Roger Federer wins the "Sportsman of the Year" Award for Gazzetta dello Sport and l'Equipe - UBITENNIS
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Roger Federer wins the “Sportsman of the Year” Award for Gazzetta dello Sport and l’Equipe

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Roger Federer was crowned as the “Sportsman of the Year” by the journalists of the Gazzetta dello Sport, the famous Italian sports newspaper. The 19-time Grand Slam champion won the traditional end-of-year poll for the fourth time in his career after claiming the top spot for three consecutive years in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

During his successful come-back season Federer won his fifth Australian Open title and his eighth Wimbledon crown, the so-called Sunshine Double double in Indian Wells and Miami, his third Masters 1000 title of the season in Shanghai, his favourite grass tournament in Halle and a record eighth title in his hometown city Basel beating Juan Martin Del Potro in three sets.

Federer took the first place in the ranking ahead of Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton and Uefa Champions League and Ballon d’or winner Cristiano Ronaldo. King Roger is just the second tennis player to win the “Gazzetta Sportsman of the Year Award” after Stefan Edberg, who triumphed in 1990.

Federer posted a video message to thank the journalists of the Gazzetta dello Sport, who voted him.

“I want to thank all of you, who have voted for me and chose me as the Sportsman of the Year. Something very special happened in 2017. It was my best season considering my age. This award means a lot for me”, said Federer.

Federer will make his debut in the Hopman Cup in Perth where he will team up with his compatriot Belinda Bencic. This traditional team event was a springboard to a very successful Australian Open, where he collected his 18th career Grand Slam after beating Rafael Nadal in a fantastic five-set match.

“I have to keep my body healthy to continue my career. I relaxed during the off-season with my family before starting my training for the Australian Open. I did the same last year but in 2017 I did not know what to expect. I have high expectations for 2018 but I am aware that it will not be easy to repeat the same results I achieved in 2017”, said Federer.

Federer and his Spanish rival Rafael Nadal shared the top position in another end-of-year poll conducted by the French sports daily L’Equipe. The popular French newspaper granted the “International Sportsman of the Year” award to two sportsmen for the first time in 42 years. Only two other tennis players Guy Forget and Henri Leconte were awarded together as the best French sportsmen in 1991, when the French team won the Davis Cup. Federer win the Equipe award for the fourth time after 2004, 2005 and 2006. Nadal won this award twice in 2010 and 2013.

Federer was interviewed by l’Equipe in Dubai before starting his Australian campaign.

“Someone will say it is right for me to share the award with Nadal. Someone will say no. I think you can view our seasons the way you want. Both of us did something amazing. He ended the year as number 1. He is the oldest player to end the year at this position, which I was not aware of. It is something that nobody did before, so from that side, he must be given credit. He made a comeback like me. I am five years older than him, which makes things even more complicated. I beat him every time. We can combine all the things the way we want, but I perfectly agree”, said Federer.

Roger beat Rafa four times in all their four head-to-head matches at the Australian Open, Indian Wells, Miami and Shanghai. Nadal led 3-1 in the fifth set in the legendary Australian Open final but Federer made an incredible come-back to lift his fifth Australian Open trophy after being sidelined for six months.

“It’s a little bit exaggerated to say that coming back from 1-3 in the fifth set in Melbourne was decisive for the whole season but it’s true. In that moment I showed that I can play fabulous tennis forever. I played very well. It was a great moment for the whole season”, said Federer.

Federer also won three ATP Awards (Fan’s Favourite, Stefan Edberg Sportmanship and Comeback of the year) and won the Swiss Sportsman of the year Award for the seventh time in his career.

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Jannik Sinner reaches his fourth semifinal of the year in Miami

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This year’s Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner converted four of his eleven break points in his 6-4 6-2 win over Tomas Machac in 91 minutes to reach his fourth semifinal of the season at the Miami Open. 

Sinner has claimed a tour-leading 20th match win this season to reach the Miami Open semifinal for the third time. The world number 3 finished runner-up to Hubert Hurkacz in 2021 and Danil Medvedev in 2023 in his finals in Miami. 

