FEDERER GETTING BACK IN BUSINESS WITH AN ACTION-PACKED WEEK IN TORONTO BY RICKY DIMON

Written by: Staff on 4th August 2014

French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros

FEDERER GETTING BACK IN BUSINESS WITH AN ACTION-PACKED WEEK IN TORONTO BY RICKY DIMON

epa04224222 Roger Federer of Switzerland in action during his first round match against Lukas Lacko of Slovakia for the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 25 May 2014. EPA/YOAN VALAT |

In 2013, Roger Federer went back to clay to test out a new racket in between Wimbledon and the U.S. Open Series. This time around, however, there was no sign of the 17-time Grand Slam champion. But on Tuesday at the Rogers Cup, Federer will be back in action for the first time since a thrilling 6-7(7), 6-4, 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-4 loss to Novak Djokovic in the final at the All-England Club.

“It’s been a great last three, four, five months now, just waiting and hoping that everything was going to go well and once the (twin) boys were here, seeing the reaction of the girls and also seeing how it was going to work as a family, the dynamics of it,” said Federer, who welcomed a second pair of twins with his wife Mirka this spring. “Everything has been incredible. We’ve had a beautiful last four weeks after Wimbledon where we could really spend quality time away from all the tennis tournaments.”

The 32-year-old Swiss is finally back on the tennis scene, although his week in Toronto began with a different sport. Federer and several other pros including Radek Stepanek and Jack Sock faced a team of Toronto Maple Leafs players in a hockey game (not on ice) on a transformed center court at the Rexall Center on Sunday. Each one of the Maple Leafs wore “RF” hats and Federer found the back of the net with an impressive slap-shot for a goal in the final minutes of the contest.

“It’s great fun doing this kind of stuff,” the No. 2 seed assured. “Getting hockey and tennis together on a centre court that they built specially; I think is great. I had a lot of fun meeting all the guys. They’re so relaxed. I’ve always been a big hockey fan. I can’t skate at all actually. I can’t stop so I have to go in circles. I’ve always collected NHL jerseys; I’ve got a nice collection so far.”

Federer has a small collection of Rogers Cup titles–two to be exact. He lifted both of those trophies in Toronto, in 2004 and again in 2006. The former world No. 1 last appeared at this event in 2011, when he lost to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in a third-round match in Montreal. His last appearance in Toronto, in 2010, resulted in a runner-up performance (lost to Andy Murray 7-5, 7-5).

Federer’s quest for a third title will begin on Tuesday night against Canadian wild card Peter Polansky, who upset Jerzy Janowicz 7-6(5), 6-4 in the first round. If Federer wins two matches, he will play in the quarterfinals on Friday, which happens to be his 33rd birthday.

In his effort to still be in the tournament on his birthday, and beyond, he will be wielding a new-look racket. It is, in fact, the same racket he has been using all season but with a different paint job. Federer will be debuting the Pro Staff RF97 Autograph, designed by TennisWarehouse.com forum user Peter Figasinski.

“When I saw the designs from Wilson, I knew right away that this was the look that I wanted to represent my legacy with the brand,” Federer explained. “The design is young and modern, with a classic feel. It is a fitting look for the next generation of the Pro Staff rackets.”

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: Andy Murray, Atp, Fed news, jack sock, Jo Wilfried Tsonga, Novak Djokovic, Radek Stepanek, RF97, Ricky Dimon, Roger Federer, Rogers Cup, Tennis, Toronto

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August 4, 2014 at 10:23 pm

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RD_Tennistalk says:

August 4, 2014 at 10:26 pm

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