Federer biggest victory?

Is the RG semi-final 2011 Federer's biggest victory?


  • Total voters
    7

zakopinjo

Professional
The famous 2011 season, Novak Djokovic rushes towards his first title in Paris, he looks totally invincible (41-0 score that season), even the king of clay Nadal looks totally helpless against him (convincing defeats in Madrid and Rome) and threatens to be an outsider in the final with Novak. The world is ready for the most anticipated match in tennis history... And then a miracle happens, Roger Federer (at that time the undisputed GOAT), performs perhaps the greatest magic in his career, defeats Novak on clay, on his worst surface, and celebrates the victory very arrogantly thumbs up with raised index finger. The atmosphere in the stands was glowing, the world saw the greatest sensation.:love:

Is this the biggest victory of Federer's career?

Even though he didn't win the title 2 days later, it still seems like the biggest victory of his career, because he was a total outsider and literally nobody expected him to beat Novak.


Look at this chanting of the fans and Federer's happiness on his face (bitten lower lip and moving the tongue around the lower lip, we all know what this reflex means in humans), as if he won the World Cup in football, an incredible moment!!!!:cool:





ps. not the most significant victory in his career (it's certainly not rg2011), but the biggest.
 

buscemi

Legend
I think the biggest competition would be the 2017 Australian Open final against Nadal. It was almost 5 years since Federer's last Major, after his knee injury/surgery in 2016 no one even knew whether he would be competitive again, everyone was predicting that Nadal would beat him, and we all know their H2H history to that point, including their 2009/2012/2014 matches at the AO.
 

Rosstour

G.O.A.T.
Given that the only really great Federer matches are the ones he lost (Wimbledon 2008, AO2009, W2019) then this is absolutely his biggest win. Fedfans have to be happy with scraps these days
 

Rosstour

G.O.A.T.
I think the biggest competition would be the 2017 Australian Open final against Nadal. It was almost 5 years since Federer's last Major, after his knee injury/surgery in 2016 no one even knew whether he would be competitive again, everyone was predicting that Nadal would beat him, and we all know their H2H history to that point, including their 2009/2012/2014 matches at the AO.

Nadal was injured
 

Pheasant

Legend
Let me get this straight. Fed’s biggest win is when he won a slam semi, which means that he got close to winning a major during that 2011 run(6-1 record that tourney).

Yes, that’s Fed’s Biggest win by far. Nothing comes even remotely close. I’m convinced that the only award that he hung onto is that 2011 FO runner-up plate. That was the only time that Fed made it to a major final. And to top it off, the FO was(and has always been) by far the most prestigious tournament .

Man, Fed had a chance to top that vs Donskoy in 2017. It’s too bad he couldn’t close that deal. Bummer man
 
Last edited:

nolefam_2024

Bionic Poster
Do you think Fed is someone like soderling ?

This isn't his biggest win and would be stupid to assume it is even in his top 10 wins.
 

Rosstour

G.O.A.T.
Wimbledon 2007.

It is AO17 and there is no other answer

Fed was 35, Rafa was 30, and the world had accepted that Federer would never beat Rafa again outside of an exhibition on Roger's pickleball court

He was back in the game and seeded like 12th after lengthy absence

Then he was down 3-1 in the fifth to the greatest big-match player ever and a far superior opponent....yet still pulled out a miracle and delivered absolute delirium to his fans
 

NatF

Bionic Poster
It is AO17 and there is no other answer

Fed was 35, Rafa was 30, and the world had accepted that Federer would never beat Rafa again outside of an exhibition on Roger's pickleball court

He was back in the game and seeded like 12th after lengthy absence

Then he was down 3-1 in the fifth to the greatest big-match player ever and a far superior opponent....yet still pulled out a miracle and delivered absolute delirium to his fans
In terms of level of play from an opponent it's Wim 2007, there are certainly arguments fo AO 2017 though.
 

Rosstour

G.O.A.T.
In terms of level of play from an opponent it's Wim 2007, there are certainly arguments fo AO 2017 though.

