AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes
The AP reports that Sam “Samurai” Querrey returned to the practice courts last week after a freak accident at September’s Thailand Open came close to ending his tennis career. The 6′6″ American fell through a glass table in the tournament’s locker room while sitting on it to tie his shoes. A shard of glass cut through 30% of two different muscles in his serving arm, nearly severing a nerve (check out the scar in the above photo). He required emergency surgery in Bangkok and wore a splint for two weeks afterwards. Though he has suffered pain and uncertainty, he says that his training is going well.

”My shoulder, it takes a while to warm it up and get that (service) motion going,” Querrey said. ”Other than that I feel no difference in any part of my game.”

Querrey says there was one upside to the injury, which cut his career-best season short: an encouraging email from Roger Federer.

”That was the greatest,” Querrey said, smiling. ”I was so happy. It made my day. It was almost worth it.’‘

Looks like we can add yet another ATP member to our roster of Fedophiles!

Source: New York Times and GTT reader Liz for forwarding the tip!

A few twists of the knife to start: Two sets to one. A 6-0 winning record against his opponent. 11 aces to 13 double faults. Only 5 of 22 break points converted. A 2,200 day winning streak, snapped. A chance to tie Big Bill Tilden’s record, wasted. The opportunity to pad the resume with #16, gone. . at least for now. Oh, the agony!

Still breathing? Good! We can now begin the healing process. (If you aren’t a hard core Fedophile, you might want to stop reading now. It’s going to get weird.)

Say it with me, Fed fans: Roger Federer lost the US Open. In five sets. To Juan Martin del Potro.

Now that we’re past the DENIAL stage, let’s move on to the next four stages of Fed Fan grief.

ANGER. How can you really be angry at Roger Federer? For shame! Instead, let’s smile at Roger’s pissed off outburst against the chair umpire today. “Don’t tell me to be quiet!” That was awesome.

BARGAINING. This one is easy. Roger Federer took the French this year after coming back from two sets to one down against del Potro in the semis. Juan Martin got the “W” in NYC in similar fashion. The career grand slam or tying Big Bill Tilden? I know which one I’d take.

DEPRESSION. There’s always alcohol and ice cream. Or save the calories and watch this:

And this:

And more recently:

And of course, there’s this:

There’s more gushiness to be had here.

ACCEPTANCE: The final stage is always the toughest, but let’s give it a shot!

I accept that Roger Federer holds the all-time record of 15 Major titles. I accept that Roger Federer is the Greatest Tennis Player of All Time. I accept that he’s had an unprecedented 2009 – reaching the finals of all 4 majors, completing the career slam at Roland Garros, regaining his beloved Wimbledon title and retaking the No. 1 ranking. Oh, and he got married and fathered twin girls, to boot. I accept that Federer’s beaten his main rivals – Murray, Djokovic and Nadal – more recently than they’ve beaten him.  I accept that Roger’s hair will always reign supreme. I accept that his practice t-shirts will always make me smile. I accept that he’s richer, more talented and better dressed than I am. I accept that he can’t win every match, even though I really, really want him to. I accept that he lost the US Open to a nice young Fed fan named Juan Martin del Potro (and not one of the infidels – you know who I’m talking about!) I accept that even Roger Federer can’t have it all.

Feeling better yet? Either way, I still recommend a hot fudge sundae and a frosty glass of Chimay. Yay!

Time for some self-diagnosis:

It’s a brave new era for Federer fandom. At least for me. Last week in Montreal, Roger lost his quarterfinal against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga after holding a 5-1 lead in the third set. Instead rolling on the floor moaning “Why, Roger why? What’s happening to you?” I just shrugged and said, “Better luck next time, buddy.”

I tuned into the third set of Roger’s Round of 16 match against David Ferrer today in Cincinnati and thought, “Oh, Roger might lose.” Then I saw him go down a break and muttered, “Yep, he’s definitely going to lose.” Even more bizarre, I kept watching the match. I was pleasantly surprised when Federer came back to win it: 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

If I was in Fedophile therapy, my counselor would call this a breakthrough. It’s not that I’ve become a fair-weather fan, I’m just well-adjusted. Which is a re-adjustment!

But I’m a slow learner. It’s taken me about two years – ever since Federer lost to Canas in back-to-back Masters in the 2007 Indian Wells and Miami tournaments – to reach this state of Federer Fan Zen. Roger’s flame-out against Djokovic in Miami this year didn’t help. Of course, winning Madrid, Roland Garros and Wimbledon didn’t hurt, either.

Like Roger, are we Fed Fans feeling less pressure now that he’s beaten Pete’s record?

Brad Gilbert asked Federer after today’s match if he needed to win some matches before the U.S. Open:

It’s important. I don’t think it’s key. Because I’ve proven in the past that I don’t necessarily need matches prior to a big event. But it definitely helps it – gives you an idea of what shot to hit at what time during the match. Sometimes I still feel that I’m not taking the right decisions so that’s something I can work on in the next match.

