However, Federer’s popularity grew as a result of those close losses. (Read this great Financial Times piece dominated by infographics about how Nadal and Djokovic were superior in securing victory in the deciding set). The fact that he lost close matches does not negate that he won. There was the 2006 Rome Masters final and the 20 Wimbledon and Australian Open finals, which he lost to Nadal in five sets. He had match points against Djokovic three times at Grand Slam tournaments, the most recent and painful of which came in the 2019 Wimbledon final. Still, Federer also had his fair share of losses on the greatest stages against the best. Numerous tennis experts have remarked how casually Roger Federer donned the title of top player and tennis ambassador. His attempts to explore his musical side can be heard in his courtside talks with Jim Courier at the Australian Open and in this cover of Chicago’s “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” with Grigor Dimitrov and Tommy Haas (with a guest appearance by Djokovic, for good measure).Īt that time, Federer wasn’t the tennis-obsessed genius Roddick portrays him. Then, of course, there’s Federer, the Jokester. Federer’s 13 titles were a testament to his tennis prowess and the way he carried himself on and off the court. It was almost as though they were friends first and then Australian Open champions.įrom its inception in 1977 until Federer came along, no one had ever won the sportsmanship award more than five times. There must have been some precedent, but I couldn’t recall any. The photographs made it difficult to determine a victor. While Gonzalez sat in his chair, he leaned forward, shoulders hunched, and the two appeared to have a normal, cordial conversation for a few minutes before being called up for the prize ceremony. His victory over Fernando Gonzalez in the final was impressive, but what really stuck with me wasn’t any of the numerous spectacular winners he hit with his racquet.Īs an alternative, this happened: after the match, during a brief break before the presentation’s start, Federer strolled over to Gonzalez’s chair and struck up a conversation. One particular moment at the 2007 Australian Open comes to mind.įederer was invincible throughout the competition, dispatching his opponents in a mere seven sets (including a 6-4, 6-0, 6-2 demolition of Roddick in the semi-final, which counts among his best matches ever for the sheer quality of his shot-making).
You wouldn’t realize he is a world-class athlete if you bumped into him at McDonald’s and didn’t already know who he was.” The early stages of his dominance were marked by several anecdotes from his fellow players about how “kind” he was.Īndy Roddick, who was defeated by him 21 times in 24 matches and in four Grand Slam finals, said, “I’ve told him previously, ‘I’d love to hate you, but you’re really sweet.'” “A genuine human being, he exists.
This made him more than just a terrific player to the spectators, even though his tremendous racquet abilities were anything but relatable. He had no problem being himself in front of a crowd of thousands, regardless of whether he was victorious or defeated. If you’re a player and you’re trying to beat either of those records, best of luck to you!įederer provided an extra element that made him irresistible: a personality that was warm, genuine, approachable, but also goofy and stupidly carefree. Thirteen times he was victorious: six times in a row between 20, and seven more between 20. His popularity among fans never wavered, not even during the years when he appeared in only a handful of games.įurthermore, players cast ballots for the ATP Sportsmanship award. ATPįor the 19 years between 20, Federer was the unanimous online fan favorite as determined by the ATP’s annual Fan Favourite award (I was among those who voted in at least 10 of those years). However, the numerals 19 and 13 are not seen in the titles and deserve special attention. While Federer certainly had a great deal of success on the court, that alone doesn’t do justice to the phenomenon he was. It is a unique camaraderie with his fellow players, even more so than all the matches and Grand Slams he won and even more so than the pure artistry with which he played the game. Federer’s path in tennis has always been connected with a unique and inexplicable bond with his fans.
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