"Why is Roger crying all the time?" - Roger Federer hints at emotional moments captured in his upcoming documentary Federer: Twelve Final Days
Tennis legend Roger Federer recently opened up on how his upcoming documentary 'Federer: Twelve Final Days' is going to treat the audience. The documentary is set to release on June 20 on Amazon Prime and will chronicle the final twelve days of his tennis career.
This Asif Kapadia directorial concludes with the Swiss' goodbye at the 2022 Laver Cup. All in all, the film will project the emotional vulnerability during his last twelve days as a professional tennis player.
Roger Federer played his final professional match on September 23, 2022, at the Laver Cup in London. Teaming up with his longtime rival and friend Rafael Nadal in doubles, they faced the American duo of Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe. Despite a spirited performance, Federer and Nadal lost 4-6, 7-6 (2), 11-9.
The match was emotionally charged, with the Swiss receiving a standing ovation from the crowd at the O2 Arena. Moreover, his last day on the court was also remembered for the emotional moment when he cried with Rafael Nadal.
Ahead of the release, 'Rog' hinted at the emotional moments the viewers may witness while watching the film. According to him, the film is intended to be inspiring but will also stir up strong emotions from the audience.
"It's supposed to be a feel-good film, but also [it's about] the suffering and the vulnerability that goes into the retirement... as well as the happiness and the gratitude you have. So I think there's so much to it, " he told Olympic.com.
The 42-year-old acknowledged that while some parts of the documentary will deeply resonate with people, others might not fully understand his emotional struggle, wondering why he is so affected by the retirement process.
"Some parts will resonate probably with a lot of people. Some other parts... probably not, [like], 'Why is Roger crying all the time? Why's he struggling through this process he's just a tennis player?' I get it," he added.
Roger Federer reveals the significance of the sport in his life
Roger Federer's retirement after a massive farewell was an emotional time for both the fans and the player himself. Moreover, the abrupt end of this journey with his retirement left a profound void.
"I played tennis since I was three years old, tournaments since I'm eight," he said in an interview with Olympic.com. "It's been my life. Every time I went on a practice court, basically, I wanted to become the best player or improve... And then all of a sudden, it's all gone."
During the 2021 Wimbledon Championships, the 20-time Grand Slam winner sustained a knee injury that significantly impacted his performance. This injury forced him to undergo a third surgery on his right knee, subsequently sidelining him for the remainder of the season. The Swiss then announced retirement in 2022 but played a farewell match at the Laver Cup.
Federer’s career achievements remain illustrious, including 20 Grand Slam titles, 103 ATP singles titles, and 310 weeks as the World No. 1.