Thursday, June 30, 2016
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Roger Federer breezes into 3rd round under the roof at Wimbledon
menstennisforums.com
The improbable run of British qualifier Marcus Willis through the draw at Wimbledon has drawn parallels to the rom-com movie bearing the tournament's name, but Roger Federer ensured Willis' Centre Court debut didn’t have a Hollywood ending on Wednesday. The No. 3 seed didn’t give the pro-Willis crowd a chance to get fully involved as he convincingly prevailed, 6-0, 6-3, 6-4.
"I thought Marcus brought some unbelievable energy to the match with the crowd and his play. It was very refreshing to play someone like this,” said Federer. “I knew it was going to be a different match than anything I’d ever played before at Wimbledon. It was a pleasure for me to play against him.”
Federer quickly picked up on Willis’ vintage grass-court game that included plenty of slices and timely trips to the net, shutting out his opponent in the first set. Serving at 0-1 in the second set, Willis got on the board with a forehand winner and wryly raised his arms in celebration as the crowd gave him a standing ovation.
Although Willis began to impose himself more in the baseline rallies, Federer grabbed the lone break of the set to lead 4-2 and eventually took a commanding two-sets lead. The seven-time champion broke Willis to love at 4-4 in the third set and wrapped up the match in the next game after one hour and 24 minutes of play.
Federer was nearly flawless throughout the match, hitting nine aces and no double faults, while also striking 37 winners to 14 errors. He also enjoyed great success with his volleys, converting on 29 of 40 net points.
Despite the loss, Willis is projected to move from No. 772 to around No. 425 in the Emirates ATP Rankings when the newest standings are released. His £50,000 pay day for reaching the second round will also go a long way towards bringing him back to the tour on a full-time basis.
Federer moves into the third round at Wimbledon for the 14th time. Next up for him is the winner of the match between No. 30 seed Alexandr Dologopolov of Ukraine and Daniel Evans of Great Britain. Federer hasn't played Evans before, leads his FedEx ATP Head2Head with Dologpolov 3-0, including a straight-sets victory in the second round of this year’s Australian Open.
Although Willis began to impose himself more in the baseline rallies, Federer grabbed the lone break of the set to lead 4-2 and eventually took a commanding two-sets lead. The seven-time champion broke Willis to love at 4-4 in the third set and wrapped up the match in the next game after one hour and 24 minutes of play.
Federer was nearly flawless throughout the match, hitting nine aces and no double faults, while also striking 37 winners to 14 errors. He also enjoyed great success with his volleys, converting on 29 of 40 net points.
Despite the loss, Willis is projected to move from No. 772 to around No. 425 in the Emirates ATP Rankings when the newest standings are released. His £50,000 pay day for reaching the second round will also go a long way towards bringing him back to the tour on a full-time basis.
Federer moves into the third round at Wimbledon for the 14th time. Next up for him is the winner of the match between No. 30 seed Alexandr Dologopolov of Ukraine and Daniel Evans of Great Britain. Federer hasn't played Evans before, leads his FedEx ATP Head2Head with Dologpolov 3-0, including a straight-sets victory in the second round of this year’s Australian Open.
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Roger Federer passes 1st round test at Wimbledon
wimbledon.org
Roger Federer Tumblr
It was like an annual family outing: Roger Federer, his wife Mirka and assorted friends and relatives were all crammed into the players’ box to watch the greatest player of all time get his Wimbledon campaign underway. Other families go to Blackpool for their summer hols; the Federers come to SW19.
And, as expected, Federer did what he was supposed to do and moved into the second round with a 7-6(5), 7-6(3), 6-3 win over Guido Pella of Argentina.
His twin daughters, Myla and Charlene, were there, laughing and giggling as they waited for Dad to come to work. Federer always said that he wanted to keep playing at least until his children were old enough to come and watch him play and understand a little of what he did. His two boys, Lennie and Leo, may be a little young still but the girls are now old hands at Wimbledon. Now six years old, their first taste of Dad making history was when Federer beat Andy Murray back in 2012.
For the girls, Dad winning first round matches at major championships was just what happens in the Federer household these days. The seven-time Wimbledon champion has not lost in the opening match at a Grand Slam since 2003. But that was at the French Open just a few weeks before he became the Roger Federer, the mighty Roger Federer, the Roger Federer who won his first grand slam title in SW19 that summer and has gone on to win a further 16 Grand Slam titles since. That Roger Federer does not lose on the opening day of big events any more.
