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Official Freaking Site Of Tennis Freaking Fans Worldwide.

Wanna post

Want to post on this stupid site? Want to start a new topic that’s on your freaking mind?

146 Responses to “Wanna post”

  1. Jenny said

    COUNTIES WHO HAVE PLAYERS IN THE TOP 100 ATP RANKING

    1. Spain [12] France [12]
    2. Germany [10]
    3. USA [9]
    4. Argentina [8] Russia [8]
    5. Croatia [4] Czech Rep [4] Italy [4]
    6. Serbia [3] Chile [3] Belgium [3]
    7. Brazil [2] Switzerland [2] Austria [2] Rumania [2] Australia [2]
    8. 1 player: UK, Sweden, Israel, Uraguay, Finland, Kazakhstan, Taipei, Slovakia.

    • monique said

      United States in 3rd place. Not that bad.And they are the only one who has a top 10 player for 7 yrs.

      • Somebody Else said

        Switzerland, Argentina and Spain have also had a player in the top 10 for the past 7 years.

      • monique said

        Switzerland, yes but not Argentina or Spain. Nadal has not been top 10 for 7 yrs. Consecutive years and active players.

      • Joolz said

        Argentina – top ten for the last seven consecutive years: Nalbandian.

      • Somebody Else said

        What I mean is that Spain has had A player (several different players) in the top-10 over the past 7 years.

        Incidentally, Roddick fell out of the top-10 back in 2006 for about 1 or 2 weeks. That was the only time during the entire stretch in which he was not a top-10 player.

    • Jenny said

      Should be countries, lol not counties as in the UK! Sorry.

  2. monique said

    http://www.snotr.com/video/2772

    He is feeding them corn.I am not sure if it is good or bad for the deers,
    Llano County, Texas.

  3. monique said

    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/259142-murray-makes-the-headlines-but-a-young-pole-may-soon-take-the-spotlight

  4. Bettyjane said

    Henin, a Former No. 1, Will Return to Tennis (various news sources)

    Following in the very successful unretirement footsteps of her countrywoman Kim Clijsters, the former No. 1-ranked Justine Henin announced on Belgian television Tuesday that she would return to the women’s tennis tour in time for the Australian Open in January.

    Andrew Gombert/European Pressphoto Agency
    Justine Henin after winning the United States Open in 2007. Henin had been retired for just over a year.

    “The fire within burns again,” the 27-year-old Henin said in an interview with VTM television. “The last 15 months, I’ve been able to recharge the batteries, emotionally as well.”

    Henin’s decision comes nine days after Clijsters, who is also from Belgium, punctuated her return with an impressive run to the United States Open title. Clijsters, 26, came back 18 months after having a child but brought a fierce competitiveness to the WTA Tour that seems to be missing among many of the top-ranked players.

    Henin, who won seven Grand Slam singles titles as one of the tour’s toughest competitors, said Clijsters’s success was not the reason she decided to come back.

    “Subconsciously, it might have had an impact,” Henin said. “But it certainly was not the most important reason.”

    Henin’s longtime agent, Ken Meyerson, said in a telephone interview that she had decided to come out of retirement before the United States Open began. He said she had been practicing, felt rejuvenated by the time off and was thrilled at how well she was hitting the ball.

    “I think these gals — and guys, too, because it’s not just the women — have played so much tennis for so long, and it’s just so comprehensive,” Meyerson said. “They might have two, three weeks off a year, with all the foundation and philanthropic work they do. They do that for years and years. It’s physical and it’s mental burnout. These girls just need time to rest and rejuvenate. That’s exactly what happened to Justine.”

    Henin was ranked No. 1 in May 2008 when she abruptly announced her retirement, citing nagging injuries and emotional burnout. She had an Olympic gold medal to go with her Grand Slam titles, but she also endured a troubled marriage and a divorce, which complicated her personal life and career.

    Henin’s retirement shocked the sport and seemed to surprise even Meyerson. “It certainly was spontaneous,” he said. “She just needed to stop.”

    Henin became an ambassador for Unicef and traveled in Europe and Africa. She is the public face of a campaign to provide tetanus vaccinations for women and children in developing countries.

  5. Claire said

    TP
    Some more good singing video’s on youtube:
    Roger Federer singing “Simply The Best”
    Nadal – “La Bamba”
    Nadal was the best – he really was getting “into it” :)
    I think they did this during one of the tournaments

  6. Claire said

    OOPS,
    TP , you do have “recent post” but does that include ALL of posting’s from say a week? I don’t like going to bottom of page and go to next page and then next page ect to find a post say within the last week!Some days there are so many posts that you have to go several pages to find post from just a couple of days ago!

    • Claire,

      I’ll try increasing the number of posts on the front page so you don’t have to scroll for the next page. Sometimes too many posts on the front page slows down the site specially if there are many videos and photos.

      • Claire said

        Can’t you put video’s and photo’s on a different thread? Is “thread” mean on his own separate page – I don’t know all this lingo! :) Thanks for answering TP!

  7. Jenny said

    Rest in Peace, Patrick Swayze.

    • Somebody Else said

      silly joke: He has reprised his role from the movie “Ghost”, but this time he’s using the Method approach.

      R.I.P. — you were the quintessential “Hollywood outsider”, and you wrote a pretty good pop song.

  8. Barbara said

    From the ATP site – looks like we may have Roger/Rafa meeting during Davis Cup!

    2010 World Group First-Round Ties
    (host nation listed first)

    Spain vs. Switzerland
    France vs. Germany
    Russia vs. India
    Sweden vs. Argentina
    Croatia vs. Ecuador
    Serbia vs. USA
    Chile vs. Israel
    Belgium vs. Czech Republic

    • Blake said

      I find it pretty hilarious that for first time in a while, Fed seems pretty intent on getting the Davis Cup in ‘09….

      …..and then he runs smack bang into the on-fire spanish squad… in spain… led by Rafa Nadal, at the start of the year, when he’s his freshest…

      Suck on it big time Fed Fans :P hehe

      • Barbara said

        Let’s see who will be laughing last!

      • Sol said

        Yes, it’s hilarious. I’m sorry to ruin it for you Blake, but a few things might not happen for your little theory to work out:
        - Fed already said before the draw that the DC is not a priority for him in 2009, so “Fed seems pretty intent on getting the Davis Cup in ‘09″… sorry, nope
        - It’s very unlikely Fed will play cause Stan probably won’t, his girlfriend is due to give birth at that time. Without Stan, Fed won’t play, he can’t win those matches alone and the swiss team doesn’t have anyone else to count on
        - Who says Nadal will be up and running by then? He seems to get a new injury every month, and last them they met, in Spain, on clay, it wasn’t exactly a good memory for Nadal.

      • M said

        Sol, Roger and Yves used to play doubles, but I’m trying to be a Zen FEDAL fan, assuming that just because my favorites are #1 and 2 in the world, that doesn’t mean we’ll necessarily get a final with them …

      • Sol said

        You’re right M, but Yves is no longer the doubles player he used to be. Severin Luethi, the DC swiss captain, didn’t even choose him to play this year. He was in Genoa with the team, but more to avoid hurting his feelings than anything else. Yves was really upset about the whole thing and was interviewed alot on swiss tv.
        Lammer and Chiudinelli aren’t exactly top players. So without Stan, the swiss team doesn’t stand a chance in hell. Nadal or no Nadal.

  9. Sarah said

    Meet The Nestors

    http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Media/Videos/2009/09/Meet-The-Nestors.aspx

  10. monique said

    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/257935-is-it-hot-in-here-or-is-it-me-and-that-spanish-tennis-squad

    This one is for Jenny!!!!

  11. monique said

    http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/31214043/ns/sports-tennis/

    Create your own perfect tennis player……

  12. monique said

    http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/23/sports/tennis/24tennis.html?_r=1&ref=tennis

    Can you believe it….wow

  13. Sarah said

    Updated: September 24, 2009, 8:04 AM ET

    Clijsters sticking to majors in 2010Comment
    Associated Press

    TESSENDERLO, Belgium — Kim Clijsters will center her 2010 schedule as much around young daughter Jada as around the four Grand Slams, planning a limited program that will put family first.

    The U.S. Open champion will limit the rest of her 2009 program to just one tournament in Luxembourg next month before heading into two months of intense training for the Australian Open in January.

    Next year, Clijsters will not play many tournaments beyond the four majors, four more mandatory events like Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Beijing, and a few tuneup tournaments.

    “We have to see how it will work out as a family,” Clijsters said at a news conference Thursday.

    Jada, her 1½ year-old toddler, already stole hearts around the world when celebrating the U.S. open title with her mother. But Clijsters also intends to give her a normal life away from the courts as much as possible.

    “Things have to remain fun for Jada,” Clijsters said.

