Why Did Roger Federer Say He Can Only Play Good Tennis When Happy?

David Senra, reading Christopher Clarey's The Master, says Roger Federer can only play good tennis when he is happy. Life is bigger than the court, and the life outside tennis helped him get over losses more quickly. He had happiness to fall back on.

The private side with his girlfriend and his family was something he wanted kept intact. His family traveled everywhere with him. Little habits of getting away from the sport piled up, because tennis is a big focus and there is also something else in life. His priority was to stay fresh physically and mentally, to be smart about scheduling and training loads, and to limit time in the spotlight and in group settings. He and his coaches made decisions for a long career so he would not burn out early.

He takes the game very seriously and stays laid back enough to let go of losses quickly. A secret for a lot of the players, and for young players, is to leave the court and leave the loss behind.