Jestem legendą. Roger Federer: droga ku chwale.

[DUN I LOVE]

Jeżeli grał faktycznie z jednym kolanem, to nie ma sensu się czepiać o tego bajgla. Większość graczy pewnie by zeszła z kortu po pierwszym breaku w trzecim secie.

[Kamileki]

Jeżeli grał faktycznie z jednym kolanem, to nie ma sensu się czepiać o tego bajgla. Większość graczy pewnie by zeszła z kortu po pierwszym breaku w trzecim secie.

Ogarnął Roger półfinalistę z tego roku. Całkiem spoko jak na to, że to był ostatni oficjalny turniej w karierze.

[Kiefer]

Ano, i nie mam przekonania, że tamten Roger by z tym półfinalistą i w tym roku sobie nie poradził...

[Robertinho]

https://weszlo.com/2022/09/16/roger-fed ... ec-meczow/

Roger Federer. 10 meczów, które definiują karierę Szwajcara

[DUN I LOVE]

[Kiefer]

[DUN I LOVE]

"Odchodzę, definitywnie".

[Damian]

[Damian]

Roger Federer's Grand Slam Greatness

Spoiler:

Swiss captured 20 major titles
For certain names, hype precedes their early forays onto the biggest stages. It can stem from their artistry, a ruthless competitiveness, their nationality, standout junior results or a combination of any.

For former junior World No. 1 and Wimbledon boys’ singles champion, Roger Federer, it came even before he stepped foot on Court Suzanne-Lenglen for his Grand Slam debut in 1999. Cap backwards, dressed in the colours of the Swiss flag, the 17-year-old fell to Australia’s Pat Rafter at the first hurdle.

Few could have envisioned the remarkable Grand Slam resume he was about to fill. Twenty major titles later, ATPTour.com looks back at Federer’s defining moments from each of the four majors.

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AUSTRALIAN OPEN – Champion 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2017, 2018; 103-15 win-loss
<a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/rafa ... ew'>Rafael Nadal</a>/<a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/roge ... iew'>Roger Federer</a>
Photo Credit: Scott Barbour/Getty Images
Sixteen majors since his last Grand Slam triumph and over five years since he last met his great rival in a Grand Slam decider, Federer and Rafael Nadal were the last men standing in one of the most hyped major finals in history. It was January of 2017, Federer’s first official event back since he missed the second half of 2018, having undergone right knee surgery.

His straight-sets routing of 10th seed Tomas Berdych in the third round prompted the Czech to deem it a masterclass, and he backed it up to deny fifth seed Kei Nishikori in five sets. Fourth seed Stan Wawrinka pushed him in a gripping semi-final before the blockbuster final also went the distance. Nadal had wrested momentum to snatch the fourth set and a 3-1 lead in the deciding set, only for the Swiss to storm through the final five games and lift the roof off a packed Rod Laver Arena.

“It was one of the most special ones,” Federer reflected later that year. “I definitely put it in the top five at least, if not top three, of my best feelings I ever had after winning, what it meant to me, under the circumstances… on the comeback, in the finals against Rafa, having had the five-setters throughout the tournaments as well, against Kei, Stan, then also against Rafa.

“I had some tough battles against Rafa over the years, but that came totally unexpected I think for both of us to make the finals… I really just had a wonderful time in Melbourne. It felt, yeah, I was on this amazing journey.”

You May Also Like: #RForever: Federer's Legacy Looms Large
A year later, Federer successfully defended a major for the first time since his 2008 US Open triumph when he held off Croatian Marin Cilic in five sets. The 2018 Australian Open was his record-extending 20th Grand Slam trophy and ultimately his last.

“During the match I constantly thought about the fact that I could reach 20,” Federer said. “I was nervous the whole day, I thought about what would happen if I lose, if I win. That’s why I broke down during the speech.”

The tears of joy were a far cry from his toughest moment on Rod Laver Arena in 2009, when history had beckoned against Nadal. Victory in that final would have drawn the Swiss level with Pete Sampras’ record 14 Grand Slam titles. Instead he was consigned to a five-set defeat that ended in a tearful trophy presentation in which Nadal consoled his vanquished opponent on the dais.

Barring a third-round defeat to Andreas Seppi in 2015 and a fourth-round loss to Stefanos Tsitsipas in 2019, Federer reached the semi-finals or better 15 times from his past 17 Australian Open campaigns. His win against Marat Safin in the 2004 final came with an added bonus as it confirmed his ascent to No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings for the first time.

ROLAND GARROS – Champion 2009; win-loss 73-17
<a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/roge ... iew'>Roger Federer</a>
Photo Credit: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

The site of more agony than any other Slam, in the end Federer’s most crucial triumph came on the terre battue of Roland Garros. It was eight years before the Swiss finally reached the final in 2006 and history was on the line when he stood to become the first man in the Open Era since Rod Laver to hold all four majors concurrently.

That final ended as it did in three of the next five years – a defeat to his great clay-court tormentor Nadal. There were none more bruising than the 2008 decider in which he salvaged only four games

Then the breakthrough emerged when it had been perhaps least expected. For the first time in six years, Federer headed into Roland Garros in 2009 without the top seeding next to his name. He had fallen to Nadal in three of the past four Grand Slam finals, but when Swede Robin Soderling bludgeoned his way past the four-time champion in the fourth round, it opened the door for the 27-year-old Swiss.

