People will recognise me if I'm playing Roger Federer at a Grand Slam: Noah Rubin
Given how well-known and well-respected Roger Federer is all over the world, many players aspire to play against him at Grand Slams and other big events to further their own popularity.
Noah Rubin recently admitted that he is one such player. In an honest reflection of his career, Rubin said he was able to gain broader international recognition after going toe-to-toe with Roger Federer at a Grand Slam event.
Unfortunately, I don't have Roger Federer's phone number: Noah Rubin on importance of top players' support towards lower-ranked ones
Noah Rubin is known for his outspoken and honest nature, and as the host of the 'Behind the Racquet' podcast he has frequently made headlines with his blunt comments. The American player didn't hold back when talking about recognition being an important aspect for any athlete involved in an individual sport.
"Just imagine, I'm playing against Federer in a Grand Slam," Rubin said. "Usually nobody knows me. But if I played with Roger in the Swiss Lasers team before, they suddenly know me and then they have a completely different connection to me at the Grand Slam."
Noah Rubin faced off against Roger Federer at the Australian Open in 2017, where he was dispatched in straight sets by the Swiss maestro. Rubin spoke candidly about being desperate to play against Roger Federer again in the second round at Wimbledon in 2019, which he couldn't as he bowed out in the first round of the tournament.
"I still sleep badly because I couldn't do this (meet Roger Federer at Wimbledon 2019)," asserted Noah Rubin. "I'm now 195 in the world, my best ranking position so far was 125. After only going up in the beginning, I then found out how brutally tough the tour is."
"I am only 23 years old, but I have struggled with great motivation problems in the past few months because I noticed more and more that the tour is not a place of bliss. The tour doesn't make you happy. I really wasn't in a good mood until I decided to put the rankings aside. The result was that I made my way through qualifying for the first time at Wimbledon," he added.
Noah Rubin has been a vocal critic of the economic inequality in tennis; he has often claimed that other than those at the very top of the pile, the rest of the players are largely struggling. Rubin does believe, however, that support from the top players - which has been missing for some time - can help the situation become marginally better.
"Just because you earn 20 million a year, you shouldn't forget that five years ago, you might have played a Challenger for $ 1,000 as well," Rubin said. "Unfortunately this is quickly forgotten. We need more players to address the issues directly. Unfortunately, I don't have Roger Federer's cell phone number (laughs). But Venus Williams, for example, has spoken out and supports us, which is very helpful. I will continue to use my various platforms and fight for my convictions."