In 2000 I never thought Roger Federer would become so legendary - Lapentti
Nicolas Lapentti once partnered up with Roger Federer in 2000 Halle on grass. There they played a doubles match against Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Daniel Vacek. Federer was having his third year as a professional player while Lapentti was at his sixth season and he was ranked higher than the Swiss. "He was a young player coming up, very talented. But no one imagined that he would be what he is now. Even when he ended as a world No. 1 in 2004, either. He was a player who was raising a lot, who was the world No. 1, but from here to say that he would achieve all what he achieved, no one would have been able to predict it. In 2000 I did not think he would become a legend. In Halle we probably lost 6-4 6-3, it was just a good experience with a player."
On the singles matches they played against each other between 2002 and 2010, Lapentti recognized: "Federer was always a difficult player to face. But he had a weakness, his backhand. It was not a bad shot, it was very complicated to play aggressive because he always had a better answer." Recalling his 2002 Hamburg loss, 6-1 6-4, Lapentti said: "The second set I had some chances. He liked a lot playing in Hamburg, he won it some times. We played outdoors and it was pretty cold." On 2002 Madrid loss, 6-3 6-4, he added: "We played on the central court. All the matches against him were starting well, all the matches were similar ut on 3-all he was breaking me."
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2QJ9mlQ
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