Roger Federer of Switzerland in action defeating Andy Murray of Great Britain in the final of the Wimbledon Championships, played at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, England. Cynthia Lum/Icon SMI 250/Cynthia Lum/Icon SMI/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: iconphotosthree273438
After Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic had put a chokehold on the Grand Slam finals over the past year it appeared that the sun was begging to set on 30-year-old Roger Federer’s career. However, following his record tying 7th career Wimbledon Championship Federer has regained the World No. 1 ranking and it looks like he is far from done. Federer now finds himself in prime position to capture the one thing he has yet to win, an Olympic Medal in singles.
Federer began his pro career in 1998 after winning the Wimbledon Junior championship and earning the ranking of world No. 1 junior player. It was only five years into his pro career that he was celebrating again at Wimbledon after he defeated Mark Philippoussis for his first Grand Slam Victory. For the next seven years Federer would win at least one grand slam title earning 17 all together which gives him the most all time with Pete Sampras in second with 14.
A combination of photographs created on July 8, 2012 shows Roger Federer of Switzerland holding up his 17 Grand Slam trophies. Swiss great Roger Federer won his seventh Wimbledon men’s singles title and his 17th career Grand Slam title at the Wimbledon Championships tennis tournament in Wimbledon, southwest London on July 8, 2012. Federer’s 17 Grand Slam victories are: Centre: Wimbledon 2012, 1st row, from left : Australian Open 2010, Wimbledon 2007, Wimbledon 2009, Roland Garros 2009, US Open 2008. 2nd row, from left : US Open 2007, US Open 2006. 3rd row, from left : Australian Open 2006, US Open 2005. 4th row, from left : Wimbledon 2006, Wimbledon 2005. 5th row, from left: US Open 2004, Wimbledon 2004, Australian Open 2004, Wimbledon 2003, Australian Open 2007. AFP/Getty Images/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: afplivefour568972
Roger Federer of Switzerland walks off the court after winning his seventh Wimbledon Championship. imago sportfotodienst/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: imago sportfotodienst/Newscom
As awe-inspiring Federer’s play has been over his career the latest’s victory is a special one as it is the first one he has been able to share with his young daughters. Federer met his wife Mirka Vavrinec when they were both competing for the Swiss tennis team in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. The two got married in Basel on April 11, 2009. Mirka then gave birth to twin girls, Myla Rose and Charlene Riva, in July of 2009.
The wife of Roger Federer of Switzerland, Mirka Federer (C) with their two-year-old twins Charlene Riva and Myla Rose, celebrates after Federer defeated Andy Murray of Britain in their men’s singles final tennis match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London July 8, 2012. TOBY MELVILLE/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfive354540
Not only did Federer meet his wife at the 2000 Olympics that was also his most successful Olympic games in the men’s singles. He came up just short of the podium when he finished fourth after losing to Arnaud Di Pasquale in France. In 2004 Federer was the top seeded singles player but, like a lot of top players, lost early. Federer was knocked out in the second round of both the singles and the doubles competitions.
Swiss tennis player and world number one, Roger Federer, holds the national flag during the team parade of the opening ceremony of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games in the Olympic Stadium, Friday 13 August 2004. Kim Ludbrook/EPA/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: epaphotosfour206395
As the top seed in Beijing, Federer came up short again – losing in the quarterfinals of the singles competition opening the door for rivals Nadal and Djokovic to claim the gold and bronze respectively. Federer did claim a gold medal with doubles partner Stanislas Wawrinka at the 2008 games after they beat the top seeded Americans in the semi finals and cruised to a win over Sweden in the final.
Swiss pair Roger Federer (L) and Stanislas Wawrinka (R) pose with their gold medals after their win over Swedish pair Simon Aspelin and Thomas Johansson at the Beijing Olympic Green Tennis Center Court for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China, 16 August 2008. DIEGO AZUBEL/EPA/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: epaphotosthree675678
Going into the London Games, Federer has reclaimed the top seed and will get his final and best shot at a singles gold medal. The tennis competition will be held at the All England Club – the same facility that hosts the Wimbledon Championship – and will mark the first time since tennis was reinstated as an Olympic sport that it will be played on grass. During his career Federer has had a 66-7 record on grand slam grass matches, the best of all time.
Despite all the factors in his favor, Federer‘s biggest obstacles will continue to be Nadal, Djokovic and Briton Andy Murry who will all be looking for gold in London as well.
For more pictures of Rodger Federer check out Newscom.
Roger Federer of Switzerland reacts during his match against James Blake of the United States during the quarter final of the men’s tennis at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, 14 August 2008. PETER KLAUNZER/EPA/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: epaphotostwo280681
Switzerland’s tennis player Roger Federer, gold medalllist of the men’s doubles tennis tournament of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games (together with Stanislas Wawrinka), signs the Golden Book, during the official reception at the city hall in Basel, Switzerland, 11September 2008. GEORGIOS KEFALAS/EPA/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: epaphotostwo288774
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Tags: 2012 olympics, Athletes in Focus, Djokovic, Federer, Grand Slam, london, london 2012, Olympics, summer olympics, Switzerland, Tennis, Twins, Wimbeldon
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