from Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
by Thomas Klemm
translated into English by Mauro Cappiello
Almost 34-year-old tennis star Roger Federer thinks he is far from quitting. In an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, the Swiss talks about the secret of his self confidence, the advice to his four children and the gulls of Monaco.
Mr Federer, your two younger twins are now one year old. Is travelling for tournaments more exhausting for the parents or for the four children?
For the parents. Through the many bags you are not as flexible, but like a storm on the go. Although it is funny that we are many people and you can hide in the group. But we always prepare for the worst case. Just like for a tennis match we pack up ten t-shirts, three pairs of shorts, three pairs of shoes and extra shoelaces. You have to make sure you have got enough clothes on the court, if it starts to rain four times, and so you do not have to wear sweaty pants again at the end. That's all already happened.
But the stress doesn't seem to affect you...
I think it's an absolute privilege for Mirka and me to experience something like that as parents. We even know it so well enough. The first time I was travelling to tournaments I was 13 years old. Twenty years later, I am still in the process, so I can have a bit of what is called travel experience.
To show a child how to behave on the road, how different cultures and cities are, where you have to mind the cars especially, this is an incredible school of life. It's surprising to me saying that I have such a big family and still play.
