From Courtside Advice to Grand Slam Glory
Roger Federer may have retired in 2022, but his passion for the sport has not dimmed one bit. The 20-time Grand Slam champion has remained a visible presence on tour during 2026, appearing at the Australian Open and the Shanghai Masters, taking part in high-profile exhibition matches, and earning his well-deserved place in the International Tennis Hall of Fame. In a candid interview with Sports Illustrated Germany, Federer admitted he almost never misses a Grand Slam match and genuinely relishes watching the current generation compete. One player he has watched with particular interest is Alexander Zverev, who capped a remarkable 2026 campaign by winning both Roland Garros and the US Open to become a two-time major champion.
Federer was vocal about the advice he had offered Zverev over the years: be more aggressive from the baseline and take control of rallies rather than drifting into passive play during the biggest moments. According to Federer, he was far from the only voice delivering that message, but something finally clicked for the German this season. Federer described Zverev's two Slam titles as long overdue given his talent, and said he was "incredibly happy" to see it happen. Federer also watched Zverev's run to the Wimbledon final, where the German defeated Jiri Lehecka on his way to that title match, another milestone in a career that has now reached its full potential.
The two men faced each other seven times between 2016 and 2019, with Zverev holding a 4-3 edge in their head-to-head record. TennisDraw users tracking Zverev's bracket path throughout 2026 will find plenty to celebrate in this championship-winning breakthrough.
