Roger Federer cherished to win, after all, and on the peak of his profession nearly at all times did.
All these victories and trophies he piled up alone would have made Federer remembered ceaselessly in tennis, however they have been solely a part of the rationale he loved enjoying. He preferred travelling to tournaments, assembly individuals and making new mates, whether or not they have been on the opposite aspect of the web or sitting within the stands.
Solely after he completed competing did Federer notice how a lot that impacted his legacy within the sport.
“I believe whenever you retire, I believe I stated it earlier than, that there was a whole lot of speak additionally about perhaps my persona and what I delivered to the sport general once I wasn’t on court docket, which I used to be a little bit shocked,” Federer stated. “I believed it was about, within the second, forehands and backhands and saving break factors and victories and all that stuff.
“However really it turns into a little bit bit, not irrelevant finally, nevertheless it’s about what you have been remembered for, how did you behave within the locker rooms or within the corridors or perhaps with the media, or with the match administrators, the ball youngsters.” Federer can have an opportunity to replicate again on all of it on Saturday (August 28, 2026) when he’s enshrined within the Worldwide Tennis Corridor of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island.
The 45-year-old from Switzerland, who might be honored together with broadcaster and former participant Mary Carillo, stated it will be his first journey to Newport. That appeared stunning, given what number of locations he is gone for his tennis.
Certain, there was common stops reminiscent of New York and London and Paris for Grand Slam tournaments, however there have been additionally cities like Cape City, South Africa, for an exhibition match towards Rafael Nadal that drew almost 52,000 followers; or Mexico Metropolis, for one towards Alexander Zverev that drew greater than 42,000.
These have been close to the tip of his profession, when Federer was pressured to restrict his schedule for well being causes. He hated having to take action, as a result of he preferred going too many locations, even ones that did not host the most important occasions.
“For me, if I look again, that is sort of what I am very joyful about, that I went by 25 years on tour, and truly felt like I made a whole lot of mates and lots of people miss me,” Federer stated.
“Identical with followers. They arrive as much as me and say, What a disgrace you are not enjoying anymore.’ “Then I get a flashback saying it was a tremendous time, and I say it each time. I cherished it, and it is a disgrace I can not be on the tour anymore. However it was an ideal, nice time and I miss it dearly.”
The followers clearly miss Federer. When he returned to the U.S. Open this week for an exhibition, his first time enjoying in Flushing Meadows since 2019, the traces of followers ready to get into Arthur Ashe Stadium resembled an evening within the second week of the match, not properly earlier than it even started.
Federer received 5 straight U.S. Open titles from 2004-08, throughout a stretch when he compiled a 247-15 file from 2004-06 and reached a file 10 consecutive Grand Slam finals from 2005-07, successful eight. He went on to win 1,251 matches and 103 tournaments, together with 20 Grand Slams.
“He is the most effective I’ve ever performed towards,” Andre Agassi, Federer’s opponent within the 2005 last, stated in a video the U.S. Open confirmed earlier than Federer took the court docket on Tuesday (August 25, 2026).
The way in which he received, with way more aptitude than some stuffy champions of the previous however with out the mood tantrums of others, earned him accolades that his abilities alone could not. He received the ATP Tour’s sportsmanship award yearly from 2004-09, and once more from 2011-17, and the fan favourite award yearly from 2003-21. These got here whereas incomes prize cash of almost $130.6 million.
Federer hits generally along with his kids — he and spouse Mirka are dad and mom of two units of twins — and tries to attend a couple of occasions a 12 months to maintain him related to the game.
“I am in a really comfy place at present, however I am nonetheless joyful to be on the market and being within the tennis world every now and then, as a result of it’s the glue to every part that surrounds me nonetheless at present,” Federer stated.
“I had the most effective time, had a whole lot of mates on tour, from gamers to individuals who have been organisers, et cetera. So I hope that a whole lot of the gamers who retire additionally really feel the identical method in regards to the sport, as a result of I care dearly.”
Revealed – August 29, 2026 05:44 am IST
