Roger Federer
Roger Federer won 20 Grand Slam singles titles and spent 310 weeks as world No. 1, 237 of them consecutively, which remains the longest unbroken reign in the history of the men’s rankings. He retired in September 2022 at the Laver Cup in London, after a career of 103 tour titles.
Eight of his majors came at Wimbledon, a record for the men’s singles. He added six Australian Opens and five US Opens, and completed the career Grand Slam with a single French Open in 2009. For most of that time he was measured against Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, and the three of them defined an era that has no real precedent.
Player Profile
| Full name | Roger Federer |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 8 August 1981 |
| Birthplace | Basel, Switzerland |
| Nationality | Swiss |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Turned pro | 1998 |
| Retired | September 2022, at the Laver Cup |
| Grand Slam titles | 20 |
| Career titles | 103 |
| Weeks at No. 1 | 310 (237 consecutive) |
Career Form & Notable Results
| Laver Cup 2022 | Last match of his career — a doubles played alongside Rafael Nadal in London |
|---|---|
| Australian Open 2018 | Championhis 20th and final Grand Slam title |
| Wimbledon 2017 | Championa record eighth Wimbledon singles title, won without dropping a set |
| French Open 2009 | Championthe title that completed his career Grand Slam |
| Wimbledon 2003 | Championhis first Grand Slam title |
Playing Style & Strengths
Federer played a one-handed backhand in an era that had almost abandoned it, and made the case for it look obvious. The game was built on an exceptional serve, disguised rather than overpowering, and on taking the ball early enough to steal time from opponents who wanted to rally from deep.
What set him apart was economy. He moved less than his rivals because he read the ball earlier, and the result was a player who could win majors into his late thirties with a body that had absorbed far less punishment than his contemporaries. The weakness, ruthlessly exposed by Nadal on clay, was a backhand that could be attacked with heavy topspin to the shoulder.