Former World No. 2 Alex Corretja has added to growing speculation that Roger Federer is set to return to the tennis world with a role in broadcasting, with rumours circulating that Wimbledon with the BBC could be his next career debut.
Several outlets in the UK have reported that the 20-time Grand Slam champion is currently in negotiations with the national broadcaster, who have a long-standing contractual relationship with Wimbledon.
Following his seismic retirement last September, the Swiss maestro is looking for the next chapter in his already glittering career. Speaking to the Swiss newspaper Tages Anzeiger recently, Federer said, "I never thought I would say this but six months ago I suddenly thought (about) commentating on tennis someday. Who knows? Although I always said I would never do that".
Corretja has recently shared his thoughts on the matter, saying he believes Federer may be too unique an employee to limit solely to commentating.
"I’m not so sure if he’s going to be calling matches or not, I’m not so sure if he’s going to be sitting in the booth, maybe he might do it from time to time," he said.
"But I see him running a show, being the main one there and saying ‘Okay, I’m the man here’, guiding the whole thing. Maybe doing interviews or a programme, doing something special.
"But it has to be something special and knowing Roger, for sure it’s going to be something special. He’s not going to be calling matches for eight hours a day, I don’t think that makes sense. You need to value Federer as what he is and he has to be something very unique because he is very unique".
This year's BBC Wimbledon coverage will already have a different look, as it will be the first editions of the Championships since 1999 that won't have broadcasting stalwart Sue Barker at the helm.
The BBC will likely want to make the first post-Sue year a marker for the future, and with Roger Federer potentially on board, it seems as though they are well on course to do just that.
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