Federer has five good reasons to love NYC
Photo credit: Getty Images | Roger Federer participates in Arthur Ashe Kids Day, one of the festivities leading up to the start of the U.S. Open.
Galleries
Roger Federer
Roger Federer’s practice wardrobe yesterday backed up his words. He loves New York.
A day after saying he feels more relaxed heading into this year’s U.S. Open than in summers past, Federer smacked shots in a near-empty Arthur Ashe Stadium yesterday afternoon wearing a black T-shirt that read, “LOVE NYC,” on the front in red letters.
Pretty easy to say when you’ve won five straight U.S. Open titles.
>> Click here to see a photo gallery of Roger Federer
>> Complete U.S. Open coverage
“I used to struggle here a bit more because the conditions were really difficult, but then I started to embrace everything,” Federer said. “I enjoyed the wild city, New York, the way the crowds are and how loud it is. Now I love everything about it.”
Federer won a record 15th major singles title at Wimbledon in July and is again the favorite to take the men’s title at the Open, which begins its two-week run for both the men and women this morning at the USTA National Tennis Center in Queens.
Federer, the world No. 1, has reasons to feel pressure-free, too. Though there are a handful of top challengers to his crown, the health of Federer’s biggest rival, Rafael Nadal, is one of the prevalent unknowns as the season’s final major begins.
Nadal, who skipped Wimbledon because of tendinitis in both knees, said yesterday he doesn’t know if he’s playing at his best level now, but also attempted to put a good face on his injury status, saying he feels 100 percent. “The knees are perfect right now,” said Nadal, who returned to the ATP Tour on Aug. 12 in Montreal, where he reached the quarterfinals. “I don’t have any problem.”
But whether the knees can sustain a two-week pounding on hard courts remains a question. Nadal, seeded third, and Federer would have to meet in the final to renew their rivalry.
Andy Murray, unlike Federer, is feeling pressure — to win his first career major. Murray jumped to No. 2 in the rankings during Nadal’s injury absence this summer. After a surprise run to the Open final last year, the Scot is looking to add an important line to his resume.
“A lot of players say when they win their first Slam, it’s a relief,” Murray said. “I’m hoping I can do it here.
Then there’s Andy Roddick, seeded fifth, who is 0-8 against Federer in majors after pushing him to a 16-14 fifth-set in the Wimbledon final. Roddick, fourth-seeded Serbian Novak Djokovic and sixth-seeded Argentine Juan Martin del Potro complete the group of players thought to be top contenders for the title.
On the women’s side, Russian Dinara Safina is the top seed, but second-ranked Serena Williams has won three of the last four majors, including the Open last year, and is looking for her 12th overall major. She could face sister Venus, seeded third, in the semifinals.
Another intriguing story line is the return of former world No. 1 Kim Clijsters to a major tournament. Clijsters came out of retirement three weeks ago after 27 months away from the tour and has won five of her first seven matches.
“It looks like she took a week off,” Serena Williams said.
Clijsters, who needed a wild card to get into the Open, said she doesn’t intend to make her return short-lived. “I hope to get my ranking up there so I can hopefully do a couple more years,” she said.
