“Roger Federer’s legacy is way beyond Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal at the US Open” – Sam Querrey
According to former ATP No. 11 Sam Querrey, Roger Federer's legacy at the US Open surpasses that of Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. Federer, Djokovic, and Nadal, collectively called the Big 3, are arguably the most legendary trio in the world of sports.
No other group of players has simultaneously dominated a sport like the Big 3 have done in the case of tennis. The three have won 66 Grand Slam tournaments combined out of the last 82 held. Out of the 66, their exploits at the US Open have yielded 13 Major trophies, with Federer winning five and Djokovic and Nadal claiming four each.
After the 2024 US Open concluded recently, the Nothing Major Podcast hosts Sam Querrey, John Isner, Jack Sock, and Steve Johnson were asked by a fan to pick one among the Big 3 with the greatest Flushing Meadows history.
Sock promptly picked the Swiss, saying:
"I gotta go Roger… [his] night matches were always just iconic," he said.
Querrey chimed in, recalling the 20-time Grand Slam champion's spectacular passing tweener against Djokovic in the 2009 semifinals in New York.
"Federer's legacy is like way beyond Novak and Rafa at the US Open. He always played at night, the crowd loved him. He’s got like the iconic tweener shot against Novak," Querrey said.
He notably defeated the Serb 7-6(3), 7-5, 7-5 in that match.
'Darth Federer' and the last man to defend US Open title
Further in the same conversation, John Isner recalled Roger Federer donning an all-black kit, inspired by Star Wars' supervillain Darth Vader, during his title-winning run at the 2007 US Open.
"Yeah so cool," Sam Querrey responded.
Notably, the US Open organizers played Darth Vader's theme song, 'The Imperial March', every time the Swiss walked to the court in 2007.
At this, Steve Johnson reminded everyone of the 20-time Grand Slam champion's partnership with Michael Jordan in creating a custom shoe inspired by the 1988 Air Jordan during the New York Major in 2014.
"When you have a collaboration with Michael Jordan and you debut them at night US Open with him in your box… as a tennis player, that’s incredible," Johnson said.
Querrey further justified his pick by mentioning Federer's unbeaten run at the US Open from 2004-2008.
"For me, talking about like being iconic, age is irrelevant and the fact that Roger won it like five times in a row is the most important stat when we’re talking about who is most iconic at the US Open," the American added.
Interestingly, no ATP player has been able to defend a title at Flushing Meadows since the Swiss did in 2008. He himself couldn't win the silverware there again, reaching finals in 2009 and 2015 and losing to Juan Martin del Potro and Novak Djokovic, respectively.