‘A Manufactured Product of Nike’s Marketing’- Roger Federer’s Villainous Meltdown Led to a Provocative View From Former Team Member in 2009
Follow Us
When people think of Roger Federer as an example, what people usually imagine is a guy who took tennis to new heights with his unique personality and simplicity. A smiling guy is what everyone can usually imagine while thinking about the Swiss great, right? But, deep down lies a question: Is it really his true side or is there a dark side of Roger Federer as well?
An incident that happened back at the US Open in 2009 displayed a side of him that was quite hidden from his fans. Reacting to the whole incident, one of his former team members suggested how Roger Federer truly is and how his popular personality and his brand value made him look on the tennis courts.
Roger Federer showed his villainous side in the US Open final back in 2009
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
In the high-stakes 2009 US Open final, Roger Federer found himself in a five-set battle against Juan Martin del Potro. The match was originally scheduled for an early evening Monday slot due to prior rain delays. However, it was a thrilling action-packed match with forehand winners and a crowd that occasionally disrupted play.
Roger Federer, usually composed and dominant, surprisingly faltered. He missed the opportunities to seize control and struggled with his serves. This showed clear signs of frustration for the Swiss player. His discontentment with the electronic line-calling system, an innovation he opposed since its introduction in 2006, was clearly visible. This later led Federer into a heated exchange of words with the chair umpire Jake Garner. Federer suggested his frustration over his opponent’s delayed challenges.
Trending
Coco Gauff Drops Adorable Wish to Celebrate Boyfriend’s Birthday Amid Hectic Madrid Open Stint
April 27, 2024 03:00 PM EDT
‘RIP’ – Heartbroken Brother of John McEnroe Mourns ESPN Legend’s Tragic Death Who Last Tweeted About Coco Gauff
April 21, 2024 02:43 PM EDT
Physically Absent at Madrid, Rafael Nadal’s Biggest Fan Ben Stiller Drops 1-Word Stirring Message as the Spaniard Rolls Back the Years
April 27, 2024 06:02 PM EDT
Stefanos Tsitsipas’ Girlfriend Paula Badosa Unveils Only Wish From Beau as She Debuts Virtual Avatar in Topspin 2k25
April 26, 2024 01:41 PM EDT
Madrid Open 2024: Tommy Paul vs Francisco Cerundolo; Preview, Head-to-Head, and Prediction
April 28, 2024 08:01 AM EDT
Get instantly notified of the hottest Tennis stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.
Follow Us
“Stop showing me the hand, okay?” Federer snapped. “Don’t tell me to be quiet, okay? When I want to talk, I talk all right. I don’t give a shit what he said. I just say he’s waiting too long.”
“The Federer we see on court today is a manufactured product, a manufactured product of Nike’s marketing that represents the values we want to give tennis: the gentleman and all that,” he said. “But deep inside, Federer was never a gentleman. He’s a fighter. When he extends the hand with a smile to Nadal, I’m not at all convinced.”
Us Open 2009 Juan Martin del Potro beats Roger Federer in the final to rich his first grand slam. @delpotrojuan pic.twitter.com/PBL0z9k6lX
— Tennis Pictures (@tennispicture) April 17, 2014
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
This side of Roger Federer differed from the image portrayed by his sponsor-driven persona. This was further shared by Paul Dorochenko, Federer’s former fitness trainer. Dorochenko suggested that Federer is more of a fighter than the gentlemanly figure depicted by marketing strategies. What happened at the US Open back then was a clear indication of what Federer was all about from the inside.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
This moment revealed the vulnerable side of Federer, which often comes out to the public. His behavior, which people often view as someone who is quite calm and chill, came out in front of his fans. Ultimately, while Federer’s outburst in the 2009 final was a departure from his usual self, its significance stemmed from the stark contrast it presented to his otherwise outstanding conduct.
Watch this story: Will Smith Shows How King Richard Cast Trained Like Serena and Venus Williams
Edited by:
Shudh.mukherjee