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#1 ·
ATPtennis.com

ATP INSIDER

Players Pay Their Respects to Carter

Roger Federer and Marc Rosset were among the tennis friends who paid their last respects to Peter Carter on Wednesday.

UP FRONT...
PLAYERS PAY THEIR RESPECTS TO CARTER
Swiss players ROGER FEDERER and MARC ROSSET were among the more than 200 tennis friends who paid their last respects to Swiss Davis Cup coach Peter Carter at a funeral in St. Leonhard's Church in Basel on Wednesday. The 37-year-old Australian died in a car accident in South Africa on Aug. 1. The moving ceremony was conducted by the priest who had performed the marriage rites between Carter and his Swiss-born wife Silvia little more than a year ago. Eulogies were given by Silvia, Christine Ungricht, president of the Swiss Tennis Association and a close childhood friend from Australia. Federer, who began playing tennis as an eight-year-old with Carter, was joined at the funeral by Rosset and various players from Young Boys Basel, Carter's Club Team. DARREN CAHILL, a long -time hometown friend of Carter and current coach of ANDRE AGASSI, also was in attendance.
 
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#1,928 ·
just behind Robby is Stéphane Vivier, his physical trainer for something like 2 years (French guy, worked for the ATP before), very important member of Fed's staff who accompanied him here to take care of his body.

it's surprising if he's precisely the one whom you didn't recognize because he's followed Fed nearly all of the time in the last two years, he's maybe even more with him than Annacone and Luthi.
 
#1,931 ·
From New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/20/sports/soccer/20iht-tennis20.html?ref=global


December 19, 2012

South America Loves Federer, and He Loves It Back

By CHRISTOPHER CLAREY


BUENOS AIRES — Eric Carmen’s ballad “All by Myself” was playing on the car radio last Thursday as Roger Federer opened the door, ducked through the opening with another crowd shouting behind him and took a seat for the late-night ride back to his hotel.

As the vehicle and its police escort pulled away from the tennis stadium, the convoy rolled past a long line of cheering Argentines. A number of fans broke free of the barricades and began running next to the windows, shouting “Roger!” or, in the shock of making eye contact, nothing at all.

“Bye-bye,” Federer said through the glass in a conversational tone, waving and smiling without flashing his teeth.

“Does it start to seem normal after a while?” I asked.

“This?” he said, his voice rising. “No, no, no. This is unbelievable.”

You might think that Federer, at this advanced stage of his chart-busting career, would have seen it all through the tinted window when it comes to hero worship. But the regular tennis tour, it turns out, is a relatively sheltered place: a circuit full of routine and regular haunts.

Federer’s exhibition tour in South America, which ended last week, was a long way from Wimbledon in both distance and spirit, and perhaps it is easier here to see just how far Federer has come from Basel and his days as an unpolished, pony-tailed Swiss wunder teen.

“They are so passionate here,” Federer said. “I’ve had more fans break down here in South America than anywhere else in the world. They cry, and they shake, and they are just so, like, not in awe but so happy to meet you. It’s disbelief for them that they can meet me, and that is something that has happened a few times before, but it’s very rare. Here I must have had at least 20 people probably hugging me and kissing me and so happy, you know, just to get a chance to touch me, even. And they’ve actually been very, very respectful when they realized I couldn’t sign more autographs because it was a safety issue or whatever the circumstances might have been.”

The mania was fueled by the fact that this was the 31-year-old Federer’s first visit to South America as a professional and his first visit of any sort to the three nations on his itinerary: Brazil, Argentina and Colombia.

It was hardly a nonprofit mission. Federer played six matches on the South American tour, including two in the temporary 20,000-seat stadium constructed in the northern Buenos Aires suburb of Tigre. He was, according to local reports, paid $2 million for each of his six matches (news conferences and other appearances included), which surely made this the most lucrative exhibition tour on a per-night basis in tennis history.

It also earned Federer significantly more money in 13 days than the $8.5 million in official prize money he earned during the entire 2012 season: a year in which he returned to No. 1 for several months and won six titles, including his 17th Grand Slam singles title at Wimbledon.

The paydays surely did not go unnoticed at A.T.P. headquarters. The off-season is two weeks longer than usual this year, which required a tighter schedule at the end of the season and contributed to Federer’s skipping the Masters 1000 event in Paris in November.

He still maintained his exhibition schedule, however. But while Federer surely would not have cut into his energy reserves and family time if the finances were not right, he insisted that money was not his primary motivator.

“With the season shorter, you can actually do a trip to South America like this,” he said. “Of course, you can always do a one-day trip, but I’m at the stage of my life when I do a one-day trip all across the world, I don’t think it’s worth it. I felt I needed to organize something that was really going to have an impact: for me personally, and also then for the people.

“The first idea was to play maybe three, maybe four matches, and at the end, they wanted an encore in São Paulo and an encore here in Argentina, and I was like, ‘It’s going to cost me four more days but I’m already over here, and you know what? I’m really, really happy to do it and it shows there’s great excitement and maybe there’s a big market for this kind of thing.’ Personally, I’ve always wanted to come to South America, and I think tennis-wise, obviously, it’s really coming along now.”

The continent has actually seen much brighter days in terms of star power. Guillermo Vilas, the long-haired Argentine, was once winning major titles and writing poetry on the side. Gustavo “Guga” Kuerten of Brazil once won three French Opens and drew hearts in the Paris clay.

Marcelo Rios, the Chilean left-hander with the touch and temperament reminiscent of John McEnroe, once sat at No. 1 in the rankings.

