After a season of hard knocks, Stan Wawrinka is building momentum at the Moselle Open in Metz.

The former World No. 3 prevailed 7-6(1), 6-2 against Joao Sousa on Wednesday in the first round at the indoor hard-court event, backing up his two qualifying wins that earned him a main-draw spot in north-eastern France. Wawrinka has struggled to find his best level since returning to Tour in April after missing 13 months due to a foot injury, but the 16-time tour-level titlist gave frequent reminders of his ability with a series of trademark clean backhand winners to overpower World No. 55 Sousa.

“It’s always difficult to play against him. We played a few times in the past, always a tough match, but I’m really, really happy,” said Wawrinka after securing his fourth tour-level main-draw win of 2022. “It’s the first time I won three matches in the same tournament for more than two years, so it’s great.

“I’m getting confidence from winning a few matches, so I’m feeling a bit more relaxed, the way I’m moving. I think the level was good from me and I’m happy with the win.”

Wawrinka also produced a high-class serving performance against Sousa, saving all three break points he faced in the 95-minute encounter and winning 83 per cent (29/35) of points behind his first serve. He will hope to find that rhythm again in his fourth ATP Head2Head meeting against top seed Medvedev. Wawrinka has won only one of the pair’s previous meetings but it was the most recent, at the 2020 Australian Open.

“It’s the biggest test,” said Wawrinka of his match against Medvedev. “He’s [near] the top of the rankings, always a tough opponent to play… It’s going to be really difficult, but I’m happy to test myself against him tomorrow.”

Roger Federer revealed that he was proud and grateful for his legendary career on Wednesday at the Laver Cup in London, where he reflected on his record-breaking accomplishments ahead of his final tour-level event.

The 41-year-old announced his retirement last week after 25 years on Tour, a decision that left him feeling bittersweet.

“You always want to play forever. I love being out on court, I love playing against the guys and I love travelling. I never really felt like it was that hard for me to do, of winning, learn from losing, it was all perfect,” Federer said in his press conference. “I love my career from every angle. That’s the bitter part [of retiring]. The sweet part was that I know everybody has to do it at one point. Everybody has to leave the game. It’s been a great, great journey. For that, I’m really grateful.”

In a historic career, the Swiss star spent a record 237 consecutive weeks at No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings from 2 February 2004 to 17 August 2008, while he lifted 103 tour-level titles, including 20 Grand Slam crowns.

“I’m definitely very proud and very happy where I sit,” Federer said when analysing his place in the history books. “One of my big moments of course was winning my 15th Slam at Wimbledon when Pete [Sampras] was sitting there. Anything after that was a bonus. That was the record and then of course it was other records along the way… I’m very happy that I was able to win another five Slams from 15 on. For me it was incredible. Then I [won] over 100 titles and all that stuff has been fantastic.”

_{^{Photo Credit: Julian Finney/Getty Images for Laver Cup}}
Having made his tour-level debut in Gstaad in 1998, Federer has been a dominant force in the sport for over two decades. Alongside the numbers, the 28-time ATP Masters 1000 champion admitted he was proud of his longevity at the top of the game.

“I was famous for being quite erratic at the beginning of my career. If you remember, I was famous for being not so consistent. To then become one of the most consistent players ever is quite a shock to me, as well,” Federer said. “That has been a great accomplishment for me personally. People can judge if they think that’s the case too, but for me, that is something I have really enjoyed and that I have been able to stay at the top for so long and compete for any tournament I would enter and really go out there and say, ‘I hope I can win the tournament’, for 15-plus years.

“I think looking back that has a special meaning to me because I always looked to the Michael Schumachers, Tiger Woods, all the other guys that stayed for so long at the top that I didn’t understand how they did it. Next thing you know, you’re part of that group, and it’s been a great feeling.”

_{^{Photo Credit: Julian Finney/Getty Images for Laver Cup}}

Federer last competed on Tour at Wimbledon in 2021, where he advanced to the quarter-finals before losing to Hubert Hurkacz in what was his final singles match. The 28-time ATP Masters 1000 champion admitted that he was aiming to compete again next season, but his knee injury proved too challenging to recover from.

“There was a certain process that started at the beginning of the summer where you try to go to the next level in training and I could feel it was getting difficult,” Federer said. “So at that point I knew any hiccup, any setback, for that matter, was going to be the one potentially…I think tennis is a tough sport to bounce back into, because you have to be able to play long matches, five matches in a row every week, different continents, different surfaces.

