Former World No.1 Roger Federer walked the red carpet in New York for the premiere of a documentary that showcases his final days as an active sportsperson.

Teary-eyed portrayal of Federer's last stand

<p>We love patterns, don't we? An orderly arrangement of past tempts the dreamiest among us. It gives a certain structure to everyday chaos and helps us make sense of the world, whether real or imaginary.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the world of sports, where results are largely binary (victory or defeat), such an arrangement of affairs is quite alluring. And in the world of tennis, the romanticism appears far more pronounced.</p>

<p>The simple game of tossing the ball above a net has millions of die-hard fans across the globe. And it has a rich history dating back to 1800s so there's much fodder for both appreciation and analysis.</p>

<p>Generations of tennis fans have had their heroes. The elderly swear by Bjon Borg, Stafan Edberg, and Martina Navratilova. A bit younger ones chant Pete Sampras, Angre Agassi, Matina Hingis and others. Millennials mostly fawn around Roger Federer, Raphael Nadel, Novac Djokovic and more.</p>

<p>But now, Gen Z and the crazy world of tennis fans of all ages may have found their new hero.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Carlos Alcaraz Garcia is not even in his mid-twenties. He is already world number 1, the youngest to ascend that throne at 20. And he is making major waves. His victory at Wimbledon just a few days ago saw him overpower the formidable Djokovic, a gritty 36-year-old champion, who is showing no sign of slowing down.</p>

<p><img alt="Djokovic" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5acac9f5-af2d-453a-a5f0-71437e42980b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_33P88NU.jpg" /></p>

<p>(Image: AFP)</p>

<p>The final was definitely not easy for Alcaraz. He lost the first set but clawed back later. The back-and-forth between the two ace players did result in Alcaraz prevailing. And it was a well-deserved victory.</p>

<p>Djokovic, for all his mastery and swift presence on court, appeared baffled, more than once, by Alcaraz's drop shots. Among the highlights of Alcaraz's&nbsp;gameplay in the Wimbledon finals this year was his&nbsp;ability to change the shot at the very last moment. Djokovic did not have an answer to this.</p>

<p><img alt="Djokovic" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7fbaab17-bcc6-4060-a948-7132c8b76bb3" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_33P97Y2.jpg" /></p>

<p>(Image: AFP)</p>

<p>A tennis match may appear to us laymen to be all about&nbsp; tossing around of a ball. But for pro-players, it is also a mental game that requires careful study of the opponent, right during the match.</p>

<p>Before a player attempts a shot, there are some indications in his body language that give the opponent a hint about where the ball would land in his own court.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This is why we often see players make predictive movements to place themselves in the right positions even before their opponent has hit the ball.</p>

<p>In his arsenal, Alcaraz appeared to have a trick. He appeared to position himself as if to give a 'false signal' about his next shot, and then quickly attempt a different one altogether. This last millisecond change requires&nbsp; skill and physical fitness of another level.</p>

<p><img alt="Alcaraz" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bc3375cb-c1e3-42dc-86ab-b0e4fd929195" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_33P96AL.jpg" /></p>

<p>More often than not, during the Wimbledon final this time, Alcaraz was able to 'fool' Djokovic. It was not a testament to Djokovic's lack of skill but to Alcaraz's mastery. Djokovic fell for it several times. The match was not a one-way affair of course but in the end, the young Spaniard trumped the defending champion, Djokovic.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The skill and mastery of Alcaraz and the way he has risen through the rank at the age of just 20, is definitely indicating, at this time, that we are entering a new era in world tennis. With Federer retired, RaFa probably following suit in next few years, there appears&nbsp;to be a vacuum for an absolute champion at the very top. Djokovic has been there for a long while but in spite of his grit, his fitness, we can safely say that he would retire in a few years.</p>

<p><img alt="Djokovic" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ad7f5aa1-dd48-44c3-8a6f-49eca6fe6dbf" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_33P97WJ.jpg" /></p>

<p>Alcaraz seems primed to fill the power vacuum for an absolute champion who would simply dominate his generation of players. Roger Federer was such a man in his absolute prime. Pete Sampras was such a man in his heydays. Steffi Graf was such a champion when she reigned supreme. And then there was Serena Williams.</p>

<p>It's not a matter of winning just a few championships.&nbsp;It's about absolute domination that is era-defining. Alcaraz seems poised to take up the mantle if he continues the same way.</p>

<p><img alt="Alcaraz" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="77c944ea-8cd4-443a-801f-1908ae147454" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_33P67KG.jpg" /></p>

<p>Of course, there's Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Casper Ruud, Taylor Fritz and more still spinning their magic, but given how things are at the moment, it doesn't quite appear that any of them can become the undisputable, reigning champion that would make all of us take his victory for granted.</p>

<p>The search for the podium isn't finished but. For every Sampras, there was an Agassi. For every Federer, there was a Nadal. Steffi Graf had a formidable challenger in Monica Seles who often upset her designs at winning a grand slam.&nbsp;</p>

<p>There is something about a challenger to the absolute king (or queen) that makes us root for him. The underdog always has a certain appeal. He calls to that urge within all of us that makes us take those impossible shots at a seemingly distant and unachievable bulls-eye. Hope is a potent thing and a challenger is always full of it.</p>

<p>We may be witnessing a time when old pages are being turned for new chapters in the world of tennis. As the old guard gradually takes a step back, Alcaraz seems in a prime position to craft the new era in his name.</p>

<p>Who will challenge him enough to make him challenge himself? That is yet to be decided. The search begins...</p>

<p><em><strong>(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)</strong></em></p>

<p><em>You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us<strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></em></p>

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We love patterns, don't we? An orderly arrangement of past tempts the dreamiest among us. It gives a certain structure to everyday chaos and helps us make sense of the world, whether real or imaginary.

We love patterns, don't we? An orderly arrangement of past tempts the dreamiest among us. It gives a certain structure to everyday chaos and helps us make sense of the world, whether real or imaginary. In the world of sports, where results are largely binary (victory or defeat), such an arrangement of affairs is quite alluring. And in the world of tennis, the romanticism appears far more pronounced. The simple game of tossing the ball above a net has millions of die-hard fans across the globe. And it has a rich history dating back to 1800s so there's much fodder for both appreciation and analysis. Generations of tennis fans have had their heroes. The elderly swear by Bjon Borg, Stafan Edberg, and Martina Navratilova. A bit younger ones chant Pete Sampras, Angre Agassi, Matina Hingis and others. Millennials mostly fawn around Roger Federer, Raphael Nadel, Novac Djokovic and more. But now, Gen Z and the crazy world of tennis fans of all ages may have found their new hero. Carlos Alcaraz Garcia is not even in his mid-twenties. He is already world number 1, the youngest to ascend that throne at 20. And he is making major waves. His victory at Wimbledon just a few days ago saw him overpower the formidable Djokovic, a gritty 36-year-old champion, who is showing no sign of slowing down. (Image: AFP) The final was definitely not easy for Alcaraz. He lost the first set but clawed back later. The back-and-forth between the two ace players did result in Alcaraz prevailing. And it was a well-deserved victory. Djokovic, for all his mastery and swift presence on court, appeared baffled, more than once, by Alcaraz's drop shots. Among the highlights of Alcaraz's gameplay in the Wimbledon finals this year was his ability to change the shot at the very last moment. Djokovic did not have an answer to this. (Image: AFP) A tennis match may appear to us laymen to be all about tossing around of a ball. But for pro-players, it is also a mental game that requires careful study of the opponent, right during the match. Before a player attempts a shot, there are some indications in his body language that give the opponent a hint about where the ball would land in his own court. This is why we often see players make predictive movements to place themselves in the right positions even before their opponent has hit the ball. In his arsenal, Alcaraz appeared to have a trick. He appeared to position himself as if to give a 'false signal' about his next shot, and then quickly attempt a different one altogether. This last millisecond change requires skill and physical fitness of another level. More often than not, during the Wimbledon final this time, Alcaraz was able to 'fool' Djokovic. It was not a testament to Djokovic's lack of skill but to Alcaraz's mastery. Djokovic fell for it several times. The match was not a one-way affair of course but in the end, the young Spaniard trumped the defending champion, Djokovic. The skill and mastery of Alcaraz and the way he has risen through the rank at the age of just 20, is definitely indicating, at this time, that we are entering a new era in world tennis. With Federer retired, RaFa probably following suit in next few years, there appears to be a vacuum for an absolute champion at the very top. Djokovic has been there for a long while but in spite of his grit, his fitness, we can safely say that he would retire in a few years. Alcaraz seems primed to fill the power vacuum for an absolute champion who would simply dominate his generation of players. Roger Federer was such a man in his absolute prime. Pete Sampras was such a man in his heydays. Steffi Graf was such a champion when she reigned supreme. And then there was Serena Williams. It's not a matter of winning just a few championships. It's about absolute domination that is era-defining. Alcaraz seems poised to take up the mantle if he continues the same way. Of course, there's Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Casper Ruud, Taylor Fritz and more still spinning their magic, but given how things are at the moment, it doesn't quite appear that any of them can become the undisputable, reigning champion that would make all of us take his victory for granted. The search for the podium isn't finished but. For every Sampras, there was an Agassi. For every Federer, there was a Nadal. Steffi Graf had a formidable challenger in Monica Seles who often upset her designs at winning a grand slam. There is something about a challenger to the absolute king (or queen) that makes us root for him. The underdog always has a certain appeal. He calls to that urge within all of us that makes us take those impossible shots at a seemingly distant and unachievable bulls-eye. Hope is a potent thing and a challenger is always full of it. We may be witnessing a time when old pages are being turned for new chapters in the world of tennis. As the old guard gradually takes a step back, Alcaraz seems in a prime position to craft the new era in his name. Who will challenge him enough to make him challenge himself? That is yet to be decided. The search begins... (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Alcaraz era has begun in tennis, search for worthy adversary starts now

Roger Federer announces retirement: Unbelievable milestones in tennis legend's career

<p>A kid goat with extraordinarily long ears has become somewhat of a viral sensation. The Pakistani owner of the 'GOAT' goat is claiming that it has the longest goat ears in the world, a record for which may or may not exist. The goat is called Simba and it is currently living a pampered existence in Karachi. It was born last month with some really long ears. The ears have since grown and now measure 54 centimetres (21 inches)</p>

<p>Breeder Mohammad Hasan Narejo has already approached Guinness World Records to see whether his goat truly is the one with longest ears.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Within 10 to 12 days of his birth he was already appearing in all the national and international media -- and won a beauty contest," a proud Narejo says.</p>

<p>"Within 30 days he became so popular that even a famous personality might take 25 to 30 years to achieve this level of fame."</p>

<p>Simba's ears are so long that Narejo has to fold them over his back to stop the little bleater from standing on them.</p>

<p>Narejo has also design a harness which lets Simba carry his ears around easily.</p>

<p>Narejo is wary of the attention Simba has attracted -- including from rival breeders -- and has resorted to prayer and tradition to try to fend off any ill will.</p>

<p>"We recite Koranic verses and blow on him to cast away the evil eye," Narejo said.</p>

<p>"Following a long tradition we inherited from our elders, we have fastened a black thread around him that is fortified with Koranic verses."<br />
Narejo plans to raise Simba as a stud to promote the image of Pakistan as a top goat breeding nation.</p>

<p>"Simba's Pakistan name must roam the whole world," he said.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><em>You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>

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A kid goat with extraordinarily long ears has become somewhat of a viral sensation. The Pakistani owner of the 'GOAT' goat is claiming that it has the longest goat ears in the world, a record for which may or may not exist.

A kid goat with extraordinarily long ears has become somewhat of a viral sensation. The Pakistani owner of the 'GOAT' goat is claiming that it has the longest goat ears in the world, a record for which may or may not exist. The goat is called Simba and it is currently living a pampered existence in Karachi. It was born last month with some really long ears. The ears have since grown and now measure 54 centimetres (21 inches) Breeder Mohammad Hasan Narejo has already approached Guinness World Records to see whether his goat truly is the one with longest ears. "Within 10 to 12 days of his birth he was already appearing in all the national and international media -- and won a beauty contest," a proud Narejo says. "Within 30 days he became so popular that even a famous personality might take 25 to 30 years to achieve this level of fame." Simba's ears are so long that Narejo has to fold them over his back to stop the little bleater from standing on them. Narejo has also design a harness which lets Simba carry his ears around easily. Narejo is wary of the attention Simba has attracted -- including from rival breeders -- and has resorted to prayer and tradition to try to fend off any ill will. "We recite Koranic verses and blow on him to cast away the evil eye," Narejo said. "Following a long tradition we inherited from our elders, we have fastened a black thread around him that is fortified with Koranic verses." Narejo plans to raise Simba as a stud to promote the image of Pakistan as a top goat breeding nation. "Simba's Pakistan name must roam the whole world," he said. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Forget Federer, this goat is the real deal, at least for now

<p>World number one Novak Djokovic said on Wednesday he hopes rival Roger Federer will return to competitive action soon and be able to compete with the best again after the Swiss great said he would miss the Australian Open in January.</p>

<p>Federer, 40, told Swiss media he is unlikely to return to competition until mid-2022 as he recovers from multiple knee surgeries and would be "extremely surprised" if he was able to play at Wimbledon, a Grand Slam he has won a record eight times.</p>

<p>The 20-times major champion said he would be able to resume running in January and return to training on the court in March or April.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/im-fighting-for-it-roger-federer-out-of-australian-open-participation-in-wimbledon-remains-doubtful-430030">'I'm fighting for it': Roger Federer out of Australian Open, participation in Wimbledon remains doubtful</a></strong></p>

<p>"Roger is an icon of our sport and people around the world love him. They love watching him play, love seeing him around," Djokovic said after securing a semi-final spot at the ATP Finals with a 6-3 6-2 victory over Russian Andrey Rublev.</p>

<p>"He's very important for our sport on and off the court. For the sake of our sport, I sincerely hope that we can see him play at least another time. I'm sure he doesn't want to end his career this way.</p>

<p>"I think he's going to definitely give it a last push, a last try. For everything he has achieved and created for this sport, he deserves to play and deserves to have a proper farewell."</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/atp-finals-fresher-novak-djokovic-sets-eyes-on-roger-federers-record-of-six-end-of-season-titles-428959">ATP Finals: 'Fresher' Novak Djokovic sets eyes on Roger Federer's record of six end-of-season titles</a></strong></p>

<p>Djokovic is looking to match Federer's record of six titles at the season-ending ATP Finals. He is top of the Green Group standings with two wins from two matches and will face Britain's Cameron Norrie in his final group game on Friday.</p>


World number one Novak Djokovic said on Wednesday he hopes rival Roger Federer will return to competitive action soon and be able to compete with the best again after the Swiss great said he would miss the Australian Open in January.

