peRFection
Semi-Pro
McEnroe: "Connors loved the fight, Sampras loved to win but Fed just loves to
play! "
ESPN
play! "
ESPN
McEnroe: "Connors loved the fight, Sampras loved to win but Fed just loves to play!"
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McEnroe: "Connors loved the fight, Sampras loved to win but Fed just loves to
play! "
ESPN
Funny...but a bit unfair...
You forgot to include all other great players that make this era so much stronger, than 2004-2007.
Add in Berdych, Tsonga, Delpo, Ferrer, and....oops...nevermind...that still adds up to only 17
thor's hammer
Semi-Pro
Finally Mac comes up with a quote that's spot on!
ollinger
G.O.A.T.
I've never seen Federer after a loss express joy that he had the opportunity to just play. I think there are actually some top players who love to win but are just happy to be out there and compete (the Bryans come to mind, Agassi in his later years), not sure Roger is one of them.
Funny...but a bit unfair...
You forgot to include all other great players that make this era so much stronger, than 2004-2007.
Add in Berdych, Tsonga, Delpo, Ferrer, and....oops...nevermind...that still adds up to only 17
No love for Roddick's +1? it came after Fed started winning slams in 2003.
Tsonga always seems happy to play.
Roddick is from the weak 2004-2007 era.
You should add his +1 to Fed's count, if he ever needs it
ductrung3993
Hall of Fame
nice pic
SLD76
G.O.A.T.
I dunno...Roger seemed pretty jovial after the USO loss to Delpo.
I remember being p!ssed off that he was so cheerful after that match, lol.
JMac didn't mean that Roger enjoys losing matches, lol.
Just that he loves the sport, as anyone who knows anything about Fed knows, which is why he was hitting tennis balls against closets for hours as a kid and why Annacone has talked about how much more enthusiastic he is about the tour than Sampras at the same age.
Just that he loves the sport, as anyone who knows anything about Fed knows, which is why he was hitting tennis balls against closets for hours as a kid and why Annacone has talked about how much more enthusiastic he is about the tour than Sampras at the same age.
*Val*
Semi-Pro
someone has too much time on their hands...
It's widely reported how Fed just loves the total experience of being a tennis star. He loves the travel. He loves the experience of playing in front of adoring fans. He loves the media. He doesn't consider it a grind. Sampras felt burnt out after all the years on the tour. Not long ago Rafa expressed that he felt burnt out.
I agree with McEnroe (if you talk so much I guess something worthwhile will spill from your lips). Fed just loves playing tennis. I don't know if he would handle retirement well.
I agree with McEnroe (if you talk so much I guess something worthwhile will spill from your lips). Fed just loves playing tennis. I don't know if he would handle retirement well.
Worthwhile endeavor I say. Artistic expression of federer's love for playing.
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Mister drool
Rookie
com on folks, hewit still plays ball, he has 2 slams in 2001 and 2002, roddick as the 1 us open, and of course, delpo won against the king himself at 2009 us open
so...
5+0+11+2+1+1= 20 against federers 17.
but federer is still the king of tennis as far as i am concernd...
so...
5+0+11+2+1+1= 20 against federers 17.
but federer is still the king of tennis as far as i am concernd...
I RARELY chime in on any of these topics, but I have to agree that people confuse the "loves to play" with somehow him enjoying losing. He's out there TO win, but he's out there because he LOVES TENNIS. Period.
That is why I think you will see him play for - perhaps - 'as long as they'll have him', declining or not, as long as he is enjoying himself, he will be there.
His love for this game reminds me a bit of Bill Tilden's love for tennis. 'The gang' found Tilden, dead in his room, bags packed, rackets ready, dressed and hair brushed, ready to go out and play yet another pro tour.........
He was 60 years old.
That is why I think you will see him play for - perhaps - 'as long as they'll have him', declining or not, as long as he is enjoying himself, he will be there.
His love for this game reminds me a bit of Bill Tilden's love for tennis. 'The gang' found Tilden, dead in his room, bags packed, rackets ready, dressed and hair brushed, ready to go out and play yet another pro tour.........
He was 60 years old.
But have you ever seen a player react worse to losing, than federer did at that 2009 ao? I think losing hurts federer more than losing hurts others.
6-1 6-3 6-0
Banned
Did you paint that? That is an amazing piece of work. I wish I could frame it, or maybe Federer could help me with that.
