Roger Federer junior years

Swiss tennis player Roger Federer's main accomplishments as a junior player came at Wimbledon, where, in 1998, he won both the singles tournament over Irakli Labadze, in straight sets,[1] and the doubles with Olivier Rochus, over the team of Michaël Llodra and Andy Ram, also in straight sets.[2] In addition, Federer was a runner-up at the US Open Junior tournament in 1998, losing the final to David Nalbandian.[3] Federer would go on to win four other junior singles tournaments in his career.

As a junior, Federer was also known as a "hot head" on court which is distinct from his adult image of cool and calm, and being a great on-court role model.[4]

Junior career 1993-1998

Federer was almost four years old when Boris Becker, his childhood idol, won his first Wimbledon title in 1985. From then on, Federer watched "tennis matches on television for hours on end."[5] Reflecting on his childhood, he said, "I liked tennis the best of all sports. It was always exciting and winning or losing was always in my hands."[5] Soon after enrolling in school at the age of six, Federer became the best in his age group and trained three times a week in and around Basel.[6] It was at these sessions that he became friends with Marco Chiudinelli, a "talented" boy a month younger than Federer. The boys often played squash, table tennis, and soccer together. A region-wide top tennis group was formed when the pair was eight years old; despite playing for different clubs, they became members.[5]

They first played each other at an official event called The Bambino Cup in Arlesheim when both were eight. "Back then we only played one long set of up to nine games," Chiudinelli recollects. "Things weren't going well for me at the beginning. I was behind 2–5 and I started to cry. We cried a lot back then even during the matches. Roger came up to me and tried to comfort me when we switched sides. He told me everything would be alright, and in fact, things got better. I took the lead 7–6 and noticed that the tide had turned. Then he began to cry and I ran up to him and give him encouragement and things went better for him. It was the only time I could beat him."[7]

When he was 10, Federer began weekly private coaching with Adolf Kacovsky, a tennis coach at The Old Boys Tennis Club. "I noticed right away that this guy was a natural talent," said Kacovsky. "He was born with a racquet in his hand." At first, Federer received lessons only while part of a group, although "the club and I quickly noticed he was enormously talented. We began giving him private lessons that were partly funded by the club. Roger was a quick learner. When you wanted to teach him something new, he was able to pick it up after three or four tries, while others in the group needed weeks."[7]

A "star pupil", the Swiss youngster always wanted to become the best in the world. "People laughed at him, including me," recollects Kacovsky. "I thought that he would perhaps become the best player in Switzerland or Europe but not the best in the world. He had it in his head and he worked at it."[8]

He played soccer until the age of twelve, when he decided to focus solely on tennis.[9] At fourteen, he became the national champion of all groups in Switzerland and was chosen to train at the Swiss National Tennis Center in Écublens. He joined the ITF junior tennis circuit in July 1996.[10] In 1998, his final year as a junior, Federer won the junior Wimbledon title and was recognized as the ITF World Junior Tennis champion of the year.[11] He also won the under 18s category at the prestigious Orange Bowl.[12]

ITF Junior Circuit finals

Singles: 6 (5 titles, 1 runner-up)

2–1 Tier GA
0–0 Tier G1
3–0 Tier G2
Result W–L Date Tournament Tier Surface Opponent Score
Win 1–0 May 1997 Prato Junior Tournament, Italy G2 Clay Luka Kutanjac 6–4, 6–0
Win 2–0 Jan 1998 Victoria Junior Championship, Australia G2 Hard Julien Jeanpierre 6–4, 6–4
Win 3–0 Apr 1998 Florence International Tournament, Italy G2 Clay Filippo Volandri 7–6, 6–3
Win 4–0 Jul 1998 Wimbledon, United Kingdom GA Grass Irakli Labadze 6–4, 6–4
Loss 4–1 Sep 1998 US Open, United States GA Hard David Nalbandian 3–6, 5–7
Win 5–1 Dec 1998 Orange Bowl, United States GA Hard Guillermo Coria 7–5, 6–3

Doubles: 4 (2 titles, 2 runner-ups)

