| |
|
|
- Began playing tennis at age eight
- Mother, Lynette, is South African and father, Robert, is Swiss and they met on a business trip (they both worked for a pharmaceutical company)
- Has one sister Diana, who is two years older
- Idol growing up was Boris Becker and favorite player was Pete Sampras
- Compiled outstanding junior results, finishing as No. 1 junior in the world in 1998
- Won Wimbledon junior singles (d. Labadze) and doubles titles (w/O. Rochus) that year
- One of four players (Edberg, Cash, Borg) to win junior and men’s title at Wimbledon
- Also reached final at US Open (l. to Nalbandian) and SF at Australian Open in ‘98
- Closed junior career with title at Orange Bowl in Miami (d. Coria)
- Has a 35-11 career Davis Cup record (25-6 in singles) in 17 ties since 1999
- Enjoys sitting on the beach, playing cards and table tennis, is a fervent fan of hometown soccer team FC Basel
- Has a flair for aesthetics and class
- In 2003, initiated Roger Federer Foundation which supports disadvantaged children in South Africa and promotes sport for young people
- Enjoys being an ambassador for global promotion of tennis and is inspired by the cultural diversity of the world
- Donated several autographed items to various fundraising auctions and made a personal donation to tsunami relief efforts in January 2005
- In addition, helped organize All-Star Rally for Relief, an exhibition event in Indian Wells, Calif., with proceeds to benefit UNICEF’s tsunami efforts
- In March 2005, he made a surprise visit to children in townships near Port Elizabeth, South Africa and in November 2005, his parents opened a multipurpose sports site that consists of two tennis courts, a basketball and netball court as well as a football ground in small municipality of Zwide
- In September 2005, autographed racquet used in US Open final to ATP’s TennisKatrina.com on-line auction for the American Red Cross’ Hurricane Katrina relief efforts and it fetched a winning bid of $25,665
- In November 2004, was on hand at United Nations in New York to announce 2005 as “International Year of Sport and Physical Education” with U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan
- In April 2006, named UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
- Carried Swiss flag in opening ceremonies of Athens Olympics in 2004 and Beijing Olympics in 2008 (on his birthday)
- Named ATP Player of Year and earned Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship award from 2004-07 and ATPtennis.com fans’ favorite from 2003-07
- I.T.W.A. Player of the Year and Ambassador for Tennis award winner in 2004-06
- Named 2003 “Swiss of the Year” by his country’s TV audience
- Won 2004 Laureus World Sportsman of Year
- Listed in People Magazine’s “Sexiest Men Alive” issue as an “International Man of Sexiness” in November 2005
- One year later, was featured in the same in the “Sexy Surroundings” category
- Also featured in Vogue in December 2006
- Is close friend of Vogue Editor-In-Chief Anna Wintour
- She has attended his matches at Wimbledon and the US Open and he accompanied her to Fashion Week in New York City following 2006 US Open
- Named GQ’s “International Man of the Year” for 2005 in Germany
- Speaks English, German, Swiss German, French and some Swedish and Italian
- Fitness trainer is Pierre Paganini
- Golf superstar Tiger Woods attended ’06 US Open final and both athletes met for first time
- .Received 2006 Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of Year award and named 2006-07 BBC Sports Overseas Personality of Year (also in '04)
- In October 2007, voted No. 30 in a list of "the 100 most influential people in the world of sports" in BusinessWeek Magazine in U.S. (one of six athletes in Top 30)
- Named in Time Magazine's "100 Most Influential People in World" in May 14, 2007 issue
- Recipient of U.S. Academy Outstanding Athlete in 2005-06 presented by USA Today and MSNBC (voted by fans)
- Had a stamp of him released by Swiss Post on April 10, 2007 in his birthplace of Basel
- Elected to two-year term in June 2008 to ATP Player Council.
Biographical information from ATP. Unless noted otherwise all data as of year-end 2008.
Return to > Players > R > Roger Federer Profile (Biography) (Quotes) (Pictures)
|
|
| |
|
