“I wanted to study him because he was the best,” Serena Williams explains Roger Federer’s genius displays in Serena: In the Arena series

Tennis icons Roger Federer and Serena Williams have a staggering 43 singles Grand Slam titles together.

“I wanted to study him because he was the best,” Serena Williams explains Roger Federer’s genius displays in Serena: In the Arena series

Serena Williams and Roger Federer (via Imago)

In the fourth episode of “Serena: In the Arena“, Serena Williams reflected on the genius display of Roger Federer during his playing days. Despite the American becoming a professional tennis player three years before the Swiss, she admitted she sometimes studied his style of play.

Williams and Federer shared a unique relationship on the court, as they both dominated the women’s and men’s tennis, respectively. Williams clinched 23 Grand Slams in her career, while Federer claimed 20. Together they amassed 176 tour titles and finished year-end World No.1 five times each. In addition, they both went on to end their careers in September 2022.

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Federer played his last professional match at the Laver Cup, while Serena Williams hung her racquet after the US Open in 2022. Recently, ESPN released Williams’ docuseries “Serena: In the Arena” which captures a glimpse of the 42-year-old’s intimate life. In the latest episode, she expressed her admiration for Federer and his style of play.

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My career has strangely paralleled Roger’s. He always knew how to handle every situation, and always knew how to win. I was studying his game and I was like, 'How can I hit the ball so early? How can I move like that and have that footwork?’ I wanted to study him because he was the best. I really felt this strange, unconscious connection with Federer that I couldn't explain.
Serena Williams said

Federer and Williams will star in the fifth episode of the highly anticipated ‘Serena: In the Arena’. The episode is set to air on the 12th of August on ESPN.

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Roger Federer reveals his 2001 Wimbledon match against Pete Sampras as his all-time favorite

Roger Federer has called the 2001 Wimbledon match against Pete Sampras his all-time favorite. It was the first and only match between the two legends and it turned out to be a classic five-set thriller.

Federer was 19 and it was his first time playing on the Center Court against one of the all-time legends of the All England Club and the then World No.1. The Swiss star went on to win the match 7-6(7), 5-7, 6-4, 6-7(2), 7-5 and was in tears after claiming the fourth round victory.

Pete Sampras(L), Roger Federer(R)
Pete Sampras(L) and Roger Federer(R) (Via Imago)
It was the first time I played on Centre Court at Wimbledon, and it turned into five sets.There was just so much going on in my head, it was fairytale stuff. And I don’t know if this was the first time or the second time in my career when I cried after winning.
Roger Federer said (via Vogue)

However, despite ousting Sampras in the biggest upset of the 2001 Wimbledon, Federer went on to lose to Tim Henman 7-5, 7-6(8), 2-6, 7-6(6) in the next round.

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