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Post by jenhatter06 on Nov 25, 2007 4:50:00 GMT 3
Fed-Pete Part III -- Pete wins! ;D  Sampras Stuns Federer in Macau in Final Exhibition Pete Sampras turned the tables on Roger Federer in the third and final match of their Asian exhibition series in Macau on Saturday, stunning the ATP World No. 1 7-6(8), 6-4. Sampras, who holds the record for six consecutive year-end No. 1 finishes, did not face a break point en route to the win, which followed straight-sets losses to Federer in Seoul and Kuala Lumpur. But the seven-time Wimbledon champion was keeping the victory in perspective, saying "Let's not get carried away," as he dismissed talk of a comeback. Federer, who on Monday will celebrate a record 200 consecutive weeks as ATP World No. 1, said: "It's been tough beating my idol the last two times. I'm happy that he got me at least once. I hope we can do it again in the future. I'd like to get him back." fun times ... and it was cool to see them having fun with each other too, they were definitely enjoying themselves ... was hoping Pete would at least win a set  -- Pete kept up with Fed and still has some tricks and weapons up his sleeve  -- now it's time for them to play on grass ;D |
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Post by jenhatter06 on Mar 11, 2008 3:29:02 GMT 3
not like the Aussie Open has been over for two months now or anything :-P ...... Agent: Federer sick with mononucleosis during Australian Open NEW YORK (AP) -Roger Federer couldn't figure out why he felt so sluggish at the start of this season. His doctors eventually gave him an explanation: The world's No. 1 tennis player had mononucleosis. ``Roger found out he had mono, and didn't know it. He found out a couple of weeks ago. That's probably what was wrong with him,'' Federer's agent, Tony Godsick, said Friday. ``He doesn't want to make any excuses and take anything away from anybody. In hindsight, had (his doctors) known he had mono, they wouldn't have let him play.'' Federer lost to eventual champion Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open semifinals in January, then didn't play again until this week, when he was upset by Andy Murray in the first round of the Dubai Tennis Championships. Federer had not lost in the first round of a tournament since 2004. He was diagnosed with mononucleosis last month after seeing doctors in Switzerland and Dubai, Godsick said. Mononucleosis is an infection caused by a virus. Symptoms include fever, sore throat, headaches and feeling tired. ``This gave him a reason for why he wasn't able to move and why he wasn't able to recover,'' Godsick said. ``It was annoying for him to not have reasons for why his body wasn't responding.'' Federer was cleared to start practicing five days before the start of the Dubai tournament. Godsick said Federer is ``over it now,'' and will play Monday night against Pete Sampras in their exhibition match at Madison Square Garden. ``It's good to get an extra match under his belt,'' Godsick said. ``He's looking forward to the Garden, 19,000 people, playing his idol. He's been somewhat down because he didn't know what was wrong with him.'' Federer owns 12 Grand Slam singles titles, two away from Sampras' career record. ``I was feeling so great in December up until the moment I got sick, so this has been my problem the last couple weeks: really getting back on track,'' Federer told The New York Times for a story posted on its Web site Friday. ``I haven't practiced and couldn't really work out the way I wanted to, because you have to be very careful with mono.'' www.thetennischannel.com/news/NewsDetails.aspx?newsid=3847 |
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Post by jenhatter06 on Mar 11, 2008 3:42:03 GMT 3
Counting down to Federer-Sampras tonight   By Erin Bruehl, USTA.com NEW YORK – A few hours before their highly anticipated exhibition match at a sold-out Madison Square Garden, Roger Federer and Pete Sampras were at the South Gate Restaurant of the Jumeirah Essex House in Manhattan, with only great things to say about each other as players and as people. Talking to the press, Federer and Sampras also discussed how much they were looking forward to the match, called the "NetJets Showdown," tonight at the Garden, which has not hosted a men’s tennis match since 1996 and no tennis since 2000. After recently suffering from mononucleosis, Federer now feels back to his usual, fit self, having just found out the illness was gone about 10 days ago. “I feel fine," he said. "I think I’m back to normal again. It is hard to tell. I only played one match since I knew what was going on (with the illness). The draw was very difficult in Dubai, playing Andy Murray in the first round, but I practiced real hard after the loss and came here, and I actually feel very good. I feel perfectly fine, and I think I’m over it.” This will be Federer’s first time ever inside the Garden, having only been outside the arena previously. Over 19,000 fans are expected to attend the match between the current world No. 1 Federer, with his 12 Grand Slam titles, and the now-retired Pete Sampras, the all-time record holder with 14 major titles. “It sold out in two weeks. I was