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Federer wins 10th Basel title

Roger Federer won his 10th Swiss Indoors Basel title, defeating Alex De Minaur 6-2, 6-2 to secure what the Swiss legend described as "an unbelievable" success at the home-town tournament.

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Federer to play 2020 Tokyo Olympics

Roger Federer will go for gold in 2020. The Swiss star confirmed that he will compete for Switzerland at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

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Federer wins 10th Halle title

Roger Federer made history in Halle, defeating David Goffin 7-6 (2), 6-1 to win a record 10th Noventi Open title. It is the first time that Federer has earned 10 crowns at one tournament.

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Federer wins fourth Miami Open title

Roger Federer produced a championship masterclass under the Florida sun, dominating reigning champ John Isner 6-1, 6-4 to win his fourth Miami title.

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Federer makes history in Dubai, wins 100th title

Roger Federer made history at the Dubai Duty Free Championships, defeating reigning Next Gen ATP Finals champion Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-4 to win his 100th tour-level title.

Federer battle through to the fourth round of French Open

Roger Federer completed a record-breaking win at Roland Garros on Friday, reaching the fourth round for the 12th time. It bettered the record set by Guillermo Vilas, the 1977 champion, who reached the Last 16 on 11 occasions.

"At the start of my career, clay was not my favourite surface," said Federer. "I got my best results in indoor courts or hard courts, so people thought at that time that I was only a fast-court player. But that's not the case, so I'm very happy with this record, and I'm enjoying it."

Fourth seed and 2009 champion Federer extended his record to 5-0 against No. 31 seed Dmitry Tursunov with a 7-5, 6-7(7), 6-2, 6-4 victory in three hours and seven minutes. He is now three match wins shy of 200 clay-court victories (197-60 overall).

Tursunov saved three set points from 0/40 at 5-6 in the second set, before going on to seal the tie-break. He led 4/1 in the tie-break and missed a backhand down the line at 6/5. Federer did not convert a set point opportunity at 7/6, before Tursunov levelled at one-set all at 8/7 with a forehand winner.

"It was tough to lose the second set but nice to win the match," said 32-year-old Federer, who is contesting his 58th straight Grand Slam.

"It was not a straightforward win. I knew Dmitry would try different things, take big cuts at the ball but I am pleased to have played solid."

"After three rounds, I have got all the information," Federer told a news conference.

"Today it was a tough match, I had to defend well because he was a very aggressive player. Against a previous player it was a matter of getting in the groove.

"The first round was quite okay, but I've got my bearings now, my landmarks on court. I know what are my assets, what are my weaknesses. Serve, return, that's quite okay."

Tursunov called it a "fairly even battle" prior to suffering a groin injury after the changeover of the second set. "Good for him that he was able to figure out what bothers me and kind of build his game plan around that," he said. "He's a tough player to play against when you're healthy, so definitely makes thing a little bit tougher."

Federer, who reached the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters final (l. to Wawrinka) last month, will now compete against No. 18 seed Ernests Gulbis on a clay court for a third time. Federer leads their Head to Head series 2-1. Gulbis won one of their 2010 clay meetings, 2-6, 6-1, 7-5, at the Rome Masters.

"Clearly he has to be confident after winning a tournament last week and now backing it up again here this week and cruising through, really," said Federer. "I'm aware of the challenge ahead of me, and difficult match I think because I have had some tough matches with him in the past."

"He has a great serve and he's very enterprising on the second serve. His backhand is very simple. It works well with a lot of power," Federer said of the 18th seed.

"He's able to hit the backhand above his shoulders, so he's a very good player. Year after year he moves better on court. I think that he is more determined. He has a great game, and he can do lots of great things, thanks to his game."

Gulbis will be appearing in a fourth round for the first time in 22 majors and insists he already has a game plan to tackle the Swiss star.

"You don't need to be scared to do certain things against him, because most of the people they go on the court and they lose already before it has started," said the 18th seed. "I can tell you that's not gonna be the case with me."

Date: 30th May 2014, Source: ATP, Reuters and AFP

Roger Federer 'Most obsessed-over' athlete online

Roger Federer is the most ‘Most Obsessed-Over’ athlete on the Web, according to a new list from TIME Magazine. The 32-year-old Swiss ranks No. 18 in the ‘ultimate online power list’.

