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Friday, May 09, 2014
Thursday, May 08, 2014
Roger Federer has 'every intention' of playing the French Open in a few weeks
Exhale, Fed Fans.
Even with the birth of his second set of twins on Tuesday, Roger Federer expects to play the 2014 French Open later this month. His agent Tony Godsick told Christopher Clarey of The New York Times:
Federer has played in every Grand Slam since the turn of the century. An appearance at the French Open would be his 58th in a row, extending his all-time record.
Mirka Federer gave birth to twin boys on Tuesday evening. Her husband withdrew from this week’s tournament in Madrid earlier in the day. Last month, he said he’d miss the French Open to be with his family.
Given the timing, it appears that won’t be necessary. The year’s second Grand Slam begins May 25 in Paris, 19 days after the birth of Leo and Lenny.
Godsick didn’t say whether Federer would play in next week’s Rome Open, which is the final major French Open tune-up. Federer’s first match wouldn’t be until Tuesday or Wednesday.
If he doesn’t play Rome, there are two tiny events the week before the French Open in Dusseldorf and Nice. Federer would have to weigh the need for another clay-court tuneup (he’s only played one such event this year) against competing in a tournament the week before a major.
When Mirka had the couple’s first set of twins in 2009, Roger returned to the court two weeks later in Montreal. He lost in the quarterfinals of that event before rolling to a victory in Cincinnati. Six weeks after the birth of the twin girls, Federer was in control of the 2009 U.S. Open final against Juan Martin Del Potro, but would go on to lose the match.
usatoday.com
Even with the birth of his second set of twins on Tuesday, Roger Federer expects to play the 2014 French Open later this month. His agent Tony Godsick told Christopher Clarey of The New York Times:
“Assuming that everything goes well and the kids are healthy and Mirka is doing well, he has every intention of playing Roland Garros. The question is what he plays before that, if anything. Time will tell. He is training and hasn’t missed a beat in training.”
Federer has played in every Grand Slam since the turn of the century. An appearance at the French Open would be his 58th in a row, extending his all-time record.
Mirka Federer gave birth to twin boys on Tuesday evening. Her husband withdrew from this week’s tournament in Madrid earlier in the day. Last month, he said he’d miss the French Open to be with his family.
Given the timing, it appears that won’t be necessary. The year’s second Grand Slam begins May 25 in Paris, 19 days after the birth of Leo and Lenny.
Godsick didn’t say whether Federer would play in next week’s Rome Open, which is the final major French Open tune-up. Federer’s first match wouldn’t be until Tuesday or Wednesday.
If he doesn’t play Rome, there are two tiny events the week before the French Open in Dusseldorf and Nice. Federer would have to weigh the need for another clay-court tuneup (he’s only played one such event this year) against competing in a tournament the week before a major.
When Mirka had the couple’s first set of twins in 2009, Roger returned to the court two weeks later in Montreal. He lost in the quarterfinals of that event before rolling to a victory in Cincinnati. Six weeks after the birth of the twin girls, Federer was in control of the 2009 U.S. Open final against Juan Martin Del Potro, but would go on to lose the match.
usatoday.com
Wednesday, May 07, 2014
Martina Hingis talks to Mutua Madrid website after 2nd round loss in doubles
After being sent out of the 2014 Mutua Madrid Open doubles competition alongside her partner Sabine Lisicki, the Swiss player talked about her time in the Caja Mágica in an exclusive interview with the tournament’s official website, in which she promised to return.
Martina Hingis is has been sent out of the 2014 Mutua Madrid Open, but her plan is to come back next year. The Swiss, who currently coaches the in form Sabine Lisicki, evaluated her participation in the competition with us in an exclusive interview in which she spoke fondly about her time in Madrid.
Hello Martina. You just played and lost in the Mutua Madrid Open with Sabine Lisicki. How was the experience?
Well obviously [Pavlyuchenkova and Safarova] played really well, they’re the defending champions here. Of course I’m a little bit disappointed but there are more tournaments to come and Sabine will be playing in the singles competition tonight so hopefully she can do better there.
How special was it for you to play against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova?
It’s always a little bit strange having to play her. We played against each other in Miami when she had a different partner. But it’s always special, especially since we teamed up last year when she went on to win the title here while I was helping her. We know each other very well and that can be a bit of a disadvantage.
Sabine is playing really well now in singles. What are your thoughts on her progress?
She’s been training very well so far and we’ve had the chance to work together a bit over the past few days and she’s playing much better. Hopefully she’ll have a good match tonight.
Which players do you see as the favourites to win here in Madrid?
Well I hope that it’s Sabine [laughs]. If she wins tonight then her next opponent, Simona Halep, will definitely be a bigger challenge for her. Then of course there is Serena Williams who looks she’s on the right track again.
