Roger Federer photo Reddit interview May 2013

New Twitterer: The Man Himself, looking a bit apprehensive about this whole online chatting thing

On Friday, May 24, 2013 Roger Federer took part in a Reddit IAmA online chat, answering fan questions. Like most interviews, Rog took the opportunity to be informative, interesting, and amusing. Fans were happy to see that the Maestro’s charm was highly translatable through this online medium.

With only a finite amount of time to answer questions, Rog didn’t get to them all, but he answered a lot. Here are some of our fave questions and replies. You can see the entire chat session, with responses from fans, at Reddit here.

I’m Roger Federer, a professional tennis player from Switzerland. AMA!

Thick_as_a_Brick: Hey Roger, just wanted to say that I’m a huge fan of yours. One of the best things I’ve ever read about you has to be David Foster Wallace’s piece for the NY Times. Have you ever read it? If so what did you think of the way he characterized you?

Federer: I have read it. The thing that struck me is that I only spent 20min with him in the ATP office at Wimbledon, and he was able to produce such a comprehensive piece. (Ed. I gave this piece some love with a YouTube video tribute.)

Self_Esteem_Booster: What was your toughest match ever?

Federer:

Federer: I really loved that outfit. Under the lights in NYC. All black. That was awesome. No plans yet to bring it back yet.. but we’ll see. (Ed.: Here’s OUR Darth Federer.)

youngjabberwocker: Hey Roger! I’m a big fan of watching you play! Since players like you, Nadal, or Djokovic have all started off as young players, what advice do you have for young tennis players who have dreams of going professional?

Federer: Take up Football. No just kidding.

1 You have to enjoy what you’re doing.

It’s not always easy but it sure is a whole lot of fun traveling the world, meeting people, learning different cultures and playing against other great people and players. For that, you need to work really hard and play tough and fair. And learn from your losses and your disappointments and make sure you don’t look back with regrets.

Brendinio: Dear Roger, if there was one rule of tennis you could alter, what would it be?

Federer: A rule that would only let ME serve from the service line. Whenever I want. Seems fair to me

On a serious note: we should get some more Best of 5 set finals back (like at the ATP World Tour finals).

Federer45: How do you keep your hair so perfect?

Federer: I really don’t. I fight it every day like everybody else. But thanks.

Roger Federer gorgeous curls Wimbledon 2012 white bandana pictures photos screencaps

He seems to be winning the battle.

jctennis123: In every picture I see of you, you are looking directly at the ball through the strings and your hitting arm is perfectly straight. No other pro in the world does this as well as you. Here is an example I put together of you doing this compared to Murray, Djokovic, and Nadal (picture album) http://imgur.com/a/yNzX1#0. My question is, is there a way I can copy this technique?

Federer: seeing the pictures are really interesting. funny enough I don’t think consciously about looking directly at the ball, but I guess you’re right. it’s just habits and the way I was taught to play tennis. (Ed.: Pretty cool that he actually looked at the pics.)

dielon1217: Hi Roger! How do you do that between the legs shot without hitting yourself in a very painful place?

Federer: Nothing bad ever happened. So i’ll keep doing it

AlfaAlfalfa: What is your reaction to this?

Federer: For you baseball fans out there: Strike 1.

And our favorite, of course:

AmbientTech: You and Rafa filmed a commercial advertising charity matches. In this clip, you could not hold your laughter at all. The same thing happened when Pedro Pinto interviewed you for CNN International. Is spanish your Achilles Heel?

Federer: It’s funny I actually spoke to Rafa yesterday about that commercial. We had a close moment again yesterday at a Nike appearance. He insists it must have been because of his spanish accent. He couldn’t start a sentence without me already cracking up. It was a hilarious 5min for all of us.

You might also enjoy: How to Spot a True Federer Fan

Rafael Nadal Marc Lopez Cincinnati Western and Southern Open Masters 2011 doubles green shirts matching cute smiles hot photos pictures images screencaps

Marc Lopez and Rafael Nadal. (Click for full-size image.)

Most players are very serious on court, even on changeovers, but Rafael Nadal is known for being extremely focused. Even during exhibition play, he’ll often be the guy still taking points seriously while everyone else is just goofing off. As you can see in this pic of the day, however, that changes during doubles with his talented buddy Marc Lopez.

These two work very well together, with Rafa providing the aggressive power and Marc the extraordinarily quick hands. They manage to do some damage in doubles, but mostly they enjoy the hell out of it. As rare as a Rafa smile is in singles, you’ll find plenty of them here, especially when the two are chatting between points. J.D. and I like to amuse ourselves by guessing what they’re actually talking about–like which hot girls in the crowd are checking them out, or whose ATP photo on the scoreboard is more embarrassing–since it’s so clearly not always about strategy.

In a 2011 interview with EL PAÍS (English translation here), Lopez himself enlightened us on some of the joking the two engage in.

“Sometimes I say, ‘Look at Roger Federer, how well he plays, he really is the true number one.” And he laughs out loud. I laugh when he hits his forehand volley cause his arm’s very straight. “And you’re the best?” I say.

Clearly, sarcasm is a big part of their banter. It’s not all verbal, however. Our favorite moments of this doubles match in Cincinnati was when Rafa would crouch at the net while Marc was serving. If the serve went into the net, Rafa would slowwwly turn and give Marc a total dark-eyed Death Look, as in “How dare you, that landed right in front of my face, don’t you do that again.”

He did it every time, on every faulted ball. After awhile, we started thinking that Marc was sending 1st serves into the net just to GET that look, because it was so hilarious. And Rafa never failed to oblige, for the entire match. As Marc says, “One thing is clear. All that Rafa does, all of it, he does it at 100%, the golf, the beach… he can not do anything without putting in his best effort, without giving the fullest.”

Here at TennisInsideOut.com, we gotta admire a guy who gives 100% at everything, including being funny.

You might also enjoy: Rafa Nadal: How I Spent My 6-Month Hiatus

Varvara Lepchenko Cincinnati Open 2013 Western and Southern Open tennis photos pictures images Go back to Pic of the Day 4.

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PHOTO: c2011 Valerie David at TennisInsideOut.com

INSIDE OUT

Roger Federer: Reddit IAmA Q&A — Our Favorite Answers…with Pictures

1 You have to enjoy what you’re doing.

Rafael Nadal and Marc Lopez — Pic of the Day 5