Tennis legend Roger Federer has heaped praise on his four children for helping him stay hungry over the last 10 years of his career, revealing he would rather have retired a decade ago than left them at home while he travelled the world.
The legendary 20-time Grand Slam winner, who retired earlier this month, brought twin girls Myla and Charlene, 13, and twin boys Lenny and Leo, 8, to every tournament with his wife Mirka, 44.
And he admits that having his family around was the exact shift in approach he needed to continue winning tournaments through his 30s and into his 40s.
Roger Federer’s four children, Lenny, Charlene, Myla and Leo, watch him at Wimbledon in 2019
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Roger Federer’s four children, Lenny, Charlene, Myla and Leo, watch him at Wimbledon in 2019
Federer, who recently retired, told The Today Show that his kids kept him hungry for success
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Federer, who recently retired, told The Today Show that his kids kept him hungry for success
He spoke to NBC Today’s Savannah Guthrie for the first time since announcing his decision
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He spoke to NBC Today’s Savannah Guthrie for the first time since announcing his decision
‘[The girls] were born in 09, just after I became, I think it was world No. 1,’ he said on The Today Show on Wednesday. ‘The girls were born and from that moment on, 2010 and 2011, I didn’t win any Slam.
‘I remember changing diapers, bathing the girls and just being a dad. But then when the boys were born, I mean, that rocked the boat, obviously, because going on the road with four kids every single week was hard, to say the least.
‘And from being maybe the dominator I became the challenger. And I liked that role, as well. I actually really stayed hungry throughout.’
Federer took his kids with him on tour and admits he would rather have retired than left them
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Federer took his kids with him on tour and admits he would rather have retired than left them
Federer speaks to Guthrie on NBC’s Today about his decision to retire, and plenty more
