Roger Federer is a player who went there, saw it and got the t-shirt as a professional tennis player.
Going down as one of the greatest players to ever play the game, Federer won 20 Grand Slam titles, including a record-breaking eight at Wimbledon.
The Swiss star was a bit of a slow burner in the world of tennis and it wasn’t until he knocked Pete Sampras out of Wimbledon in 2001 that he really came into the spotlight.
It’s likely to be a quiz question that completely slips under the radar when it comes to establishing who actually beat Federer following his famous win over Sampras.
That man was none other than Tim Henman and after the Great Britain star had knocked out Sampras’ conqueror, he quickly said something that would later be proved spot on.
Photo by Stephen White/CameraSport via Getty ImagesThe warning Roger Federer gave Tim Henman after losing to him at Wimbledon
Given that Federer was still making his way up the rankings after beating Sampras, nobody was really giving him a chance to win the tournament.
Instead, the talk in England was centred around the draw opening up for Henman to finally reach a final and ultimately claim his first Grand Slam title.
Henman was down to play wildcard Goran Ivanisevic in one semi-final, with Pat Rafter taking on Andre Agassi in the other.
Federer was quizzed on whether 2001 would be Henman’s year and it’s fair to say that he perhaps didn’t give the answer which the Great British public were hoping for.
He said in his press conference: “Well, it’s going to be very tough, I think for him because, I mean, he had some tough matches. He had a five-setter – four setter now. He plays Goran now, who is very dangerous right now. First of all, he has to get through that one. But then, even tougher opponents are waiting for him. It’s going to be very tough.
Henman’s golden opportunity was at Wimbledon in 2001
Had Centre Court had a roof in 2001 it looks almost certain that Henman would have got himself into a Wimbledon final.
After taking the third set 6-0 to go 2-1 up, Henman looked to be dominating a fatigued Ivanisevic but the rain came, the Croatian regrouped and the rest, as they say, is history.
Henman lost in four Wimbledon semi-finals and finished his career heartbroken and never managing to get over the line when it came to the tournament.
This particular tournament was absolutely his chance to win one but sadly, as he so often was, Federer proved to be right!