LONDON – Roger Federer is building something of a reputation as an on-court crier, and he remembers well the first time he wept after winning a match.
It was July 2, 2001, at Wimbledon, the tournament that means more to him than any other. Federer was 19, up-and-coming and making his Centre Court debut in the fourth round when he stunned Pete Sampras, who was 29, seeded No. 1 and seeking an eighth Wimbledon title.
“I used to cry almost after every single match I lost as a junior. It’s not at all a feeling like it’s the end of the world – of course not, because tennis is not everything – but some people can control it, some people can’t,” Federer said. “Crying after a victory is something that started when I beat Pete.”
Back then, Federer had yet to reach the semifinals, let alone win a title, at any Grand Slam event. Eight years later, as Wimbledon begins on Monday with a roof over Centre Court for the first time, Federer arrives at the All England Club bidding to break Sampras’ career record of 14 major championships.
Federer will be aiming for his sixth Wimbledon title one year after a tear-inducing loss to Rafael Nadal in the longest singles final in tournament history, a 4-hour, 48-minute test of skill and will that ended 9-7 in the fifth set as darkness descended.
That disappointment notwithstanding, Federer eagerly awaits returning to the grass-court Grand Slam.
“When you get there, you start to get into your frame of mind: It’s just, like, ‘All right, let’s go again here. I know what it takes. Settle in. Enjoy being a member,”’ Federer said with a little laugh. “I love going there, so it takes only a couple of hours almost to feel, like, at home.”
There was something apt about the way he tied Sampras’ Grand Slam mark by completing a career Grand Slam at the French Open, a tournament the American never won and that the Swiss star came so close to winning, year after year, before finally breaking through this month.
There also would be something fitting if Federer surpasses Sampras at Wimbledon, a tournament that means so much to both men – and where their paths crossed all those years ago.
On the day Federer won at Roland Garros, Sampras said he expected Federer to get No. 15 “in the next couple of weeks.” Asked whether he would travel to the All England Club this year, Sampras replied: “We’ll sort of see what happens.”
Many current players believe Federer is set to re-establish his supremacy at Wimbledon. As 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt put it: “Roger’s going to be the one to beat.” (AP)