For now, the only three South Americans in the top 50 of the men’s rankings are the Argentines Juan Martín Del Potro and Juan Mónaco at No. 7 and No. 12 respectively and the Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci at No. 33. The women are in much direr straits, with no South American in the top 100.

But momentum could rebuild again with the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and with Bogotá, Colombia’s capital, soon to stage a regular men’s tour event and more South American cities in line.

Federer, a tennis history buff, did his best to honor the past: exchanging groundstrokes in São Paulo with the 73-year-old Maria Bueno, the Brazilian women’s star who won seven Grand Slam singles titles. He then spent time with Gabriela Sabatini, the Argentine, now 42, who won the 1990 U.S. Open.

Federer also extended his reach beyond tennis. He met with the Argentine president, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, at her residence in Buenos Aires and got goose bumps of his own when he met Pelé, the Brazilian soccer icon, for the first time in São Paulo.

“It was very powerful,” Federer said. “It’s like disbelief he exists, because you only know him from TV and from pictures. He was very sweet, a very passionate, larger-than-life kind of person.”

But even if tennis continues to bob in soccer’s massive wake, particularly in South America, this is now Federer’s moment — even at No. 2 in the rankings behind Novak Djokovic — to stir the global pot.

“There were a lot of No. 1’s in tennis who were playing in Argentina: John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Bjorn Borg, all these guys, but I’ve never seen something like this,” said José Luis Clerc, the former Argentine star who helped persuade Federer to make the South American journey. “The reaction of the people, everybody was crazy.”

It was indeed a scene on and off court. The V.I.P. Lounge at the stadium in Tigre was a vast assemblage of artfully crossed legs, tight shirts, half-eaten finger sandwiches and Argentine celebrities on the lookout for other Argentine celebrities. Three large golden statues of nude male figures dominated the lounge, holding tennis rackets in a position from which not even Federer could make a winner.

His arrival was delayed for nearly an hour on opening night by concerns about the structural integrity of the temporary stands. But Federer and Del Potro eventually made it on court to play in front of the biggest tennis crowd in Argentina’s history, with Del Potro winning in three sets on Dec. 12 and with Federer winning in two a night later. Exhibition or not, the tone was more intense than light-hearted, even if Federer and Del Potro managed to orchestrate an exchange on Thursday in which Federer could hit two of his trademark between-the-legs shots off lobs in the same point.

“It was a great night but a little strange for Juan Martín,” Del Potro’s coach, Franco Davín, said Thursday. “He’s at home in Argentina, and they cheer more for Federer.”

So it goes at this stage as Federer rides the wave of his own making and then rides off into the night with his public in pursuit, not sure if it will get another close-up look.

“It is totally an out of body experience, almost disbelief that it’s really happening,” he said, looking out the window at the crowds. “I feel very fortunate and I guess that’s also one of the reasons I would like to play for more years because these things are not going to come back around when you retire.”
 
#1,933 ·
Over the last few days I have read quite a few newspaper articles from Argentina, Brazil and Columbia through Google translation. The media there simply love and admire Roger. Here is a summary of the Columbia media. I think "Chairman Roger" should mean "President Roger".

http://www.cooperativa.cl/noticias/...isita-de-roger-federer/2012-12-16/131742.html


Colombian media surrendered to the visit of Roger Federer

20121216 - 13:09 |
The publications highlighted the friendly Swiss and euphoria of coffee.
The Swiss was measured at Jo Wilfried Tsonga in exhibition match.


Media of Colombia had only praise for Roger Federer (2 of the ATP) after his visit, where he faced in exhibition match to Jo Wilfried Tsonga (8 °) and also played a tennis match against former Football goalkeeper Farid Mondragon .

The Swiss garnered praise is only passing through the coffee country. The site elcolombiano.com titled: " Thank you, Your Majesty Roger " highlighting the category for many best tennis player ever. Also highlighted that may be a long time before the current world number two returns to the country.

Another way that expressed the satisfaction of the Colombian was the newspaper La República that stressed that " the result mattered little because he won was the Colombian public can now say with confidence that the global tennis legend, the owner of most records in the world of tennis, his majesty, Roger Federer, came to Colombia , played in Bogotá and yes, beat Frenchman Jo Wilfried Tsonga. "

The newspaper El Heraldo said the tennis match the Swiss Football disputed against former goalkeeper Farid Mondragon, highlighting the sympathy of former world number one.

" Charismatic and patient, willing to please children, young and old, the world number two showed his skills as a footballer, heading and ball returns accurate and even handed the ball to balance standing shock ", published medium.

The newspaper Vanguardia said the public euphoria coffee before Federer's visit. " Roger!, Roger, I love you, Look, Roger, Roger, give me your pin!, and even "Chairman Roger". thus shook the stands, Tsonga also chanted and held each point of the two players with applause and the wave in the stands , "said the newspaper.
 
#1,937 ·
Roger was named #1 player of all time in a poll which was made by a German tennis side.