    A limited program will also be good to keep her injury-free, one of the major problems Clijsters struggled with before her first retirement in 2007. However, she is essentially forfeiting any chance of regaining the world No. 1 ranking as she will miss opportunities to rack up points throughout the season.

    “A No. 1 ranking is not what I focus on,” she said. “It would be nice, but Grand Slams are the big thing.”

    Winning the U.S. Open in only her third tournament since coming back also helped inspire her longtime Belgian rival Justine Henin to come out of retirement.

    But with the focus so much on her family, Clijsters isn’t phased by Tuesday’s announcement that Henin will again be there competing against her.

    “It doesn’t really matter all that much to me,” she said. “I’m sure she will produce great tennis.”

    Having come back with such stunning success has already eased the pressure on Clijsters and she now exudes a carefree country girl demeanor again — an image which made her one of the most popular players on the circuit.

    “I’m here to announce the end of my second career,” she told reporters at the opening of her press conference. “Just joking.”

    However, she’s not ready to discuss her long-term future just yet. While Henin immediately announced she planned to continue playing until 2012, Clijsters is much more careful.

    “I will take it season by season,” she said. “I’ll look at the family. I cannot say what I will be doing in 2012.”

    Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press

    • Sarah said

      Okay… I don’t see a problem with an athlete male/female coming and saying I only want to concentrate on the grand slams. Since, for the WTA, there are only four mandatory events I don’t see why people criticize the Williams sisters. If you don’t care about the ranking what is the big deal? I know Serena cares about both her ranking and winning GS. I think many players only really care about winning GS. But I guess they can’t come and say that.

      Kim is saying she wants to limit play to be able to spend more time with her young daughter – great. So if Serena wants to limit her play (for whatever reason) people shouldn’t have a problem with that either. Imo.

  14. Stella said

    This was on “Women’s tennis blog” today
    Kim Clijsters quickly made a tremendous success after recently coming back from retirement, but her priorities have stayed the same, and those are of course her daughter Jada and husband Brian Lynch.

    The Belgian, who has propelled to No.17 in the rankings after just one month back on the Tour, plans to play 12 tournaments in four continents next season, including all four Grand Slams.

    “It’s not that I will add extra tournaments to try and become number one or anything. I just hope that I can achieve good results at the tournaments that I play and get more points like that,” said the 26-year-old who used to play 22 to 23 tournaments per year.

    The young mother may add three to four events to her 2010 schedule, but she is confident that she can organize her schedule in such a way that would not disrupt her 18-month-old daughter’s routine. (source: Reuters, photo via Sony Ericsson WTA Tour)

  15. monique said

    http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/flash/perfectclayplayer

  16. Barbara said

    Just in – news from Federer(facebook):
    I’m disappointed that I have to withdraw from Tokyo and Shanghai as they are two of my favorite cities in the world and the fans have been great to me over the years. After consultation with my team and doctors, I decided to take the difficult decision to withdraw from both tournaments so that I can give my body a chance to rest, rehabilitate and fully recover from a physically challenging year.

    • UM17 said

      Ah, beat me to it. :) Btw, doctors here too?!? Can’t anyone stay healthy? :-/

      • UM17 said

        Actually, not surprising considering what he’d said in his interview post-Starace: “I have a problem with my leg, I have a problem with my arm…”

      • Jenny said

        Not totally surprising to me. Which takes me back to the gruelling schedule and it’s long term effects. Look what happened some years ago in Paris, top players including Roger who withdrew due to fatigue, and others with injuries. I believe Berdych won the title that year.

      • BonnyBee said

        Smart move…. his next tournament will be Basel; he and the twins can stay home until Paris (not quite the commute that it is to Asia).

  17. monique said

    http://ca.askmen.com/specials/top_49_men/

    There are 2 tennis players you can vote for; A-Rod and Fed.

  18. monique said

    The origin of tennis;http://tennis.about.com/od/history/a/earlyhistory.htm

  19. monique said

    http://tennis.about.com/od/history/a/earlyhistory.htm

    Trying again.

  20. monique said

    http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/columns/story?columnist=ford_bonnie_d&id=4494231

  21. M said

    Singing Roger (sounding startlingly like the lead singer of the AC/DC he loves) – Now in Two Flavors!

    ORIGINAL ROGER!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdFenFSR0uU&feature=player_embedded

    and ROGER REMIX!

  22. monique said

  23. monique said

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVDUysKx5o8&feature=player_embedded

    Funny………

  24. monique said

  25. monique said

    http://crazyworldoftennis.blogspot.com/2009/04/spanish-tennis-players-go-shirtless-for.html

    For Jenny again…….

  26. Gracie said

    “Taking Charge of the Challenge System

    http://www.tennis.com/features/general/features.aspx?id=187226

    Hey, didn’t I just say this? Is tennis.com’s James Martin reading us here on TennisPlanet?

    See Sept 18th, ‘What Serena and Federer should do next time?’

  27. Jenny said

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRBzza2wScc

    Compare the difference between each player’s clay footwork.

    I would suggest M sits down before watching!

  28. Pommesdesuisse said

    Fed’s after-tennis-career?

    I’m still Single, too… ;-)

    • Claire said

      Where was that taken??? Looks like he has more people (security) looking after him than the President of USA!!!
      “I’m still single,too” – what does that mean??

  29. Claire said

    Australia???

    Can anyone lick Federer?
    Tennis star Roger Federer features on a special stamp to be issued by the Austrian post office next year.
    It will show him winning the French Open tennis championship at Roland Garros. The picture was selected by the star and his family.

    The post office plans to produce 400,000 of the stamps and to make an official presentation to Federer in Zurich in February.

    It is not the first time Federer has been put on a stamp: Switzerland issued one in 2007 – the first Swiss personality to be paid this honour during his lifetime

  30. Bjornino said

    I am wondering what everyone thinks about the detention of Roman Polanski in Zürich, and I’d be especially interested in hearing your take upon this story, Sol, considering your profession. Fascinating story – that an artist can actually make the foregin ministers of two big european countries demand that Mrs. Clinton steps in and make the US drop his case. Even the woman he molested has filed in court for the case to be dropped.

    Here are some articles:

    http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20090928/wl_time/08599192650800
    http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1706557,00.html
    http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/entertainmentfilmswitzerlanduspolanskiinternet;_ylt=AoEbqkZp1UEdmm_ITO4wfLe9F4l4;_ylu=X3oDMTE2ZDY3ZWs4BHBvcwMyBHNlYwN5bi1yLWItbGVmdARzbGsDLXdpa2lwZWRpYWxv
    http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_polanski_new_film;_ylt=ArqsTHnXONoX3cHlVz.DqFuOOrgF;_ylu=X3oDMTE2OThiZXNxBHBvcwM1BHNlYwN5bi1yLWItbGVmdARzbGsDLXBvbGFuc2tpYXJy
    http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/entertainmentfilmswitzerlanduspolanskicrimepetition;_ylt=AtfqLfY30IP6wfPZq27nPc5Y24cA;_ylu=X3oDMTE2NW10b3ZnBHBvcwM1BHNlYwN5bi1yLWItbGVmdARzbGsDLXRvcGRpcmVjdG9y

    (Sorry TP, I don’t know how to make the links shorter…)

    Please share your take upon this with me!

    /B

  31. Adrian said

    OK, I just read this piece in a serious newspaper in Mexico but have been unable to find the news on English websites/newspapers. Apparently, Flavia Pennetta gave an interview in Italy where she spoke freely about drugs and sex. She claims that cocaine is used freely in the tennis world — although only for fun, she says! She also mentioned that at some point she had some sort of relationship with Carlos Moyá and they had sex many times during tournaments… and that she’s had sex with at least 3 other active players…!! WTF!? jaja

    Here is the piece of news in Spanish…

    Presume tenista sus logros… en la cama
    Pennetta

    Pennetta partició hace días en la semana de la moda femenina, en Italia.
    Foto: Reuters

    Sin inhibiciones, la 10 del mundo en la WTA detalla hasta en qué lugares ha sostenido relaciones
    CANCHA / Staff

    La tenista italiana Flavia Pennetta entró al confesionario de un diario deportivo de su país, y detalló muchas situaciones íntimas de ella y hasta del tenis profesional.

    Pennetta, rankeada en el número 10 del mundo, habló sobre sexo y drogadas sin tapujo alguno.

    “(En tenis profesional) sí se consume cocaína, pero sólo por diversión”, dijo Pennetta al diario deportivo La Gazzetta dello Sport, negando a la vez que ella haya probado la droga.

    Pero el tema de las drogas no fue sólo el tema con la italiana, Pennetta también habló de sexo, y dijo que lo practica libremente, incluso confesó haber tenido relaciones con el tenista español Carlos Moyá a lo largo de una temporada.

