Roger Federer’s Ex-Coach Explains How Major Change in Swiss’ Game Helped Him Reach 20 Grand Slam Titles Tally

Roger Federer lifted his 20th Grand Slam title at the 2018 Australian Open.

Roger Federer’s Ex-Coach Explains How Major Change in Swiss’ Game Helped Him Reach 20 Grand Slam Titles Tally

Roger Federer (Image via X/ BNP Paribas Open)

In Short
  • Roger Federer ended a five-year Grand Slam title drought by winning the 2017 Australian Open.
  • His coach Ivan Ljubicic emphasized the importance of a more aggressive backhand for Federer's success.
  • Federer became the first man to win 20 Grand Slam titles in the Open Era after victories at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

After winning his 17th Grand Slam title at the 2012 Wimbledon, Roger Federer was struggling to win his next Major. It was the first time since clinching his career’s first title at this level at the 2003 Wimbledon that Federer failed to win a Major for consecutive years.

He ended his Grand Slam title drought at the 2017 Australian Open by defeating none other than Rafael Nadal in five sets. During that drought, he did reach three Major finals, losing all to Novak Djokovic.

Prior to winning his 18th Major, Federer hired Ivan Ljubicic in December 2015. In February the following year, he suffered a meniscus tear in his left knee. Ljubicic, on the Off Court with Greg podcast, revealed how Federer returned to the tour with a much more aggressive backhand to compete once again for the Grand Slam titles.

One thing is certain: we all knew that against Rafa, you couldn’t slice, so for me it was very obvious that he had to hit those backhands if he wanted any chance of beating him. My point was that I wanted him to hit a flat backhand, not a flick, a topspin, or a high one.

After beating the 22-time Grand Slam champion at Melbourne Park, the Swiss maestro added another Major to his tally, this time at Wimbledon, by defeating Marin Cilic. The following season in Melbourne, Federer again beat the Croatian to become the first man to win 20 Majors in the Open Era.

We worked on it for five months, starting in September 2016, focusing on his return, but you know how it is: you work on one thing, and it rubs off on you in other areas. We worked on his backhand, but it worked in other aspects as well. Now it’s fashionable to say that Ljubicic changed his backhand, and since I had a one-handed backhand, I can only coach one-handed players.

Ivan Ljubicic added

Federer progressed to one more final. At the 2019 Wimbledon, defending champion Djokovic denied him the title with a five-set win in four hours and 57 minutes in what is also the longest final in the history of the grass-court Major.

Gael Monfils reveals what it was like to face Roger Federer

Gael Monfils was asked during the Silver State Sports & Entertainment Network who the toughest Big 3 member he faced was. Because Novak Djokovic holds a perfect 20-0 head-to-head record against him, Monfils picked his name before describing the Serb as being “too good” and having answers to all his questions.

Roger Federer (2)
Roger Federer (Image via X/Dinora RF)

Monfils trailed 2-14 in the head-to-head matchups against Nadal, whom he found “extremely hard to play against” because of the Spaniard’s physicality. The Frenchman then described the 20-time Grand Slam champion.

Federer was just like a quicker thinker, quicker player. Everything that you may think that you want to do against him, he knew it sometime before you, and then he could put you in a very bad situation.

Federer retired at the 2022 Laver Cup, while Nadal retired at the 2024 Davis Cup. Monfils, who wishes to face Djokovic once again and finally clinch a win, will call time on his career after this season.

Djokovic, 38, is hoping to play the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. He recently played in the Australian Open final, losing to Carlos Alcaraz, who became the sixth man and the youngest to complete the Career Grand Slam.

Djokovic is expected to play the Indian Wells Masters next, where he has won five titles, last winning in 2016. Last year, he suffered a first-round exit in the first Masters 1000 of the season.

Also read: Andrey Rublev Admits He Doesn’t Believe Carlos Alcaraz is Unbeatable on Tour