Tag: Roger Federer

German fourth seed Alexander Zverev upset Roger Federer 6-3 6-4 in the Rogers Cup final in Montreal on Sunday, to join the Swiss right-hander as the most trophy-laden player on the ATP Tour this year with five titles.

Roger Federer needed less than an hour to defeat Canadian Peter Polansky 6-2  6-1 at the Rogers Cup in Montreal on Wednesday, in his first appearance since winning a record eighth Wimbledon title in July.

Grand slam king Roger Federer will kick off his North American hardcourt campaign and buildup to the U.S. Open by competing at the Rogers Cup in Montreal, the Swiss confirmed on Tuesday.

Roger Federer admitted that he stayed out until 5am celebrating his record breaking eighth Wimbledon triumph, before re-appearing at SW19 just a few hours later.

And the 35 year-old Swiss also told the younger generation that they need to shape up and improve their games if they are ever going to catch him.

‘There was no music, but it was a great dinner,’ he said of last night’s Champions’ function at London’s Guildhall. ‘I always feel bad that we arrive so late. By the time I got there they were already on the main course, which is a bit unfortunate in my opinion. But I was happy to be there again. It never grows old. Garbine (Muguruza), I think she was a bit tired, but she looked wonderful.

‘So we had a great time. Got to bed at five, then woke up, and just didn’t feel good. The last hour or so I’m somewhat OK again. So I’m happy with that. We had a good time.’

Federer also reflected on how the other players of thirty-plus have continued their domination.

‘Every generation definitely is different. Since my generation and Rafa’s generation, yes, the next one hasn’t been strong enough to push all of us out really,’ he said. ‘So that has been helpful for us to stick around.’

According to the Swiss master, younger players have to learn different ways how to beat the established stars, and perhaps not try to get stuck in long rallies with them all the time.

‘They can choose not to play that way, if the coach has taught them to play differently. I know you can easily get sucked into that mode when you don’t want to attack, but if you can’t volley you are not going to go to the net.

‘Almost every player here I played wouldn’t serve and volley, it’s frightening to me, to see this at this level, I look at the stats and go into whatever round it is and see that the guy I’m going to face is playing two per cent of serve and volley throughout the championship.

‘I’m going “okay, I know he’s not going to serve and volley, which is great.” Then we are talking about grass, and it was playing fast this week and I feel like I wish that we would see more coaches, more players taking chances up at net because good things do happen there, and you want to be there and have to spend some time up there to feel confident and good there.’

Federer wants to enjoy his regained status before scheming out what he wants in the future.

‘The target now is to enjoy being Wimbledon champion for a year, and Australian Open champion and you name it. So, I haven’t sets sights on a number of Grand Slams that I have to or want to achieve.

‘I never really had that; I was very content at 17, I must tell you. Of course, I was going to be happier at 18 and I’m even happier at 19. But 17 was a wonderful number so I think for me it’s just about enjoying myself, staying healthy and then we’ll see what happens.

‘I’m playing for titles at this stage in my career; rankings not so much unless I’m as close as I am right now so I just have to check the situation – if it’s worth it to run after it or not. ‘

Ruthless Roger Federer thrashed suffering Croat Marin Cilic 6-3 6-1 6-4 to become the first man to win eight Wimbledon singles crowns on Sunday, five years after landing his seventh.

Roger Federer scaled new heights of greatness at Wimbledon when he duly collected a record breaking win to put him further ahead of other legends, living and dead.

The 35 year-old Swiss took an eighth All England Club title by hammering a troubled Marin Cilic with ruthless ease, winning 6-3 6-1 6-4 in an hour and 41 minutes.

It was his nineteenth Grand Slam victory and in achieving it he became the first player to win the title without dropping a set since Bjorn Borg in 1976.

Cilic began brightly, but by the middle of the second set he was sobbing into his towel at the changeover. It was not immediately clear if that was due to emotional distress or a blistered foot or both.

Either way, he ultimately had no answer to the rasping groundstrokes of Federer or a serve that functioned beautifully, pinging in more than seven out of ten first serves.

Ultimately it was a disappointing final, purely in terms of a contest, but those present would be consoled by knowing that they will not see the like of Federer again. Incredibly, having packed in his 2016 season after knee problems post-Wimbledon he now holds both the Australian Open and Wimbledon titles.

Before a crowd dripping with public figures, from Nigel Farage to Antonio Conte, it had been such a promising start for Cilic, bristling with positive language and with Federer looking the less settled. He forced a break point a 2-2, returning long, but then as we have seen so often in this tournament, there was an adverse reaction to it.

With the Swiss getting more loop onto his forehand to cut the mistakes, he got the best of a brilliant exchange at the net on the second point of the next game, that ended with a deft flick over the net with his opponent lying on the ground.

The roar nearly took the Centre Court roof off, which seemed to compound Cilic’s earlier disappointment. He must have felt very friendless. Federer missed two of the first three break points and then converted when Cilic stuck a backhand in the net.

That visibly settled Federer and held safely until a second break at 5-3, which sealed the first set on 36 minutes when Cilic put a backhand wide.

Another backhand wide put him 2-0 up in the second and then came the strange changeover that saw Cilic sobbing into his towel. The medics came out but nothing was done – it looked like that could have been because there was a pre-existing injury.

Federer just walked past and waited to play on the baseline. Cilic actually played a strong game after that to get to 3-1 but normal service was soon resumed as the Swiss powered to two sets up with 78% of his first serves going in.

Cilic’s groundstroke speed was down and at 3-6 1-6 the physio treated his feet and what looked a nasty blister on the sole.

He carried on in the third, with his footwork slightly restricted, and could not hold back the tide. A 22nd unforced error, officially, saw him slap a forehand in the net to allow the Swiss to break for 4-3, and it was 1927 the last time anyone came back from two sets down to win a Wimbledon final, let alone from a break down in the third.

Federer had new balls to serve with when he stepped out at 5-4, and he sealed it with an ace down the middle. It was incredibly matter of fact for such a historic achievement.

An emotional Federer said afterwards to Cilic: ‘It’s cruel sometimes but you fought well. Be proud of yourself.

On his latest triumph he declared: ‘Better than winning the trophy is just being healthy. To be here and feeling great and holding the trophy is magical. I wasn’t sure I would be here in the final after last year. If you believe you can go really fair in your life. I kept dreaming.’

With his four children stealing the show up in his player box he said: ‘They probably think it’s a nice view and a nice playground’.