Roger Federer doesn't see his kids becoming future tennis stars

MELBOURNE – Roger Federer is just fine with his twin girls, Charlene Riva and Myla Rose, not becoming tennis players.

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.

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“Forty years on the tennis tour doesn't excite me,” he told reporters, laughing. “And 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. Who knows? [For now], they are going to tennis lessons because daddy says so because I think it's a good thing for them.”

Federer has a second set of twins, boys born in the spring of 2014, named Leo and Lenny.

“The tennis tour is… a wonderful place, otherwise I wouldn't be on it. It's a great sport to learn how to lose, to win, to figure it out, for discipline, you name it. I didn't say it in a negative way. I just don't think they will ever be a tennis player who is going to play on Rod Laver Arena. Maybe they will surprise me and one day they will be here and I will be home in the cold and they will be here. Who knows?”

Or perhaps they’ll be successful in a different sport, Federer said.

“I’d rather support them in another sport. Go see them be a super skier. That would be exciting,” said Federer. “To go watch tennis matches, I don't know…as much as I love it now, I'm just not sure what my excitement level will be in 20 years' time from now. You never know.”

In an interview with USA TODAY Sports last June, Federer said his favorite moments with his kids involved skiing – packing the kids up and driving to the hill.

"We dress them up and it's a bit of a battle sometimes because of all the layers, but we pack them in the car and go," Federer explained in the interview, laughing. "I love those moments just in the car, with them in their boots and helmets and I'm driving and looking back in the rear-view mirror and just thinking, 'This is so cool.' It reminds me of my own childhood. I love that about spending time with them."

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