Tennis - US Open

ALi_Persia · 28-07-09, 20:37

ALi_Persia · 28-07-09, 20:38

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ALi_Persia · 28-07-09, 21:08

Sampras to play Agassi for1st time since retiring

MACAU (AFP) - Tennis legends Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi will renew their epic rivalry later this year for the first time since the US Open final in 2002.

The two Americans, who played each other 34 times, have not faced off since Sampras won that classic match and then retired.

But they will be back on court in front of 15,000 fans at the Venetian Macau Showdown on October 25 for an exhibition.

"I really enjoy playing, keeping sharp and staying in shape. It's great to see Andre playing again as well, after the problems with his back," said Sampras.

"My motivation to play Andre in Macau will be playing my rival and the great energy that Macau has, so I am very excited to play him in October."

Asked what he remembered most about facing Agassi, Sampras, who won 20 of their encounters, said it was the intensity of their rivalry.

"Andre had a great return of serve, passing shots and first serve. We always had really tough matches and we brought out the best in each other," he said.

"Back in the mid-90s when we were No.1 and 2 in the world I think it was a great rivalry and we transcended the sport.

"When people ask me who my great rival is I always tell them Andre -- our matches were so competitive, so it will be great to play him again."

Between them they have won 22 Grand Slams.

"I have followed the Macau events featuring Roger (Federer), Pete, John (McEnroe) and Bjorn (Borg) so when the opportunity arose ... I was excited to join such an illustrious roster of top tennis names," said Agassi.

ALi_Persia · 28-07-09, 21:11

Nadal casts doubt on August return

World number two Rafael Nadal has said he is unsure if he will return to competition at the Montreal Masters in August.

"I don't know. I would like to be in Montreal in a week and a half. I will have to push it in the next few days and see," the Spaniard said.

Nadal has been suffering from tendinitis in both knees aggravated by a gruelling schedule of clay court matches.

He has not played a competitive match since being knocked out in the fourth round of the French Open by Robin Soderling on May 31 and did not defend his Wimbledon title.

Nadal, who resumed training last week, had earmarked the Montreal Masters, which starts on August 8, as a likely return date.

"My main objective is for my knees to be perfect," he said.

"It seems like I'm well but I want to be sure before I go out on to a court."

Nadal, who has lost his French Open and Wimbledon titles and his number one ranking to Swiss rival Roger Federer, said he had brought the problem with his knees upon himself by not knowing when to stop and rest, as he was so used to playing with pain.

He dismissed the idea that the separation of his parents had anything to do with his need for a break.

"I am human and it is difficult, not to accept, but to assimilate, and you suffer when you aren't at home," he added.

"I'm almost over it but this isn't what has really affected me because it happened a few months ago and I still won in Indian Wells, Barcelona and Rome.

"My real problem is the knees."

j_u_wan · 28-07-09, 21:23

Rafa was born on June 3, 1986 on the island of Mallorca (Spain) where – when he isn’t on tour – he still lives at home with his parents, younger sister and extended family in a large apartment building in downtown Manacor. He speaks Spanish, Catalan and Mallorquín (the local very distinctive dialect of Catalan) and though he hasn’t completely mastered English yet, his Spanglish is improving all the time.

Unlike many other talented young players Rafa did not have to suffer the stress of leaving home at an early age in order to train at an established tennis academy. His full-time coach since the age of 11 has been his uncle Toni Nadal (a former top 30 Spanish tennis pro) with whom he lives in Manacor; he also credits his friend and mentor, former World #1 Carlos Moya, with helping his early development through many shared training sessions when he was a youngster just starting out on his career.

Rafa’s family seems to have sports in their blood. Besides Uncle Toni, his Uncle Rafael played third division football in Spain and another uncle, Miguel Angel Nadal (nicknamed "The Beast Of Barcelona") played for RCD Mallorca, FC Barcelona and the national Spanish team, making the Spanish national squad at the 1994, 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cups. There’s no word yet on whether Rafa’s little sister Maribel has discovered a sporting career lurking somewhere in her future but if she does, you’ll read about it here first!

Partly due to the example of his Uncle Miguel Angel, Rafa played as much football as tennis until the age of twelve and was talented enough to seriously consider a football career. As his grandfather recalls: "Rafael was a good attacking midfielder who could play the perfect pass and score goals. He could easily have chosen football but with advice from his Uncle Toni it was decided that he would go further with a racquet in his hand than a football at his feet."

