By Richard Pagliaro Friday, November 21, 2025
Photo credit: Rob Newell/CameraSport
At the height of his power, roger federer A tennis match can be turned into a ballet with a ball.
Federer is one of the top shot shooters in tennis and he can make the ball dance.
“I just want to play, not my opponent,” Federer said after defeating rival Rafael Nadal 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 in the 2017 Australian Open final to win his 18th Grand Slam title.
This week, the International Tennis Hall of Fame announced that Federer will headline the Hall of Fame’s 2026 class, along with former French Open mixed doubles champion and award-winning broadcaster Marie Carrillo.
Looking ahead to his Hall of Fame induction, Federer took the time to reflect on his illustrious career across a wide range of areas. Interview by Simon Graf of Tages Anzeiger.
In the interview, Federer shared the most difficult period of his career: from the age of 18 to around 21, when he was perfecting his game and faced intense pressure to face his tennis heroes on the court and in the locker room. Those were the days when Federer felt the pressure pounding his body like a Grand Slam dancer.
“The hardest thing for me was the transition from junior to professional,” Federer said Simon Graf of Tages Anzeiger. “It felt super cool at first. Suddenly I was in the dressing room with Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Tim Henman, Evgeny Kafelnikov, Carlos Moya and others. I thought: This is the best!
“But then it all gets so serious. One guy has a serious look on his face and tape is wrapped around his racket, and you think: Oh my God, he’s so intense! Another guy walks past you without even looking at you. And you think: He wants to win at all costs! And yet: Does it really matter?”
The 1998 Wimbledon junior champion began his career shortly before his 17th birthday in July 1998. It took Federer nearly three years to win his first ATP singles title. Prior to this, Federer and his former world No. 1 partner, who had served as caddy, Martina Hingiswon the 2001 Hopman Cup championship for Switzerland.
“Martina Hingis definitely helped me become the person I am today,” Federer once said. A few months after winning the Hopman Cup, Federer finally broke through and won his first title at the 2001 Milan Indoors.
“That was a tough stage for me,” Federer said of his early days on the ATP Tour. “When you travel a lot, lose a lot, and get as emotional as I did, you think: I didn’t read the fine print in the tennis contract. It’s not all fun and games. The seriousness got to me. Going from 18 to 20 or 21 was tough for me.”
Looking back, Federer said the support of his wife Mirka, whom he began dating at the 2000 Sydney Olympics when both were members of the Swiss team, provided him with perspective and kept him grounded during his early struggles.
“I had a great perspective with Mirka and my team next to me,” Federer said. “We always have a lot of fun. When things get a little too serious, we just hang out more than usual. Then it’s good again.”
