There is a first time for almost every thing in sport. On July 7, 2021 — in his 22nd appearance at the Wimbledon — Swiss legend Roger Federer dropped a set 0-6 for the first time in his career at the famous courts of SW19.
Federer crashed out of the tournament in the quarter-finals at the hands of Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz on Wednesday, in what was his last match as a 30-something at the All England Club. If he does return to the Slam, he will do as a 40-something.
Federer, the 20-time Grand Slam title winner who turns 40 on August 8, lost 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 6-0 to a player 15 years younger than him. It was his 14th defeat at the tournament in 119 matches and his first straight-sets loss since an opening round exit against Mario Ancic in 2002.
Federer’s quarter-final defeat against Hubert Hurkacz on Wednesday was just his third in straight sets at Wimbledon.
2000 (R1) Yevgeny Kafelnikov 7-5, 7-5, 7-6(6)
2002 (R1) Mario Ancic 6-3, 7-6(2,) 6-3
2021 (QF) Hubert Hurkacz 6-3 ,7-6, 6-0
Roger Federer's defeats at Wimbledon
| Date | Round | Match | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07-07-2021 | QF | Hubert Hurkacz (14) d. Roger Federer (6) | 6-3 7-6 6-0 |
| 01-07-2019 | F | Novak Djokovic (1) d. Roger Federer (2) | 7-6(5) 1-6 7-6(4) 4-6 13-12 |
| 02-07-2018 | QF | Kevin Anderson (8) d. Roger Federer (1) | 2-6 6-7(5) 7-5 6-4 13-11 |
| 27-06-2016 | SF | Milos Raonic (6) d. Roger Federer (3) | 6-3 6-7(3) 4-6 7-5 6-3 |
| 29-06-2015 | F | Novak Djokovic (1) d. Roger Federer (2) | 7-6(1) 6-7(10) 6-4 6-3 |
| 23-06-2014 | F | Novak Djokovic (1) d. Roger Federer (4) | 6-7(7) 6-4 7-6(4) 5-7 6-4 |
| 24-06-2013 | R64 | Sergiy Stakhovsky d. Roger Federer (3) | 6-7(5) 7-6(5) 7-5 7-6(5) |
| 20-06-2011 | QF | Jo Wilfried Tsonga (12) d. Roger Federer (3) | 3-6 6-7(3) 6-4 6-4 6-4 |
| 21-06-2010 | QF | Tomas Berdych (12) d. Roger Federer (1) | 6-4 3-6 6-1 6-4 |
| 23-06-2008 | F | Rafael Nadal (2) d. Roger Federer (1) | 6-4 6-4 6-7(5) 6-7(8) 9-7 |
| 24-06-2002 | R128 | Mario Ancic (Q) d. Roger Federer (7) | 6-3 7-6(2) 6-3 |
| 25-06-2001 | QF | Tim Henman (6) d. Roger Federer (15) | 7-5 7-6(6) 2-6 7-6(6) |
| 26-06-2000 | R128 | Yevgeny Kafelnikov (5) d. Roger Federer | 7-5 7-5 7-6(6) |
| 21-06-1999 | R128 | Jiri Novak d. Roger Federer (WC) | 6-3 3-6 4-6 6-3 6-4 |
This is in fact, the second set ever that Federer has lost 0-6 on a grass court match on the ATP circuit. The first was in his first match at Queen’s Club in 1999 against Byron Black. At a Grand Slam, the bagel is so rare for Federer that he has only lost three sets without winning a game.
Roger Federer's Grand Slam timeline (Singles)
| Year | Australian Open | French Open | Wimbledon | US Open |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Q1 | 1R | 1R | Q2 |
| 2000 | 3R | 4R | 1R | 3R |
| 2001 | 3R | QF | QF | 4R |
| 2002 | 4R | 1R | 1R | 4R |
| 2003 | 4R | 1R | W | 4R |
| 2004 | W | 3R | W | W |
| 2005 | SF | SF | W | W |
| 2006 | W | F | W | W |
| 2007 | W | F | W | W |
| 2008 | SF | F | F | W |
| 2009 | F | W | W | F |
| 2010 | W | QF | QF | SF |
| 2011 | SF | F | QF | SF |
| 2012 | SF | SF | W | QF |
| 2013 | SF | QF | 2R | 4R |
| 2014 | SF | 4R | F | SF |
| 2015 | 3R | QF | F | F |
| 2016 | SF | A | SF | A |
| 2017 | W | A | W | QF |
| 2018 | W | A | QF | 4R |
| 2019 | 4R | SF | F | QF |
| 2020 | SF | A | cancelled | A |
| 2021 | A | 4R | QF | - |
Statistics courtesy ATP and Ultimate Tennis Statistics. With text inputs from AFP
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