Roger Federer is the most decorated male tennis player with 20 Grand Slam titles. As it turns out, the Swiss is a cut above the rest even in losing efforts.
According the an ‘Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers’ analysis, as published on the ATP website, Federer leads the list of players winning most number of points in losing efforts over the past 30 years.
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“Federer averaged winning almost 48 per cent of points in 260 matches where he finished second best. The data set is comprised of 491 players who have lost at least 50 matches at the ATP Tour and Grand Slam level since 1991, when official ATP Tour statistics were first recorded,” the report stated.
“Federer has lost 25,925 points in the 260 matches where he has suffered defeats. The Swiss has consistently performed better than any player on Tour in losing by the tightest of margins.”
Highest Percentage Points Won In Matches Lost (Minimum 50 Matches Lost)
| Rank | Player | Points Won % |
| 1 | Roger Federer | 47.60% |
| 2 | Richard Krajicek | 47.31% |
| 3 | Milos Raonic | 47.28% |
| 4 | Todd Martin | 47.19% |
| 5 | Pete Sampras | 47.15% |
The 38-year-old was even better indoors, winning 47.89% of the points.
Famously, Federer lost the 2019 Wimbledon final to Novak Djokovic despite winning the more number of points.
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The Swiss, who lost despite holding two Championship points on his serve in the deciding set, had won 218 points compared to 204 for Djokovic.
Not surprisingly, grass is his best surface. Federer holds a 101-13 win-loss record at Wimbledon and has won 48.89% points in his 27 overall losses on the surface.
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“In his 13 losses at the All England Club, he has still won a head-turning 49.6 per cent of points, which is second only to Krajicek (49.71 per cent) out of a data set of players who have lost eight or more times at The Championships,” the report added.
Federer: Percentage Points Lost By Surface
| Surface | Points Won % | Losses |
| Grass | 48.89% | 27 |
| Hard | 47.63% | 150 |
| Carpet | 47.29% | 17 |
| Clay | 46.89% | 66 |
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