Tennis: As Roger Federer claims his 1,000th career win, Andy Schooler looks back at some of his most memorable victories

As Roger Federer claims his 1,000th career win, our Andy Schooler looks back at some of his most memorable victories.

Roger Federer won his 1,000th tour-level match on Sunday, beating Milos Raonic in the final of the Brisbane International.

Here Andy Schooler takes a look back at some of the Swiss great's most memorable victories.

Lleyton Hewitt, 6-0 7-6 6-0, US Open final, 2004

A match that has long stuck in my mind. Masterclass is a word often found in the same sentence as Federer's name but it was particularly relevant in this contest. Hewitt, a former champion at Flushing Meadows, came into it as world number five but left it a crushed man. Federer was already top dog by this stage but the manner of his victory suggested Hewitt would never again truly challenge at the top of the game. Winning two love sets in a Grand Slam final is virtually unheard of - this remains the only time since 1977 it has happened - and the way Federer pulled his opponent around the court was a sight to behold. This surely has to go down as one of his greatest ever performances.

Novak Djokovic, 7-6 6-3 3-6 7-6, French Open semi-final, 2011

A sensational Federer display brought an end to Djokovic's incredible unbeaten start to the season which, by the time the pair met in early June, had reached 41 matches. Few gave the Swiss a chance but he responded in style, out-rallying Djokovic from the back of the court on many an occasion and showing his full variety of shots in the forecourt too. The Serb tried to fight back but Federer was not to be denied, clinching victory in the Paris gloom before raising his finger for a now-famous 'number one' celebration.

Tommy Haas, 6-7 5-7 6-4 6-0 6-2, French Open, fourth round, 2009

Federer's legacy is now assured but were it not for this win back in 2009, he would in all likelihood still have an asterisk next to his name in the record books. The French Open was the one Grand Slam title he had yet to win and when hot favourite Rafael Nadal suffered a shock defeat the previous day, suddenly Fed had his chance. Yet the pressure appeared to be getting to him when he went two sets down. It was situation critical when Haas moved to break point when leading 4-3 in the third but then came one of the most important shots of Federer's career, an off-forehand which fell just inside the sideline. That proved the turning point, a shot undoubtedly one the Swiss will reflect upon long after he calls it a day. Haas won just two more games; Federer went on to lift the trophy.

Juan Martin Del Potro, 3-6 7-6 2-6 6-1 6-4, French Open semi-final, 2009

Again the career Grand Slam dream appeared to be dying in this classic contest with Del Potro producing some brutal hitting. In particular his serve was awesome with the delivery producing many service winners, even coming off the slow Parisien clay. Federer hung in there by claiming the second set on a tie-break but as the fourth began he still had not broken Del Potro's serve. Yet panic he did not and finally he found a way to break. Roared on by a Court Philippe Chatrier crowd desperate to see him clinch that elusive title, Federer pushed on to win in five.

Andy Roddick, 5-7 7-6 7-6 3-6 16-14, Wimbledon final, 2009

An epic, yes, but not for me a true classic. It still has to make this Federer career list simply because of its importance in tennis history. For this was the victory which earned Federer a record 15th career Grand Slam title, taking him past Pete Sampras' tally. Fittingly, Sampras was in the crowd to watch Federer claim what was expected to be a fairly comfortable win. Yet he was forced to do it the hard way as Roddick simply refused to bend. The American's serve was the main problem for Federer, usually so good at getting a read on it. But Roddick was left to reflect on missing four set points in the second-set breaker. It took Federer until the very last game of the match to break, but when he did, history was made.

Pete Sampras, 7-6 5-7 6-4 6-7 7-5, Wimbledon fourth round, 2001

The match which announced Federer's name to the wider sporting world. Sampras was the king of Wimbledon in an era when it seemed he never lost on the lawns of the All England Club. In fact he had - just the once mind - in racking up seven titles between 1993 and 2000. With hindsight Sampras was on the wane but Federer's victory - not just the result but also the style in which it came - certainly raised eyebrows. Strangely it was to be the pair's only meeting. With Sampras retiring next year and Federer's first major title two years away, the baton was being passed between two legends of the game.

Robin Soderling, 6-1 7-6 6-4, French Open final, 2009

The third match from Federer's 2009 run at Roland Garrros on this list, but again its importance cannot be understated. It was this victory which saw Federer complete the career Grand Slam - only the sixth man in history to do so. The result was rarely in doubt. Federer started like a train and never looked back. He served superbly, a point summed up by him serving four aces from his four service points in the second-set tie-break. The Swiss did not face a break point until the third set but he saved them both and duly completed an historic triumph.

Mark Philippoussis, 7-6 6-3 7-6, Wimbledon final, 2003

Without the first there would not have been 16 Grand Slam titles and Federer struck in his first final at this level. Philippoussis was the man known as 'Scud' for his missile-like serve and had you said beforehand that he would get 68 per cent of first serves in and still lose, few would have believed you. But the match stats from this one show it was the Swiss' better-placed delivery which really held sway. Federer, complete with headband and pony tail, did not have to face a single break point as he won in straight sets.

Rafael Nadal, 6-3 6-0, ATP World Tour Finals group stage, 2011

There's well-supported theory that Federer is a better player today than he was when he was dominating the game in the mid-noughties and those who subscribe to it could do worse than use this match to back up their case. Federer was in awesome form at London's O2 Arena and showed off his shot-making skills to the max. Winner after winner flowed from the Federer racquet and he was never troubled on serve. Nadal was not at his best, that cannot be denied, but his Swiss foe shone as bright as ever on this night.

Guillaume Raoux, 6-2 6-2, Toulouse 1st rd, 1998

Getting on for 17 years ago, Frenchman Raoux was Federer's very first victim at ATP level and while he may not have gone down as one of the game's greats, this was a shock win at the time, make no mistake. Raoux was a top-50 player but Federer, full of confidence having qualfied, took him apart on the indoor hardcourt. The Swiss lost just eight points on his serve, saving the only break point he faced. The 17-year-old needed just an hour to claim the first victory of what would turn out to be a stellar career.