My admiration for Fernando (mostly because I exchange some nice words with him across the aisle during a flight Madrid-Amsterdam two years ago) has gone ‘neehhhhrrrrr' [motions straight down] big way.

Did Ana treated him so badly? It doesn't bode well for his future relationships.

Mr. X, I understand perfectly the expression used by Fernando about Brooke and it's vulgar of the first order. And he said that on radio? Yikes

I like that Verdasco wants to stick up for his friend; I'm not sure I like the way he seems to have chosen to do it, though.

Tired...goodnight, everyone. :)

Mr.X: oh sooo good (on your dad pushing you to be a source..) you guys are quick.

I knew agassi's marriage was going to be a bummer when she made him re-propose the 'right' way. good grief.

Mr X Blahroline isn't giving me much to work with in the off season. meh.

i'll give you your RDA of meanie me once the break is over. careful what you ask for...

My favorite Federer line from the article (I am not so sure he also doesn't have an edge to him).

I’ve never played Rafa at the US Open but I’ve been there the past six times in the final, so it’s not my mistake, you know?

programming note for nalby fans: TTC showing 2005 YEC final between fed and nalby at 7pm tonight. since alot of us were saying nalby is the best player to have never won a major, thought it might be of interest.

Mr.X - I can almost picture them :)

that was some major snark fr Fed, Benny. just the way i like Fed. i want none of the elder statesman bit. hehe

Annie,
Roger won the first 2 sets in TB then David blew him away the next 2 as Roger was coming back from injury. Rafael w/d from Shanghai due to injury and Andre played only one match and the TD was not happy. Roger saved Shanghai in 2005 even though he did not win the title. David was on a fishing trip when he got the call to play.

Thanks Nando, for ruining my "Blue Lagoon" fantasy. Grrr...

Not sure why you think we need your interpretation of the interview. BTW, I really enjoyed Agassi's book. I used to favor Sampras over Agassi, but I did not enjoy Sampras' book nearly as much.

"she made him re-propose the 'right' way."

whaattt? heh. i woulda said it's prolly expected fr a hollywood type, but then i'll be making a sweeping generalization.

oh wait...

"... some pieces on some other players like Gonzo, Sod, and Cilic, to name three who don't get a lot of word space."

+ 1

(I do enjoy reading about Fed's greatness/happiness, but I'm with Corrie on wanting more discussion about Other Players.)

Roger is a true champion and has done great things for out sport. Even his detractors, which there are many have to admit that

LOL! Mr. X,
We're counting on you guys :)))

On the weight issue, I have heard Rafa deny (in Spanish and English interviews) that he's lost any weight. He says he is the same 86 Kgs he was.

Well, zenggi, it's there in the link i posted in the last page. If your Spanish is good, you'll get it. To be fair, that kind of expression is not extremely weird in the Spanish radio. I'm not saying it's said often, but it's not something incredibly strange to hear.
Well, mina, you know i'll have an appropiate answer ready. Key word starts with "X":)

Mina Us girls like a man to propose the right way ok

Makes for a easier passage to tying the final knot so to speak

Glad you agree Peg. I'm a great admirer of Fed's character as well as his game, especially what he does behind the scenes, but it would be nice to read more about lesser known players who we don't get the chance to know so much about. Pieces on Fed just bring out the ignorant detractors.

Tfactor Thanks for that,either had I.Then there was some discussion he had lost weight and muscle.I know in the past he had lost weight due to the knee problem which makes sense.Though cant still lose weight without losing muscle.

Corrie and Peg,
Hope you get your wish once London is over and done as far as getting coverage on the other ATP players that are not mainstream media. Mikhail(yes, the one who hit himself with a racquet at Key Biscayne against Nicolas) played well in the fall season which may give him momentum going into 2010.

I never comment on these sort of blogs but I think its worth commenting.
While I'm no Federer fan, I have complete respect for Roger and his achievements. Never once have I ever deduced his slams into being luck of the draw or anything resembling all that garbage. I admire his innate confidence to believe so strongly and deeply in himself and his game that he feels no need to have a coach or ever look for outside support. Much the same way my favorite players, Venus and Serena, do. I have never mistaken this for "arrogance" because it's not; plain simple. Just complete confidence, albeit the almost delusional type. I absolutely love that in champions.

Benny, that quote from Federer is in response to once again people bringing up whether a title is tarnished based on who you play. Fed is always defending that stupid thinking. In tennis, you can only play who is on the other side of the net. Just because #1 doesn't always play #2 doesn't detract from the accomplishment.

I remember at Wimbledon, someone asked him if not playing Nadal somehow diminished the win. He said NO because that is the way of tennis. Plus it totally takes away from how well Andy played and how he deserved to be in the final.

See arbit... Roger was praising Andy and sticking up for him. What a creep!

Mr. X:

Your translation of the Verdasco interview struck me as fine.

(Note: it has been a long time since I was proficient in Spanish beyond the basic level.)

And yes, Verdasco got crude during the interview. But, madrilenos often are crude, so no big surprise there.

I've just seen the CNN interview with Roger. He had some very fair and balanced things to say about Agassi and drugs and he emphasised yet again the respect and friendship he has with Rafael, as Rafael himself has also said.

They work closely together on the Player's Council and, Roger said "WE'RE FRIENDS OFF COURT". It's ridiculous to say that either Rafael or Roger are disgruntled losers and poor sports and Fedal wars are therefore, simply a reflection of how some fans don't live up to the players themselves.

Benny, that's why the only reasonable way of doing a h2h when you have two players who have been 1 and 2 consistently for so many years is to count wins for tournaments they both entered.

This gives Fed 30, Rafa 20, neither 25.

I have yet to hear a sensible argument against this conclusion, which is rather more in accord with how tennis is actually played.

For me, the three biggest highlights for 09 have been the emergence of Caro and Robin's great year and Justine's announcement. What an amazing year for Scandinavian tennis, both Caro and Robin reached the top ten and made it to a GS final. Kom igen, Robin! Kom sa, Caro! Allez Justine!

For me, the three biggest highlights for 09 have been the emergence of Caro and Robin's great year and Justine's announcement. What an amazing year for Scandinavian tennis, both Caro and Robin reached the top ten and made it to a GS final. Kom igen, Robin! Kom sa, Caro! Allez Justine!

What a well written and constructed article

MA, agree on Youzhny. Would love to get a gander at him live, but I gather he usually plays Marseilles and Rotterdam instead of Memphis.

MA, agree on Youzhny. Would love to get a gander at him live, but I gather he usually plays Marseilles and Rotterdam instead of Memphis.

Just finishing watching Roger's interview on CNN. He's such a great guy and before anybody jumps down my throat, the same goes for Rafa. Tennis is truly blessed to have them at the top of the sport. I hope they will both be there at the end of the WTF. Tennis is going to suffer when the two them go, I'm not looking forward to that day. My wish for next year is that both will be healthy and at the top of their games so that they can meet at more finals. Two (maybe three times) in 2009 wasn't enough.

Very nice - though I can certainly see other people getting bored with the Fedal merry-go-round. There ARE several other horses out there, including the guy who just won 2 tournaments in a row. Though Pete has done articles on the Djoker in the past. I think it is high time for a nice Youzny update.

Very nice pic of Fed too...looks like it was taken in Basel(?) Maybe applauding the Djoker's win.? Of course we all know how Fed LOVES to just PRETEND he has respect for his opponents but in fact he just thinks they are all doormats beneath his feet who are only LUCKY because anybody can trip over a doormat occasionally. (Sorry - just read the first 2 pages of the thread...lol.)

I too think the biggest question is what will happen to Fed when and if his ranking starts to slip. This may happen sooner or it may happen later, but at that point WILL he be content just to make a run in a slam or a major every once in a while? It is all very well, and relatively easy, to talk 'big picture' when the picture looks so good, but should a few holes appear, it may not seem quite to rosy. However, that's ME and not him and Fed does indeed seem to have a unique internal gyroscope that may keep him blanced...and happy...on his course for longer than most can imagine.

MA: thanks for the background on the YEC 05. makes it more intersting!

Well, waiting to see if things will go as they should tomorrow in the draw, it's time for me to go get some sleep.
See you tomorrow, everyone.

One of the best Bodo articles in quite a while. I'm printing it out to keep in my tennis folder with other classics like "The Shadow Federer", "Sprezzatura", and "Federer as Religious Experience" by Wallace.

Roger Federer: The Silky Warrior. Allez! (how does one say that in Swiss-German?).

goodnight Mr.X :)

I think Roger is a fairly balanced person,well thats how he comes across to me anyway.I think he will play the game for as long as he enjoys playing it.Regardless if his ranking slips.To me his love of the game out strips his ranking.

lololol, Mr. X. I'm saving that telephone chat mockery in my 'TW makes me laugh' file.

Brooke did make Andre propose again, because she "couldn't hear him properly through the sound of the waves" etc. It's been a very interesting read so far.

Caro really set herself apart as the best young player to emerge in 09 and how did she do it? Amazing talent, and a great game. The same for Robin. My prediction for 2010, both Caro and Robin will win a slam. Robin practically had the FO won and was the best player besides Roger.

hey everyone.

Pete, loved the article. I think Fed is pretty unique in the extent that he loves tennis, not just the on court competition aspect of it, but the sport as a whole, and the things in life (travel, etc.) that tennis forces players to do. He's one of the few ATP players who talks positively about watching WTA tennis, for example.

GH Phew,thanks for that.Dont tell me too much,cause I am buying the book today.Cant wait.

Note to all future men thinking about proposing

Dont go near a beach,waterfall,or any noisy place ok

Us girls need to hear those romantic words,whatever they may be.

Aussiemarg I agree with you about Roger seeming to be a balanced person. Of course I have never spent a day with him or enjoyed a few glasses of wine over dinner with him( wouldn't that be wonderful).
This summer he faced so much stress, The French Open, beating Pete's grand slam record and most of all the birth of his twin girls. He didn't fold under the pressure, so I think he is amazing.