shocked that 19,000 were going to be there tonight,” Sampras said. “The fact that Roger does not really play New York during the year except at the US Open, it is at the Garden – we haven’t had (men's) tennis in the Garden since 1996 – and I’m sort of back playing again, the combination of that and what Roger has been able to do the past couple of years in the sport (makes this match so popular). “We’ve been linked to each other for the past couple of years. He has 12, I have 14 majors, and he is going to break (my record) over the next couple of years,” he added. “He doesn’t have to do these exhibitions. It is a great thrill for me to play him. Roger and I have gotten to be pretty good friends, and I’m glad it got pulled off here.” The two played three exhibitions matches in November in Asia, with Federer winning the first two, before Sampras won the last one in Macau on a very fast court. Sampras, 36, retired after winning the 2002 US Open and met Federer, 26, in competition on the ATP Tour only once in the round of 16 at Wimbledon. Federer won that match in five sets. “I knew back then he was special,” Sampras said. “Roger moves great, he hits the ball great on the run, he serves well, he can come in if he wants to or just stay back. He possesses the best forehand in the game, has the best mind out there. He has the whole package. His movement is incredible. That is what separates him from the rest.” Federer called Sampras his hero growing up and admires all the American brought to the game of tennis, making playing him even more special. “This is a great event. I’m trying to enjoy it,” Federer said. “I guess that is one of the reasons so many people (are coming) out – you don’t often get one in their prime playing against one of the greatest of all time. It is also one of the reasons I had the idea a little over a year ago that we could actually pull this off because Pete is still in great shape, he can still hang with me without a problem, and that is why I think it is such an interesting match-up. I hope we can do it again. I think tennis is going to be the winner tonight.” At age 36, Sampras said his movement is not what it was when he was in his prime as the No. 1 player in the world for a record 286 weeks, although he still has a big serve. Against Federer tonight, the American is hoping to hold his serve early as a huge key for the match. “I can still serve pretty well and serve and volley OK. I don’t move as well, and I play so sporadically, so I am just not as sharp,” Sampras said. “Now I kind of toss it up, and I’m not sure what’s going to happen. I still hit the ball quite well, I just don’t move as well. It is tricky. I can hopefully find something tonight, some old magic, and push Roger a little bit. My start is going to be huge for me. If I can hold serve a few times and find my feet, find my bearings, I should be OK.” www.usta.com/news/fullstory.sps?iType=921&inewsid=539858**watching it on TV .... hype much? -- lights, music, effects, fireworks ... Tiger Woods in the crowd, Lendl, Billie Jean King there, Roy Emerson did the coin toss ... after an hour of pre-show festivities they finally start playing, lol |
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Post by Annie on Mar 12, 2008 12:36:03 GMT 3
Roger Federer beats Pete Sampras in sold-out exhibition at Madison Square Garden
By JAY COHEN, AP Sports Writer
Mar 11, 4:23 am EDT
NEW YORK (AP)—Past and present stood across the net from each other during a third-set tiebreaker at Madison Square Garden.
On one end, a winded Pete Sampras tried to summon enough energy to give the New York fans another memorable win to talk about it on the subway ride home. On the other side, Roger Federer wore a sly grin like he knew age was about to catch up to the former world No. 1—the man who owns the record of 14 Grand Slams he wants.
Youth is served, indeed.
Current No. 1 Federer emerged with a 6-3, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (6) victory Monday night in an exhibition that featured a little bit of everything—some laughter, some stellar shots, uneven play and compelling tennis.
There was even a Tiger Woods sighting.
“It was a great night for tennis,” Sampras said.
There were moments when, if you squinted a bit, you would have sworn that was the Sampras of old, rather than an old Sampras. There were moments when, if you listened to the whip of the racket through the air, you would have been absolutely sure Federer was giving it his all.
And then there were moments when, as you watched Sampras throw his racket to the ground in mock disgust or saw Federer raise an index finger to celebrate four aces in a single game, it didn’t really matter whether this match counted or not.
“I don’t think winning or losing was really the issue tonight,” Federer said. “I think we both tried to do our best and have a fun night, and that’s what it turned out to be.”
For nearly 2 1/2 hours, before an occasionally raucous gathering of 19,690, these two living, breathing greats of their game shared a court, Federer in his ultra-modern all-black getup and Sampras in his old-school all-white outfit.
It was Pistol Pete vs. The Federer Express.
“Good vs. Evil,” as Sampras said with a snicker earlier in the day.