Roger shouldn’t worry too much – with his win today, he’s already improved on last year’s pre-US Open performance. In 2008, he went out to Gilles Simon in the 2nd Rd. of Toronto and to Ivo Karlovic in the Cincy Rd. of 16. . .and then won his fifth US Open title a couple weeks later.

What do you think?

Fedophile ALERT! You don’t need to speak the language to understand that this reporter has a major thing for Roger Federer. The video comes from a ceremony honoring Roger Federer on Thursday in Basel (click here for more.)

Video via Schweizer Fernsehen

There were so many questions going into the French Open this year, like “will Rafa lose a set?” and “which half will Djokovic be in?” and “Roger’s win in Madrid was a fluke, wasn’t it?”

Only the bravest Fed Fanatics were willing to raise their hands and ask, in embarrassed tones usually reserved for asking teacher for a potty break:

“So why can’t Roger win Roland Garros this year?”

Turns out he could. And now that this question is answered, another one is, too:

Roger Federer IS the Greatest Of All Time.

And it’s not just John McEnroe who’s saying it.

Pete Sampras: “Now that he’s won in Paris, I think it just more solidifies his place in history as the greatest player that played the game.”

Andy Roddick via Twitter: “That’s an unreal accomplishment and puts and end to the GOAT question in my humble opinion.”

Legend Roy Emerson (another career Slammer): “I believe he is [the greatest]. Now that he’s won a major on all surfaces, you can’t really argue with it.”

Roger Federer (via The Telegraph): “I don’t know if we’ll ever know who is the greatest of all-time, but I’m very proud to be up there. How well did I do? Good, great, very great or medium, I don’t know. It’s for others to decide.”

Roger answered some other big questions at Monday’s post-tournament press conference in Paris.

Can he win another RG title?:

“I’m sure I’m going to enjoy Paris even more in the future. Because the pressure is off, and everything that comes now here is going to be much more fun.”

Can he keep this up?

“I can’t answer the question if I’ll be able to continue playing well, but I don’t see a reason why not. I’m in great shape. I’m motivated. I’m hungry to play, and I’m excited to be becoming a dad and seeing Mirka happy and the baby happy. I’m sure it’s only going to help me play good tennis.”

What will keep him motivated, given all his success?

“Pleasure and desire before everything. Now I can play freely. What am I still missing in my list of achievements? More Grand Slams, of course. But also a gold medal in singles at the Olympics. The Davis Cup is also in the future. It will become more clear after Wimbledon, The U.S. Open and the birth of my child. I have nothing to prove.” (translated from French via Tribune de Geneve)

And who does Roger think is the favorite for the Wimbledon title?

“I do think I’m the favorite actually with the success I’ve had and how close I came again last year.”

So there you have it, Roger Federer is the man who has everything – including all the answers.

How do you answer the question?:

Roger quotes via NYTimes

Player quotes via tennis.com

The GOAT tells it like it is photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images via Daylife

Who knew that 18-time Grand Slam champ, Chris Evert, was such a hard core Fedophile? I’m putting her in the “Historian” category, due to the fact that she also really admires Nadal. Here’s the money quote from her ESPN interview with Bonnie D. Ford (click here for the full article):

“Isn’t there something about Federer that pulls at your heartstrings? I cry every time he loses a match, and I don’t even know the guy. (Laughs) There’s something so endearing about him as a person.”

Chris Evert on Federer vs. Nadal (I’m guessing this was pre-Madrid final):

“The thing that concerns me about Roger is, I just don’t know if his best is going to be good enough to beat Nadal. I don’t really see him playing out of the box, so to speak; I don’t see him changing anything, and that is what must happen if he wants to turn the tide. And also you have the added dimension of Andy Murray emerging, and [Novak] Djokovic, he seems to have gotten it back together.”

Chris Evert on the great Federer coach debate:

I think Roger’s his best coach. I don’t think there’s anyone better than him out there. Maybe someone to help him with training, fitness, getting stronger. If he can’t beat [Nadal], join him. Maybe he needs to get into the gym more. And by the way, he might be doing all this already, I don’t know. The fitness level could improve and that will bring along with it quickness and more power. But as far as playing the game and tactics, Roger is the best judge of that. Fitness helps you psychologically, there’s no doubt about it. When Martina started cleaning my clock, I said, I at least have to give myself a chance here, and so I went into the gym. Not to try to copy her, but just to be the best I could be and the strongest I could be. I think that’s what Roger needs to think about. Now’s not the time, but after this year when you have a period of six weeks, two months where you can really train hard.

