RF Tennis News 2017

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Roger Federer on Sunday after he defeated Stan Wawrinka, 6-4, 7-5 in the men’s final of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif. The victory “was not part of the plan,” he said. Credit Clive Brunskill/Getty Images


Roger Federer Completes Another Chapter in a ‘Fairy Tale’ Season


By  CHRISTOPHER CLAREY -  nytimes.com
March 20, 2017


INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — For a man who has, in his own mind, not yet completed his comeback, Roger Federer is faring rather well.

After winning the Australian Open and his 18th Grand Slam singles title in January, Federer, 35, breezed through a storm watch of a draw in Indian Wells without losing a set to win the season’s second significant tournament.

His 6-4, 7-5 victory over his Swiss compatriot Stan Wawrinka in Sunday’s final of the BNP Paribas Open was only the latest completed chapter in a season that Federer himself was calling a “fairy tale.”

Nobody else would have dreamed this up either, although Federer did have a premonition late last year, in the midst of his extended layoff because of knee problems.

“I didn’t know right away, because I’ve never been an injured guy, per se,” Federer said in an interview. “But I realized by October what an opportunity it was to be injured and what it could mean for the rest of my career. I didn’t think it was going to be this beautiful, but I’ll take it.”

If there had been any wood in the room where he was speaking, Federer might have considered knocking on it. Things have certainly broken his way as the two dominant forces in men’s tennis — Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray — are fighting their bodies and, perhaps, the toll of recent accomplishments. Federer dodged another threat here when the talented, unpredictable young Australian Nick Kyrgios retired with an illness before their quarterfinal match, giving Federer an extra day’s rest.

Djokovic and Murray lost early in Indian Wells, and they have withdrawn from this month’s Miami Open because of right elbow injuries.

“I’m as surprised as everybody else,” Federer said. “I did hear about Andy having some issues in Dubai already with his arm but only, like, vaguely.”

Federer said Wawrinka had mentioned to him that Murray’s arm was bothering him when Wawrinka and Murray trained together in Dubai.

“Look, it takes its toll,” Federer said of the grueling men’s game. “It’s going to be interesting who picks it up faster of the two guys — Novak or Andy — now.”

For the moment, Federer is the one heading to Miami as the favorite and the one setting a torrid 2017 pace. He has said that he would not consider his comeback complete until after Miami. He has also said that his goal when he returned to the tour after a six-month layoff was to be ranked in the top eight at the end of Wimbledon in July.

But it is time for some new blueprints. He will be ranked No. 6 on Monday, one spot ahead of Rafael Nadal, his longtime rival whom he has beaten twice already this season. Federer also leads the 2017 points race by a huge margin over Nadal and Wawrinka.

“It’s great, but you definitely have to reassess your goals maybe now and see, where do you go from here?” Federer said. “Because this was not part of the plan, to win Australia and Indian Wells, I can tell you that.”

It has been a season of big surprises, and the women’s final that preceded Federer and Wawrinka produced another one when Elena Vesnina won the first big singles title of her long career by coming back from 1-4 down in the second set to defeat her fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova, 6-7 (6), 7-5, 6-4, in a test of endurance and nerve that lasted 3 hours 2 minutes.

Vesnina, 30, definitely earned this unexpected title, defeating Angelique Kerber, Venus Williams and Kuznetsova — all Grand Slam singles champions — by playing consistently aggressive tennis on a court where playing conditions were quick in this year’s unusually intense heat.

After reaching the final, she called 30 “the new 20,” and she is no doubt onto something, given that all the singles finalists here and at the Australian Open were 30 or older.

“The physical fitness and recovery is really on a different level now,” said Vesnina, the No. 14 seed. “Everybody’s taking care of their health, about what they’re eating, same with Svetlana. She really change her diet, I think, for last couple years. Me as well. I’m more healthy eating than when I was 17, 19 years old.”

She added: “I think all these little things, that makes the difference.”

Federer‘s fifth title in Indian Wells made him the oldest man to win a Masters 1000 singles title, surpassing Andre Agassi, who was 34 when he won in Cincinnati in 2004.

Federer also has beaten Wawrinka twice this season and in 20 of their 23 matches over all. Wawrinka, for all his improvement and for all the tactical acumen of his coach, Magnus Norman, has still never beaten Federer on any surface other than clay.

