FEDERER: FROM MR ANGRY TO MR PERFECT

PARIS — From racquet-smashing enfant terrible with a bad attitude and ill-advised ponytail to universally respected sporting role model and icon, Roger Federer has come a long, long way.

Eighteen years after winning his first title in Milan by beating long-forgotten Frenchman Julien Boutter, Federer on Saturday became just the second man after Jimmy Connors to win 100 career singles crowns.

Amongst that collection are 20 Grand Slams, 27 Masters and six World Tour Finals.

It’s a success story which has brought him $120 million in prize money alone.

Off court, he is the father of two sets of twins, Myla Rose and Charlene Riva and Leo and Lenny with wife Mirka, a former player he met at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. But his career and life wasn’t always so settled.

As a talented young player, Federer’s hair-trigger temper once threatened to stunt his undoubted ability. “I had a tough time getting my act together out on court, trying to behave properly. For me that was a big deal,” he once admitted.

Federer announced himself in the big time when he famously defeated childhood hero Pete Sampras at Wimbledon in 2001. However, the following year, he was knocked out in the first round. It took a personal tragedy for Federer to press the reset button.

Just when he turned 21, his coach and close friend from his formative years Peter Carter was killed in a car crash in South Africa. From that point on, the Federer committed himself to winning in style, with grace and not engulfed by his inner demons.—