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Lot Essay
"Not even in my wildest dreams would I have ever thought I would win the U.S. Open. If you can handle New York, you can handle anything. My forehand was working to perfection." (Roger Federer, New York Times, 2004)
Following Grand Slam victories at the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2004, Roger was aiming to become the first gentleman player since Mats Wilander in 1988 to win three Slams in a calendar year. Despite having won important tournaments in the United States both during and prior to 2004, the U.S. Open had so far remained elusive, with Roger exiting the tournament at the fourth round stage in the three previous years.
In 2004, he was granted safe passage through to the quarter-finals by the withdrawal of Romanian Andrei Pavel. However, standing in his way would his familiar foe of Andre Agassi. The duo played out one of their most gripping matches with Roger letting out a celebratory roar when he finally prevailed in the deciding set of this epic contest. By contrast, he made light work of Tim Henman’s challenge in the semi-finals, winning in straight sets and would once again face the Australian Lleyton Hewitt, this time in a Grand Slam final.
Despite having a clear edge over Hewitt, courtesy of victories at Wimbledon and in Melbourne earlier in the year, the Australian had beaten Roger in a crucial Davis Cup fixture in 2003 and was used to the pressures of the U.S. Open, having lifted the trophy in 2001. Roger knew that he would need to play at his sparkling best and so it proved to be, with the Swiss taking the opening set 6-0 and completing a straight sets victory in under two hours. This maiden U.S. Open title also ensured that he became the first player in the Open Era to win his first four Grand Slam finals.
Following Grand Slam victories at the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2004, Roger was aiming to become the first gentleman player since Mats Wilander in 1988 to win three Slams in a calendar year. Despite having won important tournaments in the United States both during and prior to 2004, the U.S. Open had so far remained elusive, with Roger exiting the tournament at the fourth round stage in the three previous years.
In 2004, he was granted safe passage through to the quarter-finals by the withdrawal of Romanian Andrei Pavel. However, standing in his way would his familiar foe of Andre Agassi. The duo played out one of their most gripping matches with Roger letting out a celebratory roar when he finally prevailed in the deciding set of this epic contest. By contrast, he made light work of Tim Henman’s challenge in the semi-finals, winning in straight sets and would once again face the Australian Lleyton Hewitt, this time in a Grand Slam final.
Despite having a clear edge over Hewitt, courtesy of victories at Wimbledon and in Melbourne earlier in the year, the Australian had beaten Roger in a crucial Davis Cup fixture in 2003 and was used to the pressures of the U.S. Open, having lifted the trophy in 2001. Roger knew that he would need to play at his sparkling best and so it proved to be, with the Swiss taking the opening set 6-0 and completing a straight sets victory in under two hours. This maiden U.S. Open title also ensured that he became the first player in the Open Era to win his first four Grand Slam finals.