Even after all his incredible feats, Roger Federer remains the most humble of champions.
Barring a tennis miracle for David Goffin on Sunday, Federer will further extend one very special record that will surely stand the test of time.
Victory over Goffin – the first lucky loser in 17 years to reach the fourth round of a major – will thrust Federer into a staggering 32nd consecutive grand slam quarter-final.
Not since the 2004 French Open, when he lost to triple Roland Garros champion Gustavo Kuerten in round three, has the Swiss freak failed to make it to the last eight in Paris, London, New York or Melbourne.
It’s a mind-boggling milestone that leaves many of his other statistical achievements in the shade.
Not even his 235th grand slam match wins, two more than Jimmy Connors’ previous record tally, comes close.
Yet for all his ridiculous numbers, the 16-times grand slam champion modestly doubts he’d have ever been able to dominate greats of yesteryear like Stefan Edberg and Boris Becker.
Federer says he’d love to turn back time to challenge his childhood inspirations.
“They were the ones for me growing up that I looked at and sort of idolised,” Federer said on Friday.
“And obviously Pete (Sampras) came along and I had a chance to play against him, which was just amazing.
“I mean, I played him on Centre Court at Wimbledon. That was my first appearance there.
“That was, for me, the great stuff, you know. Looking at those guys on TV and then all of a sudden playing them, I really enjoyed that.”
With Becker’s boom boom serve and Edberg’s brilliant serve-and-volley game, how does Federer think he’d go on grass against the pair of multiple Wimbledon champions.
“Struggle,” the mighty Fed said.
“Win some, lose some, hopefully. That would be good enough for me.”
Simply playing Federer will be good enough for Goffin, the first lucky loser from qualifying to make the last 16 of a major since compatriot Dick Norman at Wimbledon in 1995 – and the first at Roland Garros since 1978.
The 21-year-old achieved the feat with victory a 7-6 (7-4) 7-5 6-1 over Poland’s Lukasz Kubot, having originally lost in the final qualifying round last week.
Goffin was then handed a lifeline when French star Gael Monfils pulled out on the eve of the event.
Even Federer couldn’t believe Goffin made it this far.
“I don’t know if it’s happened before,” he said.
“He was in the qualies, so obviously I’m surprised.
“I never really saw him play before. I’ve seen him around, but it’s a nice game, smooth ball striker and talented, obviously.”
It’s been suggested, tongue in cheek, that Federer shouldn’t be asked to play the first week of slams.
That he should be given byes all the way through to the quarter-finals.
That it’s an insult to ask the great man to share a court with the likes of Goffin, the world No.109.
Often his matches last less than it takes Federer to conduct his post-match interviews with TV, radio and print journalists in four different languages.
On occasions, Federer has been known to spend three or more hours answering questions in German, Swiss-German, French and English.
All without fuss.
On Friday, Federer took a little more than two-and-a-half hours to see off Frenchman Nicolas Mahut in his third-round match in Paris.
And Mahut played one of the matches of his life – and won a set.
Goffin will be doing well to win a game.
Yet there’s only thing more certain than a Federer cakewalk and a 32nd straight grand slam quarter-final for the Swiss superstar.
Another quarter-final at Wimbledon next month.
And probably at the US Open too.
