Roger Federer retires: A look back at his highs and lows at Wimbledon

The tennis legend's record-breaking career began at just 19, when he beat seven-time Wimbledon champion Pete Sampras on Centre Court

By AFP

Published: Thu 15 Sep 2022, 7:06 PM

Last updated: Fri 16 Sep 2022, 12:15 AM

Roger Federer announced his retirement from tennis on Thursday after a career which brought 20 Grand Slam titles.

The tennis legend's greatest performances and most heartbreaking moments at the majors came at Wimbledon, where he won a record eight times.

At just 19, Federer faced childhood hero and seven-time Wimbledon champion Pete Sampras on Centre Court, and announced himself as a superstar in the making with a 7-6 (9/7), 5-7, 6-4, 6-7 (2/7), 7-5 victory.

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"There are a lot of young guys coming up, but Roger is a bit extra-special," said Sampras, who had been on a 31-win streak at the tournament.

"It feels unbelievable, of course," Federer had said, who was to lose in the quarter-finals to Britain's Tim Henman.

Federer came down to earth with a bump 12 months later, losing 6-3, 7-6 (7/2), 6-3 to Croatian qualifier Mario Ancic, ranked at 154 and dubbed 'Baby Goran' after compatriot and defending champion Goran Ivanisevic.

"I didn't have any tactics; I was just enjoying," said 18-year-old Ancic – the youngest player to win a match on his Centre Court debut since Bjorn Borg in 1973.

The first Grand Slam

Federer won his first Grand Slam with a masterclass victory over Australian Mark Philippoussis, 7-6 (7/5), 6-2, 7-6 (7/3).

"I proved it to everybody and it was a big relief because there was pressure from all sides, especially from myself, to do better in Slams," said then 21-year-old Federer, who despite his reputation had never previously gotten past the last-eight of a Slam.

The 1980 final between Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe was widely regarded as the greatest championship match ever played at Wimbledon. That was, until 2008, when Rafael Nadal confounded critics who said his clay court supremacy would never translate to grass, by beating Federer 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-7 (8/10), 9-7.

It was the Spaniard's fifth major, but his first away from the French Open.

He had two championship points in the fourth set and resisted an impressive Federer fightback to triumph in a rain-interrupted final which finished in near-darkness.

"I tried everything, got a little late – but look, Rafa is a deserving champion, he just played fantastic," admitted Federer.

'One of the greatest athletes of all time': Andy Murray

Another final and another classic occured as Federer beat Andy Roddick 5-7, 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 16-14 to win his sixth Wimbledon, and surpass Sampras's record of 14 Grand Slam titles.

The final set alone lasted 95 minutes.

"It was a crazy match,, with an unbelievable end and my head's still spinning, but it's an unbelievable moment in my career," said Federer.

Federer then fought back to beat home hope Andy Murray 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4; Murray was the first British man in the final since Bunny Austin in 1938, and was hoping to become the first home winner of a Wimbledon men's title since Fred Perry in 1936.

For Federer, it was a record-equalling seventh Wimbledon title, a 17th Grand Slam crown, and it allowed him to celebrate a record 286th week as world number one.

"We're talking about one of the greatest athletes of all time," said Murray.

Ukraine's world number 116 Sergiy Stakhovsky pulled off a shock 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/5), 7-5, 7-6 (7/5) win, when he condemned Federer to his worst Grand Slam loss since a first round exit at the 2003 French Open, and the defending champion's earliest Wimbledon defeat since his Ancic horror show 11 years earlier.

"You're playing the guy, and then you're playing his legend," said Stakhovsky. "You're playing two of them. When you're beating one, you still have the other one who is pressing you."

Federer was more philosophical. "I wish it wasn't going to end here", he mused. "But I don't think that's something fans are going to mourn.

Federer had two championship points, but was unable to break the spirit of Novak Djokovic, who triumphed 7-6 (7/5), 1-6, 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 13-12 (7/3) – as the longest ever final was settled by an historic tie-break.

The Serb claimed his fifth Wimbledon title, taking his Grand Slam tally to 16 after 4 hours and 57 minutes on a court where most spectators were firmly behind the 37-year-old Swiss.

"When the crowd is chanting 'Roger' I hear 'Novak'," said the Serb. "It sounds silly, but it is like that."

Federer said: "Similar to 2008 maybe, I will look back at it and think, 'well, it's not that bad after all'.

"For now it hurts, and it should, like every loss does here at Wimbledon."

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