That said, he usually comes to the All England Club in perfect working order and moves through his first few matches like a finely tuned car (a Rolls Royce or a Bentley, obviously). Easing through the gears, he has normally hit top speed by the time he gets to the open road of the second week but this year has not been like any other for the suave Swiss.
In January, he arrived in Australia with a nasty dose of the flu which hampered his preparations for the Australian Open and then having losing in the semi-finals there, he hurt his knee while running a bath for Charlene and Myla the very next day. He turned, something went ‘click’ and when he went home to Switzerland to have it checked out, he discovered he had a torn meniscus. Clearly, bathing children can be a hazardous business.
That cost him a good couple of months of the season and then when he came back for the clay court season, his back started playing up and he had to miss the French Open. The Federer engine, then, has been misfiring of late.
“I’m so happy,” Federer said once Pella had been dispatched. “I was walking out thinking to myself ‘it’s so nice to be out here’. I’ve worked so hard since February to be here fully fit. I didn’t want to have miss Wimbledon. We’ll see how fit I am – nobody knows, not even myself. But I’m just happy to be here.”
But if Federer is a Rolls Royce in need of a tune-up, Pella is, on grass, more your sensibly priced, small hatchback. He may be ranked No.52 in the world and he may have been a professional for the past decade but he came to Wimbledon without a single career grass court win of any description. Not one. To be fair, he had only played three matches on the green stuff in his life and none of them ended well. Grass is not really his thing.
No matter, Pella got to work swiftly. Strong, left-handed and with nothing to lose, went for the simple option: make Federer run. He was never going to beat the living legend with a traditional grass court game (as we have already established, he has never mastered that particular art) but if he could make Federer move, he might stand a chance. After all, the grass is always slicker on the opening day, Federer has a suspect back and has had a dodgy knee. And, dare we mention it, he is 34 years old. So that is that is what Pella did: rally, drop shot; rally, lob. And he served. He served big.
It was enough to keep Federer scampering around for two hours and five minutes but it was not enough to worry him. As they inched towards the tie-break in the first two sets, the contest looked relatively even and then Federer took control of both deciders and that was that. From two sets up, the man chasing his eighth Wimbledon crown looked relatively secure.
This may not have been Federer at his best but there were still those moments of magic: the shot conjured up out of nothing, the ridiculous angles he could create from seemingly impossible positions and that sublimely good forehand. Two of them gave him a look at a chance to break in the third set – 0-30 – another brought up break point and a fourth got the job done. Federer had broken – he was 5-3 and serving for the match. Two last aces got the job done and the Great One was through to play Britain’s Marcus Willis on Wednesday.
Monday, June 27, 2016
Roger Federer Looks To Wimbledon 'To Turn Around Season'
Seven titles, 79 match wins, quarter-finals or better in 12 of the past 13 years - Roger Federer's success at Wimbledon is unparalleled.
The Swiss returns to the All England Club for a record-tying 18th straight year, with an unprecedented eighth crown once again hanging in the balance, but he explains that while his attitude and expectations are much different this time, his passion for the tournament hasn't wavered.
"I think this is a huge boost for me after pulling out of Paris, that I'm back here at my favourite tournament," Federer said to the assembled media on Saturday. "With all the success I've had here, this is the motivation I need right now to get back on the big courts, play good matches and enjoy Wimbledon.
"I love this tournament more than anything. It's a huge opportunity for me to turn around the season and just play some nice tennis, enjoy myself here."
In the midst of an up-and-down 2016 campaign, which has seen him undergo surgery for the first time in his career following a knee injury suffered in February, Federer enters Wimbledon without at least one ATP World Tour title for the first time since 2000. Still in search of his rhythm on the court, the World No. 3 stresses that it has been a difficult process, but semi-final results in Stuttgart and Halle and a return to his happy hunting ground at SW19 give him renewed confidence.
"I was very, very sad, just because I thought I was going to be lucky not having to do surgery in my career," Federer added. "One stupid move and the season's been completely different than what I expected it to be. So when I heard that I had to do surgery, I took it, accepted it. But then going into surgery was difficult. That's when it hit me. It was a meniscus tear in the knee. It was a simple operation. My recovery actually was very quick and very good.
"Getting some confidence and some knowledge of where I was going to be in those seven matches in 10 days in Stuttgart and Halle [was important]. I think that was crucial for me going into Wimbledon knowing I passed that test and that the body can take that amount of tennis.
"It's really, really important for your mind to know you can manage the five‑setters. If you get a day off and all that stuff, it's not a problem. All of a sudden you're coming into Wimbledon with more confidence, more understanding where you're at. Now we'll see."
