Roger Federer pushes you to absolute limits, says hitting partner

In an interview to INews, the Australian recalled the three years he spent as hitting partner. Bourgeois felt honored to be able to live with the Swiss day by day, and just like Federer, he wanted to constantly give his best.

The first thing which working with Roger does is it gives you credibility, said Bourgeois. Theres a hierarchy on the tennis tour, and as a player ranked in the mid-200s, it can be hard to feel like you belong in the locker room at the big events.

But once I started working with Roger, Id go to the Australian Open and have guys like Andy Roddick come up and just start talking. Bourgeois appreciated the experience and he remembers those days with a smile on his face.

Those were the best three years of my career. After a three-week training block working with Roger, Id go back to the tour and notice an immediate improvement to my game. When you hit with him, he pushes you to your absolute limits.

When he rips his backhand or forehand, the amount of underspin he puts on the ball means you literally hear it fizzing through the air, and then the ball just jumps off the court. After trying to counter that spin, Id go back to competing with other mere mortals and it wouldnt be intimidating.

I remember qualifying for my hometown event in Sydney and playing the world No 12 in the first round; after hitting with Roger, it didnt feel that difficult. ALSO READ: Rafael Nadal: Worse players than David Ferrer won a Grand Slam title