Federer marries long-time girlfriend

BASEL -- World No 2 tennis player Roger Federer married longtime girlfriend Mirka Vavrinec on Saturday in a small ceremony in his hometown.

InthisMondayMay22,2006filephotoSwisstennisplayerRoger
FedererandhisgirlfriendMirkaVavrinecposeforphotographers
astheyarrivefortheLaureusWorldSportsAwardsinBarcelona,
Spain.FederermarriedhisfianceeMirkaVavrinecinhishome
townofBasel,SwitzerlandonSaturdayApril11,2009,he
announcedonhiswebsite.[Agencies]

The 27-year-old Swiss announced the wedding on his website, saying the couple got married "surrounded by a small group of close friends and family".

"It was a beautiful spring day and an incredibly joyous occasion," he said.

The couple announced last month they are expecting their first child.

Federer is set to play in next week's Monte Carlo Masters, after accepting a last-minute wild card invitation on Thursday. Federer is a three-time finalist at the clay-court tournament but has never won.

After struggling with his form last year and losing his No 1 ranking to Rafael Nadal, Federer is aiming for his sixth Wimbledon title this summer. He lost to Nadal in the Australian Open final, the year's first major.

Federer says seeking name for his son

WeddingphotosoftennisplayerRogerFedererandhispregnant
wifeMiroslava'Mirka'Vavrinecarepublishedinasportsmagazine
issuedonApril21,2009.Federerandhiswifeareexpectingtheir
firstbabyandhesaidhe'slookingforanameforhisson.
FederermarriedVavrinecinaprivateceremonyinhishometownof
Basel,Switzerland,onApril11.[scol.com.cn]

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Federer stunned in Monte Carlo

LONDON, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Roger Federer has to cut short his Monte Carlo Masters journey Thursday when the world number two went down 6-4 7-5 to fellow Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka in the third round.

World number three Novak Djokovic managed to seal a 6-1, 6-7, 6-0 win over Spain's Albert Montanes before thunderstorms wiped out most of the day's play including top seed Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray's matches in the Monaco city.

Wawrinka, who teamed up with Federer to take Beijing Olympics doubles title, next faces Andreas Beck for a place in the last four after the German qualifier beat Argentine Juan Monaco 3-6, 6-2, 7-5.

Spain's Fernando Verdasco, seeded seventh, eased past compatriot and 10th seed David Ferrer with a 6-2, 6-1 victory to set up a meeting with Djokovic.

World number four Murray was leading 7-6, 1-0 against Italian qualifier Fabio Fognini while Ecuador's Nicolas Lapentti just had time to win the opening game of his match against Nadal when downpour stopped the action.

Argentine David Nalbandian's encounter with Nikolay Davydenko of Russia and Italian Simone Bolelli's match against Croatian Ivan Ljubicic were also called off.

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Nadal, Federer ease into third round of Monte Carlo Masters

World No. 1 Rafael Nadal reached the third round of the Monte Carlo Masters, although his easy-looking 6-2, 6-3 win masked a rusty performance against Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela yesterday.

The Spaniard, who is gunning for a fifth successive title, a record in the professional era, looked sloppy at times but regained composure when it mattered to wrap up the win after 86 minutes.

Newly-wed Roger Federer, who could face Nadal for a fourth consecutive final at the Monte Carlo Country Club, eased past Italian Andreas Seppi 6-4, 6-4.

The second-seeded Swiss appeared very relaxed on a sunbathed center court, clinching victory on his fourth match point after a final burst from Seppi.

He will next face compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka for a quarterfinal spot after the 13th seed beat Argentine Martin Vassallo Arguello 2-6, 7-5, 6-2.

"I thought I played okay. I had a good stretch at the end of the first set, beginning of the second," Federer told reporters.

"Maybe I could have made it easier for myself in the second. I had some opportunities. He hung in there and I didn't play my best. But still happy I came through so good."

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Federer marries long-time girlfriend

BASEL -- World No 2 tennis player Roger Federer married longtime girlfriend Mirka Vavrinec on Saturday in a small ceremony in his hometown.

InthisMondayMay22,2006filephotoSwisstennisplayerRoger
FedererandhisgirlfriendMirkaVavrinecposeforphotographers
astheyarrivefortheLaureusWorldSportsAwardsinBarcelona,
Spain.FederermarriedhisfianceeMirkaVavrinecinhishome
townofBasel,SwitzerlandonSaturdayApril11,2009,he
announcedonhiswebsite.[Agencies]

The 27-year-old Swiss announced the wedding on his website, saying the couple got married "surrounded by a small group of close friends and family".

"It was a beautiful spring day and an incredibly joyous occasion," he said.

The couple announced last month they are expecting their first child.

Federer is set to play in next week's Monte Carlo Masters, after accepting a last-minute wild card invitation on Thursday. Federer is a three-time finalist at the clay-court tournament but has never won.

After struggling with his form last year and losing his No 1 ranking to Rafael Nadal, Federer is aiming for his sixth Wimbledon title this summer. He lost to Nadal in the Australian Open final, the year's first major.