"Robin practically had the FO won..."
~~~~~
*blank look*
*Beyonce trying to read a book face*

Well, why not? If a 7-5, 7-5 victory constitutes a "crushing," then sure, a 1–6, 6–7), 4–6 defeat is practically winning.

Don't ever leave, Samantha. :)

CL: I liked your 6:03 and happen to think it would be hard for fed to keep playing after his ranking drops. I heard stories of his not liking being announced as the #2 at the AO. Bothered enough that he asked the TD not to introduce him that way. I thought that was telling.

sblily: I think the idea is that beating Rafa at the FO is practically winning the thing, not that Robin was totally in command in the final.

Also, "*Beyonce trying to read a book face*" is awesome.

Federer is a great champion on and off the court. Tennis wouldn’t be the same with out him. I probably wouldn’t be watching as much if he wasn’t playing. He’s just a class act.
Once he gave Nadal a ride on his private jet, from a tournament in Canada to the next tournament in the US, so “arbiter” you’re being pathetic with those negative comments about Roger.

"ALL" OF YOU NEED A LIFE AND LEAVE ROGER FEDERER ALONE. ROGER IS AN EXCELLENT TENNIS PLAYER AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN. YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS HIS PROFESSION...JUST LIKE EMPLOYMENT WE HAVE TO DO BASICALLY FIVE DAYS PER/WEEK. THE ONLY THING...OUR JOBS DO NOT PAY WHAT THE TENNIS PLAYERS MAKE. IF ROGER DESIRES TO WEAR "SILK" THAT IS FINE...I HAVE A FEW SILK ITEMS MYSELF. GET A LIFE AND WORRY ABOUT YOUR OWN LIVES.
S.M.PERKINS

IF YOU WOULD LOOK TO THE SIDE OF YOUR KEYBOARD SHIRLEY YOU WILL NOTICE A KEY THAT SAYS CAPS LOCK PLEASE PRESS IT THANK YOU.

Wow I need to readjust my Chanel reading glasses after that post

Grant - Didn't know that Samantha Whispering was among your many talents, but I guess you make sense... sort of.

*where's the volume button on this thing...?*

I think it's not just Federer who has adopted this attitude. Having followed tennis for close to 3 decades now, I find the current crop of players having a "tennis-is-just-a-game-there-are-more-important-things-outside-the-sport" mindset whereas previous decades had players consumed by the game.

I wonder though if Federer hadn't had the success that he's had, will he still have the same demeanor and outlook that he has now? Federer wasn't much fun when he was losing back in his early days as a pro.

well, yeah, of course it's much easier to be a nice guy when you've had his kind of success and have his kind of money. but i guess we're saying he could be a complete prima donna pita and he isn't.

Hey noone likes losing ever!

is this thing on?

first of all i'd like to congratulate Samantha for announcing the most ludicrous thing EVER by saying that my sometimes bf Sod nearly won the FO. heh.

i'm getting a plaque made for that. gold star!

Money changes some people but it's usually for the worst. According to James Blake, success hasn't changed him that he's the same as when he didn't have all that money. Another thing I like about him is that he doesn't flaunt his money around. I'm sure he's being paid mega bucks by his sponsors but we never hear how much his contracts are worth like other athletes. Plus he always seems embarassed at the USO trophy ceremony when they announce the prize money.

in a totally OT note, I've recently discovered that I'm a total sucker for large blue eyes in a handsome German face...hah, reminds me of part of the reason I like PEHK (even though he's not nearly as good looking as the guy occupying way too much of my brain right now).

LOL C1. what a welcome change of topic. for me anyway...

Fed has the GOAT hair. no ifs ands or buts about it.

Shame that Caro didn't decide to team up with A. Radwanska in doubles.

They would have made/would make a true Polish Powerhouse team.

attractive men are always a good way to change the topic, mina.

msf, them's fighting words :)

Manuel LOL!

i don't think i know better at all.
i just don't see how a person can be
the GOAT with a losing record against
his main rival.
but it is just my opinion.

Sally You always welcome to your opinion

Mina We may both get a chance to get uo close and personal with Caro next year

Ok you win,I will pass.I have my eyes on other people.

c1: who who is it? tommy haas?

You are also welcome to make it the basis of every comment you make.

Grant Stop it,I just split coffee over my lap top

Care to wipe it up.

BREAKING NEWS guys:

Djoker is getting married with lovely Jelena Ristic!
Felicitations!

Nole's getting married? when? that is good news.
he's a little young though.

"Djoker is getting married with lovely Jelena Ristic!"

His celebration of her acceptance went too far!! I'm angry!

[p.s. congrats to him]

I've got skinny nalby and fed, TMF circa 2005 on my telly right now.

"You gotta love The Mighty Fed"

Um, no you don't. I get along just nicely, thankyouverymuch.

Awww. I'm not a big Fed fan but I just loved this piece. What a great attitude the guy has. He does have a great approach to the game and, seemingly, to life. I think that's why he can (mostly) get away with stuff like the wimbledon outfits. Even though they pretty much look ridiculous, he does it in good fun. Certainly beats the "all work and no play ever" approach that Sampras took.

Are the WTF matches best of five or best of three?

"Um, no you don't. I get along just nicely, thankyouverymuch."

You should pay more attention to the news, rudy3. Thanks to the passing of Prop 77, you really are required by law to love The Mighty Fed.

Rudy3 Glad to see you posting again,been some time

"You gotta love The Mighty Fed"

