What Prevented Roger Federer’s Wife Mirka From Having a Prolonged Tennis Career?

Roger Federer and Mirka Federer are regarded as one of the power couples in the tennis world! Federer first met her at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, where both represented their country, Switzerland. They started dating shortly after that meeting and then eventually tied the knot on 11 April 2009. However, her life off the court didn’t go according to her plans. She started playing tennis at the age of 9 years old and went on to become a pro in 1998. In fact, Martina Navratilova was quite impressed with her talent and later she sent her a racquet and arranged for her first tennis lesson. But unfortunately, fate led to an abrupt end to her blooming career.

She competed in all four Grand Slam events from 1999 to 2001 and her career-high ranking was No. 76 in the women’s singles. However, despite not having an illustrious career as her husband’s she never failed to be the rock-solid support system of Roger Federer. Mirka Federer later on took the role of his PR manager. She used to travel with him on tour and attend his matches. At times she was spotted being his tennis coach as well. The tennis in her never died, and she perhaps fulfilled her dreams through the hands of her husband!

Recalling an incident from the 2002 Hopman Cup, Roger Federer revealed, “At Hopman Cup, I remember she cried before playing against Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, and I was like, ‘Why are you crying?’“. He further went on to add,  “And she said, ‘You don’t understand. I have so much pain in my foot. I can barely run, and I have to go out and play a match.’ And I told her, ‘Well, then don’t play.‘” Later on Mirka Federer failed to qualify for the AO and the Indian Wells and had to stop playing for several months due to persistent foot pain.

After suffering for some time with her foot, she finally decided to get surgery, which the doctor later revealed was a big mistake. Soon after, she opted for ankle surgery, but her foot did not support her the same way it did before the injury. “I tried so hard to come back, and I wanted so much to come back, but there was nothing more I could do,” Mirka Federer. Speaking on his wife’s sufferings with her foot, Federer once said, “I never had it quite like this, I was close to it and I went on court. But this thing with Mirka was I guess a different animal.”

However, despite being away from her beloved sport, she had a great impact in building his husband’s career.

“She had a big part to play…”– Roger Federer spoke highly of his wife, who supported him from 0 to 89 titles to becoming a legend

According to Roger Federer’s former coach, Paul Annacone, “Mirka doesn’t get enough credit. She’s amazing. She really is someone that understood tennis and understands her husband so well, not only with the tennis but also with who he became as an icon. She’s incredible that she managed all that.” Reflecting on the same lines, Federer has often revealed how she used to help him do the warmups before the finals and gave him enormous support throughout his career.

“She’s been there when I had no titles and she’s still here 89 titles later, so she had a big part to play in [the win]. She knows it, I know it, everybody knows it. She’s a mum number one and a wife, and only then later does she become the supporter,” Federer’s speech after winning the 2017 AO title. Let us know your definition of ‘behind a successful man there is a woman’?