Roger Federer says retirement can make you feel 'like an alien' in tennis

Former tennis star Roger Federer, who retired at the Laver Cup two years ago, remains involved as an ambassador. He praised emerging talents Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz while expressing optimism for Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. Federer also advised Alexander Zverev to be more aggressive during critical moments ahead of the Australian Open.
Roger Federer says retirement can make you feel 'like an alien' in tennis
Roger Federer. (Pic Credit - X)
Former tennis star Roger Federer shared insights on how staying connected with the sport has helped him adjust to retirement.
Federer, who retired at the Laver Cup in London two years ago, continues to serve as an ambassador for the tournament and expressed his feelings before this week's event in Berlin.
"I'm happy I went back right away to some tournaments," AFP quoted the 43-year-old.
1x1 polls
"I feel I ripped the bandaid off quite quickly and when I walk around the tennis sites I still feel I belong there."
Federer highlighted the importance of remaining active in the tennis community. "I don't feel like an alien, which is a good thing because you can feel like that very quickly," he said.
Reflecting on the upcoming Australian Open, Federer praised new talents Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. He also commented on the prospects of his contemporaries, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
Federer noted Nadal's uncertain future due to limited play this year but expressed optimism about Djokovic. "I feel like he has chances moving forward," Federer remarked, mentioning Djokovic as a favourite for the Australian Open.
Nadal will miss the Laver Cup due to injury, but his fellow Spaniard Alcaraz will compete for
Team Europe.
Federer also commented on German player Alexander Zverev, offering advice for achieving success in Grand Slams.
"I see someone who's playing much too passively, much too defensively when it matters the most," he said, suggesting Zverev should take a more aggressive approach.
Team Europe had dominated the Laver Cup since its inception in 2017, but Team World has won the past two events.
author
About the Author
TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

End of Article
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA