Only a few players have managed to beat Roger Federer in his prime. People who consider Federer their favorite have had to deal with the emotion several times when he faced off against Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. A close friend of Federer came up with the perfect way to describe his emotions after witnessing the Swiss Maestro’s loss against the Djoker in the 2019 Wimbledon final.
The 2019 Wimbledon final is probably a match that is etched into the memories of Federer and his fans. Only because of the horror everyone experienced. Djokovic came back into the match even after Federer had match points twice. Then, in an unforeseen blaze, Djokovic clinched victory and lifted the Wimbledon trophy for the fifth time in his career.
Novak Djokovic triumphs and upsets Federer
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In the book “The Roger Federer Effect: Rivals, Friends, Fans and How the Maestro Changed Their Lives”, Marc Rosset, the former Swiss tennis player and Federer’s close friend, talked about Federer facing off against Djokovic. For Rosset, the Australian Open 2017 final was memorable since Federer won while playing beautifully. “The way Roger played there, the way he attacked and took risks, also with his backhand, was pure joy for me.”
Rosset also talked about one match that broke him, the Wimbledon final of 2019. Federer lost in a five set match against Djokovic. According to Rosset, witnessing his friends’ loss took a toll on him. It reminded him of the movies in which the hero dies at the end and made him feel sick.
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“It reminded me of the films I watched as a child in which the hero died at the end. Alain Delon was a specialist in this genre, and I hated it; it made me sick. I felt the same sense of injustice then.” Rosset wrote in the Le Temps newspaper column at the time.
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However, he found a way to console himself later. He maintained that Federer winning his 21st Grand Slam would have been delightful for his fans. But their admiration was now coupled with empathy for their heroes’ defeat and want to comfort him. “If Roger had won, we would have been delighted that he had won a 21st Grand Slam title. But would we have liked him more? Our admiration is now joined by empathy for heroes and the defeated. We want to comfort him, hug him, tell him we love him.”
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Sports fans will support their favorites to the ends of the Earth. The loss of their favorite players/teams weighs heavily on their mind as well. Do you remember the final? What were your emotions after witnessing Federer’s loss?