The rankings were determined by studying statistics from each living person’s Wikipedia page, including the number of words, external links, unique editors and revisions to the page. An algorithm combined the eight different factors to determine each individual’s “prominence”.

George W. Bush finished well ahead of the rest of the field with a score of 65.6, more than 20 points ahead of Barack Obama in the second position. The two U.S. Presidents were followed by a trio of female recording artists: Madonna, Beyoncé and Janet Jackson. Pope Benedict XVI came in at No. 8.

In addition to Federer, five other tennis players made the Top 100. ATP World Tour stars Rafael Nadal (No. 31), Novak Djokovic (No. 61) and Andy Murray (No. 89) were joined by WTA stars Serena Williams (No. 43) and Maria Sharapova (No. 72).

Football stars Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham finished at No. 21 and No. 22, while basketball player Shaquille O'Neal rounded out the top five athletes at No. 26.

Link: View TIME's Top 100 List

Date: 29th May 2014, Source: ATP

Federer records 60th win at Roland Garros; Moves to third round

Roger Federer has become the first man in tennis history to record 60 or more match wins at all four Grand Slam championships.

Fourth seed Federer extended his winning streak to 20 matches against qualifiers at Grand Slam championships on Wednesday when the 2009 Roland Garros champion beat Diego Sebastian Schwartzman.

Federer notched his 60th match win at Roland Garros with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 win against the World No. 109, who was making his first appearance at a major, on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

"I think it was kind of tough all the way through for me," said Federer. "I didn't feel relaxed for the entire match. He managed to put pressure on me and keep the pressure on me."

The 32-year-old Federer is 73-11 at the Australian Open, 60-14 at Roland Garros, 67-8 at Wimbledon and 67-9 at the US Open.

The 17-times grand slam champion from Switzerland, was kept under pressure throughout the match by Schwartzman, who never gave up and even broke serve in the first set.

"I've always felt he had a little bit of an upper hand from the baseline. I feel he was doing a really good job being aggressive and making good plays," said Federer.

"Clearly because of his height he doesn’t have the biggest serve, and that kept me sometimes in two minds. But he handled the conditions really well. He’s probably going to move up the rankings. He’s very steady, very fast, got some good qualities.

"I wish I could have played a bit more freely today overall. But then again, I think it was a solid match.

"I served well. That's always the key to stay solid in your own service games."

It was the kind of match the former world No.1, seeded fourth in Paris, needed to get ready for tougher challenges that lie ahead.

"I was feeling good, but then I don't know what the reason is but I couldn't really play freely," the 2009 champion said.

"But also, it's good to play this way, as if each point was a break point, because you have to put more energy into your game.

"But then this being said, it's nice to go through difficult moments. Today was such a match even though you can't see this in the score."

Federer now faces Dmitry Tursunov in the third round after the 31st seed beat American Sam Querrey 6-4, 7-5, 6-1. He has a 4-0 record against the Russian but the two have never played on clay.

Date: 28th May 2014, Source: ATP and Reuters

Roger Federer eases into French Open second round

Roger Federer eased into the second round of the French Open with a 6-2 6-4 6-2 win over Lukas Lacko in Paris.

With his twin daughters watching from the stands, Federer took just 84 minutes to dismantle Lacko and equal Rafael Nadal's record of winning 59 matches at Roland Garros.

Federer has played in only two clay-court tournaments this season. He reached the final in Monte Carlo but missed the Madrid tournament when his second set of twins, boys Leo and Lenny, was born.

His first match after their birth was a loss in Rome. On Sunday, with the clay court hard and damp due to days of rain and overcast skies, fourth seed Federer was back to himself, winning five of his 11 break points.

"I was happy seeing, getting early signs out of the match that I was actually playing well and I was going to get my chances I was looking for," Federer said. "I’m very pleased, very satisfied. I had everything under control from A to Z. The match was rather easy for me. My personal life, as we know, it's all great, so I'm happy the family is here."