That was one match, a big match as Fed was trying to tie Pete's record. His emotional breakdown was the release of all the pressure he was feeling. He probably would have cried like that if he won. It just showed how much he wanted it. (As an aside, as much as I love Fed I was disappointed in his loss of emotional control. It was Rafa's day and Fed dampened Rafa's well deserved victory.)
Raiden
Hall of Fame
Not sure you understood the context. It dont' think it was meant in the sense of not in the sense of being satisfied to be present at a stage, goof around, count he beans, and go home (Bryan bros). Your Agassi analogy however is closer to Fed's kind of loving to play (which is basically in the sense of loving to do the sport itself, for it's own sake AND still wanting to be rewarded.
Kinda like being a professional (NOT merely a hobbyist) wood-craftsman versus being just a construction carpenter
.
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Of course, most players cry when they win slam titles. That would be no surprise. But I've never seen a player cry (understatement) on the podium after losing, except for federer.
Yep that 2009 ao final was similar to the 2012 Roland Garros final where djokovic and Nadal were both seeking equally life-changing feats.
SLD76
G.O.A.T.
that image there just moved me. :neutral:
helloworld
Hall of Fame
I agree with this. Sampras is an introvert type that just hates the media and large crowd. He was god-gifted with tennis talent, but his lifestyle just doesn't suit the limelight of a tennis star. Federer on the other hand loved the life of a tennis star. He doesn't felt burnout out living the life of tennis star. He's like a born tennis star, and will likely play for many more years without getting burnout.
BigServer1
Legend
Well and for Fed, what an incredible life...
He's got his wife and kids with him at all times, so he's not missing his family. Fed and Mirka are also European, so they're always closer to "home" than American players are. Not to mention the private jet, 1st class everything during travel, and the fact that most fans and media persons are obsessed with him.
Pete's wife is an actress, so she was traveling as much as he was (though she always seemed to be around for the big stuff), and he definitely didn't enjoy the limelight as much. It wasn't as easy for Pete I don't think.
SLD76
G.O.A.T.
I think Fed may be the first slam champion where being married and having children is a help and not a hindrance. Most family men got torn between having their wife and kids away or the distraction when they travel with them. I recall reading a fed interview where Fed said that mirka told him that although she wanted a family with him, it did not mean that his children and family life was meant to derail his tennis success and that she told him she enjoys the travel and being on the road with him and watching him play. I honestly think Fed will play until the children get to the age where they are meant to be in school.
Mirka does not get the credit she deserves for helping Roger with his career. I sometimes wonder if he would have been as great without her by his side...
kOaMaster
Hall of Fame
Most certainly not. She has been a great deal to him and the consistency in their relationship brought him for sure the necessary self-confidence.
Plus, the way she handles everything around him/her/them and the media is extraordinary.
BigServer1
Legend
I agree. She's a huge part of his overall brand and success, for sure.
They can afford to hire a full time tutor, no need to settle down during the school year.
I think Federer will probably play until he feels he can't compete for majors. Since he makes almost every semi-final right now and dominates everyone outside the top 10 with ease, that's 3 or so years off by my estimation, unless he gets hurt, which of course is always a possibility.
SLD76
G.O.A.T.
true, but there is more to school than books , there is also the social aspect. and given that his kids are such road warriors...I dunno..I should hope they'd like the kids to be able to socialize with other children.
of course, I have absolutely no insight into his home life, just my $.02
Even with kids, Fed is GOAT of long-distance planning.
with twins, it gets less lonely for each kid during all those hauls across the world. it's like you have a built-in playmate, imagine all those nights b!tching about how dad is this and mom is that. and i think they more or less get along with each other (or looks like it). imagine if a single child. it'll be bad and lonely.
(i know this is not a good comparison, but compare for instance the crazy Angelina Jolie's tribe vs. Tom Cruise's lone daughter. the former seems have more fun even though they probably have more frequent flier miles than the most seasoned international engineer).
plus, they're based in europe where friends are just an hour or so away from their doorstep. and some of the players and crew and staff at a tournament must have kids of their own too. i hear that more and more tournament places have creches/children's playground, that means at least some kids they can harrass, or lord over
i think so anyway. i'm just basing this on how children with working parents sort of cope these days. (in-office creches are becoming more common, etc).
kOaMaster
Hall of Fame
ehm, what kind of prejudice is that? "europe" is larger than the US.
or do you just think "european" people have more friends?
