7 Grand Slam Tournaments That Defined Roger Federer's Career
Just last month, Roger Federer suffered a very disappointing loss at the hands of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at Wimbledon. His second consecutive early exit at the All-England Club, as well as the fact that he has been in just one of the past six Grand Slam finals, has people talking about the end for the Swiss Maestro.
Still, Federer has had some amazing and very memorable moments in his career. He has set uncountable records and has mesmerized many fans, players and journalists alike.
His tennis is more graceful than anyone before him. He has set the bar at ridiculous heights. Still, at the age of 29, he plays beautiful tennis, and is in contention for every tournament he enters.
Although all Grand Slam tournaments have been important to him, I have picked out seven that most defined his career.
Remember, they are all not great experiences for Roger, but they have all served his career in a big way.
Without further ado, the seven most defining Grand Slam tournaments of Roger Federer's illustrious career
Enjoy!
Wimbledon 2003: The Start of Something Special
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Of course. Federer's first Slam, and probably his sweetest, started the legendary career.
Federer was the fourth seed, but he strolled through the draw, winning the title with only one set dropped.
Mark Philippoussis, from Australia, was the final casualty, as he bowed out to the Swiss Sensation in straight sets.
Federer showed what he was capable of during two flawless weekend performances. Hard-serving American Andy Roddick played brilliantly for five rounds, yet Federer hit as well as humanly possible to win in the semis.
Late in the final, with Roger already well on his way to the win, he hit a sick, half-volley backhand to pass the Aussie at the net. One of the first wonderful, memorable shots he would hit.
Also rare, Federer serve-and-volleyed for the majority of the tournament, something we no longer see from him. Even then, before having won any Slams, journalists and commentators realized how special he was, and knew he would be a great champion.
French Open 2006: New Kid on the Block
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In the 2005 French Open semi-finals, eventual champion and 19-year old Rafael Nadal defeated Roger Federer. Although he might have been the favorite since it was on clay-courts, many people didn't feel that Nadal had the tenacity to beat Fed in a major final.
Nadal proved them wrong with a very solid four-set win.
This victory by the Spaniard proved to fans and experts that there was one particular man that Federer would have to stave off in order to become the GOAT.
Nadal showed everybody that he was the clear alpha dog on clay, winning in Paris for the second straight time.
He also proved that he had no fear of Federer, winning, despite losing a first set "breadstick".
For me, the first bump in Federer's road during his prime.
Wimbledon 2008: The Greatest Match Ever Played
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Although he lost, this may have been the most important match of Roger's career.
First of all, it was his first loss at Wimbledon since 2003. He had made it routine to win at the SW19, not to mention on grass overall, as he had won 63 straight matches on the surface.
The man who Federer had defeated at Wimbledon the past two years in the final dethroned him. It was the first Nadal win against Federer at Wimbledon, and he did it in tremendous fashion.
Up two sets to love, Nadal seemed on his way to becoming the first Spaniard since 1966 to capture the title at the All-England club. He had played some of the best tennis ever, and even when Federer snagged a 4-1 lead in the second set, he did not wither. Instead, he roared back to win the set 6-4, and had all but won the trophy.
Not so fast, thought Fed, as he and Nadal traded service games, before the Swiss upped the ante in the breaker, winning it, 7-5.
The trend continued through set four, with neither player able to break his adversary. At six-all, Nadal raised his game this time, taking a 5-2 lead, and serving for the championship. He fell apart, losing two match points, and was defeated by his rival, 10-8.
With the momentum clearly in Roger's hands, he wasn't able to capitalize on many chances, and his final forehand died on his own side, causing a 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7 win for Rafa.
Some other reasons why this match was so important is because Federer played some of the best tennis of his life. He showed that he could play from behind, a quality he hadn't demonstrated often due to the fact that the opportunities didn't arise very often.
This match wasn't a regular Wimbledon battle between big servers. It was filled with high-quality points, from the first point, a ridiculous forehand winner by Nadal, to the match saving backhand passes that Fed hit in the fourth and fifth sets, to the great volleys Nadal used to put himself in position to finally win.
This loss proved to Roger that Nadal could take the Fed's best tennis, on his best surface, yet still prevail.
