Roger Federer

NAME Roger Federer (pronounced /ˈfɛdərər/ FED-ər-ər in English, [ˈrɔdʒər ˈfeːdərər] in Swiss Standard German)

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Roger Federer is famous for being one of the greatest tennis players of all time. He dominated the sport in the early 21st century with his exceptional all-around game, grace, and sportsmanship.

BIRTH Roger Federer was born on August 8, 1981, in Basel, Switzerland.

FAMILY BACKGROUND Federer comes from a multicultural background. His father, Robert Federer, is Swiss from Berneck in the canton of St. Gallen, while his mother, Lynette Federer (née Durand), is an Afrikaner from Kempton Park, Gauteng, South Africa. This dual heritage granted him both Swiss and South African citizenship. 

Roger has one sibling, an older sister named Diana, who is the mother of twins. He is also related to Swiss prelate Urban Federer and Swiss politician and philanthropist Barbara Schmid-Federer.

CHILDHOOD Roger's tennis journey began remarkably early when he first handled a racket at just three years old. His parents, who worked for Ciba-Geigy Pharmaceuticals, would take Roger and his sister Diana to the company's private tennis courts on weekends, where his natural talent quickly became apparent. 

By age six, he had outperformed others in his age group, prompting his mother to enroll him in the elite junior program at the Old Boys Tennis Club in Basel when he was eight. There, he received initial instruction from Czech coach Adolf Kacovsky. 

At age ten, Australian former player Peter Carter began coaching him, whom Federer has credited for his "entire technique and coolness."

As a child, Federer enjoyed a variety of sports including badminton, basketball, football, tennis, skiing, and swimming, developing excellent hand-eye coordination through this diversified athletic exposure. 

A significant moment in his young career came when he served as a ball boy at his hometown Basel event, the Swiss Indoors, in 1992 and 1993, even receiving a medal from tournament champion Michael Stich.

EDUCATION Federer trained at the Swiss National Tennis Center in Ecublens between 1995 and 1997, where he learned French at age 14. His early months at the academy proved challenging as he struggled with homesickness and felt singled out as the "Swiss German." Federer has credited this difficult period as formative in developing his independent spirit.

He completed his compulsory education at La Plata secondary school in Chavannes-près-Renens, obtaining his certificate in July 1997 in the upper division, commercial studies section. However, his educational path was subordinated to his tennis pursuits, as he acknowledged having difficulty balancing academic studies with his growing tennis commitments.

CAREER RECORD Federer's professional career spanned from 1998 until his retirement on September 23, 2022. His statistics illustrate his dominance:

Career singles record: 1251–275 (82.0%)

Career titles: 103 (second most in the Open Era)

Highest ranking: World No. 1 (first achieved February 2, 2004)

Total weeks at No. 1: 310 weeks (second-most all-time)

Consecutive weeks at No. 1: 237 (a record)

Grand Slam titles (20):

Federer's career featured extraordinary periods of dominance, particularly from 2004-2007 when he won 11 or more singles titles each year. His 2006 season is regarded as one of the greatest in tennis history, with a 92-5 match record and 12 titles.

APPEARANCE Standing 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in), Federer is right-handed with his signature one-handed backhand-a rarity in modern tennis. After a lifetime of intensive exercise, quality nutrition, globally accrued sunshine, and limited late-night partying, he has maintained a youthful appearance that, as described by GQ, "positively glows."

Federer in 2007 By Boss Tweed - https://www.flickr.com/photos/bosstweed/1353400800/

FASHION Federer's style has evolved into a defining aspect of his public persona. On the court, he transformed tennis fashion from the baggy styles of the 1990s to more tailored, elegant outfits. He admits that as a young player he wore oversized XL clothing influenced by his idols Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi before adopting the more fitted styles that became his trademark.

Off the court, Federer favors classic tailoring with subtle contemporary elements. He is known for wearing closely fitted blazers, Rolex watches, and lustrous loafers at formal events. His red carpet appearances feature sophisticated choices like roll-neck knits under Giorgio Armani suits or double-breasted jackets paired with gingham shirts. For the 2017 Met Gala, he wore a seemingly conventional Gucci tuxedo that revealed a playful rhinestone cobra design on the back when he turned around.

In retirement, Federer has deepened his fashion involvement, collaborating with UNIQLO and designer Clare Waight Keller on "The Roger Federer Collection"-a modern line of refined everyday sportswear featuring polo shirts, active shorts, and seamless knitted hoodies designed for elegant movement. (1)

CHARACTER Federer's personal evolution parallels his professional one. Though he lacked self-control as a junior player, he transformed into a sportsman celebrated for his graciousness and composure. This development earned him the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award an unprecedented 13 times, reflecting the respect he commanded from peers.

