Martina Hingis coaching Sabine Lisicki at Australian Open

Tennis - Former world no. 1 and five time grand slam singles champion Martina Hingis will be coaching Germany's Sabine Lisicki during the Australian Open, which begins on Monday,


Hingis is already in Melbourne and has been seen hitting the courts with the big-serving German, who stunned Serena Williams to reach the finals at Wimbledon in July last year. There is no word on whether this collaboration will extend beyond the Australian Open.



Lisicki is currently ranked no. 15 in the world and played only one match in Brisbane before retiring from her second round match due to injury.


This is not the first time that Hingis has taken on a coaching role in the game. Last year, she worked for a few months with Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova before the two parted ways.


Hingis is a three-time champion in singles at the Australian Open and also returned to the tour to play doubles during the summer hardcourt season last July. She has not entered any of the Australian events this time in doubles and has not indicated whether she intends to play doubles this year on the tour as well.


tennisworldusa.org

Roger Federer feeling positive ahead of Australian Open

Of Roger Federer's many qualities, his optimism is one of the greatest. The former world No 1 has suffered many setbacks in recent times – sliding down the world rankings, seeing his run of 36 successive Grand Slam quarter-final appearances come to an end, losing to some of the sport's journeymen – but always bounces back in confident mood.



Ask him how long he took to recover from his latest devastating defeat and he will usually tell you that it was only a matter of minutes.


As the 32-year-old Swiss prepares to contest his 57th Grand Slam tournament in a row at the Australian Open here next week – a run which will take him past Wayne Ferreira's Open era record – he is once again thinking only of the positives. Federer looks back on last week's Brisbane International, for example, where he lost to Lleyton Hewitt for just the second time in 18 meetings, as a good start to 2014.


He also draws encouragement both from his winter break, which followed his least productive campaign for 12 years, and the fact that he has recovered from the back problems that troubled him in 2013.


"I probably trained harder in the off-season than all the guys ahead of me in the rankings," the world No 6 said here in Melbourne as he looked forward to the new season.


"They went off to play exhibitions, like I did last year, so that [counts in my favour]. I did a full-on month [of training], which I haven't done in a long time. My body held up for that and I've just played singles and doubles in Brisbane.


"I really feel like I'm on the way back. Who knows? Maybe I'll play my best in March or April. That's my feeling, but I still feel there's a lot that's possible right now. Maybe that's why I haven't set particular, special goals. I just want to get back to a good level and then, hopefully, I can start winning tournaments again."


He added: "Of course, I need to have goals, but right now I'm coming off a tough season. The important thing for me is that I find my way back into the whole rhythm, which I think I did, because I played a lot of tennis in Basel, Paris and London at the end of last season."


Never one to rest on his laurels, Federer has been ringing the changes in the hope of extending a career which has already brought him 17 Grand Slam singles titles and $79,265,175 (about £48.2m) in prize-money, both records. Having dispensed with Paul Annacone, he has brought Stefan Edberg into his coaching team. After experiments with new rackets, he has also settled on a new tool of his trade.


The choice of Edberg, who will be with Federer for 10 weeks of the year, is intriguing, particularly as the Swede's appointment comes at a time when two other former greats of the game, Boris Becker and Ivan Lendl, are working with Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray respectively.


You might think that the most accomplished player of all time would not need a coach, but Federer knows that Tony Roche was a major factor in his most successful years, while Annacone helped him to win his seventh Wimbledon crown after more than two and a half years without a Grand Slam title.


"I'm very inspired and motivated right now," Federer said. "Of course, working with Stefan Edberg is a very special situation for me. He was the man who I was watching the most when I was growing up and has influenced me most in terms of inspiring me as a tennis player. So to spend some weeks with him throughout the year is going to be very special for me.


"Trying out the new racket is something I've always wanted to do. That's something that is going really well and that I'm happy about. Then just having my body being back to a good level is also very motivating and keeps you very eager."


Federer experimented with a new Wilson racket last summer after Wimbledon, where he suffered his most devastating loss of the year, to the world No 116 Sergiy Stakhovsky.


The change did not go well as the Swiss lost to Federico Delbonis (world No 114) in Hamburg and to Daniel Brands (world No 55) in Gstaad, after which he reverted to his former racket. Nevertheless, Federer still lost in the fourth round of the US Open to Tommy Robredo – a player he had beaten in all 10 of their previous meetings – and ended the season with just one title to his name, which was his worst haul since 2001.


