Retired American tennis player Patrick McEnroe recently confirmed his early connection to Swiss legend Roger Federer. The former US Davis Cup captain verified a story by Federer himself, where the 20-time Grand Slam revealed he was once a ball boy during one of McEnroe's matches.
Federer hung up his racket in 2022, following one final appearance at his beloved Laver Cup. After battling a knee injury that saw him limited for most of the season, the former World No.1 announced he would be retiring at that year's Laver Cup event. Teaming up with long-time rival and good friend Rafael Nadal, the duo were unable to emerge victorious against the team of Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe.
In a recent interview with Chris Russo on Mad Dog Sports Radio, Federer shared some interesting facts on his career. The 42-year old revealed he used to be a ball kid earlier in his career, and he disclosed he even once assisted former Roland Garros champion Patrick McEnroe as a ball boy during one of his matches.
"Home town tournament Basel holds a special meaning for me because I was a ball kid there," said Federer. " (For) Two years, you know I was a ball kid of Patrick McEnroe in his final when he played there. He knows that, I have told him many times, then he feels embarrassed that I was his ball kid."
McEnroe apparently got wind of the conversation, responding to Federer's comments in a light-hearted manner on social media.
"Such a great interview by @MadDogSirius …. And yes it’s true… @rogerfederer actually did ball boy my match!!! He must have learned from me!!!!" wrote McEnroe on Twitter.
Growing up in a household where soccer was king, my earliest memories are filled with chants from packed stadiums and the rhythm of a ball being passed across neighborhood streets. But somewhere along the way, the quiet elegance and raw emotion of tennis pulled me in. What began as a curiosity became a lifelong passion; not just for the sport itself, but for the stories it tells: of grit, of heartbreak, of improbable comebacks and human resilience.
As a tennis writer, I bring the observational lens of someone who didn’t grow up in the sport, but fell in love with it as an outsider; a perspective that lets me see both its technical beauty and its emotional depth. Over the years working with TennisUpToDate, I’ve had the privilege of reaching more than 3.5 million readers worldwide, with one of my features ranking among the site’s top three articles.
With a background in storytelling and a creative mind always searching for meaning beyond the scoreboard, I aim to craft narratives that go deeper than results and rankings. Whether it’s a rising star breaking through or a veteran fighting off Father Time, I try to capture the heartbeat behind the headlines.
Even @rogerfederer is impressed with the Doggie's ability to recall specific details about his career!
"You don't even have notes, how do you do it"
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