Beyond competition, Federer has shown leadership through initiatives like the Laver Cup team competition, which he played an instrumental role in creating. His philanthropic commitment is evidenced by the Roger Federer Foundation, which targets educational opportunities for impoverished children in southern Africa.

Throughout his career, Federer maintained a disciplined approach to his craft while displaying remarkable resilience, particularly evident in his 2017 comeback when he won the Australian Open at age 35 after a six-month injury layoff. 

SPEAKING VOICE Federer is impressively multilingual, speaking four languages fluently: English, German, French, and Swiss German. This linguistic versatility has enhanced his global appeal and allowed him to connect with fans and media worldwide. His ability to switch seamlessly between languages during press conferences and interviews demonstrates both his international upbringing and adaptability.

SENSE OF HUMOUR Despite his refined public image, Federer is renowned for his sense of humor, particularly his self-deprecating wit. When a fan once asked how his wife Mirka felt about his return to competition after time at home, he tweeted: "Finally he is out of the house."

His playful side emerged when he responded to a bizarre Twitter meme combining his headshot with another person's midriff, a tail, and Timberland-style boots. Rather than ignoring the strange collage, Federer replied with appreciation for the creator's effort, delighting fans with his good-natured response.

He has also handled unconventional interview situations with humor, such as when comedian Will Ferrell asked if the secret to his success was eating wombat meat, maintaining his composure while playing along with the absurdity. (2)

RELATIONSHIPS Federer first met his wife, Mirka Federer (née Vavrinec) at the 2000 Sydney Olympics where they both represented Switzerland as tennis players. They shared their first kiss on the final night in the Olympic Village-a moment Federer later described as "more than just a kiss... something that led to something extraordinary for us."

After dating secretly for two years, they went public with their relationship at the 2002 Hopman Cup, where they competed as doubles partners. When a foot injury ended Mirka's professional tennis career later that year, she remained connected to the sport by becoming Roger's public relations manager.

The couple tied the knot at Wenkenhof Villa in Riehen near Basel on April 11, 2009. 

They have two sets of twins: daughters Charlene and Myla (born on July 23, 2009) and sons Lennart (called Lenny) and Leo (born on May 6, 2014). 

Federer has repeatedly acknowledged Mirka's crucial support throughout his career, calling her his "No. 1 supporter" who has been there from when he had no titles "and she's still here 89 titles later." After becoming a father, Federer noted that family life enhanced his tennis career: "Having kids and being a father now and being married enhances everything. I'm such a happy person today... it allows me to play good tennis."  (3)

Mirka Federer in 2012 by Carine06 - Flickr: 

MONEY AND FAME Federer's financial success places him among sports' highest earners with an estimated net worth of $550 million. His ATP career earnings totaled $130,594,339, making him the third-highest tournament earner in tennis history at the time of his retirement, behind Rafael Nadal ($131 million) and Novak Djokovic ($159 million).

However, his tournament winnings represent only a fraction of his income. Endorsements have earned him approximately $1 billion throughout his career, securing his place in the exclusive "billion-dollar athlete club" alongside figures like Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Cristiano Ronaldo.

His endorsement portfoio is unmatched in tennis, highlighted by a 10-year, $300 million contract with Uniqlo signed in 2018. At his earning peak in 2020, Federer made $106.3 million, with the vast majority coming from sponsorships rather than prize money. Even in 2021-2022, near retirement, he earned $90.7 million, of which only $700,000 came from tournament play.

Beyond mere numbers, Federer's appeal to premium brands stems from his sophisticated image and global popularity. In 2020, he ranked first among all athletes with $100 million in endorsement income.

FOOD AND DRINK Federer's diet combines practicality with enjoyment rather than strict regimens. On match days, he typically starts with homemade waffles and fresh fruit compote, accompanied by fresh juice, coffee, and a vinegar shot. His pre-match meal consists of pasta with light sauce-a routine he has maintained for over 20 years.

During competitions, he consumes bananas and energy bars to maintain potassium levels and prevent cramping. While he follows practical nutritional guidelines for performance, Federer openly admits to having a sweet tooth, particularly enjoying ice cream and chocolate: "I like my ice cream, I like my chocolate. That's my diet. I like my treats. I don't feel bad about it. I can do it and play tennis at the same time."

Being Swiss, he appreciates traditional cheese dishes like fonduta (combining milk, cream, cheese, and egg yolk) and raclette. For dining out, he favors Italian, Japanese, and Indian restaurants, enjoying culinary variety as much as he embraces versatility on court. (4)

MUSIC AND ARTS Federer took piano lessons as a child and, in a 2019 Uniqlo advertisement, he played excerpts from Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier. 

