A few pointers on the final:

- I hated the fact that the presenter start Roger's ceremony speech by asking him how it felt to have Tiger Woods in his corner, about how great it is to have a Champion of that calibre in his box blah blah blah blah blah. LISTEN, mate, this guy has just won a Grand Slam after two weeks of grueling it out against the top tennis players of the world, not counting the hours of practise on the courts - and he just snagged the trophy after an epic battle and you start by asking him HOW IT FEELS TO HAVE SOME PERSON IN HIS BOX????? IF IT WAS GOD, THEN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN OKAY TO ASK!!! BUT ONLY GOD, OKAY???????

- And then the presser is FULL of questions by drooling tennis journos asking "How it feels" to be sitting in farting distance of Tiger Woods, and whether he got an autograph from him. PEOPLE PEOPLE, STOP. I know Woods is great and all, and most American think he is God, but hes not, and it's Rogers night for God's (not Tiger's) sake! Blasted hate golf anyway.

- Mr. Roddick is very mistaken if he thinks he can get away with making statements on the line that he is not too behind Federer. And what up with always being bitter and rude in the press conferences? Not cool, rod-dick. Ever heard of being gracious in defeat?

- Roger, is always at his finest in grandslam final pressers! The happiness factor take sover and he sounds just like a regular, funny guy! In fact, this years US Open presser has to be my favorite =) am posting below:

- Also, I love that fact that Roger always mentions Marat when ticking off potential threats/greats in the game =D See, he identifies the genious in Marat! And he ALWAYS mentions him =) go youuu!

ROGER FEDERER: Thanks for the patience (applause).

TIM CURRY: Questions, please.

Q. Playing golf with Tiger Woods?

ROGER FEDERER: Putting contest, yeah (smiling).

Q. Do you ever surprise yourself at how well you play this game?

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I do. I thought, you know, today was gonna be extremely tough. I had to make sure that, you know, I get his serves back and everything. So there's never a guarantee for, you know, the way you feel out there and everything in a moment like this, especially against an American here at The Open. It's so hard. So I'm really, really happy how it went. You know, I thought I played again fantastic, all the way through. The entire tournament was great. Whereas in Australia I struggled and everything. It was more like Wimbledon when I dominated from the start there.

Q. You've now played Andy Roddick. Do you notice any differences since he's worked with Jimmy Connors?

ROGER FEDERER: I definitely think his serve picked up again. The last time I played him, he was playing well in Cincinnati and Wimbledon, as well. So I didn't play him in that stretch when he had kind of a phase where he didn't play so well. I think the key to his game is always his serve. He seems more steady off the backhand side than in the past. He maybe plays the percentage a little bit better now. When he comes to the net, his approach shots and everything are a bit better and everything. So I do feel a bit of an improvement since he's been with Jimmy maybe, yeah.

Q. You got nine Grand Slam titles now. You passed Agassi, Connors, Lendl. What does it mean to you?

ROGER FEDERER: I mean, am I the only guy who won nine? I don't know.

Q. Yes.

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, it's nice (laughter). I don't want to stop here, I mean...But I remember being in great company, you know, like when I reached six and then seven and eight, the same. There's always such great players on that level. Now I'm left alone at nine, you know. So feels a bit strange, obviously, because I'm still going. It's been a fantastic season. Winning three Slams, it's unbelievable. Something I've done in '04, but I was in the finals of the French, so it's really incredible.

Q. You were asked yesterday about the accomplishment of winning three consecutive Wimbledons and US Opens. You said you really can't think of it in that context, because there was still work to be done, you had to stay in the moment, think about the match ahead.

ROGER FEDERER: Hmm.

Q. Can you now put it in that context and think about the totality of that accomplishment?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, you know, it's funny because I think I came here first time as a Wimbledon champion in '03 and people were telling me like, Yeah, it's hardly ever happened, a guy winning Wimbledon and the US Open back to back. Even in the women's game, it hasn't happened that often. I was like, Really? You know. I don't care really, I'm gonna try to win the Open anyhow. Look what happened, I've been on a roll since '04. Of course, you know, I am surprised how well it went. But at the same time, I know I've given myself the best possible chance. And every time I enter a Slam, I'm so well prepared, I'm playing so well, that in the end, maybe I'm not that surprised because the hard work is paying off, and the shot selection usually is always the right one. I come through the matches, I don't play so well, convincingly, it ends up that I arrive in the finals just feeling great, you know, so...