I thought it would be worth it to translate it:

The best players of all time - #1: Roger Federer

The run in the rankings of the women was very close but the run of the men was a clear thing. Everyone of the jurymembers voted the "Maestro" on #1: Roger Federer is the undisputed #1 for tennisnet.com.
The Swiss lead the menstennis into a new golden era according to many experts.
"If I would have to pick one person I would choose Roger. He plays the most beautiful tennis which I have ever seen. Roger can do everything and it looks so easy. That's always the first step of a big player", John McEnroe, who was voted #4 in our ranking, recently said about Federer.
The Swiss started his career at the end of the Serve-and-Volley era. No matter if it is on ultra fast or extremely slow courts: Federer is the player to beat.
"You know, I can't make a mystery out of it. I'm surely a really talented player", Federer honestly answered on the question how he is able to play so consistantly on such a high level.
To list all achievements of the Swiss would go beyond the scope, therefore here's only a little view of his impressive records:

- 17 Grand Slam titles

- 24 Grand Slam finals

- 247 victories in singles at the Grand Slams

- 23 consecutive Grand Slam SFs

- 34 consecutive Grand Slam QFs (still running)

- 302 weeks at #1 (237 consecutive weeks)

- 24 consecutive victories in finals between 2003 and 2005

- 65 consecutive victories on grass

- 56 consecutive victories on HC

- 6 victories at the ATP World Tour Finals

- never retired in one of his 1076 matches on the ATP tour (still running)

- being named "ATP Fan Favorite" for 10 consecutive years (still running)

- receiving the „Stefan Edberg Sportmanship Award“ 8 times (still running)


Federer completed his Grand Slam collection in 2009 with the triumph at the French Open. "It's incredible and maybe my biggest victory. I don't have any words for it", said Federer back then who 4 weeks later became the GS record holder when he won in Wimbledon. "I'm happy that I could break the GS record here as Wimbledon is the tournament which has always meant the most to me."

After 2 1/2 years without a Grand Slam title Federer was written off by many people. But the Swiss proved doubters wrong. With his 7th Wimbledon title he reached his 17th Grand Slam title and went back to #1 in the ranking. Federer then broke Pete Sampras' record of 287 weeks as world number one and got it to 302 weeks.

The "Maestro" is an excellent ambassador for tennis. The name Roger Federer is probably known at the most deserted places in the world. He stayed himself and very modest despite all his huge popularity and success. It's hard to believe that the so balanced Federer was a bundle of energy and a jitterbug at the beginning of his career.
"One or two years ago I didn't know who I was on the court. I was used to swear a lot. But now I have learned to cope with it. That's why I can now win 10 matches in a row. I want to be remembered as a good player and not as an idiot on the court", Federer explained in 2003 when he managed his breakthrough.

Meanwhile Federer is 31 years old and still has a lot of fun in playing tennis. He already announced that he would like to continue to play until the Olympic Games in Rio in 2006. "Hopefully I can stay on the tour for many more years to come and play at the Olympic Games here in 3 1/2 years. I have to look really far ahead and not just on the next 6 months", Federer recently said on his South America tour. "Today I'm at the point in my life where I can choose where and how much I want to play", the Swiss explained and announced that he would play less tournaments in the future. The good news is that Federer will probably stay in tennis for a few more years. That means we will get to see more magic "Federer moments" of the best player in tennis history.

That's what the jury has to say about Roger Federer:


Jörg Allmeroth (Tennis journalist for over 20 years)

„Roger Federer is the first universal tennisplayer. The dominating person in tennis in the new century. The most successful Grand Slam player of all times. The perfect ambassador of his sport and one who overstepped the limits of his sport. The number 1!"


Alexander Antonitsch (former professional player and editor of tennisnet.com)

„Roger Federer combines everything: incredible technique, elegance, fitness. As a person he is the best what could happen to tennis, also because he breaks all records. He isn't just the best tennis player of all time but also one of the best athletes of all time. Weaknesses? Maybe his backhand spin and drive on a bad day. When he is the mood he is also very successful in doubles."


Christian Albrecht Barschel (managing editor of tennisnet.com Germany)

"On his 30th birthday I mentioned 30 reasons why Roger Federer is the best player of all time. In the meantime new reasons can be added. To list them would go beyond the scope. Federer isn't only the best player in history for me but also already since many years the best athlete which we have on our planet. I dare to say that the first number of his Grand Slam title collection would be a 2 if the courts would be as in the past. Federer is the best ambassador which we can have for our sport. I'm happy that I can watch him in his era. Roger, you are peRFect!"


Christopher Kas (professional since 2001, doubles specialist)

"To explain why Roger Federer is the undisputed #1 there aren't enough lines. I'm just proud to play tennis at the same time as him. He is the best what could happen to tennis. On the court near perfect and off the court flawlessly. The best of all time!!!!"


Manuel Wachta (managing editor of tennisnet.com Austria)

"Olympic Gold in singles and the Davis Cup title might be missing in his collection but apart from that the Maestro has won everything which you can win. Federer is much more as the "King of Wimbledon", much more as his record of 17 Grand Slam titles, much more as the most dominant player of the new millennium, much more as the player who has been ranked #1 with 302 weeks for the longest time, much more as his countless records. He ist most complete and elegant player and probably the best ambassador in the history of tennis. When you want to name a synonym for perfection in tennis you have to say it's "Roger Federer" - on and off the court."

German source:

http://www.tennisnet.com/deutschlan...iste-Platz-1-der-Herren-Roger-Federer/4538792
 
#1,939 ·
in Le Temps (French-speaking Swiss newspaper) there was an interview of a former Federer's teacher (in accounting apparently) in the Swiss "sports-studies" center in Ecublens, between 1995 and 1997.

Here's a translation of the main part of the interview :

To go back to his character, he had that little bit daft/nutty (foufou in French) side which I qualify as "instinctive". Suddenly he shouted loudly in the class "Mr Vacheron, what does that mean ?" because he didn't understand something. Some teachers would not have allowed him that but I found him lovable. Sven, his Swiss-German schoolmate, was more tactful. Whereas Roger said what he was thinking. He has strong reactions but never was disrespectful. It also happened to him to be hyper-sensitive when he really was in difficulty. With the frustration of not succeeding was mixed the difficulty of being far from home.
the full interview in French :

«En classe, Roger Federer était un instinctif»
le Temps, 22/12/2012
Par Isabelle Musy

Le Bâlois a passé deux ans de tennis-études à Ecublens. Rencontre avec Philippe Vacheron, son ancien professeur

C’était entre 1995 et 1997. Adolescent, il débarquait de sa Bâle natale pour deux ans de tennis-études dans le canton de Vaud, à Ecublens, où se trouvait alors le Centre national de formation. Roger Federer a fréquenté les bancs du collège de la Planta à Chavannes-près- de Renens pour y faire sa 8e et 9e année scolaire.