I'm pretty sure that Pete meant this literally, and that anyone not loving TMF will be banned from posting.

Is that news official?

Having visions of Nole proposing,ponders.

Idle minds think alike, eh Grant?

Blue Dog People dont read between the lines with Pete sometimes

I agree with you

Annie: round robin matches and semifinals are best-of-three, but the final is best-of-five (or at least that's what it was in the past)

Annie - yeah...it will be interesting - will he start breaking his racket and making a racket if he starts to lose more, or will he develop the more zen side oh his personality? A sort of Swiss zen...chocolates AND archery. I think MOST professional athletes who have been at the very top of there game are not satisfied when things begin to slide. But then, Fed is not MOST people, as he has proved often.

Aw- the 2005 match...gimpy Fed vs Skinny Nalby. le sigh...

AND COULD YOU PEOPLE PLEASE SPEAK UP!!! I CAN HARDLY HEAR YOU OUT HERE IN CYBERSPACE!!!!

Nole getting hitched? like CNote said in her Tipsy post: another one bites the dust.

congrats and all that.

AM: suffice it to say that if a Woz/ReRe Final happens, you know which side i will be on :D

Thanks to everyone yesterday, especially imjimmy, for contributing their ideas about Nadal's recent loss of weight and muscle mass. I found it very educational. Intentional weight loss to reduce stress on his knees seems a much more likely and plausible explanation than drug use. Twibe members helped increase my understanding of this perplexing issue.

If this is the case, it seems to me that Rafa's knee problems have placed him in an insoluble dilemma. If he keeps the added weight and mass of recent years, he'll probably ruin his knees in the near future. But losing the weight robs him of power and defensive range, making him non-competitive against top-tier and probably even power-hitting second-tier players.

It seems that in the future Nadal will be competitive only on clay, and he will no longer dominate on that surface as in the past. He will probably fall to 3rd behind Djokovic very early next year, and below Del Potro and possibly even punchless Murray shortly thereafter as the HC season progresses.

Next spring's clay season will be a huge opportunity for Federer and Djokovic to dominate. It will be very fascinating to see whether Rafa can hang with them competitively. The results at Madrid and Paris against Fed, Sod and Nole half a year ago (when he was still physically sound) do not bode well for Nadal's success next spring.

I hope that Roger is hungry next Spring, because he could have his best clay season ever. The door, closed for years, should now be wide open. Rome beckons, he can take his first Masters title there. Madrid and RG repeats would make this a clay season for the ages for Fed.

Grant - I think that is Prop '15', actually. Sez so on all the jackets.

True AM, and then there are others that only read between the lines. Of course I'm guilty of these things too, on occasion.

"Idle minds think alike, eh Grant?"

Why can't you be here all the time, BlueDog?

Heads up (SF)Bay Area Agassi fans: Andre will be doing book signings this Thursday and Friday in Corte Madera and SF, respectively. Details: http://tinyurl.com/ylxl8eb

Regarding Rafa and his so called weight loss.Rafa has lost weight in the past which I feel was a good idea and so did his doctors apparently.He did not however lose "muscle".Athletes can lose weight and retain muscle.He however has not lost any power in his shots at all.I asked Mr X regarding this new found revealation and Tfactor said there was nothing in Spainish press to the like.

There are also a number of other players with knee problems that could also lose weight,especially that they play a lot on h/court surface which isnt knee friendly.

"Why can't you be here all the time, BlueDog?"

It would get in the way of pretending I had a life outside of this blog.

Rafa is the favorite to win the clay Masters series tournies followed by Nole and then federer.

I will also ask imjimmy where he got this "new found imofration from".Lets see when Rafa takes to the clay in DC final before declaring him a lost cause on the clay hey?

I do actually have Andre's autograph which a got in 1993. I don't have anyone elses, though.

Speaking of pretending to have a life, I have to go.

Attempting to do justice to the magnitude of Samantha's pronouncements; I believe she used the term, "crush" regarding a Caro three-set victory over Azarenka, where Azarenka won the first set 6-1 and held a match point later in the match.

A Samantha hilite that ranked up with the Caro-Cirstea match in Carson, CA, where Caro was up a set and at least one break in the second set. Samantha proceeded to advise Cirstea to prepare her luggage for the trip back to Romania. So, Cirstea, insisting on not following the script, then came back and won the match.

CL: john barrett is the commie for this fed/nalby match and he is very difficult to listen to. right out of masterpiece theAter. sounds just like alistair cooke. really makes tennis seems stuffy.

Though I will add,Rafa needs to drop a clay tournament next year,or he could be facing the same thing that happended this year with his knees.

To me he is the greatest player on clay,I havent as yet seen anyone to match him.Just look at his records on clay.

Annie,

I'm surprised. John Barrett one of my favourites.

Have fun pretending Grant!

Annie- The first time I heard John Barret, I thought it was just John Cleese doing a bit of parody.

BlueDog: hee hee. exactly. is he for real? gah. sorry Lynne, not for me. Prefer Jason and Robbie.