Roger Federer has secured himself a lifetime of legacy in tennis. But it also looks like the legendary player seems to have won it all off the court too. With his gorgeous wife Mirka and their four children, Federer is living the dream! However, he was not always a confident and charismatic man. Urs Burgler, a former Swiss Olympic wrestler, has shared some insight into the early days of Roger Federer’s relationship with his wife Mirka, as well as her role in Federer’s tennis career.
In the book “The Roger Federer Effect”, Burgler revealed that he had a conversation with Federer many years ago, during the 2000 Olympics. Federer asked for his opinion of Mirka. The rest, is history. To put it softly, Burgler played Cupid in Federer’s love story. While the 2000 Olympics was the first meeting of this duo, they remain friends, even today. After all, how can Federer ever forget the man who perhaps coached him at the most crucial moment in his life.
Watch What’s Trending Now!
Roger Federer scored a win in only the second set of his dating game
Burgler and Federer were allotted the same accommodations. While Burgler and the other wrestlers were staying in the ground floor, Fed and his coaches occupied the first floor. Roger, or as Burgler calls him fondly, “Rogi” grew quite close to the wrestler. One day, he asked Burgler, “What do you think of Mirka? I think she’s great!”
Burgler was quick to praise her, calling her a “good one”. He told Federer, “If you have a chance with her, you have to strike!” However, he also noted that Federer was initially hesitant to make a move, describing him as “so shy, so decent.”
However, his shyness was only a testament to his gentle upbringing. As Burgler puts it, “They had fun together, but he was hesitant to make the first move…You could tell he came from a good home.”
Further, Roger was not very well-versed in the art of wooing. He did not have much experience in relationships before Mirka, save for one girlfriend. Mirka, on the other hand, was completely the opposite. Not only did she have more experience with matters of the heart, but she was also very “open-minded”, making it possible to talk about anything with her.
“And he didn’t have that much experience in these things either; he’d only had one girlfriend before. Mirka was more mature. She had experienced more in terms of relationships.”
Eventually, after the event, Burgler and Federer went out with Mirka and Peter one evening. It was here that the former wrestler nudged the Swiss Maestro to gather courage and approach Mirka, leading to the couple’s first kiss.
With this, the two hit it off and began dating, eventually marrying in 2009.
No. 1 fan and backbone to Federer’s success
The couple has since become one of the most beloved in the world of tennis. However, Mirka’s contribution to Federer’s career goes beyond just moral support. She has also played a key role in his success as a tennis player. Federer himself has spoken at length about the role that Mirka has played in his career, calling her his “number one fan” and saying that he “wouldn’t be where [he is] today” without her support.
WATCH THIS STORY: Serena Williams pays tribute to Roger Federer
In the early days of their relationship, Mirka was actually Federer’s touring coach. She traveled with him to tournaments and helped him prepare for matches. She also served as his manager for several years, handling everything from his travel arrangements to his endorsements and sponsorships.
Even after the Maestro’s retirement, she remains an important part of his team.
Written by
Edited by
Tony Thomas