History of Roger Federer in Timeline
Roger Federer, a Swiss former professional tennis player, is widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time. He held the world No. 1 ranking for a record 310 weeks, including 237 consecutive weeks, and finished the year as No. 1 five times. Federer amassed 103 ATP singles titles, the second-most in the Open Era, highlighted by 20 major men's singles titles and six year-end championships. His achievements and elegant playing style have made him a global icon.
1968: Start of the Open Era
In 1968, the Open Era began. Since then, Federer has won the second most singles titles on the ATP Tour.
1969: Rod Laver's Grand Slam Year
In 1969, Rod Laver had a Grand Slam year, setting a high bar for tennis excellence that Federer aimed to surpass.
1969: First Man to Reach All Four Finals Since Rod Laver
In 1969, Rod Laver reached all four finals, a feat Federer matched, highlighting their shared excellence.
1974: Jimmy Connors's Winning Percentage
In 1974, Jimmy Connors achieved a winning percentage record.
1974: Oldest player to compete in a Grand Slam final since 1974
In 2016, Federer defeated Wawrinka in five sets, making him the oldest player to compete in a Grand Slam final since Ken Rosewall in 1974. Coming back from a break down in the fifth set, Federer defeated Rafael Nadal to win his first major since 2012.
1974: Oldest man to reach a major final since 1974
In 2019, at 37 years, 11 months and 6 days, Federer became the oldest man to reach a major final since Ken Rosewall in the 1974 US Open.
1976: Second man in the Open era to win Wimbledon without dropping a set
In 1976, Federer became the second man in the Open era to win Wimbledon without dropping a set after Björn Borg in 1976.
1980: First Man Since Björn Borg to Win Major Without Dropping a Set
In 1980, Björn Borg achieved a major win without dropping a set, a feat Federer repeated, showcasing their dominance.
1980: Greatest Wimbledon Final Since 1980
In 1980, a Wimbledon final set a high standard for thrilling matches, a standard matched by Federer's later performances.
August 1981: Roger Federer's Birth
In August 1981, Roger Federer was born in Basel, Switzerland.
1982: Most Wins Since Ivan Lendl
In 1982, Ivan Lendl achieved a win record that Federer later surpassed.
1984: John McEnroe's Winning Percentage
In 1984, John McEnroe achieved a winning percentage record.
1984: Most Singles Titles Since John McEnroe
In 1984, John McEnroe set a record for singles titles that Federer later equaled.
1986: Best Record Since Ivan Lendl
In 1986, Ivan Lendl achieved a record that was later surpassed by Federer, marking a significant achievement in tennis history.
1988: First to Win Three Grand Slams
Since Mats Wilander in 1988, Federer became the first person to win three Grand Slam singles titles in a single season.
1991: Oldest man to compete in a Grand Slam semifinal since 1991
In 2016, Federer's withdrawal from most of the 2016 season led his ranking to slip to No. 17 at the start of the season, his lowest in over fifteen years. At the Australian Open, Federer defeated top-10 players Tomáš Berdych and Kei Nishikori on his way to the semifinals, making Federer the oldest man to compete in a grand slam semifinal since Jimmy Connors in 1991.
1992: Ball Boy at Swiss Indoors
In 1992, Federer was a ball boy at his hometown Basel event, the Swiss Indoors.
1992: Edberg on Sports Illustrated Cover
In 1992, Stefan Edberg was on the cover of Sports Illustrated, marking the last non-American tennis player on the cover until Federer.
1992: Swiss Team Advances to Davis Cup
In 2014, wins allowed the Swiss team to advance to the Davis Cup final for the first time since 1992.
1993: Swiss National Junior Championship
In 1993, Federer won the under-12 Swiss national junior championships in Lucerne and received a medal as a ballboy at the Swiss Indoors in Basel.
1993: Most Match Victories Since Pete Sampras
In 1993, Pete Sampras set a record for match victories that Federer later surpassed.
1994: Signs with Nike
In 1994, Federer signed his first contract with Nike for footwear and apparel, marking the beginning of a long-term partnership.
1995: Training at Swiss National Tennis Center
Between 1995 and 1997, Federer trained at the Swiss National Tennis Center, located in Ecublens.
1995: Most Singles Titles Since Thomas Muster
In 1995, Thomas Muster set a record for singles titles that Federer later surpassed.
1995: U14 Swiss National Junior Championship
In 1995, at age 13, Federer won the U14 Swiss national junior championship and was subsequently invited to train at the National Tennis Centre in Écublens.
July 1996: First ITF Junior Match
In July 1996, at the age of 14, Federer played his first ITF junior match at a grade-2 tournament in Switzerland.
January 1997: U18 Swiss National Championship
In January 1997, at age 15, Federer won both the indoor and outdoor U18 Swiss national championship.
1997: Completion of Compulsory Education
In July 1997, Federer completed his compulsory education at La Planta secondary school in Chavannes-près-Renens and obtained his certificate.
July 1998: ATP Debut at Swiss Open Gstaad
In July 1998, Federer, at almost 17 years old, made his ATP debut at the Swiss Open Gstaad, losing in the first round.
