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I was watching a few games of the Pete v Roger wimbledon 2001 4th round encounter and it is very surprising to see a 19yo having most of the crowd versus a "great" champion like Pete. It was also a time where SVing was everything and it was difficult to see the extend of Federer's talent on this single occasion. It was all about eye/hand coord and very little separated the 2 grass players, so the crowd coudl not quite choose over the other on style alone. Sure Federer looks smoother already but I doubt the crowd at large could appreciate much of that.

Now put 29yo or 36 yo Federer in the same situation versus a young talented opponent and I doubt he will have 70% of the crowd against him, even if it is Shapo. From that clip you sense that the crowd has had enough of seeing Pete win all those slams and get nothing in return.

Now I can't talk for the crowd but I always felt short changed with Pete. I always supported Goran or almost anybody else as I felt Pete was just there to take his "due" title, give us a controlled smile once the title in the pocket, or contempt for anything less. I am quite glad he almost lost all his records to Federer.

Maybe he is the reason TDs wanted to take control over who would win? he is certainly one of the reason they slowed everything down. They started in 2002 when they provided huge balls in SW18 (well huge for the time) and it made him look so poor as he lost to George Basel that year in SW19 the first round.

For some reasons people seem much more happy and part of the story when federer (yep and Nadal - though for very different reasons) keep winning.