LOOK: Roger Federer's highs and lows in Wimbledon over the years

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2001 Fourth round vs Pete Sampras: Roger Federer, when just 19, faced childhood hero and seven-time Wimbledon champion Pete Sampras on Centre Court and announced himself as a superstar in the making with a 7-6 (9/7), 5-7, 6-4, 6-7 (2/7), 7-5 victory. “There are a lot of young guys coming up, but Roger is a bit extra-special,” said Sampras who had been on a 31-win streak at the tournament. “It feels unbelievable, of course,” said Federer who was to lose in the quarter-finals to Britain’s Tim Henman. Image Credit: Supplied photo

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2002 First round vs Mario Ancic: Federer came down to earth with a thud 12 months later, losing 6-3, 7-6 (7/2), 6-3 to Croatian qualifier Mario Ancic, ranked at 154 and dubbed ‘Baby Goran’ after compatriot and defending champion Goran Ivanisevic. “I didn’t have any tactics, I was just enjoying,” said 18-year-old Ancic, the youngest player to win a match on his Centre Court debut since Bjorn Borg in 1973. Image Credit: Reuters

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2003 Final vs Mark Philippoussis: Federer won his first Grand Slam with a masterclass victory over giant Australian Mark Philippoussis, 7-6 (7/5), 6-2, 7-6 (7/3). “I proved it to everybody and it was a big relief because there was pressure from all sides, especially from myself, to do better in Slams,” said 21-year-old Federer who despite his reputation had never previously got past the last-eight of a Slam. Image Credit: AFP

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2008 Final vs Rafael Nadal: The 1980 final between Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe was widely regarded as the greatest championship match ever played at Wimbledon. That was until 2008 when Rafael Nadal confounded critics, who said his claycourt supremacy would never translate to grass by beating Federer 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-7 (8/10), 9-7. It was the Spaniard’s fifth major but first away from the French Open. “I tried everything, got a little late, but look, Rafa is a deserving champion, he just played fantastic,” admitted Federer later. Image Credit: AFP

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2009 Final vs Andy Roddick: Another final and another classic as Federer beat Andy Roddick 5-7, 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 16-14 to win his sixth Wimbledon and surpass Sampras’s record of 14 Grand Slam titles. The final set alone lasted 95 minutes. “It was a crazy match with an unbelievable end and my head’s still spinning, but it’s an unbelievable moment in my career,” said Federer. Image Credit: Reuters

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2012 Final vs Andy Murray: It may not have been a classic final, but Federer fought back to beat home hero Andy Murray 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4. Murray was the first British man in the final since Bunny Austin in 1938 and was hoping to become the first home winner of a Wimbledon men’s title since Fred Perry in 1936. For Federer, it was a record-equalling seventh Wimbledon title, a 17th Grand Slam crown and it allowed him to celebrate a record 286th week as world number one. Image Credit: AFP

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2013 Second round vs Sergiy Stakhovsky: Ukraine’s world number 116 Sergiy Stakhovsky pulled off a shock 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/5), 7-5, 7-6 (7/5) win, condemning Federer to his worst Grand Slam loss since a first round exit at the 2003 French Open and the defending champion’s earliest Wimbledon defeat since his Ancic horror show 11 years earlier. Federer was philosophical. “I wish it wasn’t going to end here. But I don’t think that’s something fans are going to mourn,'' he said. Image Credit: AFP

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2019 Final vs Novak Djokovic: Federer had two championship points but was unable to break the spirit of Novak Djokovic, who triumphed 7-6 (7/5), 1-6, 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 13-12 (7/3) as the longest ever final was settled by an historic tie-break. The Serb claimed his fifth Wimbledon title, taking his Grand Slam tally to 16 after four hours and 57 minutes on a court where most spectators were firmly behind the 37-year-old Swiss. “When the crowd is chanting ‘Roger’ I hear ‘Novak’,” said the Serb. “It sounds silly, but it is like that.” Federer said: “Similar to 2008 maybe, I will look back at it and think, well, it’s not that bad after all. For now it hurts, and it should, like every loss does here at Wimbledon.” Image Credit: AFP

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2021 Quarter final vs Hubert Hurkacz: The Polish youngster embarrassed the owner of 20 Grand Slam titles with a straight sets 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-0 win - raising serious doubts about whether he has played his last Wimbledon match. It was also the first time Federer lost a set to love at Wimbledon. Asked about his retirement plans at the media conference, Federer said: “It’s a struggle for me. I knew it was going to be hard, to be honest, but now I need to talk to the team, take time - not feel rushed by you guys or anybody - take time and work out the decision to take. I hope not, the goal is to play on.” Image Credit: AFP

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