Roger & Mirka Federer: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know
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It was a literal and figurative match made in tennis heaven.
Roger, 33, and Mirka Federer, 37, met in 2000 and quickly became one of the hottest couples on the international tennis circuit, even competing together at one point.
Now, with Roger set to play for his second French Open title, Mirka is a consistent source of support, frequently seen in the stands cheering on her husband and his consistently impressive backhand.
Here’s what you need to know about the duo:
1. The Pair Met at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney Have Been Married Since 2009
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Roger and Mirka met in 2000 during the Sydney Olympics, when he was 18 and she was 21, spending nearly every moment together when they weren’t competing over the course of their two weeks down under.
The relationship didn’t end with the closing ceremonies however.
Instead, Roger and Mirka continued to date for the next nine years, becoming a fixture on the international tennis circuit. It soon became a question of when, not if, the two would make things official.
When the pair announced Mirka’s first pregnancy in late 2008, the duo quickly made plans towards the aisle and were, finally, wed on April 11, 2009. The ceremony, which was first announced on Roger’s own website, was an intimate affair in his home town of Basel, Switzerland.
There wasn’t much time for a honeymoon though, as Roger opted to compete in Monte Carlo just weeks after the wedding was announced.
2. Mirka Was Also a Professional Tennis Player Even Played With Roger in the Hopman Cup
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Mirka first caught the competitive tennis bug in 1987 when, at nine years old, her father brought her to watch a watch a tournament at Filderstadt in Germany. She was hooked and eventually turned pro in January 1998.
Throughout her career Mirka was ranked in the mid-80s and her best Grand Slam performance came in 2001 when she reached the third round of the US Open.
Although she never quite broke through the international ranks, or reached the same level of dominance as her husband, Mirka also competed in the Australian Open (2000, 2001), French Open (1999, 2000, 2001) and twice at Wimbledon (2000, 2001). Her only Olympic appearance came in 2000.
Mirka and Roger competed together just once, playing in the Hopman Cup, an annual international team indoor hardcourt tennis tournament held in Perth, Australia.
She was, ultimately, forced to retire from competitive play in 2002 when a recurring foot injury made it almost impossible to move on the court.
3. Since Retiring From Playing Mirka Has Helped Manage Roger’s Career
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After being forced off the court by a foot injury, Mirka has stayed in the game by managing Roger’s career. She began, in the early 2000’s, by helping to schedule his travel plans and media commitments, organizing his schedule while he won Grand Slam titles.
Roger’s co-coach Paul Annacone spoke to the NY Times about Mirka’s continued involvement in his career:
She still plays a huge role and has great input and impact. She understands the big picture extremely well and does a great job in terms of letting us work but also shares invaluable information. This is a tricky balance. She’s been there since day one, so she knows very well what it takes and how to get there.
Since the birth of the pair’s first set of twins in 2009, Mirka has taken a slightly less involved role in Roger’s on-court career but she still makes a point of being in the stands for each and every one of his matches. She rarely misses a trip or an event.
4. Mirka Has Been Accused of Heckling Roger’s Opponents
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After nearly a decade of blending into the fan background of international events and Grand Slams, Mirka made headlines in 20014 after she was accused of calling Stan Wawrinka, who had been competing against Roger in the ATP World Tour Finals, a “cry-baby.”
Wawrinka attempted, at the time, to appeal to the match’s officials, claim that Mirka’s heckling was “unbearable.” Heckling players prior to their serve is not allowed on the international circuit.
Roger, attempting to smooth the seemingly choppy water between his wife and Wawrinka, posted a Tweet with Wawrinka and the Swiss Davis Cup team shortly after the event.
5. They Have 4 Children: Twin Girls Twin Boys
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The duo may not be able to play tennis together anymore, but there’s plenty of backup waiting in the wings in the form of their pair of twins.
In less than five years, Roger and Mirka welcomed two sets of twins, girls Myla Rose and Charlene Riva, born in July of 2009, and boys Leo and Lenny in May 2014.
Mirka and I are so incredibly happy to share that Leo and Lenny were born this evening! #TwinsAgain #Miracle
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) May 6, 2014
Roger caused a bit of a stir when he pulled out of the Madrid Masters tournament to be with his wife when she went into labor last summer. Mirka and both sets of twins, all four children, continue to travel with Roger while he competes and are regular spectators in the stands, even now during the French open when the girls were spotted more interested in their tablets than their father’s dominance on the court.
is a sports writer for Heavy. She is also the college sports writer at The Record and The Saratogian in upstate New York. Follow her on Twitter: @LauraAmato
May 31, 2015 9:05 pm
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