    Y como si se tratará de destacar sus “logros” tenísticos, presumió que ha tenido encuentros con al menos unos tres compañeros más de profesión.

    Pennetta, quien participó en el pasado Abierto Monterrey de Tenis, se dijo admiradora de Marat Safin, pero que el más guapo del tenis es el alemán Tommy Haas; dijo que nunca tendría relación alguna con el suizo Roger Federer o el español Rafael Nadal, y tampoco con la rusa Maria Sharapova.

    Sobre las mujeres tenistas, dijo que la ya retirada Anna Kournikova es la más bella del circuito.

    La entrevista estuvo rodeada de temas sexuales, algo que nunca incomodó a la tenista, quien hasta detalló los lugares donde ha sostenidos relaciones: en el vestuario, en concreto, en la hierba e incluso el aire (en avión).

  32. Sarah said

    Who Is The Greatest Of All Time? By Andrew C. Smith Tuesday, September 29, 2009

    “So for Federer to hold claim to the title of GOAT based on major titles, he would have to win, say, 18 at a minimum; equaling Steffi Graf’s 22 would be more convincing, especially given the depth of today’s global game. Until Federer reaches such totals, basing the argument for the GOAT on Grand Slam titles alone will remain unconvincing.

    Federer’s match against Juan Martin del Potro in the US Open final also might give pause to anyone who is leaning towards bestowing GOAT status on the Swiss.”

    http://www.tennisweek.com/news/fullstory.sps?inewsid=6640553

  33. monique said

  34. Somebody Else said

    random/useless/bizarre facts to enjoy:

    – During his or her lifetime, the average human will grow 590 miles of hair.
    – Frosted Flakes mascot “Tony the Tiger” has a wife, son and daughter that were used in early commercials.
    – An apple, potato and onion all taste the same if you eat them with your nose plugged. They all taste sweet.
    – A fetus that is four months old, will become startled and turn away if a light is flashed on the mother’s stomach.
    – The first toilet being flushed in a motion picture was in the movie “Psycho”(1960)
    – An office desk has 400 times more bacteria than a toilet
    – The music/melody for “The Star-Spangled Banner” comes from a British drinking song named “Anacreon”
    – Between the ages of 30 and 70, your nose may lengthen and widen by as much as half an inch
    – Dogs and humans(men) are the only animals with prostates :P
    – The sensitivity of a woman’s middle(ring) finger is reduced during certain times of her reproductive cycle
    – Pain travels through the body at 350 feet per second
    – Santa Claus has a brother named Bells Nichols according to French tradition. He visits homes on New Year’s Eve after everyone is asleep, and if a plate is set out for him, he fills it with cookies and cakes
    – Barbie’s full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts
    – Tarantulas can live up to 30 years
    – Sharks can sense one drop of blood that has drifted from up to 2.5 miles away
    – 10% of men are left-handed while only 8% of women are left-handed. Male or female, all left-handed people are “in their right mind”
    – Atlanta’s Hartsfield Airport handles more than 73 million passengers per year, making it the busiest airport in the world
    – Whoopi Goldberg was a mortuary cosmetologist and a bricklayer before becoming an actress
    – In just one drop of liquid, up to 50 million bacteria can be present
    – Every citizen of the US state of Kentucky is required by law to bathe at least once a year :)
    – During the time of Peter the Great, any Russian man who wore a beard was required to pay a special tax

    etc.

  35. Sergeant said

    The height of the ATP top 10 throughout the decades.

    ‘79 (year end)
    5′6″ 5′7″ 5′10″ 5′10″ 5′11″ 5′11″ 5′11″ 6′0″ 6′0″ 6′1″

    ‘89 (year end)
    5′9″ 5′11″ 5′11″ 5′11″ 5′11″ 6′0″ 6′1″ 6′2″ 6′2″ 6′3″

    ‘99 (year end)
    5′9″ 5′11″ 6′0″ 6′1″ 6′2″ 6′3″ 6′3″ 6′3″ 6′5″ 6′6″

    Today
    5′10″ 5′11″ 6′1″ 6′1″ 6′2″ 6′2″ 6′2″ 6′2″ 6′3″ 6′6″

    Average in 1999: 6′1.9″
    Average today: 6′1.6″

  36. Sergeant said

    Hard to read? This is the version with commas.

    The height of the ATP top 10 throughout the decades.

    ‘79 (year end)
    5′6″, 5′7″, 5′10″, 5′10″, 5′11″, 5′11″, 5′11″, 6′0″, 6′0″, 6′1″

    ‘89 (year end)
    5′9″, 5′11″, 5′11″, 5′11″, 5′11″, 6′0″, 6′1″, 6′2″, 6′2″, 6′3″

    ‘99 (year end)
    5′9″, 5′11″, 6′0″, 6′1″, 6′2″, 6′3″, 6′3″, 6′3″, 6′5″, 6′6″

    Today
    5′10″, 5′11″, 6′1″, 6′1″, 6′2″, 6′2″, 6′2″, 6′2″, 6′3″, 6′6″

    Average in 1999: 6′1.9″
    Average today: 6′1.6″

  37. MIKE_ said

    Norman and Evert have separated. Wow, that was quick!

    http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=4526865

  38. monique said

    http://www.tennis.com/messageboard/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=15624&posts=22&start=1

  39. Sol said

    Fed and Roddick made the list of Most Influencial Men 2009:
    http://www.askmen.com/specials/top_49_men/

  40. monique said

    http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/columns/story?columnist=drucker_joel&id=4536088

  41. Ricke said

    Hey TP didn’t know if you were aware of this or not, but Mike Tyson is giving an exclusive interview on Oprah this coming Monday according to her show. I know you are a fan of boxing and thought you might be interested.

  42. Somebody Else said

    Scientists discover massive ring around Saturn:

    http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/space/10/07/space.saturn.ring/index.html

  43. Somebody Else said

    Somali pirates attack wrong ship. File this under: “HAHAHAAAHAAAA!!!”

    http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091007/wl_africa_afp/somaliapiracyshippingfrance_20091007151820

  44. MIKE_ said

    What women want.

    This was on Drudge today …

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1218808/Contraceptive-pill-women-attracted-masculine-men–interested-boyish-looks.html

  45. Sarah said

    Blake finishing ‘09 with Jones as coach

    By Bonnie D. Ford

    One of tennis’ most enduring player-coach tandems may have run its course.

    No. 24 James Blake, struggling to regain the form that kept him in the top 10 for much of a three-season stretch from 2006 to 2008, said he and lifelong coach Brian Barker mutually decided that Barker would stop traveling with him after the U.S. Open.

    Blake is finishing the 2009 campaign with longtime friend Kelly Jones, a former pro who has worked with other top Americans, including Mardy Fish and John Isner.

    Barker has coached the 29-year-old Blake for 17 years, helping develop him from an erratic, hot-tempered club player to an accomplished pro. Blake, who lost to Rafael Nadal in the second round of the China Open in Beijing on Thursday, told ESPN.com the parting was amicable and the strong bond between the two remains intact.

    “It’s not like we’re ending our relationship,” Blake said by telephone from Beijing. “We’re still good friends, which will never change. Right now we both feel like I need to hear some things from a different voice. Kelly’s been close to both of us for a long time, and he’s a perfect fit for now. If things go well with him, everyone’s happy. Brian wants nothing but the best for me. If they don’t, then I go back to Brian and we know there’s a reason I’m back. It was just time to take a little break and see how it goes with someone else.”

    Blake splits his time between Tampa and his childhood home of Fairfield, Conn., near the town where Barker is based. The two say they will continue to work together when Blake is in Connecticut.

    Barker said he encouraged Blake to make a change.

    “I told him that the most important thing in his tennis career is to have a clear head and peace of mind for the rest of your life that you did everything you possibly could to get better, maximize your potential and not leave anything on the table,” Barker said Thursday. “He eventually agreed that was a good idea.”

    Barker added that he and Jones have similar philosophies and expects Blake to “hear the same things in a different way … Sometimes when you’re not playing your best, the thinking is that you stir the pot. You put your hat on backwards. There are no guarantees, but you need to look at every option.”

    Blake came back from a serious neck injury, illness and the draining death of his father in 2004 to win nine ATP tournaments from 2005 to 2007 and hit a career-high No. 4 ranking at the end of 2006. Popular in the locker room, Blake attended Harvard for two years and his autobiography “Breaking Back,” co-written with Andrew Friedman, cracked the New York Times best-seller list.

    A perennial starter in an unusually stable U.S. Davis Cup lineup, Blake was part of the 2007 championship team, but he has yet to advance past the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam event. Blake is 22-18 in 2009 and reached two finals — on clay in Estoril, Portugal, and at the Queen’s Club grass-court event in London.

    According to Blake, Barker suggested that he step back late last season, “and I kind of squashed it, said I wouldn’t want to do that, wouldn’t want someone else around.”

