Roger Federer has embraced a new role in tennis - not as a coach or a competitor, but as a father guiding his son Leo's early steps in the sport his father once dominated.
Leo has shown a growing passion for tennis, traveling with his father to the Laver Cup and enjoying the Shanghai Masters encounters. However, Roger made it clear that he will not be the one leading his son's on-court instruction.
Instead, the 20-time Major winner sees himself as a sort of general manager. He is responsible for organizing the team around Leo rather than shaping his technique directly.
According to the Swiss Maestro, Leo is the one who has taken initiative over the past year, asking for more practice, more matches and more serious structure.
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That shift sparked Roger's commitment to creating the right environment for his son's development. Still, it all happens without him crossing the line and becoming his coach, leaving that to others.
Roger is there to arrange quality coaches, training partners and schedules. Like every father, he takes the pressure ofhis son's back, making sure to make his tennis experience both fun and productive.
Federer does not think about trophies or rankings. It's about helping Leo enjoy the sport, develop gradually and experience the competitive world at a pace that feels natural and suitable tohis age.
Roger has already seen Leo enter a few smaller tournaments, enjoying the process and learning how to deal with wins and losses while exploring the rhythm of junior competition.
For the Federer family, it's a new chapter, withRoger tradingthe coach's bench for the manager's desk. He lets Leo's enthusiasm lead the way while providing a steady hand from behind the scenes.
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After all, the Swiss Maestro had been through all that over three decades ago.
"I'm not coaching my son.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 did not push him for a long time, but for about a year now, I have noticed that he wants to play more. I try to make it happen. At this age, he needs enough practice and matches. I make sure Leo has good coaches and training partners.
Organizing all that takes a lot of work. You can not just send him somewhere and see what happens. I think Leo is doing great. He is also participating in the occasional tournaments now. For me, it's exciting to support him.
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I'm less concerned about the results, as it's about him having fun and progressing," Roger Federer said.