Their paths and careers are particularly intertwined. They have won Olympic doubles gold and the Davis Cup together and continue to share the services of the fitness trainer Pierre Paganini. But the emotions can still get raw, as they did in defeat for Wawrinka as he teared up as he received his trophy on Sunday afternoon.

He looked over to see Federer laughing at him and then jokingly responded by using a vulgarity to describe him. Federer later explained that he was only laughing because he was trying to cheer Wawrinka up and keep the mood light at a heavy moment.

“I guess I achieved that,” Federer said.

It has been a season of achievements, big and small, and to watch Federer at this moment in the sun is to see a champion moving and swinging freely, be it the first point or match point, which he won with a forehand volley on Sunday.

“Stan missed a first serve and then it was second serve, step in and stay aggressive, come to the net and finish,” Federer said. “You vision it, and you do it. And it’s so simple, and when you can’t play that way, everything becomes so complex. I know I’m riding a wave right now.”

He added: “I think as long as the body is this way and I can remind myself, don’t play with fear and don’t play with too much pressure and don’t try to do well, I’ll be able to play like this. But the body needs to be there so the mind will follow.”

Big Titles: Federer Extends Lead, Hits Top Form


ATP - 20 March, 2017

Swiss superstar keeps rolling in 2017 with another 'Big Title'

ATP - Les meilleurs à Monte-Carlo sauf Federer et Nishikori

Publié le 21/03/2017 à 08:54 par Emmanuel POTIRON
TennisActu


Huit des dix meilleurs joueurs du monde sont annoncés au tournoi de Monte-Carlo, premier Masters 1000 sur terre battue, qui se déroulera du 16 au 23 avril. Sans surprise, ni Kei Nishikori ni Roger Federer n’ont prévu de venir salir leurs chaussettes sur le Rocher. Il est évident que Zeljko Franulovic, le directeur du tournoi, gardera une wild-card au chaud pour le Suisse mais, quand on décripte le projet terrien de Federer, ses chances de venir sur la Côte d’Azur apparaissent nulles.

A noter que Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, demi-finaliste l’an passé, est engagé mais sa venue dépendra de la venue de son premier enfant. Quant à Gaël Monfils, finaliste l’an passé, sa présence est très incertaine après le communiqué médical publié hier soir. A noter enfin que Monaco n’entre pas dans les plans de Juan Martin Del Potro.
Dommage pour le spectacle !

Roger Federer ne sera pas à Monte-Carlo cette année !

Translation:

ATP - The bests in Monte-Carlo except for Federer and Nishikori


Eight of the top ten players in the world are on the entry list for Monte Carlo, first clay court Masters 1000, to be held from April 16 to 23. Not surprisingly, neither Kei Nishikori nor Roger Federer have planned to come to spoil their socks on the Rock. Obviously, Zeljko Franulovic, the tournament director, will keep a wild-card in his back pocket for the Swiss, but when decrypting Federer's 'earthy' plan, his chances of coming to the Côte d'Azur are nil.

It should be noted that Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, semi-finalist last year, is committed but his participation will depend on the arrival of his first child. As for Gaël Monfils, finalist last year, his presence is very uncertain after the medical release published last night. It should also be noted that Monaco is not part of Juan Martin Del Potro's plans. Too bad for the show!

Roger Federer will not be in Monte-Carlo this year!

Wawrinka believes Roger Federer on course for No.1

AFP - The Times of India | 2017-03-22


MIAMI: Roger Federer's comeback from injury has been so successful that his compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka believes he can become the oldest world number one in history at the age of 35.

Federer beat Wawrinka in the final of Indian Wells on Sunday for his second win of the year following his triumph in the Australian Open - his 18th Grand Slam title and his first in four and a half years.

Those wins have propelled the Swiss master to sixth in the world as he makes excellent progress after a six-month layoff caused by a knee injury.

Compatriot Wawrinka believes that not only is Federer back in form but he is playing in a noticeably different manner that gives him a chance to return to the pinnacle of the rankings.

Andre Agassi holds the record for being the oldest player to hold the men's No.1 ranking, at the age of 33.

Wawrinka said it wasn't a shock to see Federer, who now has 90 career titles, back to such form but that he was particularly impressed by his movement.

Federer said he was well ahead of his target of reaching the top eight before Wimbledon and said he was enjoying the very different feeling of success late in his career.

Federer could face a strong challenge from old rival Rafael Nadal who is seeking his first ever win in Miami after losing in four finals at the Key Biscayne venue.

