ROGER FEDERER NEVER QUITS • EVEN WHEN HE PLAYS TENNIS IN A SAUNA

Written by: Staff on 10th September 2018

ROGER FEDERER NEVER QUITS • EVEN WHEN HE PLAYS TENNIS IN A SAUNA

epa06991202 Roger Federer of Switzerland hits a return to Nick Kyrgios of Australia during the sixth day of the US Open Tennis Championships the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 01 September 2018. The US Open runs from 27 August through 09 September. EPA-EFE/JUSTIN LANE |

Roger Federer of Switzerland hits a return to Nick Kyrgios of Australia during the sixth day of the US Open Tennis Championships the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 01 September 2018. The US Open runs from 27 August through 09 September. EPA-EFE/JUSTIN LANE

By Jack Fox

Facts • turned pro in 1997• Age • 19 +1/2

• still playing in 2018. Age • 37

Fact • Roger never throws in the towel!

Roger played his first pro matches in 1997 (5 total) and in 1998 full-time playing ATP events.

Since then Roger has played in over 1,400 matches and in the 1,424 matches he finished every single match he ever started. He limped. He ached. He bled. He sweat. He hurt. He never ever stopped once. Not once! No blisters ever got him. No strains, sprains, No younger players.

But. drumroll. This year’s U.S. Open was the closest we’ve ever seen that Roger almost couldn’t continue.

What’s up with the lack of AIR in the stadium? Any air? Cool air would be nice. A courtside fan that’s six inches in diameter doesn’t cool down a fly… Where are big industrial fans? Where’s the central air in the building? Is it the roof or a goof?

For Roger Federer to hit 76 unforced errors over four sets shouts. I’m ill… I needing sleep…. My body is exhausted….My mind is wiped out… I’ve sweated out every ounce of energy I have left in my body…

The man has four children under the age of 10. Ever hear him say I’m not fit cause I was up all night with a child with a cough or stomach flu or who couldn’t sleep because if the jet Lag | time zone changes and hotels and airports.

It’s not as glamorous life as it looks folks. It’s a traveling circus. A nice circus. But a traveling road show. A nanny per set of twins. Or one each? Where are our Nike kits. Our usual clothes we wear. It’s all a lot for any one man to juggle.

Roger has to please himself first and foremost. He thrives on 12 hours of sleep. He Loves 10-11 hours and often gets by on 8 if he is lucky. But 6 hours is not unusual. The Last 28 months he has had “Match for Africa” with Bill Gates. Now already the second LAVER CUP.

(Chicago). He is a busy man. Raising millions for charity and his foundation.

And Roger has his annual home event to play in Basel. Then there’s still Paris and The ATP year end Championships in LONDON.

It’s really important he gets a few weeks of “rest blocks” there’s the “training blocks” and the restoration ones. The pampering. He needs a rest. This is a weary warrior in different armour. He is Roger Federer the SWISS maestro he will get it all sorted out. We believe in RF a man who never “quits”.

Editors note: Thank you Greg Sharko at the ATP. The one and only SHARK. No one man has given men’s tennis the kind of respect and relevance the tennis athletes deserve. Greg is a thoughtful caring guy. If tennis and the world were all filled with Greg Sharkos. Wow. We would live in a world of kindness and transparency and common sense. My vote for tennis commissioner.