New faces will stand opposite the third seed as he begins his Wimbledon quest, having never faced first-round opponent and World No. 51 Guido Pella or potential second-round opponents Ricardas Berankis and Marcus Willis. Kei Nishikori, Milos Raonic and two-time defending champion Novak Djokovic loom large in his half of the draw, but Federer's focus is on the immediate task at hand.
"Clearly I'm not thinking of the title right away. It's too far ahead. Regardless, Novak or Andy are the big favourites in my opinion. They've had such a great last six months, last few years. To me they are the ones to beat.
"I need to focus on myself, getting myself into those positions, the second week and growing momentum. The whole thing starts rolling then hopefully. Getting the job done in the first week is clearly important."
Federer will open his Wimbledon campaign against Pella on Monday.
atpworldtour.com
The Swiss returns to the All England Club for a record-tying 18th straight year, with an unprecedented eighth crown once again hanging in the balance, but he explains that while his attitude and expectations are much different this time, his passion for the tournament hasn't wavered.
"I think this is a huge boost for me after pulling out of Paris, that I'm back here at my favourite tournament," Federer said to the assembled media on Saturday. "With all the success I've had here, this is the motivation I need right now to get back on the big courts, play good matches and enjoy Wimbledon.
"I love this tournament more than anything. It's a huge opportunity for me to turn around the season and just play some nice tennis, enjoy myself here."
In the midst of an up-and-down 2016 campaign, which has seen him undergo surgery for the first time in his career following a knee injury suffered in February, Federer enters Wimbledon without at least one ATP World Tour title for the first time since 2000. Still in search of his rhythm on the court, the World No. 3 stresses that it has been a difficult process, but semi-final results in Stuttgart and Halle and a return to his happy hunting ground at SW19 give him renewed confidence.
"I was very, very sad, just because I thought I was going to be lucky not having to do surgery in my career," Federer added. "One stupid move and the season's been completely different than what I expected it to be. So when I heard that I had to do surgery, I took it, accepted it. But then going into surgery was difficult. That's when it hit me. It was a meniscus tear in the knee. It was a simple operation. My recovery actually was very quick and very good.
"Getting some confidence and some knowledge of where I was going to be in those seven matches in 10 days in Stuttgart and Halle [was important]. I think that was crucial for me going into Wimbledon knowing I passed that test and that the body can take that amount of tennis.
"It's really, really important for your mind to know you can manage the five‑setters. If you get a day off and all that stuff, it's not a problem. All of a sudden you're coming into Wimbledon with more confidence, more understanding where you're at. Now we'll see."
New faces will stand opposite the third seed as he begins his Wimbledon quest, having never faced first-round opponent and World No. 51 Guido Pella or potential second-round opponents Ricardas Berankis and Marcus Willis. Kei Nishikori, Milos Raonic and two-time defending champion Novak Djokovic loom large in his half of the draw, but Federer's focus is on the immediate task at hand.
"Clearly I'm not thinking of the title right away. It's too far ahead. Regardless, Novak or Andy are the big favourites in my opinion. They've had such a great last six months, last few years. To me they are the ones to beat.
"I need to focus on myself, getting myself into those positions, the second week and growing momentum. The whole thing starts rolling then hopefully. Getting the job done in the first week is clearly important."
Federer will open his Wimbledon campaign against Pella on Monday.
atpworldtour.com
Sunday, June 26, 2016
Martina Hingis Joins Forces With Alex Benlo
Alex Benlo is a family-run Hong Kong based watch brand, founded by Eric Loth who is ably supported by his children Alexandra and Benjamin. The brand creates unique timepieces utilising materials not usually found in other watches.
As a relatively young brand, getting a sporting superstar such as Martina Hingis to wear their pieces is a major coup. After all, when you think of global Swiss personalities in the modern era, it’s hard to look past Mr Federer and of course Ms Hingis. The other big attraction is Martina Hingis is of Swiss heritage and having a person linked to a brand from the home of fine-watchmaking can be nothing but positive.
According to the brand, Ms Hingis and Alex Benlo have values in common making her an ideal ambassador for the brand. These shared values include a family tradition of entrepreneurship, creativity and philanthropy.
According to the brand, Ms Hingis and Alex Benlo have values in common making her an ideal ambassador for the brand. These shared values include a family tradition of entrepreneurship, creativity and philanthropy.
