"From Ball Boy training to Royal Box guest" - Billie Jean King, Rafa Nadal Academy and tennis world wish Roger Federer as he celebrates 42nd birthday

From Billie Jean King to the official social media handles of Wimbledon and the Australian Open, wishes poured in from the tennis world for Roger Federer on his 42nd birthday.

Born on August 8 in Basel, Switzerland, Federer became Robert and Lynette's second child. The Swiss maestro spent the early days of his life in areas near French and German borders. He notably holds dual citizenship - Swiss and South African - because his mother Lynette is from South Africa.

Before turning pro in 1998, the eight-time Wimbledon winner had served as a ball boy at the Swiss Indoors in 1992 and 1993. He played various sports, including badminton and basketball, in his childhood.

Federer announced his arrival in the tennis world by winning the Wimbledon Boys singles and doubles titles in 1998. He retired from the sport in September 2022, and celebrated his first birthday as 'no longer a tennis player' this year.

Twitter was flooded with wishes as the world rushed to congratulate one of the greatest sportspersons of all-time. The Tennis Letter posted a video of the Swiss maestro watching himself as ball boy and wrote:

Former American tennis player Billie Jean King also extended her wishes to the Swiss.

Rafael Nadal's academy posted a picture of him with the Spaniard to congratulate the Swiss.

Wimbledon shared pictures of the tennis legend gracing the SW19 courts this year alongside Princess of Wales Catherine Middleton.

Roger Federer's 20 Grand Slam titles

Federer won 20 Grand Slams throughout his glittery career. The first one came during the Wimbledon Championships in 2003 when he defeated Mark Philippoussis in the decider. He won seven more titles at SW19, with the latest one coming in 2017.

Federer achieved his first glory at the US Open in 2004 after overcoming the legendary Lleyton Hewitt in the summit clash. He won the New York Major on four more occasions in the next four editions of the Major after his maiden win.

The Swiss maestro was also a formidable force Down Under, winning the Australian Open six times in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2017 and 2018. He has one French Open triumph to his name as well, triumphing in Paris in 2009.

About the author

Ayush is a passionate and driven tennis journalist who wrote for Sportskeeda from July 2023 to March 2025. Before joining Sportskeeda, he worked as a sub-editor at The Tribune. Armed with a Master's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, he seamlessly blends the art of multitasking into his routine.

With over 1,300 articles penned for Sportskeeda, his work has garnered over 9 million reads in a short span. He covered the 2025 Australian Open and Adelaide International from the ground. He prioritizes accuracy and rigorous fact-checking, and keeps abreast of tennis news through social media while also ensuring he steers clear of unconfirmed speculation and rumors.

A lifelong Novak Djokovic fan, Ayush admires how the Serb doesn't always conform to the "idealistic" image expected of tennis stars. To him, Djokovic's versatility across all surfaces cements his status as the undisputed GOAT. Since his pre-teen days, he has loved Wimbledon, and the tournament never fails to "bring out the kid inside him".

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