World number one Novak Djokovic said on Wednesday he hopes rival Roger Federer will return to competitive action soon and be able to compete with the best again after the Swiss great said he would miss the Australian Open in January. Federer, 40, told Swiss media he is unlikely to return to competition until mid-2022 as he recovers from multiple knee surgeries and would be "extremely surprised" if he was able to play at Wimbledon, a Grand Slam he has won a record eight times. The 20-times major champion said he would be able to resume running in January and return to training on the court in March or April. ALSO READ: 'I'm fighting for it': Roger Federer out of Australian Open, participation in Wimbledon remains doubtful "Roger is an icon of our sport and people around the world love him. They love watching him play, love seeing him around," Djokovic said after securing a semi-final spot at the ATP Finals with a 6-3 6-2 victory over Russian Andrey Rublev. "He's very important for our sport on and off the court. For the sake of our sport, I sincerely hope that we can see him play at least another time. I'm sure he doesn't want to end his career this way. "I think he's going to definitely give it a last push, a last try. For everything he has achieved and created for this sport, he deserves to play and deserves to have a proper farewell." ALSO READ: ATP Finals: 'Fresher' Novak Djokovic sets eyes on Roger Federer's record of six end-of-season titles Djokovic is looking to match Federer's record of six titles at the season-ending ATP Finals. He is top of the Green Group standings with two wins from two matches and will face Britain's Cameron Norrie in his final group game on Friday.

Roger Federer is very important for our sport, says Novak Djokovic

<p>Roger Federer is unlikely to play in next year's Australian Open but is still determined to make a return to tournament tennis at some stage, according to his coach Ivan Ljubicic.</p>

<p>The 20-times Grand Slam champion has been inactive since losing in the Wimbledon quarter-finals in July and undergoing another round of knee surgery.</p>

<p>Asked whether Federer would be back in action for the first major of the year in January, former world number three Ljubicic said the signs were not promising.</p>

<p>"I think there are very few chances, he is still recovering and knowing him, he wants to be sure he can play to win the tournament and be at 100%," the Croatian told Stats Perform.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wta-calls-on-china-to-investigate-peng-shuais-sexual-assault-allegations-against-former-chinese-vice-premier-429496">WTA calls on China to investigate Peng Shuai's sexual assault allegations against former Chinese vice premier</a></strong></p>

<p>"So I think the Australian Open is not a real possibility right now. But he will go step by step because he is 40 years old now and he needs to be patient. He cannot recover as quickly as he used to."</p>

<p>Federer is tied with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in the race to be the most successful men`s singles Grand Slam champion of all time and Australian Open organisers would have been hoping to have all three at Melbourne Park.</p>

<p>Nadal, who has had injury issues of his own, has said he will be there, but Djokovic has declined to confirm his presence until Tennis Australia reveals the health protocols for the tournament.</p>

<p>The Serbian world number one has not confirmed whether he has been vaccinated against COVID-19, a pre-requisite for entering Australia under current rules.</p>

<p>The Australian government has said it will admit unvaccinated players as long as they are prepared to undergo 14 days of quarantine and the state of Victoria requests an exemption.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/atp-finals-daniil-medvedev-survives-hubert-hurkacz-scare-mateo-berrettini-injured-vs-alexander-zverev-429485">ATP Finals: Daniil Medvedev survives Hubert Hurkacz scare, Mateo Berrettini injured vs Alexander Zverev</a></strong></p>

<p>Victoria`s Premier Dan Andrews has made it clear the state will not request exemptions for unvaccinated players. Tennis Australia has said repeatedly that negotiations with government over the issue are ongoing.</p>

<p>Ljubicic said he was certain that Federer was not thinking about hanging up his racket just yet.</p>

<p>"We have spoken and I can guarantee he wants to return to playing tennis," he added. "When he decides to stop he will retire, but I don`t think it`s going to happen all of a sudden."</p>


Roger Federer is unlikely to play in next year's Australian Open but is still determined to make a return to tournament tennis at some stage, according to his coach Ivan Ljubicic.

Roger Federer is unlikely to play in next year's Australian Open but is still determined to make a return to tournament tennis at some stage, according to his coach Ivan Ljubicic. The 20-times Grand Slam champion has been inactive since losing in the Wimbledon quarter-finals in July and undergoing another round of knee surgery. Asked whether Federer would be back in action for the first major of the year in January, former world number three Ljubicic said the signs were not promising. "I think there are very few chances, he is still recovering and knowing him, he wants to be sure he can play to win the tournament and be at 100%," the Croatian told Stats Perform. ALSO READ: WTA calls on China to investigate Peng Shuai's sexual assault allegations against former Chinese vice premier "So I think the Australian Open is not a real possibility right now. But he will go step by step because he is 40 years old now and he needs to be patient. He cannot recover as quickly as he used to." Federer is tied with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in the race to be the most successful men`s singles Grand Slam champion of all time and Australian Open organisers would have been hoping to have all three at Melbourne Park. Nadal, who has had injury issues of his own, has said he will be there, but Djokovic has declined to confirm his presence until Tennis Australia reveals the health protocols for the tournament. The Serbian world number one has not confirmed whether he has been vaccinated against COVID-19, a pre-requisite for entering Australia under current rules. The Australian government has said it will admit unvaccinated players as long as they are prepared to undergo 14 days of quarantine and the state of Victoria requests an exemption. ALSO READ: ATP Finals: Daniil Medvedev survives Hubert Hurkacz scare, Mateo Berrettini injured vs Alexander Zverev Victoria`s Premier Dan Andrews has made it clear the state will not request exemptions for unvaccinated players. Tennis Australia has said repeatedly that negotiations with government over the issue are ongoing. Ljubicic said he was certain that Federer was not thinking about hanging up his racket just yet. "We have spoken and I can guarantee he wants to return to playing tennis," he added. "When he decides to stop he will retire, but I don`t think it`s going to happen all of a sudden."

Roger Federer unlikely to play at 2022 Australian Open, says coach Ivan Ljubicic

<p>Swiss tennis maestro Roger Federer has slipped down four positions in the latest ATP rankings released by the association on Monday to 15th.</p>

<p>Notably, the former world number one had exited the top 10 last week. That was for the very first time since January 2017 that the 20 times Grand Slam champion went out of the Top-10 rankings in men's tennis.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/unvaccinated-players-can-compete-at-australian-open-after-quarantine-report-423764">Unvaccinated players can compete at Australian Open after quarantine: Report</a></strong></p>

<p>The 40-year-old is currently at the 15th spot with 2,785 points. The 103-time tour-level titlist has not played in a competitive match since his quarter-final defeat at the hands of Poland`s Hubert Hurkacz in Wimbledon.</p>

<p>In August, Federer had announced on Instagram that he will miss "many months" after undergoing knee surgery.</p>

<p>Elsewhere, Jannik Sinner reached the career-high 11th spot in rankings.</p>

<p>The Italian star gained two spots after defeating second seed Diego Schwartzman 6-2, 6-2 on Sunday to win the European Open, marking his fifth ATP Tour title. The 20-year-old is the youngest player to claim five tour-level trophies since 19-year-old Novak Djokovic triumphed in Estoril in 2007.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/no-special-deals-to-allow-unvaccinated-players-at-australian-open-says-official-421971">No special deals to allow unvaccinated players at Australian Open, says Official</a></strong></p>

<p>Novak Djokovic tops the rankings well clear of Russia`s Daniil Medvedev followed by Stefanos Tsitsipas on third. Alexander Zverev and Rafael Nadal complete the top five men`s singles ATP rankings.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Swiss tennis maestro Roger Federer has slipped down four positions in the latest ATP rankings released by the association on Monday to 15th. Notably, the former world number one had exited the top 10 last week.

Swiss tennis maestro Roger Federer has slipped down four positions in the latest ATP rankings released by the association on Monday to 15th. Notably, the former world number one had exited the top 10 last week. That was for the very first time since January 2017 that the 20 times Grand Slam champion went out of the Top-10 rankings in men's tennis. ALSO READ: Unvaccinated players can compete at Australian Open after quarantine: Report The 40-year-old is currently at the 15th spot with 2,785 points. The 103-time tour-level titlist has not played in a competitive match since his quarter-final defeat at the hands of Poland`s Hubert Hurkacz in Wimbledon. In August, Federer had announced on Instagram that he will miss "many months" after undergoing knee surgery. Elsewhere, Jannik Sinner reached the career-high 11th spot in rankings. The Italian star gained two spots after defeating second seed Diego Schwartzman 6-2, 6-2 on Sunday to win the European Open, marking his fifth ATP Tour title. The 20-year-old is the youngest player to claim five tour-level trophies since 19-year-old Novak Djokovic triumphed in Estoril in 2007. ALSO READ | No special deals to allow unvaccinated players at Australian Open, says Official Novak Djokovic tops the rankings well clear of Russia`s Daniil Medvedev followed by Stefanos Tsitsipas on third. Alexander Zverev and Rafael Nadal complete the top five men`s singles ATP rankings.

ATP Rankings: Roger Federer slips four positions to 15th, Jannik Sinner moves to career-high 11th spot

<p>All the men`s Big Three moved on at the French Open on Thursday as top seed Novak Djokovic and defending champion Rafael Nadal both claimed straight-set wins while Swiss great Roger Federer dropped one set but went through Marrin Cilic`s test to advance.</p>

<p>Third seed Nadal delivered a clinical performance against local player Richard Gasquet to celebrate his 35th birthday with a 6-0, 7-5, 6-2 win.</p>

<p>"I respect (him because) I know how good Richard is," Nadal said.</p>

<p>"I know he`s coming back after a tough period of time. I think he played smart, played aggressive. I just went on court with highest respect, with the highest focus possible, and that`s what I try to do every day against everyone."</p>

<p>Nadal improved his overwhelming record against Gasquet to 17-0, which is one of the most lopsided head-to-heads in Open Era history.</p>

<p>The King of Clay will next face Brit Cameron Norrie, who came from one set down to defeat South Africa`s Lloyd Harris in an earlier match. As Nadal is aiming to win his 21st Grand Slam title to break the tie with Federer and take sole ownership of the all-time record for most Grand Slam men`s singles titles, his arch-rival also had the same goal.</p>

<p>Eighth-seeded Federer held his nerve in a tough four-setter to dispatch former U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic 6-2, 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-2 to reach the third round.</p>

<p>"I feel like I surprised myself a little bit. I didn`t expect myself to play that well or to have the energy left at the end like this and being able to keep on serving so consistently at the end was great," said the 39-year-old Federer, who is the eldest men`s singles player in the main draw at Roland Garros.</p>

<p>World No.1 Djokovic secured a comfortable victory 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 in his first career meeting with Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas to clinch a last 32 spot in Paris for a 16th consecutive year.</p>

<p>The Serbian, bidding for a second clay-court major title and 19th in total, was drawn in the same half with Nadal and Federer, which means only one of the Big Three could make it into the final.</p>

<p>On the women`s side, top seed and 2019 Roland Garros champion Ashleigh Barty was forced to retire during her second-round match against Magda Linett. The Australian World No.1 was unable to continue playing due to a left hip injury when trailed by 6-1, 2-2 in the match with Linett.</p>

<p>"It`s heartbreaking. I mean, we have had such a brilliant clay-court season, and to kind of get a little bit unlucky with timing more than anything to have something kind of acute happen over the weekend and just kind of run out of time against the clock is disappointing," said the 25-year-old, who arrived in Paris in good form with a title in Stuttgart and a final-appearance in Madrid.</p>

<p>Karolina Pliskova was the other high-ranked seed player who suffered a second-round exit on Thursday, as the ninth seed was defeated by former U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens in straight sets 7-5, 6-1 in just an hour and a half.&nbsp;</p>


All the men`s Big Three moved on at the French Open on Thursday as top seed Novak Djokovic and defending champion Rafael Nadal both claimed straight-set wins while Swiss great Roger Federer dropped one set but went through Marrin Cilic`s test to advance.

All the men`s Big Three moved on at the French Open on Thursday as top seed Novak Djokovic and defending champion Rafael Nadal both claimed straight-set wins while Swiss great Roger Federer dropped one set but went through Marrin Cilic`s test to advance. Third seed Nadal delivered a clinical performance against local player Richard Gasquet to celebrate his 35th birthday with a 6-0, 7-5, 6-2 win. "I respect (him because) I know how good Richard is," Nadal said. "I know he`s coming back after a tough period of time. I think he played smart, played aggressive. I just went on court with highest respect, with the highest focus possible, and that`s what I try to do every day against everyone." Nadal improved his overwhelming record against Gasquet to 17-0, which is one of the most lopsided head-to-heads in Open Era history. The King of Clay will next face Brit Cameron Norrie, who came from one set down to defeat South Africa`s Lloyd Harris in an earlier match. As Nadal is aiming to win his 21st Grand Slam title to break the tie with Federer and take sole ownership of the all-time record for most Grand Slam men`s singles titles, his arch-rival also had the same goal. Eighth-seeded Federer held his nerve in a tough four-setter to dispatch former U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic 6-2, 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-2 to reach the third round. "I feel like I surprised myself a little bit. I didn`t expect myself to play that well or to have the energy left at the end like this and being able to keep on serving so consistently at the end was great," said the 39-year-old Federer, who is the eldest men`s singles player in the main draw at Roland Garros. World No.1 Djokovic secured a comfortable victory 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 in his first career meeting with Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas to clinch a last 32 spot in Paris for a 16th consecutive year. The Serbian, bidding for a second clay-court major title and 19th in total, was drawn in the same half with Nadal and Federer, which means only one of the Big Three could make it into the final. On the women`s side, top seed and 2019 Roland Garros champion Ashleigh Barty was forced to retire during her second-round match against Magda Linett. The Australian World No.1 was unable to continue playing due to a left hip injury when trailed by 6-1, 2-2 in the match with Linett. "It`s heartbreaking. I mean, we have had such a brilliant clay-court season, and to kind of get a little bit unlucky with timing more than anything to have something kind of acute happen over the weekend and just kind of run out of time against the clock is disappointing," said the 25-year-old, who arrived in Paris in good form with a title in Stuttgart and a final-appearance in Madrid. Karolina Pliskova was the other high-ranked seed player who suffered a second-round exit on Thursday, as the ninth seed was defeated by former U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens in straight sets 7-5, 6-1 in just an hour and a half.