Martina Hingis is one of those sporting champions that seems to have been with us for ages, however, it might come as a surprise for some to know that she is still only 35 years old. She first retired from the sport in 2003 winning 40 singles titles and 36 doubles events. It was a further two years before she decided to make a return to the sport and although she was unable to replicate her previous successes, it was obvious that her passion for the sport hadn’t waned in the slightest.
Fast forward to 2013 when Martina made her current return to the sport and this time she left no one in any doubt that she was worthy of her position as one of the all-time female tennis greats by reaching multiple finals and winning tournaments once again.
In 2016 she won the French Open mixed doubles partnering Indian doubles specialist, Leander Paes. It is her first mixed doubles title at Roland Garros, and with this win, she completed the mixed doubles Career Grand Slam. Martina Hingis has a fighting spirit and exceptional temperament found only within the greatest of champions. From the tennis courts of Wimbledon, where her brilliant performance earned her global attention for the first time at the tender age of 16, to her recent success at Roland Garros, she always radiates determination, presence and spontaneity.
Natural, elegant, passionate and very down-to-earth, Martina Hingis perfectly embodies the modern woman. She has triumphed in her field, and has asserted herself and flourished as a woman thanks to her family ties, as shown by her close bond with her mother, who is also her coach out on the court. With a close affinity to nature, her other passion of horse riding enables her to escape, recover and find the strength to surpass herself.
Natural, elegant, passionate and very down-to-earth, Martina Hingis perfectly embodies the modern woman. She has triumphed in her field, and has asserted herself and flourished as a woman thanks to her family ties, as shown by her close bond with her mother, who is also her coach out on the court. With a close affinity to nature, her other passion of horse riding enables her to escape, recover and find the strength to surpass herself.
Saturday, June 25, 2016
Roger Federer in Djokovic half of the draw at Wimbledon
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic finds himself in the same half of the draw as seven-time champion Roger Federer as he looks to win his third successive Wimbledon crown and fourth overall at The Championships.
Djokovic and Federer have met in the final the past two years at the All England Club.
Meanwhile, second seed and 2013 champion Andy Murray is on a semi-final collision course with fourth seed Stan Wawrinka.
Federer headlines the second quarter of the draw. The 34-year-old Swiss was forced to miss Roland Garros, ending his Open Era-record streak of 65 straight Grand Slam appearances, but returned on the grass in Stuttgart and Halle with two semi-final showings. Federer, who lifted his seventh Wimbledon trophy in 2012 (d. Murray), opens his campaign against Guido Pella.
The first seed Federer could face is No. 30 Alexander Dolgopolov, with two Frenchmen – No. 16 Gilles Simon and No. 17 Gael Monfils – leading the charge to face the Swiss in the fourth round, though former semi-finalist Grigor Dimitrov also features in that section.
Djokovic and Federer have met in the final the past two years at the All England Club.
Meanwhile, second seed and 2013 champion Andy Murray is on a semi-final collision course with fourth seed Stan Wawrinka.
Federer headlines the second quarter of the draw. The 34-year-old Swiss was forced to miss Roland Garros, ending his Open Era-record streak of 65 straight Grand Slam appearances, but returned on the grass in Stuttgart and Halle with two semi-final showings. Federer, who lifted his seventh Wimbledon trophy in 2012 (d. Murray), opens his campaign against Guido Pella.
The first seed Federer could face is No. 30 Alexander Dolgopolov, with two Frenchmen – No. 16 Gilles Simon and No. 17 Gael Monfils – leading the charge to face the Swiss in the fourth round, though former semi-finalist Grigor Dimitrov also features in that section.
Friday, June 24, 2016
Martina Hingis & Sania Mirza fall in Eastourne quarters
The top-seeded pair of Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis lost 3-6, 3-6 to Darija Jurak and Anastasia Rodionova in the quarterfinals of the women's doubles at the Aegon International in Eastbourne on Wednesday.
Jurak (Croatia) and Rodionova (Australia) won the match in just under an hour.
Earlier in the day, Mirza and Hingis had beaten Lucie Safarova (Czechoslovakia) and Samantha Stosur (Australia) 6-1, 2-6, 10-4 in the first round.
Jurak (Croatia) and Rodionova (Australia) won the match in just under an hour.
Earlier in the day, Mirza and Hingis had beaten Lucie Safarova (Czechoslovakia) and Samantha Stosur (Australia) 6-1, 2-6, 10-4 in the first round.
espn.in
Not the grass preparation either were hoping for a week before Wimbledon, but I think having to play 3 sets and comeback to play later the same day is the reason for their loss.
Hopefully they can bounce back and defend their title at Wimbledon next week. Good luck ladies!.
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