The Bests: Roger Federer

Roger Federer was born 8 August 1981. He is a Swiss professional tennis player who as of August 2012 is ranked World No.1 by the ATP. Several sports analysts, tennis critics and former and current players consider him to be the greatest tennis player of all time. Federer was born in Binningen, Switzerland near Basel, to Swiss national Robert Federer and South African-born Lynette Durand, of Dutch and French Huguenot ancestry. He holds both Swiss and South African citizenship. He grew up in nearby Münchenstein, close to the French and German borders and speaks Swiss German, German, French and English fluently, Swiss German being his native language. He was raised as a Roman Catholic and met Pope Benedict XVI while playing the 2006 Internazionali BNL d'Italia tournament in Rome. Like all male Swiss citizens, Federer was subject to compulsory military service in the Swiss Armed Forces. He owns several men's world records of the Open Era: holding the number 1 position for 295 weeks overall, a 237-consecutive-week stretch at the top from 2004 to 2008, winning 17 Grand Slam singles titles; reaching the finals of each Grand Slam tournament at least five times (an all-time record); and reaching the Wimbledon final eight times.

Federer has appeared in 24 men's Grand Slam finals, with ten in a row, both records, and appeared in 18 of 19 finals from the 2005 Wimbledon Championships through to the 2010 Australian Open. He is the only man to reach the semifinals of 23 consecutive Grand Slam tournaments, from the 2004 Wimbledon Championships through the 2010 Australian Open. At the 2012 Wimbledon men's championship, he reached his 32nd Grand Slam semi-final and seventh trophy, both records. At the 2012 US Open, he reached a record consecutive 34th Grand Slam quarter-final. He has also won the most matches, 247, in men's Grand Slam tournaments. He also won the Olympic gold medal in doubles with his compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games and the Olympic silver medal in singles at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. He is one of seven men, and one of four in the Open Era, to capture the career Grand Slam, and one of three to do so separately on clay, grass, and hard courts.

However, in 2003 he was deemed unfit because of a long-standing back problem and was subsequently not required to fulfill his military obligation. Federer himself also credits the range of sports he played as a child—he also played badminton, cricket and basketball—for his hand-eye coordination. Federer has stated in various interviews that he is an avid cricket fan, having met Sachin Tendulkar twice. "I was always very much more interested if a ball was involved," he says. Most tennis prodigies, by contrast, play tennis to the exclusion of all other sports. In later life, Federer has been friends with the golfer Tiger Woods.

Federer supports a number of charities. He established the Roger Federer Foundation in 2003 to help disadvantaged people and to promote sports. In 2005, he auctioned his racquet from his US Open championship to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina. He was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador by UNICEF in 2006. At the 2005 Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, Federer arranged an exhibition involving several top players from the ATP tour and WTA tour called. Federer currently plays with a customised Wilson Pro Staff 6.1 90 BLX tennis racquet, which is characterised by its smaller hitting area of 90 square inches, heavy strung weight of 364 grams, and thin beam of 17.5 millimeters. His grip size is 4 3/8 inches (sometimes referred to as L3). Federer strings his racquets at 21.5 kg mains/20 kg crosses pre stretched 20%, utilizing Wilson Natural Gut 16 gauge for his main strings and Luxilon Big Banger ALU Power Rough 16L gauge (polyester) for his cross strings. When asked about string tensions, Federer stated «this depends on how warm the days are and with what kind of balls I play and against who I play. So you can see – it depends on several factors and not just the surface; the feeling I have is most important.» Federer also shares the Open Era record for most Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open with Agassi (4 titles), at Wimbledon with Pete Sampras (7 titles) and at the US Open with Jimmy Connors and Sampras (5 titles). Federer's ATP tournament records include winning six ATP World Tour Finals, winning 21 ATP Masters 1000 titles (a record shared with Rafael Nadal), playing in the finals at all nine ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, and, matching Agassi, winning seven.

Federer won a victory in the second round in the United States

In the second round of the Open Championship United States Swiss tennis player Roger Federer played against German Bjorn Phau B.. Winning in three sets, 6:2, 6:3, 6:2 won a Swiss athlete.

In the third round, Federer will face Spaniard Fernando Verdasco, who in the second round in four sets to beat his compatriot Albert Ramos.

Rafael Nadal: Davis Cup is my goal

Third world Spaniard Rafael Nadal hopes to recover from a knee injury in the Davis Cup matches between Spain and the United States.

«My goal is the Davis Cup. Main rebuild knees and back on the Court when the pain doesn't bother me. Recent months have been just intolerable for me. After Roland Garros my condition has deteriorated sharply, and after Wimbledon, it became clear that I will not be able to continue their statements without proper care for my knees,» - said Nadal.

We remind that the Davis Cup semifinal between Spain and the United States will be held from 14 to 16 September in Spanish street map.

Maria Sharapova became the second No. in the World

The WTA (Women's International Tennis Association) 6 August published an updated rating tennis players. Still the best is Victoria Azarenka of Belarus. 

The Olympic tennis tournament finalist Maria Sharapova moved up from third to second place. 

Winner of Wimbledon London Games American Serena Williams still retains fourth position. 

