Sam Querrey summed up Roger Federer’s dominance at the 2015 Wimbledon with a simple truth: “He hits shots that other guys don’t hit.” Querrey, on the cusp of a third-round berth, was left stunned by Federer’s mastery. The 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 defeat wasn’t just a loss; it was a masterclass that left a lasting mark on Querrey’s Wimbledon aspirations. A cold sweat woke me. Had it all been a terrible dream?

Federer took only 85 minutes to rip up the American former tennis player’s game. Be it his half-volley drop shot or his unmatchable pace to chase a ball, Federer did not hesitate to crush down his opponent’s goal of upsetting him on the grass. His famous, between-legs forehand shot further stunned the former World No. 11 while he struggled to keep up with his game. The result was such that it remained trapped in the now 36-year-old’s mind forever.

As per a latest hilarious video on X, Sam was seen in a black-and-white scene of that shot in the match. The ten ATP singles titles winner woke up from the bed in horror, uttering, the words almost every player must have once thought while playing against the 20 Grand Slam champion. “It was a nightmare….Or was it?” 

While we might view that as a glimpse of the greatness of the eight-time Wimbledon champion, for Querrey, it is nothing less than a nightmare. Luckily, nine years have passed, but the itch clearly refuses to heal. And we all understand why. 

Roger, who first won a Grand Slam at Wimbledon at the age of 21 (in 2008), continued his wonders in London and made it to 12 finals before retiring in 2022. But be it the finals or the matches leading up to it, the 42-year-old former player’s serves, slices and smooth glide on the grass were anything but forgettable. Querrey witnessed it too and his reaction at the time was relatable to us all.

“You want to go over and give him a high five sometimes, but you can’t do that. You want to beat him but he’s fun to watch, too,” the then world no. 36 said referring to Federer’s between-the-leg forehand shot in that match. The then-seventeen grand slam champion, after hearing this later in an interview, replied, “He said that? That’s cool. That would have been OK.”

Roger was well aware of his dominance on the grass court, but that particular forehand shot had a different level of deftness wrapped around it. When asked about it, he responded, “It’s rare that it happens. So when it does, you have to pull it off. I even had a bit of time. I had to shuffle my feet to get in position. But if you don’t win the point, you do look a bit silly.”

The duo’s appreciation for each other’s performance is not new. Even when they first met each other, Querrey was full of praise for Federer’s humility.

Querrey describes his maiden meeting with Federer

At 2007 Australian Open, Querrey entered the ATP Tour for the first time. Naturally, his nervousness at the time was palpable. But soon, welcoming him to the world of tennis, Federer extended his kind regards to the young player. Later on, recalling that very moment in the elevator of a hotel in Australia, Querrey praised the former Swiss player for his humility at the time. 

“I remember he introduced himself to me. He said, ‘Hey Sam, Roger, welcome to the Tour’, something along those lines. ‘It’s good to see you here’. It was pretty cool for a guy like that to come up to a new player like myself.”

The players have met four times on-court during their careers, and surprisingly, Querrey has won none of those matches. However, every time they met, Querrey applauded his opponent for his remarkable talent. His Wimbledon match against Federer might have been a nightmare for him, but his underlying respect for Federer will last forever.