Lindsey Vonn, the renowned American ski champion who retired in 2019, is an avid tennis enthusiast and a huge admirer of Roger Federer. Lindsey has always voiced her admiration for the Swiss Maestro, and recently, she had the incredible opportunity to ski with him, fulfilling a lifelong dream.
The two spent a day together on the ski slopes, as evidenced by numerous images and videos shared on social media. Vonn accompanied her post with a message of profound respect for the 20-time Slam champion, expressing her viewpoint on the greatest of all time (GOAT) debate.
Vonn firmly believes that Federer’s impact on tennis cannot be solely measured by numbers. Reflecting on the emotions she experienced during her time with the former tennis legend, the American declared that Federer epitomizes a true champion. She wrote that he will forever be the GOAT in her eyes.
“Usually, the individuals you admire tend to disappoint you in one way or another, but not Roger. He embodies the true spirit of a sportsman and a champion in every sense. We have talked about skiing together for so long that I wasn’t sure if it would ever happen… But here we are: retired, skiing, and enjoying life! Thank you, Rog, for this unforgettable memory. You and your family are truly exceptional. Regardless of what the statistics (or Leo lol) may say, you will always be the GOAT because it takes much more than numbers to have the kind of impact you have. I am just one of millions. Best wishes, my friend.”
The champion Lindsey Vonn on Roger Federer pic.twitter.com/iAXQdhrNkb
This post, as we mentioned in yesterday’s article, sparked a media frenzy among fans of Federer and Novak Djokovic. Djokovic’s fans criticized Lindsey for referring to Federer as the GOAT, despite the fact that the Swiss Maestro has won fewer Slams than the Serbian and despite Djokovic’s impressive records.
These criticisms compelled Lindsey to revise her post, reshaping it to simply state, “Finally, I had the opportunity to ski with my friend Roger Federer. Beautiful memories.”
Finally got to ski with my friend @rogerfederer. Great memories pic.twitter.com/Gn41uMRR0s
In subsequent posts, Lindsey clarified her (very valid!) perspective. Unfortunately, as is often the case on social media, many users resorted to offensive language and comments directed at the remarkable and resilient former skier. This once again highlights why certain individuals (referred to as haters or by any other name) should not be permitted to use social media.
In response to a post from the @Olly_Tennis_ account, Vonn once again expressed her thoughts with utmost clarity.
“The fact that Lindsey had to delete this post is a shame because Nadal, Djokovic, and Federer have contributed so much to the sport. All three of them would be appalled by the offensive language used to defend them. There is absolutely nothing wrong with having a favorite player and constantly posting about them. However, personal insults should never be used to bolster their position. It’s like saying, ‘I like waffles,’ and someone else responding with, ‘So you don’t like pancakes?!'”
The fact Lindsey had to delete this tweet…
It is unfortunate, because Nadal, Djokovic, and Federer have contributed so much to the sport, and all three of them would be appalled at some of the language used to defend them.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with having a favorite player, go… pic.twitter.com/7R7DEEJuCh
The former legendary American skier responded, entertained: “Exactly. All three of them would be embarrassed by what is being said. But I do enjoy pancakes!”
Exactly. All three of them would be embarrassed by what is being said. But I do enjoy pancakes 🤪
Roger Federer holding hands and in tears with his long-standing rival Rafael Nadal after the final match played at the 2022 Laver Cup. Over 500 days have passed since that iconic moment, which will forever be etched in the history of tennis.
The Swiss Maestro kept his promise and still maintained close contact with tennis. Federer is actually involved, along with agent Tony Godsick, in the promotion and organization of the Laver Cup, a team event created to honor Rod Laver. The tournament will take place from September 20 to 22 this year at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin.
Discussing his life after tennis in an interview with Süddeutsche Zeitung, Federer confessed: “I find my life after retirement fantastic. For the past three weekends, I have been on the ski slopes and playing tennis with my wife Mirka, she has a lot of authority. I strive to be a good father. It’s not always easy, especially with 14-year-old girls. They currently have their own opinions.
We are a close family who enjoys spending time together, but we also need to allow the girls to have their own experiences. In the family, my role is the motivator. Sometimes I finish a speech and think to myself: Wow, what beautiful words, Roger! Five minutes later, nothing I said has been acted upon. That’s okay. I will keep it in mind as a father!”
According to the Source tennisworldusa.org