Uncle Toni was certainly right about that. Rafa won his first professional ATP match at age 15 and had broken into the ATP Top 100 before his 17th birthday. He was named ATP Newcomer Of The Year in 2003 and ended the year inside the Top 50, picking up two Challenger titles along the way. But it was in 2005 that Rafa began to attract some serious media interest. Having been sidelined in 2004 with a stress fracture that kept him out of action for much of the season he burst onto the scene seemingly out of nowhere at the 2005 Australian Open, engaging in an attention-grabbing five set slugfest against eventual runner-up Lleyton Hewitt which made the world sit up and take notice.

Not that the notice was all good, however – his unconventional outfit of sleeveless shirt, bandana and trademark below-the-knee "piratas" provoked a firestorm of hilarity from the generally straight-laced TV commentators who ridiculed Rafa for showing up on court "wearing his sister’s pants". His reaction to being the target of so many jokes was telling: he calmly shrugged it off. "I like the piratas - they’re comfortable," he said. "I’m gonna wear them all summer long." And so he did.

By the end of 2005 no one was making fun of his pants any longer. Rafa had shown beyond any doubt that he had the skills, smarts and dogged determination of a champion, scooping up 11 ATP titles including a spectacular Grand Slam debut performance at Roland Garros, where he celebrated his 19th birthday by defeating World #1 Roger Federer in the semi’s on his way to lifting the trophy. He ended the year ranked #2. Pants, schmants! The boy can play.

As we start 2008 Rafa has been ranked number 2 for nearly three years. He's won 23 titles including Monte Carlo, Rome and Roland Garros three years running and has got to the last two Wimbledon finals. In any other era that would have been enough to keep him firmly in the number 1 position but there's always been a certain Roger Federer in the way.

Much has been made of Rafa’s supposed rivalry with Federer. Rafa remains, as always, gracious towards his opponent and unfazed by the media hype. "Tennis is just a game, there’s no reason we shouldn’t be friends off court," he has been heard to say (possibly while waiting at the net for Roger to give him another brotherly belly-rub). But while there’s no animosity towards his rival, Rafa’s competitive spirit is never far from the surface. "Now, he’s the best," he says of Roger. "For the future? We gonna see."

Now in October 2008 Rafa has been confirmed as the year end number one. He has had an astonishing year so far winning 8 singles titles including three Masters Series, his fourth Roland Garros, his first Wimbledon and the Olympic gold medal. People have been saying for a while that he is arguably the best clay court player ever. Four consecutive wins in Monte Carlo and Barcelona, three in Rome, his first in Hamburg and the fact that he has never been beaten in 28 matches at Roland Garros is an incredible record. But now those same people are beginning to suspect that he could even go on to become the best all court player ever.

ALi_Persia · 29-07-09, 07:23

Reed: Rafa's last stand

Eurosport commentator Simon Reed believes Rafael Nadal's career could be ended by one more injury setback.

I have to admit I'm worried Rafael Nadal could be nearing the end of his career. It's great to see him back in training, but if his knees fail him again I think he could well retire.

Rafa is such a physical player that if he drops just two or three per cent below peak fitness he cannot come close to the level of performance we've become accustomed to.

It's the way he plays, the pressure he puts on his joints. And that physicality is so crucial to the psyche he brings to the court that without it he won't want to be out there.

These days tennis is such a physical game. In the past I've seen players with bad backs modify their serves, but Rafa won't be prepared to do something like that.

His fitness is so fundamental to his game that without it the whole pack of cards starts to fall down.

With this in mind, I fully expect Rafa to re-evaluate his schedule. From now on you will probably see him follow Roger Federer's lead and focus on the Grand Slams.

Roger's been doing that for a number of years and it makes perfect sense if you're looking for longevity.

I think the time has gone when you'll see Rafa winning tournament upon tournament, week after week. His body is simply not up to the task.

After the US Open I expect him to play as few events as possible to rest his body and avoid the kind of injury that could end his career.

From a tennis fan's perspective, we can only hope he keeps going as long as possible.

And if he arrives at Flushing Meadows rejuvenated, it's going to be quite a couple of weeks watching the top four in the world go at it.

