Roger Federer makes Rafael Nadal confession as he recalls moment he ‘created a monster’
Tennis great Roger Federer has reflected on the impact of his defeat to Rafael Nadal in the pair’s epic 2008 Wimbledon final and the way it endeared him to fans by him showing his “human side.”
The 20-time Grand Slam champion also recalled he moment he felt he had “created a monster” with his success after the reaction to his loss to Marat Safin at the 2005 Australian Open.
In the semi-finals of the 2005 Australian Open, Federer lost a thrilling contest to eventual champion Safin in five sets after having a match point. He had just had a dominant 2004 season and won four of the previous six majors, leading many tennis fans to be shocked by the result.
Federer won eight Grand Slams in the three years after this loss, before falling to his great rival Nadal in the 2008 Wimbledon final — a five-set contest widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis matches ever.
The Swiss had won the previous five editions of Wimbledon and was going for a record sixth consecutive title, with Nadal ending his 41-match winning streak at tennis’ most famous event.
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In an interview with GQ Sports, Federer spoke about these two memorable defeats, and what made him realise that the Nadal match was such a special duel.
“I was not really aware of it I guess until 2008. Or maybe there was a moment when, I think in ’05 when I lost to [Marat] Safin at the Australian Open, I said, ‘I’ve created a monster.’ When I lose a set, people are like, ‘Oh, my god, Roger lost a set’,” the 42-year-old said.
“Or I’m losing in a semis with match point against Safin. People are like in shock. Can you believe it? I’m like, ‘What do you mean, shock?’ Can you believe it? It’s normal to lose against an unbelievable player.
“So I think in 2008 when I lost to Rafa, it was, I mean, a very particular moment because obviously I was devastated after losing that match. But then I would come to the States a month later and people are still talking about it, like, ‘Oh, my God, that Wimbledon match.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, I mean, it was good.’
“‘No, no, that was special and s**t. So you lost. But my God, I mean just seeing the human side come out of you and we’ve seen you win so much. So seeing you on the losing side felt really different and special.’
“I’m like, ‘Yeah, okay. I mean, the match was fine. Okay, it was good. But really.’ And then it kept on going for days and days until I realised we created something special in that very moment.
“And also it was maybe the Federer 2.0 has entered the building type thing that, okay, now this was the one that actually loses also some, and that’s how he is. And that can happen and it’s part of life.
“And I think the more human side started coming out probably because just when you lose, people can relate a little bit more because we all lose in life, and before that I was winning for so long. Then of course the kids were born, then you become a parent, and then it’s even more relatable, I believe.
“And then like you said, I think people started to really know me because I’d been on tour for so long. So I think that’s why I had a lot of emotional support from a lot of the fans towards me.”
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