What would it take for Roger Federer to return like Serena Williams? His answer is brutal | International Sports News
Roger Federer is in New York this week, but not to compete. The 45-year-old Swiss legend is headlining “Roger Federer: An Icon Returns to New York,” an exhibition during US Open Fan Week at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday, August 25. With Serena Williams making an actual competitive return at this year’s tournament, the obvious question found its way to Federer at a pre-event press conference: could he do the same? His answer was emphatic, and it left zero room for interpretation.
Does Roger Federer have any plans to make an official tennis comeback?
None. Not even close. When asked whether he could envision making an official return similar to what Serena Williams has done this year, Federer did not hesitate.“No, no, no, no, no, not at all. Thanks for asking. I wasn’t sure if the question was going to get asked, but I’m happy you did so I can clarify in case anybody thought so. No, no, no, not at all. And I think you anyway have to enter the doping pool; like, God, there are way too many obstacles,” he said.He then went further, essentially closing the door on any lingering fantasy. “And I’m too busy. I’m barely finding time to play any exhos. So imagine a Tour and the body is done. But I’m very happy how I’m feeling. So, all good and just a fan now. Just enjoying watching.”Both Federer and Serena Williams retired in September 2022. Serena chose the US Open as her farewell. Federer played his final match alongside Rafael Nadal at the Laver Cup. Their paths since retirement, though, have been very different. Williams returned to competitive play in June, competed in doubles on grass, and accepted a singles wildcard at Wimbledon, where she lost in three sets before withdrawing with an injury. She and Venus eventually reunited at the Cincinnati Open last week, falling in their opening match.Federer is not interested in any of that. His last official singles match was actually at the 2021 Wimbledon Championships, a quarterfinal loss to Hubert Hurkacz, more than a year before his formal farewell. And he says he has not missed the grind one bit.
What has Roger Federer been doing since retiring from professional tennis?
More tennis, just on his own terms. He has been training in the gym, hitting with his wife, spending time with his kids, and occasionally sharing a court with current players. On Monday, he trained with Lorenzo Musetti ahead of the exhibition.“I’ve been in the gym a lot. I love working out with my wife and with my friends whenever we hang out. So I’ve been doing a lot of that. It’s not like playing tennis, and when you haven’t played, you get an unbelievable amount of muscle pain. So, I feel my body’s ready for tomorrow, but again, we’re not playing best of five,” Federer said.“Very quickly when you’re retired, you go through days and weeks and months all of a sudden where you’re hitting very little. So, you have to make it a priority. And my kids are getting older, so I get a chance to play more with them. And depending on where we are.”The exhibition itself is a proper nostalgia event. Federer will play a one-set shootout against Andy Roddick, then team up with John McEnroe for a doubles match against Roddick and Andre Agassi. It will also be his first time back at Flushing Meadows since his 2019 US Open appearance, a tournament he won five consecutive times between 2004 and 2008, still the last man to defend the title there.Four days after the exhibition, Federer will be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, on August 29.
