Roger Federer is a family person through and through! While he made the tennis arena his home, he kept his personal life, including his parents and children, away from the spotlight. But now, after everything he has earned, the Swiss maestro is not only grateful to his parents, but he recently shared one lesson that he would like to take forward from his parents.

When the 20-time Grand Slam champion delivered the Commencement address at Dartmouth, Federer carried forward the legacy of his upbringing, “I learned this way of thinking from the best… my parents. They’ve always supported me, always encouraged me, and always understood what I most wanted and needed to be.”

Not only that, but Federer also emphasized the fact that his parents were the biggest support, but at the same time, he also talked about the joy that his wife and kids have brought into his life. Federer added, “A family is a team. I feel so very lucky that my incredible wife, Mirka… who makes every joy in my life even brighter… and our four amazing children, Myla, Charlene, Leo, and Lenny, are here with me today.”

Federer has previously conveyed his gratitude to his parents, though. He said goodbye to tennis in 2022 with a stunning doubles match with Rafael Nadal at the O2 Arena in London, capping an incredible career with more than a 100 titles (103). Federer conducted what would be his last on-court interview after the match, giving a heartfelt statement thanking his supporters, rivals, family, and friends, mentioning his wife in particular.

He stated, “I find it always funny that we always blame my mom for everything because without her, I wouldn’t be here of course. So thanks to my parents, you have been amazing. Thank you. And just everybody, too many people to thank. It’s just been incredible, my God. A fantastic night. Thank you, everybody.”

But on the other hand, do you know that the former world number one had a deal with his parents to get into tennis? Federer made a risky move as a teenager that might have affected his career. He persuaded his parents to allow him to drop out of school and focus only on improving his tennis abilities because he was so determined to follow his love for the game.

When Roger Federer had to convince his parents to let him play tennis

By the time he turned sixteen, Roger Federer was certain that he had to give the sport his whole attention. The former Swiss player decided to focus on tennis after receiving comments that showed off his extraordinary potential, laying the groundwork for an extraordinary future.

Federer said, “I had a deal with my parents to give tennis a realistic chance and if it didn’t work out, to go back to school straight away and without complaining. What can I say, something has happened (laughs).” But things worked out well for him, and at the end, he became one of the biggest names in the sport!

Nevertheless, what are your thoughts on Federer’s admiration for his parents? Do let us know in the comment section below.