Tennis fans have recalled the 2011
US Open semi-final where
Roger Federer lost to
Novak Djokovic, calling out the former's comments after the match.
Tennis legends Federer and Djokovic faced off against each other in the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows twelve years ago. Now, in 2023, the latter is preparing to play his tenth final at the New York major, where he will face Daniil Medvedev.
Ahead of this final, fans have recalled the time that he defeated Federer to make the final in 2011. In the process, some have also called out the Swiss player's comments toward his peer following the match.
A blockbuster semi-final
The match was a long and thrilling one, lasting three hours and 51 minutes. Federer took an early lead, winning the first two sets 7-6 (7), 6-4. However, the Serb's stamina helped him to make an incredible comeback to take the next set 6-3. From there, he went on to win the match 6-7 (7), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 7-5.
Perhaps the most memorable moment of the match was when the now 36-year-old hit a forehand return winner while Federer was serving 40-15, 5-3, in the decider.
Federer was asked about the significant moment in his post-match press conference, where he appeared frustrated over Djokovic's "lucky shot."
"Disappointing, because you feel like he was mentally out of it already. Just gets the lucky shot at the end, and off you go," he said. The now 41-year-old also seemed to disapprove of Djokovic's choice of shot in the face of match point.
"Confidence? Are you kidding me? I mean, please. Some players grow up and play like that, in junior matches, being down 5-2 in the third, and they all just start slapping shots and it all goes in for some reason. That's the way they grew up playing when they were down.
"I never played that way. I believe hard work’s going to pay off, because early on maybe I didn’t always work my hardest. For me, this is very hard to understand. How can you play a shot like that on match point? Maybe he’s been doing it for 20 years, so for him, it was very normal. You’ve got to ask him," he said.
Fans have been recalling these words, which may seem surprising coming from one of the most well-loved players in history.
"I'll forever remember Roger Federer's press conference after this. Absolute bitterness and frustration. Sport hurts even the best sometimes," wrote one.
"Mind you when Serena reacted like this after the US Open 2015 semi final loss she was a b*tch and a sore loser for that!" another pointed out.
