Roger Federer will play French Open again in 2020

Roger Federer has confirmed that he will return to Paris for Roland-Garros 2020.

Roger Federer, the 2009 champion, returned to the terre battue this summer following two years away from Roland-Garros, reaching the semi-finals with a captivating campaign.

"I will play the French Open and I probably won't play much before that," the Swiss told CNN regarding his summer schedule next season.

"Because I will need some time away from it. I will need some time with the family, we need vacation, we need a break.

"Especially if I'm playing the Olympics (Tokyo) and all that. So I'll probably play the French, Halle, Wimbledon, the Olympics, maybe Cincinnati and then the US Open.


The 38-year-old could arrive in the French capital level in the all-time list of Grand Slam champions with perennial rival Rafael Nadal.

The Spaniard currently holds the Roland-Garros and US Open titles, moving onto 19 majors in New York back in September, just one behind Federer's haul.

Building on the Australian Open's conclusion, Roland-Garros is set to provide the arena for another monumental fortnight in the record books.

rolandgarros.com

Roger Federer will play in the Tokyo Olympics next year

Roger Federer has confirmed plans to compete at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo as he chases an elusive gold medal in singles. Federer, 38, missed Rio 2016 through injury and had been indecisive over whether he should travel to Japan next year to represent Switzerland. The Tokyo Games will commence less than a fortnight after Wimbledon concludes and before the world’s elite head to the USA for the summer hard court season.

And Federer – who has won a gold medal in doubles alongside Stan Wawrinka but has failed to win singles gold – will slot a trip to Japan for the Olympics in between playing at Wimbledon and the US Open. ‘I’ve been debating with my team for a few weeks now or a month, what I should do in the summertime after Wimbledon in terms of also before the US Open and at the end of the day my heart decided I would love to play the Olympic Games again,’ said Federer after playing an exhibition against John Isner in Tokyo on Monday.

‘I carried the flag twice for Switzerland in Athens and Beijing as well, I got a gold and a silver so I’d love to play again, I’m very excited.’Federer, who won silver at London 2012 after defeat to Andy Murray in the final, has not technically fulfilled the criteria to represent his country at the Games. He has not competed for Switzerland in the Davis Cup during the current Olympic cycle, which would normally make a player ineligible for competition. However, International Tennis

Federation chief David Haggerty has made clear in the past that exceptions can be made by the International Oympics Committee (IOC) and it’s unlikely anyone would stand in the way of the 20-time Grand Slam champion taking part.

Winning a first singles gold will be no straightforward task for Federer, particularly with world No. 1 Novak Djokovic – who is also yet to triumph at the Olympics – making no secret of his desire to add a gold medal to his collection. Djokovic left Rio in tears after a first round defeat to Juan Martin del Potro three years ago but travelled to the Tokyo Open for the first time a matter of weeks ago in order to get used to the conditions for next summer. Two-time champion Murray and 2008 winner Rafael Nadal are also expected to travel to Japan to challenge for gold.

metro.co.uk

Are we all surprised?. I would have been more shocked if he decided not to.

Roger Federer full of praise for Sascha Zverev despite losing to him in Shanghai quarters

Roger Federer's helpful advice to Alexander Zverev less than a month ago came back to hurt the Swiss on Friday at the Rolex Shanghai Masters. But Federer didn't seem to mind, despite falling to 3-4 against Zverev in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series and losing for the first time in a Shanghai quarter-final (5-1).

At the Laver Cup last month in Geneva, Federer, with a few choice words, told Team Europe teammate Zverev that he didn't want to see any negative body language as the German played a winner-take-all Match Tie-break against Team World's Milos Raonic.

Zverev listened and showed positive emotions to clinch Europe's third consecutive Laver Cup title. The German also exhibited similar body language on Friday against Federer and, despite losing five match points in the second set, achieved his first Top 10 win of the year with a 6-3, 6-7(7), 6-3 win.

“I told him at the net that he showed great character, that he was strong... I thought he didn't show any frustrations or too much negativity,” Federer said. “I didn't see him very often being extremely frustrated except the one time when he hit three let cords in a row, the last game I think it was.

