Roger Federer’s career is the stuff of sporting legend, a story of unparalleled grace and success that saw him claim 20 Grand Slam titles and hold the world No. 1 ranking for a record 237 consecutive weeks. For nearly two decades, he was a dominant force in men’s tennis, captivating global audiences with his effortless style and collecting a record eight Wimbledon titles. His journey, however, was not a seamless ascent to glory.

The Swiss opened up about his toughest battle in tennis, as reported by Tages-Anzeiger, he said, “The most difficult thing for me was the transition from juniors to the pros. At first it was super cool. Suddenly I was in the locker room with Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Tim Henman, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Carlos Moya and others. And I thought: This is the best! But then everything got so serious. One guy wraps the grip tape around his racket with a grim expression, and you think: Oh God, he’s intense!”

He continued, adding, “Another walks past you without giving you a glance. And you think: He wants to win at all costs! And yet: Is it really that important? That phase was tough for me. When you travel a lot, lose often, and are as emotionally charged as I was, you think: I didn’t read the fine print in the tennis contract. It’s not all fun and games. This seriousness got to me. The years from 18 to 20 or 21 were hard for me.” This period, which Federer describes as emotionally charged and defined by frequent travel and losses, stands in stark contrast to the image of the unflappable champion he would later become.

Roger Federer also credited a strong support system for helping him navigate this challenging transition. He emphasized the crucial role of his team. “Not anymore. I had good perspective then, and I had Mirka and my team around me. We always had fun. When things got a bit too serious, we fooled around even more than usual. And then it was okay again,” Federer shared.

This reflection reveals a profound truth about his journey: the making of a champion involved more than just perfecting a forehand; it required conquering the daunting, serious atmosphere of the professional locker room to ultimately become one of the most revered and graceful athletes in history. However, are you aware of the recent honor that the Swiss achieved?

Roger Federer is still achieving big in tennis

On Wednesday, November 19, Tennis Channel got fans buzzing. They shared the exciting news on Twitter: Federer is set to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. From 2001 to 2019, it felt like he completely owned the tennis court. While injuries finally took their toll, leading him to retire in 2022,  his achievements are just absolutely jaw-dropping. Federer collected an incredible 103 tour-level titles in his career.

Looking back on this amazing achievement, the Swiss shared, “It’s a tremendous honour to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame and to stand alongside so many of the game’s great champions. Throughout my career, I’ve always valued the history of tennis and the example set by those who came before me. It was very special to receive the news at Swiss Tennis, surrounded by the next generation of players — the place where my own journey first began. To be recognised in this way by the sport and by my peers is deeply humbling. I look forward to visiting Newport next August to celebrate this special moment with the tennis community.”

Federer set records in streaks that no one has ever come close to matching. He dominated Wimbledon for five consecutive years, from 2003 to 2007. After that, he turned around and did the same thing at the US Open from 2004 to 2008. Even with all the praise he received, he always had this humble side to him, which really made people love him.