The ‘free-swinging’ and ‘nice’ teenagers are coming, but Roger Federer is ready

ATP Tour
Denis Shapovalov delighted

The teenagers have been the talk of the town at the Miami Open and are ready to overthrow the older guard, but Roger Federer says he is excited to face the “young, nice guys”.

Denis Shapovalov, Felix Auger Aliassime and Frances Tiafoe have all excelled at the Hard Rock Stadium with the two Canadians, Shapovalov and Auger Alliasime, reaching the semi-finals.

The 19-year-old Shapovalov will take on Federer in the last after edging out American Tiafoe in quarters while Auger Alliasime will face John Isner for a place in the final having beaten Borna Coric.

At the age of 37, Federer has come up against hundreds of teenagers during his illustrious career and he is still excited to take on the young guns.

“It doesn’t feel that different to when I played Rafa [Nadal] when he was super young, or anybody. Any teenager you play, once I think you’re 23, feels different to playing anybody else, because they come out there, and they might not know all the plays down to the T yet, but they don’t have to, because they just free-swing sometimes, and that makes it particularly dangerous,” the 20-time Grand Slam winner said ahead of his first-ever meeting with Shapovalov.

“I have always enjoyed playing against teenagers. I think it’s very exciting because of that. It’s an exciting draw, for John and for myself here, playing these young guys. They are not just young, but they are very good, as well. They are nice guys. It should be hopefully good semi-finals.”

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