The task of converting this rare opportunity in the Spaniard’s absence became an entirely new mental battle and nearly came unstuck in the semi-finals, before Federer rallied to deny Juan Martin del Potro in five sets. Victory came via a relatively routine final over Soderling.

“My dream as a boy was to win Wimbledon one day. I won that five times. To get [the Roland Garros trophy] at the end, as the last remaining Grand Slam, it's an incredible feeling,” Federer said at the time. “The waiting and the age definitely has a big impact on how important and how nice this victory actually is. It's been a long time coming.”

The sixth man to complete the career Grand Slam, Federer also tied Sampras’ all-time mark of 14 majors. While he never managed to come up with the trophy again, a statement semi-final triumph came in 2011 when he snapped the unbeaten Novak Djokovic’s 43-match winning streak.

Federer’s defeat to Nadal in the subsequent final was his last venture as far in Paris. As he narrowed his pursuit of Grand Slam trophies into his 30s, the Swiss elected to skip Roland Garros in four of his final six years on Tour to conserve energy for Wimbledon.

WIMBLEDON – Champion 2003-2007, 2009, 2012, 2017; win-loss 105-14
<a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/roge ... iew'>Roger Federer</a>
Photo Credit: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Seven-time Wimbledon champion and World No. 1 Pete Sampras had not lost at the All England Club in 31 matches before he ran into the 19-year-old Federer in the fourth round on Manic Monday in 2001. It would be the only time the two legends of the sport crossed paths and it was the young Swiss who landed the coming-of-age victory on Centre Court, 7-5 in the fifth set.

“It was his moment. It’s grass-court tennis. One minute you feel like you have it, the next minute you're walking off the court,” Sampras said. “Federer played a great game.”

Sampras never reclaimed his Wimbledon title and while Federer fell to Tim Henman in the quarter-finals he had truly announced himself as a name for the future.

“This match will give me as much confidence as I can get,” he said after beating Sampras. “This is the biggest win of my life.”

Expectations proved a burden too great when Federer fell at the opening hurdle the following year, but his maiden Grand Slam title was just around the corner. Seeded fourth, he had Australian Mark Philippoussis’ measure in a straight-sets final in 2003. It set off a blistering stretch of five straight Wimbledon final triumphs – two over Andy Roddick and two over Nadal – but the Spaniard had closed the gap.

In near darkness, in the match many argued was the greatest Grand Slam championship match of all time, Nadal finally prevailed in the 2008 decider. It marked Federer’s first loss in a major final outside Paris and at four hours and 48 minutes, was the second longest final in Wimbledon history.

“Towards the end, I was virtually not saying anything in the commentary box,” John McEnroe told the BBC. “I thought what I was witnessing was so great and the players were rising to the occasion – anyone watching could tell it was going to be a match that people would talk about for generations to come.”



Federer had Sampras’ record Grand Slam haul in sight and after he drew level at Roland Garros in 2009, he pulled clear with another remarkable five-set triumph – this time over Andy Roddick in a repeat of the 2004 and 2005 finals. The fifth set ended 16-14 and took 95 minutes alone to complete.

“I walked out on to the court and then I saw the Royal Box that day, seeing the calibre of players who were there to witness that moment for Roger Federer. I said that it felt like I was the guy who was trying to shoot Bambi that day,” Roddick said.

By the time The Championships rolled around again in three years’ time, Federer had not added a major trophy in 2.5 years, his longest drought since he won his first. In a match that finished under Centre Court’s roof, Federer levelled Sampras’ record seven Wimbledon titles with his victory over Andy Murray.

No one could have foreseen the drought he was about to endure and against all odds, break. Federer’s 2013 and 2014 seasons represented a new low for early surprise Slam departures. His defeat to Sergiy Stakhovsky as defending champion in the second round at the All England Club in 2013 was the first time Federer had failed to reached the quarter-finals or better at a major since Roland Garros 2003.

Five years since his last trophy run on Centre Court, however, Federer backed up his shock Australian Open triumph from 2017 to land a record eighth Wimbledon over Cilic. The unlikely prospect of a ninth victory at SW19 became suddenly real after Federer had defeated Nadal to reach the 2019 final against Djokovic.

Five times, the Swiss went down in a deciding set at Wimbledon, but none stung quite like this. Two championship points went begging before the Serbian denied him 7-6(5), 1-6, 7-6(4), 4-6, 13-12(3) after four hours and 57 minutes in the longest Wimbledon final in history.

US OPEN – Champion 2004-2008; win-loss 89-14
<a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/roge ... iew'>Roger Federer</a>
Photo Credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

While yet to have added his final two majors, when pressed to rank his greatest Grand Slam moments during his 2017 Wimbledon campaign, Federer cited his 2009 Roland Garros triumph, his 2017 Australian Open victory, his first Wimbledon in 2003 and his fifth, against Roddick, in 2009. “Then US Open when I beat Agassi,” Federer said. “Those are the ones floating around.”

Three times the Swiss had Agassi’s measure in New York, including in 2001 when he thrashed the then World No. 2 in the fourth round. In 2004, en route to his maiden US Open title, Federer survived the American in a five-set quarter-final before beating Henman and Lleyton Hewitt back-to-back, but it was his title defence a year later, that stood out.

Having denied Hewitt in the semi-finals, Federer summoned a four-set triumph over the eight-time major winner in the final. “I think Roger is the best I've played against,” Agassi said after the defeat. “To watch him evolve has been amazing.”

