Roger Federer is considered by many to be the greatest player in the world of tennis and the man who has left the deepest mark on the sport. Throughout his long career, the Swiss tennis player has often had to say no, and there are rare times when others have been able to say no to the Swiss ace.
However, Fernando Meligeni, a former Roland Garros semifinalist, has revealed that he once refused to train with Federer.
In an interview with Clay Magazine, Meligeni said that he turned down Federer in the early 2000s when the Swiss was still a teenager, when his late coach Peter Lundgren asked him to train with him. Given Federers character and quality at the time, Meligeni decided to decline the request.
However, few could have predicted the direction the young Swiss career would take.
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The Swiss tennis player hasn't always been calm
While many consider Roger to be an example of elegance on the tennis court, he was not always like that. In the early stages of his career, he often showed frustration and nervousness on the court, and in some aspects of the game he was not so dominant.
On the other hand, Meligeni reveals that Federer already looked much better at his age and that there were signs that he would build a great career. Years later, Federer, along with Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, formed the very top of tennis worldand dominated the sport.
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If Meligeni had known then who he had the opportunity to train with, he probably would have changed his decision. However, the circumstances at the time were the reason why the tennis player made such a controversial decision.