Obviously all the balanced analysis is just Chrissie’s attempt to hide her blatant Fedophile tendencies. Move over, Marion Bartoli, you’ve got some Hall of Fame competition.

Chris Evert smokes ‘em on grass. Photo: Tony Duffy/Getty Images via Life

Indulge me for a second: Roger Federer beat Rafael Nadal today in straight sets, on clay, in Spain! He won his first title since October, 2008 and his first Masters shield since Cincinnati, 2007! YES! YES! and YESSSSSSS!

Phew! Now that my Fedophile freak-out is over, here are some musings on Sunday’s Federer vs. Nadal final at the Madrid Open.

1. The win means much more to Federer than the loss does to Nadal. Prior to this match, Nadal enjoyed a 13-6 head-to-head against Federer and had beaten Roger in their last three Grand Slam finals. The last time Roger beat Nadal on any surface was in the semifinals of the 2007 Masters Cup. After this year’s Australian Open melt-down, even the most hard-core Fedophiles had to admit that Rafael Nadal was dominating Roger on every surface and on every occasion.

Federer’s take: “I thought I took all the right decisions today. In the end it was a perfect game for me. . .(You) stay positive and I did. I got the win I needed badly.”

2. Nadal’s shedding no tears over this loss. He was coming off of Saturday’s epic semifinal against Novak Djokovic, not to mention a spectacular clay court season. He’s been complaining about Madrid’s conditions all week, saying the altitude and fast court surface favored his competition. Rafa was also on a 33 match winning streak on clay and wanted to take some pressure off of himself before the French. He might as well have worn a t-shirt with the words: LOWERED EXPECTATIONS stretching across his rock hard pecs.

Nadal’s take: “To me, this tournament has nothing to do with Paris. This tournament is practically another surface compared to Paris. . .The conditions favored him more than me.”

3. Here’s some visual trash talk:

Roger, giving doubters the finger. (Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images)

4. Don’t worry, be happy, Nadal fans! Losing to Roger every now and again is good for Rafa. That way, no one can call his dominance “boring.” And do you really want Rafa’s biggest rival to be Novak Djokovic? (Nole fans, feel free to speak up – if you’re out there.)

Question #1: Isn’t it crazy that Federer and Nadal have now played against each other twenty times? Click here for the ATP’s match-by-match breakdown of their rivalry.

5. Coach Roger’s game plan: Choose to receive, rather than serve. It will rattle Rafa, who hates serving first. Be ready to play from the first point. Attack Rafa’s second serves. Test Rafa’s forehand.  Use controlled aggression on your forehand up the line, serve well (and go out wide), and surprise Rafa with deadly drop shots and some S&V.

Question #2: does anyone else think that Roger’s backhand was looking better in Madrid?

6. The “no fear” statistic: Today, Roger converted both of his breakpoint opportunities against Nadal. Rafa was 0 for 4. For the first time in a long time, Roger was the braver of the two. What a change from the Australian Open, when Roger wore that terrified, glazed-over look on his face from the very first point.

Question #3: How did Roger hold his nerve, anyway? I’m betting hypnotherapy.

7. Trophy ceremony = cluster f*ck. What the hell was that? Hilary Swank dealing fake car keys, Dinara Safina in skin-tight denim, Ion Tiriac glowering like a cartoon villain in the background. . .The confetti explosion nearly gave Roger a heart attack. It smacked of “5th Slam” desperation – sometimes less is more, Ion.

Question #4: A new rival for Roger? Hilary Swank’s hair approaches perfection:

“Mousse or gel?” (Photo by AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)

8. More great moments in hair: when Rafa picked confetti out of Roger’s curls like a mama monkey grooming her baby. Rafa just can’t hide his Roger crush:

“Roger’s sooo dreamy!” (Photo by PEDRO ARMESTRE/AFP/Getty Images)

Question #5: What’s Roger beef with the Prince of Asturias? First he disses his award (click here) and in the trophy ceremony he says something like “thanks for giving tennis proper respect.” Maybe it came out wrong?

“Who’s the princeliest of them all?” (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)

9. Word to the wise: Fed fans, enjoy this moment! If the trials and tribulations of this season have taught us anything, it’s that we shouldn’t take any of Federer’s victories for granted.

Question #6: Which side of the draw will Novak Djokovic be in at Roland Garros? (Because real Fedophiles never stop worrying.)

10. Go ROGER!

Quotes via tennis.com

Thumbnail: Roger to Rafa: “I’m back!” Photo by REUTERS/Susana Vera (SPAIN SPORT TENNIS)

All photos via Daylife

No. 1 Fedophile, Rafael Nadal, nominated Roger Federer to receive the 2009 Prince of Asturias Award for Sports. The Spanish award is intended to “acknowledge scientific, technical, cultural, social and humanitarian work carried out internationally” by prominent people in a variety of fields, including sports. Rafa told the press after this year’s Australian Open that he planned to nominate Roger: “I won the award in 2008 and of course I’d like a colleague and a friend to win it because he deserves it.”

