Roger, Roger On the Wall…

Bryan Bros. Hit 58...Murray's Troubles...Quotebook

IVO THE RAT: Harvey Fialkov likened 6-foot-10 power server Ivo Karlovic to “Randy Johnson in shorts.”
CHILE RECEPTION?: Despite the devastating earthquake that’s claimed the lives of more than 700 people, Chile still plans to host its Davis Cup tie against Israel in the port town of Coquimbo.
‘…AND INTRODUCING FERNANDO VERDASCO AS MAXIMUS’: Fernando Verdasco may [...]

Tiger Woods and Roger Federer

It was destiny.
Tiger Woods and Roger Federer became fast friends. Nevermind that they connected amidst some controversy when Tiger infamously sat in Fed’s Friends Box at the ‘06 U.S. Open final and rooted for his new Swiss pal against his fellow-American, Andy Roddick.
But that dicey little moment hardly deterred the high profile, not-so-odd couple that [...]

Bode, Brees, Barbies and the Slap Heard ‘Round the World

U.S. Fed Cup Favorites?...Monfils' South African Journey...Quotebook

JUST WONDERING: In the absence of Amelie Mauresmo and Nathalie Dechy, does Mary Joe Fernandez’s not-exactly-formidable, Williams-less U.S. contingent of Melanie Oudin, Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Liezel Huber actually look like a Fed Cup favorite against France’s foursome of Alize Cornet, Julie Coin, Pauline Parmentier and Stephanie Cohen-Aloro?…Given Lleyton Hewitt’s withdrawal from San Jose (he’s having [...]

A Fluffy, Green Tonsillectomy (and Other Revelations)

Murray's Tears...Serena Chases Fed...Quotebook

NOT GONNA GO THERE: Asked what the difference between Kim Cljsters and Justine Henin is, Serena Williams said, “Uhm, hmm, I’m going to keep that to myself.”
SNOTTY LITTLIES IN TOW: The Age’s Linda Pearce marveled at Roger Federer’s accomplishment in Melbourne, writing, “Fathers struggle to win major titles. It is supposed to be harder with [...]

An Australian Open Notebook (Day 12)

Cahill Chats With Federer, PMac's Math, Murray Mania

Some said that ESPN commentator Darren Cahill’s post-match interview of Roger Federer was more engaging than Federer’s one-sided 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 one-hour/28-minute domination of Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the AO semis.  Here’s the exchange:
DARREN CAHILL: Roger, a great match, a perfect way to go into a final.
ROGER FEDERER: No wasted energy, that’s for sure. I’m [...]

Australian Open Buzz (Day 4)

One For the No-Spank Parents In the Lentil-Belt Suburbs

HE’S A PRINCE OF A GUY: Andy Roddick may be able to boast NFLer Terrell Owens in his Friends Box, but Roger Federer one-upped him on Wednesday night, when none other than Prince William showed up to witness his routine 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 win over Victor Hanescu.  “Where he comes from, he knows tennis and [...]

The Most Successful Bad Player Ever

Yanina, X-Man Appeal Bans...Surgery For Zvonareva...Quotebook

BAN APPEALS: Yanina Wickmayer and Xavier Malisse have asked the Court of Arbitration for Sport to overturn their one-year bans for missing drug tests.
SOMEBODY GET THOSE GUYS A RAZOR: Reflecting on his epic five-set, 16-14 in the fifth win over Andy Roddick in the Wimbledon final, Roger Federer said, “I had a feeling at changeovers [...]

The Nutcracker (Starring Middle-Aged Men of Average Dexterity)

Geithner the Net Rusher...Scud Shops His Wedding...Quotebook

TCHAIKOVSKY WOULD BE HORRIFIED: The New Republic’s Noam Scheiber revealed that President Obama’s economic advisory team is a group of hardcore tennis fanatics.  Among the regulars are Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner (”He can materialize at net so quickly it feels like he served from mid-court.”), the president’s chief economic adviser, Larry Summers (”Basically, he hits [...]

Federer Stays Motivated as Ever

NEW YORK – It can’t be easy to be Roger Federer some days.
Not because he occasionally has to help his wife Mirka change the diapers of their new twin girls, but because on many days when he goes to work, he has to confront an opponent he’s beaten time and time again. MORE

Numbers Game

Federer Ups Record Against Hewitt to 16-7; Moves On to 4th Round

FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — Some numbers you just can’t ignore.  For Lleyton Hewitt, 7-15 was among them.  It was his record against Roger Federer coming into Saturday’s third-round matchup at the U.S. Open.  A subpar win-loss ratio that included a lopsided defeat to the Swiss No. 1 in the ‘04 final, in which Hewitt was [...]