"He passed away and I have regrets I didn’t get to see him" - Roger Federer reveals the famous personality he admired but could not meet
Roger Federer has met several influential and famous personalities over the course of his life. In a recent interview, however, the Swiss tennis icon revealed there was one personality he could not meet despite the fact that he admired him.
Federer was interviewed by Vogue where his upcoming “visual biography” Federer (Assouline) was the focal point of conversation. The 42-year-old's new book features photographs from different phases of his life.
The 335-page book covers his childhood and home life, including his wife Mirka and their four children, as well as his on-court and off-court exploits.
During the interview, the reporter pointed out the famous personalities Federer has met and the images with them in the 'visual biography.' The Swiss has met with Queen Elizabeth, Coldplay members, and numerous tennis icons. He was then asked if there was a personality, alive or dead, who he wished to meet.
"One person that stands out—particularly with my South African background is Nelson Mandela," Roger Federer responded.
Federer's mother Lynette is South African. He also holds a South African passport and has deep connections to the nation.
The Swiss legend further revealed that he had an opportunity to meet Mandela when he was at the top of the ATP rankings but that it did not work out.
"I feel like I had the opportunity to meet him in those years when I was world number one and chasing all these things, but I don’t know: It just was not meant to be. And then at the end, when I was trying to figure it out, he passed away, and I have regrets that I didn’t get to see him," he added.
Nelson Mandela won the Nobel Peace Prize and received more than 250 honors during his lifetime. He served as the President of South Africa in the late 1990s and died on December 5, 2013 from a prolonged respiratory infection.
"I think he's been incredibly influential and inspiring" - Roger Federer on Nelson Mandela
During the first Laureus Sports Awards held in 2000, the Awards patron Nelson Mandela said the famous words:
"Sport has the power to change the world."
On the 20th anniversary of the Sports Awards, Roger Federer talked about how influential Mandela was.
"So what do I think of him as a person? I think he's been incredibly influential and inspiring on so many levels... He changed the country in a very positive way. So yeah, we can't be thankful enough to him (for) what he has given to the country," said Roger Federer.
Incidentally, Federer along with Novak Djokovic holds the record for the most Laureus Sportsman of the Year awards, with five each.