GQ: What goes through your head right before the match?
Roger Federer: When you feel that you are on the verge of victory, it is an incredibly sublime feeling. Then you think, okay, I’ll get this thing home now. But of course you also know at the same time that it’s not good to take off too early, so you have to keep bringing yourself down to earth.
GQ: And when you know you’re about to lose?
Roger Federer: Then you try to brace yourself against it again, like against a heavy stone. The great art is not to get too emotional and to assess the whole thing objectively. Whether it’s the service game or the final match during a tournament, you have to get your routine right. Of course, this gets easier as the years go by. The more experience you have, the better you can assess yourself and your surroundings. But I’ve also caught myself thinking about my speech at the victory celebration or my next trip with the children (laughs). But the most important thing is to keep reminding yourself: It’s just a game! (Related: Mercedes-AMG GT Coupé revealed: Fans can look forward to these innovations)
GQ: How do you deal with stressful moments at work, Ms. Seeger?
Britta Seeger: For me, stress is more of a positive excitement that I deal with with concentration, calm and focus. For me, when we present a new model to the world, it is not stressful, but rather a reward for years of intensive work. After all, after all this time, you really want to know how the model is received by the customers for whom you created it. Actually, it’s similar for us to what it was for Roger on the field. You have to stay focused, take people along and inspire them. And of course don’t let one or two setbacks unsettle you. Often things are not fundamentally wrong, but simply happen at the wrong time or in the wrong constellation. If something doesn’t work out the way I would like, that’s my biggest motivation to do it better next time.
Roger Federer: “If you leave out breaks, you run the risk of burning out sooner or later and losing the joy of sport.”
Roger Federer
GQ: Have you ever felt like, “What am I doing here?”
Roger Federer: Don’t we all have that from time to time? (laughs). I’ve definitely had this moment before. The path to the top is not linear.
Britta Seeger: Of course. But then I calmly think about what it will take to get to where I actually want to be. This is where the wheat is separated from the chaff. You can’t give up straight away and you have to take a step backwards before you can move forward again. And when success comes, it’s even better.
The last head moments before the match
GQ: Do you still get excited at some moments? Or do you become a little jaded after years in the spotlight and on the pitch, under constant scrutiny?
Roger Federer: I think it’s like always in life. Anything you do for the first time always makes you a little scared and nervous. But by the tenth match, shoot or interview you know a little more precisely what to expect and you stay calmer. But of course there are still moments that I really respect. I usually get a little tired, start yawning, and basically wind down so I can really get started. But there also has to be a bit of nervousness, that’s the only way I know for sure that it’s important to me. Nevertheless, I’m glad I no longer have these butterflies in my stomach every day. Nervousness can also be super stressful for the body and mind.
2023-10-09 15:34:14
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