Rafa had three Slams at that point and was not considered the better player

Ten years on, the tennis world were laughing at Federer and cheering his demise to the GOAT...he had other plans
 

NatF

Bionic Poster
Rafa had three Slams at that point and was not considered the better player

Ten years on, the tennis world were laughing at Federer and cheering his demise to the GOAT...he had other plans

Ugh, really hard, Federer was considered the only master of grass then, while Nadal was still only a clay specialist. Federer's victory was expected.
Nadal played one of his very best grass matches, up there with 2008. You guys are being ridiculous (y)
 

Federer and Del Potro

Bionic Poster
I'd be interested to hear what Roger thinks his biggest is. For me, I think if he had managed to win any of the 2014/2015/2019 Wimbledon finals those would have taken the cake for me. 2009 AO is up there as well in the what if department.

I think every Federer fan would have a different answer.
 

nolefam_2024

Bionic Poster
I'd be interested to hear what Roger thinks his biggest is. For me, I think if he had managed to win any of the 2014/2015/2019 Wimbledon finals those would have taken the cake for me. 2009 AO is up there as well in the what if department.

I think every Federer fan would have a different answer.
I am not Fed fan but how do Fed fans completely forget rg 2009 is beyond me.
That gave him something most greats didn't have.
 

Rosstour

G.O.A.T.
RG2009 may be among the most significant, but not among the biggest. He beat Soderling...

Fed wouldn't have the CGS without it, and his case for GOAT rests on....oh, never mind. PETE never won RG and people here think he's still better
 

nolefam_2024

Bionic Poster
I am exaggerating of course. Competition does mean something but it's like 5/10% of results.

Competition means nothing

It's just 5/10% more. Yes you beat better players you don't get bigger trophy.

Ttw has been in ruins for years thinking competition means more than titles
 

zakopinjo

Professional
Fed wouldn't have the CGS without it, and his case for GOAT rests on....oh, never mind. PETE never won RG and people here think he's still better
Of course, and that's why it's one of the most significant victories because he completed CGS
But the biggest? Not
I can only think of WB01, RG11 or AO17 (he only won the title here). Those are the only slam victories he won as a total outsider
 

Rosstour

G.O.A.T.
Of course, and that's why it's one of the most significant victories because he completed CGS
But the biggest? Not
I can only think of WB01, RG11 or AO17 (he only won the title here). Those are the only slam victories he won as a total outsider

Right and there's the reason no one rates his wins here
 

NatF

Bionic Poster
Not just that but he was 20 and really hadn't become "RAFA" yet. Wimbledon 2008 made him into the darling of the sports world for vanquishing the effete snob and Fed has been second/third banana ever since
Well for starters he was 21, and Nadal is a player who from 26 onwards was getting bounced in the first week of Wimbledon - so invoking his age when he was in the middle of his best run on grass is rather strange.
 

nolefam_2024

Bionic Poster
Ok here it goes

Wimbledon 2003
Wimbledon 2012
USOpen 2004
RG 2009
AO 2017
Wimbledon 2007
USOpen 2005/06/07/08
Wimbledon 2009

So many wins are much above the semifinal win. Which didn't even give him the title.
 

Rosstour

G.O.A.T.
Ok here it goes

Wimbledon 2003
Wimbledon 2012
USOpen 2004
RG 2009
AO 2017
Wimbledon 2007
USOpen 2005/06/07/08
Wimbledon 2009

So many wins are much above the semifinal win. Which didn't even give him the title.

If Novak is really the greatest then Federer was lucky to beat him. And in Novak's best season? That's a pretty big win
 

nolefam_2024

Bionic Poster
If Novak is really the greatest then Federer was lucky to beat him. And in Novak's best season? That's a pretty big win
Nah this is just logical game op is playing. Don't fall for it.

Novak is the greatest , but fed is very close to him. They don't need each other to define. Plus Nadal is the greatest on clay. Not nole.

Is 2011 even nole's best season, I would say it's 2015
 

Rosstour

G.O.A.T.
Nah this is just logical game op is playing. Don't fall for it.

Novak is the greatest , but fed is very close to him. They don't need each other to define. Plus Nadal is the greatest on clay. Not nole.

Is 2011 even nole's best season, I would say it's 2015

I'm playing an even more complicated game sir

Federer is largely defined on TTW by being The Loser.

Ask people what his greatest victory was and you get crickets.
 

nolefam_2024

Bionic Poster
I'm playing an even more complicated game sir

Federer is largely defined on TTW by being The Loser.

Ask people what his greatest victory was and you get crickets.
Good :)

There is a thing like taking things with grain of salt. Having middle ground. All of this goes out when sensationalism gives most likes.
 

