A decade on and Mark Philippoussis still wonders what might have been had he snaffled the opening set of his 2003 Wimbledon final against a young and vulnerable Roger Federer.

Sunday marks the 10th anniversary of Philippoussis’ one and only Wimbledon final – and Federer’s very first grand slam decider.

History now shows Federer beat Philippoussis 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 7-6 (7-3) to clinch his maiden major before going on to carve out the most successful grand slam career in men’s tennis history.

Philippoussis, who also lost the 1998 US Open final, never made even another grand slam quarter-final and was all washed up just three years later.

It’s not unfair to say his and Federer’s careers have taken vastly different paths since their Wimbledon showdown.

Philippoussis, though, knows in his heart how close he was to penning a rather different chapter.

“His first grand slam final, obviously he’s confident and incredibly talented but not as confident as he seems now,” the 36-year-old told BBC radio.

“That’s why I felt the first set was so important. I was up a mini break and if I got that, it could have been a different story. Who would know.

“Back then, his mental toughness isn’t as close to what it is now. So I feel like if you could get up on him, he might have fallen away.

“There’s times back then he was falling away, but now there’s going to be a fight to the end, to that last point.”

Federer was 21 when he denied Philippoussis and admits he was struggling to cope with the heady expectations placed on him after he’d won the Wimbledon junior singles and doubles at 16 and announced his arrival on the big stage with a shock victory over seven-times champion Pete Sampras in 2001.

“People were starting to debate if I was ever going to win one,” he said.

“Now looking back, people are like `how could they say that?’ But in the moment it’s very difficult to deal with.

“People were comparing me to Pete Sampras and he won 60-something titles and I maybe had barely five. That’s basically not fair.

“It was hard to accept. Even though it was actually a compliment in one way, it was also huge pressure.”

Federer now rates his breakthrough win against Philippoussis among the two most significant of his career.

“It all came together at the right time and that moment that I won was an incredible relief,” he said.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a bigger relief. Maybe I can compare the relief to the French Open in `09 because I was chasing that for so long as well.

“You can see it in the reaction. It’s of absolute disbelief and happiness and proudness all together all at once.

“It’s a great feeling to have.”

Federer’s Wimbledon coronation was the first of his unrivalled 17 grand slam triumphs and Philippoussis says he couldn’t have imagined the gifted young Swiss going on to achieve such remarkable success.

“Did I think he’d win more grand slams? Absolutely,” the Australian said.

“Did I think he’d dominate tennis the way he did? I can’t say that I could have believed that.

“I don’t know if you’d have asked him if he could have believed that he could have gone on to dominate and do what he’s done in men’s tennis.

“It’s incredible. It’s been inspiring. It’s great for the sport.”

Federer readily acknowledges he felt behind the eight-ball early on competing in a talented generation.

“I had a very interesting group of players around me which we all know – Safin, Hewitt, Roddick, Ferrero, Tommy Haas, Kiefer,” he said.

“We had a lot of those players who really had the potential to all win slams.

“For that matter many did already and I was one of those guys who didn’t yet.

“I just needed more time to become stronger and I think in particular that win over Sampras at Wimbledon in 2001 really gave many people the belief that I should – or I could – win a grand slam and, if one, probably Wimbledon.

“And that’s the one that first came along just at the right time in `03 after losing in the first round at the French Open.

“I came into Wimbledon with a lot of pressure having lost in the first round a year before in 2002 against Ancic and I knew that I better make my first quarter-final appearance or maybe my first semi-final appearance at a grand slam.”

That he did, and after seeing off Roddick in the semi-finals, Federer lined up as favourite against Philippoussis.

“I won a lot of tournaments that year leading into Wimbledon and felt extremely confident and strong,” Federer said.

“I can’t believe it’s 10 years, but what a magical run it was because it wasn’t all straight forward. I had a back issue during the tournament and it was very complicated.

“But I made it and it was a dream come true.”

But one that got away for Philippoussis.

“Being my second grand slam final, I was nervous but incredibly excited because Wimbledon was always my dream and (also) my dream to play in the final at Wimbledon,” he said.

“That was without a doubt my favourite grand slam, my favourite court in the world and it was just an incredible Sunday.

“Unfortunately I fell short, but I had some amazing memories to take way from that.

“I had some great matches along the way and I was playing some really good tennis.”

All up, Federer has beaten a dozen different rivals in all in grand slam finals.

Philippoussis must settle for beating a dozen world No.1s in an otherwise major-less career highlighted by two Davis Cup triumphs and dual grand slam runner-up efforts.

As Federer, 32 in August, keeps on keeping on, Philippoussis is plying his trade on the Champions Tour.

“It’s really laid back and it’s a great field with the guys I grew up with on tour. It’s a pleasure,” he said.

“I’m having a lot of fun out there. But being athletes, we’re still competitive and we want to go out there and we want to win and hit the ball well but I think without that politics and that added pressure.

“That’s the reason we started playing the game in the first place. So it’s that pure love of it. Nothing else.”