Roger Federer: “A nice surprise to be supported for my personality more than for my play and results”

In an interview published on the ATP YouTube channel, Roger Federer returned to the announcement of his retirement and the beautiful messages he received

Antoine Couvercelle/Panoramic

Simon Cambers

October 8, 2022

On September 23, Roger Federer played the last professional match of his career, in doubles alongside Rafael Nadal at the Laver Cup in London. The Swiss player bid farewell to the world of tennis with a loss to the pair Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock. But the result was not important; the 41-year-old received numerous tributes and was accompanied by all his rivals, “a perfect end”, according to the man himself.

With 20 Grand Slam titles, 103 ATP Tour trophies, a Davis Cup and an Olympic gold medal in doubles, Roger Federer has made tennis history in his 24 years on the circuit. His style of play has also revolutionised tennis, with an impressively easy forehand and one of the best one-handed backhands on the circuit. But that’s not what fans remembered when they paid tribute to the Swiss.

“To be quite honest, I was overwhelmed by all the nice things that have been written about me, many of them about my personality and my person,” Federer said, in an interview on the ATP#s YouTube Channel.

“Almost less about me as a tennis player, my forehand or any other aspect of the game. It’s been a wonderful surprise for me to find out that a lot of people have supported me because of my character. It was a bit of an unexpected turn of events. I thought they were going to talk about my achievements, my accomplishments, what I meant to the game, and that was it. But it was much more than that. It totally exceeded my expectations.”

Federer thanks his fans

Thanks to his personality and character, Roger Federer has won the fans’ favourite player award every year since 2003! The man with 20 Grand Slam titles has undoubtedly been the most popular player of the last 25 years, filling stadiums and lifting crowds. In his interview, the emotional Swiss also thanked his fans.

“This is the right time to thank all the people who have always supported me. If I have always had these emotions on the court, it is largely thanks to my fans, they know it and I know it. I’m going to miss it a lot, travelling and seeing all these people waiting to see me play.”

“It’s also to thank them that I made it clear in my letter that I published to announce my retirement that I will not be leaving the tennis world and that people will still have the chance to see me. They won’t be the same moments because I won’t be playing but they will still be beautiful.”