Marcelo Rios is a former World No.1 from Chile
Retired Chilean professional Marcelo Rios hailed the professionalism of Swiss genius Roger Federer, who has a record 20 Grand Slam titles to his name.
The former World No.1 Rios was talking about the level of professionalism that had entered the game of tennis compared to his days as a professional.
The Chilean, nicknamed ‘El Chino’ compared Federer’s professionalism to his own during his playing days and added that he cannot believe that the Swiss would ever go out and get drunk.
“I can’t imagine Federer going out and being drunk. I took and went when I had to go out and obviously to be number one, I couldn’t be cured every day,” read Rios’ statements collected by DNA Radio after he made an Instagram live with his former coach Alex Rossi.
Despite being a former World No.1, Rios failed to win any Grand Slams, with his best-ever performance being a runner-up finish at the 1998 Australian Open.
Rios also confessed that he lacked focus and that he was really young when success overcame him. The Chilean admitted that he would have liked himself to be more mature at such a stage.
“I was too stupid at 21, I had no idea about anything. He grabbed me at a time when I liked to ****, go out. … What a 21-year-old as***** does. I would have liked to be older, more mature,” Rios said.
Meanwhile, Rios retired prematurely in July 2004, after being overtaken by a back injury. He played his last ATP tournament while only 27 years old at the 2003 French Open.
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