Roger Federer is extraordinary in many ways, says Stefan Edberg
Stefan Edberg loved his time with Roger Federer as a coach. The Swiss always says that the Swede was one of his three biggest childhood idols with Boris Becker and Pete Sampras. Recalling the 2014 and 2015 seasons, where the Swiss played three Grand Slam finals, Edberg, in an interview to Sports Wallah, said: "Roger as a player, as a person stands out in all the ways you can think of. He is extraordinary in many ways. He is a great tennis player. He is also great off the court, with the sponsors, handling the media, the fans. He does everything so well. He has been such a tennis ambassador. It’s hard to find anybody like him coming up in the game for the next 10-20 years because he is so unique in so many ways. I’m really proud to have worked with him for two years and it was a great experience. I hope he keeps going."
Asked about his own most special Grand Slam title, Edberg replied: "Well, if you have to pick one, it has to be Wimbledon, the first time when you win it. I grew up watching Bjorn Borg winning his 5 titles and to be there yourself, lifting the trophy, it’s a very very special day of your career. But also I would say that reaching the No.1 ranking where you are actually at the top of the world, being the best player in the world is something you can be proud of. Thinking back, those were great times!"
"What I do feel sometimes is on the outside courts, more than just preferential treatment to, how do you say, the top guys, whatever it is, I feel like they are tougher on the rules on the outside courts, you know. You do something, and, bang, warning. There is like there is no messing about. I think with the umpires and the top guys on the main courts, I think the umpires know the top guys, and they know their problems or they know how they behave or they know how they are gonna react, so they know what acting stupid and silly means and what normal is. I think because we know each other very well, I think it's easier for the umpire to handle a top guy that they know over an up-and-coming guy like Tsitsipas or a young guy. And that sometimes gets lost in translation and maybe bad mistakes can happen. But I don't see preferential treatment, to be honest. There shouldn't be. If I get warnings, and I do get warnings sometimes -- I got one just recently, maybe Dubai, I don't know, whatever -- it's normal. So they should just, based on what happened, take those decisions, and I really feel, how do you say, the umpires do that. I'm sorry that Stefanos feels that way."
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2HZz4is
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