Career Grandslam Champion Roger Federer

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7861373.stm

No 1: Wimbledon 2003

bt Mark Philippoussis 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 7-6 (7-3)

Roger Federer began Wimbledon 2003 with a big question mark hanging over him. Would he ever find the consistency to win the Grand Slam title his myriad talents deserved?

The pony-tailed Swiss answered in magnificent fashion, crushing Andy Roddick in the semi-finals before ending the surprise resurgence of Mark Philippoussis in the final. After lifting the trophy, he famously sobbed as he was interviewed on Centre Court by the BBC's Sue Barker.

No 2: Australian Open 2004

bt Marat Safin 7-6 6-4 6-2

A semi-final win over Juan Carlos Ferrero saw Roger Federer topple Andy Roddick and become world number one for the first time. It was the start of a record 237-week reign which ended on 18 August 2008.

He fully justified his status as the world's best player with a commanding display against Safin, who had equalled the record for the number of sets played at a Grand Slam during the tournament.

"To win the Australian Open and become number one in the world is a dream come true," he said.

No 3: Wimbledon 2004

bt Andy Roddick 4-6 7-5 7-6 (7-3) 6-4

Roger Federer successfully defended his Wimbledon title but not without a fight as Andy Roddick attempted to avenge his semi-final defeat of the previous year.

The Swiss benefited from two rain delays after falling a break behind at one set all, coming out to break back and dominate the tie-break.

Roddick forced six more break points in the fourth set but could not covert and Federer took the win to maintain his 100% record in Grand Slams final. More tears followed as he told the BBC's Sue Barker, "I got lucky today for sure."

No 4: US Open 2004
bt Lleyton Hewitt 6-0 7-6 (7-3) 6-0

A magnificent year for Roger Federer was capped with a first US Open title at Flushing Meadows in New York, making him the first man since Mats Wilander in 1988 to win three Grand Slam titles in a year.

Former champion Hewitt arrived in the final on a 16-match winning streak but was blown away by Federer at his absolute best.

The world number one swept through a magnificent opening set to love in just 18 minutes and, after a valiant effort from Hewitt in the second, Federer repeated the trick in the third set.

No 5: Wimbledon 2005
bt Andy Roddick 6-2 7-6 (7-2) 6-4

After seeing his Grand Slam winning streak end at the hands of Marat Safin at the Australian Open and Rafael Nadal at the French Open, Roger Federer was keen to get back to winning ways at Wimbledon.

Unlike the previous year, Andy Roddick could not get close to the Swiss in the final and Federer was rarely troubled as he joined Pete Sampras and Bjorn Borg as the only players in the open era to win three Wimbledon titles in a row.

"I came here with huge expectations and to be standing here with the trophy is almost a dream," he said.

No 6: US Open 2005

bt Andre Agassi 6-3 2-6 7-6 (7-1) 6-1

Roger Federer took on a legend and the hopes of a nation when he faced Andre Agassi in his second US Open final.

And the 35-year-old American gave Federer one of his sternest tests to date, leading by a break in the third set before the Swiss hit back to win in four.

"He's the best I've ever played against," Agassi said as Federer became the first man in the open era to win Wimbledon and the US Open back-to-back in consecutive years.

No 7: Australian Open 2006
bt Marcos Baghdatis 5-7 7-5 6-0 6-2

Roger Federer regained the Australian title he had lost the year before but was given a huge scare by outsider Marcos Baghdatis in the final.

The 20-year-old Cypriot led by a set and a break as Federer failed to find his rhythm in the early stages and a shock looked on the cards.

But the world number one clicked into gear to reel off 11 straight games, and when a tearful Federer was handed the trophy by Rod Laver he told the crowd: "I hope you know how much this means to me."

No 8: Wimbledon 2006
bt Rafael Nadal 6-0 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (2-7) 6-3

The emergence of Rafael Nadal had confounded Roger Federer's hopes of winning a first French Open title, and now the Spaniard threatened on the grass of Wimbledon.

Federer went into the final having lost five straight matches against Nadal and looked keen to make amends when he won the first set to love.

Nadal found his feet to edge the third on a tie-break but the champion broke twice in the fourth to secure a fourth straight Wimbledon title.

No 9: US Open 2006
bt Andy Roddick 6-2 4-6 7-5 6-1

Roger Federer went into his third successive US Open final with an overwhelming 10-1 record against home favourite Andy Roddick.

