Roger Federer makes happy return to grass court tennis at Marcedes Cup in Stuttgart

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Swiss had fallen to Haas during his Stuttgart opener last year

Roger Federer showed some rust but the Swiss legend ultimately settled enough into his first match in nearly three months to advance on Wednesday at the MercedesCup in Stuttgart.

The No. 2 player in the ATP Rankings came back to beat home favourite Mischa Zverev 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 in front of, as customary, a pro-Federer crowd.

“Three months is a long time, it's longer than the year-end break. So I'm very happy returning on good terms onto the Tour,” Federer said. “It was difficult, missed some chances maybe in the first set... He connected well at the right times.

“And then I found a way, I found my rhythm... I'm very happy with how I played. I'm super happy to be back on Tour. It's been a great start.”

Federer can reclaim the No. 1 ATP Ranking from long-time rival Rafael Nadal with a run to the championship match in Stuttgart. The 36-year-old lost to Aussie Thanasi Kokkinakis on 24 March during his opening match at the Miami Open presented by Itau before skipping the entire European clay-court swing for the second year in a row.

But the Swiss has long favoured the grass. Seventeen – nine at the Gerry Weber Open in Halle and eight at Wimbledon – of Federer's 97 tour-level titles have come on the surface, and he's won 87 per cent (165/189) of his grass-court matches.

Zverev, though, covered the net well and landed enough first serves to take advantage of a slow start from the Swiss. Federer had four break chances during Zverev's first three service games, but the German erased them all and then broke Federer to love in the eighth game. The German had never won a set against Federer in their five prior FedEx ATP Head2Head meetings, including three on grass, but he clinched the opener with a drop volley.

"It was difficult from the start... We both knew, going into the match, a passing shot here or there, or maybe a half volley, a return or a pick-up or something was going to make the difference," said Federer. "I think maybe I just created a few more opportunities than he did. I was able to play better as the match went on and that is something I can really build on."

Federer cranked it up a level in the second set, twice breaking Zverev to force the decider. Federer began to pick apart the lefty's serve-and-volley tactics even more in the third set, breaking again the fourth and eighth games.

“It feels good to win again. I've lost my last two matches,” said Federer, who lost to Juan Martin del Potro in the Indian Wells final before playing in Miami. “It's nice to get a fresh start here.”

The top seed had fallen to Tommy Haas in his Stuttgart opener last year. Federer will next meet Argentine Guido Pella or Indian Prajnesh Gunneswaran.

atpworldtour.com

A little rusty, nothing more match play can't fix.  And he didn't lose in the first round this time. Progress. 

Roger Federer clears up rumors about leaving Nike

Federer has been with the American sports brand since breaking through as a youngster and he has donned their jerseys throughout all 20 Grand Slam title wins.

However, rumours circulated in local Swiss press yesterday that the world No 2 had signed a bumper 10-year deal with Uniqlo.

Federer had apparently penned a $30m-a-year contract (£22.4m) to represent the Japanese brand, who severed their ties with Novak Djokovic last year.

The 37-year-old says he has not yet decided which sports brand he will represent for the remainder of his career.

But Federer admitted he could still sign an extension with Nike - if the deal is right for both parties.

"It has already expired in March and we are in negotiations,” Federer said.

"They are rumours and nothing is ruled out, neither my continuity in Nike nor the end of our collaboration, nor a change to any brand.”

Although now out of contract, Federer has been snapped wearing Nike clothing at the Stuttgart Open.

The Swiss star is hoping to return to the top of the world rankings by winning his opening three rounds in Germany.

Rafael Nadal is the current world No 1 and he retained his title after victory in the French Open final yesterday.

The Spaniard beat Dominic Thiem in straight sets to secure his 11th Roland Garros title.

express.co.uk

Roger Federer ready for return in Stuttgart

It's that time of year once again. The ATP World Tour's best are ready to grace the grass of Stuttgart and 's-Hertogenbosch, as the lawn tennis season begins.

And that means a familiar face is poised to make his long-awaited return. World No. 2 Roger Federer is back, competing in his first tournament since the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells and Miami in March.

For the second straight year, the Swiss will kick off his campaign on his preferred surface at the MercedesCup in Stuttgart. Plenty is at stake, with a final appearance moving Federer back to the top of the ATP Rankings. But despite his reign of dominance on grass, posting an Open Era best 164-24 record (.872) in the FedEx ATP Performance Zone, he acknowledges the challenges that the ATP World Tour 250 event poses.

