Roger Federer brings down curtain on his career with a defeat, but still dazzles alongside longtime friend and rival Rafael Nadal for last six years.
With the curtain down on a career that has included a Grand Slam in the US Open final and a first-week loss to Roger Federer in a major final, we take a look back at one of the most remarkable players to ever grace the game.
PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA – Roger Federer’s career began with a Grand Slam – a US Open final in 2005, his first US Open title. For the first time in a long time he was on the same level of his rival, the greatest player of all time – two-time champion Rafael Nadal.
And for the first time in his career, there was a little bit of rivalry as well.
With both Federer and Nadal winning at least one Grand Slam, they became the top two players in the world.
Federer had never won a major until his next appearance – the French Open in 2006. Nadal had won nine Grand Slam titles, with his last win after his US Open final win in 2005.
As a result, Federer was now the top player in the world.
Federer was also the oldest player to ever win a Grand Slam in the Open era, with his 35th in the French Open final in 2006.
Federer also captured his first ever Masters event, the 2006 French Open, at the age of 28.
“I felt as a kid,” Federer said, “like it never was going to happen.”
It was an emotional day for Federer after his US Open title win. He was in the stands, sitting near a woman who was wearing an Armani suit. He had told his girlfriend that day that he had a goal to win a Grand Slam and he had come pretty darn close.
On Sunday July 5, Federer entered the court at the US Open for the first time since 2006, and never made it out of the locker room.
“He came, he saw the crowd, he saw the scoreboard, he