However, the 2003 champion put up a determined display and had his chances with break points in the third set before Federer got the crucial break in game 12 and raced through the fourth.

Victory saw him become the first man since Ivan Lendl in 1987 to win three straight US Opens, and the first man in the open era to win three straight Wimbledon and US Open titles in successive years.

No 10: Australian Open 2007
bt Fernando Gonzalez 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 6-4

Fernando Gonzalez made an impressive start to his first Grand Slam final, dominating early on with his big serve and huge forehand.

The Chilean looked set to take the first set at 5-4 and 40-15 but he failed to convert and his chance was gone.

Federer stormed back to take the opening tie-break and rolled on to his 10th Grand Slam title and third in Melbourne.

No 11: Wimbledon 2007
bt Nadal 7-6 (9-7) 4-6 7-6 (7-3) 2-6 6-2

Roger Federer had to overcome his fiercest rival to emulate Bjorn Borg and win a fifth straight Wimbledon crown, but it was closer than ever.

With the Swedish legend watching from the Royal Box, Federer held off a determined effort from Nadal, who had break points in the fifth set.

A tearful Federer said: "Each one is special but to play a champion like Rafa, it means a lot, and equalling Bjorn's record as well..."

No 12: US Open 2007
bt Novak Djokovic 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-2) 6-4

Having seen off Rafael Nadal to win Wimbledon, Roger Federer faced another pretender to his throne in Novak Djokovic at the US Open.

The 21-year-old Serb made a worthy opponent in his first Grand Slam final and led by a break in all three sets, missing a total of seven points.

But Federer proved too strong in each and came through to become the first man ever to win both Wimbledon and the US Open for four years in a row.

No 13: US Open 2008
bt Andy Murray 6-2 7-5 6-2

Roger Federer's bid a for a fifth straight US Open title had extra interest for British fans as Andy Murray attempted to end the nation's 72-year wait for a male Grand Slam winner.

The Scot had beaten Rafael Nadal in the semis and had a 2-1 career lead over Federer, but it made little difference.

After a difficult year without a Grand Slam title, Federer was back to his best as he swept to victory in just one hour 51 minutes to join Pete joins Sampras and Jimmy Connors as a five-time winner of the US title in the open era.

No 14: French Open 2009
bt Robin Soderling 6-1 7-6 (7-1) 6-4

Roger Federer has a chance to equal Pete Sampras's record of 14 Grand Slam titles and complete his own career Slam when he faces Robin Soderling in the French Open final.

The Swiss has a huge advantage in terms of titles and experience, but Soderling is a threat after ending Rafael Nadal's four-year unbeaten run at Roland Garros.

Federer proves his class once again with a totally dominant display and finally gets his hands on the Coupe des Mousquetaires, which is presented by Andre Agassi, the last man to complete the career Grand Slam.

Great news coverage and timeline provided by BBC :clap:

Federer's numbers speak volumes

By winning the French Open, Roger Federer tied the Grand Slam record and completed the career Slam at the same time, a storybook event that made him the greatest of all time in the eyes of many, including some of the greats themselves.

What's remarkable is not just the degree and duration of his dominance, but the artistry with which it was achieved, and the grace and humanity that accompanied it.

Still, the numbers remain staggering in their own right. We run down some of the reasons why Federer is being called the greatest:

1: His ranking for 237 straight weeks

An all-time record in tennis. Federer held the top spot without interruption between February 2004 and August 2008. The next-longest streak is Steffi Graf with 186 consecutive weeks between August 1987 and March 1991.


2: Second man in history to win the career Grand Slam plus an Olympic gold medal

Federer won the doubles at the Beijing Games with Stanislas Wawrinka to add a gold medal to his various Australian, French, Wimbledon and U.S. Open crowns.

Andre Agassi was able to record a career Golden Slam by winning the singles gold at Atlanta in 1996.

3: Australian Open titles

Tied with Mats Wilander for second most in the Open era, behind Agassi's four.

4: Different Grand Slam tournaments won, a complete set

Federer's French Open victory made him just the sixth man to complete the career Grand Slam. Fred Perry, Don Budge, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson and Agassi are the others.

Only Federer and Agassi have done it on three different surfaces: grass, clay and hard courts. Only Federer has made at least four finals at each of the four majors.

