Bill Simons
San Francisco
Pablo Picasso never dropped by a Paris junior high to give art lessons to kids. Pianist Vladimir Horowitz never headed off to the Bronx to offer twelve-year-olds piano lessons.
But Tuesday, there was maestro Roger Federer at a windy, hilltop park, high above San Francisco, hitting with kids. He and always beaming Yannick Noah, the captain of the Laver Cup’s Team Europe, were at McLaren Park to celebrate the resurfacing of its six courts, and the Laver Cup’s long-range investment in San Francisco tennis.
It was all a jaunty celebration of wonderful stuff: big stars giving back, giddy kids squealing in delight as they hit with the most beloved player in the history of tennisdom and the most charismatic player France has ever blessed us with.
As the media (very much including Inside Tennis) scurried about, there were heartfelt and blessedly brief speeches from officials from the Laver Cup, the Golden State Warriors, who are hosting the Cup, the mayor, the rec department, Federer and Noah.
There was talk of the beauty of tennis, and how the Laver Cup’s investment, including the resurfacing of the courts, will provide hope.
Then the fun began. San Francisco’s Mayor Daniel Lurie hit an overhead past Federer. The winner prompted a wiseguy to tell the Mayor, “Hey, after that, you’re bound for the presidency!”
Playing with thrilled kids from Youth Tennis Advantage and the East Palo Alto Tennis and Tutoring, Roger hit tweeners and backhand overheads, and displayed that gorgeous backhand and appealing smile we’ve long enjoyed. Then came the moment of the day. Youth Tennis Advantage’s Devin Stuppin, a 17-year old from San Francisco, retrieved a Federer lob and unleashed a flawless tweener winner.
The place went nuts. Pictures were taken, memories were made, and Federer and Noah then spoke with the press.
Long ago, a hippie anthem told us, “When you come to San Francisco, wear some flowers in your hair.” Roger didn’t.
But once again he displayed his tone-perfect ability to navigate virtually any situation: the final of a big Slam or in a South African stadium in front of 55,000 fans – what’s the big deal? Doing a post-match presser in three languages? No sweat. A boardroom filled with bottom line CEO’s? Don’t worry, I just became a billionaire. No wonder journalist Eleanor Preston once couldn’t resist asking, “Is it possible that Roger is the most perfect tennis player, the most perfect man – in the history of everything, ever?”
But then came the devastating news. In an astonishing dialogue, a B-team local reporter all but begged Roger to take control of our plight and lead the world from its abyss. “How about politics?” the writer asked.
“Politics?” replied the incredulous tennis player.
“Yes, world leadership, politics,” the hopeful reporter continued.
“No, no,” Roger insisted.
“Eventually?” pleaded the reporter.
The world’s most flawless man then reiterated, “No, no, I’m okay.”
Federer’s wife Mirka once said that she “couldn’t imagine anyone waking up as content each morning as Roger.”
But another reporter wondered whether he was still haunted by Rafa Nadal’s high- hopping thunderbolt forehands, which attacked his dreamy backhand. “Is it in your subconscious?” asked the writer.
“No, not at all. I’ve been very good at moving forward and not dwelling on the past. It was a great challenge in my life to understand his wicked forehand spin to my backhand. But, rather than it being a nightmare, I’ve taken it as a very positive thing in my career.”
Inside Tennis then recalled that at Wimbledon, Novak Djokovic said that after he retires, he’d like to sit down a beach with a margarita, Roger, and Rafa, and talk about all their careers. In New York Novak continued, confiding that he’d like to pick his foes’ brains to know how they prepared for big matches against him.
So we asked Roger what kind of things he’d talk about with his two great rivals. He responded, “It’s very similar to any sit-down you’d have with any player like Yannick, Tim Henman, Agassi, Pat Rafter. You can imagine, it’s like when you meet a former journalist and you think of the good old days – what has happened, why did it happen?
“So we remember certain games, those five-setters, those finals, those practices or charity matches. They all connect you – they all live.”
Bill Simons interviewing Federer in San Francisco; Photo by Seth Socolow
We then asked if the level of tennis has risen since he retired in 2022.
“Possibly,” Roger cautiously replied. “Obviously the level that Carlos and Jannik have achieved seems extremely high. That French Open final was epic. Thank God it didn’t end in three sets. So we got to see an epic. Otherwise we would say, ‘You know, it’s maybe okay.’
“Through that final, we got a snapshot into what we can expect. It’s been amazing to follow these guys.
“Yes, you would always think that the game gets better. They hit so hard from both sides and move so well. I’ve always said tennis is a game of movement. They’re moving incredibly well for big, strong guys.”
When asked about his future, the 44-year-old said he’s now focused on his two sets of twins, who are 16 and 11. He noted the incredible work his foundation is doing for childhood education in Southern Africa and Switzerland. He’s pleased it has helped and inspired so many for decades.
Then he mused on how much tennis has given to him and added, “There’s got to be a time when I can re-enter the game, even more than just the Laver Cup. I don’t know if that would be commentary, coaching or mentorship.”
For now, he’s happy he’ll be spending a week in San Francisco. Radiating joy, he noted that he’s been playing golf and will be eating out. He added that the Chase Center, which is hosting the Laver Cup, looks amazing. Then he sighed, “I feel very, how do you say? Not sad, it’s not the word, but I’m missing out that I can’t play. Because this is a venue I would have loved to play.”
As for the other players, he noted the essence of the Laver Cup: “They get an immersive experience of the future, past, present. Teammates coming together and having a good time. Hopefully, then they’re incredibly motivated for the tour again.”
A premise of the Laver Cup is to honor the heritage of tennis. Roger asserted, “Players sometimes don’t look into the past anymore. They see that the US Open Stadium is named after Arthur Ashe and say, ‘Okay, center court, Arthur Ashe, who’s that? You know, it’s a name. I guess it’s a tennis player.’ But they should know about the past.”
He added that he was always interested in Billie Jean King and Ashe and the stories of the game. Okay, Roger admitted he won’t become the leader of the world and save us all from the abyss.
But when it comes to tennis, the story of this sport can never be told without honoring a Swiss athletic genius with a sublime backhand who we saw hitting yesterday in a humble city park with ecstatic kids.
