Federer on the GOAT debate: “What Novak has done is gigantic and might be sufficient. But as long as Rafa is still playing you can’t answer that definitively yet”

The Swiss said he is not missing tennis but still checks results three or four times per day

Imago / Panoramic

June 21, 2023

Roger Federer was given a standing ovation in Halle on Wednesday, the first time he has returned to a Tour event to say hello since he retired from tennis last September.

The Swiss, who won the title in Halle 10 times, was introduced on court to the music of Tina Turner’s Simply the Best, taking the applause of the packed crowd before going on to answer a series of questions; from his fitness, what he’s been up to since retirement and how much he misses tennis.

His name is Roger Federer! 🗣

The Swiss maestro is back on grass at Halle 🌱

📹 @TennisTV | @rogerfederer pic.twitter.com/YaD42hIM3g

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 21, 2023

Federer, who said his knee is not yet good enough to play exhibition matches, said he loved being able to ski with his children and said he’s not yet ready to step behind the microphone to do any commentating – and may never do any.

The Swiss also said he checks the results from the Tour three or four times per day but perhaps his most interesting comments came when he was asked if Novak Djokovic’s win at Roland-Garros, which gave him a men’s record 23rd Grand Slam title, made him the greatest of all time.

Noted by Simon Graf, the co-author of The Roger Federer Effect (the other co-author is Simon Cambers, of Tennis Majors), Federer said the GOAT debate was still up for debate, even if he did not mention his own name.

Interesting quotes by @rogerfederer from Halle (a thread). About his family time: «I spend time with the family differently. I’m more relaxed because I know I have more days or more hours available. But I was always with the family, even if it was a huge logistical task.» (1/10)

— Simon Graf (@SimonGraf1) June 21, 2023

“What is better?,” Federer said. “Winning Wimbledon at 17 like (Boris) Becker or Paris at 36 like Novak? I don’t know. What he has achieved is absolutely gigantic. It could be sufficient. But I think as long as Rafa is still playing, too, you can’t answer that definitively yet.”

When he retired at the Laver Cup in September, Federer said he would like to play some exhibitions in the future. But it seems his knee, which was the reason for his retirement in the first place, is not yet in the kind of shape for him to be able to do himself justice.

“If the body was in top shape, I would probably play a few exhibitions,” he said. “I still go to the gym four or five times a week and try to get my body back into shape with my knee. That’s why I don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything.”