Mardy Fish not at all surprised by Federer and Nadal's resurgence

Former Top 10 player Mardy Fish says it would be difficult to coach Roger Federer. If he had that job, he’d most likely learn a few things himself.

Fish, now retired, helps young American Jared Donaldson. He told the ATP Champions Tour that he doesn't know what he would do if he were coaching the biggest names in the sport.

“I’m not sure how much I can teach one of those guys,” he said, “but it would be interesting to see what goes on in the mind of a guy like Roger Federer, the day-to-day of a player like Andy Murray and how he turns over every stone. Those guys are special, and it would be interesting to pick their brain a little bit.”

Fish said that he wasn’t surprised that Federer and Rafael Nadal reached the final of the Australian Open, because after Murray and Novak Djokovic lost early, the veterans were ready to pounce.

“I was surprised it took them this long, to be honest,” said Fish. “Who knows how many times they’ll be able to play in that setting again? It was really fun to watch.”

“What they’re doing is incredible in different ways,” former No. 4 James Blake added. “Roger still winning Slams at 35; Rafa playing this well, with the pounding his body has taken. He was three games away from being a Grand Slam champion again. They’re two of the best players of all time—and in the same era—so they’ve set a very high bar for everyone else.”