- Roger Federer has lifted the lid on the things he misses in tennis
- The Swiss tennis legend returned to the Laver Cup in 2023
- He reflected on his retired status and divulged what he missed most
Roger Federer has lifted the lid on the things he misses in tennis even as he appreciates being the focal point of the sport one year after his retirement.
The Swiss tennis legend returned to the Laver Cup in 2023, marking the same tournament where he bid adieu to his professional career 12 months ago.
During this return, he reflected on his retired status and divulged what he missed most about the world of tennis.
In a memorable moment, Federer announced his last match would be at the 2022 Laver Cup, surrounded by his formidable rivals – Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray.
The former world No. 1 had been grappling with a persistent right knee injury for over two years, initially attempting a comeback before ultimately conceding that he needed to heed his body’s signals and step away.
As one of the co-founders of the Laver Cup, the 42-year-old Swiss tennis icon returned to the team event in Vancouver over the weekend, albeit in a new role as a spectator.
While he had previously marked the anniversary of his retirement with an on-court Q&A session last week on Friday, Federer opened up further about his retirement.
He candidly confessed that he missed the applause and the spotlight, highlighting the fond memories of being the centre of attention.
Roger Federer Nike. Photo/We Love Tennis
“I miss the adrenaline but at the same time, you’re happy not to have it. Secretly I guess you like to be the centre of attention but at the same time it doesn’t matter anymore, you know?” Eurosport reports.
Federer said that he is content in retirement, and is sure he made the right decision to retire.
“It’s good with the way it is now. And of course, I miss the big ovations, seeing the happy faces of people that hopefully I was able to entertain and stuff like that. The tour was good to me, I loved it, every moment, but I’m happy retired now,” he adds.
The tennis star with 103 titles under his belt found immense joy in being part of the sport from a fresh perspective as he attended this year’s Laver Cup as an observer.
He shared, that it felt great being back within the tennis community, and engaging in various activities.
Roger Federer Nike. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
This is the first time that he is experiencing the Laver Cup from an entirely new standpoint and he can feel the energy from this other side.
He is glad that he has great things to say about this kind of energy from a different point.
Meanwhile, Federer has officially announced his intention to make more frequent appearances on the ATP Tour.
After relishing visits to Wimbledon and the Halle Open since his retirement, the 20-time Grand Slam champion has decided to take a more active role in the tennis circuit.
It has been a year since he bid farewell to his illustrious career at the 2022 Laver Cup, and he has now returned as a spectator, using the opportunity to reflect on his 12-month hiatus from the sport.
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