Bjorkman on Federer Wimbledon semifinal: “I had the best seat in the house”

In the final he bagelled Rafael Nadal in the first set – his 19th consecutive set won at Wimbledon – before going on to triumph in four sets for his fourth straight title at SW19.

He completed 2006 with an outstanding win-loss record of 92-5 and 12 titles won, including three of the four Grand Slam trophies.

"Coming into that match [against Federer], we sat down the night before, we called Peter Lundgren, who's not with us anymore unfortunately, but who was a coach of Roger, trying to get as much feedback we can,” Bjorkman reminisced with Woodbridge.

“And actually put my head into the feeling that I have a great chance going out there tomorrow, even though I'm 34 and he's in his prime. I really felt when I walked on the court, that we had a good game plan, everything maybe ready to hopefully create a big upset.

“And then playing a really good first set and I'm just feeling that, I have no chance (laughter). I'm playing probably the best set of the tournament, and then I'm losing the second set even faster.”

Bjorkman recalled that Woodbridge – with his keen brain for tennis history – had mentioned the fastest Wimbledon men’s semifinal had concluded in 90 minutes.

"I just didn't want to be in the record books for that,” Bjorkman said.

“Normally I'm pretty good when the umpire says 'time', or pretty good in between points, but I think the last set and a half, I've never been that slow... I didn't get into the record books, which was nice.

"[But] I had the best seat in the house, to see him play.”

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