Roger Federer Names Two Players He Hated Training Against During his Tennis Career

During the 2025 Laver Cup in San Francisco, Roger Federer appeared on Andy Roddick’s podcast and reflected on his past practice sessions. He spoke about Rafael Nadal and Andre Agassi, both known for their heavy, powerful styles of play. Federer admitted that their approach, built on consistent pace and intensity, was not something he particularly enjoyed facing on the practice court.

The Swiss legend explained that training against players who offered little variation made the sessions physically demanding and mentally exhausting. Nadal’s relentless topspin and Agassi’s flat, aggressive hitting left few openings for rhythm or creativity. For Federer, who thrived on variety and changes of pace, those sessions could feel more like battles than practice. Federer said on Served With Andy Roddick podcast:

I think Agassi was the first one to do it, and then Rafa did it too. He’s the kind of guy you don’t want to train with because he always hits so hard. I really didn’t like it, and so did Andre. I didn’t like training with Andre because it was just ‘bang bang bang’ and I was like, ‘It would be nice to do some slice shots,’ but it’s not like that at all, it’s more like rockets coming at you like that, and that’s not how I train at high intensity, but we do different things, so it’s amazing.

Despite this, Federer acknowledged that such training had its benefits. Facing constant pressure forced him to sharpen his timing and resilience. Still, he preferred opponents who mixed things up, giving him opportunities to explore his own creativity on court.

Federer low key playfully roasted Nadal and Agassi here and it was hilarious 😂😂😂

Apparently they were a nightmare to practice because of how hard they used to his the ball during practice 😂

Federer is the type that likes different types of practicepic.twitter.com/22MHXfGq83

— SRF (@S_RF_CA) September 21, 2025

His comments highlighted how even in practice, the contrast in playing styles shaped his career. Nadal and Agassi tested Federer’s endurance and patience, while he sought to impose variety and flair. It was a reminder of how rivalries, even in training, helped push him to become one of the game’s all-time greats.

Andre Agassi offers new life to Team World

The 2025 Laver Cup has a new look compared to past years. Since the event’s start in 2017, Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe were the only coaches. Borg led Team Europe, while McEnroe guided Team World. Both stepped away this year, handing the job to fresh voices. Now, Andre Agassi takes charge of Team World, and Yannick Noah leads Europe.

Agassi and Noah bring personality and history to the bench. Both are French Open champions, remembered as much for their iconic hairstyles as for their tennis. Agassi’s mullet and Noah’s dreadlocks were part of their fame. Today, they channel their energy into coaching, though in very different ways. Noah has shown a relaxed presence, while Agassi brings intensity.

For Agassi, this is his first real taste of coaching. His energy from the sideline has fueled Team World throughout the tournament. He admitted that coaching lets him express his competitive fire across multiple players, not just himself. Calling his team “Ferraris” and “machines,” Agassi has embraced his role. Taylor Fritz’s upset win over Carlos Alcaraz showed exactly what that energy can produce.

Team Europe has long dominated the event, boosted by Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic in past years. But momentum is shifting. With Agassi driving Team World, they are close to securing another title. His debut has been so impactful that it raises the question: could this be the start of a longer coaching career for Agassi?

Roger Federer reveals the most lopsided match of his rivalry with Rafael Nadal

Swiss Maestro Roger Federer once admitted that not every clash with Rafael Nadal lived up to their legendary rivalry. The two icons shared respect away from the court, but their battles often defined entire eras of tennis.

Their 2008 Wimbledon final, where Nadal edged Federer in five sets, is still hailed as one of the greatest matches in history. Yet, before the 2009 Australian Open final, Federer pointed to one meeting that, in his view, fell short of expectations.

When he beat me quite easily. So, I think other than that, we’ve always had very good matches against each other. High level, and I think this is another great opportunity to show the world what a great rivalry we have.

Across their careers, Federer and Nadal faced each other 40 times. Nadal led their head-to-head record with 24 wins. Their matches were usually dramatic, full of shifts in momentum, and carried the weight of two contrasting styles. Still, Federer felt there was at least one contest that didn’t measure up to the high standard fans had grown used to.

From 2006 to 2017, the pair clashed in nine Grand Slam finals. Federer came out victorious in three: Wimbledon in 2006 and 2007, and the 2017 Australian Open. Those wins were defining moments, proving he could match Nadal on the biggest stages. Nadal, however, won the other six, showing his dominance, especially on clay.

Four of Nadal’s triumphs came at Roland Garros, where he cemented his reputation as the “King of Clay.” He also defeated Federer in finals at Wimbledon and the Australian Open. Surprisingly, the two greats never met in a US Open final, leaving one major chapter unwritten in their storied rivalry.

Also Read: Former Russian coach believes Daniil Medvedev will never reach a Grand Slam final again on tour