Contributing writer: Joe Messineo
For well over a decade, Roger Federer has been delighting tennis fans around the globe with his display of tremendous feats on the court. He has won nearly every title imaginable including, wracked up an impressive number of weeks consecutively with the number one ranking, and has earned the respect of his fellow players on the ATP Tour. The Swiss gentleman, however, is perhaps best known for his quiet demeanor. He does not attract attention to himself, goes about his business, and lets his racquet do most of his talking. That is why it is perhaps surprising to some to discover how much work he truly does away from the tennis court.
For someone who obviously spends much time on the practice court perfecting his game, not to mention playing in actual tournaments more than half of every year, it is difficult to see how he has time for anything else. Oh, there is also the fact that he is husband to a lovely wife and father to four young children. That is enough to cause most men in this world to just relax at home and enjoy what they have. Not Roger Federer, however, as he spends much of his time away from the court directly involved in charity work.
Similar to other big name professional athletes, Roger Federer does have his own charity foundation. Federer takes a more hands on approach than many, however, as he actively visits the very locations where his foundation is providing assistance. Last year, he found time after Wimbledon to go to Malawi to see first hand the preschool that his charity helped to built. This area of Southern Africa is impoverished, literacy rates are among the lowest in the world, and access to quality education is severely limited. Federer’s mother is South African, and he still holds a passport for the country. As a result, he has a heart felt interest in helping the nation rise out of the poverty he feels they have been ridden with for far too long.
Nobody would have blamed Federer for just sending the money to open the school and then returning home to Switzerland to rest after a grueling Wimbledon final. That simply is not his style. He does not publicize his work, yet he is deeply involved in it. He sincerely wants to improve the lives of African children across the continent. He puts his actions behind his money and mouth, and this is perhaps why he is so well respected.
At the age of 36, Federer is entering the twilight of his playing career. He has expressed, however, that his life is just beginning. He has no desire to retire and live out his life in luxury. While he is certainly comfortable, he will continue his charity work long after he has played his last tournament. These values have always been more important to Roger than selling U.S. Open tickets. He has said that he wants his children to grow up with a father who demonstrates compassion and care to all peoples of the world. To that end, he certainly appears to be on the right track.
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