French Open: Nadal, Federer, and Djokovic progress, Barty retires with injury

<p>Roger Federer is a legend for the world, but for the people of his country, the tennis ace's status is even higher than that.To celebrate the tennis great's achievements, Federer's home country, Switzerland, is pondering postponing the National Day by a week&nbsp;to August 8, 2021,&nbsp;&nbsp;the day Federer turns 40. And, the people taking the lead are the Swiss parliamentarians.</p>

<p>The nation is keen to honour the legend and former world No. 1 by giving a gift, which no country in the world would have given its sporting hero. It all started in the Swiss Parliament where several lawmakers launched an initiative on social media to honour Federer in its own unique way. Soon, the move gained momentum among his legion of fans and very soon it became the talking point of the nation of more than eight million.<br />
<br />
This is not the first time the European country is planning to shower affection and gratitude on the tennis great. Switzerland made a grand gesture in Federer's honour when he became the first living person to receive a Swiss stamp after the 2007 Wimbledon triumph. And in 2020, when the world was reeling under the Covid-19 pandemic, Federer received his own 20-franc silver coin from Swissmint.<br />
<br />
Now the 39-year-old player in the twilight of his career, Federer's achievement might again be recognised one more time with the National Day being postponed by a week. While the founding of the Swiss Confederacy is celebrated on August 1, this year it could be moved to August 8, to coincide with the eight-time Wimbledon champion's birthday.<br />
<br />
Even as the move gains momentum, Federer, currently world No. 6 on ATP, is busy charting his return to ATP Tour action after a knee surgery. And, then he also plans to take a shot at Olympic glory in Tokyo.</p>


Roger Federer is a legend for the world, but for the people of his country, the tennis ace's status is even higher than that.To celebrate the tennis great's achievements, Federer's home country, Switzerland, is pondering postponing the National Day by a week to August 8, 2021, the day Federer turns 40.

Roger Federer is a legend for the world, but for the people of his country, the tennis ace's status is even higher than that.To celebrate the tennis great's achievements, Federer's home country, Switzerland, is pondering postponing the National Day by a week to August 8, 2021, the day Federer turns 40. And, the people taking the lead are the Swiss parliamentarians. The nation is keen to honour the legend and former world No. 1 by giving a gift, which no country in the world would have given its sporting hero. It all started in the Swiss Parliament where several lawmakers launched an initiative on social media to honour Federer in its own unique way. Soon, the move gained momentum among his legion of fans and very soon it became the talking point of the nation of more than eight million. This is not the first time the European country is planning to shower affection and gratitude on the tennis great. Switzerland made a grand gesture in Federer's honour when he became the first living person to receive a Swiss stamp after the 2007 Wimbledon triumph. And in 2020, when the world was reeling under the Covid-19 pandemic, Federer received his own 20-franc silver coin from Swissmint. Now the 39-year-old player in the twilight of his career, Federer's achievement might again be recognised one more time with the National Day being postponed by a week. While the founding of the Swiss Confederacy is celebrated on August 1, this year it could be moved to August 8, to coincide with the eight-time Wimbledon champion's birthday. Even as the move gains momentum, Federer, currently world No. 6 on ATP, is busy charting his return to ATP Tour action after a knee surgery. And, then he also plans to take a shot at Olympic glory in Tokyo.

Switzerland could shift its national day to Roger Federer's birthday

<p>Sporting events across the globe have come to a halt as the accelerated coronavirus outbreak continues. Its new victim is the Wimbledon Championship, the tennis Grand Slam is cancelled for the first time since World War II.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wimbledon-canceled-for-1st-time-since-wwii-because-of-covid-19-pandemic-289951" hreflang="en">Wimbledon canceled for 1st time since WWII because of COVID-19 pandemic</a></p>

<p>Swiss tennis ace Roger Federer took to Twitter to share his feelings after learning about the cancellation of London tournament.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The tennis maestro was "devastated" after the news, as the 38-year-old is running out of options as his prolific career is on its later stages.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Devastated <a href="https://t.co/Fg2c1EuTQY">https://t.co/Fg2c1EuTQY</a> <a href="https://t.co/cm1wE2VwIp">pic.twitter.com/cm1wE2VwIp</a></p>
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) <a href="https://twitter.com/rogerfederer/status/1245373248210178048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>The All England Club announced after an emergency meeting that the event it refers to simply as The Championships is being scrapped for 2020. Wimbledon was scheduled to be played on the club's grass courts on the outskirts of London from June 29 to July 12.</p>

<p>Instead, the next edition of the tournament will be June 28 to July 11, 2021. The tournament was first held in 1877 and has been contested every year since, except two stretches: from 1915-18 because of World War I, and from 1940-45 because of World War II.</p>

<p>The world number 4 will be expected to be in the tournament next year.&nbsp; Many tennis tournaments such as the ATP tour and the French Open have been postponed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier, Roger Federer took to Twitter on Wednesday saying that he and his wife Mika have donated one million Swiss Francs to help the helpless families in Switzerland amid coronavirus pandemic. &nbsp;</p>

<p>One million Swiss Francs sums up to nearly Rs 7 crores, Federer donated this amount because "nobody should be left behind" during the crisis the world is facing</p>


Sporting events across the globe have come to a halt as the accelerated coronavirus outbreak continues. Its new victim is the Wimbledon Championship, the tennis Grand Slam is cancelled for the first time since World War II.

Sporting events across the globe have come to a halt as the accelerated coronavirus outbreak continues. Its new victim is the Wimbledon Championship, the tennis Grand Slam is cancelled for the first time since World War II. Also read: Wimbledon canceled for 1st time since WWII because of COVID-19 pandemic Swiss tennis ace Roger Federer took to Twitter to share his feelings after learning about the cancellation of London tournament. The tennis maestro was "devastated" after the news, as the 38-year-old is running out of options as his prolific career is on its later stages. Devastated https://t.co/Fg2c1EuTQY pic.twitter.com/cm1wE2VwIp — Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) April 1, 2020 × The All England Club announced after an emergency meeting that the event it refers to simply as The Championships is being scrapped for 2020. Wimbledon was scheduled to be played on the club's grass courts on the outskirts of London from June 29 to July 12. Instead, the next edition of the tournament will be June 28 to July 11, 2021. The tournament was first held in 1877 and has been contested every year since, except two stretches: from 1915-18 because of World War I, and from 1940-45 because of World War II. The world number 4 will be expected to be in the tournament next year. Many tennis tournaments such as the ATP tour and the French Open have been postponed. Earlier, Roger Federer took to Twitter on Wednesday saying that he and his wife Mika have donated one million Swiss Francs to help the helpless families in Switzerland amid coronavirus pandemic. One million Swiss Francs sums up to nearly Rs 7 crores, Federer donated this amount because "nobody should be left behind" during the crisis the world is facing

Swiss tennis ace Roger Federer 'devasted' after Wimbledon cancellation

<p>Tennis great Roger Federer on Wednesday donated more than a million dollars to help support his "most vulnerable" Swiss compatriots through the coronavirus crisis.</p>

<p>The 20-time Grand Slam champion and his wife donated one million Swiss francs ($1.02 million, 943,000 euros), saying nobody should be left behind as Switzerland battles against the global pandemic.</p>

<p>According to official figures reported to the World Health Organization, Switzerland has the ninth-highest number of infections in the world.</p>

<p>According to the Swiss health ministry, more than 8,800 people have tested positive for COVID-19, while 86 people had died as of Monday.</p>

<p>"These are challenging times for everyone and nobody should be left behind. Mirka and I have personally decided to donate one million Swiss francs for the most vulnerable families in Switzerland," world number four Federer, 38, said on Instagram.</p>

<p>"Our contribution is just a start. We hope that others might join in supporting more families in need. Together we can overcome this crisis! Stay healthy!"</p>

<p>On Friday the Swiss government further tightened measures against the new coronavirus, banning all gatherings of more than five people, while anyone standing closer than two metres to others risks a fine.</p>

<p>The government had already ordered the closure of schools and all places of leisure, including restaurants, bars and non-food shops.</p>


Tennis great Roger Federer on Wednesday donated more than a million dollars to help support his "most vulnerable" Swiss compatriots through the coronavirus crisis.

Tennis great Roger Federer on Wednesday donated more than a million dollars to help support his "most vulnerable" Swiss compatriots through the coronavirus crisis. The 20-time Grand Slam champion and his wife donated one million Swiss francs ($1.02 million, 943,000 euros), saying nobody should be left behind as Switzerland battles against the global pandemic. According to official figures reported to the World Health Organization, Switzerland has the ninth-highest number of infections in the world. According to the Swiss health ministry, more than 8,800 people have tested positive for COVID-19, while 86 people had died as of Monday. "These are challenging times for everyone and nobody should be left behind. Mirka and I have personally decided to donate one million Swiss francs for the most vulnerable families in Switzerland," world number four Federer, 38, said on Instagram. "Our contribution is just a start. We hope that others might join in supporting more families in need. Together we can overcome this crisis! Stay healthy!" On Friday the Swiss government further tightened measures against the new coronavirus, banning all gatherings of more than five people, while anyone standing closer than two metres to others risks a fine. The government had already ordered the closure of schools and all places of leisure, including restaurants, bars and non-food shops.

Roger Federer donates $1 million to vulnerable Swiss in virus crisis

<p>Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal attracted what organisers said was a world record crowd for a tennis match when they played an exhibition event in the Cape Town Stadium on Friday.</p>

<p>The organisers said an audited attendance of 51,954 beat the 42,517 who watched Federer play Alexander Zverev of Germany in Mexico City last November.</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5PBsE8FGOK/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">An absolute magical evening in Mexico City, Gracias to all 42’517 people that came to set a new world record. This one is for you, Viva Mexico ❤️❤️❤️❤️</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rogerfederer/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Roger Federer</a> (@rogerfederer) on <time datetime="2019-11-24T04:29:04+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Nov 23, 2019 at 8:29pm PST</time></p>
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<p>They also announced that the 'Match in Africa' raised $3.5-million for the Roger Federer Foundation, which supports educational and athletic programmes for children in Africa.</p>

<p>"To have 51,954 people in attendance at a tennis match, I never thought I'd be apart of something like that," said Federer. "It's not something you dream about.</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8SG1hjFgCs/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Thank you @rafaelnadal , @trevornoah , and @thisisbillgates for you support of this incredible event. It was always a dream of mine to play in South Africa for my foundation. I am so proud to say we raised over $3 million this evening🙌🇿🇦✅ #worldrecord #southafrica</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rogerfederer/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Roger Federer</a> (@rogerfederer) on <time datetime="2020-02-07T22:45:58+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Feb 7, 2020 at 2:45pm PST</time></p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Federer, who was accompanied by his South African mother, Lynette, said his first appearance in South Africa was a special occasion.</p>

<p>"The first time here in Cape Town, in South Africa, means so much more than just tennis," he said.</p>

<p>Federer won 6-4 3-6 6-3 in a match in which the players had to contend with cool, windy conditions in the stadium that was built for the 2010 football World Cup.</p>

<p>The arena was packed with eager fans who sang, clapped and did the wave throughout the match.</p>

<p>"It's an amazing crowd, an amazing stadium," said Nadal, who was making his first appearance in South Africa since playing in the country as a junior.</p>

<p>"It's an unforgettable evening. We will probably never play again in an atmosphere such as this one," said Nadal. "I can't thank enough the people here in Cape Town. They came here and created an unforgettable atmosphere."</p>

<p>Earlier in the day, Federer and his doubles partner billionaire Bill Gates beat Nadal and South-African born comedian &nbsp;Trevor Noah in a match with more flexible rules.</p>

<p>The ceremonial coin toss was performed by World Cup-winning Springbok rugby captain Siya Kolisi, who presented Federer with a Springbok jersey. The coin used was a commemorative 20 Swiss Francs piece minted with Federer's face. He gave it to Kolisi.</p>

<p>Other high-profile South African sports stars in attendance included former Springbok captains John Smit and Jean de Villiers as well as Olympic swimmer Ryk Neethling.</p>

<p>The match is the sixth edition of the event organised by the Roger Federer Foundation and is the first to take place in Africa.</p>

<p>"There's so much anticipation that goes into it that the match itself almost gets forgotten," said Federer before the match.</p>

<p>He said he spent childhood holidays in South Africa.</p>

<p>"The time spent here as a kid was amazing," Federer said. "You would go on the road and you never come back for some reason because you've gotta chase that little tennis ball and you've gotta chase your dreams."</p>

<p>Tens of thousands of fans showed up early and were ecstatic when Nadal and Federer hit practice balls into the stands.</p>

<p>One fan said she brought a wedding ring for Federer to propose to her. "I want to marry Roger," she shouted.</p>

<p>Earlier in the afternoon, Federer and Nadal played tennis with children from townships in Hout Bay.</p>

<p>The children are part of an afterschool activity program with Zip Zap Circus which develops gross and fine motor skills.</p>


Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal attracted what organisers said was a world record crowd for a tennis match when they played an exhibition event in the Cape Town Stadium on Friday.

