Showing posts with label Roger Federer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Roger Federer. Show all posts
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Most Popular Players: Australian Open Tennis 2009
Seeded Players
Most Popular Players
Most Popular Players
Australian Open Tennis 2009
Most Popular Players: Australian Open Tennis 2009
Seeded Players
Most Popular Players
Most Popular Players
Australian Open Tennis 2009
Day 1 preview - First Serbs
Australian Open 2008 undoubtedly signaled the dawning of the year of the Serb. Today the Belgrade-born trio of Jelena Jankovic, Novak Djokovic and Ana Ivanovic, whose feats Down Under transformed their homeland into a tennis superpower, will fight tooth and nail to defend that territory.
Women’s world No. 1 Jankovic kicks off her campaign against Austria’s Yvonne Meusburger in the second match on Rod Laver Arena.
The 2008 semifinalist is followed on court by defending champion and No. 3 men’s seed Djokovic, taking on qualifier Andrea Stoppini of Italy. Meanwhile, over on Hisense Arena, women’s No. 5 seed Ivanovic opens proceedings against Julia Goerges of Germany.
While these early skirmishes look relatively straightforward, all three would be wise to keep an eye out for a veritable army of athletes eager to have Melbourne Park plastered in their national colours come February 1.
Home interest is at fever pitch, with nine Aussie women and seven men contesting the tournament. The draw has been cruel to the locals, however - Casey Dellacqua plays No.19 seed Daniela Hantuchova in the first of the tournament’s night matches, and unseeded Lleyton Hewitt has to wait a day before his date with No.13 seed and 2007 finalist Fernando Gonzalez.
The draw was more sympathetic towards Aussie No.1 Sam Stosur. She faces world No.72 Klara Zakopalova in the first round, while local eyes will also be on 17-year-old prospect Bernard Tomic, comeback queen Jelena Dokic, and 2007 junior champion Brydan Klein, all embarking on their Open odysseys today.
With eight males and 14 females in the draw, Russia’s representation is outstanding. As the highest seeded of the men, No.18 Igor Andreev would be the smoky to end all smokies if he claimed the Norman Brookes trophy in a fortnight’s time, while Marat Safin – playing Ivan Navarro – claims this is his farewell Australian appearance.
Of the eight seeded Russian women in the draw, last week’s Sydney International champion, No.4 seeded Elena Dementieva, and vanquished opponent, No.3 seed Dinara Safina, lead the charge; the latter faces countrywoman Alla Kudryavtseva today’s on Margaret Court Arena.
In contrast, No.11 seed Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark and 2007 quarterfinalist Shahar Peer from Israel are lone female flag-fliers for their countries. They might be two of the game’s rising stars, but only one will progress through today’s first round blockbuster.
Andy Murray may be Great Britain’s only hope in the men’s event, but he’s a highly-fancied hope. And the Brits are celebrating their best representation in the women’s tournament since 1992, Elena Baltacha and Katie O’Brien qualifying to join direct entrants, world No.53 Anne Keothavong and No.110 Melanie South, in the main draw.
Yank-o-philes will be relieved that traditional front-liners Andy Roddick, James Blake and Venus and Serena Williams now have some youthful back-up in the form of John Isner and Sam Querrey.
Meanwhile, the Argentine camp boasts nine combatants, including No.8 seed Juan Martin Del Potro, and No.10 seed David Nalbandian. Winner in New Zealand, Del Potro plays match two on Hisense Arena, while Sydney champion Nalbandian wraps up today’s action on Margaret Court Arena.
The draws, featuring men from 34 and women from 38 countries, are locked in. Who ultimately claims Melbourne Park’s hallowed territory remains to be seen. Game on.
Day 1 preview - First Serbs
Australian Open 2008 undoubtedly signaled the dawning of the year of the Serb. Today the Belgrade-born trio of Jelena Jankovic, Novak Djokovic and Ana Ivanovic, whose feats Down Under transformed their homeland into a tennis superpower, will fight tooth and nail to defend that territory.
Women’s world No. 1 Jankovic kicks off her campaign against Austria’s Yvonne Meusburger in the second match on Rod Laver Arena.
The 2008 semifinalist is followed on court by defending champion and No. 3 men’s seed Djokovic, taking on qualifier Andrea Stoppini of Italy. Meanwhile, over on Hisense Arena, women’s No. 5 seed Ivanovic opens proceedings against Julia Goerges of Germany.