Federer's twin girls, Myla Rose and Charlene Riva, will turn 5 in July. They were sitting in Federer's box along with his wife Mirka at the start.

The French Open is the only Grand Slam tournament to start on Sunday, and Federer played the second match on Court Philippe Chatrier, the main stadium at Roland Garros.

"I wasn't nervous actually going into the match. It's more just like those hints of fear, maybe yesterday, maybe this morning at one point, just for like five seconds, `Oh, I really hope I don't have to pack my bags today,' that kind of feeling," Federer said.

Match statistics:


Federer will meet a qualifyer in the next round, either Gastao Elias (ATP 178) or Diego Sebastian Schwartzman (ATP 109).

Date: 25th May 2014, Source: ESPN

Federer ready for a deep run in French Open and feels very strong

Roger Federer might have two sets of twins to look after now, but that hasn’t stopped him from training hard for Roland Garros, which begins on Sunday. In fact, the extra responsibility made him stronger and the Swiss says he is fully-charged for a deep run into the tournament.

Federer's build-up to Roland Garros was disrupted when wife Mirka delivered Leo and Lenny this month, meaning he skipped the Madrid Masters.

The 17-times grand slam champion returned in Rome where he bowed out early against Frenchman Jeremy Chardy but he is not worried that he might be under-cooked coming into the year's second grand slam.

"Not much, you know, to be honest," Federer told reporters when asked if his sleep patterns had been disturbed.

"Leo and Lenny sleep that much that I don't feel bad yet going out of the room and coming back. It's almost the same situation.

"Things are fairly normal. Clearly there is a bit more happening and there is a bit more you can do if you want to, but Mirka takes care of most of it."

Federer said he was spending plenty of time with his twin girls Myla Rose and Charlene Riva who were born in 2009.

He also said he was delighted with the way he was hitting the ball and confident he was ready to play long five-set matches over the next couple of weeks.

"I feel like I'm in good shape. I know where my game is at. I'm not worried that maybe there is not enough matches," Federer, who won his only French Open title in 2009, said.

"After Rome it was more just staying in the rhythm and relaxing again before Paris and Halle and Wimbledon.

"It's an important stretch now for me, and I don't want to come into this tournament uninspired or tired. That will be the worst thing.

"I feel very strong. I always hoped that around March, April time this year I was going to be feeling strong again, that I was able to catch up on the lost time I had last year.

"That's how I feel. It's been really solid in practice; no setbacks in matches; I have been able to back them up time and time again. So, yeah, I'm very confident if I need to go deep in a match or play tough matches in a row."

Fourth seed Federer will play Lukas Lacko in the first round and is on course for a quarter-final with Tomas Berdych and a semi-final against Novak Djokovic.

Federer, who made his Roland Garros debut in 1999, said he expects the big guns to come through to the latter stages.

"We have seen some surprises this year already with Stan (Wawrinka) in Australia," he said. "But in the French you need to play a lot. You get worn out. Some matches are really a trap.

"You can't really rely on your serve to get out of it. So I think maybe the best ones will be in the end of the tournament."

Date: 23rd May 2014, Source: Reuters

Roger Federer's French Open 2014 Outfit







Roger Federer's Roland Garros 2014 Nike Outfit.

Date: 19th May 2014

Roger Federer: Portrait of an artist

Roger Federer has been the subject of countless pictures, but a new portrait captures the Swiss in a rare and different light.

“It helped me a lot, in more ways than one, to portray Roger Federer as a person - an amicable man in his early thirties, instead of the well-documented tennis god,” Zurich-based Dutch artist Pascal Möhlmann told ATPWorldTour.com.

The artwork is currently up for auction, with proceeds to benefit the Roger Federer Foundation, and also graces the cover of Swiss lifestyle magazine, ‘annabelle’. Möhlmann, who does half his portraits through live sittings and half based on photos taken himself, spent time with Federer during his interview session with the magazine and came away with the highest regard for the five-time year-end World No. 1.

“His relaxed and uncomplicated way left an impression,” he said. “Sitting at the table with him, he himself was just very much fun to talk with and listen to. I remember certain teenage memories were talked about and he didn’t seem to be in a hurry at all.

