I don't want to be a tennis dad - Federer
Roger Federer has no plans to coerce his children into being tennis players and would rather they played another sport.
The Swiss all-time Grand Slam record holder said he could not see any of his four kids playing on Rod Laver Arena at a future Australian Open.
Federer and his former tennis-playing wife Mirka have two sets of twins, six-year-old girls Myla Rose and Charlene Riva and one-year-old boys Leo and Lenny.
But despite his love for the sport as well as accumulating almost $100 million in career prize money, Federer has no ambitions of becoming a tennis dad to his youngsters.
"They don't necessarily love it the way I did. So that's why, for me, it's quite obvious that it's not going to happen," he said after beating Aleksandr Dolgopolov to reach the third round at the Australian Open for the 17th straight year.
"Who knows? They are going to tennis lessons because daddy says so because I think it's a good thing for them.
"I mean, I think it's a wonderful place, the tennis tour, otherwise I wouldn't be on it.
"It's a great sport to learn how to lose, to win, to figure it out, for friendship, discipline, you name it. For hand/eye coordination. I only think good things about it.
"I just don't think they will ever be a tennis player who is ever going to play on Rod Laver Arena."
The 34-year-old Swiss great said he would rather they play another sport.
"I will support them all the way whatever they want to do, but I don't see myself doing that right now," he said of sitting in a player box later in life cheering on his tennis kids.
"I'd rather support them in another sport. Go see them be a super skier. That would be exciting."
File Photo: Gallo Images
AFP