The greatest ambassador for tennis

Writer: Tony O'Hagan.

The whole country was gripped by Federer fever as the all-time tennis great arrived last week for the Match in Africa showdown against Rafael Nadal at Cape Town Stadium on Friday evening. Other celebrities who participated in this huge charity event were Bill Gates and Trevor Noah.

Federer’s mother, Lynette, reportedly said that watching her son in action on her home soil was “a dream come true”. And it appears that the South African genes she passed on to her son had more than a little to do with Roger’s success.

In an interview with SA People News, Roger Federer’s father, Robert says that Roger inherited his athletic gifts from his mother, who he admits is a better tennis player and golfer than he. Lynette (neé Durand) grew up in an Afrikaans-speaking family in Johannesburg and was a top athlete at school, competing in several sports, including hockey, before she had to quit because of a leg injury.

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