Lessons To Learn From Roger Federer’s Viral Dartmouth Speech
Apurva Verma
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Posted Jun 17, 2024
(This article explores lessons from Roger Federer's Dartmouth speech, examining his insights on resilience, success, and lifelong learning.)
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The famous Swiss player shared 3 key lessons, referring to them as ‘tennis lessons.’
From the official page of Dartmouth.
Roger Federer, the former world No. 1 tennis player in the PIF ATP Rankings, delivered a memorable commencement speech to attendees at Dartmouth University, US, both in person and virtually. The Swiss icon was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters degree on June 9, 2024.
I just came here to give a speech, but I get to go home as ‘Dr. Roger’. That’s a pretty nice bonus.
Addressing the Class of 2024, his speech began with light-hearted jokes and laughter. He compared the challenges faced by graduates to those he has encountered in his own life. Federer also discussed the concept of retirement, a word he admitted he is not particularly fond of.
I left school at the age of 16 to play tennis full time. So I never went to college… but I did graduate recently. I graduated tennis. I know the word is ‘retire’. ‘Roger Federer retired from tennis.’ Retired… The word is awful. You wouldn’t say you retired from college, right? Sounds terrible.
‘Effortless’… is a myth
The truth is I had to work very hard… to make it look easy. I spend years whining, swearing, sorry, throwing my rackets before I learned to keep my cool.
The 103-time-tour-level titlist emphasized that his success was not effortless, acknowledging the hard work and discipline required in his journey to the top. He worked diligently, receiving criticism from his parents, coaches, and opponents for lacking mental discipline. He focused on this by intensifying his training regimen.
Winning effortlessly is the ultimate achievement.
He gained that reputation because his warm-ups at the tournament were casual, and people didn’t think he had been training hard enough. However, he had confidence in what he was doing because he was practicing when nobody was watching.
I believed in myself. But BELIEF in yourself has to be earned.
Federer mentioned a turning point in 2003 when he learned to believe in himself, citing a specific ATP final, where only the best 8 qualify. He won the match by confronting his opponents’ strengths rather than avoiding them.
Federer highlighted the importance of talent, discipline, patience, self-trust, and embracing the process.
There are days when you just feel broken. Your back hurts, your knee hurts. Maybe you’re a little sick or scared. But you still find a way to win. And those are the victories we can be most proud of. Because they prove that you can win, not just when you’re at your best, but especially when you aren’t. Yes, talent matters. I’m not going to stand here, and tell you it doesn’t. But talent has a broad definition… it’s not about having a gift, it’s about having grit.
It’s only a point.
He reflected on his Wimbledon finals match in 2008. The match was played on June 6, 2008, on Centre Court, All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon, London, England. The almost 5-hours match was a classic encounter between two of the greatest tennis players of all time, with Rafael Nadal defeating Roger Federer in a thrilling five-set match.
You can work harder than you thought possible and still lose. I have many times.
Losing at Wimbledon was a big deal… because winning at Wimbledon is everything… When you have the chance to walk onto Centre Court at Wimbledon, the cathedral of tennis, and when you finish as a champion, you feel the magnitude of the moment. There’s nothing like it. In 2008, I was going for record six consecutive title. I was playing for history… But looking back, I feel like I lost at the very first point of the match. I looked across the net and I saw a guy who, just a few weeks earlier, crushed me in straight sets at the French open, and I thought, “This guy is maybe hungrier than I am, and he’s finally got my number.”
This match made him acknowledge the crucial role of perspective and self-realisation in his career.
I lost Wimbledon. I lost my number-one ranking. And suddenly people said, “He had a great run. Is this the changing of the guard?” But I knew what I had to do… keep working and keep competing. In tennis, perfection is impossible.
Federer emphasized the importance of perspective by using his career as an example. He pointed out that despite being one of the most successful tennis players with an 80% win rate, he has only won 54% of the points he played.
When you are playing a point, it has to be the most important thing in the world and it is. But when it’s behind you, it’s behind you. This mindset is really crucial, because it frees you to fully commit to the next point and the next point after that with intensity, clarity and focus… Whatever game you play in life, sometimes, you’re going to lose a point, a match, a season, a job. It’s a rollercoaster with many ups and downs. And it’s natural, when you’re down, to doubt yourself. To feel sorry for yourself.
He ended his second life lesson by revealing the true sign of a champion, something that a person can apply in any aspect of life –
Negative energy is wasted energy. You want to become a master at overcoming hard moments. That is, to me, the sign of a champion.
Life is bigger than the court.
Even when I was just starting out, I knew that tennis could show me the world, but tennis could never be the world… I never abandoned my roots. I never forgot where I came from, but I also never lost my appetite to see the very big world.
The 42-year-old also discussed his philanthropic work, specifically his initiative through the Roger Federer Foundation to provide early education and support to children. Federer established the foundation at the age of 22, and it has since positively impacted millions of people and contributed to the training of numerous teachers.
Finally, Roger Federer ended his 25-minute speech by encouraging the graduating class and wishing them success in their future endeavours.
When I left tennis, I became a former tennis player. But you are not a former anything. You are future record breakers, world travellers, future volunteers and philanthropists, future winners, and future leaders. I’m here to tell you, from the other side of graduation, that leaving a familiar world behind and finding new ones is incredibly, deeply, wonderfully exciting.
The speech was an inspirational message to graduates and people all over the world about perseverance, resilience, and the endless possibilities for their future. I’ll leave the link here.
I hope you enjoyed the article. Happy reading!
Originally posted on Medium. Check here -