tennisnet.com ATP

Roger Federer, Ivan Ljubicic and the moments of perfection

A few days afterRoger Federer 's resignation, his ex-coach Ivan Ljubicic spoke up - and praised the Swiss in the highest tones.

by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: Sep 28, 2022, 07:58 pm

Ivan Ljubicic only had words of praise for Roger Federer
© Getty Images
Ivan Ljubicic only had words of praise for Roger Federer

It's been almost a week since Roger Federer played his last match as a tennis pro alongside Rafael Nadal. Since then, the hymns of praise for the 20-time Grand Slam winner have not ended, and ex-coach Ivan Ljubicic has now commented on the unique career of the Swiss to Eurosport UK . And - unsurprisingly - only had positive words for the "Maestro".

"It was easy because he makes it easy for the coaches. He's really open and makes sure we have freedom. You feel comfortable and you feel like you can say what you think is right," said the Croatian his former protégé for dealing with his coaches. Honesty was always the top priority for Federer, Ljubicic continued.

Ljubicic is speechless

Often, however, he simply had nothing to complain about, the former world number three continued: "There were many moments when I just had nothing to say because he was just perfect. Really, there were some exercises that he was ridiculously easy I could have just given him balls and said, 'You're good!'"

Ljubicic joined Federer's coaching team at the beginning of 2016 and, together with long-term coach Severin Lüthi, led the long-standing world number one back to the absolute top of the world. Despite the numerous successes - Federer won three more Grand Slam titles under Ljubicic's aegis - the cooperation was not always easy: "We also had some hard times and difficult moments, but for the most part it was just very, very pleasant."

Always the right decision?

Ljubicic also revealed what makes Federer so special from his point of view: "The way he is, how he works, how he thinks and how he deals with his life, with the things that are flying around him. There is so much going on, and he's handling it perfectly. Personal life, sponsorship dates, friends - combining it all. It feels like he always makes the right decisions. I don't know how he does it, but I think that's just who he is."

The 41-year-old himself does not yet know what will happen to Federer after the end of his career. But it is clear that the Swiss will remain in tennis. Ljubicic assumes the same: "He won't play any more matches on the tour, but he will definitely stay with our sport. He loves it too much."

To the entire Europsort article in German

by Nikolaus Fink

Thursday
Sep 29, 2022, 08:00 am
last edit: Sep 28, 2022, 07:58 pm