"He wanted to change his game" - Edberg on why Roger Federer had hired him as coach

For Roger Federer, getting coached by his childhood idol was a surreal experience. Federer had approached the six-time Grand Slam winner Stefan Edberg to come on-board his coaching team in 2013 and help him overcome his mid-career slump, and the latter agreed.

Looking back on those days, Edberg revealed how much it meant to him to be asked to coach a legend like Roger Federer.

'Super coaches' @TheBorisBecker and Stefan Edberg reveal their experiences working with @DjokerNole and @RogerFederer on this week's Tennis Legends podcast 🎾🎧 Subscribe to Tennis Legends here (episode out Thursday): https://t.co/3mJURW1fub

— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) July 6, 2020

Speaking on Eurosport's 'Tennis Legends' vodcast that was hosted by Mats Wilander, arch-rivals Stefan Edberg and Boris Becker came together to share their coaching experiences. And Edberg happily recalled his days coaching Roger Federer during a particularly difficult time for the Swiss.

Federer called on Edberg to help as he was eager to change his game style, and the Swedish legend looked at it as a great opportunity.

“Obviously, it was an honor to be asked to coach Roger,” Stefan Edberg told Mats Wilander on the vodcast.

How Stefan Edberg came on-board Roger Federer's coaching team

Stefan Edberg coached Roger Federer between 2013-15

After receiving an unexpected call from Roger Federer, Stefan Edberg knew the Swiss was struggling.

In 2013 Federer dropped to World No. 7 in the rankings, failing to reach the final of a Major for the first time since 2002. It was at this time that Federer decided to seek the coaching advice of his idol, Stefan Edberg.

“It took me some time to decide. We actually spent a week in Dubai just to get to know each other before going on the tour, but to summarise things: it was great to be around Roger, he’s such an ambassador for tennis – and obviously, yes, we talked about tennis, about strategy," Edberg recalled.

The experience of coaching Roger was an eye-opener for Edberg as well. "He (Roger Federer) knows so much about tennis so there is only so much you can sort of teach him because he knows pretty much everything on the court," the Swede said.

Although the 2013-15 tryst with Edberg did not lead to a Slam win for Roger Federer, Edberg believes that he was able to help modify the Swiss great's game.

“He wanted to change his game and that was maybe part of the reason why he took me in to get a few ideas. I think the great thing, looking back, was he switched racket to more of a modern racket – that was really key. He changed his game a little bit. His movement got a little bit more aggressive, which I think he needed to do," Stefan Edberg added.

Roger Federer idolized Stefan Edberg ever since he was a kid

Roger Federer with his childhood idol and former coach, Stefan Edberg

Roger Federer's admiration for Stefan Edberg goes back years, to when the Swiss was just a kid. He sat wide-eyed with his eyes hooked to the television, watching Boris Becker and Stefan Edberg battle it out on the grass courts of Wimbledon.

The 38-year-old has always been torn between Becker and Edberg, whose intense rivalry was one for the ages.

“Becker was first my idol until some of my friends said, ‘Why Becker? Edberg is cooler’,” Federer recalled in an interview with ATP. “Is he? Okay, I'll be Edberg," Federer had decided back then.