Federer hungry for more titles but aims for longevity

SINGAPORE: Swiss tennis great Roger Federer on Friday said he was still hungry to win trophies but "longevity" was now his main goal as younger rivals stand in the way of more records and victories.

"I want to try and make this last as long as I can... I don't want to fizzle out," the world number two, holder of an unmatched 17 Grand Slams, told journalists in Singapore.

"I think longevity is the word here that I'm looking for," he said during a stopover on his way to the Australian Open in Melbourne.

"I hope to keep on playing for many years, because I love it. I love the pressure of playing with a new generation coming up, who are, you know, improving quickly," said the father of twin girls.

Federer, who won a singles silver at the London 2012 Olympics and a gold in doubles at Beijing 2008, still wants to compete at the 2016 Games in Rio, when he will be 35, an age when most tennis professionals have retired.

"It really is great how happy I've been playing for so long, you know, people always tell me everything has to fade away eventually, but I'm not 89 years old yet, you know," he said.

"So I feel like I'm still very young, I know tennis wouldn't last forever, so might as well make the best of it while it lasts."

As part of plans to extend his shelf life, Federer plans to play only 14 events in 2013 beginning in Melbourne, according to his official website. 

timesofindia.com

And this is why the man has 17 Grand Slam titles talent and smarts I tell you.

All players especially the folks of the ATP tour should adopt this men's mentality because it makes perfect sense to me.

Roger Federer rested & ready for Australian Open

We’re just 10 days away from the start of the Australian Open, and while the bulk of the ATP are fine-tuning across three continents this week, one name has been missing from every tournament entry list: Roger Federer.

As part of his decision to scale down his schedule, Federer skipped warm-up events, staying home with his family and practicing. This marks only the second time in Federer’s career that he’ll go into the Australian Open with zero match play, having played varying combinations of Abu Dhabi, Doha, Kooyong, Sydney or Adelaide every year except in 2008, the year in which he was subsequently diagnosed with mono. As Reuters reports, Federer isn’t too concerned about the change.

“It’s a bit of a different preparation for the Australian Open this year but I’m confident I am mentally refreshed, which I am, and physically I am fine and that I will play a good Australian Open,” Federer told reporters in Singapore on Friday.

“I have been practising really hard the last few weeks and didn’t play a leading up tournament this year just because I thought practice is very important for me coming up in the next year, year-and-a-half.”

Federer says the change in philosophy is about taking a needed mental break from a grueling 2012, as well as looking to the future. Federer, 31, is looking to protect his health and longevity. He’s already said he wants to play in the Rio Olympics in 2016.

“For me, in the long run, I want to stay healthy and enjoy what I am doing, I want to have fun, I want to be excited and motivated coming back to the Tour,” he explained.

“For that I really need to get away from it all, which I have done for the last two or three weeks now after an incredible busy South American trip and an incredible busy year so it is important for me to have the family time.”

tennis.si.com

WTA player thanks Martina Hingis for pre-season preparation

ANASTASIA Pavlyuchenkova credits a pre-season with Martina Hingis in Paris for the newfound ability to tame her emotions which saw her advance to a Brisbane International semi-final on Pat Rafter Arena today.

The Russian will meet "lucky loser" Lesia Tsurenko after both recorded upsets in the quarter-finals.

Tsurenko, who failed to qualify but then received a call-up to the main event to replace injured world No.2 Maria Sharapova, cruised to a comfortable 6-3 6-4 victory over world No.32 Daniela Hantuchova.

Pavlyuchenkova found the going tougher, fighting her way to a 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-3) victory over world No.6 Angelique Kerber.

It was the second seeded player after Petra Kvitova that Pavlyuchenkova has knocked out this week.

The most pleasing aspect for the world No.26 was her ability to stay cool after watching a 6-0 lead in the final set tiebreak evaporate to 6-3, before she steadied to take the match.

It was an opportunity she may have failed to grasp in the past.

"I'm working on my metal game because I am such an emotional person," Pavlyuchenkova said.

"I have a lot of matches lost because of my emotions, I get upset or excited.

"I am trying to stay more calm."

A major factor was the influence of former world No.1 Hingis, who worked with her at the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy in Paris, where Serena Williams also spent time.

"She (Hingis) has definitely been helpful. We hit a lot together and played some games," Pavlyuchenkova said.

"But I think it is the fact that she is a woman also. I think women and men's mentality is different, especially on the court, and it was interesting for me to hear how she felt during matches and what she was going through.

"It was a very interesting pre-season, she is very passionate and she loves tennis."

heraldsun.com.au

Kim Clijsters on love-hate relationship with Tennis

In a message posted via her Facebook page, retired tennis star Kim Clijsters has spoken out about the love hate relationship that athletes have with the sport they make a living out of.

"People don't play sports because its fun. Ask any athlete, most of them hate it, but they couldn't imagine their life with out it. Its part of them, the love/hate relationship. Its what they live for. They live for the practices, parties, cheers, long bus rides, invitationals, countless pairs of different types of shoes, water, Gatorade, & coaches you hate but appreciate. They live for the way it feels when they beat the other team-player, and knowing those two extra sprints they ran in practice were worth it. They live for the way they became a family with their team, they live for the countless songs they sing in their head while training all those hours. They live for the competition, they live for the friends, the practices, the memories, the pain, its who they are. It's who we are."

Clijsters retired for the second and final time in September at the US Open after a checkered career which saw her reach the world no. 1 ranking and win 4 grand slam singles titles.

tennisworldusa.org

Happy New Year from Roger Federer :)

Happy 2013!

Haven't really posted much, been a quiet albeit somewhat sad Christmas.

This year has been a good one but, I am so ready to start fresh with a new one.

Last official post of 2012.  Here's to 2013!.

With the start of Australian Open the first grand slam in a couple of weeks expect more tennis news (and who knows what else to come).  Bring it!.

Song of the Moment: Sara Remirez-Silent Night

The only version of this Christmas Carol I simply adore, so simple, pure and beautiful.  Perfection at it's finest ♥.