December 1998: End of Junior Career
By the end of December 1998, Federer had attained the No. 1 junior world ranking and was named ITF Junior World Champion, ending his junior career.
1998: Wimbledon Junior Champion
In 1998, Federer became the Wimbledon junior champion.
1998: Junior Grand Slam Results
In 1998, Federer's junior Grand Slam results included a semi-final at the Australian Open, first round at the French Open, win at Wimbledon, and final at the US Open.
September 1999: Entered Top 100
On 20 September 1999, Federer entered the world’s Top 100 for the first time.
1999: Agassi on Sports Illustrated Cover
In 1999, Andre Agassi was on the cover of Sports Illustrated, marking the last male tennis player on the cover until Federer.
1999: Played ATP tour
In 1999, Federer decided to play full-time on the ATP tour, and he chose Peter Lundgren as his traveling coach.
1999: Defeat to Tommy Haas
In 1999, Federer suffered a shock defeat to Tommy Haas in the second round despite holding match points, the lowest-ranked player (No. 302) to beat him since No. 407 Bjoern Phau in 1999.
1999: Discharge from military service
In 1999, Roger Federer, at 18 years old, was discharged from compulsory military service due to a chronic back problem.
1999: Drafted and discharged from military service
In 1999, at the age of 18, Roger Federer was drafted into the Swiss Armed Forces but was soon discharged due to a chronic back problem.
February 2000: First Singles Final
In February 2000, Federer reached his first singles final at the Marseille Open, where he lost to Marc Rosset.
2000: Swiss Indoors Runner-Up
In 2000, Federer finished as runner-up at the Swiss Indoors in Basel, Switzerland.
2000: Grand Slam tournament streak begins
In 2000, Federer started a record run of 65 consecutive participations in the main draw of Grand Slam tournaments, stretching back to the 2000 Australian Open.
2000: Met Mirka at Sydney Olympics
In 2000, Roger Federer met Miroslava Federer (née Vavrinec) while competing for Switzerland at the Sydney Olympics.
2000: First title drought season
In 2016, Federer announced that he would miss the Summer Olympics and the remainder of the 2016 season to recover fully from his knee injury. This also implied that 2016 would be Federer's first season since 2000 in which he failed to win a title.
January 2001: Hopman Cup Win
In January 2001, Federer won the Hopman Cup representing Switzerland, along with Martina Hingis.
2001: Swiss Indoors Runner-Up
In 2001, Federer finished as runner-up at the Swiss Indoors in Basel, Switzerland.
2001: Hopman Cup Title
In 2001, Federer started his season by winning his second Hopman Cup title, this time partnering with Belinda Bencic, after having won previously in 2001 with Martina Hingis. The Swiss team won all its ties and Federer won every match he played, defeating the German pair, Alexander Zverev and Angelique Kerber, in the final 2–1.
2001: First Singles Title and Wimbledon Breakthrough
In 2001, Federer won his first singles title at the Milan Indoor tournament and defeated Pete Sampras at Wimbledon.
August 2002: Death of Peter Carter
On 1 August 2002, Peter Carter died in a car crash in South Africa, deeply impacting Federer.
October 2002: Ranked among top eight players
From October 2002, Federer was ranked among the top eight players in the world continuously.
2002: First Season Without a Grand Slam Title Since 2002
2002 marked the last time that Federer had not won any of the four Grand Slam titles until 2011.
2002: First Masters Title and Peter Carter's Death
In 2002, Federer won his first Masters title in Hamburg but also suffered the loss of his coach, Peter Carter.
2002: Mirka's retirement
In 2002, Mirka, Roger Federer's wife, retired from the Women's Tennis Association tour due to a foot injury.
July 2003: Worst Grand Slam Defeat Since July 2003
In July 2003, Federer had a Grand Slam tournament defeat, and in 2013, he suffered his worst Grand Slam tournament defeat since then.
2003: US Open Victory over Champion Roddick
In 2003, Andy Roddick won the US Open, a title Federer later secured by defeating him.
2003: Establishment of Roger Federer Foundation
In 2003, Federer established the Roger Federer Foundation to help disadvantaged children and promote their access to education and sport.
2003: Switch to Custom Racquet
In 2003, Federer switched from a Wilson Pro Staff 6.0 85 square inch head racquet to a larger, custom-built Wilson 90 square inch head racquet.
2003: First Grand Slam Singles Title at Wimbledon
In 2003, Federer won his first Grand Slam singles title at Wimbledon, beating Andy Roddick in the semifinals and Mark Philippoussis in the final.
2003: Won first major
In 2003, Federer won his first major at Wimbledon, which he dedicated to Peter Carter.
2003: ATP Fans' Favorite Award
In 2003, Federer won the ATP Fans' Favorite award.
2003: Exemption from military service
In 2003, Roger Federer was ruled "unsuitable" and exempted from military service obligation, instead serving in the civil protection force and paying 3% of his taxable income.
February 2004: Ranked No. 1 for 237 weeks
In February 2004, Federer was ranked No. 1 for a record 237 consecutive weeks.
