Interview with Roger Federer: "I'd like to be a good example"

Roger Federer recently gave a very interesting interview to BZ and we are sure you will enjoy reading it...

You are a globetrotter and you feel at home almost everywhere. Now are you related to Bern?

RF: I went to school with the Bernese Sven Swinnen and often took part in competitions in central Switzerland at Tennis Club Dählhölzli and in Münsingen. Later when I was at the training centre in Biel I went to eat with colleagues in Bern from time to time. I remember also a rafting trip on the Aare river. Currently I listen to a lot of Bernese dialect from my coach Severin Lüthi; sometimes I come also to watch a match of FC Basel.

Do you have a favourite place in the city?

I must admit that I don't know the centre well. That's why it's nice that the hotel is in the centre of the city. On Monday we went for a walk through the old town towards Bear Pit - the pedestrian area is beautiful. I hope to get around a bit in the city this week.

Have you already been with your children in the Bear Park?

While I was training Mirka went with the kids to the Bear Park. I haven't realized that everything looks completely different and the bears are not in pits anymore.

Did the twins see the bears?

Yes, Mirka showed me pictures how the looked over the fence.

Have you ever been in the Bundershaus (the Swiss Parliament)?

No, honestly not. After all I just visited the Bundesplatz (the Parliament square) for the first time. It was cool that so many people came to see us.

You are the boss on the ATP, your crew follows only your needs. Do you find it difficult to integrate into the DC team?

Not at all! I find it easy to integrate. When Seve asked when I wanted to practice on Tuesday I asked in return what was best for Stan. For me it doesn't matter if I practice early, I get up with the twins. If it is good for the team I have two shorter units instead of a longer workout.

Is this kind of planning complicated?

There are only 8 players here but it's even harder to get on the centre court than it is at the USO. When I ask if I could practice on centre court in New York they roll out the red carpet for me. Here we need to share the court with the Portuguese.

How is it going off the court?

It is great fun; we have a great spirit in the team and are all good friends. We always go to have dinner together which I love. I don't like being alone but much rather surrounded by friends and family members.

In Davis Cup you don't play only for yourself. You represent the whole of Switzerland. Are you a patriot?

I don't feel such a big difference. I have the feeling that I represent Switzerland everywhere in the world. I love doing this; I'm proud to be Swiss. The Davis Cup is still more flag-oriented. Instead of "Game Federer" they say "Game Switzerland". The Davis Cup is indeed an important event, but the importance of the team is much smaller than that of the national football team.

Will you play more often in the DC in the future?

The dates for top players are awkward. Indeed I'd like to play more often in the future than I did in the recent years but I in my opinion I represent my country during the whole year.

The average Swiss is afraid of nuclear disasters, unemployment and foreigners. What are you as a "world citizen" afraid of?

I'm concerned about world poverty. I am aware that also in Switzerland not everyone is doing well financially and that the unemployment is turning into a serious problem. But elsewhere the problems are much more serious; there are nations with 20% unemployment. I am interested in the situation of all the countries that I visit. However for me it's also important how the Swiss think. That's why I read newspapers everyday when I'm in Switzerland.

You established a foundation to support children mainly in Africa.

I support via Sporthilfe (Sports Help - a Swiss foundation) also young athletes. I found that it was a good combination on the one hand to do something in Switzerland and on the other hand to help children in Africa receive education. It's nice to be able to give something back. It shouldn't always be money. It's always possible to help for example by giving time. There are so many people who need help. Everybody can give a thought, even if things don't go well for oneself, that there's always someone for whom help is more necessary. In this respect I'd like to be a good example with the Roger Federer Foundation.

What triggers the most positive emotions in you off the court?

The family of course. It makes me happy to see the kids grow. However it also gives me pleasure to spend time in Switzerland. After the "tragic defeat at Wimbledon", as my loss was described by some of the media, I had unexpectedly four unplanned days. I said to Mirka: "What do we want to do?" Maybe nothing at all?" It's nice to be able to decide spontaneously. It makes me happy to live without a plan for a short time. Otherwise planning is very important to me so that I can manage time well.

You don't take the opinions of journalists too seriously and often do not read what is written about you...
... only if I have lost.

But does it make you angry to be criticized not only by journalists but also by former champions like John McEnroe and Mats Wilander?

Criticism is a part of my profession. In addition the lives and the rankings of us tennis players are very fast-moving. I myself can hardly believe that it's been ten years since I beat Pete Sampras at Wimbledon. As soon as you advance, you can drop back again in the world rankings. As soon as you receive laurels, they take them away from you. This is part of the business. Still I get surprised sometimes by the assessment of the legends.

Actually the veterans should know it all well. How do you explain their frequently changing opinions?

Maybe they are so often in front of the microphone that from time to time they start saying claptrap. Maybe it's expected from them to go out on a limb. That's why you shouldn't get upset if an assessment turns out too euphoric or too negative. Nevertheless I think that McEnroe is a great guy and I have never refused an interview to Wilander because he likes Nadal maybe a little bit more than me. I respect them for what they achieved. I think it's good that they remained faithful to tennis.

You've won in tennis so much. Does success bring you the same happy feelings like before?