The Swiss, a winner in 2005 and 2006, is the only former winner in the field and is looking for a third sweep of Indian Wells and Miami titles.

Swiss legend Roger Federer holding his trophy on a confetti-strewn court in Indian Wells, California, after beating his countryman Stan Wawrinka. PHOTO: EUROPEAN PRESSPHOTO AGENCY


At 35, papa Federer has earned his fairy tale


Rohit Brijnath Assistant Sports Editor
The Straits Times


God, whichever one is in charge of tennis, loves Roger Federer. There is no other explanation. Nothing human can account for what is going on. Look at it this way: There are only that many fairy tales in sport and they're rightly reserved for certain kind of folk.

Like boxer James Braddock, who worked in the docks and then won the heavyweight title. Like fellows such as Muhammad Ali who were banned for years because they stood for a cause and then returned to greatness. Like drivers such as Niki Lauda who crashed and burned and were read the last rites and then came back to win an F1 title.

So how did Federer - 35, resting for six months, and now winner of the Australian Open and Indian Wells - ever qualify for a fairy tale? His whole life has been one. No?

His opponents like him, for god's sake. Foreign crowds want to adopt him, for heaven's sake. His life has such immaculate balance that only he could have twin girls and twin boys. He had 17 Grand Slam titles before 2017, no mid-career injury interruption and more followers than some religions. For him a hard time has probably been finding rooms for his trophies.

Still he gets a fairy tale?

But of course we know why there's been a 2017 fairy tale for Federer. It's a long-service prize for being so terrifyingly normal despite being terrifically talented and for saying excruciatingly rational things like he needs very little to be happy.

"I'm just happy being surrounded by family and friends. That's good enough for me. Not lying, winning helps to be happy, because losing ain't fun when you travel around the world and you play a shocker match and you're, like, 'Now what?'... But other than that, I'm just really happy with very little. It could be anything. Could be dinner with friends. Could be ... reading a book to my boys and my girls."

Federer has earned his fairy tale because he doesn't throw tantrums, hasn't been caught with drugs or porn stars, isn't a racist or a cheat, leads his sport with distinction, is admired by genetically sceptical journos, and at the Australian Open in 2007 when asked about the adulation of commentators, replied "What means adulation?" He was told it means "almost drooling over how good you are".

Did I mention he plays somewhat stylishly?

Federer has earned his fairy tale because he doesn't throw tantrums, hasn't been caught with drugs or porn stars, isn't a racist or a cheat, leads his sport with distinction, is admired by genetically sceptical journos... Did I mention he plays somewhat stylishly?

He deserves his fairy tale because he loves tennis, a man of gentle conceits but with a genuine affection for angles. On Sunday he hit a half-volley forehand drive and followed it with a low backhand drop volley. I'll bet people in at least 45 nations gave him a standing ovation in their living rooms.

He's reaped the fairy tale because he's plain greedy: The greatest modern player who still wants to be greater. A man with all the shots who wants even more shots. So first the older Federer tried the SABR, which was a silly acronym (Sneak Attack By Roger) for a helluva idea which isn't used that often. Now he's improved his backhand.

Great athletes tinker because they're insecure, hungry - Tom Brady eats avocado ice-cream - and smart. Ali couldn't dance any more and learnt to take a punch. Michael Jordan couldn't muscle his way in and added the fadeaway jump shot. Federer, in his athletic dotage, has turned a relatively diffident shot, which his rivals aimed at, into a dangerous one.

In the Australian Open final, he didn't just slice or block his backhand, he slapped it and cuffed it. In Indian Wells, Rafael Nadal down 1-3, break point, Federer steps into the tramline and slugs a backhand winner down the line.

Even in the first game of Sunday's final, Federer was belting backhands. It wasn't quite a stand-out shot in a slightly flat match but it is an assertive stroke, hit on the rise, that suits him so well that you wonder why he didn't do it before.

"All my coaches," he said "throughout my career have told me to go more for the backhand, but I used to shank more. So maybe deep down I didn't always believe that I had it in the most important moments. But I think that's changing little by little, which I'm very happy about." Of course he is. If it stays in working order, his backhand will be a rather fine weakness to have.

Meanwhile, not only is Federer's injured back just fine, but the bodies of Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray aren't. Federer didn't play either one in Melbourne, or an in-form Nick Kyrgios in Indian Wells, and also faced a Nadal in Australia who had a day's less rest and had just gone 15 bare-knuckle rounds with Grigor Dimitrov.

