Laver Cup – Roger Federer looks back: US Open final 2004 was the best match of my career

“For me, the 2004 US Open final against Lleyton Hewitt was something special, which I won 6-0, 7-6, 6-0,” Federer recalls.

“Something like that doesn’t usually happen in Grand Slam finals, that you take off in the first set, wobble a bit in the second set, but dominate again in the third set,” continued the Swiss.

“For me the match was perfect. I was at the top. I think it was my third slam. I was number one and showed the world that I deserved to be number one – against one Man I respect a lot and hope to see him again soon,” the 41-year-old looks back on the dominant performance against the Australian in New York.

For Federer – after a few hurdles at the beginning of his glorious career – it was the reward for his hard work. “I was really struggling early in my career and then to end up there felt like a perfect storm to me. I think looking back I would love to play that match again.”

Federer: 2008 Wimbledon final ‘was heartbreaking’

In addition to the many victories and successes in the tennis star’s career, there were also defeats that he had to cope with. One defeat in particular broke his heart.

“Wimbledon 2008. Just because of the way it ended in the dark with Rafa. There was so much at stake. It needed a winner. And it went the way he wanted it to. And it was heartbreaking.” Nadal triumphed in the final on Church Road after 4:48 hours in five sets 6: 4, 6: 4, 6: 7 (5: 7), 6: 7 (8:10), 9: 7.