Some people don't recognize how tough it is to raise a family while focusing on their career. Being single like Nadal or Nole is a lot easier since they have so much free time.
Look, I'm a Fed fan and I was embarrassed for him that day. But some things to keep in mind:
1) Fed's had a tendancy from childhood to bawl after losses; his parents have told of searching for him after matches and finding him sobbing in the coat closet. Fed once said he pretty much cried after every loss from age 8 to around 15. And even after that he did it plenty - one of his best friends (and former roommate) Yves Allegro once recounted that the last time he beat Fed in a match they went back to the apartment they shared and Fed was crying on his bed for like half and hour and it really pi---ed him off. You can even find youtube footage of Fed crying during a trophy ceremony in 2001 after losing in the Basel final in straights to Tim Henman.
2) As he's matured Fed's gotten greater and greater control over his emotions, but in moments of stress/strain natural weaknesses will come out.
In the gazillion interviews he's had to give about AO '09 one thing he's said often is that he felt "exhausted." Let's remember that Fed had been dealing with a serious back problem for months at that point in addition to the rise of Nadal. And to add to the emotional strain, Mirka had just become pregnant and it was only earlier that week they had learned she'd be having twins rather than one child as expected. Fed has said this was hardly welcome news as they worried it might prove impossible to travel the world with twins so they might have to be separated.
I'm not saying he was thinking any of those things per se at that moment, but it was clearly an emotionally difficult period in his life and for a moment he just snapped. It happens.
3) While Fed has always had a natural tendacy to become highly emotional directly after a loss, he once told a reporter when he was much younger that the "good thing about me" is that he can actually shrug them off pretty fast once an hour or so has past. As we've all seen w/ Fed over the years, he's taken some hard knocks, but he bends but doesn't break.
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Most likely if they ever do socialize with other children, it will be with other "elites" kids at some European boarding school. The guy is worth an absolute mint and he can make it work however he wants it to. His kids can have play dates at the Dubai ex-pat millionaires club.
RF20Lennon
Legend
Nadal cried when he lost wimby 2007 Fed cried when he lost australia in 2009 Roddick cried at wimbledon 2009 Murray cried this year!! So what?? It shows that they love the game and they want to win!! this shows their competitive spirit whats wrong with that??
TopFH
Hall of Fame
Did you paint that? That is an amazing piece of work. I wish I could frame it, or maybe Federer could help me with that.
Maybe Rosol can help you...
Antonio Puente
Hall of Fame
dParis
Hall of Fame
And McEnroe just loves the sound of his own voice.
BHud
Hall of Fame
Did your mommy make you take your nap during this year's Wimbledon trophy presentation? ...Murray... Heck, even I cried and I'm no Andy fan.
okdude1992
Hall of Fame
tbh i think it was a stupid quote only *******s would appreciate. of course there are some exceptions, but pretty much everyone out there LOVES PLAYING the game of tennis. trying to say who loves it more is silly.
JustBob
Hall of Fame
Paul Annacone on Federer and Sampras:
http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/news/articles/2012-01-13/201201131326430916054.html
I think there's a more recent interview somewhere, where he basically says the same thing.
http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/news/articles/2012-01-13/201201131326430916054.html
I think there's a more recent interview somewhere, where he basically says the same thing.
If Mirka is the one who got young Fed to cut off the ponytail and to shave regularly, I hope she has complete and full access to his bank account. He was transformed from a sloppy looking tennis genius to a suave, debonair and prince-like tennis genius. And it's the suave, debonair and prince-like Fed that has banked a lot of $$$.
Antonio Puente
Hall of Fame
God damn, you are one suave fvck.
SLD76
G.O.A.T.
Well no worries about Mirka's money because she was
According to the cache of interviews I randomly found online( in the fed babies thread), Fed totally admits that it was mirka that spruced up his image. She got him to shave, cut off his ponytail and taught him how to dress and taught him about fashion designers and whatnot.
Again, there is so much Mirka doesnt get credit for.
mcenroefan
Hall of Fame
Of course, most players cry when they win slam titles. That would be no surprise. But I've never seen a player cry (understatement) on the podium after losing, except for federer.
Yep that 2009 ao final was similar to the 2012 Roland Garros final where djokovic and Nadal were both seeking equally life-changing feats.
That picture sums up my thoughts on Nole....he is so gracious in losing situations.
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