Roger Federer spoke recently to Swiss news magazine Schweizer Illustrierte about some of his favorite things: his twins Myla and Charlene, Mirka and his hair. I love that the interviewer, Stephanie Ringel, is unable to hide her Fedophile tendencies. Her descriptions (in italics) sometime read like a tennis Harlequin romance.
Here she is, trying not to look at Roger Federer’s chest hair:
And here’s her article. This is my Google-assisted translation – click here for the original:
At noon, top floor at Lindt & Sprungli in Kilchberg ZH. Roger Federer has been presented to the world as the chocolate company’s new brand ambassador. The third floor has CEO Ernst Tanner’s office and a Japanese rooftop garden. It smells like liquid, warm chocolate. In the conference room there’s a huge oval table surrounded by mustard yellow leather chairs. Beyond the window is a panorama view of Lake Zurich. Roger Federer stands before it in jeans and a white shirt that he has unbuttoned low, revealing his chest hair. Tailored waistcoat and jacket, fine gray, finely checkered. Overall image: “Dressman” with a lot of sex appeal!
Q:Roger Federer, we have ten minutes. Let’s play a game of verbal tennis together? I serve and you return quickly.
Federer: Okay!
Q. You’re playing in Basel at the Davidoff Swiss Indoors. How many racquets do you take with you on the court?
Federer: Twelve.
Q: How many do you have in total?
Federer: At my house? One hundred, something like.
Q: How many sneakers?
Small info: Federer starts every other sentence with “Ääähhh”. That gives him time to think. His brown eyes look out deeply from their sockets. After a few seconds? …
Federer: Uh, perhaps fifty or so. My sporting equipment is in the basement. I have a special room just for that. Headbands, for example, I have almost none since I throw them into the audience after each match. Every tournament I get new ones. I prefer strong colors: Blue, Red, Black.
Clearly, strong guy, strong colors. Well returned so far. We now turn to Mirka in the Grandstand. . .
Q: How do you say goodbye to Mirka before the match
Federer: I say to her: Ciao! And give her a Küssli (a little kiss.) She wishes me good luck and hopes that the match will go well. Then I say: Okay, I’ll see you later.
Sounds a bit like two teenagers, shyly separating. These two have been together for nine years, day and night. Sothere must be something more that happens. (Really what does Ms.
Q: Is that really all?
Federer: We do not do “give me five” or anything – how terrible. Well, I admit: we embrace.
Yes, a confession!
Q: Who do you see the first thing after the game?
Federer: Sometimes the journalists. Sometimes other players. Often, my coach. But this is different for every tournament. I just always hope that it’s my team, first.
Q. Let’s go bathing? … Shower gel or soap?
Federer: Shower Gel.
Q: Flip-flops or bare feet?
Federer: Always! Flip-flops!
Q: What do you smell like?
Federer: Different things. At the moment I’m into bergamot. People can create fragrances for themselves, so I did that once and used my own brand for a long time.
Q: No favorite perfume?
Federer: Jaaeeiinn! Oh, what shall I say, I am very flexible. I have several.
Today he smells of nothing. At least not noticeably. Roger has a central part. He tries to tuck individual strands of hair repeatedly behind his ear with his right hand. That does not work, they jump right back into his face.
Q: What do you say to your hairdresser?
Federer: Like a shot: Not too short, please! I am always afraid that they’ll cut everything off. Then I explain exactly how long I would like to have it. Although, maybe I’ll cut it very short sometime soon? …
Q: Does he cut your eyebrows?
Federer: Sometimes. But I don’t like that so much.
Q: You’ve had four weeks free. What was your best experience during this time?
Federer: It was great not having a daily schedule. No commitments, no appointments. I could control what I would like to do. It was important to finally relax and to have time with Mirka, Myla and Charlene.
Q: They wanted to go shopping – buy something?
Federer: No, I didn’t go shopping. But Mirka? …
Mirka is known as a fashionista. She loves handbags, handbags and handbags. She wears a size 38 shoe and since she’s a mother, likes wool twinsets. Everything that relates to Mirka and the children, he kept strictly secret. Attack!
Q: You take care of the children. You favorite game with Myla and Charlene?
Federer: I employ it simply, they reach for my fingers, I tickle their belly. It’s really great to feel them on me.
Q: What do you prefer: feeding or swaddling?
Federer: Ääähhh.
