Roger Federer Does Not Shine But Beats Tomas Berdych in Straight Sets in ATP Finals Debut - UBITENNIS
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Roger Federer Does Not Shine But Beats Tomas Berdych in Straight Sets in ATP Finals Debut

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Roger Federer beats Tomas Berdych for the 15th time, winning by 6-4 6-2 in his debut match at the O2 Arena for the ATP World Tour Finals. Despite a shaky start, the Swiss takes advantage of Berdych’s nerves in the first set and outplays the Czech in the second to collect his victory number 49 at the ATP Finals. The Swiss is also presented with two awards on court at the end of the match.

 

 

At his 14th appearance at the ATP World Tour Finals, Roger Federer collects victory number 49 beating Tomas Berdych in straight sets by 6-4 6-2 in 1 hour and 9 minutes. The Swiss doesn’t shine in his debut at the O2 Arena and takes advantage of a bad day from the Czech on his forehand. Federer doesn’t hit a volley until half an hour into the match, failing to show the brilliant progression he has got his fans accustomed with. The Swiss manages to find his best rhythm in time to close the match in straight sets, becoming increasingly more devastating on his forehand in the second set. As soon as the Swiss manages to put Berdych’s backhand under pressure, the Czech starts to fall into the trap, feeling pushed to close the rallies faster and ending up committing a whole lot of unforced errors. It is Federer’s 15th win against Berdych in 21 matches played against the Czech.

A winner in 2003-04, 2006-07 and 2010-11 at the ATP World Tour Finals, Federer has to play like he did in the second set against Berdych to make sure he can survive the Round Robin action with no hassle. At the end of the match, Federer was presented on court with the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award and the ATPWorldTour.com Fan’s Favourite Award. Roger’s coach Stefan Edberg steps on court with ATP’s CEO Chris Kermode to present the Swiss with the awards. It is the 11th time that Federer wins the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship award, the 13th time in a row he wins the fans’ favourite award.

https://twitter.com/tennis_photos/status/666005753032024068

It’s the perfect ending to Federer’s first night out in London. The tournament has officially started and the Swiss has shaken off his first nerves.

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MATCH REPORT

Roger Federer (SUI) b. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 6-4 6-2 in 1 hour and 9 minutes

 

O2 Arena – London
RR ATP World Tour Finals 2015

Damian Steiner (Argentina)  – Chair Umpire

The crowd is obviously not so shyly rooting for Roger Federer as he gets the warmest welcome on court of the day.

 

Tomas Berdych starts the match serving, after winning the toss.

 

THE FIRST SET

 

Berdych plays two strong first serves to hold serve to 15 as Federer hits a backhand return wide. The Swiss tries immediately to put pressure on Berdych’s forehand, but Tomas stays consistent. Federer starts his match on serve with two consecutive double faults at 0-15, to go 0-40 right away. Berdych attacks on Federer’s backhand on a tender second serve, and breaks at his first chance to go up 2-0.

 

Federer has a chance to get right back into the set as he leads 0-30 on Berdych’s serve in the third game. The Czech hits a backhand in the net and faces his first 3 consecutive break points in the match. Federer breaks with a backhand drop shot winner to come back at 1-2.

 

Roger now looks more for Tomas’s backhand, but most importantly has found his first serve. The Swiss holds to love to tie the score at 2-2. Strong at the baseline, Federer has another chance on Berdych’s serve at 0-30, after winning a 20-shot baseline rally forcing the Czech into hitting a forehand in the net. Berdych commits a terrible forehand unforced error on an open court, allowing Federer with 2 break point chances at 15-40. The Czech saves the first with a first serve, on the second Federer plays a short return on which Berdych attacks with a deep forehand. Berdych closes the game with an ace to lead 3-2.

 

Federer starts the 6th game with his first ace of the match. Up 40-30 the Swiss hits his 3rd double fault in the match. The Swiss insists on Berdych’s backhand using his serve and holds to tie the score at 3-3. The Swiss has only won 2 points on his second serve up to this point, with a winning percentage of 28%. Too low for the Swiss, who struggles to find his rhythm on serve.

 

It is now Berdych who manages to dictate the rallies with his forehand, attacking on Federer’s backhand, pushing the Swiss to finish the rallies with a series of forced errors. The Czech holds to 15 and leads 4-3. Federer plays his first volley of the match on a second serve, hitting a backhand volley in the net. Despite the lack of progression, Roger fires a forehand winner and closes the game at 15, to keep the equilibrium going at 4-4.

 

Berdych starts to feel the nerves as he serves at 4-4, so much so that he plays a disastrous 9th game. The Czech kills an airborne forehand in the net to trail back 0-30, then fires another forehand wide to face three break points down 0-40. Another unforced error on his forehand, hitting an easy shot in the net, sets Berdych with a lost serve. Federer breaks to serve for the set up 5-4.

 

Serving for the set, Federer hits three first serves, including an ace, to lead 40-0. On the first set point, Berdych wins the rally with a forehand winner. On the second set point the Czech hits a forehand long. After 38 minutes Roger Federer wins the first set by 6 games to 4.