It was the second in a string of five straight triumphs at Flushing Meadows and could have been six had he converted one of two championship points in the fourth set against 20-year-old Argentine, del Potro in the 2009 final. Federer had prevailed in all six prior ATP Head2Head meetings and was on a 41-match winning streak at Flushing Meadows before he fell in a five-set boilover.

“I left that match with a lot of regrets,” Federer said ahead of meeting del Potro in the 2017 quarter-finals. “[It] feels like one of those matches I would like to play over again… I was not too disappointed I don't think because I had a great run, but it ended my five-year reign here in New York.”

There was more heartache in the ensuing two years, when victory would again be snatched from his grasp. In both the 2010 and 2011 semi-finals, Djokovic saved two match points to reach the final.

It was a telling blow as Federer never beat his Serbian rival at the US Open again and only made one more final on Arthur Ashe Stadium in his subsequent nine appearances. That final was a 2015 defeat to Djokovic, where a raucous Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd had willed him on to repeat his shock triumph over the World No. 1 from Roland Garros four months earlier.

“They were unbelievable,” Federer said of the crowd. “Were they better than ever? Possibly.”

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/federer ... rand-slams

[DUN I LOVE]

@Kiefer @Robertinho @Kamileki @Barty, w ogóle kontuzji nie miał.

[Kiefer]

Ronaldo tenisa.

[Kamileki]

@Kiefer @Robertinho @Kamileki @Barty, w ogóle kontuzji nie miał.

To przecież nie jest wszystko.

[DUN I LOVE]

Chyba tylko te potwierdzone.

[Kamileki]

Chyba tylko te potwierdzone.

Brakuje np: stopa 2007 (Indian Wells), plecy i prawa noga 2010 (Wimbledon), pachwina 2011 (Halle), plecy 2019 (USO).

[Starigniter]

Roger niczym Rafa, przegrywa niemalże tylko wtedy gdy jest kontuzjowany.

[DUN I LOVE]

Pożegnalna konferencja prasowa Rogera jako czynnego tenisisty (oficjalny kanał Laver Cup na YT).

[Barty]

[DUN I LOVE]

[Damian]

Roger Federer's 10 Most Memorable Matches

Spoiler:

Our look at 10 of the Swiss' most enduring matches
Lists are typically a highly subjective business, but when the subject is Roger Federer, it’s hard to go wrong. The Swiss champion’s extraordinary body of work extends beyond 1,500 matches, 103 titles and 20 major championships.

Three of these feature Federer’s greatest rival, Rafael Nadal, with three more opposite Novak Djokovic. David Nalbandian, Andy Roddick, Juan Martin del Potro and Stan Wawrinka also make dashing appearances. Four of these matches came on Wimbledon’s Centre Court, Federer’s favourite working space.

And memorable doesn’t mean simply victory; Federer lost some spectacular matches – those heartbreaking defeats were, in some ways, as indelibly moving as his huge wins. That vulnerability is one of the many reasons he’s been so endearing, so enduring to fans, who over the years shared those highs and lows.

Vaunted Victories
2009 Wimbledon final
Roger Federer def. Andy Roddick 5-7, 7-6(6), 7-6(5), 3-6, 16-14

<a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/roge ... iew'>Roger Federer</a> and <a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/andy ... view'>Andy Roddick</a>
Photo Credit: Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images

This was the day the Open Era opened up entirely. Pete Sampras’14 Grand Slam singles titles were the standard until Federer collected his 15th – and set off a thrilling three-way race with Nadal and Djokovic that still hasn’t been settled.

That this came one year after Federer left the All England Club in the wake of a devastating loss to Nadal underlines his resilience and exceptional character. This, too, was a five-set thriller that was decided in extra time, as it were, some 30 gut-wrenching games. It was decided when Roddick, serving at 14-15, missed a pair of forehands. To that point, Federer had failed to convert a single break point.

It was the longest men’s Grand Slam final in history at 77 games and the longest fifth set, surpassing the 20 games from Roland Garros in 1927. By the clock, it was four hours, 16 minutes. While Roddick came in with the reputation as the bigger server, it was Federer who finished with 50 aces, nearly twice as many as Roddick. He also produced 107 winners, against only 38 unforced errors. And so, his 15th major title came on the same court as his first, six years earlier.

“I’m happy I broke the record here because this is always the tournament that meant the most to me,” Federer said. “It definitely feels like coming full circle, starting it here and ending it here.”

2011 Roland Garros semi-final
Roger Federer def. Novak Djokovic 7-6(5), 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(5)

Federer had beaten Djokovic seven months earlier at the Nitto ATP Finals in London – and then Djokovic went on a 43-match winning streak. Three of those came against Federer – in the Australian Open semi-finals, the Dubai final and the Indian Wells semi-finals. In truth, much of the pre-event anticipation surrounded a potential final matchup between Djokovic and Nadal – and the Spaniard's 44-1 tournament record.

Djokovic, looking for his first title at Roland Garros, sailed through the first five matches, including a walkover granted by Fabio Fognini in the quarter-finals. Federer, for his part, had five straight-sets victories, the last two against Wawrinka and Gael Monfils.

Facing a pair of set points in the 70-minute opening frame, Federer managed to force it to a tie-break, which he won. Taking four of the first five games, Federer won the second set and — though he didn’t know it at the time — Djokovic was confronted by some enormous odds; he would attempt to become the first player in 175 matches to beat Federer from a two-set deficit.

