Roger Federer at Swiss Sport Awards: “Retirement is going better than I expected”

Switzerland celebrated Roger Federer on Sunday in Zurich. The man with 20 Grand Slam titles, who retired from the courts after his last appearance at the Laver Cup in September 2022, received a lifetime achievement award at the Swiss Sports Awards.

This is the first time in 15 years that this honorary award has been presented. Federer is the sixth person to receive it, after athlete Res Brugger (2001), cyclist Ferdi Kubler (2003), motorsport executive Peter Sauber (2005) and politician Adolf Ogi (2007).

And Federer spoke to a large audience about his post-retirement life, his many achievements and his last match at the Laver Cup as he picked up his trophy from minister of sport Viola Amherd.

‘Your support has always counted’ – Federer

“I’m happy to have made the transition after my retirement. It was something I was dreading. But it went better than I thought,” he explained.

“There’s more going on since I’m not playing tennis any more, and especially I don’t have any excuses to turn down an invitation anymore. I can no longer say that I have a match, a training session, an injury, a rehab to do. As a result, the demands are greater than when I was active.

“I have always been supported by my country, and that has really counted in my career . I’ve always been thrilled to get those seven Sportsman of the Year titles here. And to be celebrated again today fills me with joy.”

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