Federer collects fine art, including works by renowned artists such as Andy Warhol and Pablo Picasso. His passion for art collecting is part of his broader interest in culture and aesthetics, which also manifests in his celebrated sense of fashion and design.

He has mentioned that his favorite film is Good Will Hunting, the Academy Award-winning drama starring Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Robin Williams.

LITERATURE While Federer has contributed handwritten reflections and personal insights to collaborative projects, he has yet to write a book under his own name as the sole author.

NATURE  Federer enjoys spending time outdoors, particularly hiking in the Swiss Alps. He often shares photos of his hiking adventures on social media, highlighting his appreciation for Switzerland’s natural beauty and his enjoyment of being in nature when not on the tennis court.

Through the Roger Federer Foundation, he supports projects that encourage children’s interaction with the natural environment. One notable initiative is the creation of “natural school playgrounds” in Switzerland, aiming to provide schools with outdoor spaces designed to foster children’s connection with nature.

Federer has publicly addressed environmental issues, especially in the context of climate change. While he has faced scrutiny over corporate sponsorships tied to fossil fuels, he has stated, “I take the impacts and threat of climate change very seriously, particularly as my family and I arrive in Australia amidst devastation from the bushfires.” He has expressed admiration for youth climate activists and acknowledged the importance of examining personal and organizational behaviors to address environmental challenges. (5)

PETS Federer welcomed a dog named Willow to his family, announcing the new addition on Instagram in 2022 with the caption: "We gave in... But we couldn't be happier. Welcome to the family Willow."

This decision represented a significant change for Federer, who had previously admitted in 2017: "I'm a little bit scared of dogs to be honest. At the end of the day, I do love dogs but I just haven't spent enough time with them." He explained that his family had always had cats, and his extensive traveling schedule had made pet ownership impractical. At that time, he predicted: "With all the travelling over the last 20 years, it's been impossible to have pets but we'll have a dog some day."

According to his Instagram post, it took some persuasion from his family before he and his wife Mirka agreed to get the dog, with fans speculating that his daughters had long desired a canine companion. (6)

After winning his first Wimbledon title, Federer was gifted a milking cow, which he named "Juliette."

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Beyond tennis, Federer maintains diverse recreational interests. According to his official website, his hobbies include golf, soccer, skiing, PlayStation gaming, and playing cards. This variety reflects his childhood, where he participated in multiple sports including badminton, basketball, football, tennis, skiing, and swimming-experiences that contributed to his exceptional hand-eye coordination.

Football (soccer) held special significance for Federer until age 12, when he made the pivotal decision to focus exclusively on tennis. He chose tennis partly because it offered more individual control over outcomes compared to team sports where performance depends on teammates.

TENNIS CAREER If you were assembling a list of humans most likely to have been sculpted by angels and then handed a tennis racket as an afterthought, Roger Federer would almost certainly be somewhere near the top. Born in Basel, Switzerland in 1981, Federer rose through the tennis ranks like a polite Swiss rocket, winning the Wimbledon junior title in 1998 and, five years later, the real thing—becoming, at 21, the sport’s suavest champion since Fred Perry pulled on his first knitted vest.

From 2004 onward, Federer wasn’t just good—he was transcendent. He became world No. 1 in February of that year and stayed there for an astonishing 237 consecutive weeks, which is longer than most goldfish live and certainly longer than most of us can maintain a gym membership. During that reign, he won just about everything worth winning: 103 ATP singles titles, 20 Grand Slams, and the kind of admiration usually reserved for astronauts and rescue dogs.

He was tennis’s answer to a Swiss watch: elegant, precise, and slightly implausible. He glided rather than ran, flicked rather than hit, and somehow made balletic mastery look like something you might pick up over a weekend, if only you had the time.

Federer won Grand Slams in Melbourne, Paris, London, and New York, claiming titles on every surface known to tennis—and probably a few not yet discovered. His backhand was a thing of beauty, like a haiku in motion. He won eight Wimbledons, six Australian Opens, five consecutive US Opens (because why not?), and one French Open, a triumph made sweeter by years of fruitless pursuit and an uncooperative Spaniard named Nadal.

He also collected Olympic gold in doubles, a Davis Cup title for Switzerland, and three Hopman Cups—because even Federer enjoyed winning the slightly obscure.

In 2016, Federer's knee rather rudely decided it had had enough, forcing him into surgery and brief retirement thoughts. But like a kindly uncle who refuses to leave the party, Federer returned. In 2017, he won the Australian Open (beating Nadal, of course) and claimed a record eighth Wimbledon without dropping a set—like some kind of tennis wizard in pristine whites.