Pheasant

Legend
Joking around aside, I will try to rank the biggest ones. This is just how I feel. I realize that many may object to this and that's fine. This is just my own list.

1. 2003 Wimbledon. Nothing beats the first one. Hell, Fed cried like a baby when he beat Sampras at age 19. This win was far bigger for obvious reasons. The maiden slam is always incredibly special.
2. 2009 Wimbledon. This match broke the record. And he did it with Sampras there.
3. 2009 RG. He finally got the monkey off of his back by bagging the everlasting elusive FO title. And for many, this made him the greatest. He tied the record at 14, but also had the career slam.
4. 2017 AO. Winning this tourney after being written off by 99% of his own fans was incredible. He did this after missing well over half of the previous year from knee surgery. As a matter of fact, his 21 match wins in 2016 was less than half of what he had every single year before that, except for when he had 36 wins in 2000. And to top it off, he did the impossible by coming back from 3-1 down in the 5th set against a guy that had owned him before(23-11 record against Fed at that time)
5. 2012 Wimbledon: beating 2 players in their prime back-to-back to bag this trophy gave the Meistro some hope. Also, this win led to him breaking Pete's weeks at #1 record.
6. 2018 AO: 20 slam titles sounded so cool at that time. Perhaps, I'm being way too subjective here But it's my list. loved #20. It really had a nice ring to it at that time.
 

nolefam_2024

Bionic Poster
Joking around aside, I will try to rank the biggest ones. This is just how I feel. I realize that many may object to this and that's fine. This is just my own list.

1. 2003 Wimbledon. Nothing beats the first one. Hell, Fed cried like a baby when he beat Sampras at age 19. This win was far bigger for obvious reasons. The maiden slam is always incredibly special.
2. 2009 Wimbledon. This match broke the record. And he did it with Sampras there.
3. 2009 RG. He finally got the monkey off of his back by bagging the everlasting elusive FO title. And for many, this made him the greatest. He tied the record at 14, but also had the career slam.
4. 2017 AO. Winning this tourney after being written off by 99% of his own fans was incredible. He did this after missing well over half of the previous year from knee surgery. As a matter of fact, his 21 match wins in 2016 was less than half of what he had every single year before that, except for when he had 36 wins in 2000. And to top it off, he did the impossible by coming back from 3-1 down in the 5th set against a guy that had owned him before(23-11 record against Fed at that time)
5. 2012 Wimbledon: beating 2 players in their prime back-to-back to bag this trophy gave the Meistro some hope. Also, this win led to him breaking Pete's weeks at #1 record.
6. 2018 AO: 20 slam titles sounded so cool at that time. Perhaps, I'm being way too subjective here But it's my list. loved #20. It really had a nice ring to it at that time.
Agree with all 6. I wanted to add 2018 AO as well.
 

Smecz

Professional
Victory in Wimbledon 2003, it was a biggest victory in his carrer, because
because if he lost he would never become a legend...

Roger simply believed in himself, that he could be the best, he got the wind in his sails.!!
 
I think the biggest competition would be the 2017 Australian Open final against Nadal. It was almost 5 years since Federer's last Major, after his knee injury/surgery in 2016 no one even knew whether he would be competitive again, everyone was predicting that Nadal would beat him, and we all know their H2H history to that point, including their 2009/2012/2014 matches at the AO.
Do you realize that if Djokovic would not have an injured elbow for all 2017, Federer and Nadal have no chance for Australian Open 2017 trophy? French Open semifinal 2011 win is the best win ever by far for Federer.
 

Mustard

Bionic Poster
The 2004 US Open final against Hewitt, going up 6-0, 2-0 in about 20 minutes, and winning 6-0, 7-6, 6-0.

Nearly all of Federer's best performances are in the 2003-2009 period.
 

Mustard

Bionic Poster
Do you realize that if Djokovic would not have an injured elbow for all 2017, Federer and Nadal have no chance for Australian Open 2017 trophy?
tennisgifs-tennis.gif
 
yes, i also think this is his biggest victory (not best performance), he was mentally very strong here, made all the big points.

Except Djokovic on clay is better than Nadal on grass (3 slams to 2).
Djokovic's 2011 is the best season in history in terms of level of play

I don't see how anyone thinks beating Nadal on grass in 5 sets in a good but not a top 5 Nadal season is better than beating Djokovic in atleast his 2nd best season (statswise) and best in terms of level, in a slam where Djokovic has had more success than Nadal.
 
Top