“Mentally you need to know you have to be able to get all the way back there, and it’s hard. Then maybe the hardest part after that one point, of course you’re sad in the very moment when you realise, okay, ‘This is the end’. I sort of ignored it for a little bit almost, because I went on vacation and just said, ‘Okay, this is it’. This moment came shortly after I was at Wimbledon where I still truly actually believed there was going to be a chance for me to come back the next year. At what capacity, I didn’t know, but I thought it might be possible.”

Federer will compete for Team Europe against Team World in doubles on Friday in what will be his final tour-level match. Having faced long-time rival Rafael Nadal 40 times, the Swiss star admitted ending his career alongside the Spaniard on court would be fitting if they do decide to join forces for the clash.

“It could be quite a unique situation if it were to happen,” Federer said when asked about teaming with Nadal. “For as long as we battled together to having always this respect for one another, the families, our coaching teams, we always got along really well. For us as well to go through a career that we both have had and to come out on the other side and being able to have a nice relationship I think is maybe a great message as well to not just tennis but sports and maybe even beyond. For that reason I think it would be great. I don’t know if it’s going to happen, but I think it could be obviously a special moment.”

_{^{Photo Credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images}}
With the Laver Cup taking place at the O2 in London, it gives Federer a final chance to play in a city where he has tasted so much success. The 41-year-old lifted a record eight Wimbledon trophies in the UK capital, while he triumphed at the Nitto ATP Finals twice when the event was held in London.

The 20-time major champion is excited by the prospect of ending his career in London and is grateful to have the opportunity to retire at an event surrounded by other stars.

“I’m happy to do it here in London. This city has been special to me,” Federer said. “Maybe the most special place with Wimbledon down the road and here at the O2. I just thought it was very fitting. I have always enjoyed the crowds here as well.

“Having Bjorn Borg on the bench with me for my final game resonated also in a big way with me. Having all the other guys around just felt like I was not going to be lonely announcing my retirement.”

Team Europe will be looking to capture a fifth consecutive title against Team World in the three-day event, held from Friday through Sunday.

Playing at the San Diego Open the second time, hometown favourite Brandon Nakashima won an all-American #NextGenATP battle on Tuesday night at the Barnes Tennis Center.

Nakashima earned a 7-5, 7-6(5) win against 19-year-old wild card Zachary Svajda, his good friend who hails from the nearby town of La Jolla. Nakashima saved three set points at 4-5 in the second set and failed to serve out the match at 6-5, but battled back from 3/5 in the tie-break to escape in straight sets.

“It was a very tough match, right from the beginning,” said the 21-year-old American, who surrendered a break advantage three times in the one-hour, 54-minute contest. “Zach is so talented out there, striking the ball really well. We’re good friends off the court. We practise a lot together here in San Diego, so I knew it was going to be a tough match here today.”

The World No. 69 was victorious in his first competitive match since a US Open third-round loss to Jannik Sinner, in which he won the opening set before bowing out in four. After breaking into the Top 50 of the Pepperstone ATP Rakings in July, Nakashima could rise as high as No. 44 by claiming his first ATP Tour title this week.

He reached the second round in his San Diego debut one year ago, claiming a comeback, three-set win against Fabio Fognini before defeat against Andrey Rublev at the ATP 250.

The American is seeking to improve upon his seventh-place position in the Pepperstone ATP Race To Milan. He reached the semi-finals in the 2021 Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals before a five-set loss to countryman Sebastian Korda.

Americans Denis Kudla and Mitchell Krueger also advanced in straight sets on Tuesday. Kudla defeated Spanish wild card Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 6-3 to open the evening session while Krueger downed countryman and fellow qualifier Christopher Eubanks 6-4, 6-4 to start the day’s play.

Japan’s Taro Daniel denied the United States a clean sweep of Tuesday’s four singles matches with a 6-4, 6-3 victory against qualifier Emilio Nava.

In doubles action, Marc-Andrea Huesler and Hunter Reese notched a 6-4, 6-4 win against Jonathan Eysseric and Artem Sitak on the stadium court, while the Brazilian team of Marcelo Demoliner and Marcelo Melo beat Max Schnur and John-Patrick Smith 6-3, 6-1 in the Grandstand.

Roger Federer is on the ground in London preparing for the Laver Cup, his final ATP Tour event.

The Swiss legend practised on Monday at The O2 with fellow Team Europe member Stefanos Tsitsipas. Their captain, former World No. 1 Bjorn Borg, was watching on.