Acting on Federer's feedback, Wilson provided him with more rackets for the US Open and again at the end of the season. He played with his latest choice for two and a half weeks while training in Dubai before coming here. "I feel very comfortable with it, more comfortable than I did with the one after Wimbledon," Federer said. "This one feels more of an extension than I had before, but I guess it's in a more futuristic form."


He added: "I had a much longer time to get ready for this swing than I had last time around after Wimbledon before the American summer. I'm not thinking about it when I'm going out there, which is a great thing. I'm hitting the ball really well."



The continuing pulling power of the seven-times Wimbledon champion was evident here on Wednesday night, when a capacity crowd filled Rod Laver Arena to attend "A Night with Roger Federer and Friends", a gala evening to raise funds for his charitable foundation. There were guest appearances by Laver and Pat Rafter, but the centrepiece was essentially a practice match between Federer and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. It was even broadcast live on television.


Federer, whose foundation supports underprivileged children in Africa, would like to see the sport do more to support good causes. "I see the power that tennis can have," he said. "We don't play that many pro-ams, like golf does. I think we could exploit more times the way we include charities into tournaments. I think the players are very open to these things."



He added: "Exhibitions and matches like that definitely inspire you to keep on playing. That's not my only goal because I actually want to play tennis and be successful and win as well, because the thrill of holding up a trophy, of being on match point, is actually an amazing one. That's probably deep down why I'm still playing, but of course there are so many other things I can do at the same time.


"The enjoyment factor I get out of playing on tour today is totally different. It's a much deeper love of the game that I have today and a much bigger appreciation and respect. I just remember playing out on Court 25 early in my career. Now that I play on Centre Court most of the time it's an absolute privilege."


Ever mindful of the history of the game, Federer can see how appropriate it would be if he were to add to his Grand Slam collection later this month. "Ten years ago I became world No 1 here and 10 years ago I won my first Australian Open," he said. "I think I can play very well here, though I'm not thinking too far ahead."


independent.co.uk

A Night With Roger Federer & Friends at Rod Laver Arena (whole match)

Sadly lot's of issues with the playback (only the first hour is watchable) which is very disappointing. Hopefully someone will fix and re-upload it soon.

More than $1 million was raised as Roger Federer, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and a host of Australian tennis stars put on a captivating performance on Wednesday evening in Melbourne in aid of the Roger Federer Foundation.

On a packed Rod Laver Arena, four-time Australian Open champion Federer defeated 2008 runner-up Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-7(5), 6-3, 7-5 in an exhibition match lasting just over two hours. The Swiss had started the evening with a hit against Rod Laver, before the Australian took his seat court side.

Last week’s Brisbane International champion, Lleyton Hewitt, Davis Cup captain Patrick Rafter and Federer’s former coach, Tony Roche, all contributed to the evening at Melbourne Park.

“What a pleasure to play any match here, in particular a match for a good cause,” said Federer. “I played some of the biggest matches of my career right here. It’s very special being back. It was a dream come true to play some balls with Rod Laver, spend some time with him, speak with him.

“The most important thing tonight was to enjoy it, have fun with Jo and get into the mood of the Australian Open. It's a pleasure playing the Australian Open. I’ve been coming for nearly 15 years. This was perfect preparation, but so much more tonight.”

“I’m really pleased to be here tonight,” said Tsonga, speaking to Hewitt. “To help Roger is always an honour. I played well. It was a good match tonight. It’s always tough to play against Roger. It’s great to be here tonight for a great cause.”

The Roger Federer Foundation was set up in 2003, fulfilling one of Federer's long-held dreams of becoming social aware. The Foundation has helped over 50,000 children annually living in poverty to access high quality early learning and education. 

“It's something very close to my heart, I’m very emotionally attached,” said Federer. “To reach 10 years is a great deal. I’m happy I started so early. I learnt a lot at the beginning of my career, I met influential people who taught me great things. I really feel we’re still at the beginning. We can achieve great things. We hope to reach one million kids by 2018 and an event like this is going to help in a big way.”

For more information visit www.rogerfedererfoundation.org. To make a donation, visit rff.tennis.com.au/Payment.aspx.

atpworldtour.com

Martina Hingis vs Belinda Bencic 2014 Exhibition match at Hobart International

Thank you Google Alerts :).  Man, I've missed her sense of humor. No one else like her even with all the up and coming youngsters.

