I Delayed My Retirement For 10years, Says Federer
Roger Federer kept his family front of mind throughout his long-running tennis career. The tennis pro, who announced his retirement earlier this month, sat down for a wide-ranging interview on Today Wednesday, where he opened up about how being a dad of four played a role in keeping him “hungry” 1 the court as a professional athlete.
Federer, 41, and his wife Mirka welcomed twin daughters Charlene Riva and Myla Rose in July 2009, and in 2014, they welcomed another set of identical twins, sons Leo and Lenny.
“I have twin girls, as you know, Myla and Charlene. They were born in ‘09, just after I became, I think it was world No. 1,” he told Savannah Guthrie. “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.”
He continued, “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,” he shared. “And I liked that role, as well. I actually really stayed hungry throughout.”
Mirka Federer, wife of Roger Federer with their children nine-year-old twin girls Charlene and Myla and five-year-old boys Lenny and Leo during presentations after Roger Federer of Switzerland loss against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during the Men’s Singles Final on Centre Court during the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club at Wimbledon on July 14, 2019 in London, England.
Mirka Federer, wife of Roger Federer with their children nine-yearold twin girls
Charlene and
Myla and fiveyear-old boys Lenny and Leo
during presentations after Roger Federer of Switzerland loss against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during the Men’s Singles Final on Centre Court during the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All
England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club at Wimbledon on July 14, 2019 in London, England.
Federer also spoke about taking his kids on the road with him throughout his career, noting it was a no-brainer. “Oh, it was the only way,” he said. “I said, ‘Never would I go on the road without my kids.’ I’d rather retire [than travel without them]. Then I would’ve had to retire 10 years ago.” In his retirement announcement last week on Twitter, Federer said this weekend’s Laver Cup would be his final competitive tournament.