May 2004: Supporting IMBEWU Charity
Since May 2004, Federer has been supporting the South Africa-Swiss charity IMBEWU, which helps children connect to sports and social and health awareness, citing his close ties with South Africa.
2004: Rally for Relief
At the 2005 Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, Federer arranged an exhibition with several top players called Rally for Relief, whose proceeds went to the victims of the tsunami caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.
2004: First match against Nadal
In 2004, Federer and Rafael Nadal began their rivalry, playing each other a total of 40 times throughout their careers.
2004: Failed to Reach Grand Slam Semifinal
In 2004, Federer failed to reach a Grand Slam semifinal for the first time since the 2004 French Open.
2004: Triple Grand Slam Season
In 2004, Federer marked a triple Grand Slam season, becoming the only player in history to win three majors in a year.
2004: Missed Swiss Indoors Due to Injury
In 2004, Federer missed the Swiss Indoors tournament due to injuries.
2004: Tied Singles Title Mark
In 2004, Federer tied his previous mark for singles titles in a season.
2004: Won first Australian Open
In 2004, Federer won his first Australian Open, causing Roddick to lose his No. 1 ranking.
2004: ATP Player of the Year
In 2004, Federer won the ATP Player of the Year award.
2004: Three Grand Slam Singles Titles and World No. 1 Ranking
In 2004, Federer won three Grand Slam singles titles, became the world No. 1 for the first time, and won the Indian Wells and Hamburg Masters.
2004: Dominance in Men's Tennis
In 2004, Federer won three of the four majors and the Tour Finals, marking his dominance in men's tennis.
July 2005: Held top two rankings
From July 2005, Federer and Nadal held the top two rankings on the ATP Tour.
2005: Auction for Hurricane Katrina Victims
In 2005, Federer auctioned his racquet from his US Open championship to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina.
2005: Rotterdam Open Win
In 2005, Federer did not win the Rotterdam Open. In 2012, he won the Rotterdam Open for the first time since 2005
2005: Missed Swiss Indoors Due to Injury
In 2005, Federer missed the Swiss Indoors tournament due to injuries.
2005: Visit to South Africa
In 2005, Federer visited South Africa to meet children who had benefited from his support of the IMBEWU charity.
2005: Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award
In 2005, Federer won the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award.
2005: Described by Rod Laver as an "unbelievable talent"
In 2005, Rod Laver described Federer as an "unbelievable talent", capable of anything, and potentially the greatest tennis player of all time.
2005: Wimbledon Victory and US Open Title
In 2005, Roger Federer won Wimbledon for the third time, defeating Andy Roddick. He also won the US Open, defeating Andre Agassi in Agassi's last major final.
April 2006: UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
In April 2006, Federer was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador by UNICEF, raising public awareness of AIDS.
August 2006: Winning Streak Ended
In August 2006, Federer's long winning streak ended after being defeated by Guillermo Cañas.
December 2006: Visit to Tamil Nadu
In December 2006, Federer visited Tamil Nadu, one of the areas in India most affected by the 2004 tsunami, showing his commitment to disaster relief.
2006: Highest win percentage since 2006
Federer's 2017 season marked a return to Grand Slam wins since 2012, the most titles since 2007, and the highest win percentage since 2006. Statistically, this season was his best since 2007.
2006: Nike Jacket at Wimbledon
For the 2006 Wimbledon championships, Nike designed a special jacket for Federer, emblazoned with a crest of three tennis racquets, symbolizing his previous three Wimbledon Championships. He won the Championship in 2006, and the jacket was updated the following year.
2006: Triple Grand Slam Season
In 2006, Federer marked a triple Grand Slam season, becoming the only player in history to win three majors in a year.
2006: Played Nadal in French Open and Wimbledon final
In 2006, Federer played Nadal in both the French Open final and Wimbledon final.
2006: Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year Award
In 2006, Federer won the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year Award.
2006: Won Three Majors and the Tour Finals
In 2006, Federer won three of the four majors and the Tour Finals.
2006: ATP 500 Series Win and Year-End Championship
In 2006, Roger Federer won an ATP 500 series event in Tokyo and captured the year-end championships for the third time, finishing as world No. 1.
2006: Three Grand Slam Titles and Finals Appearance
In 2006, Roger Federer won three Grand Slam singles titles and reached the final of the French Open, marking a dominant year in his career.
2006: Met Pope Benedict XVI
In 2006, Roger Federer, raised as a Roman Catholic, met Pope Benedict XVI while playing the Italian Open tournament in Rome, describing it as "the perfect day".
2006: Career-best start
In March 2018, Federer entered the Indian Wells Masters, where he defeated Chung Hyeon in the semifinals for a career-best start to a season at 17–0, beating his previous best start at 16–0 in 2006.
2006: Statistically Best Season
The 2006 season was statistically the best season of Roger Federer's career, marked by numerous titles and a high winning percentage.
December 2007: Potential onset of mononucleosis
In December 2007, Roger Federer may have started suffering from mononucleosis, though it was not diagnosed until March 2008.
2007: Most titles since 2007
Federer's 2017 season marked a return to Grand Slam wins since 2012, the most titles since 2007, and the highest win percentage since 2006. Statistically, this season was his best since 2007.
2007: One of Time's 100 Most Influential People
In 2007, 'Time' magazine named Federer one of the 100 most influential people in the world due to his performance on the court and his off-court personality.
2007: Triple Grand Slam Season
In 2007, Federer marked a triple Grand Slam season, becoming the only player in history to win three majors in a year.
2007: Played Nadal in French Open and Wimbledon final
In 2007, Federer played Nadal in both the French Open final and Wimbledon final.
2007: Grand Slam Finals and Dubai Crown
In 2007, Federer reached all four Grand Slam singles finals, winning three. He also captured his fourth Dubai crown, extending his winning streak.
2007: Won US Open against Djokovic
In 2007, Federer won the US Open against Djokovic in straight sets.
2007: Won Three Majors and the Tour Finals
In 2007, Federer won three of the four majors and the Tour Finals.
2007: Rod Laver's description
In 2007, Rod Laver described him as the best player of his time and one of the most admirable champions on the planet.
2007: Other coaches
In 2007, Tony Roche and Severin Lüthi were Federer's other coaches.
2007: Special Edition Stamp Released
In 2007, the Swiss Post in Basel released a special edition stamp for Federer.
2007: "Darth Federer" Nickname
Throughout the 2007 US Open, the American press nicknamed Federer "Darth Federer" due to his all-black attire, and "The Imperial March" from Star Wars was played during his court announcements.
March 2008: Mononucleosis diagnosis revealed
In March 2008, Roger Federer revealed his recent diagnosis of mononucleosis, which he believed he might have suffered from as early as December 2007.
August 2008: Nadal surpassed Federer
In August 2008, Nadal surpassed Federer in the rankings.
2008: Personalized Cardigan at Wimbledon
At Wimbledon 2008, Nike continued the trend of personalized apparel by making Federer a cardigan with his own logo, designed by his wife Mirka.
2008: Olympic Doubles Gold Victory
In 2008, Federer and Stan Wawrinka won the Olympic doubles gold victory at the Beijing Olympics.
2008: Olympic Gold Medal and US Open Win
In 2008, Federer and Stan Wawrinka won the gold medal in doubles at the Olympic Games. Federer also captured his only Grand Slam of the year at the US Open.
2008: Partnership with Mercedes-Benz
In 2008, Federer partnered with Mercedes-Benz, marking the beginning of a significant endorsement relationship.
2008: Played Nadal in French Open and Wimbledon final
In 2008, Federer played Nadal in both the French Open final and Wimbledon final. The 2008 Wimbledon final was lauded as the greatest match ever.
2008: Mononucleosis and Olympic Games
In 2008, Federer suffered from mononucleosis, impacting his season. He was defeated by Nadal in two Grand Slam finals, the French Open and Wimbledon.
2008: Won Olympic gold medal
In 2008, Federer won a men's doubles gold medal at the Olympics.
2008: Won US Open against Murray
In 2008, Federer won the US Open final against Andy Murray in straight sets.
2008: Murray won in Shanghai ATP final
In 2008, Murray won against Federer in Shanghai ATP final.
2008: Defending major title
In 2018, Federer reached the final without dropping a set, and successfully defended his title beating Marin Čilić in a five-set final. It was also the first time since the 2008 US Open that Federer successfully defended a major title.
2008: First Wimbledon match against Nadal since 2008 Wimbledon final
In 2019, Federer defeated Nadal in their 40th and final professional meeting to reach his record 12th final at the tournament. This was also the first time Federer played Nadal at Wimbledon since the 2008 Wimbledon final.
2008: Straight sets loss in the 2008 French Open final
In August 2021, Federer announced that he underwent another knee surgery after a further injury during the grass-court season. This was the first time in 19 years at Wimbledon he had lost in straight sets, and only the second time he had lost a set 6–0 in the 21st century (the previous occasion was against Nadal in the 2008 French Open final).
April 2009: Marriage to Mirka Vavrinec
In April 2009, Roger Federer married Miroslava "Mirka" Vavrinec at Wenkenhof Villa in Riehen near Basel, surrounded by close friends and family.
May 2009: Forbes' Most Powerful Celebrities List
In May 2009, Federer was ranked 22 positions ahead of US President Barack Obama on Forbes magazine's list of the most powerful celebrities.
August 2009: Nadal fell to No. 3
In August 2009, Nadal fell to No. 3 in the ATP rankings, ending their run of holding the top two spots.
2009: Considered the greatest tennis player of all time
Between 2009 and 2018, many players and analysts considered Federer to be the greatest tennis player of all time.
2009: Brand Ambassador for Lindt
In 2009, Federer became the brand ambassador for Lindt, aligning with their values of Swissness, premiumness, and quality.
2009: Career Grand Slam
In 2009, Federer completed the career Grand Slam at the French Open and surpassed Pete Sampras' record of 14 major men's singles titles at Wimbledon.
