Swiss Timing: Federer Playing With Precision

No. 3 Seed On Trilingualism, Tiger's Travails and the Death of the One-Handed Backhand

FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — Five-time U.S. Open champion Roger Federer moved into the fourth round on Saturday with an impressive 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 decision over Croat Marin Cilic.  Afterward, the Swiss star, who will face Argentine Juan Monaco for a shot at the quarterfinals, spoke with reporters.  Here are some highlights: ON BEING TRILINGUAL: [...]

Talkin’ ‘Bout My Generation

Which Era In Tennis Is Best?

Okay, the whole notion of “a generation” is a sticky wicket, a big-picture shortcut that invites oversimplification. Still, we adore our categories. We love to compartmentalize, label and list.  So, ever since the Lost Generation, pop culture gurus have divided and wrapped up our eras into nice neat, user-friendly packages.

A Rivalry Unmatched

McEnroe, Connors: Federer-Nadal Rivalry ‘Soft’

Not since the days of the Sampragassian Wars has the tennis world seen anything quite like the world-class rivalry between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.  The top-of-the-game duo has faced off on 25 must-see-TV occasions dating back to 2004, eight of those coming in Slam finals. It’s been a compelling contrast: ballet vs. bullfight, flair [...]

‘Til Death Do Us Part: A Tennis Marriage Primer

They Say Love Means Nothing In Tennis. Think Again.

The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton delighted billions. And why not? It was a fairy tale like no other. Well, no other since William’s mother and father — Lady Di and Prince Charles — did their royal thing. Of course, at times like this, tennis is far from the radar screen. Except, in [...]

The Trial of Roger Federer

The Mighty Federer Faces His Toughest Foe

Tick! Tick! Tick! The loudest sound in tennis these days is not a cluster of Serbian fans screaming from the upper tier or the grunts of Victoria Azarenka. Rather, it’s the sound of the inexorable, slow-moving clock winding down on the incomparable career of Roger Federer.

Sexy Serena and the Hamlet of Tennis

Sony Ericsson Open Notebook

FED VS. MARTINA: After Martina Navratilova said Roger Federer “is on the other side of the float. I don’t think he’ll ever play as well as he did three or four years ago. That’s not to say he can’t still win a Slam, but it’s difficult to see him climbing back to No. 1,” the [...]

The Naked Truth: Aussie Open Notes

GOING SOFT?: Regarding conflicts of interest that seem to permeate the world of tennis broadcasting (example: TV commentator Mary Joe Fernandez is married to Roger Federer‘s agent, Tony Godsick), SI.com’s Richard Deitsch asserted, “The sport’s television entities have long fostered a climate where players are subjected to questions about as soft as a Francesca Schiavone [...]

10 Burning Questions For Tennis In 2011

1 Can new boss-of-the-bench Jim Courier continue to curry fraternal favor with Roddick & Co. the way outgoing U.S. Davis Cup captain/pledge master Patrick McEnroe did for the past decade? Aside from returning the Cup to American soil in ’07 after a dozen-year absence, PMac’s tenure will be best remembered for its esprit de corps. [...]

The Buzz: 2010 In Review

'If You Play Like You're Broke and Hungry, You'll Never Be Either'

UMBRELLA PAYMENT: Margaret Court won an umbrella for winning the Australian Open in 1960. When Serena Williams won last year, she pocketed $2.1 million.

A Dream Denied

Djokovic Shocks ‘Empty’ Federer 5-7, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2, 7-5

FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — Sometimes dreams come true. Most times not. Twenty-three thousand fans in Arthur Ashe Stadium and millions around the tennis universe had just one hope.