Tennis: Roger Federer's emotional interview - 'Never broke down like this'

Roger Federer openly cried during an emotional interview. Photo / CNN

In a touching interview that will win him another few million fans, Roger Federer was unable to fight back tears as he spoke about former coach Peter Carter.

Federer spoke to CNN from his training base in Dubai last month and was overcome with emotion when conversation turned to Carter, the man who discovered the Swiss legend as a teen in Basel.

"It's a really nice story," Federer said. "He came to play club tennis for my club in Basel, Old Boys Tennis Club. When I was little he was one of the star players on the team. I was able to have coaching lessons with him.

"Peter was a really important person in my life. If I can say thank you for my technique today it's to Peter."

Carter died in a car accident on his honeymoon in South Africa in 2002 — a year before Federer's first grand slam victory at Wimbledon.

Asked what Carter would have thought to see him now with a world record 20 grand slam titles, Federer broke down.

"Sorry. Oh, man, I still miss him so much. I hope he would be proud," Federer said.

"Geez, never broke down like this," he said later.

Roger Federer's inspirational former coach died in a car crash on his honeymoon in 2002.

Nearly two decades on, Federer still gets emotional when he talks about Peter Carter.

Our exclusive interview: https://t.co/AJM6UXgt6H pic.twitter.com/g9aiylaKy8

— CNN Sports (@cnnsport) January 7, 2019

According to 'The Roger Federer Story: Quest for Perfection,' a book penned by Swiss tennis journalist Rene Stauffer, Federer "was never so upset in his life" when he was told of Carter's death while playing in the Canadian Masters in Toronto.

The Australian newspaper reported he left his hotel and "ran through the streets, bawling and hysterical".

Federer told CNN it was a career-changing moment. "He didn't want me to be a wasted talent. It was somewhat of a wake-up call for me when he passed away, I really started to train hard," he said.

"I've been incredibly fortunate to have the right people at the right time, the right coaches at the right time. Sure, I make those decisions but I've been lucky along the way."

he would be beyond proud mate ☺️

— Darren Cahill (@darren_cahill) January 7, 2019

Federer regularly pays for Carter's parents to travel from Adelaide to Melbourne to sit in his players box at the Australian Open each year — and he's hopeful of putting on a show in 2019 as he seeks to defend his title.

"Am I confident? I don't know. I feel good. I've been training really well. I've had another great year. Still happy playing and I've won the last two Australian Open editions so I should be going in there with confidence," he said.

"I love playing Australia, love playing in Melbourne. There's so much that connects me to that country. The legends that I admire, the coaches that I've had in Tony Roche and Peter Carter — they've been incredibly inspirational and important to me in my life."