Roger Federer is without a doubt one of the greatest tennis players in the history of the sport, and not only was he famed for his prowess on the court, but off it, he remains one of the coolest men around.
The aura he exudes explains why he remains so revered two years after his retirement, and it is likely that his legend will only grow with time.
However, there have been reservations about his 2022 exit from the sport, and whether it marked the right move despite his final singles match actually coming at Wimbledon 2021, over one year before his official retirement.
Roger Federer on his tennis retirement
Now speaking to Spanish outlet El Pais, the Swiss superstar was supremely open when quizzed about his career and what he has been up to after it.
However, when asked if he felt he had retired too early from tennis, the 42-year-old was likely left a bit stunned.
A rather deep thought to ponder two years after making that monumental decision, his answer was calculated yet honest, as he claimed: ‘The day after the operation you try to walk again and take steps as if you were a baby again, but that is already an improvement. Logically, the road to being able to run, jump and play is still very long, but you think that at the same time that moment is getting closer.
‘The really difficult moment is at the end, when you realize that you have one last climb to the top, and you see that it is not happening. Accepting all that was a little sad because, you know, I would have liked to have had one last chance to play, but at the same time I was relieved that I didn’t have to go through all those brutal emotions again of pain, of being 100 percent and of having to play in front of the crowd.
‘In the end, you want to be one hundred percent to be able to compete against the best, but I felt like that was not going to happen again. So I decided to stop and, in fact, I am very happy that I made the decision. I am happy and I am super content.’
Tennis fans would have loved to have had more Roger Federer
It is an irrefutable fact that the tennis community would have enjoyed Federer to have continued playing well into his 40s, regardless of how his form might have dipped.
After all, despite being physically impressive throughout an illustrious career, it was never his outstanding strong point.
The manner in which he dictated the play with his class and supreme technique would likely have carried him through enough matches to make it worthwhile, had he stuck around.
But, as he notes, his body was starting to fail him, and it would have likely not been wise for his long-term future.
Hopefully, at some point, we will see him return for a few exhibition matches, so the next generation who were not treated to two decades of his brilliance can see just a glimpse of one of the greatest to ever do it.
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