Swiss maestro Roger Federer has won Wimbledon eight times, and even though he’s getting a little long in the tooth you wouldn’t bet against him adding another.

Back in 1998, though, at the tender age of 16, he played at the All England Club for the first time. Competing in the first round of the boys’ singles event, the current world number two experienced a serious case of nerves.

He recounted the story during this year’s Wimbledon, with this below via Tennis World:

‘I don’t remember exactly what country he was from, but I remember going on court and as I am warming up I felt that the net is really high, something was wrong,’ he revealed. ‘So I go to the umpire and I ask him “Did you check the net? The height is right?” Because I feel like it’s so high, and he goes like “Yeah I checked it’s right.” I am like “I’m sorry, can you check it again?”

And then, he does me the favour he goes and checks again on the height of the net and he says “It’s correct, I am sorry”. I am like “Of course it’s correct, it’s Wimbledon. You think they would mess it up?” But I guess I was so nervous that I felt like I was playing over a volleyball net. Anyway, I ended up winning that match and everything was okay afterwards. But I think I had a bit of those big nerves. Going into my first Wimbledon, per se.’

Typically understated there, because he went on to win the boys’ singles title, beating Irakli Labadze 6–4, 6–4 in the final.

Still, that embarrassing moment can’t top this picture of a 17-year-old Roger in his room. Pam Anderson on the door, Michael Jordan on the walls, and a questionable hat choice all feature:

I suppose he’s done alright since then.

[source:tennisworld]