Football fan Federer focuses on smaller ball

Roger Federer, in grey, is an ardent supporter of the Swiss football team, but insists he will not interrupt his matches.

LONDON // The Swiss football team's Mr Motivator, also known as Roger Federer, is hoping Alejandro Falla does not turn out to be an awkward first-round opponent at Wimbledon today. In line with Wimbledon tradition, the champion will begin defence of his title at 2pm local time. But that means Federer, who is pursuing a record-tying seventh Wimbledon championship, will miss some or all of Switzerland's World Cup match against Chile, which starts one hour later.

Federer was recently invited to give the Swiss team a pep talk, and despite his vested interest in what happens on the pitch in South Africa, he will be totally focused on the lush lawns of Wimbledon, he said. "You think I'll just leave the court at 3pm? That's not going to happen quite yet." Federer, the top seed, became a father to twin daughters just a few weeks after winning a record 15th grand slam in London last July.

"In the past I've had to play matches during important things in my life. "I went on court last year many times thinking that Mirka (his wife) was going to give birth to my children. "That was a bit more crazy than Switzerland playing at 3pm. (But) I still have a chance to maybe go see a little bit" of the football match, he added. Federer, 28, is arguably the most famous athlete from Switzerland.

After overpowering rivals for almost a decade - winning 16 majors and countless records in the process - Ottmar Hitzfeld, the Swiss football coach, asked Federer to say a few words to the national team. The ploy appeared to work and Switzerland shocked Spain, the European champions, 1-0 on Wednesday. "Hitzfeld called me and said if I could just come in and meet the team, inspire them a bit, answer questions on how I handle the pressure," Federer said.

"I came in (and) I don't think they've lost since. "If it's one per cent [credit] they give to me, that's great. I'm happy it worked." Federer enjoys an intense rivalry on the court with Rafael Nadal, the Spanish world No 1 who had predicted an easy victory for Spain in the Group H match. Federer opted not to gloat over the result when the duo briefly exchanged pleasantries recently in a corridor at the All-England club.

"This was a huge match," Federer said. "I watched it, of course. I didn't get in touch with Rafa because I'm not the type of person who rubs it in. We know the bad times can come by very quickly. "But obviously after a match like this, you're allowed also to start dreaming that you could go much further in the competition." * Reuters