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via Getty

via Getty

Roger Federer was unmatched in his prime when he was competing on the men’s tour. The Swiss Maestro has amassed numerous accolades owing to his captivating performances, which were frequently witnessed on the court. Being one of the legendary figures in the sport, the 42-year-old has often served as an inspiration for the next generation on the ATP Tour. Recently, an awed young Japanese player reflected on his legacy.

The Japanese tennis prodigy, Shintaro Mochizuki, also falls into the same category of players who have always idolized and admired the 20-time singles Grand Slam champion. Reminiscing about looking up to Federer, the young ATP sensation recently issued a staggering verdict about the former tennis ace.

Shintaro Mochizuki expresses his respect and admiration for Roger Federer

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In the latest episode of the ‘Just Slap Podcast,’ the 20-year-old opened up about how he used to look up to Roger Federer during his teenage days. The Swiss tennis legend’s Wimbledon matchups against his arch-rivals, who are also a part of the ‘Big 3’ on the tour, have always aroused Shintaro Mochizuki’s interest.

The former junior world No. 1 said, “When I was younger, I was always looking up to Roger Federer. You know, I was always watching him on TV, especially Wimbledon, like Final semifinals against the likes of Djokovic, and Nadal.”

While calling Federer his idol, the Japanese tennis phenomenon also made a bold statement about the ATP legend. Mochizuki added, “He’s been, he’s always been my idol for a long time. And but, you know, like, I just started feeling like he’s like, on a different level, like, you know, like, not human.”

Apart from Federer, the former Junior Wimbledon champion is also a fan of another tennis ‘GOAT’ on the men’s tour.

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Mochizuki also idolizes Federer’s old adversary

During the podcast show, the Japanese tennis prodigy also spoke candidly about his ambition to play like Novak Djokovic. While revealing his goal of emulating the Serb’s triumphs, the 20-year-old called him his “superstar”. Mochizuki added, ” How he prepares for his matches, and how he spends his time, I want to learn a lot of things from him.”

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The young ATP star opened up about how he has been amazed to witness the 24-time singles Grand Slam champion’s training regime and practice sessions. What do you think of the Japanese tennis prodigy’s admiration for both the ATP legends, Djokovic and Federer? Let us know in the comments section.

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