Paris, France | AFP | The action was spectacular, exciting and colourful for 12 months around the globe, but the thrilling and sometimes surprising images also caught the wider significance of modern sport. Megan Rapinoe Megan Rapinoe lapped up the rapturous reception when the US women’s football team appeared in New …
Read More »Nadal v Federer tickets: 48,000 gone in under 10 minutes!
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | South African tennis fans bought 48,000 tickets in under 10 minutes Wednesday for a Cape Town exhibition match next February between world superstars Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. The game at the Cape Town Stadium, built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, is set …
Read More »Record chase can motivate Federer but wins matter most
New York, United States | AFP | Roger Federer takes motivation from shattering records, but winning matters most for the 38-year-old Swiss star as he chases his 21st Grand Slam title at the US Open. Five-time US Open champion Federer stretched his record for Grand Slam Open era quarter-finals appearances …
Read More »Federer, Nadal setup Wimbledon blockbuster, Djokovic faces Bautista Agut
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal set up a Wimbledon semi-final blockbuster on Wednesday, 11 years after their epic 2008 title duel which is widely regarded as the greatest Grand Slam final ever played. Eight-time champion Federer racked up his 100th match win at Wimbledon and …
Read More »Federer, Djokovic, Nadal untroubled at Wimbledon as Monday proves not so manic
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal eased into the Wimbledon quarter-finals on Monday as the sport’s Grand Slam heavyweights continued to deliver blow after blow to their wilting lightweight rivals. Federer became the oldest man to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final in 28 years …
Read More »New balls, different spin: Roger and Rafa exchange shots
Melbourne, Australia | AFP | The Australian Open’s new balls this year are dividing opinion at Melbourne Park, with even the two greatest men’s Grand Slam winners of all-time failing to see eye-to-eye. Roger Federer, winner of 20 Slams, says the new Japanese-made Dunlop balls behave differently in cooler night …
Read More »Federer ‘shocked’, Djokovic ‘hurt’ by Murray retirement bombshell
Melbourne, Australia | AFP | Roger Federer admitted Sunday he was shocked that tennis was to lose “legend” Andy Murray this year while long-time friend Novak Djokovic said the bombshell news had “hurt” him. Both paid tribute to the former world number one on the eve of the year’s first …
Read More »New world No.1 Federer wins Rotterdam for 97th title
Rotterdam, Netherlands | AFP | Roger Federer celebrated his return to the top of the world rankings by winning the Rotterdam Open on Sunday, his 97th career title. The 36-year-old, the oldest No.1 in history, thrashed Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-2 in a one-sided final. In the Open era, only …
Read More »Federer credits wife for keeping him going
Melbourne, Australia | AFP | Roger Federer has credited his wife Mirka with keeping him motivated and still going strong at 36, although his longevity has “many pieces to the puzzle”. The Swiss master won his 20th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open on Sunday when he defeated Marin …
Read More »Tearful Federer wins Australian Open for 20th Slam title
Melbourne, Australia | AFP | A tearful Roger Federer powered home to beat Marin Cilic in five riveting sets to win his sixth Australian Open and 20th Grand Slam title on Sunday. The Swiss defending champion dropped his only sets of the tournament before completing a 6-2, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, …
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