Federer Masters 80th Career Title

After a series of near misses, Roger Federer has finally added a 22nd Masters 1000 crown to his illustrious career. The Swiss all-time great fought off the challenge of the younger generation to clinch his 80th trophy and 6th in Cincinnati. He became just the third player in the Open Era to achieve that tally after Jimmy Connors (109) and Ivan Lendl (94).

Although very familiar with the Cincinnati setting, the week wasn't quite a walk in the park for Federer. He had to withstood the fierce opposition of young gun Vasek Pospisil, ultra-talented showman Gael Monfils, always dangerous Andy Murray, respectively warrior David Ferrer en route to the title.

"I'm very happy about the week," said Federer. "Just overall it went from good to great. Just really pleased that I was able to back up a tough week last week already."

The success marks a good change in fortunes for Federer who lost already four important finals this season, in Indian Wells (to Djokovic), Monte Carlo (to Wawrinka), Wimbledon (to Djokovic), and last week in Toronto (to Tsonga).

Next up for Roger is the US Open where he'll try to end a two-year draught in Grand Slams. "Especially now I come in with great confidence," he said. "I can really rest now, rather than having to work on stuff, so it's just about maintaining. That's also really good for the mind ... I know my game is where I want it to be. It's about just keeping that level up right now." You go, Federer! #letswinthis

After a series of near misses, Roger Federer finally added a 22nd Masters crown to his resume, beating the Spanish warrior David Ferrer 6-3,1-6,6-2 to clinch his 6th title in Cincinnati and 80th overall.

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The 2013 ATP Moods Awards

2013 has been a great year for tennis. It was highlighted by Nadal's magnificent comeback to the top of the rankings, Djokovic's flawless end to the season, the rejuvenation of tennis hopefuls Stanislas Wawrinka and Richard Gasquet, as well as the coming of age of young guns Bernard Tomic and Grigor Dimitrov. For me though, the biggest story of them all was Andy Murray winning Wimbledon to end the 77-year wait for the hungry home nation. In one of the most bizarre tournaments ever, the crowd carried Andy to the title, helping him fulfill his prophecy. 

2013 also marked a big disappointed as we've witnessed Roger Federer drift further away from the top. His series of surprising losses made headlines throughout the year, raising questions about his future. However, the Swiss has been adamant in declaring he will continue playing for many more years, proving determined to change fortunes in 2014. The world needs the almighty Federer back!

Exhilarating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga produced another disappointment as he let an enormous chance slip by. Facing hard-working David Ferrer for a place in the Roland Garros final, Jo played a terrible match to gift away the victory. The loss also marked the end of his season as he injured his knee at Wimbledon and was sidelined till October. Hope he comes back stronger next season!

On the bright side, Tommy Haas confirmed his good form, making an emphatic return to the top 10. At 35, the German is as dangerous as ever as he continues to break new grounds and push his opponents to their limits. Spaniard Tommy Robredo also put together a sensational comeback season, reaching the quarterfinals at both the French and the US Open. Although he is not fully recovered, Gael Monfils is showing steady progress in making his way back to where he was a few seasons ago. 

The young guns have also showed their great potential. Milos Raonic cracked the top 10, while outspoken Pole Jerzy Janowicz reached his first Grand Slam semifinal at Wimbledon.

Bob and Mike Bryan clearly dominated the doubles tour, winning most of the big tournaments. A near miss at Flushing Meadows prevented them from completing a calendar Grand Slam, but they did hold all four majors plus the Olympic gold at the same time (a.k.a. the Golden Bryan Slam) strengthening their credentials as the best doubles team in history.

Tennis Moods looks back at a rich 2013, recognizing the stand-out players of the year. Congrats to all the 2013 ATP Moods Awards winners!

The 'World's Greatest' Award (for the best player of the year)

Winner: Rafael Nadal

Runner-up: Andy Murray

The 'He Found Love' Award (for the most improved player of the year)

Winner: Stanislas Wawrinka

Runner-up: Richard Gasquet

The 'Homecoming' Award (for the most spectacular comeback)

Winner: Tommy Robredo

Runner-up: Gael Monfils

The 'He Works Hard for the Money' Award (for the most hard-working player)

Winner: David Ferrer

Runner-up: Rafael Nadal

The 'Here I Am' Award (for the newcomer of the year)

Winner: Jerzy Janowicz

Runner-up: Vasek Pospisil

The 'We Are Young' Award (for the most promising youngster on the tour)

Winner: Grigor Dimitrov

Runner-up: Bernard Tomic

The 'Talk That Talk' Award (for the wittiest player on the tour)

Winner: Novak Djokovic

Runner-up: Mike & Bob Bryan

The 'Broken Hearted Boy' Award (for the most disappointing player of the year)

