail company say the train is expected to stay in service for a number of years.
The Swiss Indoors Basel ATP tennis tournament kicks off Monday 31 October in the western Swiss city which is also Federer’s home town.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – It took only three minutes for Switzerland to finish off Australian Davis Cup hopes in a match interupted by bad light, 19 August. The match was suspended with Stanislas Wawrinka just one game from an historic win against Leyton Hewitt, with the overall match tied at 2-2 after Roger Federer won the first of the reverse singles. The Swiss beat Hewitt on Friday but Wawrinka lost to Bernard Tomic and the Swiss, Olympic champions in Beijing, also slipped up in the doubles on Saturday. The win means that Switzerland will compete in the World Group in 2012, while Australia will be in in the Asia/Oceania regional competition. It was also a bad weekend for Australian rugby as Ireland beat them in the World Cup.
The Davis Cup final will feature Spain travelling to Argentina. Spain swept past France 4-1 while Argentina pulled off a surprise 2-3 victory over Serbia. Novak Djokovic was forced to retire with back pain in his match against Juan Martin Del Potro.
Links to other sites: Sydney Morning Herald, TSR,
FLUSHING MEADOWS, NY, USA – The semi-finals and finals of the men’s singles at the US Open looked like they would harvest all the media attention this weekend, 9-11 September, when something happened over there on the women’s court. American Serena Williams, who had been playing some of her best tennis and was widely expected to walk off with the title, was defeated by Samantha Stosur of Australia, 6-2, 6-3. It is Australia’s first title at the Open in 31 years. Stosur won her first major title by defeating a 13-time Grand Slam winner.
Williams “had not lost a set coming into the final, taking out the likes of No. 4 Victoria Azarenka, former No. 1 Ana Ivanovic, up-and-comer Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki” notes the US Open new report, and she had not lost a match in the summer hard-court season.
Stosur goes home with $1.8 million in her pocket.
The women’s final did not, of course, completely over-shadow the men’s games, in particular the nearly five-hour Roger Federer-Novak Djokovic match that was played down to a nail-biting final with Djokovic coming back from a two-set deficit and two match points to defeat five-time winner Federer 6-7 (7-9), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 7-5.
Djokovic faces off against Rafael Nadal Monday afternoon in New York for the final match of the Open. Nadal defeated Andy Murray in the semis, 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2. Nadal was the 2010 US Open winner, but Djokovic has been dominating the game since the start of 2011.
Links to other sites: Bloomberg, Sydney Morning Herald, US Open
FLUSHING MEADOW, NY, USA – Swiss tennis star Roger Federer was in fine form Monday evening in New York, defeating Juan Monaco of Spain in 1h22 in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2, 6-0, to move on to the quarter-finals of the US Open. “An absolute dominant performance”, the US Open commentator called it, saying it was one of the most dominant of Federer’s career.
Flushing Meadow, NY, USA – The lineup for the fourth round of the men’s US Open tennis tournament is an all-star list, with Swiss Roger Federer facing off against Juan Monaco from Argentina, Andy Murray from Britain playing Donald Young from the US and Spain’s Rafa Nadal up against Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller.
Novak Djokovic, Serbia, plays Alexandr Dolgopolov, Ukraine, at 11:00 New York time and Federer plays Monaco at 19:00 New York time Monday.
Wimbledon, London: Novak Djokovic broke the eight year domination of Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal when he beat Nadal in four sets 6-4 6-1 1-6 6-3 to take the 2011 Wimbledon Gentlemen’s Singles Championship, Sunday 3 July. The Serb also moved to the top of the ATP rankings after an exceptional start to the year in which he lost only one match, to Roger Federer in the semi-finals of the French Open. The Swiss, currently number three in the rankings, lost to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarters. British hopes of winning the first men’s title since Fred Perry in 1936 were again dashed when Andy Murray fell to Nadal. London mayor Boris Johnson blames high UK taxes.
In the Ladies the tall blonde Czech Petra Kvitova beat the taller and blonder Maria Sharapova as the Russian was beaten 6-3 6-4 by her inability to serve, not to mention the powerful strokes of her opponent.
Wimbledon, London Roger Federer’s dream of a seventh Wimbledon title, and a 17th Grand Slam win disappeared as the French 12th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga came back from two sets down to win 3-6 6-7 6-4 6-4 6-4, 29 June. It is the first time Federer has lost after having a two set lead. The big French star, who lives in Gingins in canton Vaud, came back in the third set as his booming service, powerful forehand drives and a newly developed single-handed backhand passing shot broke the Swiss star. In the other matches Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray went through to the semi-finals. Djokovic beat Australian teenager Bernard Tomic in four sets, 6-2 3-6 6-3 7-5. Nadal also needed four sets to get past American Mardy Fish 6-3 6-3 5-7 6-4. Andy Murray had an easier time as he cruised past Feliciano Lopez 6-3 6-4 6-4. The semi-finals on Friday will feature Nadal v Murray and Djokovic v Tsonga.