1–0 Tier GA
1–0 Tier G1
0–2 Tier G2
Result W–L Date Tournament Tier Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 0–1 May 1997 Prato Junior Tournament, Italy G2 Clay Jun Kato Maxim Belski
Tomas Hajek
2–6, 2–6
Loss 0–2 Apr 1998 Florence International Tournament, Italy G2 Clay Jun Kato Filippo Volandri
Urus Vico
3–6, 1–6
Win 1–2 Jun 1998 LTA Junior Championships, United Kingdom G1 Grass Olivier Rochus Michaël Llodra
Andy Ram
3–6, 6–4, 7–5
Win 2–2 Jul 1998 Wimbledon, United Kingdom GA Grass Olivier Rochus Michaël Llodra
Andy Ram
6–4, 6–4

All matches

Match Tournament Country Start
date
Entry Type I/O Surface Round Opponent Result Score
1 Swiss Junior Tournament Switzerland 7/15/1996 WC JUN Outdoor Clay R64 Lukas Rhomberg (AUT) W 6–1, 6–0
2 Swiss Junior Tournament Switzerland 7/15/1996 WC JUN Outdoor Clay R32 Marc–Olivier Baron (FRA) W 7–6, 6–3
3 Swiss Junior Tournament Switzerland 7/15/1996 WC JUN Outdoor Clay R16 Nathan Healey (AUS) L 7–6, 4–6, 4–6
7 World Youth Cup Final Switzerland 9/10/1996 DA JUN Outdoor Clay RR Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) W 4–6, 7–6(7–3), 6–4
8 World Youth Cup Final Switzerland 9/10/1996 DA JUN Outdoor Clay RR Febi Widhiyanto (INA) L 5–7, 7–5, 5–7
9 World Youth Cup Final Switzerland 9/10/1996 DA JUN Outdoor Clay RR Vijay Kannan (IND) W 6–0, 7–6(7–4)
10 World Youth Cup Final Switzerland 9/10/1996 DA JUN Outdoor Clay RR Nahuel Fracassi (ITA) W 3–6, 6–3, 6–1
14 Sunshine Cup USA 12/12/1996 DA JUN Outdoor Clay RR Petr Kralert (CZE) L 6–1, 0–6, 1–6
15 Sunshine Cup USA 12/12/1996 DA JUN Outdoor Clay RR Adrian Garcia (CHI) W 5–7, 6–2, 6–2
16 Sunshine Cup USA 12/12/1996 DA JUN Outdoor Clay RR Balazs Vaci (HUN) L 5–7, 2–6
17 Sunshine Cup USA 12/12/1996 DA JUN Outdoor Clay RR Han–Hui Tsai (TPE) W 6–3, 6–0
18 Casablance Cup Qualifying Mexico 12/18/1996 DA JUN Outdoor Hard R64 Angel Garcia–Lopez (MEX) W 6–0, 6–1
19 Casablance Cup Qualifying Mexico 12/18/1996 DA JUN Outdoor Hard R32 Jonathan Hauswaldt (MEX) W 6–1, 6–1
20 Casablance Cup Qualifying Mexico 12/18/1996 DA JUN Outdoor Hard R16 Gilberto Gutierrez (MEX) W 6–1, 6–1
21 Casablanca Cup Mexico 12/22/1996 QF JUN Outdoor Hard R64 Mathias Schwarzler (AUT) W 6–3, 4–2, RET
22 Casablanca Cup Mexico 12/22/1996 QF JUN Outdoor Hard R32 Sebastien Aickele (GER) L 6–7, 6–3, 5–7
23 Coffee Bowl Qualifying Costa Rica 12/28/1996 DA JUN Outdoor Hard R32 Bye W  
24 Coffee Bowl Qualifying Costa Rica 12/28/1996 DA JUN Outdoor Hard R16 Carlos Vargas (PAN) W 6–2, 2–6, 6–0
25 Coffee Bowl Costa Rica 12/30/1996 QF JUN Outdoor Hard R128 Bye W  
26 Coffee Bowl Costa Rica 12/30/1996 QF JUN Outdoor Hard R64 Federico Cardinali (ARG) W 6–1, 6–1
27 Coffee Bowl Costa Rica 12/30/1996 QF JUN Outdoor Hard R32 Diego Ayala (USA) L 4–6, 1–6
28 International Junior Championships of Venezuela Venezuela 1/6/1997 DA JUN Outdoor Clay R128 Goran Sterijovski (MKD) W 6–3, 4–6, 6–1
29 International Junior Championships of Venezuela Venezuela 1/6/1997 DA JUN Outdoor Clay R64 Jerome Haehnel (FRA) L 2–6, 4–6
30 City of Florence International Tournament Italy 3/24/1997 DA JUN Outdoor Clay R64 Davide Bramanti (ITA) L 4–6, 6–3, 6–7
31 Prato International Junior Tournament Italy 5/5/1997 DA JUN Outdoor Clay R64 Giunior Ghedina (ITA) W 6–2, 6–0
32 Prato International Junior Tournament Italy 5/5/1997 DA JUN Outdoor Clay R32 Lovro Zovko (CRO) W 6–4, 6–2
33 Prato International Junior Tournament Italy 5/5/1997 DA JUN Outdoor Clay R16 Julien Jeanpierre (FRA) W 6–3, 6–0
34 Prato International Junior Tournament Italy 5/5/1997 DA JUN Outdoor Clay Q Haris Basalic (BIH) W 6–3, 7–6
35 Prato International Junior Tournament Italy 5/5/1997 DA JUN Outdoor Clay S Ivan Beroš (CRO) W 6–2, 6–3
36 Prato International Junior Tournament Italy 5/5/1997 DA JUN Outdoor Clay F Luka Kutanjac (CRO) W 6–4, 6–0
37 Italian Junior Championships, Qualifying Italy 5/17/1997 DA JUN Outdoor Clay R64 Diego de Vecchis (ITA) W 6–4, 1–6, 7–6
