FedererDropShot
Hall of Fame
At 19 years old, the torch was passed down to him as he defeated the then GOAT and Wimbledon King, Pete Sampras, in 5 sets on the Centre Court of Wimbledon. That signalled a changing of the guard.
His first slam would be at Wimbledon in 2003, and it's only fitting that Wimbledon would be his first slam. For him, the career could have ended there.
Then soon came the period of absolute brilliance from 2004 to 2007, in which he won 11 slams out of 16 possible slams.
In 2008, he'd lose in his 6th consecutive Wimbledon final after being scarred by the French Open final of that year. However, in 2009, he would win his first and only French Open title (was very close to losing to Haas) to complete the Career Grand Slam. Then it was only fitting that he'd surpass Sampras' slam count at Wimbledon by beating Andy Roddick in 5 sets. From getting thrashed by Rafa in the 2008 French Open and being beaten in the 2008 Wimbledon finals to winning his first channel slam in 2009.
After losing the 2009 Australian Open finals, he was reduced to tears. Yet in 2010, he'd come back and win the Australian Open title.
With the rise of Nadal and Djokovic, people wondered if Federer could ever surpass Sampras' weeks at No 1. He was at 285 weeks and Sampras was at 286 weeks. Just that 1 week of separation. It seemed impossible with the rise of a dominant Djokovic. He could regain the No 1 spot if he won the 2012 Wimbledon title... and he did! He'd tie Sampras with 7 Wimbledon titles. He could have retired at that point.
After 2013, people thought he was finished. In 2014-15, he'd reach 2 Wimbledon finals and 1 US Open final. Losing all 3 finals to Djokovic. In 2014, he won his first Davis Cup title with Switzerland. After the 6-month injury layoff in 2016, people thought that he was finally finished. How could a 35 year old win a slam in this day and age? At that point, one could think that perhaps his last chance for BEL18VE was the 2015 US Open...
Coming into the 2017 Australian Open, he was the 17th seed. Was it destiny? Sampras came into the 2002 US Open as the 17th seed and won his last slam then. Somehow, he made it to the final. However, the odds were against him. Rafa had held a 3-0 H2H against Roger at the Australian Open before the match and we know what happened in the 2009 Australian Open final. In the 5th set, Rafa was up a break. Was it all over? Somehow, Roger found himself serving for the title. In a few moments, he'd find himself down 15-40 on his serve. Ace. Big inside out FH (resembling the FH that saved a break point against Haas in the 2009 French Open). 2 break points saved. A couple of moments later, BEL18VE was a reality.
There have been tough moments. He squandered matchpoints against Djokovic in the 2010-2011 US Open semi-finals. He didn't get a Olympic Gold Medal (instead, he only has a Olympic Silver Medal) in the 2012 Olympics. In 2014-15, he could not capture a 8th Wimbledon title to be the outright leader at Wimbledon. In 2015, he could not capture a 6th US Open title to be the outright leader at the US Open.
But failure has truly been the stepping stone to success for Roger Federer.
It's really been a fairytale...
The first player to have more than 300 weeks at No 1.
7 Wimbledon titles. 5 Australian Open titles. 5 US Open titles. 1 French Open title.
The first player to have won 3 different slams at least 5 times each.
Can the fairy tale continue? When will Roger pass down the torch to the next great player?
His first slam would be at Wimbledon in 2003, and it's only fitting that Wimbledon would be his first slam. For him, the career could have ended there.
Then soon came the period of absolute brilliance from 2004 to 2007, in which he won 11 slams out of 16 possible slams.
In 2008, he'd lose in his 6th consecutive Wimbledon final after being scarred by the French Open final of that year. However, in 2009, he would win his first and only French Open title (was very close to losing to Haas) to complete the Career Grand Slam. Then it was only fitting that he'd surpass Sampras' slam count at Wimbledon by beating Andy Roddick in 5 sets. From getting thrashed by Rafa in the 2008 French Open and being beaten in the 2008 Wimbledon finals to winning his first channel slam in 2009.
After losing the 2009 Australian Open finals, he was reduced to tears. Yet in 2010, he'd come back and win the Australian Open title.
With the rise of Nadal and Djokovic, people wondered if Federer could ever surpass Sampras' weeks at No 1. He was at 285 weeks and Sampras was at 286 weeks. Just that 1 week of separation. It seemed impossible with the rise of a dominant Djokovic. He could regain the No 1 spot if he won the 2012 Wimbledon title... and he did! He'd tie Sampras with 7 Wimbledon titles. He could have retired at that point.
After 2013, people thought he was finished. In 2014-15, he'd reach 2 Wimbledon finals and 1 US Open final. Losing all 3 finals to Djokovic. In 2014, he won his first Davis Cup title with Switzerland. After the 6-month injury layoff in 2016, people thought that he was finally finished. How could a 35 year old win a slam in this day and age? At that point, one could think that perhaps his last chance for BEL18VE was the 2015 US Open...
Coming into the 2017 Australian Open, he was the 17th seed. Was it destiny? Sampras came into the 2002 US Open as the 17th seed and won his last slam then. Somehow, he made it to the final. However, the odds were against him. Rafa had held a 3-0 H2H against Roger at the Australian Open before the match and we know what happened in the 2009 Australian Open final. In the 5th set, Rafa was up a break. Was it all over? Somehow, Roger found himself serving for the title. In a few moments, he'd find himself down 15-40 on his serve. Ace. Big inside out FH (resembling the FH that saved a break point against Haas in the 2009 French Open). 2 break points saved. A couple of moments later, BEL18VE was a reality.
There have been tough moments. He squandered matchpoints against Djokovic in the 2010-2011 US Open semi-finals. He didn't get a Olympic Gold Medal (instead, he only has a Olympic Silver Medal) in the 2012 Olympics. In 2014-15, he could not capture a 8th Wimbledon title to be the outright leader at Wimbledon. In 2015, he could not capture a 6th US Open title to be the outright leader at the US Open.
But failure has truly been the stepping stone to success for Roger Federer.
It's really been a fairytale...
The first player to have more than 300 weeks at No 1.
7 Wimbledon titles. 5 Australian Open titles. 5 US Open titles. 1 French Open title.
The first player to have won 3 different slams at least 5 times each.
Can the fairy tale continue? When will Roger pass down the torch to the next great player?
