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Six-time champion Roger Federer explains the key to success as a tennis player after his 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 first-round victory over America’s Steve Johnson at the Australian Open 2020 on Monday.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion suggested that understanding what you’ve been told is the key to improving and is the basic formula for success. The Swiss maestro has been on the ATP Tour since the past two decades. He has learned a lot on the way to the top and is still striving to improve.

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“It’s about old school work ethic”: Roger Federer

“I’m not an artist or a musician, by any stretch… In a message, you can always pick the things you like and then apply them. Even if it’s wrong, you think, ‘Wow, that’s how I understood it,” he advised in the post-match press conference.

The 38-year-old explicated understanding the message correctly, he believes is a key element to improve. Furthermore, he suggested that sometimes questioning the person who’s telling you the things can help in understanding what they mean.

“At the end of the day, it’s about the old-school work ethic. There is nothing wrong with that. I do believe if you’re in a slump, not feeling well, whatever it may be, knowing how to train hard, when to train hard, with who to train hard, there is nothing wrong when it goes to those things,” he added.

“Learning from your mistakes is key”: Federer

Federer claimed his 98th match win at Melbourne Park after defeating Johnson. He has not lost in the first round of a Grand Slam tournament since the 2003 French Open. The Basel native has certainly not put a foot wrong in the initial rounds in the majors. However, he has learned from his mistakes to reach this level.

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“Learning from your mistakes is key, as we remember our losses more than our wins. It’s just important that when you do lose, you really make the most of it because it’s actually an opportunity,” Federer concluded.