Djokovic rallied to win the third set, but the fourth-set tie-break, punctuated by Federer’s 18th ace of the match, proved unattainable. The Swiss reacted with an emotional celebration by his standards, particularly for a semi-final victory, wagging his finger and letting out a massive roar before launching a ball into the stands.

“It almost feels like I’ve won the tournament, which is not the case,” Federer said. Indeed, it would not come to pass as Federer fell to Nadal in the final – the best chance he would have for a second French title for the rest of his career.

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2012 London Olympics semi-final
Roger Federer def. Juan Martin del Potro 3-6, 7-6 (5), 19-17

In retrospect, this probably wasn’t a fair fight, for the London Olympics were played at Federer’s favorite tennis venue in the world – the All England Club. On Centre Court, the office where he did so much business over the years, Federer was usually infallible.

But when Del Potro, the genial Argentine, won the first set, Federer was forced to scramble. Federer continually came forward and served big when he had to, winning the second-set tie-break and surviving the long, emotionally draining third set. Federer converted only his second break point in the deciding set's the 35th game – three unforced errors hurt Del Potro badly – and the Swiss served it out in the 36th with a flourish.

At four hours, 26 minutes, it was the longest three-set men’s match of the Open era and locked down what would be his first individual Olympic medal. Four years earlier, Federer and countryman Wawrinka won the doubles in Beijing.

The final, against Great Britain’s Murray, was a rematch of the Wimbledon title match played less than one month earlier. Federer won that match in four sets, but Murray – perhaps the only player the Wimbledon crowd embraced more than Federer – was a straight-sets winner, leaving Federer with the silver medal.

2014 Nitto ATP Finals semi-final
Roger Federer def. Stan Wawrinka 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(6)

Federer, looking for his seventh title at the year-end event, appeared destined for a collision with Djokovic in the final. But an inspired effort from his fellow Swiss and a handful of heart-stopping escapes ultimately made their semi-final at the O2 Arena the main event.

Fast forward to the third set, where Wawrinka surged to a 5-3 lead and eventually carved out three match points. Federer saved each one with help from some sloppy work at net from Wawrinka, but there was more work to do in the tie-break. Federer won his serve at 5/6 – erasing match point No. 4 – and the final two points to close it out.

The match ran two hours and 48 minutes, but it felt infinitely longer than that. In fact, Federer was forced to withdraw from the final against Djokovic the next day due to his exertions.

One week later, however, the brilliance of Federer and Wawrinka resurfaced in the Davis Cup final. Playing in Lille against hosts France, Federer and Wawrinka each won a singles match and then paired in doubles to carry off Switzerland’s first title in the 103-year history of the event.

2017 Australian Open final
Roger Federer def. Rafael Nadal 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3

<a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/roge ... iew'>Roger Federer</a> lists the 2017 <a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/tournaments/ ... Australian Open</a> trophy after defeating <a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/rafa ... ew'>Rafael Nadal</a> in the final.
Photo Credit: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

As the years passed and the injuries mounted, it looked like Federer’s 2012 triumph at Wimbledon would be the last great victory of his career. The idea that the 35-year-old could win seven straight matches against the next generation of elite players seemed far-fetched at best. And then, Federer produced the Miracle of Melbourne.

After missing six months of tennis due to knee surgery, he began modestly enough, with victories over Jurgen Melzer and Noah Rubin, followed by a straight-sets effort against No. 10-ranked Tomas Berdych. He dropped a first-set tie-break to No. 5 seed Kei Nishikori in the fourth round but rallied to win in five sets, summoning some glorious memories of the past. Next were Mischa Zverev and No. 4 seed Stan Wawrinka – whom he edged in another barn-burning fifth set – leading to yet another final against his great rival from Spain.

Like so many of their previous matches, it eventually was distilled down into a single, conclusive set. Federer, down an early break, rallied to take it with a forehand winner that clipped the line. Nadal challenged the call but, after an awkward pause, it was upheld by replay.

“Against Rafa it’s always epic,” Federer said. “This one means a lot to me because he’s caused me problems over the years.”

The oldest major finalist in 43 years, Federer accepted the sterling trophy from Rod Laver, the Australian champion whose name is on the Melbourne stadium. It was Federer’s 18th major title; he would add two more, later that year at Wimbledon and at the 2018 Australian Open.

Honour In Defeat
2005 Tennis Masters Cup final
David Nalbandian def. Roger Federer 6-7(4), 6-7(11), 6-2, 6-1, 7-6(3)

One week after he thought his season was over, all packed for a Patagonia fishing vacation with family and friends, David Nalbandian suddenly found himself on a plane to Shanghai. Ranked No. 12 among ATP players, he got the call to compete in the Tennis Masters Cup when several qualifiers withdrew.

“I entered through the back door,” Nalbandian said later, “a lucky loser.” He would emerge, one week later, with one of the most scintillating victories in recent memory. Nalbandian, one of four Argentines in the year-end field, lost to Federer in three sets of round-robin play, as did Ivan Ljubicic and Guillermo Coria. Gaston Gaudio failed to win even a single game in the semi-final and Federer – winner of 11 titles in 2005 and loser of only three matches – was set to face Nalbandian, who defeated Nikolay Davydenko to reach the final.

