Annacone: “Here’s what surprised me about Roger Federer”
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2021 did not give Roger Federer any particular satisfaction. The former world number 1 played a pittance of 13 competitive matches last year, racking up nine wins and four losses. The round of 16 at Roland Garros and the quarterfinals at Wimbledon were his best seasonal results, a far too meager booty for a legend of his caliber.
A few weeks after the Championships, the Swiss phenomenon announced that he had suffered a knee relapse and had to operate for the third time in the last 18 months. The 20-time Grand Slam champion has returned to training in the gym, but his return to the tour will not happen before the summer.
His presence at Wimbledon is in strong doubt, as Roger himself admitted a few weeks ago. Host of the Court-Side with Beilinson Tennis podcast, Paul Annacone spoke extensively about the 40-year-old from Basel. Annacone worked with Federer from 2010 to 2013, helping him win the ATP Finals (2010-2011) and bringing him back to win Wimbledon in 2012.
Annacone: “Here’s what surprised me about Roger Federer”
Paul Annacone said: “Roger Federer was exceptional from the start. Since our first meeting, he has shown that he wants to improve by listening to my advice.
He told me that when he was younger they called him the man of the why, since he always wanted to know the why of the things he did. If I could convince him of something with valid arguments, he would do it. I couldn’t believe how receptive he was to ideas, philosophies, even things he didn’t like very much.
This aspect makes it truly unique. I had never been close to any legend that he was so willing to listen to. As I began to understand all these little nuances, I adjusted accordingly. His love for tennis is something that still amazes me today.
He loves to train and I don’t understand how he does at his age. Despite training in Dubai in excruciating heat, Roger was delighted to be there and to play tennis. Pierre Paganini was very important for Federer.”
Tennis: Roger Federer act of pure class hailed across world
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Roger Federer’s classy message for Thanasi Kokkinakis has been praised across the world. Pic: Instragram/Getty
Roger Federer has shown once again why he’s one of the world’s most beloved tennis stars, after a lovely gesture to mark Thanasi Kokkinakis’ historic moment.
Kokkinakis put years of injury hell behind him to claim a first ever ATP title on Saturday night after winning a thrilling Adelaide International final in three sets.
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The incredible tennis renaissance of Kokkinakis was made even more special by the fact the South Australian’s biggest career achievement came in his home city.
Kokkinakis lit up the Memorial Drive Tennis Centre as he shrugged off a first-set deficit to beat big-serving Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech 6-7 (8-6) 7-6 (7-5) 6-3.
Billed as one of Australia’s next big hopes in tennis, Kokkinakis has been cruelled by a horror run of injuries over the last five years that left him contemplating early retirement.
Shoulder, pectoral, groin, knee and elbow injuries and a serious bout of glandular fever had stripped him of long periods of tennis over that time.
Only a fortnight ago, the 25-year-old was ranked 171 in the world, but a golden run in Adelaide - that included a semi-final in the first tournament last week - will leave him knocking on the door of the top 100.
If that wasn’t incredible enough for the Aussie, Federer made the victory even more special with a personal message of congratulations to the 25-year-old star on social media.
The beautiful gesture left the tennis world singing the praises of the classy Swiss, who’s been forced to miss the Australian Open due to injury.
Win maiden ATP title ✔️
Get a congratulatory DM from Federer ✔️
Thanasi Kokkinakis is having one hell of a week! ❤️
MORE: https://t.co/S070LMHMdn#9WWOS #Tennis pic.twitter.com/q7v7qn4vel — Wide World of Sports (@wwos) January 16, 2022
Roger Federer sent Thanasi Kokkinakis a DM on Instagram to congratulate him on winning his maiden ATP title.