^{Photo Credit: Julian Finney/Getty Images}
Federer missed last year’s event due to the knee injury that has kept him out since Wimbledon last year. This will be his fourth time representing Team Europe at the Laver Cup, where he owns a 6-0 singles record and a 2-3 doubles record.

Team Europe consists of the ‘Big Four’ of Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray as well as Tsitsipas and World No. 2 Casper Ruud, who reached the final at Roland Garros and the US Open this year.

Team Europe hits the practice court with a special trio: Roger, Stefanos and Bjorn.#LaverCup pic.twitter.com/axVcl1w2fi

— Laver Cup (@LaverCup) September 20, 2022

Trying to end Team Europe’s reign as Laver Cup champions will be Team World’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, Taylor Fritz, Diego Schwartzman, Alex de Minaur, Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock. Play begins on Friday.

The last time Australian James Duckworth played countryman Alexei Popyrin in California, in an ATP Challenger Tour event in 2018, he needed a final-set tie-break to triumph. Popyrin tested Duckworth again on Monday in the first round of the San Diego Open, but the veteran again found a way through.

The seventh seed surged past Popyrin 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 behind 14 aces in two hours and 20 minutes to reach the second round. Duckworth saved six of the eight break points he faced to move to 2-0 in his ATP Head2Head series with Popyrin.

The 30-year-old will next try to reach his second tour-level quarter-final of the year, having advanced to the last eight in Newport in July. He will play one of two American qualifiers: Christopher Eubanks or Mitchell Krueger.

Duckworth has found form in recent weeks, having made an ATP Challenger Tour final in France earlier this month. It is an important week for the Australian, who is defending 150 Pepperstone ATP Rankings points this week that he earned last year by reaching the final in Nur-Sultan.

In other action, Tomas Martin Etcheverry won an all-Argentine clash against qualifier Facundo Mena 7-6(6), 6-3 in two hours and six minutes. The World No. 89 will next challenge third seed Marcos Giron of the United States.

There are two matches still to be played on Monday. Eighth seed J.J. Wolf will play fellow American Stefan Kozlov and home favourite Brandon Holt, who qualified for the US Open and reached the second round, will try to defeat Frenchman Constant Lestienne.

Sebastian Korda has only just begun his 2022 indoor season at the Moselle Open in Metz, but already the American is coming across some familiar faces.

The World No. 49 held firm against his former #NextGenATP rival Hugo Gaston on Monday to secure a 6-3, 7-6(2) first-round victory at the ATP 250 tournament in France. It is Korda’s first indoor event since he reached the final of the Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan last November, when he squeezed past the Frenchman in five sets en route to championship match.

Through In Two ✌️@SebiKorda defeats Gaston 6-3 7-6 in an entertaining encounter in Metz@MoselleOpen pic.twitter.com/A2fErJnwX0

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) September 19, 2022

Korda was given a similarly stern test by Gaston in Metz on Monday. The The 22-year-old fended off two set points when trailing 5-6 in the second set as Gaston ramped up the pressure in front of his home fans, but after digging deep to hold serve Korda carried the momentum with him into the tie-break. He opened a 5/1 lead that proved unassailable as he sealed a one-hour, 37-minute victory on tournament debut.

Awaiting Korda in the second round is another player he beat in Milan 10 months ago, Lorenzo Musetti. Despite that defeat in his home country, Hamburg champion Musetti leads Korda 2-1 in their ATP Head2Head series.

In the day’s other main draw clash, Lorenzo Sonego upset sixth seed Aslan Karatsev 7-5, 6-3 to reach the second round in Metz for the third time. Sonego notched two breaks of his opponent’s serve in each set to register his first tour-level victory against Karatsev in four attempts. The Italian will next take on the winner of Tuesday’s matchup between David Goffin and home favourite Gilles Simon.

Also on Monday, Stan Wawrinka booked his spot in the main draw in Metz after completing a 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-0 second-round qualifying victory against Zsombor Piros.

The 16-time tour-level titlist Wawrinka found his rhythm after dropping the first-set tie-break against the World No. 160 Piros. The Swiss saved all four break points he faced and converted five from nine of his own opportunities to break serve to complete a one-hour, 55-minute win in north-eastern France.