Pour Le Temps, Philippe Vacheron, l’un de ses anciens professeurs, a accepté de nous raconter Federer l’écolier. Le rendez-vous est pris au restaurant de la gare de Lausanne. Autour d’un jus de pomme, l’enseignant désormais à la retraite fouille dans sa mémoire pour nous conter cette période où, sans le savoir, il a côtoyé un garçon qui allait devenir le plus grand joueur de tennis de tous les temps, un champion à 17 couronnes du Grand Chelem, une vraie star adulée aux quatre coins du monde.

Du jeune Roger, Philippe Vacheron en parle avec un mélange touchant d’affection et de pudeur.

Le Temps: Comment Roger Federer a-t-il atterri dans votre établissement?

Philippe Vacheron: Il était prévu de mettre en place un centre de tennis-études. Et notre directeur de l’époque, Monsieur Saugy, a accepté d’accueillir ces élèves. Une vingtaine d’élèves sur quatre ans, par groupe de six ou sept. A la fin, il n’en restait plus que deux. Roger et Sven, un autre Alémanique.

– Quel était votre rôle?

– Je m’occupais des cours d’appui. Comme ils jouaient au tennis l’après-midi, ils devaient rattraper les cours manqués. En tant que Suisse alémanique, Roger et ce Sven ne parlaient quasiment pas le français. A peine quelques bribes. Il a fallu qu’ils l’apprennent. Nous étions trois maîtres avec pour mission de les aider à s’intégrer et leur donner des cours de soutien. On organisait ces cours en collaboration avec Pierre Paganini qui s’occupait de l’aspect administratif du projet tennis-études et de la préparation physique déjà. C’était lui qui planifiait les entraînements.

J’essayais donc d’adapter nos horaires de cours à ses besoins. Collaborer avec lui sur un plan administratif tout en répondant aux exigences d’un système scolaire n’était pas simple. Il fallait savoir sortir du cadre.

– Vous étiez en quelque sorte son tuteur scolaire…

– Le terme est peut-être un peu fort. J’étais son représentant scolaire auprès de tennis-études et le lien avec les deux autres maîtres.

– Et avec la famille d’accueil?

– Non, c’est Monsieur Paganini qui s’occupait de ça.

– A quelle fréquence donniez-vous des cours à ces élèves particuliers?

– Je les voyais en classe quand ils étaient là et aux cours d’appui. Parfois, ils partaient à l’étranger, disputer notamment un tournoi en Floride. On avait convenu avec Pierre Paganini que je leur faxais les devoirs. Ce n’était pas l’idéal car ils étaient loin et la tête plus au tennis qu’au travail scolaire.

– Federer avait-il plus de facilité et d’intérêt pour certaines matières?

– Comme avec tous les élèves, on arrivait à l’intéresser si on prenait des exemples qui lui parlaient. Si c’est trop loin de leurs préoccupations, c’est forcément moins attractif pour des jeunes de cet âge. Je dirais que la comptabilité, qui plus est en français, n’était pas facile à faire passer. En revanche, si en arithmétique commerciale, on prenait l’exemple d’un tennisman professionnel qui plaçait son argent pour calculer combien ça lui rapportait, ça lui parlait plus.

– Etait-il un élève consciencieux?

– Oui. C’était un élève tout à fait normal.

– Etiez-vous en contact avec ses parents?

– Oui. Et c’étaient des parents très bien dans le sens où on sentait qu’ils savaient tout ce qu’il se passait, qu’ils étaient présents mais pas envahissants du tout. J’ai eu d’autres cas où les parents ont débarqué en salle des maîtres. Les Federer écoutaient ce que je leur disais sur Roger à l’école, moi de mon côté je les entendais, mais ils ne se montraient pas intrusifs. Ils tenaient à ce qu’il termine son école obligatoire correctement mais laissaient Roger être lui-même. Ils le responsabilisaient beaucoup.

– Il dit qu’il avait un peu le mal du pays?

– Ça n’a pas été une période facile pour lui. Il n’y avait pas «d’apartheid». Mais il avait un statut particulier et n’était pas aussi intégré que les autres. Parce qu’il ratait des sorties. Et il y avait aussi le problème de la langue même s’il a assez vite appris le français. Mais tout cela l’a construit. Et il pouvait se requinquer le week-end à la maison. Il se réjouissait de rentrer et on sentait que c’était important pour lui.

– Il nous a avoué sa timidité avec les filles…

– C’est possible. Je peux assez bien l’imaginer.

– Quel adolescent était-il?

– C’était un garçon instinctif. C’est le premier adjectif qui me vient à l’esprit. C’est un trait que j’ai toujours apprécié chez lui. Il faut se mettre dans le contexte. A l’époque, je ne savais pas qu’il allait devenir numéro un mondial et je faisais très attention d’être le même avec tous ces joueurs de tennis. Mais on savait que c’était un bon joueur. Il avait de bons résultats et on discutait tennis le lundi matin en classe. Parfois, il était fâché parce qu’il n’avait pas été bon pendant le week-end. Une fois, j’ai eu l’occasion de jouer avec lui. Et son entraîneur m’avait dit: «Vous avez là la crème de la crème.» Je ne savais pas où placer la balle, il était partout sur le court. Et son deuxième service était très difficile à prendre. La balle vrillait vraiment en arrivant.

