Why Roger Federer Is Feeling 'Really Relieved' in Retirement From Tennis
Once the top-ranked tennis player in the world, life has been different for former tennis pro Roger Federer since he made the decision to step back and retire in September 2022, following a knee injury that required multiple surgeries. But even after spending most of his life playing the sport, having won the U14 Swiss national junior championship at age 13, the Switzerland native has no regrets.
In fact, in a new GQ profile, Federer confessed that he was actually "relieved" to leave tennis behind.
"I’m really relieved, if that makes any sense," the 42-year-old said when asked how his retirement was going. "I mean, the last few years have been tough with my knee. You could feel the end coming closer. So when it’s all said and done and you’re over the line and you’re retired officially, you take a deep breath and you’re like, 'Wow, okay, that was good.'"
Later in the conversation, Federer admitted that he doesn't even miss tennis.
"I get that question a lot, and I don’t miss it. I really don’t. I feel really at peace," he explained. "I think it’s also because I know that my knee and my body and my mind don’t allow me to be out there. Do I feel like, Oh, I could hit that shot? Yeah, okay: Maybe I could right now. But I feel like I squeezed the lemon out. I tried everything I had. And I’m so at peace."
Though, Federer said that he still loves to play tennis with his four children, and recently even booked a court with his wife for the first time in his life. "We asked, 'Is a court available on Tuesday from three to four maybe?' Because I think it’d be maybe fun to go play," he recalled.
"This was like a month ago, or two months ago, and we went to play next to my kids, who were having a lesson, and it was just so much fun," he continued. "I love playing tennis and I always thought, 'How is that moment going to be when I retire and I go back on a tennis court and actually don’t have to improve? Who cares if I miss a forehand? Who cares if it’s getting better or not?'"
When not playing tennis recreationally with his wife and children, Federer has made the transition to design in his retirement. Just recently, he launched a performance collection of sunglasses with the luxury eyewear brand Oliver Peoples, which he wore on the red carpet of the Academy Awards last weekend.
"Sunglasses are something I’ve enjoyed as my sport has required me to chase the sun 80 percent of my life," Federer said in a statement for the launch of the collection on Wednesday. "One of the main goals of our collection was to create sunglasses that could be utilized in every aspect of one’s routine—off or on the court."