When Roger Federer retired in 2022, one question seemed to follow him everywhere: what comes next for the Swiss Maestro? Among the many possibilities, the idea of him stepping into a coaching role kept resurfacing. Federer has previously made it clear that coaching doesn’t appeal to him. And now, as he is back at Rod Laver Arena, the same question came his way once again.

On Thursday, Federer made his return to the Melbourne Park, six years after playing his last match in Rod Laver Arena. As he interacted with media during the press-conference, Sebastian Varela of Clay asked the 44-year-old whether he could ever see himself training Fonseca. The Swiss legend offered an answer that was anything but straightforward.

“Never say never! Despite being very busy – I have four children – now the chance is zero. But (Stefan) Edberg said the same thing,” the 20x Grand Slam winner said, referencing the Swedish great who later became his coach.

With that, the Swiss maestro also shared his thoughts on Joao Fonseca ahead of the event, after being asked whether the Brazilian could become the third name challenging the rivalry between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

“You don’t want to be the third guy. You want to be the guy. For anybody… I would think hopefully that’s what he’s thinking. Of course, you don’t want to get carried away and think too far ahead,” Federer said

He then went on to explain what really stands out about the teenager’s game. Federer stated that Fonseca has a powerful forehand, backhand, and a strong serve.

Indeed, Joao Fonseca’s rise has been nothing short of rapid. Ranked outside the top 100, he won the Canberra Challenger and qualified for the Australian Open last year. In his Grand Slam main-draw debut, he shocked No. 9 seed Andrey Rublev and later picked up his first tour title in Buenos Aires. The success kept coming.

He went on to win the ATP 500 in Basel and captured the 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals. The Brazilian teen also climbed as high as world No. 24 before slipping slightly to No. 30.

Praising Fonseca’s presence, Federer added, “He’s exciting. He has a good aura. I feel like he’s a very likeable character as well. I like watching him play.”

Nevertheless, while the 44-year-old didn’t give a concrete response on taking up the coaching role, he has often addressed the coaching speculations in the past.

Roger Federer’s bold coaching confession

Four years ago, when Roger Federer hung up his racket, speculation began almost immediately. Would the Swiss icon return to the tour as a coach? After all, several legends before him: Ivan Lendl, Andre Agassi, Boris Becker, and John McEnroe, had successfully made that transition.

That same year, during a visit to a tennis clinic in Tokyo, Federer was met with similar curiosity from fans. His response was clear. “I don’t see myself coaching,” he said at the time. “If a junior comes around and needs some support or advice, I’m happy to do that.”

Fast forward to Thursday at Rod Laver Arena, and the question resurfaced, this time with a new name attached. With Carlos Alcaraz recently parting ways with his longtime coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, rumors of a potential Federer–Alcaraz partnership had begun to circulate.

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Asked directly about the possibility, the 44-year-old was quick to set expectations. “You should never say never,” Federer said with a smile. “But I’m very busy and have four children. So no chance at the moment.”

So while Federer hasn’t completely closed the door on coaching, for now, fans are left holding onto his familiar refrain: never say never.