Federer’s 24-year career will come to an end this week as the former world No 1 plays one final doubles match at the Laver Cup on Friday before cheering on Team Europe from the bench for the rest of the weekend. The 41-year-old has long been regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, breaking records with his number of Grand Slams and weeks at world No 1.
But those tallies have since been surpassed by long-time rivals Djokovic and Nadal, and Federer has now had his say on what it was like to be part of the GOAT race with his fellow Big Three members, fighting for the biggest titles in the sport. “I’m definitely very proud, very happy where I sit,” he said.
The Swiss star was the first man to surpass Pete Sampras’ former record of 14 Major singles titles, winning his 15th at Wimbledon in 2009 with the man himself watching on. And it remained a highlight for Federer despite being overtaken in the Grand Slam race since. He continued: “One of my big moments of course was winning my 15th Slam at Wimbledon when Pete was sitting there. Anything after that was a bonus.”
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Federer also confessed that there was a point in his career when he was chasing records but remains happy with where he is at the end of his career. “That was the record, you know,” he said of Sampras’ 14 Grand Slam titles.
“And then of course it was other records along the way but then think of course nowadays I think it will only increase. Players will want to chase records and it’s true at some point I kind of probably did as well but not the first years, not until I really got close to Pete’s record.”
The 103-time title winner also ended up unable to surpass Jimmy Connors’ record of 109 all-time titles but said he was ending his career proud and happy in spite of the numbers. He explained: “For me it was about, how did I manage my schedule, was I happy on and off the court, did I like my life on the tour? I did, I think I had the best of times.
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