"I don't know what Tiger Woods and David Beckham do, I have to do a lot" - When Roger Federer regretted rigorous media demands placed on him

Roger Federer is among the most famous tennis players on the planet, perhaps even among the most famous sports personalities to have ever lived. That recognition comes with a high cost, one that even the Swiss himself admitted at times.

Speaking in a press conference at the 2011 Australian Open, the 20-time Grand Slam champion was asked about his media duties, with comparisons made to superstar athletes such as Tiger Woods and David Beckham. While Woods and Beckham only had to answer the questions put to them by English-speaking journalists in either the US or the UK, it was not the case for Federer.

The former World No. 1, by contrast, is from Switzerland, a country which has not one but four official languages. That means he can speak French, Swiss-German and German as well. To add to that, the Swiss can also speak a little Swedish, Italian and Spanish -- taking the total languages he knows to eight. Naturally, it also means he is invited to do press duties in more than two or three languages around the world.

Addressing the question, Federer admitted that things could get a little hectic for him, and wished it were a little easier for him. He even joked that he had never told the media that he knew how to speak French in the first place.

"Well, I mean, I don't know what they do. I know what I have to do in the tennis world. [What I have to do] has become a lot. I wish it was less sometimes. Sometimes I wish I never told anybody I learned French or something like that," Federer said.

At the same time, the ex-ATP pro insisted that he enjoyed speaking more than one language, which often led to him connecting with more friends around the world.

"I'm happy to speak it. It's a language we speak in Switzerland. I'm proud to have learned that language. At least I can communicate and have friends as well from that part of the world," Federer said.

"English, I grew up speaking English, and obviously Swiss German. German we read and write. So for me it's been nice being able to have so many friends around the world really. That it comes at a cost, sure. But I don't mind it."

"I try to have fun with it" - Roger Federer on keeping up with media duties

Day Two: The Championships - Wimbledon 2023 - Source: Getty

Expanding further on the topic at the press conference, Roger Federer revealed how he tried to keep it light at his media interactions despite the rigorous nature of it. The Swiss, for instance, emphasized how he had a different humor in every language, adding that he tried to enjoy that part of the conversation and find as much pleasure in it as possible.

"I try to have fun with it. I have almost - I don't want to say characters - but I have different humor in all the different languages, which is kind of fun for me, too. Getting to know myself through different languages is actually quite interesting for me," Federer said.

"I really enjoy it, even though it sometimes takes a bit more time out of the day. It's not every day I have to face the music like this, so it's not so bad," he added.

After a career spanning more than two decades, Federer hung up his racket in 2022 at the Laver Cup.