Federer announced this week he
was shaking up his coaching team for 2016, with "childhood idol" Edberg
leaving after two years of working as assistant coach to the 17-time
Grand Slam winner.
"We had a great split in the sense that we've known for 10 months that it was going to end at the end of the year."
Federer
said Edberg's replacement, Croatian Ivan Ljubicic, a former world
number three, would offer a new perspective as part of the current
generation of players.
"My coaches in the past have all
been players from a different generation. I think Ivan can bring
something very exciting to my team, including motivation."
Sweden's Edberg, a former world number one, won his six Grand Slam titles in the 1980s and early 1990s.
The
change constitutes another throw of the dice for Federer, 34, as he
bids to prolong his stay at the top of men's tennis and add to his
all-time record haul of Grand Slam titles.
The Swiss champion has said Severin Luthi will continue to be his main coach, continuing a partnership that began in 2008.
"Edberg obviously was amazing, nicest guy, gave me great advice and I will appreciate that forever."
Federer said he was excited
about teaming up with fellow Grand Slam star Martina Hingis for
Switzerland in the mixed doubles at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
"We are a little bit rusty after 15 years of not playing together but hopefully we have some time."
He
said it was likely he would also partner with countryman and world
number four Stan Wawrinka in the men's doubles, saying they would
discuss it early next year.
Date: 13th December 2015, Source: AFP
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