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
Sunday, June 10, 2018
Saturday, June 09, 2018
Simona Halep: Champion at last at Roland Garros!
This moment right here is what broke me
Roland Garros Twitter
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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.
Friday, June 08, 2018
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.
Thursday, June 07, 2018
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
Thursday, May 31, 2018
GQ The Life and Style of Roger Federer
Bernard Arnault calls him “a living god”, Bill Gates eulogises him in the latest Time 100 list and Anna Wintour is his biggest fan. Having LVMH’s CEO, the world’s second richest man and publishing’s most powerful woman on your cheer team doesn’t happen without reason. Of course there’s the on-court brilliance and the records he’s racked up (20 grand slam singles titles), but it takes meeting Roger Federer to truly understand how he’s charmed such a squad.
After a lifetime of intensive exercise, quality eating, globally accrued sunshine and limited late night partying (although as a Moët & Chandon ambassador, presumably the odd glass of champagne), the man positively glows. And as a result of all his success, there’s a smooth social confidence, a statesmanlike quality that the world’s most successful can’t resist.
After skipping his second clay court season - meaning he’ll miss out on the chance of another French Open title, but improve the likelihood of winning another Wimbledon - talk of Roger’s retirement has bubbled up again, but he insists that while he’ll miss “the goosebump feeling” when he does eventually quit the court, his ultimate dream is to be known more for his foundation than for his tennis. It’s the reason why the French elite gathered in Paris last week: for the launch of 20 limited edition bottles of Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage to celebrate his 20 years of tennis success, with the profits of the sale (each leather-wrapped magnum costs €19,998) going to the Roger Federer Foundation, which aims to improve the lives of underprivileged youth in Southern Africa and Switzerland.
With Federer dazzling in Dior Homme, we took some time to talk to him about his evolving sports silhouette, tennis’s perennial backwards cap, those Wimbers blazers and his very own wardrobe malfunction.
“I used to wear jogging shoes, jeans and a practice shirt, then when Mirka met me, she would look and go, ‘Errr, are you sure about this look?’ She was sophisticated early on. She would save her money and buy something proper, whereas I was happy without much. Over time, you realise you have red carpet appearances, you need a suit, you need a tie. And by the third time wearing the same tie on the red carpet, you’re like, ‘Maybe I should have different ties, different suits, different black shoes for a change.’ I started to enjoy making changes, trying out a few things, different combinations. You’re happy to get dressed up, especially in the big cities like Paris, London or New York and go out.”
Big style
“Honestly, I think it keeps me young because around them I try not to wear clothes that they can destroy or make super dirty when I’m picking them up, running round in the mud or going for a barbecue. I think they keep me young for the most part. With the girls, we’re starting to head in the direction where they start to like to be alone sometimes because Dad’s not cool anymore. They’re not there yet – they still like it when I’m around. I think we’re a few years away, but soon they’ll be like, ‘It’s OK, Dad. We’re OK alone.’ That will be the first time I’ll be really sad.”
Hairstyle
“Everything was part of an evolutionary process, like the long hair. Do I regret having long hair? No, I’m happy I had it and I’m happy I got rid of it again! It was just a part of my life. We wore the cap backwards just to keep the hair out of our faces. Instead of having it in front where you toss the ball and it can sometimes get in the way, backwards just works. But now I think the headband is just easier overall.”
Bad style
“Maybe putting my pants on backwards in the Wimbledon ceremony! Back in 2005 or 2006, I was so excited I won, I wanted to put on the whole outfit that we’d made together. I went to receive the trophy and as I walk down, I’m a bit nervous and as I put my hands in my pockets, I realise that the pockets are going backwards. I was like, ‘It’s too late! I can’t change them any more!’ I lifted the trophy and the pants were on backwards. You could hardly see it, but I think one British media picked it up and were like, ‘What’s going on? He’s got the zipper at the back.’ That was quite embarrassing!”
GQ Magazine.co.uk
After a lifetime of intensive exercise, quality eating, globally accrued sunshine and limited late night partying (although as a Moët & Chandon ambassador, presumably the odd glass of champagne), the man positively glows. And as a result of all his success, there’s a smooth social confidence, a statesmanlike quality that the world’s most successful can’t resist.
After skipping his second clay court season - meaning he’ll miss out on the chance of another French Open title, but improve the likelihood of winning another Wimbledon - talk of Roger’s retirement has bubbled up again, but he insists that while he’ll miss “the goosebump feeling” when he does eventually quit the court, his ultimate dream is to be known more for his foundation than for his tennis. It’s the reason why the French elite gathered in Paris last week: for the launch of 20 limited edition bottles of Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage to celebrate his 20 years of tennis success, with the profits of the sale (each leather-wrapped magnum costs €19,998) going to the Roger Federer Foundation, which aims to improve the lives of underprivileged youth in Southern Africa and Switzerland.
With Federer dazzling in Dior Homme, we took some time to talk to him about his evolving sports silhouette, tennis’s perennial backwards cap, those Wimbers blazers and his very own wardrobe malfunction.
“I used to wear jogging shoes, jeans and a practice shirt, then when Mirka met me, she would look and go, ‘Errr, are you sure about this look?’ She was sophisticated early on. She would save her money and buy something proper, whereas I was happy without much. Over time, you realise you have red carpet appearances, you need a suit, you need a tie. And by the third time wearing the same tie on the red carpet, you’re like, ‘Maybe I should have different ties, different suits, different black shoes for a change.’ I started to enjoy making changes, trying out a few things, different combinations. You’re happy to get dressed up, especially in the big cities like Paris, London or New York and go out.”
