Roger Federer has admitted he misses tennis but said he made the right decision a year after quitting the sport with a lingering knee injury.
The Swiss with 20 Grand Slam singles titles over the course of an iconic career of nearly two decades, spoke to fans in a Q&A after Friday’s Day 1 play at the Laver Cup in Vancouver.
“In a way, I miss everything about the game, the exciting moments spent on court, the break points saved, winning match points, holding up trophies, walking past fans, taking selfies,” he said.
But the 42-year-old added that he is filling time with “a lot of fun things to be done” without the discipline of competitive tennis dictating his lifestyle.
In addition to appearances as a VIP guest at Halle and Wimbledon this season, Federer has also attending an Elton John concert, appeared on stage with Coldplay in Zurich, travelled to Africa for his charitable foundation and attended NewYork fashion week.
“It’s been beautiful to be home more … spending time with friends and family has been incredible,” Federer said.
“(There is not) the weight of another match, of another practice where the body is maybe not right.”
“I do miss a lot of the places that I used to travel to regularly. Can’t have it all, I’ve had it for 25 years and it was incredible, and I would do it all over again.”
He said that his future life would undoubtedly include appearances at tennis events.
“I’ve made myself a promise that I will be no stranger to the tour, I will try to come back from time to time, not all the time, but from time to time.”
