Federer remains the consummate professional. He took two years to fully adjust to life off the court, following a farewell at Laver Cup alongside Nadal, and has no regrets.
“The way my end unfolded with injuries and playing less, I got a sense of how it’s going to be without any matches and practice sessions. I was really super ready for retirement, so when it happened it was a relief,” he said.
“I was just like I don’t have to play along with the media. Not tell lies but like, ‘How are you feeling? I feel great,’ and oh my God I feel terrible. My parents calling me and saying, ‘When are you going to announce it? Your Godfather is asking me how are you feeling, and I know how you’re feeling, but can I tell him, because it might leak.’ These things, you’re just happy when it’s all sorted out.
“I achieved way more than I ever thought I would. It’s been so much fun. It’s been a dream, truly. If I would have won half of what I’d done, I’d be equally proud sitting here.”
Federer still clearly keeps tabs on the game, however, recalling the Paris Olympics and last year’s French Open vividly.
When asked for tips on AO 2026, he did not offer names but did provide a glimpse into the mindset that no doubt made him an international sporting champion. Asked if Brazilian João Fonseca could become the third man in the men’s singles hierarchy, joining Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, Federer was quick to counter.
“You don’t want to be third guy, you want to be the guy,” he said. “That’s hopefully what he’s thinking.
“Like in our time when people said, ‘I’m going to try win the Australian Open’ but, you know, there’s all the other legends in the room, sometimes I felt the media didn’t allow them to speak up,” Federer continued.
“I feel like anybody in the draw should come here and say, ‘I want to win the Australian Open.’ It should be totally allowed.
“There’s favourites, obviously, but once the draw is out every player shifts their view to that one player and nothing else. You enter the zone, okay, the next three, four days, however long you have before, that first round starts mattering clearly. Momentum shifts towards the first round, and then it’s point for point mentality.
“That’s what it is.”
