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Bleach blonde Federer wins 1998 Orange Bowl

Published Dec 20, 2018

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.

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A post shared by Coco Gauff (@cocogauff)

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:

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