"Roger Federer is the perfect example to follow, both on & off the court" - Swiss teen Dominic Stricker
Swiss teen Dominic Stricker recently claimed that Roger Federer is the perfect role model both on and off the court. The 18-year-old also showered praise on Federer's approach to his training regimen and life in general.
Stricker won the 2020 French Open boys' singles and boys' doubles titles last September. He then went on to win his first ATP Challenger title in Lugano, Switzerland in March 2021.
The Swiss youngster had a chance to observe his more accomplished countryman earlier this year, having spent a few days training with Roger Federer in Dubai. Stricker has now asserted in an interview with Watson that young players like himself can imbibe a lot of life lessions from the 20-time Major champion.
"You can learn a lot from Roger Federer," Stricker said. "He is the perfect role model. It's not always about the game itself. You can also see how he behaves before and after training or between rallies."
Dominic Stricker went on to reiterate that his Dubai stint with Roger Federer was an invaluable experience. The 18-year-old managed to share notes with his compatriot during their practice sessions, and at one point Federer even invited him for a desert trip.
"That was a huge experience," Stricker said. "Being able to spend three weeks training with Roger Federer was incredible and something I will certainly never forget. Most of the time we just trained together and talked a little before or after. We never went out to eat together, but once we went on a trip into the desert together."
Dominic Stricker wants to learn from Roger Federer's arch-rival Rafael Nadal how to take advantage of being left-handed
While Dominic Stricker is in awe of Roger Federer, the Swiss teen has also been taking a lot of inspiration from Federer's rival Rafael Nadal.
Stricker is a southpaw too, and he revealed during the interview that he is trying to learn how to take advantage of being a left-hander from Nadal.
The Spaniard's left-handed game has proved to be a unique challenge for several of his opponents throughout his career, including Roger Federer. Nadal has often targeted Federer's single-handed backhand with his top-spin forehand during their clashes.
"It's definitely an advantage that I'm left-handed because there are a lot more right-handed people who play tennis," Stricker said. "The ball arrives at the opponent with a different twist. I watch many of Nadal's matches and watch how he builds up the points. There are sure to be moves (plays) that can be copied."