While these early skirmishes look relatively straightforward, all three would be wise to keep an eye out for a veritable army of athletes eager to have Melbourne Park plastered in their national colours come February 1.
Home interest is at fever pitch, with nine Aussie women and seven men contesting the tournament. The draw has been cruel to the locals, however - Casey Dellacqua plays No.19 seed Daniela Hantuchova in the first of the tournament’s night matches, and unseeded Lleyton Hewitt has to wait a day before his date with No.13 seed and 2007 finalist Fernando Gonzalez.
The draw was more sympathetic towards Aussie No.1 Sam Stosur. She faces world No.72 Klara Zakopalova in the first round, while local eyes will also be on 17-year-old prospect Bernard Tomic, comeback queen Jelena Dokic, and 2007 junior champion Brydan Klein, all embarking on their Open odysseys today.
With eight males and 14 females in the draw, Russia’s representation is outstanding. As the highest seeded of the men, No.18 Igor Andreev would be the smoky to end all smokies if he claimed the Norman Brookes trophy in a fortnight’s time, while Marat Safin – playing Ivan Navarro – claims this is his farewell Australian appearance.
Of the eight seeded Russian women in the draw, last week’s Sydney International champion, No.4 seeded Elena Dementieva, and vanquished opponent, No.3 seed Dinara Safina, lead the charge; the latter faces countrywoman Alla Kudryavtseva today’s on Margaret Court Arena.
In contrast, No.11 seed Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark and 2007 quarterfinalist Shahar Peer from Israel are lone female flag-fliers for their countries. They might be two of the game’s rising stars, but only one will progress through today’s first round blockbuster.
Andy Murray may be Great Britain’s only hope in the men’s event, but he’s a highly-fancied hope. And the Brits are celebrating their best representation in the women’s tournament since 1992, Elena Baltacha and Katie O’Brien qualifying to join direct entrants, world No.53 Anne Keothavong and No.110 Melanie South, in the main draw.
Yank-o-philes will be relieved that traditional front-liners Andy Roddick, James Blake and Venus and Serena Williams now have some youthful back-up in the form of John Isner and Sam Querrey.
Meanwhile, the Argentine camp boasts nine combatants, including No.8 seed Juan Martin Del Potro, and No.10 seed David Nalbandian. Winner in New Zealand, Del Potro plays match two on Hisense Arena, while Sydney champion Nalbandian wraps up today’s action on Margaret Court Arena.
The draws, featuring men from 34 and women from 38 countries, are locked in. Who ultimately claims Melbourne Park’s hallowed territory remains to be seen. Game on.
Federer cool and confident
A fit and healthy Roger Federer has warned to not rule him out of winning this year’s Australian Open.
At 27, and chasing his 14th Grand Slam to equal Pete Sampras’ record, the world No.2 says he isn’t going anywhere.
“I want to do well, not only this year but [in] many more years to come. So I don’t feel this is my last chance …” he said in his pre-tournament press conference on Sunday.
Despite losing to Andy Murray twice this year, in an exhibition match in Abu Dhabi and two weeks ago in a semifinal in Doha, Federer says the pressure leading into the tournament doesn’t feel any different to any other of his 10 years at Melbourne Park.
“I feel like things are normal. I’m playing well. I’m feeling well,” he said.
As the world No.2, the Swiss says he won’t change anything different about his preparation compared to previous Australian Open campaigns.
“(My) approach has always been pretty much the same. I always try to get enough matches in on the surface that the Slam takes place … that’s always something I’ve always kept the same.”
Federer has enjoyed the perfect preparation for Australian Open 2009, having plenty of match time in Doha and by winning the Kooyong Classic on Saturday against compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka.
“I played well yesterday, hit the ball well, had good timing…I’m excited about playing tomorrow,” he said.
The former world No.1 says he has worked harder than ever to get where he is today and is in a better position than he was 12 months ago, when he was labouring with illness, his 2008 campaign ending at the hands of eventual champion Novak Djokovic in the semifinals.
“I’m happy how far I’ve come really, because I had to work extremely hard to get back in shape. I had to put much more of an effort into last year than I’ve ever had to put in any of the years before.”
Federer will meet Italian Andreas Seppi in the first round on Monday night. Currently ranked 35 in the world, Seppi was beaten by Federer two weeks ago in Doha.
Federer cool and confident
A fit and healthy Roger Federer has warned to not rule him out of winning this year’s Australian Open.
At 27, and chasing his 14th Grand Slam to equal Pete Sampras’ record, the world No.2 says he isn’t going anywhere.
