November 6, 2004

The Tennis Week Interview: Roger Federer

By Richard Pagliaro, Tennis Week

Confetti wasn't cascading from the sky above Times Square when Roger Federer arrived in New York to commemorate the new year today — instead idealism, inspiration and hope were in the air. The man whose life-long devotion to his chosen sport has helped him rise to the top of the tennis world, stepped on stage at the United Nations to promote the potential for sport to improve the world.

The top-ranked Swiss accompanied UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, UN Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace Adolf Ogi and ING New York City Marathon 2003 women's champion Margaret Okayo at the United Nations to launch the 2005 International Year of Sport and Physical Education in a press conference at the United Nations.

Though he can compete with the professorial poise of a player turning a two-man game into a tennis tutorial, sport has provided the 23-year-old Federer with an ongoing education in lessons of life.

"Sport has taught me very much, almost everything, if you like," Federer said. "Because I've always been on the road, you have to speak to different people, learn different cultures, you have to adapt, you know, and speak different languages. For me this is a great opportunity because I really agree with this project and what we're doing here. It's just fantastic because this is how I look at sports."

The International Year of Sport and Physical Education is an initiative designed to use the power of sport to help improve people's lives.

"Sport can play a role in improving the lives of whole communities," said Secretary-General Annan. "I am convinced that the time is right to build on that understanding, to encourage governments, development agencies and communities to think how sport can be included more systematically in the plans to help children, particularly those living in the midst of poverty, disease and conflict."

It's fitting that Federer, who plays the type of tennis that can bring opponents and fans together in admiration of his ascendant artistry, has been selected as a spokesman to promote the potential power of sport as a unifying force to bridge national, ethnic and cultural chasms.

At the peak of his powers, Federer is more than a creative force on court — he is that rare champion whose brilliance is apparent not only the beauty of his strokes, but in his skill at creating imaginative combinations other players cannot even conceptualize let alone execute. Federer 's power to inspire transcends the boundaries of the tennis court and he is well aware his celebrity status gives him a platform to promote a cause that strives to use sport to break down barriers.

About 90 minutes before Federer stepped on stage to deliver his brief speech at the United Nations, he sat down with Tennis Week in a fourth-floor office to discuss his role in the United Nations' International Year of Sport and Physical Education. Clad completely in black — black silk shirt, black jacket, black slacks and black shoes polished to such a sparkling sheen he could shave in their reflection — a relaxed Federer smiled frequently throughout the interview. Sitting next to former Swiss President Adolf Ogi, the current UN Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace, Federer's passion for this project is clear. The man who can make shots seem like notes in making the strings sing in virtuoso performances on court is articulate and adept at voicing his views on global concerns.

In the following interview, the four-time Grand Slam champion discusses his hopes for the UN initiative, the formation of the Roger Federer Foundation, which strives to improve social conditions for children in South Africa, his continuing search for a new coach and the challenges he faces in the 2005 season as he prepares to defend his Australian Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open crowns and retain his No. 1 world ranking.

Tennis Week: Roger, how did you get involved in the United Nation's International Year of Sport and Physical Education and what appealed to you about it?

Roger Federer: Well, Mr. (Adolf) Ogi (former President of Switzerland and current UN Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace) actually contacted me only last week, so this is very spontaneous. Because I've been injured and unable to play I've had some time...

Tennis Week: How is your health? How is your leg?

Roger Federer: My health is better now. I'll travel right away to Houston after this.

Tennis Week: Do you feel good enough that you'll be able to play the Masters Cup?

Roger Federer: I do feel I'm able to play, but I have to start slow. So this was a very spontaneous decision where Mr. Ogi said: "Would you like to come and introduce the Year of Sport and Physical Education 2005?" He said he would love to have me here next to (UN Secretary-General) Kofi Annan. And I said "Yeah, I'd love to do it." So, we are all here.

Tennis Week: Ultimately, what message do you and Mr. Ogi most want to get across to people about the UN's International Year of Sport and Health?

