Paradox of 20-time Grand Slam champion ending his career by losing 0-6 at Grand Slam
ATP
Roger Federer has enjoyed one of the most fruitful tennis careers in the history of this beautiful sport, but often, he didn't make it beautiful for his opponents to stand on the other side of the court.
During his career, Federer delivered a total of 94 bagels (winning a set 6-0). Some of them were even double bagels, like, for example, against Mischa Zverev in the quarter-finals of the 2013 Halle Open when the Swiss Maestro triumphed 6-0, 6-0.
But one thing that didn't happen that often was the 20-time Grand Slam champion being bageled. During his lengthy career, Federer lost a set 0-6 only five times, and three of the bagels came during his second year on the ATP Tour, back in 1999.
In Monte Carlo, he lost 6-7(3), 0-6 to Vincent Spadea. One month later, Patrick Rafter defeated the Swiss player 5-7, 6-3, 6-0, 6-2, and only two weeks later, Federer lost 3-6, 0-6 to Byron Black at the Queen's Club.
But for a very long time, no more bagels were added to Federer's collection. That was until 2008 when he faced Rafael Nadal in one of the most dominant Roland Garros finals by the Spaniard.
Back then, Nadal won 6-1, 6-3, 6-0, and, after nine years, the Spaniard added another 0-6 loss to Federer's short list of bagels. The Swiss Maestro then spent another 13 years on the ATP Tour without ever losing a set 0-6.
That was until he faced Hubert Hurkacz in the quarter-finals of last year's Wimbledon. Federer lost the match 3-6, 6-7(4), 0-6, and eventually, that became his last Grand Slam match as he's set to retire at the 2022 Laver Cup.
Despite delivering a total of 94 bagels and losing 0-6 only once from 2000 until 2020, the sensational career of the 20-time Grand Slam champion ends with a little paradox. Still, he certainly won't remember that when he'll be counting the trophies in his enormous collection.
