‘Devastated’ Roger Federer’s Blind Instinct Turned Out to Be Life-Changing as Legendary Coach Narrates Romantic Anecdote

There are few power couples in tennis more adored than Roger Federer and his wife, Mirka. They say that behind every successful man is a woman, and Mirka certainly fits the bill – for more reasons than one. Now, Federer has a beautiful family of six, and a career that few can dare to best. But it could all have gone wrong for the Swiss Maestro, as revealed by his former coach, Sven Groeneveld.

While Mirka had admittedly been Federer’s biggest support on the tour, it all began one sunny day in Sydney. At the 2000 Olympics, the pair met each other, with both representing Switzerland. An interesting conversation with the former World No. 1’s then-coach took place at the event. This single moment in time set off a butterfly effect spanning several subsequent events. The present story of Federer could have been very different if not for that particular decision he took against his coach’s advice.

Federer’s former coach shares behind-the-scenes moment

The Swiss Maestro lost in the semifinal of the Olympics. He returned home utterly disappointed. But having met Mirka, the love of his life in Sydney, he asked his coaches if he should start a relationship with her. As his former coach Sven Groeneveld once recalled the turn of events in ‘The Roger Federer Effect’, it was a career-defining and life-altering decision he made at that point.

Groeneveld reported, “He was devastated that he didn’t get a medal. I can only speak for myself. I felt that maybe, just because of this disappointment, he really wanted to start a relationship. He asked, “Should I or should I not? And I said, “Well, I think it’s maybe a little bit too early for you. You’re just starting your life as a young guy on Tour. It’s going to be very difficult and challenging.” But obviously, he made the right choice.”

Federer had his heart set and revisiting that moment, Groeneveld acknowledged his mistake. Further, he added, “I think because of Mirka, he was able to really excel when he did finally get through that point, where he did win Wimbledon. The years prior to that, he was struggling.”

“But Mirka and Peter Lundgren were such steady voices for him. I think because of the coaching, but also because of Mirka, he was able to overcome a very difficult time where a lot of expectations were on his shoulders and he could not really live up to that. He felt a lot of pressure.”

Since then, the pair have grown to build a family and their respective careers. All the while, their commitment to each other has remained unwavering. In fact, the two have been quite public about their affection for each other, with Mirka revealing details about their first kiss.

Roger Federer and Mirka’s first kiss

While Mirka and Federer met at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the latter was singularly focused on getting a medal for his country. Speaking about their encounter in ‘The Roger Federer Story’, Mirka recalled that tennis was always the first priority for the Swiss Maestro.

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The 20-time Grand Slam winner even said at the tournament, “I would choose tennis over a girlfriend.” Nonetheless, meeting Mirka, Federer’s heart melted, and Mirka recalled, “He didn’t kiss me until the last day of the Olympic Games.”

It is often said that behind every successful man, there is a woman. This case perfectly fits Federer and Mirka. The latter has had a huge role to play in the successful career of Federer – from sacrificing her own tennis career to supporting her partner while raising their kids. Together, they are a perfect couple in the sporting world, navigating the highs and lows of life hand-in-hand. What do you think?

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