After a slow start to the season, Roger Federer picked up form in February 2003. Federer won titles in Marseille and Dubai and recorded four Davis Cup singles victories as Switzerland reached the World Group semi-final. After taking a few weeks off, Federer returned to the courts in Munich, where he lifted the title in style and excelled a week later in Rome, advancing to his second Masters 1000 final on clay, losing to Félix Mantilla in three sets.
The Swiss failed to defend the title in Hamburg and suffered an early loss to Luis Horna at Roland Garros, giving him plenty of time to prepare for the grass-court season. Roger disposed of Nicolas Kiefer in the Halle final to claim his first ATP crown on the fastest surface, which propelled him to Wimbledon, where he went on to win his first Major trophy.
Federer dropped just one set in seven meetings, delivering incredible tennis against Andy Roddick and Mark Philippoussis to take the pressure off himself and put the first Major trophy in his cabinet. Restlessly, Roger competed at his home event, in Gstaad, on clay, suffering a five-set loss to Jiri Novak in the title match and earning the chance to become world number 1 in Montreal and Cincinnati.
In the semifinal of the Canadian Open, Andy Roddick dropped Roger in the deciding tie break to remove him from the ATP throne. The Swiss also missed the opportunity in Cincinnati, after losing to David Nalbandian. Heading into the US Open, Federer was among the favorites for the title, hoping to get the first big run in New York and another big trophy to his account.
Roddick was the favourite, and that suited Federer very well, as he didn’t want to be under such pressure before the start of the event.
Federer is a true legend
Unlike Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have always been in a much better space in terms of marketability and brand appeal, as per Mike Nakajima.
“I’m not sure Rafa wants to be the highest-paid endorser in the world. I don’t think he cares,” Nakajima said. “Rafa is Rafa, he has done extremely well and I don’t think he needs anything else. Roger wanted to be marketed, so he appealed to different brands, audiences and consumer groups.
And his management company’s done an amazing job,” he added. “He’s (Federer) able to appeal to any audience. And people believe that he’s saying the truth, whatever Roger pitches. He’s that believable.”
