Federer targets Rio Games

Updated December 07, 2012 13:11:13

Roger Federer has said he wants to carry on playing until the 2016 Rio Olympics and plans to cut back on his schedule to ensure he lasts that long.

The 17-time Grand Slam title winner will be 35 by the time the Rio Games come around, but the Swiss world number two remains without a gold medal in singles having been defeated by Andy Murray in the London Olympics final this year.

He was a gold medallist in doubles in Beijing in 2008.

"My goal is to be here again in three and a half years to play the Rio Olympics," Federer said, ahead of a series of exhibition matches in Brazil.

Federer will play 14 events in 2013, beginning at the season's first Grand Slam event at the Australian Open in Melbourne, but will skip the Miami Masters and Monte Carlo Masters.

"I'm trying to prioritize the events in which I participate, therefore I am not able to play 25 tournaments in a year," he told the Folha newspaper.

"I am picking just those already won or to which I have a sentimental attachment, either with the people or with the city."

Federer will share the exhibition tour in Brazil with home player Thomaz Bellucci, Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Germany's Tommy Haas and Spain's Tommy Robredo.

Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams are also part of the tour.

"I'm very excited to be here. I have waited for this for years. I have travelled almost every day of my life. I was not able to come here until now," Federer told O Globo.

AFP

Tags: sport, tennis, olympics-summer, brazil

First posted December 07, 2012 13:11:13

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Safin targets seat in Russian parliament

Updated October 28, 2011 10:17:44

Former world number one and double grand slam title winner Marat Safin is the latest Russian tennis player to confirm he intends to run for his country's parliament.

Safin, the 2000 US Open winner and 2005 Australian Open champion, said he was serious about his political ambitions.

"I am running for Federal Parliament in Russia," Safin told the ATP Champions Tour website.

"The elections are on December 4th so I will find out soon. It's a new challenge. I think I am an intelligent guy and I have a lot to bring and a lot of ideas about things and what to do. I am very committed to it."

Safin added: "I could be the best looking guy in the Duma, but that's only because all the other guys are over 60."

The 31-year-old Safin is the second Russian tennis star to target a seat in the Duma following 2007 US Open women's semi-finalist Anna Chakvetadze announcement in September that she was to stand for the Right Cause party.

The 24-year-old, formerly ranked in the top five in the world, has not played since Wimbledon in June because of poor health.

Chakvetadze said she wanted to "try something new" and focus on women's rights and children's sports.

"I joined the Right Cause Party because it's a young party," she said.

"All of its members are young people, who have many fresh ideas. I believe I also can bring some fresh ideas into this project.

"I'd like to be involved in deciding the questions concerning the sports sphere in case we manage to enter the State Duma."

AFP

Tags: tennis, sport

First posted October 28, 2011 09:25:59

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Soderling targets Nadal scalp

Posted April 26, 2011 06:06:00

Two-time French Open finalist Robin Soderling insists he has the confidence to defeat Rafael Nadal once again on the Spanish superstar's favourite claycourt surface.

"He's a great player, especially on clay," the world number five Swede said overnight as he prepared for a second-round start in his debut at the Estoril claycourt tournament.

"But you have to go to the court thinking that you have a chance. Otherwise, what's the point? Nadal is the best on clay ever but he can be beaten. You just have to play your best tennis and have some luck."

Soderling famously beat Nadal in the fourth round of the French Open in 2009, paving the way for a final appearance against Roger Federer which the Swiss won.

Since that breakthrough, Soderling has become a regular member of the world's top five and reached the French Open final again last year where he lost to Nadal.

Soderling will be playing this week after missing the Monte Carlo event to let Achilles tendon and knee injuries clear.

His claycourt season debut last week in Barcelona ended in failure when he lost in the second round to eventual semi-finalist Ivan Dodig of Croatia.

But the Swede does not feel he is in a race against time with the Madrid and Rome Masters looming before the May 22 start of the French Open.

"I wanted to play in Monte Carlo but I wasn't ready. The clay season is long and now I'm injury-free," he said.

"I feel ready to play well. This will be a tough tournament with a lot of guys who can win.

"But I'm feeling good with my game and I've had two and a half weeks of practice on the clay. I have to be counted among the favourites," said the Swede.

The 26-year-old backed world number three Federer to do well on clay this season.

"He is always among the guys who can win events," he said.

But he also warned of the danger posed by number two Novak Djokovic, who is on a 24-0 winning record this season and is stepping onto clay for the first time this season at home in Belgrade this week.

"It's very even at the top of the game. Djokovic has beaten Rafa twice this year (hardcourt) but clay is totally different. Nadal is good on everything, but on clay he's even better."

The joint ATP-WTA event got underway on Monday with the women's section taking centre stage.

Russian top seed Alisa Kleybanova earned a 6-2, 6-2 win over Olga Govortsova of Belarus to reach the second round while two more seeds were eliminated.

Romanian Monica Niculescu beat number five Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 as the American tested a recent hip injury while 2006 winner Zheng Jie of China crashed 6-4, 6-2 to Italy's Romina Oprandi.

Australian Casey Dellacqua played her first match since Wimbledon after a long injury period, beating Zhang Shuai of China 6-2, 6-1.

On the men's side, South African seventh seed Kevin Anderson recovered to defeat Dutchman Thiemo de Bakker 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 while Romania's Victor Hanescu beat Portugal's Rui Machado 6-3, 6-3.

Jeremy Chardy won an all-French battle over Adrian Mannarino 6-4, 6-3.

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