\u201cGraduates, I feel your pain. I know what it\u2019s like when people keep asking what your plan is for the rest of your life,\u201d he joked. But even though he\u2019s left the professional courts, Federer is sharing the wisdom he learned from his time on the grass.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The newly retired star athlete became a household name in the 2000s, spending a (since broken) record 237 consecutive weeks<\/a> as the No. 1 in singles tennis by the ATP. He\u2019s gleaned a lot not just from his wins but also from his defeats, as he breaks down his decades-long career<\/a> into three main takeaways for the class of 2024.<\/p>\n Federer saying calmness is a learned skill is not unlike Julia Roberts saying every redhead is a box dye. But despite his reputation, Federer was a hothead as a teenager and describes his attempts to rein it in and seem unbothered.\u00a0<\/p>\n Describing his being bristled by many people saying his playing was effortless, he insists that no success comes without trying.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe truth is I had to work very hard to make it look easy,\u201d he said. \u201cI spent years whining, swearing \u2026 throwing my rackets before I learned to keep my cool.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Federer noted that even with his parents and coaches calling him out, his attitude only changed when one of his opponents publicly recognized his behavior.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cRoger will be the favorite for the first two hours, then I\u2019ll be the favorite after that,\u201d his opponent said. Still early in his career, Federer was confused. But he describes coming to understand the meaning. Doing well when you\u2019re feeling fresh is simple and easy; it\u2019s later on when your resolve fades and your body gets tired that the performance really matters.<\/p>\n \u201cIt made me understand I have so much work ahead of me,\u201d he said, explaining that he trained to get that collected reputation as he realized \u201cwinning effortlessly is the ultimate achievement.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Relating it back to the graduating class, Federer asks how often they saw their peers get good grades without putting much of a sweat in. \u201cHopefully like me, you learn that effortless is a myth. I didn\u2019t get where I got [by] pure talent alone. I got there by trying to outwork my opponents,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n Federer recognized \u201ctalent matters,\u201d but said it\u2019s not an innate thing. In life and in tennis, \u201cnot about having a gift, it\u2019s about having grit.\u201d<\/p>\n No matter how much sweat and tears you put into a game, you can still walk away sans trophy, Federer acknowledges. \u00a0<\/p>\n His biggest loss was the 2008 Wimbledon tournament, where he was playing to reach a historical achievement: six consecutive titles. At one point, Federer remembers thinking his opponent\u2014Rafael Nadal, who\u2019s won 22 Grand Slam men\u2019s singles titles\u2014was hungrier than he was. That\u2019s when the game was over. Even though he had a last-minute boost of confidence, it \u201ccame too late,\u201d and he lost. Federer remembers how some people suggested that it was the end of his career.\u00a0<\/p>\n FABRICE COFFRINI\u2014AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n But even though it was a monumental game, it really was only a blip in his career. \u201cIn tennis, perfection is impossible,\u201d Federer said. While he was top dog for a stretch of time, he still whiffed a lot. Federer noted he won 80% of his 1,526 singles matches, but only 54% of all points.<\/p>\n On average, missing every second point made Federer \u201clearn not to dwell on every shot,\u201d including his milestone wins and losses. Of course, you bring everything you have into each point, but once it\u2019s done then it\u2019s no use lingering. And letting the past stay in the past allows you to put everything into each moment or point, he added.<\/p>\n \u201cThe truth is, whatever game you play in life, sometimes, you\u2019re going to lose a point, a match, a season, a job,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s natural when you\u2019re down to doubt yourself, and to feel sorry for yourself. But negative energy is wasted energy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n It\u2019s in those hard times that a real winner is made: \u201cThe best in the world are not the best because they win every point. It\u2019s because they know they\u2019ll lose again and again.\u201d<\/p>\n A court is small after all, only a bit bigger than a dorm room, Federer explained. Even though that\u2019s where he built his life, he knew there was more to life than the world of tennis.\u00a0<\/p>\n Federer said he\u2019s had \u201ca rewarding life full of travel, culture, friendships, and especially family.\u201d While traveling the world, he turned to philanthropy and created a foundation toward making early-childhood education more accessible.\u00a0<\/p>\n Though he was just 22 years old at the time, feeling perhaps he was too young to dive into anything beyond tennis, he took a chance, launched the Roger Federer Foundation, and found his journeys immensely rewarding. Noting that philanthropy is not just about donating money, but also ideas and time, Federer urged graduates to look outside their own bubbles they\u2019ve built as well.<\/p>\n \u201cAll of you have so much to give, and I hope you will find your own unique ways to make a difference, because life really is much bigger than the court,\u201d he added.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\nEffortless is a myth<\/h2>\n
It\u2019s only a point<\/h2>\n
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Life is bigger than the court<\/h2>\n