I think this singular loss propelled him to keep fighting and end up with 16 slams instead of the 12 he would have had had the loss been too hard for him to take.
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US Open 2008: Rebirth
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This tournament was a critical juncture in Federer's career. After getting crushed by Rafa in Paris, and edged by him in London, a win in New York was key.
Without a win, Federer would have his first slam-less year since 2003. It was clear that he was not at peak form He was seeded No. 2 for the first time since the 2004 Australian Open, which he won.
With all cylinders clicking early on, it was clear that he was a man on a mission. However, in the fourth round, he was pushed to a tough five-setter by Igor Andreev in round 4.
That gutsy win pushed him all the way to the championship, where he had no problem beating Andy Murray in the final.
This win was a very emotional one for Roger. He used his momentum and confidence to a very successful season in 2009 (which you will hear about soon enough).
French Open 2009: A Man for All Surfaces
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Probably the sweetest win of his career. He entered the tournament to clear No. 2, especially on clay, to Rafael Nadal.
Lucky for Roger, an ailing Nadal suffered a stunning fourth-round loss to Robin Soderling, thus clearing the path for Federer.
Although the Swiss looked shaky throughout the tournament, he toughed out many close wins. In rounds two and three, he dropped sets to relative no-names.
In round four, against over-the-hill Tommy Haas, he fell in an 0-2 set hole. He was forced to dig himself out, cruising behind some magnificent tennis, losing only six games in the last three sets.
Roger was forced to five sets one more time, falling behind two sets to one in the semis against up-and-comer Juan Martin Del Potro. Once again, he was forced to dig deep and came out on top, 6-4, 6-1, in the final two sets.
His dominating performance in the final finally gave him the career Grand Slam, he was a man for all surfaces.
The way he did it, coming back multiple times, just added to the greatness.
Not only did this give him all four majors, but it tied him up with Pete Sampras at the top of the all-time list with 14.
This one tournament gave him great claim as the GOAT.
Wimbledon 2009: No. 15!!!!!!
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Everything you could hope for in a Wimbledon final. A great match between two great players, with huge stakes, including one looking for his record breaking 15th major title.
Roger Federer and Andy Roddick went head-to-head for the fourth time in London, with the Swiss coming out on top in all previous encounters.
However, Roddick was at peak form physically, and hitting the ball better than ever. He took advantage of the absence of world No.1 Rafael Nadal, getting to his first major final since 2005.
The two stars indulged into a high-quality, serve-dominated slugfest, as they traded aces back and forth.
Roddick took the first set, 7-5, and jumped ahead 5-2, in a second set tie-break. However, Federer reeled off five straight points, including a sweet pickup backhand, and a missed backhand overhead by Roddick to tie things up.
After losing another set in a breaker, it looked like Roddick would fold. Not quite, thought the American, who won a high-stakes fourth, 6-3.
The fifth-set was the best of all.The two players traded holds, including Federer saving a pair of break points with unbelievable serves.
When Roddick's final forehand flew way long, Federer leapt in joy. It meant so much for the Swiss star. It cemented his legacy as the true greatest player ever. He showed true grit, reeling off 50, yes 50, aces over the course of the match. It pushed him back to the top spot.
What more can I say, perhaps the greatest record set in one of the greatest matches .
French Open 2010: End of a Legendary Streak
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Federer entered Roland Garros 2011 with his head held high.
He was the defending champion in Paris for the first time ever. He was ranked number one, and it would more than likely remain that way. He was the holder of three Slams, including the previous one, the Australian Open.
Federer opened as well as he could have imagined, not dropping a set through four rounds.
In the quarterfinals, he would face big Swede Robin Soderling, the very foe he had vanquished in the 2009 final.
However, Soderling, who had lost 12 in a row to Fed, decided it was time to turn the tables, finishing off Roger in four grueling sets.
This was the end of one the all-time best records not only in tennis, but in all sports. He had made 23 straight Grand Slam semis, starting a Wimbledon 2005. This quarterfinal loss was one of three premature losses over the course of six majors.
This loss was very defining because it was a sign of things to come, as he lost in the quarters at the All-England Club, and then only making one of the next six Slam finals, winning zero.
This loss was definitely the beginning of the end for Roger Federer.
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