Roger Federer reveals why he was broke down in TEARS at Swiss Indoors

In a fascinating interview at the Swiss Indoors, Federer recalled the moment he left Basel to travel 200km south to Ecublens as a 14-year-old.

Ecublens was home of the Swiss National Tennis Center where Federer honed his game.

However, the decision to leave his parents behind was a tough one to take.

He said: “I was incredibly homesick. I was going behind and ahead by train but I was lucky because I stayed with a beautiful family and I am still in contact with them. They had a son of my age and he has children as well.

“He is a little bit like a brother to me. Those were the two most meaningful years in my life.

“It was my decision, it’s not that my parents said: ‘Well, you go to Ecublens.’ They never came there, although from time-to-time they were speaking with coaches to ask if everything was going well.

“At some stage you stop crying. Or you speak to your mother by phone.”

It wasn’t just tennis that Federer had to learn – he also had to hone the use of the French language.

“I think it helped that my results improved. I also played my first tournaments abroad and when I ended my first six months I felt better. I met new people and my French improved,” he said.

“I was never afraid to speak French, even if I committed many mistakes like I do today. And maybe I just grew during that time.

“At one point, I understood: that’s my new home now. I have chosen the tough path, but I never regretted it.

“Then I moved to Biel where I shared an apartment with Yves Allegro, Michi Lammer and Sven Swinnen. During those years I could experience unbelievable things and I went on the road in Switzerland as well.”

Federer was made to work hard for his first-round win over unseeded Serbian Filip Krajinovic at the Swiss Indoors Open in Basel on Monday

Eight-time winner Federer, back in his hometown, won through to the last 16 with a 6-2 4-6 6-4 victory against world number 35 Krajinovic.

Top seed Federer, 37, who won the tournament last year, appeared rusty in his first appearance since his semi-final defeat to Borna Coric at the Shanghai Masters earlier this month, but won through in two hours and nine minutes.

France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who has slipped down to 113 in the world rankings after a season hindered by injury, lost 3-6 6-3 3-6 to America’s Sam Querry.

Croatian third seed Marin Cilic cruised into the last 16 with a 6-4 6-2 victory over Canadian teenager Denis Shapovalov.

But Italy’s Marco Cecchinato, seeded six, fell victim to Swiss wildcard Henri Laaksonen by the same score and American Ryan Harrison lost to Romanian qualifier Marius Copil 6-2 7-6 (8).

Russian seventh seed Daniil Medvedev beat Germany’s Maximilian Marterer 6-3 7-5 and Italy’s Andreas Seppi was an easy winner against Japanese qualifier Taro Daniel 6-0 6-4.

Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff overcame Australia’s John Milman 7-6 (3) 6-2 and there were also wins for American wild card Taylor Fritz, Germany’s Peter Gojowczyk and qualifier Alexei Popyrin, who beat fellow Australian Matthew Ebden 7-6 (4) 6-4.