5: Consecutive U.S. Open victories

The most in the Open era. Bill Tilden won six from 1920-25.

6: Years without losing a match on grass

Between his first-round loss at Wimbledon 2002 and his loss in the 2008 Wimbledon final, Federer won 65 matches in a row on grass.

That includes five straight Wimbledon titles (2003-07), tying Bjorn Borg's Open-era record (1976-80).

7: Seasons it took to reach 14 Grand Slams

Pete Sampras needed 12 seasons to win the same number.

8: Seasons it took to reach 15 Masters Series titles

Federer has also won the year-end Masters Cup four times, bringing his full total to 19. It took Agassi 15 seasons to win 17 Masters Series titles and one Masters Cup.

9: Titles on clay, his weakest surface

That includes one Grand Slam and five Masters Series crowns.

10: Consecutive Grand Slam finals

An all-time record. Federer reached the final Sunday of each major from Wimbledon in 2005 to the U.S. Open in 2007, and has currently reached the final in 15 of the past 16 Slams.

He has also made 20 consecutive Grand Slam semifinals, never losing before the final four since going out in the third round of the French Open in 2004.

The previous record for consecutive finals was Laver with six straight, and the previous record for consecutive semifinals was Ivan Lendl with 10 straight.

11: Seasons as a pro, a record $47 million in prize money won

Federer, who turned pro in 1998, surpassed Sampras' prize money record of $43 million at the end of last year.

12: Best-of-five matches lost since becoming No. 1

Eight of those losses (and seven of the past eight) have been to Rafael Nadal.

13: Percentage of matches lost between his first and 14th Slam victories

An 87 percent match-winning record sandwiches Federer's victories at Wimbledon in 2003 and the French Open on Sunday. His annual win-loss percentage peaked at 95 percent in 2006 (81-4), and remained above 90 percent for three seasons (2005-07).

14: Grand Slams won

Tied with Sampras for the most in men's tennis history, arguably the most prestigious record in the game.

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/ten...shi&id=4240712

A Funny Article On Federer

Federer's dominance has become a joke.

A buddy of mine and I were talking about changing those Chuck Norris jokes that were floating around into Roger Federer jokes. These were our top 10:

1. Roger Federer is currently suing NBC, claiming Law and Order are trademarked names for his forehand and backhand respectively.

2. If paper beats rock, rock beats scissors, and scissors beats paper, what beats all 3 at the same time? Answer: Roger Federer.

3. If, by some incredible space-time paradox, Roger Federer would ever play himself in a best of 5 set match at Wimbledon, he'd win. Period.

4. Roger Federer is not capable of hitting a target on the broad side of a barn with his forehand. Every time he tries, the whole damn barn falls down.

5. Roger Federer is the only man to ever defeat a brick wall in a game of tennis.

6. When Roger Federer sends in his tax return, he sends blank forms and includes only a picture of himself, ready to hit a forehand. Roger Federer has not had to pay taxes, ever.

7. Someone once tried to tell Roger Federer that his forehand wasn't the best shot in the history of tennis. This has been recorded by historians as the worst mistake anyone has ever made.

8. There are no steroids in tennis, just players Roger Federer has breathed on.

9. If tapped, the power generated by a Roger Federer forehand could power the country of Switzerland for 44 minutes.

10. The First Law of Thermodynamics states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed... unless it meets Roger Federer on the tennis court.

11. Roger Federer is so fast, he can run around the world and still hit his own forehand back to himself.

12. Roger Federer’s forehand is the only hand that can beat a Royal Flush.

13. Scientists have estimated that the energy given off during the Big Bang is roughly equal to 1RFF (Roger Federer Forehand)

14. Newton's Third Law is wrong: Although it states that for each action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, there is no force equal in reaction to a Roger Federer forehand.

15. The other night in Time's Square, Roger Federer ordered a Big Mac at Burger King. He got one.

16. It is scientifically impossible for Roger Federer to have had a mortal father. The most popular theory is that he went back in time and fathered himself.

17. There’s an order to the universe: (1) space, (2) time, (3) Roger Federer.... Heh-heh. Just kidding. Roger Federer is first.