    This year, Blake has been plagued by several small but troublesome injuries — a rolled ankle, a sore knee, a broken toe — that made it difficult to establish any match rhythm and contributed to early exits in several big events. His frustration level increased, and the hard-court season, when Blake normally prospers, offered no relief, either.

    After a first-round loss at the Cincinnati Masters event in August, he and Barker renewed their discussion about whether it was time for a change.

    “We were going through the same things over and over, and I was looking for answers that probably weren’t there,” Blake said. “It may not have had anything to do with the coaching. Going into the Open, we had both had come to the understanding that we were going to stop, but we didn’t want to change anything during or before the Open, being so important. The comfort level between us is very good and will always be very good.”

    Blake, known for his high-risk, go-for-broke style on court, has taken heat in recent months for keeping Barker at his side rather than seeking different advice when his game seemed to stagnate. He has repeatedly emphasized his loyalty to Barker, and said Thursday that he wasn’t affected by outside opinion in making the change.

    “If they’re talking about you that much, you must have earned that pressure that you’ve gotten,” Blake said. “We never let it affect us. I didn’t keep him just to spite people — I’m going to do what’s best for me. Now I’ve hit a point where I need to try something a little different. Kelly’s a great coach and people he worked with clearly improved when they worked with him.”

    Blake plans to play in three more tournaments — Shanghai; Basel, Switzerland; and Paris — this season.

    Bonnie D. Ford covers tennis and Olympic sports for ESPN.com.

    http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/news/story?id=4542097

  46. Jenny said

    The following e-mail was sent to me recently! LOL! You may have seen it already.

    “In a desperate bid to find a doctor that actually knows what he is talking about I was directed by an old friend in the USA to this gentleman from the east and it would appear he has some of the answers. I enclose below part of the transcript from my online consultation which you may find enlightening!

    Q: Doctor, I’ve heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?
    A: Heart only good for so many beats, and that it… Don’t waste on exercise. Everything wear out eventually. Speed up heart not make live longer; that like say you can extend life of car by driving faster. Want live longer? Take nap.

    Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
    A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does cow eat? Hay and corn. What are these? Vegetables. So, steak nothing more than efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef also good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And pork chop can give 100% recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.

    Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
    A: No, not at all. Wine made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine. That means they take water out of fruity bit; get even more of goodness that way. Beer also made out of grain. Bottoms up!

    Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
    A: If you have body and you have fat, ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, ratio is two to one, etc.

    Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
    A: Cannot think of single one, sorry. My philosophy: No Pain…Good!

    Q: Aren’t fried foods bad for you?
    A: YOU NOT LISTENING!!! …. Foods fried in vegetable oil. How getting more vegetables be bad for you?

    Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
    A: Definitely not! When you exercise muscle, it get bigger. You should only do sit-ups if want bigger stomach.

    Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
    A: You crazy? HELLO … Cocoa beans! Vegetable!!! Cocoa beans best feel-good food around!

    Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
    A: If swimming good for figure, explain whales to me.

    Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?
    A: Hey! ‘Round’ is shape!

    Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.

    AND…..

    For those of you who watch what you eat, here’s the final word on nutrition and health. It’s a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies:

    1. The Japanese eat very little fat
    And suffer fewer heart attacks than the British.

    2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat
    And suffer fewer heart attacks than the British.

    3. The Chinese drink very little red wine
    And suffer fewer heart attacks than the British.

    4 The Italians drink a lot of red wine
    And suffer fewer heart attacks than the British.

    5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages
    And suffer fewer heart attacks than the British.

    CONCLUSION…..

    Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is apparently what kills you”

  47. Jenny said

    Farewell to Marat Safin in Beijing.

    Will miss you Marat!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkgZ0Yq6o-k&feature=video_response

  48. monique said

    http://www.tennis.com/yourgame/fitness/fitness.aspx?id=187188

  49. MIKE_ said

    Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods huge tennis fans.

    I knew Tiger was a big tennis fan [TW: “I watch tennis all the time. I was a huge Sampras fan and now, obviously, I’m a huge Federer fan.” ] but I didn’t know Jack Nicklaus follows tennis closely too. Following is an interview excerpt from the October issue of Tennis Magazine:

    TM: Do you have courts at home in Florida?
    JN: I have three grass. Cliff [Drysdale] says that he’s never seen three better grass courts in the world. I put the attention and pride into my grass similar to the detail I put into designing my golf courses. I’ve changed grasses seven or eight times to get them to perfection.

    TM: Have your golf skills transferred over to tennis?
    JN: The forehand is basically the same as a golf swing, as you bring it through. And the weight distribution on the serve is very much like hitting a tee shot. But the volley and the backhand are obviously different, so those are my weaknesses.

    TM: Are we more likley to see you on the course or court these days?
    JN: I play golf maybe once or twice a month, but I play tennis every weekend, both days. I get up Saturday morning, do my stretching to get ready, make sure the courts are prepared, then we play until probably 2 or 3 o’clock.

    TM: Do you watch more tennis than golf on TV?
    JN: I don’t ever watch golf on television, but I watch tennis constantly.

    TM: Do you have any advice for parents with kids starting out in sports?
    JN: I don’t believe they should specialize in any one sport, but play them all, particularly tennis and golf because those are games you can still play when you can’t play football, basketball or baseball anymore. So I think golf and tennis are the two best sports for a lifetime.

    Pretty cool stuff and I’d be fascinated to hear both great champions insights and analysis into the game and players.

    (and wouldn’t it be nice to have three pristine GRASS courts in your backyard?! … ahhhh! )

  50. Blake said

    From Tennis.com’s ticker:

    “Barcelona will be the host of the Spain vs. Czech Republic Davis Cup final, the Spanish tennis federation has announced. The tie will take place in the Palau Sant Jordi, which also hosted the 2000 Davis Cup final between Spain and Australia.”

    Teehee… of all the places to host the final for Spain, they choose Nadal personal neck of the woods…

    …has anything ever been more of a certainty? Death? Taxes, anyone?

  51. Adrian said

    New Federer/Wilson commercial:
    http://www.youtube.com/user/WilsonRacquet#p/u/1/JRYT9hPfEsE

  52. Serran said

    Andy Roddick on Twitter:

    “@andyroddick: obviously i know we are all very blessed to be able to be able to play tennis, but when asked what i think could improve the tour, i will definitely share my opinion…. it seems to be fairly common sentiment. i think a shorter schedule will keep stars like roger and rafa around for more years and therefore be beneficial for the sport that we all love. I just don’t think it makes sense that we have a year as long as we do, and then people act shocked when injuries play a part”.

  53. monique said

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIkJgH6uN_c&feature=player_embedded

    So cute……

  54. Adrian said

    How do you guys feel about the ATP/WTA efforts to have all these events in Asia? I have mixed feelings. I think it’s great that they are trying to promote the sport and making it truly global… but is a Masters Series tournament really justified to be held in Shanghai when you see that the stadiums are COMPLETELY EMPTY?!? The worse I’ve seen was the Simon-Berdych match last night… we are talking about two top 15 players in the ATP circuit… and I don’t think I saw more than 10 people at the beginning of the match. The sounds of the ball and the players’ moans as they hit it seemed as though they were playing in some cavernous place, like when you walk into an empty building and hear the echo of a needle that falls to the ground resonate through the walls. It was depressing!!

    I think that what they should do to promote the sport is to have a Masters Series event in South America. There’s so many good players in Argentina, Chile, Brazil, … that it seems ridiculous that their “home” Masters event is… KEY BISCAINE!!

    To make space in the calendar, they should probably get rid of the Paris Masters… it doesn’t really make sense to me that South America has none, but Paris has the French Open PLUS a Masters Series event. Same thing with London having Wimbledon and now the ATP World Tour Finals…

    What do you guys think?

