ROGER FEDERER NEWS
August 28, 2018 -- NYC, New York
Roger returned to Arthur Ashe stadium on a steamy evening in front of a packed crowd for his first round in the 2018 US Open. Looking comfortable and cool, Roger quickly found himself with two sets under his belt against crafty lefty, Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan. The third set seemed par for the course as he quickly took command of the set, it wasn't until serving out the match where Nishioka came alive and broke the Swiss Maestro. It was a too little too late for the Japanese player, and Roger closed out the match 6-2, 6-2, 6-4.
This is Roger's 18th US Open and he remains 18-0 in his first round after tonight's win.
"I'm very happy with how I played tonight. It is particularly tough for us Europeans because we don't get this type of humidity. You are sweating so much you don't know what has hit you," he said after the 1st round win. "It is tough so you are happy when you survive a day like this."
Roger will face the always entertaining and flashy French player, Benoit Paire in the second round.
August 20, 2018 -- Cincinnati, Ohio
After fending off fellow Swiss player, Stan Wawrinka, Roger found himself head to head against David Goffin in the semifinals of the Western and Southern Open. Having played two matches the previous day, Roger found his time on the court cut short due to an injury sidelining his opponent. He was able to hold serve and battle to a first set tiebreaker which he took swiftly before the Belgian retired at 1-1 in the second with a shoulder injury. The 7-6(3), 1-1 win put Roger straight in the finals to face Novak Djokovic for the Masters 1000 title.
Not having dropped a game on his serve, Roger took the court against Djokovic for the 46th time in his career on Sunday. Roger went into the match looking to win his 8th title in Cincinnati, his 28th Masters 1000 title, as well as his 99th overall ATP Title while the Serbian was looking to be the first player to capture a "Golden Masters" winning all nine Masters 1000 tournaments.
Despite his ATP ranking of 10, Djokovic looked to be in fighting shape and broke Roger for the first time the whole tournament at 4-3 in the first and that was all he needed to capture the first set. Breaking back early in the second, Roger looked to be eager to push the match to three until Novak fought to break back at 2-2. Earning another decisive break at 4-3, Djokovic looked to be too strong and captured the title, 6-4, 6-4.
Roger will be back on the court in New York at the end of August for the US Open.
August 17, 2018 -- Cincinnati, Ohio
Due to rain the previous day, Roger was put to the test at the Western & Southern States Open as he not only had to win one match, but two.
First facing Leonardo Mayer, the Swiss star played a flawless first set. While he had a bit more of a challenge in the second, he came away with the win 6-1, 7-6(6), giving him just hours of rest before having to face Stan Wawrinka.
Taking the court against the same evening against his fellow countryman, the crowd was ready for a battle. With neither player able to break in the first set, it was sent to a tiebreaker, which Wawrinka took quick control of. The following set followed suit, except this time, Roger was able to capture the breaker forcing the match to a third set. RF finally broke in the third and dominated the end of the match, winning it 6-7(2), 7-6(6), 6-2. Roger now has a 21-3 record over Wawrinka and advances to the semifinals for the 8th time here.
He will face 11th seed David Goffin on Saturday.
August 15, 2018 -- Cincinnati, Ohio
Roger was back in action on the ATP Tour Tuesday evening as he took the court for his opening match at the Western & Southern Open against Peter Gojowczyk.
The electric crowd was enthusiastic to watch the 37-year-old compete and take down the big swinging German 6-4, 6-4.
The Swiss Maestro is looking to win his 8th title at the Cincinnati Masters and gain some confidence going into the US Open.
"It's important to always try to play your game, especially on faster surfaces, and not to be reactive," said Roger. "In this day and age everybody serves big, everybody can hit big from the baseline. So it's important to bring in your own energy, whether it's the first round or the finals."
Next, he will take on Leonardo Meyer in the 3rd round on Thursday.