“I want to do well, not only this year but [in] many more years to come. So I don’t feel this is my last chance …” he said in his pre-tournament press conference on Sunday.
Despite losing to Andy Murray twice this year, in an exhibition match in Abu Dhabi and two weeks ago in a semifinal in Doha, Federer says the pressure leading into the tournament doesn’t feel any different to any other of his 10 years at Melbourne Park.
“I feel like things are normal. I’m playing well. I’m feeling well,” he said.
As the world No.2, the Swiss says he won’t change anything different about his preparation compared to previous Australian Open campaigns.
“(My) approach has always been pretty much the same. I always try to get enough matches in on the surface that the Slam takes place … that’s always something I’ve always kept the same.”
Federer has enjoyed the perfect preparation for Australian Open 2009, having plenty of match time in Doha and by winning the Kooyong Classic on Saturday against compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka.
“I played well yesterday, hit the ball well, had good timing…I’m excited about playing tomorrow,” he said.
The former world No.1 says he has worked harder than ever to get where he is today and is in a better position than he was 12 months ago, when he was labouring with illness, his 2008 campaign ending at the hands of eventual champion Novak Djokovic in the semifinals.
“I’m happy how far I’ve come really, because I had to work extremely hard to get back in shape. I had to put much more of an effort into last year than I’ve ever had to put in any of the years before.”
Federer will meet Italian Andreas Seppi in the first round on Monday night. Currently ranked 35 in the world, Seppi was beaten by Federer two weeks ago in Doha.
The questions facing Federer
Few tennis fans, a year ago, would have said Roger Federer had anything to prove in the sport he’d graced for more than a decade.
Admittedly, he had never found a way to beat Spain’s rampaging Rafael Nadal on the slow clay courts of Roland Garros. But at the other three majors Federer’s grip, like his cool, gentlemanly demeanour, seemed unshakeable.
He’d then won Wimbledon five straight times, the US Open four straight times, and the Australian Open thrice. He’d reigned as world No. 1 for three years and, at 26, was considered the best player of his generation, if not of all time.
In fact, some commentators even wondered whether the main risk facing the great Swiss might be the monotony of winning so regularly. He needed more of a challenge, they said, as if having his nose rubbed in red dirt by Rafa each year wasn’t enough. (They overlooked his appearance in the final in three consecutive years, an effort beyond Pete Sampras.)
Today, as he shapes up for his 10th tilt at the Australian Open, Federer’s situation has changed. A series of unexpected defeats in 2008 threatened to erode his princely stature in the game. While still a wonderful player, he was now prone to costly lapses. He’d come back to the field, with an increasing number of young upstarts, such as Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Gilles Simon, beating him.
Federer’s confidence was shaken. Whether it is now fully restored is one of the questions he surely must resolve at Melbourne Park in the next two weeks. There can be no place for doubts, small though they may be, in a Grand Slam arena.
Another question is whether Federer has been unwise to deny himself a full-time coach; someone with enough clues to get him through the kind of bad patches he experienced in 2008.
Is it pride or stubbornness that prevents him from following the example of champions like Bjorn Borg, Andre Agassi and Sampras in hiring a respected full-time mentor?
Federer can rebut the skeptics by winning the Australian title for a fourth time, equalling the Open era record set by Agassi. Victory would also enable him to match Sampras’s record of 14 career Grand Slam championships. He’d then be poised to claim the record outright later in the year.
While both achievements would reassert his supremacy and be extremely fulfilling to a player highly conscious of the game’s traditions, they are unlikely to occur unless he recaptures the nerve, physical fitness, and tactical know-how that deserted him at critical moments in 2008.
His semifinal defeat by Djokovic at Australian Open 2008 was followed in early June by one of the worst hidings of his life when Nadal allowed him only four games in the French Open final. It was a real downer for Federer, who committed numerous unforced errors, including frequent mis-hits.
Then came his dethronement at Wimbledon, where he wasted far too many opportunities in another showdown with Nadal. When the Spaniard seized Federer’s No. 1 ranking, it was as if The Joker had knocked off Batman – the world would never be the same.
Other painful defeats during the year were inflicted by Americans James Blake (at the Beijing Olympics), Mardy Fish and Andy Roddick, and by Europeans Ivo Karlovic and Radek Stepanek. All had usually been outplayed by Federer in their previous clashes.
The pall lifted at the US Open, when the defending champ won the title brilliantly for a fifth time. It was, however, only his fourth crown of the year, compared, for example, to his swag of 12 titles in 2006.
