Federer To Carry Swiss Flag In Beijing
02/08/2008 08:23
BERN, Switzerland - Roger Federer will carry the Swiss flag at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.
The top-ranked tennis player will celebrate his 27th birthday next Friday by being his country's standard bearer for the second straight Olympics.
"It's wonderful that I can carry the flag for the Swiss delegation on my birthday," Federer said in a statement released Friday on the Swiss Olympic website.
Federer has struggled with his form this year, and suffered another upset on Thursday, losing to Ivo Karlovic in the third round of the Cincinnati Masters.
He now risks losing his No. 1 ranking after 235 weeks to Rafael Nadal if the Spaniard wins the Cincinnati tournament.
Still, winning an Olympic gold medal could help salvage what has been a disappointing year for Federer, in which he has failed to add to his 12 Grand Slam singles titles.
"I still have a score to settle with the Olympics and being handed this honour for a second time will give me extra motivation," he said.
Federer was the top seed at Athens four years ago but lost in the second round to Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Now that Roger will most likely lose his official number 1 world ranking, maybe “Flag Bearer” will be his new “calling?”