20-time Major champion Roger Federer has been a role model for many tennis players over the last 15 years. Like all other competitors, Federer has had some dark moments in those most difficult moments over the years.
Even so, he is usually calm and collected on the court, concentrating on tennis and the opponent on the other side of the net. However, this was not always the case, as it would be difficult to recognize Roger from his behavior in his late teens.
The Swiss could not contain his temper from the first matches of competition in juniors, throwing rackets and having something to say about every point he lost. Speaking of that chapter of his career in 2002, Roger said that it took him years to start improving in that segment.
He realized that it took too much energy to fight with himself, and he did his best to change that before he stepped foot on the ATP Tour. Remembering those days, Federer also mentioned how his parents sometimes felt embarrassed while watching him play, urging him to change his attitude or go to tournaments without them.
Federer struggled to keep his temper in his junior days
“When I was very young, and I started playing at three years old, I was always swearing on the court, throwing rackets and everything else.
My parents felt ashamed and told me to stop behaving like this; otherwise they wouldn’t come to tournaments with me anymore. I had to calm down, but it took until I was 19 years old to start to improve in that aspect.
In the past I complained about every point I lost, and I don’t know how I got over it. I thought I was wasting too much energy by always being mad at myself. I’m calm now, and at Roland Garros and Wimbledon last year I received excellent press for my behavior on court. Now I almost have to watch out not to act too calm on the court,” said Roger Federer.
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