Rosberg reveals he could have been a tennis pro

Nico Rosberg has claimed that he could have been a professional tennis player instead of a Formula One racing driver only to be persuaded by his father Keke, a former F1 champion in his own right, to pursue a career behind the wheel whilst also revealing a huge admiration for tennis legend Roger Federer.

Rosberg won his first and only world championship in 2016 only to retire shortly afterward to pursue some of his hobbies. One of these hobbies is tennis and the German has said that when he was younger it was a possibility that he could have become a professional in this sport.

"I was in the Monaco national team as a tennis player when I was young and it was really a potential career route at one point,” Rosberg claimed.

“My mum was encouraging me that way and my dad more to the racing, funnily enough!

“But then I chose the racing.”

Speaking to the BBC, Rosberg went on to say how much of a fan he was of Federer, insisting that the achievements of the Swiss superstar ranked among some of the best in the history of not just tennis, but any sport.

“Tennis has always been a passion and I’ve always watched all the tennis,” he told the BBC.

“I’m a big fan of Federer of course and then finally Royal Box, Centre Court…wow!

“It was magical and legendary to watch Federer on his way to his eighth title which is one of the biggest achievements the sport world has ever seen.

“You’re in awe of what you see, the English etiquette and the peacefulness.This whole space is just so quiet and you hear every little bounce and every little drop.”