Big style
“I don’t understand how I used to wear [size] extra large, but that’s how we used to dress. Sampras and Agassi used to wear this baggy stuff. It was just a trend, so in hindsight, I think, ‘Was I crazy to wear XL at 17?’ But you wanted to think you were big and buff, even when you weren’t yet. Now we look stronger and slimmer because of the way we wear it. That’s where the power of clothes is so important: it really can change your entire look. Look what Rafa did, when he went from the sleeveless tops and the Capri pants to the more sophisticated look and you’re like, ‘Oh my god, he looks much more muscular and like he lost weight’, but he didn’t do anything.”
SHUTTERSTOCK
“At Wimbledon, we tried to bring back the history of the game when they walked out in jackets or cardigans. We tried to push the envelope – sometimes a bit too much. But it was fine. These moments stay memorable, and I was willing to take chances. There was the all black at the US Open, which was a pretty big deal, because nobody really wore all black. When somebody wore black shoes, it was like, ‘Wow, black shoes!’ It was especially good at night. I think that tennis has always had a big opportunity to mix it up. We have 12 different outfits a year and tennis has a lot of history and street cred. We’ve kind of lost that because it’s got so aggressive and everything has to be breathable, durable, the shoes and everything. We’ve moved away from it, so I’ve tried to bring a little bit of style into tennis.”
Dad Style
SHUTTERSTOCK
“At Wimbledon, we tried to bring back the history of the game when they walked out in jackets or cardigans. We tried to push the envelope – sometimes a bit too much. But it was fine. These moments stay memorable, and I was willing to take chances. There was the all black at the US Open, which was a pretty big deal, because nobody really wore all black. When somebody wore black shoes, it was like, ‘Wow, black shoes!’ It was especially good at night. I think that tennis has always had a big opportunity to mix it up. We have 12 different outfits a year and tennis has a lot of history and street cred. We’ve kind of lost that because it’s got so aggressive and everything has to be breathable, durable, the shoes and everything. We’ve moved away from it, so I’ve tried to bring a little bit of style into tennis.”
Dad Style
“Honestly, I think it keeps me young because around them I try not to wear clothes that they can destroy or make super dirty when I’m picking them up, running round in the mud or going for a barbecue. I think they keep me young for the most part. With the girls, we’re starting to head in the direction where they start to like to be alone sometimes because Dad’s not cool anymore. They’re not there yet – they still like it when I’m around. I think we’re a few years away, but soon they’ll be like, ‘It’s OK, Dad. We’re OK alone.’ That will be the first time I’ll be really sad.”
Hairstyle
“Everything was part of an evolutionary process, like the long hair. Do I regret having long hair? No, I’m happy I had it and I’m happy I got rid of it again! It was just a part of my life. We wore the cap backwards just to keep the hair out of our faces. Instead of having it in front where you toss the ball and it can sometimes get in the way, backwards just works. But now I think the headband is just easier overall.”
Bad style
“Maybe putting my pants on backwards in the Wimbledon ceremony! Back in 2005 or 2006, I was so excited I won, I wanted to put on the whole outfit that we’d made together. I went to receive the trophy and as I walk down, I’m a bit nervous and as I put my hands in my pockets, I realise that the pockets are going backwards. I was like, ‘It’s too late! I can’t change them any more!’ I lifted the trophy and the pants were on backwards. You could hardly see it, but I think one British media picked it up and were like, ‘What’s going on? He’s got the zipper at the back.’ That was quite embarrassing!”
GQ Magazine.co.uk
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
Roger Federer launches new champagne line
Roger Federer has been in several countries and places in the last week. Coming back to Europe from Dubai, he first stopped to Ibiza for a few days in order to enjoy the Mediterranean climate and sea, then went back to his home in Zurich, Switzerland, and on Thursday he spent some hours in Paris to promote a new Moet & Chandon champagne edition named after Greatness since 1998, in honor of his 20 years on the ATP Tour so far.
His wife Mirka, Federer's former coach Stefan Edberg and the former world No. 2 Tommy Haas were there. Federer is one of the main ambassadors of the French brand, but he is showing once again his charitable side. The limited collection, a maximum of 20 bottles (that have a leather grip at the end like a Federer's racket) will raise $400,000 as just one bottle will cost $20,000.
The money will benefit the Roger Federer Foundation, that will reach one million children through its programs at the end of this year.
Friday, May 04, 2018
Roger Federer announces he will once again play Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart
Roger Federer has signed up to play the grass-court event at Stuttgart, along with previously scheduled appearances at Halle and Wimbledon.
"Excited to announce that I will be coming back to [Germany] for the Mercedes Cup," he said in an announcement on Facebook. "Looking forward to seeing you at the grass courts in Stuttgart."
It is the same schedule Federer followed in 2017, again not playing on clay and then competing at three grass-court events. But he got off to a shaky start, falling to Tommy Haas in his opening round at Stuttgart before rebounding to capture Halle and Wimbledon.
Other players scheduled to compete include defending champion Lucas Pouille, finalist Feliciano Lopez, Milos Raonic, Nick Kyrgios and Hyeon Chung.
Federer is No. 2 in the rankings.
"Excited to announce that I will be coming back to [Germany] for the Mercedes Cup," he said in an announcement on Facebook. "Looking forward to seeing you at the grass courts in Stuttgart."
It is the same schedule Federer followed in 2017, again not playing on clay and then competing at three grass-court events. But he got off to a shaky start, falling to Tommy Haas in his opening round at Stuttgart before rebounding to capture Halle and Wimbledon.
Other players scheduled to compete include defending champion Lucas Pouille, finalist Feliciano Lopez, Milos Raonic, Nick Kyrgios and Hyeon Chung.
Federer is No. 2 in the rankings.
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