Oh, sensitive issue. It seems as if he wants to say he doesn’t love swaddling, but as a modern man he can’t make a fuss.
Federer: Fifty-fifty, I’ll do both.
Q: Have you been hit with a deluge of baby spit?
Federer: Definitely!
Q: Myla cries – do you call for the nanny?
Federer: You say it “Meila,” not “Mila.” I try the first time myself, otherwise I ask for Mirka. But, hey: I’m getting along pretty well. The girls are so far very good. They’ve had no teething problems.
Q: Which one resembles you?
Federer: Myla is like me, Charlene is like Mirka. When I see baby pictures of me with Myla, there are many similarities. I want to be with them as often as possible. They are growing so fast.
Q: When did you last sleep through the night?
Federer: A week ago. Sleeping is very important for me. Otherwise, I hurt myself. When I’m tired, I plug my ears and sleep, despite cries from the bedroom.
Q: An old trick from my mother: a piece of chocolate on the tongue helps with sleep.
Federer: Um, I’ve never tried. But good idea. I loved chocolate when I was a boy, preferably white. Today I prefer hazelnut.
Q: Favorite cake?
Federer: Cake?? I don’t like it.
The Lindt CEO sneaks into the conference room. I switch quickly to an official issue.
Q: Are you allowed to stock up now for free at the factory shop?
Federer: No idea, but I think it sounds good. Mr. Tanner?
Tanner nods and sneaks out again. Return to private life? ...
Q: Champagne and chocolate: prima ingredients for the perfect seduction. The most successful come-on?
Federer: Come-on? What do you mean?
Federer: I don’t need those any more. I get along well with Mirka. If I want to give her a compliment, I tell her: You look great! You’re the best!
Q: How many times a day do you brush your teeth?
Federer: At least three times. Electrically.
Q: Chocolate as an energizer on the court?
Federer: From time to time in training. When I feel that I need an energy boost, I eat sugar. During the tournament, no.
Q: Music before the match?
Federer: No.
Q: Listen to any music?
Federer: When driving. Everything that comes on the radio. Otherwise, any rock and pop. I’m quite easy there. I never use an Ipod. I push in a CD.
Q: Favorite song?
Federer: Äähhh? …
He has none! Wonderfully strange. He doesn’t even say Gavin Rossdale, although he is good friends with him.
Q: Your worst swear word?
Federer: I try not to use them too much. I can’t say one now!
Q: Is it fun to be number 1?
Federer: Yes, very much.
Q: In what other sport you would like to be the number 1?
Federer: In football. I would be happy to be a forward so I could celebrate after a goal as much as possible. In Switzerland FC Basle is my favorite club, I’m more of an international player: Thierry Henry, Luis Figo, Fabio Cannavaro. All three are very good, I know them personally. Beckham and Raul, I’ve already met.
Most famous Swiss have never drifted into the posh world. Roger’s circle of friends includes many numbers 1: the most powerful woman in the world of fashion, “Vogue”-boss Anna Wintour, pop queen Gwen Stefani, the golfer Tiger Woods.
Q: Give Basel a compliment!
Federer: Dear Basel: I like how normal your citizens are. You’re a casual city, helpful and open-minded. You give me a good feeling when I walk through the town.
Q: How should Basel respond?
Federer: Nothing at all. I’m just glad that I come from there. And that I can now play there. My boyhood dream has come true: from a ballboy to a three time tournament winner. If I can watch an FCB football match every now and then, I’m satisfied.
JAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images via Daylife
Tags: ATP, Davdioff Swiss Indoor Basel, Federer, Mirka Vavrinec, Nadal, tennis
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What is up with Rafa copying Roger? First the sleeves, then the haircut, and now this! Is this his new strategy to psych out the Fed? (Just kidding, Rafa fans!) He does look cute.
After hearing about Roger’s high state of cleanliness, I realize I am not worthy. I’m off to floss my teeth…after eating some Lindt chocolate of course.
Actually, I believe the photo of Rafa was taken before the photos of Roger
He is Roger’s biggest fan…
lol, true he is a fedophile.
i just smile when i see rafa in jackets and outfits that fit him well. no more slumpy shoulders and ill-fitting/oversized jackets please. he’s learning from the best!
Rafa must be a Fedophile.
hehe, everyone wants to be loved by Rafa!
Who doesn’t?
*eagerly stands in line*
Thanks so much for the translation. Fun interview.
