Joined
·
2,847 Posts
A thrilling match and a turning point in Federer's career. He went into the season-ending tournament as the Wimbledon champ and with a very slim chance of finishing the year as #1. But he was drawn in a very tough group stacked with bogey players: Agassi (against whom he had a 0-3 H2H), Nalbandian (against whom he had a 0-5 H2H) and Juan Carlos Ferrero (against whom he had a 2-3 H2H).
Somehow Federer started this match as an undercooked talent (despite the Wimbledon win), and one of many players who could go on to greatness, and he finished it as the Roger Federer we have known ever since. The rest of the tournament is the stuff of legend.
The #1 spot would have to wait for the AO in the new year, but once he got it of course, he held it for over 5 years. Tennis was changed.
As for Agassi, he had not played since the USO due to charity work and the birth of his second child. He'd had a good season, winning the AO and various other tournaments and becoming the oldest ever #1 at the time at 33 years of age (a record to be surpassed by Federer 15 years later).
The tennis is fast and a little bit raw in places, but it displays the outstanding ability of both players. Hardcourt tennis as it should be: full of hazard and drama and pace and inspiration:
Somehow Federer started this match as an undercooked talent (despite the Wimbledon win), and one of many players who could go on to greatness, and he finished it as the Roger Federer we have known ever since. The rest of the tournament is the stuff of legend.
The #1 spot would have to wait for the AO in the new year, but once he got it of course, he held it for over 5 years. Tennis was changed.
As for Agassi, he had not played since the USO due to charity work and the birth of his second child. He'd had a good season, winning the AO and various other tournaments and becoming the oldest ever #1 at the time at 33 years of age (a record to be surpassed by Federer 15 years later).
The tennis is fast and a little bit raw in places, but it displays the outstanding ability of both players. Hardcourt tennis as it should be: full of hazard and drama and pace and inspiration: