Roger Federer's Success and Achievements in Timeline
A closer look at the biggest achievements of Roger Federer. Awards, milestones, and records that define success.
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.
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.
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.
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.
January 1997: U18 Swiss National Championship
In January 1997, at age 15, Federer won both the indoor and outdoor U18 Swiss national championship.
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.
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.
January 2001: Hopman Cup Win
In January 2001, Federer won the Hopman Cup representing Switzerland, along with Martina Hingis.
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.
October 2002: Ranked among top eight players
From October 2002, Federer was ranked among the top eight players in the world continuously.
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.
February 2004: Ranked No. 1 for 237 weeks
In February 2004, Federer was ranked No. 1 for a record 237 consecutive weeks.
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: 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: 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: 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.
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: 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.
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: Special Edition Stamp Released
In 2007, the Swiss Post in Basel released a special edition stamp for Federer.
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: 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: 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.
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.
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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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.
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.
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: 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.
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: Davis Cup Title
In 2014, Federer and Stan Wawrinka led the Switzerland Davis Cup team to their first title.
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.
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.
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.
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: 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.
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: 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: 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.
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: 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.
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: 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: 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.
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.
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.
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.
