Twenty time Grand Slam champion, Roger Federer turned professional 21 years ago in 1998. The Swiss Maestro has played 1,489 matches in his historic career till date and has also been involved in many epic battles on the court. It is difficult to choose the most iconic match that Roger Federer has ever played.
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However, the 38-year-old termed the 2001 Wimbledon Championships encounter against Pete Sampras as the most memorable match of his career. The Swiss suggested that match made his hands cold as it was his first match on the Centre Court at Wimbledon and that too against his idol, Pete Sampras.
He said in an interview, “Pete Sampras 2001 Wimbledon. Then I lost to Tim Henman in the quarters but it was my first time on the Centre Court at Wimbledon, my hands were ice-cold.”
Federer also further added, “I was hitting the ball with Pete. I was like, Oh my god, that’s so cool. That was special because Pete was my hero, still my friend today. It will always be there as the No. 1 for some reason.”
Roger Federer has won 8 Wimbledon titles in his career. However, his major breakthrough came at the Wimbledon Championships 2001, where he faced the four-time defending champion and all-time Grand Slam leader, Pete Sampras. The then 19-year-old Roger Federer went on to win the match in a thrilling five-setter – 6-7, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6, 5-7 to knock the defending champion out in the fourth round.
In an interview, Pete Sampras also recalled his fourth-round loss at the 2001 Wimbledon Championships. The American suggested that is defeat against Federer was the end of an era.
Talking about the match, Pete Sampras said, “Very difficult. At the time it was just a tennis match. From today’s point of view, it was the end of an era, for me it was the end at Wimbledon, Federer’s time started.”
