"I’m more scared than I was... I don’t want to have to retire because of an injury" - When Roger Federer ominously foreshadowed his own retirement
Roger Federer bid adieu to the tennis world in 2022, nearly one year after playing the final professional match of his career. After losing in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in 2021, Federer remained on the sidelines with a knee injury and even underwent surgery in the hopes of making a comeback.
However, as the rehab never went as planned, the Swiss finally bid farewell to the game at the Laver Cup the following year, playing only a doubles match alongside Rafael Nadal to mark his final appearance at a tournament.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion's decision came eight years after he had ominously foreshadowed a similar scenario. Speaking in a promotional interview during a campaign for Moet & Chandon in 2014, Federer touched on his health and the idea of what he expected of his future.
Then, suffering from a back injury, the former World No. 1 conceded that he was very worried about his health the older he got and wished that he did not have to retire just because of an injury. Unfortunately, that was exactly how it ended for the 20-time Grand Slam champ.
“As a professional athlete you always have something going on. I have it more under control today than when I was younger. I’m more scared than I was, so I take better care of myself. I know my body much better – I don’t want to have to retire because of an injury," Federer said.
During the interview, Federer also spoke about the importance of fashion in the tennis world, revealing that he liked wearing clothes that felt classic in his mind, even at times entrusting the help of fashion industry stalwart Anna Wintour.
“It needs to stay classic. My look is about focusing on the details and keeping it crisp. The important thing is that I feel like I’m wearing the clothes and the clothes aren’t wearing me.”
He added:
“If I really like something but I’m worried it’s pushing it a bit too much, I ask Anna Wintour. I know she will give me a straight answer. Absolutely yes or absolutely no. She’s very sweet and a good friend of ours. It’s nice to have someone like that in our lives to bounce ideas off of. Not just in fashion but in life."
"I'm really relieved" - Roger Federer on his retirement
Speaking to GQ a few months after his retirement, Roger Federer opened up about his retirement, surprisingly noting that he felt relieved to finally hang up his racket. The Swiss felt that it took a weight off his shoulders to make the choice after struggling for a long time with the knee injury.
"I’m really relieved, if that makes any sense. I mean, the last few years have been tough with my knee. You could feel the end coming closer. So when it’s all said and done and you’re over the line and you’re retired officially, you take a deep breath and you’re like, 'Wow, okay, that was good," Federer said.
Since retirement, Federer has remained in the public limelight and was recently seen at the Shanghai Masters, catching the action between Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner in the final.