Federer on Tiger: It’s hard to watch

Swiss tennis star Roger Federer admits that it’s “been hard to watch” his friend Tiger Woods struggle lately.
Swiss tennis star Roger Federer admits that it’s “been hard to watch” his friend Tiger Woods struggle lately.
Federer and Woods struck up a friendship a few years back as both were hunting their respective all-time grand slam/major records.
Federer was trying to surpass Pete Sampras’ record of 14 grand slam wins, which he finally did by equalling the record at the 2009 French Open, and then surpassing it a few months later at Wimbledon.
Woods was hunting Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major championships. He won his 14th at the 2008 U.S. Open, but hasn’t won another one since, with Nicklaus’ record seeming stronger and harder to surpass with every passing day that Woods shows few signs of being the player he once was.
And for Federer, at least, it’s been hard to watch.
“It’s hard to follow, because you know what an athlete wants to do,” he said. “He wants to be out there and compete and that’s what he’s not able to do with his injuries right now,” Federer said on Saturday after his third-round win at the U.S. Open.
He said that he and Woods spoke briefly over the phone earlier in the week.
At the time that both men were the undisputed masters of their chosen sports, they were also represented by the same agency and even worked together on the same ad campaign for Gillette. When Federer won the 2006 U.S. Open, Woods was in his guest box to watch him win, and they shared a celebratory toast afterwards.
But since then so much has changed for Woods – damaging revelations about his personal life became public, leading to divorce, and numerous injury problems have prevented him from performing as he’d like to on the course.
“It’s been tough for him the last year. He knows that,” Federer added. “It’s been hard to watch. I only wish him the best.”
Latest
-
News
Sponsor Ralph Lauren drops Justin Thomas following homophobic slur in Hawaii
The world number three uttered the derogatory word towards himself after missing a putt at Kapalua last weekend.
-
News
Bryson DeChambeau keeping brain relaxed to avoid repeat of Masters misery
DeChambeau said his brain went into overdrive at Augusta National.
-
News
European Tour preparing for business as planned in the Middle East
Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship is due to start next week.
-
News
Two-time major champion Angel Cabrera arrested in Brazil
The former US Open and Masters winner was on the run from the law.
-
News
On this Day in 2013: Paul McGinley given Ryder Cup captaincy
McGinley would go on to be involved in a sixth Ryder Cup victory.
-
News
Collin Morikawa keen to draw inspiration from family ties to Hawaii at Sony Open
Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas has withdrawn from the event after testing positive for coronavirus.
-
News
R&A: ‘No plans’ for Open to head to Donald Trump-owned Turnberry in near future
Trump National in Bedminster was on Sunday stripped of next year’s US PGA Championship.
-
News
US PGA Championship moved from Donald Trump-owned course in New Jersey
Trump National in Bedminster had been set to host the event.
-
News
Justin Thomas : ‘I made a terrible, terrible judgement call’
Thomas admitted he was distracted by what happened on Saturday during his final round.
-
News
PGA Championship to be moved away from Donald Trump-owned course
It is the second time in six years the PGA has moved an event away from a course owned by Donald Trump.