RESULTS

Q. You and Dasha played so many tough matches in the past. What was the key? What did you take from the past matches into today? VENUS WILLIAMS: I think in a lot of the matches we played before, she was just on top of her game, couldn't miss. I think today I was just able to control the points. Got a few more errors. I'm always at my best when I'm playing aggressive. Just got to execute that today. Q. You broke her serve every time today. VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah. Q. Did you get a good sense of her serve? VENUS WILLIAMS: Honestly, I didn't realize that until after the match looking at the stats. I've never had a match before like that in my life. There's always a time for a first. I'm returning really well. If I'm getting a look at the serve, it's going well for me. So I want to return that well tomorrow, too. Q. She hit the ball between her legs at some point in the first set. Do you like that kind of game style? VENUS WILLIAMS: It was fun. Honestly, it was great. I think the crowd loved it. I loved it. I can't do that. She's got something in her game that I don't have. It was fun to see. Q. What were you thinking about in some of the moments where you were smiling? VENUS WILLIAMS: I never smile on the court. This week I've smiled a lot. I think there's just a lot to smile for. That's all I can say, yup. Q. Can you compare the two venues for better or worse? VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I think there's a little bit of different crowd here. It's great actually. The atmosphere out there on grandstand, something I've never played in before. The first time I played out there, I was like, I think I hear the feet stomping. I was like, That's a thing. I never really played in front of a crowd like that. It's just great. I'm not sure exactly what to call it, but it's just an unbelievably enthusiastic sort of fan base that has come out. Q. Seems like in the last few weeks you're having more fun on the tennis court. Does that seem to be the case? VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I'm always having fun. I just have never smiled this much on the court. Even some points I lose... I don't know. I don't know. We'll see if I do that tomorrow. I don't know. Q. You play Simona next. Thoughts on her as an opponent, what you make of her evolution as a player? VENUS WILLIAMS: She always plays flawless tennis against me, so I have to be ready for that. Every match is a different match, opportunity to play better and to learn. I know each point will be an opportunity for me to play better and learn. That's how I look at it. I'm looking forward to tomorrow. Q. Serena is a pretty big Golden Girls fan. Is that a show you watch or one that you've gone back to over the years? VENUS WILLIAMS: The whole family has seen every episode of the Golden Girls. Q. Do you have a favorite? VENUS WILLIAMS: It's too tough, yeah. I'll have to think about that. We know every episode. It's hard to choose. It's just hard to choose. Q. A favorite character, girl? VENUS WILLIAMS: I'm definitely Dorothy. I can say that I'm a Dorothy. Favorite character? They're all incredible, to be honest.

Australia's Ashleigh Barty captured the prestigious Miami Open title presented by Itaú by defeating Czech Karolina Pliskova 7-6 (7/1), 6-3 . The 22-year-old used a variety of shot making to claim her fourth career WTA singles title. With the Miami Open win, Ashleigh became the first Australian woman since 2013 to reach the top 10 in the world ranking. Barty, who took the $1.3 million winning check had the opportunity to share her emotions after the match: Q. Congratulations. 2019 Miami Open champion. Describe how you're feeling. Has it sunk in? What's it mean to you? ASHLEIGH BARTY: Yeah, it's been an amazing fortnight of tennis. It really has. I think it's pretty cool to have played such a good match today, obviously in a big situation and a big match. Certainly proud of myself and happy the way that my team and I have been able to get through these two weeks. Q. Talk me through the match. Broken early, you broke back, first-set tiebreak. Played a nearly flawless breaker. You looked confident and composed in the big-pressure moments in the second set. ASHLEIGH BARTY: Yeah, it was going to be a match of small opportunities. I think I was able to claw my way back into the first set and take an opportunity when I got it in the tiebreak. I think it was important for me to try and get that first set. I think that first set today was going to be massive. I was able to get a bit of a roll on in the second early and keep the foot down. Q. Now into the top 10. You're the first Australian to win the women's singles at the Miami Open. You must be pretty excited about your future. ASHLEIGH BARTY: Yeah, it's just been an amazing fortnight. It really has. We keep putting ourselves in these positions, and I keep giving myself the opportunity to continue to grow as a person and as a player, and I think that's the most exciting thing. Q. Does this kind of bring your experience in the game kind of full circle, given the break you took and all that? If so, can you talk about that, kind of that journey from when you came back to this moment, kind of? ASHLEIGH BARTY: Yeah, it feels like it's a long time ago now since I took the break and since I came back. It's been a few years now, but I certainly feel like I'm a very different person. I feel like I'm a more complete player, I'm a better player. I have been able to put myself into more high-pressure situations and in bigger matches. So it's been, you know, a helluva couple years since my comeback. I can't really complain at all. Q. Is this validation for you, a tournament of this level? Or had you always expected this? ASHLEIGH BARTY: Oh, zero -- I mean, there were zero expectations. I think all it is is it's an opportunity for me to continue to try and get better every day and to enjoy the journey that we're on. It's been a beautiful two or three years since I have been coming back into the sport. I have been certainly able to grab my opportunities with both hands. I have had some heartbreaking losses but also some pretty amazing moments, too. Q. You're the 33rd tournament champion this year in 33 events, men's and women's. What's that say about the state of the two tours, you think? ASHLEIGH BARTY: It's amazing, isn't it? I think particularly on the women's side, I think the level has evened out a lot, and the depth has grown over the last few years. I think anyone in the draw has a legitimate chance of winning the tournament. I think you have to continue to put yourself in those situations and try and make the most of it. I think the margins are getting smaller and smaller, particularly in the women's game. Q. For us ugly Americans who know next to nothing about cricket, what can you tell me about any similarities between what you had to do today and what was involved at the professional level of cricket as far as the challenges and the abilities required? ASHLEIGH BARTY: Zero (smiling). Q. Well, that was my hunch, but I wasn't sure. But obviously you're very good at both. How is that? ASHLEIGH BARTY: Oh, I think I was, you know, an average cricketer and I'm becoming a better tennis player. No, it was certainly an enjoyable time in my life. It was a time that I think I found myself a little bit more as a person and I met an amazing group of girls and a new circle of friends, I suppose. But I think tennis was always my calling. Q. I was wondering how your doubles success translates into your singles career, which has obviously gone on a trajectory maybe since the US Open and before that maybe? ASHLEIGH BARTY: I think ever since I was lucky enough to step on the court with Casey, my singles career has gone in an upwards direction. She taught me so much on the doubles court, and then also about life in the tour in general. I think the experiences that I had with her certainly put me in good stead. And then being able to continue on in the last couple of years with Demi and CoCo at times, Vika here, it's always really enjoyable for me when I get out on the doubles court. I love it. I try and get out there at every opportunity that I can. Q. I'm just wondering, the time that you were away, how much more did it make you appreciate tennis? Did you think about it while you were away? When you came back, did you have a new appreciation for the sport? ASHLEIGH BARTY: I think I had a new perspective. Obviously I'm very appreciative of what I have and the people that give their time and their energy towards me and trying to help me become the very best that I can be. I'm extremely grateful for those that are around me and very lucky to have such a genuine