“In sport, you can gain maturity. Look at Roger Federer in tennis, he’s still at his peak” Cristiano Ronaldo lauds Federer for his athleticism
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Cristiano Ronaldo and Roger Federer
Cristiano Ronaldo recently revealed a conversation he had with British boxer Anthony Joshua about longevity in sports and how athletes can be at the top of their games even in the mid-30s or late 30s which is often called the ‘retirement age’.
Ronaldo gave the example of Roger Federer who achieved the feat of becoming the second oldest tennis player in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam title when the Swiss Maestro won the 2018 Australian Open which also made him the first man to win 20 Grand Slam singles titles. Federer came close to another Slam but lost in the finals of the 2019 Wimbledon Championships.
“I don’t wanna be in the sport, in football, where people say, ‘Cristiano was an unbelievable player and now he’s slow’. I don’t want that. You can take care a lot of your body, the body’s not a problem I don’t think. It’s here [points to his head], your motivation, experience. I think this is the toughest.
“In sport, you can gain maturity. Look at [Roger] Federer in tennis; he’s 37 or 38 years old, and he’s still at his peak, and there are some in boxing too. Between watching a football match or a boxing or UFC fight, I choose boxing or UFC. I don’t think I could have been a boxer, it’s tough. You have to be born for that, with that gift,” said Ronaldo who is back in England playing for Manchester United.
Roger Federer is the oldest player in the Top-100 of the ATP Rankings
Roger turned 40 last month in August and is now the oldest player to feature in the Top-100 of the ATP Rankings that were updated after the conclusion of the 2021 US Open. Federer is currently the World No. 9 and the only player above the age of 36 in the Top-20.
While Federer missed the beginning of the 2021 season, he returned to Grand Slam action at the 2021 French Open where he eased his way into the 4th round before deciding to withdraw in order to remain fir for the 2021 Wimbledon Championships where he is an 8-time champion, the most for a male player.
Federer made it to the quarter-finals in Wimbledon before being defeated by Polish youngster Hubert Hurkacz. Federer had his knee injured at the Championships which needed surgery that unfortunately forced him to end his season early in order to be fully fit for the 2022 season.
Also Read: Find out who are the oldest and the youngest players in the Top-100 of the ATP Ranking
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Sarthak Shitole
(3462 Articles Published)