Roger Federer is rarely in the public eye for the wrong reasons. The 20-time Grand Slam champion is among the most popular athletes in the world. He is a great role model which greatly increases his marketability appeal. However, Federer has recently received some criticism from 17-year-old environment activist Greta Thunberg.
Greta urges Federer to ‘Wake up’
The young Swedish activist has made a name for herself due to her vocal stance on climate change. The recent wildfires in Australia have shown the damage climate change could have on the globe. Greta recently made some comments on Federer’s relationship with international bank Credit Suisse. She criticized the bank for its many loans advanced to the fossil fuel industry. The young activist attacked Roger for his relationship with the financial institutions. In a retweet on her Twitter account, she urged the former world number one to ‘wake up’ to the reality of his relationship with the bank. Her comments led to the hashtag #RogerWakeUpNow on the social media site.
Grateful to young climate activists
Federer has responded to the storm created by the environmental activist. In a statement he released, he stated his admiration for the climate change movement led by the young activist. He also added that he would start a dialogue with his sponsors on the issues raised. The current world No.3 praised the young activist for raising the concerns. “I am grateful to young climate activists for pushing us all to examine our behaviors and act on innovative solutions.” The 20-time Grand Slam champion said he was happy to be reminded about his responsibilities as an individual towards fighting climate change. As a father of four children, Federer said he was glad that young people were taking climate change seriously.
The Swiss player and his family are in Australia ahead of the first Grand Slam of the season. They have witnessed the devastation the wildfires have had on the country. While he is preparing for the Australian Open, he will also be engaged in charity efforts to raise money for those affected by the fires. Federer did not state if he would end his relationship with Credit Suisse. This is not the first time he has come under criticism for his relationship with the bank. In November 2018, 12 climate activists were arrested after they played tennis inside the branches of the bank. The act was intended to highlight Federer’s relationship with the bank. They carried placards questioning the Swiss player’s silence while the bank allegedly destroyed the planet.
Roger Federer’s ranking and performance in 2020
Currently ranked no.3, the Swiss played his last match on the 16th of November when he surrendered to Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3 6-4 in the semifinal in the Nitto ATP Finals.
