Roger Federer Explains Why He Refused to Train Son Leo: “If They Need Me, I’m There”

Former World No.1 Roger Federer called time on his remarkable career at the 2022 Laver Cup.

Roger Federer Explains Why He Refused to Train Son Leo: “If They Need Me, I’m There”

Roger Federer (Image via X/ESPN)

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Roger Federer will become the first member of the legendary Big 3 to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. The Swiss maestro called time on his career at the 2022 Laver Cup.

In his illustrious career, he was the first man to take home 20 Grand Slam titles. He held the No.1 ranking spot for 310 weeks, the second most on the men’s tour after Novak Djokovic. Federer holds 103 singles titles, also the second-most on the men’s tour following Jimmy Connors. He recently sat for an interview with Tages Anzeiger, during which he was asked whether he trains his son, Leo, who has a passion for tennis.

No. If they need me, I’m there. I love helping, and other kids too, but someone else should be in charge of the training. I see myself more as a general manager with Leo. I didn’t push him for a long time, but for about a year now, noticing that he wants to play more and more, I’ve been trying to make it happen. At this age, he needs enough practice and matches.

Federer also talked about what he did right after he retired. He revealed he did a lot of rehabilitation and stopped playing tennis to protect his knees. He started to play golf and also did pilates, and now hopes to do more gym. Because his children often play, he joins them from time to time. The 44-year-old aims to play a few exhibition matches in 2026.

Roger Federer on his life after retirement

Roger Federer thinks Novak Djokovic, at the moment, doesn’t understand how a player feels after retirement. Djokovic is still searching for his 25th Grand Slam title, which slipped from his hands in all four Majors this season as he lost in the semifinals.

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

Djokovic even intends to play till 2028 and hang up his racket at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Rafael Nadal called time on his career last year after Spain’s defeat to the Netherlands in the quarterfinal of the Davis Cup. Federer, during that interview with Tages Anzeiger, explained how his whole perspective about tennis gradually changed after his retirement.

Rivalries like that create a huge bond. Today, I see it very differently than before, with much more perspective. Novak still doesn’t understand it. Rafa is gradually grasping it. When you’re still playing, you can’t think about it the way I do now. The more time passes, the less you identify as an individual player and the more you see the bigger picture. The funny thing is that someone could have taken something completely to heart, and then you don’t even remember it. I’d love to sit down and chat about the old days.

The Big 4 (Federer, Djokovic, Nadal, and Andy Murray) reunited this season during the retirement ceremony of the King of Clay at Roland Garros. Nadal retired with 22 Majors, the second-most in men’s tennis.

Djokovic’s 2025 season ended with two titles. He lifted the Geneva Open by defeating Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz, and later in the first edition of the Hellenic Championship, the 38-year-old beat Lorenzo Musetti. The last Big Title that the Serb won was the 2024 Paris Olympics by defeating Carlos Alcaraz.

It was the Spaniard who stopped him from progressing to the US Open final. At the French Open and Wimbledon, Jannik Sinner knocked him out in the semifinals, while at the Australian Open, an injury forced him to give a walkover to Alexander Zverev. Djokovic also played the final of the Miami Open, but couldn’t beat Jakub Mensik.

Also read: Carlos Alcaraz Makes Big Predictions About Joao Fonseca’s Future on Tour