London Olympics, 2012
Federer participated in Beijing Olympics coming off from a seventh triumph at Wimbledon. At the Championships, he had equaled Pete Sampras record of seven Wimbledon titles. This was his 17th major title overall. He then defeated local boy Andy Murray in the finals.
He had regained his number one ranking, and must have entered the tournament brimming with confidence.
The tournament was to be played at the same venue where he had his most recent taste of glory. This could not have got better for him.
He must also have been motivated by the fact that a medal in the men’s singles event still eluded him. Going by his recent developments and form, he must have aimed at the ultimate prize – the gold medal.
The Swiss easily made it to the semi-finals of the tournament, where he had the tall Argentine, Juan Martin Del Potro, waiting for him.
The match turned out to be an eventful one and it was definitely the match of the tournament. Del Potro pushed Federer to the limit. Del Potro took the first set and Federer clinched the second set in the tie break to break even into the match.
Then commenced the gripping third set, as the match swung from one end of the court to the other.
After a grueling battle in the third set, which lasted for 2 hours and 43 minutes, Federer emerged victorious, taking the set by the score of 19-17. The two had made history. The match lasted for 4 hours and 26 minutes; this still remains the longest match in the Olympics history. The scoreline read 3-6, 7-6, 19-17 in favour of Federer.
One step away from realizing his goal of capturing the Olympics gold, Federer was blocked only by Andy Murray, the man he had only recently defeated in the Wimbledon finals.
The Scot was more than ready to make up for his loss at the Wimbledon at the hands of Federer – and won the match quite convincingly with a 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 scoreline. Federer had to be content with the silver medal, his first ever medal in the men’s singles event at the Olympics.
Later in that year, he lost the U.S Open final to Novak Djokovic. The only major that Federer won during that year was Wimbledon.
He will turn thirty five this August. One can only speculate how long he would play. By the next Olympics, he would be around thirty nine. Arguably he is one of the greatest players of all time. Ever after amassing seventeen majors, all time highest in men’s Singles, the absence of a gold medal could be the only shortcoming of an illustrious career.
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