Roger Federer reveals the match he wants to replay, and it is not a loss to Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic

Roger Federer recently reflected on the toughest defeats of his career, revealing the one loss he still regrets the most and wishes he could replay. Surprisingly, the match he singled out wasn’t against either of his long-time rivals, Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic.

Federer has officially been elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame and will be inducted as part of the Class of 2026 in Newport, Rhode Island, next August. The announcement was made on Wednesday, 19 November. He earned the honor in his first year of eligibility, following a career that featured 20 Grand Slam titles, 103 tour-level trophies, and an incredible 310 weeks as World No. 1, including a record 237 weeks in a row.

To mark the occasion, Federer sat down for an interview with the Swiss daily Tages-Anzeiger, where he was asked which defeat still weighs on him the most. He revealed that the loss that continues to bother him is his defeat to Juan Martín del Potro in the 2009 US Open final, admitting he still wishes that match had gone differently. Interestingly, he added that his famous Wimbledon final loss to Nadal wasn’t the one that came to mind.

"The 09 US Open final against Del Potro. That was one of the matches I shouldn’t have lost. It broke my streak at the US Open. My streak also ended at Wimbledon 08. But it somehow had to be that way. Rafa had deserved it so much.”

Federer also ruled out his Wimbledon 2019 final loss to Djokovic, saying:

"Funnily enough, that one didn’t bother me for long. I felt like: I’d played a great tournament, shame I lost, and on we go. I analyzed it very matter-of-factly for myself. In the following days I had the occasional flashback. But never again after that."

---

Why Roger Federer's US Open 2009 loss remains one of the most heartbreaking moments of his career

Roger Federer pictured at the 2009 US Open | Image Source: Getty

Roger Federer entered the 2009 US Open final chasing history. He had already won five straight titles in New York from 2004 to 2008, and a victory over Juan Martín del Potro would have given him an unprecedented sixth in a row in the Open Era. Instead, the match slipped from his grasp, with the Argentine rallying to win 3-6, 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2 and end Federer’s streak one step short of immortality.

The defeat stung even more because 2009 had been a defining season for Federer. He finally completed the career Grand Slam at Roland Garros, reclaimed the World No. 1 ranking, and broke Pete Sampras’ Major record at Wimbledon. Adding another US Open crown would have put a historic exclamation mark on the year. Instead, it remains the one loss he still feels he let get away.