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal attracted what organisers said was a world record crowd for a tennis match when they played an exhibition event in the Cape Town Stadium on Friday. The organisers said an audited attendance of 51,954 beat the 42,517 who watched Federer play Alexander Zverev of Germany in Mexico City last November. View this post on Instagram An absolute magical evening in Mexico City, Gracias to all 42’517 people that came to set a new world record. This one is for you, Viva Mexico ❤️❤️❤️❤️ A post shared by Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) on Nov 23, 2019 at 8:29pm PST × They also announced that the 'Match in Africa' raised $3.5-million for the Roger Federer Foundation, which supports educational and athletic programmes for children in Africa. "To have 51,954 people in attendance at a tennis match, I never thought I'd be apart of something like that," said Federer. "It's not something you dream about. View this post on Instagram Thank you @rafaelnadal , @trevornoah , and @thisisbillgates for you support of this incredible event. It was always a dream of mine to play in South Africa for my foundation. I am so proud to say we raised over $3 million this evening🙌🇿🇦✅ #worldrecord #southafrica A post shared by Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) on Feb 7, 2020 at 2:45pm PST × Federer, who was accompanied by his South African mother, Lynette, said his first appearance in South Africa was a special occasion. "The first time here in Cape Town, in South Africa, means so much more than just tennis," he said. Federer won 6-4 3-6 6-3 in a match in which the players had to contend with cool, windy conditions in the stadium that was built for the 2010 football World Cup. The arena was packed with eager fans who sang, clapped and did the wave throughout the match. "It's an amazing crowd, an amazing stadium," said Nadal, who was making his first appearance in South Africa since playing in the country as a junior. "It's an unforgettable evening. We will probably never play again in an atmosphere such as this one," said Nadal. "I can't thank enough the people here in Cape Town. They came here and created an unforgettable atmosphere." Earlier in the day, Federer and his doubles partner billionaire Bill Gates beat Nadal and South-African born comedian Trevor Noah in a match with more flexible rules. The ceremonial coin toss was performed by World Cup-winning Springbok rugby captain Siya Kolisi, who presented Federer with a Springbok jersey. The coin used was a commemorative 20 Swiss Francs piece minted with Federer's face. He gave it to Kolisi. Other high-profile South African sports stars in attendance included former Springbok captains John Smit and Jean de Villiers as well as Olympic swimmer Ryk Neethling. The match is the sixth edition of the event organised by the Roger Federer Foundation and is the first to take place in Africa. "There's so much anticipation that goes into it that the match itself almost gets forgotten," said Federer before the match. He said he spent childhood holidays in South Africa. "The time spent here as a kid was amazing," Federer said. "You would go on the road and you never come back for some reason because you've gotta chase that little tennis ball and you've gotta chase your dreams." Tens of thousands of fans showed up early and were ecstatic when Nadal and Federer hit practice balls into the stands. One fan said she brought a wedding ring for Federer to propose to her. "I want to marry Roger," she shouted. Earlier in the afternoon, Federer and Nadal played tennis with children from townships in Hout Bay. The children are part of an afterschool activity program with Zip Zap Circus which develops gross and fine motor skills.

Tennis: Federer, Nadal play to record crowd in Cape Town

<p>Swiss tennis ace <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../federer-stages-great-escape-to-reach-australian- open-semis-277034">Roger Federer</a> is set to face his long time rival Novak Djokovic for the 50th time in the semifinal clash of the Australian Open.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/novak-djokovic-sets-up-roger-federer-showdown-with-milos-raonic-rout-277095" hreflang="en">Australian Open: Novak Djokovic sets up Federer showdown after Milos Raonic rout</a></p>

<p>World No 2 Djokovic leads 26-23 in the head-to-head clashes with World No 3 Roger Federer.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/australian-open-2020-dominic-thiem-beats-rafael-nadal-to-enter-semi-finals-277380" hreflang="en">Australian Open 2020: Dominic Thiem beats Rafael Nadal to enter semi-finals</a></p>

<p>The defending champion Novak Djokovic will be looking forward to win his 8th Australian Open title and stop Roger Federer's hopes to win 21 Grand Slam.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Swiss Maestro won a hard-fought quarterfinals match against the 100th-ranked Tennys &nbsp;Sandgren on Tuesday at Melbourne Park.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The 38-year-old came back from a near defeat against the American. The scores were &nbsp;6-3 2-6 2-6 7-6 (8) 6-3.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Federer had skipped his practice session on Wednesday as he developed a groin issue during his tough quarterfinals match. He asked for a medical timeout twice during the game.</p>

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<p>He said that not playing on Wednesday would help him recover a bit against the 7-time Australian Open champion.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Serbia's Djokovic respected Federer for his fighting spirit, he said: "I mean, he never gives up. When it matters the most, he's focused and he plays his best tennis. He's a great fighter."</p>

<p>"What he did was amazing, he showed me he's one of the best players of all time," added Djokovic.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Novak Djokovic defeated Milos Raonic 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (7/1) in the quarterfinals match to reach the semifinals.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Match will take place at Rod-Laver Arena at 2:00 PM (IST).&nbsp;</p>


Swiss tennis ace Roger Federer is set to face his long time rival Novak Djokovic for the 50th time in the semifinal clash of the Australian Open. Also read: Australian Open: Novak Djokovic sets up Federer showdown after Milos Raonic rout World No 2 Djokovic leads 26-23 in the head-to-head clashes with World No 3 Roger Federer.

Swiss tennis ace Roger Federer is set to face his long time rival Novak Djokovic for the 50th time in the semifinal clash of the Australian Open. Also read: Australian Open: Novak Djokovic sets up Federer showdown after Milos Raonic rout World No 2 Djokovic leads 26-23 in the head-to-head clashes with World No 3 Roger Federer. Also read: Australian Open 2020: Dominic Thiem beats Rafael Nadal to enter semi-finals The defending champion Novak Djokovic will be looking forward to win his 8th Australian Open title and stop Roger Federer's hopes to win 21 Grand Slam. The Swiss Maestro won a hard-fought quarterfinals match against the 100th-ranked Tennys Sandgren on Tuesday at Melbourne Park. The 38-year-old came back from a near defeat against the American. The scores were 6-3 2-6 2-6 7-6 (8) 6-3. Federer had skipped his practice session on Wednesday as he developed a groin issue during his tough quarterfinals match. He asked for a medical timeout twice during the game. × He said that not playing on Wednesday would help him recover a bit against the 7-time Australian Open champion. Serbia's Djokovic respected Federer for his fighting spirit, he said: "I mean, he never gives up. When it matters the most, he's focused and he plays his best tennis. He's a great fighter." "What he did was amazing, he showed me he's one of the best players of all time," added Djokovic. Novak Djokovic defeated Milos Raonic 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (7/1) in the quarterfinals match to reach the semifinals. Match will take place at Rod-Laver Arena at 2:00 PM (IST).

Australian Open: Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic to spar for 50th time in star-studded semifinal clash

<p>Roger Federer pulled off one of the greatest escapes of his career Tuesday, saving seven match points to come from two sets down and beat Tennys Sandgren for a place in the Australian Open semi-finals.</p>

<p><strong>Also read-&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/australian-open-rafa-nadal-impressed-with-kyrgios-performance-spaniard-moves-to-round-four-276972">Australian Open: Rafa Nadal 'impressed' with Kyrgios performance, Spaniard moves to round four</a></p>

<p>In a drama-packed match, the normally ice-cool Swiss was slapped with a coded warning for swearing and needed a rare medical timeout for a groin injury before winning 6-3, 2-6, 2-6, 7-6 (10/8), 6-3.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">⛷or 🎾?<a href="https://twitter.com/rogerfederer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rogerfederer</a> might need to rethink his priorities 😂<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AO2020?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AO2020</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusOpen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusOpen</a> <a href="https://t.co/MnKdiI4eH0">pic.twitter.com/MnKdiI4eH0</a></p>
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen/status/1222067877911592960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>The six-time champion's reward is a showdown against either long-time rival Novak Djokovic or big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic.</p>

<p>"I don't deserve this one, but I'm standing here and obviously very happy," said Federer, 38, who became the oldest man in 43 years to make the last four at Melbourne Park after Ken Rosewall.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">"I think I got incredibly lucky."<br />
<br />
Luck or not, here's how <a href="https://twitter.com/rogerfederer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rogerfederer</a> assessed his performance to advance to the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AO2020?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AO2020</a> semifinals.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusOpen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusOpen</a> <a href="https://t.co/MK8UDBxT9o">pic.twitter.com/MK8UDBxT9o</a></p>
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen/status/1222065283575287808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>"I just said (to myself while losing), I believe in miracles," he added.</p>

<p>"I got incredibly tonight, today -- I don't even&nbsp;know what time it is. I'm lucky to be here and might as well make the most of it (in the semis)."</p>

<p>The victory was his 102nd at Melbourne Park, surpassing his tally at Wimbledon to make the Australian Open his most successful Slam in terms of matches won.</p>

<p>In two decades of playing the Australian Open, he had never lost to a player ranked as low as Sandgren's 100 since 54th-ranked Arnaud Clement beat him way back in 2000.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But the unheralded American was always going to be a danger to the 20-time Grand Slam winner, having already beaten eighth seed Matteo Berrettini and 12th seed Fabio Fognini.</p>

<p>And he gave the Swiss star a massive scare.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Federer finds a way 🇨🇭<a href="https://twitter.com/rogerfederer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rogerfederer</a> saves seven match points to def. Tennys Sandgren 6-3 2-6 2-6 7-6(8) 6-3 and reach the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusOpen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusOpen</a> semifinals for the 15th time.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AO2020?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AO2020</a> <a href="https://t.co/B3Biy3q1Ez">pic.twitter.com/B3Biy3q1Ez</a></p>
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen/status/1222064026081013762?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Both players fought off break points against their opening service games as they sized each other up.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But it was only a matter of time before Federer broke and it came in the sixth game as he began figuring out Sandgren's game, forcing errors as he took the set.</p>

<p>But Sandgren wasn't ready to surrender, breaking Federer for a 2-0 lead in the second when the world number three sent an overhead long.</p>

<p>The composed American broke again with Federer's touch abandoning him, sending down 15 unforced errors.</p>

<p>Playing in the mid-afternoon sun, he continued to struggle in the third, broken in his opening service game with the crowd stunned into silence.</p>

<p>Federer was rattled. He worked three break points when 2-0 down and when Sandgren saved two of them, the Swiss was warned for an audible obscenity, reported by the line judge after he dropped an f-bomb.</p>

<p>The normally unflappable star confronted the umpire and then lost three more points, again having words with the official before calling for a physio and taking a near nine-minute medical timeout.</p>

<p>Federer returned to hold serve but his movement was hampered and he never threatened, losing the set with another 15 unforced errors.</p>

<p>He grimly hung on in the fourth set, saving three match points at 5-4 and it went to a tiebreaker where more drama was in store as a ballkid collided with Sandgren at the changeover.</p>

<p>Federer incredibly saved another four match points before winning the tiebreak 10-8, sending the crowd into a frenzy.</p>

<p>His confidence sky-high, he rolled through the deciding set for a famous victory to reach the Melbourne semis for a 15th time.</p>


Roger Federer pulled off one of the greatest escapes of his career Tuesday, saving seven match points to come from two sets down and beat Tennys Sandgren for a place in the Australian Open semi-finals.

Roger Federer pulled off one of the greatest escapes of his career Tuesday, saving seven match points to come from two sets down and beat Tennys Sandgren for a place in the Australian Open semi-finals. Also read- Australian Open: Rafa Nadal 'impressed' with Kyrgios performance, Spaniard moves to round four In a drama-packed match, the normally ice-cool Swiss was slapped with a coded warning for swearing and needed a rare medical timeout for a groin injury before winning 6-3, 2-6, 2-6, 7-6 (10/8), 6-3. ⛷or 🎾?@rogerfederer might need to rethink his priorities 😂#AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/MnKdiI4eH0 — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 28, 2020 × The six-time champion's reward is a showdown against either long-time rival Novak Djokovic or big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic. "I don't deserve this one, but I'm standing here and obviously very happy," said Federer, 38, who became the oldest man in 43 years to make the last four at Melbourne Park after Ken Rosewall. "I think I got incredibly lucky." Luck or not, here's how @rogerfederer assessed his performance to advance to the #AO2020 semifinals.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/MK8UDBxT9o — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 28, 2020 × "I just said (to myself while losing), I believe in miracles," he added. "I got incredibly tonight, today -- I don't even know what time it is. I'm lucky to be here and might as well make the most of it (in the semis)." The victory was his 102nd at Melbourne Park, surpassing his tally at Wimbledon to make the Australian Open his most successful Slam in terms of matches won. In two decades of playing the Australian Open, he had never lost to a player ranked as low as Sandgren's 100 since 54th-ranked Arnaud Clement beat him way back in 2000. But the unheralded American was always going to be a danger to the 20-time Grand Slam winner, having already beaten eighth seed Matteo Berrettini and 12th seed Fabio Fognini. And he gave the Swiss star a massive scare. Federer finds a way 🇨🇭@rogerfederer saves seven match points to def. Tennys Sandgren 6-3 2-6 2-6 7-6(8) 6-3 and reach the #AusOpen semifinals for the 15th time.#AO2020 pic.twitter.com/B3Biy3q1Ez — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 28, 2020 × Both players fought off break points against their opening service games as they sized each other up. But it was only a matter of time before Federer broke and it came in the sixth game as he began figuring out Sandgren's game, forcing errors as he took the set. But Sandgren wasn't ready to surrender, breaking Federer for a 2-0 lead in the second when the world number three sent an overhead long. The composed American broke again with Federer's touch abandoning him, sending down 15 unforced errors. Playing in the mid-afternoon sun, he continued to struggle in the third, broken in his opening service game with the crowd stunned into silence. Federer was rattled. He worked three break points when 2-0 down and when Sandgren saved two of them, the Swiss was warned for an audible obscenity, reported by the line judge after he dropped an f-bomb. The normally unflappable star confronted the umpire and then lost three more points, again having words with the official before calling for a physio and taking a near nine-minute medical timeout. Federer returned to hold serve but his movement was hampered and he never threatened, losing the set with another 15 unforced errors. He grimly hung on in the fourth set, saving three match points at 5-4 and it went to a tiebreaker where more drama was in store as a ballkid collided with Sandgren at the changeover. Federer incredibly saved another four match points before winning the tiebreak 10-8, sending the crowd into a frenzy. His confidence sky-high, he rolled through the deciding set for a famous victory to reach the Melbourne semis for a 15th time.