group of people. I think the time that I was away, I certainly, you know, grew to love the sport more, having not been involved in it. Q. Congrats on the win. You're going to end up having your first WTA top 10 ranking after this win, for sure. Are you going to use this win as motivation moving into the clay court season? And how does this push you personally better? ASHLEIGH BARTY: It's just been, you know, an amazing two weeks. It really has. I feel like we have jumped over a few hurdles this week. We have been able to, you know, make the most of some situations that I put myself in. I think that's the beauty of this sport is that there is always another opportunity to become a better player, to try and make the most of what you can. That's what we have been able to do over this last fortnight, to beat some really quality players. And to back it up each day is probably the most pleasing. Q. What do you think technically you have improved the most over the last year or two, things you can do now you couldn't do before maybe under pressure? Second, just a mental challenge of becoming a champion at this level, it often seems like you're a humble person. Has it been hard to believe you belong among the divas, if there are any divas out here? ASHLEIGH BARTY: That's an interesting question (smiling). I think first and foremost I feel like my game has become more well-rounded. I feel like I'm more exposed to pressure situations and am learning how to deal with it and how to enjoy it more. I think, you know, when I can go out there and play my brand of tennis, that's when it becomes most exciting and most enjoyable for me. I'm being able to do that more and more often. And I think the best thing is I do feel like, you know, I belong on this tour. I feel like when I play my best, I'm good enough to match it with the very best in the world. I just need to keep giving myself the opportunity to challenge myself and play against the best in the world. You know, some days it will go in your favor and some days it won't. I think the challenge and the beauty is to just keep going and putting one foot in front of the other and enjoying the journey. Q. Congratulations. Players of your generation, maybe one year younger than you, but Naomi and Ostapenko recently they have won big titles. So of course you have gone through totally different path, but did you see their successes as inspirational? ASHLEIGH BARTY: Oh, I think obviously when you see girls having success, it motivates you. I think, for me, I have had a very unique journey. I think every tennis player that walks on the court has had a different journey and different experiences. You know, I think, for me, it's been very much a personal development and a development of my game over the last two or three years to put me in this position. Yes, I saw those results, but I don't think I needed any extra motivation than what I had and what my team is able to give me. Q. Congratulations. As a fellow Australian, very nice to watch you play the last fortnight. I know you'll head home. That's my understanding now. All the singles success you're achieving, but to win a Fed Cup would be massive. I know that's the next focus. It's in your hometown, Brisbane. Australia's building a really good team. You've had a taste of Belarus playing with Vika, against Sabalenka yesterday. What would that mean to add to your singles success for Australia to have some real Fed Cup success? ASHLEIGH BARTY: Yeah, I think, for me, Fed Cups are the most special weeks of the year. A fortnight like this is truly amazing, but Fed Cup has a different feel about it. I think the way that Alicia, our captain, has been able to create a culture of a desire and need to play for your country has been amazing. And I'm very fortunate to have girls, you know, like Casey in particular who really taught us how, what it is to play with Australia and really appreciate it. I think those opportunities don't come around often. We only get to do it two or three weeks a year. So when we do it, particularly in Australia in home ties, we want the crowd behind us. We want to do as best we can and let every Australian know that win, lose, or draw, we are out there giving our all and playing for the green and gold. Q. Speaking of Vika, you haven't played a ton with her, but she's a player who has had some great singles success, particularly here, winning it twice. Have you learned anything maybe playing with her that's helped in the last couple of weeks for you? ASHLEIGH BARTY: I think the beauty of Vika and I is that we instantly gelled together. We really did. I think our games complement each other well on the doubles well. We have only played the two tournaments together, but I think we've had success instantly. She's obviously a player who loves the pressure situation. The tighter it gets, the better she gets. I think we saw that a few times in doubles this week. But, yeah, I'm sure it won't be long before she's back to her very best once again. Q. Congratulations. We saw in the women's championship at Indian Wells and now again today that a game with variety, change of pace, slice, drop, can win championships. Could you talk a little bit about that kind of game and where you see it fitting in and where the women's game is going? ASHLEIGH BARTY: Yeah, I think I have always tried to bring as much variety onto the court as possible. Yeah, I felt, for me, it's always about sometimes trying to neutralize what your opponent's doing. Obviously there was a bit of a phase in women's tennis where there was this big power and strikers that were getting on top of rallies early. But I think the physicality in tennis is, especially on the women's side, has grown, which has allowed more players to neutralize off that big first ball and work their way into the points. I think, you know, a little bit as well is the depth has improved across the board in women's tennis. The top 40 is much stronger than it was, you know, five or ten years ago, I believe. You know, anyone in the draw has a legitimate chance of winning the trophy. Q. Congratulations. I just wanted to know, looking back to that break you took a few years ago and now coming back to see where you're at, you have a very strong start to this early season. Taking out No. 1, Simona, in Sydney, and you've won this one, and you have beaten a lot of top 10 and top 5 players in the world, and you yourself are now into the top 10 in the world. Do you ever wonder if that break was essential to where you are at now? Did it ever cross your mind to not return? ASHLEIGH BARTY: Oh, I think for me it was a bit of a no-brainer. I needed to take the break. Otherwise I don't think that I'd still be playing the game, to be honest. I think it gave me an opportunity to go and relax and see kind of what it was like to kind of have a normal life, because the tennis tour and the tennis life is very unique. It's very different. It's not for everybody. So I think I needed to take some time to step back and realize how much that I wanted it and how much that I do love it. I came back with a different perspective. I really did. I have an amazing team around me with people that give their time and energy and care for me, push me and drive me to try and be my very best. I think we are starting to see that now. Q. Your serve, your height, sometimes people think just the taller players have the better serve. You actually have a very good serve. 15 aces today. I think that was a career high. Can you talk about that, not being so tall and being able to serve the way you did? ASHLEIGH BARTY: Yeah, it's always been an important part of my game to allow myself to try and get in control of points early on. You know, I'm very fortunate to have had a coach in Jim Joyce who taught me everything I know and tried to teach me every shot in the book and create this Ash Barty style of tennis that is a little bit unique. He's certainly done that. And now with my team, and, you know, with my coach, Craig Tyzzer, he's able to continue to develop it and create more weapons. Q. The greatest moment of your career? Most painful moment of your career? Why do you love playing tennis? ASHLEIGH BARTY: Greatest moment of my career is definitely Fed Cup moment. I think playing the doubles match with Casey last year in her last-ever match in Fed Cup to win the tie. What was the second one? Most painful. Oh, there is too many (smiling). I'm not going to lie. I think Sydney hurt this year, losing in the final. That hurt, for sure. I mean, I think that's why I keep coming back. That's why I love the sport is that you have these amazing moments and you have these heartbreaking moments. But the journey in the middle is pretty bloody good.

