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via Reuters

via Reuters

When it comes to tennis, Roger Federer is up there with the all-time greats. The Swiss prodigy amassed a global following thanks to his fearless play on the tennis court throughout the course of his illustrious career.

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However, the darling of billions of fans worldwide has decided to retire from all forms of tennis. After 24 years on the court, the 20-time Grand Slam winner retired during the Laver Cup. Recently, Federer’s long-time coach, Severin Luthi, revealed the uncompromising side of the 41-year-old when it came to making adjustments to his game.

Coach Severin Luthi on Federer?s reluctance to make changes to his game?

The Swiss maestro has always been famous for his aura on the court and the kind of stroke play he possesses, especially the backhand play. In an ATP Tennis Radio podcast, his longtime coach Severin Luthi talked through the significant turning points in the life of the great Swiss. The 46-year-old Luthi further spoke about Federer?s stubbornness to play drop shots.?

?He felt that he was not something, I don’t know, good for his game or whatever, and then Coetzee came into the team, and I remember the first year. He didn’t really want to do it, you know. So, it took some time.? said Luthi.

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He further echoed his statement by saying, ?I think the drop shot helped him. For example, winning also 2009 Roland Garros and also details like that sometimes it takes time. Um, I think it’s our role as coaches you know to convince a player also to those ideas, and at the end, he needs to decide that I want to do it. I agree. But yeah, sometimes you have to mention it ten times.?

Roger Federer and his unexpected end to Laver Cup dreams?

For Roger Federer, the opportunity to play his final Laver Cup match with Rafael Nadal was the realization of a lifelong dream. The duo played well, but ultimately lost to Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock, who displayed outstanding play and won the doubles match. Eventually, Roger Federer’s hopes of winning the Laver Cup were dashed.

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Despite his team?s loss, the 2022 Laver Cup will go down in history as Federer’s swan song. Talking about Team World clinching the finals, Felix Auger-Aliassime of Team World was instrumental in sealing the deal as he defeated Novak Djokovic to win the championship. In the end, Frances Tiafoe stunned the tennis world by beating Stefanos Tsitsipas and leading Team World to victory.