Sporting Life

Federer book offers peek into a different world

Biographies dig, uncover and interpret so where are the books on Singapore sport?

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For all his balance, Switzerland's stylish son is an asymmetrical genius. His right arm is a supple wand, his left a withered branch. Once even Roger Federer mocks how skinny it is, saying: "I think that's what shocks the opponents. When I walk out and they see that big, huge left arm when I'm tossing the ball, it's scary."

And so when you read that two decades ago, the temperamental, noisy, sometimes peroxide-blond Federer, who we don't know so well, used to bench-press 100kg, it makes you grin. Puny-armed Swiss was some-part Samson?

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on October 03, 2021, with the headline Federer book offers peek into a different world. Subscribe