The enormity of expectation is present each time Roger Federer steps on the court. And 2016 – much like 2013 – is one of the few years since his ponytailed days when health has been a problem for him. Unlike 2013, however, Federer had to keep his Wimbledon expectations muted this year, a virtually unheard-of occurrence.

Reflecting after the tournament, Federer expressed that he had overachieved at Wimbledon by making the semifinals. In most years, that would rate as a severe disappointment. This year, despite the heartbreaking loss to Milos Raonic in the semis, a trip to Wimbledon proved to be productive. Here are 10 reasons why:

1) Recently, Federer underwent knee surgery, has suffered from back problems, and endured two losses to young guns Dominic Thiem in Stuttgart and German teenager Alexandr Zverev in Halle. His confidence wasn't exactly blossoming, and the Swiss was conspicuously insecure entering Wimbledon. But with his trademark willpower and a soft first-week draw, he turned his injury-disrupted season in a better direction with a semifinal showing in London.

2) Federer has fallen short of winning a major in recent years, but at SW19, he made his 40th Grand Slam semifinal, a round-numbered milestone in the Open Era. Novak Djokovic is a distant third (30), one shy of Jimmy Connors (31). With Federer still going strong, this record may stand the test of time. In order to reach this milestone, Djokovic will likely need to play well into his mid-30s. That is possible, but any tournament in which Federer can increase his major semifinal lead over Djokovic makes that record much more difficult to reach.

3) The hallowed green of Wimbledon has always been Federer's territory. It's no secret that he relishes grass and the low, skidding surface loves him in return. With a sensational quarterfinal victory against Marin Cilic, Federer tied Jimmy Connors for the most Wimbledon semifinal appearances in the Open Era (11), and the most match wins as well (84).

4) Federer may not be at his absolute best, but he keeps toppling records. He registered his 307th victory at a Grand Slam during Wimbledon, the most by any man or woman, breaking Martina Navratilova's astonishing record of 306.

5) With his recent result, he became the oldest man to make a major semifinal since Andre Agassi in 2005, and also the oldest to make the Wimbledon semifinals since Ken Rosewall in 1974. Possessing talent is one thing, but expressing it for 70 matches a year is completely a different ballgame. Pierre Paganini, Federer's fitness trainer, has been instrumental in improving his strength, agility, coordination and endurance. His consistency is a result of maintaining a great fitness level and deploying a steady technique, especially in his simple serving motion which lends itself to a fluid style of play.

6) Federer was two sets to love down but magically escaped to beat Marin Cilic, 6-7(4), 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(9), 6-3. He tied Aaron Krickstein and Boris Becker by winning his tenth match after trailing two sets to love. For fans accusing him of not being a fighter, this stat proves otherwise, serving as an enduring monument to his desire to win despite the odds.

7) 34 is considered a ripe old age in tennis terms, but not for Federer. In the last four majors, he has made four semifinal appearances. If these results are considered a decline, most players would feel fortunate to equal his declining years.

8) Federer once reached 10 consecutive major finals and 36 straight quarterfinals. Djokovic entered Wimbledon with six straight finals and 28 consecutive quarterfinals. With Sam Querrey halting him in the third round, his attempt to equal and surpass Federer now appears difficult. Much to the delight of Federer fans, these streaks will almost certainly survive the Big Three era. And that is no small thing.

9) Cilic shellacked Federer in the 2014 United States Open semifinals. At Wimbledon, Federer struck back with a vengeance, inflicting a gut-wrenching loss on the Croat. He became the first man to defeat Cilic after digging a two-set deficit, ending what was a 51-0 mark. 

10) Currently, Federer isn’t comfortably perched in the top eight of the ATP race to London for the World Tour Finals, but a stack of 720 points as a result of his semifinal run, put him in the top 10. Solid results in Cincinnati – one of his most successful tournaments over the years – and at the U. S. Open will give him a solid shot at returning to the O2 Arena in November.

True champions never get over crushing losses; they absorb them. Federer was visibly stung by his semifinal loss to Milos Raonic. Yet, even with that reality standing at the forefront, he walked away from Wimbledon with a number of reasons to smile. Among all the major tournaments in which Federer suffered a particularly heartbreaking loss prior to the final, this might eventually become the one he’ll be able to accept the most.