Own the Podium: Roger Federer

'The question is, how are you going to see it? Are you going to see the glass half full or half empty?'

Just as it did in 2016, injury has sadly denied Roger Federer the opportunity to return to the Olympic Games in Tokyo. The ITF wishes the 20-time Grand Slam champion the best of luck with his recovery, and shares online for the first time this interview with the four-time Olympian, who twice carried the flag for Switzerland in the Opening Ceremony, and won men's doubles gold with Stan Wawrinka at Beijing 2008 and singles silver at London 2012.

We did that move after the Beijing semis and then after the final. We just had to do it. It was like a move where Stan [Wawrinka] was playing so well that I thought he was the fire and I was warming up on the fire, warming myself up. It was silly but a lot of fun and I think we were both happy we did it.

The Beijing doubles semi-final was a big match. Number one, because it was the Bryans, and number two, after, we knew we were going to have the silver or the gold. I think it’s a pity that the semi-final losers don’t automatically get a bronze because I missed out on a medal that way in 2000. I lost the semis and I lost the bronze medal match, so it was a big heartbreak for me in 2000.

I look back at having a blast with Stan in Beijing when we won the doubles together. It really gave me a lift after losing the singles because I was really hoping I could win a medal in the singles and I didn’t. I had lost against James Blake and right away we had to walk out in the doubles, so Stan was like, “This is it, come on, let’s do this.” It was a big week for us altogether with [Swiss tennis team captain] Severin Luthi and Stan. It was wonderful.

In the singles in 2012 I had John Isner in the quarters. That was for me a big relief getting through that match, knowing that I had two chances for a medal in singles, which I was never able to do before. So then when I came into the Juan Martin del Potro match, I was very excited. I thought I had a good chance because I had beaten him at Wimbledon before.

All of a sudden I just realise I can’t break him. Next thing I know I have to win the second set breaker, an extreme situation to get into the third and he was just not breakable for the longest of times. Finally I did get the break and then I got broken back to love again and next thing you know, one hour later, finally I was able to close it out and it was a huge relief. It was a hot day, beautiful day, a great atmosphere and it was definitely one of my more emotional wins in my career, no doubt about it.

The question is, after losing the final [to Andy Murray], how are you going to see it? Are you going to see the glass half full or half empty? You go into the little room, they take you off the court, you put your official tracksuit on and that gives you five minutes before you walk back out again and it actually gives you time to reflect on what happened. You could be very sad, very angry, very happy, whatever it is.

I sat there and I was just deflated, sad, didn’t really have any chance in the final, but still felt like this opportunity playing at Wimbledon for the Olympics will never come back, so I’m very disappointed right now but I’m actually going to see the positive.

I walked out and del Potro was there and I was like, “How did you go?” because I figured he had lost against Novak Djokovic. He told me, “No, I won.” I was like, “Really, wow, congratulations on the bronze. That’s such a great thing.” And then I realised for myself actually I’m super happy because he was ecstatic that he had won the bronze. And then for me finishing with a silver I thought was a great thing and I was happy for Andy to win the gold, so the three of us in some ways will always stay connected by that day.

It was a big day even though I did get a crushing defeat and you could seem very negative, but I didn’t, and I said I’m going to actually be really proud and happy that I got a silver for Switzerland.

I’m obviously very proud to have carried the flag for Switzerland twice, that was amazing in Athens and in Beijing. Beijing was so bloody hot, it was crazy at the opening ceremony. I remember the German delegation came in with light blue suits and they were dark blue at the end of the night because they were all sweating bullets.

At Sydney 2000, Mirka [Federer’s wife] had lost in the first round against Elena Dementieva, she was part of it, her and Emmanuelle Gagliardi. I was the only [Swiss] guy; Marc Rosset was supposed to come but he pulled out. I was left to be the only guy and with the coach, the physio and everything, we were just all hanging out, the five or six of us the whole time. We had the best time. I had the two tough losses against Tommy Haas in the semis and Arnaud Di Pasquale in the bronze medal match. Mirka was still there, she stayed to practise and to support me and all the other players too. That’s when we realised it was more than just friendship and I’m happy it happened that way.