2009: Cincinnati Masters Victory
In 2009, Federer defeated Murray and Djokovic in straight sets to win the Cincinnati Masters for the seventh time. This marked the first time that Federer defeated the top two players in the world at the same event. At the US Open, he advanced to his first final there since 2009 without dropping a set, including a win over Stan Wawrinka. In the final, he was beaten by Djokovic. Federer then won the Swiss Indoors, defeating Nadal in the final.
2009: Played Nadal in Australian Open final
In 2009, Federer played Nadal in the Australian Open final.
2009: Notable use of tweener
In 2009, Federer used the between-the-legs shot (tweener) in the semifinals of the US Open against Novak Djokovic, bringing him triple match point.
2009: Won in London ATP final
In 2009, Federer won against Murray in London ATP final.
2009: ATP Player of the Year
In 2009, Federer won the ATP Player of the Year award.
2009: Personalized Cardigan at Wimbledon
In 2009, Nike continued making Federer a personalized cardigan that also had his own logo, an R and an F joined, which was originally designed by his wife, Mirka.
2009: Title drought on red clay ends
In May 2009, Federer won the Istanbul Open clay-court tournament, which ended his title drought on red clay since the 2009 French Open. He reached the Italian Open final but lost to Djokovic. At the French Open, he lost in the quarterfinals to Stan Wawrinka.
2010: Led Murray in the rivalry
By 2010, Murray led the rivalry against Federer 8-5.
2010: One of Time's 100 Most Influential People
In 2010, 'Time' magazine again recognized Federer as one of the 100 most influential people in the world, highlighting his continued impact.
2010: 'Hit for Haiti' Charity Event
In 2010, Federer arranged a collaboration with top tennis players for 'Hit for Haiti' during the Australian Open, to help Haiti earthquake victims, and participated in a follow-up exhibition at Indian Wells.
2010: Strong Finish to the Year
In 2010, Federer finished the year in strong form, winning indoor titles at the Stockholm Open, Swiss Indoors, and the ATP Finals in London. He finished in the top two for the eighth consecutive season.
2010: Special Edition Stamp Awarded
In 2010, Federer was awarded a special edition stamp by Austria's Postal Service.
2010: Won in London ATP final
In 2010, Federer won against Murray in London ATP final.
2010: Global Partnership Deal with Mercedes-Benz
In 2010, Federer's endorsement with Mercedes-Benz was extended into a global partnership deal.
2010: "Match for Africa" Raises Millions
In 2010, the Nadal vs. Federer "Match for Africa" in Zürich and Madrid raised over $4 million for their respective foundations.
2010: Most Stylish Man of the Decade
In December 2019, Federer was voted by GQ readers as the Most Stylish Man of the Decade (2010–2019). The decade spans from 2010.
2010: Rivalry with Nadal
Until 2010, Rafael Nadal was Federer's main rival.
January 2011: Rally for Relief in Queensland
In January 2011, Federer participated in Rally for Relief, an exhibition to raise money for the victims of the Queensland floods.
November 2011: Federer's 2006 Season Ranked
In November 2011, Stephen Tignor ranked Federer's 2006 season as statistically the second-best of all time during the Open Era.
2011: Started dominating Murray in the rivalry
From 2011 onwards, Federer dominated the rivalry against Andy Murray, leading 9-3.
2011: Defeated Djokovic at French Open
In 2011, Federer ended Djokovic's perfect 41–0 start to the season in the semifinals of the French Open.
2011: US Open Semifinal Loss
In 2011, Federer lost in the semifinals of the US Open to Novak Djokovic after winning the first two sets. It was the first time since 2002 that Federer had not won any of the four Grand Slam titles.
2011: Played Nadal in French Open final
In 2011, Federer played Nadal in the French Open final.
2011: Reputation Institute Ranking
In 2011, Federer ranked No. 2 in the Reputation Institute's study of the World's most respected, admired, and trusted personalities, just behind Nelson Mandela.
2011: Sportsmanship Award
In 2011, Federer received the tour Sportsmanship Award.
2011: Lean Year Despite Semifinal Appearances
The year 2011 was a lean year for Federer, despite reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open and the French Open. He lost in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon.
2012: Top 10 Highest-Paid Athletes
Between 2012 and 2021, Federer was in the top-10 of Forbes's list of highest-paid athletes every year.
2012: Grand slam drought ends
Federer's 2017 season marked a return to Grand Slam wins since 2012, the most titles since 2007, and the highest win percentage since 2006. Statistically, this season was his best since 2007.
2012: Beat Djokovic at Wimbledon
In 2012, Federer beat Djokovic in the semifinals of Wimbledon.
2012: Lost to Murray in Olympics Final
In 2012, Federer lost to Murray in the final of the Summer Olympics, missing out on a career Golden Slam.
2012: Australian Open Semifinal, Rotterdam Open, Dubai Championships, and Indian Wells Masters
In 2012, Federer reached the semifinal of the Australian Open. He won the Rotterdam Open, Dubai Championships, and the Indian Wells Masters.
2012: Impossible to compare players from different eras
In 2012, Federer stated that it is impossible to compare tennis players from different eras and that past champions are needed to pave the way for future champions.
