It’s been two years since Roger Federer stepped away from professional tennis, but his influence is still felt across the sport.
This year, Federer appeared at the Australian Open and will be inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame later in 2024. His presence remains strong even after retirement.
The Swiss legend’s career ran parallel to those of Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, who together helped define an era of men’s tennis. Federer spent over 1,500 weeks inside the world’s top 10 and is one of only eight players to achieve a career Grand Slam.
During that time, he picked up five US Open titles and six ATP Finals wins. He was also the first player to win 100 matches at three separate Grand Slam tournaments: Wimbledon, Roland Garros, and the Australian Open.
Roger Federer’s astonishing Grand Slam record
Federer was a bit of a late bloomer in tennis, not picking up his first Grand Slam title until he was 21.
His win at Wimbledon in 2003 marked the start of an incredible run, where he went on to claim seven consecutive Grand Slam finals.
From Wimbledon 2003 through to the Australian Open in 2006, Federer didn’t lose a single Grand Slam final. No one has matched that streak.
Carlos Alcaraz came close with five straight before losing to Sinner at Wimbledon in 2025, while Sinner himself had a three-title run ended by Alcaraz at Roland Garros.
Comparing Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal’s records to Roger Federer
Even Federer’s two biggest rivals, Djokovic and Nadal, haven’t managed to win seven straight Grand Slam finals. Both have been remarkable in their own right but haven’t matched that specific run.
Djokovic claimed five of his first seven major titles, with defeats at the US Open in both 2007 and 2010. In between, he picked up wins across Wimbledon, the Australian Open, and another US Open title.
Nadal also dropped two finals among his first seven appearances on the big stage – both coming at the hands of Federer.
The back-to-back Wimbledon finals in 2006 and 2007 both went to five sets, with many considering those matches among the greatest Grand Slam finals ever played.
With none of Sinner, Alcaraz, Djokovic or Nadal able to match Federer’s streak, it’s hard to see anyone surpassing that mark any time soon.
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