Roger Federer’s First Wimbledon Title – A Look Back 20 Years

Wimbledon in 2003 marks the first edition of The Championships with Roger Federer as an officially retired player. It is also marks the 20^th anniversary of his famous first Wimbledon title in 2003, the first of his 20 major singles titles. The following are excerpts from Federer’s 2003 title run from the new book “On This Day In Roger Federer History” by Randy Walker that details Federer’s career in an easy-to-read day-by-day anniversary format. For more information on the “On This Day In Roger Federer History” book, click here: https://www.amazon.com/This-Day-Roger-Federer-History/dp/1937559963/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=on+this+day+in+roger+federer+history&qid=1688151790&sprefix=On+This+Day+In+Roger%2Caps%2C123&sr=8-1

June 27, 2003: Mardy Fish stretches Roger Federer to four sets in the third round of Wimbledon, losing by a 6-3, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 margin. The set victory for Fish proves to be an interesting footnote for the tournament as it becomes the only set that Federer ends up losing en route to his first singles title at the All England Club.

June 30, 2003: Stricken with back pain that nearly ends his Wimbledon dreams, Roger Federer overcomes the pain and an early 0-3 first-set deficit and defeats Feliciano Lopez 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-4 in the fourth round of Wimbledon. Federer is forced to call a trainer to the court in the first set, where he feels like his chances to win the tournament hang in the balance. “I just couldn’t move anymore so I had to call the trainer and hope for a wonder,” Federer tells reporters after the match. “It was very tough for me. I don’t know. I still now can’t explain what happened. I don’t know how I won today. As the match went on, it got a little better because the body gets warmer and you get into it and you try to forget it. I didn’t think that I would sit here today as the winner after this shock I had. I have to try and take this lucky, lucky match today and get rid of this and then be ready for the quarters. It’s a great opportunity I have now and I shall try to use it.”

July 3, 2003: Roger Federer becomes the first Swiss man to reach the Wimbledon semifinals when he wins the last five games of the match and beats No. 8-seeded Dutchman Sjeng Schalken 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in a rain-delayed quarterfinal. “I am just very, very happy,” Federer says after the match. “I have waited a long time for this, and to be in the semifinals is just a great day for me. I definitely didn’t play super today because of all the talk of my injury and of his injury, but in fact I had no problems today. I felt fine.” Federer joins Marc Rosset was the only Swiss men to reach the semifinals of a major tournament, Rosset reaching the semifinals of the French Open in 1996.

July 4, 2003: Roger Federer advances to a major final for the first time as he defeats Andy Roddick 7-6(6), 6-3, 6-3 in the semifinals of Wimbledon. Roddick, seeded No. 5, holds a set point on his serve against the No. 4 seeded Federer at 6-5 in the first-set tiebreaker, but nets a simple forehand and two points later, loses the first set. Federer then rolls to win the second and third sets with a dizzying display of shotmaking.  “It’s incredible right now,” Federer tells the BBC following his victory. “It is my favorite tournament so it is a dream. This was just outstanding. I hope I can keep this up for the final. I’m not thinking about the final at the moment – I’m just celebrating this victory. I’m very happy to have the opportunity to win a Grand Slam.” Writes Lisa Dillman of the Los Angeles Times, “Roddick could only shake his head and smile when Federer came up with mind-boggling shots, wielding his racket like a magician.”

July 6, 2003: Roger Federer wins his first major title defeating Mark Philippoussis 7-6(5), 6-2, 7-6(3) in the final of Wimbledon. The 21-year-old Federer becomes the first Swiss man in 117 editions of The Championships to win the title. Federer hits 21 aces and 50 winners against only nine unforced errors in the one hour, 56-minute final. “It’s an absolute dream for me coming true,” says Federer after the victory.