Of course the youngster Martina is playing is someone her mother is currently coaching.  Talk about different generations!.

Love her complimenting Martina when she asked where Bencic learned one particular shot from. :D

Martina Hingis & Navratilova back in Adelaide for World Tennis Challenge

COMING back to Adelaide for Tuesday's World Tennis Challenge was a "no brainer" for tennis royalty Martina Hingis and Martina Navratilova.


They touched down yesterday and will thrill crowds over the next three nights when they join men's legends like Mats Wilander, Pat Cash and Yannick Noah in exhibition matches at Memorial Drive.


The two Martinas, holders of 23 grand slam singles titles between them, both said it was an easy decision to return to SA, after being won over by its knowledgeable tennis crowd and wineries in 2013.


"My first tournament ever in Australia was here in 1974 and it was just so nice to come back to the same place last year,'' Navratilova said. "The crowd was so great, they really appreciated us. They appreciate good tennis and it made it so much fun to play."


Hingis said playing with Navratalova, whom she was named after, was still a thrill.


The 33-year-old tentatively came out of retirement this year to play in a handful of WTA doubles events, but is looking forward to a more relaxed atmosphere here.


A big fan of SA's wineries, Hingis also hopes to sneak up to the Hills to partake in one of her other loves - horse riding.


"It was a great experience here last year, going to the vineyards and playing in front of such a great crowd in Adelaide,'' she said.


"It was great fun playing with Martina and I think we played some good tennis, which is what it's all about."


heraldsun.com.au

Roger Federer post Brisbane final interview

Roger Federer fights but loses final at Brisbane

The early clues for Lleyton Hewitt's stunning 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 upset of Swiss great Roger Federer in the Brisbane International decider lay in the opening game on Pat Rafter Arena.

Federer lined up the most regulation of backhand slices, ripped downwards and came up with nothing but air. He studied his racquet for evidence of gaping holes but the answer evaded him, as did his form in a crucial lead-up to the Australian Open.

It took just 27 minutes for the Australian to win the opening set, dropping just one game and the jaws of almost everybody in the sellout crowd. This was a complete humbling nobody had predicted and Hewitt, a bulldog still, went on with the job.

Federer dug in his heels in the second set, wrestling with his own game as much as that of his opponent. But when he fired three aces, then struck a sublime, dipping forehand winner to close it out it seemed as if he had finally flicked the switch.

Hewitt doesn't make a habit of going away. Even though his best days lie in the past, the 32-year-old remains Australia's leading man. He could sniff ATP tour title number 29 and would not be denied in front of home crowd urging on his every move.

Hewitt secured the crucial break in the fifth game of the final set and, with the stifling humidity bearing down, must have felt the longer it went the better his chances of outlasting his old rival, who was coming off a six-week break leading into the tournament.

The telling moment arrived with Hewitt serving at 4-2. Federer had two chances to break back but Hewitt attacked on the serve, surviving a pair of break points before forcing a backhand error.

Federer made Hewitt serve it out and the South Australian obliged, completing a superb week in the Queensland capital and sending his world ranking rocketing from 60 to 43 ahead of the first grand slam of the season.

Federer might have known he was in for a long and strange afternoon when he managed to hit the on-court announcer in the head with a ball during the warm-ups and player introductions.

That was about as accurate as he got at the start of the match. So out of character was his play that pundits were frantically searching for evidence of a secret injury or ailment he may have carried into the contest.

Federer's first set must rank among the worst he has ever played since taking command of his sport. So wonky were his unwieldy groundstrokes there was thought he had concealed an injury or ailment heading into the match.

But focusing on the woes of Federer does a disservice to Hewitt, who many felt had overachieved simply by making the final.

He played aggressive, confident tennis and rattled Federer from the start.

It was 16 years ago that Hewitt tasted his first tournament victory, when he won his home-town event in Adelaide as a teenager. He took his career tally against Federer to nine wins and 18 losses.

Federer had looked assured and happy with his play before the final, not dropping a service game in the earlier rounds.

But defeat at the hands of the evergreen Hewitt must cast his Australian Open aspirations into serious doubt as the big guns start to arrive in Melbourne.

theage.com.au

I didn't watch the match, but followed the live scores, it was such a topsy-turvy match my nerves wouldn't have handled it well at 3 am. 

I guess there's one positive Roger can take away from the match, the new racket is working well for him in terms of hitting aces. Onward to the Aussie Open, one week to go!.