When Roger Federer talks, his words carry the weight of tennis royalty—his insights are both profound and impactful. This time, Federer offers valuable advice to the next generation of players. He suggested that emerging stars like Carlos Alcaraz should focus on cultivating their approaches to the game, rather than solely relying on their coaches.

Federer has been giving his thoughts on a variety of topics, from Team Europe’s bright future to his own professional experiences. In a recent news conference, he underlined an important point: tennis players have to rely on themselves in the end.

He said, “My biggest advice I could give to the juniors is that you have to remember that you are 50 in the coach as well? I mean, yes, you’re gonna have your people, you know, your parents, your coach, whoever your fitness coach, etc. You’re all gonna tell you what to do, but at some point, you’re going to be alone on court. Then you have to remember, deep down what you think is, right?” 

Further, he added, “Because only, you know, maybe that your knee is hurting or that your mind is traveling or that your foreign is not working and you can’t tell your opponent, you kind of tell anybody. So you got to be able to figure out yourself and nobody can fix it for you in that moment.”

Federer’s advice on self-reliance in tennis offers practical benefits for emerging stars like Carlos Alcaraz, who heavily relies on his coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero. Previously, Carlos Alcaraz spoke about the profound impact of his coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, noting his ‘strict’ approach to training. Alcaraz admitted that Ferrero is a tough taskmaster who knows exactly how to mix things up.

He said, “He is tough. He is a very serious person when he has to be, when it comes to work and discipline, he is very hard on you. But he is also very, very funny when he has to be. He knows how to differentiate the moments very well.” On the other hand, Roger Federer is set to make amends with Carlos Alcaraz following a 10-word snub at Wimbledon. Federer has expressed a desire to apologize and reconnect, with the Spaniard.

Roger Federer could apologize to Carlos Alcaraz

Earlier this year, Carlos Alcaraz had the moment of a lifetime—stepping onto the hallowed grass courts of Wimbledon to practice with his idol, Roger Federer. For a young player who had grown up idolizing the Swiss maestro, it was a dream come true. But as fate would have it, the next day, when Alcaraz was ready to hit again, Federer chose a different path. Rather than sparring with the rising star, he decided to practice with someone closer to his generation—Alcaraz’s coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Reflecting on that moment, Federer laughed, “I only practiced with him once at Wimbledon when he was still a junior, and the next day, my coach asked if I wanted to warm up with him again. I said, ‘No, it’s okay, I’d rather warm up with his coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero.’ I can apologize to Carlos this week!”

Now, as Alcaraz makes his highly anticipated debut at the 2024 Laver Cup—an event Federer himself helped shape—the tables have turned. Federer, no longer just the legend watching from afar, is eagerly anticipating Alcaraz’s performance on one of tennis’ biggest stages. The Laver Cup has been a platform for rising stars to showcase their talent, and having the young Spaniard join the ranks has Federer buzzing with excitement.

The question remains: will Federer’s subtle snub fuel Alcaraz to shine even brighter at the Laver Cup? And what do you think of Federer’s light-hearted reflection on choosing Ferrero over Alcaraz? Let us know in the comments below!