How Roger Federer won each of his historic 20 Grand Slam titles

Eleanor Crooks15 September 2022

Roger Federer has hung up his racquet, more than 19 years after he won the first of his 20 grand slam titles.

It all began back in 2003 with his maiden Wimbledon crown before a trio of titles the year after.

Here, we look back at how each of Federer’s 20 slams were claimed...

Wimbledon 2003

Two years after stunning Pete Sampras to really announce his talent to the world, Federer dominated at the All England Club to win his first slam title. He dropped only one set, to Mardy Fish in the third round, and beat Mark Philippoussis in the final.

Australian Open 2004

The year in which Federer established himself as the best player on the planet began with victory in Melbourne. Federer had tough matches against Lleyton Hewitt and David Nalbandian before seeing off Marat Safin to lift the trophy.

Wimbledon 2004

Now world number one, Federer successfully defended his Wimbledon title by winning the first of the three final meetings he would have against Andy Roddick in SW19.

US Open 2004

His third slam crown of the season came with a dominant victory over Hewitt that included two love sets. Federer had battled past Andre Agassi in five sets in the quarter-finals.

Wimbledon 2005

His third successive Wimbledon crown and once again it was Roddick who Federer defeated in the final. His only dropped set came against Nicolas Kiefer in round three.

Getty Images

US Open 2005

Hewitt and Agassi figured large again but they could not prevent Federer making it a double double of Wimbledon and US Open titles, beating Hewitt in the semis and Agassi in the final.

Australian Open 2006

Federer's second title in Melbourne, earned with a final victory over surprise package Marcos Baghdatis, gave him his first shot at winning four slam titles in a row but he was beaten in his first French Open final by Rafael Nadal.

Wimbledon 2006

Federer got his revenge against Nadal as they met for a second straight slam final. The Spaniard recovered from a bagel in the first set to win the third but could not stop Federer.

US Open 2006

A different venue but the same story for Roddick as Federer won a third slam title in a season for the second time in his career.

Australian Open 2007

Federer beat Roddick in the last four this time before seeing off Fernando Gonzalez in straight sets to make it nine titles from 13 slams. He met Novak Djokovic for the first time at a major in the fourth round.

Getty Images

Wimbledon 2007

After another French Open final loss to Nadal, Federer got the better of the Spaniard again at Wimbledon to make it five successive titles. But he needed five sets to do it and the writing was on the wall for his epic defeat the following year.

US Open 2007

Defeated Djokovic in straight sets to become the first man in the open era to win four consecutive US Open titles.

US Open 2008

More than a year without a slam title was an eternity for Federer at that point but he ensured he did not finish 2008 empty-handed by denying Andy Murray in his first major final.

French Open 2009

Nadal's first loss at Roland Garros paved the way for Federer finally to win the one slam title to elude him with victory over the Spaniard's conqueror, Robin Soderling, in the final.

Wimbledon 2009

Federer's glorious summer continued with his third Wimbledon final win over Roddick, this time the American pushing him all the way to 16-14 in the fifth set. Two weeks later Federer's wife Mirka gave birth to their first set of twins.

AFP via Getty Images

Australian Open 2010

Juan Martin del Potro ended Federer's run of five straight US Open titles in the 2009 final but the Swiss was back holding the trophy in Melbourne, with Murray his final victim.

Wimbledon 2012

Federer's chances of winning another slam title had been widely written off but he came good at the All England Club once again to clinch a seventh Wimbledon crown, handing Murray his fourth and most painful major final defeat.

Australian Open 2017

Four-and-a-half years after his 17th title and having just endured the first season of his career badly affected by injury, Federer stunned tennis by winning again in Melbourne, defeating his old rival Nadal in five captivating sets.

Wimbledon 2017

Federer's resurgence continued with a record eighth Wimbledon title. He did not drop a set, beating Marin Cilic in the final for the loss of just eight games.

Australian Open 2018

Federer's 20th and final slam title saw him successfully retain the trophy in Melbourne. He did not drop a set until the final, when he battled past Cilic in five sets.

Additional reporting by PA.

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