Roger Federer was a force of nature that transcended tennis

"Pete Sampras, the best tennis player in the world – ever. At least, that's what the record books will say."

That was the somewhat overwritten opening to my RTE report from Wimbledon on the day after the 2000 final.

I went on…

"John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg, Rod Laver – and their legions of fans – might take issue with that supremacy. But you can’t argue with the record - Sampras wakes up this morning as the only man, ever, to win 13 grand slam titles. He reached that mark by becoming Wimbledon champion for an incredible seventh time, his fourth in a row."

That seemed, at the time, an extraordinary record. Borg, for example, who reigned like a god over both Wimbledon and the French Open, finished his career, like Laver, with "just" 11 slams. Connors won 8, McEnroe 7.

We didn’t know it at the time, but already a new prince was coming – and he announced his arrival just one year later. It was, of course, Roger Federer, who stopped the Sampras steamroller in a then shock defeat of the defending champion in the fourth round in 2001. In the Wimbledon press room, especially among the non-tennis reporters, I remember total consternation, and a rush for the ATP manuals – "Who is this guy?"

Well, now we know. Just two years later, Federer won the first of his 20 grand slam titles – Wimbledon 2003 – and started his march to history.

That history, we now know, has been written, and Roger Federer will retire next week at the advanced sporting age of 41, the end of an era, and the end of a truly great career, which transcended sport.

"The Laver Cup next week in London will be my final ATP event. I will play more tennis in the future, of course, but just not in Grand Slams or on the tour," the Swiss master announced on Thursday, tacitly admitting