Roger Federer turns 37: Lesser known facts about Swiss maestro
Men's tennis legend Roger Federer turned a year older today as he celebrated his 37th birthday. The 20-time Grand Slam winner is currently in New York. He is preparing for the hard court events preceding the US Open- the year's final Slam. Wishes are pouring in on social media. Here are some lesser known facts about the GOAT.
By 11, Federer was one of Switzerland's best young talent
As a child, Federer played various sports which included football and swimming. But once he turned 12, he started focusing solely on tennis. During his initial days, Federer had a habit of mashing racquets to control his emotions, but then coach Paul Carter helped him become mentally stronger. He was Switzerland's one of the top young talent by the age of just 11.
Off-field facts about the Swiss legend
Federer served in the Swiss army as well, but he was discharged due to a back issue. The Slam champ also has a street named after him in Halle, Germany. It's called Roger Federer Allee. He was a vegetarian until the age of of 14 and started eating meat after joining professional tennis. He also took up piano lessons in his young days.
Other interesting facts about the Swiss ace
Federer has faced several injuries in his career, but the Swiss legend has never retired from a match. He married former tennis player Mirka Vavrinec in 2009 near Basel and has four children - 2 sets of twins. At just 14, Federer was the national junior champion in Switzerland. He established the Roger Federer Foundation in 2003 to support children of poor countries.
