let the RR finish ........ and only then the picture will become somewhat clear

He is the favourite in many people's eyes. He's on a winning streak. Yet here he is modestly downplaying his chances.

I don't think Roger's downplaying his chances. I think it's realistic to recognize that Murray had a darn good Asian swing, Berdych has been playing well, and Tsonga can do damage on any given day. After watching these top players all year, I'm with Roger. Anything can happen.

I think Roger is being realistic. He is right that they can all beat each other on a given day even though some clearly have the edge over others but none of the results is a foregone conclusion.

I am downplaying my own expectations for Rafa knowing that he hasn't played for a while and that he hasn't been in form lately, but things can change so quickly. Roger had a good year end last year but his form took a dip for the most part of 2011. We shall see.

C'mon Rafa...................show 'em you are the bestest!!!!!!

Vamosss!!!

This might be the most interesting WTF we've had in a LONG time. I probably wouldn't tip Fish or Ferrer, but any of the rest of them could do some serious damage.

Still think Roger's going to win though.

Do not jinx the man!

Federer is going to lose all matches 6-0 6-0!!!! Counter jinx ;)

lol, Sienna. No jinx, just an early prediction. Bleck, that can't work as a counter-jinx. Duh. Don't you know ANYTHING about jinxes? Said jinx has to at least be plausible.

cheryl, No cheryl I don't really know much about jinxes.

How about, Roger will lose against Tsonga and Nadal in tight sets and will only win the match against Fish.

Doha January 1-7
Australian Open January 15-28
Rotterdam February 12-18
Indian Wells March 11-17
Miami March 18-31
Madrid May 6-12
Rome May 13-19
Roland Garros May 27-June 9
Halle June 10-16
Wimbledon June 24-July 7
Olympics July 22-31
Toronto August 5-11
Cincinnati August 12-18
US Open August 26-September 8
Shanghai October 7-13
Basel October 21-27
Paris October 28-November 3
London November 4-10

Roger's schedule for 2012. He's scheduled to play 18 tournaments.

He'll play rotterdam and not dubai. Also he isn't scheduled to play in Monte Carlo.
Too bad he isn't going for his 5th Dubai title. :(

That would be a 101/0 for teh regular season + davisCup ties 8/0 making the 2012 year 109/0 going in 2013 with a win streak of 126 matches...........

Sienna, In all seriousness 1 GS title and Olympic gold and I would be a very happy man. Throw in a Basel becuase Roger just loves his home tournament (what a shame he didn't play in 2004 and 2005).

He´s comming to Rotterdam!!!
I feel he might skip Miami when he goes deep in Indian Wells. No monte Carlo this year? Great news I thought he peaked to soon last year... At Wimbly he was somewhat lessfresh(mental) as at RolandGarros.

I don't think he'll play Bercy next year. I wonder if he'll try to play DC since they have the Americans on clay which is a pretty good draw. I think his focus will be on the Olympics though.

Deuce: Roger furiously back-peddling..............................
http://www.guardian.co.uk /sport/2011/nov/18/andy-murray-world-title?newsfeed=true

Remove break at co.uk /

Sorry about that. Haven't yet mastered how to use tinyurl ;-(

There you have it. A lot of his quotes are taken out of context and even made into blaten lies. And you adding backpeddlinginto the mix is just another sort of putting Roger in a place he doesnot deserve to be.

Even you must admit, Sienna, over the years he has passed less than complimentary remarks about Murray!

As the elder statesman of the tour it would behove him to be more circumspect in response to leading questions from journalists and avoid the risk of his remarks being quoted out of context.

'But he was being honest,' I hear Fed fans cry. My point is, on the eve of WTF and even if it was unintentional, the reference undermining Andy's recent successes in Asia was - to put if politely - tactless.

Roger won 2 ATP awards. He won the fans favourite for a record 9th year. AN he regained the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award (wonder what happened last year??!!).

Congrats Roger.

Clearly the three-line whip didn't do their job properly last year. lol.

ed, On the contrary. Last year it was the only year, so far, that it worked perfectly. lol
;)

So, Roger and his cheap shots again. No surprise. Nothing new. Funny how his fans always dismiss it as "out of context". He is the only player taken OUT OF CONTEXT all the time! I don't see it happening with anyone else. Anyway, Andy is miles ahead of him in maturity and sportsmanship and thankfully never stoops to his level despite the the number of times this has happened.

