WIMBLEDON, England — Roger Federer is building something of a reputation as an on-court crier, and he remembers well the first time he wept after winning a match.
It was July 2, 2001, at Wimbledon, the tournament that means more to him than any other. Federer was 19, up-and-coming and making his Centre Court debut in the fourth round when he stunned Pete Sampras, who was 29, seeded No. 1 and seeking an eighth Wimbledon title.
“I used to cry almost after every single match I lost as a junior. It’s not at all a feeling like it’s the end of the world — of course not, because tennis is not everything — but some people can control it, some people can’t,” Federer said. “Crying after a victory is something that started when I beat Pete.”
Back then, Federer had yet to reach the semifinals, let alone win a title, at any Grand Slam event. Eight years later, as Wimbledon begins Monday with a roof over Centre Court for the first time, Federer arrives at the All England Club bidding to break Sampras’ career record of 14 major championships.
And the complexion of Federer’s pursuit of a sixth Wimbledon title changed significantly Friday: He doesn’t have to worry about dealing with his nemesis, defending champion Rafael Nadal, who withdrew from the tournament because of bad knees.
Nadal’s exit was the talk of the grounds Saturday, and Federer called it “very disappointing for the tournament, and also for myself.”
“It’s unfortunate. I’m sad for him, because it must have been a very difficult decision to make,” Federer said. “I’d love to play him. He’s my main rival. We’ve had some wonderful matches over the years, and especially the one here last year was the one that obviously stands out.”
Ah, yes, last year, when Nadal reduced Federer to tears by winning the longest singles final in tournament history, a 4-hour, 48-minute test of skill and will that ended 9-7 in the fifth set as darkness descended.
That 2008 setback ended Federer’s streaks of 40 consecutive wins at Wimbledon and 65 in a row on grass, and he is ready to start anew.
“The focus is on the first round — and the first point,” Federer said. “Trying to regain my Wimbledon crown, I guess, stands over trying to beat Pete’s record right now.”
There was something apt about the way Federer tied Sampras’ Grand Slam mark by completing a career Grand Slam at the French Open, a tournament the American never won and the Swiss star came so close to winning, year after year, before finally breaking through this month.
There also would be something fitting if Federer surpasses Sampras at Wimbledon, a tournament that means so much to both men — and where their paths crossed all those years ago.
“I don’t feel like I have extra pressure now having to win the tournament or trying to. I mean, anyway, there’s a lot of weight off my shoulders since Paris,” Federer said. “So I’m entering tournaments, I guess, a little bit more relaxed these days.”
On the day Federer won at Roland Garros, Sampras said he expected Federer to get No. 15 “in the next couple of weeks.”
Asked whether he would travel to the All England Club this year, Sampras replied: “We’ll sort of see what happens.”
Many current players figure Federer is set to re-establish his supremacy at Wimbledon. As 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt put it: “Roger’s going to be the one to beat.”
The same must be said of the Williams sisters, particularly Venus. As has been the case with Federer in recent years, Wimbledon is their turf.
Venus has played in seven finals at the All England Club, winning five championships, including the past two. Serena has played in four finals, winning two.
Pay no heed to the rankings, which have both sisters behind No. 1 Dinara Safina. Here are the numbers that really matter: Serena has won 10 Grand Slam titles overall, and Venus seven, while Marat Safin’s little sister is 0-3 in major finals.
Maria Sharapova, the 2004 Wimbledon champion, can’t be counted out, even if her serve has been a trouble spot in her return from shoulder surgery, while a teenager such as Victoria Azarenka or Caroline Wozniacki — who won a grass-court title at Eastbourne on Saturday — could be ready for a breakthrough.
It seems far less likely that someone who isn’t a household name will win the men’s championship July 5.
For Federer, there are other laurels at stake this fortnight: He could match Nadal’s feat from 2008 of winning the French Open and Wimbledon in the same season — that hadn’t been done since Bjorn Borg in 1980.
Plus, Federer can reclaim the No. 1 ranking, although he said that doesn’t concern him. Right now, he is focusing on adding to his haul of major championships.
2009 Wimbledon
Surface: Grass courts.
Site: The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
Schedule: Play begins Monday. The women’s singles final is July 4, the men’s singles final is July 5.
2008 men’s singles champion: Rafael Nadal of Spain.
2008 women’s singles champion: Venus Williams of the United States.
