MELBOURNE – Roger Federer is just fine with his twin girls, Charlene Riva and Myla Rose, not becoming tennis players.
Switzerland’s Roger Federer plays a forehand return during his men’s singles match against Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov on day three of the 2016 Australian Open.
After his second round win at the Australian Open on Wednesday, his 299th in Grand Slam play, Federer said on court that the six-year-old girls weren’t that interested in the sport yet – and that’s OK with him.
“They don’t get so excited watching me play,” the 17-time major champion said. “We’re trying to bring them into the game a little bit even though I don’t think we’ll see them here one day.”
“I would be happy if they don’t end up being on this court, actually.”
Federer and his wife, Mirka, met at the Sydney Olympics and in 2001 played in the Hopman Cup in Australia together. Known as Miroslava Vavrinec when she played on tour, Mirka reached a career-high No. 76 in the world later in 2001. She played her last match the next year.
Federer continued the discussion of his girls in press, saying he didn’t mind if they became tennis stars, though he doesn’t get too excited about another 20 years traveling on the tennis circuit.