Sports
With Lynette and Robert Federer at the Credit Suisse Sports Awards
At the Credit Suisse Sports Awards last Sunday Vivamost met with the parents of Roger Federer, Lynette and Robert. Roger Federer (tennis player ATP 3) had been nominated in the category “best male athlete of the year” but unfortunately could not be there. He was in Dubai preparing for the Australian Open said Lynette during the awards ceremony. As Roger is 38 years old he needs more time to recover and to train for a tournament. The couple was very happy to answer a few questions about their son´s career during the flying dinner.
Vivamost: You must be very proud parents.
Lynette: We are very proud of what he achieved… You know he is doing well.
Robert: He won 7 times as best athlete of the year.
Lynette: and he has been nominated 17 times! (added Lynette proudly)
Vivamost: Has Roger made his plans for next year, what will he focus on the big tournaments or the smaller ones?
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Robert: Next year the big tournaments will be his focus.
Lynette: Yes the grand slams.
Vivamost: Wimbledon maybe?
Lynette: I would say so, and he goes to Tokyo to the Olympics.
Vivamost: Will he stay after the Olympic games?
Lynette: He has planned this year.
Vivamost: As a parent of Federer, the world´s best athlete, what were the challenges during the growing up years? There must be some sacrifices also. What advice would you give to parents whose children are in sports?
Lynette: When you notice a child has a passion for anything, it doesn´t matter in jobs, in sports or in music or whatever it may be, you just support them along the way but you don´t have to force them. If they have enough passion for whatever they want to do, they will achieve it. If your heart is there where you wanna go, the doors are opened.
Vivamost: At what age did you notice he is really into tennis?
Lynette: I think when he won the junior Wimbledon when he was 17 and at the end of that year he became the Number 1 Junior. Then we had hopes he would achieve something as a professional tennis player. But it was a long way very long way… it was not just like it happened and he did a great job, he worked a lot on himself and he achieved. His passion and the love for the game have brought him so far…He is 38 now and has been on the tour for over 20 years. It is hard work but if you don´t love the sport as much as he does, I think he could not do that!
Vivamost: Is it more difficult with the children now?
Lynette: No. he is pretty well organized and his wife too… and I mean she was a tennis player herself. That´s why. It´s not easy because when you are a big group, but they have got it all very well organized.
