A public spat has erupted between tennis legends Roger Federer and Boris Becker. The controversy stems from comments Becker made in his 2015 memoir, “Boris Becker’s Wimbledon: My Life and Career at the All England Club.”

In the book, Becker throws shade at Federer’s immense popularity and financial success. Becker suggests that Federer’s status as one of the highest-paid athletes comes not from genuine talent but from a meticulously cultivated image of universal likability.

“The reason Roger is one of the highest-paid athletes of all time is because he’s liked by everybody,” Becker wrote. He questioned the authenticity of Federer’s public persona, implying that financial success hinged on suppressing “true feelings.”

Federer, demonstrably surprised by these remarks, expressed confusion during an interview with USA Today. He emphasized his existing positive relationship with Becker, even acknowledging past hero worship.

Federer found Becker’s criticism odd and questioned its motives. “I don’t really know what he was trying to say,” Federer stated. He countered Becker’s claims, asserting, “I don’t try to please everyone. I am just trying to be myself.”

Federer further offered a potential explanation for Becker’s comments. He speculated that an oversaturation of advertisements featuring him might have led Becker to misinterpret his personality. “Does [Becker] get carried away by seeing too many advertisements [of me]?” Federer mused.

He ultimately suggested that Becker’s comments were a cynical ploy to promote book sales. “Books are there to be sold,” Federer said. “I read into that [comment] a bit more like that.”

This exchange highlights the complexities of maintaining a public image in professional sports. While Federer thrives on his popularity, Becker’s critique raises questions about the potential for inauthenticity within the carefully constructed world of athlete branding. Only time will tell if this disagreement will escalate or simply fade into a footnote of their storied careers.