image: TSN

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga proved that you should never get up, even when you’re down against the best tennis player in the world (in history?!?) when he made an incredible comeback and ousted Federer with a final score of 7-6 (5), 1-6, 7-6 (3) in the quarterfinals.

Seventh-seeded Tsonga, who played with a sore arm said: “I did not feel real good — 5-1 down and Roger playing well and I had no solutions.  I just told myself ‘you have to hit the ball one more time than him’ and I did it.  It’s a good thing for me. It’s amazing to change this match.”

The Swiss star had some words of his own after the match: “It’s obviously disappointing but you know, that’s what Jo does.  He doesn’t make a return for an hour and then he puts in a few and than all of a sudden he’s back in the match,” said Federer. “I should never have allowed it but it happened, so it’s a pity.  It’s a tough match to go through because it was either very close or very one-sided,” Federer said. “That doesn’t make it easy on the rhythm, obviously.”

Well, it had to happen, I guess.  Federer’s 22-match winning streak has come to an end, which opens the door for Rafael Nadal to close the gap between him and Federer after injury sidelined him and cost him the No. 1 ranking.  Things just got a lot more interesting in men’s tennis!

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SHOCKER! Federer Eliminated at Rogers Cup

According to the Telegraph, the massive home features “a large rear lawn with summerhouse, an indoor swimming pool with sauna and jacuzzi, a library and games room.”  Surprisingly, the property does not include a tennis court.  That surprised me since I can’t imagine playing a sport professionally and not having an area to practice in my (several) million dollar home.  He will, however, be installing PlayStation consoles throughout the house…

A lot of people are wondering about the timing of this move since he really should be focusing on competing at Wimbledon next week.  If you’ve ever moved, you will know that it can be very difficult and a move of this magnitude has got to be at least a little distracting.  Who knows, though.  Everyone is different and maybe the transition will have a relaxing effect on him.  Maybe his old neighbors were loud and now he’ll be able to get some sleep.  Whatever the case, I wish him the best!

image: TSN

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Murray Buys Home With No Tennis Court

“I’m not planning on getting caught up in the whole hype and the pressure, because I don’t think that that helps if you do” Murray said. “I’m going to try and just concentrate on playing and winning matches. You can let the pressure affect you if you want to. You can let the expectation get to you if you really want to, but I’m just going to play tennis and not worry about the rest of the stuff.”

image: Zuma Press

The win was also history-making since the last Brit to take the title at the event was Bunny Austin in 1938.  “It’s pretty special,” said Murray. “There have been some great grass-court players from Britain the last 70-odd years. Tim [Henman] and Greg [Rusedski] were both very good grass-court players. The names that are on the trophy, there’s a lot of great, great players. So to be on that trophy is great. Obviously, because it’s not happened that a British player has won for so long, that makes it nicer.”

With 2009 off to such a good start I am really interested in seeing what the rest of the year has in store for Murray.  Before Wimbledon, he will try his look on the grass courts of the All England Club.

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Andy Murray Wins at 2009 Queen’s Club

image: Zuma Press

“It’s such an incredibly nice feeling to hold up the trophy again and to be in Germany as well, in front of German fans is even more special,” said Haas. “I’ve won on every surface at least once, which is a great accomplishment for myself. It’s a great day.  It was all about just focusing on the match and trying to beat a terrific player, to beat Novak which never happened before for me.  I respect his game a lot and I respect him as a person. So to beat him in the final is even more special, especially with what he’s accomplished in such young years it’s great. So, it’s perfect.”

Hopefully, Hass can carry on this momentum to Wimbledon.  He doesn’t have the greatest record at the London event, having lost to Andy Murray last year and dropping out against Roger Federer the year before (due to an injury).

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Tommy Haas Wins Gerry Weber Open

image: Zuma Press

Blake’s semifinal match came to an abrupt end when, with the score tied at 4-4, four-time Queen’s Club champion Andy Roddick withdrew from the match after suffering an ankle injury.

Murray is ranked third in the world with just Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer ahead of him.  I’m sure he would love to win the event since, after advances to the finals, he will be playing his first title match in his native Great Britain and could become the first Brit to take the title in 71 years (the last local to win was Bunny Austin way back in 1938).

Blake, on the other hand, has never won a title on a non-hard court but, if history is any indicator, he could upset the higher seeded, Murray – they’ve battled just once before and Blake emerged victorious at the 2006 ATP Masters Series.

This year’s 2009 Aegon champion will take home $117,000.

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2009 Queen’s Club Finals Set

Djokovic moves on to the event’s finals where he will attempt to secure his third title of 2009 with a win over German wildcard, Tommy Haas, who was the No. 2 player back in 2002 but has failed to win a tournament since 2007 in Memphis.  The pair have battled twice before with Djokovic winning both times. 

