Interview with author Simon Graf: "Roger Federer is very conscious of his career"
Federer biographer Simon Graf talks about his new book, dealing with the maestro in Switzerland and the "typical" Roger.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit:
Jan 08, 2019, 04:36 pm
Simon Graf, 46, has worked as a sports editor for the Swiss daily Anzeiger for more than 25 years and has attended over 50 Grand Slam tournaments. Graf is married, has two daughters and lives in Kilchberg on Lake Zurich, "very close to where Roger Federer likes to go to the outdoor pool". In October, he published a book about Federer, with 15 essays about his compatriot, in which he shed light on Federer's various pages.
Mr. Graf, you did not get into your book with a victory by Roger Federer, but with a bitter defeat: in Gstaad in 2013, when he had massive back problems and lost at the start.
It was a formative experience for me. I felt sorry for him, the game was tragic. Everyone had expected so much from him when he came back to Switzerland. He was the fallen hero. It's like this: If you win, it's easy to be personable. In difficult moments, however, the true character comes through. I play tennis myself and am rarely in a good mood after losing. At that point, in 2013, it was conceivable that his career was over. His back was causing him serious problems. How he still took the time and chatted with the people, wanted to give something back even though he was bad - that impressed me.
How did your book project come about: did you know the series?
The publisher and the series are still new. It was probably important to have a big figure at the start with Federer. The great thing was that I wasn't given any specifications except for the number of characters. So I could write a book the way I wanted to. I get bored when matches are retold, so I looked for a different approach, wanted to shed light on various aspects of Federer. What is interesting is what is behind the athlete and his success. The difficult moments. Things that have shaped him and explain why he ticks so. I hope I succeeded.
Federer himself is not considered a book freak. Did you tell him about the book and give him one?
Roger knew that I was writing the book, but was fundamentally not involved in book projects. I think his manager Tony Godsick would like Roger to publish a biography after his career, like Andre Agassi. But I don't think he wants that. He always said that he had no desire to reveal more of himself. I had a lot of material for my book. I listened to him for hundreds of hours, had one-on-one talks with him, and during press conferences I was able to ask him questions during the time of writing - I used a lot from that. I gave him a copy of the book in Basel, and he was happy that it was so successful. It is important for him that the picture of him is correct. The people around him thought I met him well.
Ultimately, the break was a stroke of luck, especially for the head. And that is very important to him. He is not a machine, he plays tennis, he must enjoy it.
You have been chasing Federer from an early age. How exactly do you really know each other, how did the contact with him develop when he became a world star?
(thinks) Time has become a little less. What I think is phenomenal is that he always gives you something. He always thinks about what might be interesting for me as a journalist. After the English press round, he takes a lot of time in Swiss German, in French… That is very important to him. He knows that his image is promoted by the media. And have fun answering the questions. Compared to his teenage years, of course, he has changed and matured. If you know him for a longer time, he is also very personal. He asks how the children are doing, how to do this and that. Of course, he doesn't tell everything. He knows exactly where to draw the line.
In your book you write that Federer had made an increasingly annoyed impression on you in the months before his knee injury and the subsequent break. Would he still play without this break?
I am not sure. Ultimately, the break was a stroke of luck, especially for the head. And that is very important to him. He is not a machine, he plays tennis, he must enjoy it. He does not rewind his program, neither on nor next to the square. His career had gotten a negative dynamic. He was the legend that won nothing. Everyone asked when to step down. That was starting to bother him. He also noticed that he could no longer win the big matches. Maybe he was also infected by some comments. Due to the time off from tennis, he was able to make himself aware of whether he still wanted it all. He decided: Yes, I'm missing, the story isn't over yet. His return with victory at the Australian Open, in Indian Wells, in Miami, in Wimbledon without losing a set - that was incredible. This freshness was good for him physically, but was mentally more important.
The last months in 2018 weren't as fantastic as in the previous year. Federer himself saw this realistically, but he also looked somewhat dissatisfied in the end.
One statement that made me wonder: that he felt he was under pressure. That he plays rather not to lose than to win. That is the wrong attitude. His team is also working on that at the moment. I had an interview with Severin Lüthi before the ATP Finals. He said: Roger has nothing left to lose - even if he doesn't win a game anymore, he's a tennis god. Roger should bear this in mind because I have missed this ease in the past few months. But he fought his way through. Maybe he needs the outsider role again. That he knows in my head: I have nothing to lose.
The Swiss mentality is rather shy. It's great for him: he doesn't need bodyguards, he can move about in public in a totally normal way.
I saw Roger Federer at the airport on the way from Zurich to Indian Wells in the spring, we happened to be on the same plane. What was interesting: No passenger asked for an autograph or selfie, not even at the airport in Los Angeles. Is this reluctance typical of Switzerland - that you let people rest and keep their distance?
I guess so. He also enjoys this reluctance, which is why he can lead a normal life there. He hikes and goes to the swimming pool with the family. Of course there is a selfie here and there, but it is not besieged. It can run along Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich. People turn around, but that's it. This is the Swiss mentality, somewhat reserved and shy. It's great for him: he doesn't need bodyguards, he can move about in public in a totally normal way.
While Federer speaks to the media quite often, Mirka has not given interviews for years. Why?
He advised her to do so over ten years ago. Roger likes to stay in control, he doesn't want everyone on the team to talk. Physio Daniel Troxler does not speak, nor does Ivan Ljubicic, nor does Mirka. Severin Lüthi speaks, I think that's good too. Because he is always underestimated. Now people know what he knows about tennis, that he is an important figure for Roger. Otherwise: Roger speaks a lot, so he makes up for everything. But he also doesn't want to reveal any private details.
You mention his longing for control, what else does that apply to?
Longing is perhaps a strong word. He just wants to know exactly what's going on. For example at his foundation. He doesn't just give his name to how others do it. At the meetings, he wants to know exactly what is being planned. He also makes the decisions. The fact that he himself is in control is also one of the reasons why he is so successful. He is very conscious of his career.
How is it dealt with in general in Switzerland? If you look in Germany: Despite the successes of Angelique Kerber and Alexander Zverev, there are complaints immediately when things are not going well.
We all grew up with Roger, he achieved so much ... He became part of the family! Everyone says: It's incredible! Switzerland is actually a people of envious people. If one climbs too high, it is not a good thing. But it's different with Roger. People are very proud. Even in the phase when things weren't going well. The reaction in Switzerland when he won again - he had never seen anything like it, he said. Of course there is always envy, money is always an issue in Switzerland. But with him that is limited. There was controversy with the Basel tournament director, who accused Roger and his manager of being greedy for money. But that was an own goal by the tournament director. In the end, Roger played without an entry fee.
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What is another thing you say: this is typical Federer!
(thinks) We wrote a book a few years ago, "Jubilee Years " , about the Swiss tennis miracle. Since he participated. We drove to Basel at short notice and were able to talk to him for over an hour. Also about what he advises young players - how to start a career, how to focus when you have chosen professional tennis. That is very important to him. Federer is always very nice, but he is not one who always wants to please everyone. He went his way in a very straight line and made tough decisions along the way.
The interview was conducted by Florian Goosmann at the ATP Finals in London.