Roger Federer, acclaimed by the public at the Laver Cup, a competition which he initiated and which is currently taking place in Vancouver (Canada), declared on Friday that he did not wish to become “an unknown” in tennis.
“I made a promise to myself not to be a stranger on the circuit,” Federer said during a question-and-answer session organized on court in the evening.
The 42-year-old, winner of 20 Grand Slam titles and retired from sports for a year, did not specify what form his involvement could take, although he said he could be captain of the European Laver Cup team, currently under the leadership of Swedish giant Bjorn Borg.
Federer also explained that he missed the excitement of the game: the break points, the match points, the trophies and the crowds of supporters.
“I still experience those moments from time to time,” he said, recalling his appearances in the royal stand at Wimbledon this year – the scene of some of his greatest triumphs – and at the Halle grass court tournament, in Germany.
The Basel native also said he had had a “big year” since he and long-time rival Rafael Nadal were beaten in doubles in his farewell match in London, where again on the occasion of the Laver Cup.
“I found these goodbyes magnificent, perfect, moving. I have dreaded this moment for years […]. I feared that my ending would not be pleasant, but the opposite happened,” he explained.
Federer finally explained that he and his wife Mirka had a lot to do with their four children and that he was working on projects for his charitable foundation.
“It’s also very nice to be at home more often,” he admitted.