The super stars of tennis are scheduled to complete today at Miami Open presented by Itaú : Naomi Osaka — US and Australian Open winner plays against qualifier Yanina Wickmaye John Isner — The Miami Open defending champ will play against qualifier Lorenzi Sonego Serena Williams — Making her 18th appearance in Miami, she plays Rebecca Peterson Novak Djokovic — Novak plays the night session with a matchup against Bernard Tomic For full schedule and tickets can be purchased here.

Q. It felt like it was almost two different matches. You got off so strong, and then after the rain delay he came back strong. What happened in the end? NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, I mean, he's solid player. Congratulations to him definitely for a great comeback. But this kind of match I should not have lost. So many opportunities. Just way too many wasted opportunities. This is what happens when you don't capitalize on time. Q. There have been a lot of other things going on in your tennis life off court this month. I'm curious if that at all has had an effect on your focus or on your... NOVAK DJOKOVIC: There is always a lot happening in my life. Q. What do you feel didn't work for you in Indian Wells and Miami? NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I just lost two matches. Those two days didn't work. Q. Anything in particular in your game you didn't feel was right? NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I don't know. I mean, I thought I played well today and throughout this entire tournament. I just -- yeah. One, two, three sluggish games, and that's what happened. Q. Players don't like to change their priorities. They want to win all the time every time they're on the court. Yet as age goes on and success happens or failure happens, priorities almost inevitably must shift. Is there any sense of a shift of priorities in your... NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I mean, the slams are the ones that count the most, I mean, without a doubt. So of course I prioritize those. But that hasn't changed much. I mean, I have been having this kind of schedule for many years. But, you know, look, as I said, that's sport. You have to deal with it. It's not the first time I lose early in both tournaments. I have done that last couple of years. So, yeah, definitely have to rethink, you know, how I prepare for Indian Wells/Miami next year. Q. Do you think it's a good thing for you that next stop the tournament is on to a new surface, clay, something fresh for you? NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I hope so. Let's see. You know, I grew up on clay, so I like playing on clay. Although, you know, statistically hard court was always my most successful surface. We'll see. I definitely have to play better than I have these couple tournaments. Q. When you say you may have to rethink how you prepare for these two tournaments, did you prepare differently this year than other years? And how did you prepare? NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No, I mean, just had, you know, way too many things off the court. I guess that affected me a little bit on the court. I didn't feel my best health-wise, as well, in Indian Wells and here. You know, still rusty, but, hey, look, you learn that's life. Q. Federer, Nadal, you took tennis to a higher level. The next guys out there, do you have any idea who he is? And if you do, would you say it? NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I mean, you already know the names of a couple names like Felix and Denis, as well. I mean, a couple of Canadian young stars that are really bold and courageous on the court and playing some great tennis. You know, we're gonna have a shift. Obviously Zverev leads the way of young guys. Don't know who else. I mean, there are a couple of young guys like Hurkacz, the Polish guy. It's great. We need that. We need new faces in tennis. I think the tennis future is bright. Q. You seemed to be rolling 28 minutes, 5-love in the first set, everything seemed to be going right. And then I don't know if the rain delay or just something in the change to the new set, but what happened there? DJOKOVIC: Well, it's not the rain delay. Look, rain delay came at 5-4. I was break up right away in the second. I lost the momentum, I lost the rhythm in the second set. I gave him, you know, a little room to step in and he did. A little hope that he can come back, and he made a great comeback. But fault is on me, for sure. I had way too many opportunities that I wasted.

Three-time Miami Open Champ, Roger Federer became the second male tennis player ever to win 100 single titles, just behind Jimmy Connors. Federer's milestone accomplishment is indeed impressive. Don't miss the opportunity to watch Roger in action during the 2019 Miami Open! Tickets to the 2019 Miami Open are on sale now and available by phone at 305-943-6736 or online at www.miamiopen.com. Individual session tickets start at just $28 so get your tickets today. Ticket packages, group programs, and luxury hospitality offerings also are available. Qualifying rounds will be March 18-19 and will determine 12 additional slots in each singles draw. The Miami Open also will award wildcards to five men and eight women. The women’s main draw begins on Tuesday, March 19, followed by the first round of the men’s main draw on Wednesday, March 20. Roger's Road to his 100th Single Title Includes Three Miami Open Titles: 2005 - Roger Federer beats Rafael Nadal 2–6, 6–7(4–7), 7–6(7–5), 6–3, 6–1 2006 - Roger Federer beats Ivan Ljubičić 7–6(7–5), 7–6(7–4), 7–6(8–6) 2017 - Roger Federer beats Rafael Nadal once again 6–3, 6–4

Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Borna Coric, Grigor Dimitrov and other top ranked ATP players in action at the all-new Miami Open presented by Itaú at Hard Rock Stadium! Get your ticket today! Images courtesy of Miami Open/IMG