And finally, what are your thoughts about the Mutua Madrid Open?
Well I wish they had this tournament when I was playing. I only got to play in the indoor event when I qualified for the WTA Championships here. I’m happy that at least I had the chance to play here in the doubles. It’s a great event and I’m happy to be here. Hopefully I’ll do better next year.
madrid-open.com
Martina Hingis is has been sent out of the 2014 Mutua Madrid Open, but her plan is to come back next year. The Swiss, who currently coaches the in form Sabine Lisicki, evaluated her participation in the competition with us in an exclusive interview in which she spoke fondly about her time in Madrid.
Hello Martina. You just played and lost in the Mutua Madrid Open with Sabine Lisicki. How was the experience?
Well obviously [Pavlyuchenkova and Safarova] played really well, they’re the defending champions here. Of course I’m a little bit disappointed but there are more tournaments to come and Sabine will be playing in the singles competition tonight so hopefully she can do better there.
How special was it for you to play against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova?
It’s always a little bit strange having to play her. We played against each other in Miami when she had a different partner. But it’s always special, especially since we teamed up last year when she went on to win the title here while I was helping her. We know each other very well and that can be a bit of a disadvantage.
Sabine is playing really well now in singles. What are your thoughts on her progress?
She’s been training very well so far and we’ve had the chance to work together a bit over the past few days and she’s playing much better. Hopefully she’ll have a good match tonight.
Which players do you see as the favourites to win here in Madrid?
Well I hope that it’s Sabine [laughs]. If she wins tonight then her next opponent, Simona Halep, will definitely be a bigger challenge for her. Then of course there is Serena Williams who looks she’s on the right track again.
And finally, what are your thoughts about the Mutua Madrid Open?
Well I wish they had this tournament when I was playing. I only got to play in the indoor event when I qualified for the WTA Championships here. I’m happy that at least I had the chance to play here in the doubles. It’s a great event and I’m happy to be here. Hopefully I’ll do better next year.
madrid-open.com
Tuesday, May 06, 2014
Roger Federer & wife Mirka welcome twin boys!
Roger Federer and wife Mirka are celebrating the arrival of their second set of twins today.
Federer tweeted the arrival shortly before 10pm CET/4pm ET.
Using the hashtags #TwinsAgain and #Miracle, Federer tweeted: Mirka and I are so incredibly happy to share that Leo and Lenny were born this evening!
The Federers' first set of twins, Charlene and Myla, were born July 23, 2009.
Just today Federer announced that he had withdrawn from the Mutua Madrid Open to be with Mirka as her due date neared.
Well that was fast! LOL. Congrats to the proud parents, and Myla and Charlene on becoming big sisters!.
Welcome to the world Leo & Lenny (future tennis stars in the making I'm sure). Wonder if they're identical like their sisters?.
2 sets of twins talk about a handful!. Travelling on tour is gonna get interesting for the Federer family :D.
2 sets of twins talk about a handful!. Travelling on tour is gonna get interesting for the Federer family :D.
Monday, May 05, 2014
Roger Federer pulls out of Madrid to be close to pregnant wife
Three-time champion Roger Federer will join Novak Djokovic on the sidelines at this week's Mutua Madrid Open. The 17-time Grand Slam champion announced on his Facebook page that he'd be skipping the event to be with his wife Mirka, who is expecting the couple's third child.
“I’ve decided to withdraw from Madrid to be with my wife Mirka during these next few exciting weeks for our family,” Federer wrote. “I apologize to my fans and hope to be back in Madrid next year. I’ll be training near my home, and am excited to rejoin the Tour soon!”
tennisnow.com
We must be getting really close to the due date if Roger actually pulled out, I predict late May early June birth for Fed baby #3 :).
“I’ve decided to withdraw from Madrid to be with my wife Mirka during these next few exciting weeks for our family,” Federer wrote. “I apologize to my fans and hope to be back in Madrid next year. I’ll be training near my home, and am excited to rejoin the Tour soon!”
tennisnow.com
We must be getting really close to the due date if Roger actually pulled out, I predict late May early June birth for Fed baby #3 :).
Sunday, May 04, 2014
Martina Hingis 1st round doubles success in Madrid
MADRID, Spain - Martina Hingis and Sabine Lisicki shook off a first set loss to beat No.7 seeds Alla Kudryavtseva and Anastasia Rodionova in the first round of the Mutua Madrid Open on Sunday.
The first set was a see-saw affair, with four-time WTA titlists Kudryavtseva and Rodionova losing the first two games, winning three straight, losing one and then winning three straight again to seal it.
But Hingis and Lisicki then grabbed the momentum, taking the first four games of a second set they would cruise through.