Q. Four years ago you hadn't won a Grand Slam title. In four years' time, you have nine. You're out on the court today during the ceremony and described as the greatest player to have ever played the game on the PA system. That's remarkable to have that mantle in four years' time.

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, no, I totally agree. That's where you see how much I struggled, too, you know. Early on in my career, I couldn't win the Masters Series, couldn't win the Slams, was struggling to win other titles. Needed a change of attitude towards the game, you know, to kind of turn the corner. I did that so well that it paid off incredibly, you know. I always knew that I was talented, I had potential and everything. But I think, you know, that's maybe sometimes there for like a Slam or so, but after that, it just is a different league, you know, winning so many. I'm shocked myself how well it's been going the last three, four years, because being not only compared to former great tennis players, but now especially also other great athletes all over sports, it's just really nice.

Q. He made a big push at the end of the second set. At the end of the third, it seemed like you rose a little bit. You liked the moment, you liked being push. You wanted to see how well you responded. Then you break him nicely and soar. Just like you did against Andre. ROGER

FEDERER: It's very similar, yeah.

Q. Describe being in those moments when you're pushed, being able to bring it a level up.

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, I was definitely, you know, under pressure in the third set. I felt like Andy was starting to play better, serve better. I had to wait for the moment when he had a game where he wasn't quite on. Up until that moment, I had to make sure I held my serve. That's why that game at Love 40 was crucial. I knew that could kind of hurt him mentally a little bit maybe. Then also I knew that that gave me another chance, you know, a look at his serves. Then go ahead. That's exactly what happened towards the end of the third. He had a terrible game. I took advantage of it. From then on, didn't look back. I started to feel better, play more freely, and in the end I played unbelievable. So I was very happy with the game in total because the start was great; the finish was great. What was in between, it doesn't really matter, so...That's what was great about it.

Q. At the end of it, you flopped down on your back. You seemed elated, but maybe also a little bit relieved. Could you describe, you know, why that reaction, and maybe was it because Andy really pushed you in the middle two sets?

ROGER FEDERER: I think this is a huge Grand Slam, you know (smiling). Just felt like this is a great moment, once again, in my career. I deserved to lie down (laughter). Kind of give myself a break. From standing up, sitting down and everything, I just thought lying down would be more comfortable. Thank God I didn't injure myself (laughter). I haven't seen it yet in replay, but one thing's for sure: I felt great, you know, lying there on the floor alone. It was good. Good feeling.

Q. Back a couple years ago there was so much talk about how Tiger was so far ahead of his competitors, and now, of course, he was watching you here today. Do you feel like the gap between you and perhaps No. 2 and No. 3 is closing? Andy said perhaps the gap was closed a little bit today when he played you. Do you feel like the gap is closing?

ROGER FEDERER: I don't know. I mean, as long as I'm on top, I guess it doesn't really matter. No, I felt like after the great clay court season, you know, of Raf, I was under pressure, you know, for sure to do well in Wimbledon because he proved that, again, how well he plays on clay. He put the pressure on me for the grass court season to do it all over again, myself, too, like he did on clay. This is really when I felt the pressure. After winning Wimbledon, I sort of said, Okay, whoever wins the US Open I guess is really better. So came here and won, so it's fantastic. Now I totally deserve to be No. 1 for the rest of the season, and hopefully I can back it up again next season. But I think, you know, with guys like Hewitt and Agassi sorry, Roddick and Safin playing better, I think you always got to give these guys also a bigger chance of coming back, you know, stronger. A new guy like I don't know who but you could say the gap is closing.But at the same time, I'm playing so well and so consistent that it's going to be hard for them to pass me at the moment. That's for sure.