WTA Ranking. Situation on 6 August: 

1 (1). Victoria Azarenka (Belarus)-8820 points 

2 (3). Maria Sharapova (Russia)-8720 

3 (2). Agnieszka Radwańska (Poland)-8260 

4 (4). Serena Williams (United States)-8045 

5 (5). Samantha Stosur (Australia)-6195 

6 (6). Petra kvitová (Czech Republic)-5275 

7 (7). Angelique Kerber (Germany)-5225 

8 (8). Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark)-4206 

9 (9). Sara errani (Italy)-3620 

10 (10). Marion Bartoli (France)-3400

Federer refused to participate in the Masters in Toronto

World Swiss Roger Federer withdrew from the tournament Masters-1000 series-in Toronto, which will be held from 6 to 12 August. 

«I am very disappointed that it must withdraw from the tournament in Toronto because I love this city and these competitions. I will need some time to recover. Hope that I can return to Canada a year later,» - commented his decision tennis player. 

We remind that Federer reached the final of the Olympic Games, beating Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro, 3: 6, 7: 6 (7: 5), 19:17.

Sharapova: Received great pleasure from a photoshoot

Russia's Maria Sharapova spoke about shooting for the Russian fashion magazine. 

«It was a very interesting photo shoot. It seemed to me that I like has gone in a different era, since I had a retro-style clothes. On the photograph were stunning people with a great sense of humor. And the best part is that coincided with the celebration of the photoshoot my birthday in Santa Barbara,» - wrote Sharapova in his blog on Facebook.

Maria Sharapova: My goal is participation, not medals Olympics

The main thing is not victory, but participation, said third world Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova.

Russian is the standard bearer of the Russian team at the opening ceremony of the summer Olympic Games in London. 

One of the best tennis players of the planet assures that for her participation in the games is more important than medals. 

«The Olympics for me is something special. It seems to me to represent my country at this competition with anything not comparable. Join here for me even more important than the medal. Find a place at a tournament where at one time passes so many different competitions in different sports-all this gives great experience and not to be forgotten. This will be my first Olympics, what I have dreamed of since childhood, so I can't wait for the launch,» - said Sharapova. 

The opening ceremony of the Games will be held on the evening of 27 July. The Olympic tennis tournament begins the next day.

Venus Williams: I'm waiting for the Olympics

American Venus Williams admitted that the Olympic Games in London are a special event for her. 

“I'm waiting for the Olympics in London with particular excitement. I have never worried about if I can get to the game. I was at the top of the rankings and had no problems. I perceived as tribute to the Olympics. But this time I had to really fight for the right to speak at the Olympics. I really want to bring a medal of the United States, would be great if this turns out to be a gold medal,” – said Williams.

Mikhail Youzhny: '' not going to say how semi-final between Federer and Djokovic ''

Russian Mikhail Youzhny, who lost in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon Swiss Roger Federer with a score of 1: 6, 2: 6, 2: 6, refused to give a prediction for the semi-final between Federer and Novak Djokovic. 

"It's difficult to say, match for the match. Federer has always played against me very well, but his relationship with Djokovic are quite different. And how the struggle between them in the semifinals, I say do not say ". 

The South also talked about how to be prepared for the Olympics, which will be held on the courts of Wimbledon. 

"On Earth in Gstaad or on Earth but also in Moscow. And then, for three to four days before the start of the Olympic tournament, come here. Sit on the grass for a long time I didn't want to, because this year it had enough matches. You see, the grass is a special coating. It is not always the correct ball bounce, and therefore lost technique. In addition, there is a grass-specific footwork. 

From experience I can say that for me personally, the lengthy training sometimes are not herbal in plus and minus. Therefore, before the Olympics I would be better to lay a base before returning to the grass, - "Said Mikhail Youzhny.

Novak Djokovic: "I feel good, and last year's title gives me confidence»

Defending champion Novak Djokovic Wimbledon (1), in the quarter-finals of the tournament, beating the current German Florian Mayer (31) by a score of 6: 4, 6: 1, 6: 4, spoke about the match. 

"It took me a while to adjust to the conditions, because the last three games I played under the roof. It was a bit windy, but overall, I'm happy with my performance today. 

Floriana have had chances to get back into the game in the third set, like the first, but I kept myself in the important moments in your hands ". 

For a place in the final of the competition for the first time at Wimbledon Djokovic» will meet Roger Federer (3). 

"It's always nice to play with Roger, so I gladly walk him another match. At Grand slam tournaments he has for a long time was a model of stability and the highest class, so play with him on the grass of crucial test for me. Grass is ideally suited to his game, so the match promises to be interesting. He won here six times and, of course, wants to prove that he is able to do it again. He has won more Grand Slam titles than anyone else, and perhaps the most successful player in the history. It has all the existing tennis titles, and he still is hungry to new ones. I immensely respect it, but we all have the same rivals. When I'm on the Court, I don't think any of his merit, nor about the place in history. I just want to win the match. 

I am from the beginning of the tournament play well and hope to continue in the same spirit. Over the past two years, I put in a game on grass, won here last season, has already reached the semifinal. So I feel good in this tournament and this cover. But last year's title still gives me faith in myself, " - Said Novak Djokovic.