Roger Federer was the very definition of a model pro – which he attributed in large part to his marriage with wife Mirka. The tennis legend, who turns 43 today (August 8), reckoned that gave him an edge over his “wife-a-year” rivals.

He celebrates his birthday nearly two years into retirement, having brought down the curtain on his illustrious career in September 2022. His 20 Grand Slam victories, including a record eight men’s singles Wimbledon titles, sees him sit third behind Novak Djokovic (24) and Rafael Nadal (22) in the all-time list.

Federer doesn’t think it would’ve been possible without his rock and other half Mirka, whom he met while they were both competing for Switzerland at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and went on to marry in 2009. He felt having a stable personal life was better for his performances on the court compared to those who were regularly entering and exiting relationships.

He told Spanish newspaper AS in 2019: “As a player it’s always good to have her because some players have a wife a year and then change her. Anything can make you happy but it can also distract you.

“My life is perfect like that. I’ve always been in love with the same girlfriend, from the same wife, running the family and protecting them from the press. She hasn’t had an interview for 12 to 15 years so people don’t know what she does.”

Federer is very much a subscriber of the “happy wife, happy life” mantra. He also explained the benefits he received from having ex-WTA pro Mirka by his side, advantages some of his fellow tennis players weren’t receiving due to their off-court antics.

“If I talk about tennis she has a great impact not on my game but on my personality, because she was professional before me, I had more experience when I entered the circuit,” he continued.

“I worked hard. It made me grow and mature in my early years. Her support is incredible, it always helps me, it makes my life easier no matter what I win or lose. She is a born worker. She is amazing. I hope she doesn’t change. I am always for her and vice versa.”