Just before yesterday's US Open final, Stefan Edberg was invited to the Sky Sports Uk studio and analysed with Mark Petchey the evolution of Roger Federer's game in the last three years, giving his view on how the change of racquet and his advise contributed in making the Swiss' style more aggressive.

Petchey also asked Stefan about Roger's sneaky attack. "I wasn't aware about it, I saw it on television, so it was a big surprise for me as well," joked Stefan, who also commented on how the roof structure now affects the conditions of play at the US Open and recalled a little about his 1991 US Open triumph.

from Tennis.com

NEW YORK (AP) Roger Federer wonders what might've been if only he'd converted any of those three break points in the last game of the U.S. Open final.

The crowd roaring, Federer rolling, Novak Djokovic reeling - maybe he could have come all the way back from down two breaks in the fourth set to win in five.

But the Swiss great knows one thing for certain.

"I should have never been down in the first place two sets to one and 5-2," Federer lamented late Sunday night, still stuck on 17 major titles for at least 4 1/2 more months.

He fell so far behind because his opponent was simply better in the biggest moments. The top-ranked Djokovic was 6 for 13 on break points; Federer was 4 of 23.

All is ready for the 2015 US Open men's singles final between Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic (4 pm, New York time), with the Swiss trying to catch his beloved 18th Major title and first with Stefan Edberg as his coach.

Stefan himself is looking to set another record, when he tries to be the first man to win the US Open in the junior event (1983), singles event (1991, 1992), doubles event (with Jarryd in 1987) and as a coach.

In the Eurosport video below, enjoy a preview of the final, with statements from both players, plus Mats Wilander's pick.

Not only Mats thinks Djokovic is the favourite, but he is also convinced that the Serb will pass Nadal's 14 Majors and has a chance to go further than Federer's 17.(mc)

Last Monday, Roger Federer was invited to answer a quick set of questions at the US Open funny show 15-Love.

The questions were ranging from his tennis habits to his private life and his tastes in music and tv.

But look at what Roger replied to question number 10, when he was asked about the best tennis match he has ever watched...

P.S. Federer's time was very poor and placed him at the bottom of the ranking made up by all the players interviewed by 15-Love, but the Swiss' fans will be happy to see that at least he ranked better than Rafael Nadal :-).

Freelance journalist Catherine Whitaker, who’s been interviewing players at the US Open for British Eurosport, considers the one with Stefan Edberg the best interview she’s had in Flushing Meadows this year.

Unfortunately, we don’t have that interview to show you, but Whitaker talked about it during a Tennis Podcast from New York with her colleague David Law. The journalist asked Stefan (off records) about his influence on the SABR (Sneaky Attack By Roger), the aggressive half-volley return that Federer has been showing in the North American summer swing and that has been raising so much attention during the US Open.

In the audio excerpt from the Tennis Podcast below you can hear about Stefan’s answer and some interesting comments on why the partnership between him and Roger has been so successful so far. (mc)

In a long interview in the Sky Sports Uk studio yesterday, Roger Federer said that, by now, he is not interested in following the footsteps of Stefan Edberg and start a career as a super coach, once he has quit professional tennis.

"I see myself more helping kids in Switzerland at the National Tennis Centre," he replied to Annabel Croft's question, adding that travelling the tour again would be unlikely for him, "even if 10-15-16 weeks per year are not that much."

"I don't think Edberg thought that as well, and then, 15 years later, I gave him a call and he said 'Why not...'," smiled Federer.

Roger also talked of his US Open memories, that, surprisingly, are not very early. He only remembers something of Stefan Edberg and Pat Rafter, while he can recall more clearly Martina Hingis, champion of the tournament in 1997. "We were both juniors at the time, but she was here winning and I was at home..."

Watch the entire interview in the video below.

Asked by Sky Sports Uk, Boris Becker frankly showed he didn't appreciate Roger Federer's sneaky attack, the half-volley return the media have talked so much about during the North American summer swing.

"My generation would have hit him on first serve. If he would have played McEnroe, Lendl or Connors or even me, we would have said, Roger, in all honesty, I like you very much, one more time, I go straight at you. In my generation, guys wouldn’t have accepted as it is now. For sure."

from India Times.com
by David Waldstein

Federer has stirred curiosity on the tour since he unveiled an unusual return of service last month in a tournament in Cincinnati.

Before returning an opponent's second serve, Federer, on a few occasions, darted forward to the edge of the service line and took the ball quickly with a little half­volley. [...]

He began using it in practice. His coach, Stefan Edberg, encouraged him to keep trying, even if it felt awkward, even if he felt a bit like a prisoner stepping forward to face a firing squad. [...]

"When you lose a point with it, you feel a bit ridiculous," Federer said Tuesday after employing it a handful of times in his 6­1, 6­2, 6­2 victory over Leonardo Mayer in the first round of the United States Open. "But when you win the point, it's a great feeling." [...] "Sometimes I stand there and I'm like, 'Should I or shouldn't I?' " Federer said. "And then it's like, 'OK, whatever, I'm going.' [...]

The first time the fans in Arthur Ashe Stadium saw it Tuesday, in the first game of the second set, many of them let out an "Oooohhhh." Mayer, under pressure, tried to hit a passing shot, but it went long. On another occasion, Federer's block backhand went into the net. On another, Mayer double­faulted, perhaps rattled to see Federer attacking again.

from CNN
by Ravi Ubha

Roger Federer's coach, Stefan Edberg, was known as an attacking player during his day.

Serving and volleying, as well as chipping and charging the net, helped the Swede amass six grand slam titles in the 1980s and '90s. But not even Edberg employed some of the audacious tactics Federer has used in the past month.

The Swiss approached the net at the Cincinnati Masters after half-volleying second-serve returns, and the unconventional ploy contributed to Federer ousting both top-ranked Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, then the No. 2, en route to a seventh title.

All eyes were on Federer -- well, they usually are -- to see if the men's record 17-time grand slam winner would stick with it at the U.S. Open.

Like at Wimbledon, Roger Federer decided to start his US Open tuneup very early, so he was seen training at Flushing Meadows already yeasterday, five days before the start of the last Major event of the year.

Along with him, Severin Lüthi and Stefan Edberg, who is also already in New York!

Again, Team Fedberg had the first hitting session with Australian Lleyton Hewitt, who will play his last Grand Slam tournament next year at the Australian Open, before stepping away from the Tour. Federer also practiced with David Goffin on Friday and Stan Wawrinka on Saturday.

Here are some pictures of Federer's training sessions and of Stefan and Roger having a chillout walk around New York last Wednesday.

Below, you can also watch a couple of hd videos of the entire practice with Hewitt, under Stefan's eyes, that were filmed live and posted on Youtube by user Hugo Legend. (mc)