The encounter certainly doesn’t settle the “Who is better?” debate, given that one participant is 26 and the other is 36, nothing more than bragging rights was on the line, and, frankly, who can truly know how hard each was really trying? It did, however, raise tennis’ profile, make both men some money — $1 million for Federer, less for Sampras—and, well, allow people to say they saw Sampras, the best of his generation, face Federer, the best of his.
“It turned out to be this thriller match,” Federer said.
No one can say they saw Ali face Tyson in a boxing ring. Or Hogan face Woods on a golf course.
Woods, who happens to be pals with Federer, decided he had to see it in person. He sat in the front row, part of a delighted crowd that included Donald Trump, Regis Philbin and Anna Wintour. They sat around a hard court set up where the NBA’s Knicks and NHL’s Rangers play.
“This is maybe why so many people came out: You don’t often get the No. 1 in his prime playing against maybe the greatest player of all time,” said Federer, who recently recovered from a bout of mononucleosis that he thinks contributed to losses in his past two tour matches.
It was the fourth Federer-Sampras exhibition; Federer won two of their three matches in Asia late last year. They left open the possibility of another, with Sampras deferring to whatever Federer wanted to do.
The two only played one real match, back at Wimbledon in 2001, when an up-and-coming Federer edged an on-the-way-out Sampras in a five-setter on Centre Court.
That ended Sampras’ 31-match winning streak at the All England Club; he would never add to his seven titles there. Federer would go on to win five in a row at Wimbledon, a streak that he will try to extend this summer.
Sampras never played a professional match after winning his last Grand Slam trophy at the 2002 U.S. Open. Federer’s Slam count is already up to 12, and Sampras acknowledges he fully expects the record to change hands—and that the kid could wind up with 18 or 19 Slams.
“Roger’s got more important things to worry about,” Sampras said, “than playing me.”
On this night, Sampras showed off the serve-and-volley style that carried him to a record six straight years ranked No. 1. And Federer showed off the all-court game that has helped him enjoy a record streak of more than 200 consecutive weeks ranked No. 1.
Both players took things seriously at times. They also took things frivolously at times, such as when Sampras spiked his racket to the court or pleaded with a linesman to change a call.
After one volley winner, Sampras pumped a fist and threw two Woods-like uppercuts, playing to the rollicking golfer and the crowd in a way he rarely did during a professional career marked by equal doses of excellence and stoicism.
The crowd ate all of it up, cheering for Federer and adoring Sampras. “You still got it, Pete!” rang a cry from the stands.
In the end, he didn’t have enough.
“I was happy I took the second set so we could give the crowd more tennis,” Sampras said. “I was a little disappointed I didn’t come up with the win.”
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Post by Happiness on Mar 12, 2008 12:43:00 GMT 3
Thanks honey for the news!!! |
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Post by Annie on Mar 12, 2008 12:43:28 GMT 3
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helloticky
Full Member
KEEP FLYING HIGH !!MARAT!!
Posts: 269
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Post by helloticky on Mar 23, 2008 6:23:47 GMT 3
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Post by Alya10 on Apr 2, 2008 14:53:07 GMT 3
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Post by Happiness on Apr 2, 2008 18:44:56 GMT 3
Love them!!! ROTFLOL I think that when I see the guy next time I won't be able to look at him the same way!!! ;D |
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Post by Mrs. Fabregas on Apr 3, 2008 18:56:51 GMT 3
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Post by davis on May 24, 2008 11:25:04 GMT 3
For Roger's fangirl No. 1 ;D Roger with a very pretty new polo in Roland Garros...  ...and showing all this "manliness" during a match, LOL ;D ;D ;D  Sweet dreams!  |
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Post by davis on Jul 16, 2008 16:02:46 GMT 3
From the Wimbledon final - lmao!!!! ;D  |
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Post by coolgirl on Jul 16, 2008 17:15:29 GMT 3
LOL!!! found this at LJ community by pixel 876:  |
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Post by maryb on Jul 17, 2008 0:42:46 GMT 3
No no no no! That has just freaked me ... just as my little fairy head is about to hit the pillow! I will hold you personally responsible for a sleepless night, Coolgirl! Maestro and Rafa ... No, no, no, no!LMAO.
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Post by coolgirl on Jul 17, 2008 9:46:03 GMT 3
heeh, I come in peace, Maryb,  ....I hope I didnt offend anyone here with that pic ....somehow I find it ..ticklish??!? lol |
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-- Pete kept up with Fed and still has some tricks and weapons up his sleeve 
-- now it's time for them to play on grass ;D
....I hope I didnt offend anyone here with that pic ....somehow I find it ..ticklish??!? lol