Roger Federer is widely considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time. His elegant playing style, unmatched consistency, and sportsmanship have made him beloved by fans around the globe. Here are 14 fascinating facts about the Swiss tennis legend.
1. He started as a ball boy at the Basel tournament
Before becoming the main star, Federer worked as a ball boy at the Swiss Indoors Basel tournament. This was one of his first experiences in the professional tennis world and left a deep impression on him. He would later win the tournament ten times.
2. He had a temper in his youth
Although Federer is now known for his calm demeanor on the court, he was very emotional as a young player. He often smashed rackets and shouted out of frustration. It wasn’t until he started working with a mental coach around age eighteen that he learned to control his emotions and became the composed player the world now knows.
3. He was seen as an exceptional talent at a young age
Federer began playing tennis at age eight and was quickly recognized as a major talent. At twelve, he decided to focus solely on tennis and gave up other sports like soccer. At sixteen, he won the junior tournament at Wimbledon, marking his breakthrough.
4. He made his breakthrough by defeating Pete Sampras
In 2001, a 19-year-old Federer defeated reigning champion Pete Sampras at Wimbledon in a five-set thriller. This legendary moment announced the arrival of a new star in tennis.
5. He won 20 Grand Slam titles
Federer won his first Grand Slam in 2003 at Wimbledon and went on to claim 20 major titles, including eight Wimbledon titles, six Australian Opens, five US Opens, and one Roland Garros. He held the all-time record for years until being surpassed by Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
6. He became the oldest world No. 1 in history
In 2018, Federer became the oldest player ever to reach the world No. 1 spot in the ATP rankings at the age of 36. This highlights his extraordinary level and ability to perform at the highest level despite his age.
7. He had an iconic rivalry with Rafael Nadal
The rivalry between Federer and Nadal is considered one of the greatest in sports history. They played each other 40 times, with Nadal winning 24 matches and Federer 16. Their legendary Wimbledon final in 2008, won by Nadal, is often cited as the greatest tennis match ever played.
8. He played the longest Wimbledon final ever
In 2019, Federer faced Novak Djokovic in the longest Wimbledon final in history. The match lasted nearly five hours and ended in a fifth-set tiebreak. Despite having two match points, Federer eventually lost, but the match was hailed as one of the greatest finals of all time.
9. He spoke four languages fluently
Federer speaks German, French, English, and Swiss German. This made him one of the most approachable and charismatic players on tour, beloved by fans worldwide.
10. He won an Olympic gold medal
In 2008, Federer won a gold medal in doubles at the Beijing Olympics alongside compatriot Stan Wawrinka. In 2012, he took silver in singles after losing to Andy Murray in the final.
11. He had a record streak of 23 consecutive Grand Slam semifinals
Between 2004 and 2010, Federer reached an unprecedented 23 consecutive Grand Slam semifinals. This record shows his incredible consistency and dominance during that era.
12. He is one of the highest-earning athletes of all time
Federer earned hundreds of millions of dollars, not just through prize money, but also through lucrative sponsorship deals with brands like Rolex, Uniqlo, and Wilson. He was the highest-paid athlete in the world for several years.
13. He is committed to charity
In 2003, Federer founded the Roger Federer Foundation, which focuses on education projects for underprivileged children in Africa and Switzerland. His foundation has helped millions of children and remains one of his main projects after retiring from tennis.
14. He ended his career in 2022
Due to persistent knee problems, Federer announced in September 2022 that he would retire from professional tennis. His final match was a doubles game at the Laver Cup, where he partnered with Rafael Nadal. The emotional farewell was followed worldwide, and his legacy as one of the greatest athletes of all time lives on.
