Sampras warns against writing off Federer for US Open

Roger Federer, of Switzerland, bottom right, leaves a practice court as fans try for autographs at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Sunday, August 16, 2015, in Mason, Ohio.

Saturday’s qualifying rounds drew the second-biggest crowd in the tournament’s history.

Federer practiced on Sunday as the Western & Southern Open began with a pair of men’s matches.

Federer has not played since reaching the final of Wimbledon in July, where he lost in four sets to Novak Djokovic, with the 34-year-old Swiss one of three top-10 players to bypass the Rogers Cup in Montreal.

“I’m fresh and obviously eager to play and can’t wait for the tournament to start, really”, Federer said after practice Sunday morning.

“I think he’ll be fine but it’s not like Roger who cannot play well and still win”.

Seventeen-time Swiss grand slam champion Roger Federer and British tennis star Andy Murray will swap places when the Emirates Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) rankings were released on Monday (EDT).

Now, the champion who claimed the first of his six titles here in 2005, is bearing down in training to be ready for the final Grand Slam of the season in New York, with the week in Cincinnati his only competitive tune-up. “I’m very happy with how I’m feeling”. Murray’s on a hard court at the US Open, he’s won it there and he’s got to the final there, so he’ll be a contender.

“Im holding up pretty well, actually, ” Isner said. Thankfully I did and ended up winning here.

“It feels like there’s a laundry list of things that’s bothering me”. He said he’s not sure why so numerous sport’s elder statesmen – David Ferrer (33, No. 7), John Isner (30, No. 12), Stan Wawrinka (30, No. 5) – are succeeding at an age where many predecessors had retired, but it’s probably because there isn’t the push from younger generations of players. But its a good problem to have, rather than the other way around.”. “We’ve played these Masters events for years now”.

The top eight seeds in both fields get first-round byes.

Despite the tournament being in the middle of the hot, dog days of summer, Federer said it’s “easy going” and enjoys returning to Cincinnati, probably more so than other tournaments.

“This dominance is incredible, so I wish for her that she can do it. She still has time, a few more weeks, and she knows what it’s all about and I think it’s going to be a huge focus during New York“.