In a period of 15 months, between Wimbledon 2019 and Roland Garros 2020, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal achieved one of the most incredible records of a Major. Two legends became the first tennis players with 100 victories in the same Major.
The Swiss first did it at Wimbledon 2019 and repeated the feat at the Australian Open 2020 following that thrilling win over John Millman in the third round. Thus, Federer is the only player with one hundred in two Majors. In his 21st Australian Open, the Swiss had to give everything to achieve this historic victory, beating the local star 4-6, 7-6, 6-4, 4-6 and 7-6 after four hours and three minutes of an epic battle.
John defeated Roger at the 2018 US Open and gave 200% of himself in front of the home crowd at Rod Laver Arena. He gave everything for Federer and missed a colossal opportunity in the tiebreak of the match, where he was leading 8-4.
Federer won three more points and scored three breaks, losing serve four times but finding a way to emerge on top. Millman got off to a good start and got two breaks in the first set for 6-4. The Swiss only dropped five points after the first knock in the second set to increase the pressure on the other side and took the tie break 7-2 to level the aggregate score.
Continuing in the same style, Federer won the third set with a break in the tenth game and moved closer to the end. John served well in the fourth set and stole Roger’s serve at 3-3 to seize the lead and go into the decider.
The rivals traded breaks in games three and four and remained level after a pair of deuces on Millman’s serve in game 12 for a deciding tie break. The home player opened it up 3-0 after some loose shots from the Swiss, who won the next two points to stay in touch.
Wawrinka praises Federer
Stan Wawrinka, like many Roger Federer fans around the world, shed tears on that fateful day in September. «I cried for Roger (Federer). It was hard, a strong feeling. Even talking about it is difficult.
When I got to the tour, he was already there. He was like a big brother to me, a friend,» Stan Wawrinka said on RMC’s Court No. 1 podcast, as mentioned in a Eurosport article.
