20-time Major champion Roger Federer retired at the Laver Cup last September. The entire tennis world honored the Swiss Maestro, an idol of many young players worldwide. Interestingly, until the early 2000s, Federer struggled to control his temper and experienced many outbursts in his youth.
What later became a quiet and collected champion, Roger would have been difficult to spot in some of his junior and early pro events. The Swiss could not contain his control in the first competitive games with the juniors.
He used to throw racquets, curse and have a say on every point he would lose!
Roger Federer struggled to keep his temper in his youth
Discussing this chapter of his career in 2002, Roger admitted it took him years to make improvements in this segment.
The Swiss realized that it took too much energy to fight with himself and did his best to change that before joining the ATP Tour. Recalling those days, Federer also mentioned how his parents were sometimes embarrassed to see him play and urged him to change his attitude or go to tournaments without them!
Roger looked much better in 2001 when he reached his first Major quarterfinals at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, dethroning Wimbledon king Pete Sampras. Federer clinched his first Major crown two years later, becoming world No. 1 after the 2004 Australian Open.
“When I was very young and started playing when I was three, I was always swearing on the court, throwing racquets and everything. My parents were embarrassed and told me to stop behaving like this; Otherwise they wouldn’t come to the tournaments with me anymore.
I had to settle down, but it wasn’t until I was maybe 19 that I finally started to improve in this area. I’ve complained about every point I’d lose in the past and I don’t know how I got over it.
I thought I was wasting too much energy by always getting upset with myself. I’m calm now and got excellent press for my behavior on the pitch at Roland Garros and Wimbledon last year. Now I almost have to be careful not to act too calmly on the pitch,” said Roger Federer.
