2) 2005 US Open Final vs. Andre Agassi
Playing somewhat against the crowd – perhaps for the only time in his career – that was behind emotional favorite Agassi, Federer unleashed a ridiculously strong forehand well behind the baseline at the start (around the 28-second mark in the video above). The veteran American looked surprised. Agassi would later say of the match: “When I faced Roger Federer in the 2005 US Open final, there was no safe place to put a ball on the court. Roger’s serve, return, moves and clean play were incredible. His versatility was so strong that he might have had five things individually better than everyone else on Tour.”
3) 2009 French Open Semifinal vs. Juan Martin del Potro
Federer, just months after a heartbreaking loss to Rafael Nadal in the 2009 Australian Open final, was desperate to claim a French title to complete his career grand slam. When Nadal was shocked by Robin Söderling in the fourth round, Federer knew this could very well be his best chance to win in Paris. But he faced a huge – literally – obstacle in the 6ft7 in Del Potro and his relentless ground game. But Federer used his varied arsenal to sneak through with a five-set triumph. In the second game of the match, Federer somehow found a forehand and bent the ball down the line for the winner. The Swiss maestro then went on to take down surprise finalist Söderling in the final to win his only French Open title.
4) 2009 Wimbledon Final vs. Andy Roddick
A year after playing in what many believe is the best match ever played at SW19, losing to Nadal in five thrilling sets, Federer returned to the Wimbledon final and, once again, competed in another epic. Roddick took the first set and then held a commanding 6-2 lead in the tiebreak. Serving for a seemingly insurmountable two-set lead, Roddick looked relatively in control of the point when he hit a forehand at Federer’s feet. But Federer accidentally hit a backhand half-volley winner (at about the 4 minute 45 mark in the video above) and ended up winning the tiebreak. He would win an excellent fifth set 16-14.
5) 2010 US Open Semifinal vs. Novak Djokovic
This list includes some points that eluded Federer but are worth including because of their importance. In 2010, with New York fans going wild over the prospect of a Federer-Nadal final (sadly Gotham never got to see the two face off), it looked like it would indeed happen. Djokovic, at 15-40, lost two first serves. But Federer held tight on both points and let Djokovic attack (disclaimer: these two points count as one).
6) 2011 French Open Semifinal vs. Djokovic
Coming into the 2011 French Open, Federer was in the first slump of his career, having gone four Grand Slams without claiming a title. All the talk following the tournament was about Nadal, coming off a three-grand slam year in 2010, and Djokovic finally coming into his own after a brilliant start to the year, winning 41 straight matches, including the Australian Open. a few months ago. In a major upset, a visibly motivated Federer beat Djokovic in four sets. In the final set of his victory, after both big men traded stellar shots from all over the court, Federer somehow landed a backhand down the line that caught Djokovic by surprise (about the two-minute mark in the clip above) and helped seal the win. Waving his finger in the air after the match, it was clear to all how much this win meant to him. Although Nadal crushed Federer in the final, he did not take away how important this victory was.
7) 2011 US Open Semifinal vs. Djokovic
Remarkably, just one year after losing two match points in the semi-final to his opponent, Federer found himself two match points back in the same round in New York. This time it was on his serve. And this time, Djokovic made a ridiculous return to save the first match point. Then, on the second match point, and clearly shaken by what Djokovic had just accomplished in the first match, Federer hit a simple forehand into the bottom of the net. After the match, Federer, in a rare moment of outward exasperation, commented that Djokovic didn’t seem like someone who “believes much in winning anymore. To lose to someone like that, it’s very disappointing, because you feel like they were already mentally out of it. Just take the lucky shot at the end and go.”
8) 2017 Australian Open Final vs. Nadal
Unofficially declared done, after physical ailments and poor performances at slams, Federer entered the Australian Open with little fanfare. And the same can be said for Nadal, who was also coming off the worst season of his career. But the two performed in Melbourne. Nadal had found the formula to beat Federer (high balls on the backhand side) and entered the tournament with a dominant record against his great rival. On this day, Federer’s backhand didn’t bend. But it was his all-powerful forehand that won him the match, as evidenced by this point in the third set that gave Federer a break point. Federer somehow hit a half volley with terrifying power down the line that gave him added momentum (45 seconds up). Federer would go on to win the title, coming back from being down in the fifth to do so, thus beginning the third act of his illustrious career.
9) 2017 Miami Open Quarterfinal vs. Tomas Berdych
Okay, this wasn’t really an important match or tournament for Federer (although he won it). But it has to be included because the shot is so amazing: a mid-court, high-in-the-air forehand that completely fooled Berdych.
10) Wimbledon 2019 final in Djokovic
It seems wrong to end on another negative moment for Federer, but the loss obscured this astonishing fact: that Federer, weeks after turning 38, an ancient age in the sport, was one point away from winning another grand slam title. That it all unfolded against Djokovic must have stung. Again, Federer had the match on his own serve (about 40 seconds up) but went for conservative serves that Djokovic dropped with apparent ease. After it was over, an inconsolable Federer said: “I don’t know what I feel right now. I just feel like it’s such an incredible opportunity that’s gone, I can’t believe it.” That may be true, but such mistakes stand out in Federer’s career because he was so often close to perfect.
