Federer named Swiss Sportsman of the Year (Xinhua) Updated: 2004-12-19 15:01
World tennis number one Roger Federer was named Swiss Sportsman of the
Year for his remarkable performance in 2004.
It completed a hat-trick of honors within the space of a week for the
23-year-old, who was also named Overseas Sports Personality by the BBC and
European Sportsman of the Year by the European Sports Journalists Association.
Federer who is already in Australia preparing for the start of the next
tennis season, thanked his home supporters via a satellite broadcast.
"It's a great honor for me at the end of a fantastic year," he said, after
picking up the Swiss title for the second time in a row.
"I would rather be in Switzerland with you all now but I have to be here for
professional reasons."
Federer did not comment on media reports that he has been busy in Australia
securing the services of coach Tony Roche.
One of the most impressive aspects of Federer's year was that he was so
successful without a coach.
After parting from Peter Lundgren at the end of 2003, the Swiss coached
himself to triumphs at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open, becoming
the first man since Mats Wilander in 1988 to win three grand slam events in a
calendar year.
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