Roger Federer has vowed to continue rewriting tennis history, but admitted he feels he still shares Pete Sampras’ Grand Slam record rather than having eclipsed his great American friend. Roger Federer clinched a sixth Wimbledon title on Sunday after an epic confrontation with Andy Roddick, a victory which gave him a record 15th Grand Slam, surpassing Sampras’ mark that he had equalled at the French Open in June.
Still only 27, Federer has played 39 successive Grand Slams and has amassed his collection of majors in the space of just six years. Sampras was 31 when he won the last of his 14 Grand Slams at the 2002 US Open. But with Sampras predicting the Swiss star could easily win at least 19 majors, Federer was quick to recognise the debt he owes to the American who returned to the All England Club for the first time in seven years on Sunday to see history made.
“I definitely feel like it’s come full circle for me, starting here and ending it here,” said Federer who won his first major at Wimbledon in 2003.
“Of course, my career is far from over. But i know how much the record meant to Pete and he knows how much the record means to me. In a way, i still feel like we share it just because he was such a wonderful champion. He still has one up against me here at Wimbledon.”