In the history of U.S. tennis, there have been plenty of standout names in the ATP, including Pete Sampras, Andy Roddick, Andre Agassi, and Serena Williams. These players have put American tennis on the map worldwide. But there’s another name that stands out, not just for his career but for a rare feat: Vincent Spadea, who famously defeated Roger Federer 6-0 in a set during a major tour tournament.
Born to a Colombian mother, Spadea earned recognition among his peers as a tough opponent in international tournaments. His best Grand Slam performance came in 1999 at the Australian Open, where he reached the quarterfinals. In addition to his Grand Slam success, Spadea claimed one singles title and three doubles titles over the course of his career, and went to the Olympics in 2000 and 2004.
One of Spadea’s most notable achievements came when he defeated Federer 7-6, 6-0 in the 1999 Monte Carlo Masters, a match that saw him take the second set 6-0—one of only five players to have achieved that against Federer in a main tour event. The match lasted just over an hour, cementing Spadea’s place in tennis history.
However, Federer got the better of Spadea in their next encounter that same year in Vienna, winning 6-4, 6-2. They would meet again in 2006 at the U.S. Open, where Federer dominated with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 victory. These were the only two times they faced off in major singles tournaments.
Federer’s 6-0 losses in main tour tournaments
Roger Federer, one of the greatest tennis players in history, has faced the humiliation of losing by a 6-0 scoreline in a single set four times during main tour tournaments. Among these defeats, the loss to Vince Spadea stands out, but other notable names, including Rafael Nadal, have also handed Federer significant defeats.
In 1999, after his loss to Spadea, Federer’s disappointing run continued at Roland Garros, where he was defeated by Patrick Rafter 5-7, 6-3, 6-0, 6-2. Rafter remains one of the few players Federer never managed to beat in his career. Just a few months later, Federer suffered another setback at the Queen’s Club Championships, falling to Zimbabwean Byron Black 6-3, 6-0.
Nine years later, in the 2008 Roland Garros final, Rafael Nadal delivered Federer his worst-ever defeat, winning 6-3, 6-1, 6-0. Finally, in 2021, Federer faced Hubert Hurkacz at Wimbledon, where he lost 6-3, 6-7, 6-0 in the quarterfinals.
Spadea’s record against other top players
In addition to his victory over Federer, Vince Spadea earned several impressive wins during his ATP Tour career. He defeated Pete Sampras once, Andre Agassi twice, and also claimed a win over Nadal, as well as Andy Roddick. These victories highlighted his skills and demonstrated that he could compete with the best.
Spadea recorded 21 wins against Top 10 players and his only victory against a No. 1 ranked player came in 1999, when he defeated Sampras. That year marked the high point of his career in terms of results against top-ranked opponents.