The Roger Federer Arena Halted By Swiss Politics

The Basel native, Roger Federer recently triumphed in collecting his 101st ATP title in the Miami swing by ousting the American, John Isner in straight sets. And now, the Helvetian tennis ace is looking forward to commencing his clay season after three long years. The World Number four professional’s birthplace, Basel hosts the World Tour 500 Series annually and Roger Federer has pulled off his indigenous crown nine times in his career.

The tennis enthusiasts have been watching Federer play in the St Jakobshalle arena till now, and there have been certain gestures made to rename the stadium as ‘Roger Federer Arena’. Despite the 20-time Grand Slam champion being on the summit of the sport, the Swiss Indoors Basel’s authorities create a furore to christen the main court arena after him. Due to money, the Swiss customs and political issues the authorities deny to honour the Basel legend, Roger Federer the stadium.

A petition has been signed by 236 people for the same agenda but 10,000 signatures required. The Basel councillor Martina Bernasconi addressed the issue, stating that Switzerland only honours the late personalities and also Federer demands capital for using his name. “The main arguments (against) have been that Switzerland and Basel only honour dead people,” she said.”And that Roger Federer is a brand and he wants money.”

Despite this issue, she believes that Federer’s vicinity with his countryfolks matters the most. And beyond the shadows of doubt, he is the Swiss charisma. “He is the most popular ambassador of Switzerland,” she said.”Because he speaks the Basel dialect, people have a high identification with him. He was Born in Basel and lived 16 years in this town, visited the school and his first tennis club was Old Boys Basel. He married (wife Mirka) here and his parents live in Basel. All over the world, he is well known, so he is really popular, not only as a sportsman.”

Roger Federer also addressed his views on the same to the Swiss newspaper Tages Anzeiger. “I would be very happy,” Federer said. “It would be an absolute, incredible honour for me. I see what Rod Laver or Roy Emerson mean when you have a stadium named after you and you can experience it. They asked me if I was against this petition. I said, no, I would be glad if it happened. But I also understand if it does not work. That’s what other people should decide, not me. That’s why I have not commented yet”.