Federer stages great escape to reach Australian Open semis

<p>Australian Open was hit on Monday by morning showers which suspended the play just hours after they were started.&nbsp;</p>

<p>World No 3 Roger Federer was dominant in the first round as he beat World No 75 Steve Johnson. The play was interrupted by rain but the play resumed and Federer in a breathtaking display beat the American 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">ICYMI 6-time champ <a href="https://twitter.com/rogerfederer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rogerfederer</a> kicked off his 22nd consecutive <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusOpen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusOpen</a> campaign with a speedy 6-3 6-2 6-2 victory<br />
<br />
Match report 👉<a href="https://t.co/CSdsXRRCCx">https://t.co/CSdsXRRCCx</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AO2020?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AO2020</a> <a href="https://t.co/b4xY8zjvFq">pic.twitter.com/b4xY8zjvFq</a></p>
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen/status/1219277149938438144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>The Swiss continued his streak of being unbeaten in the first round in Melbourne (21-0).&nbsp;</p>

<p>World No 2 Novak Djokovic survived a minor scare against Jan-Lennard Struff on Monday night. He beat Struff 7-6 (5), 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 at Rod Laver Arena to begin his journey for eight Australian Open title. The defending champion has become the sixth man to win 900 tour-level matches.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Green means GO.<br />
<br />
Bidding for a record-extending eighth <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusOpen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusOpen</a> title, <a href="https://twitter.com/DjokerNole?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DjokerNole</a> recorded the 900th tour-level victory of his career with a 7-6(5) 6-2 2-6 6-1 win over Jan-Lennard Struff on Day 1 👏<br />
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Match report 👉 <a href="https://t.co/sLA4SG8gp8">https://t.co/sLA4SG8gp8</a> <a href="https://t.co/7MeHxqnwAS">pic.twitter.com/7MeHxqnwAS</a></p>
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen/status/1219323992395407361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>On Tuesday, the weather is predicted to be clear and sunny. The matches are predicted to get through in the afternoon.</p>

<p>World No 1 Rafael Nadal started his campaign after displaying his dominance over Bolivia's Hugo Dellien. The Spaniard moved a step closer to his 20th Grand Slam after beating Hugo 6-2, 6-3, 6-0.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The mentality of a legend 💯<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AO2020?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AO2020</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusOpen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusOpen</a> <a href="https://t.co/IeQxpbmXXk">pic.twitter.com/IeQxpbmXXk</a></p>
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen/status/1219516577306927104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Nadal will face the winner of Argentine Federico Delbonis and Portuguese Joao Sousa in the next round.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Rafa Rolls 🏃‍♂️<a href="https://twitter.com/RafaelNadal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RafaelNadal</a> fends off a valiant effort from Dellien and slams the door 6-2 6-3 6-0.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AO2020?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AO2020</a> |<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusOpen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusOpen</a> <a href="https://t.co/s5svPwjzFE">pic.twitter.com/s5svPwjzFE</a></p>
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen/status/1219496114275213312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>His fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta battled past Slovakian Jozef Kovalik 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(2), the match went on for two hours and 37 minutes. World No 27 smashed 41 winners to proceed to the next round.</p>

<p>Weather Forcast on Wednesday and Thursday is scaring as heavy showers are predicted in Melbourne. Play suspension could spoil the highly anticipated Grand Slam.&nbsp;</p>


Australian Open was hit on Monday by morning showers which suspended the play just hours after they were started. World No 3 Roger Federer was dominant in the first round as he beat World No 75 Steve Johnson.

Australian Open was hit on Monday by morning showers which suspended the play just hours after they were started. World No 3 Roger Federer was dominant in the first round as he beat World No 75 Steve Johnson. The play was interrupted by rain but the play resumed and Federer in a breathtaking display beat the American 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. ICYMI 6-time champ @rogerfederer kicked off his 22nd consecutive #AusOpen campaign with a speedy 6-3 6-2 6-2 victory Match report 👉https://t.co/CSdsXRRCCx#AO2020 pic.twitter.com/b4xY8zjvFq — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 20, 2020 × The Swiss continued his streak of being unbeaten in the first round in Melbourne (21-0). World No 2 Novak Djokovic survived a minor scare against Jan-Lennard Struff on Monday night. He beat Struff 7-6 (5), 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 at Rod Laver Arena to begin his journey for eight Australian Open title. The defending champion has become the sixth man to win 900 tour-level matches. Green means GO. Bidding for a record-extending eighth #AusOpen title, @DjokerNole recorded the 900th tour-level victory of his career with a 7-6(5) 6-2 2-6 6-1 win over Jan-Lennard Struff on Day 1 👏 Match report 👉 https://t.co/sLA4SG8gp8 pic.twitter.com/7MeHxqnwAS — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 20, 2020 × On Tuesday, the weather is predicted to be clear and sunny. The matches are predicted to get through in the afternoon. World No 1 Rafael Nadal started his campaign after displaying his dominance over Bolivia's Hugo Dellien. The Spaniard moved a step closer to his 20th Grand Slam after beating Hugo 6-2, 6-3, 6-0. The mentality of a legend 💯#AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/IeQxpbmXXk — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2020 × Nadal will face the winner of Argentine Federico Delbonis and Portuguese Joao Sousa in the next round. Rafa Rolls 🏃‍♂️@RafaelNadal fends off a valiant effort from Dellien and slams the door 6-2 6-3 6-0.#AO2020 |#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/s5svPwjzFE — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2020 × His fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta battled past Slovakian Jozef Kovalik 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(2), the match went on for two hours and 37 minutes. World No 27 smashed 41 winners to proceed to the next round. Weather Forcast on Wednesday and Thursday is scaring as heavy showers are predicted in Melbourne. Play suspension could spoil the highly anticipated Grand Slam.

Australian Open: Nadal, Djokovic, and Federer go through first round, rain plays spoil spot

<p>The whole tennis world is coming together to help the relief workers in Australia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After Serena Williams, incredible gesture towards Australian Bushfire after winning the Auckland Open, where she donated the entire winning amount (US$43,000) to the relief efforts seems to have struck a chord.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wta-auckland-open-williams-breaks-three-year-title-drought-to-win-273787">WTA Auckland Open: Williams breaks three-year title drought to win</a></p>

<p>She will also auction the clothes that she wore throughout the competition with her autograph on it.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bushfire-cricket-bash-ricky-ponting-and-shane-warne-to-come-out-of-retirement-to-raise-funds-273874">Bushfire Cricket Bash: Ricky Ponting and Shane Warne to come out of retirement to raise funds</a></p>

<p>World number 3, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../federer-and-zverev-mexico-city-match-breaks- world-attendance-record-264207">Roger Federer</a>, said he would donate to the Australia bushfires appeal on Monday after tennis players pledged hundreds of thousands of dollars to the disaster relief fund.</p>

<p>The Swiss great, who has been criticized by environmental activists including Greta Thunberg over a sponsor's links to fossil fuel investments, said he would donate at a charity match on Wednesday.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Since 2016 <a href="https://twitter.com/CreditSuisse?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CreditSuisse</a> has provided $57 BILLION&nbsp;to companies looking for new fossil fuel deposits - something that is utterly incompatible with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ClimateAction?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ClimateAction</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/rogerfederer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RogerFederer</a> do you endorse this? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RogerWakeUpNow?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RogerWakeUpNow</a> <a href="https://t.co/ED1fIvb4Cr">pic.twitter.com/ED1fIvb4Cr</a></p>
— 350.org Europe (@350Europe) <a href="https://twitter.com/350Europe/status/1214843923329363970?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>"If anyone can chip in, that's great because it's nice to show solidarity and help in a situation, which has become quite incredible in this country," Federer, 38, said at a publicity event in Melbourne.</p>

<p>"We need to look for prevention in the future, that this doesn't happen to this extent again because there will always be fires as I understand. This country is much, much too big," added the world number three.</p>

<p>Federer, Serena Williams, and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../nadals-spain-to-meet-djokovics-serbia-in-atp- cup-final-273650">Rafael Nadal</a> will headline Wednesday's exhibition at Melbourne Park, which will the Australian Open Grand Slam from January 20.</p>

<p>Tennis players have been quick to respond to the bushfire crisis, which has left at least 27 people dead, burned an area the size of South Korea and prompted a surge in concern over global warming.</p>

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<p>Players on the men's tour have donated US$725,000, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) said on Sunday.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Thank you to the <a href="https://twitter.com/atptour?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@atptour</a> players for their positive impact ❤️<br />
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A $725,000 donation was made to <a href="https://twitter.com/WWF_Australia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WWF_Australia</a> and Nature Recovery Fund as part of the bushfire relief efforts. <a href="https://t.co/ORfRDydzQM">pic.twitter.com/ORfRDydzQM</a></p>
— ATPCup (@ATPCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/ATPCup/status/1216449771692363777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>"I'll also be making a donation personally myself on Wednesday," said Federer, a six-time winner of the Australian Open.</p>

<p>"This country has given me everything and more in the past so it's only but normal for me to help us well."</p>

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<p>Over the weekend, Federer promised to talk to his sponsors after environmentalists criticised his relationship with Credit Suisse, which they say has loaned billions of dollars to the fossil fuels industry.</p>

<p>Federer said he was "grateful to young climate activists for pushing us all to examine our behaviours" after the criticism was retweeted by Swedish teenager Thunberg, a prominent eco-warrior.</p>

<p>"I appreciate reminders of my responsibility as a private individual, as an athlete, and as an entrepreneur, and I'm committed to using this privileged position to dialogue on important issues with my sponsors," he said in a statement that was widely quoted by media.</p>

<p>(with inputs from AFP)<br />
&nbsp;</p>


The whole tennis world is coming together to help the relief workers in Australia. After Serena Williams, incredible gesture towards Australian Bushfire after winning the Auckland Open, where she donated the entire winning amount (US$43,000) to the relief efforts seems to have struck a chord.

The whole tennis world is coming together to help the relief workers in Australia. After Serena Williams, incredible gesture towards Australian Bushfire after winning the Auckland Open, where she donated the entire winning amount (US$43,000) to the relief efforts seems to have struck a chord. Also read: WTA Auckland Open: Williams breaks three-year title drought to win She will also auction the clothes that she wore throughout the competition with her autograph on it. Also read: Bushfire Cricket Bash: Ricky Ponting and Shane Warne to come out of retirement to raise funds World number 3, Roger Federer, said he would donate to the Australia bushfires appeal on Monday after tennis players pledged hundreds of thousands of dollars to the disaster relief fund. The Swiss great, who has been criticized by environmental activists including Greta Thunberg over a sponsor's links to fossil fuel investments, said he would donate at a charity match on Wednesday. Since 2016 @CreditSuisse has provided $57 BILLION to companies looking for new fossil fuel deposits - something that is utterly incompatible with #ClimateAction @RogerFederer do you endorse this? #RogerWakeUpNow pic.twitter.com/ED1fIvb4Cr — 350.org Europe (@350Europe) January 8, 2020 × "If anyone can chip in, that's great because it's nice to show solidarity and help in a situation, which has become quite incredible in this country," Federer, 38, said at a publicity event in Melbourne. "We need to look for prevention in the future, that this doesn't happen to this extent again because there will always be fires as I understand. This country is much, much too big," added the world number three. Federer, Serena Williams, and Rafael Nadal will headline Wednesday's exhibition at Melbourne Park, which will the Australian Open Grand Slam from January 20. Tennis players have been quick to respond to the bushfire crisis, which has left at least 27 people dead, burned an area the size of South Korea and prompted a surge in concern over global warming. × Players on the men's tour have donated US$725,000, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) said on Sunday. Thank you to the @atptour players for their positive impact ❤️ A $725,000 donation was made to @WWF_Australia and Nature Recovery Fund as part of the bushfire relief efforts. pic.twitter.com/ORfRDydzQM — ATPCup (@ATPCup) January 12, 2020 × "I'll also be making a donation personally myself on Wednesday," said Federer, a six-time winner of the Australian Open. "This country has given me everything and more in the past so it's only but normal for me to help us well." × Over the weekend, Federer promised to talk to his sponsors after environmentalists criticised his relationship with Credit Suisse, which they say has loaned billions of dollars to the fossil fuels industry. Federer said he was "grateful to young climate activists for pushing us all to examine our behaviours" after the criticism was retweeted by Swedish teenager Thunberg, a prominent eco-warrior. "I appreciate reminders of my responsibility as a private individual, as an athlete, and as an entrepreneur, and I'm committed to using this privileged position to dialogue on important issues with my sponsors," he said in a statement that was widely quoted by media. (with inputs from AFP)

Tennis: Federer, Williams lead way to raise funds for workers in Australia bushfires

<p>Grigor Dimitrov rallied for a shocking upset of 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer at the US Open on Tuesday, the lowest-ranked New York semi-finalist in 28 years advancing to face Daniil Medvedev.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The 78th-ranked Bulgarian, who had dropped all seven prior meetings with Federer, made a dramatic fightback to defeat the Swiss third seed 3-6, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 at Arthur Ashe Stadium and will face Russian fifth seed Medvedev in Friday's semis.</p>

<p>"I'm just happy," Dimitrov said. "The only thing I was telling myself was to stay in the match. Physically I was feeling pretty good. I was hitting some shots against him that were hard to hit."</p>

<p>Dimitrov reached his first US Open semi-final to match the deepest Slam runs of his career from Wimbledon in 2014 and the 2017 Australian Open.</p>

<p>Not since 174th-ranked Jimmy Connors reached the 1991 quarter-finals had New York seen so lowly a figure on the ATP ratings list reach the last four.</p>

<p>Dimitrov is also the lowest-ranked Slam semi-finalist since 94th-rated Rainer Schuettler of Germany at Wimbledon in 2008.</p>

<p>Federer was denied on five break points in the 10th game of the fourth set and Dimitrov held to force a fifth set.</p>

<p>"I was trying to stay in that game and make him stay on the court as much as possible. After that he started slowing down a little bit," Dimitrov said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It's a best of five sets. Anything can happen."</p>

<p>Federer went off the court for a private medical timeout to treat his upper back near his neck.</p>

<p>"This is Grigor's moment, not my body's moment," Federer said.</p>

<p>Dimitrov broke Federer twice on the way to a 4-0 lead in the final set and the 38-year-old Swiss star had no effective reply, foiled by 61 unforced errors in falling after three hours and 12 minutes.</p>

<p>"It's OK. It's how it goes," Federer said. "I tried my best. I fought with what I had and that's it."</p>

<p>Federer, a five-time US Open champion who hasn't lifted the Flushing Meadows title since 2008, would have become the oldest Slam semi-finalist since Jimmy Connors at age 39 at the 1991 US Open.</p>


Grigor Dimitrov rallied for a shocking upset of 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer at the US Open on Tuesday, the lowest-ranked New York semi-finalist in 28 years advancing to face Daniil Medvedev.

