U periodu teniskog zatišja, jedan zanimljiv intervju u kojem je Rodžer pričao o angažovanju Ljubičića, sumirao 2015-tu, a rekao nešto i o planovima za 2016-tu.
“I think it’s very exciting that he’s joined the team,” Federer said of Ljubicic while speaking to reporters in Dubai on Friday ahead of his participation for the UAE Royals in the IPTL.
“I’ve known Ivan for very long, very well. Super nice guy and because he’s played against a lot of the players I still play against today - it’s the first time I’ve had someone in my coaching staff who has done that.
“I’ve always worked with coaches who have played in a different generation, so I think number one that’s very exciting for me to hear him out.
“Also just in terms of motivation, hearing a different voice is always very nice. I’m very happy I was able to get him on my team. I can’t wait when he arrives here (in Dubai) and we’re going to start practicing together. But in the meantime of course Severin Luthi is my main coach.”
Asked what exactly he looks for in a coach at this point in his career compared to in the past, Federer said: “I feel it’s tougher to find somebody now just because Severin and I, we know a lot. So the question is what are we, or what am I exactly looking for?
“And then all of a sudden you break it down and you see like there isn’t a million people for that kind of a job out there.
“He needs to match the team, because my team is super solid, super well in place with my physio, my fitness coach, my agent, my wife, my kids… it’s solid. So that person needs room to be able to say what he wants to say, and have freedom to work.
“He needs to be to some extent a family man, he needs to understand my world, my life, that’s why I think Stefan, Paul Annacone and everybody I almost worked with had kids as well. Which is helpful because they understand the process and they know how important family is, to them, and to me in particular, I’m a huge family person.
“So it’s not a priority but it’s just a really important aspect which people forget, I do have four kids and my life is extremely busy in a great way.
“Then important is what can you bring to the team? He’s got experience from the tour as a player, as a coach, he wants to win, he wants to make me a better player, he wants to be a great support within the team. Trust is really important…
“I think I’ve had the best coaches all along the way, at the right times, I had the right coaches. Parts of it was because I got lucky, some were because the federation hired them, others because I was able to hire them. But I think I didn’t make a mistake ever hiring anybody.”
“I thought it was nearly great,” said Federer of 2015.
“The only problem was that Novak was extremely tough to beat, especially in the big occasions. He’s got sky-high confidence. We’ll hope one day that’s going to come down again, hopefully rather sooner than later. We’re working hard to try to catch him. I’m working hard to try to catch him, I’m working hard to become the best player I can be, also next year. I was very happy with this season even though I didn’t win a Slam unfortunately.”