“That was impressive, because he has tendencies to get a bit down on himself. Especially this season, he hasn't been playing maybe so well, so that impressed me the most. If I can get one per cent of that, I'm happy, too.”

Zverev had three consecutive match points on his serve at 6-5, 40/0 in the second set and two more in the ensuing tie-break, but Federer saved them all. The 22-year-old Zverev, however, quickly rebounded, breaking Federer and jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the deciding set.

“It was a crazy end to the second set, no doubt about it. I think it was 6-5, 40-Love... At that point you're halfway home anyway, but I defended well, attacked well, hit some great shots, came back and then also the tie-break was tough the whole time,” Federer said.

“But [it] was definitely a great atmosphere at that point, and I was able to maybe get a bit more balls back on his serve, because I thought he was clocking his serve really well all match today. It was really impressive.

“I think [in the] second set he had more opportunities probably, so I think he deserved to win that third set.”

Federer was competing in his first match since the Laver Cup. He's next scheduled to play at his hometown tournament, the Swiss Indoors Basel, which begins 21 October. He has, for a record-extending 17th time, already secured his place at the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals, to be held 10-17 November at The O2 in London.

atptour.com 

Something tells me Zvarev won't be part of team Europe next year.

Zvarev played really well, but Roger's first serve really wasn't there, therefore he didn't put any pressure on Zvarev so he was able to swing more freely.

That come back in the 2nd set was houdini-like, too bad it didn't amount to a positive result though.

Roger Federer saved 5 set points sets up Zvarev quarter final in Shanghai

Roger Federer was pushed like few times before in his FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry with David Goffin on Thursday at the Rolex Shanghai Masters. But the outcome followed a familiar pattern.

Federer saved five set points in the opener and then rolled into his 87th ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final 7-6(7), 6-4. "I never really felt like I had the upper hand over David today. I thought he did a really good job. He was so much better than at the US Open," said Federer, who beat Goffin 6-2, 6-2, 6-0 in New York.

The Swiss will next meet German Alexander Zverev, who beat Russian Andrey Rublev 6-0, 7-6(4) to further bolster his Nitto ATP Finals chances. The 22-year-old currently holds the eighth and final qualification spot in the ATP Race To London with 2,435 points, only 50 points behind seventh-placed Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain.

"I think it was very good tennis, but I know against Roger it's going to be very, very difficult. He's going to try to do different things, and it's going to be a difficult match," Zverev said.
Federer and Zverev last faced off in the semi-finals of the 2018 Nitto ATP Finals, which Zverev won en route to the biggest title of his career.


Goffin had the right plan against the 38-year-old Swiss, charging forward and playing aggressively. The Belgian had beaten Federer only once in their 10 meetings, at the 2017 Nitto ATP Finals. But after he erased a set point at 4-5 on his serve, Goffin broke Federer and had the set on his racquet, serving at 6-5.

Two missed forehands and a double fault, though, saw three set points come and go in the 12th game. In the tie-break, Goffin had a set point as Federer served at 5/6, but the Swiss erased it with a laser inside-out forehand. Goffin saw another set point on his serve, at 7/6, but a backhand wide kept Federer in it, and the two-time Shanghai champion clinched his second set point.

"It was really him that was able to, I don't want to say dictate play, but I think he was very clear in his shot selection, when to do what also in terms of the scoreline. I thought he took really a lot of good decisions, and he was super fast on his feet today, which I think made it really hard for me to get my freebies and winners off the baseline, because he was getting to all of them," Federer said.

"It was a really tough match today. I think that first set maybe ended up being key."

Goffin rebounded in the second set, but Federer broke in the seventh game when Goffin netted a forehand approach. The Belgian was looking to add 90 points to his ATP Race To London tally by making the quarter-finals. The 2017 Nitto ATP Finals runner-up (l. to Dimitrov) is currently in 10th place in the Race (2,325 points), 30 points behind ninth-placed Matteo Berrettini of Italy.

atptour.com

Roger Federer makes successful return at Shanghai Rolex Masters

Roger Federer avenged a rare early-round blemish on his Rolex Shanghai Masters resume on Tuesday, breezing past Spain's Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-2, 7-6(5) at the ATP Masters 1000 event in China.

