This is not some best performance or stats article or anything like that. This is just a thank You from my side to one of the greatest tennis players of all time and someone who made me a tennis fan and millions of others in the first place. We have done articles about the best performances of Roger Federer and about his great Rivalries with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic so we won’t get into all that. Roger Federer is to tennis what Sachin Tendulkar is to cricket. He had the same impact as Sachin and they both played for 24 years.
Roger Federer got famous when he beat Pete Sampras for the Wimbledon title in 2003 and from there till 2010 it was the era of Roger Federer as he won the 3 Grand Slam titles left right and center. He won the Australian Open, US Open and Wimbledon 5 times each in that time period. These are staggering numbers and he was number 1 in the world for 237 consecutive weeks. Roger Federer was the first superstar of the 2000s era and the Empire that he built for himself was amazing. He was also the first male player to win 20 Grand Slam titles and the French Open in 2009 will be his most special as this helped him complete the career Grand Slam.
I first started watching Roger Federer from 2005 onwards and was hooked into Tennis from that point. His big beaming serve was the highlight and his backhand shots were his trademark. He hit so many aces that he won half the matches through his serve which no one could match. Watching him was like watching an artist at the peak of his powers because the things he used to do with a tennis racquet was beyond imagination. I always used to cheer for him no matter the opponent and the arenas would become home grounds for the great Swiss.
This Thank You would not be complete without talking about the other 2 players who were a part of the Big 3 and they are Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Roger and Rafa had one of the all time great Tennis Rivalries and their 2008 Wimbledon Final is considered as the greatest tennis match of all time. Rafa has a 24-16 Head to Head. His Rivalry against Novak was closer but the 2019 Wimbledon Final was the most heartbreaking for all Roger Federer fans. Novak Djokovic leads 27-23 in this rivalry. These 3 have dominated Tennis for 19 years and have won 64 Grand Slam titles out of 76.
I knew this day would come soon as from the last 3 years you have been plagued with injuries and surgeries but as a Federer fan I hoped that you will get one last hurrah but I am happy that next week at the Laver Cup you will get to play with Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray in the same team for Europe and sign off in style. We will all be seated for the Last Ride.
Thank You Roger Federer for everything you have done for tennis on and off the court and for inspiring millions of young boys and girls that they can also become great tennis players. I will miss seeing you and your serves and your backhand shots.
With all the love from an ordinary Fan …
