
Roger Federer certainly is not ready to stop at a record 15 Grand Slam titles. Still, he figures his recent run of success is about as good as it gets: a first French Open title to complete a career Grand Slam and tie Pete Sampras with 14 major championships, followed immediately by a sixth Wimbledon trophy for No 15.
“I don’t know if I’ve had a more happy period in my tennis life. I don’t know if I can ever top this,” Federer said on Monday at the All England Club. “These last months, with all the records on the line, and coming through both times,” said Federer, who also returned to No. 1 in the rankings. “It’s quite amazing.” After attending the Wimbledon Champions Dinner on Sunday, Federer managed to squeeze in two hours of sleep — from 7-9 a.m. — before rising on Monday. “Sleep is so overrated,” he said with a smile. “Then you wake up, and you’re like, ‘Man, you did it again.”’
Federer was asked whether it mattered that Nadal wasn’t around this year. “No. Not at all,” Federer said. “I didn’t play him in the French Open final, and it didn’t take anything away. (Bjorn) Borg walked away from tennis at 27 — does that take anything away from John McEnroe? No. You only have to beat who’s across the net.”
‘I’m still young’
After the match, Sampras repeated what he’s said before: He thinks Federer could wind up with 18 major titles or more. “It definitely seems possible, you know,” said Federer, who turns 28 next month. “I’m still young, in tennis terms.”
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