18. The air around Roger Federer is always a balmy 78 degrees.

19. Roger Federer can get Blackjack with just one card.

20. Bigfoot takes pictures of Roger Federer.

21. Roger Federer once hit a forehand so hard that the tennis ball broke the speed of light, went back in time, and struck Amelia Earhart's plane while she was flying over the Pacific Ocean. Mystery solved.

22. Roger Federer doesn't churn butter. He hits forehands at the cows and the butter comes straight out.

23. Faster than a speeding bullet ... more powerful than a locomotive ... able to leap tall buildings in a single bound... yes, these are some of Roger Federer's warm-up exercises.

24. Superman once watched a replay of the 2005 Wimbledon Final. He then cried himself to sleep.

25. As President Roosevelt once said: "We have nothing to fear but fear itself. And playing Roger Federer."

26. He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword. He who lives by Roger Federer, dies by the forehand.

27. There are two types of people in the world... people that suck, and Roger Federer.

28. I'm not saying Roger Federer's speed is underrated, but he once qualified with a top speed of 324 mph at the Daytona 500. Without a car.

29. Roger Federer doesn't daydream. He's too busy giving the other ATP players nightmares.

30. Roger Federer is not Politically Correct. He is just Correct. Always.

31. Roger Federer isn't afraid of Urban Legends. He IS an Urban Legend.

32. One night, Andy Roddick dreamed he beat Roger Federer in straight sets to win Wimbledon. The next morning he called Roger Federer up to apologize.

33. Roger Federer once played 18 holes of golf using a 12 inch strip of rebar and a sun dried tomato. He shot a 54.

34. On the Asian market, Roger Federer' urine is worth $400 per fluid ounce.

35. Roger Federer once jumped off the Empire State Building. He sprained his ankle. It was a mild sprain.

36. The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry. Even the worst-laid plans of Roger Federer come off without a hitch.

37. When you say "no one's perfect", Roger Federer takes this as a personal insult.

38. The Manhattan Project was not intended to create nuclear weapons, it was meant to recreate the destructive power in a Roger Federer forehand. They didn't even come close.

39. There are now five cup sizes at Starbucks: Short, Tall, Grande, Venti, and Roger Federer.

40. Roger Federer can hold his breath for nine years.

41. Roger Federer invented a language that's composed of forehands and backhands. So the next time Roger Federer is kicking your butt, don’t be offended or hurt, he may be just trying to tell you he likes your hat.

42. Superman only has two weaknesses. The first is Kryptonite. And the second, Roger Federer's forehand.

43. The sound of Roger Federer missing a forehand can cure cancer. Too bad he's never missed.

44. Roger Federer can divide by zero with his slice. The result? Pain.

45. Mr. T pities everyone except Roger Federer

46. What happens when you go faster than the speed of light? Scientists theorize that you may catch up to a Roger Federer forehand.

47. It's rumored that Rod Laver has a poster of Roger Federer over HIS bed.

48. If you Google search "Roger Federer getting his a** kicked on a tennis court" you will generate zero results. It just doesn't happen.

49. Roger Federer went bowling once. He was only able to bowl one frame. He knocked down one pin after hitting the bowling ball (forehand) with his tennis racquet. The other nine pins fainted. His ball refused to come back through the return machine. Now that's intimidation.

50. Roger Federer once shot down a fighter plane. He did so by pantomiming a forehand and yelling, "Bang!"

51. The Bermuda Triangle used to be the Bermuda Square, until a Roger Federer forehand knocked one of the corners off.

52. Fear is not the only emotion Roger Federer can detect. He can also detect hope, as in "I hope I don't have to play Roger Federer."

53. Roger Federer can hold serve at love. He can do so only serving three times.

54. Love does not hurt. Playing Roger Federer does.

55. The moon is actually a comet that was once on course to hit Earth... then a Roger Federer forehand knocked it into orbit.

56. Roger Federer's smile once brought a puppy back to life.

57. The Hubble Space Telescope was misaligned off the bounce of a Roger Federer kickserve.

58. When Roger Federer plays tennis, he only hits with 1% of his full power. At 2%, the ball would explode on impact with his racquet. At 3%, people die. At 100% Chuck Norris would lose all 6 testicles.

59. A forehand delivered by Roger Federer is the preferred method of execution in 17 states and 3 countries.

60. Every time Roger Federer drills a forehand, he finds oil.

61. When Ivan Lendl hits you with his forehand, you get knocked down. When Roger Federer hits you with his forehand, you actually won't get knocked down... but as you look down at your chest, you will notice a hole the size of a tennis ball.