WIMBLEDON, LONDON, ENGLAND Last year’s champion Serena Williams crashed out of Wimbledon, as did sister Venus in a dramatic day’s tennis. World number one Caroline Wozniacki also lost. The men’s event went more to form although Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer each dropped a set before going through to the quarter-finals. Serena Williams went down 6-3 7-6 to France’s Marion Bartoli while Venus fell 6-2 6-3 to Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria.
Andy Murray swept past Richard Gasquet 7-6 6-3 6-2, Rafa Nadal saw off a determined challenge from Juan Martin Del Potro 7-6 3-6 7-6 6-4. Roger Federer started rather slowly and lost the first set tie-break to Mikhail Youzhny but then swept past the Russian, 6-7 6-3 6-3 6-3.
International sports, French Open Tennis
ROLAND GARROS,PARIS,FRANCE – Rafael Nadal won a record equalling sixth French Open, and also kept his top ranking with the ATP, as he beat Roger Federer 7-5, 7-6, 5-7, 6-1 in Paris, 5 June. Federer started out in magnificent form with an early break but slipped back when serving for the first set. Nadal raced ahead in the second only to be pulled back again but he won the tie-break and quickly broke the Swiss again in the sixth game of the third, only to have Federer take it back in the next. Much to the joy of the crowd Federer took the tie-break but he was unable to keep up the pressure as Nadal whipped his top-spin forehands around the court. The final set was an anti-climax as the Spanish champion swept through 6-1. It was his tenth Grand Slam title: Federer has won sixteen.
Roger Federer can also be pleased with his tournament, especially with beating Novak Djokovic in the semi-final. In the final match he scored far more clear winners than Nadal, but also made far more errors as he followed an aggressive but risky strategy.
Links to other sites: Roland Garros, Guardian, ATP
International sports, French Open Tennis
ROLAND GARROS, PARIS, FRANCE – China’s Li Na became the first Asian to win a Grand Slam singles title when she overpowered the 2010 champion Francesca Schavione, 6-4, 7-6 in the final of the French Open at Roland Garros, Saturday 4 June. The Italian quickly fell behind and seemed unable to deal with the combination of precision and power from Li Na.
In the second set the Italian was again broken on serve early and it looked like the match would end quickly. The Milan native then displayed her street fighting credentials to win three successive games and go from 2-4 down to 5-4 up bot was unable to stop the set going to a tie-break in which Li Na took the first seven points for a famous victory.
The men’s final is a renewal of an old rivalry as Roger Federer takes on five time French Open champion and current ATP number one Rafa Nadal. Federer looked in peak form as he ended the 43-match winning streak of Novak Djokovic with a superb four-set win,7-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6. The first set was one of the finest ever, with both players pulling off some spectacular shots. Nadal swept past Andy Murray 6-4, 7-5, 6-4. If Federer wins the final on Sunday Djokovic will move ahead of Nadal to the top of the ATP rankings.
International sports, tennis
Miami, Florida(GenevaLunch) - Rafael Nadal put on a masterly performance to brush past Roger Federer in the semi-finals of the Miami Masters. The Spanish star, currently at the top of the ATP rankings, won 6-3, 6-2 without conceding a service game. Federer found it hard to find any rhythm and committed too many faults: “Off night for me, unfortunately” said the Swiss. Novak Djokovic crushed Mardy Fish 6-3, 6-1. The Serb has been the in-form player this year having won all his matches as part of a 25 match unbeaten series.
Links to other sites: Sony-Eriksson Open,BBC
International sports, tennis
Dubai (GenevaLunch)- Novak Djokovic increased the pressure on the number two spot of the ATP rankings with another crushing victory over Roger Federer in the final of the Dubai Open. The Serbian, currently ranked third, confirmed his position as the top player of 2011 following his win over the Swiss player at the final of the Australian Open. Djokovic won 6-3 6-3 as Federer committed a series of errors.
Melbourne, Australia (GenevaLunch) – Swiss hopes for an Australian Open win have been doubly dashed, after Roger Federer’s loss Thursday 27 January to Novak Djokovic, 7-6, 7-5, 6-4, in a match where Federer fell short of the superb performance he put in two days earlier in defeating countryman Stan Wawrinka.
Three straight sets, exactly three hours, and Djokovic knocked Federer out at the same stage as he did last year at the US Open.