"It’s not always that easy, especially on grass," Federer said ahead of the tournament. "The rallies are short, a few points decide them. It was like that two years ago against Dominic Thiem and last year I lost against Tommy Haas after having a match point.

"When it’s wet it gets slippery pretty quick and you are afraid to slip. Once you play timidly all the good practice was for naught and your good game is gone. In the last two years I lost against good players, so it also always depends on your opponent. Today I had fun. The grass doesn’t only look good, but is really perfect."

Federer opens against either qualifier Mikhail Youzhny or Germany's Mischa Zverev. He owns a perfect 17-0 FedEx ATP Head2Head mark against Youzhny and an undefeated 5-0 record over Zverev. Surging #NextGenATP star Denis Shapovalov is seeded sixth and looms in the quarter-finals, with fourth seed Nick Kyrgios a potential semi-final opponent.

The World No. 2 is making his third straight tournament appearance, having reached the semi-finals in 2016 (l. to Thiem) and suffered a first-round exit in 2017 (l. to Haas). He is looking to go all the way this year.

"I’m back again and I’ll give my best to go deeper this year," Federer added. "We will see how it goes in the first match. It’ll be my first match in three months, so I’m missing some match practice. I think the grass is better than in the past years. Let’s hope for some better weather."

So, how did Federer occupy his time during his three-month break? With four children, the Swiss valued his time spent with family and in Africa with the Roger Federer Foundation.

"We had some great vacations together as a family and then also alone," Federer reflected. "I was traveling for my foundation in Zambia and had a great time there. I hope we can make things happen and provide a better education for the kids there. I practised a lot the rest of the time and also put in some work in the gym.

"Sometimes I wish I’d had more time but the three months went past in a blur. Now I’m eager to get going again. The last few weeks were a bit boring. I want to play matches again, not only to practise. I’m very much looking forward to my first match."

Federer opens his Stuttgart campaign on Wednesday.

atpworldtour.com

Roger Federer receives tough draw at Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart

Roger Federer will make his long-awaited return to the ATP World Tour next week at the Mercedes Cup, but the Swiss star faces a tough draw in Stuttgart.

The 97-time tour-level titlist, competing for the first time since March's Miami Open presented by Itaú, could open his campaign against serve-and-volley specialist Mischa Zverev, before potentially meeting #NextGenATP Canadian Denis Shapovalov, the No. 6 seed, in the quarter-finals, which would be their first FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting.

World No. 25 Shapovalov enjoyed a successful clay-court season, which included a run to the Mutua Madrid Open semi-finals, and would present a tough challenge for Federer, who is seeking his first title on the grass courts in Stuttgart. Federer owns a 2-2 record at the event, reaching the semi-finals on his debut in 2016 (l. to Thiem) before a surprising opening-match defeat to Tommy Haas in 2017.

Also in Federer's half of the draw is fellow returnee Nick Kyrgios, Roland Garros breakthrough star Maximilian Marterer and 2017 finalist Feliciano Lopez.

Headlining the bottom half of the draw is 2017 champion Lucas Pouille. The Frenchman, seeded No. 2 in the draw, could meet home favourite Philipp Kohlschreiber in the last eight, while former Wimbledon finalists Milos Raonic and Tomas Berdych could wait in the semi-finals.

atpworldtour.com

Simona Halep: Champion at last at Roland Garros!

 This moment right here is what broke me

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SATURDAY 9 JUNE 2018 - KATE BATTERSBY

Sometimes history finds a way to repeat itself with the addition of an unforeseen quirk, to fashion the happiest of new chapters. So it was for Simona Halep in the final of Roland-Garros 2018.

One year ago on Court Philippe-Chatrier, she led Jelena Ostapenko by a set and a break, only for the Latvian to turn the match on its head and break her opponent’s heart.

Twelve months on, Halep found herself a set and a break down to Sloane Stephens, looking down the barrel of her fourth defeat in a Grand Slam final. She didn’t much like the view.

With the weight of global expectation on her shoulders, Halep forced her way back, past an opponent playing with the freedom of one who has already exceeded expectation by reaching the final. This time, the Romanian would not be defeated, pushing on through exhaustion all the way to victory. Halep won 3-6 6-4 6-1. The world No.1 is at last a Grand Slam champion.

"It was amazing and I felt your support," Halep told the crowd during an on-court interview.

"In the last game I felt I cannot breathe any more. So I just tried not to repeat the (outcome from) last year. So I did everything I could, it's amazing what is happening now. Honestly I cannot believe it. I was dreaming for this moment since I started to play tennis. I'm really happy that it's happened in Roland-Garros in Paris. My special city."

