Q. Could you explain your strategy to choose to receive serve to start the match.
ROGER FEDERER: Well, pretty simple: remember what happened against Verdasco? Didn’t win a point. So I just felt maybe I win one, maybe by luck. Today, I just figured I do it differently. Against top guys, sometimes you have to surprise them. I guess he likes to also sometimes choose return. So I just figured it’s the feeling of the day. It was not the wrong thing, even though I lost the first set in the end.

roger at the press con…

I don’t know… I’m sure Federer would love to win the WTF (did it really have to have these initials???) and will try very hard to get this title, but after securing the year end #1, I’m don’t think he’ll be too upset if things don’t go his. In fact, if this worst case scenario actually happens, I almost expect him to go all Rhett Butler to the first ‘journalist’ who asks “Bummer. Did you expect, after two wins, not to qualify for the semis?”

“Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a…”

It’s cool to hear that the crowd cheered for Roger. It’s hard to tell on the television. I could tell that the crowd was really into the match. Lucky ducks!

Looking forward to your rant tomorrow

Anyway LOVING the result and headline! Great to see him get one up against Murray, hope he can do so again in the finals!

Verdasco looked like he was going to beat DelP last night! He’d now likely (but hopefully not) be straight-setted by Murray… our man’s got his work cut out for him!

I am really thinking your twins theory has something to it. How can Roger play some junky stuff again in 1st set only to have an even more superb Roger to emerge in 2/3 set?

Random observations so far:
1. Roger received the louder cheer when he entered the stadium. Over there Murray, London is Roger’s place.

2. The crowd has turned from Wimby ‘reserve’ to can’t-help-shouting-even-in-between serves. The whole thing is very non-british!

3. I am still puzzled by why they are letting people in after every changeover. I have been to all matches so far and every match, without fail, the umpire has to say ‘please sit down, this is not change over’. Today the umpire had enough and told the ushers to close the door. Is this intentional or what?

4. There are a few articles in the Times about the scheduling of the event – basically starting the singles at 845pm is stupid b/c i) the players are tired ii) the public cannot get home. And I cannot agree more. Given the location it’s not the place you want to be at mid night, and most people will miss the last train or connecting trains back home with matches finishing this late. In fact on Sunday everyone missed the connecting trains in central london and were like headless chicken trying to get buses. I really hope the organisers get it together and rethink – logistics , flexibility and transportation is not really London’s strength.

Oh this is getting too long! i’ll leave the rant tomorrow… before I shut up, Andy Roddick made a guest appearance yesterday in the Djoker Davy match and was very warmly received – he as definitely won the heart of the Brits. Oh and Ivan Ljubicic made a guest appearance just signing things and photos – appraently Lendl was there the day before!!!!

I’M CROSSING MY FINGERS AND LIGHTING CANDLES.