INDIAN WELLS, California — May reputasyon si Roger Federer bilang isa sa pinakamabait na pro athletes sa kanyang kapwa-tennis players at fans.
Nang maging emosyonal si Stan Wawrinka sa post-match comments sa crowd matapos matalo sa BNP Paribas Open final, tumatawa si Federer na nakaupo sa courtside.
“I would like to congratulate Roger,” ani Wawrinka, tumingin pa sa kanyang kababayan at kaibigan. “He’s laughing. He’s an asshole, but it’s OK.”
Pinunasan muna ni Wawrinka ang luha sa mata bago humingi ng paumanhin sa crowd, sinabing pagod na siya nang matapos ang desert tournament nitong Linggo.
Ayon kay Federer, pinapasaya lang niya si Wawrinka.
“I was trying, when he looked at me, not to give him the sad face,” aniya. “I was looking at him going, ‘You’ll be fine,’ and gave him a laugh, say, maybe gets his mind off it. I guess I achieved that.”
Namumura na daw si Federer “many, many times before” pero alam niyang biro kaya compliment pa sa kanya.
“There’s not always cameras around, so I get called that sometimes. Quite often, actually. On the court is the first time, but it felt good,” dagdag niya, natatawa pa rin.
Tinalo ni Federer si Wawrinka 6-4, 7-5 para sikwatin ang record-tying fifth BNP Paribas title sa all-Swiss final, dinagdag sa kanyang record 18th Grand Slam title sa Australian Open noong January.