2012: Won Olympic silver medal
In 2012, Federer won a men's singles silver medal at the Olympics.
2012: Silver Medal at London Olympics
In 2012, Federer won a silver medal in singles at the London Olympics, finishing runner-up to Andy Murray.
2012: Won Wimbledon Championships against Murray
In 2012, Federer won against Murray at the Wimbledon Championships.
2012: Wimbledon Championship and Olympic Silver Medal
In 2012, Federer won his seventh Wimbledon championship and a silver medal at the Summer Olympics.
2012: "Roger-Federer-Allee" Unveiled in Halle
In 2012, the city of Halle, Germany, unveiled "Roger-Federer-Allee" in recognition of Federer's success at the Gerry Weber Open.
2012: First major win since 2012
In 2016, Federer defeated Wawrinka in five sets, making him the oldest player to compete in a Grand Slam final since Ken Rosewall in 1974. Coming back from a break down in the fifth set, Federer defeated Rafael Nadal to win his first major since 2012.
2012: First Grand Slam Seeding Since 2012 US Open
In June 2018, Federer regained the No. 1 ranking at the Stuttgart Open, which he won after defeating Milos Raonic in the final. At Wimbledon, Federer was seeded first at a Grand Slam for the first time since the 2012 US Open.
May 2013: Return to No. 2 Ranking
In 2014, Federer's victory in the Shanghai final saw him return to the No. 2 ranking for the first time since May 2013.
December 2013: Stefan Edberg Joins Team
On 27 December 2013, Federer announced that Stefan Edberg was joining his team as co-coach with Severin Lüthi.
2013: Gerry Weber Open Title
In 2013, Federer won his first and only title of the year at the Gerry Weber Open.
2013: Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year Award
In 2013, Federer won the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year Award.
2014: Edberg joined the coaching team
After Stefan Edberg joined Federer's coaching team at the start of the 2014 season, Federer played a more offensive game, attacking the net more often and improving his volleys.
2014: Davis Cup Title
In 2014, Federer and Stan Wawrinka led the Switzerland Davis Cup team to their first title.
2014: Changed rackets
In 2014, Federer changed rackets for the first time in his career.
2014: Ended Djokovic's winning streak in China
In 2014, Federer ended Djokovic's 28 straight wins in China at the Shanghai Open.
2014: Partnership with Sunrise
In 2014, Federer joined hands with Sunrise, Switzerland's largest telecommunications company, collaborating on campaigns promoting Swiss values.
2014: Won in London ATP final
In 2014, Federer won against Murray in London ATP final.
2014: Shanghai Masters Victory and Swiss Indoors Title
In 2014, Federer won the Shanghai Masters and the Swiss Indoors for a record sixth title. He also reached the finals of the ATP Finals but withdrew due to a back injury.
2014: Ranked number two in greatest male tennis players
In 2014, Frank Sedgman ranked Federer number two, behind Jack Kramer, in his greatest male tennis players of all-time list in his autobiography 'Game, Sedge and Match'.
2014: Birth of twin boys
In 2014, Roger Federer and his wife Mirka welcomed fraternal twin boys into their family.
2014: "Match for Africa 2"
In 2014, the "Match for Africa 2" between Federer and Stan Wawrinka in Zürich raised £850,000 for education projects in Southern Africa.
2014: Stefan Edberg's departure announcement
In December 2014, Federer announced that Stefan Edberg would be replaced by Ivan Ljubičić, with Severin Lüthi remaining his head coach. Federer revealed that Edberg originally signed on to the coaching team for one season only in 2014 but agreed to stay on in 2015.
2015: First win over Djokovic since 2015
At the ATP Finals in 2019, Federer rebounded from an opening match loss to Dominic Thiem to defeat Matteo Berrettini and Djokovic (his first win over Djokovic since 2015) in straight sets to qualify for the semifinals.
2015: Lost US Open final to Djokovic
In 2015, Federer lost the US Open final to Djokovic in four sets.
2015: Sunrise TV Ad
In 2015, Federer was featured in a memorable TV ad for Sunrise, Switzerland's largest telecommunications company.
2015: Coaching Team Changes
In December 2014, Federer announced that Stefan Edberg would be replaced by Ivan Ljubičić, with Severin Lüthi remaining his head coach. Federer revealed that Edberg originally signed on to the coaching team for one season only in 2014 but agreed to stay on in 2015.
2015: Added SABR (Sneak Attack by Roger)
In the lead-up to the 2015 US Open, Federer successfully added a new unique shot to his arsenal called SABR (Sneak Attack by Roger).
July 2016: Most Recognizable Swiss Person
In July 2016, Federer was ranked No. 1 on the list of the most recognizable people from Switzerland, surpassing figures like Albert Einstein and William Tell.
October 2016: End of top eight ranking streak
In October 2016, injuries forced Federer to skip much of the season, ending his 14-year streak of being ranked among the top eight players.
2016: Return to Clay Court Season
At the Australian Open 2019, Federer was upset by Stefanos Tsitsipas. After the match, Federer announced he would play the clay court season for the first time since 2016.
