Roger Federer has joined hands with Uniqlo to revolutionize tennis at the grassroots level, as reported by Forbes. They have collaborated to hold a tennis clinic for young Canadian kids on the sidelines of the 2023 Laver Cup. Federer is not the first legend to work for the betterment of the sport. Novak Djokovic has been doing his bit too by forming the PTPA (Professional Tennis Players Association) with his focus being on making the sport sustainable for players who have already turned professional.
Federer expressed his gratitude for tennis and everything it has given him. He said he can’t simply break ties with the sport after retirement and wants to give back to the tennis community. The training session in Vancouver was one step in that direction. Federer is all set to conduct a similar clinic in Shanghai next, alongside the Shanghai Masters.
Roger Federer talks about giving back to tennis via Uniqlo-backed clinics
Uniqlo started its Next Generation Development Program in late 2022 to help young, budding sportspersons achieve their dreams. They have ambassadors across tennis, golf, and Olympic snowboarding. In collaboration with these stars, the Japanese apparel company will host clinics to support young athletes. Uniqlo is Federer’s biggest endorsement deal, with a $300 million, 10-year sponsorship deal.
Roger Federer held a workshop for Canada’s top tennis juniors before the Laver Cup in Vancouver. He talked to the young players about both the technical and mental parts of the game during the session. Speaking to Forbes, the 20-time Grand Slam winner said he loves giving back to the sport. He said he grew up with similar clinics and such initiatives are necessary all around the world. He added that an event like the Laver Cup has an impact down to the grassroots, saying he could see the kids’ desire to be pros.
“I love giving back. For me, I grew up with kids’ clinics and all that stuff. The development programs, we need to have them in communities all around the world to inspire, meet up and talk about what else we can do. An event like this trickles down to the grassroots. I could see the burning in the eye, ‘I want to be a pro as well.”
Federer further said tennis has given him a lot so it would not be correct to just detach himself from the game. He believes it is important to give back, adding he enjoys these sessions and does not feel like it’s a task.
“I’ve taken enough—and more—from the game, so I cannot just leave and say, ‘thanks a lot, that was fun,’ and never see you again,” Federer says. “For me, it is important to give back and spend the time. For me this is not work, this is absolute pleasure.”
The Roger Federer-Uniqlo partnership will not stop here. A similar session is also planned for Shanghai before the ATP 1000 event in China.
Federer to continue with sessions in Shanghai
Uniqlo is set to conduct its next training as part of the Next Generation Development Program in Shanghai before the Shanghai Masters. The ATP tournament is returning after four years. Young Chinese tennis juniors will get a chance to pick Federer’s brains before watching the best players in the world coming to the country to play in Beijing and Shanghai. The Swiss legend said he talked with Uniqlo about travelling across the world while giving back to tennis and helping children.
“We both said, Uniqlo and myself, we have to do this, to do something as fun as travelling the globe, there is always an angle of a development program, giving back, doing things with children.”
With Federer looking to help upcoming players, Djokovic is focused on supporting active players. The Serb formed the PTPA to fairly represent players, something he believed the ATP and WTA failed to do. Having already amassed over 250 members since being created in 2020, the PTPA is transforming how tennis players and their rights are voiced. The two legends of the game are doing their best to give back to tennis and revolutionize it in their way.
