Let’s Talk Greatness: Roger Federer - The GOAT of Tennis.

There was a kid born on August 8, 1981, in Basel, Switzerland, who became one of the most staggering athletes of all time and arguably the best tennis player ever born on this planet; he is the GOAT player, and he is Roger Federer. Roger Federer is that legend who won almost 20 grand slams, an Olympic silver medal, ATP player of the year five times, and many other trophies throughout his tennis career. For some, it does seem like a number, but in reality, no success story with no jaw-dropping hard work and the constant struggle to make it happen.

Personal Life

Federer was born in Basel, Switzerland, on August 8, 1981. His Afrikaner mother, Lynette Federer, is from Kempton Park, Gauteng, in South Africa, and his Swiss-German father, Robert Federer, is from Berneck in the state of St.Gallen. Federer had to complete mandatory military duty in the Swiss Armed Forces like every other male Swiss citizen. But in 2003, he was declared “unsuitable,” so he was excluded from serving his country. He had to serve in the civil protection squad as an alternative and pay 3% of his taxable income. Later, he admitted that his persistent back issue was the reason behind his release.

Beyond the Nets

Last year Roger Federer announced his retirement from Tennis on September 15 through a Twitter post. He played his final match on September 24 in the Laver cup, and interestingly, Rafael Nadal was his teammate. There was always this debate about who was better between Nadal and Federer, and in fact, this would always be a clash among all these tennis fan clubs. But, as they say, you are always better with a competitor. There is a picture of an emotional Rafael Nadal on Federer’s retirement that provides poetic justice to this great poem about rivalry and friendship.

His retirement announcement video and letter broke the internet and the hearts of his millions of fans into pieces. He said that he would continue to play Tennis even at the age of 41, and this perfervid love of him the sport is what makes Roger Federer so unique. When you have an extraordinary tennis career, be it from the grass court of Wimbledon to the Clay court of the French Open, all of these courts would look incomplete without the legend showing his mind-boggling skills in Tennis.

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I consider myself one of the most fortunate people on Earth. I was given a special talent to play Tennis, and I did it at a level that I never imagined for much longer than I ever thought possible.”

Roger Federer

he said while announcing his retirement. It proves his humility even after being an exemplar of greatness and talent.

The record Speaks for itself.

Federer stepped into the world of Tennis at the age of eight and won the Swiss junior championship at 14. He won the Miami Orange Bowl Junior Tournament and the Wimbledon Junior Singles Championship in 1998. The following year, Federer made his Davis Cup debut for Switzerland and, at 18 years and four months, finished the year ranked 64th in the world, making him the youngest tennis player to do so. Roger Federer’s proved his excellence in that tournament, which continued for years until he retired from Tennis.

Federer won 11 out of the 17 tournaments he participated in in 2004, and he concluded the year as the top player in the world. In 2005, he achieved similar crackerjack results, winning 11 out of 15 matches, including Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.

Federer remained the best player in the world in 2006. He didn’t only win Wimbledon but also the Australian Open and the U.S. Open. Roger Federer became the first player to win those two competitions three years ago. Also, he advanced to the French Open finals before losing to Rafael Nadal, and we all know his dominance of Nadal on the clay court. Federer participated in 17 competitions in 2006, won 12 titles, and made it to the finals of all seventeen tournaments, which included four grand slams.

He won his tenth Grand Slam championship at the Australian Open in 2007. Yet later that year, Nadal upset him in the championship match, derailing his attempt to win his maiden French Open. In Wimbledon in 2007, Federer and Nadal renewed their rivalry. He defeated Nadal in a thrilling five-set final, adding a new feather to his crown. He became the second male player in over a century to win five straight Wimbledon titles, following Björn Borg.

Federer played a crucial role in the tennis renaissance that many call the “Golden Age,” which increased interest in the game and income for many tennis venues. Prize money exploded due to rising earnings; when Roger Federer won the Australian Open for the first time in 2004, he took home $985,000. The prize increased to AUD 4 million when he won in 2018.

In an interview, when they asked Federer whether he thought he would become such a prominent game icon at the start of his career, he gently replied with ‘No.’ He further says that he is very proud and happy with his career because he never thought he would make so many things quickly. He also mentioned that he dreamt of becoming a good but not a great player.

Final Thoughts

Even though there will always be a comparison of who is best between Nadal, Federer, and Djokovic, we will never forget the legacy they have left behind in the history of Tennis. Federer will always be an inspiration for any other kid who wants to make it big in the world of sports, especially Tennis. He left the court, but the world will never forget how the dumbfounding playstyle of Roger Federer once ruled the court.