  55. Sarah said

    James Blake Can Be Top Five Again
    By Franklin L. Johnson
    Friday, October 16, 2009

    http://www.tennisweek.com/news/fullstory.sps?inewsid=6641447

  56. Jef Costello said

    Pete Sampras’ opionin that tennis players are the best athletes in the world:

    http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/tennis/Tennis-players-are-the-best-athletes-says-Sampras/2009/10/17/1255624762979.html

    This will spark:

    a) the noted intense debate (as stated in the story) and one can liken the “answer” to this claim to that of who is the GOAT;

    b) sure to leave egg on Pete’s face if the majority of female tennis players are inclusive in his statement ;-)

    I am sitting on the fence for this one as it is too hard to comment on, much like that of the GOAT – as there is no such thing as a GOAT in tennis, just best players of a generation…

  57. monique said

    http://www.life.com/image/3245807/in-gallery/34882/famous-footwear-trends

  58. Somebody Else said

    Federer’s Grand Slam career 5-setters (for the curious):

    Australian Open

    L (2002, 4th, Haas) 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-8
    L (2003, 4th, Nalbandian) 4-6, 6-3, 1-6, 6-1, 3-6
    L (2005, S, Safin) 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, 6-7(6), 7-9
    W (2006, QF, Haas) 6-4, 6-0, 3-6, 4-6, 6-2
    W (2008, 3rd, Tipsarevic) 6-7(5), 7-6(1), 5-7, 6-1, 10-8
    W (2009, 4th, Berdych) 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4, 6-2
    L (2009, F, Nadal) 5-7, 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-3, 2-6

    Roland Garros

    W (2000, 3rd, Kratochvil) 7-6(5), 6-4, 2-6, 6-7(4), 8-6
    W (2001, 2nd, Sargsian) 4-6, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4, 9-7
    W (2009, 4th, Haas) 6-7(4), 5-7, 6-4, 6-0, 6-2
    W (2009, S, Del Potro) 3-6, 7-6(2), 2-6, 6-1, 6-4

    Wimbledon

    L (1999, 1st, J.Novak) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6
    W (2001, 2nd, Malisse) 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3
    W (2001, 4th, Sampras) 7-6(7), 5-7, 6-4, 6-7(2), 7-5
    W (2007, F, Nadal) 7-6(7), 4-6, 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-2
    L (2008, F, Nadal) 4-6, 4-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(8), 7-9
    W (2009, F, Roddick) 5-7, 7-6(6), 7-6(5), 3-6, 16-14

    U.S. Open

    W (2000, 1st, Wessels) 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 3-4 RET
    W (2004, QF, Agassi) 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3
    W (2008, 4th, Andreev) 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
    L (2009, F, Del Potro) 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-7(4), 2-6

    Federer stands at 14-7 in Grand Slam 5-setters over his career

  59. Somebody Else said

    Nadal’s Grand Slam career 5-setters (for the curious):

    Australian Open

    W (2005, 2nd, Youzhny) 6-1, 4-6, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3
    L (2005, 4th, Hewitt) 5-7, 6-3, 6-1, 6-7(3), 2-6
    W (2007, 4th, Murray) 6-7(3), 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
    W (2009, S, Verdasco) 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(2), 6-7(1), 6-4
    W (2009, F, Federer) 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-2

    Roland Garros

    (none)

    Wimbledon

    W (2006, 2nd, Kendrick) 6-7(4), 3-6, 7-6(2), 7-5, 6-4
    W (2007, 3rd, Soderling) 6-4, 6-4, 6-7(7), 4-6, 7-5
    W (2007, 4th, Youzhny) 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2
    L (2007, F, Federer) 6-7(7), 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-2, 2-6
    W (2008, F, Federer) 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(5), 7-6(8), 9-7

    U.S. Open

    W (2004, 1st, Heuberger) 6-0, 6-3, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3

    Nadal stands at 9-2 in Grand Slam 5-setters over his career

    • Somebody Else said

      Nadal’s Grand Slam timeline:
      tournament rounds: AO, RG, W, USO

      2003…x-x-3-2
      2004…3-x-x-2
      2005…4-W-2-3
      2006…x-W-F-Q
      2007…Q-W-F-4
      2008…S-W-W-S
      2009…W-4-x-S

  60. Bettyjane said

    http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/news/town-makes-a-racquet-for-evonne-20091016_2256076_1828083

  61. monique said

    http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/tennis/simon-reed/article/163/

  62. banti said

    Some Tiger Woods news. Since Fed is in hiding this will have to do:)

    http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local-beat/Local-Boy-Out-Drives-Tiger-Woods-64788127.html

  63. Sir Vibhudi Aatmapudi said

    One of my favorite actors, Lane Davies, looks a lot like God himself. I just realized.Take a look:

  64. KC C-P said

    A Message from Roger Federer in Facebook:

    “I have been back practicing and training now for some time and all is going well. I feel much better. I am looking forward to playing my hometown tournament in Basel . I have also had a chance to spend some amazing time with my family. Myla and Ch…arlene are doing great. After training yesterday, Mirka and I took them for a walk along Lake Zurich. I am always excited to be back in Switzerland!”
    (15 minutes ago)

  65. Somebody Else said

    I google-mapped Lake Zurich, and the lakeside promenade looks lovely. What is he doing in Zurich? Training ground? Residence? Family base? Weren’t the twins born there?

  66. Somebody Else said

    http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/worklife/10/22/cb.sacrificing.love.for.work/index.html

  67. Somebody Else said

    http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/blog/busted_racquet/post/Caroline-Wozniacki-s-good-deed-leads-to-WTA-inve?urn=ten,197641

  68. monique said

    http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4577554&name=tennis

  69. monique said

    http://www.nydailynews.com/money/galleries/most_inane_inventions__ever/most_inane_inventions__ever.html#ph3

    Insane inventions….

  70. monique said

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvt3chGuU8I

    This puts a smile on your face and joy in your heart. We need it nowadays.

  71. monique said

    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33456008/ns/politics-white_house/?ns=politics-white_house#storyContinued

  72. Claire said

    Interesting facts and article!
    Pts. as of 10/28:
    Federer – 10,305
    Nadal – 9,095
    Djokovic – 7,950
    Murray – 6,890
    Del Potro – 6,165
    Davedinko(sp) – 4,700
    Roddick – 4,670
    Tsonga – 3,930
    Verdasco – 3,330
    Soderling – 2,900

    Is there anyway Nadal could be #1 at year end? Both Fed and Nadal have 250 pts. to defend at Paris

    Interesting article! Federer said on his facebook page something like he is having an amazing time visiting with family and that he went for walk with girls along Lake Geniva!!!!!!

    TP, think Federer is enjoying playing “house,house”? :)

    “has not been spotted on the ATP Tour since the U.S. Open final – and don’t be too surprised if he takes his extended break all the way into the New Year.

    The world No. 1 took time off after his defeat to Juan Martin del Potro at Flushing Meadows to rest up and spend time with his young family, yet was expected to return for the Paris Masters and the year-ending ATP Tour finals in London.

    However, rumors out of Switzerland have suggested that Federer is considering keeping a low profile until January in order to be fully fresh and ready for 2010.

    It would be a controversial move if Federer decided to skip the Tour finals, and one that would likely bring sanctions from the ATP unless he could prove he was injured. Rafael Nadal, then atop the rankings, pulled out last year.

    Federer’s year has been outstanding but it is understood he has made regaining the Australian Open crown his first priority for next year.

    He was devastated to lose to Nadal in this year’s final, with his idol Rod Laver looking on. After losing to Novak Djokovic in the 2008 semifinal, the Swiss feels his preparation for Australia has not been ideal and wants a more structured approach this time around.

    Federer remains atop of our power rankings, primarily because most of the leading men have either been out of action or out of form.

    Nikolay Davydenko breaks into the list, while Andy Murray and Andy Roddick slip due to inactivity.

    Yahoo! Sports Power Rankings

    1. (1) Roger Federer – Resting up before the Tour finals

    2. (2) Juan Martin del Potro – Targeting a huge 2010

    3. (5) Rafael Nadal – Still not back to his pre-injury level

    4. (4) Novak Djokovic – Showing solid end-of-year form

    5. (3) Andy Murray – Wrist injury is a real concern

    6. (NR) Nikolay Davydenko – Superb win in Shanghai

    7. (6) Andy Roddick – Ran out of gas at the end of a tough year

    8. (NR) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga – Strong year from the big Frenchman “

  73. Claire said

    TP,
    What happened to my post? I hit submit and it disappeared – where is it???

  74. Claire said

    Looks like Federer will end year at #1
    Federer – 10,305
    Nadal – 9,095
    TP, maybe Federer is enjoying playing “house,house” too much – see below

    “has not been spotted on the ATP Tour since the U.S. Open final – and don’t be too surprised if he takes his extended break all the way into the New Year.

    The world No. 1 took time off after his defeat to Juan Martin del Potro at Flushing Meadows to rest up and spend time with his young family, yet was expected to return for the Paris Masters and the year-ending ATP Tour finals in London.

    However, rumors out of Switzerland have suggested that Federer is considering keeping a low profile until January in order to be fully fresh and ready for 2010.

    It would be a controversial move if Federer decided to skip the Tour finals, and one that would likely bring sanctions from the ATP unless he could prove he was injured. Rafael Nadal, then atop the rankings, pulled out last year.

    Federer’s year has been outstanding but it is understood he has made regaining the Australian Open crown his first priority for next year.

    He was devastated to lose to Nadal in this year’s final, with his idol Rod Laver looking on. After losing to Novak Djokovic in the 2008 semifinal, the Swiss feels his preparation for Australia has not been ideal and wants a more structured approach this time around.

    Federer remains atop of our power rankings, primarily because most of the leading men have either been out of action or out of form.

