Roger Federer is undoubtedly one of the greatest sports icons of his generation. However, the time of retirement is approaching for the Swiss and that is why Christopher Clarey wanted to publish the most complete work ever written about the man with 20 Grand Slam titles.
Posted at 8:00 a.m.
” Hello how are you ? replied Mr. Clarey when we reached him by telephone in Rome. He had just completed a post-match interview with Bianca Andreescu. “She looks good. It must be fun for you to see her play again! »
The entire interview took place in the language of Molière. Journalist at New York Times, Christopher Clarey had the chance to travel the world. Assigned to the coverage of tennis for 30 years, he had the opportunity to perfect his French, which today is close to perfection.
Three decades during which he also had the privilege of following and rubbing shoulders with Roger Federer closely. What culminates today in the ultimate work about the Swiss master. “I really wanted to understand the phenomenon of his global and international popularity, because it was obvious, traveling everywhere with him, that he had a very strong popularity, all over the world, and I wanted to know why. I also wanted to understand with him how a game like his was built. Technically and psychologically,” said the author of Federer: the master of the gamepublished by Flammarion editions.
Unsuspected problems
Christopher Clarey also wanted to look into Federer’s story because of his behavioral issues. While the player we know today always looks calm and in control, that wasn’t always the case. During his youth, he had great difficulty managing his frustration, disappointment and anger.
The author alludes in particular in his book to a young Federer who cries on the ground, who will take refuge under the official’s chair after a defeat to shed all the tears in his body. He also mentions games that were so awkward to watch that his parents wouldn’t walk him home because his attitude was so problematic. “He was tormented and unable to express his full potential, and I wanted to understand the path he had traveled. »
The journalist also believes that, despite popular belief, the Swiss is not the most mentally solid of this golden generation which also includes Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. It was also an interesting angle for him.
PHOTO BEN STANSALL, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ARCHIVES
Roger Federer at Wimbledon in July 2021
He explains that Federer lost extremely important matches, when he had a match point, in particular because he is more fragile than one might think. “He’s someone who maybe didn’t have the ability to succeed under pressure as often as Djoko or Nadal, but he won so often with class and finesse,” he added.
This is probably what explains its immense popularity. Fans have unconditional love for him. More than any of his contemporaries in tennis history. “People feel they have a personal relationship with him, even though they don’t speak the same language. I think it’s because he was often vulnerable and publicly tested. »
great defeats
Roger Federer is considered by many to be the greatest player in history. With his 103 titles, including 20 Grand Slams, and his 1251 career victories, he is also considered by many to be the greatest champion.
However, Christopher Clarey insists he is also, perhaps, the biggest loser in history. This statement does not have as negative a connotation as it might seem. It is only a statement that applies to a player who has played great games that he could not win.
According to the author, the three biggest matches Roger Federer has played are the 2008 Wimbledon final against Rafael Nadal, the 2017 Australian Open final again against Nadal and the 2019 Wimbledon final against Novak Djokovic. Federer lost the first and the last. That’s a fact. A fact that must also be considered when painting the portrait of a career that is as admirable as it is imperfect.
PHOTO TIM IRELAND, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in the 2019 Wimbledon final
“It brought people together, it humanized Roger, to see that he could cry in public and show his emotions, especially at the start of his career. It was pretty rare back then for a male athlete, and it still is rare. In my opinion, he changed what was possible and acceptable as a sportsman. »
Life’s work
Roger Federer stands out from his rivals because of his elegance, grace, class and fluidity on the pitch. This elegance is innate in the Swiss. “We can imagine that he was also an elegant football player at 12, explains Christopher Clarey. It is natural, but there is also a lot of work and refinement in this elegance of the gesture which separates Roger from all the other tennis players. »
It was his coach at the time, Peter Carter, who transformed Federer’s game and allowed him to be the technical role model he has become. He reinvented the Swiss forehand, serve, footwork and backhand. So many weapons that have become characteristic elements of his game.
“Roger was destined to be a good tennis player, there is no doubt, but he was not destined to be the great champion he is today. […] Roger was not a young prodigy like Nadal. »
He had to work hard to achieve and maintain such a level of excellence. A level that is no longer the same, of course. The 40-year-old accumulates injuries and prolonged absences. His future on the circuit is uncertain, which is why Christopher Clarey wanted to write the book he had in mind as soon as possible. He was keen to publish it while Federer was still active.
History was written before our eyes and Christopher Clarey wanted to put it down on paper so that it could remain frozen in time.
Federer: the master of the game
Christopher Clarey
Flammarion Quebec
496 pages