'Wouldn't be happy': Roger Federer's startling marriage admission
Roger Federer has elaborated on his wifeâs âincredibleâ sacrifices, heaping praise on Mirkaâs decision to quit her own tennis career to support him instead.
In July, Federer made the startling admission that he and Mirka may have broken up had it not been for her selfless decision to walk away from her career.
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Mirka was a top-100 player in the early 2000s but was forced to retire after a string of persistent injuries.
She instead turned her attention to making sure her husband had everything he needed in his quest to become a tennis champion in his own right, something Federer is forever grateful for.
âShe invested everything,â Federer told SRF Sport recently. âShe started playing tennis when she was 11.
âShe had bad surgeries and didnât return well from rehabilitation. She always had problems with her heels and never truly recovered from it.
âUntil today she feels little there. I think realistically she would have had to undergo another surgery and tried to come back, even if it would have taken two years.
âIt was easy for her this way though to decide. I said to her: 'Donât you maybe want to stop? We could be together the whole time and have a great time.'
âThen I won Wimbledon and when I look back, I once talked with her about it, itâs incredible what you did and she said: âNo problemâ. She just put her career aside and said: âThis is more important for meâ.
âWe wouldnât have been happy when we would have been apart.â
The Swiss Maestro admitted he might have retired long ago had Mirka asked him to.
âShe has supported me incredibly so Iâm looking forward to when everything is over. I would have stopped long ago if she hadnât have said: 'Come on, continueâ,â he said.
âOr when she would have said: 'Please stop, I donât want this any longer.â I would have stopped then.
âWe also have to find a balance with the four kids, it isnât the same anymore as four, eight or 10 years ago, thatâs for sure.â
Federer admits Mirka relationship might have ended
Roger and Mirka met at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney when they were playing tennis together for Switzerland.
Mirka retired in 2002, going on to become Federerâs manager before stepping down from that role to look after their four children.
âShe has been wonderful in terms of support,â Federer told The Times in July.
âIt was amazing how easily she walked away from tennis and retired, never really tried to come back.â
Imitating Mirka, Federer said: âYou know what, Iâd rather have helped you have an amazing career (than) me having some kind of a career and we wonât see each other and weâll grow unhappy and maybe weâll break up because we wonât see each other enough.â
âWe just love our time together and thatâs still the case.â
Roger and Mirka married in 2009 and have since had two sets of twins - Myla and Charlene, 10, and Leo and Lenny, 6.
Mirka and the kids follow Federer all over the world to watch him play, constantly spotted courtside during his matches.