Roger Federer's beginnings have been analyzed in detail during this incredible 21-year journey. From the legacy left by the era of Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi arose the Swiss Maestro, an athlete capable of changing the history of tennis forever, of rewriting it as if he were a messiah.
But there is an anecdote about his young career that had not yet been told.
Claudio Pistolesi presented his book C'era una volta il (mio) tennis (Once upon a time (my) tennis - ed.) at the Tennis Club of Perugia (Umbria, Central Italy).
After his excellent tennis career, during which he was ATP No.71 in 1987, Pistolesi became an exceptional coach and, among the many players with whom he collaborated, there was also Davide Sanguinetti.
Roger Federer
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The last beautiful anecdote about Roger Federer
The latter managed to beat Roger Federer in the final of the ATP tournament in Milan in 2002, with a score of 7-6(2), 4-6, 6-1. Just after that match, Pistolesi reached the Swiss to tell him something very important and congratulate him, despite the defeat.
"Coach, did I play badly? Roger asked me. And I replied: Today you lost but soon you will be among the top ten players in the world. If I had told him that he would have won 20 Slams, he would never have believed me!" said Pistolesi, revealing an exciting anecdote.
Everyone knows the rest of the story, because Federer has become one of the best tennis players and sportsmen ever, making millions of fans fall in love with him thanks to his spectacular playing style, capable of combining elegance and effectiveness. Roger as if he were poetry in motion. A gift for all fans.
"The physical form of the athletes has changed, they are taller, thinner, they are very fast and then there is the incredible development of the scientific and technological part. If by romantic we mean passion, it was a more romantic tennis," then said Pistoiesi to the Italian newspaper La Nazione.
From the book it is easy to understand the former Italian player's desire to delve deeper into the discussion on the changes that have had a strong impact on our beloved sport over the years.