Roger Federer

Arguably one of the greatest athletes in modern tennis, Roger Federer's list of records broken, won and held is the stuff of legend: 17 Grand Slam titles between 2004 and 2013, including eight wins at Wimbledon, Olympic gold and silver medals and the title of World No. 1 player for over 300 weeks, among a dizzying roster of titles and accomplishments all mostly achieved before he reached the age of 30. Equally skilled on clay, grass or hard court environments, Federer's powerful yet fluid style of play, which encompassed such challenging and rarely employed techniques as the backhand smash and jump smash, established him as a formidable opponent early in his career, and aided him in a spectacular eight-year run between 2003 and 2010 which found him battling for dominance against such exceptional players as Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. Among the accolades he collected during this period was the career Grand Slam, victory in all four of the Major tournaments shared by only six other players, and ties with such esteemed tennis figures as Pete Sampras and Jimmy Connors for most Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, respectively. Though his relentless advance through the sport's ranks slowed in 2010, Federer remained a potent figure, surprising many by capturing the 2012 Wimbledon Championship during a period plagued by major losses and injury. Federer's vast collection of titles and records, combined with his ability to return time and again to glory, made him a legendary figure in the annals of tennis history.