Wawrinka is competing in Metz for the first time since 2015, when he reached the quarter-finals. The former World No. 3 is seeking to build some form after enduring a tough run of results since returning to the Tour in April following 13 months out with a foot injury. He will take on Joao Sousa in the first round of the main draw, with the winner to face a second-round showdown with top seed Daniil Medvedev.

With 20 Grand Slam titles and 310 weeks at World No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, there is no doubt that Roger Federer is one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Across his nearly two decades at the top of the game, the Swiss maestro’s seemingly effortless style and dominance captivated fans and confounded opponents – as he rewrote the tennis record books many times over. 

But which of Federer’s many seasons at the top would rank as the best of his career? Would it be 2004, 2006 or 2007, when he lifted three Grand Slam titles, or 2005 when he recorded the second-best winning percentage in the Open Era? What about 2009 when he completed the career Grand Slam at Roland Garros, or 2012 when he surpassed Pete Sampras for most weeks at World No. 1? 

ATPTour.com breaks down seven of the best seasons of Federer’s legendary career, from his big breakout season to his major comeback year…

Roger Federer captures his second Wimbledon title in 2004. Photo by: Bongarts/Bongarts/Getty Images

2004 
Win-Loss Record: 74-6 (92.5%)
Titles: 11
Grand Slam Titles: 3

After bursting onto the scene by winning Wimbledon, his first major title, in 2003, Federer reinforced his position as a force to be reckoned with just one season later. He became the first man to win three Grand Slam singles titles in the same year since Mats Wilander in 1998 as he captured trophies at the Australian Open (d. Safin), Wimbledon (d. Roddick) and the US Open (d. Hewitt). 

The Swiss 22-year-old put together one of the most dominant seasons in the Open Era as he amassed a head-turning winning percentage of 93 (74-6) and rose to World No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings for the first time (2 February). His trophy count totalled 11 by the time the year was done, and included a second Tennis Masters Cup crown [now Nitto ATP Finals]. 

“It’s still tough to believe because I think once I settle down, have some time off, at the end of the year especially, I’ll be looking back thinking, ‘How in the world did I do all this?’ Now, it’s just a little bit much,” Federer said after his win in New York. 

Little did he know how much more was in store…

Andre Agassi fell victim to Federer in four sets in the 2005 US Open final. Photo by: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images

2005
Win-Loss Record: 81-4 (95.29%)
Titles: 11
Grand Slam Titles: 2

With four Grand Slam titles already to Federer’s name, the tennis world held its breath as 2005 dawned. The question on everyone’s mind was, ‘Will he be able to back it up?’ Turns out, there would not be any need to worry. 

Federer won four ATP Masters 1000 titles, including the ‘Sunshine Double’ by lifting back-to-back trophies in Indian Wells and Miami. At the Grand Slams, he continued his dominance at Wimbledon, winning his third consecutive Gentlemen’s Singles title (d. Roddick), and added a second US Open (d. Agassi) trophy to his cabinet. 

Federer went 81-4 in 2005, with a winning percentage of 95.29 as he won 11 trophies. It was the second-best winning percentage in the Open Era after John McEnroe’s 96.47 (82-3) season in 1984.

Six times Federer has won the season finale, including in 2006 in Shanghai. Photo by: Andrew Wong/Getty Images

2006
Win-Loss Record: 92-5 (94.84%)
Titles: 12
Grand Slam Titles: 3

FedEx ATP Rankings

The World No. 1 Federer only lost to two players during an imperious 2006 season: an on-the-rise Rafael Nadal (four times) and 19-year-old Andy Murray (once). He ended the year with a nearly untouchable winning percentage of 95 (92-5). Federer reached the final at all four Grand Slams and won three, as he added to his legend at the Australian Open (d. Baghdatis), Wimbledon (d. Nadal) and the US Open (d. Roddick). 

He started 2006 on a 16-match win streak and finished the season winning 29 matches in a row, including a third Nitto ATP Finals title. That undefeated run would continue into 2007, and total a career-best 41 consecutive wins.

“I’ve run out of words [to describe] myself,” Federer joked after his 6-0, 6-3, 6-4 final win over James Blake in Shanghai. “I had to laugh at times today at how well I was playing. At this point in my career I’m so happy with my game.”

Federer claims his second consecutive Wimbledon final win over Rafael Nadal in 2007. Photo by: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

2007
Win-Loss Record: 68-9 (88.3%)
Titles: 8
Grand Slam Titles: 3

For the second year in a row, Federer reached the finals at all four Grand Slams, winning three. He became the first player in history to win three majors in a year three times (2004, 2006, 2007) as he continued to fend off new faces and younger challengers. 

