At his peak, nobody dominated professional tennis like Roger Federer (nor had a career more enviable). He’s the only player to ever win five consecutive US Opens and Wimbledon titles in history. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say the man was a freak.
But all things must come to an end, which is why overnight, the Swiss Maestro confirmed the upcoming Laver Cup would be his very last tournament. At 41, he’s had a legendary run.
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In the next few days, discussions in bars and pubs across the world will invariably meander towards two things:
- Is he the greatest of all time (GOAT)?
- Which moments will we remember most vividly from his remarkable career?Â
Here are the eight most iconic moments in Roger Federer’s illustrious career.
Roger Federer Career Highlights
8. But Wait, There’s More
By the start of 2017, pundits were suggesting Roger Federer’s best days were behind him. Ranked No.17 in the world, he hadn’t won a major in five years while struggling to overcome back and knee injuries. But the old dog had some fight left in him. He won the Australian Open then Wimbledon to remind everyone he was still a force to be reckoned with. Class, as they say, is permanent.
7. The Record Breaker
The most epic Grand Slam final Roger Federer won was in 2009 against America’s Andy Roddick. He triumphed 16-14 in the fifth set, passing Pete Sampras’ then-record of 14 major titles in the process.
6. The King Of Clay (Momentarily)
When Rafael Nadal lost to Robin Soderling in the fourth round at the 2009 French Open, the door was ajar for Roger Federer, who had struggled on clay throughout his career. In the final, Federer defeated Soderling in four sets on a surface that didn’t necessarily suit his play style. This allowed the Swiss genius to finish his career with at least one of each of the Grand Slams.
5. The First Of 20
Who would have guessed in 2003 that Roger Federer would end his career with 20 Grand Slam Titles? Despite winning so many, he considers the first one just as special as any of the others. It was 2003 when the ponytailed Federer defeated Mark Philippoussis for the title. A star was born.
4. Age Is Just A Number
Roger Federer won his last Grand Slam title at 36 and became the oldest man to reach No.1 on the ATP rankings. At 35, he was the oldest ever Wimbledon winner. In previous eras, players had retired in their early 30s. Not Federer, who was still winning titles well into his mid 30s.Â
3. Cop That, Pete
Federer’s first great victory came in the second week of Wimbledon circa 2001. Pete Sampras was almost the unbackable favourite to win his fifth straight crown. The two met in the fourth round and it was 19-year-old Federer who prevailed, triumphing 9-7 in the fifth set. Tears rolled down his face after he shook hands with Sampras, who was his childhood hero.
2. Sustained Durability
On February 2nd of 2004, Roger Federer reached No.1 in the world. He held the position for a ridiculous 237 consecutive weeks. This was a record at the time, though it would later be broken by Novak Djokovic. All up, he spent 310 weeks as the best player in the world.Â
1. A Sweet Spot
Roger Federer is the only player to have won five consecutive US Open and Wimbledon titles. From 2003 to 2007, he was unbeatable at Centre Court and from 2004 to 2008, he was unmatched at Flushing Meadows. You’d be hard-pressed to find an athlete that was as dominant in a five-year block as Federer was in this period.
What a career.