    Nikolay Davydenko breaks into the list, while Andy Murray and Andy Roddick slip due to inactivity.

    Yahoo! Sports Power Rankings

    1. (1) Roger Federer – Resting up before the Tour finals

    2. (2) Juan Martin del Potro – Targeting a huge 2010

    3. (5) Rafael Nadal – Still not back to his pre-injury level

    4. (4) Novak Djokovic – Showing solid end-of-year form

    5. (3) Andy Murray – Wrist injury is a real concern

    6. (NR) Nikolay Davydenko – Superb win in Shanghai

    7. (6) Andy Roddick – Ran out of gas at the end of a tough year

    8. (NR) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga – Strong year from the big Frenchman “

  75. joao said

    Agassi on drugs – Or why people have to come to terms that there is doping in tennis

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/8329193.stm

  76. Hi all

    It’s been a while since I posted, and I admit that mostly my posts were inspired or spurred on by the “winter of Federer’s discontent” and that since then his form has improved again. Gladly some measure of perspective has been lent by Father Time to his losses and to Nadal’s wins. So I am obsolete, a one-trick pony :)

    But wait! Music has been inspiring me and that’s I’m writing this. I want to let anyone know who gives a damn and especially folks who enjoyed any of my past posts – that I’ve got a new album out. Mastered and sparkly new.

    Sorry TP for the blatant advertising (it’s hard for unknowns to get their music heard) but if I get kicked off, I want to thank you for this great tennis site, THE BEST, which I would continue to visit under a pseudonym anyway :)

    Cheers

  77. Sarah said

    „The person Federer has a good grip on the player Federer“

    by René Stauffer

    October 27th, 2009

    Pierre Paganini, who is since 10 years the personal fitness coach and advisor of the worlds best tennisplayer, says that the athete Federer is underestimated. He is convinced that Federer could have become a top soccer player.

    Switched the violin with the medicine ball

    Federers fitnesscoach is from a musicfamily, lives in Zermatt and Dubai – and prefers it to stay in the background. In the 10 years, in which he works with Roger Federer, he has just given a few bigger interviews. Coaches, who present themselves in the public are an anathema to him. He is annoyed that people talk about the coaches of many soccer teams and not of the players. “I don’t want to come to the fore ahead of Roger“, says the 52years old man from Westswitzerland, who speaks perfect Swiss German. Barely nobody knows that he was born in Zürich and lived a few years in Glattbrugg. His mother Maria was a teacher at universities in the USA for 30 years and his father Roe a pianist, who was responsible in the 60ies that music education has been launched in Swiss schools.

    He has made music himself for 16 years, „but when I was 20 years old I switched the violin with the medicine ball“, says the bald, still athletically topfit romand. Already as a child he has felt attracted to the sport and his later profession. “I remember when we followed in 1970 for the first time on a color tv the WM final in Mexico between Brazil and Italy“, he tells. “My friends only wanted to know what happens on the pitch. I was the only one who already asked himself before the match: What do the players do now at this moment? What is going on?”

    17 years with Marc Rosset

    Pagainin played soccer in the 2nd and 3rd division, but also comes from the athletics. Those two sports have been his special subjects during his training as a sports coach in Magglingen. In the 80ies he concentrated on tennis. During the last 20 years he worked for Swiss tennis, between 1991 and 2008 he belonged to the Daviscup team for 11 years. The Maleeva sisters were among his clients and also Marc Rosset for 17 years.

    Paganini was a fitness coach and administrative leader in Ecublens, when Federer joined the project tennis/etudes there in 1995. Federer engaged him privately in 2000, like Stanislas Wawrinka has meanwhile done (for 70 days a year). Paganini has developed an own trainingsconcept with excersices, who are specifically made for tennis and have become his trademark.

    During his schooltime Paganini lived in Wallis. Today he commutes with his wife Isabelle, who also works as a fitness coach, between his residences in Zermatt and Dubai.
    “I got to know Dubai through Roger. Meanwhile I would stay there, even when I would not work with him anymore.“ The city would be an ideal place for his many travels through Asia or to Australia. “There is a lot which dismays you in Dubai, but a lot also delights you. You can see a Catholic, an atheist and a muslim at the same table and it is normal. 97 % of the people who live there are foreigners.“

    “Somehow a luxury“

    Even after 25 years Paganini still does his job with enthusiasm. “I really like to work with Federer and Wawrinka and want to continue as long as I feel useful”, he says. “But some day I want to work with young players again.“ He knows that he has a job which many people are envious of and feels privileged. “I can work with Roger, when nobody else is around. We are undisturbed and can talk openly. Somehow this is a luxury.“

    Pierre Paganini, can Roger Federer be successful for 8 more years in tennis? He says he aims to play as long as Andre Agassi, who retired when he was 36 years old.

    It’s not getting downhill when you are 28 or 30 years old. Important is that you adapt your schedule. Someone who has run 850 metres doesn’t have the same big tank as the one who has just run 200 metres. It’s not a matter of age, but of splitting: preparing, playing, resting.
    As long as his health is good everything indicates that he can keep his top level for a long time to come. I’m convinced: As long as he plays he is going to be strong.

    Don’t you reach certain limits when the tank gets smaller?

    You have to choose another way to make the tank full again. Federer’s advantage is that he has so much experiences on a very high level. This experience and his unbroken enthusiasm for tennis help him to use his energy optimally. He is exceptionally skilled in here as well.

    However, even Federer probably won’t be athletically as strong and fast with 35 years as he is today.

    In tennis you can be fast enough with 35 years when you have planned and implementted the career correctly. When you have the fire, you add to this the experience, anticipation and trainingsvolume of a 35 years old – and Federer will be unexcelled in this regard. Therefore I don’t see a difference. Jimmy Connors has proven that it is possible. (Connors has been a semifinalist with 39 years at the US Open)

    How has Federer developed athletically in the last years? Where does he stand today?

    He has shown that he has become a fully grown athlete. He doesn’t only has a big routine and experience as a player, but also as an athlete now. He feels his body and knows exactly what is going on and how to react, for example when he gets tired, which is normal for a tennisplayer. Furthermore he has become more balanced muscularry. After all those years we know each other better because we talk and plan the whole time together. We permanently learn from each other and have collected many experience values, which we now have to use.

    In 2008 the mono set him back. When did he athletically catched up with this in your opinion?

    Last year he was always lacking 2 or 3 %. Mono is really a tough thing. Then he got the backproblems in autumn, which haven’t helped. I would say: In 2009 he was the old one. But it was just sensational how he fighted through everything in 2008, even though he was retrenched. This makes a big difference on this high level and was challenging him mentally extremely. 2008 was one of his best years mentally.

    This year Federer won 2 Grand Slam finals and lost the other two in the 5th set. Did those losses in Melbourne against Nadal and in New York against Del Potro have something to do with athletics?

    I don’t think so – and I’m not saying this to sugarcoat something. First of all you play tennis and you can do it good or less good. As a fitnesscoach I differentiate how you move, you intensive you can express yourself athletically and how long you are able to do this. Those three parameters are equally important for me and they affect each other. You can’t compare the five set matches against Nadal in Melbourne and Del Potro in New York, because both were a different kind of tennis.

    In which respect?

    Against Nadal he played physically an incredible match. He was present during four hours and this against the energy-sapping game of a Nadal. This is like when you talk in a foreign language: You need more energy. After the year with the mono this was something positive. It was just the match which he needed in order to say: Hey, you are back. After this he has proven in Roland Garros, where he was sometimes struggling with his tennis, that he can play a few matches over 3 hours and more. The intensity in todays toptennis gets underestimated. In New York you saw with both finalists that they had already played a long season, but one has to say that Del Potro played an excellent match.

    How would you explain Federers backproblems from the end of 2008 to laymen?

    Tennis isn’t a symmetric sport. One day you will see wear marks of each player, but way more less in Roger as in other players of his age. But we have to respect this point and take more time in order to work preventive and scrutinise ourselves. Instead of practicing five days in a row you practice maybe 3 1/2 days, rest 24 hours and then practice 2 ½ days. Then you have the same trainingsvolume in six days, but you have given your body the opportunity to recover.

    Before he started his winning streak in Madrid, Federer underwent a few endurance tests in trainings camps in Sardinia and in Switzerland. He said he needed those as a confirmation that his back would be okay.

    Sometimes you just want to know where you stand, especially before a series of tournaments, when you are searching your rhythm. But he has also worked extremely hard in December 2008 and in February this year.

    How important has it been for him not to play in Dubai in March and the Davis Cup against the USA?

    It’s a good thing that he made it. It would have been to much strain for his back. This break was the basis fort his super season. He was able to take the run-up in this phase, which he needed. What he demonstrated afterwards was incredible: 2 Grand Slam titles, final in New York, victory in Cincinatti…

    Could it be possible that he is going to play even less in the future?

