The one Grand Slam final that Roger Federer ‘felt bad’ about winning

Follow us on Google Discover

Roger Federer finished his career with 103 ATP titles, 20 of which came on the grandest stages in professional tennis.

Federer won the Australian Open six times, the French Open once, the US Open five times and clinched a record eight Wimbledon championships.

The Swiss legend dominated the mid-2000s, emerging victorious in 11 out of 16 Grand Slam events from 2004 to 2007.

By 2009, he had already surpassed Pete Sampras’ record for the most men’s singles major titles in history, and was being dubbed by many as the greatest of all time.

After winning Wimbledon that season, Federer went three years without lifting a Grand Slam trophy, before finally ending the drought with a victory that he ‘felt bad’ about.

The major victory that Roger Federer felt bad about in 2012

In 2012, he made the final in SW19 for the eighth time and was faced with home hope Andy Murray.

Murray was looking to become the first British man to hoist the singles title at the All England Club since Fred Perry in 1936.

The Scot took the first set 6-4, but couldn’t capitalise on his early lead, and fell to the third seed, who secured his 17th major.

When asked after the match in an interview with CNN how he felt about dashing the hopes of an entire British nation, Federer responded: “Bad, I didn’t feel good about it.

“I was disappointed for Andy, but I think his emotions were nice to see because it shows how dearly he cares about tennis and how much he would like to win a Grand Slam.

“That’s why I think he’s going to make it, but it did feel bad, you know, crushing maybe many people’s dreams here in this country, but I am convinced that Andy will win Grand Slams.

“Looking back, I’m happy we were able to play such a great final because there was so much on the line for both of us.

“[It was] a difficult day all around, starting outdoors, finishing indoors, and then the occasion.

“It was always going to finish in tears for either one of us, and it actually did for both of us. I was very emotional as well, sharing the moment with family and friends.”

Andy Murray’s comeback after losing the 2012 Wimbledon final

Following his heartbreak at Wimbledon that year, Murray went on to win the gold medal at the London Olympics later that summer, beating Federer in the final on the same court he had lost to him on a month prior.

He then won his first Grand Slam title at the US Open that season, beating Novak Djokovic in the final to hold the trophy aloft at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Murray reached the final of the Australian Open in 2013 and returned to the championship match at Wimbledon again, this time pitted against Djokovic.

In straight sets, the 2012 runner-up defeated the Serb, finally putting an end to the 77-year-long British drought in South West London.