Making his first public appearance since retiring from tennis at Laver Cup, Roger Federer says he’s found it “lighter” now he no longer has the demands of the pro tour, with no current plans to start coaching.
“As a tennis player you’re always thinking about your next practice, your next match,” he told press in Tokyo, where he was on court for a tennis session for clothing sponsor UNIQLO. “It never lets you go.
“Your next travel, your next packing.”
Though saying it didn’t bother him while he was on tour, it’s easier not having to fill whereabouts forms for anti-doping or schedule practices.
“Once that all drops away you actually feel lighter, relieved,” said Federer, who decided to retire a few months ago following a slow recovery from his third right knee surgery in 2021.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion calls himself as “the product” of the tennis federation in Switzerland, having trained with them since a young age, and is not going to start an academy.
“I will always have that with me, which is why it’s hard to create my own academy, because I feel like that would potentially go against the federation,” he said.
“I think with the Next Gen development program here at UNIQLO, I will be doing more mentorship and inspirational ”kid’s day” clinics for the moment.”
As for coaching on tour, he isn’t interested right now but says, ”Never say never.”
“Stefan Edberg said the same, he will never coach, until he got the phone call from me and I invited him for practice,” said Federer. “At the moment, with my four children going to school and everything going on, I don’t see myself coaching at the moment.”
But he has previously said he could consider some commentary, and wants to stay involved in the game. That could also include providing guidance for a top junior from his country. ”I’m happy to do that,” he said.
Federer also plans to keep playing exhibitions.