Sinner started the match with an immediate break in the first game to take a 1-0 lead. Machac, who beat Andrey Rublev and Andy Murray on his way to the quarter final in Miami, broke straight back to draw level to 1-1. Sinner earned his second break in an eight-minute seventh game to take a 4-3 lead. The Italian star held on his next two service games to close out on his first set point. 

Sinner earned two break points on each of Machac’s first three service games. He broke twice in the third and fifth games to open up a 5-1 lead and served out the win on his second match point. Sinner dropped just three points on serve in the second set. 

Sinner will face the winner of the quarter final match between Danil Medvedev and Nicolas Jarry. 

“I did not exactly know what to expect today. The first games I was looking a little bit what kind of tactics could work or not. Today I played especially in the important moments of the match. I am really happy to play again in the semifinals here. Machac has an incredible talent to play this sport. He is super fast also physically . He is in great shape. I feel good. I am just happy to compete. We practise very hard to be in these positions and I am really happy I can play once again in the semifinals at this special tournament. I made my first Masters 1000 final here. I am really happy to be back in the semifinals ”, said Sinner. 

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Danielle Collins beats Caroline Garcia to reach the second semifinal of her career in Miami

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Danielle Collins beat Caroline Garcia 6-3 6-2 in 80 minutes to reach her second semifinal at the Miami Open. Collins became the first qualifier to reach the semifinal in the history of this tournament. 

Collins achieved her third win against a seeded player in five matches over the past seven days. 

Collins dropped just 11 points in nine service games against Garcia and hit 22 winners to Garcia’s 12. 

Collins earned a break in the eighth game and held serve to seal the first set 6-3. The US player broke serve in the third game of the second set and never looked back to close out the match in 1 hout and 19 minutes. 

Collins has extended her record to 4-0 in her head-to-head matches against Garcia and has not lost a set to her French opponent. 

Collins set up a semifinal match against the winner of Wednesday night’s match between Jessica Pegula and Elena Alexandrova, who beat world number one player Iga Swiatek in the fourth round.  

Collins won two WTA titles in Palermo and San José in 2021 but she has not reached a WTA Tour level final since losing to Ashleigh Barty in Melbourne in 2022. 

“I think Caroline Garcia comes out here and fights her butt off. She hits some really strong shots. I don’t think the set scores are a reflection of how close the match really is”, said Collins. 

Garcia beat Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff to reach the quarter finals in Miami for the first time in her career. The French player was troubled by an injury to her right shoulder and received treatment early in the second set. 

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Alexander Zverev beats Karen Khachanov to reach the quarter final for the fourth time in his career in Miami

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Alexander Zverev beat Karen Khachanov 6-1 6-4 without facing any break points in a re-match of the Olympic final in Tokyo 2021 to reach back-to-back quarter finals after advancing to the last eight at Indian Wells. Zverev is aiming to win his first Masters 1000 title since Cincinnati in 2021. 

Zverev dropped just nine points on serve in the whole match and fired nine aces. The German player converted three of his four break points. 

Zverev broke twice in the fourth and sixth games to win the first set 6-1. The German player earned another break in the third game. He held on his next service games and sealed the win on his first match point. Zverev leads 4-2 in his six head-to-head matches against Khachanov. The German player reached the quarter final for the fourth time in his career in Miami and the last eight in a Masters 1000 tournament for the 27th time in his career. 

Zverev set up a quarter final match against Hundary’s Fabian Maroszan, who upset Alex De Minaur 6-4 1-6 6-1. The first set went on serve until the 10th game when Maroszan earned a break to win the first set 6-4. De Minaur broke three times to take a bagel win in the second set forcing the match to the decider. Maroszan broke twice in the fourth and sixth games and served out the win on his third match point. 

Maroszan reached his second Masters 1000 quarter final after advancing to the last eight in Shanghai in 2023. Maroszan has a record of four wins to just 1 defeat against top 10 players and 14 wins to just 3 defeats at Masters 1000 tournaments. De Minaur was looking to become the first player to reach 20 wins this season. 

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