To rub even more salt into the wounds, Murray eliminated Federer in a preliminary round of the Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai last November, an event the Swiss had won in four of the previous five years.
So what chance a total recovery in Melbourne?
Federer will have to deal with a few fading ghosts. It was here, for instance, that Lleyton Hewitt frustrated him with a shock Davis Cup defeat. He also has bitter memories of losing at his first two appearances at the Australian Open to the little Frenchman Arnaud Clement.
His other losses at the Open have been to Germany’s Tommy Haas (2002), Argentina’s David Nalbandian (2003), Russia’s Marat Safin (after holding a match point in the 2005 semifinal), and Djokovic (2008).
Any one of these players can be unstoppable on his day, as can the likes of Nadal, Murray, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Simon.
It’s not going to be easy for the Fed Express to get back on track … but nobody would be greatly surprised if he did.
The questions facing Federer
Few tennis fans, a year ago, would have said Roger Federer had anything to prove in the sport he’d graced for more than a decade.
Admittedly, he had never found a way to beat Spain’s rampaging Rafael Nadal on the slow clay courts of Roland Garros. But at the other three majors Federer’s grip, like his cool, gentlemanly demeanour, seemed unshakeable.
He’d then won Wimbledon five straight times, the US Open four straight times, and the Australian Open thrice. He’d reigned as world No. 1 for three years and, at 26, was considered the best player of his generation, if not of all time.
In fact, some commentators even wondered whether the main risk facing the great Swiss might be the monotony of winning so regularly. He needed more of a challenge, they said, as if having his nose rubbed in red dirt by Rafa each year wasn’t enough. (They overlooked his appearance in the final in three consecutive years, an effort beyond Pete Sampras.)
Today, as he shapes up for his 10th tilt at the Australian Open, Federer’s situation has changed. A series of unexpected defeats in 2008 threatened to erode his princely stature in the game. While still a wonderful player, he was now prone to costly lapses. He’d come back to the field, with an increasing number of young upstarts, such as Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Gilles Simon, beating him.
Federer’s confidence was shaken. Whether it is now fully restored is one of the questions he surely must resolve at Melbourne Park in the next two weeks. There can be no place for doubts, small though they may be, in a Grand Slam arena.
Another question is whether Federer has been unwise to deny himself a full-time coach; someone with enough clues to get him through the kind of bad patches he experienced in 2008.
Is it pride or stubbornness that prevents him from following the example of champions like Bjorn Borg, Andre Agassi and Sampras in hiring a respected full-time mentor?
Federer can rebut the skeptics by winning the Australian title for a fourth time, equalling the Open era record set by Agassi. Victory would also enable him to match Sampras’s record of 14 career Grand Slam championships. He’d then be poised to claim the record outright later in the year.
While both achievements would reassert his supremacy and be extremely fulfilling to a player highly conscious of the game’s traditions, they are unlikely to occur unless he recaptures the nerve, physical fitness, and tactical know-how that deserted him at critical moments in 2008.
His semifinal defeat by Djokovic at Australian Open 2008 was followed in early June by one of the worst hidings of his life when Nadal allowed him only four games in the French Open final. It was a real downer for Federer, who committed numerous unforced errors, including frequent mis-hits.
Then came his dethronement at Wimbledon, where he wasted far too many opportunities in another showdown with Nadal. When the Spaniard seized Federer’s No. 1 ranking, it was as if The Joker had knocked off Batman – the world would never be the same.
Other painful defeats during the year were inflicted by Americans James Blake (at the Beijing Olympics), Mardy Fish and Andy Roddick, and by Europeans Ivo Karlovic and Radek Stepanek. All had usually been outplayed by Federer in their previous clashes.
The pall lifted at the US Open, when the defending champ won the title brilliantly for a fifth time. It was, however, only his fourth crown of the year, compared, for example, to his swag of 12 titles in 2006.
To rub even more salt into the wounds, Murray eliminated Federer in a preliminary round of the Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai last November, an event the Swiss had won in four of the previous five years.
So what chance a total recovery in Melbourne?
Federer will have to deal with a few fading ghosts. It was here, for instance, that Lleyton Hewitt frustrated him with a shock Davis Cup defeat. He also has bitter memories of losing at his first two appearances at the Australian Open to the little Frenchman Arnaud Clement.
His other losses at the Open have been to Germany’s Tommy Haas (2002), Argentina’s David Nalbandian (2003), Russia’s Marat Safin (after holding a match point in the 2005 semifinal), and Djokovic (2008).
