Because behind a great man (Roger Federer), there is a great woman (Mirka)

They were also there at Met Gala 2023the tennis legend Roger Federer together with his wife Miroslava Federer, alias Mirka. Together since 2000, the Federers have had two sets of twins: Myla and Charlene, born in 2009, and Leo and Lenny, born in 2014.

After 23 years of married life, they always appear very united and close-knit and so it was the other night at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, on the occasion of the Met Gala. What will be their secret? Before we find out, here are some things to know about Mirka and her relationship with Roger.

Mirka is also a professional tennis player

Myroslava «Mirka» Vavrinec was born in Bojnice (former Czechoslovakia) 45 years ago, but has been raised in Switzerland since the age of two. Mirka is also a professional tennis player, former member of the Women’s Tennis Association, as well as one of the 100 strongest players ever. Sadly, she had to retire due to a foot injury in 2002, and since then she has been solely responsible for her husband’s public relations.

A love that blossomed at the Olympics

Roger, 41, and Mirka, 45, met for the first time when they were both representing Switzerland at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Apparently, their first real kiss was on the last day: «We spent two weeks together, that’s how we met and on the last day before leaving we kissed for the first time».

Behind the scenes of Roger’s success

In an interview, Federer called their couple “a rock”, both referring to when the two played mixed doubles matches together, and in private life. In fact, Mirka’s passion for tennis did not stop after the injury and the definitive retirement. “Her career continues through mine, also because she is older, she has more experience,” said Roger. Over the years, Mirka has in fact taken care of all the organizational aspects behind her husband’s sports career. Not only. She supported Roger technically and emotionally, supporting him, motivating him, traveling and always organizing every little detail, even when she was 9 months pregnant. Every time he won, she won too.

The secret to a successful marriage and career

In 2017, Roger said that Mirka and their family were his biggest priority, explaining that: “If he had said at some point that he didn’t want to travel anymore, I would have said, ‘okay, my career is over.’ Mirka has been an amazing support for me. She is the best. As a wife, as a mother but above all as a friend with whom to share the journey».

Between the two there is such a strong understanding and such a deep feeling that on more than one occasion the champion took the opportunity to reiterate it. Once, in a TV interview he said: “People might think we’re crazy to always be united, to want to spend every moment of our lives together, but I I wouldn’t want to wake up anywhere else in the world but next to her».

One of the most intense moments was in his final match, before his final retirement from tennis. Mirka was moved when Roger, while crying, thanked her publicly, saying: «My wife is so supportive. She could have stopped me a long, long time ago, but she didn’t. She urged me to carry on, allowing me to play. Thank you”.

Mirka, a great woman behind a great man (and vice versa)

Those who believe that Roger Federer’s success is largely due to the commitment of his wife Mirka are not mistaken. The support that she has always given him on a professional level is also the key to understanding the success of their marriage. «To be happy, a couple needs to cultivate positive emotions, which arise from shared moments of play, fun, exploration and adventure. And from mutual support in realizing dreams and aspirations», explains the psychotherapist Carolina Traverso. «We could therefore say that, behind a great man, there is always a great woman, but that the opposite is also true».

Supporting your partner, however, is not so obvious. «It requires sharing a dream, with all the benefits but also with all the sacrifices that fighting together for a dream can entail. And it requires trust, that is the belief that the partner, in achieving their goals, will always have the well-being of the couple at heart, and not just their own. Finally, only if we are convinced that the professional affirmation of the other will not take anything away from us, will we really be able to celebrate small and big goals together without feeling overshadowed and envious», the psychotherapist points out.
Because to support your partner, to be his number 1 fan, it’s not enough to share a project and trust: «you also need to be very sure of yourself».

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