62. Nothing can escape the gravity of a black hole, except Roger Federer. Roger Federer can serve and volley out of anything.

63. Every time you return a forehand from Roger Federer, you lose one full year of life expectancy.

64. Contrary to popular belief, hurricanes are not caused by heat energy from the ocean, but by Roger Federer practicing his strokes.

65. The events that were portrayed in the movie Armageddon were fictional. What really happened was Roger Federer hit the asteroid away with his topspin forehand to save the world.

66. Bush and Blair had it all wrong when they attacked Iraq. Roger Federer has all the weapons of mass destruction.

67. Billions upon billions of US Dollars were spent on the development of an anti-ballistic missile defense shield when all they needed was Roger Federer.

68. Roger Federer is so ice-cold that when he eats ice cream, his body temperature rises.

69. Roger Federer hits a forehand so clean you can eat off of it.

70. Since 1981, the year Roger Federer was born, topspin forehand related deaths have increased 13,000%.

71. Roger Federer went back in time to stop the JFK assassination by using his faster than light forehand. As Oswald shot, Federer volleyed all three bullets away. JFK's head exploded out of sheer amazement.

72. Darth Sideous could never turn Roger Federer to the Darkside. Roger Federer is just too good.

73. When Roger Federer is really short on time for lunch, he usually orders pizza. He can always get his slices in.

74. McDonald's has served billions and billions. Roger Federer can out-serve McDonald's.

75. In war, nobody wins... unless you're Roger Federer on any given Sunday.

76. The saddest part of an ATP pro's life is not when he learns that Santa isn't real, but when he finds out Roger Federer is.

77.It was once thought that Roger Federer lost a match to an ATP pro, but that was a rumor created by Roger Federer to lure more ATP pros to him

78. If John McEnroe and Rod Laver were to play each other in their primes, you know who would win? Roger Federer. Playing left-handed.

79. Roger Federer invented the drop shot.

80. 'Icy-Hot' is too weak for Roger Federer. After a workout, he sprays himself with liquid nitrogen. He waits a few moments and then rubs his muscles with liquid-hot magma.

81. Whenever you see a great shot during a tennis match not involving Roger Federer, just remember this. Federer could have hit it even better.

82. Roger Federer doesn't do push-ups. He pushes the world down.

83. If you're an ATP player, the only sure things in life are death, taxes, and that you'll lose to Roger Federer.

84. Most people fear the Reaper. Roger Federer considers him "a promising junior player".

85. There are only two things that can cut diamonds: other diamonds; and a Roger Federer forehand.

86. President Teddy Roosevelt once rode his horse 100 miles. A Roger Federer forehand once propelled a clydesdale twice that distance.

87. I acknowledge that there might be two perfect beings in existence. I know about Roger Federer and I believe in the possibility of God.

88. Aliens DO indeed exist. It's just that they play tennis, and know better than to visit a planet that Roger Federer is on.

89. Roger Federer CAN in fact 'raise the roof'. And he can do it with one forehand.

90. When Federer hits a hard forehand, it is not Federer groaning. It is the earth groaning.

91. Federer once hit a shot so beautiful everyone on the planet orgasmed at once.

92. When playing a tournament in the U.S., Roger Federer must register his serve and groundstrokes as lethal weapons.

93. Roger Federer's at rest heart rate was recently measured at 52 beats. . .per day.

http://www.orkut.com/Main#CommMsgs.a...336&na=1&nst=1

:lol2:

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One night, Andy Roddick dreamed he beat Roger Federer in straight sets to win Wimbledon. The next morning he called Roger Federer up to apologize.

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:rotfl3:

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Originally Posted by crajkumar_be

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One night, Andy Roddick dreamed he beat Roger Federer in straight sets to win Wimbledon. The next morning he called Roger Federer up to apologize.

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:rotfl3:

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:rotfl3: :rotfl3: :rotfl3: :rotfl3:

PR, Thangal gavanathirku :)

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Originally Posted by ajithfederer

PR,


One more imsai for the day or for tomorrow. Could you please upload this pic
http://i40.tinypic.com/fwj9lu.jpg

"14 Grandslams and counting".

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