Violin loving tennis player retires
NewsRoger Federer, a civilised sporting legend who jousts on court with Anne-Sophie Mutter and buys his mother tickets to Beethoven concerts, has just announced his retirement.
Federer is 41.
He also plays piano.
To my tennis family and beyond,
With Love,
Roger pic.twitter.com/1UISwK1NIN— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) September 15, 2022
There is an interesting link it seems between tennis and music. Many fine musicians have been avid tennis players; violinists Isaac Stern, Joshua Bell, Pinchas Zukerman, and Jascha Heifetz, cellists Pablo Casals (related to the famed professional Rosie Casals) and Lynn Harrell come to mind. Someone I know who once played against Harrell said he was a fearsome competitor. Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears both played tennis. Prokofiev played, and Vaughn Williams had his own tennis court. The pianist Martha Naset (winner of the Mitropoulos competition) at one time pondered becoming a tennis pro. Gershwin and Schoenberg played against each other.
Another music-loving tennis master was Bill Tilden, sometimes listed as the greatest of all time, who made a deal with tenor John McCormack that if Tilden won an important match, McCormack would record Rachmaninoff’s “When Night Descends.” Tilden won; McCormack recorded the song for Victor and sent the disc to Tilden, remarking that he was able to induce Fritz Kreisler to provide a violin obbligato. This was before Tilden turned pro (and also well before his times in jail).
I believe the famed counter tenor Paul Esswood is a keen tennis player!
Yes, amazing that some musicians like tennis given there are only 87 million tennis players globally.
A fair point to make, but if I made my living off my hands and fingers I wouldn’t play tennis.
Better tennis than martial arts!
… also Arnold Schoenberg.
Actually Arnold’s son Ron is/was the gifted player.
Milton Katims, the conductor and violist, was an avid tennis player.
Arnold Steinhardt.
“and Vaughn Williams had his own tennis court” – He did because he was born a toffer, and they all had tennis courts. 😉
RF was, in my opinion, the greatest tennis player who ever lived. In his heyday- he possessed a game unmatched in its elegance & technical perfection. Also- the way he conducted himself on/off the court- a gentleman & role model for younger generations. He’s taken up music quite late- but knowing him- wouldn’t be surprised if he mastered that to a point also. Now a lot of time to devote to it following his retirement from competitive tennis.
George Gershwin, Arnold Schönberg.
Not fait that some people have all the talent! Happy retirement Roger!
What evidence is there that Federer plays the piano? And why does he only buy his mother tickets to Beethoven concerts?