Former world number one Roger Federer has revealed that his
best match at the US Open was the final of the 2004 edition. The 43-year-old is
often regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men’s tennis in
the singles category in the Open era, having won as many as 20 Grand Slam titles.
Federer has recently spoken to Tennis Now where he was asked
about which his best game while playing at the Flashing Meadows. Switzerland’s
legendary tennis star was of the opinion that his final against former world
number one Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt in 2004 was the best match he played in
the fourth and final Grand Slam of the year where he ended up on a victorious
note in straight sets with a score of 6-0, 7-6, 6-0.
“The Hewitt final was definitely [it],” he said. “Well, I
think to play in the final and having two 6-0 sets, everything clicking at the
highest of moments, I mean that’s what you train for. That’s what you wish for —
always. You know that it comes together at that very moment. So I think it was
a very important one because not only was he at his best, but I was at my best.
Also, Hewitt was kryptonite for me years before. I was having a really tough
time against Lleyton. And I think for me to then overcome that and take my game
to the next level and actually being able to really dominate that final was a
bit of a shock to me. But it showed me that I’m on such an incredible
trajectory right now to be able to do it in New York for the very first time. That
was an incredible moment, definitely.”
Federer faced Hewitt
27 times in his professional career and had a clear edge. He ended up winning
18 of those contests and suffered just nine defeats. The Basel-born star had a
fabulous record while playing in the US Open as well, where he lifted the title
five times. His first title was in 2004, where he defeated the Australian, whereas his last time at the Flashing Meadows was in 2008, when he defeated Britain’s Andy Murray in the final in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 7-5, 6-2.
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.