As an unheralded Bosnian making your Wimbledon debut, you’d do well not to look at Roger Federer’s record in the first round at majors.
Casting aside his unrivaled 17 Grand Slam titles to his name alone, the Swiss great’s record would have been daunting to say the least for Sarajevo-born Damir Dzumhur. Federer has not tumbled at the first hurdle since Roland Garros 2003, and the last time at Wimbledon was to Mario Ancic in 2002.
Five years ago, he went desperately close to being on the wrong end of a huge shock when as defending champion he was two sets down and one game from defeat to Colombian Alejandro Falla who served for the match. That was the last time he dropped a set in the first round of a Slam.
I enjoy coming here, but we come here for a purpose
On Tuesday, there was scant threat of it happening on Centre Court against Dzumhur as Federer’s quest for a record eighth crown at the All England Club got off to the perfect start as he rolled past the world No.88 in little more than an hour 6-1, 6-3, 6-3.
“You just focus on what's happening right in the moment. I definitely think it was a better draw today against an opponent that doesn't have that much grass-court experience, whereas Falla was quite different. He likes grass, anticipates well, can take the ball early,” Federer said when comparing the two matches.
“Have I changed everything since? No. I thought I was unbelievably fortunate in that match against Falla because it could have gone so south and I would have been so disappointed would I have lost that match. Of course, you try not to have any hiccups early on, but if they do happen, it's important to find a way to win.”
With seven Wimbledon titles to his name and countless classic Centre Court battles behind him, Federer prefers to nominate a scenario rather than an individual memory as his favourite moment.
“I prefer the moment at match point until I hold the trophy, until I see my team and family. That's the hour I prefer the most out of everything,” he said. “I do enjoy going to Centre Court. I enjoy coming in here. But we do come here for a purpose, you know. One day it will all be different. I'll be coming as a spectator. But right now, that moment is what we all work hard for, even in the practice.”
It marked the second straight major Federer and Dzumhur had clashed, with the world No.2 also gaining the upper hand in the third round in Paris. Dzumhur – the first Bosnian man to contest a Grand Slam event when he reached the Australian Open third round as a qualifier last year – began to make more of a fist of the contest in the second set before being broken for 4-3 when he chipped a forehand long.
He handed Federer three set points with a double fault. Despite correctly challenging the call to replay the point, the reprieve was short-lived. The Swiss went on to break when Dzumhur failed to control a lob and pushed it long.
Even trailing two sets and an early break in the third, the Bosnian continued to serve and volley, mixing it up to save a break point before dropping serve after dumping a backhand into net. Federer brought up match point with a forehand volley and closed it out when his opponent’s attempted pass found the net.
Job done for the day, the soon to be 34-year-old still had the afternoon to himself. It is only a short trek down the road to the house he rents with his family and extended entourage.
“I've done it probably now for, I don't know, 13, 14 years now, stay around the village. I used to stay in a bed and breakfast. I used to stay with a family, you know, just in one room.”
A swelling bank account and a growing brood have certainly changed that but despite his status, Federer insists he still does some cleaning. “Sometimes, of course,” he smiled. “It’s just part of the grind, you know.”
His wife, Mirka, was not on hand to verify that.
