Roger Federer is considered one of the greatest gentlemen in sport. His game is characterized by fairness and respect – by an almost eerie calm at times. It is well known that this was not always the case. The memories of his flail years haunt Federer to this day.
The 39-year-old settles accounts with his former self. In the relaxed legend talk of the ATP with Björn Borg and Tim Henman, Federer is approached by Henman about his freaking out. “I’ve had a couple of violent outbursts of anger. That was mostly anger with me, rarely with anyone else, ”says Federer.
He regards his behavior after defeat as worse. “I’m disappointed with the handshakes that I used to give in part,” reveals the 20-time Grand Slam winner. “Because sometimes I thought it was my opponent’s mistake that I lost. Even if it was all my own fault. “
Papa Robert: “Sometimes we were ashamed”
When Federer’s anger burst on the pitch, he could throw and smash rackets as a teenager. Young Roger could scream and rave. “It was terrible,” said his father Robert years ago in a TV documentary on “CNN”. “Sometimes we were ashamed of his behavior.”
“We were never mad at him when he lost. But we were angry because of his behavior, “says Roger’s mom Lynette. “I kept telling him that his bad behavior sends a message to his opponent: ‘Today you can beat me!'”
“It was disturbing to see as parents”
And Federer couldn’t handle defeats at all. “Sometimes he cried for half an hour after a defeat,” said Lynette. “That was disturbing to see as parents.”
The words of the parents had an effect on Roger – but it took a while. He first had to understand what it takes to be a champion, Federer told Henman and Borg.
Federer: “I needed time”
“It took me time to figure out how to behave on the court. How to deal with the pressure, »says Federer. “And also to understand how to show respect for the game.”
