ROGER FEDERER REACHES 1,000 WIN MILESTONE IN STYLE WITH BRISBANE TITLE BY RICKY DIMON

Written by: Staff on 11th January 2015

Brisbane International Tennis Tournament

ROGER FEDERER REACHES 1,000 WIN MILESTONE IN STYLE WITH BRISBANE TITLE BY RICKY DIMON

epa04554655 Roger Federer of Switzerland reacts after winning the Mens final against Milos Raonic of Canada at the Brisbane International Tennis Tournament in Brisbane, Australia, Sunday, January 11, 2015. It was Federer's 1000th win in his career and his 83rd ATP-title in the 125th final. EPA/DAVE HUNT AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

It may not be quite Derek Jeter getting his 3,000th hit in the form of a home run, but Roger Federer accomplished another feat of his own in a fashion befitting of Federer’s legendary career.

The 33-year-old Swiss earned his 1,000th match victory by winning the Brisbane International title on Sunday. He held off a hard-charging Milos Raonic 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-2 in two hours and 13 minutes.

Raonic, who was 1-7 lifetime in the head-to-head series heading into the showdown, briefly looked like he would get blown clean off the court in the blink of an eye. The big-serving Canadian trailed by a set and a break before storming back. He also fell behind 2-0 in the second-set tiebreaker only to run off seven points in succession.

Milos Raonic of Canada returns the ball during the Mens final against Roger Federer of Switzerland at the Brisbane International Tennis Tournament in Brisbane, Australia, Sunday, January 11, 2015. EPA/DAVE HUNT AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

The final’s decisive service break did not come until 5-4 in the third, when Federer came up big when it mattered most to clinch victory.

“It was a great tennis match,” Raonic reflected. “I stayed out there, competed, gave it my all. I gave myself a chance after being down a set and a break.”

Federer was not disappointed that it turned out to be such a competitive encounter.

Roger Federer of Switzerland during the Mens final against Milos Raonic of Canada at the Brisbane International Tennis Tournament in Brisbane, Australia, Sunday, January 11, 2015. EPA/DAVE HUNT AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

“Looking back, it’s almost nicer winning this way through a tight match with nerves and humid conditions against a great player in a final,” he said. “It means so much more than just running away with it with the score maybe 6-4, 6-4, which was looking very likely at one stage. I guess I was much more happy having to go three sets in the end rather than winning in straight.

“It’s a special moment, no doubt about it,” Federer continued, referring to the milestone. “I’ve played a lot of tennis over the years, so to get to 1000 wins tonight really means a lot to me. I’ll never forget this match.”

The 17-time Grand Slam champion joins Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl as the only three men in the Open Era with 1,000 wins.

“You work hard and prepare hard to play consistently,” Lendl explained. “I remember when I played over 100 matches per year in the 1980s and never thought about it. Obviously, getting to 1,000 wins is more difficult than it seems. It’s really rare. But I looked at it as a by-product of winning so many matches and being consistent for that long.”

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Roger Federer of Switzerland reacts after winning the Mens final against Milos Raonic of Canada at the Brisbane International Tennis Tournament in Brisbane, Australia, Sunday, January 11, 2015. It was Federer’s 1000th win in his career and his 83rd ATP-title in the 125th final. EPA/DAVE HUNT AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

Editors Note From 10sBalls.com: 1,000 wins is amazeballs. Jimmy Connors was great , Lendl was a tough competitor. But neither faced the tougher level of this “super tennis” they didn’t have to work as hard. The equipment was different. The game changed. They had more first round byes. And the depth wasn’t as solid as it has been for all the Federer years. He has had to battle other super heros with super hero abilities. Rafa. Novak. Murray. And that’s just to name a few of the gladiators.

The bottom line. As a professional tennis player once Roger has started a match he has never quit for physical injury once. Not in all the losses that balance off the 1,000 wins. He grinded and toughed them all out. In tennis if you don’t play before a match it’s called a default. But if you stop during the match it’s listed as Ret. For retirement. Yuk that’s a terrible word for any pro athlete ever. Funny thing is the media starts asking the “r” question at 26 years old in tennis. Brutal sport.

BRAVO ROGER FEDERER YOU TRULY ARE BETTERER !

Topics: Atp, Brisbane, Federer 1000th, Federer is betterer, milos raonic, Ricky Dimon, Roger Federer, Tennis

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10sBalls_com says:

January 11, 2015 at 4:10 pm

-@rogerfederer REACHES 1,000 WIN MILESTONE IN STYLE WITH #BRISBANE TITLE BY @Dimonator http://t.co/8zfOg9dy0L #federer1000 #BrisbaneTennis