Rafa, Roger, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic are so close together now that anything could happen.

ALi_Persia · 29-07-09, 07:27

Federer's wife gives birth to twins
Roger Federer's wife Mirka has given birth to twin girls, the world number one announced on his website.

The 15-times Grand Slam winner said Charlene Riva and Myla Rose had been born on Thursday in Switzerland.
"This is the greatest day of our lives," Federer said on the website. "Mirka, Myla and Charlene are all healthy and doing very well."
The last time a mother won a singles Grand Slam crown was in 1980 when Australian Evonne Goolagong triumphed at Wimbledon.
Since then, only eight men have captured a major after embracing the joys of fatherhood.
While four -- Pat Cash, Andres Gomez, Petr Korda and Albert Costa -- were one-slam wonders, multiple champions Boris Becker, Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Andre Agassi managed to add just one further slam to their haul after becoming parents.
Jimmy Connors was the only singles player to successfully combine family life with playing on the tour in that time, winning three of his eight Majors after the birth of his son Brett in August 1979.
For the likes of John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl and Stefan Edberg, the titles dried up as soon as they gingerly cradled the new additions to their families.
Tennis fathers have won only 10 of the last 115 Grand Slam titles.
"(Fatherhood) changes (your) life dramatically," explained Becker, who won the 1996 Australian Open after the birth of his first son Noah.
"It would be more difficult to focus on one thing alone because your main focus is for your child and your wife, and tennis becomes secondary. That's a fact."

ALi_Persia · 29-07-09, 07:31

Sampras: Twins won't affect Federer

The arrival of twin girls in Roger Federer's life will have no negative impact on the Swiss master's tennis career, according to Pete Sampras.

World number one Federer became a father for the first time when his wife Mirka gave birth to daughters Charlene Riva and Myla Rose in Switzerland on Thursday.

"I don't see Roger changing diapers at four in the morning," Sampras, 37, said with a broad grin. "I don't think it will affect his career.

"It's a life changer for him but he is focused on his tennis and he's got the help from his wife and his parents and whoever else," added the American, who is a father of two boys.

Federer became a father 23 days after beating American Andy Roddick in a gripping five-set final at Wimbledon, clinching a 15th Grand Slam title to break the record held by Sampras.

"I am content with the 14 that I have and I am amazed with what Roger has been able to do," Sampras said. "It's incredible."

Asked if he had any regrets about ending his career at 32 with 14 Slams, Sampras replied: "I was happy when I stopped.

"It was more than a number for me. I wanted (Roy) Emerson's record, I got it. I wanted to win one more, and I did. And then I won the US Open and I was cooked.

"Emotionally I was spent. I didn't have much left in the tank. When I was done, I felt I had put up some numbers that nobody would touch.

"Little know did I know that Roger was going to come along and surpass me in eight years. He saw 14 as his goal and now he has 15 and he's going to go on and win some more."

Although reluctant to compare great players of different era, Sampras said he would probably name Federer as the best of all time if pushed.

"It's a hard question to answer and I just feel each generation has its player," he added.

"You had (Rod) Laver in the sixties, (Bjorn) Borg in the seventies and the eighties, me in the nineties and Roger today.

"The greatest player of all time? It's hard to say but I would give it to Roger.

"Do I think I could beat Roger at my best? There is no reason why I couldn't. That's not being cocky. It's just how I feel."

ALi_Persia · 11-08-09, 08:52

Nadal back with doubles win

Rafael Nadal's tender knees passed their first test when the Spaniard returned to action on Monday with a doubles win at the Montreal Masters.

Sidelined for more than two months and forced to miss Wimbledon with tendonitis in both knees, Nadal looked fit and showed no signs of pain as he teamed up with coach Francisco Roig to beat Serbian duo Novak Djokovic and Dusan Vemic 7-5 6-4.

"It's great to be back and I had a lot of fun playing with Francisco," Nadal said.

"A win is a win and doubles is fun and important so I am happy about the way it went today.

"I am really looking forward to playing singles on Wednesday."

It was a positive first step in what is expected to be a testing comeback for the 23-year-old Spaniard, who opens the defence of his crown - which he won in Toronto 12 months ago - with a second round clash against either David Ferrer or Viktor Troicki.

