Yeah. . .it’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt! Today at Wimbledon, it was Tommy Haas feeling the pain of defeat as Roger Federer trounced him in the semifinals in three sets: 7-6, 7-5, 6-3. Not that he seemed too distraught about it:
Q. Can you sum up your whole Wimbledon experience. It’s been a special one for you.
TOMMY HAAS: It was great. I couldn’t be any happier.
Roger, of course, exists on a completely different plane when it comes to happiness. Check out some of these giddy numbers (via The Age):
Federer will play a seventh consecutive Wimbledon final, a record since the abolition of the challenge round in 1922 whereby the defending champion was automatically elevated to the final. That broke Federer’s tie with Bjorn Borg (a finalist from 1976-81) who was one of the legends court-side, along with Australia’s Rod Laver, another whom the Swiss now rubs shoulders in the game’s pantheon.
This will also be Federer’s 20th grand slam final, one more than Ivan Lendl with whom had shared the all-time record. The 27 year-old has played in 15 of the last 16 grand slam finals – a streak broken at the 2008 Australian Open – and has won 10 of those.
Here’s Mr. Happy on what the records mean to him:
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, look, I’m very proud of all the records I’ve achieved, because I never thought I would be, you know, that successful as a kid. You know, I would have been happy winning a couple tournaments and maybe collecting Wimbledon, you know, sort of achieving the dream scenario, you know.
But not really all those records. But it’s quite staggering now, you know, having reached again I think it’s my sixth straight Grand Slam final I’ve achieved, as well. Having so many things going for me now again, opportunity again on Sunday, it’s fantastic.
Quite amazing to be back in the Wimbledon final already because it seems like now all of a sudden everything happened very quickly.
Of course the record everyone cares about is the one he tied a couple weeks ago in Paris. Roger will have to beat Andy Roddick in Sunday’s final to reach the top of tennis mountain: 15th Heaven, anyone?
Thanks to GTT reader, Goldi, for sharing the video!
Thumbnail photo of Mr. Happy by AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus via Daylife
Tags: Federer, haas, Sampras, tennis, Wimbledon
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Way to go RF! Haas should be really proud of himself as well. He saved 2 match points against Cilic in the 3rd round and proved he can make it to the Semis at Wimbledon!
Roger always plays the first match on CC, which is good for my schedule^^(it’s 8pm in China while 13:00 in Wimbledon). Such a wonderful match to catch up with Roger back in his perfection. Flawless. Genius. Haas is very good but in face of Roger, just another one not in the same level..
I watched the first two sets of the following Andy v. Andy semi, and got the feeling that either of them would not pose any threat to Roger. Glad that Roddick came through and cannot wait to see Roger making history!
Hi all! Yeah, Roger vs. Haas was just competitive enough for nervous Fed fans to watch it without too much trauma!
I was definitely rooting for Roddick to come through on the other side – I can’t believe he pulled it off! I was really impressed with that victory.
I must admit it’s a tiny bit hard for me to root against Andy, being my countryman after all! And a guy who’s worked his butt off to get another chance in a final. But Roger, Wimbledon, Pete’s record to be broken, taking the No. 1 ranking. . .gosh, I want to see that, too!!!!
congrats Roger!One more to go…I will be praying real hard again for you just like in the FO!
Roddick is playing really well, and I admire him for working so hard to get his game back. Actually, I think he has a more complete game now than he ever had before. But, Roger is the most complete player ever, and I want him to get #15 and to retrieve his No. 1 ranking on Sunday. GO ROGER!
Since I’m a total wimp when it comes to watching Roger play, I’m just hoping for an exciting four setter that Federer wins!
But if the freakish happens and Roddick wins it, I’ll survive! And look forward to his second guest appearance on SNL!
Somehow it feels wrong, I am not feeling nervous about Federer against Roddick, and that doesn’t feels right.
I know exactly what you mean. . .
Federer Vs Haas was a very interesting match. Federer performance was superb. He entered the finals of Wimbledon and will play against Roddick. Roddick has lost to Federer thrice.