Roger Federer: 18 random facts

Published by Matt Trollope

Roger Federer waves to the crowds gathered at his Australian Open 2017 champion's trophy shoot at Melbourne's Royal Exhibition Building; Getty Images
Roger Federer’s victory at Australian Open 2017 put Federer well clear on the tally of career Grand Slam singles titles won, at 18. So, here’s 18 random facts about the Swiss superstar.

Roger Federer’s victory at Australian Open 2017 helped the Swiss extend his men’s record for most Grand Slam singles titles won.

With 18 major trophies now in his cabinet, we honour his achievement by presenting 18 random facts about him.

 

1. By winning Australian Open 2017, Federer’s career prize money earnings clicked over the $100 million mark; his total currently stands at $100.84 million.

2. In the 19 Grand Slam events beginning at Wimbledon 2005 and ending with Australian Open 2010, Federer reached the final of all but one; he fell to Novak Djokovic in the semifinals at Melbourne Park in 2008.

3. Primarily known for his singles exploits, Federer has also won eight doubles titles – yet none since 2008. The biggest of those came at the Beijing 2008 Olympics (gold with Stan Wawrinka) and the 2003 Miami Masters (with Max Mirnyi).

4. Federer has a sister, named Diana.

5. In 2015, Federer was deemed the world’s most marketable sports star by the London School of Marketing.

6. After winning Wimbledon in 2003, Federer was presented with a cow, Juliette, in his next event at the Swiss Open in Gstaad. Juliette had a calf – which Federer named “Edelweiss” – before she was reportedly slaughtered for not producing enough milk. “She’s not around anymore. That was a long time. You’re living in the past,” Federer joked when asked about it at Australian Open 2013. “She’s long gone. I think her daughter’s gone, too. So way behind.” Later that year in Gstaad, Federer was gifted a second cow by the tournament, named Desiree.

7. The multilingual Federer speaks English, German, Swiss German and French.

8. After years playing with a racquet featuring a 90-square-inch racquet face – while most other pros played with racquets nearing 100 square inches – Federer debuted a newer, larger frame at Australian Open 2014 after trialling several prototypes during 2013.

9. Federer is a dual citizen; he holds both Swiss and South African citizenship, the latter due to his mother, Lynette, having been born in South Africa.

RELATED: Serena Williams – 23 random facts

10. From 1993 to 2007, Federer (2003-07) and Pete Sampras (1993-95, 1997-2000) won 12 of 15 Wimbledon men’s singles titles. They clashed just once at Wimbledon, in 2001, in between their eras of dominance; Federer won 7-5 in the fifth in a match often cited as a changing of the guard.

11. In 2003, the Roger Federer Foundation was established, with a focus on raising funds for early childhood education in southern Africa. Since that date the foundation has raised more than $15 million.

12. No male player has been ranked No.1 for as long as Federer; the Swiss has spent a cumulative total of 302 weeks at the summit.

13. Federer, the highest-earning tennis player in 2016 according to Forbes, enjoys partnerships with Rolex, Mercedes-Benz, Credit Suisse, Jura, Moet & Chandon, Lindt, Wilson, Nike, Netjets and Sunrise. Since Andre Agassi’s retirement in 2006, Federer has been the highest-earning tennis player ever since.

14. He served as president of the ATP Player Council for six years, from June 2008 to June 2014.

15. In his 18-year pro career, Federer has not once retired mid-match.

16. Only one player – Jimmy Connors – has completed more consecutive top-100 seasons; from 2002 to 2015 Federer ended 14 straight years inside this elite bracket.

17. Federer has regularly cited the influences of Australian coaches Peter Carter and Tony Roche in shaping his career.

18. In 2016, for the 14th straight year, Federer was voted the atpworldtour.com “fan favourite”. He was also awarded the ATP Sportsmanship Award – voted for by his fellow professionals – for the twelfth time.

Share this: 
  • Most popular articles

19 February 2016

Tennis player grunts or porn star groans?

Roberta Vinci appeared on Italian TV and was put to the test - were the grunts she was hea... More

22 September 2017

Tennis’ obscure traits and trends

In the heat and humidity of the recent US Open series, there was a slow-mo nod to a long-r... More

7 November 2016

20 Questions: Andy Murray

Double Wimbledon champion, double Olympic champion and now world No.1. But what doesn't An... More

15 September 2016

The 10 most influential players in the history of tennis

The greatest champions, goes the old adage, are those who leave their sport better than th... More