Ahead of the Laver Cup this weekend in Berlin, former world number one Roger Federer explained on Wednesday that staying involved in tennis since his retirement helps him not feel “like an alien”.
Federer, who helped create this exhibition tennis tournament, played the last match of his career there: in doubles, alongside his great rival and friend Rafael Nadal, two years ago in London.
He has since become the ambassador of this competition, the next edition of which is scheduled from Friday to Sunday in the German capital.
“I’m glad I got back right away [après la retraite] “in some tournaments,” the player with 20 Grand Slam titles explained to journalists.
“I feel like I’ve ripped the bandage off pretty quickly and when I walk around the tennis courts I still feel like I belong there. I don’t feel like an alien, which is a good thing because that can happen quickly,” continued the 43-year-old Swiss.
“I’m happy to still be able to feel comfortable in an environment like this,” added Federer, who remains a privileged observer of the world circuit, and in particular of the new generation embodied by Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
Rafael Nadal, sidelined by injuries, will not take part in the Laver Cup this year, but his young compatriot Alcaraz, winner of Wimbledon this summer, will be a pillar of the European team, with the local Alexander Zverev, “so close” to winning his first Grand Slam according to Federer, who nevertheless regrets that the German is not more offensive in crucial moments.
“I see someone who plays way too defensively when it matters most. He has to remember that he can’t be too passive and I think then, honestly, something really great can happen to him,” he said of the German.
Created in 2017, the Laver Cup pits two men’s teams against each other, one formed by European players, the other from the rest of the world. The European team won the first four editions, the World team the last two.