There was Open Era history on the line for Federer, who was one victory from John McEnroe’s 82-3 record, set in 1984. The Swiss champion had won 35 consecutive matches and, astonishingly, 24 straight finals. Nalbandian had lost his four previous matches against Federer, and after dropping two tie-breaks – in the second, he failed to convert three set points and lost 13-11 – it appeared it would be five straight.

And then Nalbandian rallied to win the third and fourth sets, dropping only three games. The fifth and ultimate set, he said, was a “roller coaster". He actually led the fifth set 4-0, but Federer levelled it at 4-all and broke Nalbandian when he was serving for the match at 5-4. In the fifth-set tie-break, Nalbandian converted his fifth match point on a Federer miss in the net.

“I said to myself at the start of the fifth-set tie-break, ‘If there is a tie-break that I cannot lose in my career it is this one,’” Nalbandian said.

Federer himself was questionable to compete in Shanghai in 2005, having been on crutches just three weeks prior to the event with an ankle injury. But he recovered in time to produce several strong displays in Shanghai — none more memorable than the title match.

2006 Rome final
Rafael Nadal def. Roger Federer 6-7(0), 7-6(5), 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(5)

<a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/rafa ... ew'>Rafael Nadal</a> and <a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/roge ... iew'>Roger Federer</a> ahead of the 2006 Rome final.
Photo Credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Federer, the World No. 1, had already won seven majors by this time – but none of them came on clay, a surface seemingly created for the extraordinary skill set of the muscular Spaniard. Federer had been to the Rome final before, losing to Felix Mantilla three years earlier, and was destined to fall in two others, to Nadal in 2013 and, two years later, to Djokovic.

Still only 19, Nadal was the Internazionali BNL d’Italia defending champion and had amassed 52 consecutive victories on the clay, one behind the record set by Guillermo Vilas.

The final set was a spectacular microcosm of the match that ran five hours and five minutes. Nadal trailed 1-4 and, serving at 5-6, produced a double fault – the first of the match by either player – that led to two match points for Federer. In both cases, errant forehands allowed Nadal to escape. Leading the tie-break 5/3, another Federer failed forehand might have cost him the match, which Nadal wrapped up by winning the last four points.

Federer wound up winning more points (179-174), but the teenager had his fifth victory against the Swiss in six matches.

2008 Wimbledon final
Rafael Nadal def. Roger Federer 6-4, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-7(8), 9-7

Bjorn Borg, true tennis royalty, surveyed warm-ups for the championship match at the All England Club from the front row of the Royal Box. Regardless of the result, his tennis legacy would be in play. Federer was seeking his sixth consecutive Wimbledon title, one more than the record he shared with Borg. Meanwhile, Nadal was trying to become the first man to accomplish the Roland Garros-Wimbledon double since Borg, 28 years before.

“I cannot sleep,” the silver-haired Swede had joked a few days earlier. “No,” he said softly, holding up an elegant hand. “Records are meant to be broken.”

Federer had beaten Nadal in two previous SW19 finals, but the Spaniard had gradually adapted to the slippery surface, moving closer to the baseline, punching up his serve and taking greater risks with his groundstrokes. He won the first two sets, but Federer came back to take back-to-back tie-breaks and level the match. The drama, already suffocating, was exacerbated by three rain delays, a quaint reminder that there was life before the roof came to Centre Court.

Nadal broke Federer’s serve at 7-all in the fifth when a forehand sailed long. Down 0/15, Nadal chose to serve and volley for the first time in the match. Two winning volleys and a framed Federer backhand brought a third match point, which Federer erased with a fearless backhand return. Nadal, who converted his fourth match point when Federer’s forehand found the net, finished the match with tears in his eyes.

The match, which ended in near-darkness, required four hours, 48 minutes — Wimbledon's longest final on record, going back to 1877.

“I was just happy to be there, to be part of that final,” Borg said afterward. “That’s the best tennis match I’ve ever seen in my life.”

2011 US Open semi-final
Novak Djokovic def. Roger Federer 6-7(7), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 7-5

<a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/nova ... iew'>Novak Djokovic</a> and <a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/roge ... iew'>Roger Federer</a> at the 2011 <a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/tournaments/ ... erview'>US Open</a>.
Photo Credit: Al Bello/Getty Images

History, it is said, doesn’t repeat itself. But whoever said it first might want to reconsider that premise after this one. For the second consecutive year, Federer held two match points against Djokovic in the US Open semi-finals – and wound up losing.

This match represented a continuation of the charged-but-changing dynamic between the two champions. Federer had beaten Djokovic in the 2007 US Open final (in straight sets) and again two years later in the semi-finals. But in 2010, they were competing on a level playing field, trading blows with equal effectiveness. With Djokovic serving at 4-5 in the fifth set, Federer scored those two break points, doubling as match points, but they were erased with a pair of cool forehand winners. Djokovic broke Federer’s serve and served it out to advance to the final, where he lost to Nadal.

Their 2011 semi-final saw Federer win the first two, tight sets before Djokovic came back to force a deciding final frame. Federer raced out to a 5-3 lead and immediately pinned Djokovic down with two match points at 40/15. The Serbian's response? One of the boldest forehand winners in Grand Slam history. Djokovic won the last four games and this time defeated Nadal in the final for his third major title of the season.

“How can you play a shot like that on match point?” Federer asked later, referring to that fabulous forehand. “Maybe he’s been doing it for 20 years, so for him it was very normal. You’ve got to ask him.”

Djokovic’s answer: “Yeah, I tend to do that on match points. It kind of works.”

