French Open Tennis 2007

Celebrating more than Fed's birthday

TORONTO -- Roger Federer 's list of accomplishments is among the most impressive and well-chronicled in sport -- 16 Grand Slams, 285 weeks at No. 1, 67 titles, $63,653,278 in prize money.

But for all that he has done on the court, it's perhaps his impact on the game off the court that bears the most celebrating as the great Swiss turns 30 -- and given his career, that may be the most impressive accomplishment of all.

Ask Federer what he wants to be known for, and he doesn't mention titles or victories. "I just hope I'm remembered as one of the good guys, fair, kind of an idol to kids, because that's what I needed to get started," he once reflected. "I don't know what it takes to be remembered for all these things. This will only be answered once my career is over."

He has also said, "I try to be good for the game, leave it better off than when I arrived, even though that's hard. I'm very thankful to the legends of the game who created this great platform for us."

Over the years, Federer's popularity with fans has become legendary -- a combination of his graceful game, record-breaking success and pleasant personality conveyed in three languages. His popularity is not universal: His matter-of-fact statements are sometimes seen as arrogant, some object to his wardrobe choices and some simply get put off by the Mr. Perfect image. Yet there is a discernible "Federer effect" on ticket sales, TV ratings and Internet traffic. Although Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are fast catching up, they have yet to surpass the Swiss as they have in the rankings. The money has slowly followed the numbers -- despite being from a small country like Switzerland and playing a sport without strong geographical concentration, Forbes calculates he is now the world's most highly paid international athlete.

But to appreciate the true quality of what Federer has been to the sport requires looking not just between the lines or in the stands, but also in the locker room.

Federer came up during the era of Pete Sampras, when the very top players generally kept to themselves and rarely got involved in the running of the tour. Things have changed on both fronts, and Federer's role has been significant both collectively and individually. After establishing himself as No. 1 in 2004, and particularly after the retirement of elder statesman Andre Agassi in 2006, he embraced the role of ambassador. Rather like his game, he has managed to strike a rare balance between the spirit of the amateur days and the professionalism of the modern era and redefined what it means to be No. 1.

New Instructional Tennis Tip Book Gives Tennis Players A Simple ...

Houston, TX (PRWEB) April 23, 2007

Tennis pro Tom Veneziano (http://www.tenniswarrior.com) shares his 30 years of teaching experience, expertise, and unique mental approach in his new book, “The Truth About Winning!”

In “The Truth About Winning!” tennis players learn through a step-by-step process the thinking the pros have mastered to win — developing mental toughness from basics to advanced skills. Each chapter builds upon the one before it to reveal a winning mental strategy. All skill levels — from beginner to professional — can benefit from this unique tennis tip book. Players learn how to change their thinking, rather than overhaul their strokes.

“The Truth About Winning!” also analyzes how negative thinking plagues most players and presents mental techniques that enable players to stay positive in the face of adversity. Once you learn a master principle for evaluating negatives and positives, you can take this new-found knowledge and apply it toward winning practice and tournament matches.

The upcoming French Open on May 27, 2007, will display top tennis players from around the world. Tom Veneziano recommends that tennis enthusiasts watch closely as the players shrug off their mistakes and move on to the next shot. The best tennis players in the world have learned to suppress their short-term emotion for the sake of long-term victory.

Players who follow the training tips in this book learn to establish the correct long-term mental environment to win — not giving into the short-term pitfalls that are so detrimental. An example would be the incorrect “make it happen” attitude where players attempt to force the play, hit too many winners, become exhausted, and literally beat themselves. In contrast, the “let it happen” attitude plays to the rhythm of a match, hits winners when the opportunity arises, saves energy and does not beat itself.

Tennis players all over are applying the simple principles in this book and getting results. Rey Medalle of Union City, California says, “Reading your book ‘The Truth About Winning!’ brought immediate results to my game. I am in excellent physical shape, but before applying the concepts in your books, I used to get extremely tired during matches from, what I realize now, was nervous energy and ‘trying too hard.’ It was amazing to see and actually feel the difference during my matches. I did lose points and games, but I was completely relaxed and did not feel tired at all. To me, that has been the biggest difference.

Pratiyogita Darpan

Pratiyogita Darpan

Pratiyogita Darpan

Britannica book of the year 2008

Tennis Confidential II, More of Today's Greatest Players, Matches, and Controversies