RF: I think so, yes, even sure. Indeed I can deal better with defeats but this doesn't change the fact that wins make me very happy. You can see it with Lleyton Hewitt, Andy Roddick and also Rafael Nadal: everybody gets calmer with age. You cannot be fired up all the time like when you were 18. You simply won't be able to keep it up mentally and physically. I want to feel extremely happy when I win a tournament. Even on the semis I start thinking about keeping some emotional reserves. That's why I remain calm externally but in the same time I have the fire burning inside which is what it should do.

What do defeats trigger?

Especially the kind of a match against Tsonga motivates me extremely to go on the court and to practice hard so that I defeat the others again. Such setbacks drive you. When everything goes well you may get the feeling that it's normal. After the loss on the finals of Wimbledon even for Nadal is clear that it's not normal to win a GS. What he's already achieved and what Djokovic shows this year is gigantic. You should always enjoy good achievements.

What fascinates you about tennis in such a way that you've continued playing with great intensity and dedication for nearly 15 years?

I am surprised myself how much in love I still am with this sport. I don't mind practicing and travelling. Sometimes I don't sleep in my own bed for half an year. I am stunned how well I'm still doing. Of course I like it on the tour but the tour is not like being at home. I left for the national centre in Ecublens at the age of 14 and I had terrible homesickness. Today this is not a problem anymore.

What is the cause for this change?

I know that I can't play tennis eternally but as long as I play I want to give everything. When I was young I didn't always take practicing seriously. I believed that only the matches were important. Besides I was very relaxed and emotional. Maybe I can postpone the end of my career exactly because I became aware later than the others how important professionalism is. Being professional is not difficult for me anymore.

You strive for perfectionism in tennis. Are you a perfectionist also in your everyday life?

I don't need to but I try to be a good husband, a good father, a good partner of sponsors and journalists. All this is important to me and when something is important to you, you do it well. I don't need to change on the court, in interviews or in the street. When I changed from unknown to well-known and to very well-known, I had to get used to it. Now I can be quite natural everywhere. I always try to give the best.

Unlike previous stars of the tennis scene, you don't seem to have enemies. The crowds are in your feet everywhere around the world. Do you have any explanation for this phenomenon?

Surely this has to do with the fact that I was the first Number 1 who speaks 4 foreign languages including Swiss German. Although I struggle with French and sometimes also with English, I give my best. I think that this is appreciated. Besides I spend a lot of time with the fans. I have a fan club, run a website, use facebook, give many autographs and try to say something nice to my fans. Perhaps the former tennis professionals didn't do that. In this respect I started a new era.

Your popularity must also be based on your elegant style of play and your fairness.

Earlier I was told that I was too kind to achieve success. However I didn't want to be a lout in order to succeed - I'd rather be kinder and a little bit less successful. I wanted to be myself and told myself - if that suffices then it's fine, otherwise you are just not good enough. I decided to do my best in practice and to play hard but fair in matches. The fact that I have a good image is nice but on the other hand it's not that important. What matters is that my friends and family members respect me and that I don't get mobbed in the street. I am happy when people like supporting me and watching me play but I'm aware that I can't please everybody.

You are known to be "Mr Perfect" on the court. However every person has weaknesses. Can you let us know two-three of them?

(hesitates) I can't cook...

...unlike Nadal.

Can Rafa really cook?

He said that he cooked dinner for his team at Wimbledon many times.

I'm lucky to have been always surrounded by great women who cook well and make my life easier. Today I live mainly in hotels. I can't even say that cooking is a weakness - I can't do it at all! Earlier it was a weakness that I was often late. However in this respect I improved strongly. Surely I have more weaknesses but you'd better ask the others, not me (laughs).

How does a perfect day look for you?

There are many options: is it the wedding day? Is it the day when the kids were born? Is it a Wimbledon victory?

Put in a different way, how would you turn an ordinary day into a perfect one?

I'm very happy with my life; the best about it is that I can experience completely different and nice moments. When on holidays I love lying on the beach and do absolutely nothing. Then again I love being on the court or with my family and I also enjoy eating with friends. The combination of all these things makes my life.

Your daughters Myla Rose and Charlene Riva should grow up normally. Nevertheless what do you and your wife Mirka need to do to protect them?

Nothing really. They move completely freely. We go with them to parks and zoos in all the cities. We often have friends visiting us so that the kids can keep seeing the same faces. Thus they don't feel that there are never home. All this travelling is not always that easy but Mirka, the kids and I want to be together by all means. We manage to coordinate everything. I think that the kids can live a normal life.

Are you a strict father or you allow them to do whatever they want?

Now slowly comes the time in which we have to bring them up. At the beginning it was mainly a matter of feeding them, changing their the diapers, putting them to sleep, in general taking care that they were doing well. Now Mirka and I must decide in which areas we want to be tough and in which not. It is important for the children that they are set limits withing which they can move.

Is this difficult for you?

The fact that we are not always in the same place makes things a little bit difficult. Children who are always at home know over time what they are and what they aren't allowed to do. In our case suddenly a week later we have a vase standing around which we didn't have in our previous hotel room. I'd say that as a father I'm good and strict.


Interview translated by vrazkar on RF Official forum