Roger Federer played the last match of his extraordinary career last week and still doesn’t seem to believe it today. The Swiss champion gave a long and interesting interview to the microphones of the New York Times where he told several anecdotes and impressions on his career.
Here are his words: “The first feelings after retirement? I feel complete, I lost my last match both in singles and doubles, I lost my voice to cheer for my teammates, I lost the challenge with the Team Europe and let’s say I lost my job but I’m happy.
I’m fine, I’m really fine. There is irony, everyone imagines having a party for the farewell day but this is almost never the case. For me it was and I never imagined that this would happen.” Roger also talked about his children and what they felt seeing all this: “I saw them very sad, when I told them about the retirement, three burst into tears.
Even during the Laver Cup they lived very strong moments and it was very difficult for them too.”
Roger Federer: “I would like a farewell match for the fans”
The twenty-time Grand Slam test winner once again explained the reasons for the farewell: “To be honest I think it’s a matter of age.
I didn’t see any logic in continuing, I’ve tried so hard over the past two years and that’s okay. I had surgery last year and I knew the road to recovery was going to be a long one. In my dreams I saw myself on the pitch playing, but I have always been realistic about my return to the court.
It is the right decision for me, I know my physical condition. Initially I was hoping to play a 250 or 500 tournament, even if my dream was to finish with a Grand Slam tournament, then my knee kept giving me problems and so I accepted everything.”
Federer did not close the doors for a final match and said: “After this weekend I must now see what to do. I would love to have a farewell match to say goodbye to the fans, the Laver Cup was already sold out when I announced the retirement.
Many people dreamed of seeing me one last time but it was sold out. I’d like to do this shortly, I’d also like to bring tennis back to new places, to places where I had a lot of fun in the past. ”