Roger Federer's big matches over the years: A look at 10 Grand Slam finals

Roger Federer won 103 total titles as a professional tennis player The very first came when he was 19 and beat Julien Boutter 64 67 7 64 on an indoor hard court in Milan Italy in February 2001 Federer who announced his retirement at age 41 on Thursday is best known for his 20 championships at Grand Slam tournaments eight at Wimbledon six at the Australian Open five at the US Open and one at the French OpenA look at 10 of Federers most memorable Grand Slam finalsThe first Wimbledon in 2003Federer won the 1998 junior title at the All England Club and another sign of what was to come arrived when he ended seventime Wimbledon champion Pete Sampras 31match winning streak in the fourth round there in 2001 But Federer had not made it past the quarterfinals at any major tournament until two years later at Wimbledon when he earned his first Grand Slam trophy at age 21 with a 76 5 62 76 3 victory over Mark Philippoussis There was pressure from all sides also from myself Federer said that day after sobbing on court when the match endedThe first in New York US Open in 2004Federer talked about the noise and all of the goingson in New York wondering aloud how he would deal with all of the conditions and distractions there He won it the fifth time he entered beating Lleyton Hewitt 60 76 3 60 the first time there had been two shutout sets in the events championship match since 1884Im grateful every tournament every Grand Slam I win You never know which is your last Federer said then That would be the first of five triumphs in a row at Flushing Meadows He beat a string of opponents from multiple generations like Hewitt major champions and ranked No 1 at some point in the finals Andre Agassi Andy Roddick Novak Djokovic and Andy MurrayThe rival French Open in 2005 and beyondFederers first Grand Slam matchup against Rafael Nadal was in the semifinals of the 2005 French Open which Nadal won en route to his first major trophy at age 19 Their first Grand Slam final came a year later in Paris when Federer was 24 and 70 in major title matches for his career the best start for a man since the 1880s He also was riding a 27match unbeaten streak at majors overall They had met six times previously but what was at stake in 2006 truly marked the beginning of what would become an enduring rivalry It was the first French Open final since 1984 between men ranked No 1 Federer and No 2 Nadal Nadal won 16 61 64 76 4 using his highbouncing topspinlathered lefty forehand to create big problems on Federers backhand side The result made Federer 04 against Nadal in 2006 440 against everyone elseAlso Read Roger Federer Irsquove laughed cried and most of all I have felt incredibly aliveThe greatest Wimbledon in 2008After losing to Nadal in three straight French Open finals 200608 and beating him in two consecutive Wimbledon finals 200607 Federer carried winning streaks of 40 matches at the All England Club and 65 on grass courts into their latest meeting at Centre Court In what many consider the greatest tennis match in the sports long history Nadal ended Federers bid for a sixth championship in a row at Wimbledon by edging him 64 64 67 5 67 8 97 as darkness descended after 9 pm in a 4hour 48minute test of will as much as skill Probably my hardest loss by far Federer saidThe career Grand Slam French Open in 2009Federer became the sixth man with a career Grand Slam at least one trophy at all four majors iquest and tied Sampras mens record of 14 majors by beating Robin Soderling 61 76 1 64 in Paris This was one of Federers five appearances in the title match at Roland Garros and the only one against someone other than Nadal Instead Federer beat the man who beat Nadal Soderling I dont know if well ever know who was the greatest of all time but Im definitely happy to be right up there Federer saidNo 15 Wimbledon in 2009Federer broke Sampras mens mark for most Slam trophies with his 15th by scraping past familiar foil Roddick 57 76 6 76 5 36 1614 Federer broke the bigserving Roddick for the only time in the 77th and last game The match lasted 4 hours 16 minutes the fifth set alone was more than 1 12 hours Afterward Federer pulled on a specially tailored white jacket with a gold 15 stitched on the back Sampras said Now hes an iconThe comeback Australian Open in 2017Federer took the last half of 2016 off after surgery on his left knee and he returned to claim his first Grand Slam title since 2012 by defeating Nadal 64 36 61 36 63 at Melbourne Park Federer was down a break in the fifth set but roared back with the help of a 10point run and a new flatter backhand to grab his 18th major Federer entered the day 26 against Nadal in Slam finals and said afterward This one means a lot to me because hes caused me problems over the yearsNo 8 at the All England Club Wimbledon in 2017Federer less than a month from turning 36 won his mensrecord eighth Wimbledon trophy needing just 101 minutes to dismiss 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic 63 61 64 Wimbledon was always my favorite tournament Will always be my favorite tournament said Federer the oldest male champion there in the Open era which began in 1968The last championship Australian Open in 2018Federer beat Cilic again for his third title in a fivemajor span and 20th Slam overall although this one at Melbourne Park was much tougher 62 67 5 63 36 61 Said Federer The fairytale continues for us for meThe last final Wimbledon in 2019Federer came as close as possible to earning title No 9 at Wimbledon and No 21 from all Slam tournaments but lost to Djokovic 76 5 16 76 4 46 1312 3 in the first fifthset tiebreaker in a final at the All England Club Federer held two championship points but couldnt convert He finished with more total points more winners more aces and more breaks of serve I dont want to be depressediquest Federer said iquestabout actually an amazing tennis matchThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for 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