Winner: Roger Federer

Runner-up: Brian Baker

The 'King of Hearts' Award (for the Tennis Moods' favourite)

Winner: Roger Federer

Runner-up: Tommy Haas

The 'I Will Always Love You' Award (for the player who retired this year and will be missed the most)

Winner: David Nalbandian

Runner-up: James Blake

The 'When We Collide' Award (for the most spectacular doubles team)

Winner: Bob Bryan & Mike Bryan

Runner-up: Michael Llodra & Nicholas Mahut

The 'Fashion of His Love' Award (for the best dressed player throughout the year)

Winner: Roger Federer

Runner-up: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

The 'Imagine' Award (for the most emotional story of the year)

Winner: Andy Murray winning Wimbledon

Runner-up: Rafael Nadal winning US Open

The 'I Dreamed a Dream' Award (for the accomplishment of a dream)

Winner: Andy Murray winning Wimbledon

Runner-up: David Ferrer reaching the French Open final

The 'Hero' Award (for the braveheart performance of the year)

Winner: Juan Martin del Potro at Wimbledon

Runner-up: Stanislas Wawrinka at the Australian Open

The 'Clash of Titans' Award (for the most exhilarating duel of the year)

Winner: Novak Djokovic & Rafael Nadal

Runner-up: Roger Federer & Juan Martin del Potro

SEE ALSO: The 2011 ATP Moods Awards and The 2012 ATP Moods Awards

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Dimitrov No Longer A Baby

Bulgarian youngster, Grigor Dimitrov, has long been labelled as the next big superstar in men's tennis. The obvious resemblance in style with Roger Federer brought him the nickname "Baby Fed," as everyone was/is expecting him to follow in the all-time great's footsteps. Dimitrov was pretty vocal when it came to dismissing the prophecy though, showing clear signs that he does not want to live in someone else's shadow. 

Grigor's biggest problem so far is that he did not quite confirm the huge expectations that people have from him. This year there have been some instances when his talent shone through, but he is yet to have that big breakthrough moment. At the beginning of the season, he lost his first ATP final to Andy Murray in Brisbane, and in May he stunned world No.1, Novak Djokovic, in a mouth-watering clash in Madrid. Nevertheless, he was lacking his maiden crown to consolidate the great progress. The wait ended last week when Dimitrov completed a dream run in Sweden. Days after terminating his collaboration with Magnus Norman's tennis academy, the Bulgarian delivered the goods to win the If Stockholm Open.

The Bulgarian started the week strongly, being unbothered en route to the semifinals. In his next clash with Benoit Paire, he was forced to come back from the loss of the first set to defeat the Frenchman 4-6,6-2,6-2. In the final, Grigor once again produced a sensational comeback, recovering from a poor opening act to stun world No.3 and this year's Roland Garros runner-up, David Ferrer. It was a hard fought triumph, but Dimitrov proved he has the mental strength to win big matches like this one. "It's one of my biggest wins," said the ecstatic Bulgarian. "To beat a top guy in a final. It's a great feeling and it's good for your mental state. You know you can hang with these guys and the next time you play against them, especially in the Grand Slams, you will be better prepared."

The title might have come a bit later than expected, but continuing the comparison with Federer, he too was pretty slow off the block. It took the Swiss quite a while to record his first big win, so this success might mark the beginning of a long series of great achievements for Grigor. I believe in him and in his talent, so hopefully he can keep up the good work, relinquish the huge pressure, work on his game, and come back stronger next season. 

The Bulgarian is going through a flourish period off court too, as his relationship with Russian Maria Sharapova is developing quite nicely, the two being rumored to be engaged.

Talented Grigor collected his maiden ATP title by stunning world No.3, David Ferrer, in a very entertaining Stockholm final.

Just when the pressure was starting to build up, and everyone was waiting on him to confirm his huge potential, young Bulgarian slammed the critics by crowning himself champion in Stockholm.

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Gasquet, A Changed Man

After his breakthrough triumph over Raonic in the fourth round, I felt this is the best time for Gasquet to prove his much improved mental strength. He needed to beat Ferrer first, and although he lost eight of the previous nine matches against the Spaniard, I knew he had it in him to get the win. The Frenchman has the talent and the groundstrokes to challenge Ferrer, so it was all just a matter of putting in the effort, of working on his fitness, of fighting, and fighting, and fighting some more in order to overcome the tour's ultimate hard-worker. 