They had to make a bit of a comeback in the match tie-break, where from 4-1 down they won five points in a row and eventually finished off the 3-6, 6-2, 10-6 victory.
A key stat was second serve return, as Hingis and Lisicki won 12 of 19 such points and Kudryavtseva and Rodionova just four of 16.
"We actually started well," Lisicki said. "We lost a bit of focus and then regained it in the second set and played quite well in the match tie-break."
This was Hingis and Lisicki's fifth match against a seeded duo in their seven matches together.
"They're a good doubles team," said Hingis, who was making her Madrid debut. "We always seem to play seeds in the first round. We don't get easy draws, but I think we can go out there and play against anybody. It's good to get the first win. Now we're in the second week of the tournament!"
Match tie-breaks, which early in Hingis' return to the doubles circuit last summer seemed to trouble her, are clearly no longer an issue. She and Lisicki have now won the last three they've been in, including two en route to the Miami title in their last outing.
The win was especially significant, in that Kudryavtseva and Rodionova came into Madrid in seventh place on the Road to Singapore leaderboard and Hingis and Lisicki were in 10th, and only eight spots are available.
Next up for Hingis and Lisicki are defending champions Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Lucie Safarova. Hingis has worked with Pavlyuchenkova in a coaching role in the past.
Also winning their opener were eighth-seeded Germans Julia Goerges and Anna-Lena Groenefeld, 6-3, 6-4, over Janette Husarova and Zhang Shuai.
wtatennis.com
The first set was a see-saw affair, with four-time WTA titlists Kudryavtseva and Rodionova losing the first two games, winning three straight, losing one and then winning three straight again to seal it.
But Hingis and Lisicki then grabbed the momentum, taking the first four games of a second set they would cruise through.
They had to make a bit of a comeback in the match tie-break, where from 4-1 down they won five points in a row and eventually finished off the 3-6, 6-2, 10-6 victory.
A key stat was second serve return, as Hingis and Lisicki won 12 of 19 such points and Kudryavtseva and Rodionova just four of 16.
"We actually started well," Lisicki said. "We lost a bit of focus and then regained it in the second set and played quite well in the match tie-break."
This was Hingis and Lisicki's fifth match against a seeded duo in their seven matches together.
"They're a good doubles team," said Hingis, who was making her Madrid debut. "We always seem to play seeds in the first round. We don't get easy draws, but I think we can go out there and play against anybody. It's good to get the first win. Now we're in the second week of the tournament!"
Match tie-breaks, which early in Hingis' return to the doubles circuit last summer seemed to trouble her, are clearly no longer an issue. She and Lisicki have now won the last three they've been in, including two en route to the Miami title in their last outing.
The win was especially significant, in that Kudryavtseva and Rodionova came into Madrid in seventh place on the Road to Singapore leaderboard and Hingis and Lisicki were in 10th, and only eight spots are available.
Next up for Hingis and Lisicki are defending champions Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Lucie Safarova. Hingis has worked with Pavlyuchenkova in a coaching role in the past.
Also winning their opener were eighth-seeded Germans Julia Goerges and Anna-Lena Groenefeld, 6-3, 6-4, over Janette Husarova and Zhang Shuai.
wtatennis.com
Thursday, May 01, 2014
Roger Federer & Rafa Nadal to play Wimbledon warm-up in Halle
World No. 1 Rafael Nadal and defending champion Roger Federer will compete at the 2014 edition of the Gerry Weber Open, to be held 9-15 June in Halle. The ATP World Tour 250 grass-court event will feature its strongest field in tournament history.
“We are happy about Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, two legends of this sport,” said Tournament Director Ralf Weber. “It will be a thrilling showdown of the top two players, but with some strong competition. This shows with the cutoff because with only players in the Top 53 in the world, we have the best collective [Emirates ATP Ranking] of all time for the main field.”
In addition to Nadal and Federer, the entry list includes two-time champion Tommy Haas, Milos Raonic, Richard Gasquet, Kei Nishikori, Gael Monfils, returning finalist Mikhail Youzhny and Jerzy Janowicz.
“The road to the tournament victory has gotten much more difficult in recent years because there are so many top players in the field,” said six-time champion Federer, who will be making his 12th tournament appearance. “The spectators can look forward to an extremely strong tournament, I am certain of that.”
Nadal will be making his third main draw appearance in Halle, and reached the quarter-finals on his last visit in 2012. “I urgently want to have a successful start to the grass court season. Halle is a tremendously organised tournament with a great audience. Everybody wants to play their best tennis,” he said.
The Gerry Weber Open will be recategorised as an ATP World Tour 500 tournament in 2015, along with the Aegon Championships at the Queen’s Club in London.
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