Roger Federer: 'Thankfully, I didn’t have to go through all that'

Roger Federer played his first career Grand Slam match at Roland Garros 1999, debuting on the big stage in Paris on May 25. The 17-year-old Swiss was the youngest player in the draw, already ranked 111 after reaching two ATP quarter-finals and three Challenger semi-finals earlier that year, starting the season from within the top 300! His rival in the first round was world No. 3 Patrick Rafter, who played his best tennis in those years, conquered two US Open titles and won the Masters 1000 events in Cincinnati and Canada last summer. The youngster made the best start, taking the first set 7-5 before Patrick took control and prevailed 5-7, 6-3, 6-0, 6-2 in two hours and 13 minutes for the 10th win. at Roland Garros, reaching the semifinal in Paris two years ago. The more experienced player did almost everything right on the court, making fewer mistakes and keeping his second serve safe to defend against seven of nine break points and increase pressure on the other side of the net. Federer's shooting skills were already well known in the tennis world. However, he lacked endurance and patience in those early years, especially in best-of-five games like this one, which required more experience. In addition, the conditions did not work in his favor either, as the sun grew stronger as the match progressed, warming the court and making it faster and more suitable for Rafter's attack and volley style. The Australian held the strings of the clash in his hands after the second set and lost just five games in the next three sets, leaving young Roger unanswered. Patrick took the lead in the third set 6-0 in 23 minutes and sealed the deal with a service winner in the eighth game of the fourth set to advance to the second round.

Roger Federer on being active on social media 

In an interview with GQ Magazine, eight-time Wimbledon champion opened up on how he has had to reset his goals time and again to stay motivated in the sport. Roger Federer revealed the question that every athlete faces after reaching a major career goal or landmark – what now? “…you see this happening very often in sports, where you finally achieve your dream, and then the question is, can you keep pushing further? You become number five in the world, now do you want to be number three? And then number one? Do you want to stay world number one?” Federer said. He added that being active on social media wasn’t a big part of being in professional tennis when he started out in the sport. “Thankfully, I didn’t have to go through all that (early in his career). I’m glad that my upbringing on the Tour was a bit more of a normal one,” Federer said.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3yOABz8