Playing his first event since being stunned in the fourth round of the French Open on May 31, much has changed for Nadal as rival Roger Federer took his French Open and Wimbledon titles along with the world number one ranking.

Federer's life has also undergone some dramatic changes.

Since capturing a record 15th grand slam singles title at Wimbledon in July, Federer and wife Mirka have become parents to twin girls, the Swiss arriving in Montreal with his family in tow.

The beaming dad said he was relishing his new parental duties, including changing diapers, but on the court the Swiss insisted he would be all business when he begins his US Open build-up.

Federer, who celebrated his 28th birthday last Saturday, opens his Montreal bid on Tuesday against Canadian hope Frederic Niemeyer, who reached the second round with a 7-5 6-1 win over Russian Igor Kunitsyn.

Ranked 487th in the world and the oldest player in the draw, the 33-year-old wildcard also became a father for the first time recently and is counting on Federer feeling the affects of a few sleepless nights before their match.

"I also played a tournament with my daughter after two weeks and I didn't sleep very much that week," said Niemeyer, after notching first tour-level win since March 2008.

"He has two (daughters) so hopefully he sleeps none. Hopefully he's a bit off and I'm playing well."

ALi_Persia · 30-08-09, 21:09

US Open - Nadal feeling '100 per cent fit'

Rafael Nadal declared himself 100 per cent fit for the US Open after battling knee tendinitis for three months, the Spaniard eager to make the most of his first chance to complete a career Grand Slam.

On the eve of Monday's start of the year's final major, the reigning Australian Open champion and US Open third seed said he has fully recovered from an injury that kept him from defending his 2008 Wimbledon title.

"I'm 100 per cent well to play this tournament. I don't know if I'm playing at my best level, but I am 100 per cent," Nadal said.

"The knees are perfect right now. I don't have any problem."

Four-time French Open champion Nadal would love a US Open title to complete a career Slam and join Roger Federer, Andre Agassi, Fred Perry, Don Budge, Rod Laver and Roy Emerson as the only men to win each of the four major titles.

"For me to have the title here doesn't change my career, but if I had the title here, finish the cycle, it would be unbelievable," Nadal said.

"But we haven't started the tournament yet. Right now, I really can't think about that."

Nadal roared through the early season, defeating Federer in the Australian Open final and taking titles at Indian Wells, Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome.

But his bid for a fifth consecutive Roland Garros crown failed when he lost to Sweden's Robin Soderling in the round of 16. After the loss, Nadal took time away for his knees to heal and was forced miss Wimbledon.

"I was at home recovering," Nadal said. "Maybe I was injured in the worst moment of the season. But at the same time, I must have been in Mallorca in the best moment of the season, too."

Nadal returned at Montreal, losing to Juan Martin Del Potro in the quarter-finals, and then reached the semi-finals at Cincinnati, losing to Novak Djokovic in his final US Open tune-up event.

"I'm very happy with how I did in the first two tournaments," Nadal said. "I don't know the level of confidence, but it's much better than what I expected when I started to play in Montreal.

"When you come back after an injury, you always start slow. You have to be progressing, but I'm normal right now."

During Nadal's absence, Britain's Andy Murray moved past him into the world number two ranking.

But that setback has not dimmed Nadal's desire to reach the final, where another matchup with Federer could await.

"Psychologically for me now, I'm perfect. I came back with more energy than ever," said the Spaniard.

"Probably I needed some time to be ready, to get the rhythm, to play my best tennis, but the energy and the attitude is 100 per cent."

Nadal, 23, plays his first match against France's Richard Gasquet. He could face French seventh seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarter-finals and Murray in the semi-finals.

28-07-09, 20:37	#1 (permalink)
ALi_Persia Pluto Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: England Posts: 8,838 Credits: 23,796 Thanks: 5,375 Thanked 2,062 Times in 1,294 Posts	Tennis - US Open __________________

28-07-09, 20:38	#2 (permalink)
ALi_Persia Pluto Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: England Posts: 8,838 Credits: 23,796 Thanks: 5,375 Thanked 2,062 Times in 1,294 Posts	Tennis Rankings MEN - Full Table » WOMEN - Full Table » __________________ Last edited by ALi_Persia; 17-11-09 at 09:00.

