Roger Federer explains why he doesn't take his position as 'leader of the game' for granted

Roger Federer recently appeared in a video interview for motivational brand BecomingX, where he spoke at length about a wide range of topics.

In the first half of the video, the Swiss legend revealed his struggles as a junior while also paying tribute to his late coach Peter Carter. The next segment saw Roger Federer touching upon his responsibilities as an ambassador of the sport and highlighting the importance of passion in the pursuit of your goals.

Roger Federer has served tennis incredibly well both on and off the court over the last two decades. His elegant game coupled with his near-flawless public image have made him one of the most popular tennis ambassadors ever.

The 39-year-old views his position in the sport as a responsibility, given that not everyone gets the chance to be something like that.

“Becoming World No. 1 and winning Wimbledon, sort of being the leader of the game in some ways or just a spokesperson for all male tennis players, I don't take it for granted,” Federer said.

Roger Federer

For Roger Federer, being an ambassador is a chance to 'inspire' those who see him as their hero. He himself looked up to the likes of Stefan Edberg, Pete Sampras, Boris Becker and Michael Jordan while growing up, and he feels having role models is very important.

“I really appreciate it because for me heroes are really important,” Federer continued. “You know I had Stefan Edberg, Pete Sampras, Boris Becker and Michael Jordan. I have a chance to give back, a chance to inspire.”

One thing I do believe in is not wasting your talent: Roger Federer

Roger Federer in action at the 2017 Australian Open.

Continuing to dwell upon why he doesn't take anything for granted, Roger Federer revealed that his tennis success was never guaranteed.

The five-time US Open champion pointed out that it is difficult to harbor too high tennis ambitions while growing up in Switzerland. The country is known to be conservative and academic-centric, which makes sporting success tougher to come by.

“I'm actually not quite sure exactly why I succeeded as much as I did,” Federer continued. “You don't aim for 20 Grand Slams. You don't aim for World no. 1 anyway, not in my world, not in my normal upbringing in Switzerland. I'm not sure if we dream this big, you know. It's not something that happens quickly or easily.”

Roger Federer plays a backhand.

But Roger Federer bucked the trend, and his ambitious nature eventually helped him scale monumental heights in the sport. The eight-time Wimbledon champion believes that passion and dedication, along with the right support system, are essential for any player who wants to fulfill their goals.

“If you're passionate about what you're doing, keep going, keep believing, reach for the stars,” Federer said. “Surround yourself with the right people and if you really go for it.”

During his late teens and early 20s, Roger Federer was often accused of letting his natural gifts go to waste. But the Swiss learned his lesson quickly enough, and now believes that talent can be nurtured when your mind and body are in sync.

“One thing I do believe in is not wasting your talent,” Federer asserted. “You can always control like your mind and your fitness I feel.”