Federer Misses His Former Rivals

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 9th November 2012

Federer Misses His Former Rivals

epa03463496 Switzerland's Roger Federer returns the ball during their group B singles match against Spain's David Ferrer in the round robin stage on the fourth day of the ATP World Tour tennis finals in London, Britain, 08 November 2012. EPA/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA |

As he motors through to another semi-final at the World Tour Finals with ease, Roger Federer is sparing a thought for the retired rivals of his tennis generation who are no longer in the mix. In the last month, over-30 players including Juan Carlos Ferrero, Andy Roddick and Ivan Ljubicic have all packed in their careers after varying levels of success.

But Federer, still flawless at age 31, continues on his steady path of major title and record book success as he has done for much of the past decade.

“The first feeling I get is I’m a bit sad because I love watching them play still today,” said the all-time leader on 17 Grand Slam titles as he continued the chase for a seventh trophy at the year-end extravaganza.

“They could easily still play the tour today, they only just retired. If they retire in the top 30, top 50, whatever they were ranked, they could be the top 50 for the next five years. That’s just not what they want to be doing any longer. They decide to hang up the racquets, I respect that in a big way.”

Federer is following his own path as he and wife Mirka bring up a set of twin girls. It’s tennis and family life in a convivial mix for the Swiss. But it cannot be the same for every competitor as each makes his own career choices.

“I always wish them all the best because there is a life after tennis, there must be,” said Federer. “Those are smart guys, great champions. I think it’s going to be interesting to see what they’re going to follow now.

“I do feel sad not seeing them so often anymore on tour because I like those two guys, or other guys that came from my generation as well, who have marked the sport, motivated me, admired me, crushed some dreams of mine.

“I always felt sad when I have to do the video message for Andy or Gonzalez or Ljubicic or Ferrero. It’s not really what I want to do, but I’m happy because I know it might mean a lot to them. Yeah, sort of the time has come.

It’s an interesting time of life, I guess, because you’ve done it not only on the tour, but it goes way back when you were a little kid. It’s emotional. It’s supposed to be.”