Top 4 Roger Federer quotes from his father Robert & mother Lynette
Even after retiring from the sport for almost two years, Roger Federer has left a legacy that resonates within the tennis world. Federer has 20 Grand Slams and held the World No.1 spot for over 310 weeks. He has a long list of records to his name, including his consecutive Wimbledon and US Open titles.
Federer is only one spot behind Jimmy Connors when it comes to the most number of matches won at 1,251. The Swiss maestro has given tennis fans uncountable iconic moments and has also enjoyed the support of his loved ones by his side. His wife, Mirka Federer, and his kids were often present in his player box during his matches, and so were his parents, Robert and Lynette, whenever they could.
Federer was born on 8 August 1981 in Basel, Switzerland. His parents worked for Ciba-Geigy Pharmaceuticals. Every weekend, Federer and his elder sister would visit the company's private tennis courts, and it was there that his love for the game began. After enrolling in school, Federer soon became too suitable for his age. Seeing this natural talent for tennis, Lynette enrolled him in their hometown's elite junior program of the Old Boys Tennis Club. Over the years, Federer received valuable coaching from legendary players and became one of the best players, and his parent's early belief in his abilities and talent had a role to play in that.
Throughout his career, Roger Federer was humble in victory and gracious in defeat, and credited his parents for their support and value in his journey. On that note, let's look at the times his parents talked about their journey with tennis over the years.
#4 "We didn't see him as a star in the sky" - Roger Federer's mother Lynette on how she and her husband treated him
Having turned pro in 1998, Roger Federer took the tennis world by storm following his first Grand Slam win in 2003. In an interview with Swiss View, his mother Lynette shared how she and her husband had a down-to-earth approach toward Roger's upbringing to keep him grounded with good values.
She said,
"Roger could do great things on the ATP tour. We didn't see him as the star in the sky and lived accordingly. No, we just waited long to see how it would come."
Her husband Robert Federer talked in the interview about how Roger's love and growth in tennis in his later years were surprising for them. He shared his admiration for Roger's fighting spirit and care for his well-being. Robert talked about his son's passion for the sport, saying,
"His body has coped with this relatively well at a high level over the past 25 years. It's just great how he still lives for tennis, and you can see what he's taking on, all the rebuilding efforts after his injury - that's admirable. Roger is living his dream."
#3 "The moment it was out was a relief" - Robert and Lynette Federer's reaction to Roger's retirement
Roger Federer's tennis retirement was an event that tennis fans perhaps never wanted to witness. However, for his family, knowing what he was going through to last at the last stage with injuries, this news came as a relief. Talking about his son's farewell from the sport, Robert Federer said,
"It couldn't have been better, and the timing was right. It was very emotional for everyone, not just Rogi, the players. Nadal, in particular, was very touched."
His mother opened up about how Roger had made up his mind on retirement after Wimbledon 2022 and informed close family members after a series of setbacks. She added it was exhausting to keep such big news from the media, who constantly asked about his return. She said,
"It wasn't easy. Everyone we met always asked, 'How is Roger, his knee? He plays in Basel, doesn't he play?' The moment it was out was a relief."
#2 "Upbringing Rubs Off" - Roger Federer's mother appreciated parenting qualities of Roger
Talking about the parenting qualities that she saw in Roger Federer, his mother opened up before the 2020 Laver Cup on how he showed similar traits as her and Robert. She said,
"Yes, I think he does; the upbringing rubs off. He likes being outdoors with his children, going to the mountains–we often do things like that with our children. The digital change of time alone means that things are different today. When Roger was born, email didn't even exist."
Federer's father added,
"Sure, our kids didn't play in front of the computer."
#1 "I think the 2019 Wimbledon final against Novak Djokovic" - Robert Federer on his son's rivalry with the Serb
Being the first ever player to win 20 men's Grand Slam trophies, Roger Federer paved the way for a generation of tennis players to pursue their dreams. When he finally hung up his boots in 2022, his father reflected on his career's most crucial moments. He mentioned his son's matches with Novak Djokovic, saying,
"I think the 2019 Wimbledon final against Novak Djokovic, wasting two match points on his serve. Also, the two semifinals he lost against Novak at the US Open in 2010 and 2011, where he had match points in his favor."
Federer's father talked about moments when he could've increased his grand slam tally to 21 when Nadal had 18 and Djokovic 15 titles. His father believed these defeats in 2019, 2011, and 2010 were the most difficult ones for them to process back in the day.