ROGER FEDERER bt Mikhail Youzhny 6-7 6-3 6-3 6-3, 4th Round @ Wimbledon, The Championships 2011

The middle Monday of Wimbledon is considered the most exciting because all the remaining men's and women's players are involved in fourth round singles matches. And right on cue, it was also the hottest day in London for five years. As expected the top four men's seeds progressed through to the quarter-finals but one result stood out for me - that of the Swiss maestro. It is worth reminding ourselves that not only is the Fed Express playing some of his best tennis on his favoured surface, but his victory ensured a twenty-ninth consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final appearance. The world's number three ranked player has not missed a single Grand Slam tournament in over a decade, a phenomenal achievement considering how strenuous and hectic the tennis calendar is these days. He's picked up a record sixteen Grand Slam titles along the way but it's easy to forget that the match which heralded his arrival on the big stage, was also a fourth-round encounter that took place on the same middle Monday almost exactly ten years ago. It was his first match on the world's most famous tennis court and also his first against this particular opponent, a certain Pete Sampras - the defending champion, seven-time winner and on a thirty-one match-winning streak at Wimbledon. There was an element of destiny to the match-up as it had been the youngster's dream to play against the man many considered the greatest ever and on his favourite surface. And though there was a ten year age gap, the nineteen year-old played almost flawless tennis. Not to be outdone the American pulled out all the stops but eventually the new kid on the block prevailed in a five-set thriller. The tennis world took immediate notice and although it took two more years for Federer to win his first Grand Slam title (at the All England Club) there was widespread acknowledgement that this match symbolised the passing of the mantle from one generation to the next. It was Sampras' earliest exit in ten years of Wimbledon Championships and he never returned to conquer the grass ever again. Meanwhile, Roger Federer has gone on to win six Wimbledon Championships of his own, leaving him just one short of equalling his predecessor's record. After the way he has been playing over here and at Roland Garros, I suspect not many neutrals will bet against him emulating the American next Sunday. Here's to hoping he succeeds!

(A few days ago I rummaged through the Guardian archives and unearthed this beaut of an article written as a preview to that match at the 2001 Championships. It was titled: The 'next Sampras' next up against the real one. The Swiss had won only one senior title until then and never progressed beyond the quarter-final of a Grand Slam. Yet the promise of his junior career was enough to set tongues wagging in the tennis world.)

And naturally, this post wouldn't be complete without a playlist of the entire match between Federer and Sampras. The Swiss may have a losing record against Nadal, but he played Pistol Pete just the once and it's 100%.

I think the most fascinating thing about the match is that Federer served-and-volleyed throughout the match, including on his second serve. The courts and balls played much faster back then of course.

Never Gonna Give You Up

Maybe you've seen this before but I just came across it. The passengers don't look too impressed.