The winner of Sunday’s match will collect $160,000.  If Djokovic wins, this will be his first grass-court victory this year.

image: TSN

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Djokovic Moves On To Gerry Weber Final

image: Zuma Press

The match was halted when a spectator discovered a bomb threat message pinned to a wall.  Instead of panicking, Roddick and Hewitt actually stood at the net and talked during the 20-minute delay while the security officials investigated the situation.  What do you even talk about (with your opponent) as you wait to find out if someone has planted an explosive device in your vicinity?  It just shows how cool and composed these professional athletes are!

When they were given the all clear, play resumed and Roddick emerged the victor, beating Hewitt, a four-time Queen’s Club champion, 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-4).

Friday’s quarterfinals will feature matches between sixth-seeded James Blake vs 14th-seeded Mikhail Youzhny and Steve Darcis vs former No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero.

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Andy Roddick Wins After Bomb Threat

image: Zuma Press

Getting a French Open title was not an easy task for Federer who has been the runner-up three times before.  The Swiss tennis star seemed to take his victory in stride (even though he clearly feels he deserves some bragging rights).  After the win, Federer said “now the question is: Am I the greatest of all time?  We don’t know, but I definitely have many things going for me because I’ve finally won all four Grand Slams, and I’m particularly happy reaching Pete’s 14.”

He went on to say: “It’s maybe my greatest victory, or certainly the one that removes the most pressure off my shoulders. I think that now and until the end of my career, I can really play with my mind at peace and no longer hear that I’ve never won Roland Garros.”

The winning moment was awesome (unless, of course, you’re Robin Soderling) as Federer fell to the clay and screamed before burying his hands in his face as the people in the crowd rose to their feet.  He let the tears run free as he stood there listening to the Swiss national anthem.  Tennis great, Andre Agassi, presented him with the trophy!!!  It must have been an incredible feeling.

To Soderling’s credit, he was a true gentleman and a class act.  After being defeated he said: “Roger, really, congrats to you.  You really gave me a lesson in how to play tennis today. And to me you’re the greatest player in history. So you really deserved to win this title.”

Sampras, himself, had to weigh in on the victory.  In a telephone interview he said: “I’m obviously happy for Roger.  Now that he has won in Paris, I think it just more solidifies his place in history as the greatest player that played the game, in my opinion.”

I think I’m going to have to agree.  Federer is carving a name for himself and has definitely solidified his position among the game’s best – if not THE best.

****UPDATE****

There was a scary moment, however, that slightly marred the big day.  Federer was attacked by a weird fan who managed to get onto the court in an attempt to put a red hat on the tennis star’s head.  After Federer pushed the man away from him, the guy danced in front of him waving a Barcelona soccer team flag.  How crazy!  Watch the video:

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Federer (Finally) Wins French Open

Nadal will miss the tune-up at the Queen’s Club, which he won last year (followed by his first Wimbledon win).  He had the following to say about this turn of events:  "I am very disappointed to not be able to come this year to Queen’s [and] defend the title I won last year. To play in London has always been special for me, to play at the Queen’s Club is an honor and the fans in the UK are among the best I have ever seen, always supporting me since the first time I played there. 

I have been having some problems in the past months with my knees, that’s no secret, that did not allow me to compete always at 100 percent. I need to work with my team to recover well, work on my physical condition to be at my top form and get ready for the grass to play at Wimbledon. I hope I can be ready to compete by then. I am really sorry and I hope that the people at the tournament will still want me to come next year."

I’m sure he won’t lose his invitation to next year’s even due to his withdrawal – he’s one of the hottest names out on the court right now.  The highly regarded tennis player has won five titles this year and I’m sure after a brief rest, he will be back to his normal self.

image: TSN

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Nadal Withdraws From Pre-Wimbledon Event

Roddick lost his match 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 on Court Lenglen to the local favorite, Gael Monfils (11th-seeded).  Meanwhile, Federer dropped those first two sets to Tommy Haas but then fought hard to win 6-7 (4-7), 5-7, 6-4, 6-0, 6-2 in three hours and seven minutes.

image: TSN

When asked about the early elimination of Raphael Nadal, Federer didn’t even try to hide his feelings: “It caused a bit of a shock in the locker room.  All the players are a bit relieved. Everybody suddenly sees that things are much more open.”

At 27 years old, Federer needs just one more Grand Slam title to match the record set by Pete Sampras and I’m feeling confident that he can do it.

I have to say that I find it pretty cool that this year’s men’s French Open champion will be a first time winner.  That always makes it a little more exciting!

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Federer Rallies, Roddick’s Run Ends at French Open