The newest inductee into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, Roger Federer, enjoyed a career spanning more than two decades and over 1,500 singles matches, of which he remarkably won more than 80%.
The Swiss icon also incredibly never retired mid-match, a testament not only to his commitment to the sport but also to the respect he held for his rivals. Even during moments of clear struggle, Federer always chose to see it through to the end.
The One That Got Away
As with all the highs, there are always lows, and even Federer was not exempt. Across his 157 Tour-level finals, he won 103 and lost 54. That total includes 11 defeats in Major finals, making him the only men’s player in tennis to both win and lose a final at each of the four Major tournaments.
And now, more than three years removed from retirement, Federer has finally revealed which defeat cut the deepest and the match he would choose to replay. Speaking in an interview after being selected for the Hall of Fame Class of 2026, Federer confessed:
“The 2009 US Open final against Juan Martin del Potro. I should have won that one. Back then I had back pain in the warm-up and then missed so many chances. That was one of the matches I shouldn’t have lost. It also broke my streak at the US Open.”
Remarkably, entering that match, Federer was riding a 40-match winning streak at the US Open, a run that included all five of his titles from 2004 to 2008. The final against del Potro itself was a classic five-set battle, one in which Federer’s tactics were questioned afterwards as he repeatedly attacked rather than avoided the Argentine’s devastating forehand. Astonishingly, Federer would never win another title at Flushing Meadows.
Were the Wimbledon Losses Tougher?
While Federer’s explanation is more than justified, many fans have long believed his two toughest losses came at Wimbledon, both against his greatest rivals. The first was the iconic 2008 final against Rafael Nadal, a match widely regarded as the greatest of all time.
The second was the dramatic 2019 final against Novak Djokovic, Federer’s last Slam final, where he held two championship points on his own serve but ultimately failed to close out a match in which he won 14 more points overall.
Federer acknowledged that these were painful defeats, but said he felt more at peace with them. Nadal, he admitted, “deserved it so much” in 2008, while the 2019 loss bothered him less because “I really had played well.”
It is always fascinating when an athlete opens up about their most vulnerable moments. And while Federer’s career remains one of the sport’s most celebrated legacies, for the Swiss maestro, the 2009 US Open final will forever be the one that got away.
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