Roger Federer might have gone on to dominate tennis for decades, but he took a relatively long time to mature into an all-time great.
While Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray all won their first ATP title in their teens, Federer was 20 before he lifted his first trophy.
The star won the Milan Indoors in 2001, which was the first of 103 ATP titles he would go on to win in his career.
The star ousted some of the finest talent on the ATP Tour to lift the trophy, including two former Grand Slam champions.
Roger Federer’s impressive run to the Milan Indoors title in 2001
Federer arrived at the Italian tournament as the seventh seed, but he overcame several top stars to win the event.
The Swiss star beat Rainer Schüttler and Cyril Saulnier to set up a quarter-final clash with then-Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic.
Much like Wimbledon, Ivanisevic had been gifted a wild card for the event but Federer swept him aside in straight sets.
Federer set up a clash with two-time Grand Slam champion and former world number one, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, in the semi-finals.
The Swiss star needed three sets to beat the Russian, but he came through the match to set up a final with Julien Boutter.
Federer needed three sets once again, but his performance was enough to claim the first trophy of his career.
What did Roger Federer say after winning his first ATP title
Federer’s maiden tournament win is obviously one he looks back on fondly and the star reflected on his breakthrough in 2017.
Federer had previously lost two ATP Tour finals before his win in Milan, so he described the result as a relief as much as anything.
“It was a big moment for me. My family drove down from Switzerland. I don’t remember if we celebrated or not, because I think they left right away afterwards. But my closest friends and family were very happy for me.”
It took Federer 11 months to win a follow-up title, which came at the Sydney International in January 2022.
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