'When Roger Federer had to win a point he always won it', says former Top 5

Before becoming the world icon we know today, Roger Federer had to deal with some temperamental excesses early in his career. The 20-time Grand Slam champion has grown thanks to his team and family, which have allowed him to express all his immense talent on court.

Roger Federer's main accomplishments as a junior player came at Wimbledon, where, in 1998, he won both the singles tournament over Irakli Labadze, in straight sets, and the doubles with Olivier Rochus, over the team of Michaël Llodra and Andy Ram, also in straight sets. In addition, Federer was a runner-up at the US Open Junior tournament in 1998, losing the final to David Nalbandian. Federer would go on to win four other junior singles tournaments in his career. As a junior, Federer was also known as a "hot head" on court which is distinct from his adult image of cool and calm, and being a great on-court role model. In an old interview that has now resurfaced, Gaston Gaudio can be seen recounting his first impression of Roger Federer. Gaudio also talked about one of their matches, where Federer came up with a miraculous escape.

Gaudio on Roger Federer

“I saw him in Rome in 98-99, I do not remember when," Gaston Gaudio said. "There was a lot of expectation of Roger Federer and many said this guy is going to be good. He was playing the qualifying or first round in Rome and I was with Benito Perez Barbadillo. I said the truth: 'This guy is terrible'. I told him this guy is never going to be number one in the world, he has a terrible backhand. Imagine my vision!” - he added. However, the match that Gaudio recounted during the interview was the opening round of the 2003 Toronto Masters. “I was winning 4-1 in the third set," Gaudio said. "15-40. Ace, ace, ace, ace. I was close in all our games but still lost every time. I don’t know how he did it but when he had to win a point he always won it”. Roger Federer may not be rejoining the tour anytime soon—in June he announced he’d undergone a “quick arthroscopic procedure” on his right knee, and that he wouldn’t be returning to action until 2021. He’s the first tennis player in history to top the annual Forbes list of highest-paid athletes. He did it in 2020, just edging soccer megastars Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3iiQMLG