Nearly two years after his retirement, Roger Federer stated that he does not miss being a tennis player.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion was the leading ambassador for tennis for many years. Going from that to being retired is a major adjustment that would take some getting used to for any person.
It seems unlikely that Federer's style on-court and his outstanding humility and example for others off-court will be replicated. This is partly why players like Nick Kyrgios do not want to be like Federer.
A racket from Federer's 2006 season being set to be sold for a record amount shows just how attached his fans remain to him. The Swiss legend won three Grand Slams in 2006, in what was one of the greatest seasons of all time.
However, despite how much the sport misses the 42-year-old, Federer has outlined why he does not miss playing in a professional capacity in a recent interview with GQ.
"I don’t miss it. I really don’t. I feel really at peace. 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."
Although Federer is adamant that he does not miss being a professional, he clarified that he still enjoys playing tennis for fun, particularly with his kids.
" I love to go to play tennis when I play with my children. I just booked a court with my wife for the first time in my 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.”
Federer finished his point by illustrating how playing tennis now is actually quite liberating since he does not have to worry about constantly looking to improve his game.
"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?