Grigor Dimitrov rallied for a shocking upset of 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer at the US Open on Tuesday, the lowest-ranked New York semi-finalist in 28 years advancing to face Daniil Medvedev. The 78th-ranked Bulgarian, who had dropped all seven prior meetings with Federer, made a dramatic fightback to defeat the Swiss third seed 3-6, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 at Arthur Ashe Stadium and will face Russian fifth seed Medvedev in Friday's semis. "I'm just happy," Dimitrov said. "The only thing I was telling myself was to stay in the match. Physically I was feeling pretty good. I was hitting some shots against him that were hard to hit." Dimitrov reached his first US Open semi-final to match the deepest Slam runs of his career from Wimbledon in 2014 and the 2017 Australian Open. Not since 174th-ranked Jimmy Connors reached the 1991 quarter-finals had New York seen so lowly a figure on the ATP ratings list reach the last four. Dimitrov is also the lowest-ranked Slam semi-finalist since 94th-rated Rainer Schuettler of Germany at Wimbledon in 2008. Federer was denied on five break points in the 10th game of the fourth set and Dimitrov held to force a fifth set. "I was trying to stay in that game and make him stay on the court as much as possible. After that he started slowing down a little bit," Dimitrov said. "It's a best of five sets. Anything can happen." Federer went off the court for a private medical timeout to treat his upper back near his neck. "This is Grigor's moment, not my body's moment," Federer said. Dimitrov broke Federer twice on the way to a 4-0 lead in the final set and the 38-year-old Swiss star had no effective reply, foiled by 61 unforced errors in falling after three hours and 12 minutes. "It's OK. It's how it goes," Federer said. "I tried my best. I fought with what I had and that's it." Federer, a five-time US Open champion who hasn't lifted the Flushing Meadows title since 2008, would have become the oldest Slam semi-finalist since Jimmy Connors at age 39 at the 1991 US Open.

Grigor Dimitrov stuns Roger Federer to reach US Open semi-finals

<p>Top-ranked defending champion Novak Djokovic rolled into the US Open fourth round on Friday while Serena Williams and Roger Federer cruised into the last 16 and Kei Nishikori was eliminated.</p>

<p>Djokovic, champion in four of the past five Slams and 16 overall, was less bothered by left shoulder pain that nagged him in the second round in defeating 111th-ranked American Denis Kudla 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.</p>

<p>"That I managed to play almost pain-free, that's a big improvement from last match obviously," Djokovic said. "I didn't know how my body would react. That was nice."</p>

<p>Djokovic, who needed treatment throughout his second-round triumph, skipped practice Thursday in favor of shoulder treatment.</p>

<p>"I'm not going to go into the medical details," he said. "But it definitely was bothering me in the past couple weeks."</p>

<p>The 32-year-old Serbian, a three-time US Open winner, booked a Sunday showdown with three-time Slam winner Stan Wawrinka, the Swiss 23rd seed who eliminated Italian lucky loser Paolo Lorenzi 6-4, 7-6 (11/9), 7-6 (7/4).</p>

<p>"There's something with him that when I get into my best game, I know that it's going to have some big rallies and I'm going to play good tennis," Wawrinka said.</p>

<p>Djokovic, no worse than a US Open semi-finalist since a third-round exit in 2006, leads Wawrinka 19-5 in their all-time rivalry, but they haven't met since Wawrinka beat Djokovic in the 2016 US Open final.</p>

<p>"We've had some great battles over the years, but especially here," Djokovic said. "He's a three-time Grand Slam champion, someone that possesses a game with a lot of power, a lot of quality. Let the better player win."</p>

<p>Federer routed Britain's 58th-ranked Dan Evans 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 in only 80 minutes, blasting 48 winners to just seven for Evans. After dropping the first set in his first two matches, the 20-time Grand Slam champion was solid from start to finish.</p>

<p>"What matters the most is that I'm in the third round after those two sort of slow starts," Federer said. "I actually can go through three sets in a row playing really good tennis."</p>

<p>Evans blasted organizers for giving him short rest after a rain-delayed match while his 38-year-old Swiss rival rested after playing Wednesday under the roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium.</p>

<p>"I actually thought he played pretty much no-error tennis," Evans said.</p>

<p>Next up for Federer is Belgian 15th seed David Goffin.</p>

<p><strong>De Minaur causes upset</strong></p>

<p>Williams continued her quest for a 24th career Grand Slam title to equal Margaret Court's all-time record by crushing 44th-ranked Czech Karolina Muchova 6-3, 6-2 in 74 minutes.</p>

<p>"I had a lot of intensity today, which is really good for me," said Williams, whose next opponent is Croatian 22nd seed Petra Martic.</p>

<p>The 37-year-old American, a six-time US Open champion, last won a Slam at the 2017 Australian Open and hasn't won the US Open since 2014.</p>

<p>Japanese seventh seed Nishikori, the 2014 US Open runner-up, lost to Australia's Alex de Minaur 6-2, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3. The 20-year-old Aussie, on his deepest Grand Slam run, took his first victory over a top-10 foe in 12 tries.</p>

<p>"This is where I feel like my game's at. I want to be pushing second weeks of Grand Slams and putting myself out there. So very happy," De Minaur said. "Hopefully I can just keep it rolling."</p>

<p>De Minaur faces Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov next.</p>

<p>Reigning French Open champion Ashleigh Barty, the Aussie second seed, and Czech third seed Karolina Pliskova, chasing her first Slam title, also advanced.</p>

<p>Pliskova, the 2016 US Open runner-up, outlasted Tunisia's Ons Jabeur 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 while Barty dispatched Greek 30th seed Maria Sakkari 7-5, 6-3.</p>

<p>"Physically it was quite a tough battle," Pliskova said. "So pleased to be through."</p>

<p>Pliskova next plays British 16th seed Johanna Konta while Barty, a possible Williams quarter-final foe, meets Chinese 18th seed Wang Qiang.</p>

<p>"It's going to be an incredibly physical match," Barty said. "I need to make sure I serve well and bring variety in as much as I can."</p>

<p>Barty and Pliskova are battling top-ranked defending champion Naomi Osaka to be world number one at the end of the Flushing Meadows fortnight.</p>

<p>One more Barty win would ensure Japan's Osaka is dethroned but Pliskova could still take the top spot by reaching the final.</p>

<p>Also advancing was Ukrainian fifth seed and Wimbledon semi-finalist Elina Svitolina, who next faces US 10th seed Madison Keys, a 6-3, 7-5 winner over compatriot Sofia Kenin.</p>


Top-ranked defending champion Novak Djokovic rolled into the US Open fourth round on Friday while Serena Williams and Roger Federer cruised into the last 16 and Kei Nishikori was eliminated.

Top-ranked defending champion Novak Djokovic rolled into the US Open fourth round on Friday while Serena Williams and Roger Federer cruised into the last 16 and Kei Nishikori was eliminated. Djokovic, champion in four of the past five Slams and 16 overall, was less bothered by left shoulder pain that nagged him in the second round in defeating 111th-ranked American Denis Kudla 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. "That I managed to play almost pain-free, that's a big improvement from last match obviously," Djokovic said. "I didn't know how my body would react. That was nice." Djokovic, who needed treatment throughout his second-round triumph, skipped practice Thursday in favor of shoulder treatment. "I'm not going to go into the medical details," he said. "But it definitely was bothering me in the past couple weeks." The 32-year-old Serbian, a three-time US Open winner, booked a Sunday showdown with three-time Slam winner Stan Wawrinka, the Swiss 23rd seed who eliminated Italian lucky loser Paolo Lorenzi 6-4, 7-6 (11/9), 7-6 (7/4). "There's something with him that when I get into my best game, I know that it's going to have some big rallies and I'm going to play good tennis," Wawrinka said. Djokovic, no worse than a US Open semi-finalist since a third-round exit in 2006, leads Wawrinka 19-5 in their all-time rivalry, but they haven't met since Wawrinka beat Djokovic in the 2016 US Open final. "We've had some great battles over the years, but especially here," Djokovic said. "He's a three-time Grand Slam champion, someone that possesses a game with a lot of power, a lot of quality. Let the better player win." Federer routed Britain's 58th-ranked Dan Evans 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 in only 80 minutes, blasting 48 winners to just seven for Evans. After dropping the first set in his first two matches, the 20-time Grand Slam champion was solid from start to finish. "What matters the most is that I'm in the third round after those two sort of slow starts," Federer said. "I actually can go through three sets in a row playing really good tennis." Evans blasted organizers for giving him short rest after a rain-delayed match while his 38-year-old Swiss rival rested after playing Wednesday under the roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium. "I actually thought he played pretty much no-error tennis," Evans said. Next up for Federer is Belgian 15th seed David Goffin. De Minaur causes upset Williams continued her quest for a 24th career Grand Slam title to equal Margaret Court's all-time record by crushing 44th-ranked Czech Karolina Muchova 6-3, 6-2 in 74 minutes. "I had a lot of intensity today, which is really good for me," said Williams, whose next opponent is Croatian 22nd seed Petra Martic. The 37-year-old American, a six-time US Open champion, last won a Slam at the 2017 Australian Open and hasn't won the US Open since 2014. Japanese seventh seed Nishikori, the 2014 US Open runner-up, lost to Australia's Alex de Minaur 6-2, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3. The 20-year-old Aussie, on his deepest Grand Slam run, took his first victory over a top-10 foe in 12 tries. "This is where I feel like my game's at. I want to be pushing second weeks of Grand Slams and putting myself out there. So very happy," De Minaur said. "Hopefully I can just keep it rolling." De Minaur faces Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov next. Reigning French Open champion Ashleigh Barty, the Aussie second seed, and Czech third seed Karolina Pliskova, chasing her first Slam title, also advanced. Pliskova, the 2016 US Open runner-up, outlasted Tunisia's Ons Jabeur 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 while Barty dispatched Greek 30th seed Maria Sakkari 7-5, 6-3. "Physically it was quite a tough battle," Pliskova said. "So pleased to be through." Pliskova next plays British 16th seed Johanna Konta while Barty, a possible Williams quarter-final foe, meets Chinese 18th seed Wang Qiang. "It's going to be an incredibly physical match," Barty said. "I need to make sure I serve well and bring variety in as much as I can." Barty and Pliskova are battling top-ranked defending champion Naomi Osaka to be world number one at the end of the Flushing Meadows fortnight. One more Barty win would ensure Japan's Osaka is dethroned but Pliskova could still take the top spot by reaching the final. Also advancing was Ukrainian fifth seed and Wimbledon semi-finalist Elina Svitolina, who next faces US 10th seed Madison Keys, a 6-3, 7-5 winner over compatriot Sofia Kenin.

Djokovic rolls on while Federer, Serena breeze at US Open

<p>Novak Djokovic admitted his epic, record-breaking <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/novak-djokovic-defeats-roger-federer-to-win-wimbledon-title-235964">Wimbledon final triumph over Roger Federer</a> on Sunday was the "toughest mentally" he had ever endured.</p>

<p>He also revealed he was able to turn the overwhelmingly pro-Federer, 14,000-strong Centre Court crowd in his favour by training his mind.</p>

<p>"When the crowd is chanting 'Roger' I hear 'Novak'," said the Serb.</p>

<p>The world number one saved two match points to clinch a fifth Wimbledon title and 16th major, shattering Federer's bid to become the oldest Grand Slam champion in the longest final ever played at the tournament.</p>

<p>Despite being outplayed by the 37-year-old Swiss for large parts of the knife-edge encounter, the top seed emerged victorious 7-6 (7/5), 1-6, 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 13-12 (7/3).</p>

<p>At 4 hours and 57 minutes, it was the longest Wimbledon final ever played and settled by a final set tiebreak for the first time.</p>

<p>Djokovic is the first man in 71 years to win the title from match points down.</p>

<p>"It was probably the most demanding, mentally, match I was ever part of," said the 32-year-old Djokovic.</p>

<p>"I had the most physically demanding match against (Rafael) Nadal in the final of Australia that went almost six hours (in 2012).</p>

<p>"But mentally this was a different level, because of everything."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>'Thrilled, overjoyed'</strong></p>

<p>"I'm thrilled and overjoyed with emotions to be sitting here in front of you as a winner but I was one shot away from losing the match. It could have gone easily his way."</p>

<p>Djokovic saved the match points in the 16th game of the deciding set, which ran for over two hours and was settled by a 12-12 tiebreak for the first time in a singles match at the tournament.</p>

<p>It was a display of stunning mental fortitude by Djokovic.</p>

<p>However, he has been in similar predicaments in the past against Federer -- saving two match points in both of his semi-final victories over the Swiss at the 2010 and 2011 US Opens.</p>

<p>"I just try to never lose self-belief, just stay calm, just focus on trying to get the ball back, return, which wasn't serving me very well today.</p>

<p>"But in the most important moments, all three tiebreaks I guess, if I can say so, I found my best game."</p>

<p>Djokovic also insisted he had pictured how the final would play out, appreciating that Federer was, as always, the sentimental favourite.</p>

<p>"I like to transmutate it in a way: When the crowd is chanting 'Roger' I hear 'Novak'. It sounds silly, but it is like that. I try to convince myself that it's like that," he said.</p>

<p>Djokovic is now just two Slams behind Rafael Nadal and four back from Federer on the all-time list.</p>

<p>He is also younger than both of his great rivals.</p>

<p>But on Sunday, he was off the pace for large parts of the final, only carving out his first break points in the eighth game of the fourth set.</p>

<p>Federer won more points in the match with 218 to 204, broke serve seven times compared to three, hit 25 aces to 10 and 94 winners to Djokovic's 54.</p>

<p>"I thought I could have played better. But the one thing that probably allowed me to come back and save match points and win this match was the mental stability in those moments," admitted the champion.</p>

<p>"I guess that all of these things combined in a courageous effort.</p>

<p>"You have to keep reminding yourself that you're there for a reason and that you are better than the other guy."</p>


Novak Djokovic admitted his epic, record-breaking Wimbledon final triumph over Roger Federer on Sunday was the "toughest mentally" he had ever endured. He also revealed he was able to turn the overwhelmingly pro-Federer, 14,000-strong Centre Court crowd in his favour by training his mind.

