Roger Federer and the decision to retire: 'Scan didn't look good'
Roger Federer explained the reasons for his resignation at the Laver Cup 2022 in London - and how difficult the decision was for him.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Sep 20, 2022, 09:24 pm
At Wimbledon, hopes were still high. As part of the 100-year celebration of the existence of the Center Court, Roger Federer entered it to gigantic applause - and declared that he hoped to be able to open here again in 2023.
As we have known since last week, nothing will come of this: Federer is returning from active tennis with the upcoming Laver Cup.
According to Federer, the decision to do so was made very quickly after the Wimbledon performance. "At this stage I received a scan that was not good," he explained in London. "That's when I said to myself: It can't be that I'm chasing something when I know it's practically impossible. I didn't feel like it." He knew that he had been “walking on thin ice for a long time, so the decision was made quickly”.
Federer: Announcement of resignation "pushed in front of me"
Federer also explained to a group of Swiss journalists that he "simply hadn't made enough progress"; he noticed "that my knee is not getting any better, that I had reached the maximum."
He put off the announcement. "Writing the letter was very difficult for me and took a lot of energy," he said. But now he feels better. "It wasn't easy to keep the decision to myself, not to tell too many people. That puts a lot of pressure on."
Of course there was sadness after the decision, and since you were still on vacation, you suppressed everything and avoided the subject. "I had to let it all sink in first. I was incredibly tired and exhausted, I gave so much for the comeback, for this rehabilitation, the training." This phase was also difficult for his family, as was the constant answering of questions about how he was doing.
Federer at the Laver Cup: only a double
Looking back at his last match in Wimbledon (quarter-finals against Hubert Hurkacz), and especially the last sentence there (a 0:6): bitter, "one of the worst hours of my career. When I had to realize that nothing was left it's over and done, that nothing is coming." He knew it couldn't go on like this. "And then nobody asked me about my knee. And I ask myself: Am I such a good actor that nobody notices?" Federer laughed. "Last year was extremely difficult for me. I was so far from 100 percent. It's unbelievable that I reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon under these circumstances."
Deciding on a farewell letter? Federer wanted his fans to hear the news from himself. A video seemed too risky for him. "Then I wanted to write a letter. Then it got longer and longer. And I asked myself whether people could read my handwriting." So the text - also in spoken version.
Federer at the Laver Cup: "A level that is acceptable"
Federer also made it clear that he will only play doubles in London. "It was clear to me for a long time that I wouldn't be able to play individually, and that I couldn't play in Basel either."
His appearance: probably on Friday. "I try everything to be able to play at a level that I think is acceptable."
Will that happen and who will become Federer's partner? Still open.