Q. You had the wonderful privilege to chat with Tiger, and of course most of that was private.

ROGER FEDERER: Tried to come in, didn't you (smiling)? Were you the only guy or no?

Q. I did speak with Tiger.

ROGER FEDERER: You did? Well done.

Q. He said you got to work on your backhand.

ROGER FEDERER: Oh...

Q. Anyway, kidding aside, we all would have loved to have been in there. Could you just share a little bit of your sense of him as a man and also as an athlete.

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, for me, of course, it's very nice to get to meet him finally after all the time we've been trying to get to see each other in Shanghai. I remember I was there in Dubai when he was there. He plays so much in the States, that when I'm here, you would think that we would get a chance to see each other. Our schedules, they collide. More and more often, you know, over the last year or so, I've been kind of compared to Tiger, what he's doing on the golf tour, me doing on the tennis tour. So today was kind of the day where finally we got to meet and chat a little longer. I asked him how it was for him. It's funny, you know, because many things were similar. He knew exactly how I kind of felt out on the court. That's something that I haven't felt before, you know, a guy who knows how it feels to feel invincible at times and, you know, when you just have the feeling like there's nothing going wrong any more. In the fourth set, for instance, it's, I guess, for him on the final round, he knows exactly how it feels. That's what was so interesting to talk to him about. Of course that's not all we talked about. We talked about other things, but it was just really great fun to get to meet him. My parents are great golfers, so he was nice enough to talk to them, as well, over the phone. They're not in bed yet, so it was great. He's very nice, and much nicer than I expected. I thought him to be nice, but he's really, really nice, so that's nice.

Q. He didn't give you his hat, did he?

ROGER FEDERER: No. I tried. I tried to get it, but... (laughter). He didn't even want to sign it for me (smiling). It was tough, you know. Signatures and interviews these days.

Q. He's a tough customer.

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah (smiling).

Q. How do you handle, day by day, the pressure and the expectations after all you've done?

ROGER FEDERER: I don't have pressure walking through the streets, I tell you that, no. It's okay, you know. I've gotten used to it. No, it's okay by now, you know. I used to feel pressure when I was young and people were saying, This guy's got some talent, but he can't get his mind right, he's not fit enough. This stuff hurt me, you know, back then. I was at a junction, I don't know how to say, which road do I want to take, the talented road or the hard working road. I chose for the hard working road and it paid off. The pressure for me now, it's what I enjoy. I like getting goosebumps walking out on center court and serving for the match. These are the moments which you dream for. It's not like it's I guess eventually once I retire, it's kind of like, Finally, it's gone. But at the moment, I enjoy it.

Q. How many more tournaments will you play this year, do you think?

ROGER FEDERER: The plan is to play Davis Cup, Tokyo, Madrid, Basel, Paris and Shanghai. That's the plan. For the moment, I feel good. I'm not injured yet. I've been a little bit unlucky at the end of the years the last two, three years. Hopefully, this time it will work out for me.

Q. You mentioned after Paris that you felt pressure because of what Rafa had done. How much sort of satisfaction does it give you now to finish the US Open, know that you've proved to yourself that you are the No. 1?

ROGER FEDERER: I mean, it's now, what I look at actually is winning three, being in the finals of one. That's what I look at. That's what it comes down to, I think. It's funny, because in the beginning of the year, you know, I was especially after the Australian Open as it's so early, I was hoping, Maybe I can win the Slam. Tony said I'll come to The Open if you win Wimbledon and the French, too. He's not here, so... (laughter).Still worked out. Still get so close to the Slam, it's fantastic. I'm happy the Slams are over because it's hard work. You know, like you said, a lot of pressure. But I'm happy to kind of sit back a bit and relax. It's just not thinking of any rival at the moment, it's just really the wins, you know, the great season I've had so far. Four Slams are over and I played fantastic in all of them, so it's all good.

Q. What goals have you set for next year?

ROGER FEDERER: I haven't decided yet.

Q. You haven't?

ROGER FEDERER: No.

