Known widely across the tennis community as “Aschi” or “Ernesto,” he was a permanent fixture at domestic tournaments, international team ties, and local club courts, maintaining a decades-long association with the sport and serving as a familiar supporter to generations of Swiss players, including 20-time Grand-Slam champion Roger Federer.
Life and Legacy in Swiss Tennis
Ernst Lüthi was deeply integrated into the Swiss tennis landscape from his youth, participating as both a passionate player and an active supporter, as noted by Swiss Tennis. His presence spanned all tiers of the sport, from junior development and Interclub matches in the Nationalliga A to elite international events. He was a regular spectator at the Swiss Indoors in Basel and the Swiss Open in Gstaad, and he frequently traveled abroad to support the Swiss Davis Cup teams. In his later years, he volunteered at local clubs, including TC Deisswil and TC Dählhölzli, and spent time as a welcomed guest at the National Performance Center in Biel.
Connection to Severin Lüthi and Roger Federer
Through his son Severin Lüthi—who has captained the Swiss Davis Cup team and coached Roger Federer for much of his professional career—Ernst Lüthi became a well-known figure within the inner circle of Swiss tennis elite. Severin Lüthi often described his father as the sport’s most dedicated fan, a sentiment echoed by Swiss Tennis, which officially commemorated him as an indispensable member of the Swiss tennis family whose warmth, curiosity, and engagement left a lasting impression on everyone he met.
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