Adolf Ogi: I think it is important for the first time that the United Nations passed a resolution which focused on the value on sport in relation with development of health, education and peace. And I think sport is a new instrument, which should be used throughout the world to create a more peaceful world, a more pleasant world. We have still 70 conflicts. I was President of Switzerland and now I am Kofi Annan's delegate on sport for development on peace. I think politicians have failed. Therefore, I think we need a new instrument. It is actually an old instrument, not used enough so far. Because sport can bridge difficulties, conflict, cultures. Sport can show what is possible to politicians. The ping-pong diplomacy between China and the U.S. in 1973 was the first break through in their relations. Ping-pong helped bring these two nations together. Today, we have 150 projects and I believe, not today or tonight or tomorrow, but in 10 to 20 years we can create a better world for sport. This is what we are hoping to do.

Tennis Week: I've read your web site, RogerFederer.net, which details the Roger Federer Foundation and its initiative to help children in South Africa. How do you balance your tennis career with your desire to help people, charitable and social causes? And how important is it for you to use this platform you have as the world's top player and an internationally-known star to help people and do things like this with the UN to try to make an impact beyond tennis?

Roger Federer: You're right (it is important) and it's also something very new to me because the Foundation was introduced last year only. I've just had my first event recently for the Foundation.

Tennis Week: How did it go?

Roger Federer: It was very good. We had great success, you know about almost $100,000 raised, which was fantastic. I never thought it was going to be so much and now I'm helping a project in South African because, you know, my mom is from there. My first goal was to actually help kids in South Africa so we founded this project in South Africa. I'm helping 30 kids in South Africa and making sure they get to eat twice a day, properly, that the infrastructure is fine. And that the money I can generate, by my presence, can only increase everything for them. And in being here to introduce the Year of Sport, I hope I can encourage them to do more sports.

Tennis Week: What have you learned in traveling the world, experiencing different cultures, meeting different people about the power of sport to educate and inspire people. You know, so many people — from children to adults — do respect you and look up to you. What have you learned about the power of sports to inspire, educate and just connect with people?

Roger Federer: I've been traveling basically since I was 12 years-old, almost, so I've been traveling 10 years. I've really met a lot of people, different cultures and sports has taught me very much, almost everything, if you like. Because I've always been on the road, you have to speak to different people, learn different cultures, you have to adapt, you know, and speak different languages. For me this is a great opportunity because I really agree with this project and what we're doing here. It's just fantastic because this is how I look at sports.

Tennis Week: Sports can unify people.

Roger Federer: It unifies people because let's say we face each other whether if it's in tennis, if it's a fight, if it's a race, if it's a game, you know you push each other hard, you compete to the max, you want to win, but you have to respect your opponent.

Tennis Week: And you shake hands at the end.

Roger Federer: And in the end, your opponent might be your best friend. So you walk away happy and if you lose you lose and your opponent can sometimes come to you and say "no problem, next time you'll beat me" or something like that. This is what sports is all about. Especially now, with the war and everything, I think sports makes people happy and makes them forget that there is more important things going on in the world. So for me, I feel this is a real opportunity.

Tennis Week: Given the sort of instability and violence we see in the world today, the terrorism, the United States invading Iraq and everything else going on, did it give you a greater sense of urgency to get involved? Did recent world events make you want to contribute or was it just a matter of this was something you felt in your heart was the right thing to do?

Roger Federer: Exactly. I think this is how it felt. Because this year is the Year of Rice so I don't know what the link would be for me to be in the Year Of the Rice. But for me to be in the Year Of Sport, it fits perfectly for me, I'm number one in the world right now and if I can help this cause that's fantastic. Plus, Mr. Ogi is Swiss and for me to come here and meet Mr. Kofi Annan is a great opportunity and truly a great honor.

Tennis Week: A few years back, Martina Hingis served as a UNICEF ambassador for the UN. Does Switzerland's stance in the world influence you getting involved?

Roger Federer: I don't exactly what Martina did as ambassador. Like I said earlier, it was something I felt was important. If I didn't get injured as well, I would have been playing in Paris and I wouldn't be here. So this is how it is now.

Tennis Week: Well, it's great that you're taking advantage of that time off to do something like this rather than sitting around watching TV or something..

Roger Federer: Exactly. I had to make sure with my doctors it was OK leaving earlier with my injury because I was supposed to leave on Sunday because of treatment. Now that I was injured and it's getting better they told me it was OK to leave because the treatment is not as necessary anymore. I'm doing fine so to me this was a great opportunity.

Tennis Week: Tennis does have a tradition of prominent players involved in social causes from Arthur Ashe, Andre Agassi, Andrea Jaeger, Chris Evert, Pat Rafter, yourself. What role would you like to see prominent tennis players play in getting involved and contributing to such causes? Can the sport, the players themselves, do more to help?

