New Roger Federer book explores impact he had on people in all walks of life

Through more than 40 exclusive interviews, Simon Cambers and Simon Graf tell Federer’s story in a new, fascinating way, in The Roger Federer Effect, published on October 31

Roger FEDERER et son amie MIRKA – Finale Wimbledon 2003 – 06.07.2003 – Tennis – studio photo call largeur trophee joie magazine fiancee

Tennis Majors

October 31, 2022

There have been many books written about Roger Federer, so finding a new angle on one of the world’s greatest ever players is far from easy.

But in a new book, published today, October 31, 2022, authors Simon Cambers (who writes for Tennis Majors) and Simon Graf try to tell his story in a different way, looking at the impact he has made on people in all walks of life.

Publication day for The Roger Federer Effect! Huge thanks to all who made it possible, from the interviewees, to @PitchPublishing and especially my co-author @SimonGraf1. We look forward to any feedback! @rogerfederer https://t.co/httrDp2iNu
— Simon Cambers (@scambers73) October 31, 2022

Titled The Roger Federer Effect, Rivals, Friends, Fans and How the Maestro Changed their Lives and published by Pitch, the book includes more than 40 exclusive interviews with players, coaches, rivals, fans, friends and people from outside tennis, including the world of music, film and even politics.

Federer’s impact on the court is well-documented. The 41-year-old, who retired last month after the Laver Cup, has won 20 Grand Slam titles, 103 titles worldwide, the Davis Cup and Olympic gold medal in doubles.

It’s hard to think of anyone more popular with fans as Federer and in The Roger Federer Effect, Cambers and Graf explore just why that is, through fascinating interviews with people in all walks of life, all of whom have been impacted by Federer in some way.

Interviews about Federer with his coaches, rivals, fans, friends and more

His former coaches, Paul Annacone and Sven Groeneveld, outline what he was like to work with; Toni Nadal, Marian Vajda and Mark Petchey detail how his biggest rivals – Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray – fought to try to beat him; his super-fans explain how they changed their lives to follow him around the world; famous violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter details why Federer struck a chord with her; and even John Bercow, the former speaker of the UK parliament, tells why he has been so entranced by Federer, to the point where even prime ministers knew to tread carefully when his favourite player had suffered a big loss.

From his early days in Swiss tennis, to the effect that the death of his Peter Carter had on him, his rivalry with Lleyton Hewitt, coached at the time by Darren Cahill, his transformation into a dominant world No 1 and his incredible resurgence in 2017 and 2018, when he won three more Grand Slam titles, the book also covers what it’s like to try to commentate on Federer, when he often made tennis look so easy, or to photograph him, when he rarely showed much emotion on court.

Ukraine’s Sergiy Stakhovsky, interviewed before he headed home to defend his country against Russia’s invasion, famously beat Federer at Wimbledon, but also explains how the Swiss was so integral to getting huge prize-money rises for players at Grand Slams. Wrestler Urs Bürgler explains the role he played in bringing Federer together with Mirka Vavrinec, the woman who played such a massive role in his career, and we meet the man who beat Federer the first eight times they played.

From goofy teenager to “James Bond”

Nicolas Mahut tells how he was so nervous to play the man he calls “James Bond”; Pat Rafter discusses his 3-0 record against Federer; Stefanos Tsitsipas and Matteo Berrettini reveal how they were inspired to play by Federer; Coco Gauff and Ons Jabeur share their feelings about a man who transcended tennis and there’s also a chapter from Craig O’Shannessy, who shares a secret behind Federer’s stunning 2017 Australian Open triumph.

The book also includes great photographs, the majority given by the interviewees, showing the Federer they knew, the “goofy”, fun-loving Federer who turned himself into one of the greatest players in history.

The Roger Federer Effect, Rivals, Friends, Fans and How the Maestro Changed their Lives, is published by Pitch Publishing, on October 31, 2022. To order a copy, click here