The four sporting icons who Roger Federer named as his biggest inspirations

The four sporting stars who Roger Federer said inspired him

At 35 years old, Federer won his first Grand Slam in five years at the Australian Open and then followed it up with another at Wimbledon in the same year.

When speaking to BBC Sport after becoming one of the oldest Grand Slam champions in history, Federer was asked what motivated him to keep competing.

In his response, Federer named the aforementioned Jordan, alongside sprinting legend Usain Bolt, alongside Formula One icons Valentino Rossi and Michael Schumacher.

“I would get inspired in a big way by the likes of Usain Bolt, Michael Jordan, Valentino Rossi or Michael Schumacher,” said Federer. “Guys who did things for a very long time at the highest level, because I would marvel at what they did when I was younger, I couldn’t understand how they would get match ready, day in, day out.

“Every single day they would give 100%, and I struggled with that in a big way when I was younger. Eventually I also found my way, how it’s possible and how I need to motivate myself and what kind of a team I need around me to be able to do that.

“So, I feel it’s been really important to me in my life to also have inspiring figures wherever I look. I take it mostly from sporting legends.”

What Michael Jordan said about Roger Federer after watching him at the 2014 US Open

Federer had spoken about his admiration of Jordan before winning Wimbledon in 2017, and the basketball legend was actually in the stadium for one of his matches three years before.

For his first round match at the 2014 US Open , where Federer beat Australian Marinko Matosevic in straight sets, Jordan was on Arthur Ashe Stadium watching.

When speaking in his on-court interview after the match, Federer supported his other comments about Jordan being an idol of his.

It’s just amazing having Michael here,” Federer relayed. “Growing up, he was my big sporting idol. … Having him here is unbelievably special, and the collaboration is unique, so I love it.”

Jordan also spoke to media after the match, and suggested that he had a newfound appreciation for Federer after watching him in person.

“I know nothing about tennis,” said Jordan. “He’s a good athlete. I know he played basketball a bit.

“I think he looks so smooth. I’ve seen a lot of tennis on TV, but you never really understand how smooth and how relaxed and how fundamentally sound that he can make this game look.”