Last year: Nadal beat Roger Federer 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (8), 9-7 in 4 hours, 48 minutes, the longest singles final in Wimbledon history. It gave Nadal his first Wimbledon title and ended Federer’s streak of five consecutive championships at the All England Club. Williams won her fifth Wimbledon title by beating younger sister Serena 7-5, 6-4 in the women’s final.
New this year: Centre Court has a retractable roof, which will allow for matches to be played while it’s raining.
Key statistic: 14 — Grand Slam singles titles won by both Federer and Pete Sampras, the most by a man. Federer tied Sampras’ record by winning the French Open this month and can break it by winning Wimbledon.
Prize money: Total is 12,550,000 pounds (about $20.5 million), with 850,000 pounds (about $1.4 million) each to the men’s and women’s singles champions.
TV: ESPN2 (starting Monday), NBC (starting June 27).
On the Web: www.wimbledon.org
Women to watch
DINARA SAFINA (1)
Age: 23
Country: Russia
2009 match record: 37-8
2009 singles titles: 2
Career singles titles: 11
Major titles: 0 — Best finish: F, at Australian Open in 2009, French Open in ’08, ’09
Last five Wimbledons: 2008- lost in 3rd round, ’07-2nd, ’06-3rd, ’05-3rd, ’04-1st
SERENA WILLIAMS (2)
Age: 27
Country: United States
2009 match record: 25-7
2009 singles titles: 1
Career singles titles: 33
Major titles: 10 — French Open (2002), Wimbledon (’02, ’03), U.S. Open (’99, ’02, ’08), Australian Open (’03, ’05, ’07, ’09)
Last five Wimbledons: 2008-F, ’07-QF, ’06-did not play, ’05-3rd, ’04-F
VENUS WILLIAMS (3)
Age: 29
Country: United States
2009 match record: 21-6
2009 singles titles: 2
Career singles titles: 41
Major titles: 7 — Wimbledon (2000, ’01, ’05, ’07, ’08), U.S. Open (’00, ’01)
Last five Wimbledons: 2008-won championship, ’07-W, ’06-3rd,’05-W, ’04-2nd
SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA (5)
Age: 23; turns 24 on June 27
Country: Russia
2009 match record: 28-8
2009 singles titles: 2
Career singles titles: 11
Major titles: 2 — French Open (2009), U.S. Open (’04)
Last five Wimbledons: 2008-4th, ’07-QF, ’06-3rd, ’05-QF, ’04-1st
JELENA JANKOVIC (6)
Age: 24
Country: Serbia
2009 match record: 26-10
2009 singles titles: 1
Career singles titles: 10
Major titles: 0
Last five Wimbledons: 2008-4th, ’07-4th, ’06-4th, ’05-3rd, ’04-1st
Men to watch
ROGER FEDERER (2)
Age: 27
Country: Switzerland
2009 match record: 33-6
2009 singles titles: 2
Career singles titles: 59
Major titles: 14 — Wimbledon (2003, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07), U.S. Open (’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08), Australian Open (’04, ’06, ’07), French Open (’09)
Last five Wimbledons: 2008-F, ’07-W, ’06-W, ’05-W, ’04-W
ANDY MURRAY (3)
Age: 22
Country: Britain
2009 match record: 40-6
2009 singles titles: 4
Career singles titles: 12
Major titles: 0 — Best finish: F, at U.S. Open in 2008
Last five Wimbledons: 2008-QF, ’07-DNP, ’06-4th, ’05-3rd, ’04-DNP
NOVAK DJOKOVIC (4)
Age: 22 Country: Serbia
2009 match record: 43-13
2009 singles titles: 2
Career singles titles: 13
Major titles: 1 — Australian Open (2008)
Last five Wimbledons: 2008-2nd, ’07-SF, ’06-4th, ’05-3rd, ’04-DNP
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO (5)
Age: 20
Country: Argentina
2009 match record: 31-9
2009 singles titles: 1
Career singles titles: 5
Major titles: 0 — Best finish: SF, at French Open in 2009
Last five Wimbledons: 2008-2nd, ’07-2nd, ’06-DNP, ’05-DNP, ’04-DNP
ANDY RODDICK (6)
Age: 26
Country: United States
2009 match record: 33-8
2009 singles titles: 1
Career singles titles: 27
Major titles: 1 — U.S. Open (2003)
Last five Wimbledons: 2008- 2nd, ’07-QF, ’06-3rd, ’05-F, ’04-F