It seems like a heavenly chessmaster is moving the pieces, but this is sport, this is how it abruptly turns, this is how luck arrives, this is how adeptly champions grasp it. Already Federer is rising in the rankings, already you wonder if he'll skip the French, already in March on hard court there is talk of him on grass in June. Fairy tales after a while are prone to breed fantasy.

Why Miami might be the ultimate momentum-stopper for Roger Federer


 Peter Bodo

ESPN.com | March 22, 2017 


You have to drill pretty deep to find an area of puzzling weakness on Roger Federer's résumé. But if such a thing exists, it's the tournament where he's hoping to add to his fabulous start in 2017 in the coming days, the Miami Open.

Federer hasn't won the second of the back-to-back North American Masters Series events since 2006 (his only other win there came the year before). That year he snatched the final from the man who sits as coach in Federer's team box -- the person who is also partially responsible for the Swiss icon's current dazzling form -- Ivan Ljubicic.

True, Federer has played Miami just six times in the interim, but that's partly because of the hard luck he's known there. Once bitten, twice shy. Or in Federer's case, 13 times bitten, spooked and MIA.

It's a real mind-bender because Federer has been so successful throughout his career on hard courts.

The source of Federer's misfortune in Miami can't be traced to any one conspicuous element. Like the greatest of natural disasters, it's probably the result of a confluence of factors. The hard courts in Key Biscayne are usually a fraction slower than the ones used at California's Indian Wells. The balls also fly slightly slower in the heat and humidity of Miami than the dry desert heat of Indian Wells.





Playing both events, on opposite coasts, certainly takes a toll -- especially on players who do well at Indian Wells. And after more than a month on U.S. hard courts, the elite players might already be thinking about the upcoming clay-court season and its own Grand Slam prize, the French Open. Motivation becomes a significant factor.

Yet Federer swept both events in the same year twice. But that was then, and this is now.

Every player's record is shaped by past experience and attitude as much as quantifiable factors. Federer's frustration in Miami seems to have snowballed over the years. His early winning tradition has been replaced by the sense that he's snakebitten. If there's ever been a time to bite the snake back, this is it.

Federer's brilliant play and stunningly good luck this year have created a perfect storm. His latest windfall has been the withdrawal from Miami of the two top players, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic.

Both men are out with elbow injuries. Together, they have won Miami for the past six years running. Djokovic has won five of those, including the past three. Now No. 2 behind Murray and struggling to recapture his A-game, Djokovic won Indian Wells in those three years as well.

Federer did not have to elbow Djokovic or Murray out of the way en route to his two big titles this year. They've simply been such excellent hard-court players that mastering both of them in the same tournament is a monumental task. Federer himself has achieved it only three times (the 2009 and '15 Cincinnati Masters and the 2009 US Open).

Federer's lack of recent success in Miami is particularly mystifying when compared to his overall record on all surfaces but clay. He has at least five Grand Slam titles at every venue but Roland Garros and Masters titles galore. He's won the Cincinnati Masters a whopping seven times. On Sunday, he won Indian Wells for a fifth time.

Federer last played Miami in 2014. He didn't even bother to return the following year, and a knee injury kept him away in 2016. His return this week couldn't be under better -- or more unexpected -- circumstances.

Nobody, not even Federer himself, expected his game to explode like a supernova and sustain such energy for more than a quarter of the year. Yet here he is, the odds-on favorite to complete a sweep of the first three major events of the year.

"This was not part of the plan, to win Australia and Indian Wells," Federer told Sky Sports in an interview after the Indian Wells final. "The goal was to be top eight by after Wimbledon. So I'm there much, much faster."

Federer planned to play Miami all along, but that might be only because, as he's said, his prospects in January were so uncertain. He might have arrived at this juncture in sore need of wins. Now he's playing at such a high level that pulling out of Miami would be a self-inflicted momentum-killer. But after this tournament, who knows?

With two of his three principal rivals out of the tournament, Federer's main stumbling block once again is Rafael Nadal. Both are on the comeback trail, but Federer has one-upped Nadal at every turn thus far. On Monday, he leapfrogged him to take over the No. 6 spot in the ATP rankings.

Federer's mojo has often been lost luggage on the way from Indian Wells to Miami. Chances are it will arrive intact this year.