2016: Lack of outbursts or emotional frustration
In 2016, Federer had a cool demeanor and emotional control on the court.
2016: Mercedes-Benz TV Ad
In 2016, Federer starred in a Mercedes-Benz TV ad, playing the role of various tennis legends.
2016: Hiatus for Knee Surgery
In 2016, Federer took a half-year hiatus to recover from knee surgery.
2016: Most Marketable Sports Person
In 2016, Federer was named the Most Marketable Sports Person by the London School of Marketing, earning £49.2 million in endorsements and sponsorships.
2016: Ranking Slips to No. 17
In 2016, Federer's withdrawal from most of the 2016 season led his ranking to slip to No. 17 at the start of the season, his lowest in over fifteen years. At the Australian Open, Federer defeated top-10 players Tomáš Berdych and Kei Nishikori on his way to the semifinals, making Federer the oldest man to compete in a grand slam semifinal since Jimmy Connors in 1991.
2016: Street Renamed in Biel
In 2016, the city of Biel renamed the street where the national center for Swiss Tennis is located to "1 Allée Roger Federer" in his honor.
2016: Withdrawal from Olympics and Season
On 26 July 2016, Federer announced that he would miss the Summer Olympics and the remainder of the 2016 season to recover fully from his knee injury. This also implied that 2016 would be Federer's first season since 2000 in which he failed to win a title.
January 2017: Most Marketable Sports Person
In January 2017, Federer was named the Most Marketable Sports Person for 2016 by the London School of Marketing.
September 2017: Held top two ranking again
From 11 September 2017, Federer and Nadal again held the top two rankings on the ATP Tour.
November 2017: Favorite stringing tension
In November 2017, Federer stated his favorite stringing tension is 26.5 kilograms (58.4 lb) mains & 25 kilograms (55.1 lb) crosses.
November 2017: Honorary Doctorate from University of Basel
On 24 November 2017, Federer received an honorary doctorate from the University of Basel for increasing the international reputation of Basel and Switzerland and for his charitable work.
2017: Return to Grand Slam Wins
Federer's 2017 season marked a return to Grand Slam wins since 2012, the most titles since 2007, and the highest win percentage since 2006. Statistically, this season was his best since 2007.
2017: Sports Illustrated Cover
Following his record-breaking 8th Wimbledon title and second Grand Slam of 2017, Federer appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
2017: Played Nadal in Australian Open final
In 2017, Federer played Nadal in the Australian Open final.
2017: Laureus World Comeback of the Year award
In 2017, Federer won the Laureus World Comeback of the Year award.
2017: Victories after Return
In 2017, after returning to tennis, Federer won three more majors, including the Australian Open over Nadal and a record eighth singles title at Wimbledon.
2017: "Backhand Boys" Performance
In 2017, at the Indian Wells Masters, Federer, Grigor Dimitrov, and Tommy Haas, known as the "Backhand Boys", performed "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" with a cameo from Novak Djokovic and David Foster.
2017: Shanghai Masters Title and Career Achievements
In 2017, at the Shanghai Masters Federer captured his third Masters title of the season, defeating No. 1 Rafael Nadal in the final. This was Federer's fifth straight victory over Nadal and his 94th career title, drawing him level with 2nd-placed Ivan Lendl. Federer then defeated Juan Martín del Potro in the final of the Swiss Indoors to surpass Ivan Lendl in number of career titles.
March 2018: Nike Contract Expiration
In March 2018, Federer's contract with Nike expired, leading to a significant change in his apparel sponsorship.
October 2018: Djokovic became No. 2
In October 2018, Novak Djokovic became the new No. 2 in the ATP rankings.
2018: Considered the greatest tennis player of all time
Between 2009 and 2018, many players and analysts considered Federer to be the greatest tennis player of all time.
2018: "Match for Africa" in San Jose
In 2018, Federer paired with Bill Gates in a doubles clash against Jack Sock and Savannah Guthrie at the "Match for Africa" in San Jose, winning the match.
2018: Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award
In 2018, Federer won the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award.
2018: Listed as greatest male player of the Open Era
In 2018, Tennis.com listed Federer as the greatest male player of the Open Era.
2018: 20 Major Singles Titles
In 2018, at the Australian Open, Federer became the first man to win 20 major singles titles and the oldest ATP world No. 1 at the time, at age 36.
2018: Won Australian Open again
In 2018, when Federer won the Australian Open again, the prize money had increased to AUD 4 million.
November 2019: Shareholder of On
In November 2019, Federer became a shareholder in On, a Swiss-based athletic shoe and sports apparel manufacturer.
December 2019: Celebration on Swiss Coins
In December 2019, Federer became the first living person to be celebrated on Swiss coins, with his face featured on a 20-franc coin.
December 2019: Most Stylish Man of the Decade
In December 2019, Federer was voted by GQ readers as the Most Stylish Man of the Decade (2010–2019).
2019: Holds Third Highest Number of Guinness World Records
As of 2019, Roger Federer holds the third highest number of Guinness World Records within one discipline, with a total of 30, including 18 performance based records.
