20 years ago today on December 20, 1998, Roger Federer ends his career as a junior by winning the Orange Bowl in Key Biscayne, Fla., beating Guillermo Coria of Argentina, 7-5, 6-3 in the final. The win over Coria moves Federer to the No. 1 ranking in the ITF world junior rankings pic.twitter.com/EzKDoiPsU9
— Roger Federer Book (@FedererBook) December 20, 2018
Twenty years ago, a bleach blonde Roger Federer was on top of the junior world. In the final, the 17-year-old beat Guillermo Coria (remember him?) to win the Orange Bowl and proudly lifted a trophy full of oranges above his head.
Federer would end 1998 as the junior world champion. He's gone on to win 20 Grand Slams and stands at No. 3 in the world at the age of 37. Coria, one year younger, would peak at No. 3 and reach the 2004 French Open final before retiring in 2009.
This year's Orange Bowl winners—Otto Virtanen and Coco Gauff—can only hope for a taste of that success.
Federer will start his 2019 season by playing the Hopman Cup alongside Swiss compatriot Belinda Bencic.
In 2019, the ATP, WTA—and so much more—are on Tennis Channel Plus:
