“Just to Tell my Kids and GrandKids”: Pablo Andujar on Playing Roger Federer at Geneva Open 2021

A slick, straight-set win over Australian Jordan Thompson has earned Spaniard Pablo Andujar arguably his biggest career showdown at the ongoing Geneva Open. While he has had four career meetings with compatriot Rafael Nadal and two with Novak Djokovic, all ending in defeats, the 35-year-old from Valencia has never found himself on a tennis court opposite Roger Federer before.

However, he is about to tick that box following his 6-0, 6-4 victory over Thompson on Monday.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the much-anticipated second-round clash, the current World No. 75 said that it had been a long-held dream of his to play Federer and he simply can’t wait for the moment to arrive.

Pablo Andujar says he’s really happy to be playing Roger Federer in his homeland

Andujar added that no matter which way it goes, the memories of this match will forever remain etched in his mind and will be a great story to tell his children and grandchildren someday.

“(I am) really, really excited. It was something that I wanted, to have a match against Roger, just to tell my kids and grandkids when I get older that I played him,” Andujar said.

The Spaniard, who rose to a career-high ranking of 32 and has four Tour titles to his name, said that having played Nadal and Djokovic and a host of other top stars in the men’s game, he wanted his moment with Federer but knew that he may not have too many years in the circuit ahead of him.

Federer’s elegance has become a template at tennis schools, says Pablo Andujar

To have finally landed the opportunity to be playing the eight-time Wimbledon champion and that too, in Federer’s homeland, is something that the Spaniard is “really happy” about.

“This is something that for a long time I was looking for. I played Rafa, I played Novak, and I had to close that gap. I knew I was not going to have as many opportunities because years go on. I’m really excited and really happy to play Roger, and in Switzerland as well,” Andujar said.

Saying that the Big 3, through their exploits and years of dominance, have built themselves into mythical figures in the sport, the Spaniard added that the sheer elegance that Federer brings to the game has become a template for aspirants at tennis schools.

In a gilded tribute to the Big 3, he said, “They grew the sport and now they are above the sport.”

Federer will make his maiden appearance in Geneva in the hope of using it as a springboard for success at Roland-Garros and Wimbledon.

Read More: “There Needs to be Certain Code”: Roger Federer on Alexander Zverev and Team 8’s Split

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