38 Italian Junior Championships, Qualifying Italy 5/17/1997 DA JUN Outdoor Clay R32 Davor Grgic (CRO) W 6–1, 3–6, 6–2
39 Italian Junior Championships, Qualifying Italy 5/17/1997 DA JUN Outdoor Clay R16 Tomas Zivincek (GER) W 3–6, 6–0, 6–3
40 Italian Junior Championships Italy 5/19/1997 QF JUN Outdoor Clay R64 Wesley Whitehouse (RSA) W 6–3, 6–3
41 Italian Junior Championships Italy 5/19/1997 QF JUN Outdoor Clay R32 Filip Aniola (POL) W 5–7, 6–4, 7–5
42 Italian Junior Championships Italy 5/19/1997 QF JUN Outdoor Clay R16 Nicolas Massu (CHI) W 6–2, 4–6, 6–2
43 Italian Junior Championships Italy 5/19/1997 QF JUN Outdoor Clay Q Rodolfo Rake (PER) L 1–6, 4–6
68 Eddie Herr International Junior Tennis Championships USA 12/8/1997 DA JUN Outdoor Clay R128 Bye W  
69 Eddie Herr International Junior Tennis Championships USA 12/8/1997 DA JUN Outdoor Clay R64 Edgardo Massa (ARG) L 3–6, 4–6
70 Victorian Junior Championships Australia 1/9/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Hard R64 Adam Carey (AUS) W 6–4, 6–2
71 Victorian Junior Championships Australia 1/9/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Hard R32 Mathias Rekate (GER) W 6–1, 6–0
72 Victorian Junior Championships Australia 1/9/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Hard R16 Sadik Kadir (AUS) W 7–5, 6–1
73 Victorian Junior Championships Australia 1/9/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Hard Q Olivier Rochus (BEL) W 6–3, 4–6, 6–3
74 Victorian Junior Championships Australia 1/9/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Hard S Kristian Pless (DEN) W 6–2, 6–2
75 Victorian Junior Championships Australia 1/9/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Hard F Julien Jeanpierre (FRA) W 6–4, 6–4
76 Australian Hardcourt Junior Championships Australia 1/18/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Hard R64 Dino Dattoli (AUS) W 6–4, 3–6, 6–3
77 Australian Hardcourt Junior Championships Australia 1/18/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Hard R32 David Martin (USA) W 6–4, 6–2
78 Australian Hardcourt Junior Championships Australia 1/18/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Hard R16 Olivier Rochus (BEL) W 6–1, 7–6
79 Australian Hardcourt Junior Championships Australia 1/18/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Hard Q Christian–Michael Straka (GER) W 6–1, 6–3
80 Australian Hardcourt Junior Championships Australia 1/18/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Hard S Julien Jeanpierre (FRA) L 1–6, 4–6
81 Australian Open Junior Championships Australia 1/26/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Hard R64 Nicholas McDonald (RSA) W 6–3, 6–3
82 Australian Open Junior Championships Australia 1/26/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Hard R32 Filippo Volandri (ITA) W 6–4, 6–4
83 Australian Open Junior Championships Australia 1/26/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Hard R16 Dino Dattoli (AUS) W 6–3, 6–3
84 Australian Open Junior Championships Australia 1/26/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Hard Q Olivier Rochus (BEL) W 7–5, 6–4
85 Australian Open Junior Championships Australia 1/26/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Hard S Andreas Vinciguerra (SWE) L 6–4, 5–7, 5–7
91 City of Florence International Tournament Italy 4/8/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Clay R64 Timo Nieminen (FIN) W 6–1, 6–1
92 City of Florence International Tournament Italy 4/8/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Clay R32 Dominik Meffert (GER) W 6–4, 6–7, 7–6
93 City of Florence International Tournament Italy 4/8/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Clay R16 Luben Pampoulov (AUT) W 6–2, 6–4
94 City of Florence International Tournament Italy 4/8/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Clay Q Stefan Wauters (BEL) W 6–2, 6–1
