‘As Casual as It Can Be’-Former American Tennis Star Says Roger Federer Is Completely Different When He Steps Off the Court

Winning 20 Grand Slam titles made Roger Federer more humble instead of bossy. He always maintained a calm aura before big matches. This eventually made his opponents have an easy feeling. Shedding light on the same topic, former American tennis player James Blake talked about the mood he shared with Roger Federer before Indian Wells final in 2006.

No matter how big of a tennis star you are, getting into the finals of a tournament tends to be nerve-wracking. However, Federer made sure to keep calm with his opponent before the finals.

How did Roger Federer make James Blake feel better before their Indian Wells finals in 2006? 

The American tennis player has faced the Swiss Maestro 11 times in his career. Going against Federer at a point when he was at his peak was surely stressful for Blake. However, Federer made sure to maintain a positive vibe in the training room before the finals.

In The Pure Tennis Podcast, Blake dictated how easygoing Federer was off the court. He stated, “Roger, off the court, is so unbelievably laid back.” Dictating the mood in the training room, Blake said, “Before the match, honestly, if you didn’t see he was getting his ankles taped cuz we are just in the training room. I was getting my fingers taped.” 

Reaching the finals of Indian Wells is surely bound to make anyone feel nervous. But Federer was not one of them. Blake stated, “If you didn’t see that and if you just heard our conversation, you’d think we’re in a cafe, having a coffee, talking about what are you doing after this, what is the family up to.”

Furthermore, he said, “Just as casual as it can be. Meanwhile, we’re going out on the court for a final for our masters 1000 Final 30 minutes from then.” 

READ MORE: After a Number of Ardent Battles Against Roger Federer, American Tennis Legend Throws Light on Swiss Legend’s Heartwarming Gesture Toward Him

Nobody could have guessed that they were going to be each other’s opponent in a final so soon.

Federer’s attitude toward his opponents

This was not the only time Federer showed his sportsmanship. In the same interview, Blake reflected on how Federer cared for his rivals despite getting defeated.

When Blake defeated him in the Beijing Olympics’ quarter-finals, Federer wished for him to succeed. However, later on, when they met each other, Federer did not go easy on him and defeated him multiple times.

WATCH THIS STORY: Serena Williams pays tribute to Roger Federer.

What do you find the best thing about the Swiss Maestro? Let us know in the comments below.