Mais pour en revenir à son caractère, il avait ce côté un peu fou fou que je qualifie d’instinctif. Tout à coup, il criait à haute voix dans la classe «M’sieur Vacheron! Qu’est-ce que ça veut dire ça?» parce qu’il ne comprenait pas quelque chose. Ça n’aurait pas passé auprès de certains profs mais moi je le trouvais attachant. Sven, son camarade suisse-allemand mettait plus les formes. Tandis que Roger disait ce qu’il pensait. Il avait des réactions fortes mais n’était jamais irrespectueux. Il lui arrivait aussi d’être hyper sensible lorsqu’il avait vraiment de la difficulté. A la frustration de ne pas y arriver se mêlait la difficulté d’être loin de chez lui. Il y avait chez lui une grande sensibilité. Et même s’il n’était pas devenu un champion, je me souviendrais quand même de lui. Et sur l’ensemble des joueurs que j’ai vu passer, c’est le seul pour lequel je me suis dit qu’il fallait qu’il aille au bout. Après, ça passe ou ça casse. Mais il avait un talent.

– Avez-vous dû le punir?

– Moi, jamais. Mais Monsieur Saugy avait dû intervenir une fois parce qu’ils faisaient les fous dans le corridor.

– Est-ce que l’image que vous en avez maintenant est faite uniquement de vos souvenirs ou êtes-vous influencé par la personnalité publique qu’il est devenu?

– Je garde de lui une image à un certain âge, à un moment précis de sa vie. C’était un adolescent qui réagissait comme un adolescent. Depuis, il a mûri et la position qu’il a fait qu’il a un standing ou un rôle à tenir. J’ai vu comment il était, comment il se formait petit à petit. Et je me dis qu’il a eu des comportements sains en fonction de son âge. Et maintenant, il est devenu un exemple. Son comportement sur un court fait plaisir à voir. Il est épanoui du point de vue familial, sportif. Et financièrement, ça va. Il aura un avenir à penser après le tennis. Pour ne pas ressentir un vide, il faudra qu’il trouve une voie. Mais il va sûrement garder un pied dans le sport. Peut-être au Comité international olympique ou ailleurs.
 
#1,951 ·
in Le Temps (French-speaking Swiss newspaper) there was an interview of a former Federer's teacher (in accounting apparently) in the Swiss "sports-studies" center in Ecublens, between 1995 and 1997.

Here's a translation of the main part of the interview :



the full interview in French :
Awesome interview. Thanks for sharing.
I'll translate the whole thing when I have time.
 
#1,941 ·
Federer Turns Down Abu Dhabi Approach

Organisers for the Mubadala World Tennis Championship have revealed that they approached Roger Federer to compete in Abu Dhabi following Rafael Nadal’s withdrawal but the Swiss turned down the invitation.

Federer, who is currently in Dubai doing his pre-season training, is missing the Abu Dhabi showpiece for the first time since its inception in 2009 and there has been speculation that he has been omitted from the line-up this year due to him parting ways with event organisers, IMG.

But Greg Sproule, the Managing Director of IMG Middle East, insists that is not the case and that the door will always remain open for the world No2.

“We spoke to a number of players for sure. And I will also say we spoke with Roger Federer to come and play,” Sproule told reporters at a press conference on Wednesday. “As you know Roger is a very dear friend of the Championship. He’s arguably the greatest player that has ever lived.

"Roger plans his schedule far in advance. He has just come off of a very intensive tour of South America and he’s training as he always does for the Australian Open. But that training has only just begun and he’s not ready to play.

"He’s in the UAE and he could not have been more friendly, more receptive, more professional as Roger and his manager Tony Godsick always are, and we would certainly love to have Roger come back and play some day.”

Instead, Nadal's compatriot and World No11 Nicolas Almagro has been confirmed as a replacement in the line-up of the MWTC which kicks off in the UAE capital on Thursday.

Nadal had made a last-minute withdrawal from the event citing a stomach virus which means his long-awaited return from an injury lay-off has been postponed once again.
http://www.sport360.com/article/uae...-down-abu-dhabi-approach?theme=mobile_garland

Love it :cool:
 
#1,943 ·
"He’s in the UAE and he could not have been more friendly, more receptive, more professional as Roger and his manager Tony Godsick always are, and we would certainly love to have Roger come back and play some day.”
Ah, how sweet :rolleyes: - they want him now, of course. I'd probably have said something rather more pithy if I'd been him :) I have to admit to a certain feeling of Schadenfreude when I first read this, although it's tough on Nadal, of course.
 
#1,945 ·

Family and Practice Leave Federer Ready for Another Slam


By REUTERS
Published: January 4, 2013 at 6:43 AM ET

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Weeks of practice and family time have left Swiss maestro Roger Federer fit and refreshed ahead of what the 17-times major winner believes could be an unpredictable Australian Open in the absence of old foe Rafa Nadal.

Federer, 31, opted to skip his usual Australian Open warm-up tournaments in the Middle East this year and instead spent it working on his game and parenting, all part of a shorter 2013 schedule that he hopes will extend his career but has left him hungry for matches.

"I am very happy that the year is starting. 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 practicing 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."

The world number two's last match on Tour was back in November when he was defeated in the final of the ATP Tour Finals in London by Serbia's Novak Djokovic.