The Miami Open 2019 presented by Itaú, the so-called “fifth major of tennis”, unfortunately did not occur in 2020 due to Corvid-19 but we got some noteworthy impressions to share.  Nostalgically departing from the trademark intimacy and greenery of the Crandon Park Tennis Center at Key Biscayne (the host of the tournament for the past 32 years), the move to Hard Rock Stadium marked a new era for the Miami Open.  And once you adjusted to the quirky, grand scale of it all (the new tennis center is actually located on the widespread vastness of the Miami Dolphins football stadium and surrounding grounds), it was fun and full of Miami flair. Fans packed in more than ever to partake in the tournament’s new venue this year, remarkably breaking several daily and overall attendance records.  The overall tournament attendance was recorded at 388,734; well over the previous record of 326,131 set in 2012.  There were a total of 15 out of 24 session attendance records set over the two week period, led by session 9 on Saturday, March 23, in which 32,831 people showed up (the previous single-session record was set at 18,910 in 2007). Analysis by Adriana Garuolis THE POSITIVES Receiving rave reviews from both tennis players and fans alike, positive feedback about the tournament’s new state-of-the-art venue included: - The player’s lounge, restaurant and fitness center are all much larger than at Crandon, the increased space experienced by the players as being much more comfortable, relaxed and organized. - Abundant with mouthwatering eateries, attendees could sample cuisine from hot pop-up restaurants such as Kiki on the River, Bourbon Steak, Novecento, SuViche, Sushi Maki and Casa Tua Cucina. - Offering luxury amenities unprecedented in tennis, visitors to the Miami Open grounds had more than enough to explore and enjoy besides tennis, including distinguished watering holes (the Moet & Chandon champagne garden, Kim Crawford wine bar, Stella Artois Lounge), Instagrammable tennis-stamped photo opportunities (such as a selfie cabana featuring a leather lounge chair with three neon green throw pillows inscribed with the words ACE ACE BABY), games for adults and children alike, and an Art Open Miami pavilion space housing six different galleries. THE COMPLAINTS On the other side of the coin, factors upon which to improve were also loudly voiced in concern by quality-seeking repeat fans of the long-standing professional tennis open: - Widespread reports of weighty dissatisfaction concerning the tournament site’s hefty parking fee: $40.  For a lot designed to accommodate 65,000 Dolphins football fans, many found this “welcoming” to the new stadium to be a frank rip-off and future dissuader to coming back to the tournament. - Stadium court prices were reported to have increased a whopping 40% more than they did last year, and even though the fan-on-a-budget had the option of purchasing a $15 per day grounds pass to enjoy the tennis action on the outer courts, some fans complained that those ran out early and were then being offered only at a 400% price hike: a $64 resale value. - On the experiential side of things, another complaint about the tournament’s new venue is how this modified-football-field-stadium-to-tennis-court-stadium did not properly contain the affability of a tennis-only stadium court.  There were critiques of a lack of intimacy when watching the stadium matches as the trademark sounds of tennis balls being hit and the head umpire calling the match were barely audible and/or garbled in the vast echoing expanses of the surrounding football stadium, even when sitting in one of the nearby luxury VIP boxes.  Many fans with stadium tickets were reported to join the folks with ground passes to sit in the bleachers on the outer courts instead, as the giant stadium court was just not close-up enough of a desirable tennis watching experience. THE SURPRISES And last but certainly not in the least, the tennis action this year did not fail to surprise nor please this year’s record-breaking crowds. Notable from the onset of the tournament were multiple top seed upsets on both the men’s and women’s sides of the draw.  A whopping 12 out of 32 seeded players failed to win even just one match to make it to the third round of the tournament. World number one and two-time grand slam champion Naomi Osaka crashed out in her second match, while eight time Miami champ Serena Williams was forced to withdraw from the tournament’s start, citing a left knee injury.  Three-time major winner Angelique Kerber was ousted by red-hot Canadian sensation Bianca Andreescu, and defending champion and home hopeful Sloane Stephens went out meekly amongst this slew of giant downfalls during Miami Open’s opening weekend.  Likewise on the men’s side, Alexander Zverev (No. 2), Dominique Thiem (No. 3), and Kei Nishikori (No. 5) all shockingly lost on their opening matches.  Novak Djokovic, top seed and amongst the tournament favorites to win the Open, soon followed suit with a fourth round fall to Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut (No. 22). In the grand finales, Roger Federer demonstrated his mastery yet again in dominantly winning the entire Miami Open.  Dispatching defending champion John Isner 6-1 and 6-4 in the final, Federer displayed full flowing form as he had been throughout the tournament.  Winning this title put him second on the all-time list of champions in the history of tennis, marking his hundred-and-first tour championship title, second only to Jimmy Connors who tops the list with one hundred and nine. On the women’s side of the draw, 22-year-old Ashleigh Barty (seeded 12th) won her fourth title at the Miami Open and the biggest of her career, becoming the first Australian woman to reach the top 10 in the world.  Facing the 5th seed of the tournament baseline pounder Karolina Pliskova from the Czech Republic, Barty came out on top with a final score of 7-6, 6-3, winning with a dominant serve and a wide variety of shots from the baseline.   Barty won the Wimbledon girl’s title in 2011 at age 15, but gave up tennis to play professional cricket in Australia.  She returned to the tour in 2016 and reached her first Grand Slam quarterfinal at this year’s Australian Open.