Novak Djokovic admitted his epic, record-breaking Wimbledon final triumph over Roger Federer on Sunday was the "toughest mentally" he had ever endured. He also revealed he was able to turn the overwhelmingly pro-Federer, 14,000-strong Centre Court crowd in his favour by training his mind. "When the crowd is chanting 'Roger' I hear 'Novak'," said the Serb. The world number one saved two match points to clinch a fifth Wimbledon title and 16th major, shattering Federer's bid to become the oldest Grand Slam champion in the longest final ever played at the tournament. Despite being outplayed by the 37-year-old Swiss for large parts of the knife-edge encounter, the top seed emerged victorious 7-6 (7/5), 1-6, 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 13-12 (7/3). At 4 hours and 57 minutes, it was the longest Wimbledon final ever played and settled by a final set tiebreak for the first time. Djokovic is the first man in 71 years to win the title from match points down. "It was probably the most demanding, mentally, match I was ever part of," said the 32-year-old Djokovic. "I had the most physically demanding match against (Rafael) Nadal in the final of Australia that went almost six hours (in 2012). "But mentally this was a different level, because of everything." 'Thrilled, overjoyed' "I'm thrilled and overjoyed with emotions to be sitting here in front of you as a winner but I was one shot away from losing the match. It could have gone easily his way." Djokovic saved the match points in the 16th game of the deciding set, which ran for over two hours and was settled by a 12-12 tiebreak for the first time in a singles match at the tournament. It was a display of stunning mental fortitude by Djokovic. However, he has been in similar predicaments in the past against Federer -- saving two match points in both of his semi-final victories over the Swiss at the 2010 and 2011 US Opens. "I just try to never lose self-belief, just stay calm, just focus on trying to get the ball back, return, which wasn't serving me very well today. "But in the most important moments, all three tiebreaks I guess, if I can say so, I found my best game." Djokovic also insisted he had pictured how the final would play out, appreciating that Federer was, as always, the sentimental favourite. "I like to transmutate it in a way: When the crowd is chanting 'Roger' I hear 'Novak'. It sounds silly, but it is like that. I try to convince myself that it's like that," he said. Djokovic is now just two Slams behind Rafael Nadal and four back from Federer on the all-time list. He is also younger than both of his great rivals. But on Sunday, he was off the pace for large parts of the final, only carving out his first break points in the eighth game of the fourth set. Federer won more points in the match with 218 to 204, broke serve seven times compared to three, hit 25 aces to 10 and 94 winners to Djokovic's 54. "I thought I could have played better. But the one thing that probably allowed me to come back and save match points and win this match was the mental stability in those moments," admitted the champion. "I guess that all of these things combined in a courageous effort. "You have to keep reminding yourself that you're there for a reason and that you are better than the other guy."

When they chant Roger, I hear Novak: Novak Djokovic admits 'toughest' Wimbledon win

<p>A clinical Roger Federer took a confident step towards a fourth Miami Open title on Wednesday, easing past 13th-seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 6-2 to book his spot in the quarter-finals.</p>

<p>Federer, a winner of 100 career titles, can look back on dozens of brilliant performances and the Swiss maestro could add his ruthless fourth-round win over the red hot Russian to that list.</p>

<p>With 17 match wins, no player has had more success this year than the lanky Russian but Medvedev had no answers for a rampaging Federer, who needed just 61 minutes to reach the last eight, where he will take on towering sixth-seeded South African Kevin Anderson.</p>

<p>"There were really long rallies, tactical points. The big points went my way and that was the difference," said Federer.</p>

<p>"I'm serving great this week and hope I can keep it up in the next round."</p>

<p>The match got off to a routine start until Federer took control.</p>

<p>With Medvedev 4-3 up in the first, the 20-times grand slam champion swept the next five games to take the opener and a 2-0 lead in the second.</p>

<p>Medvedev halted the bleeding with a hold at 2-1 but there was no stopping the fourth-seeded Federer who claimed a second break to go up 5-2 and then had an easy hold to seal a business-like victory.</p>

<p>The Russian could not convert any of his three breakpoints, while Federer took all three of his.</p>

<p>Federer's fourth-round contest had been scheduled for Tuesday but was moved due to rain, giving the 37-year-old Swiss little time to recover before facing the hard-hitting Anderson, who was a 7-5 winner over Australian Jordan Thompson.</p>

<p>Defending champion John Isner came out on the winning side of two tie-breakers in his afternoon battle with Roberto Bautista Agut to advance 7-6(1), 7-6(5) to the semi-finals of the tournament, where he has yet to drop a set.</p>

<p>The seventh-seeded American thumped 25 aces to see off the Spaniard and will next face either 18-year-old Canadian Felix Auger Aliassime or defensive baseliner Borna Coric, who play their quarter-final in the night session on Wednesday.</p>


A clinical Roger Federer took a confident step towards a fourth Miami Open title on Wednesday, easing past 13th-seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 6-2 to book his spot in the quarter-finals.

A clinical Roger Federer took a confident step towards a fourth Miami Open title on Wednesday, easing past 13th-seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 6-2 to book his spot in the quarter-finals. Federer, a winner of 100 career titles, can look back on dozens of brilliant performances and the Swiss maestro could add his ruthless fourth-round win over the red hot Russian to that list. With 17 match wins, no player has had more success this year than the lanky Russian but Medvedev had no answers for a rampaging Federer, who needed just 61 minutes to reach the last eight, where he will take on towering sixth-seeded South African Kevin Anderson. "There were really long rallies, tactical points. The big points went my way and that was the difference," said Federer. "I'm serving great this week and hope I can keep it up in the next round." The match got off to a routine start until Federer took control. With Medvedev 4-3 up in the first, the 20-times grand slam champion swept the next five games to take the opener and a 2-0 lead in the second. Medvedev halted the bleeding with a hold at 2-1 but there was no stopping the fourth-seeded Federer who claimed a second break to go up 5-2 and then had an easy hold to seal a business-like victory. The Russian could not convert any of his three breakpoints, while Federer took all three of his. Federer's fourth-round contest had been scheduled for Tuesday but was moved due to rain, giving the 37-year-old Swiss little time to recover before facing the hard-hitting Anderson, who was a 7-5 winner over Australian Jordan Thompson. Defending champion John Isner came out on the winning side of two tie-breakers in his afternoon battle with Roberto Bautista Agut to advance 7-6(1), 7-6(5) to the semi-finals of the tournament, where he has yet to drop a set. The seventh-seeded American thumped 25 aces to see off the Spaniard and will next face either 18-year-old Canadian Felix Auger Aliassime or defensive baseliner Borna Coric, who play their quarter-final in the night session on Wednesday.

Miami Open: Roger Federer eases past Daniil Medvedev into quarters

<p>Former German tennis star <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/indian-tennis-stars-need-to-work-together-for-the-sports-sake-boris-becker-198112">Boris Becker</a> backed an in-form Novak Djokovic to chase Roger Federer's record 20 Grand Slam titles.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While sp<span style="background-color: rgb(245, 246, 245);">eaking during&nbsp;</span>Laureus World Sports Awards,&nbsp;<span style="background-color: rgb(245, 246, 245);">Becker&nbsp;</span>told PTI that the Serbian's best chance to achieve the feat is in the next two years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The 31-year-old Djokovic is back to his best after a lean run and has won the last three Grand Slams, including a record seventh crown at the Australian Open last month.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Federer is 37 but is still going strong despite his fourth-round loss at Melbourne Park.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Seventeen-time Major winner Rafael Nadal too is well and truly back in the mix and reached the final at Melbourne Park after an injury lay-off.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Becker, speaking ahead of the Laureus World Sports Awards on Monday night, said equalling Federer's tally of 20 Grand Slams is now in the realm of possibility.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"One of the misfortunes of playing in an era with Federer and Nadal is you can't really compare yourself to them. Normally, after 15 Grand Slams and seven Australian Open titles, you would say 'wow'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It is wow but the next question is 'will Novak ever break Federer's record?" said Becker, who coached the world number one to six Grand Slam victories between 2014-2016.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The short answer is that there is a possibility (of Novak getting close to Federer's 20 titles) but a lot of things have to happen. Yes, he won the last three majors but before that, he had a two-year dry spot."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Following his split with Djokovic, Becker had questioned the Serbian's work ethic.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Tennis is fickle and sensitive. A lot of things have to be right in your personal and private life. For Novak, it is perfect at the moment. Therefore he is on his way (to match Federer's feats) and hopefully nothing happens in the meantime," said the German, who himself won six Majors.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Is Becker surprised by Djokovic's red hot form?&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Yes and no. Because he has a champion's mindset and that is something you never lose. He has his work ethic back, as well as his discipline, his desire and his love for the game, so, it was a question of time when he is going to win again," Becker said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"When he is on, he is very very good. And he is still young enough, younger than Nadal (who is 32). There is an open window for him in the next two years to add to his trophy collection.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"When Federer won his 20th, nobody thought anyone could even come close. Now you have two guys (Djokovic and Nadal). Every Grand Slam is witnessing history."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Becker feels both Nadal and Djokovic might have to win more than 20 titles to break Federer's record, considering the Swiss master is playing at the moment.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"With Roger Federer, nothing is impossible. As long as he is healthy and wants to play, I would never bet against him. Yes, theoretically, there is an age issue but he is redefining that at 37. May be not on clay but on grass the way he plays, he is one of my favourites to win the Wimbledon. It will stay that way until he doesn't want to play anymore," he said.</p>

<p>Nadal, Federer and Djokovic are superstars not just in the tennis world, they are also considered global sporting icons. Their intense rivalry will go down as one of the most competitive in history books and the sport will be a lot poorer when they retire.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, Becker sees the men's tennis landscape changing in the next five years. &nbsp;</p>

<p>"The younger generation will struggle to quickly move into their roles. But hey when I started playing it was Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe, I thought it was the greatest rivalry the world has ever seen. Next thing I know, I am involved with Edberg, Wilander and Lendl and then came Sampras and Agassi," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"So every five to seven years you find these two or three players who are extraordinary. We can't imagine right now but in the next five years, we will have a new top three who may not have the name (and fame) which Federer, Nadal and Djokovic enjoy."</p>


Former German tennis star Boris Becker backed an in-form Novak Djokovic to chase Roger Federer's record 20 Grand Slam titles. While speaking during Laureus World Sports Awards, Becker told PTI that the Serbian's best chance to achieve the feat is in the next two years.

Former German tennis star Boris Becker backed an in-form Novak Djokovic to chase Roger Federer's record 20 Grand Slam titles. While speaking during Laureus World Sports Awards, Becker told PTI that the Serbian's best chance to achieve the feat is in the next two years. The 31-year-old Djokovic is back to his best after a lean run and has won the last three Grand Slams, including a record seventh crown at the Australian Open last month. Federer is 37 but is still going strong despite his fourth-round loss at Melbourne Park. Seventeen-time Major winner Rafael Nadal too is well and truly back in the mix and reached the final at Melbourne Park after an injury lay-off. Becker, speaking ahead of the Laureus World Sports Awards on Monday night, said equalling Federer's tally of 20 Grand Slams is now in the realm of possibility. "One of the misfortunes of playing in an era with Federer and Nadal is you can't really compare yourself to them. Normally, after 15 Grand Slams and seven Australian Open titles, you would say 'wow'. "It is wow but the next question is 'will Novak ever break Federer's record?" said Becker, who coached the world number one to six Grand Slam victories between 2014-2016. "The short answer is that there is a possibility (of Novak getting close to Federer's 20 titles) but a lot of things have to happen. Yes, he won the last three majors but before that, he had a two-year dry spot." Following his split with Djokovic, Becker had questioned the Serbian's work ethic. "Tennis is fickle and sensitive. A lot of things have to be right in your personal and private life. For Novak, it is perfect at the moment. Therefore he is on his way (to match Federer's feats) and hopefully nothing happens in the meantime," said the German, who himself won six Majors. Is Becker surprised by Djokovic's red hot form? "Yes and no. Because he has a champion's mindset and that is something you never lose. He has his work ethic back, as well as his discipline, his desire and his love for the game, so, it was a question of time when he is going to win again," Becker said. "When he is on, he is very very good. And he is still young enough, younger than Nadal (who is 32). There is an open window for him in the next two years to add to his trophy collection. "When Federer won his 20th, nobody thought anyone could even come close. Now you have two guys (Djokovic and Nadal). Every Grand Slam is witnessing history." Becker feels both Nadal and Djokovic might have to win more than 20 titles to break Federer's record, considering the Swiss master is playing at the moment. "With Roger Federer, nothing is impossible. As long as he is healthy and wants to play, I would never bet against him. Yes, theoretically, there is an age issue but he is redefining that at 37. May be not on clay but on grass the way he plays, he is one of my favourites to win the Wimbledon. It will stay that way until he doesn't want to play anymore," he said. Nadal, Federer and Djokovic are superstars not just in the tennis world, they are also considered global sporting icons. Their intense rivalry will go down as one of the most competitive in history books and the sport will be a lot poorer when they retire. However, Becker sees the men's tennis landscape changing in the next five years. "The younger generation will struggle to quickly move into their roles. But hey when I started playing it was Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe, I thought it was the greatest rivalry the world has ever seen. Next thing I know, I am involved with Edberg, Wilander and Lendl and then came Sampras and Agassi," he said. "So every five to seven years you find these two or three players who are extraordinary. We can't imagine right now but in the next five years, we will have a new top three who may not have the name (and fame) which Federer, Nadal and Djokovic enjoy."