2019 Wimbledon final
Novak Djokovic def. Roger Federer 7-6(5), 1-6, 7-6(4), 4-6, 13-12(3)

Here was one last, terrific opportunity to seize a 21st Grand Slam singles title and extend his all-time record. The fact that Federer was one month shy of his 38th birthday, that he was attempting to become the oldest man to win a major in the professional era, was almost beside the point.

The chance came in the fifth set on Centre Court, serving at 8-7, up 40-15 on Djokovic. The first match point passed quickly when Federer’s forehand was wide. The second was literally a passing shot, crosscourt, from Djokovic. And so, Djokovic re-established the equilibrium and, at 12-all, went on to win Wimbledon’s first-ever championship final-set tie-breaker.

“I don’t know what I feel right now,” Federer said afterward. “I just feel like it’s such an incredible opportunity missed, I can’t believe it.”

Ultimately, Federer won more points (218-204) and hit vastly more winners (94-54), but couldn’t close the deal against his younger rival. It was the fifth Wimbledon title for Djokovic and would set up a thrilling race with Nadal for the most men's Grand Slam singles titles.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/federer ... le-matches

[Jacques D.]

Przez całe lata budowałem na tym forum solidne ściany tekstu i, w ostatnim czasie, postanowiłem już tego typu działalność zawiesić (i forumową w ogóle, przynajmniej na jakiś czas), ale przyszedł TEN dzień, bez wątpienia największe odejście w historii tego sportu (Rafole mogą o takim pomarzyć, nawet z 50 Szlemami na koncie) i głupio byłoby raz jeszcze takiej ściany nie zbudować, zwłaszcza, że miałem okazję śledzić tę karierę od początku do końca.

Zacznę od tego, że sama skala tego odejścia pokazuje, z jaką karierą mamy tu do czynienia. W telegraficznym skrócie: najbardziej spektakularną i niesamowitą, ale również, spoglądającego głębiej (czyt. nie tak, jak to jest przedstawiane w mediach) najbardziej paradoksalną i najdziwniejszą, prawdopodobnie również najważniejszą w historii tenisa, przynajmniej tego czasów nowożytnych.


Żeby sobie to wszystko jakoś uporządkować, podzielę tę karierę RF na 3 oczywiste okresy:

1) 98 – 03 – faza młodzieńcza. Mamy tu tenisistę z niewątpliwie wielkim potencjałem, ewidentnie jednym z największym w swoim pokoleniu, w zasadzie kompletnego technicznie, ale i świetnie wyglądającego w tych bardziej fizycznych aspektach, z ponadprzeciętną zdolnością zagrywania niezwykle spektakularnych piłek. Ogólnie wszystko się tu zgadza poza głową, bo młody RF wygląda na, niestety, tenisistę dość roztrzepanego, który w kluczowych momentach podejmuje kiepskie wybory, często się podpala, a bogactwo własnego repertuaru zdaje się go czasem przerastać. Mówiło się wtedy (jak 7-8 lat później o Djokoviciu), że, jak na tę skalę talentu, Szwajcar dość wolno się rozwija i, być może, owego talentu nigdy w pełni nie zrealizuje. Styl: s&v, choć nieortodoksyjne, z nowocześniejszymi elementami i ponadprzeciętną jak na tak agresywnego gracza fazą defensywną. Jeśli chodzi o mnie, zawsze lubiłem na Szwajcara patrzeć, szczególnie wówczas i dziś świetnie mi się do tego wraca, bo jego gra była wtedy najbliżej moich preferencji (dużo siatki), ale kibicować mu trochę nie pozwala mi jego charakter jeźdźca bez głowy.

2) 04 – 07 – faza szczytowa. Zawodnik w zenicie swych możliwości fizycznych, z tenisem wyrastającym ponad resztę touru wielokrotnie, czerpiący radość ze swojej gry. Najwyższy punkt: 06, najlepiej zagrany sezon współczesnego tenisa. W 07 odrobinkę już słabsza forma niż w 3 poprzednich sezonach, ale to jak powiedzieć, że w złotych czasach Pink Floyd Animals jest słabszą płytą od Wish you were here. Pewnie trochę tak, ale i jedno, i drugie i tak jest arcydziełem. Przy czym pojawiają się i tutaj niestety już zapowiedzi późnego RF w postaci zaskakująco gładkich jak na sportowca w takiej formie porażek z Nadalem na cegle. Nie mówię, że miał te spotkania wygrywać, ale jednak styl i łatwość od początku budziły podejrzenia. I mnie niestety skutecznie odwodziły od bycia zapamiętałym Federastą (czego dopełniała medialna narracja o tenisowym nadczłowieku, której nigdy nie lubiłem). Przy czym, człowiek mało jednak chciał o tym pamiętać, ze względu na to, JAK ten facet grał. Kto się na ten czas załapał, ten wie, jaki klimat wokół tenisa budowała wówczas postać RF. W skrócie: to było coś więcej niż tenis, unikatowe połączenie ponadprzeciętnej skuteczności, perfekcyjnej wręcz techniki i świetnego przygotowania fizycznego, w połączeniu z naturalnym talentem Szwajcara do regularnego zagrywania piłek wydających się skrajnie trudnymi, przyniosły niespotykany i wcześniej, i później efekt jakiejś szczególnej magii. Zdawało się, że on naprawdę unosi się nad kortem – nie miał tego Sampras, choć jego gra była monumentalna, rzemieślniczy Rafole, choć genialni w swym rzemiośle, mogą o tym tylko pomarzyć, być może miałby to Laver, ale grał zbyt dawno i w zbyt odmiennych warunkach, by móc to miarodajnie ocenić, a żaden inny estetycznie grający zawodnik nigdy nie egzystował w choćby zbliżonej do ówczesnego RF skali fizyczności, efektywności i dominacji nad resztą. Nie znoszę tych wszystkich frywolnych porównań do sztuki, która jest dla mnie w zasadzie świętością, ale w ówczesnym tenisie Szwajcara było coś z artyzmu i magii, którą trudno oddać w słowach, jego ówczesny, umiejętnie budowany wizerunek arystokratycznego estety w doskonale skrojonych garniturach i drogich Rolexach (plus inteligencja i umiejętność składnego wypowiadania się, jak na sportowca, całkiem niezłe) jedynie dopełniał tego wrażenia. Właściwy człowiek na właściwym miejscu, chciałoby się powiedzieć, jeśli chodzi o reprezentowanie tenisa jako dyscypliny i bycie jej „twarzą”.
Styl: allround, z czasem coraz mniej agresywny i coraz bardziej oddalający się od siatki, ale wciąż niezwykle estetyczny i efektowny.