 

Federer had 8 winners and 7 unforced errors in the set, compared to Berdych’s 6 winners and 10 unforced errors.

 

THE SECOND SET

 

Federer wins the best point of the match at the net, after lobbing Berdych and closing the rally with a forehand volley winner. The Swiss starts to have fun and mixes up pace and shot-making. Roger gets to break point at 30-40 thanks to a backhand drop shot return winner. Berdych hits another forehand in the net and gets broken in the first game as Federer leads 1-0.

 

The Swiss holds easily, finally more aggressive with his forehand, to lead 2-0. Federer has another chance on Berdych’s serve, up 15-30. The Czech comes back to have a game point, but hits a backhand long to set the score to deuce. As Federer attacks with his forehand, Berdych is pushed off court and faces another break point at 40-A. Federer insists on Berdych’s backhand, to open up the court and force Berdych to hit out with his forehand. Tomas misses a forehand wide, and calls for the first challenge of the match. Hawk-Eye confirms the call and Federer breaks to lead 3-0.

 

Federer insists on using the drop shot, winning most of the points. The Swiss holds serve to love and leads 4-0 in the set as the match approaches its finish line.

 

On a first serve hit by Berdych at 30-30, Federer calls his first challenge, but loses the point. The Czech attacks on Federer’s backhand to close the game and trail back at 1-4. In the 6th game, Federer plays aggressive with his backhand to open up the court. The Swiss closes the game with a backhand cross-court winner at 40-30 to hold serve and lead 5-1.

 

With Berdych serving to stay in the match, Federer tries his first SABR return of the match, ending up losing the point at the net with a backhand volley finishing long. Berdych manages to stay alive, holds and sends Federer to serve for the match at 5-2.

 

Federer starts the game with a double fault, then gets to 15-15 closing the point at the net with a forehand volley winner. With two strong serves on which Berdych can’t return, Federer has his first 2 match points at 40-15. Berdych plays a fantastic point, closing with a drop backhand volley. At his second chance, Federer comes at the net and closes the match with a chopped forehand winner after 1 hour and 9 minutes.

Berdych has now a 0-6 record at ATP Finals openers.

 

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REPORT: Seven Out Of The 10 Highest-Paid Female Athletes Of 2023 Are Tennis Players

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Cori Gauff - Australian Open 2023 (Twitter @AustralianOpen)

Tennis leads the way when it comes to earnings generated among female athletes this year, according to a new report

 

Sports business publication Sportico has compiled a list of the 15 highest-paid female athletes this year with the majority of them being tennis players. The list is based on what the athletes have earned through both prize money and endorsements before tax. The earnings have been calculated via ‘conversations with those familiar with marketing agreements and also includes royalties, memorabilia, appearance fees, media and businesses tied to their celebrity.’

Coco Gauff has been named as the highest earner as a result of her triumph at the US Open in September which reportedly led to her receiving a substantial bonus from her sponsors Head and New Balance. She is said to have earned $22.7M with $16M of that coming from endorsements. During this year Gauff has signed new sponsorship deals with UPS, Bose and Baker Tilley. She already has deals with the likes of Italian pasta maker Barilla and others. 

Iga Swiatek, who sealed her return to world No.1 during the WTA Finals in Mexico, is second on the list with a total of $21.9M in earnings. This time last year Sportico ranked her as the seventh highest-earner in women’s sport. 

Also among the highest earners are two players who have recently been absent from the Tour but for different reasons. Emma Raducanu hasn’t played since April due to injury but has still managed to rake in $16m in endorsements which is $4M more than Swiatek. Meanwhile, Naomi Osaka has received $15m in Endorsements and is the only tennis player in the top 15 to have no salary earnings. Osaka has been away from the sport following the birth of her first child and is expected to return to action next month. 

Also in the top 10 are Aryna Sabalenka ($12.2m), Elena Rybakina ($9.5M) and Jessica Pegula ($9M). Further down the list, Canada’s Leylah Fernandez is in joint 13th place with skier Mikaeka Shiffric ($6.1M) and Ons Jabeur is 15th ($5.7M).

Sportico was launched in 2020 and is part of Penske Media Corporation (PMC), an American digital media, publishing, and information services company. PMG also owns notable publications such as Rolling Stone, Billboard and Variety. 