Boris Becker backs Novak Djokovic to chase Roger Federer's record 20 Grand Slam titles

<p>Roger Federer is no longer chasing the top ranking and would rather be a contender at Grand Slams than battling Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal to be world number one, the Swiss tennis great said on Friday.</p>

<p>The 20-times Grand Slam champion has held back the clock in the twilight of his remarkable career and became the ATP's oldest world number one last year a few weeks after clinching his sixth Australian Open at the age of 36.</p>

<p>Federer saw his bid for a seventh title at Melbourne Park crushed last month by up-and-coming Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas in the last 16 and having slipped to sixth in the rankings, he says his priorities have shifted.</p>

<p>"For me the ranking, at 37 years old, is no longer really the priority," he told a news conference in Geneva.</p>

<p>"But the idea for me is to be in good health, to know that I can win tournaments, to know that I can beat them (Djokovic and Nadal), and after that it is a pleasure.</p>

<p>"As soon as you feel that you have no chance and all, then it's a problem. Even if my ranking goes down further, it's not a problem for me. As long as I say I can win a Grand Slam as I did two years ago with a world ranking of 17, everything is in place. I prefer to be ranked 17th than third and not win a Grand Slam or tournament."</p>

<p>Federer said he plans to play the Dubai Championships in February and Masters events in Indian Wells and Miami in March before deciding which tournaments he would play in the leadup to the French Open.</p>

<p>Federer, speaking at a launch for the Laver Cup which is being held in Geneva from Sept. 20-22, hoped that compatriot Stan Wawrinka and world number one Djokovic would join him and Spaniard Nadal on the European team.</p>

<p>Federer, who is from Basel, said he was happy to be back in Switzerland for a few weeks, spending time with friends and family while training.</p>

<p>Sweden's Bjorn Borg is captain of the Europe team at the event named after Australian tennis great Rod Laver.</p>

<p>Nadal has announced he will join his perennial rival in the Laver Cup, which pits the best of Europe against a world team still to be named.</p>

<p>"I can't wait. We talked about it in Melbourne, we talked about how excited he (Nadal) was and me too that we're going to be on the same team again," Federer said.</p>

<p>"We don't know the opponents' team quite yet, it's a good thing Rafa is going to be on my team, and it's on home soil for me in Switzerland, it's indoors, I like indoors," he said.</p>

<p>Tickets for the third edition of the tournament, following events in Prague and Chicago, went on sale on Friday, with the best seats at the five-session event going for a whopping 2,820 Swiss francs ($2,817.46).</p>


Roger Federer is no longer chasing the top ranking and would rather be a contender at Grand Slams than battling Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal to be world number one, the Swiss tennis great said on Friday.

Roger Federer is no longer chasing the top ranking and would rather be a contender at Grand Slams than battling Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal to be world number one, the Swiss tennis great said on Friday. The 20-times Grand Slam champion has held back the clock in the twilight of his remarkable career and became the ATP's oldest world number one last year a few weeks after clinching his sixth Australian Open at the age of 36. Federer saw his bid for a seventh title at Melbourne Park crushed last month by up-and-coming Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas in the last 16 and having slipped to sixth in the rankings, he says his priorities have shifted. "For me the ranking, at 37 years old, is no longer really the priority," he told a news conference in Geneva. "But the idea for me is to be in good health, to know that I can win tournaments, to know that I can beat them (Djokovic and Nadal), and after that it is a pleasure. "As soon as you feel that you have no chance and all, then it's a problem. Even if my ranking goes down further, it's not a problem for me. As long as I say I can win a Grand Slam as I did two years ago with a world ranking of 17, everything is in place. I prefer to be ranked 17th than third and not win a Grand Slam or tournament." Federer said he plans to play the Dubai Championships in February and Masters events in Indian Wells and Miami in March before deciding which tournaments he would play in the leadup to the French Open. Federer, speaking at a launch for the Laver Cup which is being held in Geneva from Sept. 20-22, hoped that compatriot Stan Wawrinka and world number one Djokovic would join him and Spaniard Nadal on the European team. Federer, who is from Basel, said he was happy to be back in Switzerland for a few weeks, spending time with friends and family while training. Sweden's Bjorn Borg is captain of the Europe team at the event named after Australian tennis great Rod Laver. Nadal has announced he will join his perennial rival in the Laver Cup, which pits the best of Europe against a world team still to be named. "I can't wait. We talked about it in Melbourne, we talked about how excited he (Nadal) was and me too that we're going to be on the same team again," Federer said. "We don't know the opponents' team quite yet, it's a good thing Rafa is going to be on my team, and it's on home soil for me in Switzerland, it's indoors, I like indoors," he said. Tickets for the third edition of the tournament, following events in Prague and Chicago, went on sale on Friday, with the best seats at the five-session event going for a whopping 2,820 Swiss francs ($2,817.46).

Roger Federer: Chasing titles not top ranking

<p>The Hopman Cup might have saved its best for last as excitement builds for the most anticipated tennis match involving a man and woman since the "Battle of the Sexes" in the 1970s.</p>

<p>Roger&nbsp;Federer&nbsp;and Serena Williams, two of the greatest players in history, will face off across the net for the first time on Tuesday when United States go up against defending champions Switzerland in the mixed doubles of the unique two-player, mixed teams event.</p>

<p>This year's tournament is expected to be Perth's final Hopman Cup and Tuesday's group tie is an early sellout on the back of the prospect of seeing two of the all-time greats, with 43 Grand Slam singles titles between them, on the same court.</p>

<p>"It is very exciting for both of us and I hope a lot of tennis fans tune in and watch it," said&nbsp;Federer&nbsp;after opening his Hopman Cup campaign with an easy singles win on Sunday.</p>

<p>"I admire everything she's done on and off the court, we are both fierce competitors and we always want to win," added the 20-time Grand Slam champion of the once-in-a-lifetime match.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It is going to be one time, probably never again. She is one of the biggest champions in our sport ever, men and women combined, so it is great to be playing against her."</p>

<p>The original "Battle of the Sexes" saw Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs in an exhibition singles match in 1973.</p>

<p>Federer&nbsp;said he had plenty of experience playing against women, going back to his days as a teenage tour hopeful in Switzerland.</p>

<p>Despite their long concurrent careers and having attended a few Wimbledon champion dinners together,&nbsp;Federer&nbsp;said the pair barely knew each other.</p>

<p>"I don't know her that well," he said.</p>

<p>"In the corridors and cafes, walking by each other, sometimes in the past she has asked me how are the kiddies and how is everyone doing, but if I said I know her it would be a bit of an exaggeration."</p>

<p>Williams has said in a television interview that she was looking forward to getting a picture with&nbsp;Federer&nbsp;for her Instagram page.</p>

<p>"It is the age of social media," said&nbsp;Federer, with a grin.</p>


The Hopman Cup might have saved its best for last as excitement builds for the most anticipated tennis match involving a man and woman since the "Battle of the Sexes" in the 1970s.

The Hopman Cup might have saved its best for last as excitement builds for the most anticipated tennis match involving a man and woman since the "Battle of the Sexes" in the 1970s. Roger Federer and Serena Williams, two of the greatest players in history, will face off across the net for the first time on Tuesday when United States go up against defending champions Switzerland in the mixed doubles of the unique two-player, mixed teams event. This year's tournament is expected to be Perth's final Hopman Cup and Tuesday's group tie is an early sellout on the back of the prospect of seeing two of the all-time greats, with 43 Grand Slam singles titles between them, on the same court. "It is very exciting for both of us and I hope a lot of tennis fans tune in and watch it," said Federer after opening his Hopman Cup campaign with an easy singles win on Sunday. "I admire everything she's done on and off the court, we are both fierce competitors and we always want to win," added the 20-time Grand Slam champion of the once-in-a-lifetime match. "It is going to be one time, probably never again. She is one of the biggest champions in our sport ever, men and women combined, so it is great to be playing against her." The original "Battle of the Sexes" saw Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs in an exhibition singles match in 1973. Federer said he had plenty of experience playing against women, going back to his days as a teenage tour hopeful in Switzerland. Despite their long concurrent careers and having attended a few Wimbledon champion dinners together, Federer said the pair barely knew each other. "I don't know her that well," he said. "In the corridors and cafes, walking by each other, sometimes in the past she has asked me how are the kiddies and how is everyone doing, but if I said I know her it would be a bit of an exaggeration." Williams has said in a television interview that she was looking forward to getting a picture with Federer for her Instagram page. "It is the age of social media," said Federer, with a grin.

Serena Williams and Roger Federer to play each other for first time

<p>Roger Federer sprang to Alexander Zverev's defence after some of the Swiss great's diehard fans booed the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/alexander-zverev-becomes-first-german-to-reach-atp-finals-title-match-since-1996-177978">young German </a>after his superb victory in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/novak-djokovic-thumps-anderson-to-set-up-final-clash-with-zverev-177928">the last four of the ATP Finals </a>on Saturday.</p>

<p>Zverev, 21, won fair and square 7-5, 7-6(5) to claim a third victory in six meetings with Federer, but the semi-final ended in uproar after a controversial second-set tiebreak.</p>

<p>Federer was leading 4-3 when Zverev stopped mid-rally after a ball slipped from a ball boys' hand and into his line of vision. When the point was replayed Zverev served an ace.</p>

<p>A few points later Zverev finished off the 37-year-old with a nerveless volley, but his on-court interview was drowned out by a cacophony of boos and heckling from fans who believed the German had gained an unfair advantage.</p>

<p>"Look, I understand the frustration. It's just unfortunate circumstances," 20-time Grand Slam champion Federer told reporters. "Booing, I never like it. We see it in other sports all the time, but in tennis it's rare.</p>

<p>"So when it happens, it gets very personal and we take it very direct. I think it's unfortunate that this happened. Sascha doesn't deserve it.</p>

<p>"He apologised to me at the net. I was like, 'buddy, shut up! You don't need to apologise to me here. Congratulations on a great match and a great tournament so far.'</p>

<p>"He didn't do anything about it. He just called it how it was. He felt it affected play. There is a rule that if something like this happens, obviously you replay points."</p>

<p><em>Watch the video here:</em></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">🧐 ZVEREV BALL BOY INCIDENT ANALYSED 🧐<br />
<br />
Host <a href="https://twitter.com/marcus_buckland?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@marcus_buckland</a> discusses the ball boy incident in the match between Alexander <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Zverev?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Zverev</a> &amp; Roger <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Federer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Federer</a> in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ATPFinals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ATPFinals</a> last four with <a href="https://twitter.com/GregRusedski1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GregRusedski1</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/pfleming55?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@pfleming55</a> in the Sky Sports' studio. <a href="https://t.co/Omsr9dYl4R">pic.twitter.com/Omsr9dYl4R</a></p>
— Sky Sports Tennis 🎾 (@SkySportsTennis) <a href="https://twitter.com/SkySportsTennis/status/1063882543999696896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 17, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Federer, who was already being pencilled in for a Sunday showdown with great rival <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/novak-djokovic-thumps-anderson-to-set-up-final-clash-with-zverev-177928">Novak Djokovic</a>, said he had asked the ball boy whether or not he had dropped the ball.</p>

<p>"He said, 'Yes, I did drop the ball.' From that standpoint, it's okay, no problem, that happens. It's all good. I hope he doesn't have a sleepless night. It's not a big deal at the end of the day. This is life, this is sport. Definitely not mad at him. It's all good," he added.</p>

<p>Zverev, the first German to reach the final of the prestigious season-ender since Boris Becker in 1996, said the boos from the Fed-Heads in the crowd had shaken him up.</p>

<p>"I was a little bit sad at the end with the booing and reaction of the crowd," he said.</p>

<p>"I was very emotional afterwards. The booing went into cheering kind of afterwards, which kind of helped me.</p>

<p>"I was really upset afterwards in the locker room, I'm not going to lie. I had to take a few minutes for myself.</p>

<p>"But, you know, I hope the crowd and the people who were booing maybe look at what actually happened, maybe just realise that I've maybe not done anything wrong."</p>


Roger Federer sprang to Alexander Zverev's defence after some of the Swiss great's diehard fans booed the young German after his superb victory in the last four of the ATP Finals on Saturday.

Roger Federer sprang to Alexander Zverev's defence after some of the Swiss great's diehard fans booed the young German after his superb victory in the last four of the ATP Finals on Saturday. Zverev, 21, won fair and square 7-5, 7-6(5) to claim a third victory in six meetings with Federer, but the semi-final ended in uproar after a controversial second-set tiebreak. Federer was leading 4-3 when Zverev stopped mid-rally after a ball slipped from a ball boys' hand and into his line of vision. When the point was replayed Zverev served an ace. A few points later Zverev finished off the 37-year-old with a nerveless volley, but his on-court interview was drowned out by a cacophony of boos and heckling from fans who believed the German had gained an unfair advantage. "Look, I understand the frustration. It's just unfortunate circumstances," 20-time Grand Slam champion Federer told reporters. "Booing, I never like it. We see it in other sports all the time, but in tennis it's rare. "So when it happens, it gets very personal and we take it very direct. I think it's unfortunate that this happened. Sascha doesn't deserve it. "He apologised to me at the net. I was like, 'buddy, shut up! You don't need to apologise to me here. Congratulations on a great match and a great tournament so far.' "He didn't do anything about it. He just called it how it was. He felt it affected play. There is a rule that if something like this happens, obviously you replay points." Watch the video here: 🧐 ZVEREV BALL BOY INCIDENT ANALYSED 🧐 Host @marcus_buckland discusses the ball boy incident in the match between Alexander #Zverev & Roger #Federer in the #ATPFinals last four with @GregRusedski1 & @pfleming55 in the Sky Sports' studio. pic.twitter.com/Omsr9dYl4R — Sky Sports Tennis 🎾 (@SkySportsTennis) November 17, 2018 × Federer, who was already being pencilled in for a Sunday showdown with great rival Novak Djokovic, said he had asked the ball boy whether or not he had dropped the ball. "He said, 'Yes, I did drop the ball.' From that standpoint, it's okay, no problem, that happens. It's all good. I hope he doesn't have a sleepless night. It's not a big deal at the end of the day. This is life, this is sport. Definitely not mad at him. It's all good," he added. Zverev, the first German to reach the final of the prestigious season-ender since Boris Becker in 1996, said the boos from the Fed-Heads in the crowd had shaken him up. "I was a little bit sad at the end with the booing and reaction of the crowd," he said. "I was very emotional afterwards. The booing went into cheering kind of afterwards, which kind of helped me. "I was really upset afterwards in the locker room, I'm not going to lie. I had to take a few minutes for myself. "But, you know, I hope the crowd and the people who were booing maybe look at what actually happened, maybe just realise that I've maybe not done anything wrong."

Watch: Why Alexander Zverev was booed during clash against Roger Federer

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