Federer defeated Fernando Gonzalez at the Australian Open, Nadal at Wimbledon, and Novak Djokovic at the US Open. He also won the Nitto ATP Finals and two Masters 1000 titles in Hamburg and Cincinnati, an 88 per cent (68-9) win-loss record.

His 7-6(7), 4-6, 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-2 victory over Nadal at Wimbledon was an instant classic, and saw him equal Bjorn Borg’s record with his fifth consecutive championship at the All England Club. The feat also extended Federer’s grass-court winning streak to 55. He would rack up 65 wins in a row on the surface between 2003 and 2008, the longest grass-court streak in the Open Era.

All the while, Federer remained firmly at the top of the game. His 237 consecutive weeks at the top of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings (2004-2008) remains an ATP Tour record.

Mission accomplished! Federer completes the career Grand Slam at Roland Garros in 2009. Photo by: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

2009 
Win-Loss Record: 61-12 (83.6%)
Titles: 4
Grand Slam Titles: 2

After being denied in three previous Roland Garros finals, Federer finally completed the career Grand Slam with a victory over Robin Soderling in the final in Paris. He became just the sixth man in history to complete the career Grand Slam. 

“This could be my biggest victory, the one that takes off the most pressure,” Federer quipped afterwards. “Now for the rest of my career, I can play relaxed and never hear again that I never won the French Open.”

A few weeks later, the Swiss once again made history as he lifted the Gentlemen’s Singles title once again, after defeating Andy Roddick in an epic five-set Wimbledon final. As Roddick held serve 37 times in a row, Federer finally broke through in the final game to win 5-7, 7-6(6), 7-6(5), 3-6, 16-14. It was Federer’s 15th Grand Slam singles triumph, breaking Pete Sampras’ all-time record. 

Federer adds singles silver at the London Olympics to the doubles gold he won in Beijing. Photo by: MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP/Getty Images

2012
Win-Loss Record: 71-12 (85.54%)
Titles: 6
Grand Slam Titles: 1

The 2012 season marked an emphatic return to form for Federer. He won 86 per cent (71-12) of the matches he played and won six tour-level titles – his best stats in half a decade. 

Federer, who last won a major title in 2010, lifted his record-equalling seventh Gentlemen’s Singles trophy (d. Murray) – a record-extending 17th Grand Slam crown. In the process, he returned to World No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, a feat that tied (and ultimately surpassed) Pete Sampras’ record for weeks at No. 1 of 286. The Swiss would go on to tally 310 weeks in total over the course of his career. 

A month later, he also clinched a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics. After dropping the first set to Juan Martin del Potro in the semi-finals, Federer outlasted the Argentine in a marathon 3-6, 7-6(5), 19-17 comeback to reach the final (l. to Murray). It was Federer’s first medal in singles for Switzerland, after previously winning gold in doubles (w/ Wawrinka) at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. 

“It’s been a great month. I won Wimbledon, became World No. 1 again, and I got silver,” he reflected. “I am very, very proud honestly to have won a silver. I had a very emotional tournament from start to finish.”

A remarkable comeback season in 2017 begins with the Australian Open title. Photo by: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

2017
Win-Loss Record: 54-5 (91.5%)
Titles: 7
Grand Slam Titles: 2

With a revamped game, Federer embarked on one of the most impressive comeback seasons in tennis in 2017. At the age of 35, he won his first Grand Slam trophy since 2012 at the Australian Open after rallying from a break down in the fifth set against Nadal, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3. The win made him the oldest Slam champion since Ken Rosewall won there in 1972 at 37. At his beloved Wimbledon, Federer kicked things up a notch as he won his 19th Grand Slam title  (d. Cilic) – and did so without dropping a set. 

Federer didn’t stop there, and he would go on to claim seven titles in 2017, including three Masters 1000 wins at Indian Wells, Miami and Shanghai. It was the most trophies he had won in a decade, and he amassed a 92 per cent (54-5) win-loss record, his best percentage since 2006. After starting the season at No. 17 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings due to a knee injury that sidelined him for much of 2016, Federer would finish 2017 at World No. 2. 

“I knew I could do great again maybe one day, but not at this level. You would have laughed, too, if I told you I was going to win two Slams this year,” Federer said at Wimbledon. “People wouldn’t believe me if I said that. I also didn’t believe that I was going to win two this year.”