(I’m shocked it’s “Meila” instead of “Mila,” though. The American in me…)
Mirka is so lucky to gets küssli! I am a bit dissapointed that the journalist said Roger smelled like nothing. I was hoping he smelled like milk chocolate.
I’m sure this is the first time Roger ever had an interviewer trying to smell him! I also like her obsession with Roger’s hair.
now that was a sweet, little intimate interview.
g e r ‘ s back. thanks ff. it’s so refreshing.
i’m so happy r
“I thought I’d share this photo of Rafael Nadal rocking his own blazer/jeans/pointy shoes combo last week in Madrid. Cute, no?”
YES!!! *_*
………….
I, too, am guilty of thinking it was “Mila” than “Mayla”.
I wish the Federer family all the best. And I wish Mirka all the chocolate in the world, she deserves it!
Lurrvved the interview. Most Roger interviews I see are the ones he does after matches and haven’t offered such insight into his personal life. This one was great!
wow, can Rafa wear them jeans any tighter??
other than that – wonderfull stuf, thank you!!!
Poor journalist fighting for not being too focused on Roger Federer’s chest hair !
^^
As usual I love your comments (because without your comments this article is TOO Harlequin for me).
Rafael Nadal looks great in grey. Federer could be proud of his pupil.
Brushes three times a day? Electrically? The dud is crazy. And he doesn’t like CAKE!:-)
Dude is crazy.
Have to say Rafa’s got good taste in shoes!
ff, are you sure it wasn’t you who did this awesome interview?! i could see you coming up with fabulous, creative questions, to satisfy your readers and their obsession, plus for your own knowledge! you would so be noticing his perfect hair and his chest, but you would keep it professional. love the game with the twins and the mirka hugs and kisses. where are the twin pics?! cheap bastard.
i love how the interviewer acts more professional when the ceo comes in and then goes right back to the juicy stuff. totally read like a romance novel. love the side notes. for some reason i love the name of that mag, it’s like sports illustrated, but in german, even though it’s not. seems like people mag though.
is it just me or is he rockin’ that vest and outfit?
ff, would you have had the courage to ask for rog’s best ‘come on’ because that is freakin’ ballsy and hilarious! she probably wanted to pretend he was hitting on her in that moment. can’t fault her for trying.
HA! I think I know Roger too well to ask that question – he’s just not a “come on” kind of guy (unless it’s a “Come On!” on the court.) I would definitely ask Safin that question, though!
I agree she probably just wanted to hear him say, “You complete me” or whatever.
that is a weird question to ask a married man… but for safin, who is still looking for the right woman and would like to make babies… bring it on!
i do love when roger gets all fired up on court and yells ‘come on!’ because it’s awesome and he’s mostly the quiet genius at work.
disgusting interview with a narcissist. confirms how vain, and egotistical federer really is.
wonderful interview with a fabulous champion. confirms how genuine and humble federer really is.
Check this out – very very hilarious
Warning!! Could be too harsh for Roger’s fan.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/276888-spain-to-issue-roger-federer-stamp#page/1
*jaw drops open* Rafa? TIGHT jeans? In the same place at the same time?!
*stares at pic* Drop. Dead. GORGEOUS!
*mind wonders off to Rafaland* Ooooh, boy.
*O_O*
XXXXXXXXXXXXXE!
Ahem, I need to compose myself long enough to just LOL at the link provided by Jess. That Robert Orzechowski is such a goof. What makes it so hilarious is that it is the polar opposite of how Rafa is when it comes to Roger. The captions are hysterical! Flove it. Thanks for sharing.
Though, I’m sure Rafafans wouldn’t mind if Rafa bragged now and again. And even if he did, he’d still come off looking adorable and sweet. *shrugs* He can’t help himself.
Those dimples. Oh my GOD those dimples! The smile, those eyes! *passes out*
http://www.nadalnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/universalspaniard2.jpg
Fun interview. Thanks for the translation. Nobody rocks the jeans – suit combo like Roger.
But did you have to pander to the Nadal fans with his poor imitation of Roger’s fashion? What is it now about jungle boys? You can take them out of the jungle but you can’t take the jungle out of the boy. So please, spare some of us about this “cuteness” fantasy. Nadal is a git and will always be a git. So there.
WOW! You really ARE a gem. *rolls eyes*
….somebody has a complex.
******
Anywho, thanks Freakyfrites for the post. Rafa is an utter sweetheart and I agree that he looks so very handsome!