Roger Federer: Yeah. I think if you look at team players it's not so easy because you have the whole organization behind you and it's not so easy. As a tennis player, you are an individual and you can decide what you want to do. And for me, it was always one goal in my career: to actually have the Roger Federer Foundation and give something back.

Tennis Week: Even before you made it was that the goal?

Roger Federer: Yeah. Obviously, you have to have a name and make a name for yourself in order to do it. But once I got it, you know I said: "I don't want to rush into things, you know, because maybe it's too early to have a foundation." But I thought last year was the right year to do it. Everybody knows how much money I make, everybody knows the great life I am having. Of course, it's tough at times, I am traveling all the time and I would like to be home more. But this is one of the small ways I can give something back.

Tennis Week: And just the fact that you're here talking about it can promote it and inspire someone in any part of the world who follows you or follow to tennis to get involved.

Roger Federer: Correct and I've already gotten a lot of comments and compliments from people that I'm already having a foundation and trying to do things at my age. Some make it at 25, some make it at 30 and some make it at 60. I thought it was important to make it now, to seize the moment. Of course, I need to also spend time for the foundation, which makes it kind of difficult in the beginning now that I'm so busy with playing tennis and trying to defend the number one position. But this is beyond tennis, after my career as well. So I thought if I started early, then I can build something really nice.

Tennis Week: You're coming off one of the greatest years in the history of the Open Era. It's the type of year many might be tempted to cash in on and yet you haven't sold your soul commercially, signed with a big management agency and pursued excessive endorsements. Is that temptation there and how do you sustain the balance between your tennis career and everything else going on in your life: your foundation, commitment to causes like this and dealing with people like me who want to talk to you all the time?

Roger Federer: Tennis, for me, will always stay, for the moment, the most important thing. Not in life, you know, but it is very important to me. I really try to place everything around my schedule, around my preparation, around my holidays. Sometimes, if I'm really in the mood to do something for my foundation, I tell myself these are the days or the hours I have time to do it and then I place them at the right time, the same for interviews and everything. So it's really important to have the right balance because if you do too much for one, then the other one suffers. For me, I don't want to have my career suffering around the stress I'm in. Because in the end if my results are not there, then the demand is not there.

Tennis Week: The results give you the opportunity to do things like this.

Roger Federer: Exactly. Yes. The impact is bigger. I think that is important to understand. We all speak the same language — my management — and that's very important.

Tennis Week: Professionally, what can you do after the type of season you've had this year? What do you do for an encore? I mean, it's really pretty incredible, winning three of the four majors, where do you go from here?

Roger Federer: Next year will be a hard year for me to kind of prove myself again. I thought I had to prove myself this year after a fantastic season last year. And I'm really looking forward to come back to America after the U.S. Open win. I want to play more in Asia. Of course, I would love to defend my number one position — this stands over everything — of course the defense of the Grand Slam titles is very important as well. But for me, staying number one will be the main goal for next year as there's no Olympics and so on I really have this big, big focus of staying number one in the world. And then I want to get more involved in my foundation and make something happen.

Tennis Week: You seem so cool on court and when I've spoken to you off the court you're so calm and relaxed and it seems the stress seldom gets to you. Does any of the pressure ever sort of get to you? Do the demands of being number one ever get to you? Do you ever want to go home and just smash something against the wall?

Roger Federer: (laughs). Well, I also do feel pressure, very often, in my life. If it's on court or off court, I have to make many, many decisions. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad. Like today, I have to make a speech at the UN. Even though it's only a few minutes, still, you want to do well and you have to come up with the right words. For me, this is not something I am doing every day. For him (points to Mr. Ogi seated next to him) these are moments he is much more used to (smiles). Then I get nervous walking out on center court. So I have many, many times throughout the year where I totally become very nervous. So I think by always having to handle these sort of situations gives me much more confidence and routines and kind of helps me for my character — I become stronger — and again, as we were saying earlier, this is why sports have helped me so much. By experiencing such things and then being able to handle them better.

Tennis Week: I respect the fact you seem to be the sort of person who challenges yourself. You're not sitting back content in saying: "Hey, I'm Roger Federer, the top tennis player in the world." It's pretty cool that someone in your position, who could get so self-involved and wrapped up in being number one, is willing to try these things and try to contribute to others.

