Most people assume that if your dad is Roger Federer, you were born with a Wilson racket in your hand and a perfect backhand in your DNA. It makes sense, right? You’d think the house would be a non-stop training camp of drills and discipline. But the reality of life with the roger federer kids is actually way more "normal" and, honestly, a lot more relaxed than the tennis world ever expected.
The Swiss legend didn't just have one set of twins. He had two.
It’s one of those statistical anomalies that feels like a glitch in the matrix. First came the girls, Myla Rose and Charlene Riva, back in 2009. Then, five years later, lightning struck twice with the boys, Leo and Lenny. Now that we’re sitting here in 2026, those "babies" aren't babies anymore. The girls are driving age, and the boys are deep into their middle school years, carving out identities that have surprisingly little to do with Grand Slam trophies.
The "Double Twin" Dynamic: Life in the Federer Household
Federer has always been pretty open about how "rocking the boat" felt when the boys arrived. Imagine trying to dominate Wimbledon while managing four toddlers on a private jet. He actually admitted that if he couldn't have brought the whole crew on the road, he would’ve retired ten years earlier than he did.
Think about that. The reason we got another decade of "Fedex" magic was basically because he refused to be an absent father.
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The older girls, Myla and Charlene, are now 16. They spent their childhoods as the adorable fixtures in the player’s box, often wearing matching dresses and looking slightly bored by their dad’s dominance. Federer recently joked that he was actually relieved they never caught the "tennis bug" too intensely. They play, sure—they’ve even been spotted hitting at the Rafael Nadal Academy in Mallorca—but it’s not their life. They’re more into homework, friends, and going to Taylor Swift concerts.
Basically, they're teenagers.
Is there a future pro among the roger federer kids?
While the girls are doing their own thing, the spotlight has naturally shifted to the boys. Leo and Lenny are 11 now. In the tennis world, that’s the age where you start to see if a kid has "it."
According to Roger, Leo is the one who is actually "getting serious" about the game.
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The Scouting Report (Sort of)
- Leo Federer: Currently showing the most competitive drive. He’s started playing tournaments and has even asked his dad to take him back to Wimbledon just to walk the grass.
- Lenny Federer: The "creative" soul. Roger describes him as more into drawing and reading. He likes soccer, but he isn't obsessing over his serve at 6:00 AM.
- Myla & Charlene: They are the veterans of the group. They understand the game deeply but seem to prefer the lifestyle of a normal Swiss teenager over the grind of the WTA tour.
Roger’s approach to coaching them is surprisingly hands-off. He doesn't want to be the coach. He’s said that a "dad's advice only goes so far," regardless of whether that dad has 20 Slams. He views himself more as a "General Manager" for Leo—organizing the right coaches and training partners rather than barking orders from the baseline.
Why the Federer parenting style actually works
In a world of "tennis parents" who are famous for being, well, intense, Federer is a bit of an outlier. He doesn't push. He’s even said he's happy they aren't all world-class players because the travel and pressure are exhausting.
There’s a real nuance to how he and Mirka (who was a pro herself, remember) handle the kids. They speak a mix of Swiss German, English, and even some Slovakian at home. It’s a multilingual, multicultural upbringing that prioritizes being a well-rounded human over being a point-scoring machine.
They also take the kids on charity trips to Africa. It’s a way to ground them. When you live in a glass mansion in Wollerau, seeing the work of the Roger Federer Foundation helps keep things in perspective.
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What most people get wrong about the "Next Gen" Federers
The biggest misconception is that there is a "Federer Dynasty" in the making.
Fans want to see Leo and Lenny winning the Wimbledon doubles title in 2038. It’s a nice dream. But if you listen to Roger, he’s just as happy if they become architects, artists, or accountants. He’s at peace with his retirement, and he seems even more at peace with the fact that his kids might never follow in his footsteps.
He’s mentioned that his knee injury—the one that eventually forced him out of the game—was a bit of a blessing in disguise for his fatherhood. It gave him a "taste" of what life would be like at home before he actually stopped. By the time he officially hung up the rackets in 2022, he was already used to the rhythm of school runs and diaper changes (though hopefully, he's done with the diapers by now).
Actionable Insights for Tennis Parents
If you're looking at the roger federer kids as a blueprint for your own children’s athletic journey, there are a few things to take away from the Maestro's playbook:
- Avoid the "Parent-Coach" Trap: If your child wants to get serious, find a professional coach. Keep your role as the supportive "General Manager."
- Broaden the Horizon: The Federer kids ski, play soccer, golf, and scuba dive. Specializing too early leads to burnout.
- Non-Negotiable Presence: Roger prioritized being physically present, even if it meant more logistical headaches.
- Follow Their Lead: Relish the fact that they might not want to do what you did. Roger’s relief that his girls didn't choose tennis is a masterclass in ego-free parenting.
The Federer legacy is safe in the Hall of Fame. For his children, the legacy is just being allowed to grow up without the weight of 20 Grand Slams on their shoulders.
To keep track of the family's latest ventures, you can follow updates via the Roger Federer Foundation or keep an eye on his occasional appearances at major tournaments, where he's now more likely to be seen holding a shopping bag than a trophy.