Roger Federer returned to the courts this Friday playing an exhibition doubles match in Shanghai.
Before playing, the Swiss reflected in statements to the 1,000 Masters about Rafa Nadal’s retirement and the “changing of the guard” that is taking place in the world of tennis.
The one who for many is the best tennis player in history believes that the legends of his team, little by little, are beginning to take a step aside.
“You can feel the changing of the guard. Serena Williams and Andy Murray retiring, Rafa getting closer. Novak obviously having a difficult year overall, but then winning the Olympics and claiming what he always wanted to do, that hard-to-win Olympic gold. achieve. That was incredible for him,” he started.
Without Nadal or him and with Novak Djokovic’s farewell getting closer, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz enter the scene.
“So, yeah, you feel like everything is changing and Sinner and Alcaraz each winning two Slams, that shows you that the wave is really coming now,” he explains.
“The changes are happening and they are consistent, they are fantastic to see,” Federer added.
In fact, the former number 1 is a declared fan of the Murcian: “Seeing Alcaraz live at the Laver Cup in Berlin was impressive. He is a wonderful player and I think many people are going to have a lot of fun watching him in the future as well.”
