Federer: "I Hoped I Had Not Made a Mistake by Leaving School at 16 Years Old"

It has been over three years since Roger Federer retired from the courts. That knee injury (which he is feeling better about) was crucial in hanging up the racket for the Swiss maestro. In recent hours, the announcement about Roger's access to the Hall of Fame became official.

In a brutal exercise of reflection, Roger Federer speaks candidly about the toughest moments of his career, his rivalry with Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal, and also makes it clear that his goal is still to play exhibitions, something that could happen this coming year.

Roger Federer and his Hall of Fame induction

"It was probably easier than I thought. I never believed I would make it to the Tennis Hall of Fame or win Wimbledon, etc. I just hoped to enter the professional circuit. I hoped I hadn't made a mistake leaving school at 16, but everything was faster and easier than I imagined. Although, of course, I also had my difficulties and setbacks," Roger Federer confessed in an interview with Tages Anzeiger.

Would he do anything differently with what he knows now?

"No, absolutely nothing. I would like to relive it all, with its ups and downs. All those experiences have shaped me. I never tried to pretend to be someone else, except on the court, of course, where I put on a poker face to protect myself from the opponent. Otherwise, I have always tried to be authentic, both in victory and defeat. It has been a wonderful journey. Sometimes tough, often emotional. I experienced the full range of emotions."

Has Roger Federer ever felt pushed to the limit?

"The hardest thing for me was the transition from junior to professional tennis. At first, it was great. Suddenly I was in the locker room with Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Tim Henman, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Carlos Moyá, and others, and I thought, 'This is amazing!' But then it all became very serious. A guy wraps tape around his racket handle with a grim face, and you think, 'Wow, how intense!' Another walks past you without even looking, and you think, 'He wants to win at all costs!'"

"And yet: is it really that important? That stage was tough for me. When you travel a lot, lose often, and are as emotionally disturbed as I was, you think, 'I didn't read the fine print in the tennis contract.' Not everything is fun. That seriousness affected me. The years between 18 and 20 or 21 were difficult for me."

The role of his parents

"I learned a lot from my parents. They didn't interfere when it wasn't necessary. They would call me, my coach, to ask how things were going. And when everyone said everything was fine, they wouldn't meddle. I don't remember them ever visiting me in Ecublens. I recently asked them, 'Did you ever come to Ecublens?' They said two or three times. And that in two years. Unbelievable. Now I'm trying to create a conducive tennis environment for my son Leo. He's eleven years old."

Does he train his son?

"No. If they need me, I'm there. I love helping, also other kids, but someone else should take care of the coaching. I see myself more as a general manager with Leo. I didn't pressure him for a long time, but for about a year now, noticing that he wants to play more and more, I try to make that possible. At this age, he needs enough practice and matches.

I make sure Leo has good coaches and training partners. Organizing all that takes quite a bit of work. You can't just send him somewhere and see what happens. I think Leo is doing great. Now he also participates in a few tournaments. It's exciting for me to support him. I worry less about the results than about him having fun and progressing."

Roger Federer's life today

"After retiring, I did a lot of rehabilitation. It wasn't that I had been playing a lot of sports and suddenly stopped completely. I continued training but stopped playing tennis to protect my knee. I did pilates and tried golf. Surprisingly, I didn't feel any pain. So, I played more golf and tried to improve. What I'm learning now in golf can benefit me in the future. It's like riding a bike or swimming: you don't forget. But now I'm going to the gym more.

I feel better about my knee. I'm playing a lot more tennis now. Last summer, I played occasionally with Ivo Heuberger. As my kids play more often and better, I also play with them occasionally. My goal is still to be able to play some exhibitions. Maybe something will happen in 2026. I'm gradually preparing until the end of the year."

His rivalry with Djokovic and the Big 3

"Rivalries like that create a huge bond. Today, I see it very differently than before, with much more perspective. Novak still doesn't understand it. Rafa is gradually assimilating it. When you're still playing, you can't think about it the way I do now. The longer time goes by, the less you identify as an individual player and the more you see the bigger picture. The funny thing is that someone could have taken something completely to heart, and you don't even remember. I would love to sit down and chat about the old times."

Roger Federer's legacy

"Many have told me that I helped propel the sport into a new era, and that means a lot to me. I hope to have contributed to strengthening tennis globally, for more spectators to attend, for tournaments to grow, for players to earn more, and for tennis stars to be recognized beyond the sport.

When talking about the most famous female athletes in the world, tennis players are often mentioned, a great achievement for our sport, thanks also to pioneers like Billie Jean King. Of course, there are complex political issues in tennis, but overall, I hope to have contributed to the sport I love continuing to thrive."

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Federer: "Esperaba no haberme equivocado al dejar el colegio a los 16 años"