Roger Federer: This is why I made this spontaneous decision: because this is beyond tennis. This is sport, this is world-wide and I can sit next to Mr. Ogi and Mr. Annan and try to promote this Year of Sport. Otherwise, it's just Roger Federer, the tennis player, and that's it. This is above and beyond.

Tennis Week: What would you say to people who want to get involved in the UN Year of Sport or who want to get involved in your initiative in South Africa? Whether they want to contribute their time or money or just get involved, what can they do?

Roger Federer: They can definitely go on my web site RogerFederer.net to learn more about my Foundation.

Tennis Week: I've been visiting your web site a lot lately to follow your status. Do you go on there yourself a lot?

Roger Federer: I go there also, very much. When it comes to the International Year of Sport, I would recommend that people go to the United Nations web site.

Tennis Week: I know your focus here at the UN today is talking about the Year of Sport, but can I ask you a few tennis questions?

Roger Federer: The easy questions (laughs)? Yes.

Tennis Week: I'm sure you're sick of hearing this all the time, but what is the coaching status? Early in the year, you said you hoped by next year (2005) you'd have a coach in place. There have been some unconfirmed recent reports. How is that search going?

Roger Federer: The situation is still the same. I still don't have a coach. There is no real plans to actually have one in the near future. It's not even a plan, really, I'm just still making up my mind on who is the right person and so on.

Tennis Week: Are you waiting for anyone in particular? Or are you just waiting for the right situation?

Roger Federer: Yes, exactly. For the moment, I haven't found the right person yet, let's put it this way.

Tennis Week: Do you play the ball or the opponent? Will you just play your game regardless or devise tactics based on a given opponent?

Roger Federer: Umm...I think it's 50-50. First, I think you have to make sure about your own game and second, throughout the match, you have to adapt to what your opponent is doing, to how he plays, what has worked for him, what has worked for you and then you work it out.

Tennis Week: In the Wimbledon final, some speculated the rain delay would help Roddick because he could go back and talk to his coach whereas you were losing and don't have a coach to consult. Do you ever coach yourself on the court or during changeovers or are you more intuitive and play more on feel?

Roger Federer: I play very much from feel, from the way I see it, and from what has worked for my opponent and what has worked for me. And then, work around it and see how I can make the difference. Rain delays don't happen often, especially during Wimbledon finals, it was very hard for me going into the rain delay being down.

Tennis Week: Particularly since you hadn't been down the entire tournament.

Roger Federer: Exactly. I said to myself: "I think I have to take a chance here." Because if I keep on playing like this, I will probably lose, so I might as well change up things a little bit. It worked out for me. Of course, I decided to serve and volley more, but to break him, you cannot serve and volley (laughs), you know so I first actually had to get back into the set before I could play my game. I had a good start and played a fantastic tiebreak, so it was great.

Tennis Week: What moment — on the court and off the court — has given you the greatest satisfaction and joy this year?

Roger Federer: Off court, definitely my event last Sunday where I really had my first event for the Roger Federer Foundation. And then I think being here today (a the UN) is a very special moment, of course. On court, I think...a ah...I have so many (laughs). I think the three Grand Slams are fantastic and each has a special place for me. Australia, I became number one in the world. Wimbledon, I defended my title. The U.S. Open, I played a fantastic final, so I think these are the three best moments of my career.

Tennis Week: Who has inspired you in your life?

Roger Federer: I was always looking up as a tennis player to Boris Becker, who was so big in Germany and Switzerland. Off court, I'm only getting into these other things now because when you're young, when you're 17, you sometimes only see the sports world. I have had the opportunity to meet many, many great people and this will be much more important to me.

Tennis Week: For a guy who left school early, you're such an articulate, intelligent person, who seems to have a grasp of the world beyond tennis. Do you read a lot?

Roger Federer: (laughs). No, I don't read too much. I think again we come back to traveling the world, meeting people, seeing the cultures I've seen.

Tennis Week: That's a good education.

Roger Federer: I thought so. And by handling the pressure moments I've had, I think it's made me a more stable person. The way my parents raised me and brought me up and also the coaches have been very important because they guide you through the career. And always important to me was respect, to respect people. I just stick to these principles and they seem like they've been working well so far so I hope they will continue to do so.