2019: Equaling Australian Open record
In 2018, Federer reached the final without dropping a set, and successfully defended his title beating Marin Čilić in a five-set final. It was Federer's sixth title at the Australian Open, equaling the then record held by Roy Emerson and Novak Djokovic, which was surpassed by Djokovic in 2019.
2019: Last encounter with Nadal
In 2019, Federer and Nadal had their last encounter at the Wimbledon Championships, where Federer won.
2019: Barilla TV Ad
In 2019, Federer appeared in a TV ad for the Italian pasta-maker Barilla.
2019: Lost Wimbledon final to Djokovic
In 2019, Federer lost the Wimbledon final to Djokovic after saving two match points.
May 2020: Highest-Paid Athlete
In May 2020, Federer became the first tennis player to top Forbes's list of highest-paid athletes in the world, earning $106.3 million.
May 2020: 50-Franc Gold Coin Issued
In May 2020, Swissmint issued a Federer 50-franc gold coin featuring a different design.
May 2020: Ranked as greatest male tennis player of all time
In May 2020, the Tennis Channel ranked Federer as the greatest male tennis player of all time.
July 2020: Release of "The Roger" Shoe
In July 2020, On released a limited edition lifestyle shoe named "The Roger."
July 2020: Featured by Swiss National Museum
On 20 July 2020, Federer was featured by the Swiss National Museum in their 100-part chronicle of Swiss history and culture.
2020: Arthroscopic surgery for a right knee injury
In 2020, Federer began his season at the Australian Open. In February, Federer underwent arthroscopic surgery for a right knee injury.
2020: Top-Paid Athlete
In 2020, Federer ranked first among all athletes with $100 million in endorsement income.
2020: Second knee surgery
In 2020, Roger Federer underwent his second knee procedure on his left knee.
January 2021: Withdrawal from Australian Open
In January 2021, Federer withdrew from the Australian Open due to still recovering from knee surgery and strict COVID-19 quarantine measures in Australia.
May 2021: Described as a "genius" by Serena Williams
In May 2021, Serena Williams described Federer as a "genius" and the "greatest".
October 2021: Basel Honors Federer with Tram
In October 2021, Basel, Federer's birth city, honored him with the launch of a new tram named "The Federer Express," adorned with images from his career.
2021: Top 10 Highest-Paid Athletes
Between 2012 and 2021, Federer was in the top-10 of Forbes's list of highest-paid athletes every year.
2021: Only the second year in Federer's career since he won his first title that he finished without a title
In 2020, this was only the second year in Federer's career since he won his first title that he finished without a title.
2021: Sampras said Djokovic was the greatest
In 2021 Sampras said Djokovic was the greatest.
2021: Last singles tournament
In 2021, Federer did not play in a singles tournament after Wimbledon.
2021: Wears On Tennis Shoes
Since 2021, Federer has worn tennis shoes produced by On, marking a shift in his footwear choice.
May 2022: Visit to Swiss National Team
In May 2022, Federer surprised the Swiss national football team, unveiling Puma’s new jersey ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
June 2022: Dropped out of top 50
In June 2022, Federer dropped out of the top 50 in the world rankings.
July 2022: Unranked for the first time since debut
In July 2022, Federer became unranked for the first time since his professional debut.
September 2022: Announced retirement
In September 2022, Federer announced his retirement from professional tennis, with the Laver Cup being his final ATP event.
September 2022: Retirement from Professional Tennis
In September 2022, Federer retired from professional tennis following the Laver Cup.
October 2022: Publication of "The Roger Federer Effect"
On 31 October 2022, a book entitled "The Roger Federer Effect: Rivals, Friends, Fans and How the Maestro Changed their Lives" was published, featuring interviews about Federer's impact.
2022: Third knee surgery
In 2022, Roger Federer underwent a third procedure, this time on his right knee.
2022: Other coaches
In 2022, Severin Lüthi and Ivan Ljubičić were Federer's other coaches.
2022: Withdrawal from US Open
In August 2021, Federer announced that he underwent another knee surgery after a further injury during the grass-court season. He withdrew from the US Open, but he hoped to make a return to the tour in 2022.
2022: Culmination with the 2022 Laver Cup
On 20 June 2024, the documentary film, "Federer: Twelve Final Days" was released on Amazon Prime Video and culminates with the 2022 Laver Cup.
2023: Switzerland Tourism Film with Trevor Noah
In 2023, Federer starred alongside Trevor Noah in a film for Switzerland Tourism titled "The Grand Train Tour of Switzerland: The Ride of a Lifetime".
June 9, 2024: Doctorate degree in Humane Letters from Dartmouth
On June 9, 2024, Federer received a Doctorate degree in Humane Letters from Dartmouth, following his commencement address to the Class of 2024.
June 2024: Release of "Federer: Twelve Final Days" Documentary
On 20 June 2024, the documentary film, "Federer: Twelve Final Days" was released on Amazon Prime Video. The film follows the last 12 days of Federer's career.
2024: Oldest ATP World No. 1 record broken
In February 2018, Federer became the oldest ATP world No. 1 at 36 years and 195 days of age, a record that stood until Novak Djokovic broke the record in 2024.