This is too wholesome #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/0rFcRumdlB — Val Febbo (@VFebbo96) January 15, 2022
I ❤️ this so much! #Federer is pure class. And Kokkinakis has been through the wringer with so many devastating injuries. But he’s so talented and fun to watch. Great to see him get his first ATP title, especially at home. Hopefully he’ll be around a lot more now! #kokkinakis https://t.co/AeYcqJ7ucA — Jennifer Beekman (@jen_beekman) January 15, 2022
Federer congratulating Kokkinakis on his amazing tournament run in Adelaide https://t.co/ne98J8GXYO — Florian Ederer (@florianederer) January 15, 2022
I wonder which was better for Thanasi Kokkinakis:
Winning his first title at home
OR
Receiving a DM from Roger Federer straight after calling you by your nickname and “big fella”
Surely the latter. #AdelaideTennis pic.twitter.com/yXpndZIzRG — Jack Molloy (@jackmolloy94) January 15, 2022
Kokkinakis famously beat Federer in the 2018 Miami Open in what was arguably the biggest result of his career before Saturday night’s title in Adelaide.
Story continues
A teary-eyed Kokkinakis said after the match it was probably the most emotional he’d felt in his life when Rinderknech’s final ball sailed long.
Thanasi Kokkinakis wins career-first ATP title
“Not just (happy) for myself and the work I put in but everyone that stuck by me,” he said.
“They see me at my lowest points. To ride this high, it’s just validation, just happiness for everyone involved. It’s as much their title as it is mine.”
It didn’t come easily on Saturday night as Rinderknech bombed down aces seemingly at will.
The Frenchman was imperious on serve in the first set, not facing a break point.
Kokkinakis largely also delivered on serve and pushed Rinderknech to a tiebreak.
Thanasi Kokkinakis won a thrilling Adelaide International final for his maiden ATP singles title. Pic: Getty
Unfortunately, the Australian blinked first, netting a straightforward forehand after a second serve when 6-7 down in the breaker.
Driven by a raucous crowd, he returned the favour in the next tiebreak to take the match to a decider.
From there it was all Kokkinakis, crunching forehand winner upon winner and breaking Rinderknech twice to seal the match.
Kokkinakis said he’d already reflected on his journey and was at peace with dropping off the tennis radar and everything that entails.
“When you’re doing well, everyone wants to pat you on the back, message you. When you’re on the other side, a lot of people don’t really care,” he said.
“But it took me by surprise the first couple of years. The last three years I kind of stopped caring about what other people thought…”
Kokkinakis will head to the Australian Open full of confidence and will play qualifier Yannick Hanfmann in the first round before a likely second-round encounter with Rafael Nadal.
with AAP
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Thanasi Kokkinakis reveals message Roger Federer sent him after Adelaide final
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20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer congratulated Thanasi Kokkinakis on winning his first ATP title in his hometown. On Saturday, Kokkinakis recovered from a set down to beat Arthur Rinderknech 6-7 (6) 7-6 (5) 6-3 in the Adelaide 2 final.
Federer personally congratulated Kokkinakis on his Adelaide title 🥺 pic.twitter.com/kiwf5lf3yX — Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) January 15, 2022
“When I saw that final ball went long, I don’t think I’ve ever felt emotions like that,” Kokkinakis reflected, per the Adelaide International website.
“You grow up playing, you never know if it’s ever going to happen. I made one (ATP) final before. “Down a set, down a mini break in the breaker. From then on, from 2-0 in the second set, I started to play really good tennis.
“To do it in Adelaide, a court I grew up playing on when I was seven, eight, nine years old, my hometown, in front of friends and family, they’ve had a tough year, ridden the ups and downs with me, yeah, I’m so happy”.
Kokkinakis stunned Federer a few years ago
Kokkinakis is one of the rare players that own a positive head-to-head record against Federer. Kokkinakis recovered from a set down to stun Federer when they met at the 2018 Miami Masters.
Kokkinakis went through numerous injury setbacks before winning his first ATP title. “Just many, many emotions. Just relief. Happy. Not just for myself and the work I put in, but everyone that stuck by me. They see me at my lowest points,” Kokkinakis said.
“To ride this high, it’s just validation, just happiness for everyone involved. It’s as much their title as it is mine. “Just emotions boiled over. I started to get little feelings of it when I got up a break in the third set.
I tried to stay as composed at possible. I started serving great. “I know how hard it is serving out matches, maybe serving out a title. I just decided to stay with it and break for the win”.
‘Roger Federer was very frustrated after losing to Rafael Nadal,’ tennis journalist..
