Roger Federer’s career has been full of iconic moments, allowing him to transcend tennis and become an icon around the world. The former world No. 1 is certainly the most popular tennis player of all time and – despite retiring two years ago – continues to be acclaimed when he appears on the professional tour as a guest (for example during the Rolex Shanghai Masters).
The 20-time Grand Slam champion dominated the men’s tour between 2004 and 2007, before the arrival of Rafael Nadal created one of the most spectacular and memorable rivalries in the history of modern sport. Their matches have brought many people closer to the sport, helping to attract many sponsors and grow the popularity of tennis even where it was not so well known.
Novak Djokovic’s rise starting in 2011 ushered in the era of the Big 3, which revolutionized the concept of longevity at the highest levels. These three legends improved each other and dominated men’s tennis for nearly two decades, breaking every record until Federer’s retirement in 2022 and Nadal’s retirement at the end of 2024.
Djokovic will be the only one of the Big 3 active next year and will try to win the 25th Grand Slam title of his legendary career. Despite the withdrawal of his two greatest rivals, Nole has found new motivation thanks to the challenges with Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
The former Swiss champion is enjoying his retirement and spends a lot of time with his family, but he still appears on the professional tour whenever he gets the chance. It is not excluded that in the future the King could become captain of Team Europe in the Laver Cup and organize some exhibition matches with his former rivals. Much will depend on the condition of Roger’s knee, which has not yet healed and forced him to retire in 2022.
Federer on the 2008 Wimbledon final
During a recent interview with Eurosport, Federer was asked to reveal the biggest heartbreak of his amazing career: “Probably Wimbledon 2008. Just because of the way it ended, in the darkness, with Rafa Nadal. There was so much on the line it needed a winner and it went his way. It was heartbreak, yeah.”
The final of the 2008 Wimbledon Championships is considered by many fans and insiders to be the most exciting match of all time. Federer had defeated his great rival Nadal in the previous two editions of Wimbledon, but had been literally dominated by the Spaniard in the final of the French Open the previous month.
The Swiss lost the first two sets, before winning the third and fourth sets thanks to a legendary reaction despite a couple of interruptions due to rain. The fifth set was truly epic, with the shadows of the night that made that final even more unforgettable until the crowning of the new champion.
The Swiss Maestro recalled that final very well: “Looking back, I feel like I lost at the very first point of the match.I looked across the net and I saw a guy who just a few weeks earlier had crushed me in straight sets at the French Open and I thought this guy is maybe hungrier than I am and he’s finally got my number.
It took me until the third set before I finally remembered: ‘Hey buddy, you’re the five-time defending champion and you’re on grass by the way. You know how to do this’. But it came too late and Rafa won and it was well deserved.”
The revenge in Australia
The former world No. 1 took partial revenge at the 2017 Australian Open, when he defeated Rafa in five sets despite he was 1-3 down in the decisive set. That final was equally iconic, as the two great rivals were going through a complicated period in their respective careers.
Roger had not won a Grand Slam title since 2012 and had missed the second half of 2016 due to a knee injury, while Rafa’s level had dropped significantly between 2015 and 2016. Their final in Australia in 2017 was one of the most watched of the moderate era and did not disappoint, with Federer’s triumph after a sensational battle.
Recently, Federer’s former coach Ivan Ljubicic opened up on the 2017 AO final: “I’m proud and happy about this match against Nadal, because he was 3-1 down in the 5th set.
To come back and win the match was very special for me. It was the most emotional moment as a coach, but almost as a player for Roger.
After that, the story goes on, and we know that Novak Djokovic has won more than the others, but that tournament was very important.”