The Master

Whenever the author had the opportunity to interview Federer over the years, he has always been struck by the tennis star’s genuine interest in other people. He often asks Clarey how he is, how he thought the match went, and so on. His natural curiosity not only allows him to establish open and honest relationships with other people, helping him to feel at home no matter where he is in the world, but it also turns every interview into a conversation, creating a relaxed and familiar atmosphere. 

Federer’s rise to fame might appear to have happened easily and naturally, but it was actually thanks to his drive and motivation, rather than fate. He is undoubtedly an innately talented player, but he has also always been a meticulous planner, and he understands the importance of routine and self-discipline.

His successes, however, have also been interspersed with just as many failures and setbacks. His losses have almost certainly added to his appeal among the public, as they have humanised him and made it easier to identify with him. Federer has always accepted defeat by focusing on positive energy and his long-term plans. 

Federer’s game style comes from a combination of technique, talent, and natural instinct. The author wonders, though, whether he would be the man and athlete he became if he had not met the right people, especially his wife Mirka Vavrinec, who has always encouraged and supported him. In tennis, like in life, the real breakthroughs come when we start to understand how to use the luck we have been given, in order to create opportunities for ourselves, and that is exactly what Federer has always done.