Any one of these players can be unstoppable on his day, as can the likes of Nadal, Murray, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Simon.
It’s not going to be easy for the Fed Express to get back on track … but nobody would be greatly surprised if he did.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Roger Federer - Player Overview
 Switzerland | ||
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Player Overview
Australian Opens Played: 9
Best Singles Performance: Winner (2004, 2006, 2007)
Best Doubles Performance: 3rd Round (2003)
Events Entered: Men's Singles
| |||
| Country: | Switzerland | ||
| Birth Date: | 8 August 1981 | ||
| Birthplace: | Basel, Switzerland | ||
| Residence: | Bottmingen, Switzerland | ||
| Height: | 6 ft. 1 in. (1.85 meters) | ||
| Weight: | 187 lbs. (85 kilos) | ||
| Plays: | Right | ||
| Year Turned Pro: | 1998 | ||
| Current 52 week rank for singles: | 2 | ||
| Current ATP Champions Race Position: | 7 | ||
| Current doubles rank: | 569 | ||
| High rank for singles: | 1 | ||
| High rank date for singles: | 2 February 2004 | ||
| High ATP Champions Race Position: | 1 | ||
| High ATP Champions Race Position Date: | 7 July 2003 | ||
| High rank for doubles: | 24 | ||
| High rank date for doubles: | 9 June 2003 | ||
| Career matches won: | 620 | ||
| Career matches lost: | 150 | ||
| Year to date matches won: | 3 | ||
| Year to date matches lost: | 1 | ||
| Career prize money: | $44,644,857 USD | ||
| Year to date prize money for singles: | $50,900 USD | ||
| Grand Slam Singles Results: | ||||
| Year | Australian Open | Roland Garros | Wimbledon | US Open |
| 1999 | - | 1ST | 1ST | - |
| 2000 | 3RD | 4TH | 1ST | 3RD |
| 2001 | 3RD | QF | QF | 4TH |
| 2002 | 4TH | 1ST | 1ST | 4TH |
| 2003 | 4TH | 1ST | WON | 4TH |
| 2004 | WON | 3RD | WON | WON |
| 2005 | SF | SF | WON | WON |
| 2006 | WON | RUP | WON | WON |
| 2007 | WON | RUP | WON | WON |
| 2008 | SF | RUP | RUP | WON |
Roger Federer - Player Overview
| Switzerland | ||
| | ||
| | ||
Player Overview
Australian Opens Played: 9
Best Singles Performance: Winner (2004, 2006, 2007)
Best Doubles Performance: 3rd Round (2003)
Events Entered: Men's Singles
| |||
| Country: | Switzerland | ||
| Birth Date: | 8 August 1981 | ||
| Birthplace: | Basel, Switzerland | ||
| Residence: | Bottmingen, Switzerland | ||
| Height: | 6 ft. 1 in. (1.85 meters) | ||
| Weight: | 187 lbs. (85 kilos) | ||
| Plays: | Right | ||
| Year Turned Pro: | 1998 | ||
| Current 52 week rank for singles: | 2 | ||
| Current ATP Champions Race Position: | 7 | ||
| Current doubles rank: | 569 | ||
| High rank for singles: | 1 | ||
| High rank date for singles: | 2 February 2004 | ||
| High ATP Champions Race Position: | 1 | ||
| High ATP Champions Race Position Date: | 7 July 2003 | ||
| High rank for doubles: | 24 | ||
| High rank date for doubles: | 9 June 2003 | ||
| Career matches won: | 620 | ||
| Career matches lost: | 150 | ||
| Year to date matches won: | 3 | ||
| Year to date matches lost: | 1 | ||
| Career prize money: | $44,644,857 USD | ||
| Year to date prize money for singles: | $50,900 USD | ||
| Grand Slam Singles Results: | ||||
| Year | Australian Open | Roland Garros | Wimbledon | US Open |
| 1999 | - | 1ST | 1ST | - |
| 2000 | 3RD | 4TH | 1ST | 3RD |
| 2001 | 3RD | QF | QF | 4TH |
| 2002 | 4TH | 1ST | 1ST | 4TH |
| 2003 | 4TH | 1ST | WON | 4TH |
| 2004 | WON | 3RD | WON | WON |
| 2005 | SF | SF | WON | WON |
| 2006 | WON | RUP | WON | WON |
| 2007 | WON | RUP | WON | WON |
| 2008 | SF | RUP | RUP | WON |
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