In 2012, when Roger Federer appointed Paul Annacone as his new coach, one thing always stood out to the American: there was no one who understood Federer and his game better than his wife, Mirka. But when it came to taking credit, the former tennis player herself would always step back and let others on the team shine. If you look at it, though, she was the very person who shaped Federer into the legend he became.

26 years since knowing him, and 20 Grand Slam titles later, however, Mirka believes that the bigger man is not who the world sees in front of the camera holding a trophy, but the person Federer is away from the spotlight. But while she had been alongside him through the entire journey, she still believes it was someone else who made him who he is.

“His parents know him as a loving son. His sister knows him as a wonderful brother, and his friends know him as someone who always has time for them, no matter how busy his life becomes. And those qualities didn’t happen by accident,” said a tearful Mirka while introducing Federer in the International Tennis Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Newport, Rhode Island on Saturday. “He learned them from two incredible parents. Robbie and Lynette raised a champion, and they raised a genuinely good person.

“They taught him humility, gratitude, and kindness, and they taught him to treat everyone with the same respect. Long before the world came to know Roger Federer, the tennis player, Robbie and Lynette gave me someone I would come to admire even more. Roger- the son, Roger- my partner, Roger- the friend, and eventually Roger- the husband and father. Those values are what have carried him through every chapter of his life.”

Mirka was a 21-year-old professional tennis player when she met the 18-year-old Federer at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. While she tried to avoid it, Federer — who did not have a single ATP title at the time — remained persistent. Eventually, that journey stretched to 17 years of marriage with four kids and 103 titles. But the journey to that point, of course, began with the parents.

Federer’s father, Robert, comes from a high-class lineage. However, with both of his parents working in a pharmaceutical company, tennis became a way of life for Federer and his elder sister, Diana. The two would spend hours on Ciba-Geigy Pharmaceuticals’ tennis court while waiting for their parents. But once Federer’s parents saw his knack for the sport, they didn’t waste any time giving him every opportunity he needed to grow.

From the Basel-based pharmaceutical company’s private court to Old Boys Tennis Club, and anything and everything, Robert and Lynette stood by Roger even when pursuing his career meant the young Swiss star had to spend long stretches away from home.

“My parents introduced me to tennis and like all parents, they played a big part in the development of my career and character,” Federer had said in 2018.

But while that helped Roger Federer become the tennis legend we know, the family also helped him grow as a person.

Roger Federer’s family stood by him as he evolved into the person we know today

While Federer is known for his calm demeanor on court, the reality was quite different during his younger days.

As a pre-teen and early teenager, Federer was still learning to keep his emotions in check. The future Swiss maestro was known to lose his cool on court, occasionally kicking or throwing his racket and letting a few choice words slip out. That is where the influence of both his parents became important.

They were loving parents, but when needed, they were also stern, helping the Swiss player become the humble person he is today. While his parents were the pillars of support in his early life, Mirka was an integral part of Federer’s team.

Since her own career came to an end with a foot injury, Mirka was also the one keeping much of Federer’s off-court world running smoothly, from handling public relations to organizing his travel. That gave the Swiss star one less thing to worry about, allowing him to save his energy for the opponent waiting across the net. And Federer has never been shy about acknowledging just how much he owes to his wife.

Mirka was always an integral part of Federer’s team

When Annacone was appointed by Federer in 2012, he had openly confessed that he was just a part of an established, well-oiled machine. Any time he needed to understand something in the initial days, he would go to Mirka and learn facts about Federer’s game. But that wasn’t the only way Federer’s wife helped him.

“When I got engaged to Mirka, I still didn’t have any headlines on the board,” Federer said in a 2022 interview with Caminada. “She is a strong and intelligent woman who has had a huge impact on me both on and off the court. She trusted me and taught me to always do my best. Also, she has been close to me after every defeat.”

Away from the roar of the stadiums and the demands of the tour, Mirka also became the steady presence at home. With Federer constantly travelling from one tournament to another, she took on much of the responsibility of keeping their family life running smoothly.

“She has never allowed my profession as a professional player to interfere with our daily life. Mirka has kept our friends and family together, as well as showing me how important it is to follow your own path without paying too much attention to the media or detractors,” he added.

For Federer, the love and support of his family were the quiet forces behind a journey that turned out to be anything but ordinary. From his humble beginnings as a ball kid in Basel to 20 Grand Slam titles and now a place in the Tennis Hall of Fame, the Swiss legend has come a long way. And somewhere along that remarkable journey, Federer became much more than a champion: he became one of the most beloved figures tennis has ever seen.