"Not something for me, squeeze that lemon out and I'll know I'm done" - When Roger Federer ruled out any possibility of a comeback from retirement
A comeback from retirement has never been on the cards for Roger Federer. The Swiss legend had declared a few months ago that he was not a fan of 'un-retiring' and that for him, retirement meant an undoubted end to his tennis career.
Federer played his final career tournament in September last year at the Laver Cup, just two weeks after announcing his retirement. The Swiss was unable to find a long-term solution to his knee injury, thus preventing him from being able to continue to compete at the highest level.
Federer's Laver Cup farewell will likely be remembered as one of the most emotional moments in tennis history, as he was joined by Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and a host of tearful fans.
A few months before his retirement, Federer was still very hopeful of making a comeback to the tour, having had a third knee surgery. During his absence from the tour, he worked on an art project, one of his other big passions apart from tennis.
Speaking in an interview at the time, the 20-time Grand Slam champion expressed a strong desire to make a comeback from injury, explaining how different it was to come back from retirement.
When it came to recalling one's retirement, the Swiss superstar declared that he was not a big fan of 'squeezing the lemon out until its last drop.'
"I'm not a big comeback fan," Federer said, as per CNBC. "I'll never retire and come back. It's not something for me, squeeze that lemon out and when the last drop is out, I'll know I'm done," he explained.
Unfortunately for his fans, Federer could not make a full comeback after having last played at the 2021 Wimbledon Championships. But the eight-time Wimbledon champion suggested that even an attempt to make a comeback after undergoing three surgeries would have seemed too far-fetched for him at one stage.
"Honestly, this knee situation has been complex, been difficult," the former Swiss player stated. "If you would have told me three or four years ago, that 2021-22 you'll have three knee surgeries and still coming back, I'd have been like, 'Are you crazy?'"
Roger Federer was a mystery figure in a unique art installation in Venice
During his absence from the tour, Roger Federer collaborated with renowned Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone for a unique piece of artwork. Rondinone's installation titled "Human Clouds," part of his exhibit "Burn Shine Fly" at the 2022 Venice Biennale, showcased Federer as one of the human figures featured in the project.
The Swiss tennis legend was painted on with silicon rubber and he patiently cooperated throughout the process while a negative mold was being created of himself. Federer was even suspended mid-air and strapped to a harness while stripped down to his underwear.
Tennis great @rogerfederer "Portrait of a Champion" Documentary, where he strips down to his boxers for the unique “flying” sculpture as part of Ugo Rondinone's “burn shine fly” art installation at the 2022 Venice Biennale. He is camouflaged as a cloud. Interesting. https://t.co/7T5dnDEPWs
Post retirement, the 41-year-old is now making big strides in the fashion world. He captured great attention at the recent Paris Fashion Week, and is also set to be one of the co-chairs at the 2023 Met Gala in May.