On July 2, 2001, future Wimbledon king Roger Federer defeated seven-time champion Pete Sampras, 7-6 (7), 5-7, 6-4, 6-7 (2), 7-5 in three hours and 41 minutes in the fourth round. It was the first and only match between two of the greatest players of all time, and they both made sure to deliver a remarkable one, with full-attack grass tennis that we would often miss on the holy courts of Wimbledon after that.
Federer was the next star at 19 years and 10 months, heading to the All England Club after reaching the first quarter-finals of the Major in Paris and winning the first ATP crown earlier that year in Milan.
On the other hand, Sampras was not in good shape that year, although he was always dangerous on those courts, chasing his fifth straight title and eighth overall and hoping to add his name to the record books once again.
It wasn’t for him that day though, losing before the quarterfinals for the first time since 1991 and playing just one more match at Wimbledon a year later. Pete had 31 consecutive wins at Wimbledon and 56 in the last 57 meetings before Roger ended that streak, beginning his third winless campaign and becoming the first player to win a five-set victory over Pete in the cathedral of tennis.
Federer earned ten more points than Sampras, fending off nine of the 11 break opportunities and delivering four service breaks in 14 chances to cross the finish line and dethrone the legend.
They reached 174 service winners with 370 points (89 for Roger, 85 for Pete), and 47% of the points didn’t see a rally at all! Additionally, 325 exchanges ended in the shortest range to four shots, and the Swiss forged a 170-155 lead on them, doing more damage with the opening forehand or volley to generate the crucial difference.
Pete had a 24-19 lead in mid-range rallies with five to eight shots, which wasn’t enough to get him to the finish line, with just two points coming to more than eight shots, an excellent indicator of how fast. it was the duel.
Federer takes the bright side of losses
The impossible happened in Halle on Wednesday when 10-time champion Roger Federer crashed in the round of 16 after losing to Canadian tennis star Felix Auger-Aliassime.
“Today I needed time to digest the third set, I was not happy with how it ended, it was similar to the one in Geneva. I took my time before going into (the) press conference because I didn’t want to say bad things played out of emotions, “Federer said.
Reflecting on his extended phase of rehab after undergoing a second knee surgery last year, the 39-year-old said the period in which he was trying to regain full fitness was a major challenge for him.
“The rehabilitation process was a great challenge for me. Everyone who has had multiple surgeries knows what I am talking about. Things are not easy anymore and that is sometimes the biggest concern, “said the champion.
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