Roger Federer not tempted by tennis comeback after retirement - 'The mind doesn’t even go there'
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Published 13/10/2023 at 20:30 GMT
Roger Federer has explained that he is still adjusting to life without professional tennis after he retired in 2022. The Swiss former world No. 1 is regarded by many as the best to have ever played the sport, but at 42, he said that he has no inclination to return to the circuit with his knee problems preventing him from even considering a comeback to tennis.
'I have to watch what I eat' - Federer on life after tennis
Roger Federer says he has no plans to return to competitive tennis after his retirement.
The Swiss legend was one of the finest to have ever played the game and many put him top of the pile in the history of tennis, despite the best efforts of Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, the other two parts of the modern era’s 'Big Three'.
After a string of problems with his knee, Federer decided to retire in 2022 in an emotional farewell, and he has made various appearances courtside since then.
Federer was asked about life after retirement and how he has found it, and he told ATP Media: “I didn’t have any plans per se as I was always trying to come back and then all of a sudden I realised that was it.
"And then I was just 'okay, it is over, what now?' I think now I feel I am more in control of my schedule as before I was just… the afterburn of having just retired, so it has been good, honestly.
“I have to be careful I don’t do too many things, but at the same time I'm really happy to be busy, I like being with other people, love being with my family, I love to travel. But I guess sometimes you just have to make sure to find the right balance and I feel like I have that, so it's great.”
Many sportsmen struggle with the shift to retirement from playing, but Federer remains keen to stay active, and also hopes to be fit enough to return for exhibition events.
He explained: "I am trying to go to the gym four times a week and I can’t believe I am actually doing that. I rent the space at home and put the machines in and I got it the week after the Laver Cup in London, so it was like, after my career I finally had a gym.
“A little bit weird once I had retired, so now I have to use it, so I do that well, and I don’t play so much tennis anymore so I have to be a little bit more careful with what I eat and stuff.
“I would still like to play some exhibitions down the road so I want to stay in shape and try to look good a little bit."
However, he made it clear he would not be looking to get back on court competitively, explaining that his knee problem prevents him from even contemplating such a thing.
"When you know the knee doesn’t allow you to play at this level, the mind doesn’t even go there that I could be on court right now,” he added.
"So you just enjoy tennis for what it is, and I follow results almost daily, I like to see what is going on out there.
"It's not even a thought. I had a great time but I dive back in, I have come here to Shanghai and I feel really happy. I go with the flow and I like that no day is ever the same so it is great."
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