"It only really came to my mind when I was playing in Basel. "This is an amazing trip for me," Federer says.
It could not be finishing in more appropriate fashion. It is a year that began in tears after his defeat to Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open, and saw Federer marry his long-term girlfriend, become the father of twins, complete his set of major triumphs by winning the French Open, win an all-time record 15th Grand Slam tournament with his sixth Wimbledon title and reclaim his world No 1 ranking. The most remarkable year of even his remarkable life will finish, in sporting terms, next week in London at the season-ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, which start at the O2 Arena on Sunday.
Mirka is very laid-back and I'm also a calm person, so I think all of that enabled us to handle the situation."įederer is talking at Roland Garros, home of the French Open, where he practised during last week's Masters tournament, staged on the other side of Paris. "We were a bit surprised when we learned that Mirka was going to have twins, and we were maybe a touch worried that it would be really difficult and stressful, but so far it's been really easy. I expected some more screaming along the way in planes and everything, but it's been really easy. I'm happy because it was the way I expected it to be. Of course we'd never put their health at risk for anything, because that's what's most important, but it's been fun, travelling in a big group, as a family. "What I have realised is that travelling with babies isn't the most difficult thing in the world. "I knew that trip would give me some idea of how possible it would be to travel," Federer says. Federer and family were on the road within a fortnight of the twins' births, heading for Montreal, Cincinnati and New York. She just wants me to hold them as much as possible, because we both believe it's very important that mum and dad are both there as much as possible."įew sportsmen and women have to travel as far and as frequently as tennis players. She doesn't care too much if I change nappies or feed them.
During the day I try to help as much as I can."įederer does "a bit of everything", including feeding the babies and changing nappies, but adds: "For Mirka, the most important thing is just that I'm there. Now I think we've got into the right habits. There were times, especially at the beginning, when I woke up and helped as well. That would be too nice of them to be asleep at the same time! They don't sleep through yet. I sleep very deeply, which actually helps me to sleep through some screaming."ĭo Charlene Riva and Myla Rose wake up much during the night? Roger Federer, whose wife Mirka gave birth to twin daughters three months ago, knows, like most males, that when it comes to dealing with babies who cry in the middle of the night, the job is best left to an expert. Rich or poor, famous or humble, young or old, men are apparently the same the world over.
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