28-07-09, 21:08	#3 (permalink)
ALi_Persia Pluto Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: England Posts: 8,838 Credits: 23,796 Thanks: 5,375 Thanked 2,062 Times in 1,294 Posts	Sampras to play Agassi for1st time since retiring MACAU (AFP) - Tennis legends Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi will renew their epic rivalry later this year for the first time since the US Open final in 2002. The two Americans, who played each other 34 times, have not faced off since Sampras won that classic match and then retired. But they will be back on court in front of 15,000 fans at the Venetian Macau Showdown on October 25 for an exhibition. "I really enjoy playing, keeping sharp and staying in shape. It's great to see Andre playing again as well, after the problems with his back," said Sampras. "My motivation to play Andre in Macau will be playing my rival and the great energy that Macau has, so I am very excited to play him in October." Asked what he remembered most about facing Agassi, Sampras, who won 20 of their encounters, said it was the intensity of their rivalry. "Andre had a great return of serve, passing shots and first serve. We always had really tough matches and we brought out the best in each other," he said. "Back in the mid-90s when we were No.1 and 2 in the world I think it was a great rivalry and we transcended the sport. "When people ask me who my great rival is I always tell them Andre -- our matches were so competitive, so it will be great to play him again." Between them they have won 22 Grand Slams. "I have followed the Macau events featuring Roger (Federer), Pete, John (McEnroe) and Bjorn (Borg) so when the opportunity arose ... I was excited to join such an illustrious roster of top tennis names," said Agassi. __________________

28-07-09, 21:11	#4 (permalink)
ALi_Persia Pluto Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: England Posts: 8,838 Credits: 23,796 Thanks: 5,375 Thanked 2,062 Times in 1,294 Posts	Nadal casts doubt on August return World number two Rafael Nadal has said he is unsure if he will return to competition at the Montreal Masters in August. "I don't know. I would like to be in Montreal in a week and a half. I will have to push it in the next few days and see," the Spaniard said. Nadal has been suffering from tendinitis in both knees aggravated by a gruelling schedule of clay court matches. He has not played a competitive match since being knocked out in the fourth round of the French Open by Robin Soderling on May 31 and did not defend his Wimbledon title. Nadal, who resumed training last week, had earmarked the Montreal Masters, which starts on August 8, as a likely return date. "My main objective is for my knees to be perfect," he said. "It seems like I'm well but I want to be sure before I go out on to a court." Nadal, who has lost his French Open and Wimbledon titles and his number one ranking to Swiss rival Roger Federer, said he had brought the problem with his knees upon himself by not knowing when to stop and rest, as he was so used to playing with pain. He dismissed the idea that the separation of his parents had anything to do with his need for a break. "I am human and it is difficult, not to accept, but to assimilate, and you suffer when you aren't at home," he added. "I'm almost over it but this isn't what has really affected me because it happened a few months ago and I still won in Indian Wells, Barcelona and Rome. "My real problem is the knees." __________________

29-07-09, 07:23	#6 (permalink)
ALi_Persia Pluto Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: England Posts: 8,838 Credits: 23,796 Thanks: 5,375 Thanked 2,062 Times in 1,294 Posts	Reed: Rafa's last stand Eurosport commentator Simon Reed believes Rafael Nadal's career could be ended by one more injury setback. I have to admit I'm worried Rafael Nadal could be nearing the end of his career. It's great to see him back in training, but if his knees fail him again I think he could well retire. Rafa is such a physical player that if he drops just two or three per cent below peak fitness he cannot come close to the level of performance we've become accustomed to. It's the way he plays, the pressure he puts on his joints. And that physicality is so crucial to the psyche he brings to the court that without it he won't want to be out there. These days tennis is such a physical game. In the past I've seen players with bad backs modify their serves, but Rafa won't be prepared to do something like that. His fitness is so fundamental to his game that without it the whole pack of cards starts to fall down. With this in mind, I fully expect Rafa to re-evaluate his schedule. From now on you will probably see him follow Roger Federer's lead and focus on the Grand Slams. Roger's been doing that for a number of years and it makes perfect sense if you're looking for longevity. I think the time has gone when you'll see Rafa winning tournament upon tournament, week after week. His body is simply not up to the task. After the US Open I expect him to play as few events as possible to rest his body and avoid the kind of injury that could end his career. From a tennis fan's perspective, we can only hope he keeps going as long as possible. And if he arrives at Flushing Meadows rejuvenated, it's going to be quite a couple of weeks watching the top four in the world go at it. Rafa, Roger, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic are so close together now that anything could happen. __________________