“When I got to take my many photos, he started posing in a way too professional fashion for my taste as a portrait painter. So I suggested to him to make a few stupid faces to loosen up the facial muscles and start fresh and to my surprise he did this without any hesitation or embarrassment.”

Möhlmann crafted the piece from his Zurich studio over the course of a month, and remarked that Federer’s strong features, including his dark eyebrows, deep eye-positioning and masculine chin, made him an interesting subject.

“It was very fulfilling painting Roger Federer,” he said. “His appearance, his face in particular, is so inviting for a portraitist to be made-again in oil on canvas.”

The pre-bid phase for the portrait runs online through 17 May, when it will be live auctioned at the Auktionshaus Ineichen Zürich.

Link: View Auction

Date: 15th May 2014, Source: ATP

Roger Federer: Birth of twins makes this time of my life

As a seven-time Wimbledon champion, not to mention a universally admired athlete, Roger Federer has seen many glorious moments. But nothing quite like this. A week after his wife Mirka gave birth to twin boys, Federer still finds himself floating on the most beatific high.

“This is the best time of my life,” he explained softly in Rome on Tuesday, almost as if he could not believe the latest extraordinary chapter of his personal script.

How poetic that it should have been twins. You can imagine the movie strapline: “Double trouble, all over again”. After Myla and Charlene, born on July 23, 2009, we can now welcome Leo and Lenny (May 6, 2014).

At times, it feels as though Federer carries a magical force field that repels ordinariness. Even when it comes to the elemental business of carrying on his family line, the man is one in a million.

“When we found out we were having twins, it was like one of those moments where you’re like: 'Wow, I can’t believe it, it’s really happening again’,” Federer told The Daily Telegraph in his first interview since the boys’ birth.

“But I always felt that there was a chance. My sister Diana has twins: a boy and a girl. And my grandmother on my mum’s side was a twin apparently. So I guess that we jumped a generation.

“It is pretty extraordinary. But I don’t feel special because of it. In fact I believe that it’s more to do with Mirka, but the doctors might tell you otherwise.

“I can’t actually remember when we found out: for me, Mirka being pregnant, that’s the big news. And then, if it’s one or two, that’s secondary. Same with boys or girls, it didn’t matter this time. I would have been really happy to have another two girls, because I love my girls so much. It’s boys now, clearly, and I couldn’t be happier.”

One detail has yet to be resolved. Myla and Charlene are identical twins. It is always heart-warming to see them tootling around the All England Club on the eve of Wimbledon: fair-haired, dark eyed and clad in matching dresses.

So what about Leo and Lenny? “We don’t know actually this time,” Federer said. “For some reason, they couldn’t tell if they were identical. So we are making a DNA test to find out.”

Could he not perhaps supply a photo, just for the pleasure of a little untrained speculation? Federer smiled his foxy smile. “Yes, I do have a picture on my phone. And yes, I am showing my friends. But we don’t know each other that well.”

When the infants’ first photograph is released, it will be the shot that is seen around the world. Their arrival has been one of the feelgood stories of the year, sending news websites into meltdown.

A few hardcore fans have gone so far as to place bets on them winning Wimbledon, while one ingenious soul mocked up a scorecard from a mixed-doubles final in 2035: Leo and Charlene on one side, Myla and Lenny on the other.

“Yeah I saw that,” Federer said with a chuckle. “It was funny. I got so many messages and congratulations. It’s nice to see that people are happy for me, and especially for Mirka, because she did the hard work.

“At the same time, people who know us, they try to give new parents some space because it is so intimate. We have had a lot of friends coming to visit the boys and Myla and Charlene, and also Mirka in particular. It has been very nice. I have loved it.”

Federer has certainly been feted since his arrival in Rome, where he plays in the Internazionali BNL D’Italia. As he strode through the players’ lounge on Tuesday, every single person stopped what they were doing to offer their congratulations. Rafael Nadal, rushing the other way, paused for a hand-clasp and a hearty clap on the shoulder.

As Mirka was only due to reach full term this week, her husband had never expected to be here at the Foro Italico, amid the clay dust and the passionate local fans. But then, even the mighty Federers cannot predict nature’s every twist and turn.

