Roger Federer epitomises what children should be taught when playing sport or really anything in life.
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He is a man of grace, good character and genuinely a nice person.
But he wasn’t always this way.
Federer, who is one of the best players tennis has every seen, used to throw tantrums on court consistently.
Last week, while helping to launch the Australian Open, he reminded reporter Hamish McLachlan that he had a poor attitude from about the age of 6 until about 22.
Previously Federer had cited the death of a friend and mentor when he was 22 as a reason for his attitude change.
“I had a tough time getting my act together out on court, trying to behave properly. For me that was a big deal,” he said in 2017.
Nick Kyrgios is now 22 and has been subject to media and public ridicule.
Previously he had revealed he was “bored” when playing tennis.
He said he didn’t have a purpose – until recently. And it’s changed everything. He has created the NK Foundation, which will support disadvantaged youth through sport.
In October he wrote in Players Voice: “For the first time, I feel like there is a reason for me to be doing what I’m doing. Tennis is a great life – we’re well paid and the perks are pretty good – but it can feel empty if you’re just doing it for the money.”
And then you have Bernard Tomic. The 25-year-old caused a stir on Sunday when he failed to win his qualifying match. Had he won he would have entered his 10th Australian Open.
Instead of being humble in defeat or determined to improve in his next match, he instead said he was too busy counting his millions.
Many people, via social media, have pointed out that he should hire someone to do the counting so he can focus on his tennis.
What Tomic’s behaviour really demonstrates is that money can’t buy you happiness.
Something Kyrgios was clearly struggling with previously.
You need motivation in life and often that can be achieved through acts of kindness and selflessness.
Hopefully Kyrgios continues on his purposeful path and Tomic can one day look beyond his millionaire status.
Afterall, there is so much more to life.