His 20th and final Slam came in 2018. He reached the Wimbledon final again in 2019, where he lost to Novak Djokovic in a match so long it may still be going in some small corner of time.

In the end, it was the knees that got him. Federer retired in 2022 after a final appearance at the Laver Cup, leaving behind not just a trophy cabinet that could shelter a family of four, but a legacy of sportsmanship, grace, and the sense that, just maybe, beauty really does matter in sport.

He left tennis a little better than he found it—and honestly, how many of us can say that?

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Federer is a devout Roman Catholic, though he maintains privacy regarding his faith. Unlike some athletes who publicly display religious gestures during competitions, Federer keeps his spiritual practice separate from his professional persona, neither praying visibly before matches nor kneeling in thanks after victories.

A highlight of his religious experience was personally meeting Pope Benedict XVI while playing the 2006 Internazionali BNL d'Italia tournament in Rome, which he described as "the perfect day." 

While not outspoken about his beliefs, he has been characterized as a "good Catholic" who avoids scandal, maintains a controlled temperament (after overcoming early career frustrations), and fulfilled traditional values by marrying his longtime girlfriend before their children were born. (7)

POLITICS Federer has consistently distanced himself from formal politics, preferring humanitarian engagement over partisan positions. When asked if he would consider following Arnold Schwarzenegger's path from celebrity to political office, he responded: "I don't think so. I'm more into, in general, helping people... We're living on the same world, you know? And not alone. Sometimes people forget. This is why we have fights all over the world."

While acknowledging that his humanitarian work "goes into politics a little bit," he sees himself more as an ambassador than a political figure, focusing on consensus-building approaches to social challenges rather than divisive political stances. (7)

SCANDAL Unlike many sports superstars whose private controversies have sometimes overshadowed their professional achievements, Federer has maintained a remarkably clean public image. His disciplined approach to both his professional and personal life has kept him largely free from negative publicity, contributing to his appeal to sponsors and fans alike.

MILITARY RECORD Roger Federer, like all Swiss male citizens, was subject to compulsory military service in Switzerland. However, he did not serve in the Swiss military. At the age of 18, Federer was drafted but was discharged due to chronic back problems, which were considered serious enough to make him unfit for military service. This decision was based on a longstanding back issue that, while not significantly hindering his tennis career at the time, was deemed incompatible with the physical demands of military duty.

Instead of military service, Federer was assigned to Switzerland's civil protection service, a common alternative for those found unfit for armed service. In this role, he was required to perform duties such as teaching sports for a few days each year after an initial training period. Like all those excused from military service, Federer was also required to pay a percentage of his taxable income to the state as compensation for not serving in the military. (8)

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Federer's career longevity resulted from meticulous attention to physical conditioning, though he faced significant health challenges in his later years. In early 2016, he underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee. During that year's grass season, he suffered from recurring knee pain that affected his performance.

His most serious physical setbacks came between 2020 and 2022, when he underwent three knee operations that limited his tournament participation. This difficult period saw him compete in only three of eleven Grand Slams, with his ranking and performance significantly declining. These persistent knee issues ultimately contributed to his decision to retire in September 2022.

HOMES Federer's primary residence is in Valbella, Switzerland. His choice to remain based in Switzerland reflects his connection to his homeland despite his global lifestyle.

TRAVEL Federer's tennis career involved extensive global travel to compete in tournaments around the world.  This global itinerary contributed to his cosmopolitan outlook and multicultural appeal.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Federer's media presence extends beyond sports coverage to various commercial and entertainment contexts. 

His media appearances include

Federer: Twelve Final Days (2024) - An 88-minute documentary directed by Asif Kapadia and Joe Sabia chronicling the emotional final days of his career leading up to his retirement at the 2022 Laver Cup. The film captures intimate moments with his family and fellow tennis legends.

Commercials featuring Federer includes ones for Barilla, Rolex, and UNIQLO.

Federer co-hosted the prestigious 2023 Met Gala, cementing his status as a cultural icon beyond sports.

ACHIEVEMENTS Federer's achievements extend beyond statistical records to cultural impact:

20 Grand Slam singles titles

103 ATP singles titles

310 weeks as world No. 1

Olympic gold medal in doubles

Olympic silver medal in singles

Davis Cup title with Switzerland

Record eight Wimbledon titles

Laureus World Sportsman of the Year (five times)

Federer transformed tennis playing style and fashion and elevated tennis's global profile through his sportsmanship and elegance

Sources (1) Vogue (2) Yahoo (3) US Weekly (4) The Independent (5) Fox Sports (6) Hello (7) Hollow Verse (8) ESPN