Every inch of the form book dictated that this must be Halep’s time. She led her career encounters against the American 5-2; she had won all four of their most recent encounters in straight sets, three of which were on Stephens’ preferred hard courts, and the last three sets between them before this match had yielded just three games for Stephens. Moreover, before this match the No.10 seed had not defeated any world No.1 in six previous attempts.

Yet in the first set here, every statistic turned to dust.

Early on Halep was edgy, and there was no mistaking she was under pressure. In the stands of Court Philippe-Chatrier, to the left of the Presidents’ Box as Halep looked, her coach Darren Cahill sat very still, eyes always on his charge, moving only when her gaze met his. After a mistake he would applaud to encourage her into the next point, at other times making a tiny reflection of Halep’s own motion as she gestured at herself to stay calm, putting both palms down flat.

Sometimes the electric line of unspoken communication between them was almost visible, as if the 15,000 spectators on Chatrier melted away, and the great court contained only Stephens, Halep and Cahill.

But in the first set, it made no difference. Halep’s boundless defence met a worthy adversary in Stephens. This was the story of the growler and prowler – Halep investing a deep cry of effort into every strike of the ball, Stephens stalking the baseline and waiting for the Romanian’s defence to bow before unleashing an elastic forehand. She did it to break for 3-1 in the first, and it happened again right at the start of the second. Stephens’ intensity was terrifying.

Chatrier echoed to deafening sound – one moment explosive cheers for Stephens’ bravura, the next great bellows of Halep’s first name crashing from the stands. But just as the spectators thought the No.1 seed was on the road to defeat, she began hacking out the path to victory.

She reeled off four games, and suddenly Stephens was feeling the pace. The American found a way to stonewall the advance, grabbing back a break to love to put the set back on serve. After all, Stephens had faced a worse crisis than this, coming back from match point down in the third round to see off Camila Giorgi in three dauntless sets. But from 4-4 in the second, she won only one more game.

It made no odds that she was at her most resourceful, returning everything, prowling as before, waiting again for Halep to waver before unleashing a winner. But this time there was no wavering. Up in the stands at 4-0 in the third, Cahill was out of his seat, eyes locked on his charge, fist clenched in front of him as Halep mirrored the celebration.

Three games later, the day belonged to Halep, and the title with it.

"It's always tough to play against her. She was very strong on court," Halep reflected. "When I was down a break in the second set I said OK, everything is gone, I just have to start to relax and to enjoy the match. And I came back."

At last, at long last, Simona Halep is a Grand Slam champion.

rolandgarros.com

I've been following Simona's career sporadically for some time, but she has really became a favourite of mine over the past 3 years.  

I think that heart breaking loss at last year's French Open is what cemented it for me. 

I have watched her have so many crushing losses, she was very close at this year's Aussie Open. The only reason she lost is because she literally exhausted herself by the time she reached the final.  

That's how hard she fights, and that's why she's become my favourite.  I absolutely love watching her play tennis. 

I will admit that I started to have my doubts again when she went down a break in that second set, but she managed to draw on her experience and somehow turn the set around.  In the final set she played with abandon working for every point. 

The athleticism with which she was able to run around that court and hit with so much authority was breathtakingly astounding (as was her opponent). 

The point for 4 love is when I truly knew she was ready to finally reach over the finish line that had been eluding her in 3 previous attempts at this tournament. 

When that ball hit the net on Championship point I teared up, and I was crying by the time she went over to hug her coach Darren Cahill in the stands.  Such a well deserved sweet moment between the 2.

All that hard work, disappointment and perseverance finally paid off. And there's no one more deserving than her. 

What a great year 2018 has been for women's tennis thus far. 

First Caroline Wozniacki finally wins her first Grand Slam after years of trying, and now Simona Halep follows suit.  

It doesn't get better than that.

It was an excellent women's final, made all the sweeter with Halep as the victor. 

Congratulations Simona Halep on finally achieving your dreams at your favourite Grand Slam. 

Thank you for making this one memorable.

Now I am so ready to say goodbye to the red clay, and say hello to the pristine green of grass. 

And the return of Mr. Federer.

Happy Birthday Kim Clijsters!

Thanks for this gem!. I don't know what's funnier the situation or the commentator :D.  "That's a man. In a skirt.   Trying to return Kim Clijster's serve".  Classic.

Martina Hingis supports former doubles partner at Roland Garros

 Nothing better than having your former doubles partner there to share in the joy :)

I miss these 2. Great to see they've remained good friends :).

Congarts Latisha Chan on your mixed doubles title at another Grand Slam.

Courtesy of Martina Hingis' Facebook