    He will surely listen to his body and his inside even more before he is going to make a decision. That doesn’t mean he is going to play less tournaments. He meanwhile has so much experience and knows what to do. It’s so wonderful with him as we need to anticipate mostly. Of course he would like to play every week, but he knows the consequences of what he is doing. The person Federer has a good grip on the player Federer. He knows himself so well.

    Federer withdrew from the tournaments in Tokio and Shanghai after he complained of pains in the thighs. Where does he athletically stand now in the week before his hometournament in Basel?

    After the Davis Cup he wanted to rest in order to prevent a more serious injury and to be able to cure the physical problems he had. That was reasonable, because it gave him the time to recover from this super tough summer and to practice then again.

    How did the programme of the last weeks looked like?

    The first trainingsblock took place in Dubai, together with Severin Lüthi. In the beginning the condition stood in the foreground. Last week we returned to Switzerland and now tennis is the central point.

    Are the thighs and back a non-issue now?

    At the moment everything is ok, Roger can practice normally and feels good. He is looking forward to Basel as he says. But when someone has played so much you always have to be careful. You never have a guarantee, we need to be really careful.

    This season is going on until the end of November and is two weeks longer as usual. Already in early January the new season is going to start. What does this mean for your work and the preparation for 2010?

    Certain things from the current tennisblock we can use for the work in December, so Roger gets – even with the shorter break – the amount of trainingstime which he needs for 2010.

    How does your work with Federer has changed within the years?

    The division is different, the flexibility has become more important. To work 140 days with Roger means to be available 365 days.

    Does Federer getting underestimate as an athlete?

    For sure.

    What distinguishs Roger?

    He is fast, sustained and extremely coordinated and this even after several hours and in 70, 80 matches a year. Since 10 years. That isn’t just talent, but rather the consequence of hard work and the will to repeat something over and over again. This is what Roger is strong in. He works a lot more as people can imagine – because he mostly practices when nobody sees him. He needed to ascribe his whole philosophy of life to work.

    For which other sports would he have been fitting?

    He would be a great soccer player, sprinter, thrower – not a shot-putter, but a good javelin thrower. He also would be a good volley player and a good skier.

    Does it have any influence to your work that he now has a family with two children?

    The situation has become a bit more complex because they are now as a foursome, but Roger and Mirka know each other so well, have travelled together and from this experience they can now benefit. It hasn’t become any more difficult, but more exciting. We are used to each other and to talk about every new situation first.

    You are one of his most important advisors. How big is your influence?

    You shouldn’t ask this question to me. I have no use for the word important. Roger, Mirka, Severin and myself know each other for 10 years now or even longer and we talk a lot together. We have noticed how important this is and our common scheduling. This leads to the fact that we have a very close employment relationship and a deep trust. Roger feels how much I enjoy it to work with him and that I like to be flexible for him. A player has to decide himself, but he should also respect what the people around him suggest. A charismatic player like Federer needs to have people around him who have charisma. People, who are strong enough to say to him what they think. That’s what he wants and I’m one of those.

    Who are the other ones?

    Severin Lüthi, Mirka Vavrin… sorry: Mirka Federer. For certain things his manager (Tony Godsick) And then of course in special fields his parents. What’s good in our team is that everyone takes over responsibilty in his province.

    Will you advise Federer to play against Spain in the Davis Cup in March 2010?

    I’m the fitness coach and I’m not going to say which aims the player should have. I only advise him to think about him, when an event could have a negative influence to the whole package. As a fitness coach I’m not going to say something about the Davis Cup, but I know how much Roger likes the Davis Cup and what he does for this team.

    Source: http://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/sport/te…story/12454726
    __________________

  78. Jenny said

    http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2009/10/Valencia-Quality-Field.aspx

    The Agora looks futuristic impressive.

    Everyone is hoping Roddick and Murray will be fit enough to compete, I don’t think the organisers have heard anything to the contrary.

  79. bluechyll said

    Lindt hires Roger Federer as first celebrity ambassador

    http://www.rogerfederer.com/en/rogers/news/newsdetail.cfm?uNC=49387125&uPage=7&uNewsID=970

    http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/949486/Lindt-hires-Roger-Federer-first-celebrity-ambassador/

    Sounds like the perfect combination ;)

  80. bluechyll said

    Agassi wig collapsed before final

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8335631.stm

  81. monique said

    http://books.google.ca/books?id=_TCPrdw-O-cC&dq=the+agassi+story&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=Kf3MsNx7Sa&sig=qx1JIk8SAuGtS6aHN8qlOn6BA3Y&hl=en&ei=JizuSrzQJ9DAlAfZpcX_BA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CAoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=&f=false

  82. Jef Costello said

    French Open may be moved from RG: http://au.sports.yahoo.com/news/article/-/6427303/french-open-leave-roland-garros-official

  83. monique said

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xJZzl7dcIE&feature=related

    Which is the cutest, “goat” or “alpaca” ?????

  84. DK said

    Another farewell to Marat:
    http://www.nationalpost.com/sports/story.html?id=2088781&p=1

  85. monique said

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2004/mar/12/tennis.stephenbierley1

  86. Gracie said

    CNN, Talk Asia with Rafa

    http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/11/04/rafael.nadal/index.html

  87. bluechyll said

    I saw this photo and was reminded of you TP :]

    Looks like Wawrinka has some competition from Arnaud Clement for Roger’s affections :D

    http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs009.snc3/11658_102201203133117_100000297123674_57674_7810315_n.jpg

  88. Pommesdesuisse said

    Proof that Roger is NOT gay? ;-)

  89. monique said

    http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/m24bv2Co1Oyvenca

    WOW Fed and Mirka are having a blast…….

  90. monique said

  91. monique said

    http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/NFL-legend-Jim-Brown-was-hustled-by-9-year-old-A?urn=nfl,199132

  92. Stella said

    Yanina Wickmayer suspended for one year, withdraws from Bali
    November 7, 2009 | In Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions, Yanina Wickmayer | Comments(3)
    This is unbelievable, 20-year-old Yanina Wickmayer received a one-year suspension and it happened in the Belgian’s breakthrough year in which she reached the US Open semifinals as an unseeded player, won her first two WTA Tour titles (Estoril and Linz) and cracked the Top 20.

    The reason for the suspension: Wickmayer failed to report her whereabouts to anti-doping officials three times. However, the world No.18 denied any wrongdoing and is planning to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

    Wickmayer voluntarily withdrew from the ongoing Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions because of the punishment. (photo via Sony Ericsson WTA Tour)

  93. Anonymous said

    Martina Navratilova needs to keeep her dumb ass comments to herself, criticizing Agassi for having drug problems in the past, please! That bitch is just pissed she wasn’t born with a dick. She’s a has been that can’t deal with the fact that today’s women are much better then she ever was. She’s just pissed Steffi wouldn’t date her since she is straight. Get a life Martina, and lets hope the skelatons don’t fall out of your closet, we all know your closet has the most skelatons you dumb bitch. Now go strap one on and pretend your a guy, you probably are anyway. I hope the mainstream media gets ahold of all your shit and ruins your ass, at least Andre came clean on his own, and he wasn’t using performance enhancers dumb ass! If you know how, read the book and maybe you’ll learn something. But don’t come clean yourself, no one cares, and that book would be too f’n long anyway.

  94. Jenny said

    Bjorn Borg Q and A

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/8350824.stm

  95. monique said

    http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/news/story?id=4640519

  96. Manon said

    Marat want Agassi to come clean all the way…to the bank account

    http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/news/story?id=4640519

    Is it fair that others — Martina Hingis, for example — have paid a heavy price? Is just atonement too easy a way out for Agassi?

  97. Claire said

    From Federer site, what a guy! :)

    ATP – THANK YOU!

    Dear Fans

    Last week in Basel was an interesting and also intensive one. It was great to spend some time in my home town together with my family and enjoy what the city has to offer. It is, of course, a pity that I was not able to defend my title at the Swiss Indoors.

    There were various things happening next to the tennis tournament. I was able to meet up with my friends and family, I hadn’t seen a lot of them for quite some time. It’s great that so many were able to make their way to Basel.
    Furthermore, I had the opportunity to give something back to others: I met children and also participated in an event organised by my official fan club, fans4roger. The children had a special day in Basel, arranged by an institution called “wonderlamp”. It was their greatest wish to meet me in person. My fan club arranged for 100 fans to attend one of my training sessions on Center Court, followed by a meet and greet.

    It is always fascinating to see so many happy, beaming faces. It shows me just how far I am able to reach out through my sport. I would like to thank all of you for your interest, your support and the joy you show throughout the entire year. My fan club was also present with their banners (see gallery) during the matches on Center Court once again and the whole atmosphere at the tournament was terrific. I would like to express my gratitude for all that.