Miami Open presented by Itaú Player Focus Q. You hit an ace, or so we all thought on the last point there, and you walked to the net. How did that conversation go? The last point there with Filip. ROGER FEDERER: Oh, he thought it was in, and that was the conversation. There was not much more talk going on. Q. He thought it was in? ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, but then I'm thinking, why did he think that? Because it was quite clearly out. But it felt close for me. But thank God it was 40-Love and not much closer and then you end up losing the match because of something like this after having a conversation with your opponent already before it's actually over. Q. How did you feel about your serve today? ROGER FEDERER: I thought I served very well, because Filip can return very well, especially on second serve. I know I could feel the pressure maybe, to some extent, if I don't make the first serves. But I still kept going after them, and I was able to hit my spots and keep the pressure on and shorten points as the match went on. I thought, you know, it was a high, intense match in the first sort of, you know, ten games. Then I was able to pull away. I had a good 20-minute stretch where I was really able to stretch the lead, and that was key today. Q. You're usually not an hour late for press. Is everything okay? ROGER FEDERER: Just watching a little bit of my opponents. I was just hanging with friends, as well. Q. Okay. And second question is the light moment during the match when he took the ball and tossed it over the net, do you remember that? You kind of smiled a little. Can you just talk about those sort of light moments sometimes when that happens in a match? ROGER FEDERER: Well, I was laughing because I hit, like, probably three perfect shanks, and I ended up winning the point that way. I don't know. Yeah, I like when players also show emotions, you know, like Filip did on that instance. And me, I'm smiling just because I thought it was sort of somewhat of a weird, strange, ridiculous point, you know, that I got very lucky to win somehow. So, yeah, we're not robots, you know. It was good to see. Q. You have two guys from the sort of that NextGen marketing campaign in the top 10 and a couple others very close. You know, the assumption generally was it was a lot of good marketing by the ATP, but it almost seems there is some kind of a vibe with these guys coming up together and inspiring each other. Is that accurate? ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I would think so. You know, it reminds me very much of the campaign I was part of when I was growing up, the New Balls Please campaign. There we had some older guys -- I mean, older, it was Guga and Kiefer and Tommy and guys that were actually a few years older. So they mixed it a little bit more. It was just not the generation, I guess, of Agassi and Sampras. I thought that was nice to sort of tie us young guys together. It's not the young against the old, but it maybe feels a little bit like that for the young guys that they look towards one another to be the best of that group, and then naturally, if you're the best of that group or top three, you can then also become the best of the next group, which is the main group, you know. And I think it really fuels them with motivation, you know, to be able to be better than, you know, a similarage guy. You know, I think in juniors you always have that. When you come on the big tour, all of a sudden you're trying to compare yourself to World No. 1, which seems like such a mountain to climb. So it's maybe better to have it done in the way like what the ATP did with first become the best NextGen guy. I think for that reason, I think it's worked very well. Q. Medvedev just won, so you're playing him next. He's one of the people who plays with more variety than most, I think, on the ATP side right now. There seems to be a lot of women who have had variety as a primary weapon in their games, whether it's Hingis or Radwanska or Su-Wei Shea, but not as many on the men's side maybe since Santoro or something. I'm curious if you think that could ever be possible on the men's side in this day and age, more players with that kind of craft and mixing it up be really their plan A for their game. ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I think it's possible. Just need to have enough firepower from time to time. I mean, at the end of the day, just playing with feel is not enough, will not be enough. But if you combine it with the right sort of amount of power and being able to absorb pace, as well, redirect, you know, I think it's absolutely possible. I'm not quite sure how much Medvedev falls in that category. You think he does. I'm not sure. He plays from far back and can play in, as well, so there is some variety there, but other than that, he plays very flat, you know, for me. He's clever how he, you know, plays the court, because he can play it up and down, and he's unusual when he plays from back. He plays more flat than actually loopy like what Thiem does or Rafa or Stan does. He plays it more flat from the back. It's a bit of a different approach. Thankfully I played him last year twice in Basel and Shanghai. I'm looking forward to the game. But I'm very impressed about his progress, you know. I must say the last year has been unbelievable for him. I think he's won three tournaments in the last seven months or so, six months. Very impressive. Yeah, variety definitely has a place in our game and will always have. Q. What, if anything, do you feel like you've sacrificed to stay at this high of a level for so long? ROGER FEDERER: I mean, I guess school, to some extent. I stopped at 16. I would have continued, I guess, if I wasn't a tennis player. I mean, I guess friendships, you know, the ones you make from 16 to 20 in that time, you know. So my friends come from other places and from other walk of life. But the sacrifices were worth it, and I would do it maybe not exactly all over again, but I was happy I chose the road I chose and I was allowed to by my parents. Q. When we come to the majors, we talk about players starting to peak at a certain time in an event. This is just short of the number of days of a major. So where do you think you are at the moment? How much further do you think you need to be lifting, and when did you feel you need to peak at a tournament like this? ROGER FEDERER: I'm not sure how much it is peaking, to be honest. I think it's about maintaining maybe also a certain level, because things happen very quickly. This is not best-of-five-set tennis. It's best-of-three. You can have a bad few minutes at the beginning of the game, like I had against Albot, or you can have it, I don't know, maybe for Krajinovic today, bad end of the set, bad start to the next set, and that is it. So I think it's more of a mental thing, you know, where you have maybe a point is more important than every single point at a slam. Yeah, it just maybe increases the pressure to some extent because you know you can't, after a long rally or a lot of long rallies, you think the other guy is going to fade physically, and usually they don't, because the matches are not long enough. So it's a different approach, as I think it's really about just really being able to maintain a really high level of play. .And if you can go to the next gear sometimes, great. But I don't expect it, you know. I just guess everybody starts to feel better as you go deeper into the tournament, because everybody is getting used to the conditions.

Roger Federer defeated defending champion John Isner (6-1, 6-4) to win his fourth Miami Open title presented by Itaú. Federer masterful tennis skills was in full display allowing him to win the title in just over an hour. It was also his 101st title, only eight behind Jimmy Connors’ record. THE FINALS IN IMAGERY Roger Federer shared his emotions after the match: Q. Congratulations on two weeks. Fantastic. A lot of people have talked about your backhand and your forehand and your serve. Your chip return was just incredible today. Talk a little bit about how you developed that shot. You came up in an age of big servers. Was that part of it? ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, I think it definitely helped being able to play against the serve-and-volley generation, more than the big servers, per se. You know, they would make you feel the pain, you know, in some shape or form, either by always coming into your weakness time and time again or by variation. So I think it comes from there. And then I just think the slice was always the more natural shot for me, the safety shot, to some extent, you know, because when you're younger and you're lacking power to come over, the slice is the go-to play. Just easier to keep the ball lower for the next shot, or it's just easier not to shank it, for me. I think it comes from there. And then whenever the serve, I guess, is a little bit faster, it helps me a lot just to keep a lot of balls in play. But you're right. I think today was definitely an exceptionally good day for chipping. I could feel it also against Anderson. It was the same thing, you know. Big server. I was able to block it back nicely and get into a neutral position quickly. Of course, when you can do that against somebody like John, I mean, that's great. So today was a good day like this, but it doesn't always work (smiling). Sometimes I get a bit too passive. Q. A tough one last year here, actually, in the opening matches and also a close final in Indian Wells. How meaningful is it to get back in the winning circle in Miami after those things? ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, it's nice, you know. I'm happy I chose to come back this year. It's easy just to say, Well, last year didn't work out, so I won't come back this year, and as I'm playing the clay, maybe add rather another clay court event. But I felt like let's extend the hard court season. Let's see the new venue. To be honest, I think that was something also I was excited to see. I did feel like the game was there last year. And I thought also the game was definitely here this year, as well, even after the Australian Open. So I'm happy with the team we took the right decision. I mean, the first one was tight. John told me he was watching, and he said, Whew, I wasn't sure you were going to make it there (smiling). I told him the same. The margins are so slim sometimes that it could have slipped, as well. So of course you feel fortunate when you come all the way to the end of the event and you can sit here with the trophy. It's definitely a moment you appreciate a lot, because you know it could have turned out very different. And maybe also the secret was I was more positive this year after losing Indian Wells over last year, because last year I was, I don't want to say frustrated, but I think I was down on myself. I think it cost me a little bit on confidence because I was so down. I was so, so close. I was a shot away from winning. So maybe this year I didn't feel that way. I was just able to say, Okay. Team played well. Moving on, let's go to Miami and have a good tournament. And I did. Q. You talk about your return game. Talk to me about your service game, as well. You know, your first-service points, you were perfect today. ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, apparently so. They told me at the desk of ESPN. Yeah, I don't know what to tell you. I think I was very clear on how I wanted to play, so I think that helped that I was able to not just have the plan but then being able to execute. It's always two things, having the plan and then it not working. And of course to win every single point, things need to go your way against him. So there needs to be both sides to the thing because he did have chances obviously to win some points. But apparently also on second serve I hardly dropped any points. I just can be very happy on either end, return and serve, and that's why I'm so happy that I was able to produce a performance like this in a finals, because this is what you train for and play for that constantly your level keeps going up as the tournament progresses. And this was my best. I'm very excited. Q. Let's say wouldn't this be, like, a great time, if you were to do it, to say good-bye to Miami after this win? ROGER FEDERER: And not come back here next year? Q. I'm just asking. Would it be a good opportunity? ROGER FEDERER: Sure, it would be a perfect scenario. But as I don't know what the situation is for next year, I can't say that. I hope to be back next year, but if I don't come back ever again, you know, this is a good end, anyhow. I don't have to announce anything, and of course, you know, when you win a big title you could always think that way. But I didn't have any thoughts about, you know, this kind of, you know, direction in my mind before the event, and it won't change now that I'm sitting here with the trophy (smiling). Q. At what point did you realize that John was hurt? Did you think he might finish the match? My follow-up question is: The other day you talked a lot about his serve and you said it was fun to watch and fun to be a part of. Was it the case today? ROGER FEDERER: So I thought -- I mean, I guess after he called the trainer and I saw his face after the first point after the trainer, I was unsure about his health. But then, you know, he had a good game where he did hit his spots. I mean, he hit them so short, it was crazy. So I felt like, well, he can at least do that. I have seen John being incredibly tired and still serving his spots. I knew he could do that. One match came to my mind, I think it was against Roddick at the US Open in the fifth set when he just kept doing the same thing for the whole fifth set and he was able to beat him in the breaker. I felt, Well, you never know. And plus I could also start missing because of this whole situation. But then, of course, as in my service games, that's then the true test. How much defense can he do? How much running around can he do? And this is maybe when I was thinking, well, this is maybe not just one game. And then latest, by the 5-4 game when he was starting to serve instead of at least 120, 125, he was starting to drop it to 105, 110, and I felt, well, now it's not looking good. I saw him taking a painkiller, and that doesn't kick in for the next three minutes. That takes usually 25 minutes to 30 minutes. So I did feel like, well, you never know. And I know with foot pain that these things feel like it's the end of your career, but at the same time, two minutes later, you could be totally fine again. So it's a tricky one. You don't want to get too overexcited to think, well, let's quickly finish this as quick as possible, because it could be this point or first couple of points he's serving slow, and then he starts serving big again, because all of a sudden the pain is gone or it's less. And that's why it was just important to keep on doing what I was doing, and if he's hurt, well, then that's, so be it, and bad luck for him. And I think this is where experience kicks in for me. I'm able to stay calm, and, you know, just do it. You feel bad at the same time, but it's part of the journey, I guess. And I just, after the game, of course, you're just, like, you hope it's nothing serious and I hope he's fine. But it's tricky, no doubt. Q. Congrats on your 101 title. I hope your journey never ends. As you're getting older, have you changed anything specifically in terms of the way of training on and off the courts, managing your diet, or setting a career goal? ROGER FEDERER: No in terms of diet. Nothing really. It's always been the same. In terms of goals, yeah, I don't know. It's about trying to win titles and trying to manage life so I stay injury-free. It's often around, What can we do in training? How many tournaments can I play? Because some days you just don't feel so well, you know, or some weeks sometimes, because problems linger longer, you know. But this is a good phase, a good stretch for me right now. I really feel super healthy. That's why I have been able to play every day for the last four weeks. That's something that maybe hasn't always been the case for the last few years. So you appreciate these moments. And then, I mean, I just think it's all based on family, to be honest, just getting things organized for the boys, the girls, my wife, that we are all always constantly anticipating and discussing what's the plan for the kids? Because that's the No. 1 priority. It has to be. I didn't have kids to play tennis and not care about them. So from that standpoint, it's very clear where the priorities lie, you know, and we just have always a constant, How do we figure it out? That's an interesting one. It's not easy, by any means, but I feel like we do a pretty good job at it. And she's great, my wife. Q. You have won four titles here. Can you talk about how this one -- does this one feel any different? What is specific about this title to you? What's it mean to you compared to the other three? ROGER FEDERER: So the other three were -- well, the one with Rafa, I guess, was very special in many ways. I felt like it reflected who I have become until that moment. Was that 2005? 2004? 