How great is Roger Federer?

Roger Federer, currently vacationing in Hoi An, has built such a solid reputation that even two years after his retirement, he remains the strongest tennis player in terms of personal brand.

Federer is likened to a dancer on the grass court, where he holds the record for eight Wimbledon titles. Photo: ATP — Federer is likened to a dancer on the grass court, where he holds the record for eight Wimbledon titles. Photo: *ATP*

Federer retired in September 2022, after 25 years of professional play, creating a massive legacy with 20 Grand Slam titles out of a total of 103 ATP titles, 1,251 wins (second most in history), 968 weeks in the top 10 world rankings , including 310 weeks at number one.

At his peak from 2004-2008, Federer achieved near-absolute dominance, winning the US Open and Wimbledon five times in a row, winning 20 out of 23 consecutive Grand Slam semi-finals, and holding the record for 237 consecutive weeks at the top of the ATP rankings.

In the first decade of the 21st century, Federer was virtually unrivaled on hard courts and grass. He captivated audiences with his flamboyant and incredibly precise playing style. The Swiss legend is considered one of the most important figures in ATP Tour history, contributing to the elevation of tennis tournaments and the value of television broadcasting rights.

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Many younger players admit to pursuing tennis out of admiration for Federer. The world's attention to tennis entered a new era when Federer and Nadal formed one of the greatest rivalries of the Open Era. Every match between Federer and Nadal (16 wins – 24 losses) and later with Djokovic (23-27) attracted a large audience. Many of these matches were selected by the ATP as classics in history, leaving a strong emotional impact on millions worldwide.

Federer has been the most influential figure on the ATP Tour for the past three decades, serving as Chairman of the Players' Council for six years (2008-2014). He introduced numerous initiatives to elevate tennis when the sport showed signs of declining popularity compared to other top sports. Federer also helped restructure the ATP Tour and ushered in a new era of financial success for the system.

Federer's elegant demeanor has earned him the nicknames of the Pele of football and Jack Nicklaus of golf. He won the Fan Favorite award consecutively from 2003 to 2021, despite numerous interruptions in his playing career due to injuries. Almost every award voted on by the fans went to Federer whenever his name was nominated.

Federer is on vacation with his family in Hoi An, Vietnam. Photo: Le Thu Guillon — Federer is on vacation with his family in Hoi An, Vietnam. Photo: *Le Thu Guillon*

Federer's fame transcends tennis and even sports. He is a global icon, a role model of a refined gentleman, a role model in the eyes of major brands. Uniqlo offered Federer a record-breaking $300 million contract when he was nearing retirement. Rolex partnered with Federer from 2006, signing a renewal in 2016 and extending the deal until 2027. Federer is considered the perfect ambassador for his home country's watch brand. To this day, Federer remains the only tennis player and the seventh sports star in history to earn $1 billion before retirement.

Federer says tennis has been incredibly generous to him, far exceeding his wildest dreams. Beyond his career, tennis led Federer to meet his girlfriend and later wife, Mirka, at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. The couple have spent over two decades together, have four children, and jointly run a charitable foundation.

The Federer Foundation has donated tens of millions of dollars to education in South Africa and Switzerland. Every year, the tennis player, born in 1981, visits Africa at least once. He has recently been actively traveling to Japan and China to inspire a passion for tennis in children. Last month, the "express train" was in the US to develop the Laver Cup event, which he co-founded.

"Roger Federer is like the familiar 'Perfect' symbol on his shirt," former American tennis player Andre Agassi said of Federer. "Inside a great talent is a good, humble, and friendly personality. Not the most accomplished, but he will be remembered the most."

Vy Anh

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