Q. You said during the ceremony when it was pointed out that Tiger Woods was in your corner that, Yeah, I had some pressure. I did notice that when they flashed him up on the board there, everybody applauded, that you had four or five points that you lost.

ROGER FEDERER: I don't remember.

Q. Did you feel any pressure having him there? Was there any moment where you might have thought the guy's watching you?

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, no, you get that feeling. It's like I don't know how you can relate to it, but, you know, it's like maybe the first time your parents see you do something special, or somebody comes to you, you really maybe look up to, or maybe in the game I don't know. Like if the best ever journalist would be looking at you guys asking every question, you would go like, I make sure it's a good question. For me, it's like when I go out there and I see, you know, Tiger sitting there, it's like, you know, I try to play well, you know? I try to, you know, kind of get my act together and focus and get off to a good start, you know. I remember having this many, many times in my career where, you know, like in the very beginning, Marc Rosset would come watch me play because he was the No. 1 tennis player in Switzerland. When you get to guys coming over to watch your matches, you kind of look over in the box and go, Okay, I know you're here and I hope I do well. It's extra pressure. That's why I try not to go to see the Swiss guys too much, because I know what it could do for them, you know. They look in the box and say, Oh, shit, Roger's here (laughter). So I'd rather watch them on TV. But I can handle it by now, you know. But, still, it still hits me, yes, it does.

Q. When you're old and gray, you can help the younger guys out.

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, maybe then (smiling). Got to be a good question, rest of the guys watching you.

Q. Are you surprised at Rafael's loss?

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, little bit. We all knew that Youzhny had his chance, but I still would have picked him to come through. So a bit of a surprise, yes.

Q. Second quick question.

ROGER FEDERER: Uh hmm.

Q. Your English, did you learn it back in your country or pick it up on tour?

ROGER FEDERER: Give you a little hint now. My mom's South African, so I got it from her, yeah.

Q. You know when you go to the supermarket, they give you two products for one

ROGER FEDERER: Okay. This is gonna be funny now, I think (laughing).

Q. Next year, say two Slams for Roland Garros, or five Masters Series for...

ROGER FEDERER: I think you always ask me questions like about the French, try to put me...

Q. He likes that.

ROGER FEDERER: He likes that, huh? I always say the same thing, you know. Wimbledon counts more for me.

Q. At this point?

ROGER FEDERER: Look, I don't know. It's like so nice to win the US Open, so why would I want to try for the French?

Q. To prove that on clay you're the best.

ROGER FEDERER: I know I'm good on clay.

Q. You are the best.

ROGER FEDERER: Not the best at the moment, yeah. But if Raf wouldn't be in a round, maybe I would have won it by now. No, I don't know. All I can try to do is give myself the best chance, you know? That's what I've been doing really the last especially two or three years. And before that, I just was not good enough, I think. I lost early a few times. This time around, I really believe I can win, you know. Whereas before, I thought it's too tough, too long, too hard and everything. I doubted myself from the early rounds on. But now, being so dominant in all the other Slams, I know I can win the French, you know. Nadal here or not, I know I could beat him, too, because I was so close.

Q. Perhaps one of the most remarkable things about your run is that you've done a lot of it without a coach. I know Tony comes in and out. There are times during matches where you get in trouble. Do you ever think, Maybe I should have brought someone along? You've learned to think through things pretty clearly, like the switch, how you returned the serve today from blocking it. Do you ever doubt that in a match, Maybe I should have had someone go out and scout?

ROGER FEDERER: Never had that feeling. Never. I mean, when I split with Peter at the end of '03, I knew the decision was tough and everything, but of course I was a bit worried going into the Australian Open. But after winning that, becoming No. 1 in the world, I kind of told myself that it's still the right decision to take because I can still play well. I remember looking up in the box and best friend of mine was there and my girlfriend was there. They were giving me, you know, a good feeling about what I'm doing. I remember never looking up into the box going, I wish whoever was there, best coach in the world. Because I have such unbelievable belief in my own game and understanding about my shot selection and everything that I always need to look up there (sic). That's why I'm against coaching on the tour, you know, on court. Because I think the work is done beforehand and not during a match. And if you try to change it up, I always believe it doesn't work. It's the instinct in the end that takes over. That's how it is for me. In the fourth set, total instinct took over, and I dominated Andy. That's what I'm talking about.