2006? It's a blur. You know, being able to fight back, being able to, you know, find a way to win, I know I got lucky in that match, but then ended up playing unbelievable tennis in the fifth set and all that. I really feel like it was a big moment for me in my life, in my career there, that match. I mean, the finals against Ivan was just during the time where I was in, you know, dominating so much, winning so much, that how long could I keep it up, you know, and how many times could I beat Ivan in a row? All these things were happening. I don't know if it was in the time where I was beating all these top 10 players or winning every final I was in. It was just a matter of just extend whatever you can and for as long as you can. And then of course the win here two years ago, maybe as much as it didn't come for a surprise for people, for me it still did, because I felt like the tank was empty. I had a tough week here against Berdych and I think Kyrgios, as well, and all that. Before that match, I just said, If I had only played one finals that whole year, take away Australian Open, take away Indian Wells, and just made finals of Miami, I probably would have taken that. That's the mindset going into the Miami finals was that year two years ago. And then I played another great finals, I remember, it was incredibly humid, it was super hot. Rafa had his chances and somehow I just squeezed it out. That was a beautiful win for me. And this one just feel like also I didn't expect it, to be honest. Because I knew the problems of the year I had last year, that I went through a similar situation with, you know, losing in a very close finals in Indian Wells and coming here again and seeing what could happen. New venue, didn't know what to expect there. I mean, almost losing against Albot in the first round here. These Masters 1000s are hard to win. They are really a test for me, especially later in my career. So I know these guys don't come around very often, so when they do, it's a bit of a surprise for me. That's why this one feels really cool in many ways. Q. Congratulations. A finalist at Indian Wells and now a winner here at the Miami Open. 37 years of age. But have you ever felt more confident in your own ability heading into a clay court season? ROGER FEDERER: I probably have, yes. I'm not very confident going into this clay court season, I can tell you that, because I don't know -- I didn't even remember how to slide anymore. You know, I'm taking baby steps at this point. To be honest, I didn't play one point -- not one shot on clay, I don't believe, last year. Two years ago I played two days. Three years ago I played not feeling great in Monaco and Rome and all that. So it's been so little that I really don't know what to expect. And I think what this win does for me, it just takes even more pressure off from the clay court season. And I anyway wanted to play the clay in not a relaxed fashion but let's just go and do it and prepare well. That's what I'm looking at now the next four or five weeks with my fitness coach and coaches Ivan and Severin and Pierre, figuring out how we gonna go about it. Madrid is, like, Let's see what happens, anyway. Obviously I want to be ready for Paris. I hope all of that work is going to pay off for the grass court season and also for the hard court season. Already just how I've been playing here and moving here makes me believe just going on vacation now, a bit of a break, and then preparation, you know, the things physically should be fine, but again, we'll see how the body is going to react. Yeah, I'm very excited. It's a good challenge, good test. Confidence, I don't know, it's in no-man's land. It's just there if I play well. I don't know. I have to gain it all again. Start from scratch, really. Q. Slightly away from this match, Tsitsipas tweeted earlier that he feels experienced players like yourself get preferential treatment sometimes from umpires. I assume that's something you don't necessarily agree with. Just wonder about your thoughts. ROGER FEDERER: That's a tough one. What I do feel sometimes is on the outside courts, more than just preferential treatment to, how do you say, the top guys, whatever it is, I feel like they are tougher on the rules on the outside courts, you know. You do something, and, bang, warning. There is like there is no messing about. I think with the umpires and the top guys on the main courts, I think the umpires know the top guys, and they know their problems or they know how they behave or they know how they are gonna react, so they know what acting stupid and silly means and what normal is. I think because we know each other very well, I think it's easier for the umpire to handle a top guy that they know over an up-and-coming guy like Tsitsipas or a young guy. And that sometimes gets lost in translation and maybe bad mistakes can happen. But I don't see preferential treatment, to be honest. There shouldn't be. If I get warnings, and I do get warnings sometimes -- I got one just recently, maybe Dubai, I don't know, whatever -- it's normal. So they should just, based on what happened, take those decisions, and I really feel, how do you say, the umpires do that. I'm sorry that Stefanos feels that way. Q. You're 37. Bob Bryan is about to turn 41. I don't know if you follow what he's been doing. Has a scar on his hip and is winning again. Your thoughts on that, why tennis players seem to be thriving so much longer now. ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, it's tough to -- I don't know. I guess definitely nowadays, with all the stretching and, I don't know, silly elastic bands and stuff we do, maybe we can extend our playing days. Then you add diet to it and maybe more sleep and maybe not such a rock 'n roll lifestyle that maybe guys were doing back in the '70s and '80s, all that stuff maybe takes away years of your life on tour. And also, prize money increase has helped maybe to keep some guys on tour, let's be quite honest. Because if you know you can make as much money not traveling, at one point you're like, I'm happy to stay home, and tennis was fun. But nowadays if you can stay on the tour and you can make a nice living, and actually traveling is easier now than ever before with the airlines we have and avoiding transits more and more, I think it's much easier. I think all of those little things help. And then guys start doing ice baths and I don't know what. I think all these things matter. What Bob is doing is definitely I think inspiring for a lot of the players, you know, even if it's just doubles in the sense that it's not as physical as the singles, as we know. But nevertheless, he's not just playing a little bit; he's winning. And that is just beautiful to watch. I'm really happy for him. I played him back in Marseilles I think back in 2000, don't quote me, but we go way back with Bob, as well. I remember seeing them play the Sunshine Cup here I think near Delray or West Palm Beach somewhere. It's great when they come back. I'm sure also Bob is a big inspiration for Murray to come back. I hope that's going to help Andy maybe finding a way back.

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Hundreds of celebrity interviews… and countless more panic attacks. That’s the story syndicated entertainment columnist and Miami Living contributor, Allison Kugel, tells in her deeply personal memoir, Journaling Fame: A memoir of a life unhinged and on the record. The book opens in a hospital room, with Kugel in the throes of a panic attack that is being treated with copious amounts of the tranquilizer, Ativan. The descriptions of her every thought and bodily sensation puts you inside her skin. You’re then refocused to simpler scenes of her 1970s and 1980s Long Island, New York childhood and adolescence. The details of her early life plant seeds for her creativity and love for journalism, and (from Kugel’s recounting) the makings of her anxiety disorder. It is with insight, humor and thoughtful reflection that Allison Kugel takes readers on an engaging and informative journey, growing into adulthood with her anxiety and panic disorder looming. She simultaneously rises to become a prominent profiler of some of today’s most notable public figures from entertainment and popular culture. Kugel manages to seamlessly tie her story together with humor, grace, and inspiration, as she shares her mental health journey, and ultimately, her healing. This book also delivers on insider celebrity stories with the likes of the Kardashians, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, former heavyweight boxing champ Mike Tyson, The View co-host Meghan McCain, wellness guru Deepak Chopra, famed attorney Gloria Allred, legendary comic Dave Chappelle and countless other recognizable names. As someone who has known her for years, I can share that Allison is an eclectic spirit with unlimited potential for growth and evolution, as she allows it. She has a great light, tempered by a darker dichotomy that she is consistently at odds with. Her duality offers readers a spiritual push and pull that makes Journaling Fame a page turning read; like reading the diary of an old friend or former lover. Journaling Fame’s appeal is in the unvarnished humanity with which Allison Kugel shares her layered story. Sheldon Wright: I can honestly say your book was the first of its kind I have ever read, in that it covers your life as a celebrity profiler, as well as some of your mental health struggles. It goes back and forth, but seamlessly and brilliantly! Allison Kugel: Thank you. When I began my interview column about fifteen years ago, I would tell anyone who would listen that one day I was going to write a book about all of the interviews I've done. That