Recently in Tennis Category
WIMBLEDON TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP 2008
It's almost impossible to dislike the wonderful Roger Federer. At 26 the Swiss star is already a legend and his five succesive Wimbledon wins speak for themselves.
The King of centre court he just doesn't know how to lose in South West London but last year the first signs of a Federer crack started to emerge.
There he was back in a Wimbledon final and though he was facing the world number two Rafael Nadal he probably thought it would be another usual four set win.
Nadal had other ideas. The reigning Champion did hold on to win but he was brought to a fifth set for the first time in his Wimbledon career.
Federer won 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 2-6, 6-2 but fans leaving Wimbledon that day knew the great Swiss' run as undisputed leader in chief here could be coming to an end.
Then at this year's French Open final in Paris the clay court specialist Nadal coasted past his great rival winning 6-1,6-3,6-0. It was the third year in a row that he beat Federer in the Roland Garros final but the first in consecutive sets and in such a commanding way.
Now we must ask has the tide finally turned in the men's game?
AUSTRALIAN OPEN TENNIS
Roger Federer's bid to win his third Australian Open title in a row and fourth all together is still alive after he defeated Czech Tomas Berdych to qualify for the quarter-finals.
The World Number one next faces American James Blake after seeing off the challenge of the 13th seed Berdych in straight sets by 6-4, 7-6, 6-3.
A confident Blake told reporters on Monday that despite losing all seven matches which he's played against the Swiss star he still believes he can defeat Federer.
He said "I'll give it my best shot and I plan to cause him some trouble. No matter who you are you can take Roger to the limit."
Elsewhere in the men's singles fifth seed David Ferrer defeated fellow Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-5 3-6 6-4 6-1 and will play number three seed Novak Djokovic after the Serb saw off home town favourite Lleyton Hewitt 7-5 6-3 6-3.
The player to watch down under though is World Number two Rafael Nadal. The man from Mallorca will play Finn Jarkko Nieminen in the quarter final and knows that if he can win this tournament he will take the top ranking off Federer.
Eighth seed Venus Williams progressed to the last eight in the women's competition at the expense of Poland's Marta Domachowska.
TENNIS
World number one Roger Federer has withdrawn from the Kooyoung Classic in Melbourne just a week before the start of the Australian Open.
The Swiss player cited a stomach virus for his withdrawal and says he's confident he will be defend his title.
However Federer has yet to play this year and many believe he will be rusty before this, the first grand slam tournament of the season.
Speaking to reporters down under today Federer said " After arriving in Australia I came down with a stomach virus and it continued to get worse. The doctors have advised me that I should take a couple of days off to recuperate so that I am able to be 100% for the start of the Australian Open."
The 26-year-old, who has been number one in the world since February 2004, won the Australian open for the first time four years ago and recaptured the trophy again in 2006 and 2007.
Qatar Open winner Andy Murray does compete in the eight man exhibition pre-tournamnet warm up but German Tommy Haas has also pulled out with a shoulder injury.
