Martina Hingis post-match interview at Rogers Cup

Q. Why have you come back and what have you missed the most?

MARTINA HINGIS: For different reasons. The main reason was when I was helping Anastasia last year, she ended up winning a singles tournament and ended up winning the Madrid tournaments in doubles.

We also practice together. We played a practice set against Vesnina/Makarova. I thought maybe I still had some matches in me and maybe I should try that.

Obviously it worked out great with Sabine in Miami. That was my dream to come true that I was still hoping to be able to win big events as we did in Miami. So that's why.

Q. Did you ever think of coming back in singles as well or no?

MARTINA HINGIS: No, that's a whole different story. Doubles you have a half court to cover. That's enough already sometimes. It's not only the pressure that you have, but it's the physical part.

This is a lot easier just to play doubles, yes. Sometimes like TeamTennis I play some singles, but it's only one set. It's completely different format which suits me really well.

But, yeah, no, you have to have a completely different attitude and dedication to play singles.

Q. We're seeing players from the '90s. What is it that's allowing players like yourself to keep playing like Kimiko Date?

MARTINA HINGIS: You can't compare Kimiko Date to normal people. I think she's a real exception. She really gets hot, is more into travel, is still able to produce amazing tennis.

She was running marathons when she wasn't playing. I wouldn't do that. I admire people who are so into sports and great athletes like she is. That's the only way you can survive.

Q. Do you see yourself playing at this level?

MARTINA HINGIS: I don't want to play one or two matches. I'm there to win the tournaments, not just to participate. That was not me, whether I played in the past, when I had the comeback. 

 Already in my comeback, I was 10 years younger, like I won a couple tournaments. I felt like I had a chance to win a Grand Slam. But I wouldn't do it if I didn't feel like I had a chance to do that.

Q. There's a big rising star in Canada that's coming up, Eugenie Bouchard. What do you know of her?

MARTINA HINGIS: I liked her a lot since the first time I watched her and played her like in Liverpool exhibition like four years ago. I said right away, 

This is somebody I would love to work with. She is a great player, has a great attitude about the game, about the tennis, about her progress.

I think she always had great potential. Now she proved it. She always peaks really at the Grand Slams, which shows that she can be a true champion.

Q. Second tournament with Flavia. Talk about your partnership.

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, I was lucky to get her for Wimbledon, then we realized it's a good chemistry, it's a good fit. We complement each other.

Today was not always the best tennis, not everything was perfect. But a win is a win, so I'm happy.  

rogerscup.com

Martina Hingis into 2nd round at Rogers Cup doubles in Montreal

Tennis - While her rivals Venus Williams and Serena Williams are still battling it out on the singles circuit, former world no. 1 Martina Hingis is content pursuing glory on the doubles circuit.

And on Tuesday, the Swiss Miss teamed up with Italy's Flavia Pennetta to upset the eighth seeds Alla Kudryavtseva and Anastasia Rodionova to reach the second round of the Rogers Cup in Montreal. (Click here to read about Hingis winning MVP honours for the World Team Tennis Finals)


Hingis and Pennetta, who were finalists at Eastbourne in June, scored a 4-6, 6-2, 10-6 win and will next meet Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Lucie Safarova.

tennisworldusa.org

Roger Federer makes triumphant return to Roger's Cup in Toronto

Roger Federer made a winning return to Canada, racing past local wild card Peter Polansky 6-2, 6-0 on Tuesday night at the Rogers Cup in Toronto.


Federer, playing at this ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament for the first time since 2011, needed just 52 minutes to defeat the 129th-ranked Polansky. The second seed opened the match with a break of serve, and went a perfect 6 for 6 on his break point chances.


The Swiss, who celebrates his 33rd birthday on Friday, has reached the final on three of his four past visits to Toronto. He claimed the title in 2004 (d. Roddick) and ’06 (d. Gasquet) and finished runner-up to Andy Murray in 2010.


Federer is making his first appearance since a five-set loss to Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final. He awaits the winner between No. 15 seed Marin Cilic and Tunisian lucky loser Malek Jaziri in the third round.


Jaziri, who stepped into the main draw after Australian Marinko Matosevic withdrew with a right shoulder injury, completed a 6-4, 7-6(6) victory over Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez. The match had been suspended at 5-all in the second set Monday due to darkness.


Frenchman Gael Monfils set a second-round clash with World No. 1 Novak Djokovic after defeating Czech Radek Stepanek 6-4, 7-5. Djokovic holds a 9-0 record in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series, including a victory three years ago in the Rogers Cup quarter-finals.


In other first-round matches Tuesday, No. 16 seed Fabio Fogninidefeated Russian Mikhail Youzhny 6-4, 6-3 and 17th-seeded Tommy Robredo closed out a 6-3, 7-6(3) win over German Philipp Kohlschreiber.


atpworldtour.com

Roger Federer having some fun with hockey in Canada

Roger Federer swapped his tennis racquet for a hockey stick on Sunday at the Rexall Centre as the Toronto Maple Leafs took on stars of the ATP World Tour on a transformed centre court.

