Australian Open 2018: Roger Federer pays tribute to late coach Peter Carter after beating Marin Cilic in the final
What's the story?
Over the years Roger Federer has proved that besides being one of the greats of all time at his sport, he also excels at being an exceptional human being.
After having claimed his 6th Australian Open Title at Melbourne Park on Sunday, the evergreen sportsman paid an emotional tribute to his late coach, Peter Carter who passed away tragically in 2002.
In case you didn't know...
Roger Federer won his 6th Australian Open Grand Slam on 28th January against Marin Cilic. With this, he also became the first man to win his 20th Grand Slam. At 36, Federer has emulated Ken Rosewall's three Grand Slam wins after the age of 35.
The heart of the matter
In an emotional tribute, Roger Federer paid homage to his former Australian coach, Peter Carter. Carter passed away in a tragic accident in 2002 in South Africa, just a week before Federer celebrated his 21st birthday.
Federer said that the late South Australian coach was responsible not only for shaping his career, but also moulding his overall growth as a person. Stating that Carter remains his most influential mentor, he said, "Peter Carter had the biggest impact on me in terms of my technique. That's what so many people talk about."
Never forgetting to show his deep regard for the coach, Federer has always invited Peter Carter's parents for his matches. Bob and Diana Carter have been Federer's guests of honour for every Australian Open ever since the death of their son.
The Swiss legend has always sent them tickets and accommodation facilities for all tournaments. Thanking them for their presence on Sunday, he said he was really happy to see them there. "That really meant a lot to me," he said.
What's next?
The Australian Open will take place in February 2019 next and in an exclusive post-match interview, Roger Federer stated that he hopes to be back for 2019's Grand Slam.
Author's take
Roger Federer's heartfelt tribute to his late coach is a motto that one should live by. No matter how far one reaches in life, one should never forget to honour his roots.