Roger Federer has often reflected on the significant role his wife, Mirka, has played in his remarkable tennis career. The Swiss legend has spoken openly about how Mirka witnessed all the highs and lows of his journey, standing by his side and supporting him every step of the way.
The couple first met at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where they were both representing Switzerland in tennis. At the time, Federer was just 18 years old, while Mirka was 21. This age difference led to an amusing exchange during their first kiss. In a 2016 interview with *The Guardian*, Federer recounted how Mirka called him “a baby” when they shared their first kiss at the Olympics.
“She’s always been older than me. When I kissed her for the first time, she said, ‘You’re so young.’ I said, ‘Well, I’m almost 18 and a half.’ You know how you try to shove another half year in? And she was like, ‘OK, you’re a baby,’” Federer recalled with a smile. Despite this playful banter, the two left the sporting event as a couple.
Two years later, in 2002, Mirka had to retire from her own tennis career due to a serious foot injury. Afterward, she shifted her focus to supporting Federer by managing his travel arrangements and public relations, traveling with him on the tour. Federer has openly acknowledged just how much Mirka has contributed to his success, noting that she has been by his side since before he had won a single tour-level title.
“When I met her I had zero titles, today I have 88, so she’s been on this ride for the whole time,” he said.
Federer has also expressed deep gratitude for Mirka’s willingness to travel with their four children—Charlene, Myla Rose, Leo, and Lenny—to support him throughout his demanding tour schedule. He shared that her presence and efforts have been crucial in keeping feelings of loneliness at bay during long periods away from home.
### Roger Federer on Mirka’s Intense Training Sessions: “She Was Tough, She Taught Me How to Work”
In the same interview, Federer spoke with admiration about Mirka’s incredible work ethic during her playing days. He revealed that he often watched her train for six hours straight, something he found hard to imagine doing himself.
“She used to train five, six hours in a row. Her parents had to work extremely hard. She was tough, and she taught me how to work,” Federer explained. “I would be at the tennis centre and see her do six-hour sessions, and I’d think, I can’t do that. I’d check out mentally after an hour and go, this is so boring. So I’d get kicked out of practice for bad behaviour.”
Despite his admiration for her dedication, Federer believes Mirka may have “over-practiced,” which unfortunately led to the injury that ended her tennis career. He revealed that, learning from this, he adopted a “less is more” approach to his own training to avoid the same pitfalls.
Roger Federer’s reflections on Mirka highlight not only the strength and resilience of their partnership but also the vital support system behind one of tennis’s greatest champions.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/tennis/when-i-met-i-0-titles-she-s-ride-whole-time-when-roger-federer-reflected-wife-mirka-s-role-success