was always the dream. About seven years ago when the shit really hit the fan with my anxiety and panic attacks and OCD, I was in and out of the ER, on and off tranquilizers and keeping a journal as part of my therapy. As I was healing from these horrific anxiety issues, the journaling was such a huge part of my healing process, and the entries were so deeply personal and so graphic that I never would have imagined that one day I would put them into a book for the world to read. SW: But you did it, which was very courageous. How did you then decide to incorporate all the behind-the-scenes celebrity stories into the book? AK: I got better; I healed. Once I was back on my feet, I was on a mission to help as many people as I could reach with my story, so I resolved that I would turn my mental health struggles into a memoir. But then I thought, "Oh, wait. What about my dream to write about my interviews?" One day it hit me, that I could combine those two aspects of my life into one book. I mean, who was going to tell me I couldn't do it? It was my book, my story, my rules. If anything, I love that the pop culture appeal gets people to pick the book up, but my journey with anxiety and panic attacks could end up helping a lot of readers, by default. If you think about it, 40 million people in the United States have dealt with some kind of anxiety disorder, so I am hoping it can reach some of those people. SW: You've done a lot of interviews over the course of your career… AK: Yeah, I think I'm edging up on 300. SW: What's the big takeaway from doing all those celebrity interviews? AK: That you really don't know someone unless, or until, you sit down and talk with them and ask them about their life. Now with social media you can see the more human side of celebrity, because you see their makeup-free selfies and some of their personal unfiltered moments. But when I first started in celebrity journalism in 2005, social media didn't exist. My goal with my interviews was to strip away the veneer of fame, uncover the human being, and share that with my readers. All these years later, that is still what I aim to do with each interview. I like to peel away someone's layers, like I'm peeling an onion. I've even had some celebrities tell me some of my interview questions are very challenging. I push people a bit out of their comfort zone. SW: In your book, you are the subject and you peel back the layers on yourself. AK: I had to hold myself to that same standard. Because of the behind the scenes stories in my book, I've been asked if it's a celebrity tell-all. My answer is, that if it is a tell-all, it's a tell-all about me. With the celebrities that are written about in my book, I would say I stuck to an 80/20 rule. About 20% of the celebrity stories I could have written about actually made the cut in my book, 80% didn’t make the cut. That's because I made a promise not to repeat certain things I've been told over the years, and I had to respect that. But there's still some great stuff in there. SW: My favorites are the chapters about 50 Cent, Jenna Jameson and Dave Chappelle. I love how you connect each of these experiences to something that was going on in your own life at the time. AK: Dave was never an interview subject. We knew each other and hung out together as "kids" in our twenties, so that chapter was more of a chronicle of that period in my life as a young adult. I was commuting back and forth between LA and New York at that time and so was he, and we would run into each other in both places and pick back up where we left off. When I wrote that chapter, I had no idea he was going to re-emerge back into the spotlight. At the time that I wrote it, he was still under the radar and doing sporadic stand up gigs in small clubs around the country. SW: I also love your chapter about interviewing Anne Frank's first cousin. I know how much that experience meant to you. AK: I read Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl over and over again when I was growing up. That story is such an important one, especially within the Jewish community. It was surreal to be able to get to know her first cousin, who was like a sibling to her. Hearing stories about their childhood before Anne had to go into hiding during the war, when she was free to just be a little girl, it was truly amazing. And I connected that chapter to my grandfather's experience as a soldier in the 1st infantry division of the army during, World War II. SW: Shortly after your book was originally released, you got back into journalism and you've done some of your biggest interviews in the past couple of years. In your opinion, which of your recent interviews has been your most successful? AK: Commercially speaking, my Gwen Stefani interview has been my most successful interview of the past couple of years. It was syndicated to more than fifty different media outlets throughout the United States and Canada, and then I was able to sell the European rights to the interview, and it went into syndication overseas. I will say that it was quite validating to even book that interview, and for her team to trust me with her story and to promote her Las Vegas residency. It was an honor. SW: What do you hope people gain from reading your book, Journaling Fame? AK: Most importantly, when I was growing up and dealing with symptoms from anxiety, panic attacks, depression and OCD, there was nothing I could read to give me comfort and let me know I wasn't alone in what I was experiencing. I love that the stigma is eroding, and more people are talking about mental health than ever before. I am proud to be a part of that movement. I hope my book can give people comfort in knowing they are not alone. I also hope my book serves as an example to show how much can be accomplished in life, even while dealing with personal struggles, whatever they may be. I've always pushed through the pain and discomfort to make my dreams a reality. I want that to serve as a road map, especially for young people who are going through something similar to what I have experienced in my life. Allison Kugel's book, Journaling Fame: A memoir of a life unhinged and on the record is available on Amazon, BarnesAndNoble.com and other online retailers. Words and interview by Sheldon Wright. Sheldon Wright is a Miami-based art and interior design curator and owner of UrbaneInteriorDesigns.com. Follow on Instagram @urbaneretro. Photos courtesy of Allison Kugel

Nicole Anderson, the creator of Elemental Superfood, began making food at home years ago because of her daughter's allergies to wheat, dairy, and sugar. If a product didn't have one of these allergens, it usually had the other, so her options of what she could buy in a store were close to none. Being a mother of a child with autism, she realized first-hand the effects that these foods would have on her daughter's well being. She made it her mission to research nutrition and food and the impact it has on the body. After seeing dramatic changes in her daughter as a result of a clean diet, she became passionate about creating foods that everyone she knew could enjoy and benefit from. Over the last few years, there has been an increasing awareness of and shift towards healthy foods and snacks. As a result, there is heightened demand for food products designed to help the many millions suffering from diseases, ailments, and allergies, as well as those merely seeking a healthier, more active lifestyle. Elemental Superfood fills that need, creating products with clean ingredients that never compromise texture and flavor. Click below to launch slide show > They offer their products in six flavors with two new Elemental Superfood Seedbar flavors that were just launched at the end of November. They are currently working to expand their product line with additional flavors and new food products. The Seedbar and Crumble are made with organic and pesticide-free raw seeds and nuts, contain no additives, no preservatives, no fillers and are made with high-quality ingredients rich in protein, fiber and omega-3s and omega-6s. They are designed to be consumed as a nutritional snack or a meal replacement and intended to provide functional benefits such as increased energy and a feeling of well-being. The products are great for health-conscious men and women of all ages – from busy students, active mothers and professionals needing healthy foods to keep them alert and focused, to outdoor enthusiasts seeking strength and endurance. Elemental Superfood's mission is to provide the absolute best tasting snacks, using the highest quality ingredients, while raising awareness of current issues involving health, wellness, and the future of our planet. You can find out more about Elemental Superfood on www.elemental-raw.com or on Instagram @elementalsuperfood where they share original recipes and creative ideas from fans on how to use their Superfood Crumble. Order online at www.elemental-raw.com By Katherine Crodud, Images Courtesy of Elemental