95 City of Florence International Tournament Italy 4/8/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Clay S Kristian Pless (DEN) W 7–6, 6–3
96 City of Florence International Tournament Italy 4/8/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Clay F Filippo Volandri(ITA) W 7–6, 6–3
98 Italian Junior Championships Italy 5/18/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Clay R64 Flavio Saretta (BRA) W 7–5, 6–1
99 Italian Junior Championships Italy 5/18/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Clay R32 Jerome Haehnel (FRA) L 6–4, 5–7, 2–6
100 Belgian International Junior Championships Belgium 5/25/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Clay R64 Bye W  
101 Belgian International Junior Championships Belgium 5/25/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Clay R32 Andy Ram (ISR) W 6–1, 6–3
102 Belgian International Junior Championships Belgium 5/25/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Clay R16 Simone Amorico (USA) W 6–2, 6–3
103 Belgian International Junior Championships Belgium 5/25/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Clay Q Bob Borella (DEN) L 4–6, RET
104 International Junior Championships of France France 5/31/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Clay R64 Jaroslav Levinsky (CZE) L 4–6, 7–5, 7–9
105 LTA International Junior Championships Great Britain 6/21/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Grass R64 Jakub Hasek (CZE) W 4–6, 7–6, 6–3
106 LTA International Junior Championships Great Britain 6/21/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Grass R32 Lee Childs (GBR) W 6–1, 6–4
107 LTA International Junior Championships Great Britain 6/21/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Grass R16 Edgardo Massa (ARG) W 6–4, 7–5
108 LTA International Junior Championships Great Britain 6/21/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Grass Q Philipp Mullner (AUT) W 6–1, 7–6
109 Italian Junior Championships Great Britain 6/21/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Grass S Taylor Dent (USA) L 6–7, 6–4, 3–6
110 The Junior Championships, Wimbledon Great Britain 6/27/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Grass R64 Philip Langer (AUT) W 6–0, 6–2
111 The Junior Championships, Wimbledon Great Britain 6/27/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Grass R32 Andrej Kracman (SLO) W 7–6, 6–3
112 The Junior Championships, Wimbledon Great Britain 6/27/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Grass R16 Jerome Haehnel (FRA) W 6–4, 6–4
113 The Junior Championships, Wimbledon Great Britain 6/27/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Grass Q David Sherwood (GBR) W 7–6, 6–2
114 The Junior Championships, Wimbledon Great Britain 6/27/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Grass S Lovro Zovko (CRO) W 7–5, 6–2
115 The Junior Championships, Wimbledon Great Britain 6/27/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Grass F Irakli Labadze (GEO) W 6–4, 6–4
117 European Closed Junior Championships Switzerland 7/20/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Clay R128 Bye W  
118 European Closed Junior Championships Switzerland 7/20/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Clay R64 Florin Nedelcu (ROU) W 6–1, 6–1
119 European Closed Junior Championships Switzerland 7/20/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Clay R32 Philipp Mullner (AUT) W 6–2, 5–7, 6–3
120 European Closed Junior Championships Switzerland 7/20/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Clay R16 Lazar Magdincev (MKD) W 6–2, 6–2
121 European Closed Junior Championships Switzerland 7/20/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Clay Q Kristian Pless (DEN) W 3–6, 6–2, 6–3
122 European Closed Junior Championships Switzerland 7/20/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Clay S Feliciano López (ESP) L 6–4, 2–6, 4–6
