Roger Federer is The Most Popular Athlete in Australia

Written by: Staff on 25th October 2012

Roger Federer is The Most Popular Athlete in Australia

epa03442795 Switzerland's Roger Federer cheers after winning his first round match against Germany's Benjamin at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, 22 October 2012. EPA/GEORGIOS KEFALAS |

Australia is a nation with a rich sporting tradition and many heroes who show their excellence in competition. But Olympic gold medal winner hurdler Sally Pearson, Allan Border Medal winning cricketer Michael Clarke, Wallabies rugby captain Nathan Sharpe and numerous swimming Olympians have been beaten as Roger Federer has again been voted Australian sports’ fans most popular athlete for the third year in succession.

Once again gemba Asset Study (gES) surveyed the views of Australian citizens of more than 200 names from sport, selected from both home and international categories.

Federer, a four times Australian Open champion who last won the title in 2010, came out on top with other tennis players Rafael Nadal coming third and Samantha Stosur ending up the highest placed woman in the voting at seventh.

Kim Clijsters, recently retired from the WTA scene and almost adopted by Australians during the early years of her career when she was engaged to Lleyton Hewitt, still made it to tenth in the survey

“Australians are very attracted to athletes who are seen as competitive and humble and Roger embodies these attributes,” said the survey’s director Rob Mills. “Roger has consistently tracked well in Australia over the past three years.”

Despite retiring from Test cricket five years ago, former fast bowler Glenn McGrath, currently heavily involved in raising funds to combat breast cancer, was the highest ranked Aussie at second while another cricketer Rickie Ponting was fourth and last year’s Tour de France winning cyclist Cadel Evans fifth

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: Australia Tennis, Australian Open, Roger Federer, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News