Roger Federer breaks down during interview remembering deceased coach Peter Carter

Peter Carter was one of the first who discovered Federer's magical skills with the racquet as a teen while playing at his tennis club in Basel, Switzerland.

Washington: Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer could not hold back his tears in an interview with a leading American News channel on Monday where he paid tribute to his deceased Australian coach who he credits with fine tuning the flawless playing technique that helped him win a record 20 grand slam titles. Peter Carter was one of the first who discovered Federer's magical skills with the racquet as a teen while playing at his tennis club in Basel, Switzerland. Federer who was known to be one of the most promising tennis stars during his junior days often found it tough to cope up with his fiery temperament. It indeed was Carter who helped lay the groundwork for the player's impecable technique, which led to him dominating a golden era of men's tennis. But Carter died in a car accident while on his honeymoon in South Africa in 2002 — a year before Federer's first major honour, a triumph at Wimbledon. Speaking to CNN, Federer broke down in tears remembering the Australian coach who had such an impact on his life and career. "It's a really nice story. He came to play club tennis for my club in Basel, Old Boys Tennis Club," Federer said. "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."