Roger Federer names the 3 greatest matches of his career: ‘I would like to relive all those emotions’
Roger Federer won 1,251 tour-level matches across his iconic career, but which matches were his favourite?
The tennis icon is one of the most successful players in the history of the sport, with a staggering 20 Grand Slam singles titles to his name – so he has plenty of matches to choose from.
However, in an interview with Eurosport Spain, the Swiss star has now revealed the three favourite wins of his two-decade-long career.
The 43-year-old selected his 2001 Wimbledon win over Pete Sampras, his 2009 French Open final win over Robin Soderling, and his classic 2017 Australian Open final triumph over Rafael Nadal.
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“The first one I would like to remember is clear: Wimbledon 2001 and my match against Pete Sampras,” said Federer.
“That match was facing the hero of a whole generation, my first time on Wimbledon’s centre court, without knowing everything that tournament would bring me in my career.
“Second, I would choose the 2009 Roland Garros final. I chased that tournament for a long time, until this season when the floodgates opened with Rafa’s elimination.
“I felt like everyone was behind me; they really wanted me to win; it made me feel very special.
“Finally, I will stick to the 2017 Australian Open final, right after my knee problems. It was a complete match, it had everything. I would like to relive all those emotions.”
Federer’s fourth-round victory over Sampras proved to be his breakthrough match, with a then 19-year-old Federer handing his idol a first defeat at Wimbledon since 1996.
Though the Swiss did not win the title that year, he did go on to win a record eight men’s singles titles at the All England Club, eclipsing Sampras’ previous milestone of seven.
The 2009 French Open final victory over Soderling not only saw Federer tie Sampras’ then-Open Era record of 14 Grand Slam men’s singles titles, but also complete the Career Grand Slam.
Roland Garros success had eluded the Swiss up until that point, with Rafael Nadal beating him in three straight finals from 2006 to 2008.
Victory over Soderling, who had beaten Nadal earlier in the event, sealed what proved to be the only French Open title of Federer’s career.
Federer’s 2017 Australian Open final over Nadal remains one of the most celebrated Grand Slam finals of recent times, and a key match in his iconic rivalry with the Spaniard.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion was the 17th seed in Melbourne, having struggled with injury throughout 2016, and had not won a major title in four-and-a-half years.
Nadal had also not won a major for over two years and held a 3-1 lead in the deciding set, before Federer stormed back to win his 18th Grand Slam title, and fifth Australian Open title.
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