Roger Federer enjoyed a legendary tennis career that many would no doubt love to replicate.
Having won 20 Grand Slam titles, Federer retired from tennis in 2022 as one of the greatest players to have ever picked up a racket.
During his 24-year stint on the ATP Tour, the Swiss phenom showed his class throughout, holding the number-one ranking for a record 237 consecutive weeks.
Federer completed the Career Grand Slam in 2009, a feat only four other players; Rod Laver, Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic have achieved during tennis’ Open Era.
- Australian Open – Won (2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2017, 2018)
- French Open – Won (2009)
- Wimbledon – Won (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2017)
- US Open – Won (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)
During his career and the years that have followed, many have searched for the ‘next’ Federer, as fans look for someone to fill the void the legendary 43-year-old once occupied.
One young tennis star has been compared to Federer recently, as a top WTA coach warns fans not to put too much pressure on the talented prospect.
Patrick Mouratoglou warns fans not to put pressure on ‘Roger Federer like’ Henry Bernet.
Swiss teenager Henry Bernet won his first Grand Slam juniors title at the 2025 Australian Open, as he took down Benjamin Willwerth in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4.
Following the biggest win of his career, Bernet was unsurprisingly compared to his countryman Federer, as many predicted big things for the youngster.
Naomi Osaka’s coach Patrick Mouratoglou recently took to Instagram to share his thoughts on Bernet, admitting he ‘understands’ the comparisons.
“I understand why this player is compared to Roger [Federer] even though it’s a burden and it’s going to be hard for him,” said Mouratoglou.
“Three reasons, first he’s Swiss, like Roger, second he has a one-handed backhand like Roger, and third he’s winning Grand Slams, he won a Grand Slam in juniors like Roger.
“So I understand the comparison, is he the same type of player? I don’t know him well enough for that but also if I watch the video, he’s sneaking in, coming to the net, and actually at the net, he feels the ball, and he feels also how to position himself towards the ball so that’s great.”
Osaka’s coach then warned fans of what such comparisons could do to Bernet, as he reflected on the career of another top ATP star.
“Don’t put too much pressure on him,” he said.
“There’s another player that I know very well, Grigor Dimitrov, that was compared to Roger since 16, 17 years old.
“Nothing is better as a feeling to be compared with Roger Federer, but it brings a lot of pressure and it’s very difficult for the players to deal with that pressure knowing they haven’t done anything, I mean it’s great to win a title in juniors, but it’s juniors.
“All their career is ahead of them, and they come to that career with huge expectations because of that comparison.
“So it gives confidence but takes confidence at the same time.
“Don’t do that too much if you want this young, very good player to become a top one.”
Dimitrov was often described as ‘Baby Federer’ during his younger years, thanks to similarities in the way the pair played the game.
The Bulgarian described those comparisons as a ‘burden’ in an interview two years ago.
“That should be a lesson for every young player who comes into the game,” he said.
“No-one should carry such a burden upon his name, I’ll tell you that much.
“That was one of the most irrelevant comparisons in my eyes, in my view and I think in everybody’s.
“What I am the happiest with is that I made a name for myself.”
The 33-year-old certainly made a name for himself, reaching a career-high of third in the world, winning the ATP Finals in 2017.
Patrick Mouratoglou thinks reaching the top with a one-handed backhand in 2025 is ‘really difficult’
Federer, Bernet, and Dimitrov all play with one-handed backhands, a shot that is used by very few on the ATP Tour in 2025.
Mouratoglou shared his thoughts on the shot to Instagram, admitting that it is now ‘very difficult’ to reach the top of men’s tennis without a two-handed backhand.
“To have a one-handed backhand in tennis today is a very difficult thing,” he said.
“As we know it’s mostly two-handed backhands, there are very few one-handed backhands.
“In today’s game to have a one-handed backhand is more difficult to deal with. Is it impossible? For sure not.
“Those last years, only Roger [Federer] and Stan [Wawrinka] were Grand Slam winners and multiple Grand Slam winners with one-handed backhands.
“Stefanos Tsitsipas also reached two Grand Slam finals with one-handed backhand even in those last years, but if you look at the immense majority of the players who are dominating the game, [they] use two-handed backhand.
“So in today’s game, it’s really difficult to reach the top of the game with a one-handed backhand.”
Tsitsipas won the Dubai Tennis Championships recently, as his backhand looked better than ever having changed rackets ahead of the tournament.
The Greek star will now look to continue his strong run of form as he takes on the winner of Thiago Seyboth Wild and Alexandre Muller in the Indian Wells second round.
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