Former world number 6 Nicolas Lapentti admitted that it was “very difficult to find a weak spot” in Roger Federer’s play during their matches. Lapentti, 46, retired from professional tennis in 2010. During his career, Lapentti faced Federer four times in singles.
In those four meetings, Lapentti did not win a single set, as Federer picked up four straight-set wins over the Ecuadorian. At the end of September, Federer, 41, ended his career as a professional tennis player at the Laver Cup.
Reflecting on Federer’s farewell, Lapentti said that he was the best example of how well-liked and respected Federer was in the tennis community. “He was that kind of player where if you made a good shot, he’d get a better one.
It was very difficult to find a weak spot. Roger was impressive in every way. He was great on the court, he was great off the court, he was awesome in the locker room, he used to hang out and be funny and make jokes. He loved soccer, so we talked about soccer.
He was all class. Of course, what he did in the world of tennis was incredible. I don’t think anyone can match what he did. It was huge (Federer’s farewell to the Laver Cup). I have a couple of friends who were at the stadium and they texted me saying, ‘I’ve never seen the whole stadium crying in my whole life.’
It was crazy, but that’s what Roger did to the world of tennis. We played doubles in Halle in 2000, when I was still better than him. He was still going up. In 2000, I was up there, and he was probably No. 30 in the world and he was going up, he was this young Swiss guy playing great tennis,” Lapentti said on Craig Shapiro’s podcast, according to Sportskeeda.
Annacone talks about Federer
Roger Federer and Pete Sampras’ former coach Paul Annacone recently stated that during his time working with various players, he has learned more from them compared to the knowledge he imparted.
“The amazing thing about coaching is that I learn more from each player than they learn from me. I have been so lucky to be with Pete, Roger, Sloane, Tim Henman, Stan, and now Taylor, and every experience is new. I’m learning more stuff with Taylor (Fritz), things that I’m wrapping my mind around that I hadn’t been around before,” he said.
“Pete would be with his strength and conditioning guy, whoever it was at the time. And then I would do the tennis stuff. And then you’d have his physio, and then you’d have his light (training). Pete was more mono-focussed and Roger was more expansive,” he added.
