Roger Federer with the French Open trophy in 2009. © FIRO / SID
Roger Federer has decided which stroke was probably the most important of his career.
29. September 2021
Author: apa/sda
In an interview with the magazine GQ In response to the question that is difficult to answer, he calls a defended break ball at the French Open 2009 in the round of 16 against the German Tommy Haas. That year after the early retirement of Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, Federer unexpectedly mutated into the top favorite at the Paris Grand Slam tournament on clay, which he had never won before.
But in the round of 16 against Haas, the Swiss was already clearly behind with 6: 7.5: 7.3: 4 and Haas breakball. On the German’s cross-return, he ran around the backhand and shot his forehand across the court with full risk. And indeed: the ball scratched the line, the breakball was blocked. Then Federer turned the game, later won the French Open against the Swede Robin Söderling for the only time and set the record of the American Pete Sampras of 14 Grand Slam victories.
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Federer attributes the most important blow of his career to a match against Tommy Haas. © APA / epa / CLAUDIO ONORATI
After that one stroke, the whole swing in the game changed. If the ball had missed the line, it would probably have lost, says Federer in retrospect.-
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