“Everything happened all of a sudden on Tuesday evening [May 6],” Federer explained. “That was a bit of a surprise, I thought it was going to be a few days or maybe a week or so down the road, so when it came on Tuesday it gave me a bigger chance to come and play here really.

“I spoke to the team and I spoke to Mirka, asked them all their advice about what I should do and they said that I should quickly come and play here. I said: 'OK, if you don’t want me around, I’ll go away’.”

That last comment, just to be clear, was made in jest.

“I mean, I’d rather be home, no doubt about that, and I’d rather spend time with Mirka and the kids now. But it’s a quick trip this one, and after that we hope that we can all make it together to Paris. I’m looking forward to coming back in a few days already.

“Those who are parents know how important the birth is and that everything went well. It’s an unbelievable time, so much more interesting than just winning a tournament or anything. That is so, like, secondary. It’s really exciting times now and you just want to be in touch and know everything that’s going on. I’m calling her all the time and she’s calling me and it’s really, really beautiful.”

Federer, unusually, was sporting a pair of faint dark patches under his eyes on Tuesday. But then, judging by his own account, the sleep deprivation could have been far worse. Typically, for this blessed family, Leo and Lenny have turned out to be perfect babies.

“One thing I didn’t remember [from the first set of twins] is that they slept that much after they’re born,” he said. “I thought that they were maybe sleeping 18 or 19 hours a day. It’s actually literally 22 hours, 23 hours, it’s non-stop.

“I mean, they might have the odd scream. But it’s really so much resting and literally just having their milk. It’s that simple.”

The hardest thing, Federer said, was deciding on what to call his young lads. Asked when he had come up with their names, he replied: “Maybe the day before. I must say boys’ names was hard, girls’ names was like this [snapping his fingers], even though we also didn’t know until the girls were born what we were going to call them. We had to talk about it in the wake-up room.

“I feel like there’s so many nice, beautiful girls’ names, they’re all cute and all that stuff, but with boys it’s a totally different story.”

Such issues are rarely discussed in professional tennis’s locker-rooms. At 32, Federer has just become the first man since Ivan Lendl, in the early 1990s, to combine a full-time career with raising four children.

He has always said that he intends to keep playing for as long as he enjoys the game. It would be a major surprise, given his love of the Olympics, if he does not compete in Rio in two years’ time. But will the boys grow up with any memories of their father playing at the highest level? That might require him to go on to 36, or even further.

“My plan is that they can also come on tour, and this time around at least we kind of know how to handle kids on the road,” Federer said. “That was quite a challenge I must say [with Myla and Charlene], early on. Especially after they were one year old, when they started to become much more mobile and walking around a lot.

“Just because when you fly, when you’re in transit, or hotel rooms - where do you go in the cities? Not that it’s super-difficult, but we kind of know our way around know and how it’s done.

“My wife does a lot of work, as much as she can. And I try to help as much as I can. We have the grandparents as well and all my team members, they sometimes just tag along. Clearly we also need some help on the road, so Mirka can have an opportunity sometimes to sleep in a little bit, or come to watch one of my matches.”

“I’m aware it’s going to be a lot of work,” Federer said of his new life as the world’s most famous father of four. “But this is not a time where anybody needs to feel sorry for me or get worried. It’s super-exciting. With Myla and Charlene just being there and being with them, observing, just doing it all together, it’s so cool. I’m really looking forward to it all, and the future is beautiful.”

Date: 14th May 2014, Source: The Telegraph

Chardy saves a match point to stun Federer in Rome

World No. 47 Jeremy Chardy saved one match point as he stunned Roger Federer 1-6, 6-3, 7-6(6) in the second round of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on Wednesday in Rome.

The fourth-seeded Federer had fought back from a 2-4 deficit in the final set to force a tie-break and held match point at 6-5 after Chardy double faulted. With Federer stranded in the mid-court, though, Chardy hit a winning forehand pass to level at 6-6 and converted his first match point as Federer hit a service return long.

After cruising through the first set, Federer began to commit unforced errors at an alarming rate and Chardy quickly took advantage amid swirling wind at the Foro Italico.