Gasquet too acknowledged the great opportunity and was determined not to let it slip. He was ferocious right from the get-go, playing sharp and aggressive to build a two-sets-to-love advantage. It was a period of flawless tennis for the Frenchman, two-sets of Richard Gasquet at his utmost best. No mistakes, stunning one-handed backhands, inspired volleys, a lethal combination that left his opponent struggling for answers. However, as usual, David was not going to give up easily. He raised his level at the beginning of the third act, breaking Richard to unleash a comeback. The Frenchman grew tired, his body was ailing, and his shots were missing the convincement and the spark from the beginning of the encounter. Experienced Ferrer took full advantage, leveling the dispute.

Usually when such a thing happens, Richard collapses mentally and physically, gifting away the win. It happened throughout his career, most recently at Roland Garros against Wawrinka. He did warn us that he learned his lesson though and this time he played it smart. He kept his cool, regrouped, resumed the aggressive display and crossed the finish line triumphantly. He attacked at the right moment to get the decisive break and then went on to serve out a superb 6-3,6-1,4-6,2-6,6-3 victory.

"I played a great match at the start despite the wind in the stadium. But David is a great fighter and I was a little tired after a big match with Raonic. I got the break in the final set and it's an amazing feeling to be in the semi-finals. I played a lot of 5 sets in my life, but this one was very important. It was a big match for me, this is a big victory, semi-finals of the US Open. I'm really happy. It's wonderful for me,'' he said after the match.

I strongly believe that with this success Richard has proved he has matured, as a player, as a person, and as a champion. He goes on to face Rafael Nadal next, and although he never beat his good friend, you never know when the magic strikes. Nadal has been impetuous on hard-courts this season, not losing a match, so it will surely be tough. However, with the right mental approach, with belief and determination, I think the Frenchman has a slight chance of making his first Grand Slam final. It seems impossible, but I'm actually rooting for a battle of the one-handed backhands in Sunday's final. Let's go Gasquet and Wawrinka!

Although he has lost eight of the nine previous meetings with David Ferrer, Gasquet knew this was his chance. The Frenchman held his nerve to close out a magnificent 6-3,6-1,4-6,2-6,6-3 victory.

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Nadal Continues Joy Ride in Paris

Following a stellar comeback after his lengthy lay-off, Rafael Nadal has now achieved his goal for the season, successfully defended his French Open title with a straight sets 6-3,6-2,6-3 victory over his good friend and compatriot, David Ferrer. Ferrer was playing the best tennis of his career, reaching the most important final of his career without dropping a set.

Nadal secured his place in the history book, becoming the first player to win the same Grand Slam tournament eight times, strengthening thus his credentials as the best clay-court champion to have ever graced the court. Although he lost his Monte Carlo crown to arch-rival, Novak Djokovic, the Spaniard has been invincible since, winning titles in Barcelona, Madrid and Rome.

Is no secret that I am not a Nadal fan. However, no one can argue his incredible feat. Even though he struggled on some occasions, the Spaniard was impeccable when it mattered most. Probably the toughest test came in the semifinals, when he had to rely on all his experience, coming from a break down to overcome Djokovic in an epic battle that denied the Serb the opportunity to complete his Grand Slam collection. Rafa is now Novak's top contender for the season-ending No.1 spot.

Rafael Nadal did it again. The Spaniard won his eight crown at Roland Garros, becoming the first player in history to win a major for eight times.

Although David Ferrer did not surrender a set en route to the final, the Spaniard was unable to prevent his compatriot from successfully defending his French Open title. Nadal won 6-3,6-2,6-3.

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The 2012 ATP Moods Awards

What a sensational year has 2012 been! So many amazing stories, so many great comebacks, some heart-breaking retirements, but overall an exhilarating season. It started with Novak's extraterrestrial defence in Melbourne highlighted by the epic final against Nadal. The Spaniard got his revenge though, sweeping through his favourite red dirt with victories in Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Rome and Roland Garros, straightening his credentials as the best clay-court player of all time. It was long time coming, but Federer finally collected his 17th Slams, making an emphatic return to number 1 following his stunning Wimbledon triumph. 

With Nadal sidelined by a persistent knee injury, the latter half of the season belonged to Andy Murray. The Briton claimed the Olympic gold medal in London to the delight of the host nation. He then broke the 'curse' becoming the first Briton since Fred Perry in 1936 to win a Grand Slam. In a topsy-turvy Flushing Meadows final, Andy defeated Novak Djokovic in a marathon five-setter. The Serb however stepped into the limelight at the right moment, securing the number 1 year finish with an impressive success at the ATP World Tour Championships in London.

Tennis Moods looks back at a rich 2012, recognizing the stand-out players of the year. Congrats to all the 2012 ATP Moods Awards winners!