The award comes with some serious swag, namely a Joan Miró sculpture “representing and symbolising the Awards” and a cash prize of €50,000 (that’s almost $70,000 U.S.D.)

But the nominee must be present at the October awards ceremony in order to accept the prize, and this was the deal-breaker for Federer, who will be a new father by then. Federer reportedly explained in the Marca sports newspaper:

“I’d like to thank Rafa Nadal and Pau Gasol (L.A. Lakers basketball player -ed.) for having considered me, but it won’t be possible. It’s always difficult for me to travel to Spain because I have a very busy schedule and I also have to think about my personal life. . .Maybe next year is a good moment to nominate me.”

Federer also added that while his son may interfere with his awards ceremony appearances, the lil’ slugger will not affect his tournament schedule.

AWWWW! Poor Rafa! We fellow-Fedophiles understand your need to worship and adore your tennis hero!

Click here for more information on the Prince of Asturias Awards.

Sources: Sports Ya and Tages-Anzeiger

“Don’t cry, Roger, I have the perfect consolation prize in mind.” AP Photo via Brisbane Times.

Quick, somebody call Dr. Playgood! We have a medical emergency, Fed fans.

After Saturday’s semifinal loss to Novak Djokovic in Rome, the diagnoses is clear: Roger Federer’s suffering from the Three Set Sickness.

Like Swine flu, this malady can be difficult to identify. It often looks like a run-of-the-mill slump – a case of the serving sniffles or a feverish forehand. But after three three-set meltdowns in three Masters tournaments in less than three months, there is little doubt that Roger Federer is suffering from a more serious strain. Besides an inability to close out semifinal matches against top four players, symptoms of Three Set Sickness include an extreme sensitivity to environmental conditions (wind! rain!) and occasional outbursts of violent behavior (click here). Strangely, the disease is exacerbated by feelings of extreme joy off court – marriage and children, for example, can prolong it for weeks.

It’s not yet clear if Federer has a terminal case or if his Three Set Sickness will go into remission. Further observation by Mirka, the media and Fedophiles is required.

Can anyone suggest a homeopathic remedy? (Peter Bodo recommends the old serve-and-volley cure – click here.)

You decide: Is it Three Set Sickness or intestinal trouble? Roger photo by FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images via Daylife

Jose Higueras, Roger’s most recent high-profile coach (not counting Darren Cahill, of course) spoke to Spanish newspaper, Publico, recently about Roger Federer’s slump. His conclusion: change or die.

I’ve translated some excerpts, but please click here for the whole thing (in Spanish).

On what it’s like to coach Roger Federer:

“He’s exceptional, he feels the game like nobody else, it’s instinct and that’s why working with him is very different. In spite of everything, he would benefit by having a person to help open his eyes at certain moments.”

On deciding to leave Federer to join the USTA:

“I would have stayed with him longer, even passed on the job offer that I have at present, but Roger only offered me 10 or 12 weeks a year to work with him, which wasn’t enough time to make any changes that would be evident on the court.” (Higueras is now Director of the USTA’s Elite Player Development program.)

On Roger’s current problems:

“When you stop improving, you deteriorate; in tennis it’s always like this” says the coach, who was prohibited by contract to speak about the Swiss last year. “But Federer continues just as before. His backhand, which today seems weak, is good, but the players have grown accustomed to it and that’s why it’s less effective, now it seems to play worse.”

Roger’s immobility contrasts with Nadal’s aptitude for reinvention. “In two years, (Nadal) is a completely new player, he has improved and changed his style. Federer keeps on being the same: now others can attack him. He has stagnated.”

On changes that need to happen:

It’s not only a problem of competition, but also of philosophy. “Tactics always work better if they win – it’s a question of confidence. Federer can improve his style of play, he doesn’t always use the most appropriate style. When I was with him, he played two brilliant matches, the semifinals and final of the US Open.”

“He was aggressive, he approached the net well, he was very fast, that’s why he won, this is the way he always has to be.” Higueras says on Federer’s current game, which has problems of strategy when he doesn’t cover the backhand, his worst shot, to optimize his resources. “The backhand has always served him well, it is a big shot, but the players know it. His forehand is more devastating and more difficult to defend,”  says Higueras

Couple things: 1. In Google translate, Higueras turns into “fig trees” which adds a pastoral feel to all this tennis talk. 2. Mr. Fig Trees’ statements make me sad. It pains me to think of Roger as some kind of obsolete electronic device, surpassed by newer, smarter models. 3. I wonder if we’ll hear more, now that the Federer camp’s “gag order” has expired.

Is it too late for an upgrade, Roger?

Photo: Paulo Maria/ProTENIS, Portugal via Tennis.com