Q. Does it surprise you, then, that Maria has her father in the box telling her when to drink and when to eat a banana when you don't need a coach to tell you that?

ROGER FEDERER: (Smiling). What do you think I think when I see this?I mean... Yeah, look, telling you when to drink and eat a banana and stuff, it's like, you know, seriously, is that gonna make the backhand go in on breakpoint and stuff in, no. So, I mean, I smile at it because...

Q. Just in case the banana means not only a banana, I guess.

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, who knows. You're smart, actually (smiling).

Q. Tiger and Annika have a friendly rivalry where they call each other after they win a major. Do you have anything like that with him?

ROGER FEDERER: Not yet. He says I'm three behind, so, he's going...

Q. Two behind, I think.

ROGER FEDERER: Is he two behind? He's got 12. I wish. Who knows? I wouldn't be surprised if I get a message next time when he wins, yeah. I wouldn't be surprised at all.

Q. Winning for the third straight year here in New York, do you think it will help raise your profile in America in terms of the popularity, and maybe in endorsements, too?


ROGER FEDERER: I guess so (laughing). I don't really care, honestly. I cared four years ago if I was more famous here or not. I mean, I have great fans here in the States. I've had an unbelievable run here in this country, and I feel they really support me a lot. You know, I would like to thank them, because it's not the ordinary, you know, that they always support you being from somewhere else. So I definitely think, you know, it helps. But, look, in the end, I just love this game. If I get more endorsements, that's nice. But in the end, it's about this and not about the rest, so...

Q. Do you feel you had more support tonight than you did when you played Blake?

ROGER FEDERER: Oh, yeah, absolutely.

Q. Would you attribute that to the way you play?

ROGER FEDERER: Don't know. It's hard to answer. It's up to you to find out why.

Q. I'm going to start looking into it.

ROGER FEDERER: Please do (smiling). Maybe the finals, maybe they start to appreciate, you know, my way of being on the court, you know. Obviously, with the success, you know, you gain more and more fans. Just the way maybe the match turned out to be, I don't know. It's just they never got into it like they did against Blake or Agassi last year, so...

Q. So Tiger shows up today, puts extra pressure on you showing up at the US Open finals. Next year will you go to the Masters?

ROGER FEDERER: I'm going to go to each Masters, each Grand Slam he plays and get him back, you know (laughter). I'm gonna tell him, I'm gonna come when you're about to win a major, when you're out on the 18th green, I'll be standing there. He knows he has to be in the winning position. That's how I felt, you know, like when he told me he's gonna come for the finals. I was like, Oh, nice. Let me first do the dirty work getting there, you know. So, no, we spoke about it, you know, trying to go to a major. I hope I can do it next year, yes.

Q. Think you'll be as happy if you ever lose here at The Open? If you come to a press conference after a loss at the US Open?

ROGER FEDERER: You never know. I wouldn't be surprised (smiling).

Hail the King - 9th time !

Alright fellas - I have to tell all of you what it felt like staying up late night, past 2 am and watch the greatest player EVER who graced a tennis court won is 9th major. Yes, ladies and gentlemen - Roger Federer scorched the mojo yankee, Andy Roddick 6-2 4-6 7-5 6-1 in close to 2 hours and 30 minutes and secured his 3rd US open.

Now as far as records, facts and figures go - i find it useless to say much because with every single victory he achieves, he is basically wrapping up more and more accolades and admiration - not from his peers, but as we saw lastnight, from athelets who are from entirely another sport.

Tiger Woods, the single most dominant golf player of the current generation and pretty much a lock for the greatest player of all time was there in the players box with ROGER FEDERER ( and not in his compatriot, roddick's) to witness his dominance being stamped. Woods have made the game his own in pretty much the same manner Rog is doing to tennis. Now two masters met each other and how well roger must have impressed tiger with his flawless brand of tennis. I mean, in every sigle grandslam final, he just seems to raise the bar and inventing shots, angles, power that the racket manufacturers never thought their equipment was capable of.

