Roger Federer

Roger Federer is not only one of the greatest tennis players ever to pick up a racket - if not the greatest - but he is one of the global icons of our time. Characterised by a mixture of passion and calmness, a fierce competitor with a regal bearing, he is both an athlete and an ambassador, a street fighter and a statesman. But who is he really? And what are the experiences and influences that have shaped him into the world figure he is today? This acclaimed biography, first published in 2006 and now fully updated, traces Federer's life and career, from his first tentative swings with a racket to legendary status. The vastly experienced writer, broadcaster and tennis historian Chris Bowers talked exclusively to many of the people who helped shape the young Roger Federer, and together with his own experiences following Federer's career from his junior title at Wimbledon at age sixteen to his seventeenth major title fifteen years later, he presents an affectionate and analytical portrait of one of the great names of modern-day sport. His book has enough information to satisfy the most voracious Federer fan, and enough talking points to keep an argument going until the small hours. In its portrait of Roger Federer - the man, the player, the icon - this masterly biography brings the player's story up to date, while also examining his place in tennis and sporting history.

Autorentext

Chris Bowers

Zusammenfassung
To many, Roger Federer is the greatest ever tennis player. His astounding all-round ability has led to him being referred to as one of the most complete players the game has ever seen, and with 17 Grand Slam wins and an Olympic Gold Medal under his belt, the Swiss star has already achieved legendary status in the game.This authoritative and affectionate biography traces the rise of Federer, from his first tentative strokes with a tennis racket to how he dealt with being sent away to a training academy where he struggled to communicate in a French-speaking part of Switzerland; and how he handled the sudden death of his first real coach and mentor. It also examines how Roger has bounced back from arguably one of the most challenging periods of his career as, following a serious illness and a dip in form, he broke his run of successive Wimbledon championship wins and was toppled from the Number One spot by rival Rafael Nadal. But in characteristic style, Roger silenced his critics by once again returning to winning form.Roger's professionalism and charm, as well as the time he devotes to his charitable foundation, have won him huge amounts of respect from both his fellow sportsmen and tennis fans alike.