Wimbledon: Roger’s Federer dismissal echoes Bradman’s farewell duck

Roger Federer’s 6-0 final-set defeat in his likely last appearance at Wimbledon is set to become the most infamous since Bradman’s duck in his final Test.

Roger Federer of Switzerland walks off court after losing his men's Singles Quarter Final match against Hubert Hurkacz of Poland.

There hasn’t been a scoreboard zero this shocking since Bradman’s last duck.

Roger Federer’s Wimbledon career has likely ended ingloriously. In the role of Eric Hollies, who bowled Bradman for an infamous and incomprehensible second-ball duck up the road in London in 1948, was Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz, who dismissed the Swiss legend 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 6-0 before Federer gave a thumbs-up farewell to a rapturous ovation that mirrored Bradman’s last round of applause.

It was the first time Federer had lost a set without getting off the mark at Wimbledon. Federer, nought. The newspaper headlines should have read, He’s Out.

In many ways, he has been to tennis what Bradman was to cricket, and there’s next to no chance he will ever play again on his favourite track. He sounds resigned to staying in the pavilion.

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“I really don’t know,” Federer said. “I need to regroup. My goal for the last year or more was always to try and play another Wimbledon. I was able to make it this year, which I was really happy (about). We were always going to sit down and talk about what comes after. Obviously we will speak a bit tonight and the next couple of days as well and we go from there.”

Bradman’s last innings was poignant because everyone knew it was the end. Federer has made no definitive announcement on whether he’ll play the Olympics and US Open. The smart money may be on him taking a final bow at the Laver Cup later this year.

“It’s like, what do I need to do to be in better shape and more competitive and we go from there,” Federer said when asked if this was his last Wimbledon.

“Of course I would like to play it again but at my age you just never know. Clearly there’s still a lot of things missing in my game that maybe 10, 15, 20 years ago were very simple and very normal for me to do.

“I will take my time, not feel rushed by you guys or anybody else.

Roger Federer leaves the court after losing to Poland's Hubert Hurkacz.

Don Bradman leaves the SCG during his final season of first-class cricket

“I’ve got to take my time, take the right decision, the one decision I want to take and where I feel most comfortable.

“The team and me were actually very happy I made it as far as the quarters here. That’s how it goes. I’ll be fine. I have perspective about it. I’ve got to take my time, take the right decision, the one decision I want to take and where I feel most comfortable.”

Federer had his true Hollies moment when he stumbled at the net when trying to make a routine volley at a crucial stage of the second set. He had done what Bradman did. Missed a ball he normally never would. The All England Club reacted like The Oval crowd did when Bradman had his air swing. Total silence. A moan and a groan. Murmuring that sounded like, well, that’s it then. He’s not what he used to be.

As Federer walked off Centre Court with his thumb instead of a vat raised, the London masses did everything they did for Bradman bar giving him three cheers for being such a jolly good fellow.

Hollies, sorry Hurkacz, said: “It’s super special to have played Roger here, it’s a dream come true. He’s done so many special things here.

Star newspaper poster declaring the dismissal of Don Bradman

“Roger was congratulating me and wishing good luck for the next matches. Obviously walking off the court realising that I won against Roger, I mean, just kind of a dream come true, especially here on grass in Wimbledon. Felt so special with the crowd around as well.”

Three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker watched Federer’s third-set zero from the commentary box. The nought may seem disastrous but in time, it may be viewed like Bradman’s abrupt duck. All part of the legend. Bradman was human after all in Tests. Ditto for Federer at Wimbledon.

Becker said: “I noticed the mis-hits, awkward looking points from Roger and obviously the last set of course, 6-0. He would never ever say if there was a niggle, but I don’t know if we will ever see the great man again here.”