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July 12, 2007
Federer Is Betterer
By Dennis Fitzgerald, Tennis Week
Roger
Federer fought off Rafael Nadal in Sunday's Wimbledon final to equal
Bjorn Borg's Open Era record of collecting five consecutive Wimbledon
crowns. But the top-ranked Swiss stands alone in several major
categories.
Roger
Federer has won 20 of 23 tiebreaks at Wimbledon. He has played at least
one tiebreak in every final, and has an amazing 8-1 record in tiebreaks
in final round matches (the only one he lost was in 2006 final).
Pete Sampras, in his first five victories at Wimbledon, won 20 of 28
tiebreaks and was 5-2 in tiebreaks in the final set. Sampras did not
play any tiebreaks in winning his sixth title in 1999, and was 3-2 in
tiebreaks in 2000, when he won his seventh Wimbledon.
To prove he isn’t just good at tiebreaks at Wimbledon, Federer’s record
in tiebreaks at other majors since he won Wimbledon in 2003 is here:
- Australian Open: 7-1 overall (1-0 in tiebreaks in the final)
- French Open: 8-2 overall (0-1 in tiebreaks in the final)
- U.S. Open: 8-3 overall (2-0 in tiebreaks in the final)
Federer
owns a 43-9 tiebreak record in the majors since Wimbledon 2003,
including an 11-2 mark in tiebreaks in final round matches. Federer has
now won at least two majors every year for four straight years. No
other man has done that.
Sampras won two majors four times in his career (1993, 1994, 1995, and
1997). Borg won two majors three consecutive years (1978-1980). Only
Martina Navratilova, in a six-year span from 1982-1987, has fared
better in terms of number of consecutive years winning at least two
majors.
Federer has now reached nine consecutive Grand Slam singles finals. No
man has come close to that record, and only Martina Navratilova (11)
and Steffi Graf (13) have played in more consecutive major finals.
Federer has won 11 majors in the last 17 contested. No other player in
modern times has amassed as many majors in so few tries.
For comparison:
- Rod Laver won his 11
career majors in 19 attempts, from the 1960 Australian through 1969
U.S. Open. Laver didn’t play any majors from 1963-1967.
- Bjorn Borg won his 11 career majors in 21 attempts, from the 1974 French Open through the 1981 French Open.
- Martina Navratilova won 11 of her career majors in 20 attempts, from the 1981 Australian Open through the 1985 Australian Open.
- Steffi Graf won 11 of her career majors in 21 attempts, from the 1987 French Open through the 1992 Wimbledon.
- Pete Sampras won 11 of his career majors in 27 attempts, beginning with 1993 Wimbledon through the 1999 Wimbledon.
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