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Roger Federer has been one of the top names in men’s tennis for more than a decade and throughout that reign of dominance, the Swiss standout has had one very important person in his corner; his wife Mirka.
The two, who met during the 2000 Sydney Olympics, have been married since 2009 and have remained, consistently, one of the most prominent couples in all of athletics. They’re both talented, glamorous and, most importantly, each other’s biggest fans.
Get ready to see plenty of Mirka on Friday morning as Federer takes on Andy Murray on Centre Court in the Wimbledon semifinals. Here’s what you need to know about his better half:
Mirka Is a Former Pro Tennis Player & Played With Roger in the Hopman Cup
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After watching her first-ever tennis tournament when she was just nine years old, Mirka turned pro in January 1998. She was ranked in the mid-80s throughout her career and reached the third round of the US Open in 2001. Her only Olympic appearance came in 2000, when she and Roger were both competing for Switzerland.
Mirka and Roger competed together just once, playing in the Hopman Cup, an indoor hardcourt tennis tournament in Perth, Australia.
Ultimately, Mirka was forced to retire from competitive play in 2002 after several seasons battling a recurring foot injury made it nearly impossible for her to move on the court.
Mirka & Roger Have Four Children: Twin Girls & Twin Boys
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Federer vs. Federer? Or maybe two pairs of doubles teams? It could happen now that Roger and Mirka are parents to two sets of twins; girls Myla Rose and Charlene Riva, born in July of 2009, and boys Leo and Lenny born in May 2014.
Roger pulled out of the Madrid Masters tournament to be with his wife when she went into labor last summer and the entire family regularly travels to see Federer compete. Although the girls, occasionally, aren’t all that interested in tennis and have been spotted, as many almost-six year olds are, more concerned with their tablets than their father.
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Mirka Previously Managed Her Husband’s Career
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After her injury forced her away from the court, Mirka kept her hand in the game by helping to manage Roger’s career. She helped organize travel plans and media commitments and was always available as an extra analyst, dissecting Roger’s on-court play.
Paul Annacone, one of Federer’s coaches, discussed her position with The New York Times:
She still plays a huge role and has great input and impact. She understands the big picture extremely well and does a great job in terms of letting us work but also shares invaluable information. This is a tricky balance. She’s been there since day one, so she knows very well what it takes and how to get there.
Since the birth of the couple’s first set of twins in 2009, however, Mirka has taken a more spectator approach to Roger’s career. She rarely misses an event and is frequently photographed in the stands, cheering on her husband.
