Roger Federer has inspired so many kids around the world. The Swiss phenomenon has had an exceptional career, which has not been affected in the slightest by the knee problem that has plagued him in the last two seasons. The former ATP number 1 played just 13 official matches in 2021, collecting nine wins and four losses.
After a stark defeat to Hubert Hurkacz in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon 2021, the 40-year-old from Basel has announced that he will have to operate for the third time in 18 months. Despite the lengthy rehabilitation, the 20-time Grand Slam champion has never abandoned the desire to return to the field.
If there are no further unforeseen events, the Maestro will return to action at the Laver Cup, which will take place at the O2 Arena in London from 23 to 25 September. The Swiss will close his very short season at the ATP in Basel, back on the calendar after the last two editions had been canceled due to the pandemic.
In a video released by the ATP, Dominic Stricker revealed that it was a privilege to share the tennis court with Federer.
Stricker on Roger Federer
“The practice with Roger Federer, I think that was something special.
I enjoyed every single hour I had with him on court. I am really happy that I had this time to take the chance to play with him,” Stricker says in the video. The 19-year-old also summed up his tennis journey from the time he began playing the game as a five-year-old to winning the French Open boys’ title.
“I am Dominic Stricker from Berne, Switzerland. I started playing tennis when I was about 5 years old. My junior career was pretty special. I played pretty good in Israel. Everything started there and then I could play the slams for the first year and then my last Slam I played the French Open.
I won the singles and doubles so it was pretty special,” says the teenager. In a recent interview, Roger Federer talked about the helping and kind nature of his son. He said, “His willingness to help is also one of the values that we hope to be able to pass on to him”.
The father dwelled on nature and observed his son putting others first. He said, “He doesn’t look at himself first”. Federer helped during the pandemic extensively and donated one million Swiss Francs to vulnerable families. He said, “Even during this pandemic, he helped a lot, and it is important to him to donate generously”.
