Federer receives wooden racquet from Laver

Mar 20, 2018
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Federer receives wooden racquet from Laver

Published Mar 20, 2018

While Stadium 1 at the BNP Paribas Open if often packed with star power, there was no greater number of Grand Slam title winners on display in Indian Wells then during Roger Federer’s semifinal against Borna Coric.

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Federer receives wooden racquet from Laver

Federer receives wooden racquet from Laver

© AP

With 14-time major champion Pete Sampras and 11-time Grand Slam winner Rod Laver taking seats for the Swiss' semifinal win, there was a staggering total of 45 Grand Slam trophies represented.

"I saw Sampras and Laver there. So many times during the game you think to yourself, What are they thinking, you know?" Federer said. "So it's interesting when you have fellow athletes watching you play. It's maybe the biggest inspiration out there for a player."

After the match, Federer received a special gift from Laver, a wooden racquet that the Aussie played with during his career.

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The 20-time Grand Slam champion had a sparkling 17-0 season record going into Indian Wells, but would fall to Juan Martin del Potro in a third-set tiebreak. His previous best win streak was 16 in a row back in 2006.

The 36-year-old quickly hopped a jet to Chicago to promote the second annual Laver Cup, scheduled for September 21-23.

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Federer will next fly down to Miami, where he is the defending champion and expected to start on Friday or Saturday.

Federer receives wooden racquet from Laver

Federer receives wooden racquet from Laver

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