With only some exhibition matches in South America since, some questioned the move to go straight to the Australian Open but Federer, who won the last of his four Australian Open titles in 2010, said rest was required.

"It is key to always have a healthy schedule, it is difficult to do as they (the tournaments) are spread out basically from January to October-November," he said.

"It is hard to say I'm going to take one or two months off and practice hard while there are 10 to 15 new tournament winners on the Tour and you are sitting at home."

HIGHLY MOTIVATED

Federer said he had never been scared to take such decisions.

"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."

While the Swiss seemingly manages his career like clockwork, avoiding injury and ensuring he is always suitably refreshed to add to his record grand slam haul, the same cannot be said of Spaniard Nadal.

The 11-times grand slam champion has not played since losing in the early rounds at Wimbledon last year as his troublesome knees continue to require rest, forcing a late withdrawal from the Jan 14-27 Australian Open.

Federer said the continued absence of Nadal was an opportunity for one of the other players in the men's draw to break the Federer-Djokovic-Nadal domination, like Briton's Andy Murray did at the U.S. Open in September.

"I think it is an exciting one, we have had four different grand slam champions in the last year and everybody seems in great shape," he said, acknowledging that defending champion and world number one Djokovic was the favorite.

"Obviously with Rafa not around it is unfortunate, we would love to see him back so we were all hoping he was going to come back, but it creates opportunities for many other players with one less guy who normally runs through 90 percent of the guys so it is an interesting Australian Open."

(Reporting by Patrick Johnston, editing by Alan Baldwin)

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2013...r.html?smid=tw-NYTStraightSets&seid=auto&_r=0
 
#1,948 ·
Federer: "I don't expect to win every time."

Daniel Huber

21.12.2012

At the 2012 Credit Suisse Sports Awards, Roger Federer was named Swiss Sportsman of the Year for the fifth time. He explains why he sees it as a Swiss quality to let others have the spotlight now and then.

Daniel Huber: You've now been named Sportsman of the Year for the fifth time, equaling Vreni Schneider's total as Sportswoman of the Year. How important is the title to you?

Roger Federer: It's wonderful to be recognized, and I consider it a great honor to be awarded this trophy for the fifth time. In addition, though, I always regard such rankings as an important way to recognize all of the nominees and Swiss sports in general, especially since it's so difficult to compare performance in different kinds of sports. The achievements of all the nominees are truly outstanding.


What does it mean to you to spend this special evening with other Swiss athletes?

It's like a big family celebration. I like that. I'm always glad to have the opportunity to get together with other Swiss athletes. It's a mistake to assume that I'd rather spend all of my time with international superstars. I wish I could have attended this event more often in past years. It seems strange to be connected by live feed from Dubai or some other remote location. And sometimes I haven't been able to hear a thing. So I was especially thrilled to be there in person again this year.

You were named the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year four times in a row, from 2004 to 2007. Doesn't that make a Swiss prize like the Credit Suisse Sports Award pale by comparison?

That was an amazing honor for me, of course. As an athlete, you have no influence on the choice of a winner. You can only do your best throughout the year. It tends to be more common for athletes to be recognized at the beginning of their careers; more attention is paid to newcomers. The red carpet gets rolled out for them. That makes it all the more incredible that I have been chosen four times.


Foreign journalists have joked about the fact that in 2005 you were named World Sportsman of the Year for the second time, but that year were only runner-up for your own country's award.

This is just what I like so much about Switzerland. I was disappointed that I didn't win, of course, but not for very long. In Switzerland, we like to see others get a chance, too. So I was perfectly okay with the fact that Tom Lüthi won, and I still am. He had an outstanding year. It may well seem strange to foreign journalists that this happened the same year I beat out Valentino Rossi, who won the MotoGP World Championships, at the Laureus World Sports Awards. But it's simply impossible to compare the two. For the Swiss, it's important to make sure that one person doesn't get all the attention. So I have always understood that decision. It also demonstrates the down-to-earth nature of the Swiss, which – I would argue – I continue to share. I don't expect to win every time.


People have been spoiled somewhat by the incredible record you've compiled over the past ten years. Prior to the Roger Federer era, if a Swiss athlete made it as far as the semifinals of a Grand Slam tournament, that in itself was considered a sensational achievement.

That's understandable. I've become accustomed to it myself. Now I'm disappointed if I'm eliminated before the quarterfinals. And I can't say that my goal is to reach the second round of a Grand Slam tournament. I'd be lying to myself and the fans. Naturally I'm disappointed at first if I lose even in the semifinals or finals. But the important thing is to step back and put a loss into perspective, and that means that making it to the semifinals or finals has to be viewed as a success. I wonder, though, what it will take for a Swiss tennis player to be voted Sportsman of the Year after my retirement.


In 2012 you had your best season since 2007, winning 6 titles and 71 of 83 matches. What were the highlights of this past year?

My victory at Wimbledon, my silver medal at the Olympics, and regaining the number-one ranking in the world. Those are the three things that stand out for me.


You laid the groundwork for reclaiming the number-one position in the fall of 2011, after taking a fairly lengthy break from tournament play after the US Open. When did you start believing that you could do it?

Winning the last three important tournaments in 2011 certainly gave me a good start. After a series like that, you usually need to win another big tournament to have a shot at being number one. But it ended up requiring even more. I had to win Rotterdam, Dubai, Indian Wells, and Madrid and reach the semifinals in Australia, Paris, and Rome before my victory at Wimbledon put me back on top. Once again, it was clear that nobody is going to give you the top ranking; you have to fight for it.


How much does being the number-one tennis player in the world still mean to you?