3) 08 – 22 – faza dojrzała/schyłkowa. Nie ma co owijać w bawełnę: mamy tu do czynienia z najbardziej spektakularnym roztrwonieniem przewagi w historii dyscypliny. Już początek wyglądał apokaliptycznie: AO 08, RG 08, W 08, AO 09 – cała seria przytłaczających, zapadających w pamięć i historycznie decydujących porażek, doprawiona USO 09 – za dużo tego było, jak na kogoś, kto jeszcze chwilę wcześniej dominował w sposób absolutny, a wkrótce okazało się przecież, że to był dopiero początek. Później, zaś, przyszły kolejne delicje: USO 10, RG 11, USO 11, W 14-15, USO 15, IW 18, wreszcie nieszczęsne W 19. Rozumiem doskonale usprawiedliwianie pojedynczych porażek, nawet bardzo bolesnych i spektakularnych – każdy ma je na koncie, nawet jeśli jest mistrzem. W tym przypadku, jednak, jest tego TYLE – tyle złych wyborów, tyle utraconych przewag, tyle sytuacji, w których grał lepiej i tego nie wykorzystał, że nie da się przejść obok tego obojętnie. Na Januszy tenisowych magia nazwiska „Federer” zawsze będzie działać tak samo mocno, ale już u ludzi nawet jedynie względnie zaangażowanych w dyscyplinę RF stracił, jak sądzę, dość mocno na wizerunku – nie byłoby też tak łatwo niektórym koniunkturalistom tenisowego świata podważać jego koźlego statusu, gdyby nie to, co działo się w tej karierze pomiędzy 08 a 19. O ile do 08 h2h z Nadalem było jedynie ciekawostką i mało ważnym argumentem w dyskusjach o tenisowej wyższości, świadectwem tego, że nawet największy mistrz może mieć swoją nemezis, tak od czasu, kiedy jednoznacznie przegrał rywalizację z Nadalem na wszystkich Szlemowych frontach, jak również całkowicie oddał pole Djokoviciowi w swoim koronnym turnieju WS, argument dotyczący rywalizacji z nimi zrobił się bardzo poważny. Tak, starał się to odkupić tym 17, tak, grał wtedy świetnie i po części nawiązał do najlepszych lat, ale, niestety, w ostatecznym rozrachunku nie zmieniło to praktycznie nic i pozostaje w cieniu porażek.
Oczywiście, na tę późną część kariery po części rzutują słabe wybory opiekunów aż do czasu Ljubicicia (w czym zgadzam się z Tym – który – ze – mną – nie – rozmawia), a także problemy zdrowotne. Zwłaszcza te ostatnie mogłyby usprawiedliwiać Szwajcara (i tak znakomicie się trzymał), problem w tym, że tu ani na wiek, ani na zdrowie zrzucić się nie da, bo on do tych decydujących meczów dochodził i w nich fizycznie nie odstawał, ba, był na tyle dobry, by grać pięciosetówki z będącym w szczycie formy Djokoviciem i nawet, parę razy, mieć go już na widelcu. I chyba nawet najwytrwalsi obrońcy Szwajcara zgodzą się ze stwierdzeniem, że RF nie był mentalnie gotowy udźwignąć statusu, wielkości, marki, które sam sobie przed 2008 tak imponująco wypracował. Cóż, dobra lekcja dla niektórych, że każdy, nawet najgenialniejszy zawodnik zawsze będzie miał jakąś słabość i ażeby nie sprowadzać tenisa do jednej tenisowej postaci, tworząc jakieś absurdalne konstrukcje.
Styl: allround, czasem jedynie umiarkowanie ofensywny baseline z dużo większą dozą rotacji awansującej niż wcześniej. Skalpel ze slajsa zmienia, fh i bh, z których sypały się winnery nieuchronnie słabną (chociaż za Edberga ładnie odkurzył i na nowo wyostrzył te zagrania). Dla mnie, oczywiście, wciąż przyjemny do oglądania, choć słabość mentalna rzuca się cieniem na ową przyjemność.