How does Roger Federer keep doing what he's doing?


Greg Garber, Senior Writer

ESPN.com
March 19, 2017


He raced into position to hit his serves, bouncing the ball in rapid-fire fashion -- and then played the points even faster.

Roger Federer, moving with startling speed from side to side, baseline to net, stunned Stan Wawrinka on Sunday with an up-tempo game in the California desert. The score in the BNP Paribas Open final at Indian Wells was a forceful 6-4, 7-5, and it was, even with the benefit of a few minutes to contemplate, an astonishing result.

Did we mention that Federer, the all-time Grand Slam champion, is well into his 36th year?

Federer beat longtime rival Rafael Nadal two rounds ago in 68 minutes and needed only 80 minutes to handle Wawrinka.

"What can I say?" Federer said. "It's been a fairytale week. I'm still on the comeback. I hope my body allows me to continue playing."



Roger Federer won his fifth Indian Wells title, tying Novak Djokovic for the most all time.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports


Federer won his fifth title at Indian Wells, tying him with Novak Djokovic for the all-time lead, his 25th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crown and 90th overall title.

Perhaps more important is this context: At 35 years, 7 months, Federer is the oldest to win a Masters title, surpassing Andre Agassi (34 years, 3 months) and this tournament, moving past Jimmy Connors, who was the Indian Wells champion in 1984 at the age of 31 years, 5 months. This was Federer's 22nd title after turning 30. For context, Ivan Lendl has the next most with eight. And for what it's worth, John McEnroe had five and Pete Sampras one.

"I would like to congratulate Roger," said Wawrinka, Federer's Swiss Davis Cup teammate, in his emotional on-court speech.

"Anyone who loves tennis loves watching you."

Wawrinka, a three-time major champion, has now lost to Federer 20 times -- in the 23 matches they've played. It's a ridiculous 15-0 on hard courts.

Let's rewind to January, when the 35-year-old Federer stepped on the court in Melbourne for his first official action in six months. Coming off knee surgery and the longest sabbatical of his professional life, he won the title, defeating Nadal in a riveting Australian Open final.

Fast-forward less than three months later and who would have imagined that Federer would have locked down the season's two first important tournaments. It's almost impossible to overstate the magnitude of what's happening -- because there is no real precedent.

Federer is 13-1 this season and an unblinking 6-0 against top-10 players. The last time he started this fast? Thirteen years ago, when he got out of the blocks 18-0 and went on to finish a year-end No. 1 for the first time.

Minutes after the result, American John Isner tweeted this: "Are we 100 percent sure Fed is from Planet Earth?"

Federer finished as the year-end No. 1 player in 2004. Consider the nine men who joined him in the top 10: No. 2 Andy Roddick, No. 3 Lleyton Hewitt, No. 4. Marat Safin, No. 5 Carlos Moya, No. 6 Tim Henman, No. 7 Guillermo Coria, No. 8 Andre Agassi, No. 9 David Nalbandian and No. 10. Gaston Gaudio.

Six of them were Grand Slam champions -- and all of them are retired.

Federer, is still seemingly at the top of his game. New and, against all odds, improved.

Beyond his extraordinary movement, Federer served impeccably. He won 47 of 48 service games, losing his first and only break point to Wawrinka in the first game of the second set.


It was an eventful near-fortnight for Federer. He navigated his way through the nasty bottom quarter, the Group of Death that featured Djokovic, Nadal, Juan Martin del Potro, Nick Kyrgios and Alexander Zverev. Djokovic beat del Potro in the third round but was taken out by Kyrgios in the fourth. Then Kyrgios granted Federer a quarterfinal walkover after a sudden bout of food poisoning.


Coming in, you wondered whether Wawrinka might find a way. He was 3-for-3 in major finals and the last time Federer and Wawrinka met in any final, Wawrinka came away with his first and only Masters title, nearly three years ago on the clay in Monte Carlo.

And now, with No. 1 Andy Murray and No. 2 Djokovic in a curious remission -- they are both sitting out Miami because of injuries -- there appears to be a new/old world order. Make Federer your Wimbledon favorite, and pencil in Rafa at Roland Garros.

Wouldn't that be something?

"To be here again as a champion is an amazing feeling," Federer said. "I can't tell you enough what it means to me."

Trust us, it means more to tennis.

pheebe wrote:^^^

Thank you cromar for all your hard work!

Was Becker always this bland and insipid?