On June 23, 2010, all of Serbia was shaken by football fever. After a great victory over Germany, the Serbian national team was preparing for the decisive match against Australia, and all eyes of the public were focused on South Africa. Meanwhile, another Serbian athlete, tennis player Ilija Bozoljac, was getting ready to step onto the courts of the All England Club and play the most important match of his career — against the legendary Roger Federer.
CONTEXT
Video: Highlights from the match Australia – Serbia (2-1)
Throughout his career, Ilija Bozoljac often lacked just a bit of luck. He narrowly missed breaking into the top 100. His best career ranking was 101st (achieved in January 2007), and it’s truly incredible that he never entered that elite group of the 100 best players in the world.
At one point in Glasgow, during a Davis Cup match against Great Britain, Bozoljac served an ace measured at 246 km/h, which would have placed him second of all time in serve speed behind Andy Roddick — but the result was not officially recognized due to “unreliable measurement.”
Despite his undeniable talent and deadly serve, he never managed to capitalize on them through more notable ATP Tour results. Four Challenger-level titles are still below his true potential.
Ilija could have easily missed the chance to face one of the greatest tennis players of all time, Roger Federer, on “his battlefield” — Wimbledon’s Centre Court. In fact, he was just one step, or more precisely, one set away from that meeting two years earlier.
At Wimbledon 2008, Bozoljac entered the main draw as a “lucky loser,” thanks to Gaël Monfils’ last-minute withdrawal. He took Monfils’ spot in the draw and had the opportunity — with wins in the first two rounds — to face the famous Swiss in the third round. In the opening round, he defeated Chris Guccione in four sets, followed by a match against Frenchman born in Tunisia, Marc Gicquel. Bozoljac led 2–0 in sets and reached the tiebreak in both the third and fourth sets, but the experienced Gicquel managed to come back and earn the right to face Federer.
So close, yet so far.
IT’S NOT WHO THEY SAY IT IS
Fate wanted Ilija and Roger to meet at Wimbledon, and it was persistent in that intention.
Two years later, Ilija Bozoljac safely passed all three qualifying rounds, losing just one set in three matches to reach the main draw.
He drew a tough first-round opponent — experienced Chilean Nicolás Massú. Once ranked world No. 9 and a double Olympic gold medalist in Athens, Massú never enjoyed playing on grass, with his best Wimbledon result being the third round.
Bozoljac thus had a very good chance to advance to the second round — where the opponent waiting for him was none other than Roger Federer.
This time, he seized the opportunity — just like he hit his forehand — with both hands. With 7–6, 3–6, 6–3, 7–6, Bozoljac eliminated Massú and set up his first-ever meeting with the world’s top player.
And that brings us to June 23, 2010.
Court No. 1 at Wimbledon. Grass — Roger Federer’s favorite surface, but also the one that best suited Bozoljac’s strengths and serve. No. 1 in the world versus No. 153. While John Isner and Nicolas Mahut were playing the second day of their historic, record-breaking marathon match, Bozoljac was preparing to show Federer — and the whole world — that his ranking did not reflect his true quality. Let the show begin.
And it truly was a show. From the very start.
FIRST AND SECOND SET
The first two games went to deuce, and in the third, on Bozoljac’s serve, Federer reached a break point. Bozoljac answered — with three aces. However, the Swiss managed to secure two breaks and take the opening set 6–3.
Then, in the second set, we witnessed the full beauty of tennis — in a set without a single break. Aces from both sides, plenty of spectacular points, drop shots, passing shots, and lobs that drew gasps from the stands. It all came down to a tiebreak, where Ilija Bozoljac seized his chance at 4–4 and won three straight points to level the match at 1–1 in sets — 7–6(4). The crowd erupted in applause and ovations.
(Moment when Ilija Bozoljac leveled at 1–1 in sets – photo: screenshot)
THIRD SET
Something incredible happened — Ilija Bozoljac managed to do what few before or after him had done: win over the Wimbledon crowd, even while facing their beloved Roger Federer.
Bozoljac played bravely, even resorting at times to the risky tactic of serving two first serves — a tactic that would, 11 years later, earn Daniil Medvedev his first and only Grand Slam title at the US Open. He hit sharp angles with his serve, attacked returns aggressively, and seemed to truly enjoy himself on court. His courage paid off, and now he was fully in the match with the world No. 1.
As the match went on, Federer’s service games were met with only polite applause, while Bozoljac’s points drew gasps and cheers — and suddenly, he too began to believe he could topple the top seed on his own turf.
The battle of aces continued in the third set, but a slightly weaker service game from Bozoljac allowed Federer to break and take a 2–1 lead in sets.
Bozoljac hit 31 aces that day, while Federer had 16.
FOURTH SET
Despite the setback, Bozoljac refused to give up. He continued to play his game bravely and, leading 3–2, earned three break points on Federer’s serve. However, the Swiss escaped with spectacular shots, just as he did later at 5–4 for Bozoljac. Another tiebreak followed, and it seemed that the Serbian had control — especially when leading 5–4. But Federer once again found a way to win the key points, converting his first match point to seal victory.
The London crowd once again gave Bozoljac a standing ovation — a player they likely hadn’t even heard of before that day — for giving them such a spectacle.
IT’S NOT THE END
If you thought the story ends here — you’re wrong.
Bozoljac and Federer’s paths crossed again four years later. Serbia hosted Switzerland in the first round of the Davis Cup in Novi Sad. Without the help of their best player Novak Djokovic, Serbia turned to the man Federer knew well from the London grass.
This time, the Swiss won in three sets, but in the second, Bozoljac again had a chance to “spice things up.” Ilija led 5–2 and had a set point on Federer’s serve, but just like in the fourth set at Wimbledon, the Swiss managed to win the key points and close out the set 7–5.
Serbia eventually lost the tie 3–2, but we witnessed another thrilling duel between Ilija Bozoljac and Roger Federer.
Conclusion
Finally, the second-round match at Wimbledon 2010 — and perhaps Bozoljac’s entire career — is best summed up by commentator Nebojša Višković of Sport Klub, who covered the match:
“Now we should all give Ilija a good scolding — where was this kind of game all his career? He waited until he turned 25 to finally show it.”