Like Mim, I think that jeans and Rafa are a VERY good mix. Actually, it’s a downright LETHAL combination! There’s something about those long, muscular legs being caressed by denim…*faints*
Take this pic for example:
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs009.snc3/11658_102397396446831_100000297123674_63749_2187707_n.jpg
I swear, this guy looks like he’s modeling just by simply walking. And that protective body language and facial expression is…*THUD!*
His sweetheart looks like a cutie too!
Flove Rafa, just always being himself:
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs084.snc3/15144_170535289239_585239239_2764589_4225117_n.jpg
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs104.snc3/15144_170535294239_585239239_2764590_5924538_n.jpg
Whatta Honey.
Oh yeah, congratulations to Roger on his bouncing baby bundles of joy! Daddyhood and Mommyhood must be a great new adventure!
Talk about complex. Look at the posts of Nadal fans on this thread. I guess Nadal’s PR machinery is in full force. Or is VB.com out of commission again?
Nadal’s image has always been that of a tween and he is marketed as such. Note his outfits and demeanor on court. Now if you are prepubescent yourself, you can have your teeny bopper idol. But, don’t tell me most Nadal fans here are preteens. There is just something creepy about grown women fantasizing about kids. Not to mention the yuk factor in this particular kid – butt-picking, hello?
Different strokes for different folks. I don’t see what you don’t like about Rafa, but it’s OK to not like him. Just like it’s OK to like him. The nice thing about fantasy is that it doesn’t have to have any relationship to real life. I know that in this or any other lifetime, Marat Safin is not going to go horseback-riding with me on a windswept beach on the coast of Ireland, but that doesn’t mean I can’t have fun thinking about it! It would be sad and make life much duller if we had to censor our fantasies and make them “real-world appropriate.”
*nods* Right on Liz! Your reply is both hilarious AND true (LOL @ the Marat bit)
!
Let people alone. They can like whomever they like. I don’t see anything wrong with posting about how much you love someone, etc. EVERYONE is free to post about their favorite players. It’s much better to take the positive route and post how much you like a certain player, than take the negative route and post how much you hate the ones you don’t. *shrugs* I guess it comes down to perspective and character.
There was nothing mean or negative about those posts. They are just gushing/doting/ and a little crazy. But Rafa has that affect on people, so I’m not surprised.
I’m also one of many who turns to jelly when if comes to Rafa. I love him too.
Cherrie, thanks for the heads up on the TalkAsia interview. It was no doubt utterly adorable to watch! (loved him talking about getting his Aston Martin, Uncle Toni, Wimbledon and Roger. He’s such a sweetie!) And I agree, his introspective answers, philosophy and perspective is admirable and inspiring.
You mean Marat is not really really with me right now? OH NOOOOO. He’s supposed to rub my neck every night!
LOL! You guys crack me up. I was drinking some soda while i was reading your comment. Almost spit soda all over my monitor @ work
hehehehe, LMAO Jess!
Does this also mean that all of my mountain hikes with Mischa Zverev weren’t, in fact, REAL? And that he didn’t actually give me a foot massage when I twisted my ankle on that shrub on the way to the summit?! And then kiss me to make it all better?!
…….MY LIFE IS A LIE! DAMN YOU SALAZAR!!!!
“you can have your teeny bopper idol.”
GLADLY!
I LOVE his youthful image! After all, he’s YOUTHFUL!
What’s wong? You jeawous?
As for the rest of your hateful post:
http://cowbell.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83423e30253ef0120a5693607970b-300wi
Rafa has MANY fans. Get used to it. Most posts on here by Rafa’s fans have contained a kind word for Federer. Why so insecure?
Your post is very ugly and it only reflects on you as a person.
I hate to argue online and I hate to ruin a person’s blog with hateful comments. I’m done talking to you.
***********
To end this on a POSITIVE note:
Rafa did a very cute interview on TalkAsia. The interviewer and his questions were..meh..But Rafa was adorable as always. He was talkative, fidgety, shy and oh-so-smiley. I also noticed that his hair appears to be sun-kissed. SO enjoyable to watch. I couldn’t stop smiling while watching the interview!
I just love to hear his perspective on things and his philosophy of life. So inspiring and thoughtful. <3
Congratulations to Roger and his fans on his victory and good luck on his next round match.
P.S. Thanx Jess for your link. That was indeed very funny. I appreciate the laugh! XD It's important to NOT take things so seriously sometimes…