124 US Open Junior Championships USA 9/6/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Hard R64 Boris Bachert (GER) W 6–2, 6–2
125 US Open Junior Championships USA 9/6/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Hard R32 Philip Langer (AUT) W 6–3, 6–2
126 US Open Junior Championships USA 9/6/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Hard R16 Olivier Rochus (BEL) W 6–2, 7–5
127 US Open Junior Championships USA 9/6/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Hard Q Jerome Haehnel (FRA) W 7–5, 3–6, 6–1
128 US Open Junior Championships USA 9/6/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Hard S Kristian Pless (DEN) W 6–3, 4–6, 6–3
129 US Open Junior Championships USA 9/6/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Hard F David Nalbandian (ARG) L 3–6, 5–7
130 Toulouse Qualifying France 9/26/1998 DA TE Indoor Hard R32 Marcello Wowk (ARG) W 7–6, 6–2
131 Toulouse Qualifying France 9/26/1998 DA TE Indoor Hard R16 Alex Radulescu (GER) W 7–6, 7–6
132 Toulouse Qualifying France 9/26/1998 DA TE Indoor Hard Q Olivier Delaitre (FRA) W 6–4, 6–4
153 Eddie Herr International Junior Tennis Championships USA 11/30/1998 DA JUN   Hard R64 Matias Boeker (ARG) W 6–0, 7–6
154 Eddie Herr International Junior Tennis Championships USA 11/30/1998 DA JUN   Hard R32 Andrew McDade (RSA) W 6–2, 6–2
155 Eddie Herr International Junior Tennis Championships USA 11/30/1998 DA JUN   Hard R16 Eric Prodon (FRA) L 4–6, 6–3, 3–6
156 Sunshine Cup USA 12/8/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Hard RR Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) W 6–2, 6–3
157 Sunshine Cup USA 12/8/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Hard RR Andreas Vinciguerra (SWE) W 7–6, 6–4
158 Orange Bowl Tennis Championships USA 12/13/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Hard R64 Raimonds Sproga (LAT) W 5–7, 7–6, 6–0
159 Orange Bowl Tennis Championships USA 12/13/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Hard R32 Jürgen Melzer (AUT) W 6–3, 6–1
160 Orange Bowl Tennis Championships USA 12/13/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Hard R16 Ivan Cinkuš (CRO) W 6–0, 6–1
161 Orange Bowl Tennis Championships USA 12/13/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Hard Q Ricardo Mello (BRA) W 7–5, 6–4
162 Orange Bowl Tennis Championships USA 12/13/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Hard S David Nalbandian (ARG) W 6–4, 6–2
163 Orange Bowl Tennis Championships USA 12/13/1998 DA JUN Outdoor Hard F Guillermo Coria (ARG) W 7–5, 6–3

References

  1. AELTC. "Boys' Singles honour roll". Archived from the original on 15 November 2009. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  2. AELTC. "Boys' Doubles honour roll". Archived from the original on 15 November 2009. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  3. "U.S. OPEN JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS". College and Junior Tennis. 13 September 1998. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  4. Waldstein, David (9 September 2009). "Roger Federer's Cool Image Was Forged in a Hot Head". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  5. Stauffer (2007), p. 8.
  6. Roger Federer (September 2004). "Fanletter September 2004" (PDF). Roger Federer Official Website. Retrieved 30 June 2007.
  7. Stauffer (2007), p. 9.
  8. Stauffer (2007), p. 10.
  9. "Life as a Junior". Roger Federer Official Website. Retrieved 20 June 2007.
  10. "Junior Davis Cup and Junior Fed Cup by BNP Paribas — Overview". ITF tennis.com. Retrieved 30 June 2007.
  11. "ITF Junior World Champions". ITF tennis.com. Retrieved 30 June 2007.
  12. "RADO ORANGE BOWL INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS". College and Junior Tennis. 20 December 1998. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2010.

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