Federer has won ten Grand Slam men's singles titles in 31 appearances, three Tennis Masters Cup titles, and 13 ATP Masters Series titles. In 2004, the Swiss became the first man since Mats Wilander in 1988 to win three of four Grand Slam singles tournaments in the same year: the Australian Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open. In 2006, he became the first and only man to repeat this feat and the first man in the open era to win at least ten singles tournaments in three consecutive years. He is also the only player to have won both the Wimbledon and U.S. Open singles titles in three consecutive years (2004-2006). In 2007, when Federer won his third Australian Open title, he became the only male player to have won three separate Grand Slam tournaments three times. There has been considerable speculation about Federer possibly becoming in 2007 the first player since Rod Laver in 1969 to win all four Grand Slam tournaments in the same calendar year. Federer already has won the first Grand Slam tournament of this year, the Australian Open.

Federer has been ranked No. 1 in the world since February 2, 2004 and holds the all-time record for most consecutive weeks as the top-ranked male player. On April 2, 2007 he was named Laureus World Sportsman of the Year for a record third consecutive time.