Federer joined the likes of Radek Stepanek,Jack Sock, Eric Butorac, Peter Polansky,Joao Sousa, Nenad Zimonjic and Treat Huey in the fun hockey game against the Maple Leafs, who were all wearing RF-branded baseball caps. ATP Executive Chairman & President Chris Kermode even donned a jersey and jumped in to play.


The Toronto Maple Leafs to line-up against the tennis stars were: Jason Spezza, Phil Kessel, John Mitchell, Mike Hoffman, Steve Thomas, Cody Hodgson, Nick Kyperios, Mark Schefiele, Carlo Colaiacovo, Brad May and Mike Johnson.

After his teammates repeatedly set him up for shots on goal, Federer made his last effort count, rifling home his shot in the dying seconds of the game.

“It’s great fun doing this kind of stuff,” said Federer. “Getting hockey and tennis together on a centre court that they built specially; I think is great. I had a lot of fun meeting all the guys. They’re so relaxed.


“I’ve always been a big hockey fan. I can’t skate at all actually. I can’t stop so I have to go in circles. I used to play a little bit of unihockey, we call it in Europe. That’s what I did for warm-ups in tennis back in the day. I’ve always collected NHL jerseys; I’ve got a nice collection so far.”

The 32-year-old Federer is a two-time former champion at the Rogers Cup, lifting the trophy in Toronto in 2004 (d. Roddick) and 2006 (d. Gasquet). The Swiss is seeded second at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament next week and will open his campaign against either Polansky or Jerzy Janowicz.


atpworldtour.com

Roger Federer receives tough draw at Rogers Cup

In the bottom half of the draw, Roger Federer could face a stiff challenge in his opening match as well, as Jerzy Janowicz will be his opponent if he gets by Canadian wild card Peter Polansky.


Federer defeated Janowicz in the pair’s only career battle in Rome last year, but they have never played on a hard court.

Federer could face Marin Cilic in the third round, and David Ferrer in the quarterfinals. If he reaches the semis, the Swiss maestro’s semifinal opponent could be Tomas Berdych, Milos Raonic or Ernests Gulbis.


Andy Murray’s second-round match could also be challenging, as the 2012 U.S. Open champion could end up facing wild card Nick Kyrgios or Santiago Giraldo. Kyrgios, the man who defeated top-seeded Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon, is the highest-ranked teenager on the ATP Tour, and the only one in the top 100 at No. 69 in the world.


Main draw play in Toronto begins Monday. Federer is slated to play his first match on Tuesday, while Djokovic and Murray will begin their campaigns on Wednesday. - See more at:


http://www.tennisnow.com/News/Djokovic-Gets-Terrible-Draw-in-Toronto.aspx#sthash.hgs6mE4X.dpuf

Roger Federer told to take down twins playhouse at Switzerland residence

First Djokovic at Wimbledon, now a swing set in Switzerland. It’s been a summer of disappointment for Roger Federer.


The tennis legend will reportedly have to take down a vacation playhouse built for his children because it obstructs his neighbors’ view. Newspapers in the country report that residents of Lenzerheide-Valbella complained that Federer’s wooden play set “impaired their view of the [Swiss] mountains.”


Federer used to go skiing in the same mountains when he was a youngster. He and his wife, Mirka, bought an 8,000-square-meter property in 2008 and built two villas on the property. The playhouse was constructed for Federer’s two sets of twins, Myla Rose and Charlene Riva, and Leo and Lenny.


The lawyer for complainants tells the newspaper Blick that the issue isn’t with the playhouse itself, because what kind of monster would deprive youngsters the right to slide? No, the problem was with a violation of building codes.


Evidently, Federer lost the fight, which makes sense because he’s always been terrible at challenges.


usatoday.com

Roger Federer shares photos of his official new racquet RF97

Roger Federer’s new racquet, the #RF97, also known as the Roger Federer autograph racquet, has been officially released by Wilson, with the 17-time Grand Slam event champion now playing with the Wilson colors instead of the blacked-out racquet he has been using for a year.


Federer will be using the red-and-black painted version of his new, larger racquet this week at the Masters event in Toronto, having practiced on site with it this week. He tweeted a photo of the frame up on Thursday, writing , “Today is the official debut of my new @Wilson Tennis #RF97 racket. Been really looking forward to this.”


The racquet goes on sale to the public on October 15, with select release on August 15. Wilson is promoting the new racquet with a campaign called “Betterer,” which was also reportedly on the t-shirt worn by Federer during practice this week.


The racquet is 97 sq. inches, and weighs 12 oz. The company describes it as providing “more power,” “bigger” racquet face, and a “larger sweet spot.”


The world No. 3 first attempted to switch to a larger frame following Wimbledon in 2013, having used an 85-inch model since 2002. After switching back for the rest of the season, he tried more frames during the offseason before selecting the one he is now using. Wilson and Federer tested 127 frames during the development period.


At Wimbledon, Federer said the larger racquet was helping his serving, also allowing him to go to the net more often. Following an injury-plagued season that saw him fall to the edges of the top 8, he is now up to No. 3.


10sballs.com