Roger Federer said at a press conference on Wednesday that he was calm with his decision to retire from professional tennis. He plans to conclude his illustrious career with a doubles match at the Laver Cup — possibly with his eternal rival, Rafael Nadal, at his side.
“I’m happy, because I know I made the right decision” in leaving professional tennis, Federer said in a press conference Wednesday at the amphitheater which will host the team competition and which is organized by his management company. .
Dressed in a blue jacket with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows, and a white polo shirt, the Swiss answered questions for about 30 minutes in the amphitheater which will host the team competition and which is organized by his company of management. He was smiling and even laughed at his own jokes at times.
Complicated rehabilitation
The holder of 20 career Grand Slam titles, who announced his retirement from sport last week, said he had taken a long time to come to terms with the idea of quitting competition. He did, however, point out that he had finally come to terms with the idea after facing new hurdles during his rehabilitation — following his third right knee surgery in a year and a half — in July.
“You’re sad the moment you say to yourself, ‘OK, it’s over’,” Federer said.
His latest surgery came days after his last singles match, a quarter-final loss to Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz at Wimbledon in July 2021.
“You want to play for the rest of your life,” Federer said.
He said he will play doubles with the European team against the World team on Friday, as the tournament’s curtain-raiser, and that he will then hand over his position to Wimbledon 2021 runner-up Matteo Berrettini for the matches of simple weekend.
Federer, 41, did not specify the identity of his doubles partner for his last career match – that decision is up to team captain Björn Borg, he said – but many expect it to be Nadal, the all-time leader in men’s tennis with 22 major career titles.
“It was quite an adventure, summarized Federer, and for this reason, I am very grateful. »