Federer's conqueror Pablo Andujar amazed by dream day at the office

Roger Federer lost his first clay-court match in almost two years as Pablo Andujar mounted a comeback to win the deciding third set in Geneva.

After wrecking Roger Federer's return to the tennis courts, Pablo Andujar said it was the sweetest moment of a lengthy career.

The Spaniard beat Federer 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 on the Geneva clay on Tuesday to overturn the Swiss tennis great's hopes of stringing a run of matches together ahead of a series of major tournaments -- the French Open, Wimbledon and the Tokyo Olympics.

It was Federer's latest comeback after the 39-year-old made a tentative return in Doha in March, following more than a year out due to two knee surgeries.

 

At match point on Tuesday, Andujar, the world number 75, held his head in his hands in disbelief after beating the 20-time Grand Slam champion.

"It's amazing. I still cannot believe it," the 35-year-old told ATPTour.com.

"Playing him was a dream. But of course, beating him is another level.

"It's very emotional to play him and to beat him, given the conditions for him coming back and he's not for sure playing his best tennis. But it really counts a lot to me."

Even though Andujar has been on the tour since 2003, he had never played Federer and the Spaniard assumed the chance had passed him by.

 

The clay-court specialist has four won tour titles but said beating Federer topped those triumphs.

It counts "as number one, for sure", he said.

"To win a tournament could be more emotional, but this is something I think I will remember my whole life.

"I have a lot of respect and I admire Roger Federer a lot.

"Not a bad day at the office."

 

Andujar will face either Marton Fucsovics, the 2018 Geneva winner, or Swiss teenager Dominic Stricker, the 2020 French Open boys' champion, in Thursday's quarterfinals.