No longer the Phil Mickelson of tennis

By Lisa Bose McDermott, Special to TennisReporters.net

	Mark Lyons Roger Federer's tennis brilliance was evident in his junior career.

It could have easily been called the Encyclopedia Federer.

"The Roger Federer Story: Quest for Perfection" has that much information about one of the most accomplished figures in the history of tennis. It's the answer book to those who want to know more about the tennis great.

The book is a slow-starter with a lengthy author's note, prologue and introduction but once Chapter 1 hits, it becomes a two- to three-day reader.

The book is written by Rene Stauffer, a Swiss tennis writer who began to see brilliance in Federer's game at the junior level. Stauffer, through his job – and now researching the book – has literally tracked Federer's life and has made it possible for readers to step into Federer's inner circle.

For those who don't know much about Federer, the 252-page book is a thorough primer. For those who already know about Federer, the book is a reminder that the tennis maestro wasn't always that masterly. Either way, the book is a good read.

The book tells about Federer's very ordinary upbringing in Basel and his parents' tennis that sparked his interest in the sport. While Federer's mother, the often visible Lynette, the book tells much about Robert Federer, who usually prefers the background. So sports-minded was Lynette, she even became a tennis instructor at their club. However, she never felt that she was able enough to teach her own son.

Ultimately, Federer was trained at an academy, but only because the fees were waived for the Swiss National Center, "Tennis Etudes." The middle-class Federers could not afford the type of training that is usually the foundation of the tennis elite, according to the book. Nor could the Federers afford to support the tennis career of a Top-400-ranked player. Despite this, money never appears to have ever played a part in Federer's ascent to the top, instead; it was his obsession for perfection in his game.

It is easy to remember the 11 Grand Slam titles that Federer has won because they are part of current history. The book reminds readers that he was once known as "the best tennis player not to win a Grand Slam title" or "the Phil Mickelson of tennis." And, when Federer did when his first Wimbledon crown and showed enormous emotion, the Daily Mirror ridiculed him and even called him "Roger the Blubberer."

The more wins Federer racked up, the more his lifestyle changed and readers get a peak into his new world. No longer just a jeans and T-shirt man, Federer became a fashion-minded jetsetter.

But, the book also has poignant reminders that Federer is still an everyman with his passion for video games and calling David Copperfield's show in Las Vegas as the "highlight" of a trip.

The book includes a timeline of major events in Federer's life and the victories he has had along the way. This should not only be the manual for Federer fans, but a primary book in a tennis library.

The book was first printed in German and, before '07 Wimbledon, the book was translated in English and printed by New Chapter Press of New York. It's the No. 1 tennis book in the UK and is a solid No. 2 behind James Blake's autobiography, according to sales on Amazon.com, said Randy Walker, minority partner of New Chapter Press.

The book's distributor has the book in the US, Canada and the UK and will be available in New Zealand and Australia in the fall. Talks are ongoing to distribute the book in Africa, Asia, Germany and France.

© TennisReporters.net 2007