Powoli już kończąc, to też nie jest tak, że można stwierdzić, iż ten Federer zupełnie się do tenisa pod względem mentalnym nie nadawał – absurdalnie byłoby tak powiedzieć o 20 – krotnym mistrzu wielkoszlemowym. Po prostu nie zdał tego ostatecznego egzaminu, jaki czeka na wielkiego sportowca: poradzić sobie z własnymi słabościami, zatryumfować również wówczas, kiedy nie ma się przytłaczającej przewagi, obronić swoją twierdzę, kiedy młodszy przeciwnik naciska i się nie boi. Oczywiście, tego egzaminu zdawać nikt nie ma obowiązku, można skończyć jako zwycięzca, zarazem pochylając czoło z godnością i stwierdzając, iż „mój czas w historii dobiegł końca” (jak to uczynił Sampras). Federer zrobiłby tak, gdyby skończył po Wimbledonie 2012, ale tak się nie stało, wybrał pierwszą opcję i na ideale powstała poważna rysa.

Jak wiele tak naprawdę zmieniła ta późna odsłona kariery RF? Do końca 2007 roku postrzegany był jako posiadacz wszystkich najważniejszych cech, jakie winien mieć wielki tenisista: techniki, przygotowania fizycznego, regularności, efektywności. W wyniku tego, co się stało od 08 odpadła ta ostatnia. Wiemy już dziś, że z maksymalną wydajnością i skutecznością gry, byciem „urodzonym zwycięzcą” w tenisie utożsamiani będą w pierwszej kolejności inni. Z trzema pierwszymi cechami, zaś, będziemy kojarzyć Federera zapewne już zawsze. Rachunek nie wychodzi zatem idealnie, choć i chyba nie tak najgorzej.


Napisałem na początku, że to największe odejście, którego Rafole będą mogli pozazdrościć (zwłaszcza Djokovic). Nie chodzi tu jedynie o medialny huk (na ten będą mogli i oni liczyć, szczególnie Nadal), ale o jakiś szczególnie odświętny i magiczny nastrój, jaki się wokół finału tej kariery roztacza – i to pomimo utracenia rekordu i wszystkich tych porażek. Napisałem też, że to najważniejsza kariera w tenisie. Mamy bowiem do czynienia z być może ostatnim wielkim stylistą w historii dyscypliny, takim, który połączył „stare” z „nowym”. Finał jego tenisowej drogi to, zarazem, w pewnym sensie, zwieńczenie historii całego klasycznego, technicznego tenisa, a jego upadek to początek dominacji fizycznego wydania dyscypliny.

To ostatnie skrywa oczywiście ową mroczną rolę RF w dziejach, jako tego, który mógł, ale nie uratował tenisa przed ostatecznym tryumfem brutalnej efektywności nad estetyką. Można oczywiście traktować to z przymrużeniem oka („utyskiwanie zgredów”) albo autentycznie go z tego powodu nie lubić (jeśli się takim „zgredem” jest). Tak czy inaczej, nie da się zaprzeczyć, że porażki Federera z Rafole to coś więcej niż tylko przegrane z dwoma rywalami, nawet jeśli wielkimi. Muszę jednak przyznać, że w tej chwili nie zaprząta to moich myśli zbyt mocno; zapewne dlatego, że ustępuje świadomości tego, co się właśnie kończy. Nawet jeśli RF był boleśnie niedoskonały jako tenisowa postać, nawet jeśli odegrał w historii nie najweselszą rolę, to jeśli miałbym komuś wyjaśniać, na czym polega dla mnie wyjątkowość i magia tego sportu, co wciąż, mimo upływu lat (zwłaszcza, kiedy przypomnę sobie, jak oglądałem na żywo), to, wyłączając jednoosobową kategorię, w której jest miejsce tylko dla Martiny i niektóre fragmenty tenisa lat dawnych, od razu przywołałbym występy RF w jego najlepszych czasach. Są zawodnicy, których bardziej lubię, są tacy, których bardziej szanuję, ale z występami Federera w sezonach 04 – 07 może się równać (emocjonalnie, bo jakościowo to raczej nic) bardzo, bardzo niewiele rzeczy, jakie widziałem w tenisie.


Najlepszy występ: sam nie wiem, było tego tak wiele, niech będzie, że coś pomiędzy finałem US Open 04, finałem TMC 06 i najlepszymi występami na trawie (np. Wimbledony 04 i 05). Co najlepsze, przeciwnicy nie grali jakoś tragicznie (Blake nawet chwilami bardzo dobrze). Lepiej się grać w tenisa już chyba po prostu nie da.

Najlepszy mecz z udziałem: jak na ironię, całościowo patrząc - te przegrane. AO 05, Rzym 06, itp., itd…

Najlepszy pojedynczy punkt: było tego zbyt wiele, ale z jakiegoś powodu ten poniżej od razu przychodzi mi na myśl:



Kwestie pozatenisowe: wiadomo, że wizerunek do bólu układny i poprawny politycznie, ale czuć, że Szwajcar jest inteligentnym i dość refleksyjnym (cecha, która niekoniecznie pomogła na korcie) jak na zawodowego sportowca facetem, który czasem, rzadko, bo rzadko, ale jednak, potrafił powiedzieć coś ciekawego spoza „protokołu”.
Nigdy też nie zrozumiem wjazdów na Mirę. Widać gołym okiem, że bez tego fundamentu nawet niewielkiej części osiągnięć RF by nie było.


Dzięki, Roger, to było naprawdę COŚ Cię oglądać.