Roger Federer enjoyed phenomenal success on the court before calling time on his glittering career in 2022.
Taylor Fritz loves Federer’s 2006 season in particular, where the Swiss icon lost just five of his 97 matches.
Federer has also been praised by Dominic Thiem in recent times, with the veteran having garnered so much respect for his efforts over the years.
He left the game with a total of 103 ATP Tour-level titles, with his success including a superb 20 Grand Slam titles.
Federer’s eight Wimbledon titles are more than any other player, with his six Australian Open titles behind only Novak Djokovic.
What Roger Federer said was the biggest heartbreak of his career
But as with every other elite sport, it wasn’t always smooth sailing for the legendary figure, who opened up on his biggest heartbreak ahead of his farewell at the 2022 Laver Cup.
READ MORE: The prediction Roger Federer made about Novak Djokovic after he won the French Open in 2023
“Probably Wimbledon 2008,” he told Eurosport. “Just because of the way it ended, in the darkness, with Rafa (Nadal). There was so much on the line it needed a winner and it went his way. It was heartbreak, yeah.”
What happened in the 2008 Wimbledon final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal?
Poor weather unfortunately overshadowed the excitement of another Federer and Nadal clash, with the final taking almost seven hours due to rain delays.
But it finished with Nadal securing a thrilling and simply unforgettable 6-4, 6-4, 6-7(5-7), 6-7(8-10), 9-7 win over Federer.
READ MORE: I beat Roger Federer in his last ever match at Wimbledon and now I’ve won eight ATP titles
The latter did his utmost to complete a stunning comeback as darkness arrived on Centre Court, but it ultimately wasn’t meant to be.
It represented just one of two Wimbledon titles for the Spaniard, who notably brought an end to five years of Federer dominance in London.
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Score |
| 2003 | Roger Federer (1/8) | Mark Philippoussis | 7–6(7–5), 6–2, 7–6(7–3) |
| 2004 | Roger Federer (2/8) | Andy Roddick | 4–6, 7–5, 7–6(7–3), 6–4 |
| 2005 | Roger Federer (3/8) | Andy Roddick | 6–2, 7–6(7–2), 6–4 |
| 2006 | Roger Federer (4/8) | Rafael Nadal | 6–0, 7–6(7–5), 6–7(2–7), 6–3 |
| 2007 | Roger Federer (5/8) | Rafael Nadal | 7–6(9–7), 4–6, 7–6(7–3), 2–6, 6–2 |
| 2008 | Rafael Nadal (1/2) | Roger Federer | 6–4, 6–4, 6–7(5–7), 6–7(8–10), 9–7 |
Sharing his thoughts for BBC Sport at the time, another legend in John McEnroe said: “What made the final so great was a combination of things. It was obviously the players, the magnitude of the situation, playing the Wimbledon final, and certainly the way it panned out.
“The battle that Roger was having with Rafa but also with himself, squandering the lead in the second set and getting way down and then having to pull out two sets in the tie-break.”
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