28-07-09, 21:23	#5 (permalink)
j_u_wan Jupiter Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 4,287 Credits: 10,471 Thanks: 717 Thanked 1,139 Times in 509 Posts	Rafa was born on June 3, 1986 on the island of Mallorca (Spain) where – when he isn’t on tour – he still lives at home with his parents, younger sister and extended family in a large apartment building in downtown Manacor. He speaks Spanish, Catalan and Mallorquín (the local very distinctive dialect of Catalan) and though he hasn’t completely mastered English yet, his Spanglish is improving all the time. Unlike many other talented young players Rafa did not have to suffer the stress of leaving home at an early age in order to train at an established tennis academy. His full-time coach since the age of 11 has been his uncle Toni Nadal (a former top 30 Spanish tennis pro) with whom he lives in Manacor; he also credits his friend and mentor, former World #1 Carlos Moya, with helping his early development through many shared training sessions when he was a youngster just starting out on his career. Rafa’s family seems to have sports in their blood. Besides Uncle Toni, his Uncle Rafael played third division football in Spain and another uncle, Miguel Angel Nadal (nicknamed "The Beast Of Barcelona") played for RCD Mallorca, FC Barcelona and the national Spanish team, making the Spanish national squad at the 1994, 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cups. There’s no word yet on whether Rafa’s little sister Maribel has discovered a sporting career lurking somewhere in her future but if she does, you’ll read about it here first! Partly due to the example of his Uncle Miguel Angel, Rafa played as much football as tennis until the age of twelve and was talented enough to seriously consider a football career. As his grandfather recalls: "Rafael was a good attacking midfielder who could play the perfect pass and score goals. He could easily have chosen football but with advice from his Uncle Toni it was decided that he would go further with a racquet in his hand than a football at his feet." Uncle Toni was certainly right about that. Rafa won his first professional ATP match at age 15 and had broken into the ATP Top 100 before his 17th birthday. He was named ATP Newcomer Of The Year in 2003 and ended the year inside the Top 50, picking up two Challenger titles along the way. But it was in 2005 that Rafa began to attract some serious media interest. Having been sidelined in 2004 with a stress fracture that kept him out of action for much of the season he burst onto the scene seemingly out of nowhere at the 2005 Australian Open, engaging in an attention-grabbing five set slugfest against eventual runner-up Lleyton Hewitt which made the world sit up and take notice. Not that the notice was all good, however – his unconventional outfit of sleeveless shirt, bandana and trademark below-the-knee "piratas" provoked a firestorm of hilarity from the generally straight-laced TV commentators who ridiculed Rafa for showing up on court "wearing his sister’s pants". His reaction to being the target of so many jokes was telling: he calmly shrugged it off. "I like the piratas - they’re comfortable," he said. "I’m gonna wear them all summer long." And so he did. By the end of 2005 no one was making fun of his pants any longer. Rafa had shown beyond any doubt that he had the skills, smarts and dogged determination of a champion, scooping up 11 ATP titles including a spectacular Grand Slam debut performance at Roland Garros, where he celebrated his 19th birthday by defeating World #1 Roger Federer in the semi’s on his way to lifting the trophy. He ended the year ranked #2. Pants, schmants! The boy can play. As we start 2008 Rafa has been ranked number 2 for nearly three years. He's won 23 titles including Monte Carlo, Rome and Roland Garros three years running and has got to the last two Wimbledon finals. In any other era that would have been enough to keep him firmly in the number 1 position but there's always been a certain Roger Federer in the way. Much has been made of Rafa’s supposed rivalry with Federer. Rafa remains, as always, gracious towards his opponent and unfazed by the media hype. "Tennis is just a game, there’s no reason we shouldn’t be friends off court," he has been heard to say (possibly while waiting at the net for Roger to give him another brotherly belly-rub). But while there’s no animosity towards his rival, Rafa’s competitive spirit is never far from the surface. "Now, he’s the best," he says of Roger. "For the future? We gonna see." Now in October 2008 Rafa has been confirmed as the year end number one. He has had an astonishing year so far winning 8 singles titles including three Masters Series, his fourth Roland Garros, his first Wimbledon and the Olympic gold medal. People have been saying for a while that he is arguably the best clay court player ever. Four consecutive wins in Monte Carlo and Barcelona, three in Rome, his first in Hamburg and the fact that he has never been beaten in 28 matches at Roland Garros is an incredible record. But now those same people are beginning to suspect that he could even go on to become the best all court player ever.