I saw very few women's game and quite alot of men's matches and i saw this VERY clear difference among them that in all of them - there is absolutely no finesse. No 'touch' shots, its just crash bang wallop scream routine going on there. 2 biggest example i can cite is Blake vs Berdych and Nadal vs Youzhuny. But with Rog, its unbelieveable. I mean, the guy plays BEAUTIFUL game and actually wins it. Besides, whats up with swiss and aesthetics ? Rog, Hingis, Shanyder, all of them are considered to be more tactful, intelligent players than power bangers like the usual crop we have these days.

Anyhow, point being. Roger has won his 9th and he is 25. Sampras record should be broken by 2009 september - he have 8 more grandslams to play in 2 years time and Godwilling, injuries and such keep away, he can win 6 of them atleast after which you can do the maths.

Lets hope and pray that Roger raises the bar his idol set in next 2 years and keep us fan breathless with his exhilirating brand of phenomenal tennis.

One by One ...

Right .... its one match at a time and we have reached the round of 16 stage. I believe anybody who reads this blog, knows that aside from Federer (me) and Nadal (plath) , we have ONE favourite, who, at some level, is perhaps a bigger favourite than both the top 2 men is MARAT SAFIN from Russia.

The giant is making a bit of comeback, knowing him, we just dont know yet how long this resurgence will last but comeback it is nonetheless. 4th round is here, he has played some GOOD tennis, his laser guided backhand is coming back, his booming forehands are painting the lines and his precise serves are kissing the T. But above all, his MIND is working the right way, yet. Up next is Tommy Haas, who defeated the american ginepri in a tough 5 setter and he MUST be tired, atleast to an extent, when he faces Safin. Can we see the loveable russian in Quarters ?? We shall find out today. God be with you, Safin.

Salute to Andre !

Allow me to join what all other tennis afficinados are doing of late, appreciating, saluting, recalling the memories which Andre Agassi left for us in the wake of his retirement after losing (eventually his last match) to german Benjamin Becker in US Open 3rd Round. 21 years of service to tennis with countless, literally, highlight reel fodder for us to savour. I ll confess it here, the fact that he was sampras was ultimate rival, till pete's retirement i never ONCE had any sympathy or liking for his man, despite sampras's respect for this man and the friendship they shared off the court. But, i guess i was a slow bloomer, kindda agassi type.

Actually, upon close inspection, agassi was anything but a slow bloomer. Joined pro tour in `86, he won SIX TOURNAMENTS in his first full year. Thereafter, agassi was almost always there on the circuit. In one way or the other, he was always in the headlines. His antics, his image, his relationships, his game, his talent, his potential, .. the list is just long. The way he went spiralling south in rankings, the way he climbed back up where he belonged, the conditioning he recieved on his aging body which resulted in 4 grandslams after the age of 29. One can just marvel at this supremely gifted athelete's satmina and his faith in his own abilities. Right down till the end, as recent as 2nd round match at US Open, he defeated 8th seeded Marcos Baghdatis, who ironically, was dubbed the new Agassi when he reached Aussie open final earlier this year, and what a match he played against agassi. 3 hours 50 minutes, 5 set affair - with out of this world shotmaking, the intense drama, nighttime crowd . I mean, it had just about everything one could imagine.
One can just keep on writing about agassi, for he gave SO much to the game and so much off the court. His tennis foundation for at-the-risk children in Las Vegas shows his philanthropic side too.

In short, i can keep writing my memories i have related to Agassi (obviously, almost all of them are from sampras/agassi matches) and i think i ll take this moment to bow and salute the last of Great American champion for serving up a brilliant career. All the best for future ! 

LiveScore is being terribly unpredictable.

Marat Safin is one of those few people who can lose a match being two sets up and in a good place.

Agassi is one of those people who will win in the fifth see, if he gets into it.

We need two miracles right now.



Marat, marat, please...

Perhaps one of the more enlightened posts on Nadal i've read in ages. Bodo nails the head on this one!