''I wasn't able to stretch the lead when I had it,'' Federer said.

Federer committed 43 unforced errors - 20 in the second set alone - to Chardy's 28. Federer also struggled to dictate play with his first serve.

"I think we both struggled to win today and in the end a shot here or there decided the match," said Federer. "He gave me a double fault to give me match point. I missed my first serve, which was crucial, but credit to him to give it a go. That passing shot is a tough one for me to take. Credit to him for fighting his way back into the match."

The 32-year-old Federer was playing his first match since he and his wife, Mirka, welcomed their second set of twins, Lenny and Leo, eight days ago. He was bidding to win the elusive Rome crown for the first time, after three runner-up showings in 2003 (l. to Mantilla), 2006 (l. to Nadal) and 2013 (l. to Nadal).

Today's loss marks Federer’s earliest defeat of this season; he has a 28-6 match record.

Federer didn't appear worried about his preparations for the French Open, which starts in 11 days.

''Everything is under control,'' Federer said, recalling that he reached the final of the Monte Carlos Masters last month. ''I still feel good, my body is good, my mind is good and it's just unfortunate for one passing shot today I don't get another opportunity to play this week.''

"Beating Roger, for sure, is the best win ever," said Chardy. "For me, he's the best player, he's like a legend. Normally, you cannot have an idol when you play, but I really like the way he plays. So, for me, it's really good to win today.

"Today it was a difficult match. The conditions were really difficult, a lot of wind. I played a really bad first set, he played a really bad second set. After that, the third set was a good fight. I made an amazing shot on the match point and in the end I won. It was the perfect scenario to beat Roger."

Date: 14th May 2014, Source: ATP and AP

Federer won't change schedule, says wife and twin boys are healthy


Roger Federer's decision to return to tennis a week after the birth of his second set of twins has the full support of his wife Mirka. And don't expect his schedule to change much now that he has four kids.

When the boys were born earlier than expected, Federer consulted with his wife and team about playing the Italian Open.

''And they all said I should quickly come and play here. So I was like, 'OK, if you don't want me around I'll go away,''' Federer recounted Tuesday. ''That was basically it.

''Things went well, the boys are healthy. Mirka's good, too,'' the 17-time Grand Slam champion added. ''So it's a great time in our lives right now.''

The boys' names are Leo and Lenny.

''Boys names are hard. It was all last minute,'' Federer said. ''Girls, I feel like there's so many nice names and they're all cute but with boys it's totally a different story.

''I miss them a lot already and also the girls,'' the fourth-ranked Swiss player said. ''It's a different type of week but I'll get through it and I hope I can still play some good tennis.''

The couple's twin girls, Myla Rose and Charlene Riva, will turn 5 in July.

''This time around, we kind of know how to handle kids on the road,'' the 32-year-old Federer said. ''I'm aware it's going to be a lot of work but at the same time I know what I'm getting into. So it's something I'm very much looking forward to.... There will be a long time without any traveling after the tennis is over, so I'm looking forward to the next couple of years now.''

Federer had a strong start to the clay-court season by reaching the final of the Monte Carlo Masters. The Italian Open is the last key warmup for the French Open, which starts in less than two weeks.

''I expect a lot from myself but then after what happened I come here a bit more laid back, just enjoy it,'' Federer said. ''I've had such a good start to the season that I want to just keep momentum on my side.

''I didn't want too big a break. And it doesn't matter whether I play five matches or one match here, as long as I stay with the pulse of things on tour. Of course I hope I can win my first-round match but at the moment I have totally different priorities.''

A three-time finalist in Rome, including last year, Federer opens Wednesday against 47th-ranked Jeremy Chardy of France.

Date: 13th May 2014, Source: AP

Roger Federer has 'every intention' of playing in the French Open

Even with the birth of his second set of twins on Tuesday, Roger Federer expects to play the 2014 French Open later this month. His agent Tony Godsick told Christopher Clarey of The New York Times:

“Assuming that everything goes well and the kids are healthy and Mirka is doing well, he has every intention of playing Roland Garros. The question is what he plays before that, if anything. Time will tell. He is training and hasn’t missed a beat in training.”

