2000

ATP Player Profile: Roger Federer

By ATP

Tennis and Sports

When do you first become interested / show an interest in tennis?

I first became interested in tennis when I was four years old. My parents both played, which made it easier for me to start.

Most inspirational player / athlete (past or present)?

My most inspirational player is Michael Jordan. He broke so many records. Apart from him I loke (Boris) Becker, (Stefan) Edberg and (Pete) Sampras

Most thrilling moment in sports

The atmostphere during the Davis Cup against Italy was unforgettable. Also when I played the second round in Belgium it was very special.

What's the biggets challenge you have overcome in tennis?

I really had a hard time leaving home at 14 years old to go to the tennis centre. I was very homesick at first, but it all got better after three or four months.

What was your most important victory?

The victory over Carlos Moya in Marseille, when he was No. 4 in the world. That gave me a lot of confidence.

What special steps do you take to mentally prepare for a big match?

None. I do the same thing every time: prepare the grips, strings, warm-up. Usually I spend some time alone with my coach.

How do you cope with defeat?

I cry soemtimes, but fortunately I forget fast! I always try to learn from my defeats.

What other sports are you interested in / good at?

I really like playing golf and when I have time I like playing hockey with my friends in the national centre in Biel.

What (thus far) has been the defining point in your career?

The defining point for me was entering the top 100. It also gave me a lot of confidence becomming the junior No. 1 in 1998. When I won my first few international junior tournaments, I knew that I was going to be a professional tennis player.

Why do you love tennis?

It's hard to explain. I just love the game. I love the challenge. It's a one-on-one game with a lot of competition. I really find it a challenge to become the best player in the world.

Favourites

Band:

I like different kinds of music, but I don't really have a favourite band.

CD:

My favourite Cd is called "Dolphin Trance". It's house music

Movie (current):

The last movie I saw was James Bond: The World is Not Enough

Movie (all time):

I think the best movie of all time is "Good Will Hunting"

Video Game:

My favourite video games are FIFA 2000 which is a football game, and Teken 3 which is a fighting game. Both are PlayStation games.

Foods:

The food I love is called "gnocchi gorgonzola" with salad. That's really nice stuff.

Do you eat a particular meal before matches?

I always have pasta before matches, but it doesn't matter what kind of pasta.

Cars (old & new):

The car I have always liked is the Lambourghini. I like all the different models.

Outside Interests

What are your favorite non-tennis destinations?

The places I really like to go to when I am not playing tennis are Miami, Sydney and Durban.

Fashion (special designers/types of clothing?)

I just want to look smart. I like casual clothing best - no brands in particular.

What other sports do you like?

Well, I like watching the WWF, which is the World Wrestling Federation. It's American style wrestling. It's not really serious, but it's fun to watch.

Do you play any musical instruments?

No, I used to play the piano when I was a kid, but there's not much time for that now.

Do you have any pets (type / name / age)?

Yes, we have a cat named Ginger. We have had her for a long time but I don't know her exact age.

Hobbies (collecting, etc?)

I really like listening to music and of course playing the Play Station. I really enjoyed deep sea fishing in South Africa with my godfather in December 1999. We were fishing for marlin, but weren't too successful.

Surfing the net / day trading

Well, I do a lot of chatting with my friends on the Internet and I send a lot of e-mails. I also download screen-savers and I am discovering new things.

Family Background

How many brothers / sisters?

I have one sister. Her name is Diana and she is 20 months older than me. She lives in Miami.

Any family members with a prominent sports back-ground?

No, not really. My mom is a secretary at Ciba and my dad also works there. He works with chemicals.

Good / interesting family sports history stories?

Not really, my mom likes hockey, tennis and volleyball, but we don't have any top athletes - or stories in the family.

Personal

If you weren't a tennis player, what would you be?

I don't know, I might have become a good soccer player.

How do you deal with popularity?

I like being popular the way I am now, but not too much please!

Outside of a big win, what is your "Ideal Day"?

The Ideal day for me is when I can go to the beach, enjoy the weather and just relax all day long.

Apart from the tennis - what do you like most about being a tennis player?

Well, I really like travelling and seeing new cities. You know: different people, different cultures and that sort of thing.

What do you like least about being a tennis player?

The least thing I like about being a tennis player is being on the plane. I don't mind the travelling, but Idon't like being on a plane.

How do you cope with the constant travel?

Well, I try to sleep as much as possible.

What do you plan to do after tennis?

I haven't really thought about that yet, because my career has just started and I am not thinking about life after tennis at the moment.

Little known fact

Sometimes I feel like I'm 30, sometimes I feel like 15. Not very often do I feel 18.

©2003 - 2008 Shinanat Mahamaytakit