Roger Federer dominated men’s tennis throughout the mid-2000s, but as the ‘big four’ era emerged, his success at Grand Slams began to dry up.
The Swiss star claimed 15 of his 20 major titles before 2010, having been the outright best player in the world on every surface except clay during that time period.
After that, however, Federer no longer had to compete with just Rafael Nadal, but also Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.
Following his triumph at the 2010 Australian Open, Federer endured his longest Grand Slam drought since winning his first, lasting until the 2012 Wimbledon championships.
He beat Murray to hoist the title at the All England Club that season, but would then go through another drought that tennis legend John McEnroe thought would last until he retired.
John McEnroe’s comments about Roger Federer from 2013
At Wimbledon in 2013, Federer recorded his worst result at a Grand Slam since 2003, crashing out in the second round to Sergiy Stakhovsky.
The upset loss was incredibly shocking, and one that resulted in a big debate over how much Federer had left in him.
Serena Williams picked Roger Federer as the G.O.A.T.
McEnroe weighed in on that debate and was not optimistic about the then 32-year-old.
As reported by ABC News, the American said of Federer’s chances at future Grand Slams: “To me, it’s obviously going to be a lot more difficult at this stage.
“I don’t see at this stage him being able to go through all seven rounds and have to beat at least two of these top three guys.”
Djokovic, Nadal and Murray had split every Grand Slam title between them up to that point since Federer’s 2012 Wimbledon victory.
- 2012 US Open Winner: Murray
- 2013 Australian Open Winner: Djokovic
- 2013 Roland Garros Winner: Nadal
- 2013 Wimbledon Winner: Murray
McEnroe added: “Maybe he would use that type of thing as an incentive. When you’ve won 17, you clearly think you can win another one.
“To me, there comes a point, even as great as Roger has been for so many years, that it catches up to you a little bit.
“I personally think that at this stage it’s going to be quite, quite difficult for him to win another one.”
McEnroe’s prediction was not entirely foolish, as Federer was certainly the worst of the four at the time, and, of course, the oldest.
It did seem as if his comments would age well too, as Federer took nearly five years to add to his Grand Slam tally once again.
But ultimately, he ended the prolonged dry spell when he defeated his biggest rival, Nadal, in the 2017 Australian Open final; one of the most thrilling matches of all time.
Federer did not stop there, and secured a record eighth Wimbledon title later that season, beating Marin Cilic in the final.
In 2018, Federer won his 20th and final Grand Slam title when he defended his Australian Open crown.
He beat Cilic once again, winning in five sets, and extending his major record, which Djokovic and Nadal would ultimately surpass.
Roger Federer’s results at Grand Slams after winning in 2018
After winning in Melbourne in 2018, Federer skipped the clay season, opting not to feature at Roland Garros for the third straight year.
He proceeded to make the quarterfinals of Wimbledon and the fourth round at the US Open, before beginning his pursuit of a three-peat at the 2019 Australian Open.
Is Roger Federer the greatest tennis player of all time?
Federer only went as far as the fourth round in Australia, but then achieved his best finish at Roland Garros since 2012, reaching the semifinals.
Then, at Wimbledon in 2019, Federer made one last trip to a Grand Slam final and was agonisingly close to clinching major number 21, but fell to Djokovic.
The legend made the quarterfinals of the US Open and the final four at the 2020 Australian Open, but then suffered an injury that saw him sidelined for the remainder of the season.
In 2021, he returned to action and made the fourth round at Roland Garros and the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, which marked his final major appearance.
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