Federer broke twice in the opener and sailed through his service games throughout the 86-minute encounter, never facing a break point and being pushed to Deuce only once, in the fourth game of the second set. But Federer quickly restored order with a stab backhand volley on full stretch and holding when Ramos-Vinolas netted a backhand.

The Swiss raced forward often, winning 81 per cent (17/21) of his net points and taking advantage of the quick conditions in Shanghai. Ramos-Vinolas recovered well in the second set, forcing a tie-break, but Federer came back from 1/4 down in the tie-break to advance.

“[I] had a really good first set. I focused and had good energy, because when you travel around the globe, you're missing a bit of energy. Those first few games or matches can be sometimes a bit tricky. So I thought that went very well for me,” Federer said.

“Serve was solid. I was hitting my spots and really was never in trouble there. But of course all of a sudden, being in a breaker, calls out for different play sometimes and different momentum. He had his chances, but it was a nice comeback for me, and overall, I was very happy.”

The Spaniard upset Federer during the 2015 Shanghai second round, snapping an 0-15 record against Top 10 players to stun the defending champion in three sets. The upset dominated Federer's thoughts before their rematch.

“I was thinking about it. Watched highlights. Remember how it felt. I had my chances. I won many more points that time than I lost, so I should have actually won that match,” he said. “But he did very well there and things turn very quickly here in Shanghai. Of course that got my attention. I know I also played him another time where I beat him very easily in Wimbledon, but [it] doesn't matter what happened there. Shanghai, in that match, to play him again in the same circumstances, basically I knew [he] could be dangerous, and that's why I'm very pleased how I was able to control the match out there today.”

Federer will next meet Belgian David Goffin or Kazakhstan's Mikhail Kukushkin for a place in the quarter-finals. The 13th-seeded Goffin beat France's Richard Gasquet 6-2, 6-3, and Kukushkin knocked out #NextGenATP Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic on Monday.

Goffin upset Federer in similarly quick conditions during the 2017 Nitto ATP Finals semi-finals, although Federer leads their FedEx ATP Head2Head series 9-1. The 38-year-old is going for his third Shanghai title (2014, 2017) and 29th Masters 1000 crown. He has already guaranteed his place at the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals, to be held 10-17 November at The O2 in London.

atptour.com

Roger Federer Feeling The Love In Shanghai

Roger Federer has the aura of an A-list celebrity when he walks around the grounds at any ATP Tour event. Fans pile around for autographs, cameras click and whirr, and his practise sessions are standing room only.

The energy surrounding Federer is heightened even further at the Rolex Shanghai Masters. The second-seeded Swiss is making his eighth appearance at this event, but the adoration he receives from the fans in Shanghai is still just as exciting for him.

”The fans get together [and] really make a conscious effort to show me how excited and happy they are,” Federer said at his pre-tournament press conference on Sunday. “I felt that yesterday at Fan Day. It means a lot to me. You don't get fans grouping together like this anywhere else in the world.”

Although keeping a low profile at the Qi Zhong Tennis Center isn’t quite possible for Federer, he has heartily embraced the extra attention. He realises that it takes just as much time to sign a tennis ball as it does to explain why you can’t sign one. Federer’s eagerness to make his fans a priority has only deepened their connection with him throughout his 21 years on Tour.

”When somebody asks you a question, you try to answer. When somebody asks you for a picture, you try to take it,” Federer said. “It means so much to any fan because it's maybe the first time they've seen you or maybe they have travelled far just to get a chance to be near you or ask you a question.

”Sometimes you're more tired than other days. For the most part, I try to lead by example for the new generation of players who I hope are going to be great for the game. I'm aware that I have the chance and the power to motivate, inspire younger children and set a good example. That's something I have always appreciated and thought was very nice.”

