Federer said that he believes someone would have taken their place and that they made him a better player but whether or not he would have won more or less is another matter.
He added that he respects them so much due to them being unbelievable and tough and that in reality it wouldn't have been the same without them.
"I think if they were not there, someone else would have taken this place.
And if I were not there someone else would have been in my place. They made me a better player, but if I had won more or less without them no one knows. It's written in the stars. They are unbelievable, so tough and I respect them so much.
But I realized I could have had a good career when I started working hard."