Roger Federer was born on 8 August 1981, the son of a Swiss father and a South African mother, and grew up in the Basel suburbs of Riehen and Münchensteinauf. His mother’s origin explains Federer’s English pronunciation of his given name, which is not the typical French pronunciation that would be usual in Switzerland. He began to play tennis at the tender age of three, joining his first major club, ironically the “TC Old Boys” at the age of eight. (read more)

published February 26th, 2010