The Roger Federer effect

What does it take to become, be and remain number 1? Are talent, practice, luck, hard work and coaching enough? Not quite. There is one more skill that distinguishes a number 1: Champions enjoy doing what they do. Simon Cambers and Simon Graf call this the ​“Roger Federer effect” in the book ​“Inspiration Federer”: Federer had the ability to enjoy the game and have fun on the court, even under pressure, even in difficult situations, even when he was losing. He simply loved playing tennis. This is something we have in common with our champions, who dedicate their lives to a profession that they simply love.

For the champions, it’s not about always being perfect, always winning and never losing. In Das Magazin (39÷2023), Mikael Krogerus and Roman Tschäppeler sum up perhaps the most beautiful lesson from Federer’s incredible career, ​“that it’s not just about winning or losing (and not just about being there), but about enjoying what we do.”