EXCLUSIVE | Calling history: The matches and moments Robbie Koenig will never forget
· The South African
Few commentators have had a better vantage point for tennis history than Robbie Koenig.
Over nearly two decades behind the microphone, he has witnessed some of the greatest matches ever played, often from only metres away.
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Yet when asked to name the finest match he has ever commentated on, his answer might surprise some fans.
For years, the benchmark was the unforgettable 2017 Australian Open final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. It was a match that signalled Federer’s remarkable return to the top of the game and delivered one of the most dramatic Grand Slam finals of the modern era.
But Koenig now believes another contest has edged ahead.
“The 2025 French Open final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz just gets it.”
That statement alone illustrates how highly he rates the sport’s new generation.
As tennis enters a post-‘Big Three’ era, Koenig believes the rivalry between Sinner and Alcaraz is already producing matches worthy of comparison with the game’s greatest chapters.
The Point That Stays with Him
Great matches are remembered for great moments.
When asked about the single most memorable point he has ever commentated on, Koenig doesn’t hesitate.
It came during that famous 2017 Australian Open final.
Federer and Nadal were locked in battle when Federer produced a stunning 26-shot rally, ending it with a scorching forehand winner down the line.
The point gave Federer a crucial break for a 5-3 lead in the fifth set.
For commentators, certain moments become permanently etched into memory. The combination of tension, quality, significance, and atmosphere creates something unforgettable.
For Koenig, that Federer winner remains the gold standard.
It wasn’t just spectacular shot-making. It was the timing.
The biggest players often produce their best tennis at the biggest moments, and few examples capture that truth more clearly.
A Surprise Encounter with Roger Federer
While memorable points are part of the job, some of Koenig’s favourite memories happened away from Centre Court.
Shortly after Federer won the 2017 Australian Open title, Koenig was walking beneath Melbourne Park when he unexpectedly crossed paths with the Swiss legend.
Federer stopped him.
“Howzit China?” he said, using Koenig’s long-standing nickname.
Then Federer pointed towards the Australian Open trophy.
“What do you think?”
Koenig’s response was honest.
“I didn’t think you were going to win. You were down 3-1 in the fifth set.”
Federer smiled.
“Not this time.”
And with that, he continued walking.
For Koenig, it remains one of those small, human moments that reveals the confidence and self-belief that separates champions from everyone else.
“That was pretty cool,” he says.
The Players Who Create Great Commentary
When discussing his favourite players to commentate on, Koenig refuses to choose just one.
Federer was mesmerising because of his creativity and shot-making variety.
Yet there is another name that appears repeatedly whenever Koenig talks about unforgettable moments.
Rafael Nadal.
“All the great points I remember always involved Rafa.”
The reason is simple.
Nadal possessed an extraordinary ability to keep rallies alive long after most players would have surrendered the point. His relentless competitiveness transformed ordinary exchanges into epic battles.
“He always seemed to be the common thread.”
That fighting spirit created drama, and drama creates compelling television.
A New Generation Takes Centre Stage
The ‘Big Three’ may have defined the previous era, but Koenig believes the future remains bright.
When asked which players are most likely to close the gap on the sport’s current elite, he highlighted three names: Jakub Menšík, Jack Draper and Ben Shelton.
At the very top, however, he sees Alcaraz and Sinner shaping tennis for years to come.
His prediction?
Alcaraz will finish with 21 Grand Slam singles titles.
Sinner will reach 18.
Those are bold numbers, but then again, Koenig has spent much of his broadcasting career watching history unfold in real time.
He understands better than most that greatness often arrives sooner than people expect.
Coming in Part 3: Robbie Koenig’s famous catchphrases, the origins of “mongoose on amphetamines,” his broadcasting influences, and what makes great commentary truly memorable.
PART 1 | EXCLUSIVE | Robbie Koenig: From doubles specialist to the Voice of Tennis
Dave Marshall is reporting exclusively from the 2026 US Open in New York for The South African.