He may never shout at umpires or linesmen, but if he ever needed to, Roger Federer might soon be able to voice his displeasure in Mandarin after taking his first lesson at the Shanghai Open.
He may never shout at umpires or linesmen, but if he ever needed to, Roger Federer might soon be able to voice his displeasure in Mandarin after taking his first lesson at the Shanghai Open.
The Swiss third seed said he and his inner circle had their first class in the main language of government and daily life in China.
Federer, who speaks four tongues fluently, said the private lesson went well for him, but not so well for others in his group -- presumably including monolingual American coach Paul Annacone.
"It was a private lesson for the team. But they gave up after 10 minutes, and I was the guy who was saying the words and sentences," he said. "I was the guy who was really learning, not them.
"One lesson so far," said Federer. "We're going slow, little by little. It's not an easy language. It's hard, you know, but maybe I'll pick up a few sentences here and there."
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