It's always a goal. My win at Wimbledon is still included in my ranking, along with five tournament victories. And then Rotterdam, Dubai, and Indian Wells come right at the beginning of the new year. I'm playing in all of these tournaments, so I can defend my points. And who knows, if I make it through the semifinals in Australia and win some points there, there are a lot of possibilities. In general, however, I see 2013 as a year when I need to be more sensible and set aside more time for training and rest. I also have to make sure that I'm mentally prepared. My main goal is to continue to play at the highest level as long as possible, and to avoid pushing myself to exhaustion. So I've made a conscious effort to schedule substantial periods of rest and recuperation. I took a break after my tough match against Djokovic at the US Open in 2011 – about a year and a half ago – but since then I haven't really set aside periods for recharging my batteries.


What effect does that have?

Over the long term, you feel it. Sometimes you need to schedule periods when you can complete an intense program of disciplined and consistent training, without having a tournament schedule dictate the day's activities. If I can do that in 2013, a good deal will be possible.


What were the low points of the past season?

I had to take some tough losses, for example in Basel, where I was almost able to pull out a win. Unfortunately I didn't have a chance in the finals at the Olympics. That certainly rankled at first. One of my top goals for this season had been to win a gold medal. But I was very proud to win silver. In the end, the thrill of standing on the podium outweighed any disappointment.


Murray established himself this year as one of the world's top four players.

As far as I was concerned he was already in that group. But it's true, in the eyes of the public it wasn't until his victory in the Olympics and his first Grand Slam win that he was recognized as among the best in the world. Even before, however, Murray had already won an enormous number of tournaments. He's sure to have another two or three good years ahead of him.


It's interesting that both you and Djokovic went on tour in South America after the season was over. Is that the up-and-coming continent for tennis?

A good deal of the sports world's attention will be focused on Brazil over the next few years, with the football world championships being held there in 2014 and the Olympics in 2016. And a new tennis tournament in Rio is planned for next year or the year after. Players like Marcelo Rios, Gustavo Kuerten, and Guillermo Vilas have already helped to raise the profile of tennis in South America. After playing in exhibition matches in Asia a few times, I wanted to try something different. And I had never been to South America. I should also mention that I have a lot of fans there. So this time that was really where I wanted to go.


And how was it?

It was a fantastic experience. The people there were extremely friendly and incredibly enthusiastic. I'll definitely go back to South America with my family and take more time to travel around.

Source: https://sponsorship.credit-suisse.c...n=OpenArticle&aoid=378341&coid=317374&lang=EN
 
#1,952 ·
Off court

Federer's South America Diary: An Exotic Twelve Days

Marco Falbo, Journalist



09.01.2013

Temperatures above 35°C, a police escort with flashing lights and sirens, and matches with legendary tennis players in their 70s: Roger Federer's pre-Christmas trip to São Paulo, Buenos Aires, and Colombia brought a multitude of new impressions and unforgettable encounters – with fans, media and business representatives, sports figures, and the wild and lush nature of South America.



Tuesday, December 4: Finally in Brazil
After a 15-hour Emirates flight from Dubai, Roger Federer arrives at São Paulo's Guarulhos Airport at 7:30 p.m., accompanied by physical therapist Stéphane Vivier. "My heart was racing. I had no idea what to expect as I walked into the arrival hall," he says later. A large group of fans is already waiting, greeting him with shouts of "Roger, Roger!" A helicopter takes him into São Paulo, a city of 20 million. The Renaissance is the official tournament hotel, but Federer, along with Vivier, his manager Tony Godsick, and his father Robbie, is staying at the Tivoli Mofarrej in the city's garden district, a hotel that boasts South America's largest presidential suite.

Wednesday, December 5: A Busy Schedule
Federer trains at the 55-year-old Ginásio do Ibirapuera, which seats 10,000. He meets with organizers, sponsors, journalists, and fans, and plays tennis with underprivileged children. After the official Gillette Federer Tour gala evening, there is still time for a late-night dinner with fellow tennis players.

Thursday, December 6: Flashbulbs, Followed by Struggles with the Heat
Pandemonium at the press conference on the 20th floor of the Cidade Jardim Corporate Center: Twenty camera teams are waiting – including one all the way from Chile – and nearly all of the 168 seats are taken. Organizer Luis Felipe Tavares calls this the "greatest tennis event in Brazil's history." When Federer walks up to the podium at 12:34 p.m., an hour later than scheduled, he is greeted with thunderous applause. "The time has finally come," he says, admitting that he is excited. He's the star of the event, outshining even Maria Sharapova. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga joins him in a shaving competition.

In the afternoon Federer visits the Mercadão, the city's famous market, where he samples some of the exotic local fruit for the first time and enjoys a traditional mortadella sandwich. At 9:40 p.m. he walks into the sold-out and overheated Ibirapuera Stadium to a torrent of flashbulbs and the roar of the crowd. His first professional appearance in South America, however, ends in a loss to Tomaz Bellucci, Brazil's best player: 5-7, 6-3, 4-6. Federer is feeling the time difference and the heat; he changes his shirt three times. Exhausted, he falls into bed at 2:30 a.m.

Friday, December 7: Football with Kids from the Favelas and Tennis with Legendary Players
After a few hours of sleep, he visits a favela, one of Brazil's shanty towns, where he watches disadvantaged children play football and attempts a penalty kick. In the afternoon he plays tennis with Brazil's greatest tennis legends: Gustavo Kuerten and Maria Ester Bueno. The 73-year-old Bueno, a 19-time Grand Slam winner, has been so excited about this event that she had all of her rackets restrung. Next is a visit to the Philanthropic Forum at the headquarters of Credit Suisse Hedging-Griffo. In the evening, Federer honors Caroline Wozniacki and Maria Scharapowa at "his" exhibition tournament; after all, he is the tournament host.