The 15th highest-paid female athlete’s of 2023

RankAthleteSportSalary/
Winnings
EndorsementsTotal2022 Rank
1Coco GauffTENNIS$6.7M$16M$22.7M8
2Iga ŚwiątekTENNIS$9.9M$12M$21.9M7
3Eileen GuFREESTYLE SKIING$27K$20M$20M4
4Emma RaducanuTENNIS$238K$16M$16.2M3
5Naomi OsakaTENNIS$0$15M$15M1
6Aryna SabalenkaTENNIS$8.2M$4M$12.2MN/A
7Elena RybakinaTENNIS$5.5M$4M$9.5MN/A
8Jessica PegulaTENNIS$6M$3M$9MN/A
9Simone BilesGYMNASTICS$0$8.5M$8.5M5
10Nelly KordaGOLF$1.4M$6.5M$7.9M13
11Alex MorganFOOTBALL$850K$6M$6.9M11
12Megan RapinoeFOOTBALL$750K$6M$6.8M11
13Leylah FernandezTENNIS$1.1M$5M$6.1M10
13Mikaela ShiffrinSKIING$1.1M$5M$6.1MN/A
15Ons JabeurTENNIS$3.2M$2.5M$5.7MN/A
SOURCE: SPORTICO.COM

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Former Champion Caroline Wozniacki Handed Australian Open Wildcard

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Caroline Wozniacki at the 2019 Australian Open (photo Roberto Dell'Olivo)

Caroline Wozniacki will return to the Australian Open next month for the first time in four years after receiving a wildcard into the main draw.

 

The former world No.1 originally retired from tennis at Melbourne Park in 2020 before deciding to make a return to the sport earlier this year during the summer at the age of 33. Wozniacki has played in only three tournaments so far in her comeback with her most recent being in September at the US Open where she reached the fourth round before losing to Coco Gauff, who went on to win the title. She also reached the second round of the Canadian Open but lost in the first round of Cincinnati.

“I have so many wonderful memories of Melbourne, and of course winning the Australian Open is an all-time career highlight,” said Wozniacki, who is currently ranked outside the top 200.

2024 will be Wozniacki’s 14th appearance in the main draw of the Australian Open. In 2018 she beat Simona Halep to win her first and so far only Grand Slam title. She also reached the semi-finals in 2011 and then the quarter-final stage 12 months later.

“Melbourne’s one of my most favourite cities in the world, and I can’t wait to share it with my family and my kids,” she told The AO Show podcast.
“It’s obviously a tournament I feel extremely comfortable at. I love the balls, I love the court, and I love the fans.
“And I hope that I get a nice welcome back when I see everyone there – and I’m sure I will; it really is a special place.
“I’m truly grateful to everyone for the wildcard and having the opportunity to compete again at the AO in January.”

Wozniacki has recently been in South America where she played an exhibition match against Maria Sakkari in Mexico last week. She is yet to confirm if she will play any tournaments leading up to the Australian Open. However, she is not on the entry list for the Brisbane International which will begin on December 31st. 

Besides Wozniacki, six Australian players have also been given wildcards to play in the first Grand Slam of the season. For the women’s draw Kimberly Birrell, Olivia Gadecki and Taylah Preston have received passes. Meanwhile, James Duckworth, Marc Polmans and Adam Walton will play in the men’s draw. 

The Australian Open is taking place over 15 days for the first time in its history with play starting on Sunday 14th January. Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka are the defending champions. 

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Federer’s Ex-Coach Rate Jannik Sinner’s Chances Of Grand Slam Glory In 2024

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Photo by Marta Magni

Jannik Sinner has ‘real hope’ of winning a major title in the new season but his chances of success depend on how well he can handle the occasion, according to the former coach of Roger Federer. 

 

Ivan Ljubicic, who is also a former world No.3 player himself, has hailed Sinner’s strong end to the 2023 season where he reached the final of the ATP Finals and played a pivotal role in Italy winning the Davis Cup. During those two events, the 22-year-old won two out of his three meetings against Novak Djokovic. Overall, he has recorded 13 wins over top 10 players this year with 10 of those being against opposition ranked in the top five. He won titles in Montpellier, Toronto, Beijing and Vienna. 

Speaking about the world No.4 during an interview with Tuttosport, Ljubicic notes that Sinner’s rise in the sport has been more steady compared to that of Carlos Alcaraz who has already reached world No.1 and won two major titles. Alcaraz is almost two years younger than the Italian and trails their head-to-head 3-4. 

“Jannik is not like Alcaraz, who went from 40 to 1, he needs his steps,” Tennis 365 quoted Ljubicic as telling Tuttosport. “I think what he has done in the last two months, the confirmation of relentless work, has brought him closer to the goal.
“He needed certain experiences to feel comfortable in the path. At the end of 2022 I had said I was sorry that Jannik had not played important matches against the big boys. Now he has nothing more to learn. He has a perfect attitude on and off the court, in interviews he is not afraid to talk about his limitations and more.”

Given his recent success on the Tour, some believe Sinner will be a Grand Slam title contender during the new season. He has already reached the quarter-finals or better at every major tournament at least once so far in his career. His best Grand Slam performance so far was at this year’s Wimbledon Championships where he reached the semi-finals before losing to Djokovic. 

“Having won the Davis Cup allows him to go into Australia with real hope. And he has beaten all the top 10,” Ljubicic commented.
“We will see him in Slam management: when you have a day if you feel the pressure, if you think a lot – and he is very reflective – you can have some more problems.
“He is surrounded by a staff of very capable people, though. His strength is character. He never goes off the deep end and is not content. When I got to No 3 I thought I had reached the top and began my downward trajectory.”

Sinner’s 2023 season saw him produce a win-loss record of 64-15 and earn more than $8.2M in prize money. 

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