In a courtside interview after demolishing the Spaniard 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 at Rod Laver Arena on Saturday, Federer said his parents had discussed moving Down Under when his father worked for a three-month stint there, but ultimately decided against it.
The idea of a missed chance to adopt the eventual 15-time Grand Slam champion prompted groans from thousands of local fans at centre court. "I was maybe 12, 14 years old. I remember actually my parents having a debate, are we moving away from Switzerland to come live over here," Federer told reporters.
"In the end, they just said, 'look, we have all our friends over here'. And even though it's lucrative and nice to go to Australia, they love the country, they also asked us kids. "And we were like, whatever the parents decide. What are we gonna decide here?"
While unlikely to consider switching citizenship, Federer's temporary residence in Australia has been prolonged for another few days with his impressive display against 31st seed Montanes.
The Swiss maestro clubbed 36 winners and 10 aces in the 108-minute victory, which preserved his record of reaching the last 16 of every Grand Slam since losing in the third round of the 2004 French Open.