The 'World's Greatest' Award (for the best player of the year)

Winner: Roger Federer

Runner-up: Andy Murray

The 'He Found Love' Award (for the most improved player of the year)

Winner: Andy Murray

Runner-up: Juan Monaco

The 'Homecoming' Award (for the most spectacular comeback)

Winner: Tommy Haas

Runner-up: Sam Querrey

The 'He Works Hard for the Money' Award (for the most hard-working player)

Winner: David Ferrer

Runner-up: Rafael Nadal

The 'Here I Am' Award (for the newcomer of the year)

Winner: Brian Baker

Runner-up: Jerzy Janowicz

The 'Talk That Talk' Award (for the wittiest player on the tour)

Winner: Novak Djokovic

Runner-up: Mike & Bob Bryan

The 'Broken Hearted Boy' Award (for the most disappointing player of the year)

Winner: Gael Monfils

Runner-up: Mardy Fish

The 'King of Hearts' Award (for the Tennis Moods' favourite)

Winner: Roger Federer

Runner-up: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

The 'We Miss You' Award (for the player who retired this year and will be missed the most)

Winner: Andy Roddick

Runner-up: Arnaud Clement

The 'When We Collide' Award (for the most spectacular doubles team)

Winner: Bob Bryan & Mike Bryan

Runner-up: Robert Lindstedt & Horia Tecau

The 'Fashion of His Love' Award (for the best dressed player throughout the year)

Winner: Roger Federer

Runner-up: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

The 'Imagine' Award (for the most emotional story of the year)

Winner: Roger Federer winning Wimbledon

Runner-up: Andy Murray winning the Olympic gold medal

The 'Clash of Titans' Award (for the most exhilarating duel of the year)

Winner: Novak Djokovic & Andy Murray

Runner-up: Novak Djokovic & Rafael Nadal

SEE ALSO: The 2011 ATP Moods Awards

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The Czech A-Teams

Although the Czech Republic has given so many great tennis champions in previous years, recently the country failed to produced the same amount of talent. Martina Navratilova, Iva Lendl,  Hana Mandlikova or Jana Novotna are all legends of the game, but after their retirement, their place was hard to fill.

However with Kvitova's stunning triumph at Wimbledon and Berdych's sudden glimpses of magic, the nation finally got something to cheer about. The duo showed their class in the beginning of the season, teaming up to win the mixed-doubles event in Perth. They were imperious in winning the Hopman Cup, disposing of the Frenchmen Marion Bartoli and Richard Gasquet in the final.

The successes kept on coming for the Czech, as Kvitova and co. successfully defended their Fed Cup title. It was Safarova though who clinched the final victory over Serbia, as she defeated both former number 1s, Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic, to bring in two vital points. 

Inspired by their female counterparts performance, the Czech squad lead by Berdych was determined to end Spain's reign in the Davis Cup and collect the country's first trophy as an independent nation. To help their cause, Corretja's team was deprived of its main superstar, Nadal continuing to be sidelined by the knee injury that forced him to miss the second half of the season. However, with Ferrer in hot form and Almagro as the supporting actor, the Spaniards were not to be dismissed easily.

Day 1 saw the two nations tied at 1-1, with Berdych beating Almagro in a five set thriller, while Ferrer cruised passed Stepanek. The doubles match proved vital in determining the winner. Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez were starting as hot favourites having just claimed the ATP World Tour Championships in London, but old fox Stepanek was yet to say his last word. He and Berdych produced a superb performance to recover from the loss of the opening set to stun the Spaniards 3-6,7-5,7-5,6-3. Stepanek was top notch on Sunday too, scoring the decisive point with a four set victory over Nicolas Almagro.

With Berdych losing in straight sets to Ferrer it was up to Radek to clinch the win and his older compatriot did not waste the opportunity. "I was dreaming about it my whole life and now we're standing here as Davis Cup champions, it's amazing," Stepanek said. "I had a lot of chances in the second set. I was playing very aggressive today; I wanted to be the one who was more active. Even though I lost the third set, I had no doubt about my tactics. I came on the court with a mindset that I had to stay calm, hungry and concentrated. That's what I did tremendously well today."

Having won all the team trophies in 2012, the Czech Republic has established itself as the dominant force in the world.

Radek Stepanek, Tomas Berdych, Ivo Minar and Lukas Rosol respectively, won Czech Republic's first Davis Cup trophy since the country's independence. They beat Spain 3-2 in front of a magnified crowd in Prague.

Earlier this month, Lucie Safarova, Petra Kvitova and doubles specialists, Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka, won the Fed Cup final against Serbia. Former world number 1s, Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic, were unable to cope with an inspired Safarova, who brought in two decisive points. 

At the start of the season, Petra Kvitova teamed up with Tomas Berdych to win the Hopman Cup in a final against Marion Bartoli and Richard Gasquet of France.

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