If there’s one name that turns heads in tennis, it’s Roger Federer. The Swiss Maestro won 20 Grand Slam titles, including eight Wimbledon crowns. He also claimed a triple-digit haul of tour titles—103 in total! Federer ruled the sport for two decades, starting in 2001, when he won his first title in Milan, though he turned pro back in 1998. When he retired in 2022 at the Laver Cup—an event he co-founded—it was a somber moment for tennis fans worldwide. His followers span the globe, but where there’s glory, there’s also critics. And this time, the critique comes from a former pro.

In the early 2000s, Federer wasn’t the untouchable legend we know today. Fernando Meligeni, a former Brazilian who won three ATP singles titles and seven doubles titles, mostly on clay, shared his experience. Meligeni, who reached a career-high of No. 25 and made the 1999 French Open semifinals, revealed in a September 28, 2025, chat with Clay that they once flat-out refused to practice with Federer. “We were in Hamburg, and Peter Lundgren, Federer’s coach, offered us to play with him. And we didn’t want to. He wasn’t good, he wasn’t playing very well. And we told him no,” Meligeni said.

That was around 2001 or 2002 in Hamburg when Federer was still finding his footing. Meligeni added, “Yes. And I only played with him once, in doubles against him. I was playing with (Anthony) Dupuis, a Frenchman. And he was playing with (Yves) Allegro. It was in the second round of the Australian Open, and there, we realized that he was playing really well.” It was later added that the match happened in the second round of the 2003 Australian Open, with the Swiss pair winning 6-3, 6-4. So what happened?

Looking back, in 2001 at Hamburg, Federer lost to Franco Squillari. But in 2002, he turned things around, winning the title by beating Marat Safin decisively, 6–1, 6–3, 6–4. Fast forward to the 2003 Australian Open: Federer made a rare Grand Slam doubles appearance with his compatriot Yves Allegro. They faced Fernando Meligeni and his French partner Antony Dupuis, winning 6-3, 6-4. That match marked a turning point.

Meligeni recalled that early on, Federer was “too nervous” and even “broke things,” with a backhand that was “pretty bad.” They battled on clay, a surface Federer hadn’t mastered yet. But everything changed during that 2003 doubles match in Australia.

This surprising take comes from someone who watched Federer’s potential up close. What started as a shocking revelation ended in praise, as it often does with the 20-time Grand Slam champion. Roger remains one of tennis’ great legends. Today, players like World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and No. 2 Jannik Sinner are often compared to his prowess. Would Federer be able to beat them today? He did say he’d know how to take down the Spaniard!

Roger Federer shares his thoughts on challenging the current World No.1

At the 2025 Laver Cup, Roger was seen chatting and laughing with top ATP players, sharing his thoughts and soaking in the energy of tennis’s finest. One hot topic? A fantasy match-up between him and the current sensation, Carlos Alcaraz. Federer openly admitted it wouldn’t be easy. Facing the Spanish star demands a sharp mix of power and cunning defense.

“I mean, obviously it’s surface based,” he said. “Not every surface allows you just to power through. Maybe against Alcaraz, sometimes you have to outmaneuver him, which is obviously super difficult. What I did see yesterday is just what he’s able to cover, and with the speed that he has, you have to go in with a mindset that you need to win the point twice.” It’s clear Federer respects Alcaraz’s edge.

This season, Alcaraz has been on fire! With eight titles under his belt—including a recent Japan Open win against Taylor Fritz—he continues to rack up trophies. The youngster even took Roland Garros after an epic, nearly six-hour five-set battle against Jannik Sinner. At just 22, Alcaraz boasts 24 career titles and an eye-popping 272-63 win-loss record. Talk about impressive!

The Swiss Maestro knows Alcaraz’s athleticism makes things tricky for opponents. “That can really throw some question marks, even if you’re hitting an easy forehand that’s normally a winner. Now, you don’t know if it’s going to be a winner or if you’ll need an overhead smash. So, you always have an extra chance to miss a ball.” While we’ll never see prime Federer face today’s stars, one thing remains true: he dominated the sport for years and still stands tall in fans’ hearts three years after retiring.