Roger Federer’s advice to young people: Go out and see the world

ATP Tour
Roger Federer interview

Roger Federer has some good life advice for youngsters: “I think for any young person, it’s good to travel.”

This year marks Federer’s 20th year as a professional on the ATP Tour and during that time he has won 20 Grand Slam titles, spent a record number of weeks at the top of the world rankings and will go down as one of the greatest tennis players of all time.

The 37-year-old was asked about the events that shaped his life during an interview in Shanghai and he revealed he “grew up as a person between 14 and 16” as he was forced to travel solo.

“When I look back there were important moments in my life: the birth of my children, my marriage, winning Wimbledon for the first time,” he is quoted as saying by Express Sport.

“There are markers in life. But if I look further into the past, I grew up as a person between 14 and 16.

“I left home, I lived in Basel at the time. It was in a city in German-speaking Switzerland. I went to Lausanne, in French-speaking Switzerland, two hours by train.

“I will not say it was like going to another country, but I did not speak French at all.

“I could have just left to live in Japan, it was the same thing. When I arrived I did not speak to anyone, I could not communicate.

“I cried often because I missed my house. I learned to become strong, persevering and independent.”

And he strongly believes that young people should go travelling as “there is so much to learn” and “beautiful things to discover”.

“All this in a very short period of time. I think for any young person, it’s good to travel. There is so much to learn,” he added.

“Of course, I studied, went to school and learned a lot. But my life experience is travelling.

“You know, miss the plane and jump in the first train with a backpack, sleep while sitting on the bag because you are afraid of losing it. My travelling experience really started at 14 years old.

“I really think that for people it’s really good to go out and see the world. At least, you have to try.

“It’s hard, but life is not supposed to be easy. That’s it, my advice for young people, those of Japan too.

“See the world, there are so many beautiful things to discover.”

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