Federer Tries To Stop The Rot; Roddick, Raonic Return From Injury In San Jose
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Turning to tennis, there are several significant players in action on this Wednesday. Roger Federer will try to end a 3-match slide (including doubles) today in Rotterdam against Nicolas Mahut.
Federer was swept in both Davis Cup matches over weekend on his home turf by the U.S., including a stunning loss to Mahut’s conqueror in the longest match in tennis history, John Isner. Roger, as he’s done so often in the past, will try again to put the past behind him and focus on winning more titles and possibly returning to No. 1. He says the passion in still there.
“I think I do [still] have the pressures of a World No. 1,” said Federer. “That never really changes with all the success I’ve had. I have the same attention; there’s just different stories written. I’ve had a wonderful career so far. The fire is the same, basically. It’s just in terms of having a family now and not being World No. 1.
“But I take so much joy out of playing this sport and travelling the world still. I do care mostly about trying to win tournaments. That’s what’s important. That’s how I could get back to World No. 1 potentially. I have to get back to winning ways again after losing the last two, and I hope I can start doing that on Wednesday.”
Also in Rotterdam, Juan Martin Del Potro is in action right now against a tough indoor foe in Michael Llodra. No. 2 seed Tomas Berdych was already a winner.
In San Jose, it’s the return of two of the biggest servers in men’s tennis, Andy Roddick and Milos Raonic.
Roddick has been sidelined since injuring his hamstring against Lleyton Hewitt at the Australian Open. Though from the video it doesn’t look like he’s been shaken up about the the injury. Tonight the former No. 1 battles young American qualifier Dennis Kudla.
Meanwhile, Raonic, who won the San Jose title last year, injured his knee over the weekend in Davis Cup. The oft-injured (I hate to say it, but he is) Canadian withdrew from a much-anticipated match against JW Tsonga in the reverse Davis Cup singles Sunday, and also pulled out of a doubles exo Monday night in San Jose.
If Roanic’s knee is healthy he’ll begin his maiden title defense tonight against Tobias Kamke.
Ryan Harrison and Sam Querrey are also scheduled on a busy day in San Jose.
ROTTERDAM WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE
CENTRE COURT start 11:00 am
[Q] M Bachinger (GER) vs M Baghdatis (CYP)
L Rosol (CZE) vs [2] T Berdych (CZE)
Not Before 1:30 PM
M Llodra (FRA) vs [3] J Del Potro (ARG)
[WC] T de Bakker (NED) / R Haase (NED) vs M Fyrstenberg (POL) / M Matkowski (POL)
Not Before 7:30 PM
[1] R Federer (SUI) vs N Mahut (FRA)
[Q] P Mathieu (FRA) vs N Davydenko (RUS)
SAN JOSE WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE
STADIUM start 9:30 am
M Ebden (AUS) vs D Sela (ISR)
D Istomin (UZB) vs S Querrey (USA)
R Harrison (USA) vs [8] O Rochus (BEL)
[5] J Benneteau (FRA) vs R Sweeting (USA)
J Cerretani (USA) / M Ebden (AUS) vs [WC] R Ginepri (USA) / T Rettenmaier (USA)
Not Before 7:00 PM
[Q] D Kudla (USA) vs [2] A Roddick (USA)
[3] M Raonic (CAN) vs T Kamke (GER)
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