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Simon Graf, the author of a book covering Roger Federer’s career, spoke about Federer’s rivalry with Rafael Nadal and their notable Major final. Graf believes that Roger ruined Rafa’s celebration at the 2009 Australian Open in some way after falling into tears during the ceremony.
Still, he understands how disappointed Roger was following that tough loss. Nadal’s only Melbourne trophy came in 2009, and he had to give his 120% to lift the trophy, spending almost ten hours on the court against Fernando Verdasco and Roger Federer!
With nearly nothing left in the tank, Rafa got himself together in the deciding set against his most significant rival to celebrate the first Major crown on hard court and the third title in the previous four Major events!
In the semis, Rafa ousted the fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 6-7, 6-4 in five hours and ten minutes, in one of the most extraordinary encounters at Melbourne Park! Nadal won one point more than Verdasco, served well and got broken twice from only four break chances offered to his compatriot.
Verdasco gave everything to stay in touch with the world’s leading player in his first Major semi-final, repelling 16 out of 20 break chances and pushing Rafa to the limits. The older Spaniard fired almost 100 winners and over 60 unforced errors, overpowering Rafa in the more extended exchanges but losing ground in the shortest ones up to four strokes.
Nadal had to endure another marathon en route to the title, despite barely having anything left in his body! In their first Australian Open encounter, the three-time Australian Open champion Roger Federer stood between Nadal and the sixth Major crown.
The clash turned into an open war between the world’s most outstanding players before Nadal scored a memorable 7-5, 3-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-2 victory in four hours and 19 minutes to lift the trophy.
Rafael Nadal beat Roger Federer in five sets at the Australian Open 2009.
The Spaniard had little time to recover following the semi-final clash.
However, he tried to make a good start against Roger and find the remaining pieces of strength left in his body to cross the finish line first and write history books. Federer won one point more than Nadal, but not those that mattered the most in the decider, losing serve seven times and converting six out of 19 break chances.
Roger stayed in touch with Rafa in the more extended points, but it was not enough to carry him home, losing ground in the final set and allowing Rafa to sprint over the top and celebrate the title. “Roger was very upset after losing that final.
I think he wasted a big chance to win the title, and he should have taken that match. Nadal had a tough semi-final match against Verdasco, and Federer should have been fresher. Still, that was not the case in the fifth set. It was too bad that he burst into tears because he destroyed the moment for Rafa, for which there has been quite some criticism.
It’s just how he is; he is an emotional guy. I don’t think he is a great loser; he hates losing. He had to learn how to lose after being dethroned and starting to lose more often,” Simon Graf said.
2022 Australian Open: Why is Roger Federer not playing the first Grand Slam of the year?
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The 2022 Australian Open is set to start on January 17 and end on January 30, 2022. Find out why six-time champion Roger Federer will not play at the ATP Grand Slam.
The 2022 Australian Open is a Grand Slam tennis event that will take place from January 17 through January 30, 2022, at Melbourne Park. The Australian Open will be held for the 110th time, the 54th time in the Open Era, and it will be the year’s first Grand Slam.
In Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles, respectively, Novak Djokovic and Naomi Osaka are the reigning champions. Djokovic’s Australian visa was denied by the Australian Border Force when he entered the nation on January 5, 2022, and he might not be allowed to defend his championship.
Several other male and female tennis players are set to miss the Australian Open, and veteran star and six-time tournament champion, Roger Federer is of them. Here you will find out why the 40-year-old Swiss tennis player is out of this competition.
Roger Federer out of the 2022 Australian Open
Roger Federer declared that he would not compete in the 2022 Australian Open: “I need to be very patient and give my knee the time to heal. The next few months will be crucial. My ambition is to see what I am capable of one last time. I also wish I could say goodbye in my own way and on a tennis court. That is why I am giving my all in my rehabilitation.”
Having played 13 matches in 2021, Feder has still been healing from his third round of knee surgery in the last 18 months. The Swiss star stated in August 2021, that he had undergone another knee surgery as a result of an injury sustained during the grass-court season.
Consequently, he pulled out of the 201 US Open and announced that he will be out of the game for an indefinite time. His most recent encounter was a humiliating straight-sets loss 3-0 (3-6, 6-7, 0-6) in the Wimbledon Quarter-Finals in June 2021 against Hubert Hurkacz of Poland.