GERRY WEBER OPEN TENNIS UPDATE FROM HALLE – ROGER FEDERER KEEPS HIS COOL IN HIS FAVORITE COLOR BLUE

Written by: Staff on 17th June 2016

GERRY WEBER OPEN TENNIS UPDATE FROM HALLE - ROGER FEDERER KEEPS HIS COOL IN HIS FAVORITE COLOR BLUE |

Roger Federer – Mr. Cool Blue

By: Andy Fitzell

Knowledge, confidence, imagination, intelligence, calm, cool. All these words could easily describe Roger Federer on and off the tennis court (especially cool). They are also associated with or used to describe the color blue. Did you know Roger’s favorite color is blue?! Yep. “Blue is my favorite color,” he admitted when asked about any meaning behind his current head-to-toe blue Nike attire.

For his second round match, he took his cool blue outfit to the green grass of the Gerry Weber stadium court to face off against #64th ranked Tunisian player Malek Jaziri. After handily winning the first set 6-3, he quickly went down a break and trailed 4-1 in the second set. Time to panic? No way. Not for Sir Roger. I lean over and whisper to my fiancé, “Absolutely ZERO chance he loses this set.”

I felt confident in my comment to her because I’ve been very fortunate in my tennis days to have spent some time studying Federer up close. For over a decade I filmed him courtside and attended his press conferences at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, CA. I even had the chance to hit with him on court while we were filming a commercial together! Click here to watch–> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHiRrqGW93o

As predicted, Roger came back from 4-1 down and served for the match at 6-5 in the second set. Closing out a match is tough for everyone at times, including the 17-time Grand Slam singles winner. He went down 0-30. Time to panic? Not even. The next point Roger hits a screaming forehand winner cross-court. Next point: Ace. Next point: Ace. He arrives at match point and hits a big first serve, a few more solid shots, and then Jaziri hits a shot wide. Game. Set. Match.

Photo by 10sBalls

After the match, I asked Roger a question in the press room.

ME: “You were down early in the second set and then serving for the match at 6-5 you were down 0-30. You then hit a forehand winner cross-court, then ace, ace, then big serve. Paul Annacone once said that one of the things that stood out to him most about you was that you don’t have a ‘panic button.’ Is that something you’ve learned along the way or is it a gift from God?”

ROGER: “I think I got a little bit lucky at 0-30 because he had the shot he was looking for. I mean, I anticipated maybe the right corner, but then I hit a good shot when I had to.” Lesson learned: Develop your anticipation skills and don’t be afraid to go for your shots when under pressure…you might get lucky.

ROGER: “Then I guess you go into the next phase where you really focus hard not to be in that situation again.” Lesson learned: Learn from the past, then focus on the present task at hand.

ROGER: “And I think once you reach a certain level you have a certain game you can always go to.” Lesson learned: Develop winning patterns of play and go with your strengths under pressure.

I admit his all-blue outfit is pretty cool, but it’s Roger Federer’s ability to remain calm under pressure that is the coolest.

P.S. – As I finished this, Roger came back from being down a break twice in the second set and saved 4 sets points to defeat David Goffin 6-1, 7-6 to reach the semi-finals where he will face off against German teenage sensation Alexander Zverev. Vintage Federer.

Topics: 10sballs.com, Atp World Tour, Gerry Weber Open, Grass tennis, Halle, Malek Jaziri, Roger Federer, Tennis News

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hanasaku22neko says:

June 17, 2016 at 2:53 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: #GerryWeberOpen #Tennis Update From Halle- Federer Keeps His Cool In His Favorite Color Blue
https://t.co/RI1Gyvhnsl http…
andyfitzell says:

June 18, 2016 at 2:18 am

It’s been a great week here in Halle (Westfalen) at the Gerry Weber Open. Attached is a quick article I wrote… https://t.co/Dh6qy9YGtS