Am doing deep breathing to avoid rise in blood pressure, but honestly! Couldn't Fed even refrain from having a dig on Andy's home turf?

Andy is miles ahead of him in maturity
jean, 11/19/11 2:46 PM

Andy is a good guy overall but maturity is not his strong point. Bashing his knuckles with his racket, cursing himself on court and berating his mom and coaches in the stands aren't signs of maturity.

numero, whatever you think of his on court behaviour, and btw the knuckle bashing has all but stopped, his off court behaviour is dignified and mature. I don't think he's ever come out with a put down.

That is just because Rogeris still the biggest thing in tennis and his quotes are being taken as relevant and interesting for press and not so serious ress to seak something that there is not. It doesnot matter what you say. He is back to his winning way and therefor you turn now to other stuffs, It is ofcourse the right time on this site with all the Fedfans banned You can have a go at him. I call those acts coward acts. But anywayz tomorrow he will open the 5th major of the year a tourney he has won a record sharing 5 times.

Au contraire Sienna, Fed had a go at Andy, and not for the first time either.

Fed at his "charming" best........................

That he is consistently voted the fans fav says a lot about the state of human nature

I think Murray has shown more maturity this year. The bashing of the knuckles on the racket is gone. I am thankful for that! He does still curse himself on court and let his negative emotion show, but he seems to be working on that.

Let's remember that Nole was one of the worst when it came to on court emotion. He would throw his racket all the time, now it's almost never. He would scream out loud in frustration and anger, also talk to his box, had way too many retirements, would come up with ailments all the time.

Nole has shown that it can be done. He changed his behavior on court, so why can't Murray? It's already happening. Innate bad habits don't go away overnight.

au contraire?? I was under the impression that he was ask ifMurray is ready to takeover tennis or something like that. Fedjust answered like he akways does well we have to see what happens. He did wel in Asia but it was not like all the elite players were there. He is absolutely right. Murray has got to proof he is the real deal and this major WTF is a first step. Bleck has been telling you guys that for almost a month. He did say that Murray is now better prepared mentally for winning slams.
So it is absolute;ly nonsense to call this a dig at anything. There be no point in it what would Federer get an even more motivated Murray? He just answered question in the most hounest way. And why the others never have those misunderstandings whit press is because Fed always speaks his mind and does nothing he doesnot say or mean.

@ 7:14 PM Sienna. You make it sound as though hordes of FFs have been banned but I am only aware of two - both quite recently.

Since the non-stop slanging matches have ceased it has been possible to have civilised discussions even when points of view differ strongly.

Even Nadline has been posting comments about players other than Rafa. lol.

Sienna
, 11/19/11 11:17 PM

Fed has been, and continues to be dismissive of Muzza. It is unplesant to hear, it is unbecoming of Fed. Sorry, he shows a less than flattering side of his personality with this behaviour. Admitting this does not make you less of a fan, it makes you more of a person. Try it.

^^^^^sorry, sentence in above post should read, "......it makes you more AS a person"

Best Muzza interview I've read in years!! Screams, "maturity":

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/nov/19/andy-murray -roger-federer-finals?intcmp=239

@Sienna , u r right.

Rafans are so fed up, so they just after Roger here.

Roger may have fired the first salvo but Andy's response was masterful.
BTW. Luvverly photo of him.

Probably Fed is simply answering the questions but if its the case he should be more aware how his response maybe miss/quoted. The comment he was said to have made when AndyM pulled out of Basel wasnt called for as he stopped just short of accusing AndyM of being less than genuine. Dont think Fed has respect for AndyM as a player as AndyM has yet to win a GS but Ive no doubt AndyM will repay Fed his compliments on court one day. AndyM has said his on court antics aren't a problem for him, they do however show imaturity which does appear to be addressing.

Roger is making easy work of Tsonga which is good because I want to see the whole match before I set off for the O2.

Fed has taken the 1st set - 6.2

Predictably......................