Tennis Week: What's the most unusual or bizarre experience you've had as a result of your celebrity?

Roger Federer: I've had many of them (laughs). People you look up to come to you and say "I'm your biggest fan!" And you say: "Really? You?" And that happens occasionally and it's funny. And then you have people in the middle of the street who cannot help themselves and come up to you and start shaking as they talk because they cannot believe they are talking to you. It's interesting and funny to see the reactions sometimes.

Tennis Week: What do you make of the talk of player withdrawals, player injuries resulting from a long season and players defending their right to withdraw to protect themselves from aggravating injuries. I saw Roddick's comments in Paris earlier this week..

Roger Federer: What did he say?

Tennis Week: He basically said "In what other sport do you play 11 months of the year? I am going to finish my season on December 5th and start next year on January 5th. I would rather pull out of an event than injure myself. If they can't understand the way an athlete works, it's too bad." Is the schedule too long? Is it too long? Does it need to be shortened to protect the players from injuries? What do you think?

Roger Federer: I think in a way the season is definitely long. But you can adjust your schedule. Scheduling is very important in my career. I have to make sure I don't just chase tournaments. I just play my schedule I really like to play. I don't think that is an excuse for any of the players because that's just how the tour is. We have a great tour. We should not forget that. We have many, many highlights in our year and you have to be ready for them. And sometimes you are tired. Don't play if you are too tired. If you think, "I really should help the sport", you know you should go play even though you are tired, but still make sure you prevent injuries.

Tennis Week: So you have to take care of yourself.

Roger Federer: You have to take care of yourself. You have to be aggressive sometimes, but not all the time. Think about the fans around the world who want to see you. Think about tournament directors who love to have you there. Think about the sponsors who support the game. I think you have to make it up to all of them. Because we are living our dreams basically because of them. We didn't start when we were three years old because we wanted to play on Wimbledon's Centre Court. We started because we loved playing, we loved hitting the ball and suddenly we make it there. We live the tour and let's say we start saying: "Oh, the tour is too long, I'm too tired." I don't agree.

Tennis Week: You can't have it both ways.

Roger Federer: No. You have to make some sacrifices for this life we have. You can't play tennis 'till you're 60. The career already stops at 30 or 35 years old because then your body is used, you're tired of traveling and so on, so you might as well enjoy it now while you can.

Tennis Week: I often go back and watch that tape of you against Agassi in the first match of last year's Masters Cup in Houston where you hit that tremendous running forehand winner at the end. You tend to produce these eye-opening, jaw-dropping type of shots under pressure more than anyone else. Are there any moments on court — like that running forehand in Houston — where you surprise yourself and sort of say to yourself: "Wow, I can't believe I hit that shot. That's pretty cool."?

Roger Federer: (smiles) Yeah, that match point in Houston, you're right, that was fantastic.

Tennis Week: That was unbelievable because you created such a sharp, short angle from a full sprint.

Roger Federer: I had almost stopped playing that point because I thought the ball was out and I won the match and then the point continued. He had that easy forehand put away volley and I ran and hit it and I could not even see the ball (land) because of the great angle I hit (laughs). It was just fantastic.

Tennis Week: Remember against Andre in Indian Wells, it was almost the same scenario when he had a volley and you hit a very similar shot. I'm sitting there thinking: "Agassi is never going to want to volley deep to your forehand again after those two..." But do you ever hit a shot that surprises you and brings a smile to your face.

Roger Federer: (laughs). Oh yeah, I think every player surprises themselves a little bit. Because you practice hard, you prepare as best you can and then when a shot like this happens during a match situation — a big point, the crowd gets into it and you've maybe only hit that shot three times in your life before that and then you can hit it on the biggest court in the world, you know — that is surprising and yeah, it feels really good of course. (laughs).

Tennis Week: Champions players from Tony Trabert to Rod Laver to John Newcombe to John McEnroe to Stefan Edberg to Pete Sampras have said you are the player they most enjoy watching. Who do you like to watch?

Roger Federer: I just like to watch tennis. If I'm flipping through the channels and see a match I will watch it, really no matter who is playing. I just like the game very much. I really don't watch the senior tour as much, but one player I would really like to watch is Bjorn Borg because I never had the chance to see him when he was at his best and from what I have seen and heard he is a very special player and obviously a great champion.

©2003 - 2008 Shinanat Mahamaytakit