Google News Rebeka Masarova recalls first meeting with Roger Federer: Super relaxed conversation
by DZEVAD MESIC
Spain's Rebeka Masarova, 23, still perfectly remembers her first meeting with Roger Federer and how relaxed the Swiss looked during their conversation. In 2017, Masarova made the Australian Open girls' singles final before losing to Marta Kostyuk.
That same year, Federer defeated Rafael Nadal in an epic five-set final at Melbourne Park. "I met him at the 2017 Australian Open, when I made the junior final. I knew Severin, his coach, and he told me that he would introduce me to him after a training session.
I talked with him for a while. It was a super relaxed conversation as if we knew each other from before. I was super nervous. He wished me luck for the future, but he didn't give me any advice," Masarova told Marca.
Federer inspired Masarova to pursue a pro tennis career
When Masarova was just a little girl, Federer was dominating the tennis scene.
Now 20 years later, Masarova remembers sitting in front of a TV, watching Federer and dreaming about one day being in his position. "In my family no one was an athlete or played tennis. It was an unknown word. I was born in Basel and at the age of four we were watching Federer's first Wimbledon final at home.
I said that I wanted to play because I liked it and my mother saw one day that there was a 'Kids day' (day for children) in a school and that's how it all started. The coaches always said that I was good at it. At the age of 10 we moved to Barcelona and I played more and at 12 I was already competing for Europe," Masarova explained.
Last week, Masarova made her first WTA final. At the ASB Classic in Auckland, Masarova reached the final before top-seeded Cori Gauff handed her a 6-1 6-1 defeat. Unfortunately for Masarova, she won't be competing at the Australian Open after losing in the qualifying second round.