8 tournaments where Roger Federer has had the most missed opportunities

(4) Rome

Federer looks distraught after squandering championship points in a painful 2006 Rome final defeat

Federer lost his first title match in the Italian capital against Felix Mantilla, weeks before his maiden Grand Slam title at Wimbledon. But it was his title showdown with Nadal three years later that captured the imagination of connoisseurs and purists alike.

In a high quality five hour final on the dirt, Federer took the fourth set and rode his momentum to surge 4-1 ahead in the fifth. Nadal would fight back to get back on serve but the Swiss arrived at two championship points in the 12th game courtesy a double fault from the Spaniard.

On the cusp of a first Rome title, Federer "pulled the trigger early" as he would reminisce later, and his potent forehand misfired.

There were to be more opportunities in the ensuing deciding set tiebreak where Federer opened up a 5-3 lead. However another "off the radar" forehand prevented the Swiss three more championship points, as Nadal reeled off four points in a row to seal a second consecutive Rome title.

Federer would reach the Rome final on two more occasions, but a first breakthrough would remain elusive as Nadal (2013) and Novak Djokovic (2015) thwarted the Swiss.

Rome became the second tournament, after Monte Carlo, where Federer would lose his first four finals. The Swiss is yet to reach another title match or land a first title at either tournament.