Roger Federer has had a sparkling career in tennis. Besides Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, no one has played at the level of the Swiss Maestro. Now that he has retired from the sport, he is eager to pass on his incredible mastery of it to his two daughters. Both of them have picked up rackets and are gradually getting a hang of tennis. However, they are not exactly emulating everything their father did during his distinguished career.
Federer sat down for a candid interview at the Laver Cup with Jim Courier. During the interview, he revealed that his daughters do the exact opposite of what he used to do when it came to a certain shot. Over the course of his career, Federer earned countless plaudits for the shot. However, Federer’s approach was unconventional, and in retrospect, it’s safe to say that had he stuck to the conventional approach like Djokovic, he might just have had more Grand Slam glory to cherish.
Roger Federer reveals backhand contradiction in the family
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Despite Djokovic’s 24 Grand Slam titles, many fans still regard Federer as the finest player to grace the game. Federer’s flair and all-court game was a treat to watch. He had a wide variety of shots as well, and one of the most impressive shots of his was the one-handed backhand.
Federer’s one-handed backhand was incredibly potent, especially when he was in full flow during his prime in the 2000s. However, as he aged, the shot’s effectiveness diminished. On the other hand, Djokovic, one of the mightiest exponents of the two-handed backhand, continued to win title after title.
During his Laver Cup interview with Jim Courier, Federer revealed that both his daughters are in favor of Djokovic’s two-handed backhand approach. The same goes for his sons as well. The Swiss maestro also shared a message that he would give them when he gets back home. “Actually, I’m gonna come home and tell them, “let’s go to the one-hander.” I don’t wanna see how awful it will be”.
Did Federer’s laughter hide a deep-seated Novak Djokovic regret?
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For a long time, tennis fans around the world believed that Federer’s astonishing Grand Slam feats would remain unsurpassed. However, as time proved, both Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic caught up with his achievements and overtook his tally of 20 Grand Slam titles. Both of them swore by the two-handed backhand.
Eventually, Djokovic surpassed Nadal’s record of 22 Grand Slam triumphs this year, and right now, the Serbian legend stands at a barely believable 24 Grand Slam titles. While Federer laughed his heart out during his Laver Cup confession, it’s safe to say that behind that laughter was a pinch of regret.
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After all, if Djokovic’s potent two-handed backhand could yield 24 Grand Slams, what would Federer’s tally be had he relied on it instead of his unconventional method? What do you think? Would Federer have been able to win more Grand Slams with a two-handed backhand? Let us know in the comments section below.
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