29-07-09, 07:27	#7 (permalink)
ALi_Persia Pluto Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: England Posts: 8,838 Credits: 23,796 Thanks: 5,375 Thanked 2,062 Times in 1,294 Posts	Federer's wife gives birth to twins Roger Federer's wife Mirka has given birth to twin girls, the world number one announced on his website. The 15-times Grand Slam winner said Charlene Riva and Myla Rose had been born on Thursday in Switzerland. "This is the greatest day of our lives," Federer said on the website. "Mirka, Myla and Charlene are all healthy and doing very well." The last time a mother won a singles Grand Slam crown was in 1980 when Australian Evonne Goolagong triumphed at Wimbledon. Since then, only eight men have captured a major after embracing the joys of fatherhood. While four -- Pat Cash, Andres Gomez, Petr Korda and Albert Costa -- were one-slam wonders, multiple champions Boris Becker, Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Andre Agassi managed to add just one further slam to their haul after becoming parents. Jimmy Connors was the only singles player to successfully combine family life with playing on the tour in that time, winning three of his eight Majors after the birth of his son Brett in August 1979. For the likes of John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl and Stefan Edberg, the titles dried up as soon as they gingerly cradled the new additions to their families. Tennis fathers have won only 10 of the last 115 Grand Slam titles. "(Fatherhood) changes (your) life dramatically," explained Becker, who won the 1996 Australian Open after the birth of his first son Noah. "It would be more difficult to focus on one thing alone because your main focus is for your child and your wife, and tennis becomes secondary. That's a fact." __________________

29-07-09, 07:31	#8 (permalink)
ALi_Persia Pluto Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: England Posts: 8,838 Credits: 23,796 Thanks: 5,375 Thanked 2,062 Times in 1,294 Posts	Sampras: Twins won't affect Federer The arrival of twin girls in Roger Federer's life will have no negative impact on the Swiss master's tennis career, according to Pete Sampras. World number one Federer became a father for the first time when his wife Mirka gave birth to daughters Charlene Riva and Myla Rose in Switzerland on Thursday. "I don't see Roger changing diapers at four in the morning," Sampras, 37, said with a broad grin. "I don't think it will affect his career. "It's a life changer for him but he is focused on his tennis and he's got the help from his wife and his parents and whoever else," added the American, who is a father of two boys. Federer became a father 23 days after beating American Andy Roddick in a gripping five-set final at Wimbledon, clinching a 15th Grand Slam title to break the record held by Sampras. "I am content with the 14 that I have and I am amazed with what Roger has been able to do," Sampras said. "It's incredible." Asked if he had any regrets about ending his career at 32 with 14 Slams, Sampras replied: "I was happy when I stopped. "It was more than a number for me. I wanted (Roy) Emerson's record, I got it. I wanted to win one more, and I did. And then I won the US Open and I was cooked. "Emotionally I was spent. I didn't have much left in the tank. When I was done, I felt I had put up some numbers that nobody would touch. "Little know did I know that Roger was going to come along and surpass me in eight years. He saw 14 as his goal and now he has 15 and he's going to go on and win some more." Although reluctant to compare great players of different era, Sampras said he would probably name Federer as the best of all time if pushed. "It's a hard question to answer and I just feel each generation has its player," he added. "You had (Rod) Laver in the sixties, (Bjorn) Borg in the seventies and the eighties, me in the nineties and Roger today. "The greatest player of all time? It's hard to say but I would give it to Roger. "Do I think I could beat Roger at my best? There is no reason why I couldn't. That's not being cocky. It's just how I feel." __________________

