By Miguel Mike Medina
Photo Credit: Meghan Mitchell/ATP Tour
Roger Federer was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. His wife introduced him to the stage.
Federer was surprised but praised his wife for being a great public speaker. It was an emotional speech for Federer. He was very grateful to all the doctors, coaches, and colleagues. The 45-year-old is now officially a Hall of Famer and has done it for 25 years.
“To immerse myself in the history of this sport, that means a lot to me,” Federer said. “This is one of the greatest honors of my life.”
Fame was never Federer’s goal. He grew up wanting to do what he loved. Federer values the moments he shared with his family and friends. He’s never forgotten all of the people who helped him along the way. Federer brought up some numbers, such as the headbands. Federer was known for wearing headbands during matches.
“I wore more than 5,000 headbands in my career,” Federer said. “That’s more than Borg and McEnroe combined.”
The crowd laughed when he mentioned headbands and the comparisons between the tennis players. One of the best moments of his speech was when he told a story about being 13 years old.
“By the time I was 13, I had been in love with Tennis for a decade already,” Federer said. “My parents tell me I picked up a racket when I was three—my dad’s wooden racket. I grew up with the wooden rackets and white tennis balls. That’s how old I am.”
Federer is a product of Switzerland. It was an amazing place for him and his family. Federer had a wonderful childhood. Federer always carries the Swiss flag with pride everywhere he goes.
Tennis was the fabric of his life. He played many sports, but Tennis was his main event. His parents spent a lot of time on the tennis court with Federer. The sport keeps evolving. The sport continues to reach globally.
“Never stop asking questions or taking risks,” Federer said.
Miguel Mike Medina is the publisher of The MMM Journal. He can be reached at medinamiguelmike@gmail.com and themmmjournal@gmail.com
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