    I am looking forward to the end of the season, especially of course the ATP World Tour Finals in London.

    Yours, Roger

    Photo Gallery
    fans4roger

  98. Claire said

    Interesting year end stats:
    (it’s year end to me since F is done!

    F played 66 matches
    N ” 69 ”
    D ” 87 ”
    M ” 70 ”

    Aces
    #1 Karlovic – 855
    #6. F – 619
    #11 M – 508
    #15 D 475
    N – 184

    First Serve pts. won:
    #1 Karlovic – 85% 42 matches
    #2 F – 79%
    #9 M – 76%
    #25D – 73%

    First serve %

    #1 Verdasco – 70%
    #6 N – 68%
    15 D 63%
    22 F 62%
    45 M 58%

    Service games won.
    # 1 Karlovic – 92%
    #2 F 91%
    #9 D 85%
    #10 M 85%
    #12 N 85%

    Break pts. saved:
    #1 Fed 70% – (what happened today????)
    #5 D 67%
    #9 M 66%
    #11 N 66%

  99. Claire said

    First serve pts. won
    # 31 N 72%

  100. monique said

    http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/video/12112009/58/federer-m-losing.html

  101. Jenny said

    Not wishing to rain on Marat’s parade, but another legend and showman of the game retired this week he’s nearly 37, has been competing for 20 years, Fabrice Santoro. Given he’s a Frenchman, why on earth haven’t Paris Bercy given him an approriate send off?! Not good. I’m going to miss you Fabrice, you’ve given us so much pleasure, I’m sure the other players will miss him too, so highly respected, not so sure Marat felt that way when he had to play him, he had a big H2H lead! I hope you enjoy the vid and seeing the ‘victims’ of his unique game, there are three of ‘mine’ there, it really was let’s scramble the brains, I couldn’t help but laugh at their expense.

    Benny Hill was a British comedian, his forte was the ‘dirty old man’ routine with young pretty women, Coke bottle bottom specs, belted gabardine raincoat, beret and salacious leer and eyes which was a hoot in itself, this was his theme tune when chasing the girls.

  102. Jef Costello said

    A partially interesting story on Serena found in the Sydney Morning Herald – and that is Sydney in Australia, rather than Sydney in Canada :-)

    http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/tennis/2009/11/13/1258043780552.html?autostart=1

  103. monique said

    http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4649578&name=bodo_peter

  104. monique said

    http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/tennis/newk-serves-up-some-love-for-agassi/2009/11/12/1257615112723.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap2

  105. monique said

    http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/magazine/specials/sportsman/2009/11/03/chen.sportsman/index.html

    Andy deserves it so much…

  106. Bettyjane said

    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/paul_kimmage/article6917213.ece?token=null&offset=0&page=1

  107. zihwye said

    heres something, albeit non-tennis related. for some reason i thought of this place first when i first saw it.

    http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jj0mOYe1f80/Sv-DaWIurBI/AAAAAAAACn4/_-zBidspah0/s1600-h/princess1.jpg
    http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jj0mOYe1f80/Sv-DaOC25RI/AAAAAAAACnw/rZEmTY9JCJU/s1600-h/pri.jpg

    • Gracie said

      Yikes Zihwye…very sad and superficial lessons, these fairy tales.
      What’s it say about me that I only even recognize two of these characters? You’ve made me realize that even as a child these stories had no appeal for me.

      • Jenny said

        LOL Gracie, me neither – sorry Zihwye. If the girls follow that lead, they’re going to hit the ground with a mighty big bang, unless they’ve very lucky! Good lookers aren’t always good inside, as many women learned to their cost. I always wanted to be a kept woman living in style, never quite managed it!

  108. Jenny said

    I received the following e-mail. I thought it would be good to share, kids can so funny in their innocence.

    “PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE WORDING AND SPELLING. IF YOU KNOW THE BIBLE EVEN A LITTLE, YOU’LL FIND THIS HILARIOUS! IT COMES FROM A CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEST.

    KIDS WERE ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ABOUT THE BIBLE WERE WRITTEN BY CHILDREN. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN RETOUCHED OR CORRECTED. INCORRECT SPELLING HAS BEEN LEFT IN.

    1. IN THE FIRST BOOK OF THE BIBLE, GUINESSIS. GOD GOT TIRED OF CREATING THE WORLD SO HE TOOK THE SABBATH OFF.

    2. ADAM AND EVE WERE CREATED FROM AN APPLE TREE. NOAH’S WIFE WAS JOAN OF ARK. NOAH BUILT AND ARK AND THE ANIMALS CAME ON IN PEARS.

    3. LOTS WIFE WAS A PILLAR OF SALT DURING THE DAY, BUT A BALL OF FIRE DURING THE NIGHT.

    4. THE JEWS WERE A PROUD PEOPLE AND THROUGHOUT HISTORY THEY HAD TROUBLE WITH UNSYMPATHETIC GENITALS.

    5. SAMPSON WAS A STRONGMAN WHO LET HIMSELF BE LED ASTRAY BY A JEZEBEL LIKE DELILAH.

    6. SAMSON SLAYED THE PHILISTINES WITH THE AXE OF THE APOSTLES.

    7 MOSES LED THE JEWS TO THE RED SEA WHERE THEY MADE UNLEAVENED BREAD WHICH IS BREAD WITHOUT ANY INGREDIENTS.

    8, THE EGYPTIANS WERE ALL DROWNED IN THE DESSERT. AFTERWARDS, MOSES WENT UP TO MOUNT CYANIDE TO GET THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

    9. THE FIRST COMMANDMENTS WAS WHEN EVE TOLD ADAM TO EAT THE APPLE.

    10. THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT IS THOU SHALT NOT ADMIT ADULTERY.

    11. MOSES DIED BEFORE HE EVER REACHED CANADA THEN JOSHUA LED THE HEBREWS IN THE BATTLE OF GERITOL.

    12. THE GREATEST MIRICLE IN THE BIBLE IS WHEN JOSHUA TOLD HIS SON TO STAND STILL AND HE OBEYED HIM.

    13. DAVID WAS A HEBREW KING WHO WAS SKILLED AT PLAYING THE LIAR. HE FOUGHT THE FINKELSTEINS, A RACE OF PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN BIBLICAL TIMES.

    14. SOLOMON, ONE OF DAVIDS SONS, HAD 300 WIVES AND 700 PORCUPINES.

    15. WHEN MARY HEARD SHE WAS THE MOTHER OF JESUS, SHE SANG THE MAGNA CARTA.

    16. WHEN THE THREE WISE GUYS FROM THE EAST SIDE ARRIVED THEY FOUND JESUS IN THE MANAGER.

    17. JESUS WAS BORN BECAUSE MARY HAD AN IMMACULATE CONTRAPTION.”

  109. Jenny said

  110. ricky said

    Funny video showing Joakim Noah (son of Yannick) and a journalist

    • ricky said

      French explanation of video, let me know if you need translation:

      Le joueur français des Chicago Bulls, qui s’est imposé dans la NBA, peut goûter sa revanche. Très critique avec le pivot tricolore pendant plusieurs semaines, Rick Morrissey, journaliste du “Chicago Tribune”, s’était engagé à manger ses chroniques amères si Noah devenait un titulaire indiscutable. C’est chose faite, et Morrissey a donc respecté son engagement. Aux côtés d’un Noah hilare, il a dégusté ses papiers. Beau joueur.

  111. TuckerP said

    Looks like people have forgotten about me :( I guess I am forced to post more in order to keep you guys entertained and me from falling off of the face of the planet.

    BBC SPORT

    World number two Rafael Nadal has been included in Spain’s squad for the Davis Cup final against the Czech Republic.

    The 23-year-old has not played for the defending champions since the first-round win over Serbia in March, and missed last year’s final with injury.

    World number eight Fernando Verdasco, David Ferrer and Feliciano Lopez make up the rest of the squad for the final, which begins in Spain on 4 December.

    Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek will lead the Czech challenge.

    Jan Hajek and Lukas Dlouhy have also been named by captain Jaroslav Navratil in an unchanged squad from the line-up that stunned Croatia in the semi-finals.

    The Czechs, who have not won the trophy since 1980 when Ivan Lendl led them to victory, have also beaten France and Argentina on their way to the final.

    Spain, who have 11 players in the world’s top 75, are attempting to win their fourth Davis Cup title in 10 years.

    The final will take place on indoor clay at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona, scene of the first of Spain’s three Davis Cup triumphs in 2000.

    Nadal was sidelined for two months with knee tendonitis earlier this year, and has not won a title since his return in August.

    Verdasco, who has qualified for the end-of-season World Tour Finals in London for the first time, missed Spain’s semi-final win over Israel with an injury.

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