11-08-09, 08:52	#9 (permalink)
ALi_Persia Pluto Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: England Posts: 8,838 Credits: 23,796 Thanks: 5,375 Thanked 2,062 Times in 1,294 Posts	Nadal back with doubles win Rafael Nadal's tender knees passed their first test when the Spaniard returned to action on Monday with a doubles win at the Montreal Masters. Sidelined for more than two months and forced to miss Wimbledon with tendonitis in both knees, Nadal looked fit and showed no signs of pain as he teamed up with coach Francisco Roig to beat Serbian duo Novak Djokovic and Dusan Vemic 7-5 6-4. "It's great to be back and I had a lot of fun playing with Francisco," Nadal said. "A win is a win and doubles is fun and important so I am happy about the way it went today. "I am really looking forward to playing singles on Wednesday." It was a positive first step in what is expected to be a testing comeback for the 23-year-old Spaniard, who opens the defence of his crown - which he won in Toronto 12 months ago - with a second round clash against either David Ferrer or Viktor Troicki. Playing his first event since being stunned in the fourth round of the French Open on May 31, much has changed for Nadal as rival Roger Federer took his French Open and Wimbledon titles along with the world number one ranking. Federer's life has also undergone some dramatic changes. Since capturing a record 15th grand slam singles title at Wimbledon in July, Federer and wife Mirka have become parents to twin girls, the Swiss arriving in Montreal with his family in tow. The beaming dad said he was relishing his new parental duties, including changing diapers, but on the court the Swiss insisted he would be all business when he begins his US Open build-up. Federer, who celebrated his 28th birthday last Saturday, opens his Montreal bid on Tuesday against Canadian hope Frederic Niemeyer, who reached the second round with a 7-5 6-1 win over Russian Igor Kunitsyn. Ranked 487th in the world and the oldest player in the draw, the 33-year-old wildcard also became a father for the first time recently and is counting on Federer feeling the affects of a few sleepless nights before their match. "I also played a tournament with my daughter after two weeks and I didn't sleep very much that week," said Niemeyer, after notching first tour-level win since March 2008. "He has two (daughters) so hopefully he sleeps none. Hopefully he's a bit off and I'm playing well." __________________

30-08-09, 21:09	#10 (permalink)
ALi_Persia Pluto Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: England Posts: 8,838 Credits: 23,796 Thanks: 5,375 Thanked 2,062 Times in 1,294 Posts	US Open - Nadal feeling '100 per cent fit' Rafael Nadal declared himself 100 per cent fit for the US Open after battling knee tendinitis for three months, the Spaniard eager to make the most of his first chance to complete a career Grand Slam. On the eve of Monday's start of the year's final major, the reigning Australian Open champion and US Open third seed said he has fully recovered from an injury that kept him from defending his 2008 Wimbledon title. "I'm 100 per cent well to play this tournament. I don't know if I'm playing at my best level, but I am 100 per cent," Nadal said. "The knees are perfect right now. I don't have any problem." Four-time French Open champion Nadal would love a US Open title to complete a career Slam and join Roger Federer, Andre Agassi, Fred Perry, Don Budge, Rod Laver and Roy Emerson as the only men to win each of the four major titles. "For me to have the title here doesn't change my career, but if I had the title here, finish the cycle, it would be unbelievable," Nadal said. "But we haven't started the tournament yet. Right now, I really can't think about that." Nadal roared through the early season, defeating Federer in the Australian Open final and taking titles at Indian Wells, Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome. But his bid for a fifth consecutive Roland Garros crown failed when he lost to Sweden's Robin Soderling in the round of 16. After the loss, Nadal took time away for his knees to heal and was forced miss Wimbledon. "I was at home recovering," Nadal said. "Maybe I was injured in the worst moment of the season. But at the same time, I must have been in Mallorca in the best moment of the season, too." Nadal returned at Montreal, losing to Juan Martin Del Potro in the quarter-finals, and then reached the semi-finals at Cincinnati, losing to Novak Djokovic in his final US Open tune-up event. "I'm very happy with how I did in the first two tournaments," Nadal said. "I don't know the level of confidence, but it's much better than what I expected when I started to play in Montreal. "When you come back after an injury, you always start slow. You have to be progressing, but I'm normal right now." During Nadal's absence, Britain's Andy Murray moved past him into the world number two ranking. But that setback has not dimmed Nadal's desire to reach the final, where another matchup with Federer could await. "Psychologically for me now, I'm perfect. I came back with more energy than ever," said the Spaniard. "Probably I needed some time to be ready, to get the rhythm, to play my best tennis, but the energy and the attitude is 100 per cent." Nadal, 23, plays his first match against France's Richard Gasquet. He could face French seventh seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarter-finals and Murray in the semi-finals. __________________

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