2023-07-06 16:03:46
Tennis
When all of Switzerland was in front of its television set
On July 6, 2003, Roger Federer entered the hearts – and memories – of the Swiss people. The TSR had dispatched a second journalist urgently to London.
PostedJuly 6, 2023, 6:03 PM
Roger Federer following his victory at Wimbledon, July 6, 2003.
AFP
Twenty years ago to the day, on July 6, 2003, Roger Federer won the first of his 20 Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon, at the age of 21. This historic moment brought the whole country together on this Sunday. All Swiss sports fans were glued to their TV to experience this historic moment, commented live from the Center Court by Jean-Marc Rossier for Swiss Romande Television (then TSR).
“I don’t even remember what I shouted following Roger’s game-winning match point,” explained Rossier. And I was never able to listen to this final once more because of a technical problem during the recording. On the other hand, there hadn’t really been a match. Philippoussis had never found the solution. Federer had indeed won in three sets, 7-6 (5) 6-2 7-6 (3).
Rossier was joined on site by Alain Kobel, who had just left radio to join the Sports Department of the TSR. “The Wednesday before the final, I was attending my first editorial session when François Jeannet, then head of the Department, blurted out: “And what if Federer wins on Sunday?” Nobody announced to go to London, Jeannet turned to me and said: “Do you want to go Alain?” I said ‘Of course’ and flew to London on Saturday, the day before the final.
Alain Kobel actually conducted the post-match interview, in a BBC interview room. “A nice gift,” says Kobel. I didn’t know Roger Federer at all, whom I was meeting for the first time. But the way he greeted me, I noticed right away that he was a great guy. I felt great respect coming from him. You might see right away that he was a gentleman.
The interview even lasted a little longer than it should have. “Basically, I was given three minutes in this studio, explains Kobel. At the end of those three minutes, a guy from the BBC waved to me to make me understand that it was over. But in front of me, Federer was winking at me and making small gestures, as if to tell me: “Fuck that”. This interview remains as one of the great things that I experienced during my career as a journalist.
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