However, the Swiss great’s path to super-stardom was not always set in stone, and in fact it took a devastating personal tragedy for him to begin to realise his full potential.
As a talented young player, Federer’s hair-trigger temper often threatened to stunt his progress, despite the Swiss defeating personal hero Pete Sampras as a 19-year-old at Wimbledon for his first major trophy in 2001.
Twelve months later, however, Federer exited Wimbledon in the first round.
At 21 years of age, Federer’s childhood coach and close friend, Peter Carter died in a car crash in South Africa, which forced the Swiss ace to hit the reset button.
