Roger Federer is undoubtedly ‘The Master’ of the tennis court. Even though, since his retirement, Novak Djokovic has picked up the baton and is hurtling forward to break Federer’s records, the Swiss tennis pro will forever remain an inspiration. However, he is not the only rip-roaring phenomenon in their family of six. His wife, Mirka, a once-promising tennis player, quit the sport after one fated moment.
Born in the Slovak Republic, Roger Federer’s wife Mirka Federer (nee Vavrinec) had been a force to be reckoned with since her early days. She may not be as popular on the courts as her husband, but she proved her love for the game – playing it since her Junior years. In the 1990s, she turned pro and battled her way uphill to win over millions of fans. However, by the early 2000s, she had said goodbye to her tennis career. But why?
Why did Mirka Federer, wife of Roger Federer, quit tennis just when she was reaching for the stars? The media uncovered much about the Federer family’s lives since the couple was always in the limelight. They met at the Summer Olympics in 2000, fell in love, and quickly became one of the most celebrated power couples in tennis. Roger and Mirka Federer have always supported each other’s careers as strong, driven individualists. Yet, she quit her career as Roger Federer went on to become a household name. Fans have always wondered why, especially since Mirka Federer is such a strong-minded and driven personality.
The truth of the matter is, back in 2002, the couple played doubles at the Hopman Cup. Right before the game, though, Mirka broke down crying. Roger Federer spoke of this incident in his biography ‘The Master’ by Christopher Clarey, showcasing one of the many situations in which he witnessed the indomitable strength within her.
When the Swiss Maestro asked her why she was crying, she told him about her ankle injury. “I can barely run, and I have to go out and play a match,” she said. Of course, being the caring boyfriend, he suggested that she not play. However, the spirited young woman wasn’t having any of it. “Of course I’m going to play, but it hurts so much,” she confessed. Nevertheless, she walked out to the court with an ankle injury and smiling as always, played her heart out.
The Fed Express later admitted that even though he had experienced injuries and pain himself over the course of his career, it was never the same as hers. “I never had it quite like this,” he said. “I was close to it and I went on court, but this thing with Mirka was I guess a different animal.”
Mirka Federer, or Miroslava Vavrinec as she was known back then, lost her matches at the Australian Open, Miami Open, and Indian Wells following that match alongside her beau. Soon after, she opted for ankle surgery, but her foot did not support her the same way it did before the injury. She recovered a good deal but had to retire from professional tennis.
Despite her absence from the nets, Mirka Federer still showed up to support her boyfriend-turned-husband’s thriving career and was a constant source of motivation for Roger Federer. Her strength never wavered even when she had to travel with him shortly after she became a mom to their twin girls. If anything, her palpable excitement encouraged him on.
Her unparalleled strength and love for the game make the Federers one of the power couples of the tennis world even in his retirement. Do you also agree that Mirka Federer is one of the most inspiring women, even if she wasn’t always in the sporting limelight?
