“I dreamed of winning Wimbledon…everybody laughed” Roger Federer opens up about the incident which led him to mend his ways

“I dreamed of winning Wimbledon…everybody laughed” Roger Federer opens up about the incident which led him to mend his ways
Roger Federer

A record 8-time Wimbledon Champion, Roger Federer didn’t have a straightforward road to success. The Swiss Maestro overcame countless trials and tribulations, only to now be regarded as one of the greatest sportspersons of all time.

In a video for BecomingX, Federer shed light on these difficulties. Further, he opened up about the impact that his mentor, Peter Carter’s tragic demise had on him. Bear Grylls founded BecomingX to showcase stories like that of Federer’s to try and inspire people across the globe.

The Swiss Champ’s early tough losses

Roger Federer

The 20-time Grand Slam champion recalled that he lost his first match 6-0, 6-0. After this, he heard, “Some rumours that the local federation were like, ‘Well maybe he’s not that good like we thought he was’.”

FS Video

Federer did not succumb to failure. Instead, he “kept on practicing hard”. Eventually, he became the Junior Swiss Champion when he was 12-years-old.

However, the tough road ahead had just started for Roger. When he was 14, staying away from home made Federer feel “incredibly homesick.” This led to a drop in the results and a plummet in his confidence.

Yet again, Roger didn’t allow this tumble to define himself. Even though “it was a tough journey,” he persevered and assumed responsibility for himself between the ages of 14 and 16.

How Peter Carter’s death impacted Roger Federer

Roger Federer

Peter Carter was Federer’s former coach. Carter is heavily credited for the Swiss champ’s form and incredibly successful career. He was an extremely influential figure in Roger’s life in his formative years.

“When I was 16, Peter Carter joined the NTC and he became my mentor. If I play the way I play today, it’s probably because of Peter,” said Federer.

Unfortunately, Peter Carter tragically met his demise in a car accident in 2002. “The news totally shocked me and rocked my world,” Federer continued. “In some ways, it was truly a wake-up call. This is when I shifted gears. And I was just like let’s get serious about tennis, very serious,” he added.

Further, after becoming fully devoted to the sport, Federer went on to lay claim to 20 Grand Slam titles. Moreover, he also holds another one of the most coveted records. Roger has been the World No.1 for the most weeks on the ATP Tour.

Also Read: “Roger Federer won’t be loved as much as Rafael Nadal” Top Coach dishes out behind-the-scenes experiences to back up ‘unpopular opinion’