<P> In 2003, he established the Roger Federer Foundation to help disadvantaged children and to promote their access to education and sports . Since May 2004, citing his close ties with South Africa, including that this was where his mother had been raised, he began supporting the South Africa - Swiss charity IMBEWU, which helps children better connect to sports as well as social and health awareness . Later, in 2005, Federer visited South Africa to meet the children that had benefited from his support . Also in 2005, he auctioned his racquet from his US Open championship to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina . At the 2005 Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, Federer arranged an exhibition involving several top players from the ATP and WTA tour called Rally for Relief . The proceeds went to the victims of the tsunami caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake . In December 2006, he visited Tamil Nadu, one of the areas in India most affected by the tsunami . He was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador by UNICEF in April 2006 and has appeared in UNICEF public messages to raise public awareness of AIDS . </P> <P> In response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Federer arranged a collaboration with fellow top tennis players for a special charity event during the 2010 Australian Open called' Hit for Haiti', in which proceeds went to Haiti earthquake victims . He participated in a follow - up charity exhibition during the 2010 Indian Wells Masters, which raised $1 million . The Nadal vs. Federer "Match for Africa" in 2010 in Zurich and Madrid raised more than $4 million for the Roger Federer Foundation and Fundación Rafa Nadal . In January 2011, Federer took part in an exhibition, Rally for Relief, to raise money for the victims of the Queensland floods . In 2014, the "Match for Africa 2" between Federer and Stan Wawrinka, again in Zurich, raised £ 850,000 for education projects in Southern Africa . On 24 November 2017, Federer received an honorary doctorate awarded to him by his home university, the University of Basel . He received the title in recognition for his role in increasing the international reputation of Basel and Switzerland, and also his engagement for children in Africa through his charitable foundation . </P> <P> Federer's main accomplishments as a junior player came at Wimbledon in 1998, where he won both the boys' singles final over Irakli Labadze, and in doubles teamed with Olivier Rochus, defeating the team of Michaël Llodra and Andy Ram . In addition, Federer lost the US Open Junior final in 1998 to David Nalbandian . He won four ITF junior singles tournaments in his career, including the prestigious Orange Bowl, where he defeated Guillermo Coria in the final . He ended 1998 with the No. 1 junior world ranking, was awarded ITF junior World Champion, and entered his first tournament as a professional during 1998 in Gstaad, where he lost to Lucas Arnold Ker in the first round . </P> <P> Federer entered the top 100 ranking for the first time on 20 September 1999 and started at the 1999 Marseille Open defeating the reigning champion of the 1998 French Open, Spaniard Carlos Moyá . His first final came at the Marseille Open in 2000, where he lost to fellow Swiss Marc Rosset . Federer won the 2001 Hopman Cup representing Switzerland, along with Martina Hingis . The duo defeated the American pair of Monica Seles and Jan - Michael Gambill in the finals . Federer later said that his experience with Hingis "definitely helped me to become the player I am today ." Federer's first singles win was at the 2001 Milan Indoor tournament, where he defeated Julien Boutter in the final . Although he won his first title already in 1999 on the Challenger tour, winning the doubles event in Segovia, Spain with Dutchman Sander Groen, the final was played on Federer's 18th birthday . In 2001, Federer made his first Grand Slam quarterfinal at the French Open, losing to former world No. 2 and eventual finalist Alex Corretja . His run to the French quarterfinals launched him into the top 15 for the first time in his career . </P>

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