Federer has played in every Grand Slam since the turn of the century. An appearance at the French Open would be his 58th in a row, extending his all-time record.

Mirka Federer gave birth to twin boys on Tuesday evening. Her husband withdrew from this week’s tournament in Madrid earlier in the day. Last month, he said he’d miss the French Open to be with his family.

Given the timing, it appears that won’t be necessary. The year’s second Grand Slam begins May 25 in Paris, 19 days after the birth of Leo and Lenny.

Godsick didn’t say whether Federer would play in next week’s Rome Open, which is the final major French Open tune-up. Federer’s first match wouldn’t be until Tuesday or Wednesday.

If he doesn’t play Rome, there are two tiny events the week before the French Open in Dusseldorf and Nice. Federer would have to weigh the need for another clay-court tuneup (he’s only played one such event this year) against competing in a tournament the week before a major.

When Mirka had the couple’s first set of twins in 2009, Roger returned to the court two weeks later in Montreal. He lost in the quarterfinals of that event before rolling to a victory in Cincinnati. Six weeks after the birth of the twin girls, Federer was in the 2009 U.S. Open final against Juan Martin Del Potro, but would go on to lose the match in a thrilling 5 sets.

Date: 7th May 2014, Source: USA Today

Roger Federer celebrates birth of twin boys Leo and Lenny


Roger Federer is the father of twins for the second time after he announced the birth of his new sons Leo and Lenny on his official webpage.
Federer said on his webpage early today he was pulling out of the tournament ''to be with my wife Mirka during these next few exciting weeks for our family.'' The fourth-ranked Swiss player, who already has twins, said he would ''rejoin the tour soon.''

Later, Federer tweeted: ''Mirka and I are so incredibly happy to share that Leo and Lenny were born this evening! #TwinsAgain #Miracle''

Federer's agent, Tony Godsick, confirmed to The Associated Press that the baby boys were born in Zurich, Switzerland, on Tuesday. Federer and his wife Mirka are already parents to twin daughters born in July 23, 2009.

Federer had said last month he was prepared to skip tournaments to be with his wife when she gave birth.

The 32-year-old Federer did not specify if he would return for the Rome Masters next week, but Godsick said the 17-time Grand Slam champion intended to enter the French Open, which begins May 25.

''Roger has plans to play the French Open, and he'll take it step-by-step as to what he plays before that,'' Godsick said in a telephone interview.

Federer, a three-time winner in Madrid, hasn't missed a Grand Slam tournament since 2000.

Federer's 28-5 record on the season is the ATP's best, with the former No. 1 having won a title in Dubai and reached the finals of Brisbane, Indian Wells and Monte Carlo.

Date: 6th May 2014, Source: RF official and AP

Federer, Nadal to compete in Halle

Defending and a record six time champion Roger Federer and World No. 1 Rafael Nadal will compete at the 2014 edition of the Gerry Weber Open, to be held 9-15 June in Halle. The ATP World Tour 250 grass-court event will feature its strongest field in tournament history.

“We are happy about Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, two legends of this sport,” said Tournament Director Ralf Weber. “It will be a thrilling showdown of the top two players, but with some strong competition. This shows with the cutoff because with only players in the Top 53 in the world, we have the best collective ATP Ranking of all time for the main field.”

In addition to Nadal and Federer, the entry list includes two-time champion Tommy Haas, Milos Raonic, Richard Gasquet, Kei Nishikori, Gael Monfils, returning finalist Mikhail Youzhny and Jerzy Janowicz.

“The road to the tournament victory has gotten much more difficult in recent years because there are so many top players in the field,” said six-time champion Federer, who will be making his 12th tournament appearance. “The spectators can look forward to an extremely strong tournament, I am certain of that.”

Nadal will be making his third main draw appearance in Halle, and reached the quarter-finals on his last visit in 2012. “I urgently want to have a successful start to the grass court season. Halle is a tremendously organised tournament with a great audience. Everybody wants to play their best tennis,” he said.

The Gerry Weber Open will be recategorised as an ATP World Tour 500 tournament in 2015, along with the Aegon Championships at the Queen’s Club in London.

Date: 3rd May 2014, Source: ATP