The players involved: Roger Federer and Arnaud Di Pasquale
- Roger Federer: the rising star of men’s tennis
Roger Federer, born in 1981, quickly made a name for himself in the tennis world. His exceptional skills and performances in his early professional years led to him being touted as a future world No 1. By September 2000, he was ranked No 43 on the ATP Tour, having already impressed with multiple quarter-final appearances.
- Arnaud Di Pasquale: Frenchman ranked No 62 in the world
Arnaud Di Pasquale, born in 1979, had a successful start to his professional career as well, reaching the top 100 rankings in 1998. His notable achievements include reaching the fourth round at Roland-Garros and claiming his first ATP title in Palermo.
The place: The Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre
The Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Center in Australia, built in 1999, hosted the tennis events at the 2000 Summer Olympics. Its Centre Court, later named the Ken Rosewall Arena, had a capacity of 10,500 spectators.
The facts: Federer feels the pressure in the deciding set
In a bronze medal match on September 26, 2000, Di Pasquale and Federer faced off with different mindsets. Di Pasquale, in impressive form, had defeated higher-ranked opponents leading up to the match, while Federer was reeling from a previous loss. Despite a strong fight from Federer, Di Pasquale emerged victorious in a tense deciding set.
What next? Di Pasquale hampered by injuries while Federer begins G.O.A.T. journey
Following the match, Di Pasquale’s career was plagued by injuries, ultimately leading to his retirement in 2007. On the other hand, Federer’s career soared to new heights, with multiple Grand Slam titles and a dominant reign as the world’s No 1 player.