Saturday, December 8: An Unforgettable Day with Pelé
A day to remember begins with a casual match against Serena Williams at the MASP, the city's modern art museum. A highlight is Federer's visit to the home of 72-year-old football legend Pelé. The two sports icons exchange autographed shirts. "It's a dream come true to meet him in his home country," says Federer, who is surprised by how much former sports minister Pelé knows about tennis. In the evening he beats Tsonga 7-6, 6-3 in his second match, in what turns out to be the most spectacular match of the tour. "This was one of the most unbelievable days of my life," he says long after midnight, as hundreds of fans are still waiting for him outside of the stadium.

Sunday, December 9: After Five Days, a Chance to Sleep In
Finally Federer can sleep in; the first item on his agenda, an interview, is not until noon. Some 100 fans are waiting outside of his hotel as he heads to the stadium. His third match, against Tommy Haas, begins at 6:00 p.m., and fun is had by all. Federer, who wins 6-4, 6-4, exchanges his tennis jersey for the uniform of Brazil's national football team, the Seleção Brasileira, and demonstrates that he also has some talent when it comes to footwork and larger balls. "It was a special night and a fabulous atmosphere, and I'm sad to be leaving Brazil," he says.

Monday, December 10: Incredible Nature
Federer's father, Robbie, had suggested making a detour on the way to Buenos Aires to visit the famous waterfalls on the Iguaçu River, which proves to be an excellent idea. The natural features where Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay intersect leave an impression on Federer that will last a lifetime. He views the massive waterfalls first from a helicopter, then from a speedboat; luckily the water level is perfect for a trip under the falls and through the canyon. Federer is thrilled: "It doesn't get any better than this. Anyone who visits South America absolutely has to come here."

Tuesday, December 11: VIP Escort – with Flashing Lights and Sirens through Buenos Aires
He meets the Argentine media for the first time at a major press conference, held with Juan Martin Del Potro, Argentina's top tennis player. "I've wanted to come to this country for a long time," Federer says. Rather than taking a helicopter, as in São Paulo, he is driven through the Argentine capital in a limousine escorted by motorcycle police, with sirens blaring and lights flashing. Everywhere he goes, the traffic yields to his motorcade. Here, too, the fans find him irresistible.

Wednesday, December 12: Federer Meets Kirchner
Accompanied by his father, manager, and physical therapist, Federer is received by the Argentine president, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, at the presidential residence. They both have an enjoyable conversation, and Federer presents a signed tennis racket to the president. At an open-air stadium built especially for this event, located in the Buenos Aires suburb of Tigre, the first exhibition match in Argentina begins an hour late. An incident required a section of the stands to be evacuated, but the 20,000 spectators take it in stride. And they are thrilled with the match, which Del Potro wins 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Thursday, December 13: Football, Tennis, and Football Tennis
At the Bombonera (candy box) stadium, the home of Boca Juniors, Federer plays football tennis, or "futnet," with Juan Martin Del Potro and football legends Gabriel Batistuta and Esteban Cambiasso. The game is played on a court with a net in the middle, and its rules are similar to those of tennis. Federer defeats Del Potro 6-4, 7-6 in the evening's exhibition tennis match, which features a series of spectacular rallies.

Friday, December 14: In Colombia for the First Time
The six-hour flight from Buenos Aires to Bogotá is about to take off. Federer poses for a photo with the sunset in the background and uploads it to Facebook before leaving for his first press conference in Colombia. Here, too, the fans and the media can't wait to see him.

Saturday, December 15: A Sombrero on the Tennis Court
In Bogotá, too, he meets a prominent football player, Colombian goalkeeper Farid Mondragon, and they exchange jerseys. In the sixth and final exhibition match of the tour, Federer scores his fourth win, a 7-6, 2-6, 6-3 victory against Tsonga in front of 13,000 fans. Afterwards he poses on the court with a traditional sombrero before leaving for the airport. His private plane takes off for Zurich at midnight. Federer will arrive just in time for the live broadcast of the Credit Suisse Sports Awards, where he is named Swiss Athlete of the Year for the fifth time.

https://sponsorship.credit-suisse.c...n=OpenArticle&aoid=379009&coid=317374&lang=EN
 
#1,954 ·
Here is the French interview for the magazine:
http://www.illustre.ch/Roger-Federe...derer-Argentine-Federer-Colombie_166155_.html

I can understand most but am not confident to do a full translation

hoping someone on rf.com could translate the article
it's a great great interview and a great article :yeah:

I hope somebody who's brave enough can make the whole translation because it's really worth it, the article describes very precisely and well the southAmerican trip and in the interview, Roger is very sincere and talkative, even more than usual, I think, even talks a lot of his father :lol:

But it's a big work because it's very long :eek:
 
#1,955 ·
one of Fed's answers is very interesting imo :

When you're in the spotlight, inevitably there are always problems somewhere. You never know what to say or do. So I told myself that it was the natural side which should be brought out first. It has always been like that. Management agency or not, I've never been guided by anyone. However, I've always talked a lot with my parents, with Mirka, with my closest friends, and I've always listened to my personal feelings. I need to feel good about myself because as soon as I try to do something which is not me, I immediately feel discomfort, pressure, an unpleasant feeling.
 
#1,956 ·
I'm happy to collaborate with one of the French posters to translate it, as I understand french well enough. :) If you've done a partial translation, I can take it from there and put it in the English.
 
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