"If I had won, my life wouldn't have changed" - Roger Federer admits being at peace with devastating Wimbledon 2019 loss to Novak Djokovic

Roger Federer opened up about his heartbreaking defeat to Novak Djokovic at the 2019 Wimbledon final. The Serb saved two championship points and went on to clinch the title 7-6(5), 1-6, 7-6(4), 4-6,13-12(3) after four hours and 57 minutes making the 2019 final the longest in WImbledon history. Federer won more points than Djokovic throughout the match.

The Swiss Maestro retired from tennis in 2022 at the Laver Cup and has been focusing on his other ventures since.

In a recent interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, the 42-year-old discussed his narrow defeat to Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon 2019, admitting that he was at peace with the result. He said his dream was to win the title once, but was blessed to win it eight times. Though the Swiss admitted that he would play the championship points differently given the chance, he was grateful for the career tennis gave him.

"I lost that match, but I think that if I had won, my life wouldn't have changed anything. As a child I dreamed of one day playing at Wimbledon Central and winning the tournament. I didn't expect to win it eight times and have so much success around the world. In the end, we talk about an extra prize. Obviously if I could play those match points again, I would do it differently, but the balance of my career is positive. I feel deep happiness and gratitude for tennis," he said.

Roger Federer recalls "not giving" Novak Djokovic enough respect

Federer and Djokovic before their 2020 Australian Open semifinal

Roger Federer recalled his first match against Novak Djokovic at the Monte-Carlo Masters in 2006 during the behind-the-scenes footage of his aforementioned documentary stating how he didn't think much of the Serb.

"I played him in Monaco the very first time (Federer won 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 in 2006), and I walked off the court and thought, ‘Yeah, he’s OK,'" Federer said.

The Swiss admitted that he didn't give the Serb the respect he deserved as he felt the latter had some technical flaws in his game. However, the 20-time Major champion said that Djokovic got rid of the flaws and became the monster of player he is today.

“Even though there was some hype around him, I wasn’t really fully convinced. I think I didn’t give Novak the respect he deserved because of his technical flaws. I felt like Novak had a very extreme forehand grip, and his backhand for me wasn’t as fluid as it is nowadays. But then he ironed those things out super well and became an unbelievable monster of a player," he added.

The two men met 50 times in their careers with Djokovic leading 27-23. Their last match came at the 2020 Australian Open where the Serb won 7-6(1), 6-4, 6-3.