"Mirka’s body went first because she maybe over-practiced" - When Roger Federer opened up on 'less is more' approach after wife's career-ending injury
Roger Federer once disclosed that his precautionary approach to protecting his body was influenced by his wife Mirka's ordeal with a career-ending injury. The Swiss explained that his wife's injury issues were likely caused by practicing excessively.
Federer and his wife Mirka initially connected over their mutual passion for tennis, as they met while representing Switzerland at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. However, Mirka's career was derailed by a foot injury, forcing her to retire in 2002. She then turned her focus to ensuring that the Swiss realized his full potential.
In a 2012 interview with The New York Times, Roger Federer disclosed that while Mirka had been very hardworking, she was aware that her talents paled in comparison to his. The Swiss shared that his wife and his fitness trainer Pierre Paganini had agreed on a "less is more" approach to his training when he became World No. 1.
"She was a big believer in me not wasting any sort of talent, because she knew herself that she was limited to a degree. She was extremely hardworking, but she knew with my talents I could achieve so many more things," Federer said.
"And she was also one that was very influential, as was Pierre Paganini, for instance, early on, when I became world No.1 and we decided, 'Less is more; we have to take care of the body,' because Mirka’s body went first because she maybe over-practiced," he added.
Federer also highlighted the "incredible" contrast between Mirka's continued "fragility" when playing sports and his own physical resilience. While the Swiss acknowledged that luck had contributed to his enduring fitness, he also credited the "smartness" of his wife and his coaching team.
"So I think she could also give me some advice, sort of know-how. Her body is still fragile today when she goes and does sports, and mine isn’t, and it’s incredible. I’ve done so much more sport than she has, so it’s I guess a bit of luck, too, just smartness because of the people that have surrounded me," he said.
Roger Federer: "Mirka knows what it takes, she did it on a level that was still very good but not at my level"
In the same interview, Roger Federer admitted that Mirka's experience as a professional tennis player was a "great help," acknowledging that she was aware of the dedication required even though she hadn't competed at as high a level as him.
The Swiss emphasized that his wife was very understanding of the time he needed to put into practice, having invested "massive amounts of hours" into training during her career.
"I think it’s a great help that she actually played. I never started dating a tennis player because of that, actually, sort of 10 years ahead. But in my situation, I think it really does help, because she knows in some ways what it takes, and she did it on a level that was still very good but not at my level," he said.
"And she already put in a massive amount of hours herself. So when I tell her, 'Look, I need to go to practice,' she’s the first to say, 'I know, I know you need it, and you need only maybe 20 percent of what I needed,'" he added.
Despite retiring from professional tennis, Roger Federer's wife Mirka continued to experience life on tour, as she took on the role of the Swiss legend's public relations manager and became his traveling companion.