It’s not just the fans who are happy to see Federer, though. The Swiss had a chance to catch up with friend and longtime rival Andy Murray, who also headlines the draw this week. Federer said he’s been closely following Murray’s singles comeback and is optimistic that the Brit still has more great tennis in him.

“It was great to see him again and just chat with him for a little bit,” Federer said. “I think it’s super exciting for the Tour and for us players because he's very much a guy we like and respect a lot. Doesn't have enemies. We need guys like him who also lead by example with hard work and toughness and fairness.

”I love seeing Andy back. I also feel like he’s playing better and better, which is going to be great.”

But now that pleasantries have been exchanged, Federer is ready to get down to business. He has a challenging draw that will see him start against Croatian Marin Cilic or Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas, but believes he’s playing well enough to win his third title in Shanghai.

”The draw is tough here,” Federer said. “It also depends on your opponents a little bit. It's not just every match on my racquet, unfortunately, but I feel like I have good energy left in the tank to go and finish strong.”

atptour.com

Roger Federer handed a tricky draw at Shanghai Rolex Masters

A challenging draw awaits second seed and two-time champion Roger Federer at the Rolex Shanghai Masters, with the Swiss potentially starting his week against longtime rival Marin Cilic of Croatia.

Cilic will first need to get through Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas, who defeated Federer four years ago in Shanghai. The Swiss leads his FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry with Cilic 9-1, including a win in the 2012 Shanghai quarter-finals, but Cilic’s lone victory over Federer came on hard courts at the 2014 US Open. Should Cilic beat Federer, he would become the 10th active player on Tour to pick up 500 tour-level wins.

Federer’s quarter of the draw includes a possible third-round match with No. 13 seed David Goffin of Belgium. The Swiss could take on fifth seed Alexander Zverev in the quarter-finals, but the German first needs to get through a tricky section that includes last year’s runner-up and No. 12 seed Borna Coric of Croatia, current Tokyo semi-finalist John Millman of Australia and in-form Russian Andrey Rublev. Coric and Rublev face off in first-round action.

Top seed and defending champion Novak Djokovic starts his campaign against the winner of a mouth-watering #NextGenATP clash between Canadian Denis Shapovalov and American Frances Tiafoe. The Serbian’s path doesn’t get easier from there, with No. 16 seed John Isner of the United States and #NextGenATP Aussie Alex de Minaur, who prevailed last week in Zhuhai (d. Mannarino), looming as possible third-round opponents. Isner takes on De Minaur in the opening round.

Sixth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas shares the same quarter as Djokovic. The Greek could start his week with an all-#NextGenATP showdown against Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime. Ninth-seeded Frenchman Gael Monfils is also in his section.

Third seed Daniil Medvedev looks to continue his winning ways when he starts against a qualifier or Frenchman Gilles Simon. The Russian has prevailed in 24 of his past 27 matches, including his first ATP Masters 1000 title at the Western & Southern Open (d. Goffin), first ATP Tour title on home soil in St. Petersburg (d. Coric) and maiden Grand Slam final at the US Open (l. to Nadal).

His path could include an all-Russian quarter-final showdown with seventh seed Karen Khachanov. Khachanov must first navigate through a difficult section that includes No. 10 seed Fabio Fognini of Italy and three-time Shanghai champion Andy Murray. The Brit takes on a qualifier in the opening round.

Fourth seed Dominic Thiem begins his week against a qualifier or Chinese wild card Ze Zhang. The Austrian is within striking distance of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals for the fourth consecutive year and is currently fifth in the ATP Race to London. Eighth-seeded Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut, the runner-up at this event in 2016 (l. to Murray), is in the same quarter.

Other notable first-round matches include Tokyo semi-finalist Reilly Opelka of the United States squaring off with Serbian Dusan Lajovic and Goffin battling Richard Gasquet in a rematch of their semi-final two months ago in Cincinnati.

atptour.com

Not really worried about Cilic, even though he can be tricky, so can Goffin but if Roger is playing like Roger don't see any issues there. 

Zverev is playing better but I think Roger would handle him perhaps better than Rublev (though I would love for a rematch since last time they played Rublev kind of dismantled Fed).